High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Taking 2 of 3 from the Nats > Beating the Hawks

Episode Date: June 7, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning three of their last four and discuss some reasons for optimism moving forward. The guys also talk Spencer Howard weirdness, the Travis Jankoskwki play, Bryce Harper's return, and more. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, Jack Fritz. How you feeling, buddy? I gotta be honest, like, I'm feeling good. Like, I know...

I know you are. I know you're... Three out of four, and it's like, let's go. Oh, listen. I know. And I know that I'm the easiest guy in the world to get suckered back in on the Philz. But boy, am I getting suckered back in on the Philz. I am good, James.

It feels good that we're doing a semi-positive podcast. I'm ready to do it. And yeah, I just want I'm still looking for the guy who let the Philz get hot. Yeah. Who knew? I think our definition of hot might be a little loose these days. Three out of four. But, hey, you know, it should be four out of four, shouldn't it, Travis Jankowski?

That's what I want to know, Travis. Travis Jankowski. And that's why you can't trust baseball players from Lancaster. I mean, Lancaster is, you know, it's not a baseball hotbed. What was that, Jack? I mean, that was, we'll get, it's not a baseball hotbed. What was that, Jack? I mean, that was, we'll get to it, we'll get to it. But look, optimism, positivity, I'm all in on this. What I will say, and obviously you are definitely more quick to dive back in than I am,

but I will say it was nice to look at that lineup yesterday and see, like, what could be a good lineup. If you guys start doing what there's like you always talk about getting back to their career norms like harper's back remuda's back maybe dd's on the horizon like it's starting to not look like a jv lineup anymore that's positivity jack yeah and and i i i felt this for a little while but it feels like they're they're they're playing solid baseball. Now, I know the Jankowski play happened. I know.

I know. It's hard to make a solid baseball case when that happened. I know, especially because you get tugged out by the catcher. I mean, you've played baseball a long time. I have never in my life seen that happen, where the catcher actually ends up tagging the guy out. At some point, the guy breaks for a base. At some point, you make a decision. I've never seen that happen where the catcher actually ends up tagging the guy out. Like at some point the guy breaks for a base. Like at some point you make a decision. Like I've never seen that before.

Right. But I, but I feel like, you know, I just feel like they're, they're genuinely playing solid enough baseball. Like they're starting to do the little things that matter, the little things that help you win ball,

ball games. And they're, they're, they're moving runners alone. They're getting runs in from third base and they're even stealing some bags. You know, they're doing some little things that, you know, and they're even stealing some bags. They're doing some little things that maybe they're kind of

they know that they're not doing a great job scoring runs now. They have done a better job of that recently, but it feels like they're doing things they need to do to win baseball games. They're starting to get back to that. The defense, I think, has been better recently. I mean, it hasn't been

minus the three-hour game that they won on mean it hasn't been minus the three hour game that they won on Saturday we look past that on this podcast they won but I don't know I just have a different sense about this team I really do I have a good feeling about them big June ahead

and I love the Straw Hat thing yeah the Straw Hat thing's fun look I'll take whatever I can get. We tried the bamboo. That didn't work out as well as we hoped. I'll take any sort of thing like that I can get. We talked about bird poop. In reality, I mean, they are three of four since the IELTS live show.

You know, these things matter. We care about these things. And look, I do think, though, I mean, look, they were able to kind of stay in it without Harper, without Romito, without Didi. I think that is a positive, right? And the defense, it is what it is. We can talk all we want about tighter, sharper baseball on them. Like, again, the talent is what it is. But the boneheaded stuff is what you would hope over the course of the season could start to phase out.

But the lineup, the lineup is real reason for positivity because like ultimately this team has to slug through this stuff. Right. I mean, like the defense, even if they play tighter, sharper baseball is still going to suck. Like they suck defensively. They are not talented defensively. They can't give up all those kinds of outs and not hit. I like all year we've talked about, like, the offense hasn't been there and they're still in it. Like, if you want positivity, this team should be carried by its offense. And maybe that starts to happen now.

I mean, they 17-12 in the last four. That's something. Yeah, but, well, and I do think they found a good one, too, at the top of the lineup. I do, too. I do, too. For as much as, you know, we love Andrew McCutcheon, he just wasn't getting it done at the leadoff spot.

I mean, he wasn't getting on. He's been good in the six holes so far. Yeah, I mean, he's hitting some dingers. I mean, I didn't know. It's funny, like, McCutcheon's up to 10 homers, which I didn't think was where he was. He's second on the team, man. Yeah.

Second on the team at home runs, like, handily. Which is crazy. So I do think the one, man. Yeah. Second on the team at home runs, like handily. Which is crazy. So I do think the 1-2 is finally giving them that little bit of jump because those guys are both aggressive hitters. And listen, they go back-to-back, and they're jumping on pitchers. Like, all of a sudden, you have runners on first and second with Harper or Hoskins coming up. Like, they've kind of settled into the lineup, and I think it's –

I mean, is it perfect? No. But at least it feels like they have a chance at the top of the lineup and Andrew McCutcheon just wasn't doing that. Yeah. And again, like Alec Baum, like if he just starts hitting a little bit, it can make such a drastic difference for this offense. Yeah. I mean, holy, holy smokes, man. I mean, it's the, it's the ex fat. He is the, he is the pivot point for this team. Like if he starts hitting,

maybe I'll be where you are. Maybe I'll start to point for this team. Like, if he starts hitting, maybe I'll be where you are. Maybe I'll start to believe in this team. Because if he starts hitting, it changes everything offensively. Yeah, and I just don't think he's going to hit this year. I just really don't. It's supposed to be the positive one. I know, I know. He seems so lost.

