High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Taijuan Walker Should Walk To San Diego

Episode Date: April 22, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the state of the Phillies and their stellar rotation after six straight wins to cap-off their homestand. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

Good afternoon, High Hopes listeners. Unfortunately, due to a technical error, the beginning of today's podcast was cut off and was not recorded properly. So we missed James's, you know, just an absolutely perfect yo to celebrate this six-game win streak. I apologize. It won't happen again. And without further ado, yo, it is the High Hopes Podcast. Yes, it feels like they have just completely kind of settled into the season.

Like, they played some terrible teams. We get it. Like, I don't need to hear, who's the White Sox and Rockies? By the way, the White Sox are atrocious. I mean, just. They're extra bad. So, you would probably know this because you watch the team live. I'm sure.

Oh, is this 1923 or something like that? Which was the least amount of wins in the history of baseball. So the Cleveland Spiders have the least. I believe they won 20 games in a season, but that was pre 1900. Yeah. So I did the 62 mats or the 62 mats are the ones post 1900 with the least wins i believe

i think they won 50 something 40 no no no no no the worst of it was like the the tigers won 43 in 2003 so it's not that long ago that we've had a all-time horrendous wasn't richie ashburn 43 and 119 the 2003 tigers how about that i believe richie ashburn was on the 62 i think there he was i think there were four i think they won 40 the the 62 Mets, if I'm not mistaken. It's pretty bad. Well, either way, we might be seeing a team challenging. Oh, buddy. They have three wins.

Michael Kovac had a pitch yesterday, by the way. Back a little bit. Michael Kovac, back a little bit. I'm kind of in on the White Sox bullpen. Just letting everyone know. Just getting that one out of the way. I'll put that at the take vault. There you go.

But, dude, they're terrible. And Jerry Reinsberg is never going to pay anyone ever again. What an embarrassment of an owner. I mean, just a complete and total travesty. It's like Chicago is a huge market. Massive, yeah. And it's just like there's one team that just actively doesn't participate. Don't care.

Don't try. Again, we've talked about this before, but they signed Andrew Benatendi who was at last offseason to a five year, $75 million contract. The biggest contract in the history of their franchise. Tywon Walker got $3 million less than the most they've ever given anyone.

The Phillies have like nine guys making more than that. Well, it's just shocking to me because a couple years ago, I was like, man, I would trade places with the White Sox right now. Oh, yeah. That team, the La Russa team with the Luis Robert

and who's still there. But like Eloy, a little Eloy sighting this weekend. Eloy has completely fallen apart. I'm shocked at how bad he is. I thought he was going to be a good player. See, he's staying traded.

Yo, Mankata. They had a little squad there for a moment. Mankata is almost as bad as like just the comps. It's almost as bad as like, just the comps. It's almost as bad as when we had the guy who said that Kingery was Pedroia.

With better hands or whatever. Because I remember the comps on Moncada was the Mike Trout of the NFL. Oh, people, dude, people loved you on Moncada. Well, better not happen to Jackson Holiday because he's scorching my fantasy. Yeah, not a great start. But look, you know what is great?

And of course, this podcast is sponsored by Miller Lite, official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies Taste Like Miller Time, Philadelphia Celebrate Responsibly. Jack, I'm not going to bury the lead today. We're going to get back into this series. We're going to dive into the horrendousness of the White Sox and the Phillies taking advantage of it. But coming up this Saturday, Fritzy,

our first High Hopes Watch Party of the Year, baby. Let's go! I know. I know. April 27th, Saturday night, we are going to be in Newtown at the Green Parrot in Newtown. I believe it's the Phillies and the late game. The Padres.

Padres, a West Coast game. We'll be there, I believe it's 7, 7.30 range. Game starts at 8.40. We're going to be in there. I probably will not make it to the end of the game, but I will hang for a while. I'll do my best. But our first High Ups Watch Party, the Green Parrot in

Newtown, Saturday night coming out. It's going to be awesome. Shout out to Miller Lite. The Green Parrot is also where Milato was singing the other night so maybe Jordan Milato will be there could show up

he's a huge Iopes fan not confirmed could confirm can't confirm so maybe Milato will be there

either way we'll be there Green Parrot it's an awesome spot it is an awesome spot Newtown Square

is a cool little place Newtown what's Newtown Square is it Newtown Square they're all the same no they're different well Newtown's up in I'm pretty sure it's Newtown I'mtown. What's Newtown Square? Is it Newtown Square? They're all the same. No, they're different.

Well, Newtown's up in... I'm pretty sure it's Newtown. I'm pretty sure it's Newtown Square. Is it? Let's check. This is good. This is dynamite. This is good. This is good.

This is what people pay for. This is what they pay for and they stay for. I'm really excited about this. This is good. This is our first one and we're all over it. Here we go, Green Parrot.

Oh, no, it's Newtown. I knew it was Newtown. I've been there. I can't believe I even doubted myself for a second. I was like, is that not the place that i'm thinking of yes it is a new town it's a great spot i have been there it is a phenomenal place in newtown so there we go makes my drive a little bit further yeah i know i know i mean look it's all the same the main newtown square same drive no matter what i'm somehow 45 to an hour from everywhere

you could put it like in down and down and still somehow 45 minutes an hour from everywhere. I know. You could put it in Downingtown, and it's still somehow 45 minutes to an hour. I know. So all good. Either way, looking forward to it. Green Parrot, great spot. And yeah, it's going to be a great time. Watch the Bills. By that point, I mean-

It'd be like a 10-game winning streak. They've won six straight. No, 12, 11 by then. Yeah. So four, because it's four, and then then fry is the 11 game winning streak when we go that's good pretty cool how about that we just carry it on through gonna be bumping no it's gonna be awesome all right let's get to the six game winning streak how about it a nice time to have the two worst teams in baseball as uh the white socks white socks are legendarily

bad the rockies are also horrible as well but you know know what? Like, how many times have the Phillies blown series like this, especially in April? Oh, this is a get-right series, and it's never a get-right series. We said this was a get-right week, and they railed off six straight. And yes, some of the Rockies games look closer than they should have been, but they throttled this White Sox team. Absolutely owned them all weekend. You know, outside of, you know, literally the moment the of... Literally, the moment

the Sixers lost, the Phillies gave up five unanswered and had to burn Alvarado in that spot. Ultimately, it didn't matter too much because you didn't have to use him the next day. Other than that, and then the two runs in the first the next day, that was it. That was all the White Sox put up to muster the entire weekend. The only thing that has hurt the Phillies' bullpen so far is having too big

of a lead. You're right. You had Soto, you had, you had Pinto. So yeah, the only thing that's kind of killed them is that it's, it's also really important.

And it's, it's been fascinating. Like it's, it's almost like we're watching a throwback baseball team here with the starting staff. This all goes deep in the games. Dude, it's like Nola.

