High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Talking Our Way Through The Phillies' Many Dilemmas

Episode Date: April 18, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies splitting a home series with the Giants and talk about what we need to see from struggling vets Aaron Nola and Trea Turner. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy, go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Do good, feel good a portion of food and beverage sales will support RMHC chapters and local children's charities across Canada This is the high hopes podcast On the Odyssey app in sports radio 94 WIP I was singing hi ho, smiling through a broken nose. Oh, hi ho, hi ho. I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the IOS podcast. That was a bad, you know, attempt to try and do the yo, like how I feel with the Phillies.

I tried to do a little like up and down there and it was a disaster. So I apologize. Welcome to IOS pod sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Celebrate responsibly Fritzy. This is like the most up and down 11 and eight team that I ever remember. I mean, they're, they're 11 and eight.

Like they're doing fine. Like the same record they had last year, I believe through 19 games, but it's like one night we hate them. And the next night it's all good. And that was this series. It was, you know, every other game felt like where are you at? How you feeling, pal? Good morning. Yeah, I'm trying to like, you know in in in an attempt to keep it consistent

Yes, yes, we're never up or down. It's very you know, right down the middle. We're always just shooting it straight You know, we're right down the middle and and we keep where we are. So like yesterday was more like. Congratulations. You had to win. You won a game. Yeah. Well, since you have to go in up five one in the first, then it's like just sweat it out. It's like we're not going to hit anymore. Is it? We had a inning. Now the Phillies, there's there's no worse situation than scoring.

I'm sorry. There's it. They don't handle it well. No, no. It's like, all right, we're done. We're done. We're good. Base is loaded, no outs. Also a horrible situation. No one won two out. A much better spot than base is loaded. And it was this series for me really was just jarring from the standpoint of of Watching a team that knows how to execute offensively like the Giants heading into it I this was I think before I think this is before Thursday's game or I think I was driving home Fransky was mentioning it and he said that

like the The Phillies have a higher team average, you know, overall, I think by like 10 points in the San Francisco giants with runners in scoring position, the giants are 65 points higher than the Phillies. Wow. That, I mean, to be ahead in average in that far is like, that's really hard to do. Yeah. It's really hard watching them just lace the baseball. I know how many singles up the middle. Did we see it was like 500 just boom,

right at the mill. Nice, easy single, like all, like every game. It's just like bang, bang, bang. So I guess I just, where I'm at with the team is that they're going to be fine from the standpoint of they're going to probably win somewhere between 88 and 92 games. I think the bullpen slowly is rounding into form when they don't have to pitch Joe Ross and they don't have to pitch Jose Ruiz in high spots. It's a pretty good bullpen. Yeah, Romano has been good since the big everyone freak out outing. He's been good.

Well, any changes mechanics, which is we're always down. Oh, no wonder. No wonder he's been good. If I had known that, I would have expected him to be good. His leg kick was too high. So they so they they I was saying that, too. I was like that leg kick was a little too high. I'm happy they figured it out.

Well, part of the part to keep moving parts. And when you got when you got a pitch over and over again, it's about repeatability in your mechanics, James, everyone knows that. So so so I just they're they're gonna be fine from the standpoint of they're gonna win games. It's just I this offense is going to drive us crazy. Yeah, yeah, like they're to drive us crazy. Yeah. They're going to drive us crazy, man. Because the run and squirm position thing is infuriating.

I mean, it's infuriating. They don't slug. Harper's rounding into form power-wise. Schwabber's been great this entire year. Castellanos has been really good. They don't hit home runs. They don't hit the ball hard. I, I, they're going to be fine from the standpoint of like, they're going to win

games, but man, I just, this offense, I think is going to be a real issue for, for the entire season. Oh, great. So question mark that we, yeah, I'm sure David nailed the deadline. Yeah. I'm with you. They it's like, look, I feel the deadline. The one big question, Mark, that we, yeah, I'm sure David nailed it, the deadline. Yeah, I'm with you. They, it's like, look, I think that, I think that there was always going to be this thing, like we talked about after the way the last two post-seasons ended, Diamondbacks series, the end of that, then the way last season against the Mets ended and the way they looked like,

we were always going to have these issues with the offense and the approach. And that was going to be a talking point no matter what. And it it's crazy because they have worked on that. Like that has been noticeable. They have walk more like Cassianos is not swinging at every pitch outside. Like other than that one game where he got the cleanest spot and then became that guy again for some reason. So we swung at a two of fastball. Every pitch at five strikeouts.

And then it's like, take him out of the clean. So he's like, oh, we're good again. But you know, I knew it was gonna be a thing. I didn't think that they would work on the approach and we could see it. And they would still be this frustrating man. Like how is it they are they are so annoying to watch? Like it is not fun on a nightly basis to watch this team right now. And to the point like we've talked about, it doesn't look like they're having a ton of fun playing baseball.

Well, and that's where we said at the beginning of the year, I appreciate the business like approach, but if things aren't going well, it also turns from business like to this, this is workman. Yeah, work. It becomes work, right? Like that's becomes a job and that and easy. I just think it's easier in football to do that because football is once a week.

