High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The 2024 Phillies Bold Predictions Pod

Episode Date: March 26, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz trade bold predictions just days before the start of the 2024 MLB season. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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It is another edition of the High O's Podcast. Fritzy, we made it, man. Yeah. We freaking made it. We made it. I know. Baseball, the Phillies are playing this week. A that matters how about it well sure i mean if they play on thursday i this week i said but i know how annoying is it to just go and knowing like it's already probably just gonna be friday

and it's like all this excitement thursday all planned i was gonna go to it the whole thing and now it's like oh now it's friday it's so much more annoying it's perfect it's perfect but uh yeah so like yesterday they're playing and all i wanted them to do was get the stars out of there like i just i didn't need anyone getting hurt in the final well especially in light of the taiwan injury which we're all we're all reeling over we'll see if they can even compete with the division after that one. Just shocking. He came in so focused, so in shape and ready to roll, and then this happens. Yeah.

So it's definitely not a damper. I'm excited to see what Spencer Turnbull can do. Sure. He's your guy. Even though you're a dollar, okay, good Jordan Montgomery, not Spencer Turnbull. I was disappointing you. If there was one person equipped

to be excited about Spencer Turnbull. Yeah, you're the only one. You're the only one, yeah. I watched him on Saturday. To be fair, I think Phillies fans, it could be insert any name, and it's not Tywin Walker. They'll be like, sure.

Hey, better than that guy. It's funny because when he was pitching on Saturday, I was about to tweet out he's already a better option than Ty Walker so really it's just a perfect storm a perfect storm just how they planned it

I would not be surprised I know this is the bold prediction so many just bold fire predictions oh man I wouldn't be surprised So many just bold. You got some fire predictions coming. Oh, man. Oh, no. Oh. I wouldn't be surprised if Tylan Walker doesn't throw a pitch.

I feel the same way. I expect nothing from Tylan Walker. Anything you get, if it's good, is a positive. I expect zip from that guy. And I just wonder, it feels so similar-ish to the 2022, where like, DeeDee was the shortstop, and Oduble was on the team, and then it was like,

Juris Familia. It was July, and like, you're gone. Get out. Now the difference is, he has three years, $54 million.

It's a bit of a difference. Remaining. It's a lot easier to say goodbye to like, oh, we owe you like four million more, just get out. Yeah whatever you know dave doesn't have many misses no it is funny it's it's it's pretty consistent with the misses he either misses on the starting pitcher guy for the back of the rotation you know either high end or the you know matt moore chase anderson type guys he's missed or he misses by giving too much money to an old reliever.

And Craig, it wasn't, I mean, in the end, you know, like jurists, whatever, like the,

otherwise he's been pretty good. Pretty good. It's just like, it's funny. Cause I usually get excited about like every time they make, you weren't in on when they signed. I remember, I remember.

Well, and especially because now like Eflin is just so much better. Dude, Eflin's their ace. Eflin is just so much better. Dude, Eflin's their ace. Eflin is like a top 15 fantasy guy this year. I know. I have a 23rd round keeper. Yeah, never doubt.

But yeah, so he, it's just, paying 30 extra million dollars for time on Walker. Then Eflin costs. Eflin's three for 40. Infuriating. Infuriating. You had Eflin here. Heflin's three for 40. Infuriating. Infuriating. Now. You had Eflin here.

He didn't want to go anywhere. I know. I know. Well, it's funny because both him and Jameson Tyone, they both think. You're talking about Walker and Tyone.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Similar deals. Sanga got, I think, more than all of them, but right around the same. But Sanga's been better. He's hurt, but he's just better. He's just a better pitcher.

Yeah. And we wanted Sanga. Like, we were all in on that. All in on Kodai. But, yeah, it's just, you know, I don't think they're, first off, I think the Montgomery thing's dead. At this point, with the whole save the powder for the trade deadline quote, he won't be ready to pitch until ideally.

Like May, you would think, right? Ideally when Taiwan's coming back, if he comes back from the injury. And I just trust the options. Even if it's not Turnbull. I tweeted this yesterday. Mick, I saw it, buddy. Look at you! I think if Mick Gable

wasn't pitching as well as he was, or looked like he was very You think they'd be more willing to? Probably. So, I don't think they want Mick quickly. I think they want to give him. But I thought, so when we were in Clearwater and we interviewed Dombrowski, and it's funny because we asked him

about the Jordan Montgomery thing, and he's like, we're really happy with what we got, you know, if healthy, which he threw in, so, you know, take it for what it's worth. But he mentioned Spencer Turnbull as the extra guy, and then he's like, out of nowhere, he's also like, we're really excited about Mick Abel. Like like we think he can contribute this year and he was unabated and it was like he mentioned spencer turnbull and he mentioned mcgable as the pitching depth so i

thought that was well that's about it it is but it was notable that he would include mc there i thought out on on you know because like last year like no don't nothing to see here with mc you know don't worry about him you know i mean they were pretty consistent with like he's not ready it does feel like he's close to ready in their eyes yeah and thompson's talked the same way thompson's been very like mcgable's impressed us and i don't know how he couldn't you know he's he's finally finding the strike zone which i he's still so young too i know 22 23 now 22 22 yeah i mean that's young man for sure and that'd be really good it would be really good so i wouldn't expect him to come up

and like oh my god like one of those i think it's unfair to do again he's 22 even like you know a lot of the best pitching prospects come up and struggle so but i do think that they are buying into him more than they have in the past and i think that they're like how he looked in not only just the spring games but even the breakout game was we haven't seen him have this kind of command of his of his stuff yet and i think they had the right pitch mix for him they got the uh the gyro slider oh that's what i'm talking about i think the change changeup's real. I just, for as much as I think that they think Spencer Turnbull might be something, and he looked good on Saturday.

You know, he dodged and got in and out of trouble. He struck out Judge and Stanton and back-to-back at-bats. It was great. I wish he was not in 93 and 94. I wish he was back to, like, 96 mile-an-hour Spencer Turnbull. But he also threw this little, like, 95 mile-an-hour's back to like 96 mile an hour times the turn ball. But he also threw this little like 95 mile an hour sinker out of nowhere that he didn't flash at all. So we're intrigued by that over here.

The slider's legit, by the way. I just, it's great. Not rooting for an injury. I'm just glad I don't have to watch it if I want to. At least if it's true. My prediction, before we get into bowl breaks, this isn't very bold. I'm just glad I don't have to watch it. I want at least I, I, uh, my prediction before we get into bull breaks, this isn't very bold.

I do think they're going to have to trade for guy. Like I think Mick, I'm excited about Mick. I don't think they, where they are as a franchise, especially with the potential for other injuries, the potential for other guys. Like,

it's not like we can lock in the top four. It'll just be great all year. I hope Christopher Sanchez isn't going to go deep in games, start the season. Cause he had the flu. You know, like they told us that too. He had the flu, man. Crushing.

Has a team ever been more crushed by the flu than this Phillies team? So I think they will end up trading for someone, but I think it's, I have no problem with them, especially with the way the season starts. They won't need a fifth start, or theoretically shouldn't without rain out, shouldn't need a fifth start too early.

