High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The All Star Game Is Here! (And So Is Jack's Draft Reaction)

Episode Date: July 13, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are EXCITED for Citizens Bank Park to host tonight's Home Run Derby and tomorrow's MLB All Star Game. The guys react to the Phillies' series win over the weekend and recap the first half of the season before Jack goes in-depth on the team's 2026 MLB Draft class. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes Pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. As the U.S. men's national team takes center stage at a home world cup, make sure you're listening to Call It What You Want, part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network, where you can join me.

I'm Jimmy Conrad, alongside Charlie Davies, Tony Miola, Marcella Balboa, and Benny Fielhover. throughout this tournament for previews, instant reactions, and analysis of every U.S. match. Then all summer, we're back every Tuesday and Thursday covering all things U.S. men's national team. Download and follow, call it, call what you want, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hope's podcast. I hope.

On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Y'all. Y'all. is another edition of the IOS podcast, sponsored by Miller Light Official Partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taste like Miller Time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. Fritzy, home run derby night.

The draft is over. The All-Star game tomorrow, Sanji on the Hill. We had to do another pod. The radio shows weren't enough. Never enough. Never enough. You don't know why, James? Because we really had a high hopes it up.

You know, sometimes we got to button it up on the old radio show. Make sure that we are on our P's and Q's, but not on this show. Not on this show. So, yes, it is, you want to talk about just a jam-pack time in Phillies baseball. The Phillies playing this weekend was almost secondary to everything going on. The draft going on, All-Star Village going on, Chris Sanchez named the All-Star starter. Zach Wheeler says, nope. and the home run derby tonight.

And then, oh, by the way, they beat Scoobo and had maybe the one of the best wins of the season. No big deal at all. Yeah, no, there's, we're not a lack of stuff to talk about right now. And if you want to hear about the All Star Village, we were there on Saturday. The show's in the feed and all that. It really was an awesome, awesome experience. But we are here today to look forward, Jack Fritz. We're going to get to the draft.

You know, I know you wanted to lead with it, but let's lead with the All-Star game and then we'll get to the draft. if you're all right with that. I know that a large portion of this podcast will be dedicated to you because you, you spent like 10 minutes on WIP breaking down the draft. That was nothing compared to what we're going to do here, right? Yeah. Especially because you know I want to go home and nap. So like it will be a long diatribe on the draft.

I might. I might have to just turn your screen off. It's good. So I can take a nap while you do it. I mean, so I don't see the eyes. So I don't see the eye rolls. The eyes dying is as you go.

It's like, oh, here's five minutes on Patrick Clemney in the fourth round. Seltzer, as Seltzer just wants to go to sleep because he's got a big night because he has to be down at the Home Run Derby. That's right. What a tough life I have of. What a shame. It is crazy that the Home Run Derby is tonight in Philadelphia. And Buzz pointed this out, our good friend, Dan Wilson. The last time I was here, it was in the middle of the day.

And no one was there as Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, like the best. sluggers of our lives are putting on a show. And tonight, obviously, way more paddantry. I do wish they would let all the players have the old VCR cameras. Me too. That's, that's, the iPhone just doesn't have the same aura as the VCR tapes on the third base and first baseline. But, dude, it's pretty surreal that all of this is happening in Philadelphia.

People already lined up, can't wait to go in, talk about this is once in a lifetime. This is, this is once in a lifetime for a lot of our, older generation, stop talking about me, Jack, all right? You don't do it right to my face, okay? Yeah, look,

I'm looking at it as once in a lifetime, even though I was alive in 96, so I guess technically twice in a lifetime, but I didn't get to do it, but I didn't get to go. And to your point, just to see, I mean,

we talked about this before, but the fact that Citizens Bank Park is yet to have an All-Star game. We've had so many moments, so many amazing things happen in that ballpark, but we've never seen the All-Star game there, and it deserves one.

It's one of the best parks in the sport. It's going to be surreal. Like tonight, seeing all the players on the field sitting around like families, the kids flagging, shagging fly balls. Like the whole thing, and to your point, it will be packed.