It's a naturally a, you gotta be tough kind of sport. And the thing about baseball is how much of a grind it is. Cause you play every single day to be so that they do look pretty miserable, but to be so, they look so miserable for a baseball season, I think is really, really hard. It's a hard thing to do. So I don't know. I think my, my re updated feeling about, about the Phillies is it through what is it? Two weeks, 20 games, which is about a game. Is that a game in the NFL? Are we officially the game? Uh, I believe 16 or no seven.

So it's 70. So it's a little under or it used to be 60. It used to line up really nicely because it was 16 games, 16. You know, you're about a 10th of the way through each year, you know, whatever it is, um, uh, I guess where's Tucker when we name, I would get, yeah, like 50. We're definitely through the first game of an NFL season. Now one way or another. Okay.

I think my re updated feeling on the Phillies is I still think they're going to win the world series, but, but, but I think it's going to get rocky. I really do. Like I think that there's going to be, they haven't hit rock bottom. We know that. I mean, like 2022 is when they hit rock bottom where it's like this sucks or whatever. But also funny enough, by far the furthest any of these teams got was the one that hit rock bottom. I know, I know. But I do think there's something to that. I mean, let's was it two years ago? Remember the Rangers in August when they lose 10 straight or something like that was like the worst, like, and then they won the World Series. I do think that

in the long season, but that it's a long season for a reason. I do think that teams can look bad, like not even, you know, mediocre. They can look bad for a stretch of time and still win the World Series. Like baseball is like that. Yeah. But I think with this team, I think it's going to happen earlier rather than later because I think, I think something has to, has to be shaken up here. And I know they won yesterday and that was a good salvage.

You salvage the the series. We asked for a split. Right. We asked for a split. Always ask for it. I didn't need I didn't need 11 for and 10 for. And it would have been it was not great for the run differential crew, which we are a big part of. For sure. But I. I just think that they still need a shake up.

I think especially offensively, I think whether that's sending down someone who's been here for a couple of years, whether that's, I don't think, demoting Johan Rojas. I think that maybe it's bringing up Justin Crawford and bringing up a Gabriel Rincones, where I don't know if he can really play anywhere, because he's more of a corner guy than a center fielder, even though Crawford, they might view him more as a corner guy than a center fielder, but I think he obviously can play

center field. And then I just think that there has to be something that happens here to change the DNA of the team, especially offensively. Pitching-wise fine, bullpen-wise, they'll find someone to come up, whether it's the deadline or whatnot Offensively is the one that I'm talking about that. I just they look ripe for a shakeup they look totally ripe for because I think the hope was they lost the Mets and We said at that point James they obviously need to shake up everyone

Like everyone can see they obviously need to change up the chemistry on this team They didn't. They bet on them. They bet on them again. And they come out and look mostly the same with a little bit higher walk rate. I guess that's that's how we could say it. They're still hitting the ball hard. All this stuff, whether it's moving on from Kevin Long.

Sure. If you want to do that, I just but I do think that would be a shakeup. You know, I think moving on to something, you know, because I don't think they're going to move on from Topper unless they're, you know, five to seven games under 500 deeper into the season, you know? No. So I think again, I really do think that there's going to have to be some kind of shakeup here to wake them up and get them going.

And whether that's a trade deadline, I would like for it to be the trade deadline, but I'm not getting my hopes up. My hopes up on that. What a shame that honestly, we don't talk enough. How many years we talked about the Dave trades and look, Losardo trade is an example of that. I mean, the Losardo trade was a great trade. We said it in the moment and look,

Starlin Kaba could end up being a great player even still. That was a smart, good trade by the Phillies. But I mean, it is so sad that the Dave Dombrowski has become a punchline at the deadline. Like it's a joke now. Like it's like, we're all like, well, we know Dave's not going to come through at the deadline. It's like the opposite of what Dave Dombrowski was when he came here. Like if you would come, if we'd come in when they first, I would be like, well, at least we know he's going to make moves at the deadline and go for it. It's so weird Maybe this beer. Maybe this is the We'll say I don't know

We'll cross that bridge when we get there But I I think I think there's gonna be a really good run in the second half the year I think right now it's more treading water, but I would like to see the other thing That's been a kind of frustrating is that is that? you don't really see the annoyance after losing to the Mets last year. I would like to see a little bit more fire from them and it seems more like a malaise. It seems more like we're here, let's go do our thing, let's roll the ball out and see

how today goes. I'm really sensing that level of fire. Nothing. Obviously Bryce is talking a lot. Bryce. Yeah. I don't, I feel like I haven't seen Bryce smile during a game yet this season. You know, I, is he talking after every game? I swear. It seems like every single game. Yeah. So, and obviously the power is starting to come, which is huge. I mean, they, Bryce cannot be a 25 home run guy. We need Bryce in is starting to come, which is huge. I mean, they could. Bryce cannot be a 25 homerun guy.

We need Bryce in the 30 to 30 36 range. So I just yeah, they the I don't know. Very conflicted with how I feel about it. I think a lot of people do and are they're 11 and eight. I don't know. They're 11 and eight. And at no point have we talked about them like a team that's three games above 500 because it doesn't feel that way.

