High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - So, Now What?

Episode Date: April 27, 2026

The Phillies won on Saturday, but after another loss on Sunday, James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are ready for the team to make some big changes. Could Rob Thomson or Kevin Long be gone before Tuesday's game against the Giants? What about Alec Bohm? Also, would Dave Dombrowski be interesting in reuniting with Alex Cora? Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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I hope. On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. smiling through I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of The Iops podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. It tastes like Miller Time, Philadelphia, and celebrate response to be fritzy.

I don't even know what to say right now. I mean, I, wow, what a tough spot we're in. Obviously, we'll get, you know, Will Topper survive the day? Will Kevin Long survived the day? 11 out of time. I mean, they won a game. The losing streak ended.

it was so thrilling and then Aeronola pitches right back where we were. How do you feel? I worry about you because I love you, man. You're one of my best friends in the world. And I know how sad you are about this. You're doing okay. Yeah, I mean, like, relatively speaking, sure.

You have a family, you love your children. Like, there are more important things in life, but outside of that. I mean, it really sucks. I mean, it sucks. It sucks for all of us because I think the thing that, at listening that I feel right now. And like, I'm glad we didn't record this podcast immediately after the game or. I know, I know.

I literally said to Emily, when the game ended, I'm like, I am so happy I don't have to do a podcast right now. Because we'd probably say things that we'd regret. I know. And of course, when I host the final out and they lose, you know, eight straight, nine straight, I always come on right after Thompson speaks. And it just like my blood, I was, I wish there was a camera on. me on Wednesday night. And just how ridiculous our lives are, it's 11.30 at night.

The kids are sleeping upstairs. They just lost age straight. I'm popping blood vessels yelling about a baseball team. And it's just, they drive you nuts, man. They do. And I think the thing that really, I think it's hitting all of us. And it's hitting that little part of your gut that you don't, that you're just trying to punch away.

You don't want to feel it. but it's talking to you is it might not just be a long summer. This might be a long couple of years. It might be a long few years. I know. Jack, that is exactly what I've been thinking about. Because and I wouldn't look up the 2015 Tigers if I were you. But if you were to look up the 2015 Tigers, you would see a team that won 90 games the year before, lost in the ALCS.

And they gave Victor Martinez, who by the way, I. Talk about a forgotten great player. You know how much I love Vic. My favorite thing about Victor Martinez, used to have a handshake for every player on the team, an individual handshake for every teammate. That's the kind of guy Vic was. And old downbo.

Great player, switch hitting catcher. Like, Vic was good, man. He was a damn good player. Like just, just fringe Hall of Famer. Yeah, yeah, just below. Like, yeah, he was a really, really good player. But Dave Nebraska at 35, gave him a four-year, almost $70 million deal.

A year, now to Dave's credit, or to back Dave up, I think V-MAR hit 335 in 2014. So, you know, I don't know what... Hell off a cliff quick, yeah. And then he hit $2.45 the next year and whatever. But like the 2015 Tigers won 74 games. Wow.

And it's similar from the standpoint of Miggie, Ian Kinsler, V-Mart, you know, Justin Verlander was still there at that point, you know, 32 Anapal Sanchez, but similar from the standpoint of, it's an old team.

They got old quick and they, they bottomed out, but they were still paying guys huge contracts. So it is a, like, whether it costs Rob Thompson's job or not, I have no idea. I think that everyone,

I think everyone's same take and they're right is, this isn't Rob Thompson's fault. Like, I don't think this is Rob Thompson's. his fault. He is third on the list of blame. It's, it's Dumbrowski and the players are, are clearly more to blame than him. Way more to blame. But also,

there's not really anything else they can do right now. I mean, the roster is the roster. Like, you could reassign Dave Dabrowski, but I'm almost in the mindset of like, I got to see that before I believe it. We can all scream to the High Evans about Dumbowski, Debrowski, Debrowski. And while I agree, I mean,

you look at some of these contracts and boy, do they really hit when you're playing bad, But my God, dude. I mean, just the Nola and Turner contracts alone, potentially two of the five worst contracts in the sport right now. I mean, Nola, we know he's got four years after this season is done left and 100 plus million or whatever. And Turner's got what, like six, seven years left, you know, like six years.

He's got six after this year. He's got five after this year. Okay. And, you know, a couple hundred million left. And I mean, they are shells of the players they used to be. and I don't know why they're going to get better. Like, I think we are seeing right now probably the best there in Nola is going to be. And, you know, and Turner, like, maybe it gets a little better.

But, you know, he's 32. This is, it's a real problem. Like, honestly, you can only, I mean, I like the Lazzardo contract. I'm not out on Lazzardo or whatever. But, like, I think the only three contracts you can actually feel good about are Schwerber, Harper, and Sanchez. And even Harper at the end, who knows, like, these are, they are in, real peril from a financial standpoint with these contracts.

Well, on top of that, they're paying, what, $38 million this year for not to be here in Cassianos and now Taiwan. So add that on top of everything. They still owe Aranola $122 million. Yeah. Think about that. And he might be entering into the Patrick Corbin era, Miles Michaelis era, where these guys paid a lot of money just to go out there and get shelled. Take Arieta. Yeah.

Yeah. Not as much money. But I mean, Jake was making $25 million a year to get shelled here, you know? Yeah, at least that's the three year deal. I know. That's the problem. Dude, how are we still in April? This has been the longest, this has been the longest month of my life, I think.