I'm fine with them playing it out and not signing Montgomery now, but I also would be fine with them signing Montgomery. Like I don't. Like it's, it's, it's a want versus need. I get it. And I mean,

there is a, it's a need, just not as big a need. Yeah. Abel's here. Oh, good. Like what if,

what if he can just be 2011 Vance Worley? What if? Yeah. 2011 Vance Worley, man. Go Yeah. 2011 Vance Worley, man. No problem. Go on a nice little run. 07 Kendrick. Well, either way, you still have to get through this.

I mean, ideally, Abel goes on the run the second half. He's a minor leaguer. If he starts the season up here now, he's going to be cooked by October. Oh, my God. Craig Kimmel by October. Garbage-ass Seltzer early. What are you, with your little concern? Oh, sorry for me wanting to win the World Series.

I care about the window right now that we're in the middle of, Jack. Dude, dude. Third luxury tax does nothing to me. Montgomery, no draft pick compensation with it. I'm just saying. Well. Talking to your language here, buddy. It would have to.

If they do stay over, they'd have to move their spot back 10 spots. Every single round. Is that what the third level does to you? Third level and 20% of international signing months, which is a lot. Am I trying to win the World Series now or not? Dude, you can have your little World Series all you want. Yes, you're right. It's about the journey.

It's about that. I forgot. I've tried to explain it to you many times. The World Series is great, but the journey is just as fun. Okay, sure. It's an unfulfilling journey. Well, listen, and in a perfect world, they could theoretically get underneath the luxury tax as the season goes on.

Trading Taiwan Walker. Trading Taiwan Walker. I'm sure the takers are going to have to attach Mick Abel to get rid of Taiwan Walker. Who are we attaching to get Taiwan Walker? Justin Crawford. What could you get back? Could get Tywon off our books? Justin Crawford. What could you get back? Could you get anything back if you attach Justin Crawford? Probably.

Man, something little. Gosh. Tywon's really putting a hole. It's a real bummer. It's just a real bummer. It's definitely Dave's biggest miss. Oh, yeah. It's mostly one-year deals he's missed on.

This is his first big money miss. Worst signing since Sarietta, I guess, right? Dude, he, again i honestly have a bold prediction number one can i just get a sure please yeah taiwan walker gets the adam eaton treatment oh at the rings oh i love it without a doubt i good call i like what you did there but i was good thank you i really high level stuff song I will. It's not a bold prediction. It's a bold statement, though. The Jake Arrieta signing was a better signing than the Tyler Walker signing.

How about that? Probably. Oh, my God, though. Like, that should not be a problem. Well, hold on. Taiwan did have 15 wins last year. It's true. You're right.

Wins matter. Well, we had a caller call in the other day and say, who was he talking about? He's like, why do you think this pitcher's good? And he didn't have a good win loss record. Oh, well, no, I heard the one caller, the one girl called him to you guys.

It was like, I don't know guys like Noah's 12 and seven last year. And Taiwan was fed 15 wins. So like, should they be giving Taiwan a start over Nolan? You got it. Yeah. I love this city.

I really do. Baseball wise. It's just, we can do better. It's so far behind. We can do better. It's we be better. Yeah. I really do. Baseball-wise, it's just so far behind. We could do better. We'd be better. Now, to the detriment of the city, we'd go 10 years in between playoff appearances where people just really kind of checked out of the city. Yeah, and hard to blame them.

I don't blame them at all. We didn't check out. Everyone else did, but that's okay. I don't blame you. I can't blame you for that. I mean, je i mean geez all right should we do some bold predictions yeah we just want to jump right into it well i mean we didn't it's too late for that whatever we 10 15 minutes in we can jump right into it it feels early into this podcast man i'm just letting you know jump right into it yeah let's jump right into it that's good it feels like you're done

i got a lot of them is the problem okay how. How many you got? One, two, three. How many do I have? Four, five, six, seven. I have like eight or nine. Ooh, nice. I have one, two, three. I'm going to combine those two. Good podcasting.

Four. Count them out. I already gave one of my bold predictions, so I have seven. Okay. All right, so then I'll go first. A little ping pong? You want a little ping pong? Let's ping pong it.

All right, well, I'll go with the one that I – so I suggested you we should do a bowl prediction. Because I have one prediction that I wanted to make. The Phillies are going to win the World Series. It's my boldest. I refuse to do that this year. I'm not doing that again. Really?

Oh, it's a Seltzer special. Eagles, Phillies. But they didn't win it. They didn't win it, so I'm not doing that. I think Aaron Noel is going to win the Cy Young this year. How about that for a bold prediction? I think it's really bold. I don't – like, here's the thing. I think Aaronah is going to win the style youngest how about that for a bold prediction i think it's really bold i don't like here's the thing i think aaron noah is going to be awesome i think nola is going to bounce back and look at the history of his career every single freaking

year it's on off he has a bad year or or a lesser year and then he bounces back and has a great year it is just the way he's done it last year, off year, mechanical adjustment. He's set. He seems like, I don't believe this for a lot of people. I don't think you just get the money and you're good or you're set or whatever. Tyrone Walker, nice example. But Aaron Nola feels like the kind of guy to me

who is like gets his money, gets set and just kind of settles in. Like I think there was pressure on him last year. I think that's kind of gone now. He just knows where he's going to be. He's a creature of habit. I think Aaron Nola is going to be a freaking awesome, awesome pick. So I'll go bowl prediction number one in contrast to that.

Uh-oh. I think Ranger has a better year than Nola. Wow! So I have Ranger. I have Ranger. I have a bowl. My Ranger one is similar but i said ranger will exit the year being looked at as a two rather than as a three okay national like everyone will

be like oh he's a two well so i think if i had to bet right now i think i think we get a two nine year from wheeler so i think wheeler's under three and i think that both ranger and nola are under three five wow so i think nola's gonna have really good year. I like the way he's throwing in spring training. One thing that looks a little bit different is he looks like he's throwing through the catcher rather than to the catcher. So it just looks like there's more conviction on his fastball and stuff like that. And I agree with you.

I think the confidence is there. JT talked about Ranger. Dude, don't get me wrong. Again, I have a Ranger run too. I'm all in on Ranger. I know. Ranger's been lights out. I don't care about spring, but he's been lights out.

Oh, yeah. No, you don't care about spring until it fits your narrative. He hasn't given up a run. He hasn't given up a run. Classic WIP, whatever fits your narrative. I really don't care about spring, but he does look good. So, but JT was talking the other day about how he feels like Ranger is back to, like, that super command guy, which he kind of got away from last year. Yeah, he did.

Again, like, the Ranger, I don't know, man. Maybe I'm watching a different picture. But, like, you know, you had a fancy draft over the weekend. I couldn't believe it. I got him in the 22nd round, I think, and Christopher Sanchez went in the 21st or 20th round. And it's like, I love Christopher Sanchez. Like, taking him over Ranger is crazy.

