High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Ruben Amaro Jr. Says The Phillies Are Straight Ballers | 'The Bret Boone Podcast'

Episode Date: May 23, 2024

From 'The Boone Podcast' (subscribe here): Bret Boone and former Phillies player and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. discuss the deep Phillies' roster and how the NL East may shake out as we get into the thick of the MLB season. 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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or wherever you get your podcasts. We're headed into the Phillies this year, but put your GM hat on. At the quarter mark, where we're kind of at right now, going into Labor Day. As a GM, what are you thinking right now? What are the wheels upstairs telling you? Am I buying? Am I selling? Does it depend on the team I have to start making plans of what's going to happen in the next few months?

So typically, like when I was in the GM seat, you could find out probably within the first six to eight weeks, usually right around mid-May when you sort of knew what you had. Yeah. I know what my ball club is. I know what my ball club is. I think nowadays, because guys just don't play very much in spring training and you don't really get a feel, they don't get enough at bats. It's a whole different thing. I think you have to push it back a little bit, maybe in early June or mid-June even, to see, okay, where are we?

Obviously, with the addition of the extra wild card, there's three wild card spots. There's a whole slew of things that you have to sort of analyze and evaluate. There's a lot of parity out there, man. There's only like maybe four or five teams in the National League that are above 500 right now. It's kind of crazy. And so you're looking at, so you're looking at, you know, you have to

be really objective and you have to be super subjective. And you also have to understand like your fan base, your, your future, what cycle you're in. There's so many different things. I always believed as a GM, if I, I just, my fans deserved the best out of me and the best out of my organization. And if we had a chance that we should go make a run at it, but there's also, you have to be realistic. Like, okay, I'm not going to mortgage the future. Um, unless I have a real chance of winning. And if I can put myself in that position, then I'll do so. And so that's a really tough, tough. It's tough in this day and age because of the wild card situation.

And because there's a lot of parity in the game. And there's not any, there's not a whole lot of super teams. I would say Atlanta, Philadelphia, and the Dodgers in the National League are the quote-unquote elite teams in the league. There's other teams like Milwaukee's playing well, and the Cubs are playing well. But other than that, I don't really see teams that I would view as championship caliber clubs. That's where I've got some crazy stuff going on behind me. That was kind of cool.

Is that Mike? Look at you, Mike. In-game activity. I love it. It's a tough decision. The good thing for the Phillies in particular, if we're talking about the Phillies, they're, they're really complete. They're a very complete team right now.

So Dave Nebraska can sit back and go, okay, let me wait until July 31st or August 1st and see what happens injury wise with my team. What my really real need is if I want to be a, you know, world series champion, which is exactly what their goal is, they're in a position, I think, where they will be able to sort of wait and pick and choose the spots that they need to try to improve upon.

And I think they built such a league with like 20 games over 500 right now. And it's like the earliest in their, the history of their franchise that they're there. So they're in a really strong position to be able to wait and to see what's really necessary and, and, and then pick and choose their spots. I watched this Philly team a year ago down the stretch and, and you were right there watching it. I don't think anyone had the foresight to think,

well, Arizona's going to beat Philly in this round of playoffs. I remember when they went to Philly, I saw that crowd. I said, this is the biggest no chance for an opponent maybe I've seen in my baseball in my baseball life and miraculously they did that's what makes baseball so great the fact that arizona came back and won that series was unbelievable one of the greatest things i've ever seen that being said you meant you you bring up a good point with that wild card that 12 teams 12 teams it's the easiest it's ever been in the history of major league baseball to get to the postseason and maybe the toughest to win the big to win the world series because there are so many

landmines to get there and you get the wrong team that's hot at the right time that could have been like arizona a year ago just a tick above 500 and they're in the world series so it it's as easy to get there it's just tough to stay there i think you you i think you're right on the elite teams in baseball you mentioned the three from the national league dodgers atlanta philly i think there's only two in the american league to it from what i've seen as far as the elite and that's probably the yankees right now the way they're playing in the baltimore orioles who no doubt. Surprisingly, I saw the Orioles win 101 games a year ago, and I thought, wow, that's a young, talented team.