I know, I know. I know. Like October 22 was the longest month of my life. This is the, the exact opposite of October 22. Yes, this is the polar opposite longest month. It's horrible, man. Yeah. Especially because, like, they have been, this is not breaking news, but they've been bad, bad.

I mean, they have a minus 50 run differential, Jack. The next horse in baseball is minus 34. Like, that is astounding. They have one of the worst averages in the league. One of the worst ERAs in the league. Like, it's every single part of this team has been bad. It's great. Like, Schwerber and Harper, the only two guys you could say are playing well.

And that's it. But even Schwerber's striking out all the time. Shorber's trying out. He's hitting homers. And that's it. You're right. You're right. Harper's been their best hitter.

You're right. And Marsh has been good. March two. March two. but March is also a platoon player, you know? And when Juan Duran is still here, he's good. And Chris Sanchez is mostly good, but oh my goodness. I mean, he got, what, 12 hits the other day?

On top of, he has, he's allowed the most hits in baseball this year. I was going to say, I felt like the last one was 11 prior to that. Like, yeah. Yeah, yeah, even he hasn't looked the same. Yeah, so they're the worst runner run differential in baseball. Worst record in baseball. They have, their bottom five in every pitching category. Every, and then hitting categories.

And I'm sure hitting categories. and then you'll watch them. I don't know where they rank defensively. It feels even worse. Defensively, they, I mean, they wreak. Have you ever seen a team? Have you ever seen a team that makes an error or some dumb thing they do? And it almost immediately backfires.

Oh, my God. It's like every time. Every time they do one thing wrong, two batters later, it's 700 feet. Or have you ever seen a team that allows a bloop hit and then the next one's launch 700 feet? Oh, they are the bloop in the blast. like all stars. They loved to do it. I mean, it was a damn miracle on,

what was that Friday night, when Turner, like, just didn't throw the ball to first base and tried to flip it. And they actually got out of that inning without allowing to run. Unbelievable. Yeah.

I mean, I think the thing that, that also hits me is that I really think they came into the season with an arrogance, and they weren't prepared to go from Jump Street. And that is something, like if you want to blame Rob Thompson for something, I think I think that's it. I think there was an error. Rod Thompson is not like absolved of all blame.

He has not done a great job either. It's just not as bad as the players in Nebraska. But like, Topper has not been good. No. And the reason to fire him or move on from him, man, it sounds harsh saying fire him. I know. I do. I do.

I do. I honestly don't, like if you just take the getting annoyed about baseball part of it out, I can't imagine there's a Philly's fin who doesn't like the guy. he is a gem of a human being. You know, it really does suck. Like, I feel legitimately bad that this is playing out for this guy this way. I just think the Phillies have lost the privilege to play for him. I agree.

I think that this team needs someone with a new message that maybe a little bit tougher on him. I mean, he says behind the scenes, he's tough on him. Oh, come on the scenes. He's tough on him. But I just, I'd like to see it. I'd like to see it more. So, like with Thompson, I think that's one thing you could blame. before is that there's just there was this arrogance that they've done something and winning 96

games and and being this close if you want to say they're this close to being the dodgers like they treated that as if they were the second best team in baseball and they talked like that in the press conferences and that's the problem you're so right jack you're so right like i think that that's and they and they walked around like their bleep didn't stink and they i don't know what they were doing in Florida for six weeks because they certainly weren't getting ready for the season. Unbelievable. The type of baseball we've seen played is just,

is just horrendous. And I think that day game in Chicago, I felt it was the first time that it was like their oblique moment heading into the game. And to their credit, I thought they fought that game. They came back. That was the walkoff comes with.

Yeah, that was, that was a tough loss. I thought Friday night they battled. I thought they battled. Yeah, and Saturday they battled again. And look, they, and it felt like when the guy fell in center field on the Schwerver hit, it was like,

it was like, finally. It was like, finally. Like we, that's how you end a 10 game losing streak. You get a freaking break. The brakes go your way. And it was awesome. And they find a way to win. It's exciting.

And then they come back the next day and Aaron Nola just gives up. It's just, it's like they're, like they can't even build. It can't even build on the wheeler start and the win. Like it just, it's so frustrating. Like this team. And again, we've. said it a million times, but much less six nothing.

Matt Olson, it's at Homer 3-0. I'm like, well, game over. That's how feels watching this team. I know it's not always that way, but it does, like, feel that way when I'm watching it and they go down by multiple runs. I'm like, they have no chance. And once in a while they do, but it's so rare that they come back and score a bunch runs.

Well, and that's one of the things where I will not to, I don't, I don't need it to excuse the offense, because I don't like the offense, but it's got to be draining, being down early so often. in these games. It's like this every freaking time. Dude, there are times where I'll like come upstairs because I went to get something for Emily and it's 1-0-0-0-0-1-the-first pitch or there's like already two runners on. I'm like,

how did they, I just got like the game just started. Yeah, they can't wait to lose. It's unbelievable. They show up to the ballpark figuring out how quickly it was. And they, what a waste of a Sunday. I, I, oh my God, what a waste. I snuck out. And then the Sixers at night.

I'm so happy I stayed up for that. That was great too. What a fun day of sports. I miss like the, well, the boys weren't sleeping last night. I mean, so I'm trying to walk around. I swear for an hour. Oh my gosh. So I kept checking at this,

like checking the phone. Like, oh, they're down 20. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. I'm missing this.

