High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Sure, Doing an Ironman is Tough But You Ever Watch the Phils Lose 2 of 3 to the Guardians?

Episode Date: July 23, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phils losing two of three to the Guardians. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Yeah! Oh, it is another edition of the IELTS podcast. I guess, you know, they won today. That was certainly felt when that ball left the bat against Kimbrell. Like, it was like, oh, so it's going to be like this, huh? It's like we can't even just. And look, you know, overall, my overall thought is like, you know, teams lose four or five in a row in July. Like it's not the end of the world.

It like the teams the Phillies are competing with. I mean, the Marlins have lost eight in a row until they won today. Like I think the Diamondbacks got swept. Giants got swept. So, like, you know, the sky's not falling. But could we play a little better baseball, please? Could we hit the ball every once in a while? I don't know.

Out of the ballpark. What a crazy thought. Who would have thunk that this series, like, this series in Cleveland, that by far the single thing that we could count on the most, like the number one, oh, that's lockdown, was Bryce Harper's defense at first base. What's going on, Jack? How you doing, buddy? So, like, I'm semi, like, I'm just letting you know and letting our entire listening audience know that i needed that game about as much as i needed them to win game five last year in the nlcs like

it was like it was that serious of a game it was like because i just i i know that there's other teams playing bad baseball right now but like and listen no one's better at spinning anything into a positive when it comes to the phillies like like us no one in the business can spin positive like like you and i yeah you in particularly it is just so like i can i can put on a brave face and say paint the smile on no problem and say listen losing four games in a row happens all the time you know like oh five straight whatever it's july it is just freaking torture to go through and What they put us through, especially today, where it's like they get an early lead. Of course, they can't put it away.

They have to only score one. Yeah, well, they also go down early and then have to fight back. No, but even the first. Even the first inning, the pitchers on the ropes. They get the one, but then they go down 3-1, and you're like, of course.

Then they have to battle back. you're like worse and then they have to battle back like they're always behind it feels like at some point in every baseball game oh it's the new it's the new 2023 phillies bit where it's like hey we're gonna go down by at least three and let's see it's usually three it feels like it's like a three run deficit at some point always um but like i mean and then and then you know and i'm not a blame the announcers guy but i mean we're teaming up and reuben trying to blow the game today i mean i mean not only was it the like oh let's have a fun plane ride home like a second before the fry home run but then in the smart days coming in because jeff hoffman because god forbid you're

a freaking big leaguer and just can come in and throw strikes it's it's josh nailer bow nailer leading the game off or leading the the the whatever 10th he's got a 192 batting average and we can't throw a freaking strike it's just like i i i can't compute it and then they're talking about how like oh this is gonna be a great And it's like, can we just win the freaking game? So, like, I was very locked in. I let out. And, like, again, I'm sitting up here. I am outside Lake Saranac.

Look at you. Big Lake Saranac guy up there. My 63-year-old father-in-law is running an Ironman right now. But what I just went through with the Phillies was much more challenging. Like, especially this weekend. I mean, sure. Sure. He had to swim.

Your 63-year-old father is a psychotic person. Yes. Ironmans are insane, dude. I could not complete one third of any of the challenges. Less. One sixth of any of the three portions of the race. I mean, come on.

Let me just lay the scene. I could maybe walk 10 miles. I certainly couldn't run 26, to tell you that much. Let me lay the scene for you here. It's me, who I assume that most people listening to this podcast know me. It would be weird if they didn't, buddy.

I would hope so. You're feeling one right now. It's good. I like this. James, I promise you, you have no idea the mental strain that game put on me. Like, I needed to win so bad. Like, I was in such a dark spot.

I was like, can't wait for this whole core to be out of here. Like, I'm ready for a new baseball team. But, like, all right. So, my 63-year-old father-in-law is running an Ironman. My brother-in-law who is a you know ex football player you know like pretty you know in good shape guy and i'm just sitting here like watching the phillies every night yeah meanwhile this like this so this morning they left at like 4 30 they had two miles swim to start this whole thing off and then they had a 112 mile bike ride and then currently right

now they're running a full marathon it's just like it does not doesn't compute but i watched uh craig campbell both flows for save as a philly so yeah so it's same thing who's had a tougher day i mean if you really want a similar thing i I will. Let's go back to the answers. I'm right there with you. Thank you. Like Ruben. I mean, Tom, love you guys. Like, also, what are we doing?

