High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Rhys is Gone and Did You Play Pokemon Growing Up?

Episode Date: January 24, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Rhys Hoskins signing with the Brewers and reflect on his time with the Phillies. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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.

Yo! Odyssey and Sports Radio 94. WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the IOS Podcast. Freaking do something, please. Man. They did.

Colby Allard is not getting it done for me, Fritzy. How you doing, pal? He broke the seal yesterday. Oh, yeah. The Colby Allard news. Nice break the seal reference. That's good work there. Broke around 130. No truer thing than breaking the seal.

Like, it's just a fact. Like, it's a real thing. Yeah. My problem is not to get into a whole discussion on breaking the seal. Why not? It's more than going home to Philly. It's like every break I got to go. Me too.

Yeah. I drink a lot of water. So do I. Wait to get older. Like, honestly. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm going to need a diaper by 45. So do I. Wait to get older. Like, honestly. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm going to need a diaper by 45.

Yeah, dude. So, actually, last night, ironically, like, I woke up this morning, and I didn't have to go to the bathroom overnight. And it was, like, the first time, like, in a year. I woke up. It is always shocking. I woke up with my alarm. I'm like, whoa.

Wait. What? Yeah. It's shocking when you wake, when you go to bed, and then I just wake up at like, whatever, seven, and it's like, hold on, I didn't get up once. I give myself a little self-five. Yeah, I feel so good about that. I was like, this is amazing.

I slept through the night. Now, it's not possible to sleep through the night currently. No, yeah, you're in a not-sleep-through-the-night type of time. Well, it's more on Jill. I'm not gonna say this is about me. Yeah, trust me, same with me, but it's way more on Jill.

But it's like, I definitely have not hit REM sleep in a while, you know what I mean? So I'm not getting that say this is about me. Yeah, trust me. Same with me. Way more on Joe. Way more on Emily. But it's like I definitely have not hit REM sleep in a while. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I'm not getting that deep, you know. Oh, I know. Where I'm thinking and getting a lot of dreams. Yeah, you're a big dreams guy.

Talks about this. Oh, yeah. No, I had a dream about Brett Brown the other day. Sure. Was it after the 70 points? No, it was before it. That's weird. And it jogged my memory.

That's really weird. Because I remember I was trying to get him on the radio show To talk about Whatever happened With the Sixers He would always say no So I figured If I talked to him in person He'd be more willing to do it

He was not So that was my only Brett Brown dream From the other day That's a weird one Because who doesn't Dream about Brett Brown Sure

It's hard not to But yeah Well the Colby Allard Yeah Colby Allard He signed Look at you What a pro Yeah

It's hard not to get excited About it Yeah A depth piece Yeah I mean this is Really the Colby Allard. Yeah. Colby Allard. You signed. What a pro. Yeah. It's hard not to get excited about it. Yeah. A depth piece. Yeah. I mean, this is really the Colby Allard emergency pod. No, this is the,

we're saying goodbye to Reese emergency podcast. It is. It is. But, uh, we're back to Colby Allard. Yeah. No,

no. And we're done. No, it's just, I did own him in, so when, you know, you used to play with the league has since this man,

but I used to play in a pretty aggressive, you know, you used to play with the league since it's been, but I used to play in a pretty aggressive, you know, keeper auction and we used to have a minor league spot. Colby Aller was in my minor league spot once upon a time. A former great prospect. Yeah, yeah.

He was a prospect, man. Hey, got a good curveball. Yeah. The thing is like, you know, we have enough lefties. We've got a million lefties. We were like,

man, I have to be cool if the Phillies ever had a lefty. Wouldn't it go three years without a lefty starting a game? Literally without one. Yeah, exactly. They didn't have one in the bullpen. Wasn't it Jason Vargas was like the first lefty to start a game forever, I think? Well, Ranger came up in 18, and then maybe he's

out for a little bit, or 18, 19. But yeah, Jason Vargas. Maybe it was, no, I think they didn't have a lefty in the bullpen. Yeah, but I'm sorry, to start a game, I feel like there was like a Jason Vargas stat where he was... No, I think they didn't have a lefty in the bullpen. Yeah, but I'm sorry. To start a game, I feel like there was a Jason Vargas stat where he was the first lefty in 362 games or something. What a baseball team. What a baseball team. Now it's just lefties.

That's all they do. Which, hey, you know my thing. Zoe's a lefty. I'm all in on lefties. I think Walker's a lefty. I think Walker's a lefty. Oh my God, I'd be so excited for you, buddy. He's doing a lot of things with his left hand.

So that's what I noticed with Zoe immediately is like whenever she would like stick her hand out it was always her left hand when she would try and start walking she would step with her left foot and I was like huh

and then it was just like stone cold clear after a certain time so the good part about Walkie being a lefty and I'm going to call him Walkie which is one of many I'm going to call him Walkie

because I can't do Walker yet because he's not Walkie's Walkie Walkie I like Walkie why Jeff Duxley Walkie's great well because I don't know Walker yet because he's not... Yeah, he's... Walkie's Walkie. Walkie, I like Walkie. Why did you have to explain it? Walkie's great. Well, because he...

I don't know. Like Walkie Talkie? Well, it just sounds like a baby name. Well, he is a baby. He's a baby. Like, he's actually a baby. I can't wait. I can't wait until he's older

and I can just say Walk. You know? I feel like it's very serious. It is, yes. So I go full name when I'm annoyed. Like Zoe Rose Seltzer when I'm annoyed.

A little much. It's a very old school way to do it Exactly When you become a parent that's what you do You become a parent and you do the things that all the other parents do Zoe Rose Seltzer What are you doing right now This is going to make me sound like a bad dad I always forget that Walker's middle name is James

It does make you bad It's his best name So I always forget that Walker James is strong It always takes me a little millisecond to remember And it does make it, it's his best name. Come on. I know, I know. So I always forget that. Walker James is strong, too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it always takes me a little millisecond to remember his birthday, but I remember it. I remember it.

It's close to yours. It is. No, I know it's. You should be able to remember these things. And again, I have talked about this, and again, I don't want to come off as a bad dad. The more you need to say, I don't want to come off as a bad dad bad dad the more you need to say i don't want to come off as a bad dad probably a bad sign well just like why do you have to be born in march you needed your time watch is my month this is like the only child comment of all time trust so i get it so we're one and done with zoe and it's a i never got the only child thing I understood it conceptually obviously but it is

it is so a thing dude it is so it I have to actively actively not be selfish you know what I mean like like I have to actively consciously right yeah you have to work not to be selfish consciously not make it about me because you have you have to understand you'll get there I'm on my way pal trust me because you've known me since when I was 20 yeah 21

yeah you know only child so like you've seen what you've had some experience yes

the whole psychosis of it yeah and if you ever need help on how to deal with an only child thank you this is really this is good

reach out to me because Emily and I both you know she has a sister I have a brother neither of us are experienced with only children imagine having siblings

that's so weird that's so weird of you man I know I can imagine it you have to share I know yeah with someone else

yeah it's it's interesting I've done well for being an only child. You really have. I agree. We get held back a lot. Often chastised as oddball.