He seems like his mechanics are all off. Like, balls that he would hit into the right center field gap, like, he's not even close. It looks like his swing is getting long, and it looks like he's just trying to do a lot of things to try to get going, and it's just not. And you're seeing this a lot with young players around the league. Like, Jerry Kalanick

just got sent down. Like, Keston Hiora was unbelievable a couple years ago. He just got sent down. And, you know, Boehm's kind of going through it right now. And I think it's going to kind of be this way for the rest of the year. I mean, again, Swing's looking long,

looking loopy. He's not quick to balls. He's getting beat on fastballs inside. Like even when he hits it inside pitch, it's like a little looper over the shortstop. So he's got a long way to go and I think he's, I think, you know,

the struggles are starting to get to him a little bit, which is unfortunate, but yeah, I just kind of think this is where we're at with Boe I think, you know, the struggles are starting to get to him a little bit, which is unfortunate. But, yeah, I just kind of think this is where we're at with Bum. And, you know, you hope that the all star break or whatever, you can kind of have a little relaxer and come back hopefully better. But at least until then, I think this is the guy that we're going to have. And you just pray that he can figure it out a little bit. I mean, yeah, I mean, it's it's prey is a strong term but it's it's the right term because his team team desperately listen listen when you haven't made the playoffs

in a decade you start asking for for yeah big time look if if he doesn't i mean what did you play brad miller at third once stevie's back i mean i don't know you know i just it's not like that's a huge help defensively even though it is better anything's better but um i look the main thing my main thought with the way this offense looks now and starting to feel better about it is that they have to carry this team you know they have to they have to the top three are good we've talked about it you know we don't need to to break that down they're gonna struggle with four or five unless they make a move and we'll get into spencer in a minute, but, um, you know, they have to hit, they have to hit. If they want to win, this team's not going to win it with defense. They're not going to win it.

Uh, you know, they're not going to win enough with pitching. They have to hit. So, um, all right, let's dive into the weekend, the action. Um, let's start with Spencer out. I know it's out of order, but, um, you know, Wheeler Scherzer we'll get to in a second but the the spencer howard thing man and we've talked about it but i mean you know we we get excited he goes two and then falls apart in the third then he goes four and falls apart in the fifth it's like wow you think go five and fall apart in the six nope back to two and falling apart in the third like what do we do here man well? Well, you ride it out. I mean, you ride it out and you hope that he starts, you know,

being able to hold up later in the games. But it is just unbelievable. I mean, again, I've never seen a guy go from 97 to 90 in anything. Like, I've never seen it. It's unfathomable. And I don't know exactly why. You know, maybe it's shoulder fatigue. I't know it's it's just crazy to me you know it's not it's not changing your eating routine before a start or jogging down to first base like yeah again the the most ridiculous thing a phillies player has said in a long time well it's and to me to me it's just making excuses for the situation

rather than you know figuring it out so uh it seems like he's very quick to say this is what it was this and and i just you know he's got he's got to figure it out i mean because it's it's it's ridiculous but um you know as long as ranger suarez continues to be the best pitcher on the team that was going to be my next question you're leading there like at what point do you say and i know it's because the clean innings you know but at what point especially with vinny who will get to in a sec like at what point do you just have to say all right ranger suarez is our four starter you know like at what point do they do that yeah i mean i get it but also i like i like where they're at right now with the Spencer Howard-Rangers Suarez piggyback thing

because it should be the best of both worlds. Because if Spencer figures it out and he starts throwing deeper and hard and late into games, then Spencer Howard is your guy. I mean, he's finally developing into that top prospect. If he continues to, and I don't know how much longer they can continue to do it, but at least for the time being, I'm cool with trying Spencer Howard out and seeing if he can do it and then having Ranger come in and kind of save the game for as long as they can. I mean, because really you need to figure out if Spencer Howard can

start or not. Like that's what this all boils down to. That's more important than having Ranger Suarez in there as your fourth or fifth starter. Like, I think Ranger Suarez is a good pitcher, but I need to figure out if Spencer Howard is a starter or not. Vinny is a different story. You know, Vinny was fine yesterday. I don't know. He was, I was honestly, I was so frustrated that, like, you're a major league pitcher, right? How are you so inept that you are throwing a ball at a guy's head?

And I know you didn't do it on purpose, but it's like, I mean, come on, man. Like you're, you are still a big leaguer. You throw a baseball enough. Like let's,

let's react. Like stop, like be a big leaguer. But, um, I like the plan they have with Ranger and Spencer until the wheels fall off because I need to figure out a Spencer African starter. Yeah.

Uh, I mean, look, we're talking just in a micro sense about this season and stuff, but, I mean, obviously it's a much bigger macro issue for this team. Like, they need Spencer Howard to be good. They need him to be good. We don't have that type of young, high-end talent who's close to Major League

Ready or Major League Ready in this system. And you hope that with Brian Barber and, you know, the Mick Gables and the Casey Martins and all these guys that they're bringing in the system that starts to turn around. And in, you know, three, four years, we're talking about what a great farm system we have and, you know, guys that we could cycle in and out. But right now, like for the next few years, like Spencer Howard's a crown jewel, man.

And Alec Boehm offensively is the crown jewel. Like those are your two guys right now. And I'm not worried about Boehm long-term. I'm really not. I think you'll figure it out. He's too talented, too smart, too good a hitter to not. But Spencer Howard I am worried about. I am flat-out worried about this guy, not just for this year,

but as a long-term piece, as the guy he's supposed to be for this team, which is incredibly important. So that is a concern. You mentioned Vinny. Before we get to the Scherzer-Wheeler duel, what are your thoughts on Vinny? Because you've been more positive than i have but we're you know back-to-back rough outings obviously the one prior was was worse um you know was able to kind of get through some stuff got through four didn't feel like he was gonna make it through four but got through four um but still you know sorry sorry to look like

vinny again yeah he sure is pal he's he's you know he's back will look like Vinny again. Yeah, he sure is, pal. He's, you know, he's back. He's back. Who could have seen this coming? I mean, in all honesty. And that's why, you know, while I was pointing out the positives, I was also like, listen, we know. We probably know how this is going to turn out, don't we? Yeah, you know, it feels like he's back to trying to overpower guys

rather than pitching. And he's still doing a decent job of working in his changeup and his curve ball, but they're, they're back to being balls out of hand. Um, and he's back to trying to throw, he's back to trying to throw 94 to 95 and,

you know, try to get up to 96, 97. Like he was at his best when he was 92, 93, making sure he's able to locate those pitches and then, you know, have your off speeds at least be strikes out of hand you

know and then hope they get out of the strike zone but yeah the the inning where he got the bases loaded with one out and then got out of it was the most vinny experience of all time so uh yeah i mean he's definitely you know kind of back to being what vinny was um i mean not a total disaster like he hasn't been a disaster outside of the one start um but definitely not a guy that you can completely trust on all right you can't trust zach wheeler yeah to the jankowski part of it but i know you i know friday even though they lost friday night was a jack for its night oh well you know it was just so nice to see it like a real pitching matchup you know it was like one of those things were like scherzer wheeler like that's a that's a showdown and you don't really get those anymore. You know, I always bring up the example of Lincecum Halliday and like how excited I was to see those guys go

at it in 2010. Um, cause it was just like that. And that's what makes baseball great. And what made baseball great was, was, you know, uh, the whole, Oh, we got these two pitchers on the mound. Like this is a big time matchup ace versus ace. And, uh, that's what it was. And it whole, oh, we got these two pitchers on the mound. Like, this is a big-time matchup, ace versus ace. And that's what it was. And it was – and both sure did live up to it. Yeah, Scherzer's – for as old as he is, his stuff is still ridiculous. It's unbelievable. Yeah, and he –

It's unbelievable. Whoever trades for him at the deadline is – I would put them right towards the top of World Series favorites because you know as the games get bigger, he's just going to be more and more into it. We saw it. A couple years ago, we saw it. I still don't get why he hit JT.