You know, we've talked to a lot of people. It seems like if you couldn't get to go to the All-Star game, you're going to the home run derby or you went yesterday or whatever. It's everyone's trying to take advantage of this moment. And to your point, I watched, after Dan told us about that I had forgotten it, I watched some of the videos. You can see them on Twitter or whatever. And it's weird.

It's weird seeing Barry Bonds in the daylight with like, Half the outfield stands filled up, just like hitting bombs. It's strange. It is going to be so cool tonight under the light with that crowd full and those guys just going off. I can't. I'm more excited for the All-Star game just because, you know, it is the main event. But I am almost as excited for the Home Run Derby. It's going to be awesome.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I'm more excited for the home runs Derby. I mean, the All-Star game now seeing some of the best pitchers in the world face the best sitters in the world. Like that's a little bit of a bummer. No show hey. I mean, Shohei is Cole seeing him in that atmosphere. And I'm actually, it's funny, I'm more excited for the intros than I am. Me too. I'm excited for that. I told you. I said on the air yesterday, like the single moment that I am most excited for is when Christopher Sanchez walks to the hill to take the mountain to start the game. I think that's just

going to be an absolute electric pop in that building. So I'm with you. Like seeing them line up, getting to cheer all six of our all stars. That's going to be a really special thing. Yes. We're all going to come together. Remember that these are our guys. And it's going to be, we can rip them,

but no one else can rip them. That's what this city does better than I think any city in the world. It'll also be weird like cheering Freddie Freeman when he gets a hit or whatever. Like being at a national league, we want to win it. It's going to be weird cheering for some of those guys if they come through, you know. Well, it's not as important as it used to be. No,

It doesn't count. Yes, yes. In the world. But still, again, to your point, don't, I always root for the National League. I'm sure you do. We, you know, we're National League's men. I'll always root for the nationally over the American League. But I generally went, you know, since it stopped carrying that little portion of time

where it mattered, I'm with you. I don't care. I want one of our guys to an MVP, this, that, whatever. But like, I don't really care. I care. I want to go to a game that we win on the All-Star game. Like, I actually, like, do care about the National League winning this game on Well, and because we want to see Duran close it out.

Well, that too. To get the intro in the All-Star game, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Now, I do hope. I do hope that if Mason Miller comes in, like, in the eighth. I do want Duran to get the ninth. This is about, this is less about everyone else and more about us than. Yeah, which it should be.

Sorry. Yes, yes. We got a great team. We got great players. And look, also just forgetting the, you know, selfishness of it or whatever, just as a viewer on time, I know, he is fun to watch. But this is a pageant. It's a show.

And Duran in that stadium coming in is going to be a way better theater. Like, it just will. Like, that place will be electric. It'll be awesome. It'll be a better show for America. Like, it's the right move. So it is the right move. My only counter would be, and I want Duran a 9th.

This is only at the 8th. And perfect scenario here is like a 3-1 game. Unless I'm shooting for him. I'm shooting for a 3-1 game. But have you seen Mason Miller's corn intro? No, is it sick? It's pretty dang sick. So I hope the Padres can, like, lend it to the Phillies.

And now they can just play the song and turn the lights off. Sure, sure. But it'd be cool if they do the real intro, yeah. Yeah, like, I want all that stuff. Give me all that stuff. Yeah, I want all the players walk up songs when they're coming up. Like, I want it to, yeah, exactly. I want it to feel different and unique and special and all that.

Yeah, it's going to be awesome. It's going to be awesome. And on top of everything, seems like we're getting A-plus Philadelphia weather for. I look, both nights, dude. Both nights. It is like, thank goodness. It was the one thing. I was like almost hesitant to check the weather because there was only one thing that could really ruin this.

And that's if it was gross out. And I checked last night and I was through the roof, man. I was so excited. We might be getting some CBP sunsets. Hey, buddy. You can do your little sunset on the beach. Like, oh, it's so pretty. Oh, up in the mountains.