Is that the common? I didn't know that. There's the weird only child. So the good part about... You see that kid over there? He doesn't have a brother or sister. I know, what a freak.

What a freak. So the good part about Walkie probably being a lefty. Yes. Well, I mean, we all know the good part, right? I mean, more inside track to be a professional baseball player. Correct. I mean, it's just what it is. Correct.

Now, hopefully by that point, because I'd love nothing more than for Walk to be a loogie you know oh my god what a dream honestly i'd almost rather be a loogie than like a real starter yeah i mean being a loogie it's the great honor yeah um so yeah so he only needs to probably throw 84 to get a d1 scholarship you know so 84 now if it's a righty 84 now if he's a righty gotta be at least 90 I will be having him drop down for sure I need him to be

if I could have Walker if he's gonna be a lefty if I could morph him into one pitcher it's Pedro Feliciano you showed him Pedro Feliciano how much I love Pedro Felic him Pedro Feliciano tape. He knew how much I loved Pedro Feliciano. I know. Pedro Feliciano was my boy.

Yeah, he was good. He dominated Jason and Ryan Howard. They just ate them for lunch. And was it Javi Lopez? Yeah, Javi Lopez. Yeah. Javier. Javier Lopez.

Javi was the catcher. He was a good grid reference. He was a good player, Robbie Lopez. For a really long time. About three years. Him and Russ Ortiz. Sure. Russ Ortiz, the pitcher.

Yeah, sure. He had a long career, Russ Ortiz. Played a lot of places. I haven't done the grid forever. I know, I haven't done it. Mariner, he's all over the place. I always forget to do it. I do too.

Yeah. Yeah. It is funny to think about those things that take over your life for a certain period of time. Like we started texting. Like we're on a texting with my brother Peter simply because of the grid. I know. And now it's gone. You know what I mean?

It was so important. I know. We were sending each other. Like we were filling out multiple ones a day. It was great. It was. It was a real moment. It was a really great time.

It was a moment. And then when I started getting repeats, I was like, ah. That's the problem. Is it just me? They have new things though. New when I started getting repeats, I was like, eh. That's the problem. Is it just for me? I was like, oh. They have new things, though, where like. New categories. One left.

I've seen, which I got to check out. One game in left field. Yeah, which is cool. Yeah, it's like. Because it did start to get, it got redundant. Yeah. It got to be like, all right, well, like, you almost got to the point where it's like, well, I don't want to use the four guys I've used for this, so let me think of another.

And it just, yeah. I know. And then it was like, I'm not using Edwin Jackson. Exactly. Exactly. Refused to do it. I'm sorry. It's like, i never got on the uh pokemon go craze i didn't either i missed it yeah yeah yeah i was a big pokemon that was the walker that was when people like falling off cliffs oh yeah it's crazy it's crazy just go it wouldn't now i will say play a freaking sport

yeah but it was good i was glad they got outside i agree you know that's good to get out yes um i was a big pokemon kid growing up, though. Were you really? Oh, yeah. So I was not. I missed the whole thing. Yeah. I know nothing about Pokemon.

What was your thing growing up? Was it more like, was it Legend of Zelda? Sure. Oh, I love Zelda. Yeah. Zelda came out for Nintendo when I was a kid, like the original Zelda, but it wasn't like in the whole Legend of Zelda world. My generation is Pokemon, SpongeBob.

Sure. SpongeBob's great. SpongeBob is a phenomenal TV show. Now, my dad liked watching SpongeBob with me. Because it's good. Because there's subtle adult humor in it. For sure. I would always have been, do you even watch SpongeBob?

I'm like, yeah, hell yeah. No, Nonolon has some subtle adult uh stuff in it Bluey does not right no Bluey is a kid show I mean Bluey but Bluey is also super entertaining for adults like it again like I would watch you cry at a Bluey yes I cry at like many Bluey episodes I cry at like 60% of the Bluey episodes I cry that's a lot of crying in seven minutes it makes you cry in seven minutes it Blue, I've said, you know, it's the greatest TV show, kids show of all time by miles. Like, nothing is even in this hemisphere. Blue is amazing.

Yeah. Well, yeah, so I was a big Pokemon kid growing up. What was that like? It was interesting. I named my, I named. I wouldn't have guessed this. I would have guessed like baseball cards, you know, that kind of stuff. I think you've been surprised by two revelations about me.

Yeah. One is obviously my Pokemon. Yeah. Pokemon. Shock. Really? And then the Lord of the Rings. Yeah.

I was shocked by that. I was. You were the Lord of the Rings guy. Because you come off, and this is not meant to, this is, you know, I guess, you come off as the guy who would be like, shut up, nerd, when someone would be talking about those things. Yeah. You know?

It's weird. I guess people just don't really know me. You know? Because I was, I was, because I really know me. Because I was texting Scott Franski. No big deal. No big deal. No. I was texting Franski because he was talking about, I think,

Amos Lee on the broadcast one night. And I was like, I love Amos. And he was like, I'm surprised you like Amos. I'm like, what kind of persona do I give off? Sorry, I'm talking about Zach Bryan,

you know? So music wouldn't surprise me. I know. You're really into music. Pretty much. And you do a good, unlike someone like Elliot, who was just like,

all right, whatever happened from the year 2000 on, that's it, I'm done. You'll go back. You check out old music. You check out things.

I can recommend something and you'll listen to it. So, no, that doesn't surprise me. Pokemon surprises me. So I named my, to fully close the story and then we'll get to reese i promise um classic ios right uh no i named my second dog my second dog raichu which is the evolution of pikachu wow yeah second yeah no it's not a great dog no it wasn't a great dog no No. No, he was annoying.

Oh, no. He was annoying. Why? Because he named him after Pikachu. Yeah, I know. No, it might have been my fault because he used to like, again, no siblings, right? Yeah. So I used to just tackle him in the backyard.

Oh, there we go. I thought I was Trotter, dude. Oh, no. I thought I was. This poor dog. I know. He might have had CTE. Oh, God.

It's terrible. It wasn't like a hard tackle. You're playing around i'd chase him then my dog's 10 pounds i would literally break him you yeah yeah i thought i was i thought i was trotter you weren't when i was tackling my dog poor dog sorry pikachu dog or whatever if i woke up in a cold sweat when he saw me walking down the stairs leave me alone, man. I'm just trying to relax.

Did you go to school? Yeah, seriously. That was good stuff. So, Reese Hoskins. Colby Howard, no. No, Colby Howard. Like, he's just a death beast. Yeah, we don't care.

All right, Reese Hoskins. Reese Hoskins. How you feel? So, I didn't see it coming. Really? Wait, didn't see Milwaukee coming or didn't see him leaving? Well, there was no buzz at all. All of a sudden it was just like 11 o'clock last night.

I was about to go to bed and Passon's like breaking. Reese Hoskins to the Brewers. I knew the Brewers. I liked them a couple years ago because I think they were interested in trading for him. Such a Brewer signing too. Such a Brewer signing. It's like I saw it and I was like, yep. He's patient and hits home runs. Patient, walks, hits home runs.