He hit JT because it was definitely intentional and I was trying to go through my old unwritten rules and figuring out why. I guess it was because he talked to soto after uh i guess i mean soto got his own revenge yeah i know and that's the way it should be done and their quotes after were great like soto was like if you want to do a backflip after he struck me out i'm cool with it and wheeler was like i didn't even notice like i like good. Well. It's game and fun. That's a lie. That's a lie by Zach Wheeler.

Of course it's a lie. He was furious. I think they handled it well. Look, he got what he deserved. It's okay. That's the game, right? Like, shout out to Juan Soto for muscling a ball out in the left field. Well, I didn't need him muscling it on that scenario.

I mean, the guy is just an absolute machine. Imagine having that guy, I mean, on your team, night in, night out, just being Juan Soto. I know. It's okay. I know. It's okay. But, yeah, it was – I mean, like, the Soto –

I mean, the fact that we have Soto and Acuna in this division, I mean, dude, it's soul-crushing. Yeah, it is. It really is. It is. I know. One day we'll get ours, right?

That's what we have to keep telling ourselves. One day we'll get our guy. Not Rojas? He'll get there. He's striking out a little bit, but he'll figure it out. Alright, the Jankowski thing. I don't know what to say.

Honestly, I've never seen it before. Like, it was just so, and look, you know, I'm ready to kill Girardi whenever. Like, right move by Girardi, Reese gets the double there. You pinch run for him. Like, no issues with that. Like, well done, sir. Like, what, like, I mean, just a brain fart?

Is it just that simple? Like, Jankowski just lost his mind out there and just, his brain just stopped working? Yeah, I think, I think, I think his brain just shut off. Like, and, and, and honestly, like, this, I'm not making excuses. I'm just saying, like, it happens. It just, I don't know how it happens. I don't know how it happens to a- To this team?

To this team? Yeah, it seems, it seems to happen to this team a lot. I just don't know how it happens to a guy't know how it happens to this team. Yeah, it seems it seems to happen to this team a lot. I just don't know how it happens to a guy who's played as much baseball as he has. Like he's been in the league for a while. Well, either go or don't go. That's what all the coaches say. Exactly. Yes.

You make a decision. Like, it's all about being decisive in that spot. Like, make a decision and go with it. Right. But particularly, like, once you realize that you didn't get it, like, you still got to pick immediately. Like, even if you don't go there, like, go back to second immediately. Do something. Don't just stand there running around not knowing where to go

and have Alex Avila tug you out. Unbelievable. Yeah. Truly, truly hard to believe. No, it's like, the Jankowski play is like, I mean, it's up there with all of them, right? I mean, like all the worst ways to lose a ball game. Yeah. I mean, the Phillies invent these.

With Reese earlier in the season, Jonathan Villar just taking home, you know, when they weren't paying attention. The Orioles pop up. Yes. Like the Orioles pop up. Absolutely. It's like that type of play. Absolutely. Again, like you and I have watched a lot of baseball in our lifetimes,

and I'm talking playing baseball to watching it baseball, and I've never seen the catcher tag a guy out in that spot. Like I've never seen it before. Especially when the guys – I mean, listen. I said it before. I'll say it again. You don't trust baseball players from Lancaster. I mean, it just is what it is.

You don't – It's a hard and fast rule. Yeah. I mean, listen. You don't trust them mean. It's a hard and fast rule. Yeah, I mean, listen, you don't trust him. You know, it's not a hotbed for talent. Good for him to make it to the league. But it's funny, like, he did get booed the next night. And it's just like, this guy, because I felt bad for him.

I mean, the guy clearly grew up a Phillies fan, like, finally got in. And then he makes that play. And no one's ever going to forget the Janikowski play. And then he runs out the left field the next night and gets a bow um yeah just just poor guy but yeah it's just like it's class i felt bad in the moment i was like cut him and i felt bad after but it was like it was that bad at play where my actual reaction because of he's the 26th guy on the roster literally like the newest my literal reaction that moment was like cut that guy just cut him cut him a night right and i backed off

i've i you know but like that was my initial reaction was like cut him like cut that guy make a statement like this dumb baseball can't keep happening just right there on the spot just cut him just this yeah like don't let him change go back your bags you want You want to be a Philly so bad, you can let him keep the uniform. Get out of here. Just say you personalized it on the website. Boom, done. It was so bad, Jack. It was so bad.

It was just so bad. And it was so Phillies, which is the worst part. Yeah, of course it was. Especially because that was such a well-played baseball game up until that point. It was a pitcher's duel. It was good stuff. It had the Soto-Wheeler stuff. And then you get Scherzer out of the game.

You've got a shot. Reeves leads off the ninth with a double. Run around second, no outs. It's like, all right, let's go. We can get back in this game and steal this thing. And just to have it go like that was just, especially with JT at the plate, I mean, it was just like, we're good. We're set up here.

It was just, it was a really frustrating. I mean, I know we say this a lot, Jack, but what a frustrating way to lose a baseball game, man. Yeah, we specialize in this. Like it is the go-to. All right, let's move to Saturday, which was a less frustrating game. Big headline heading into the game. RBI single late in the game. the go-to um all right let's move to saturday which was a less frustrating game big headline

heading into the game rbi single late in the game thank god bryce is back man thank god i know it might take a little time to get into the groove or whatever but this team desperately needed this guy back yeah i do think it's funny that he avoided sheriffs around friday though well it was very purposeful right like we can all agree like it was not a mistake that he came back on saturday yeah he's like he's like ah wrist is not nope i know i'm eligible today but i think one more day is really what i need you know that day he's gonna be the difference maker yeah let's go one more day yeah yeah it was nice having bryce back still doesn't look right um like he he's moving all over in the box.