A horrible, horrible sports weekend. The worst. The worst. We went one in five. I mean, Eagles had a good draft. I'm happy with the Eagles draft.

But like, come on, man. Can we win some games? No, we don't need to get it. We'll see. Kyle Levin, baby. Kyle Levin. Yeah, well, did you break down the tape?

I did break down the tape. You know what he does? You know he does? Catch the ball. He catches the ball. He gets open, never drops it. Pretty good. Oh, man.

Dude. It's a dog, Jack. Dog. We're going to have to extend the minor league minute to a minor league show. High hopes, a minor league Phillies podcast. Oh, we're getting closer. We're getting closer. We're getting closer.

Day by day, we're going closer just being a whole minor league show. I know. No, but, I mean, look. The one thing, if they keep losing, we can get excited about a high pick, right? I mean, come on. Well, you can get excited about a top six, you said, right? They have to be real bad. Yeah, yeah.

Well, they're taking care of that. They're doing a good job. They're currently doing a good job of that. So if it's top six, if it falls top six in the draft, then it does not drop 10 spots due to luxury tax penalties. If it's seven, it falls, seven on. The 17, then, 18 and so on. Yeah, yeah.

So don't be worry. after. Yeah, they're going to be, they're going to be, they're going to be the seventh first thing of it. Don't even get your hopes of a top five picks. Don't do it. It's a, it's a mistake. They're going to pick 14. Yeah, you're so right. You're so right. They're going to win like 77 games or something, 76 and it's going to be super annoying. But it's, it actually feels like it's trending towards, uh, it feels like it's trading towards like 70, but well, sure, but it can't, I just keep waiting for the, was it the dream team here where they're four and eight. Oh yeah. And then they won the last four baby and i made it eight and like oh one more one more year andy what do you think

what do you think that's kind of dude we're gonna be at some point this summer we're gonna be so excited about the idea of like trading off some pieces and then they're gonna win a few games and they're gonna go on like a seven out of ten streak or maybe it might have to go on like an eight out of ten yeah um because again it's just like 2012 man it's crazy how one of the first things i said was this could be like 2012. Dude, you said it super freaking early, dude, super early. But this is what 2012 was. In 2012, they ended up 81, 81 coming back at the end.

Yeah, it's so funny. And right around the trade deadline, they had this false run that they're like, yes, yes. Who knows? Does he got trust this core? They can get it done one last time. And then they didn't do anything. Or they traded Victorino.

Doesn't I trade a Victorino? But that's like my biggest fear is that they're just going to end up in the middle like they always do like they just they won't fully bottom out which would suck and it would be but i agree with you i'd rather they fully bought them out than then win 74 games or whatever you know yeah but they won't they're gonna win 78 games yeah i did say last podcast feels like 86 wins yeah not anymore yeah and and falling and falling and falling and fall i mean it it really is i i i don't remember that many, look, and, you know, I was more down on this team going into this season. Neither of us love the offseason or anything like that, but I was pretty down on them going into the season,

but I don't think anyone was down enough to think that this was going to happen. This is about as bad as start to a season as I remember for like a Philly team that we had hopes for. Maybe in my life, like up there. I mean, this is, it's stunning. It is stunning. How bad there? Yeah. I mean, it's a different definition of stupid minds. You can say that. You're right. It's a better definition probably than stupid spending boys. Yeah, yeah. Look where we are. Yeah, no, I, for the expectations for what they've done in the last couple of years, pretty much being the same team, for them to be in the spot, even the biggest detractors have to be thinking this. Like, the biggest detractors were waking me up in October. Yeah, exactly. Yes, you're right. Not whatever this is. And I don't even know how. I don't even know how they're doing this.

I don't. The pitching staff should not be this bad. No. The defense, I mean, like, Trey was so good last year and this year is just. He's reverted back,

which is, offensively too. I mean, Trey has been, like, we probably have not talked enough about what a big reason for this bad star Trey has been, like how bad he has been.

Well, just keep trying him out there in the lead off spot. You go to Schwerber for one freaking game. What was that? Why? And why not do it yesterday when you can at least split the lefties up against Chris Sale? It makes no sense. Trey Turner is hitting, what, 225?

Yeah, he's got like a 6, 650 OPS, maybe, something like that. His baseball savant page is all. Oh, it's blue. The whole thing. All blue. All blue. All blue. For those who don't know baseball, Savant, blue is bad.

Red is good. Walker could understand that one, but I just. And what do you get? getting out of them. You're not getting good defense. You're not getting anything at the plate. You're getting a 650 OPS. He's, I mean, he's never had an OPS over 800 as a, as a, I mean, God forbid, right? But they've never got an OPS over eight hundred. I think he might have been like just over last year when he went in the back. It might be like eight oh something. I'm not sure though. Maybe he didn't. I don't know. I don't think so. I don't think it was. Tucker's on it.

It was. So Tucker go in. Oh, who's going to get there first? He's going to hit their first. Tucker and Jack, racing. This is a good podcasting. You got to tuck? 812. 812. And he was 807 in 2024. I thought he was just over it.

But either way. I mean, the guy's making $30 million or whatever. Yeah. But at this point, you're just not getting anything from them. We keep saying the stars have to be stars. Well,

I don't know if Trey's still in that conversation of one of the stars in this team. And I know contract-wise he is. It's just, it's so crazy how there's never, expectations on Trey to... That's my point.