He's like, yep. That's all they care about. His defense is bad. He's going to DH them, I think, walks, hits home runs. Yep. That's all they care about. His defense is bad. He's going to DH them, I think, right? Yeah, probably. Because they care so much about defense. Well, yeah. I mean, look. They've had Rowdy Tellez out there, Aguilar. They don't care at all. Well, first base defense.

That's what I'm talking about. First base defense, they don't care. Yeah, yeah. They're good otherwise. I'm saying, but first base defense, they made it clear they just want someone who's going to hit home runs, walk, and play bad defense. They're fine with it. So, yeah, so it came down, and, yeah, first off, like, good deal. I mean, two years, 34, 17 a year. Well, and he's got an option.

He's got an opt-out. It's a great deal for him. After one year or two. He's got a one-year opt-out. Yes. Bring him home? So that's what I'm saying. It's a great deal for him.

It's literally essentially a one-year $70 million deal where he can go out. If he's Reese Hoskins again, he'll get way more. Or if he struggles, he's got that $70 million cushion. A really nice job by Boris. Shocking that Scott Boris got a good job. Scott nails it again. Yeah, I mean.

Sure. Yeah. That's what he does. Yeah, so, and then obviously it comes down. It's like, you know, you start really realizing, I've never fully processed Reese probably in an airplane for the Phillies again. Yeah, it's weird. Like, I thought about him in a Brewers jersey, and I got, like, a little chill.

It was just, like, a weird feeling. Yeah, and Reese is, I love Reese. Obviously, like, the average stuff, and, like, he became, like, a polarizing topic. Well, yeah had he had bad moments in the world series like in that in game five like the the strikeout and that that defensive play and a couple defensive plays that really hurt them in the playoffs turned people yeah so he became a polarizing figure it's still and also the streakiness yeah it stinks and i feel it just it for everyone it stinks that he got hurt last year

and was able to enjoy his last, like, swan song as a Philly. Yeah, we didn't get a, like, again, like, think about it this way. The last, like, major league baseball game we saw Reese Hoskins play in a Philly's uniform was a World Series. I mean, that sucks. Well, I still remember watching when he tore it. I said, yeah, I should have said regular season. No, no, no.

I meant to say, but you know what I'm talking about. Me too. I remember, yeah, it was horrifying. I was sitting there in the afternoon show. You were actually watching it, and you texted me. So you text me right away, and you're like what I'm talking about. Me too. I remember, yeah, it was horrifying. I was sitting there in the afternoon show. You were actually watching it and you texted me. So you text me right away and you're like, I think Reese just tore his ACL. And I'm like, dude, and then I go on Twitter and you see

the play right away and you're like, oh my God, non-contact. And then probably the most mad I've ever gotten at Topper. It's not very often. I know when he did that, he was walking around the play. Yeah, he looked fine. What are you talking about? We all know. Lower expectations.

Yeah, lower expectations. Bad job by Topper. But luckily, we've all watched football for a long time. And we all know that just because you're walking on your leg doesn't mean you're okay. I think that was actually Rob Thompson being the most Canadian he's ever been. He's trying to be positive. He's trying to be happy. Well, it's that, but it's also like, get back out there. You know what I mean?

Hey, man. This is hockey. Get out there. Yeah, right. Got a little lower body. Yeah, exactly. Yeah hockey. Get out there. Yeah, right. Got a little lower body. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, get back out there. So, but yeah, like, Reese was the first guy that came up.

I mean, Nolo's here, and he's up for a little bit. But Reese had the moment for us. And Reese was, listen, I love pitching. The hitting's way more exciting for people. It's way easier to rally around a guy. He set the record for most home runs in his first 50 games. He not only came up, but he came up with a literal bang. That's not true, actually.

Did it get changed? Did he not have the record anymore? No, but he started for 0 for 11, I believe. Right, but then you know what I mean, though. Then he got on a run. But then on top of that, too, is also the moment in time that that happened. They were the worst team in baseball. We were coming off years of sadness and depression and like really no one to grab on to and then it was like

this shining light of a guy who just came up and hit all these home runs it was like whoa that guy's fun to watch we got it we got a young star um yeah so i remember attaching like you know like you see all the prospect reports about Reese, and then I remember the Futures game I watched with him, and it was like, oh, he's got a patient approach. Like, he looks like a quality major league hitter. Gets up, goes nuts. One of the more underrated fun teams of the horrible run.

2018 left field team? No, the September of 17 team. Yeah, well, sure. I don't know about the team. Just Reese. No. Yeah, the grand slam off Kershaw. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. We know why you. Who could forget when Aaron Altair dominated Leighton Kershaw. I was wondering why you were like, at the time the news was fun. I was like, Aaron Altair. at the time, the new was fun. I was like, dude, the 2017, I love your dudes. September of 17.

Great time. Yeah. Great time. Look, we saw Reese Hoskins play a year in left field. That should never be forgotten. Yeah. It was really bad too.

It was the worst. It was the worst. It is my go-to reference for the worst defense I've ever seen in my life. Was it, was it your case to bring him back and put Schwarber back in left field? Well, no would, I wouldn't have, I wouldn't have. I know. I hate it, but I wouldn't have. When Schwarber's gone in two years, they're bringing

Reese back. So, um, yeah, it's just, it's, it's a shame how it ended. I'm glad at least he got, you know, he, he went off. I mean, he went off before the world series and in last year's playoffs. I mean, like he, four or five homers I mean, he could have been the NLCS MVP. Yeah, he had the two-homer game. Two-homer game. He had the homer on in game five. By the way, so obviously watch all the highlights today. The Joe Davis call of a green light and a shot.

Reese Hoskins owning October. Joe Davis was great. Joe Davis was great. He was great. I do miss Joe Buck. I can't believe we got back in the postseason for the first time in a decade. I know. Trust me.

I know. I know. I thought about it a lot. But Joe Davis was a nice villain. And next year, or this year, we'll have them back. We'll have Joe Davis and Smoltz. We'll have to deal with Brian Anderson. Thank goodness.

Yeah, like seriously. And Frank Core. Just fired it in the sun, that broadcast. Please, please. Oh, the Brian Anderson, nice guy. We talked in the bathroom. Yeah, and look, he wasn't horrible. I just think it was, you know, he was okay.

Yeah, yeah. The funny thing is, for the first month of the postseason, I thought it was, do you brian anderson the lefty indians the royals played for the diamondbacks remember that guy was in the league forever brian anderson no i was thinking of the uh the old marlins i kept thinking that it was brian anderson was that guy i'm like oh pitcher doing play-by-play and someone's like yeah man you know ba not the same guy and i was like oh good you don't respect ba apparently not obvious yeah it's pretty tough when the nickname is BA.

I know. I also don't like I don't know. ESPN playoff series feels weird because I always think it's just Sunday Night Baseball. We got Ravi in the crowd. Shout out to Ravi. But yeah, it says Reese

has been through a good amount here. I always felt the happiest for him when they were – Me too. Without a doubt. Whenever anything happened, I was like, ah, good for Reese. It's like 2019 opening day when McCutcheon gets here and Segura gets here. Cutch goes yard. Cutch goes yard and then Reese's first grand slam off the bridge.