He doesn't look as sound. He'll get there. I mean, that's just first game back, plus still probably recovering from 97 to the face. So, yeah, he was going to be back. I'm glad that he got the hit late. But it's just the lineup is just so much deeper when he's in it. And I know that's like simple and everyone gets it, but like you know, having

like we had just gone through, I don't know two weeks of baseball of like Hoskins at the three and then whoever behind him. And it's like wow, can't figure out why they weren't playing good baseball towards the NMA. And just having him and JT back, it's just the lineup

looks good. And if these guys can just get going a little bit and JT back, it's just the lineup looks good. And if these guys can just get going a little bit and get Bryce back and get, you know, and JT had the big homer yesterday. Congrats on number 100. If he can continue to hit the baseball hard, I mean, they have a good, solid lineup. And you hope when Didi comes back

that, you know, the elbow's kind of out of the way. But on paper, it's a good lineup. And it's just, it's so nice having Bryce back in there because it just it just makes it harder on these pitchers to consistently get outs. And it puts a lot of fear in them. So, yeah, it was good to have Bryce back. You know, missed him. That's for sure.

And yes, Saturday was a good start. Yeah, it was needed. And, you know, able to win a game where you get that spencer howard start it feels good because you feel like you should probably lose that again ranger suarez i mean what he's been so important see i mean we just mentioned reese and i keep thinking about how crucial reese has been for this team the last few weeks with with jt out with bryce out really the one guy in the lamp you've been able to count on. He's been really good. He's been on one of his hotter streaks,

and he's come through on big spots. I mean, the two games they won in Florida in that Marlins series, he played big roles in being able to win those games. The one game he had accounted for both runs. Like, Ranger Suarez has been another one of those guys who has felt really important to this team so far this season. I didn't see that coming, Jack. You could really make the case that you don't know where this team would be

without Ranger Suarez. I know. I know. What is that? I mean, they're 17 straight scoreless. Just how they drew it up, right? Just how they drew it up. And this is what teams need.

You need random guys that can kind of step up. I agree. And Maton did it for a little bit and then he got figured out um and you hope that range where are the nick mayton people wow yeah bad about him not playing more i couldn't believe it's a star it's like let's can we slow it down just a tiny bit here yeah i think he's a i think he's gonna be be a good player. A nice utility infielder. A really nice one, I think. Yeah.

So, again, I don't know where this team would be without Reiner Suarez. You know, Saturday was just a good baseball game. I know they made three errors, whatever. But, you know, McCutcheon's homer was beautiful. Interesting. The interesting part about the McCutche's homer was beautiful interesting the interesting part about the mccutchen homer for me actually was his reaction uh when he got past home plate right dude and like that was maybe the most like fire and emotion we've ever seen from him seriously yeah and i

couldn't tell and like he's goofy and he's awesome in the like club out locker room whatever the dugout but we don't really see him like see him get that jacked up like that. Right, right. And I couldn't tell if it was someone behind home plate. I know TMAC made that point, but I don't think it was. I know McCutcheon's kind of goofy and funny and doesn't seem like he takes anything very seriously, but I remember maybe it was that at Cardinals series.

And I think he said like, I just want to stop sucking. And, you know, I think he takes, obviously he takes baseball very seriously. He's been one of the best players in the league for a long time. So I just think it's one of those like frustration, like let's get it out.

Let's go on a run. And honestly, like that's I've felt about this team, really since that Marlins series, was that they're starting to, like, take, they're starting to take the losing personally, and I like that. And that's kind of one of the reasons that I have a good feeling about this team.

Like, the McCutcheon-Homer happens, and he's all fired up, and I don't know if it was a fan or whatnot, I kind of get the personal sense, like, let's go. Like, let's win a ball game. Let's kind of play better baseball. Because I think this team knows they are better than how they've played. And, you know, we saw the emotion from Reese in Miami.

We saw that. And McCutcheon on Saturday. And then on Sunday, Boehm gets that walk, and he gets all fired up. So, like, I don't know. Part of the reason why I am having positive feelings about this team is that it finally looks like they're caring as much as I care and as much as we care as Phillies fans. And I just hope that – I hope it translates.

I'm not saying they're going to go on a huge long run here or whatever, but the fact that they're taking this personally and they know that they can play better baseball than this, like they're finally showing the accountability that we wanted to see from them. I mean, we wanted to see them care. And that was so frustrating about the first like month of the season was like,

do these guys even care that they're playing terrible baseball? So it's been nice. The little outbursts of emotion in the last couple of weeks. I can't tell if it's personal frustration, but I think it's we're better than this. We need to play better than this. Let's do something about it. And I wonder, the interesting part to me is who is the leader behind that? Because we've said this before, who is the clubhouse leader?

Who is the leader in this baseball team? And I wonder who is kind of saying, let's go, let's figure it out. Let's go, let's start winning ball games and all that stuff. So it's interesting and something to monitor the next couple of weeks. Yeah.

I mean, that could be huge, right? I mean, that's been one of our biggest complaints with this team on a week to week basis. And we keep talking about this team is the lack of fire, the lack of emotion,

the lack of seeming like they're even having a good time out there to your point about wanting them to care as much as we do, like I've constantly thought like, how can I have a good time watching this team when it doesn't look like they're having a good time playing the game? You know, like they don't look like they're having fun. And I know we keep bringing it up with like that Red Sox, the shopping cart thing, like that type of stuff. We haven't seen that type of fun, energy and emotion from this club.

And I'm with you. You know, the Reese thing stood out. The McCutcheon thing stood out to me, too. And those are the guys who need to do it, right? Like, those are the guys. We don't know who the leader is in there, but it's got to be a Reese or a McCutcheon or a JT or a Harper. Like, there aren't enough that many guys on this team who have the cachet who can command the clubhouse, who can say, everyone look at me.

We're rolling now. Like, this is what we're doing. And so whoever it is, it's important. And it seems like whoever, which of those guys it is, like McCutcheon, Reeves, those guys are buying into it and are showing that emotion. It's massive and it's huge. Speaking of McCutcheon, let's pivot to Sunday.