Talking about this being a great win. This was like had to have it. Nice. Thank God we didn't get swept in Cleveland when it wasn't like, yay, best game of the season. It's amazing. I will not forget where I was when they salvaged a series not

getting swept in Cleveland that one time coming from behind. What a thrill ride. It wasn't like it was the greatest game we'd ever seen. If the Indians had hit a walk-off Grand Slam, they could have said what an amazing win that was. But, like, you know.

Wow. Jose Ramirez at the plate with the bases loaded, I definitely thought he was hitting a walk-off grand slam. I was like, if I had had to bet, I would have bet on a walk-off grand slam. Well, and, of course, like, he hit it off the end of the bat. But in my fragile state that I'm in, I was like, oh, great. That's what, four rows deep? And I think Cast but in my fragile state that i'm in i was like oh great that's what four rows deep and i think and i think castellanos was fragile state well and like cassie's been

great in the field this year and um even though i do not appreciate the return of 2022 castellanos to play um at all by the way like can we believe it or not believe it or not didn't miss that guy at all i completely disliked him so yeah um i thought that i if i there would have been nothing and i mean nothing more classic than that ball falling in like like casty thinking that ball is six rows deep in right field like it fell in yesterday jack i i i didn't want to bring it up but um dude it was like the the series out there was the most like infuriating it was infuriating but it was like it was one of those put put some hair on your chest philly season or philly series it was infuriating but it was like it was one of those put put some hair on your chest philly season or philly series it was like things have been going too well it's like

hold up guys all right like yeah you're you know get your head out of the sky all right you know it was like you know what it was like it was like that cub series coming out of the all-star break last year yeah we're the cub series in september yeah we're in September. We're all jacked up. We got a really good baseball team. Yeah, let's go, boys. Then it's like, oh no, you're going to go face the Cleveland Guardians. They're just going to

you're not going to be able to hit all of a sudden. You're going to drop the ball. You're going to lose a 1-0 game where the one run score isn't a ball that drops between three fielders. It's just like, of course i'm shocked they won today to be honest i'm like floored that they won that baseball game today yeah well and um speaking of like things i don't appreciate on the tv broadcast um Poor complaint. I like this. This is good. Just complain about the broadcast. This is good.

You guys can say about Franski after too. Any stalker Franski thoughts now? Just, you know, what do you got? Well, in true sicko mode, I was listening. So Jill and I were hiking up like a mountain today with Walk. And, you know, we're on our way. Jill and I were hiking up a mountain today with Walk. Jack's a big hike guy for those who don't know. Yeah, but. Outdoor loves to hike.

And it's funny because it's almost like I'm saying this in a voice where it sounds like I'm joking. I'm not. Jack loves to hike. It is one of his favorite things. I like being outside. There's one thing I like looking at more than philly's baseball it is rivers so i love i'm a big rivers guy you're more of an outdoorsman i'm more of an indoorsman yeah yeah well you live in south philly at this point you know my perfect day is one when i don't walk out the door

My perfect day is one when I don't walk out the door. That's inspiring. Way to move the body. Whatever I could dream. That sounds like a great time. But in true sicko fashion, we were coming down because we were working our way up, but it was getting too steep and it just rained and it was slippery. I didn't feel like losing Walker.

It's a good goal to have. I was like, like can we just for my own sanity just turn around so we turned around and on the way down it's like 140 i was like listen we're probably like 20 minutes from the car i put i put on franski and stocker for the walk down and like i had these people walking past like what is wrong with you man they're learning're learning about Bryson Stott at the plate. But yes, my broadcast gripe is that I don't appreciate having to have the stats thrown in my face of what a guy has done with runners in scoring position with less than two outs or two outs or more. Because, hey, stats graphics person, I've lived it, pal. I know. And everyone, the LB average is like 53%.