Grand slam, yep. Fun game. It was a great game. It was playoff atmosphere. We're in the park for that one. That was great. Fun game. It was a great game. It was playoff atmosphere. We're in the park for that one. That was great. I know. So he helped bring baseball back to Philadelphia.

He was the leader of this team. I always appreciated that it always felt like he was ready to fight if need to. Like he was the first. He was the top step guy. Oh, he was definitely a top step guy. He was a big top step guy. I appreciate the, oh, this is so bad. The home run when the guy almost hit him in the head.

Oh, yeah, and he did the slow trot. The slow trot. Jacob something was that guy's name. Something like that. Yeah, like Ursling or something weird like that. But either way, that was, you know, that guy's not in the league anymore. Not even close. Yeah, but that was awesome.

The slow trot was, that was a moment. There was nothing better than. 33 seconds or something like that. It was unbelievable. There was nothing better than West Coast Reese. We would be staying up at 10 o'clock at night, first pitch. Always get going. Dude, he was suited. It was unbelievable. He would go out, I feel like every time,

in one of his stone cold slumps. Pecco and AT&T or Oracle, whatever. He would go off. He would go off. Seattle, I felt like he did decent. The one place I felt like he always, well, maybe because he was mired in his 0 for 34 slump at that point was Dodgers Stadium. Yeah, dude, I know.

I just, I think it's, honestly, we could just say, other than the 0-8 Phillies, no one plays good in Dodgers Stadium. And the 0-7, like that run of Phillies. Like, this era of Phillies, how many bad memories do we have in LA? I know, the Neres. I mean, the Knable. The Neres is the top, top, top. The back-to-back-to-back.

Remember the Corey Knable game? Do you remember that? Yeah. Well, do you remember Kimbrel this year? Yeah, Kimbrel this year. I mean, just so many bad memories out in Los Angeles. At the Dodgers, it just feels like we go there, and there's going to be at least one gut-munch loss.

Yeah, but there's also – So, I mean, they took 3-4 last year. They did, and they almost swept, and then Knable blew it. Or not Knable. No, last year was Kimbrel. Last year. They did, and they almost swept, and then Knievel blew it. Or not Knievel. No, last year was Kimbrell. Last year was Kimbrell. Two years ago, Knievel. They had a chance to take three of four.

I think they split because of it. Sick that we remember this stuff like that. Well, and I remember the one time. We watched way too much. It was 2022, right? Because that's when they went. Yeah, 2022 was Knievel. Harper hit one off Urias.

I remember that. And then Cassiano Had his only hit of 2022 Which was a double Which was a double But I am re-looking forward To West Coast Bills

Yeah I'm there I'm over 2023 Oh I am too Jack so that's actually We haven't talked I'm there dude I texted you

When I texted you Over the weekend I was watching 2022 playoff highlights Which is shocking I was just feeling it Jack, so that's actually, we haven't talked. I'm there, dude. I texted you. What did I text you over the weekend? I was watching 2022 playoff highlights. Oh, yeah, which is shocking. I was just feeling it. What are you doing? I know.

You were watching 2022 or 2023? I went to 2022. Okay, that's fair. Oh, because you sent me the cigar. Yeah, I sent you the cigar. I'd forgotten, you know, how fun the hop was. Like, he just leaps on the way to first base. It's so joyous.

It was so joyous. The whole thing felt so joyous to me. It was super fun to watch. How high Gene Segura jumps also during the Reese Hoskins home run is unbelievable. Like, he takes off. It's so high. Watching the Reese. I mean, you know. Well, I mean, Segura.

The bat slam just. What a moment. If we're going top five Segura hops. We are. That's literally what we're doing here. So, the game three against the Padres. Padres. The Gene Segura game.

Where he has the hit. Yeah, the diving. That play. What a play. What a play. Yeah, you're right. What a play. What a play.

Speaking of plays we want to talk about. Yeah. Of like dope Phillies defensive plays that got everyone hyped. Uh-huh. It will be forgotten. It will be forgotten. And it's a shame. The Trey play?

The Turner double play. I knew exactly where you're going. I think it's one of the best defensive plays I've ever seen a Philly make. Like it is the reaction time, like to even get his glove on it, much less actually catch the ball and then make that, that play. Yeah.

Like really true. I'm so, I knew exactly where you're going as soon as you said it, because I feel the same way. I feel like it's going to get lost and forgotten, but like, that was a, that was a play, man. That was a play. It's good we're doing this. I know.

I feel good right now. I'm really like, I'm excited. Go Phils, man. I need to, we all need to Philly so desperately right now. Should, before opening day. Yes. Should we do like a cleansing of the 2023? Oh, I like this.

Just get it out one last time. Yeah, just go through it all. Through it all. Yes. Maybe have a few beers. Maybe rewatch a little bit. Yeah. I love this idea.

I couldn't be more. It's a great idea. The Great Phillies Cleanse. Yeah. This is a fun idea. Okay. Mark it down. We'll have to cleanse.

We'll have to cleanse. So yeah, I've officially gotten there. Now I could use another move. Believe it or not, like taking our, the Phillies have spent 100, heading into yesterday, $171. It's now $171 million.

Now it's $172 million. Aaron Mill and Colby Allard, yes. I could use another one. Yeah, another $1 million. And I guess it comes down to, would I have rather paid so if they're 24 million from the next tax right

do I like if they pay Hoskins it kind of takes them out of obviously it takes them out of Snell and if you were asking me would I rather have Snell or Hoskins

I'd probably rather have Snell I would rather have Snell and we'll see what the contract is it also it also affects how they they approach the deadline because like probably rather have Snell. I would rather have Snell. And we'll see what the contract is. It also affects how they approach the deadline. Yeah, do you want to go over the tax and the deadline and all that

stuff? Right. So do you want to, if you have $8 million or $24 million. You know my philosophy. Go over the freaking taxes.

Yeah, but no. You don't want to lose 10 spots in the draft. We've been over this. We've been over this. It's like $6 million. Oh, so you hate $8 million. $12 million.

Oh, so you hate $8 million. Hey, guess what? He's already here. He's already here. I already got him. He's mine now. He's mine. I'm already here. I hate whoever they're not going to draft. Yes. Dude, don't ever say that. Joey Oki's right there. Deep breaths.

Deep breaths. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from reception perception. Join me and James Coe. As we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster wide receivers.

We analyze route running target share and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Both postseasons, obviously not history, but the last two years. After bed limit to bank, is the Hoskins bat slam the number two moment?

In the last two years? In the last two years? In the last two years. Yeah. I feel like it's number two. The stairs there. The stairs, number three. But I feel like it's, I mean, bedlam has to be one at the end of the World Series.

Obviously, it's Harper. But I think Hoskins has to be two. Yeah, I agree. I agree. Of the last two years, it's that. And I still contend to this day, it was the loudest Citizens Bank Park's been in my life. It might have been.

I mean, that, Bedlam, the Grand Slam, I will say, was up there. And when Harper took Bryce Elderdee. Yeah, there are a few spots. Bedlam was both loud, but also it was hysteria. Exactly. Bedlam was almost just

surreal. I think there's a lot of... Did he just do that? Yeah. There was a lot of you're just except you're just kind of, like, looking around, like that kind of thing. Whereas Hoskins was, like, euphoria. We're back. Pure noise. We're back. Like, right off the jump. Well, because he could see it.