No one went eight yesterday. No problem. After Wheeler went seven and a third after After Turnbull went six and a third. Ranger complete game shotting. Yes. So they are giving the bullpen. And the bullpen the first week and a half was just so overworked. Some of those guys weren't available for games.

Well, especially, Jack, this early in the season. Normally it's like, oh, we're coming out of spring. Our starters can't go that deep into games. And the pitches have been low like it's at no point is it other than ranger letting him go to the 112 or whatever it was at the end there which you know you knew it was in that moment it was going to happen like other than that like no one's really even like had a super high pitch count going into these late innings i mean nola was what like 87 pitches heading in the eighth yesterday so it's been really impressive

yeah and and again we always look for marketed efficiencies. Maybe the big old thing the Phillies revealed is, hey, throw strikes and work with your fastball. Don't walk people and sort of pitch to contact. It's not like they're striking out

the ballpark. It's not like, again, we talked a lot. This starting staff is not built on a bunch of stuff guys. They're a bunch of command-oriented. A bunch of pitchers, Jack.

Just a bunch of pitchers, man. Just a bunch of guys that know how to get the job done. Jack, I know we don't say this about pitchers enough. It's usually like the Bryson Stotts. Just a bunch of baseball players, man. Just a bunch of ball players. I feel like it's like they're just pitchers-pitchers. I know.

You know what I mean? I'm just not. The pitchers-pitchers? Yeah. Yeah, they like they're just pitchers-pitchers. I know. You know what I mean? I'm just... The pitchers-pitchers? Yeah. Yeah, they are. They're pitchers-pitchers. Basically, they're basically... Your favorite pitcher, these guys are their favorite pitchers. Exactly right.

Exactly. This is who everyone else is emulating. Yeah, that's right. Essentially, the 90s Braves, if you want to put it out there. I mean, yeah. You know how to get the job done. Yeah, I mean, basically, more or less exactly the same. I would say talent level, accomplishment, the whole thing.

Probably worst golf games. I would think. Everything else is pretty similar. But it's just been, and there's been no letdown. And I love the quotes. I love the quotes about how we're trying to one-up each other. Which is so great. There are many things that you're a sucker for.

You know, basically spring training stats among many millions. I'm such a sucker for the the teammates trying to one-up each other quotes like i'm i'm always in on that yeah well it's because it matters and it's how you it's how when you're going through the slog of a baseball season that it keeps you sharp and motivated and motivated so and it just kind of pushes each other so it's interesting because they've a lot of these guys have been here for a couple of years, but it feels like they're all stepping up their level a little bit. And, you know,

we saw, you can make fun of spring training results as much as you want, but one of the big takeaways from spring training was these guys were throwing a lot of strikes with their fastball. And it seems like they've put a massive, massive emphasis on it. And it has resulted in quicker outs. It's resulted in lower pitch counts.

And I think, dude, they seem really prepared and into how to keep these guys' arms healthy. Well, you know how to keep arms healthy? It's throwing a lot of fastballs. Yeah. Because it's not like you're putting... No, that's absolutely right yeah yeah so obviously i don't have the numbers in front of me on fastball percentages and stuff like that but just in watching them it seems like they are trying to become more fastball oriented and i think that has helped keep them healthier i'm sure they have the

numbers like they they they've got it like they can do that stuff so they are they're just a really impressive staff they all seem to have confidence they're all trying to one- so they are they're just a really impressive staff they all seem to have confidence they're all trying to one-up each other they're they're throwing strikes um even like spence at turnbull like he said six and a third no hit buddy i was like i was saying myself all right if he throws no hair they can't take him out but they probably will they probably will. They probably will. But even like Turnbull, all his stuff looked sharper. Like it all just looked sharp. He was throwing a ton of strikes. He was still able to command-ish five pitches,

which has been the Turnbull kind of start to the year. It's phenomenal right now. And it's probably the most important thing you can have with a team. Like you wait for the offense. The offense is generally going to be hot and cold. Pitchers dictate the outcome of a lot of these games. Yeah, and look, cliches are cliches for a reason. Pitching wins in October.

It just does. And yes, you have years where the Texas Rangers are on a bunch of home runs and they'll win. They also had Nadia Valdi dealing. They had Jordan Montgomery dealing. Pitching is always going to get the job done. John Gray. Pitching is Jose LeClerc finding a season out of nowhere like they they pitching is always going to win more often than not in october and that's why one of the things

when you know the slow start i guess can we call it a slow start this year everyone's like oh they're having another slow start it's like not anymore it was pretty pretty i know but it was like a very early start. We didn't even give them April. We didn't even give them half of April. Well, here's the thing that's made me happy, is that this is not to take a shot at our listeners, but not the High Hopes listeners.

Level-headed? The WIP listeners. They'll check back in. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's checkout time. Yeah, it's checkout time. The first week, it's like, Rot Fire Thompson. Real ones. All that stuff yeah yeah it seems like the over-the-top fury about the team and every little

thing they do has subsided a little bit and that makes me happy because it's it's nice it's needed i will welcome everyone i'm not yeah the gate is the gate is closed again you'll open it again eventually you're just closing the gate you're not gatekeeping you're just closing the gate for a while i'll see you in september that's right but here's the thing with that like slow start whatever you want to say like i kept saying when like the like i was more encouraged by the pitching than i was discouraged by the bats i felt like the way that staff came out to start the season and obviously what they've done is the single most important thing that could happen for this team like the single most important thing that could have happened for this team. Like, it's the best thing that could have happened for this team.

Well, and the fact that they haven't really dealt with any injuries. Unbelievable. I know. But, like, they've just come out. They've done their job. The only injury has been a positive one. I know. And it's led to turn goat.

Turn goat. Turn goat. Bull goat. And it's led to turn goat, but turn goat, bull goat. That was very good. But, and on top of that, the bullpen looks really good. Like I know they've

had the little things, but that's going to, that's bullpens, you know, always going to have some blowout. Like Gregory Soto is going to have

those out. It's going to happen. Sir Anthony is still a question mark. I think he's the biggest one, but look, yeah,

Kirkland looks good through two innings so far is back. I need a, I need to go on like a mini rant. Oh, good. It's way too positive right here.

While I love the pitching staff, and I love the pitching staff, I need Cotham, Kaplan, whoever. Break out the Rapsodo camera, whatever it takes. Figure out a different pitch for Sir Anthony and Junior Marte besides the slider because it's not a good pitch at all like it just it's awful it backs up all the time they cannot throw it with any level of sharpness and it's the only time that they look bad like sir anthony's fastball still good it is the people that say that sir anthony's cooked he's not he throws 99 it's just

his freaking slider does nothing it's a cement mixer so like they've developed and he can't control it they haven't been able to control it it's because his arms he can't get on top of it and when he gets on top it's just it drives me nuts I mean can you just pick up a pitch on the fly that's all these teams do now they pick up a sweeper

I've never seen pitchers be able to develop more pitches it is wild how quick the sweeper is. The sweeper's taking over the sport. Everyone's repertoire. It's also harming some arms. Maybe. Maybe.