And also, like, given what Ranger's done in the postseason. And again, this is also Ranger's first in a couple, like, actual spring training where he's been there. He's ready to start this season. Well, and, like, I feel like it's hard to light up Ranger. Ranger will have his outings where it's four runs or whatever, but I feel

like it's never six runs. Like a ten run outing or whatever. He's competitive enough. He's got a very high floor each start. For sure. I think that this is the year that he finally gets on the map and like i think we see ranger as really good and the rest of baseball doesn't you know that's why

it's why i think it's perceived around the league of like oh man the affiliates rotation isn't that good meanwhile like everyone has him as a top three rotation even with ranger as like the number three so i'm excited excited about Ranger this year. What JT said about guys that have stuck out, and he mentioned Ranger. I think we're in for one of those. I'm here. Love it.

And I can't wait. I really do feel great about the top three. I know that's not a bold thing to say. You just said it. You think all three are going to have good years. More than I ever have. I feel super duper confident about Wheer nolan ranger honestly it's the thing on the field i feel the most confident about is that is the trio at the top like of all the aspects of

the team i am most sure that wheeler nolan ranger is going to be one of the best top threes in baseball my second ranger uh bowl prediction oh yeah you did. I got two. I've said this every year, and I'm going to speak it into existence. He's going to throw a no-hitter this year. Oh, yes! Every year. Listen, Ranger Suarez has the look of a no-hitter

guy. You also, people don't remember this, but you said that a Detroit Tigers pitcher, you didn't know which one, but you said a Detroit Tigers pitcher will throw a no-hitter for the Phillies last year before the season, which was unbelievable. Did I? Yeah, I'm sure I did. And I appreciate you remembering that. There's definitely no audio of it.

I'm excited. You did do the Ranger thing last year. Every year. It's kind of a little less impressive when you say it every year. Until it happens, I'm going to predict it. I like it. Because it's the same theory I had with Jamie Moyer. Jamie Moyer, during that stretch, would randomly flirt with a no-hitter once a year.

It'd be the eighth inning and a 42-year-old Jamie Moyer is currently working on a no-hitter. I could just see Ranger in an hour and 58-minute game. Oh, totally. In the middle of July against whoever. Totally. The team doesn't want to be there and he's just mowing people totally. In the middle of July against whoever. Totally. The team doesn't want to be there. And he's just like, he's mowing people down.

And it's like a 75 pitch. He's like through eight with no hits at 75 pitches. Like what is happening right now? Exactly. Yeah, yeah. I love it. Reynos Juarez is going to throw. Look, it's a good take. I like it.

All right. My next one, you've mentioned his name multiple times today already. Ooh. JT. You just brought him up. And this is an incredibly bold prediction. I'm using it more as a way to. Gush about your.

You speak, I believe. Speak about, oddly enough, the mechanical adjustment. I'm just saying spring training that makes a difference. You seem like a big spring training result guy. I think this thing matters.

I think that the leg kick thing matters. I think the fat. Who is this guy? I know. I think it matters. So this probably won't happen but i'm so here's my bold prediction and again easy catchers it won't happen but i'm gonna break the jt leads the team in rbi this year which is basically my way of saying i think he's

gonna be the four-hole hitter all season long i think he's going to grab the four-hole spot and run with it he won't lead the team he was like 40 rbi buying uh schwarber last year like he he's just not gonna get enough playing not playing every day and all it's so unlikely but i'm going bold because i think jt is your cleanup hitter all year long i think he's going to thrive there i think he's the perfect guy to bat behind those guys at the top i think jt's gonna thrive so i also have a jt i know this is this is It's annoying that we're on the same page with all this stuff. It's beautiful. It's beautiful.

I think that JT finishes the highest of the big three, really, in MVP voting. Whoa. So that's even bolder than mine, I think. Mine's bold. That's pretty bold, too. I think he finishes higher than all of them. Wow. So you think he's the best chance to win MVP this year? Wow. I love that. That is bold. That is bold. That's pretty bold, too. I think he finishes higher than all of them. Wow, so you think he's the best chance to win MVP this year?

Wow, I love that. That is bold. And the other thing is that... So we're all in on JT as a podcast. We could not be more in on JT. Seems like a problem. Bet against JT. Short JT if you can. But what he could be doing,

what's also on the table for him, and I think this is actually what he's more concerned about, or not more concerned about, but I think it's on his mind, is getting another contract here. Yeah, it's about that time. You're right. He has this year, and he has next year. So if he goes out and has an unbelievable year, they go on a run,

he catches a lot, proves he can stay healthy, there's no decline in his game at age 33, they could extend him this offseason. So he's not entering into his last year with the Phillies so maybe like a two year extension on top of his last year so he's three years after this year but I think that's on the table for JT man the 2028 Phillies

are going to be just so old a bunch of like 37, 38 year olds running around out there JT's still catching and it's like you're trying not to make the same mistakes you made from 07 to 11 i know but it's so hard not to but it's so hard i love them yeah they're not allowed to leave i know we're gonna give him a swore we're an extension he's gonna be a lee off hitter i know it's gonna be like oh you hated

him as lee off hitter when he was 30 back wait till he's 40 yep yep no they're never allowed to leave right dude cassie hanos is never allowed to leave now. Did you see that clip in the dugout the other day? No. I guess the 17-year-old kid's dad won as a part of the Fantastic Auction. He won the opportunity to manage one of the spring training games. That's very cool. It's awesome.

It's awesome. I would just make so many moves. I'd be like, you're hitting. Get in there. Pinch run. He's probably not allowed to make any moves. I'm sure. But Castellanos was talking to him in the dugout.

And Castellanos at one point goes like, oh, so you're managing today? He's like, yeah, I'm excited. He's like, don't bleep it up. Very seriously. But it was like he had just enough sarcasm on it that it was both intense but funny. He had just enough sarcasm on it that it was both intense but funny. We've talked about this, but he's one of those people who both because of the content of what he's saying and the way he delivers it. You never know if he's joking.

Exactly. He's like an all-time, I don't know if you're serious or not, guy. Those are the best. Takes one to know one. Yeah, it's true. You are the king of everyone I've ever known. These bold predictions are serious. I'll give you my... That's serious.

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giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. So, speaking of which, if I had one vote, like I believe in my list, there's one prediction that I'm not going to say I believe in strongly, but I felt like I wanted to give Nick Castellanos some love.

So I do have a Nick. The Nick Castellanos is 35 and runs. 35 is a lot. He had 29 last year. I know. He wasn't even that good. He was good in the first half, stunk in the second half. I think the power is real.

We saw it in the playoffs. I don't think he's actually at 35, but I think he's going to get over 30 home runs this year. Listen, I will take 280. Oh, my God. 25. Yeah. Oh, my God, a second.

And, like, just nice bottom of the line. He had 29 homers last year. I know. And then if you take it to the playoffs, like, it's a freaking beast. I'm just saying. I mean, four of them happened in two games. Just saying, Jack. All right? I'm just saying. Just mean, four of them happen in two games. Just saying, Jack. All right?

I'm just saying. Just saying. All right, buddy? And how about this? This is my only thing I care about with Cassiano. Don't expand the strike. I know. Don't chase.

When you see spin. Just lay off. Don't swing. When you see spin. Honestly. Take a deep breath. Just assume that if you see spin, it's a ball. Because they're not going to throw you a strike.