That's my point. Why are we not talking about him? Like he should be one of the main names. We talk about NOL. Like he should, we should be bringing up Trey Turner's name as like one of the primary reasons that this team is where they are right.

230. Three stolen bases. Oh, the OBPs back over 300. Oh, great. Good. A lead off there was it 302 or something? Great.

Six. 58 OPS. 354. luck and percentage. That's so bad. That's awesome. That's awesome. And bad defense. And bad defense. So you're just getting, you're getting squat from him. Hey, Ontario, come on down to BetMGM casino and see what our newest exclusive, the Price is Right Fortune pick, has to offer. Don't miss out. Play exciting casino games based on the iconic game show only at Betmgm. Check out how we've reimagined three of the show's iconic games, like Plinko, Cliffhanger, and the Big Wheel,

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do you remember a guy in a contract i mean like look we've we've all had our problems like bone we both have wanted him off this team for a couple years now and all that but like he did bet what 287 last year. Almost led the league of doubles year before. Like, he's not a disaster offensive. He's got an OPS under five still. Like, he's batting 143. He is a full-on disaster as a player.

Well, amongst ball-up by hitters, he's the worst hitter in baseball. Is he? It's not surprising at all, but yeah. You, we watched them. Yeah, it feels it. And I don't know what they're going to do there. I mean, it's where the,

it's where the aid in back thing is so infuriating. Because if he was fine and he could get up here and play, then you could just DFAM if you want or, you know, whatever. Like you could, but it almost feels like that could be one of the moves today. It seems like something's going to happen today. I think they have like, all right, let's get into that.

What? Because it feels like I think a large portion of this fan base expects Rob Thompson to be fired today. Would you agree with that? I think that's fair. I think that's fair. What do you think is going to happen? Because it does seem like just from talking.

it doesn't seem like you do think Rob Thompson's going to get fired. If you had to bet on it. Well, it's almost one of those things where it's almost one of those things where it's like, I just got to see it before I'm like, because they're so slow with this stuff sometimes. And it is really early in the season. Now, to be fair, Alex Cori did get fired this weekend. And that guy won a World Series in Boston. Yeah.

And they have a better record than the Phillies. They do. And I don't think they want to fire Rob Thompson. So I think that they're being, I think they're being about as careful as they can. I wonder if they're saying, hold on. Like, let's go through this stretch now. You're not facing the Cubs. They have a much.

Yeah, they got the Rockies coming up. They got the Giants coming. They got some like easier games coming to the A's. Like they now, to be fair, I mean, the, these teams should be looking at the Phillies and saying, oh, look, we got the Phillies coming up. That's sweet. So. Yeah.

I mean, the Rocky just went into New York. Rockies just took, what a double header yesterday against the Mets. Mickey's the best player in baseball. I mean, holy, God. How about it? Should you get them? You know, I'm starting to get my mentions. Why did they trade them?

Oh! It was four years ago, you know? Like, I love, Maggie. I love Mickey. Me too. We always say that. Our guy wears a high hope shirt. Like, come on.

It's our guy. Yeah, yeah. So very, very happy for Mickey and the Rockies. Paul D. Podesta, by the way, just comes back into baseball and has a deep playing competitive. It's so great. I do like that. Yeah.

So, so, yeah, Rockies. I do not want to see this, this pitching. staff face the a's offense. I really, oh, buddy, I know, Langalears and Kurtz and Rooker and all these

dudes just ripping us. You know, but you know who hits a lead off before the A's? Is it Sondersome? No, Kurtz. Kurtz is betting leadoff

for them now? I saw they batted Langalears lead off a couple of times, too. Best catcher in the A. L. West. What a stud that guy is. Yeah.

So, so, like maybe they're saying themselves, let's see what this stretch is, and we'll give some sacrifice lamb today before firing Rob Thompson.

I also don't think they want to fire Kevin Long. Why, though? Can we get into this? You sent me, was it you sent me the quote that Kevin Long said? So if people haven't heard it, essentially Kevin Long said one of the issues with hitting is they have not faced enough left-handed pitching

in batting practice. Like, first of all, why? You could get any left-handed guy who could throw 80 or whatever for batting practice. There's probably a million of them. Like, why are you? And then the fact that that's the excuse they're giving, like it is such a, honestly, Jack, it's one of the dumbest things I feel like I've ever heard a coach of one of my teams say. Yeah, I mean, it was, it was one of the things that I'm on my deathbed.

I'm not going to forget Kevin. Saying that I, the reason we get it left end of pitching is because we don't have a left-handed batting practice pitcher. I'm simply never going to get over it. It's one of the most excuse making embarrassing. I can't believe it. Yeah, I know. And if I'm John Middleton, I read that, I'm like,

you're making me look like it. Get out. I'm like, get out. You're fired. I can't believe you said that, you moron. Get out.

They gave him, but they gave me a three-year extension this all season because he's apparently, oh, the best in the sport. All the Hall of Famers, love this guy. And they'll tell you how great he is.

I know. I know. I know. I mean, what I don't understand, too, like, and I would like reporters. Because Rob Thompson was asked about Kevin Long yesterday after the game and full support.

I think he's one of the best in the game. We got a bunch of all-famers. I'll tell you that. Why don't reporters follow up and say, well, why have players not progressed? Like, why is Alec Bone worse? Why is Price and stuff? Like, question this. Tell us what Kevin Long is doing that is good because it's not showing up on the field.