Maybe. Not us. We're Fastball Org. Everyone knows that. We're established with fastball people. Always. Always have been. Always have been.

Hey, fastball commander. Yeah, that's right. It's just, and Junior Marte should never throw it. I mean, so like for me with Marte, he should find a splitter. If he could throw a splitter, and I think he's tinkering with it a little bit, but like the slider can't happen. Sir Anthony could be one of the best pitchers in baseball if he had anything else besides that slider.

Like figure out a curveball. Get more on top of it. I don't know. I don't know. Like maybe hone in on the changeup more and figure that out. It's just those guys could be even better if they just had anything else and it drives me nuts in a day and age where you can develop a pitch in a week the fact that we're still going back to the well here with the junior marty and sir anthony sliders it drives me insane it is pretty great nice rant

thank you it is pretty crazy that that that's where we're at with the pitching staff like we're i guess serenity needs a better second pitch is our big gripe right now that and don't come back taiwan like that's it otherwise it's like wow this is this is awesome yeah keep doing whatever the hell you're doing everything else is fine you're doing it everything else is fine this their sliders drive me nuts all right before we get to the bats let's take on the taiwan thing quickly because this is i think everyone just assumed time would come back and get the job and we you know still do but i mean turnbull is making it hard on them like i mean yeah and he's gonna have what a couple more starts probably before time gets back maybe one more probably one more

is that there's like a zero percent chance taiwan's not coming back to the rotation right And he's going to have, what, a couple more starts probably before Taiwan gets back, maybe one more? Probably one more. There's like a 0% chance Taiwan's not coming back to the rotation, right? Like there's nothing they – like if Turnbull goes out and throws another seven no-hit innings, like do they do it? It feels like no matter what, Taiwan's getting his job back. There's nothing Turnbull can do. Here's what I would do. Okay.

They're playing in San – Tanya Harding, Taiwan Walker. No, we don't need to go to those extremes. I know you're thinking about the 90s, and you got really excited. Shout out to the 90s. Similar time, Jack. I actually haven't. We had a problem.

We didn't want someone to participate. We'd just freaking take something to their legs, and we'd be set. I actually have a 90s thing I need to run by you later. Oh, I love that. Because I'm confused by one thing that happened in the 90s. Oh, good. I was there. I need explanation as to why.

Oh, yeah. Here's my solution to the taiwan situation and i want everyone to uh gather around the the podcast oh i like that maybe turn up your headphones a little bit warm your hands by the fire exactly because fritzy's spitting here here's the solution to the taiwan thing okay they're playing in san diego this weekend make him walk just make him walk just make him walk i mean seriously you want to fix it just make him walk i thought you were gonna go with some sort of like rational like here's the salute like listen seriously didn't see that coming that was good make him walk that's good just make him walk it's fine

that might happen like we'll see you wherever they go after San Diego. Just catch up. If you're not there in Taiwan, Taiwan, turn around. You got to head to San Francisco and however we're going to. Oops. Oh, we missed you.

We just missed you. And then all of a sudden, it's just Taiwan walking around. Taiwan's like calling. No one's answering the phone. Like, oh, we lost your number. You're a landline? You could be the new.

Hey, all I'm saying is this. All I'm saying is this. Look at what it did for Forrest Gump. Oh, it's a good point. 90s, I see what you did there. There could be a positive with the Taiwan thing. Yeah, it could change his whole life. He had one whiff at AAA yesterday.

He was throwing low 91 or whatever. He allowed four earned. He touched 93 times. It's not even three times. That's it. He was sitting 88 I believe. So the thing about Taiwan. Sitting at 88. So

here's my I guess like here's my thing on Taiwan. I'm trying not to be over the top like mad at him. His arm just might be cooked. Like it's as simple as that. Like he just might not have it anymore. He's talking about how like he can't wait. He's like, yeah, some guys get outs at 97.

I'm going to get outs at 88. I'm like, sure. You know, I just, I don't believe that at all. Like I just, he might just be done. He might just be done. And it stinks that he has $54 million left in the contract. Just set that $72 million on fire. But he's turning into Adam Eaton.

I mean, yeah. Is it not the same thing? Yeah, times three or whatever. It's Adam Eaton times three. Yeah, literally. He is that, though. Again. 100% he's that.

I mean. Do we boo him at the ring ceremony when they win the World Series? Yeah. Well, yeah, obviously. All right. Let me ask you a different way then how many bad because we just assume he's gonna come out and suck which i think we can all agree on how many how many bad starts do they go to turnbull like how how much leash does taiwan have so here's the thing phantom injury whatever they do to get rid of like how

like what do you think he his leashes i i think it's probably three or four starts. Three starts was kind of what I had in my head. Right. And my thing with the fear I have, and listen, I know they're going to go back to him and that's fine. Whatever. It's already done.

Like, just mentally prepare yourself. I'm trying. The walker is taking Turnbull's spot. I'm trying. Flat out. Not doing well. I know.

He's told him to walk his ass as I can. The thing that annoys me is like, okay, so he goes out and doesn't pitch well. And then he tried to go back to Turnbull. And Turnbull now is out of rhythm. That he was in a good rhythm. Now, he could come back and be just as good as he was before he went to the bullpen. By the way, what role is he going to have in the bullpen? Long man.

The only time Covey's used. He's in a blowout. I know. I don't love it. So I just, he's pitching too well for that. And I just, I don't want to also get, I don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face, as they say. Yes.

By having Tywon go back out there, Turnbull in a reduced role, gets Turnbull out of rhythm. If Tywon can't do it, then bang, Turnbull's back in there. And what if it's not the same version of Turnbull? Isn't that what's going to happen, right? I mean, if I could bet on what's going to happen, I would bet on that exact playoff. Why can't they just...

And here's another thing. Are they afraid to put Taiwan in the long man role, the mop-up duty role, to ruin the relationship with Scott Boris? Because I think that's a factor here. Because Scott Boris is very close to this organization now. They went, what, 20 years essentially without talking after the J.D. Drew thing. So do they not want to annoy one of Boris's clients by not putting him in a role that he probably should be. I mean, on top of last year where they didn't pitch him in the playoffs, which I'm sure

annoyed Boris. Oh yeah. Taiwan let us know. So there's definitely, I'm definitely thinking about cause it to, to, to the, and people will bring up well turnbull through 53 innings last year i get it i get it can i see him fall apart or not be able to handle it before i'm like already etching it in stone so i the boars thing is one thing that the thing about the last i don't think there's any question that it's a part of it i think there's a lot of factors there's a lot of tentacles to it and look they paid him a lot of factors. There's a lot of tentacles to it. And look, they paid him a lot of money. I think from their own perspective, we're paying this guy a lot of money. We don't want to just call it, so to speak.