Just assume. Until they throw you strikes, just don't swing. The Castellanos turning around 100 off Strider. Strider's immediate reaction, the ballpark. Just a great moment. Amazing. When are we going to get to see it again? I know.

Probably Friday. I don't know if it's going to live up to this. No, I don't think it'll be quite as jacked. Hold on. If they do play on Thursday. Yes. I mean, it's supposed to be powder blue Thursdays. Why aren't we opening the season in the powder blues?

They have to, though, right? Are they not? They have to. I don't think they will either, but they should. That's outrageous. It's a better uniform anyway. What are we doing here? It's the best thing we got going in this city is those powder blue uniforms. That's outrageous. It's a better uniform anyway. Like, what are we doing here? Yeah. It's the best thing we got going in this city is those Powder Blue uniforms.

Well, that's pretty bold. What else is better? What's better than the Powder Blue uniforms going on in Philly right now? Kelly Green uniforms. Do you take Kelly Green over the Powder Blue? I mean, I like Kelly Green. I think the Powder Blue are the best uniforms in sports. 2-1-5, 5-9-2.

I think it's the best there is, man. I don't think there's anything better. All right. I feel strongly about this. All right. I'll give you another one well i guess i'll give you so this one i actually i actually think this is a really fun bold prediction because you'll hear it and you won't you're like oh it's not that bold but it is actually quite bold trey turner will get 200 hits this season why is that bold bold? Why? He's never done it. Really?

195 is his career high. Wow. And Jimmy Rollins, the last Philly to get 200 hits back in 2007. So it has been, this will be 15 years. Yeah, 17 years.

Good math. 17 years since a Philly has hit 200 hits in a season. Trey Turner does it this year. So. Good one, right? It's a good one because I was thinking this morning. You've never done it? I was shocked by that. I looked Turner does it this year. Good one, right? It's a good one because I was thinking this morning.

You've never done it? I was shocked by that. I looked it up. I'm like, oh, I wonder how many times. 195 was high and actually led the league that year, 195. So people just don't do it. It's just not too many walks, not enough hits anymore. Yeah.

So because I was thinking about Trey this morning when putting this whole list of bold predictions together because I wanted to say... What did you want to say? I wanted to say that Whitmerryville would lead the team in hits. Ooh. I was like, well, that's probably a problem for Trey. Do I also have having a 30-30 season? Oh!

There it is. There it is. 30-30 season, baby. Between us, if he gets 200 hits 30 30 maybe we should predict mvp for jay turner this year well i don't know if you heard jt's finishing higher that's a good point and we got real contradictions guys that scrub bryce we'll see what he can i just you know i too do my predictions with no thought for the other predictions like there is absolutely a prediction where it's like well that contradicts when you said before i'd be like well it's it's their individual predictions on their own it's like shooting

fish in a bin that's right you know if i hit one of these i'll be if we can hit one if i hit the ranger one we'll play that audio all i care about um but yeah no i just uh the tray leader well first off should i mean if he doesn't that's probably an issue yeah i agree it's also showing a little vote of confidence and wit. Like, I think... I got a wit one coming. I mean, by the way, I know Rojas made the team and Pache made the team, which is, like, just a smart hedge.

Why not? That's what I didn't understand the whole time. People were saying, well, it's gotta be one or the other. I was like, why? I was like, is Jake Cave that valuable? Jake Cave, by the way, looks pretty pissed to be Iraqi. Not psyched to be Iraqi. Yo, honestly, though, if you're Jake Cave, like, you should to be right yo honestly though if you're jk like you should be bro like if you if you want any chance to have actually anyone pay you for a couple years or whatever go break in colorado like what are you talking about like he should be

ecstatic to be in color he's gonna play more and he has a chance to actually put up some numbers like i wouldn't be as upset about it you know quad a A, Jake Cave. Quad A is the king of Quad A. Oh, no one better. Spring training goat, Quad A, Jake Cave. But, so, like. Also the oldest looking 31 year old. It's unbelievable. Incredibly old.

Like, it's like those people who have like white hair, they're old. I just wonder, with Merrifield, they sign him for eight million, which is not nothing. They clearly wanted to play. Eight and a half, I think, right? I just, do they want him to play enough?

Because part of the selling point on Merrifield was, Versatility. Well, versatility, but also, if you don't play him every day, that gets the most out of him. Yeah,

yeah, yeah, because he's older, and you want to kind of preserve him. But also, like, I mean, Marsh Merrifield is probably the best thing they got.

I know, Offensively, it is. The best lineup. Yeah, offensively. Yeah, sure.

There's a big difference. I mean, Marsh in ross and center defensively is significantly better so 100 but yes but also which do you think helps the team more honestly i think i i don't know like yeah defense matters for it you're such a defense matters fritzy um i think it probably i think i'd probably lean the bat way because but like i don't know we like i've seen merrifield play a lot of second base i haven't seen him play a ton of the outfit i know he's done it the last years i haven't seen in my own eyes i don't know how how he is out there he's got probably competent not a great arm not great you know merrifield is a guy who can stand and left it and but it's like to be fair yeah we're talking

more than kyle schwerber we're talking about two people and a family we have had the left field of a horror story i do it can you move yeah it's it's an upgrade well no no no no so i think look probably i don't know i think it's probably the bats but i i don't i don't know i do think i think you're underrating the value of defense here. I'm not underrating the value of defense. I was thinking about getting a little spicy with some Brandon Marsh bowl predictions. Oh, really? I don't know.

Because I was thinking goal glover in left field. Oh, wow. He's a stud left fielder. He was supposed to be in the center fielder of the future. He could be, sure. I know. And I just... Not surprising.

We're in on a lot of bills. I'm in on Marshy, man. Like, Marshy's... Dude, Marshy was great last year. He had the highest OVP on the team. Which is... Other than Harper, OPS. OPS.

I think OVP, too. Really? Definitely OPS. Dude, he was one of the guys that had an 800 plus. He had a really high OV. OPS. I think OBP too. Really? Definitely OPS. Dude, he was one of the guys that had an 800 plus. He had a really high OBP too. Brandon Marsh, and he walked a lot more

last year than he did the year before. Like, good player. There's a good player there. And I just, I'm excited for year three of Brandon Marsh, or year two and a half,

I guess. And he's shown real growth too. Like, you know, the hitter he was when he first got here, yeah, he had a 372, I was right. So he had the second best OBP on the team after Harper too. Like, you know, the hitter he was when he first got here. Yeah, he had a 372. I was right. So he had the second best OBP on the team after Arbor last year.

So I know. He had a 372 on base percentage last year, Brandon Marshall. Think about that. I mean, that's crazy. He never gets talked about. Yeah, 829 OPS was the second best on the team, slightly above Schwarber. Like, he obviously didn't play as much, but he was their second best hitter when he played, which is insane.

And they never played him against lefties. I know. So we'll see. But he looks good in the spring. I'm so glad that the knee injury is not an issue. Could there have been a more annoying story than, oh, he's not ready to start the year. Should I have the surgery early? It'd just be over and over.