Like, we just, he just says this. He's great at it. Why? Show us. Tell us. And explain why people have reverted so much under him. No one's gotten better under Kevin Long. Nobody.

Like Brandon Marsh, I guess, a little bit against right? He hasn't learned it lefties. Like, what is this guy doing? Well, you know, my theory is that he just all, he sits in his office. I know this is oversimplifying what he does. But my theory is he sits in his office. He goes on eBay, types in all the players. He buys their baseball cards.

And then he hands it to them. He says, check the back of the baseball card. That is what he does all day. That is my theory on what Kevin Long does all day. Sits on eBay, buys all the cards, hands in the players, and say, hey, check the back of the baseball card. Do that, boys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything's fine.

Just, hey, keep doing you. Keep doing you. I wish I had a better idea. I wish I had a better idea. I know. Now, see, this is. Where are you going with this? in the minors like i do i do think we're seeing more of the the modern approach to hitting which is

like pull the ball in the air and you know it's not all about lifting launch it's looking to slug and do different things and they're not just doing the same thing over and over again on offense like to do it to major league level and and not really seeing any change you know i i wish i had a better answer for what kevin long does i i do think sometimes we scapegoat the hitting coach too often but also like I've worried about the you've been talking about this for a while that the game might have passed Kevin Longby like for a couple years now you've brought that up yeah so I've had that fear but it's also like I don't really know I just I when I watch him and I want to watch this team and you see other teams and you see how like these hitters are just getting so much better and I know

Schwabber had the career year last year and that was awesome and I mean try it three or four let's not talk about it. I understand he won the batting title. But in the AAL, it would have won the best. The most nonsense batting title of all time. So, and Marsh has gotten better, but it's just like they have been, and I don't care what the numbers say. I mean,

the Eagles offense was like seventh in points one year. Yeah, totally. And we know, yeah, we have eyes. We're an eyetestman. Elliot would come on and be like, oh, they're actually a weed offense. It was pretty annoying. They're not. They're not. But that's how we felt watching the Phillies for the last three years. It's just

I know the numbers at the end look fine, but watching them night and night out, it doesn't feel that way. And I wish I could say they need to find the Caleb Gotham of hitting coaches, which is like, you know, advancing the sport and being up to par with where the sport is trending. But that's not hot in the streets right now. I will say, though, if they, if this ends in the Caleb Gotham firing, this podcast is over. Oh, buddy. Yeah, no, no, no. We're riding. We're going back.

If we bring back like Brian Price, you know. Like those days would be would be would be furious. So I wish I knew what he did. I just I feel like I've watched enough baseball and around the game where you see much more modern approaches. And I just feel like everything here is in the Stone Age where they're talking about, you know, using the entire field and like and things like that. And that's just little league stuff now. Like there's the game has changed hitting wise.

and I feel like the Phillies are behind. And that's my worry about where this thing is trending. I think pitching wise, they're fine. You know, I think Cotham will figure it out. I have confidence in that. But it feels like they're just behind in a lot of things. And hitting is one of them. And then, you know, eventually we'll get to the president of baseball opposite.

If the game has passed him by, which has been a concern for a little bit now. All right. Take back in a sec. Last thing, because you did say it feels like something's going to happen today. Yeah. Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but put your prediction cap on. What is, if something happens today, what do you, like, make a prediction? What do you think the thing is?

Is it Kevin Long, is out, boom? Is it top or is it what? Like, what do you think if you had to guess what happens? It does kind of feel like we're coming to a head on bone. I don't know. Like, they've been playing auto camp at third base recently down in Lehigh Valley. Wow. Now, he started the week playing left field and then the last two out of the last three games,

he's played third base. So maybe. I also don't, like, it's not going to be Mattingly if they move on from, from Dom. It seems like he doesn't want it. I don't think he wants it. Yeah. I don't think, which look, I can understand with his son in the front office and stuff.

Like, there is like, it's a weird thing. I get it. Like if he wants. And also, I bet you're if Dom Manningly, you don't want to, like, he's probably friends with Rob Thompson. Like, I don't know if he wanted to cut. Especially when you come in here and everyone's like, oh, they're bringing him in to take Topper's job.

Like, maybe he's like, be like, that was never the case. I don't want to be a part of that. I could understand it from him respect. Yeah, so it's not Cora. Like, again, so we should just talk about the Cora thing. Like, Alex Cora in 2018, and we have talked a lot about 2018 Red Sox on this podcast. So much on this pod, yes. Through the years.

But his, the way he managed that entire postseason was the single greatest manager you'll run, I think I've ever seen. I mean, you know. Adam Tito with Andrew Miller. Those are the two. Tito, Bochy and 14. Bochee and 14 was special. But Alex Cora was crazy that year. And, you know, I feel like the Red Sox a lot.

I think my thing with Cora is that I think Craig Breslo is a disaster. And not just that. John Henry, the ownership group, the way they've run that franchise. Like, I think they put Alex Cora in a really bad position. And I think that he probably, I think he's probably relieved, honestly. to get fired and move on. Because I think he was probably getting sick and tired of the whole operation up there. And, you know, the relationship with Dave seems very, very real.

I mean, they apparently they still talk, which I think is notable here. I thought it was kind of notable that according to Zalecki, they wanted to ask him about Corey yesterday. Any declined comment? That's very notable. Where he could have easily said, we're not. We're not tired. He could have easily said that. easy. Hey, Rob Thompson is our manager.