But I didn't think they were going to win 100 games again the next year. They're way better than I thought they were with the acquisition of Burns really makes them better. But this Phillies team, 34-14, playing in a division with the Braves. I look at the rest of the division other than the Braves and the Phillies, and I think at this point, what they've shown so far, they're outclassed. Phillies,

and the thing to me is, boom, your third baseman. All of a sudden, he's becoming a superstar to add to four or five other superstars on that team. Suarez, with the recent run that he's had that starting rotation unbelievable Wheeler's been a stud for years now Nola's been that power guy I think that's been frustrating to the Phillies last year in the postseason he

made an unbelievable run ended up signing him to a big contract because of that postseason without that postseason I don't know if Nola's in a Phillies uniform right now. Yeah, I think it's postseason and his durability. I think that durability was big for him too. But he's showing up too to be atop that rotation. They're second in the National League as a staff ERA-wise. Let's first talk to the offense, what you're seeing. We know that Bryce Harper is kind of the cover of the media guide

and should be. I mean, he is a bona fide superstar. I love the way Bryce Harper's grown up coming over from Washington and really matured in the game. He is that guy you look to. He represents the city as well as anybody could possibly represent it. But, man, you've got a cast of characters. I know Turner's hurt right now, but another star.

I mentioned Boehm becoming a star. Real Muto's top two, three catchers in all the game. Talk to that offense right now, what you're seeing. I'm seeing guys stealing bases now. You're doing it all in a small ballpark, which is when we get to the pitching, it is impressive. That two ERA, it's not just because uh it's a two r two era it's a two r two era in a really hitter friendly ballpark speak to the

offense yeah the offense is really pretty dynamic i mean there's a lot of teams braves have a great lineup obviously the la dodgers are first four or five guys guys, five or six guys are pretty damn dynamic. But you look at some of these lineups and Phillies in particular, at least one through eight are really pretty damn good. And so even with Turner out, I mean, Schwarber is very dangerous at the top of the lineup because he can pop a home run anytime and he's getting his his walks getting on base doing some things i think the fact that he's dhing now um for a lot of reasons health-wise and defensively it's much much better for the ball club you have guys like you said you have the superstars you know the big boys and and schwerber is going to end up hitting 40 home runs and driving in you know 90 runs or whatever it is

at the top of the lineup then you had an mvp caliber player in turner who's hurt right now but will but start off the season like the bat out of a hell playing really well you got harper who is as you said one of the best players in all baseball and offensively um and then you got bone and the concern that i had at the beginning of the year was who was going to protect Harper because he's going to get locked. I mean, he's going to be the Barry Bonds of San Francisco before Jeff Kent decided to go nuts. And so what happened is Boehm became Alec Boehm. I mean, he's always been like a good quality hitter, but I think he's gotten to the point where he's maturing to the point where now the teams have to pick their poison because this guy can drive in a run with the best of them in the game. I mean, this guy's going to have a he's going to be a perennial 100 RBI guy. He was what, 97 or 98 last year.

He is one of the best hitters with runners in scoring position. Because why? Because he tries to use the middle of the field and does so he can drive the ball to right field he can hit a pop a home run when need be he's just starting to learn how to make more consistent contact out front where he's going to be comfortable with his levers um and his leverage of of his swing um he's really coming into his own and then the other guy who's gone nuts is Bryson Stott. I mean, I don't know if there's a hotter player over the last three weeks than

Bryson Stott. And Stott, who is a great defensive second baseman, had a really, really slow start to the season. He wasn't using his hands as well. He wasn't staying at all. He is now just crushing it.