Oh, looking over a lake. Like, oh, it's so pretty. CBP sunsets are the most beautiful. thing in the entire world. Unmatched. Unmatched. So yeah, dude, it's going to be a really, really cool next couple of nights. I hope that Shoreburn Harper put it on a show. If I had to bet, I'm betting on Caminara. I just, dude, that guy, he's going to hit at least one on to Ashburn Alley. I can't wait see how many people hit him in the Ashburn Alley. Me, too, because it's such a rare thing. Obviously, we've seen a few players. Like, I think Rooker did it last year. Like, it's

rare. It's so rare to see a player do it. Like we're going to see in the run derby it happened multiple times. That's such a neat thing. I mean, Caminarra might have hit one off the scoreboard. Dude, that guy hits bombs, tank shots. And he'll definitely, if he, his last pitch, if he hits one, he will flip

his bat too. Oh, yeah. I wonder if anyone could hit Howard Territory in right field. Third deck. Third deck, I want to see. We got a guy. We got a guy who could do it. I mean, if anyone can do it, it's Kyle. I know. So, yeah, that's going to be, that's going to be a lot of fun. Bryce is a little insane for thinking you should be able to use an aluminum bat.

I know. I like that. I like the spirit of it. At least he said just for the gold ball. Like he didn't say the whole time. I get it. I do think if they're like, uh-oh, aluminum bad time, I think we would all lock in. I don't.

Well, you have to lock in. I don't think it's crazy. I know you might die if the balls hit you. It is a little dangerous. But I do think there is something. Like, I don't think it's a, it's a fun idea. I love it if there was no circumstances of, I don't know, kids running around in the outfield. That's the problem.

That's the problem. If you could empty the stands and say there's no one in the outfield, like I would be all aboard. Like guys get into 120 miles an hour with a wooden bat. Like what's it going to do? I'm an aluminum. I know. I know. It would be, it would actually be a threat.

It would be a threat to every kid out there that's running around. And I do wonder if maybe we can get a little late injury for Kate and Bougainpool to be in it, but probably a little bit late for him to be in the home run. Might be tough. Speaking of around Derby, what do you make of Bryce tap in the, and I know it wasn't you and we're all disappointed about that. It should have been. I mean, if Bryce had any real, you know, respect for the state. No, I'm just kidding. But what do you make of him tapping the Dodgers third base coach to come in through him?

It's unexpected. Yeah, well, he was the guy that it was Schwerver's like secret weapon last year. Yeah, yeah. It reminds me of the guy that pitched to, and I wish I remember his name, but he pitched to a Brayu and Howard in back-to-back years, and they won. But he was on the Philly staff. Yeah, he was a Philly staff guy, that guy. So, but.

It's just so weird. It's like, let me get the Dodger with their base coach. Like, okay. Yeah. No, there's a lot of symmetry there because his two sons are both, his one son has drafted 18th overall by the Brewers. It was later than that. 20-something by the Brewers.

And the year before, his other son was drafted by the Brewers as well. So both are in the brewer's system. and I believe in 2012, 2012 or 2015 all-star game, the guy had Harper take a photo with his two sons. So, like, that's cool. That's cool. So much symmetry. I thought it would be funny if the Phillies drafted Ebel.

Now, he went earlier than the Phillies could have picked, and they wouldn't have picked him anyway. But it would have been a really symmetrical weekend. Yeah, sure. He's pitching to Bryce, Philly's draft his son, and here we all are. But yeah, no. It's a little weird, but the guy seems like the whisperer.

And Bryce, I think he really wants to win it. Oh, my, are you kidding me? Dude, if Bryce, once he decided to do it, it was only to win it. Like there is no, he did it because he felt like he should, I think. And I agree. But he is, I think he wants to win it more than anyone else in the field. Yeah, no. And he certainly wants to, he's going to have the showman thing going tonight.

Oh, yeah. To do all that stuff. Yes, of course. he does. And there's a trust factor with Bryce that I feel like he's going to show up and do his thing. Bring it. Yeah, I agree. Let me ask you a question because I've always wondered this and I'm sure there are listeners out there who are who wonder the same thing. And you just talked about like this third base coach being like a secret weapon and a home run derby. What makes a good home run derby pitcher? Is it just the consistency? Is it a certain type of speed?