Boom. Move on. So I thought that was kind of notable. But with Cora, like, I think that the thing up there with everything going on and the front office being super, super involved, that would be appealing here where I think that, you know, Dave would just let Alex Cora cook. And the other thing is that I just haven't seen a player say one thing about Alex Cora about not liking him. I mean, every quote seems like we.

They love him. I think it was Connolly early yesterday. I was talking about we played the way AC would have wanted us to play. And they're all furious about their firing. No, it seems like that they are not happy that core is gone. Former players are saying that this is like bleeping your pants and changing your shirt. Yeah. When firing core, like maybe him and Devers didn't get along or something I think I remember at the end because he wanted to go play first base like they wanted him to.

But I think that also was mismanaged from Craig Breslo's standpoint as well. And the money. They didn't want to pay that like the, or the, uh, they paid Devers and the, uh, There was a bunch of stuff. Well, they paid Devers to make up for the Moogie thing. To make up for the moogie thing. And then they didn't want to be on Devers anymore, you know? So, yeah, I mean, it's one of these things where it almost feels like a raft off of Titanic where it's right there.

And I know that there's this thing about how you have to interview them and it's not easy. And let me make this very clear. Like, they'll hire Alex Corps if they want to hire Alex Corps. Yeah. Like, they'll figure out whatever loop. poll or interview them nonsense interim thing like they'll figure it out if they want to hire alex cora you can hire alex cora it's it's not like all these hoops you have to jump through if they want to hire alex cora they can hire outscora totally agree and i just think it's it's

it's a last ditch effort to get a different voice in here that has one that has a good relationship with dave dombrowski that has played the game maybe there's a level of accountability and it and it could squeeze like the last juice out of this thing because while I don't think it's Rob Thompson's fault, I also do wonder about it being stale in there and and bringing in Alex Cora who did win in 18. He reached the ALCS in 21. I think he's gotten a good amount out of pretty en-roasters the last couple of years up in Boston. It felt like they always got hot in September and and they kind of went on a run from there. I just think the guys that I think guy's freaking awesome man i love alice cora and i think he's one of the few difference making

managers in baseball i really do and this is for me it's too clear and obvious that they should go and get alks cora and have him come in here be an outside voice be something different i think the last time it happened that guy managed two teams and one year is 91 and i think nebrowski was the gm no way really because the expos were involved in it wow so so man it just feels like a get out of jail free card of and and by the way if it comes in and doesn't it doesn't go well and the players still suck and blah blah blah blah well that becomes even more obvious at the trade deadline what you have to do yeah but he's sitting right there and i think the mess would be interested in him you know i i i do think that stearns and mendoza like stearns at mendoza was sterns's

hand-picked guy i don't know how much he really wants to move on from for as much as dombrowski likes rob thompson it wasn't he didn't pick him yeah agree you know Alex Cora was like and the way you talked about Alex Cora in the past I don't know how that those feelings don't just go away and it's I think they got to do it I would fire Tabor and I again I don't think it's Tauber's fall I feel bad I would fire Tapper today if I could get out of course like I would it's not it's not even question to me Alex Cora is to what you said I think he's one of the best managers in the sport I would think Schwerber probably has a relationship with him for were played up there you know well well well Cora, there was a cold... Was that the year? Well, it was 21 when they traded for... Yeah, yeah, I thought so. Yeah, I mean, they traded for him

the trade that line from the nationals. I wasn't sure if it was the year Cora was gone. No, no, no, no. And before the playoff game last year, I think Rob Bradford asked him of baseball and his morning an Odyssey podcast. He asked him, are you, like, intrigued by college

over his free agency? And he said, very intrigued. Yes. You know, so yes, I do think. And look, I think that Schwerber, you know, being a leader in the clubhouse, that could be a good, you know, entree point. If court does come in, the clubhouse, all that. So I'm with you. I don't know that it'll have them, obviously, but I am fully on board with Oaksora.

All right, let's get to take back. Borderline need, Alxora. Yeah, I kind of like, yeah, desperately maybe. Yeah. Speaking of Schwerber, this is one of things my take bag. And this is not the most important thing in the world. But does he have to be showing so much. gray the first year into a five-year contract.

This is very funny that you said this because Elliot texted this. So you might want to be a little careful with your take. You're on an, you're on an Elliott baseball take line. It's a lot of gray. I mean, it's just a lot of gray. Just lie to me and put some, you know, hair darkener in or whatever. Like, I don't know. I get Thompson, whatever Thompson does for his air.

It's year one, man. It's year one of the deal. You're 32, you know? third three whatever it's I I don't need I'm okay with it but mostly because I have gray hair so I accept it other thing that's bothering me now because they're losing yeah when they were winning this didn't bother me because it shows how serious they are and workman like sure but like so I have grown in a lot of ways in baseball I don't get super bothered by the celebrations out at second base although I could do without them.

The first baseball ones, do drive me nuts, like, like, shut up. It's a single, all right? Whatever.

You're talking about like a walk-off. I personally think that if you rip a double, you don't need to do the big, you know, celebrations, unless it's like a meaningful double. Not every time,

like, oh, oh, you're talking about any doubt. I thought you were talking about like a walk-off when they all run out. No, no, no, no.