And when you have a combination of young players, and Brandon Marsh is another guy who's starting to come into his own as a player and understanding his swing. So you're talking about guys who are getting closer and closer to their peak, right, as far as their production. They're starting to go this way. And you already have guys who are there in Turner, Schwarber, Harper. And then you have those other three guys who are starting to get this way. You're talking about some serious, you know, you're talking about, you know,

being in the right spot at the right time for this organization's franchise because I think that there's a chance that this has two, three, four years of real quality baseball offensively. I know Castellanos has struggled pretty much all year long. He hasn't really even done anything. And he, over the last five years, maybe one of the more productive right-handed hitters in baseball still hasn't gotten it going consistently. And, you know, they have a kid in Rojas who is just kind of learning the game, but more of a defensive player than anything else, not really needed to play to fill in a lot offensively. You got yourself a team that's pretty damn complete and really, really dangerous

and has a chance to be really complete and better and better and better over the next two, three, four years. So this could be, it's got a chance to be quite, quite the run for the Phillies. Look at the starting pitching. We've, we've talked a lot about Nolan. He's, he's doing a great job. Wheeler's been a Cy Young candidate perennial for years. Now Suarez is really getting it done.

You've been watching that innings without giving up a run that he went through. And you're deep, too. Sanchez, Turnbull. You got Walker as like your sixth guy. The bullpen's pitching great. Once again, all people, for those of you guys listening out there, this is a hitter-hitter-friendly ballpark. And to pitch as well as they have really says something to how good and how talented that staff.

Speak to the starting rotation as well as the bullpen. Best starting rotation in baseball, bar none in my estimation. I know the Boston Red Sox have had a great run early. I think as far as consistency and the way they've gone about it, just been fantastic. You mentioned it yourself. I mean, Turnbull, who had like his first four or five starts, I mean, was just dealing.

And now Walker comes in and now he's taken over his spot. And so it's made like the decision difficult for Rob Thompson, the manager. But you love to have those difficult decisions because you never have enough starting pitching. I mean, somebody's going to go down. And in fact, Walker took one off his foot. I think he's going to pitch tomorrow, but I'm not sure when I say tomorrow.

I think he's going to pitch on Wednesday. I'm not positive about that. But the reality of it is they've got some really strong depth. The thing about Ranger Suarez that is the difference for me this year with him is that he finally, after several years of not really going through a real spring training, he finally had no visa problems, no health problems. He finally got a chance to pitch and be prepared properly in spring training. First time in his career at the major league level to have done that. And so now I think he's just sort of developed his, you know,

he was more prepared physically, mentally, emotionally to hit the season running and he has, and he's been just a delightful to watch pitch. He's a great athlete. He's got tremendous gumption, man. He is not afraid of a thing. You've seen him pitch in the postseason. He's ridiculous. Like maybe one of the best ever pitching in the postseason as a reliever

and a starter. He fields his position better than anybody in baseball. Excellent pitching mechanics. And I'm just loving it for this kid because at age what 28 he's 27 28 whatever he is right now he's really starting to come into his own and it's a special thing to watch before i let you go i just want you to touch on on that division a little bit i looked at the mets everybody they're waiting for what since cohen tick took over, when are they going to be good?

Doesn't look like it's going to be this year. I've watched Washington a little bit. Looks like they have some young talent that we can look for the next two or three years, but not this year. That division, and everybody knows it, Phillies have a five-game lead right now. But that Atlanta Braves team, you recent years, since Knicker's taken over in the last five, six, seven years, they've kind of become that dynasty

that they were in the 90s where year in and year out, they're really good. Opening day this year, or I don't know if it was opening day, but right around then, they end up losing their big guy in Strider. Sales come over and really filled that gap for him and look at that team and you got a freed sale morton morton's getting you know up there in age but still doing a good job acuna olsen haven't gotten it going yet they're two big stars azuna's picked up the slack over there in atlanta and they're kind of just cruising at 27 and 17 if we're just going to say Mets, Washington,

Marlins really aren't a factor for that division, you may think differently. I think they aren't. What's going to be the difference? What do you see coming out of the Braves this year in that matchup with the Phillies in that race all year long in that division? Well, I think you're talking about one of the best GMs in baseball in Anthopolis. I mean, I think he's really really alex i've had a lot of respect for

he does a heck of a job he's wrapped up his guys he he identifies the right guys excellent trade to go get a guy um like sale who's got not only the ability but the gumption to pitch. He's like the guy you want on the mound. I mean, he reminds me of Jack McDowell at Stanford, like he wants the baseball. But it was a big blow to Lou Strider. There's no question about that. A lot of people don't talk about this. Now, I know that Snitker's still there.