And I guess if you take out the three Rockies wins, they're really not. But, you know, I sure I'm with you. It's been a very frustrating start to the season. And yet, like they haven't buried themselves like they're not the Braves. They're not six games under five games out of first six games. Like whatever, like they haven't buried themselves like they're not the Braves. They're not six games under five games out of first six games. Like whatever, like they're right there. It's a really strange feeling, Jack. I mean, especially like like if they had started like how like this 11

eight start in twenty twenty one or something, we're like, all right, Phil's, let's get going. Yeah, maybe. So it is obviously an expectation shift and all that. All right. Makes sense. But it is strange. All right, let's get the product Hold on to product. Yeah, it would happen in the Met series last year I mean the diamond backs the last two game diamond backs tacked on to that Yeah, and a couple a couple things real quick on the Braves They clearly missed Ron Washington

I think that was the losing Ron Washington as like they're kind of fun edge bullpen or bench coach and they've never They've never recovered from from losing Ron Washington as like their kind of fun edge bullpen or bench coach, and they've never they've never recovered from from losing Ron Washington. That's not I think we I think I think someone on this podcast at the time, so that was a big loss. And I you're right, I did. I remember saying that. That's a good point. Great. Yeah. points for James points for James. But and then on top of that, because let's say, if you look at the Phillies right now, 11 and 8, not doing, again, the lack of execution on offense is quite startling.

And to talk about executing on offense, it feels like we're talking about football and basketball, but in baseball, there is little things they have to do well. At the same time, like, Bones not a 180 hitter. You know, I assume at some point he's going to level out and be in the two 50s. The tray thing. So that's yeah, right. Let's get in tricks. I want to get into some specifics with some guys and try I have two guys at the top I want to talk about. We'll get to the other one in a sec. His name's Aaron. No lie.

I think, you know, that's coming. But but let's talk about Trey because Trey has not started the season. Great. Both offensively running, you know, got thrown out like easily in this. I was shocked how quick he got that second bad jump. But like, you know what? You know, he hasn't been running and when he does, he's not doing well. And then like, man, his defense has been his best part of the game.

Oh, and it's been horrible. I mean, that's been horrible, dude. That I mean, dude, it was a bad one. There was legs yesterday like, and then the other one, the one to make it for nothing in the two games ago, I mean, how do you not even block that ball? I mean, come on, man. Like I spin play late yesterday. You did. It was really beautiful. I mean, how do you not even block that ball? I mean, come on, man. Like, I spin play late yesterday. You did. It was really beautiful. I think it was to. Yeah. Yeah. It's great. I, uh, man, where are you at with Trey? Cause I, it's not good, man. I mean, we're going

to talk about Trey and Nola and I look at those two contracts right now and I'm like, I get scared. Like I actually get like butterfly, bad butterflies in my stomach. When I think about what those contracts are gonna look like in five years. I don't feel that way about Nola. I mean, we'll get to Nola, but, but I mean, yeah, the tray things, it's a huge problem. I mean, it's a huge problem from the standpoint that you're paying a guy that kind of money. It's taking you out of the ability to go get other players.

The, the, this last couple of off last two off seasons, because you have that that big contract to keep banking on him. But we talked about him as a as a star player, I need to make sure he's a good player. I mean, right now he's he's like right now he's at best their fourth best hitter at best. Well, yeah, I mean, stop might be ahead of him right now. Yeah, listen, that's not thought that it could start the year.

I just it's so would it would it kill him to get two hits in a game? It is it's it's one for fives. It's one for fours. He's getting a ton of it bad. And it's funny because I think he's got a hit in like 11 out of 12 games. Yeah, of course he does. But it's a hit. It's one hit.

And now the wind took back a homerun from him the other night. So you got to factor that in as well. That's a really good point. You're right. Thank you. We're a big wood. Yeah, yes. We've definitely went down that path in the past few times. But the biggest problem with Trey not being a star star

is just once you get past, like Bryce as the best player on the team, fine. It's just when you see the Dodgers, right? And it's like they have Otani Betts and Freeman and then and to Oscar. And it's just. Like they have to make up that gap. You look at the Mets, they have Lindor, Soto and Alonso. If you want to put Alonso up there, he's been a way better hitter this year than anyone in the Phillies, like, you know, if nothing else,

Lindor and Soto like that, the Phillies don't have that second guy. You know, Schwab has been great, but you know, he's not, he's not potentially one of the 15 or 20 best players in baseball. It's a Turner supposed to be. Well, and I keep saying, I think, I think a lot of people keep feeling like, well, he'll eventually turn on it. And the problem is, if he turns point, but if he turns it on, is on, is it still good enough? What version of Trey Turner are we now getting? I mean, again, I know he led the team in average last year.