Oh, I got you like this. Oh, I'm good with this. I don't disagree. I don't disagree. But I've grown. It doesn't bother me too much. But, like, I also would only do it if they get a big hit regardless. I get it.

The one thing, though, all these other teams, the Mariners have a trident. I know. I know. Dude, the trident's so cool, too. And it seems like it just energized. The Ljays have that jacket. Like, the teams have stuff. The pirates have a cone.

Yeah. The pirates have a cone. I just, we got nothing. You do nothing. We never do anything. We're like, Brad, Brad Miller bringing in a,

you know, bamboo hat. We got nothing going on. Bamboo tree, I mean, we got nothing going on. And hats. He had that he was, was Brad Miller both the hat and the tree,

I think? Yeah. Yeah. Both them. The bamboo. Without Brad Miller, we don't do anything. So I just want them to have something in the dugout tomorrow night.

Maybe stubby you can bring it. I don't know. Like, you're back, Garrett. And you should be the backup catcher again. And it's good to have you back. Like,

or just, have it this. I would just pass Garrett's stubs down. Oh, up and down. Like just, they're having crowd surf. Like crowd surf.

Dude, he's the best idea yet. I just, yeah. Can we do something fun? Like, can we do something that maybe loosen

everything up a little bit? They are so not fun. They're like the least fun team. And to your point, that is a great point because it, you know, something fun like that would be awesome and I think it could get them going.

But it just, it's not just the one thing. It's the way, it's like their vibe. They're always lifeless there. It seems like they're just sitting there. They're never like, there's so little energy in that,

dug out and for that team that, of course, you know, they're not going to play. Like, it just, of course. They're not playing well. And it looks like it. I totally says, they're starting to show us in life, though. He's one of the few guys, him and Sosa. I feel like the only two guys are really showing any life ever. That's why they need to bring up Stuart Barrowa.

You got to bring up Stuart Barrow from the, from, from Triple-A. Oh, you hit a home run yesterday. Any relation to Anhele Barraa? I don't think so. But he's very fun. I love him a lot. I'm not getting to the minor league minute yet, but I do love him very much. It's just a little drop.

I like a little dynamite dropping. Good, good, good. Monty. How did you not have a lefty up in the sixth on? Oh my God. This is such a good point by you. This is such a good point by you. I mean, what are we doing here?

First off, first off, Rob, for however long you are our manager. For the next few minutes, Rob, listen. Yes, yes. You have your 22-year-old prospect who just got through five innings pitching well enough, right? Good enough. And I know he's at 75 pitches. and he said he was still throwing well. He was starting to get hit in that six.

You could tell. You could feel it. Come on. If you feel it on TV, you got to feel it in the ballpark, you know, and to just get pants like that with Michael Harris

just coming off the bench. Oh, so annoying. And it was, it wasn't a good pitch from Painter. I get that. And Michael Hears is a good player. Like,

you know, and he's back, by the way. Yeah. Oh, dude, he's back. They're all back. Dude,

the Braves are so back. The Braves are awesome. I hate it. Yeah. It just rake. They rake. Like all they do is just spray the wall over the field and hit home runs. I know.

I know. I know. I know. Meanwhile, they have Mauricio Dubon and then we have Dylan Moore. Exactly. A $300 million payroll had had Dylan Moore in center field yesterday and Felix Reyes and left field. That's what we're dealing with.

Dillmore can't play center field, by the way. Dylan Moore. Mr. like plays all the positions. He was horrendous in center field. He is not good out there. I do think I could get. Dylan Moore out. I think I would find a way to get Dylan more out. That dude, you might be able to

you can not hit. Dude, he's, I mean, he's, and why is he always, why is he always trying to hit a home run? I know. I feel like every single time he's up there. Fricking bunt, dude. What are you doing? Well, he tried that in the Cubs game. He couldn't get a bun town. He couldn't get a bunt down. So at least, yeah, that's why he's here. Yeah. God, they're just the worst. Anyway, that was a huge mistake from Thompson. And, yeah, like,

paint, it's funny for all of my takes that's been horrible this year. Just horrible. Horrible take year from me. Just a whole bunch of misses. I think I've been pretty spot on with what I felt about Painter.

You have actually, yeah. He's going to pitch to about a four. He's had enough moments where people are like, he's going to have flashes. Yeah, you see it,

yep. But he's just not consistent enough. And on the road, I think it takes a while, but on the road is definitely going to be a thing for a little bit because I think he lets the game speed up on him, speed up on him.

And I don't know, he's just not as crisp. But I still think, I still think the stuff's good. Like, I'm definitely more, like, I think Painter's just going to be sick by the time he's 25, which I know that that hurts to hear because he's, but he's 22, you know, I'm just super young. He's 22. He's going to be 23. I think he might actually be 23.

It happens a lot guys. Like, Scher came up wasn't great right away. Like, you know, it takes time. And perfect. We're heading into a rebuild. So. Yeah, exactly. By the time we're good again, it'll be great.

Yeah. You can just let them. let him grow. So I just think he has to refine, I think he has to refine his, is his arsenal. Arsenal's there, but it's all,

like when I, when I watch this stuff, it's all B plus, which is good for a young pitcher to have feel for that. Like, it's B, B plus. But for him to reach, like,

and I think he can, but for him to reach Wheeler and Halliday and like what his ceiling could be, all that stuff has to get sharper. So like, we're kind of just scratching the surface with him. And he will get there, I do believe.

but there's still just little things that he's got to get better at. And I think you're seeing him grow. I thought Friday was a growth start for him, but still, you got to know when to get him out of there. And that was one of those moments. I'm totally with you.