They have an excellent pitching coach. They have really good staff members they know how to win they've been winning the division for six straight years um but the one thing you know they lost both their their their base coaches and they both went to the angels washington manager over there with the angels, EY Senior, Eric Young. And, you know, a lot of people don't put stock into coaching staffs, but the culture that is created, I think it makes a difference. I know their bench coach is great.

Walt Weiss is fantastic. I mean, listen, they have a great coaching staff, man. I love them. I respect them a great deal. They know what it takes to win. You lose a couple of guys there, man, and it makes a little bit of a difference. That's one. Two, you almost can't expect Acuna to have, like,

the greatest season that any player has ever had again, just because it's just such a very, very difficult difficult thing to do I think at the end of the day he's going to have tremendous numbers he'll be fine I think it was pretty clear that last year he had this sort of like chip on his shoulder like hey man I know there's Otani and I know there's Freddie Freeman and I know there's Mookie Betts but don't forget about Acuna because I can play too oh there it goes again. I think it's the movement that I'm making with my, with my hands. That's pretty good.

That's kind of cool. Look, we're still learning Ruben. We're like, we're like doing stuff. Our kids are supposed to be doing. That's correct. And, and anyway, I think just, and, and I mean, Olson's just stud and Riley's are, and Riley has not gotten it going. I guess he's banged up a little bit right now.

This is a great team. They are the division champs. The Phillies are going to have to knock them off if they want to. I think it's important for the Phillies to be able to win the division, to hold, serve as far as having home field advantage is concerned. That's really important because they play their asses off in Citizens Bank Park. And the energy there is tremendous. But it's going to go down to the wire.

I don't see the Atlanta Braves falling off. I don't see the other teams in that division making a run at all. I just don't. Those two teams are the class in that division making a run at all i just don't that they're those two teams are the class of that of that division i think washington as you said they've got some pieces that they can i think that they can feel our foundational type pieces their bullpen stone well um but they're starting pitching i don't think they have i don't think they have enough fire in their in their bolt in their rotation to be able to hang in there even as a wild card.

But shoot, you never know. There's a lot of parity out there in the game. So I think divisionally, it's really Atlanta and Philadelphia and who plays better for longer periods of time and who stays healthier. But at the end of the day, the Atlanta Braves are going to be right there because they're good and they know how to win. I think that the Phillies are a more complete team right now. I think that they were the most complete team in the final four last year,

as you spoke about before. I was surprised that they didn't get further and win the World Series. But, hey, it's about how you're playing and how hot you can be and how the ball rolls for you in the playoffs. Yeah, it's going to be interesting, but you're right. And that's not lip service. I'm watching this Philly team. They're really – they're for real.

They're complete now. They're at their peak. I mean, this – but it's baseball, and it's crazy, and you never know what's going to happen. That's what makes it so great. But top to bottom, I can't, you know, Dodgers super team right now, right? Yankees playing well beyond what I thought they'd be playing at this point, especially with missing Cole.

And then Baltimore has just been like, wow, they are as good as everybody was talking about. So it's really fun to watch, but I look at this Philly team and I'm like, pound for pound. If you're going to give me the Phillies in a fight, I'll take them against any of those guys. Not saying I'm win, but I'll take them. I'm not going to be mad at taking them. So a lot of great insight, Ruben.

A lot of fun catching up and the dynamic career that you've had and all the hats that you've worn. It's pretty darn awesome. And congratulations. It's pretty cool. And now you're doing color for the Phillies. You're all over the place. After coaching for three years, decided to go be a first base coach

after being a GM. You've done it all, man. This is a lot of fun. I appreciate you coming on. For those of you watching our new channel on YouTube, thanks for tuning in. For those of you listening to the podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts, I appreciate it.

And until next time, we'll be right here. Thanks, Ruben. You got it, Brent. Really enjoyed it.