Yeah, immediately. He crushed it. And he freaking slams the bat. Yeah. Yeah, I'll never forget it. Yeah. It was actually the only game of the run that I've, like, watched in you know oh yeah yeah look at you um because i wanted i wanted i've had zero those i'm gonna do it next year i gotta take like emily to a game or something i keep being like

hey it's the greatest live experience ever it's like have fun at home he loves going to games good husband loves live experiences comes all the fish shows. So, yeah, it's a bad job of me. I was going to take her this year to the World Series. I might. Didn't happen. June 3rd is when Reese makes his return. Might have to be Walk's first game. Might have to be Walk's first game.

So they need to be there for Reese. I've gotten to the point now, and people have accused me of this in the past, of treating the Phillies different than the other teams in the city no it is shocking where could they possibly get that from i mean do you listen to what you say or how you act or anything i mean come on it's i just don't see that at all i'm shocked too But, like, I've gotten, like, I want to remember and, like, be there for all of our guys throughout the years. So, like, you know, being there on June 3rd for Reese coming back, like, I think that'd be awesome. You know, like, I've gotten really sentimental, I guess, about our fills. Welcome to the sentimentality club.

I'm a sentimental person. I would be there for Carson. Wentz? Yeah. Really? Okay. You might be alone on that one. And Foles.

I'm with you with Reese. I'll be there for Reese. I'm in on Foles. I told you. You're in on Foles? Yeah. I've given it up. Welcome aboard, my friend.

Ah, this is the best. I like Foles now. How could you not? How could you not? The guy won a Super Bowl. And also, I've told you this before. I know it doesn't matter, Ah, this is the best. I like Foles now. How could you not? How could you not? The guy won a Super Bowl. And also, I've told you this before. I know it doesn't matter, whatever, but maybe the nicest human being I've ever met in my life.

Brandon Graham exists. Yeah, Brandon Graham's really nice, too. But Nick Foles. Jason Kelsey exists. Yeah, they're both. Those are my three. You said that to me before. Those are the three nicest guys to me when I worked for the Eagles, by far.

Those three guys were so good to me. But Nick Foles was like, man. So when I first started working with the eagles i'm in the locker room you know walking around with my microphone i'm terrified to talk to guys and all that i'm terrified that's not my yeah that's not my style that i'm not terrified but i was like you know i felt like an idiot going up i mean like hey what's your most prized possession or whatever is they're getting asked about like the fourth down play or whatever but like i'm literally standing there by myself with the microphone nick foals walks across the locker room comes up to me and it was like hey man you new here is there anything i can help you with you need anything

it's just like what's happening right now he was that kind of guy yeah he's i found i found a new target we know buddy yes you have uh this whole team drives me nuts i know but uh i will say it like at least you know thank god we have such a likable phillies team i mean they are incredible like i know they blew it last year and it's frustrating but it is still a group of guys that we're connected to and we love and we're excited to watch and to cheer for like that matters so much it matters so much. It matters so much. Sixers are getting there. Hey, they are.

Flyers. Hey, trade James Harden. Yeah, maybe not the Flyers. They were. They have a Squirtle song, though. I do like the song. The sax thing. You know Squirtle's a Pokemon?

No, I didn't know what the thing was. Is it his Pokemon song? Well, I don't know if it's a Pokemon song, but Squirtle. It's Squirtle on a saxophone. Nice. And Squirtle's a Pokemon. I didn't know that. Well, there you go. Why don't know if it's a Pokemon song, but Squirtle. It's Squirtle on a saxophone. Nice. And Squirtle's a Pokemon. I didn't know that. Well, there you go.

Why don't you up your game, pal? I'm going to have to. I had no idea there would be so many Pokemon references. I did not expect to discuss Pokemon on this podcast. But we did. That's because we were very versatile. That's what we do here. In many things.

That's what we do here. So June 3rd, Reese comes back. I feel like that was that patented, like, a brower series. I know, it's always in June. It's so funny because it's like, I feel like whenever they play the browers, the Phillies are usually not playing very well. And then they get going. And they beat up on,

they've been beating up on bad teams and losing to good teams. And people are like, who are they gonna beat? And then they'll beat the browers. And I'll be like, well, there's a big series win versus the browers. Josh Hader. Josh Hader. Trey Turner there last year.

Did they win that game when they had the big home run late? I was at a wedding. Yeah, they won that one. They won that. Well, they blew the 300th home run game late. Of course. No, that was during the stretch when they blew all the big home runs. They might have blown the Brewers one. I can't remember.

They won that Diamondbacks one where you had the late homer. I don't remember. Yeah. He did have some clutch homers, though, Trey. Trey? Yeah. He got hot. He got hot.

He got hot. He did. Did he? What happened? Nothing before August 4th with Trey matters. And then he just, it was nothing happened. It was just he got better. What do you expect from Trey this year?

Like, are we getting back to MVP type level Trey? I think so. Or are we getting like a 290 25 homer guy? Are we getting like 320? I think in between. Can we get like a God level turn of year? We better.

I mean, you paid him that money. You don't think we're going to get it in 2030? That's my point. You paid him that money to get him now. Like, the next three years need to be his God-level years, so we better. Because Trey, you know, I think it was Fangraphs. They put out their, like, war projections. And he's, like, a five-war guy. Really?

Yeah. Can I? Hold on. You had a great caller today, Breakdown War. Yeah, Chuck and Cherry Hill is a phenomenal bit. He is a great baseball caller. It might be out on more. Yeah?

I mean, the whole Schwarber thing last year, did you see, did you see the, I think it was Codify, do you follow Codify baseball? Mm-hmm. Pretty good. It's Codify. Codify. Thank you, whatever. Look at you.

You're always correcting my pronunciation. It's not a fish. It's not a cod. Codify is a you. Whatever. Look at you. You're always correcting my pronunciation. It's not a fish. It's not a cod. Codify is a word, though. You know that, right? No, I did not know that. Maybe I shouldn't be listening to you. Yeah, maybe you shouldn't.

I think I always say codify in my head. It might be codify, but codify is where maybe it's spelled different or said differently in different ways. Look at this. Okay, right? They put this up. Like here. Like this tweet.

And just then, it's like one of those things and i've seen just too many of these things just be like all right like i've had enough so what jack is looking at because of defense i know it is but it's comparison of alex gordon and ryan braun in 2007 who both were two war players read out what was the difference in average what was ryan braun's average ryan braun bad 324 and what did Alex Gordon bat?.247. How many homers did Ryan Braun hit?.34. What did Alex Gordon have?.15. Yeah. RBI, Ron.