Here's my question. In the same game, Jack, the same gamerew mccutcheon hits his 350th career double and scores his 1000th career one here's my question where was the gene cigar treatment i agree what are we doing here yeah i mean gene cigars 200 200 not 350th double shut the game down nothing i don't know i'm starting to think that gene segura celebration wasn't as important as it felt in the moment i know cool because everyone's gonna remember where they were for gene segura's 200th double and the sad part about the mccutcheon one it's a nice little footnote but 200 doubles would have been would have been a real celebration um

yeah it is i mean and he could get a nice curtain call which is which is good i'm happy it was it was but that's how it's supposed to be that's a thousand that's an amazing accomplishment that's real yeah look how many players have a thousand runs i don't know like i don't know like i honestly don't know how many players certainly not as many as have 200 doubles by the list we went through last year. I mean, what? 1,000 plus that have 200 doubles. Listen, the standing, honestly, honestly, which do you think you would have never seen in your entire life as a baseball fan?

The catcher tagging out a runner at second base or a standing ovation for 200 doubles? Honestly, I think the standing ovation for 200 doubles is weirder. I think it's way weirder how does that happen and listen congrats to gene segura but like how do you how do you have a ripken moment for for such a small milestone i'm surprised you didn't walk around like ripken didn't like shake everyone's hand in the front row around the stadium i think i i honestly think no one really knew why they were clapping which is like sure let's clap yeah well do you think that you think

people save the ticket stuff from that game and they're gonna pass it down that's what's so funny is that like now whenever anything like mccutchen a thousand runs or ever like anything like that it's all i could think about all i could think about when someone achieves some you know impressive career achievement all i think about is the ridiculous can think about when someone achieves some impressive career achievement, all I think about is the ridiculousness of the G.D.G.R.A.T. 200 doubles. That's my only point of reference now. I know. I know.

I do love it. I still love everything about Joe DiCamera, but him not understanding why you and I were so confused by it. I know. He was like, yeah, it was kind of weird. It's like, dude, what are you talking about, man? it's the weirdest thing i've ever seen watching a baseball game like do you understand how weird this is one of the more disappointing uh moments for me and joe to camera for sure yeah i'm with you i was disappointed too yeah joe's uh you know hit or miss um all right sunday they put up 12 runs yes we'll get we'll get to the

other thing that happened in that game that I'm guessing Oh, that's another thing we should have added to that last question. The net delay, standing ovation for 200 doubles, or a catcher tagging out a runner at second base. Because I've never seen any of those. Yeah. The net thing was – here's my only question with the net thing. Because I thought – and I heard – I was listening to the radio

when it happened, so I thought Scott in LA did a fantastic job handling it and messing around with it I'm sure Tom and I guess Mike Schmidt was in on Sunday I didn't hear the broadcast but it was Crocker yeah Crocker and Schmitty I'm sure they did a great job too how great a job would Jim Nance have done

in this situation right I'm sure he would have been a ball of laughs I mean just starting to talk about similar experience he's had throughout his amazing career and where it ranks on the unexpected list. Yeah, I was in the process of getting bullied by a two-year-old,

so I turned it off. Oh, no. Yeah, it's like, all right. So yesterday... I have a two-year-old. Yeah, I know. I get bullied by them. I went over to Jill's sister's house and,

uh, I know that like, I honestly, I don't know if there's more pressure in the world than being the funcle. I mean, being the funcle is like, it's a role. Yeah.

I mean, it's, I get that raising the kid is hard and all that. Yada, yada, yada. You're saying being the fun uncle is a harder thing to do than raising the kid, but sure. Go for it. Being a a funcle is is definitely harder than raising the actual kid

i knew exactly what it was but i've never heard funcle before it's fantastic yeah well that's my role is i'm i'm the funcle and i got my second shot yesterday so or i got my second shot on saturday and the side effects didn't kick in till sund. And I was just like, I was just not, I didn't want to be fungal, but I feel like I still had to put on the act a little bit. So I got there and I wanted to go downstairs because I just wanted to catch a little bit of the end of the game. So I finally got some peace from the two-year-old. And I'm down there and she comes downstairs and she's like, no more sports.

And then I was like, oh, well, it's a net delay anyway. I'll go up and we'll, we'll, I'll be the phone call. So yeah, I got guilt. I got guilted out of watching the net delay by a two year old. That's okay. I mean, again, if Jim Nance were doing it, you could really have a gripe, but, but it was, it was still very, yeah. I mean, just an unbelievable, again, again, only the Phillies.

Only the Phillies. Honestly, if someone had just said to me, hey, the net fell down in one of the 30 ballparks across Major League Baseball, which one do you think it is? I would have, like, zero hesitation. Phillies. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, it was classic. It was just, and dude, shout out to, because they would have had to suspend it. They would have had to suspend the game and come back and finish it. It's like a 12-6 ball game. First off, it might have been the longest baseball game I've ever seen in my life. Oh my God, dude. It was already a long game, and then you added the net delay. It was already going to be a four and a half hour game without the net delay.

And you had to replace an umpire. That slowed it down. Yeah, you had to replace an umpire. Yeah, I forgot about that. Yes. Yeah, and you had Vinny on the mound. I forgot. And then Vinny, yeah, it's like a perfect store well and he also threw it a pitcher's head they had

to take care of that no that was that was ugly man that was wrong it's like come on vinny like seriously first off why are you trying to throw 96 past the pitcher i know dude what are you doing it's awesome well i mean if we're if we're being honest i mean this is what you're unfortunately this is what you're going to see while they're implementing the sticky substance rules because without that they have they don't have the same amount of control and they're so used to being able to use it that now with the monitoring of it i mean you're going to see a lot of balls around guys heads because they're so used to doing it this way, you're taking that away. The ball becomes more slick, thus more balls at guys' heads. It's going to be a scary couple weeks here, I think.

Oh, good. I will say, though, as we've talked about, I'm happy that they're doing something about it. I'm happy they're making this. I mean, JT Romita will ruin Bernstein in baseball. Yeah. You think his pitchers are going up to him like you mother yeah right well honestly if I was a position player I'd be pissed because it's costing them money

these guys gotta look out for themselves but listen I appreciate JT doing it and honestly it feels like their last kind of dish effort to be like alright we don't want to change all these rules you know kind of dish effort to be like all right we don't want to change all these rules you know let's get the game back to this why not try it though right like as opposed to moving the mound back or something which again like if it gets that like i know you

don't you're not cool with that i would be fine with that like whatever it takes at a certain point lowering the mound moving it back i actually think moving moving it back makes more sense but you know 60 feet six inches is part of baseball so it's weird even though they did move the mound back years ago and whatnot but still are we talking the 19 like a long time yeah relax but still but still like i if you can figure it out without having to do a real drastic change that changes the fundamentals of the game like sure i think this is such a smart thing by baseball to do crack down on this completely and see what happens also it's a rule it's yeah it's like it is cheating like they're actually cheating well that's it's so that's what's so frustrating about like where baseball is is that like if you read the story it's like these teams are going to chemical labs to develop

sticky substances that they're luring players based on their substances. Like, that's some crazy-ass stuff, Jack. It's like, what happened to the days of, like, Simple Sunscreen and Rosin? No, we're like, Rosin! Like, I mean, I thought we used Rosin, right? I was like, we want cool Rosin. It's all these nerds that are getting in the sport.