He was on fire. There was a stretch there where it was like, all right, there he is, there he is, there he is. Is that guy still in there, I think is my big question. Is that guy, can he still be that guy? And it's just there's there's it's funny because for as hot as he can be, there's also the first if you want to point to the positives

and say there is the prolonged stretch of of great play from Trey Turner, there's an equally, if not larger, sample size of being an average, an average and at times a abysmal player, like before the ovation, like he was a bad baseball player for stretches as well. So it's more of definitely hope that he's gonna turn into,

I don't even need him to be a star. I obviously I think that honestly, I think that chip has sailed. Like maybe a lot of months, raise a star, but I don't think Trey Turner will ever be what we hope he would be. But can I would kill for 280 and 20 home runs, me too, would kill for it, would kill for it. Just some level of consistency. Just just like, I don't expect

you to go one for four every night. Like that'd be awesome. You know, well, it's, it's the one for four. It's the, it's the bad pop outs, weak pop outs instead of driving the baseball. It's swinging first pitch. Listen, this team has caused me to hate first pitch swinging more than anything in the entire world. I mean, between him and Bowe, Castellanos,

and just, you get three strikes, you get three. Use them. Use them sometimes. I'm almost out of words with Trey. It's more of a hope than a belief, would die for 280 and 20 home runs But I think this I I think the idea that he is Some kind of star there. They need to find someone better than trey and maybe to find that guy

That's that's better than trey and is on par with brice. That's that's their next thing. Maybe it's internally I mean dude if it's aiden, we'll die. If it's Justin Crawford, we'll die. But that's the biggest, because at one point in this podcast, in this off season, we talked about how this was a pause year. You know what I mean? And like the creeping back.

We talked about it being a pause year. Yeah, and then you said, this team's gonna win the World Series. And I said, you're crazy. Yeah. I said, you're crazy. Yeah. I said, you are out of control, once again. But part of that is, again, that's the biggest thing

they need, I think, is someone that is, honestly, if they can be on par with Bryce, as Bryce gets older, perfect. But that's the thing that's gonna take this team back into real real contention because I don't think it can be Trey. Mom's, dads, are you the parent of a student athlete? Do you want to know how to get the most out of youth sports? If so, listen to the next pitch podcast to give you the tools to raise an aspiring athlete. It's not simple, but we talk straight and give you the best insight there is when it comes to youth sports.

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on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. Let's get to Nola. You seem less concerned about the contract, which, you know, we'll get to that, but just the here and now. Yeah. Worst start to his of a season, his career, first time he's lost four straight games, all that stuff. And look, he's just he's just he hasn't been good enough. You're not even close to good enough. And it really goes back to last season, the playoff start last year in New York was not good enough. And it's classic Nola.

It's oh, he'll have four out of the five out of the six innings he pitches. Oh, there he is. And then I'll give up four runs in an inning and two homers. And this that it gets like the guy just can't can't get through any of these starts clean. It's where you at with Nola. Is it justice? And we've talked a lot. We know like the, you know, he doesn't have the same, um, you know, uh, margin for error with his pitching. He's not someone who can rear back at 498 when he needs to and all that stuff. So the location also is so important with him, but I, like, is this just a,

uh, cold weather starts at season? Don't freak out. Are you starting to get concerned about Noah? Cause the velocity is down on every single one of his pitches. Like there are, and look, he's going to be 32 in June and he's pitched more innings than anyone in baseball or almost anyone in baseball last decade. So like, are you starting to get concerned about Nola both now and what it means moving forward?

Yeah. So on the contract standpoint, I just think that when you view Aaron Nola as their four, it makes it that much easier. Cause I mean, he is, he's a lot of money to pay your four though. I mean, sure. And it is, and you should get like 10 million year or whatever, you know, 15 at most he's in the 2527 ring. But Wheeler painter, Zard, Chris Sanchez, you know, I just, I guess they got Yes,

you're right. They don't need Nola to be an ace or two. They don't need it. But it's just the contract says, Do you like Do you like saying this? I'm saying this with a smile. Not being totally serious. Do you like paying the ace version of Taiwan Walker? 172. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. I know, but you know.

He's taking down innings. He's taking down innings. So that's what he is. I mean, he's that, Aaron is like the best innings either. That's who he is now. Yeah. It's a lot of money for a guy that's gonna post every day

and that's gonna give you six settings. So yeah, I guess, I don't know, he just did this two years ago. I don't know why everyone's kind of freaking out. He did this in 2023. Do people remember the Aaron Nola discussion in 2023 when he had pitched like a four or five VRA and everyone was freaking out then and then he was okay in the postseason. They paid him a ton of money and he was back to being Aaron all last year.

I just pitching mechanical change. It was a mechanical change, Jack. Oh, he looked at the first base dugout. I mean, let's grow up with the mechanical change. Twenty twenty three. Don't you dare. Twenty twenty three pitch to a four four six in twenty twenty one. He pitched his great.

Oh, you're right. How did he get that contract after that year was just the postseason. It's just great. Of course, it was just the postseason. Hold on. And he shoved in the in the last. No. So in the in the last four starts of the year, he pitched to a three point seven.

They said, there it is. This is our guy. The last two games of the year, he went six innings in each of them and helped pitch the Fills into the into the postseason. So that's why they gave him the contract. And then he went shove city in the postseason, just getting he also did not pitch well in the Diamondback series, but regardless. So. Like, again, this is maybe we're just getting the mid four year

and over a year, and then he'll be back to a three five next year. I there it is. I think I That's what the track record would suggest. So Yeah, I think with him The velocity thing I think it'll creep back up as as the summer goes along at one point At least I did see it the 93 did flash across my score long at one point, at least I did see it in 93 did flash across my scoreboard. There it is. And I think that I think at least the other night with the wind, his curveball is so it's such a great pitch that in the wind is just going to flatten out a

little bit. And I know that sounds like an excuse, but I, it matters. That's why explanation, but it's why guys can't throw curveballs in in in Colorado. Colorado. Yeah. So here's not here's too thin. I think. The one glass half full there and all that's his last start is he had a stretch in the middle where he had their 20.