.725. Yes. Same player according to War. That's dumb. We're going too far with it. It is putting too much on defense. By the way, defensive metrics are not perfect. Yes, you don't know where guys are supposed to be standing. Nibing's in to to count all that type of

stuff so like I'm starting to sour a little on Ward I know we don't have a better way to encapsulate a player but like stuff like this they're just like Ryan Howard was always a bad Ward Kyle Schwerber like I'm sorry Kyle Schwerber is a super valuable baseball player I'm super happy he's on the Phillies Ward tells me he's not like

Ward tells me he's a below average baseball player so like I don't go good at offensive Ward. I know. You're right about that. I'm just starting to get a little frustrated with Ward. Well, it can't be the end-all be-all. Exactly. But people use it like that. Pitching Ward drives me nuts. It's only because I've watched Aaron Nola.

He's not the best pitcher in baseball every year. I'm sorry, guys. He's just not. He's not. I'm sorry. Also, the way they put too much value on things, whereas, again. Like defense in this case. I've always been. I couldn't stand the old Alex Gordon argument about how valuable he was. He was such a great player.

Yep. He couldn't hit. I know. Sorry. He couldn't hit. I know. I know. Yeah.

I think the thing that has been going on more in sports which makes me happy is i think people are getting back to the idea thank you you and i have long been proponents and we both do a podcast with someone we love stats yeah and it drives us crazy because look at what you're watching like see what you're watching listen kevin durant the great philosopher yeah he's a pretty deep guy. One set. Who wants to have a hoop argument with graphs? Nailed it.

Yeah. Nailed it. Yeah. Well, they matter, but they're not the be-all, end-all. Like, thank you. You know a good player when you see it. Thank you. Exactly.

That's the thing I agree with Howard the most. I don't need these numbers. I can just watch a baseball player. Howard, an expert baseball. Yeah, he's a genius. Yesterday arguing that Boa was better than Utley, by the way. Really? Great take, buddy.

Jeez. I know. Stop. I know he's your friend. No, no, no. Boa and Howard. Oh, oh, oh. I think Howard's my friend.

You and your good, close friend Larry Boa. And I love Larry Boa. Larry Boa's great. Love, listen. Chase Utley is talking to me. I'm like, Howard's my friend. You and your good, close friend, Larry Bowe. And I love Larry Bowe. Larry Bowe's great. Love, listen. Chase Utley is going to be a Hall of Famer. I mean, the hemisphere of this. I mean, Larry Bowe's a really nice baseball player. He was a quality player that you want on your team.

And he's a winner. Like, I'd rather have Larry Bowe talk to me on the radio than Chase Utley. He's great at talking. What are we doing here? I know. Like, you know. Yeah. You guys, come on.

I know. Give it up. I will say, back to the F war thing or pitcher war thing or whatever, and we'll get, close to the season

we'll make all our stuff or whatever, kind of feeling a big null this season. Well, so my one part about resigning him that I was happy with

is I didn't want someone else to reap the rewards of the adjustment he made. The adjustment and then also like, I think that he's the type of guy we've known a lot about him we've seen like I think having the money and the contract and all that stuff like was like a way on him type of thing like I don't think I think Aaron Nola is going to be back to I think like we're

going to get a vintage Aaron Nola season this year that's my early prediction yeah I feel really good about it I hope so I think it's going to be a weight off you got to stay here be comfortable the money's taken care of he doesn't worry about me just go out and pitch feel really good about it. I think it's going to be a wait-off. You've got to stay here, be comfortable. The money's taken care of you. It doesn't have to worry about anything. Just go out and pitch. I feel really good about Nolan this year. I do too. And the next thing I'm interested in is Wheeler. Do they get that extension done before opening day?

Again, in a season where we're literally dying for Phillies news, one of the small pieces of news we've gotten is that they want to get that done this offseason. It's unbelievable how few rumors there are. It's not even just that nothing has happened. I know, but it's just unbelievable how few rumors there are, even across baseball.

Like you said with Hoskins, there weren't any rumors. There he is in Milwaukee. And then Matt Moore signing a minute later. It's just been weird. And I know it always takes a lot. Well, I guess last year was the exception. Last year was pretty awesome. Last year, like, free agency... That's because the sport shut down. I know, but free agency worked, and they got it. Like, the sport

shut down, they got it fixed, and it was like, bang! Let's go! Which we both think would be better for baseball if people are actually really excited about it and having the moment. So I know it's taken a while, but it feels like particularly like, flat for an offseason. Well, because it's taken a while, but it feels like particularly like flat for an offseason. Well, because it's like one big move a month.

Well, and the other, I mean, look, it was a bad free agent class too. I mean, that plays a role. There were not many great players in this class, which hurts too. Yeah. So yeah, and with Wheeler, it's going to be funny because I feel like I'm going to do a thing where it's like, oh, I'm worried about Wheeler because he's probably going to be throwing 95. And then I just have to remember when he gets into the postseason. He's going to be fine.

It's so – because we talk so much, and this is like – we talk so much about how dominant Halliday was in the postseason and Cliff Lee. It's like Zach Wheeler's right there. Oh, yeah. Like right there. We talked about it last year. I think he's like one of the great playoff pitchers of our time. Legitimately. And I feel like we'll look back on it in like 10 years and take it for granted. I think he's one of the great playoff pitchers of our time. Legitimately.

And I feel like we'll look back on him in 10 years and take it for granted. Well, that's why he needs more opportunities. He needs to have a real—you talk about Smoltz. You talk about all these guys we always bring back in. These guys are like, oh, the greatest. They had a lot of opportunities, or at least multiple chances to pitch in the playoffs and always came through. You want to see Wheeler get more chances.

And obviously, at the end of the day, you need a little ring on the finger to really be considered the all-time greatest in the postseason. Like, I want this to happen, buddy. I know. I know. What does it say? I want them to wear the ring. Breaking news.

All right. One more thing and then take back. Somehow we've talked for 40 minutes and have not mentioned that Chase Utley and Jimmy Rons did not make the Hall of Fame. No. Not that we expected them to. And thank God Wagner didn't. Thank God.

I agree. He's going to get in next year. I know. I'm so with you on this. Like, again. Why are we putting them in the Hall of Fame? I'm with you. Like, is my opinion, and I know people think Trevor Hoffman, whatever.

Like, I think Mario Navarro should be the only closer in the Hall of Fame. Like, that's my opinion on closers in the Hall of Fame. That's how I've always felt. It's just, what am I putting a closer in the Hall of Fame? Preacher of the Choir. And also, like, look. I know statistically, I get it. Like, I never once watched Joe Maurer play him in, like, that guy's a Hall of Famer.

I don't know, man. He's a great player. I don't know. A great player. A very good player. He looked up his own eyes. Yeah, I know. I looked up his numbers.

He's a 306 career hitter. Like, I get it. Numbers-wise, he's in the Hall of Fame. I'm not ripping it. Who's better, Maurer or Posey? Posey. Posey won three rings, man. Like, for me, it's Posey.

Team accomplishment. He was the best player on three championship teams. That matters to me. Rank them. Posey, Molina, Maurer. Posey, Maurer, Molina. Yeah, I agree. Yeah.

That's how it works. Maurer's pretty sick. He's a good- Look, I get it. He is a Hall of Famer statistically. I get it. I just never felt like Joe. And maybe it's because he's in Minnesota and he played in the playoffs only a few times.

They never won the playoffs. And because their outfield at that point had a trash bag as the wall. Sure did. But do you remember that? Yeah. So, like, I don't know. I get it. Let's put it this way.