I swear to God, James, every Philly is 42%. They are all 42% when it comes to two outs and running scoring position. It's like, I don't need to be reminded of what this season has been because essentially, I think the story of the season has just been so many missed opportunities. They should be, they're a much better ball club than what their record is. Even the four-game losing streak that easily could have turned into five,

they could have won every game. I think today was the one where it was like and they probably didn't deserve to win this like jose ramirez let a ball go off his glove bryce like didn't run to first base in a weird play that like it was so weird i thought it was i thought i thought he thought it was foul and we all did yeah and like shout out to schwarber on that play because schwarber played it out the right way and schwarber busted it to first there schwarber looked quick i know schwarber was like his you know you know when you're like and this is you know no i'm not saying schwarber's fat but that

like classic fat guy but with the fat with the little legs that run really quickly he had that kind of thing going on it was good well yeah like i just said i'm not gonna show her fat but i'm gonna make an analogy about fat guy running and say that was shorter i didn't call him fat oh what's next you're gonna put the benny hill music behind him um how many plays this season can we put the benny on like if we made a montage of benny hill worthy plays of shore with the season between swings and defensive plays and whatever i'm sure it would be a pretty freaking long benny hill montage so yeah um but what's so funny is like you put bryce at first for for two games you get shorebrow to left field and bang flying around

yesterday too that was a really nice dive and play me no i had i literally had written in my in my in my uh take back i was like of course the second that harping to play first schwarber figures out how to play left lying around left all right let's get to some stuff because you do have to go out and you know welcome in your you're much more you know capable as a human tougher whatever you want to say stepfather well i mean i actually i don't he's going to be done for like five hours. Father in law, I should say. Well, that's great.

Well, it's a grind. It's a full... Yeah, you think. It's a full... And you know what the worst part is, Seltzer? What? Is they can't listen to anything. So, like, they can't have their phones.

Oh, that's a disaster. Like, I would never do this. Dude, imagine being stuck in your own thoughts for like like he was hoping to get done i'm trying to think of things that i would do like i'd rather i'd rather sit in a room by myself with nothing but something i can stick in my ears for the entire time it took them to do all that than to do one mile of a run personally he was saying last night he's like yeah i hope i get it done 17 hours oh my god what is this like all right let's get some stuff because we're not it won't be long tonight either way um all right let's talk arvard he was amazing he's like

i mean what the hell like for like throwing the body around like bryce like especially that was like such a classic like sometimes you see guys running the stands you're like all right i get it you know like you know their momentum carry over he like dove into that little area like they're like like was basically like horizontal at one point it's like bryce that wasn't even like trying to protect your body that was almost just like i'm just gonna like throw my body willy-nilly like regardless i mean it did feel like for you know two games it found like the ball found him 8 000 times and to get obviously he's getting thrown over that way but i'm talking like the bat. It felt like an abnormal amount

of plays. Crazy to say, their best first baseman in a decade or 20 years. I don't know. How much better is he than Hoskins or Hall or any of these freaking bums we've seen over there? In two games, he's light years

better than these guys. Dude, when he made a couple of those diving plays today, I was like, because my whole attitude heading into it, James, was like, I just think he's going to be fine there. He's just such like. He's athletic and he's a baseball nerd. And he's just like that guy. You know what I mean? And it's like, so he's making the

diving plays today and i'm like i'm sitting there and i'm like of course he is like like of course he's like turning into what rico bronia you know the follow that one away from the grid um but it's but it's just like it's just like he just goes over there. He's perfectly fine. They even execute like a bunt play towards first base. It's like it takes years, man. Do you know how long it takes to get on that kind of comfortability with someone else over there? And it's just so – so on one hand, it's like, yeah, that's obviously incredible.

And it does show the athleticism of playing first base but well well especially also because like normally it's like you're lumbering guys who play first base like bryce harper is probably in like the high percentile of athletic people who end up at first base you know what i mean well dude dobrowski dobrowski last week said he's the best throwing first baseman in baseball it's like can i can i see him play first dude wasn't his arm falling off like six months ago what is going on right now but i think it's at some point it's like hey look i think i think reese and ryan howard and all these guys are great guys But it's like how does that guy learn the position in a month you guys have been doing this here

It's hot here life He's already he's already one of the five best but three best defensive first base, but I think like Carlos Santana Rico Bronya And that's it like true. I freak was Travis Lee a good defensive first base Like he wasn't I don't remember him being great, but he might have been great Abronia and that's it. Was Travis Lee a good defensive first baseman? Travis Lee was pretty decent. I don't remember him being great, but he might have been great. I feel like Travis Lee could have been great. I think he's solid. Rico is a freaking wizard out there.