Like I know you don't want it too slow but you want to like what is it like? And then you know, some of these guys, it does seem like the pitcher screws them up with the, you know, kind of being not in the zone and all. What are the like key tenants of a good home run derby pitcher? So it's having rhythm. It's having a rhythm to it. Once they get in a rhythm, they're good to go and they can, that's how you rattle off a million in a row.

It's, it's consistency of location, like throwing it to the same spot where the guy wants it. And then it's having a little bit of firmness to it. Yeah, that's what I figured. There's a little bit of a firmness. If it's in the same spot,

if it is. in the same rhythm. Like there's a rhythm to batting practice that you can kind of get into. And that's a, like, that's how a prey you got and how Howard got. And as Tucker pointed out, it was Ramon Hernandez.

Ramon Henderson. Ramon Henderson was the guy from back in the day. Did you look that up, did you know that? Except if you knew that, that would be something else. I could see Tucker knowing. That's why I asked it.

That's why I asked it. Yeah. That's why I asked it. Because like you would just assume that the person looked it up. But because it's Tucker, I thought he actually might know it. Yeah. He said he knew it.

And I believe. I believe. I totally believe him. Yeah. Him and Buzz. I feel like those two would have gotten that one, would have gotten that one right. He's got a connection to him or something.

Like knows him. How about that? That's good work by you, Tuck. Yeah. Tucker, by the way, did a great job filling in

for the post game pods last week. He always does. Tucker's fantastic. Yeah. But yeah, so I'd say that that's the big three. That's the big three. So yeah,

I don't know. I also wonder who's throwing to Schwabreth. People throwing to... Well, you have, right? I mean, they're going to make the guy throw twice, right? Yeah. Harper, did Harper go to Schwerper and say, I'm taking them. You can't have them. I can see Schwab and like, dude, just take him. I don't care.

Totally. I totally agree with you. I totally agree with you. Meanwhile, Harper's like, I need to win this. I know. Harper's like, I am serious. I need the best guy. I'm taking this dead serious. Like, do you think, I know his dad like couldn't throw? But do you think maybe he was like, dad, you're not good enough. I need someone else to throw for me. I'm taking this. I need a ringer. I need a ringer. Dad, you used to be good, but you're a little older now. You just can't put it where I need it. Like, sorry, pal. Yeah, I need evil in here. I need the home runs every whisper. Dude, Bryce is like one of the most serious people. Dude, I told you.

So again, I've never, I was around him for the first time ever in spring training when we interviewed. I had never been like I'd been in the club house. I never like interacted with Bryce. And that was my number one takeaway. And it wasn't like he was like, was mean or this. He was just, he's intense. He is so locked in and just like when he looks at you, it's like it's unnerving almost.

I know. Oh, chill, buddy. It's all good, man. Yay, Bryce. Like, it really is. He's a very intense human. It's wild to be around him. You feel it.

Dude, when we interviewed him, he was going through, he's going to the lineup in 22. And he was like, he was like, Reese bat second. And then he was like, JT at third, right? And it looked right at me. In my head, I was like, in my head, I was saying, just say yes. You know what it's yes. But he was looking at like, I like, yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think.

Yeah. That could have been a real moment. You're right. You're right. That's what it is, man. He's intense. No, he's, dude, well, Jalen's like Jalen and him. No, I agree.

I think they're very similar like that. Yeah. Similar in the just not, don't want to deal with any of the BS. Like, let's just go. Let's just go do our thing and let's get out of here. but yeah I this this is going to be cool tonight's going to be fun uh I hope they have fun I hope Harper goes backwards hat he'll probably go showman headband I think that's I agree if I had to bet um they're going to put on a show and then and then tomorrow night's going to be just a real real treat

of seeing some of the best seeing Sanchey seeing Schmitty throughout the first pitch the pop from everything there's going to be there's going to be so much pop tomorrow at the ballpark I know I know March introduced and run out the left field and that huge ovation he's going to get. I hope he's like whenever, whenever Harper gets into the game, like when he, you know,

pinch hits or comes into first base or whatever. I mean, that pop is going to be insane, you know. The Moby starts playing. Schwabber when he steps to the plate as the DH to, you know,

in the first inning, whenever he's batting, most likely than the first thing I assume, you know, like, to grow street party. Yeah. This is going to be special.