I don't know. It's just like come on enough can't again i just want people to play baseball just play baseball yeah it's not that hard all right uh what else you got from sunday before i move on to uh something i'm gonna call nerd corner nerd corner um i liked like i know that i know that i know it was seven runs and whatnot, but it was nice to see that they kept the train going. They worked good at bats, and it was kind of going on in the middle of Sixers games as the Sixers were getting blown out in the first half,

so I kind of had one eye on it, but it looked like they were working good at bats, and it wasn't just big home runs. It was smart, good baseball. Also, the Nationals stink. The Nationals went went full phillies on them oh my god whatever yeah the drop pop-up two runs the error les and that was just like it was ugly yeah it was terrible i mean the the pop-up the the drop pop-up was just classic but um yeah it was just it was just again again good solid baseball and i like to see it.

Brandon Kintzler is the worst. I was happy when they signed him. But, like, holy smokes, man. I mean, just every time he comes in, it's an automatic run. Like, at minimum. Did you see the stat about three runs or more in his outings? So he has been in his 20 outings this season. Five of them.

Five of them. five of them, he has given up three or more runs and not gotten three outs. Yeah. That's unbelievable, man. Like, come on. That is terrible. I think Archie's getting closer to being a much better pitcher than he had been

when he first came back. Obviously, he's pitching off an oblique, so you kind of expected that, but I think he's taking some nice strides forward. I think his stuff is having a little uptick, so good to see. I really like Christopher Sanchez. I don't know what he is long-term, but he definitely has some juice. I know it's 12-6

and all that, but he did have to endure a net delay to come back from. But just looking at his stuff, I was like, he's got something. I don't know what long term. I mean, I know at Lehigh Valley he was a starter. So I don't know what he is at the big league level. But at least if I put him in the bullpen, I know, one,

he's going to come in and throw strikes because he came in and threw strikes over the weekend. And he's got some legitimate stuff. So I was happy with him. Also, every time I'm watching Sam Coonrod, I am trying not to think about Carson Ragsdale, who has the fourth most strikeouts in minor league baseball right now. Oh, no. Uh-oh. Dude.

I'm going to have to rescind my praise for that trade. I might have gotten a guy right next to Alan Patantas. All right. Nerd Corner. All right. nerd corner all right um i saw this and i didn't this is high hopes listeners and you are literally the only people who i thought might actually appreciate how nerdy this is as much as i do but i i just love this it's so nerdy jack but uh jeremy frank mlb random stats on twitter very good follow uh tweeted this out and i just it's so nerdy this is not the new with the Phillies. This is just the baseball nerdiness, but I just loved it.

So there have been 1,800 and 800 and 900. Excuse me. 1,800. Excuse me. This is bet. 108,983. That's how you talk. 108,983. Unique starting pitcher lines since the live ball era began so that's innings pitched hits

runs earn runs walks and strikeouts um only four 47 519 of them have happened multiple times which that alone is amazing that means that there have been over 50 000 unique starts that have never been duplicated which is just an unbelievable thing to think about when you think about how many games have been pitching all that but uh would you like to take a guess the most common pitching line has occurred 117 times would you like to take a stab and what the most common pitching line in the live ball era is? Six innings, three earned. Nine innings, four hits, no runs, one walk, four strikeouts. So that obviously tells you that a lot of these happened back in the day,

and there were enough of them to carry it over. But isn't that wild that in the live ball era, the most common pitching line is a complete game four hitter with no run scored jack how do you even how do you even figure out that stat like that's what i know it's like the level of of of numbers and whatnot that is going into this is so impressed i would like to know how many times that has been done in the 2010s yeah it's a good question probably yeah i feel like if you're throwing a complete game these days so oh he gave me the most common

line he also has as a follow-up tweet the most common line since 2000 would you like to guess that one uh i will say i will say seven innings two earned five strikeouts seven hits oh my god dude so really you're not right but unbelievable job six innings two runs five strikeouts five hits two walks so you did awesome there that was really impressive it's happened 55 times yeah that's a modern day pitching line the complete game thing is no. Still, I just, it was so nerdy. I didn't know who else to talk to about it. And I felt like you would appreciate it.

It's just like, I did again. How do you, I mean, that's a, I mean, obviously he's not going through all these box scores. He's using something,

but it's like, how do you even get to that point with a hundred and whatever? I mean, baseball's baseball stat Twitter. And we know like Ryan Spader's unbelievable at it, but baseball stat Twitter is just every day. I'm like, that's insane. Well, and especially to the point where,

and we've mentioned this before, but where it's like with everything that happens, it's like every Jacob deGrom start, it feels like I'm seeing all these stats where I'm like, wow, that's amazing. Wow, lowest ERA since 1964 through this. Oh, lowest thing. It's like every time there's all these new where I'm like, wow, that's amazing. Wow, lowest ERA since 1964 through this many. So the lowest thing. It's like every time there's all these new unbelievable stats with everything. It's like, how do you find, how do you think to put these stats and make them into these things?

And it's awesome. Yeah. I was very close to throwing out the Corbin Burns is actually the best pitcher in the NL. And then I was like, oh, buddy, the ground's pretty good. Yeah, DeGrom's the best. But Corbin Burns is nasty. Oh, Corbin pretty good. Yeah, DeGrom's the best. But Corbin Burns is nasty. Oh, Corbin Burns is disgusting. But DeGrom's the best.

I mean, like you said, I mean, inner circle. Yeah, if he retired after this year, is he a Hall of Famer? Oh, yeah. I know. I mean, he's going to win his third straight Cy Young this year. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think so, too. It's kind of an interesting, like.