Yeah, it's just like, listen, and it's going to help this team so much. I mean, believe it or not, don't think Jake gave us the answer in left field. No, no. Believe it or not, don't think Jake gave the answer in left field. So wait, you're telling me that a guy can have a 1300 OPS in AAA and might not be a big league player? I didn't think that was possible. When you're 30, buddy, and having that 30-year-old with that 1300 OPS in AAA, a lot less impressive than a 20-year-old, 23-year-old, 26-year-old with a 1300 OPS and AAA a lot less impressive than, you know, a 20-year-old, a 23-year-old,

a 26-year-old even, you know. Yeah, dude. JK, clearly not the answer. It opens it up completely. It gives him so many more options. And look, honestly, like, I do think that it could be the best thing for his career to stay there long-term. You know, like, if he's this good at it,

you know, this quick, how good could he be coming at it? And he's, like, a good right fielder, but he's this good at it you know this quick how good could he be coming in he's like a good right fielder but he's not an elite right fielder he's never been like one of the best in baseball or whatever so i don't know you know it's much less pounding on his body over the years to play there you would think like in terms of the throwing and all that stuff so well let me just let me just say The bat plays at first long term. 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. 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. Yeah, let me just say this. I have now seen Bryce Auer play for two games at first base. I'm not prepared to have another first baseman yeah i think it's it right i think he's got what so 2019 2021 32 she's got eight years left after this like i don't

ever want to see him play the next eight years of bryce harper's career first baseman pal congrats now the thing about that is that they're not going to bring back reese unless they want to put but i didn't think they were going to anyway i know yeah but i felt like they were kind of maybe thinking about it we want them to um like i mean i was dude man like let's freaking bring mon soto here whatever like let's freaking go go win the freaking world series boys i will say to your point from before like like, Dave, John, our people in charge, maybe cool it with the hyperbole. Like, you don't need to say Bryce is the best throwing first baseman in baseball.

Like, reign it in. You know, like, don't set those expectations. Like, you know, if we only win one World Series, that'd be a diss win. We don't need to say that. I love it. We don't need to say that, you know. Maybe win one. Maybe win one.

Maybe win one. Maybe win one. Maybe win one. Maybe win one. Maybe let's see Bryce throw before. You know what? We should win more than one. Sure. Good call. Like, yeah.

Win one. All right. Let's just do like, we'll get to the take back in a sec, but anything else from the series that sticks out to you before we move on to specific take back stuff? Because then we have a time. I may as well. Two, like, starters. series that six had to you before we move on to specific take back stuff because then we have it uh i may as well uh two two like starters thought uh i guess the three um i think that the time offer zach wheeler has just paid massive massive dividends like by the way proper use of dividends

would like i just want that for the record yourself that was proper that was absolutely proper i'm really proud of you buddy zach wheeler looks phenomenal just absolutely not proper last time it was 100 not proper wasn't even close um i think zach wheeler looks unbelievable and and the fastball like he has been hitting 97 98 at points this year but the zip wasn't there the zip's there and you know last night i thought seventh eighth he was clearly just like curveball's not getting over sweeper's not getting over i only have a fastball left and the fact that he only had that pitch left and was still able to get um you know get through through those portions of the order, I thought was really, really impressive.

So I think Zach Wheeler is, I think he just looks phenomenal. And I think that time off that they did with him has just, I mean, it could have saved the season because I think you have like legitimately ace level Zach Wheeler back, which I was not sure they were getting. I thought Nola was mostly fine today. I thought he got into a groove after early in the game and really like there's been too many like one nothing in the first inning and him giving up and i know it was like off the top of the wall and all that but him giving up a home run to the first batter out it's just so like he's like he's becoming a cliche it feels like