But I absolutely think the Boris relationship matters. I think the whole situation is a big part of that. And I just wonder at what, again, because ultimately, at the end of the day, what matters most, obviously, is winning baseball games. And then on top of that, ultimately, what we think as fans, it doesn't really matter. It matters on some level.

But what are those guys in the locker room thinking, in the clubhouse? You're taking it. This is a meritocracy, right? You spend your whole baseball life, either you're good or you're not. Either you come through or you don't. And that's why you have a career. It's all about meritocracy. It's all about what do you hit? What do're not either you either you come through or you don't and and that's why you have a career it's all about meritocracy it's all about what do you hit what do you do what can you pitch like it's it's you either live or die by your skills and your ability

and when you're taking someone who's throwing as well turnbull's got like a one two three era or something yes and just coming off the starts that he's had like that's that's my concern because i know why they're doing it i do think boris plays a role i think the money plays a role the whole thing but what i wonder about is those guys in the clubhouse like looking at spencer turnbullman like this ain't right and that and i know they know how it works but if like taiwan goes out and gets shelled that first outing i mean that's a tough spot in the clubhouse. Yeah. I'm okay giving him a couple starts. I've accepted it.

I wouldn't say I'm okay with it because I do think it's wrong, but I accept it. Well, it's definitely different than the earn not given. Yeah. Exactly. You can't just, you know. I know. I know.

It's frustrating. It undercuts all that. Well, and because Turnbull has been so good. That's the point. If Turnbull had like a 3-5 ERA, he'd be like, oh, but I had like a three five year he'd be like oh but i get it like i still want turnbull but i get it this is like hard to pull that guy i know i know so we'll see what happens we'll see how he does in his walk to san diego we'll see if he can we'll see if he can make it in time but taiwan's coming back man and even just again i'm trying to go over the top because i think there's a real chance his arm just might be cooked and that stinks because when you as someone who also lost four

miles an hour on it's a really similar parallel between the two of you so listen i think that i think tywin walker as a philly compared to me as a husky it's pretty similar pretty similar both yeah he just there's one big difference. You didn't have your big game accomplishments. Well, listen, again, if the Huskies, well, we did make the playoffs. And we did set a school record for wins.

No big deal. I kept the book for 53 of those games. That's why I will never touch a book. Damn good book. Perfect books. Perfect books. I had a record going for the PSAC. It's a bit. But if you say... I love when you have to say it's a bit after.

If you learned... If I've learned anything, right, in doing this or really just, you know, living it. Living, living life. Yes. If you say things with enough confidence, people believe just about anything. 100%. Yeah. So 100%. Flat out truth. 53 straight perfect books my sophomore year. Perfect. And I also

fake broadcasted all the games. Did you really? Yeah. That's never come out here. I was really bored. I would walk in so I would walk into the dugout every game and we used to have like what our roles were for that game. Every single time, jackbook.

I just stopped checking. Actually, there's games where I just stopped warming up. I was like, well, why do I have to be out here? I essentially turned into a team manager my sophomore year, which is bold. It was ridiculous. Whoa! That was close. Did you hear that? I bull. He was ridiculous. Whoa, that was close.

Did you hear that? I lost. That was almost. They made me lose 20 pounds. Wow. I came back, and I threw this most disgusting bullpen of my life. It was named Pitcher of the Week, and then didn't sniff the mound until the end. It was awful.

See, probably someone making $72 million sniffed it in front of you, and it was outrageous. You were Spencer Turnbull. The better hitters on the team were like, I don't know. Jack looks pretty good. And I was like, I don't know. I used to be pretty good at this. And then I went out that summer and threw the third lowest ERA

in the Westchester Men's Adult League. So maybe I could still – it's real to me, damn it. I'll be back out there. You like that? Let me just reminisce real quick. Yeah, that's really good. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.

Yeah, I'm sure everyone loved it. I think we really just got in your mind there. Oh, because it's just ridiculous. Yeah, it was good. It was great. But anyway. So what was the point? The point of that whole thing.

The point of the whole thing there is that I think people are surprised because people view me as a baseball nerd, which is fine. Like I am. But people view me in that way, which is great. But I'm not one of those people that keep the books at Phillies games like Buzz. Like Buzz. Dan Wilson keeps the books. Keeps the books.

Evan Roberts in New York. He keeps the books. I will not ever keep a book ever again. Same. I've done too many Division II baseball games for me to ever want to do that. I just stopped being a child. Yes.

And I stopped keeping the book. No, I'm just kidding. Keeping the book is cool. Keeping the book's great. I think when people do it, it's very like, I appreciate it. It's neat to have it.

I just, I don't have that kind of focus during a baseball game. Oh, no. I'm actually surprised you are a baseball fan. I got it. Like, hockey, I can it. I did, like, hockey. I could see.

You know, football. Everyone, like, football's football. Baseball's the one. I'm surprised you're, like, locked in on, given your nature. I can lock in, buddy. I can lock in. That's the key. Speaking of lock in, before we get to the bats,

shout out to the Miller Lite account of the week, the eHouse. Today's show is sponsored by Miller Lite and the eHouse in Ben Salem. Check out the eHouse for every Phillies game and enjoy $3 Miller Lite pints and their extensive pub grub menu featuring their famous eHouse steaks, 12 ounces of sirloin and short rib blend with Cooper's sharp American cheese. That sounds awesome. I'm in for that. Miller Lites for Phil's win. Celebrate responsibly. All right, Frit America. Jeez. That sounds awesome. I'm in for that Miller lights for Phil's win. Celebrate responsibly.

All right, Fritzie. 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 co, 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 roster wide receivers we analyze route running target share and all the metrics that matter giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers as you prep for your draft let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to perception perception on the free odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts how about it scored some runs now granted against a pretty bad team oh yeah but but well hold on no and yeah they got to crochet and in general just and you were obsessed with this bullpen said it's the best bullpen you've ever seen this white dog bullpen they handled it just put up runs man how about it

well they only handled it because uh jordan leisure who's turning into one of my faves didn't pitch until sunday and michael kopek didn't pitch until sunday by the way kopek needs to be a fill he looked nasty. Kopech looked. And I've, you know, Kopech's one of those guys you always, oh, he throws 104 or whatever it was in the Myers. Like, oh, hardest. Like, it was the Red Sox guy, the sail trail.

But, like, I never was in on Kopech because it just felt like it was always just, oh, he throws hard. And it never felt like there was more to him. He throws hard. Hard. Like, some guys throw 100, and it's like yeah but that's like that's not very heavy totally like his heavy his like it popped off the screen that the abacus bryce was so funny because i think bryce after the first like swing or strike was kind of just

like yeah i don't want to We're winning by like seven runs. I'm pretty good right now. I'll take a strike. I don't need this at all. It's going to hurt my hands if I actually hit it. So speaking of the trade deadline. Oh, yeah. That's what we're talking about.