Yeah, it is. Because especially with the wins and historically how the Hall of Fame is measured and stuff like that. He would be the Hall of Famer with the least wins by miles. Yeah, he would be the first pitcher to make the Hall of Fame without 100 wins. Yeah. That's where he's trending. And shout out to the Mets for completely wasting... Imagine. I mean, he's the best pitcher of all time. The best pitcher I've ever seen

personally. Like I said, 99 Pedro is the only one that's better, and even then it's like splitting hairs. Yeah, but 101 on the outside corner. Look, I think DeGrom's probably the most talented I've ever seen.

It's crazy. Stetson University shortstop. It's unbelievable. Drafted in the ninth round, I think ever seen. Yeah. It's crazy. Stetson University shortstop. It's unbelievable. Drafted in the ninth round, I think. Unbelievable. All right. One more quick question before we get to the take back, because I know you're vehemently against it,

and I still am too. I am against it. But, man, I've never been more intrigued by robot umps in my life. Jack, look, we're not there. I'm with you still. It's part of our baseball, but it is getting worse and worse. I mean, that call in the Red Sox-Yankees game last night was among the worst strike calls you'll ever see.

I mean, it's bad. It's bad. Yeah, it's bad. It's just, you know what I, and every time I start going down the wrong path of wanting robot umpires, I always watch a game and I see a pitch that is, the guy misses his spot by two feet.

It's technically in the strike zone. And I just know that in a year from now, that's going to be called a strike. And that pisses me off. Because I do think that pitchers need to earn strikes sometimes. And I just hate the idea of guys not earning strikes and pitching balls all over the zone. And it doesn't matter about command anymore because you can just throw it wherever in the strike zone and they're going to catch. They're going to call for a strike if it's a strike. So there's a part of me that's like watching a catcher reach across his body and it's technically in the box and calling that a strike annoys me.

and it's technically in the box and calling that a strike annoys me. But one part of it that I do think is interesting is if hitters know exactly what the strike zone is, I mean, it should theoretically lead to more offense. I mean, you know, and no longer is it going to be like, you know, chasing out of the zone with two strikes or whatever. Like, you'll know what the strike zone is. So, I mean, whatever. I mean, if they think it's going to speed up the game and get more offense it's fine it's just you know there's a part of me that that respects umpires for giving strikes when they deserve strikes and balls they're across the catcher

um that a catcher's to reach for that is technically still in the strike zone like i just don't think that deserves to be called a strike yeah Yeah, I get it. I get it. And look, again, I'm not there. I'm not... I would not... If I had to choose, I would say no to Robotoms. It's just... This is the first year I ever remember just thinking over and over and over again, man, these guys just get it wrong so much.

So, all right, what do you got in the take back? Shout out to Hector Neris, now a dad. Hello! And I loved his reaction when he closed out the game yesterday. You know, started rocking the baby. Hector's just a treasure. I love him. And he's my closer.

He's my closer. He's the best reliever on this team, flat out. Like, that's it. Wow. Right? Probably. I love Conor. That's the only other one.

And I've said at times this year that Brogdon's the best. But I think right now Hector's better. Well, Ranger Suarez hasn't allowed a run yet. That's a good point. I forgot about Ranger. I didn't think of him as a reliever in the same way. You didn't think about the best pitcher on the team? I know.

You're right. The MVP of the team. How could I forget him? Yeah. I mean, Hector and Eris's ERA is down to in the 1.8. I mean, still not a closer. Not a closer. He's pretty good, man.

Yeah, he seems decent. Although, if he ever does falter as a closer, Brogdon made it look pretty easy on Saturday. So that was nice to see for sure.

The Nationals stink. I mean, like, we can stop with this whole idea of like, wow, they won World Series a couple years ago.

It's like, dude, after you get through Turner and Soto, it's like, really, Josh Bell, Schwarber, Starling Castro, like, that's the rest of your lineup. I mean, it's like, dude, after you get through Turner and Soto, it's like really Josh Bell, Schwarber, Starling Castro. That's the rest of your lineup.

I mean, Victor Robles only hits against us. I mean, he hits against no one else. So, yeah, I mean, that team stinks. I mean, gone are the days of the old Nationals of the 20s. Yeah. They're not very good. And look, they got a World Series, and it's all worth it and all that,

but the Patrick Corbin contract looks like an albatross, and the Steven Strasburg contract is heading in a direction where it's on its way to being one of the worst in baseball. Maybe he turns it around and stays healthy and whatever, but right now that Strasburg contract looks about as bad as any contract to sport. Up there, at least.

Right. Yeah. They are heading towards a place that is not. You know, they're turning towards the 2012 to bottom Phillies. You know what? You want to waste Juan Soto's career? More power to you. Yeah.

Well, as long as Turner. Trade him here. Trade him here. Yeah. That sounds like a good plan. We probably have the farm system to get that done oh yeah sure sure speaking of farm system uh i was uh one prospect writer uh tweeted today that mick abel's a slam dunk top 50 prospect already so uh i listen mick abel mick abel

makes me giddy and they're comparing him to roy halladay, all right? Really? I'm saying Roy. You didn't see that? No, I didn't see that. He's getting Roy Halladay. Wow. Buddy, slow down. And Mick Abel's on my tweet deck. I mean, you know a Phillies prospect is important. Oh, actually, the Phillies need 19-year-old Mick Abel to become an ace.

Here mines one scout of a young Roy Halladay. I told you. You think I'm making this stuff up? What are we doing? I told you, buddy. Oh, man. Oh, this is just getting even better. It is nice that we have our own Jacob DeGrom coming through the system.

It is. Well, his. I mean, what a better name, too. I mean, Jacob, lowercase d, DeGrom should not. He has thrived in spite of his horrendous name. Like, Mick Abel is a better name, too. I mean, Jacob, lowercase d, DeGrom, should not. He has thrived in spite of his horrendous name. Like, Mick Abel is a stud name. Yes. You look at the name Mick Abel, you're like, oh, that guy won six I Youngs in his career.

That's right. Also, speaking of Mick Abel, and I think I read this stat right today. I'm sorry I don't have it right in front of me. But his fastball spin rate would rank 22nd in all major league baseball right now whoa like it's yeah it's like over 2500 rpms wow dude that's that's a really good one jack yeah that's you talk about things now as long as he can throw uh more than three innings uh harder than 95 miles an hour you know as long as he doesn't get winded running to first base and it starts over.