with it's just like of course yep and you're right like what do you give him seven did he end up going seven today right he's like it's like seven three is like solid like that's fine so you have to get him to three early like he settles in but it's just it's frustrating well there's just been my the issue with the starting staff right now is that it's it's like okay you've battled it's been too much battling you know what i mean like all those guys have just been like battling but it hasn't been shut down and in june it was a lot of shutdown and they just haven't totally had that um besides willow last night so nola again it's kind of been my whole mentality within the whole year it's like yeah he was fine

still not totally difference making right now but taking down seven innings is valuable and then ranger i just i i just i don't i i need like i i i'm starting to to to waver a little bit in my total confidence in ranger to figure it out because i i just feel like all this stuff looks flat right now and I hope it's a little bit of dead arm and I hope it's just like a a bit of a weird stretch in the schedule for him because I mean he didn't have a spring training and he came back whatever but man it's just it hasn't been crisp and for a guy that has been so command oriented just hasn't been hasn't had great command at all um of any of his pitches it feels like so um he looks

really hittable hasn't gotten into a role it feels like he hasn't gone on like a classic ranger rhythm start it feels like he's just kind of fighting himself um all throughout so um i i i thought obviously ranger in june was a massive revelation but man like you're starting to realize the value of one trading for a start deadline and the value in in getting wheeler and all as much rest as possible because i think those are the guys that you're gonna have to ride to a playoff run and i don't know if rangers in that category yet yeah well we hope look i you know we we knew we could trust him from a a uh blood pressure in the moment standpoint and all that type of stuff, which is incredibly important.

Look, I still have a lot of faith in him, but he raised valid concerns, obviously. But, you know, we've seen guys, especially Ranger, go through some ups and downs throughout a season and ultimately get to where he needs to be. So hopefully that's what's going to happen. And, you know, ultimately I still think, I mean, like flipping it to the offense. I mean, as much as the idea of trading for a starter is important. And by the way, Christopher Sanchez has been really good.

Like Christopher Sanchez has yet to really struggle since being given that starter role, at least from an earns runs runs, retry, and all that. I go into the deadline and we'll do our next Sunday or whatever, our perfect deadline pod and all that stuff. I just don't know how you don't go into this and say,

I need some freaking pop in this lineup, man. I need some freaking pop in this lineup. Which is semi-embarrassing frankly i mean just like i mean brandon marsh brandon marsh the only guy who was an ops over 800 in this lineup i haven't seen what happened after today maybe it changed david coming in today like brandon marsh the only player on the freaking team with an OPS over 800? Are you serious? Is that like a real freaking thing? That's insane, dude.

It's embarrassing. Well, the Braves have five, I believe. Like, it's like a murderous row in that lineup. Like, this is asinine. We've got dudes, man. They've got, what, one, two, three, four, five guys making $20 million or more. This year in their lineup, five guys making $20 million or more, and none of them have an OPS over 800.

Like, that's tough. Yeah, well, and especially in a game like last night. Like, listen, I know Bibby's good or whatever. He was better than I expected. Dude has some stuff. Yeah, I was not surprised by gavin and and i think if they if gavin went another inning i thought they would have gotten to him because he kind of lost it but it's just like there's there's it's been it's been the story of the season the

story of the season is that they can't make pitchers pay and they and they can't hit the ball the ballpark and that's been incredibly frustrating given the amount of money that they have invested in this team. And it's like, you know, Schwarber, Schwarber, whatever. Turner, it's, you know. What a disaster, dude. But he's like. But it almost even felt like the outfielder got a bad read on it or whatever.

Like it wasn't. I know it ended up... I think it was a triple, but... He's just... It's not... There's no impact. Those at-bats yesterday in big spots, like the strikeout with the bases loaded, I mean, it's like he's flailing them. He feels...