Yeah, yeah, I got the eight strikeouts or something overall, like was was solid in the middle there, you know. Yeah, I think that for him, I think for him, the one thing as the season goes along is that is always predictability. And, you know, if he's only going to throw it at two quadrants, trying to maybe change that up a little bit. I thought, I thought he's been nibbling a bit. Yeah, but I feel he always kind of nibbles.

It's just the, he is when he's in the strike zone. Like when he got on that good stretch in the middle of the game, he was he wasn't in the middle of the zone. Like it was it was the fastballs down change painting. Yeah. And then he went up a couple times on some varieties and then went right back down. And the problem is that when he tries to go up sometimes that's when it leaks over the middle of the plate and it gets absolutely long. And it flattens out there, yeah. So I just, yeah.

I guess I understand why we're talking about Aaron Nola. I just, I can't get too up in arms because I think he's gonna go on a nice run where he pitches like six and he's allowed three runs of solo home runs. Ooh. And then he'll write himself out. And this is almost what I expect of him at this point, where he's going to

hopefully eat a lot of things, strike guys out and he'll write itself right between, I, I do not think my preseason prediction of pitching to a 3.2 or 3.5. I don't think that's going to go very well. So here's the thing. If he does, it means he's going to go on a hell of a run right now. So to get from six six to wherever he's at seven or whatever. So I actually I leave his last start out feeling too negative. I think I did think he had that stretch in the middle.

Curious to see if he can translate it over to his next start. So next start will be very, very telling for me. Two more things I want to get to and then we'll get to take bags. I'm sure you have a lot of stuff other in there. I mean, we talk about every week, but I mean, that the centerfield situation. Oh, yeah. Any new thoughts? Marsh tweaked something maybe Marsha Phantom IELTS and potentially, but the problem is you do that. It's like who's playing centerfield

you have lost everything. So south there. Justin Crawford went four for five yesterday in AAA and I've been hitting 250 prior do that. It's like who's playing centerfield. You've lost everything. You've got so south there. Justin Crawford went four for five yesterday in AAA. Now I've been hitting 250 prior to that. So probably not. Yeah. But let me, let me, let me correct. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Please jump in here. Please. That's why I'm, that's why I'm going to you on this. Yeah. So Justin Crawford was four for five last night. Now steals only one of those balls left the infield. So OK, so a little Willie Mays Hayes action there. Now, what was it? It was a great bond. I was like, wow, that's playing that's playing the game the right way.

And then he flipped the ball over like the third baseman said. And that was that was the hit that did reach the outfield. He's not ready is the point. No. Well, hold on now. Now people will bring up his average before that and say 250. And in four games before that his average is 330. So it's it's so like to do the average thing and the thing that started in the season sort of pointless. So now he is he's not a lot of power as you pointed out like no homers he's not really driving the ball. No,

no. But again, the, here's the Crawford thing. And I don't think they would call up Crawford because I think they now at the same time, they did put them in AAA immediately. So maybe they would. I don't know that, but the Crawford thing is. You think how Steven said would get the call like someone like that for, if they did have an injury, they could be like a Cal Stevenson and not Crawford yet.

I would go Oscar Mercado, but that's Mercado anyone someone there is the point like a non like a guy who's been up and down before it's everything. Got you. I'm kind of feening for Ricardo. I was I was I was so mad. They're gonna give him Cole's number again or no, I hope not. They Carlos Hernandez has Cole's number. Oh, yeah, I forgot.

not. They Carlos Hernandez has Cole's number. Oh yeah, I forgot. I forgot. I forgot. But I was so mad after they lost on Wednesday night that obviously couldn't sleep. So I was up till 12, 1230 watching every Oscar Mercado at bat from the Iron Fist game. Sounds like a really useful, good use of your time. really useful. You good use of your time. So looks like puts the other equality of that. Is that guys been around forever? You know what I'm saying? Sort of need Oscar Mercado. He said 294 the 775 OBS. Yeah. Feed me. Played the majors major league experience. Um, all right. Last one I want to get to before we get to the take back.

Let me finish my Justin Crawford point. You're right. Go one I want to get to before we get to the take back. Didn't let me finish my Justin Crawford point. You're right. Go ahead. Finish. She's what do you I do? I diverted a rush to get out. Yes, I have. Always on a Friday. It's Friday. No, I don't care.

Was it a beautiful day up? Yes. Seventy five and sunny. Supposed to. So so for those who don't know, I have a very obviously not that strict no recording on Friday's policy. We're here. It's Emily and I go out to lunch every Friday. It's like our one thing we get to do every week. I never see my wife.

You as a family man should appreciate it and understand it. So I'm recording this from my I'm recording this. My sister in law's house. What are you talking about? We're all landed on the line.'re all laying it on the line. We're all laying it on the line. So you're probably, that was my bad. I apologize.