It's just so annoying. Thank God he's ready. I get it. No, he's a good player. Good player, Brandon Marsh. Okay. Is it my turn or your turn? I did the Trey one, but then did you do one in there?

Was there a Brandon Marsh one? Why the Trey 30-30? Okay, all right, good. So then I'll go again. This is just like a rote one, but Bryce Harper back over 1,000 OPS this year. Only done it once as a Philly, 10-44 when he won. It's only done a few times.

But JT's leading the team in RBIs? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah, It's tough. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. That's fine. Okay. I said the JT one was really more of a he's going to stick in the four-hole prediction.

He had 63 RBI last year, and Schwarber was over 100, so it's so unlikely that he will lead the team in RBI, but I'm just trying to make it bold. Over 100 for Schwarber? Yeah. I was told he wasn't a big RBI guy. Yeah, well. For a leadoff winner. I was told he wasn't a big RBI guy. Yeah, well.

For a leadoff hitter. Who knew it? That's crazy. Yeah, he had 104. Oh, did not lead the team last year, though. You know who led the team last year? Bomer? Castie, 106.

Wow. Castie had 106 RBI last year. Wow. Man. What do you think? He had a better year than I thought. Castie last year. Yeah.

29 home runs. He batted 272. Yeah2 with 29 homers and 106 RBI. Pretty good player. Pretty good year, man. I'll take that. I can't. It's just so hard. It's so ugly at times. It's like the guy is either good or the worst hitter you've ever seen in your life.

His OPSs by month are hilarious. Honestly, it's it's honestly it's like we got rid of Reese Sid and we got Reese back it's like this like at least but at least Reese would would walk yes Reese never looked as bad because he would walk like Castellanos like won't get on base for three weeks or whatever it's like what is happening I know I know yeah I don't I don't know where I'm at with Bryce this year. I guess I just expect 330 homers, 95 RBI, and just another – like, you know, the first base thing. I mean, could Bryce mess around and win gold glove?

I mean, Schwarber said it when he was with us. Yeah, I absolutely think he could. I mean, Bryce is good at first base. He is good at first base. He's very good at first base. He made one error. He made one error in his whole good at first base. He is good at first base. He's very good at first base. He made one error. And it's a whole time at first base last year.

I just, and I just, I'm worried about the back. I am too. Well, that's why I was, so I was originally going to do Bryce Wynn's MVP. That was going to be my original prediction. And I backed off it. I just wonder. I wonder if they. Because I don't know if he'll play enough.

Yeah. Like, I just feel like there's going to be a little load manager this year for Bryce. Yeah. That's why I went off it. I just wonder. I wonder if they. Because I don't know if he'll play enough. Yeah. Like, I just feel like there's going to be a little load managing this year. Yeah. That's why I went with that. That's literally why I went with like an average category. One that's a, you know, doesn't, isn't based on, on cumulative stats. That's why I was thinking. But I think he's going to be really good when he plays.

Always. Is what I'm trying to say. I just. I, I've become so. I'm so obsessed with his 500th home run. Yeah. Where it's going to be. I need one of these 35, 40 home run seasons out of him.

Yeah. Because just to make up for the COVID year. Yeah, to lock it in. The COVID year is ridiculous. It's lost a year. Not to get mad at callers, but a caller the other day is like, well, he's only averaged 24 home runs. What?

Someone said that? There's a reason why he's not as good. Because you didn't count in the fact that they- And I was like, well, one's only averaged 24 home runs. What? Someone said that? There's a reason why he's not as good. Because you didn't count in the fact that he— And I was like, well, one of those years is 2020. Do they also take in the fact that he's been hurt in part of this? He was out until May last year. Oh, God. We had the—I mean, sometimes.

And then the worst, and I love callers. There are people who literally would not have a job without them. But when people call up and say something so definitively and it's wrong. Well, that's every baseball opinion. Yesterday, we had a guy call up and definitively said, the Phillies only won seven games that Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in. And it was like, no way. That's impossible.

And our buddy Ryan Spader texts me in the moment. He's like, that guy's wrong. Here are the actual numbers. They had 40 wins when gosh, we're homeward or whatever. And then he had another stat where it was like the Phillies gave up 32% of their runs in the eighth and ninth inning. It was 16%.

Like it wasn't even in the hemisphere. I'm close. Dude. So, and maybe it's because, so maybe it's because I, I just know baseball more, but I swear the baseball opinions sometimes are just always,

they're always just direct and mostly wrong. I know, I know, I know. Coming hot, and it's just awful. Oh, it's the same thing every year. It's like, well, the bullpen sucks. It's like, well, they don't at all. I had that call yesterday. I'm hosting.

The guy goes up. He's like, listen, I got to tell you. He's like, how are the Phillies going to win with this bullpen? It's terrible, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, well, not to, you know, harsh your mellow or whatever, but MLB just came out with their top bullpens, and they're the number one ranked bullpen. Now, they might not be number one, but, like,

they're certainly not horrible, all right? And not to go on a rant about the fans. Too late. But, like, is it this way in football do people no i can't tell man yeah it's like i can't tell if it's like this in football and basketball who knows but like because baseball is a smarter sport but also but i also think you gotta be smart to handle it but i think baseball is just sometimes there's some so surprised by the opinion sometimes where it's just so cut and dry.

Like, this is the... It's like, well, no, that's not... You can say this with as much conviction as you want, but it doesn't mean it's true. Yeah. Well, the conviction is the thing that throws you off. They're so convicted. Yeah.

Again, I was like, wait, did they only win seven games at Georgia? No, no, it's wrong. A guy called me yesterday. He's like, Kyle Schwerer batting leadoff costs in the last two playoffs. In the last two okay you did he's talking what why are you so mad nlcs home runs that he had the last two years i'm just checking my big my big question

for people is why are you so mad that's a great question it's really good why has no one ever asked that to people before and why are you so mad deep breaths um are you ready for one of mine i've been ready at the trade deadline oh they will trade for oh you're giving a specific player i love what what i'm gonna get now thank you yeah yeah no one better no one better yeah well done all right we got They will trade for Ryan Helsley. So great. Hold on, let me guess. Let me guess.

Both on the Cardinals. Really shocking. You could have gone to another team. I was assuming you were sticking with the Cardinals. Miles Michaelis. No. Matt Carpenter. Oh, my God. How old is he?

42? Dude, 37. It's nice to have another 40-year-old here in Philly. So give him a nice veteran bench bat. Lefty. I would be fine with Matt Carpenter. He's hit the last couple years. He won 71 last year.

But two years ago with the Yankees, he was nuts. He had 1,100 opioids. Ryan Elsey, though. Also, you know we can thank him personally for giving us that I guess Oliver Marmel is who we really should thank well listen we can I believe was the series before the end of the year

when he hurt his finger Ryan Elsley I own Ryan Elsley on my fantasy team so I'd be fine with that how fun would that be closing out games for my squad let's go it's not that I think the bullpen is going to – I just think that –

because I originally wrote down Emmanuel Glasse, but I like the Matt Carpenter idea. Yeah, and it's – and LZ will call Slasling Glasse. Yeah, he's only got a year left until – Without a doubt. So I just think that – I love this.