I know people say it because it's like the most obvious comparison because it's last year or this year, but it really does look like Castellanos last year at times where he goes up there and he's just kind of – he doesn't have any idea what's coming and it's just flailing and stuff. Well, again, I have no idea how you are this far into your big league career and it's just – it like oh i can throw a

slider 58 feet and he's gonna swing at it and it's like it's a lot of like one for fours with a strikeout you know what i mean where it's not like oh here's a double a single a stolen base you know and i don't need a bunch of home runs from trey turner i need a double, a single, a stolen base. I don't need a bunch of home runs from Trey Turner. I need a couple hits, a couple stolen bases, and putting pressure on defenses. It's just been so lack of impact-y from Trey Turner. Sure, he's had some hits against the home run against the Diamondbacks. He's had some hits against the home run against the Diamondbacks. He's had some RBI chances. But it's like for impacting an entire game, the value of Trey Turner,

and why you paid him $300 million, was he's going to hit close to $300 million. He's going to steal a ton of bags. He's going to put pressure on defenses. And he can hit you $20 million in a ballpark like Citizens Bank Park. And it's just not been there. Castellanos, I mean, it's hard not to have the fear that he's reverting back to 2022 Castellanos. I mean, his batting average is down to like 281.

Yeah, he was like over 300 all year. And it's like in a week, it's like down to 280. It's like, whoa. And he's chasing all the time. And he looked at 90. He looks like last year. 96 down the middle in extra innings today. Harper, I think, has been fine. I can't crush Bryce because he's coming back from frickin' Tommy John

and learning how to play first base. Sure, would I love more power? Yeah, and I think it's absolutely necessary. But I can't sit here and complain about Bryce because i think it's absolutely necessary but i i can't sit here and like complain about bryce because i think he's i think he's working his way back for something jt has been just dreadful and i keep waiting for jt to to come out of the like because it's around this time last year so well it's actually not it's 10 10 days past now but it was at this time last year when he had the the the the

blue jay series which was i believe july 13th to the 15th or something like that and after that he was the mvp of the team i keep waiting for that but he just he's just not he's just so unclutched at the moment at the play right now i'm like i anticipated double play coming rather than something good um uh bowman's daughter really good mostly i mean boom obviously want more power but had that i mean the guy's got like almost 60 rbi betting seventh most of the year so i can't crush him for that and started stock so you know when thompson talks post game last night i actually like so i didn't hear him say it but i thought the quotes were important i thought it was important the way that he was like one through five has to start producing because you can make whatever trade you want the deadline and outside of like a juan soto

goldschmidt whatever they're only going to go on a run if they're one through five are great and the fact that he kind of finally was like putting the pressure on them and and to his credit fact that he kind of finally was like putting the pressure on them and and to his credit changed the lineup around today um and starts to put the you know turn the fire up a little bit on those guys stuff matters and it's stuff that that like great managers have to they can't just sit back and be like ah it'll all work out you gotta you gotta have a little bit of fuel in the ball club and i like that last night he took the moment to be like, listen, these guys have to be better. And I think it goes a long way in the clubhouse.

And sure, those guys know they need to be better. They're not going out there looking to suck. But I think putting it on them and being like, you guys got to be better, I hope that it results in those guys kind of carrying the ball club for a little bit. Because it feels like for a majority of this year, it's been the starting staff.

It's been the bullpen. And as we head into August with 19 home games and an easier schedule, this is time for the offense to find its rhythm and just start crushing folks. Yeah, I mean, it has to. They're not going anywhere without those top five guys. I mean, it has to. Like, they're not going anywhere without those top five guys. I mean, they're everything. Again, I said that they got five dudes making 20 mil or more a year in the starting lineup. It's those five guys.

Like, boom, there we go. It's pretty simple. You're not going to win if that $100 million worth of – 100 plus, like 15, whatever it is, a million dollars worth of money comes up small for you like that's just it all right take back we've already gone over the time that we said we would go

which is you know we're good you're an iron man you know one of us is doing something tough I mean sure doing an iron man but try talking about the phillies for 30 plus minutes tell me the real tough guys it's way tougher um it was nice seeing reese on the road you know yeah i i had a one two or three i think

we could have made a bigger d out of it. But whatever. They came back today and won. I agree with you. But still, it's good to see him back on the road and hopefully can be someone that those guys can lean on and say, hey, we need a leader right now, whatever. Things have just felt weird since the Harper at bat. I don't know. It's so weird.

Everything has felt kind of off since Harper decided to pull a tank and a bat for no reason. I hadn't put it together, but you're right. Ever since then, it's been weird. Everything just seems a little tight. You know what I mean? Oh, by the way, the painter thing, we didn't mention that news.