Yeah, it's good. Yeah. I mean, Serenity keeps struggling. They're going to need an extra righty on them. I agree. Probably. Two names. Well, there's actually a million names.

It's like two names. The two that I am intrigued by is definitely Gopek. And how... Do you think the White Sox will be selling now? Good question. Yeah, they could make a run here soon. Yeah, I'm interested to see what they do. Are they going to trade Lewis Robert?

I don't think so. One day. I mean, maybe. I mean maybe one day look Ryan's sort of ain't gonna pay him so never ever when that gets closer yeah no but I want and I want six

though back really yeah I want six so back he's hard to heat up down there you had a really badly first three outings and now it's starting to settle into a little spot there stay

on the field yeah yeah yeah no just just for the vibe it would be six though coming back and like helping this team win it'd be false it would be it would be hilarious. Six, though, coming back and helping his team win. It'd be false. It would be. I mean, yes, sure.

More impressive. It'd be false. Yeah, more impressive. Yeah, it would mean more to the city, I'm sure. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, obviously. So the bats are raking. Yes, the bats are welcome to the season.

Yeah, I mean, you know, Trey Turner, it's like this guy's a pretty good baseball player. So I have some fun with numbers with the offense. Oh, look at you. By the way, Svina, which of all my preseason predictions, some have not gone great. My Trey Turner first fillet of 200 minutes, that's a pretty good one.

It's horrible for a week. I know. I'm feeling pretty good about it right now. I feel my JT1 is going down the toilet. Yeah, it's Laskin. Never trust the biomechanics lab again. The biomechanics lab is great, and I need it for the rest of my life. And I did do these numbers because I got here a half hour early.

Oh, that was what you were doing when you were sitting there? I was shocked, by the way. You were just ready to roll. I was trying to talk. So here's my problem. I was getting these numbies together for the big old podcast. We're big numbies, guys. And then me and Ben Davis started talking.

Yeah, it was just a couple of baseball guys chopping it up. We started talking chop. What are you supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? Two high-level baseball players. He's not an analytics guy. No, he's not. And these aren't analytics.

These are just facts. Because analytics aren't facts. So, well, listen some of them are can be uh last sure but they're usually you know information last last 10 last 10 for alec baum 344 688 slug uh 1100 ops oh i did notice he's at 887 ops for the season like all of a sudden i believe uh i think he i see that i think he has the third best OPS on the team. I think it's Marsh and Turner, the only two are better. I can see that.

I can see that. By the way, just to get this take out of the way, by the end of April, maybe early May. I mean, Bryce will be back to, like, 285, right? Oh, yeah. I mean, you can just feel it. You can feel it. Yeah, he's getting some big hits here and there. It's coming.

Yeah, it's coming. So, with Bone, though, I'm not going to say anything positive because whenever I get excited. Yeah, you can't. Yeah. Whenever I get pumped, like, oh, my God, he's like lifting the baseball. He won't hit a homer for a month if you do that. Ripping the ball into the ground.

Willie Mays Hayes again. But little signs of getting some gappers, getting some homers, going the opposite way. Two-over game, are you kidding me? Come on, Boomer. I'm just begging for it at this point with Boomer. Like, I just drive the baby. I know.

It's right there. He's so big. I know. Like, he's a giant human. And he's strong. And his defense is getting good. So I was thinking about this over the weekend. Is he officially above average at third?

I think he's above average. For a while, I've thought average. I think he's actually a slightly above average third baseman. That is unbelievable, man. Every time the ball used to get hit to him, I would say, how is this going to go wrong? Yeah, I would be terrified every time. And now it's automatic.

I just say, oh, he's got it. It's good. No, it's a real testament uh testament yeah to obviously bone but but Bobby Diggerson yeah I think and and Turner's been fine shortstop Bobby Diggerson

is on an undersung his his praises so to speak but also to your point don't undersell how much work Alec Bum had to have put in to do that so he deserves a lot of credit. And actually, you know, actually, I'll save it for later with Harper. Love a good save for later. Because it's funny.

But the, oh, and yeah, ever since some idiot on this podcast said, put Turner in center field, he has figured out shortstop a little bit. Rojas. Who was that? Did someone say that? Rojas last 10 games. No one would say. I mean, people would probably jump on you if you said put him in center field.

At this point, yes. Rojas in the last 10. Yo, Han. Yeah, I know. Give me one of these, honey. Very proud of him. 419 average. 938 OPS.

He's up to 265 on the season. I know. He is fine. Is he officially hot? He's totally. And by the way, hell of a base dealer. Dude, great base dealer.

Really good at it. He's gotten better at the jumps and the reads and stuff. He's gotten much better. Bunting. Looks pretty serviceable when he gets it out there.

Come on. Major league hitter. Mike Trout. Go on, Rojas. Mike Trout who? Don't need him. Don't ask. Don't ask out Trout. How about that? Hey, don't need him. Don't ask out Trout.

How about that? Hey, don't need him. Don't want him. How about this? Hey, Mike, stay where you are. Yeah, you're fine. Keep being irrelevant. You got to come begging to us, pal.

That's what I've always felt. Take about $150 million off your contract. Or more. Well, actually, he's off to a pretty good start to the year. He's been very good. But he'll be hurt in a week. It's the Trout story, sadly. Nope, nope. He's fine. He's been very good. But you know, he'll be hurt in a week. It's the Trout story, sadly. Nope, nope.

He's fine. He's going to be a fail. Anyway, so... But Rojas is like legitimately hitting the baseball hard, which is good. Like the opposite field

hit yesterday. It was good. He did a ball to the wall. He did that double to the wall. Yeah. It didn't die either. I was waiting for it to barely reach

the center fielder. And it kept carrying. It kept going. Even his outs are mostly pretty hard. He's only struck out once, I believe. It is funny because i keep thinking about that way the and it was such a good way to describe early in the season rojas where it's like the ball off the bat it's like oh and then it like is like a shallow like to the shortstop can go out and get it everything

it felt like almost every white socks hitter every ball they hit was like that like i'm like oh that's a scorcher and then it was like a slow bounce at a turner. I'm like, oh, God. There's not so much exit velocity coming off those bats. Gavin Sheets is kind of interesting, but that's about it. Benintendi hit a ball, and I was like, oh, that's at least four rows deep. And Rojas was camped under.

We do this all the time on the pod, but it's so hard not to talk about. His defense is just so much different than everyone it just looks so it looks like you said like marsh is a good defensive center fielder phenomenal on left i mean phenomenal like should probably win the gold glove and left good but it's just so much different with rojas and and and just to be completely frank like i'm i'm so happy he looks good me too too. I don't want to root against Johan Rojas. I also want him to be my center fielder. I want that guy in the outfield.