I love that you didn't go starting – we all assume they're going to trade for a starting pitcher. You're like, no, no, no. I'm going a different way with the trade. Well, I had written – I had the other idea of like they're going to trade for a starting pitcher. You're like, no, no, no. I'm going a different way with the trade. Well, I had written down. I had the other idea of they're going to trade for Sonny Gray. Sure. But how I kind of view the rotation at this point, too,

is I am factoring in Andrew Painter next year. So do I really think they're going to trade for a guy with multiple years when they've shelled out $42 million for Wheeler, $30 for Nola. Well, that's why I thought Montgomery made sense if you get him for a one-year deal. Right. So the rotation, you have Wheeler a ton of money, Nola a ton of money, Ranger coming up on him to get paid,

Chris Sanchez nothing, whatever, and Andrew Painter. And you have money invested in Taiwan right now as it is. Unfortunately, yes. Like it or not. Plus the Turnbull extension. You have to factor that in. So I just, I don't know,

like unless it's such a pressing need at a deadline, like I'm actually fine with the rotation. Wow. Listen, it could be a pressing need. So to the point,

just, I've made this before, but you are correct that like Spencer Turnbull is what most teams' fifth starters are. It's some version of, but there's more there.

You know what I mean. More than the fifth starters. I know what you mean, yes. Okay, the point being that most teams' fifth starters are bad or question marks, is the point. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

The good part is they have two non-question marks. With him and Mick Abel. But, yeah, so I just like... You have to factor in, believe me, because I spent all car ride thinking about this in the drive-in. I'm not surprised at all.

Because what I really wanted to do, what I really wanted to write down, and this is personal for me, I wanted to write down. Adam Duvall. No. I wanted to write down that they're going to trade

for Zach Gallen. Oh, Stacy. But yeah, we have to come apologize. Yes. I would want to pull, you know, big time apology for mocking us.

Yeah. Ruthlessly. But rudely. It's only as a year left. They faded Wardo. They have Merrill Kelly. They're obviously going to suck this year. Oh, yeah.

I like that. I hate the Diamondbacks. Did you just hear that? I'm talking to Tucker right here. Not just nobody, but the camera too. Did you just hear the real anger and vitriol? There was vitriol. He was joking around, and then he's like,

I hate a man. That got real there for a second. They're going to suck. A real moment of hate. No, it's like the Buccane's like, I hate a man. That got real there for his editor. They're going to suck. Like a real moment of hate. No, it's like the Buccaneers meant nothing to me until 2002. Yeah, it's good. I like it. And then now the Dimebacks are in there, too.

You need this. They suck, dude. They always suck. They always suck. Paul Seawald out already? How they couldn't square up Paul Seawald is hilarious. And Ginkle's good. Seawald.

Ginkle's really good. Yeah, he's good. That team sucks. Every time I watch the postseason highlights, especially game one, game two. Stop! Stop doing it! What are you doing to yourself? Oh, my God.

All right. So I have three bullpen ones. Should I combine them? How many more do you have left? I don't know. Okay. Well, I'll combine two of them after that. One, I'll just go right up against you because in this case Ryan Helsley would be their closer in the postseason uh my

bold prediction and this goes against your Jeff Hoffman thing as well I'm sorry oh bad take Sir Anthony Dominguez will be closing big games in October for the Phillies 100% no I think I think I think Sir Anthony's in for a huge year I do too I'm I'm it's way to say that I'm I'm I I feel like he's back yeah excited about back yeah him I believe in the month and I just think he's done that before in the big game like I could see it where it comes back around to that yeah so I think Hoffman like my Sir Anthony thing is that I I think that that they like having Sir Anthony Alvarado be interchangeable I agree I agree but I think they I think they they will prioritize Alvarado staying. But I think they I think they will prioritize

Alvarado staying in that role before they, I think Sir Anthony, ultimately, they'd be more willing to move him from that role before Alvarado. Sure. And I couldn't be more in on Sir Anthony, too, because of what JT said as well. Yeah, I know. That got me really excited. I mean, JT was like, he looks phenomenal. Yeah, it was a big reason

for my... 99 with Sink again. I know. I know. How'd they run last year? Like, we didn't have Sir Anthony last year. Like, it wasn't anything, you know, real for the team. Dude, he's so hit and miss. Yeah.

Sir Anthony, people want to call this team, like, playoff goats. Then I remember they did lose game seven. It's R2, yeah, after that six-seven. I know, but it's like these guys all usually step up, man. They're so close. So close. Sir Anthony, the last two postseason. I've, but it's like these guys all usually step up, man. They're so close. So close. SirAnthony, the last two postseason. I've trusted him when he's been handed the ball.

Of the guys who are like, oh, my God, they raised their game to another level in the postseason, SirAnthony morphs back into 18 SirAnthony in the postseason where it's like, oh, he's just disgusting now. And he's clutch, too. He's got a lot. Well, that's why I liked him in that spot. I trust him yeah

really i would love a put by the way and again fantasy drafts like serenity's not even getting drafted i know yeah i'm in holds and i'm in holds leagues well that makes that's weirder yeah yeah in a closer league or it saves league can you grow up by not being in hold they're the greatest man that's okay you gotta like really invest in bullpen looking around bullpen. It's too much effort here. Jeff Hoffman, 35, went save season, of course. Is that the bull prediction? No.

Ryan Helsley. I'm going to get Helsley strictly because I want everything... I like how the trade was more about Matt Carpenter than about Helsley. I love that. I think they are interested in having a lockdown closer. If you let everyone else settle into a role

after that, they already have the best bullpen in baseball allegedly. I tweeted it. I can't wrap my brain around it. We lived through 2020. It wasn't long ago. We had Mike Morin, Blake Parker, Jared Hughes,

workman, Hembree. Like, the woes, man. The worst. Now they said guys through 99. I know. And they found Jeff Hoffman. I know. And Michael Mercado is coming.

Here, I'll give you another. And Griff's coming. Well, I'll give you another one of my predictions. The one we're underrating, I think Junior Marte is going to stay on the team and make a difference this year. He looks nasty again. Oh, here we go.

I think he's good. Dude, hold on. I'm in on Junior Marte. How many times has he mentioned spring training? He's big time into spring training. That's all you care about is spring training results. You're sickening. You're sickening because you make fun of me all year.

It means nothing. Spring training means nothing. I'm just saying I like Junior Marte, and I may as well mention that he looks good because I already liked him. How about that? Okay. If he looked saying. I like Junior Marte, and I may as well mention that he looks good because I already liked him. How about that? Okay. If he looked bad, I wouldn't have mentioned it. Right.

Hey, I said Nick Cassio's 35 home run. He's got like a 112 batting average in spring, all right? You're not even going to bring up post-extension Stromy? Buddy, are you not going to let me get there? I told you I got more. Okay. I got Stromy, too. I said I had three bullpen ones.

My third's about Stromy. All right. Do you want it now? Matt Strom will be the Phillies' most important non-Jose Alvarado reliever this year. How many games have the Phillies won? Are you at 110? Holy cow. You're the one. You're the one that's out of control.