It's happened since then too, which isn't surprising, I think. I was pretty confident at some point tommy john was coming you know people are getting mad at the team saying oh you should have got it right away and it's like look i understand them not getting it right away it's a 19 year old kid you want to try and avoid it i get it but like you know it is what it is it is what it is you can't force someone to get surgery like i just i'm sorry you know like it is what it is. You can't force someone to get surgery. I'm sorry. It is what it is, especially at that age. Listen, if he makes his debut at 21, it's still a really good outcome.

It's still amazing. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah. Yeah, the Bryce and Pat was weird. Bryce and Pat was weird. The weirdest thing is that for someone who's come here and from the moment he got here said every right thing you know i'd boo me and you know the opening press conference and every opportunity he's gotten he said all the right things and mr philadelphia and mr team and mr perfect it's like the weirdest part about this whole thing is that he hasn't talked about it like

that's the weirdest thing is that he's not like getting up and saying hey listen here's what happened you know it's weird yeah whole thing's weird and you're right the vibes changed it feels like everything's been kind of off since that moment um um i just want to like be giddydy about Stott for one second. Not only at the plate, but how about the fact that he knows the rules better than the umpire? I know. Late in the game. That was great.

And then it's not not significant, but stealing the base and leading to a two RBI single by Alec Bome at three stolen bases today did Bryson Stott. You know, it's just like I fight back mostly against the Utley stuff because I don't think it's fair to compare Bryson Stott to a guy who I think should be in the Hall of Fame and my favorite Philly of all time. But that little stuff just it's very rare it's very rare that we

get a really smart baseball player and he's just like he's so smart he knows what to do he's so instinctive and yeah the play last night in the outfield stunk but I also think that's obviously an outfielder's ball I mean it's always an outfielder's ball and he's waiting for someone to call him off

better angle of course it's an outfitter's ball kidding you can see it the whole time he's running backwards essentially like i'm right there with you he's uh i like he's a really fun guy to watch play it's like utley-esque like you're right it's not utley and it's unfair and he probably will never be outley because atley's a Hall of Famer. But he does have Utley vibes with that, the way he – like the baseball rat, the knowing the game, the making smart decisions, the smart at bats, the smart approaches, all that stuff. Well, and the thing that I keep thinking about with Bryson is like he's this right now, his second full year in the big leagues where he's batting over 300,

having clutch moments. What could it be? What's it going to be in five years? I mean, what is a 29 year old Bryson stock? Is it three 30? Is it, you know,

again, like the ceiling on Bryson is super, super high. And he, I, I, there was a thought tonight that I had while watching the game. Is that, is he the second best player in the Phillies?

Like the second best offensive player in the Phillies? I think Bryce is the best. Is Bryson Stott the second best offensive player in the Phillies? Yeah, I mean, Castellanos. Position player. First part of the season was Castellanos. But like if I had to get... Putting it this way,

if I had to have someone go up to get a hit to save my life, I would go Harper 1, Stott 2. Yes. I think he's elevated himself to that status. And it's not that the other guys are bums. He's my second guy that I would choose to save my life with that.

And in a team of stars that you hope start playing like it, it's impressive that a second-year kid with not super high expectations is, I think, the second-best player in the Phillies, or second-best position player. Yeah. Position player in the Phillies. This Orioles series is going to be a lot of fun, I think. Oh, sure. Is fun the word? Yeah. The last time I think they played the Orioles series is going to be a lot of fun, I think. Oh, sure.

Is fun the word? Yeah. The last time I think they played the Orioles at home was when, remember the pop-up that Hector Naras was on the mound for? Oh, my God. No, that was in Baltimore, I think, wasn't it? No, it was here. It was 100% here.

Was it? Yes. Okay, well, then, yeah, I remember that. That sucks. Yeah. It sucks, dude. And that was when the Orioles weren't even good. Now the Orioles are like the best team in baseball.

No big deal. Them and the Braves or whatever. Yeah, they are. Braves, Orioles, World Series, and we all cry. They are. The O's are awesome. So it's going to be a – it's one of those series where it's like, yeah. Dude, you know they – since Adley Rutschman got brought up,

they haven't been swept in a series. It's unbelievable. I mean, they passed the Rays. We all remember the Rays start. They were 13-0 and this and that. Oh, the Rays like clinched the A-league. Nope, they didn't. The Orioles are in first place, or were at least.