We've talked about this over the years so many times, where it's one of those things, like defense, defense, whatever, and then we get a string of center fielders. And then when you get someone like this, I feel like I cherish it so much more than I used to. It matters. I need this guy out there. And again, not to keep bringing up the trade deadline,

but I wonder if he's good enough and they believe in him enough. And again, it's only been a week against the Rockies and White Sox to where they would move on from Justin Crawford. Well, I mean, think of it. They're the same player. Marsh, they're probably going to have to resign. Yeah. I mean, they're the same players Marsh they're probably gonna have to resign yeah

I mean Marsh is is just good like he's just a good player I don't know who's gonna play right field in the future not Nick

tell you that much buddy yeah I don't right fields is sneaky they have a bunch of center fielders I should say I apologize for

for not leading the pod with the the 21 game no extra base hit streak ending for Nick Cassianos. What a thrill. With a triple, no less. Wasn't it misplayed? No.

I was in home yet. No, no, no. It wasn't misplayed. It probably should have been a double. They probably should have gotten to it a little quicker, but it was a hit. I'm so mad at myself, too, because he went three for three on Saturday, and I was like, oh, there it is.

And then right back. And of course not. Right back. He went three for three on Saturday. And I was like, oh, there it is. And then right back. And of course not. Right back. Right field in the future is, like, I mean, unless Franconis can do it.

I just don't know. They have a bunch of center fielders. Yeah, they got a bunch. I mean, that's what they have on the roster now. I mean, they got, like, again, we've got a center fielder playing left. And now his bat is playing better, though. Like, that's even Marsh. If he can, the power especially, if he can keep this up,

then he could profile, like, not as a classic left fielder, but you can get by with him as your left fielder, bat-wise. Sure. So Rojas obviously heating up, and then Trey. Last 13 games. Hey, Trey. 434, 1,100 opiate. Is that good?

Yeah, it's pretty good. I feel like, and I feel like even when he gets out, it's hard-hit balls that just go at somebody. He is locked, man. When he gets locked in. He's so fun to watch. Yeah, yeah. is locked, man. He gets locked in. He's so fun to watch. Yeah, yeah. He's probably their best player when locked in.

Yeah, so he's like, when he's locked in, I don't remember many Phillies players in my lifetime who I was more sure they were going to get hit every time they go up. Like, I expect him to get hit every time he goes to the plate when he's locked in like this. Like, if he doesn't get a hit, I'm surprised. And, like, I don't remember that, like, three, like i don't remember that like three four game type guys like he just

feels like he could rail off three games all the time especially when he's doing the infield hit that too yeah he's flying around what got him going i mean there's no doubt about it yeah i'm going good to see schwarber have a bit of a bounce back game yesterday on bay so i think i think paul tweeted this uh i think Paul tweeted this. I think he tweeted that he's the first player in Philly's history to ever walk three times in a sack fly and hit a home run in a game. What a weird. I mean, it's like, yeah, it's definitely. It's a weird combination of things.

Super fun with numbers, I guess. Yeah, it's too much fun with numbers. But technically, technically, when we saw history yesterday. Pretty great. Pretty great. Yeah. Schwarber also the lefty thing earlier in the year, the five-tie.

He's got all kinds of things. Look, Schwarber has not been super consistent game to game, but sitting here in April, he's got a 327, I think, OBP, five homers or whatever it is, like four homers. It's like, you know what? Four Kyle Schwarber? Okay. Yeah, but it's interesting because you say that, and I agree with you,

but then you look at his start to last year, it's the exact same. Is it the same? Of course. That's hilarious because I would have expected it was worse. Literally like on the average. So the question is, that's the thing though. He feels better this year.

Yeah, he does. But also the question is, so I guess what that means is that last year coming up around now, he just went into a crater because he did get that down to 100 and all that type of stuff. So let's hope the crater isn't coming. Kyle, don't do it. Don't do it. And then the final thing on the offense, I mean,

Stotts just got to start hitting. He's struggling. It's definitely – It's interesting to watch him struggle like this because this is not traditionally – I mean, I know he had the bad start to his rookie year, but that's struggling. It's definitely. And it's interesting to watch him struggle like this because this is not traditionally. I mean, I know he had the bad start to his rookie year, but that's fine. He also ended that by batting like close to 300

for the second half of the year. He was just in such a funk the first half. Last year was just pretty consistent all throughout besides September. And he's, I guess I just never really worry about him because I trust enough that he's a good enough hitter to where he won't crater. But it's nice that everyone else is hitting

so that the stock Cassianos isn't dragging them down. But I still feel the way I do it by the top of the offense. When Schwarber, Turner, and Harper are all, they don't have to be on fire, but at least doing their job, the offense is fine. It's just if those guys aren't, do they have enough around them to job the offense is fine it's just if those guys aren't do they have enough around them to to carry the offense if they create yeah and when nick's not hitting no generally they don't

is the issue i mean obama might be the four-hitter now so he's having his numbers out of the five hole would you move him up sure i think he's we've you talked about earlier i mean he's a better profile you don't want your which is funny i was uh this is a bad job of me but when we're watching the rockies i'm sitting there and elias diaz is batting cleanup and in my head i'm like man the rockies have their catcher batting cleanup there's such an unserious who would ever do that literally three seconds later i'm like ah crap damn it i didn't think about that when i was thinking it yeah it just feels unserious like you know it just feels unserious by the way did jt have to play yesterday no like what are we doing i know you've you've already the white socks you've already beat the white socks you already won the series i know you it's not like i understand sitting stubs on friday even though

you've had him in turnbull lined up because it's crochet and stubs he is not his ink no but like you don't have an off day this week. No, they're straight through. Beating the Reds is more important than beating the Whites. No doubt. I didn't need a mouth. Good take by you. I like that. But yeah,

I think JT should not be the cleanup hitter is the real take there. Bomer. Alright, last thing before the take bag. Is Alvarado the closer? Sure seems it real take there. Bomer. All right, last thing before the take bag. Is Alvarado the closer? Sure seems it. Yeah. Which is fine.

That's fine. I'm just asking, like, is he the closer? You know, I know there'll be a couple innings here, maybe with three righties coming up or whatever, I'll go to Hoffman, but it feels like right now in Topper's mind, Alvarado's the closer. Well, yeah.

As much as he's going to have a closer. Right, but, I mean, there have been some instances in the Cardinals series where one, two, and three were up in the eight. And he went Alvarado there. Yeah, Alvarado is going to – yeah, he still will do the high leverage thing. He's the most important reliever. Let's put it that way. Without a doubt. And I think when you have – like, dude, Strom's just good.

So when you have Strom, Soto, I'm not going to hold his last thing against him. You can afford to put a lefty as your closer because you have those other guys. Correct. Correct. And I do want to see Hoffman kind of get back on the horse and bounce back here because he had two kind of shaky outings. But, yeah, I think Alvarado. And I'll be interested about Kirkering.