Like, if Joe Maurer got in on the eighth ballot, I'd be like, yeah, fine. Like, Joe Ballard is a first ballot Hall of Famer. It just feels weird. It feels like Joe Maurer was not like, oh, he's clearly in the Hall. Like, Beltre, yeah, dude should is a first ballot Hall of Famer. It just feels weird. It feels like Joe Mallory was not like, oh, he's clearly in the Hall of Famer. Like, Beltre, yeah, dude should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Like that. Anyway. Gary Sheffield, how does he not get in?

I know, but enough already. Enough already. Enough already. Did Gary Sheffield ever get caught with steroids? Did he ever get tested? Did he ever get, or did he ever? No. He never got suspended.

Nothing ever happened. Like, where is this line? Mike Piazza, we never talk about him. He was in that era. He's in the Hall of Fame. There's so many guys in that era. Big Poppy. Big Poppy, exactly. Who actually did have rumors about him was Derek. I don't know. It's just so stupid. It's all freaking pick and choose.

I don't think you did it, so I'm going to put you in, but I think you Pudge was on those freaking Texas teams. Are we kidding? It's just so hypocritical you get so mad it's one of the things that drives me crazy is and you know that's why you set me up and you let me go i get it because it drives me crazy it makes me i grew up the hall of fame was like one of my favorite things in sports i cared so much about the hall of fame and it just feels devalued it just feels like it doesn't matter the same way it used to, and it sucks because

baseball was the only one that really mattered. Yeah, I think it'll come back, though. I think that now we're getting pretty past the steroid era, guys. No, that's a good point. So, you know, you're getting into, like, the Mowers, the Posey. I'm glad Helton got in. Oh, me too. I am glad. I've long thought Todd. Todd

Helton, he was one of the best hitters of a generation. Yeah. And I know the Colorado thing, but he was one of the best hitters of a generation yeah like I know the Colorado thing but he was he was just a stud he hit everywhere he was just a stud he was a stud

yeah so I think I think that outrage will die down as we move on and then we get because now we're starting

to get into a lot of guys that I grew up you know but then we get it then there's other stuff there's the grip cheating

there's the this the that oh the spider Oh, the spider attack. Is the spider attack going to keep Garrett Cole out of the Hall of Fame? No, I don't think so. You don't think so? Garrett Cole's in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, you think he's in the Hall of Fame? They can bolt a few.

Yeah. There's actually an article of, like, who are the Hall of Famers right now that are playing. And obviously tier one was, like, Verlander, Scherzer. Like the guys who are almost done who are locked. Kershaw. No, no, no. Kershaw's in the tier below. And I was like, of probably a Hall of Fame.

What are we even doing here? What? Dude, Kershaw, it's beyond. Yeah. He's right there with those guys. Those three, they're all at the same level. Yeah. And he's better than all of them for a stretch.

For a stretch. Yeah. I think career accomplishment wise, it gets interesting. But all right. Look, I think that lead's gonna get in someday which is really really encouraging you get 28 in the first year you usually get into the hall of fame uh rollins is not gonna get in no i think that's how it should be i think i think at least all fame and rollins isn't i'm okay with it yeah i uh i agree um although it is interesting

because you see the stats come out i know and it's like well he, well, he's the only shortstop. What are we talking about? Don't just listen to stats. We just did this. We just did this. And it's like the side-by-side. Well, this guy's in and this guy's in. And that's the other problem. Would you take guys out of the Hall of Fame?

Like Jim Rice is in the Hall of Fame. Harold Baines is in the Hall of Fame. So this guy was better. You know what? Guess what? Jimmy Rollins was a better player than Harold Baines. Without a doubt. Harold Baines is in.

Jimmy isn't. Yeah. I know. It sucks. Are you pro taking guys out at all? I would. I would take Harold Baines right the hell out. See you, buddy. What a mistake. You restrict Harold Baines' policy. Trevor Hoffman, you're not Mariano Rivera. Get out. I don't know.

I don't know. Hoffman's the only other closer I would even consider. It's one closer rule. Mariano, everyone else out. Schwarber, Hall of Famer? Obviously. No questions asked. Is Reese a Wall of Famer? Yeah, I mean, of course. Mike Lieberthal's a Wall of

Famer. I mean, who did they put in last year? Who did they put? Roland? Obviously he deserves to be in. Let's put Juan Samuel a couple years. Juan Samuel was in a couple years ago. I mean, they put some down the frigging... Even Lieberthal. Yeah, Lieberthal.

Lieberthal, Burrell. Yeah, Reese meant more to us than that. Yeah. I hope Reese is a wall of fame. Me too. I will be there for the ceremony.

Yep. 100%. All right, take back. Yeah. Kirkering talked about how he's going to use his sinker more, which is very exciting.

Oh, buddy. Yeah, hey. Are they going to let him throw fastballs? Let's not throw 90% sliders Will they let him throw his fastball? I don't need you being Al Albuquerque When you got 99 in your back pocket You know what I mean?

Great name Great name All time great name Great name, great slider I think By the next time Within the next week Like a great all-time great name. Great name, great slider. I think by the next time, I think within the next week, they will sign someone. Oh, yeah.

It's a big take. Someone non-Colby Allard. Non-Colby Allard. If I had to bet, if I was a betting man, and I would never. You are a betting man, yes. I would bet that Phil Maton is a Philly. Oh, I would be fine with that. Phil Mayton, obviously Nick's brother. Phil Mayton, a bit of a psycho.

He broke his hand punching a wall because Nick got a hit off him. He sure did and missed the postseason. It could not have been a double move. Yeah, yeah. And the interesting part about – This is Brian. This is Brian. I kind of like the fire, though.

It's great. That's winner mentality. Dude cares mentality cares yeah he cares a lot um and by the way just bring back nick and get him on yeah the maytons um so we get him wolfie is he i mean what are we calling phil mayton um no but i think i think got like phil mayton ryan stanek i think oh dude i think ryan stanek is freaking awesome yeah he's got he's got a good splitter for sure. I mean, two years ago, he was elite. I know. Less elite last year.

The only problem with Stanek for me is I have a strict, strict I hate opener thing. He was always the Rays opener. Oh, I don't remember that. No, Stanek's good, though. Well, him and, yeah, they always had like Yarbrough, and then he would pitch along and be Yarbrough's star as an opener. Yarbrough, who also wrote Mickey Moniak. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, screw always had Yarbrough, and then he would pitch along and read Yarbrough stars. Yarbrough, who also wrote Mickey Moniak. Yeah, you're right.

It is sick how the little stuff that we remember. I know. It's just truly disgusting. It actually is. Sometimes we go back and forth, and we're thrown some out, and I'm like, are people listening thinking, like, these guys are losers? Like, what am I listening to right now? No, they are.

Yeah. They are. It's okay. Who the hell is the guy? Trent Thornton was the guy that hit. No, he was a Blue Jay when he threw. Oh, a Blue Jay. I was thinking of, what's his name?

He threw a slider off Bryce's foot in Bryce's first spring training. Yeah, so we thought he was hurt. He wasn't. Trent Thornton. I was thinking of, anyway, it doesn't matter. Anyway. Trent Grisham. Trent Grisham.