Yeah, as long as he's not changing his eating routine because maybe that'll make him throw harder. We should be all right. It's too soon. It's too soon to joke about this. I just, I go to bed each night

just shooting one up to the big man upstairs saying, hey, can you please have Spencer Howard throw harder late in the starts? I mean, can I just have something positive? Wow. Some big news here from Salisbury. Ooh, make sure you read it right. I know, I know.

All right. You can correct me on this one if I get this wrong. The Phillies have outran Scott Kingery to AAA. He clears waivers and is off the 40-man roster. Whoa, dude. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, you got it right. Wow. Wow.

I mean, that's pretty crazy, Jack. Yeah. I mean, that is a big statement. They literally took him off the 40-man roster. I wonder if that is to get Luke Williams on there. It better be, man, because that would be a really smart move. I mean, first off, Luke Williams is like raking for Team USA. It's like, hey, how about the Phillies?

Yeah, that'd be nice. Because he wasn't on the 40-man roster. Wow, I mean, that's crazy they they freaking outrighted Kingery like this is like man and he still got like what 15 million left there what a contract man and it's such a shame because that contract should have been a steal I mean yeah it should have been the moment it was signed it felt like with what we thought Kingery was going to be it was a no-brainer um yeah wow but to be fair like look there have only been two contracts ever like that and this was the biggest one and the other was john singleton getting 10 million or whatever i'm guessing the teams are not going to be as likely to sign guys straight out of the minor leagues unless they're a sure freaking thing man well and the sure freaking

things are not signing them um like unless you're ronald acuna as the worst agent i didn't do it then but like what a what a what a joke like evan evan white's another example of this he's been better than kingery but still not hitting the ball um wow yeah kingery's i mean it's it's pretty crazy he's a bigger bust than don brown like i always thought that don brown was gonna to be the biggest bust, but I mean. Don was an all-star. I mean, whatever else you want to say, like that he at least had a year or a month even, but he still had something.

Wow. I mean, I think Kingery is probably going to, he's going to be, he's going to still be here. Just because there's something weird with his contract that he would have to like give money. I don't, I don't, I honestly don't know the specifics of it, but I think he's still going to be a part of the organization. But unbelievable.

Unbelievable, the Scott Kingery thing is at this point. Wow. Okay. I love the straw hat thing. I think it's important for team camaraderie. And it's about time we had something fun to do in the dugout. You know? I mean, like, you're seeing the Red Sox have the shopping cart. Yes! I mean, it's about time we had something fun to do in the dugout you know i mean like you're seeing the red socks have the shopping cart and yes i mean it's a part of modern baseball so you know i'm glad they're finally having some fun playing the sport

um and i like that jt's into it i mean i feel like jt's like a uh a tough one when it comes to having fun tough not to crack yeah do you ever? Like, do you laugh? He did smile when he did the curtain call with the hat, like, after the 100th homer. Like, he smiled when he did it. And I was like, whoa, there's a smile. Look at that. I got it. Look at that. When was the last time you fell down the stairs?

So, a long time, but my daughter has fallen down the stairs in the last year. Well, she's two. Yeah. It was fine, though. It was like a slow roll down the stairs in the last year. Well, she's two. Yeah, it was fine, though. It was like a slow roll down the stairs, and she was totally fine. But I have not fallen down the stairs in a long time, Jack. My dog, Ruben, won't go down the stairs anymore because he fell once, and he's terrified of the stairs, so that's fun.

But me, no. Why? Well, I fell down the stairs this morning. Oh, no. Not like all the way down. I slipped on two of like all the way down like i slipped on i slipped on like two of them on my way down and it was just like it was like i just thought to myself who falls down the stairs i mean children and dogs is my yeah i mean i was like i was like and i had this like like uh

yeah uh not bruise but like a scratch scratch on my elbow and it hurts all day and it's like what am i doing here? How do I fall down the stairs as a grown adult? But that's why you don't check your phone when you're walking down the stairs and wear socks. Good advice for everybody. Gosh. And final thing on here, High Hopes Night at the Brewery,

Four Fingers Brewing Company, July 10th. July 10th. It is at the Red Sox. I know we're maybe going to do something up to Fenway for this, but the next best thing is High Hopes Night at the Brewery. So Four Fingers Brewing Company, July 10th. It's a 4.05 game. So we'll get out there nice on time.

And yeah, come on out. We'll be having beers and watching hopefully a good baseball team. It's going to be awesome. And yeah, next year we'll go up to Fenway. It was a little hard to make happen with all the obstacles this year. But come hang out with us.

It'll be awesome. And if you haven't been to Four Fingers yet, it's a blast. And the high hop sale is absolutely worth the trip alone. So we'll have a blast. It'll be awesome. And if you haven't been to Four Fingers yet, it's a blast. And the High Hopes Ale is absolutely worth the trip alone. So we'll have a blast. It'll be fun. Jack, my final thing for you, and I mentioned it to you through a text, but I want to share it with High Hopes as well, the High Hopes listeners.

Everyone should follow Rod Carew on Twitter. He's awesome. Like, all this guy does is tell old stories. He told a Ricky Henderson story the other day. It was hilarious. He's like, Ricky, whenever he's like, Ricky, got to go. When it's to the face, he would just say to Rod Curry, he's like, all right, Ricky, got to go. And then just take off.

Rod Curry tells some good stories on Twitter. So if you're not following Rod Curry, there's my little, if you're a baseball fan, I think Rod Curry's a fun foul. Don't rip him, Jack. I would never rip an older generation player. That's for sure. It's not your style. Not in my wheelhouse. But yeah, I don't follow Rod Carew, but I guess

off your recommendation, I might. I told you to, and you just ignored me. Well, listen, I follow too many people. Do you love baseball or not, Jack? That's what I want to know. Believe it or not, I do like baseball. Especially when the Phil's are hot. Like they are now. Yes, alright.

Two of three from the Braves or sweep? Fine, I'll say two of three. I'll say two of three. Well, I mean, look, it's Nola, F and Wheeler. So, like, let's go. Uh-oh. Against, like, you know, Drew Smiley and Ian Anderson and someone I never heard of

so let's go and the Braves stink they're a half game better than the Phillies but they stink stink alright you got any final thoughts no final thoughts but if I could get Eflin and Nola back on track these next two starts

I would be very happy and also I hope that Luke Williams is coming up because he's way too good to be playing on Team USA and not helping the Phillies. July 10th, High Hopes Night at the brewery, coming out with us. We're going to have a blast. It's going to be awesome.

That's all I got, buddy. Till next time. What'd you say? Till next time. Till next time. Sarah, now can i do it yes