You know, Kirkering's only pitched twice. He's looked good so far. Yeah. I mean, I trust Kirkering. I feel very good about him. Sure. All right. Bullpen's good. what do you got in the take back it's my not i'll save the 90s thing for last okay good and i'm gonna do my take vault at the end okay okay so i have two thoughts on the wheeler no hitter almost no hitter obviously i am a like a pitching nerd like I love pitching and I've just

I've changed so much because you have no idea how happy I was when they got the hit when they got the hit yeah me too I was like

thank god I could take him out I was like I was texting my buddies like can someone please break up like I don't like I know he's never thrown one like I know he's never thrown one this is very

this is a departure for you yeah but he was already like 102 in the eighth yeah and i was like dude i'm not risking buehler's rest of the year for 130 pitches against the whites i couldn't agree with you more i was so happy i would have taken him out if it was no hitter i would have i would talk about got through the eight there he's like 112 or something i wouldn't have not i'm sorry like sorry zach it is what is honestly like and ranger i uh is a completely different pitcher,

and I trust Ranger to be able to handle a few more pitches in that spot, but I didn't even like Ranger going to 112 to get the complete game. I know he wanted it. I didn't even like that. It's freaking April, man. I'm trying to win a World Series. Yep. And that's why I legitimately believe 100% to my core that Bryce Harper let that

ball go. Oh, I love this take. I think he did. I love this. He's a team guy. I love this. He's a team guy. This is so good.

I don't think he did. He's been good at that specific play. I think he was mad at himself. I think he didn't. I get it. I think that Bryce would not want to be the guy. I think he wants to keep the Notre Dame. He's a baseball guy. He just wants to be part of history and every opportunity can be

so i don't last year i i love it and if he did applause like well you gotta act like you're mad i mean that's that's one of the keys to pulling it off if you if you just let it go by and be like well no big deal in my perfect world Bryce as a team guy as a team leader knows the importance of Wheeler for late in the year and said oops it's a good take he's actually starting to figure out scoops at first base which has been fun

he's been solid at it that was the one thing he's pretty good fielding it very good fielding it but the scoops were causing him issues for a little bit there no longer the case so that's been well no longer the case is a stretch but but it's it's definitely been kind of riding the ship and then and then my 90s thing yes like i'm so confused by limp biscuit oh good okay like how did they become popular become popular? And why did everyone turn so angry?

Like, 95 to 99. Because early 90s is not that. No. That's Hootin' the Blowfish. I know. That's Spin Doctors. That's like, good times, good vibes, good music. And all of a sudden, it was like, Nirvana.

I liked Nirvana. Well, Nirvana was early 90s, too. Sure. But I think they started- Grunge led to the kind of. The 90s were great. Why were people angry in the 90s? So I have never understood the Limp Bizkit thing.

Like corn sucks too. I've never understood the Limp Bizkit thing. I never got it. I still, they were in a commercial or something recently and I even turned to Emily. I'm like, why was Limp Bizkit famous?

Like why were they a thing? I don't get it. Yeah. It makes no sense to me. I'm really with you. I never. The lyrics are like elementary I never died way you're the highway I was never in a Limp Bizkit I still to this day don't understand why they were a thing but I'm fascinated by them yeah I think they're so bad but I can't turn off their music like I

just I listen to it all now oh so I don't listen to it yeah I watched the it's last year so that's my maybe my this is Jack's roundabout way of telling everyone he likes limp biscuit that was i love all their music but i but i don't like them i don't get it i don't i don't i wish i had a good answer i never got it i didn't you know like break stuff is the most i don't even know that it's for 15 year olds yeah it's a great take. But again, in Woodstock 99. This is probably answering your question. You listen to it. They're so bad, they're good.

Yeah, maybe. They're like a Nickelback thing. Well, I love Nickelback. Oh, God. Nickelback, it's far too much hate. You're telling me you're not bopping the photograph? I'm gonna be a rock star. It's all night.

Like, Creed is obviously horrible. Horrible. Also, like, I love Liz. I will listen to it. I know you do. I will listen. There's like three Creed songs where it's all night like creed is obviously horrible horrible also like i love those i will i know you do i will list there's like three creed songs where like it's interesting how pearl jam beats those allegations though even though they sound the same oh yeah yeah well they're better pearl james music is better much better yeah but eddie and creed guy have a little similar voice there is something about bad rock that I just love. Can dig.

I get that. I love that. Well, Limp Bizkit is bad rock. But they're also, yeah, I don't know. They were huge though. You're right. They were massive. So I look up their videos on YouTube and it's like 250 million views on Bricks.

It's unbelievable how much people like Limp Bizkit. Good take by you. I don't have a good answer. I wish I had a better answer. Is it not? Again, I don't understand why people turn angry. Well, yeah. I mean, you would suck 99.

I mean, geez. Yeah, they're just destroying stuff. I'm not the best person to ask about the anger thing. All right. Ready for the take vault? Sure, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. We kind of danced around it earlier

because obviously there's multiple take vaults. By the way, so far in the take vault, it's only this pitching staff is going to end the year better than the 11 staff. Which is a great take. In the take vault. So we kind of danced around this at the beginning, but I'm going full on, full take. This White Sox team is the single worst team I've ever seen in my life. They are the worst baseball team I have ever seen in my lifetime.

Okay. The 2003, see, I obviously did research. That's why I had the 2000. I was like, where'd you get the good? You're like, yeah, the 2003, 43, and 19. I write it in my fingertips. They're the worst team of our lifetime to this point. Now, obviously, there's some teams in the olden days,

the pre-1900 and 1930s and what, that were really bad. But in our lifetime, I think it's clearly the 2003 Tigers. The 2018 Orioles were 47 and 115. They're up there. The 2019 Tigers, again, 48 and 114. They're up there. But the 2003 Tigers were still four games, five games worse than the Tigers,

four games worse than the Orioles. And just wait. So listen to this. They had an actual winning record in one-run games. They were 19 and 18 in one-run games and still won 43 games. So they got lucky to win 43 games. They had one pitcher on their staff who pitched, you know, a regular pitcher who had an ERA under five.

One. One pitcher on the entire staff. Like the 2003 Tigers were epically bad. Do you know who their GM was? It was not Dabrowski. Was he there? Oh, did he come in? That's hilarious. All right. Well, Dave, there we there? Oh, did he come in? That's hilarious.

All right, well, Dave, there we go. Connection. How about it? That's hilarious. I love the look at you and talking. That was good. All right, so here's my case for why the White Sox are actually going to be the worst team of all time or of my lifetime.

They're on pace for 24 wins, Jack. Seriously. Dude, they have 45 runs? We're 12% of the way through the season. Yeah. Yes. All right, ready. We're 12% of the way through the season. They're batting going into yesterday. I haven't checked, but it's got to be summer zone. 190 as a team. Not bad. Is he batting leadoff

for the Phillies? Yes. Remember that center field we had? They have 11 home runs as a team. The St. Louis Cardinals have not hit a home run since April 12th. What's today? April 22nd. They have not hit a home run since April 12th. Okay, so what's today? April 22nd. They have not hit a home run since April 12th.