I got excited about Oscar Mercado and obviously, you know. It's hard not to get excited about Oscar Mercado. So I totally get it. When you see 294 and 775 OBS, AAA, and you think I need that on my team, I totally, I feel where you're coming from. So Crawford, I think that the case for Crawford would be, I don't think he's gonna strike out. I think like he has strikeouts in the minor leagues.

I'm not saying he's like Stephen Kwan, but you know. He's like Luis Arayas. Yeah, I think he's gonna put the bat on the baseball. And I think he's built for it from the standpoint of obviously his dad's Karl Crawford. He's been in that he's been he has a big league feel not gonna feel too big for him. He's not gonna get up there. Exactly. Whoa, look at the lights. Yeah. And I think that I think he's a smart player, by the way. And that's a grub or

another grub around the game thing. You know, I think all those guys like when it's your whole life. The frustrating part about Johan Rojas is he's not even a smart baseball player. Like he can go totally track. He can track a fly ball. Great. Maybe the best I've ever personally seen. I didn't see Gary Maddox. I'm sorry. But from a tracking perspective, don't get mad at me, guys, please. I'm sorry. And the throw the other night was so ridiculous. Honestly, it's one of the worst throws I remember seeing a Philly make.

And I whether the ball slipped out of his hand, like I hope it did. Because otherwise, what the hell it is like, it's very rare that you're watching a baseball game period, much as those game any game. And like a throw goes that far away from everyone. Like it's a rare thing. That was one of the worst. Yeah. So, so, and it was interesting the other day that they started him in left field for the fourth time in his, in his career. So I don't, I don't know what it means, but I

think it's notable, also notable auto camp started in left field last night for the first time ever. And he is raking at AAA. So yeah, this is all, this is all the credit. This is the biggest smile on your face by far this entire episode just happened. Okay. All right. Last thing. And then we'll get to take back. This is more of a like, I'm not there yet, but I'm sure you're hearing it too. I think with the start and the, we're starting to kind of hear the Topper eight again, I think that's starting to come out more and more.

There are more and more people kind of getting angry. And I think one of the big things that Topper's doing that is not that big a deal, but it was something that played a role in Gabe Kapler, you know, being jettisoned from the city and all that. The the overly positive like talking, you know, I mean, like after Noah started, well, he looked great second through fifth. It's like, or Brandon Marsh. Oh, you know, he's, he's really trying.

Like, and I get it. I got to support your players, but I do think that toppers overly positive kind of, you know, way of, of talking about these players and, and obviously the, the product itself, I think people are starting to get really annoyed with it. Yeah, sure. I, you know, what do you, I mean, I think really annoyed with it. Yeah, sure. I you know, what do you I mean, I think I get it. I'm not saying this is me. I'm saying that I'm hearing that because I'm with you. I don't I don't care very much. I think like,

those things are needs to be a level of real. Yeah, there needs to be a level of honesty. Yeah, I agree. You know, there needs to be a level of, of keeping it real. And I think that the players would respect that so Yeah, I I guess I could get behind, you know wanting to keep it more real I was thinking players don't like being buried in the media But there's a there's a nice balance that that I think he needs to strike my more thing with Thompson is Like it feels like a little bit of,

I don't know what to expect on a day in day out basis. Like he's kept the stock thing at lead off. I think that's, it's been fine. I mean, the old school, the old school media is like, hell yeah, like get the top. Yeah, he's gonna work, he's gonna foul some balls off. Yeah. Yeah, old school media is like, all right. That's nice. So nice

little single up the middle start the game with the possibility to steal second. Great. New school me is thinking about the seventh, eighth, ninth inning if they get a bit of big spots, do I want Bryson to start taking that at bat? But again, if Trey's not going to take off and be Trey Turner, then who cares? Like, I mean, it's been a better hitter this year. Right. It's not been a better than Trey Turner's.

And I like the idea of Schwerber protecting Harper. Like it was evident that teams are going to pitch around Harper at this point, especially because of what, I mean, this is now a year plus of Schwerber crushing lefties. So it's one of those things where it's like the whole idea is you don't want them bringing in the lefties and mowing down those guys back to back. Like all of a sudden there's that liability isn't there anymore. Like if you're not scared of Schwerber facing a lefty, if you like Schwerber facing lefties, then all of a sudden it doesn't matter.

The lefty left. Yeah. So the thing that I thought was the thing that's been interesting to me is I, it feels he's like a little panicky and he changed a lot of immediately. Yes. He's definitely a little panicky. But the perfect example of this was, you know, he says, Marsha's going to sit for three days. I know. And then one day,

one day he's back because it, cause he looked good in the cage. What, what is that? What is that? So I think he's kind of reaching a little bit in some of the instances. I also think that it's evident there are an arm short in the bullpen, even with, and look a bat short in the outfield. I mean, like it's, you know an arm short in the bullpen, even with Jordan Romano. And look, a bat short in the outfield. I mean, like it's, you know, there are spots. Yeah. So look, I get it.