Now a Yankee.isham Now a Yankee Yeah Now a Yankee And Verdugo, which is weird And Juan Soto Yeah, Verdugo's weird Yeah And third

And third, Juan Soto Third and least important is Juan Soto Trent Grisham was a brewer Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, by the way, in the same line Trent Grisham's the only reason the Nationals won the World Series I know, that error was massive Yeah, because if you could just field a ground ball Also on the Padres team that we beat last

year. Speaking of former Nationals greats, what a quote by Anthony Rendon. Oh my god. He, alright. Especially from a guy who's played like a game in the last three years or whatever it is. It crushes my soul

that this is what Anthony Rendon is. I was just about to ask you, look, we've seen a lot of players fall off a cliff. Has there ever been anyone who you thought was as good a hitter as you thought he was who just disappeared like Rendon? Because I thought he was one of the best hitters in the sport. I thought he was the best pure right-handed hitter in baseball. Anthony Rendon.

He's played like five games. When building my now-dominant fantasy baseball career, when I was rebuilding it from scratch, my big moves were, I traded 2015, maybe, Scott Gasmier straight up for Anthony Rendon

before he was any good. I won two championships as my third baseman. I was happy when he won World series yeah don't cut that audio but like this is just he should be so like so good he should be so good yeah he's just completely he just doesn't care well he does not care you know sometimes and it is rare because these guys are driven and to get to where they are they care usually and they want to be great at what they do and all that but every once in a while like you really do run into the dude who's like gets paid i got paid and i'm done like that's it like i i got a lot of money and i don't care about this

anymore and he is clearly and that and it could not happen to a more classic team than the Angels. If you were like, all right, if it was like a blind, you know, those blind like resume thing, it was like a blind, like, all right, a player is going to do this.

It's the Anthony Rendon story and you're like, what team signed him and did he not play for it? Be like, oh, it's gotta be the Angels. The amount of money they've shelled out

to players who like, so CJ Wilson, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, like, I mean, be like, oh, it's gotta be the edges. I mean, the amount of money they've shelled out to players who like, ah, so CJ Wilson, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, like, I mean, Josh Hamilton, that was a,

whoo, Rendon, buddy. I mean, at least, you know what's crazy is you're tired of this and like the Pujols contract

and all time disaster that we all talk about and stuff, that Pujols contract was like light years better than these other ones. At least Pujols played for them for a decade.

You know what I mean? Like, Josh Hamilton was like, done. Like these other ones. At least Poole's played for them for a decade. You know what I mean? Like Josh Hamilton was like done. Like Rendon, done. CJ Wilson, done. You know what's funny too? Frankie didn't give money to me. You know what's funny too is the moment they paid Mike Trout is when he's falling apart.

I'm just saying. Yeah, bring him here. That's an injury. That has not been, you know, whatever. But it's just ironic that the moment they give money, he just falls apart you know who's still a free agent

a lot of people Josh Bell so we're just worried don't sign wherever he's gonna go just yay cause the Marlins

signed Trey Mancini so like here's where I need Josh Bell to go the White Sox yeah sure you know what I mean it's fine

go be a Chicago White Sox totally like you will never enter our atmosphere go be an Oaklandite they wouldn't pay the White Sox. Yeah, sure. You know what I mean? It's fine. Go be a Chicago White Sox. Totally. Like, you will never enter our atmosphere. Yeah. Go be an Oaklandite. They wouldn't pay enough to even vet minimum.

But you know what I'm saying? Like, go play for one of those teams that, Detroit, go be a Detroit Tiger. You would look great in Detroit, Josh. Go be a Tiger. Yeah.

Do not be, do not sign me on a list. I don't want you anywhere near me. Do not sign me on a list. I want to see you play baseball as little as possible. No offense. You're good at it. That's good. He's not that good. I want to see you play baseball as little as possible. No offense.

You're good at it. That's good. He's not bad. You're good against us. Yeah, exactly. Good enough. Yeah, so. It is wild how when Josh Bell steps the plate, I'm terrified.

Oh, it's the worst. I'm terrified. He's prime body. As much as anyone. It's exactly. He's like, I was way more terrified of him than Juan Soto. Easy. Juan Soto's an easy out. This guy's a switch hitter. Juan Soto. Easy. In that series.

Juan Soto's an easy out. This guy's a switch hitter. Juan Soto's just a lefty. I know. And I don't really have much else. Which is fine. We somehow have gone 50 minutes. I have no idea.

I have no idea what we're talking about. But I will say, make sure you go read Alex Coffey's story on Anika Long. Oh, yes. Yes. It's phenomenal. He's a guy. And it's finally. Like, we've been waiting for this story.

And, of course, it would be Alex who would do it. I mean, she was the go-to. Right. But we were waiting for someone to write the Ani story. Yeah, he's been here for, like, years. I'm serious. That's not a joke. I'm serious.

I will say. And this, I guess, could be a message to all the beat writers. I love when you put people on notice or when you're kind of like, you know, like subtly chide or whatever. It's really good. There's one, if you want quotes about how he felt about Ani Colomby, there's one podcast that's all over it.

That's a good point. There's one podcast that's all over Preston Madeline. There's one podcast that's all over Brian Barber. That's a really good point here. Like, no one else is talking about these people. That's true.

There was one podcast that's talking about these people. That's true. People probably wouldn't even know their names were for us. I'm just saying. O-Chart. How many, again, if you need an official comment on how we felt, we're right here.

We're right here. We talk a lot. Care a lot. It's kind of what we do. Now there's a smarter organization. Thank God. Thank you, John. Thank you, Dave. I love you guys. Really do. Never doubted. Never once. And the moment Dave Dombrowski got here, I was like, they did it.

They got our guy. They got our guy. Yep. Thank you, Dave. Thank you, John. All right. They will sign someone the next week. You think we're going to have a... So this is like fifth straight week that you've predicted that we're going to record an extra

pod during the week for reasons of signage. I will do it. I will break down Phil Maiton's baseball savant. Oh, I know you will. And how his hard contact rate is very low, even though he throws like 91 miles an hour. Ooh, love those guys. Give me that guy.

No, hey, knows how to pitch. He's very crafty. I can't believe Robert Stevens is not a Phil, by the way. Oh, I meant to bring it up. He's crushing. By the way, I mean, what team signed him? He's going to suck. His career's over.

I feel so bad for him. Although, Carlos Estevez was good for them last year. He was, but he was also like an off-the-heap guy. You know what I mean? Carlos Estevez was not a big signing for them. Like, he wasn't very, you know what I mean? Like, this is giving Robert Stevens some money. That is the death knell when you go to Los Angeles.

Just saying. Not good. I don't know. Sure. You got anything else? No. We will be back. Maybe this week.

We will record a film-a-ton or Ryan Stanek emergency podcast with him the next week. What a thrill. What a thrill. Our emergency podcast standards have gotten very low, but it's justified.

Yeah. Warranted. All right. We'll probably be back there in a week, but we probably won't. He's justified. Yeah. Warrington. All right. We'll probably be back there in the week, but we probably won't. He's for it himself.