Yeah. Well, like we always say. Like we always say, don't overreact to April baseball. That's what we always say. No one's better at not doing that than us. Rushman does remind me a ton of Buster Posey, though. Same kind of player. The bone play in bottom eighth

where the ball hit off the pitcher. That never works out for us, right? Oh, never. And a nice stretch by Harper, too, on that. Yeah. That was good. Never happens. It never happens.

How I thought about this series and really how they played, even the Brewer series, which was annoying, just kind of looked like they're pressing, heading into the deadline. I think this is a team that needs a deadline to happen as soon as possible. And they took off last year because, I think, in part, think this is a team that needs a deadline to happen as soon as possible like and like they took off last year because i think in part the deadline was over and like they knew who their team was and it's go time like they look like a team that needs to know who their team is because like they're just like they just look like such a pressing team right now so the deadline is is

two tuesdays from now and i just i't think they'd come fast enough for this team. I think they needed to get here. Yeah, I agree. I think it's a good point. Yeah, that's pretty much it. That's pretty much it. They really need Sir Anthony and Alvarado. Shock.

Yeah, buddy. Yeah, buddy. Jeff Hoffman. Listen, Junior Marte did his thing. That's good. Yeah, Marte was big. That was important. But, yeah, Hoffman.

It did help that Jose Ramirez was swinging it. Jose Ramirez was swinging it ball four and whatever. But still, yes, Junior Marte did his thing. Yeah. All right. What else you got? You got anything else? Yeah, I guess my final thoughts.

Yes. Now, you are the movie guy. Are you going to go see Oppenheimer? I will at some point. You know me. I'm not going opening weekend. I know. But I feel like it's the biggest movie in years.

It is. It is. I should have. Oppenheimer is in Barbie. We made more money. Barbie. Yeah, but I am not watching Barbie. Oh, I'm way more excited for barbie than i am for

happen i'm way more excited i'm excited for both but i'm i mean barbie's gonna be all right now see you where i'm disappointed in you which is what i often feel yes is like you're you're mr oscars and movie guy yeah i'm like barbara'sta Gerwig. I'm excited about Barbara because of the director. You're not. You're doing this thing where you're not letting me finish my point. Go ahead. Good point. Go ahead.

That's true. Where you're Captain Oscars, you're Mr. Movie Guy. You watch everything. Just, I mean, you're supposed to go see both. That's the new thing on social media. That's what everyone's doing. They're going to knock out both. That's the new thing on social media. That's what everyone's doing. They're going to knock out both in the same day. Why don't you be that guy?

I should. I should. You know what's funny? Honestly, Mission Impossible is the movie in movie theaters I want to see the most anyway. The Mission Impossible movies are the best. The best franchise out there right now is Mission Impossible. That and John Wick. If I never set foot in a movie theater ever again,

I think I'd be perfectly happy. That's a really tough beat for you, buddy. I don't. That makes me sad to hear that. They do nothing for me, frankly. I love a movie theater. There hasn't been a good movie since... I can't wait to go to the movie theater.

Hold on. You can't do this bull crap that, oh, I can't wait to go to the movie theater, but you're not going to go see Barbie in Oppenheimer. It's because I had to work yesterday. I did a radio show. I was in AC for a radio show on Friday. I want to go. I'm not talking about right now.

I'm talking about you've got to do it. I will do both, yes. I will do Barbie in Oppenheimer just for you. Thank you. Thank you. That's really for you are we done here I can't handle your fraudness on a Sunday

when I'm looking outside a beautiful lake I'm seeing people Tucker's not answering my text so I'm going to have to edit this I would have to bleep it myself it would have been so annoying bleep you know bleep you jack and bleep you all right buddy well i'm looking out beautiful lake phil's one today everything's fine and uh listen a six and a half hour drive turned into a nine

hour drive on the way up here so looking forward to tomorrow oh god good luck buddy good luck hopefully it doesn't take too long my only goal is i want to get home before first pitch before 6 40 yeah that's good well that's why i recorded today and not tomorrow right uh all right uh everyone wish jack good luck uh we'll be back this week until then he's first himself