You're the one out of control today. Strom's really good. I really like Strom. He's just good. Also, just his I really like Strom. He's just good. Also, just his answer on why he reset. Like, everything about him. Like, in there, like, obviously loves Philly, the whole thing. But he's like, yeah, it works here. He's like, I know when I'm sucking.

You can tell me. He's like, yeah, dude. Awesome. Yeah. My freaking man there. No. I'm fully in on Strom. By the way, like, last year, I mean, he needed to start games out of nowhere.

Out of nowhere. Like, out of nowhere. They're like, all right, I mean, he needed to start games out of nowhere. Out of nowhere. Like, out of nowhere, they're like, all right, Matt, guess what? You're starting. And he gave him innings, like, legit innings to start the year. And then was like, all right, I'll go back to the pen. I'll give you two when you need it. I'll come out of here. I'll close towards the end of times.

He closed at the end of the year. He is about as versatile a pitcher they have. He's, like, that can do. Like, he's honestly the only guy who can do everything. The only guy. Yeah. A big win for Dembrow. Big win.

And also, yeah, that was a big one. And also, just to him, he definitely took a pay cut coming back here. If he does this year what he did last year or anything close, he's getting more than $7.5 million on the market. That was a good deal for the Bills. Yep. And I'm glad that we get to reap the rewards

of the the long anticipated matt strong breakout that's right because it's like the better owned him in fantasy many times freaking padres like all right let's go oh the spin on his basketball they figured him out which is they had all the guys they figured them all out we thought what the padres no i'm saying the phillies figured out all out, we thought. What? The Padres. No, I'm saying the Phillies figured out. Oh, I know. I was joking back then. Yes. Our guy.

Denison Lumet. Chris Paddock. They had some dudes. Dude, I can't believe Paddock's bad. You were sure about him. Yeah, you were sure about Paddock. I was dead serious about Chris Paddock. I just got like, I loved him.

That's amazing. He's just a lot. And now he's like, horrible. I know. I mean, like, he's in the Twins right now. I know, I know. That's amazing. He's just a lot. And now he's like, horrible. I know. I mean, he's in twins right now. I know, I know.

But, yeah. What else do I have here? Oh, well, I have two more. This one, I mean,

you could have penciled this in. I could have written this one and just guessed that you were going to, yes. Listen, by the end of the year,

Aiden Miller is going to be viewed as a top 20 prospect in all the sports. Okay. Honestly, it's not that bold. It's a little bold, but isn't he already top 100? Yeah, but he's like 90s. Yeah. I just think that by the end of the year, it's going to be viewed as like, wow, the

Phillies got a real steal with Aiden Miller. You love him. Dude, I love him. It's an important question. For those who don't know. They've kind of changed. I know this is the camera. We used to do this little hitch thing

before you were like, yeah, all right, there we go. Give him his solo shot. He used to do this little hitch. Look at him. He's like my daughter. Zoe can't walk by a mirror without just staring at herself for three minutes

because she loves it. That's like Jack. This is dynamite podcasting. He used to have this little little hitch before going and they, they, they've slowed it down to where he's here to here and looks like Ryan Braun. Except he can actually play third base on like that fraud. And not,

and, and, and no help, right? Yeah. It just, just pure strength, pure strength.

Ada Miller is a star. So important question here. For those who don't know uh i'm sure the entire podcast community would like to wish walker a happy first birthday yesterday yesterday was his first birthday shout out to walker happy first birthday um who's more important to you so it's different. I mean, both are tied to my future, for sure. But Aiden Miller means a lot. That's good.

Having a dope hitting prospect. It would be awesome. We never get that. I mean, what was that? Like, Statenbaum were good. What was the last? Like, Burrell? Like, when was the last?

Dom. Oh, yeah. You're right. Yeah. No, you're right. He was. Dude, he so was. You're right. Other than Dom Brown,'re right he was dude he so was you're right other than don brown is it like last time we had a stud hitting prospect i think i mean chase was a legit

but like it wasn't like reese sort of got there reese you're right at the very end he did yeah he did but it was never like i don't think he's ever top no he was never top he was i don't even know if he was on he was like towards the end 100 list he was jp crawford was really high he was but he was fuller on i'm talking to dude it's because of the bat like jp crawford was like towards the end of 100 list. Well, J.P. Crawford was really high. He was, but he was fuller on. I'm talking to dude, it's because of the bat. Like J.P. Crawford was like, oh, he's going to be a great shortstop. You know, like I'm talking, when was the last time we had a guy with like this bat place? Like Pat Burrell. I feel like like.

Bronco? Yeah, maybe, I guess. Sure. But speaking of Don Brown, Walker, someone at McGurk's where I didn't actually see who it was, gave me a Don Brown baby shirt. Sure. Oh, that was why he was Don Brown baby shirt sure so oh that was why he was wearing it I was wondering what that what that picture you tweet I was like what why'd you get that for a walker

someone gave it to me and I thought it was funny gotta appreciate the legends of this franchise oh no doubt no doubt so yeah just I think I think Aiden Miller goes off this year not surprised yes can't wait alright mention him before. I wasn't sure what the best

Whit Merrifield full prediction is. Yeah, me either. I think he's going to be really good for the Phillies. I'll go super I'll play to the analytics crowd. I think that Whit Merrifield will be worth double what the Phillies played for him in terms of war

or whatever. Have you calculated out? Wow, $16 million player. $16 million player this year for Whitmer. I think he's going to be a really valuable Philly. Now, $16 million is probably too high as I think about it. I was trying to be bold with the double. It would be hard to get to $16 million of value

if he doesn't play enough. But I think Whitmer is going to be a super valuable Philly. Could he end the year with the highest average on the team? Sure. Absolutely. That's where I'm at with it. Oh, that's a good prediction. I like that.

He had a great spring. Yeah. A lot of hits. I don't really care about such things. I know you don't. I just want to be able to bring back the nickname to hit with. It's a great nickname.

Also, I mean, you made this point when they first signed him and it really is true. He was raking last year and then got hurt. Like, you know, at number 300. Yeah. Like the dude just hits me. I'm growing.

Dude just hits and a bad groin will mess with you. For sure. I mean, the cameras, I won for three or four years. The whole life. Yeah. Imagine being that guy. All right. Good.

All right. My final one. I have one last one. Yes. My final one is that the Phillies win the NL East. My final one, that the Phillies win the NL East. They win the NL East. We have a line.

No, I think they're going to win the NL East. And it's not just that. It is bold because they are plus over 300 if you look at the odds. It is a bold pick to pick them to beat the Braves. They lost by 14 games last year. They lost by 12 the year before. It is bold to say they're going to win the division. I actually really think they're going to win the divisionves. They lost by 14 games last year. They lost by 12 the year before. Like, it is bold to say they're going to win the division. I actually really think they're going to win the division.

Me too. But it's a lot about, like, the Braves had some career years last year. Totally. Are they getting 54 from Olsen again? Are they getting a 43-70? Or whatever. Yeah, 43-71 or something like that. 41-73, whatever.