They still have two more home runs than the White Sox as a team. The White Sox, alright, this is wild. Ready for this? They have five starters with sub 300 on base percentages. Five! This is even crazier, right? 300 or 200? 300. Sub 300 on base percentages. Oh 300 on base percentage on base on base

okay get ready for this though they i don't even know this is possible they have five starters with sub 200 slugging percentages yeah five starters with sub 200 slugging percentages and it's six if you go sub 300 slugging okay uh they have a uh so yesterday i haven't added the uh what they lost nine to two again i haven't added it but they had a minus 65 run differential going to yesterday so that would make it they're minus uh 74 i guess that's over 21 20 runs worse than anyone else in baseball um the worst since 1900 so the 2003 tigers were minus 337 that is almost the worst since 1900. So the 2003 Tigers were minus 337. That is almost the worst since 1900. The worst run differential since 1900 was the 1932 Red Sox.

They were minus 349. This White Sox team is on pace to go over minus 460 in over 120 runs. Like, they are the worst team I've ever seen in my life. That's my take. They,

and it's like how do you go to the ballpark every day like at some point don't you think they just turn around like yeah we're calling in sick today yeah i think the worst team i've ever seen literally the worst like we always say oh no they're the worst team of our life they are i mean you look at it like poor robbie grossman won a world series last year and now he's on this oh my god dude nicky lopez grossman and they're and they're bunches old scrubs too so like pilar it is maldonado by the way 053 average on the year oh dude i know i mean you go down the line 194 ops maldonado has a 194 opsPS. Not OPP. Not slugging.

OPS. 194. How are the 0-3 Tigers at that? Look at this. You go down the line of batting averages. Their leadoff hitter, 170. Their two hitter, 167. Their three hitter, 154. Think about that. That's their top three hitters. They're all sub 200. They're all sub 170.

Do you want to know how bad the 0-3 Tigers were, though? They were bad. Do you know who their catcher was 0-3 Tigers were, though? They were bad. Do you know who their catcher was that year? So I just did a bunch of research on them. I don't remember who their catcher was that year. Brandon Inge. There you go. Who was definitely their third baseman in the following year.

So it seems like a problem. They did have my boy, Demetri Young, though, who I think is the most underrated, pretty good hitter. I think the last. Big Demetri Young guy. Delman, too. He batted 300 that year. I think Demetri ended up being better than Delman, didn't he?

Yeah, I think. Delman was the high person. Delman had some issues. Do you remember the Delman Young Phillies era? Oh, yeah. But who do you throw the bat? Was that when he was a Philly? No, right?

The only Delman Young. Or when he tried to hit the umpire, right? Wasn't that right? His big moment was the double with the Orioles in 13. Yeah, yeah. Demetri had a much better career, I think. Much better. He never really.

Delman was like a top three prospect in the sport. Yeah, yeah. Demetri had a much better career, I think. Much better. He never really, yeah. Delmo was like a top three prospect in the sport. Oh, yeah. He was massive. That was back when the Rays had all these top prospects and they had no idea what to do with them. When they had, was it Tim Beckham? Tim Beckham, yeah. First pick in the draft.

First pick in the draft. They had, what was his face? They had Josh Harrison, too, right? Not Josh Harrison. Oh, yeah. Josh, yeah. The Rangers guy uh oh my god why are we

like Josh Hamilton Hamilton did his the 08 home run derby oh it was amazing I mean the fact that guy had that at all a run was made he made a bunch of money good for him he

did and the Angels paid him of course they did dude there was that dude dude is any team ever we're talking about this Taiwan guy the Josh Hamilton thing. The freaking Anthony Rendon contract

might be the worst in the history of the sport, legitimately. In all the teams, you take every contract ever handed out, this one might be the worst. Off the top of my head. Rendon, Pujols. And Pujols is like a steal for them.

He sucks there. I know, but he actually played games. CJ Wilson. Yeah, that was a good one. CJ Wilson. Granke was there for a minute, but I think that was a trade. The Josh Hamilton. Do you remember when they paid?

And this is not to take a shot at Sarge, but they paid Gary Matthews Jr. Oh, yeah, Jr. I remember that. I think it was just because of that catch. Like, they saw the catch. Which, to be fair. It's one of the greatest catches of all time. No, no, no, no, no.

It is the single greatest catch of all time. Like if I have to choose one catch. Did you see Willie Mays? Taking out. Yeah. I like how you did that. Taking out a situation. Because obviously, like if you want to say a catch in a big game matters more, that's

fine. But just in terms of if you just put the videos up next to each other, I think that Gary Matthews catch is the coolest catch I've ever seen in my life. Jim Edmonds had a couple. He did. It's just like it doesn't seem possible. Like up and like backwards and the way you catch. Like it just look.

There are a lot that are close. Like, you know, it's all like we're splitting hairs here. Personally, if I had to pick one greatest catch, I would pick that Gary Matthews. Can I can I I guess say like show my age for one second and say, kids out there listening to this podcast, look up the Gary Matthews. Yeah, good point. Look it up. Look it up.

It's an all-timer. So great. So, yeah, that's all I got. That's all I got. So, I guess later in the week we'll be back. Yeah, so the week's kind of actually annoying. It's very annoying. It's the worst possible week.

Yeah, because the draft and then there's a four-game series, no less. Yeah, so the week's kind of actually annoying. It's very annoying. It's the worst possible week. Yeah, because the draft, and then there's a four-game series, no less. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe we go before the series is over. I don't know. We'll figure it out. Either way, no matter what, no matter what,

Saturday, Green Parrot in Newtown. We will be there, 7.30. All, of course, thanks to Miller Lite. Miller Lite, of course, is the official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies. The sponsor of this podcast, Tastes Like Miller Time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. We will be there Saturday night, hanging out at the Green Parrot,

7, 730 range, hanging for majority of the game, chilling out. I believe neighbor Dan will be there. He's going to come. I know that, and I'm sure others will. So come hang out. And yeah, we'll be back at some point later in the week with a podcast at some point. Maybe Taiwan will start Saturday.

What a thrill! If you can make it there. If you can make it there. It's a long walk. Start walking. Hopefully we'll see you all there Saturday. We'll have another pod later in the week. What are we hoping for this week? Seven games this week. Well, I'll take a split in Cincinnati. I'm sure you will.

Good work. I'll take a split in Cincinnati. Padres, kind of frisky. Frisky. Frisky. Obviously take two or three, but yeah, five and two this week. I will take four and three. I'm okay with four and three. I'll take four and three.

I'll take four and three. I'll take four and three. No three and four. Exactly. Alright, nothing even worse than that. It's still April. We'll take four and three. Give me five and three. No three and four. Exactly. All right. Nothing even worse than that. It's still April. All right. We'll be back later in the week somehow. Until then, he's for himself. We'll see you next time.