I do want to say, like, I think topper is hamstrung in some spots. And to your point, the bullpen thing, it's like, yeah, like we talk about earlier in the year, you can't pitch Alvarado, Strom and Romano every game. Like you got to have other guys step up. So, and I think he's, I think he's had a good field when the get starters out of the game this year. but he's not leaving them out there to to agree dry you know although now he's again he's in a tough spot in the NOLA thing because do you want to rush to get Hoser reason there or do you want to

just let NOLA see if he can work his way so that was again a bit of a tough situation and if the full bullpen's there again last year that's Kirk Ring coming in on that spot and now Kirk Ring's having a pitch in the seventh eighth because you don't have a Guy a good bridge guy. So regardless so the Thompson positivity thing I would like a little bit more keeping it real and and that kind of stuff ultimately if they win I don't think it's gonna it's gonna matter and people will be fine. I think strategy-wise, he's been mostly fine. A little bit of the panicky stuff has been the one thing that I've certainly noticed.

So we'll see. All right, I agree. Are you ready for this Marlin series? Oh, buddy. Yes, please. Sandy versus Wheeler tonight. But they they're pitching, obviously, is the pitching is probably taking stuff forward. Although I think they have they have worried Meyer in this.

I think they do. I'm not 100 percent, but I think so. I'll check my boy and my boy, Eddie. They say, oh, yeah, it's Cal Quantrill tomorrow. And then and then Hazes, Hazes pitching on Easter. Revenge game for a serious. Yeah, man, it's a if that's not if that's not baseball, I don't know what is Hazes, Lizardo pitching on Easter Sunday against his against his former team. I mean, that is blood there.

You know, oh, man. All right. Going up against Connor Gillespie. I know I can't. Connor, it's not Connor. Connor is the basketball player, right? See Gillespie. No, I think it's what Connor is. I was right. OK, so I was right.

My gut instinct was right. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. They're not facing the former Nova Guard. Three ERA this year. So that's good. That doesn't matter. You know that. That doesn't matter at all. It doesn't. You're right. This is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cub sound experiment.

We're looking to find the perfect way to hear Reese's so you'll buy more of them. Here we go. Reese's. Reese's. Reese's. Reese's. Reese's. Hey, get out of here, you little stinker. Reese's Reese's Reese's Reese's Reese's get out of here you little stinker Reese's Reese's Reese's Peanut butter cups That breathy one sounded very creepy am I right? So you know how you know how when they got Brandon Marsh, the first time, or not the obviously the only time when they got when they got Brandon Marsh, and we said to ourselves, Wow, look, that center fielder to go catch a fly ball and throw to some bases.

Yeah, we were beaten down. Now, where I've reached is with the outfield now is I just can't wait to have someone out there that has like a hose. I am so sick of these lollipop throws from our outfielders. I mean, Castellanos's arm, dreadful. I mean Harper's the last time we had an arm out there, right? Not like he had the best arm ever, but Harper could throw like pretty damn good. That's what I mean. Like I'm saying like Harper is like the last good arm we've had out there. I feel like Schwab or just the other day that throw home took a hundred years to get there. Yeah, just Kepler Kepler's like he's good at keeping it online, but like there's no juice by it's always bouncing to the plate. Like the Rojas throw and then you see like you see that Willie a braille throw like a week and a half ago or whatever. the I don't see that ever. It'd be so fun.

That's my new dream. That's my new dream in the. It's a high hopes dream now. I'm fully on board. Jordan Romano, looking much, much, much better. Need him, by the way. Really need him. He did.

He made a nice mechanical adjustment, I guess. Fastball starting to tick back up, starting to get some depth in the slider. What a time. Alvarado a little bit. Got the sweet stash going to you. I love that. Alvarado a little shaky, a little shaky recently. So I don't know, maybe they maybe they try Romano in the back of the bullpen. No idea. But that's one to certainly watch.

What else I got here? I have one draft thought. I'm sorry, but you like this. It's okay. Let, trust me, this'll be, you'll like this. So there's this guy in the draft, he might go around where the Phillies are selecting 27th, he'll probably go higher. He throws 102 miles an hour in high school.

Whoa, it's like Ben Joyce over here. Yeah. Yeah. And I think he's throwing a no header last week. His name's Jack Bauer. No. Oh my God. I couldn't be more in on this. I'm so in on this. Oh my God. I need Jack Bauer on my team. I need Jack Bauer on my team. The idea, the amount of 24 memes and 24 jokes we can make. Like he's coming in, they can be the, Oh, it's so good.

The former phone, the bullpen phone could be the former CTU phone. I love this. This is, you were right. I love this. And now I've never had a draft crush the same way that you do. I need Jack Bauer on the Phillies. This is amazing. Go ahead. I was going to say, can you imagine? I mean, you played high school baseball. Can you imagine seeing 102 in high school? Like, that seems ridiculous to me.

I would have just put the bat down and been like, all right, I quit. I'll see you guys later. Thank you for allowing me to play with this not human on this field. I'll see you guys later. Thank you. Well, I've been thinking, I was thinking about high school, basically, how we just be done in science. This guy just has to go to science class. Exactly, yes.

And then also go out there for 102. The science building was like, if you could hit it off the science building, it was like, oh my God, what a tank shot. Like the science building on the field. Like, yes, yes. Yeah, so yeah, this guy's in a homeroom and then he's gonna go out in the afternoon and throw a hundred and two.