I mean, it's insane. It never happened. Eventually. 40-60 never happened. 40-50 never happened. happened like it's insane what the guy did eventually the austin riley falling off the cliff's gonna happen it'll happen it'll happen i mean you're it's like five years running the predictions have been out there and eventually he's gonna just take off that clip bones better than riley sure yep everyone thinks that uh but they have sale won't work won't work out fall apart so like So like, again, fantasy drafts.

But, you know, Ozuna was so high. I was like, why is Marcel Ozuna ranked 40 homers last year? I was just about to say, because he had 40 homers last year. Where the hell did that happen? I know. I had the same. I went, when I was prepping for the fantasy draft, I just went and I like looked at stats. I was like, oh, like, let me just look where some guy.

And I had the same thing. I got to homers. And I'm like, what? My eyes popped out of my head. I was like, 40? He had 40? I know. Yeah.

Seems ridiculous. Now, the one player who I am, like, more in on the Braves than – like, last year was also Sean Murphy's first year. I think he's a good player. I mean, I think he was good. And Michael Harris, I think, is going to be much better this year than – I mean, he came on last year, but, I mean, he was sent down to start last year. I think Michael Harris is a damn good player. i think you know that sucks he's good but and

a great fielder like he's just a good player morton sale are they staying healthy all year that's what i'm saying like you can count on that freed's missed time last year yeah so and they don't have actually the starting depth that they usually have like price elders things yeah um they don't the guys just cycle through and keep moving up. Although... Smith-Shawver could be alright. No, they have the next strider, which is terrifying. Do they really? Yes. Hurston Waldrop. Oh, I know the

name. I recognize the name. Is he that good? He's gross. If you're in the Dynasty League or like whatever, take Hurston Waldrop. Oh, yeah? That's great. He's going to be disgusting. So, I'll give you one more thing with the Braves, too, that is outside of all that. Psychologically speaking, honestly, you go all out.

You win 101 games. You win 104 games. You lose to the team that finished behind you each of the years in the playoffs. I just, both organizationally speaking, I think if the Braves have an injury where they're like, you can play through it or you can rest, I think they're going to veer towards rest. And I think that psychologically, the players, they're going to be like,

we don't have to win the division. We don't have to. It has not helped us to win. I'm not saying they're not going to try. They're going to try and win. What if it's the last weekend of the year, they're tied for first place, and they just sit them and let the Phillies win the division? My point being that I do think there is –

I think the Phillies – Look, the Braves might just be better. It might not matter. But I think the Phillies care about winning the divisionies win the division. My point being that I do think there is... Look, the Braves might just be better. It might not matter. But I think the Phillies care about winning the division more than the Braves. Right. And I think the Braves this year... It's so funny because I think the Phillies are so in their head. How could they not be? Before the playoffs last year,

they're doing the whole simulated game to create the crowd noise. They already have Snickers complaining. Oh my God. Oh, my wife and you already have Snicker complaining. Oh my god. Oh my wife and my family's never coming back. Really? What did they do? How horrible was it? This whole like...

We've been to every single one of these games. We actually stand behind the section where the families are. I have yet to see one bad thing. I have yet to see one person. Every once in a while someone might yell something dumb or whatever. And honestly, and Phillies,

they've been all over it. Like Phillies, like the people who work the game, like they are like maniacs about like, one time someone booed at them. They literally just went boo and they're like, shut up over there.

Like they don't, they're not standing for it. It's like, I just don't, I don't think, I'm calling BS on that. Like, I don't think that happened.

I'm sorry. I don't think you got harassed in any way shape or form that is to the point where you're you're acting like this i think it's bs i think well and plus i mean even when we're standing there and a guy or comes over is a little too drunk you know i think a lot of the phillies fans too are like yeah shut up yeah dude don't do that. Yeah, no one likes it. I just, he is snicker the fuck. Yeah, I've fought you as a manager. I'm out. Screw that guy. He's a huge baby.

He's already complaining about the rules and the, he doesn't like the format. How is it that Spencer Strider is like the one guy in the Braves where like, all right, he's cool? Yeah. How did that happen? Out of all of them, Strider's like the only one where I'm like, yeah, dude.

I wanted to write out that Wheeler's going to win the Cy Young. I just think Strider's going to be ridiculous. He's so good. He's so good. I think he's going to. I agree with you. I think he's going to. I mean, he might lead the league by 50 strikeouts.

Maybe more. Like, he's. God, baseball's back Thursday. Yeah, buddy. And also, like, we haven't talked a lot about it. But, like, I mean, you mentioned it. Like, Strider. We have the two Cy Young favorites squaring off to start the season.

On Friday. Definitively on Friday. How much, though, do the thing—that's awesome is what I'm saying, but how much do you think the—what was it, two years ago, where they canceled opening day and it ended up being a gorgeous, beautiful day? It was last year. How much do you think that weighs in their heads? Because they did it last year.

They're like, all right, we're going to push it to Friday, whatever. And it ended up being a perfect day for baseball. Do you think they maybe are a little more gun-shy to move it this year than they were last year because that happened? No. I just think it's so funny. It's like, yeah, we have to build on the off day for, you know, if there's rain.

It's like, well, you can do that every day for you know if there's rain it's like well you can do that every day i know if you want and look as much as i love having the home opener or the opener here homeowner's always there like can we just figure out a way where you just schedule teams in domes and on the west coast to start april like is it that hard like just just have us be on the road it's fine just put us in florida or whatever where the games won't get for opening day after that fine but like for opening day just schedule them all in warm weather don't there are enough warm weather dome places where you have all the games there i believe i don't know that for sure but i'm assuming what do you think uh i would think so you would think right you would think

over half the stadiums are either in warm weather places or in don't yeah one of these years one of these baby steps with baseball yeah that's fine all right all right that's it we went a whole podcast we went a whole podcast without talking about show it but that's all right oh my god i forgot all about it yeah what are we gonna say i don't know i think he's lying i don't i don't know if he really gambled or not i probably probably didn't i think he's absolutely lying that he had no idea about any of it happening but like look just i don't want anything like i i've heard a lot of philly students be like oh great like we love baseball here like i want it to go away i want showy to be fine i want him to

be able to play baseball and be uh the the the unicorn for this sport that he is like just just go away yes i i hope that he did not bet on baseball yeah and i don't think he did i really don't but i hope he didn't i agree agree. I would like Shohei to continue. I want Shohei to continue to play baseball. And let's move forward. Big Shohei takes then. Yeah, it's our hot take on Shohei. All right.

And so, are you going to the game no matter what or just on Thursday? If it's Friday, can you go? Well, yeah, because we've got to do the show. Oh, you're doing the show. All right, so I will probably be there either way. I definitely will be there Thursday. Friday, tougher, but I'll probably be there.

Saturday, I'll be there too. Yeah, so either way. I definitely be there Thursday, Friday, tougher, but I'll probably be there. Saturday, I'll be there too. Yeah. So either way, we'll be back to react to it after the weekend. Sunday night. Can't wait. I know. Baseball's back. All right.

Go Phils, man. Go Phils. Go win the NLEs. Prove us right on one thing, please. Until then, you's for himself.