No, I think you nailed that. Wheeler was amazing. So that was going to be, I was going to say we should get to Wheeler. So, yeah, I was, I was really impressed. I couldn't believe it because that's not what he was. And shout to Matt Gell for asking him after the game. He was like,

we sandbagging everyone with the, whole velocity thing up in AAA and he's like, nah, you know, like adrenaline up here and things like that. So, you know, hopefully that's the case and hopefully the velocity's here to stay. It's just crazy how it just looked like Zach Wheeler. I mean, he was just, he was getting a miss on the fastball again. Everything was playing off of it well. It looked it, had life again. Yeah. It was great. I mean, it was, it was great. So I mean, I'm sure. First good thing that's happened. I'm sure he has to walk in. It's probably walking in like, what the hell is what the hell is what? What's wrong with you guys? I leave, I leave for for three weeks.

All right, what the hell? Yeah, yeah. You guys couldn't make it the end of April without me. So, yeah, it was good to see them. He helped elevate the boys for one night, and then Aaron Nolan took the help. Momentum is only as good as the next day's starter. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Great quote for a reason. It is a great quote for a reason. So Wheeler was amazing, and that's good to see. A quick little minor league minute. Not like, yeah, buddy. Not like super, super, you know, not super great week for a lot of the boys. Just actually a minute this time. Might actually a minute.

Like Contiore got a couple hits, which is good to see. You know, and like he's still hitting him for 300 with an OPS over 880. So that's good. The big name, though, is Illyrio Ferebus. Yes, it is. Clearly. Now, it's spelled F-E-R-R-E-B-U-S. So in this city we say Faribus.

Feribus, yeah, buddy. It's Faribouce. but I'm already ready to say the Farabus, you know. Get on the Ferrabus, baby. Get on the Ferrabus. Dude, he's pretty sick, man. He's 21. He's playing for Clearwater.

He wasn't a super big. He wasn't a big. I do love the Thresher's. I do love Thresher's. He wasn't a big bat like last year, but it's taking a huge step forward. He's sitting like 300 with an OPS over 930, I believe, and catching, you know, behind the That was just about to ask what position.

Yeah, he's a catcher. He's the, he's the, he should be the next catcher. You know, just from the standpoint of like a lot of the guys they have, like Hediger and Ricketts are just kind of, you feel like just guys. Or guys kind of, yeah. Or guys. Not nappy, but nappyish. But, but I think he's one that could be a, he could be a real one. Okay.

That's awesome. The Faribus is, is he'd be a great name. Great name. How about the tease of bringing up Alex McFarland for one day? I know. I know. I mean, you want to talk about. I saw, see, we got the, you know, you get the, we get the emails from the Phillies

with like the moves and stuff. I got so excited for you when I saw it. And then it was like, yeah. And they sent them right back down. I know. Couldn't even tease us. Because they, because they, they released Walker and they basically just needed a roster spot to Wheeler.

You know, that's what it was, right? Well, but they also, like, didn't, they released Taiwan before the game or whatever. And they were about to go two straight games without a 26th. man, which when you're losing nine straight. Yeah, buddy. It doesn't feel like the best idea in the world. It's not the smartest thing, yes. So they got McFarland there for one day and then send him back down, which is highly

disappointing. But does show, hey, maybe this. They're thinking about him. They're thinking about him. Yeah, that's right. They're listening to the pot. And then the last guy is Cody Balker, who was really not pitching well. The first like three starts for the Clearwater Threshers.

Again, only Thresher's talking about. And it was crazy about him as his first things were sick. He would like strike out the side and look awesome. Well, he finally put it together his last start, three innings, seven Ks, no hits, no walks. And so he is someone that I just feel like the Dodgers would turn into an absolute menace. Like he's got this funky little delivery, super rising fastball. If he can learn to throw, if he can, he's like 92 to 93 right now with the. the Super Rise and stuff, if he can ever be like 95 to 97, I think he's sick.

Love it. But they have to develop his, they got to develop some velocity there, I think. But he is, he is one of the intriguing arms of last year's draft class. Gage Wood, I watched his, he pitched twice this week. It was Tuesday. And it was maybe the most nonsense, like, bad luck I've ever seen. Now it's minor league baseball. So like, he allowed a couple runs.

I don't be worried at all. He was great. then he started yesterday the first guy like ambushed him hit a triple but then he was fine after that he allowed one run he only pitched two innings though which was kind of odd i mean he should be pitching more now and yeah he's he's special so um so yeah cody balkner one one to one to look at love it love it my league minute's my favorite i'm really in on it all right um so we will be back later today if rob thompson gets fired yeah how what if kevin long gets fired I don't know.

So I think if Alec Boehm gets cut, yes. I think if Topper gets fired, yes. What if Kevin Long, do we have anything new to say about Kevin Long? We kind of just all said it. Yeah. We don't need to do a podcast. Yeah, I agree. Okay.

All right, well, we'll see what happens? Maybe we'll talk to you later today, if not later in the week. What are we got? The Giants coming to down, right? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

All right. One of three? Don't get sweats. All right. We'll be back later in the week. Until that, he's birds themselves. Rosen lasagna, medium power, 15 minutes. Sounds like Ojo time.

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