But yeah, yeah, so and I was trying to explain to some younger friends of mine and I was like, I need this guy in the draft and they were like, I don't get it. It makes me so sad. If anyone's out there, if anyone's out there looking for a TV show, you're stuck in the mud TV show wise,

go back and watch 24. Now it probably looks a little campy now. Yeah. It might not hit the same. Dude, that first season when I like live as it happened, watching 24, I was like, this is my favorite show all the time. Like I was so into it in the moment. It was so different, so fun.

I think seasons one and three or four, I think it's four particularly are like high level stuff. I was the first show that I really like binge and got into. There's nothing better than like it would air Monday nights at 9 and then Tuesday just in the hallways all we talked about is is last night's 24 The unit it's it was what a show what a show Chloe is a bit of a forgotten one. We don't get it doesn't get the Credit item present Palmer the whole thing. Yeah, I'm with you. President Palmer.

Dennis Hazer, that's Pedro Serrano, come on. What a show, what a show. Speaking of shows, I think we sleep on how great Winnie the Pooh is. I just wanna get that out there. Wow, was not expecting that. Sure, Winnie the Pooh is a glad tigger, piglet, it's good stuff.

Eeyore. Eeyore Eeyore. But watching a lot of Winnie the Pooh with walk. So walk and I, uh, you know, we, we watched Winnie the Pooh in the morning cause he is a life size Winnie the Pooh till whenever he sees poo on the screen, he treats it like a, uh, like a hero. He's like, there's poo, you know? So it's, uh, I'm all, I'm, I was a big Winnie the Pooh kid and now I, now I get wise transfer. And I love that. That's a show. It's a good show. Winnie the Pooh kid and now I now I get why. The trance. I love that.

It's a go to show. It's a go to show. Yeah. Winnie the Pooh is a classic. Do you ever like to just poo around your house, a.k.a. just wear a t-shirt and nothing else? I can't do that. I don't. That's a big, that's a big, big, big, big move right there. The poo around the house. And then I think my thing here is, I mean, what loser comments from Juan

Soto? Are you kidding me? Oh, God, I know. If I was Pete Alonso, I would be furious. If I was a Mets fan, I would be like, is this guy? Is that kidding me? If I'm a Yankees fan, you chose them for $5 million more and he could have just stayed and played with their judge. Like those comments about how I had the best hitter behind me and I'm never getting. Unbelievable. Oh my first. I can't believe it. Like he let it out of his mouth. This guy's been in baseball for seven years. Like what happened? James, they're paying him three quarters of a billion.

Yeah. Billion. And he's saying, I don't have any help behind me. When the guy behind him is in the 400. James, they're paying him three quarters of a billion. Yeah, billion. And he's saying, I don't have any help behind me when the guy behind him is the new four hundred. His contract. Yeah. Alonso's been phenomenal. His contract is more than double Bryce Harper's. Think about that. You could double Bryce's and it's still 105 million short of one.

So by the way, great nickname. I think it was Frank Fleming who tweeted I'm not sure yet another pathetic at bat from one. So so I was like what a name dude one. So so is Phenomenal one. So so is is high level. That's high level stuff right there. Like that is like really great stuff I'm happy that I know that nickname now and I can use it. I feel like honored to be a part of WANSA. Yeah. And then I guess if there are any injuries here,

it seems like they say Castellanos and Marsh are gonna be fine, but at the same time, James, I've heard them say they're gonna be fine and then they're all of a sudden on the IL. Yeah, I mean, Rob Thompson just did tell us that Marsh was sitting for a few days and it was one. So you can never believe anything here. Yeah, but we're that much closer to the Rincones, Otto Camp, or Dustin. Oh, let's go.

That's exciting. Or Oscar Mercado. Can you imagine if Nick does miss time, like we're already the worst outfield. I know, it's been great. You could be the worst hitting outfield in the history of the sport potentially. And he's been so good. And it's still like, well, hold on. What about Rincones? You know, so it's definitely not a well-adjusted position to be in. But I would love a nice, nice little youth injection with this team.

The nice little I final thing, I promise. I really do think Crawford can can bring that. I don't know how great of a player is gonna be on the field I think as he gets older, he'll continue to be better But I think from the standpoint of gets a bunt down plays. Okay defense steals steals bags Puts the bat on the baseball and it can make some exciting things happen. I think you could do that I'd be surprised to bring them up I think they would do what you said like Stephen center Mercado before but if But if they feel like they need a spark, I think, I think Justin

Crawford would, would bring a spark. And I certainly would not poo poo the idea of, of bringing him up. Love it. Two or three. Uh, yeah, but like a convincing two or three, but yeah, strong to a three. I agree. Can we mix in a laffer? I don't, I don't like this current state of

the podcast and the and the final out where it's just mad all the time. I want to be happy. I can't be happy. Thinking about thinking about the prospects. Although Aiden Yeah, he's heating back up. He's not. He's got five hits this series. So good to see. Like that brings me so much joy. But I also want the real team to bring me joy. I want to be series, so good to see. Like that brings me so much joy. But I also want the real team to bring me joy. I want to be positive, we want to be positive. Let us be positive and let us believe

back in the baseball team. Well said, couldn't have said it better myself. He's for it himself.