It's going to be really cool, man. It's going to be really cool. I hope that March is not playing center field. Who is playing left so they can get the, so it's him, Paas and Soto, right? Cause could play center, right?

Yeah, I think, sure. I mean, I know he's not. I'm just saying, like, it could be Marsh. It could be March. Yeah, like, I mean, it's not to be Soto. We could say that. Soto will be in a corner. You know, the question is where they go otherwise.

I mean, so he'll be in right. The question is, is it going to be. Well, but he could be if he plays left. Yeah, it could be left too. Yeah. Paz could play right. I mean, Paz is probably more right than Marsh. I don't know, actually.

You know, it'd be cool. He's probably going to play center field. He's probably going to play center field. Yeah. It'd be cool. if those guys hang back and let Marsh just run out first. That would be cool. Yeah, that would be.

A slow rise in the crowd. I think that'd be saying. We're making this, again, like we said earlier, we're making this about Philadelphia. Oh, as it should be. This is ours. It's ours. You can all have your other All-Star games.

This is R-1. This is the one for us, man. And we have six All-Stars. Like, it's for us, man. I'm sorry, all right? 250 years of the freaking country. We started the country. You're welcome.

other pops. Maddenly's on the staff. Yeah, which is very cool. And shout out to Dave Roberts for that, like when and asked him to be on. And also Dave Roberts, you know, again,

I'm not a huge Dave Roberts guy, but given Sanchi the start, I thought it was a nice statement he made. You know, I think, I think Dave Roberts has been around long enough and has been a part of baseball long enough. I think he understands what he's supposed to do.

You know what I mean? Well, and he's, you know, won enough World Series to where he could be. Yeah, whatever. He's managed enough All-Star games. on all these things. Yeah, exactly. This is nothing to me. I'll be, go whoever you want, frankly.

Sure, sure. I'd rather have the crowd cheer me than boo me. Let's just do that one. Yeah. Yeah. The other guy that is going to really, really shine this week. And I can't wait for him getting his opportunity because I believe he did it in 76, but did not, obviously, 1952 is a long time ago. But Dan Baker and how awesome this is for him and how awesome this is for he's going to crush all these. I said this last night, and I gave myself chills a little bit because I know he's going to crush it.

But when they go through the starting lineup, and it finally gets to and in the bullpen, starting pitcher, Christopher Sanchez. And like then it's just going to be, oh, the camera's going to pan to him and he's going to be warming up.

Dude, I need a Sanchez cheese and smile. There's nothing that warms my heart more than a real happy Chris Sanchez. chest. Because he's pretty stoic. Like he's not, yeah, he doesn't give you the smile that often. When he does it, it's like, oh, look at that. Yeah. It was like when we either was smiling at Derek Hill. Totally. It's like, whoa. Whoa. Whoa. All right. What was that? So, man, it's going to be really, really special. Get some, get some sleeps in there, pal. Oh, buddy, tell me about it. As soon as this pot is done of napping, then a home run there,

me to let no sleep. Then I'm going to work tomorrow. I'm going to go and nap again. That's my plan. You don't want to maybe, you don't want to make a breakdown of a lot. You don't want to make down 11 through 20 tomorrow we're doing that today i am i am i am i am i won't object you to it for too long i promise i'm excited for it's going to be good um they went to a three they did yeah how about it anything else on the all-star game before we move on in the weekend and then the the draft no i think that's all good also you should we were down there on saturday you should if you have a chance you should go to the all-star village it's pretty cool there's a lot of stuff going on in there and um yeah i mean it's worth it definitely leave yourself at least two

hours. Oh, buddy. Everything seems packed. Like maybe these two days because people are probably back working. At work and stuff. Yeah. Like, I think it'll be better.

It'll be less jam packed than there. But certainly a lot of cool stuff going on. Yeah, I'm very family friendly. Bring your kids. There's wiffleball things and all this type of stuff. So yeah, I, if to Jack's point and,

and we said it before, but I think, you know, everyone who couldn't get into the all screen, trying to go to the home run derby or went yesterday or whatever, you know, whether you're going or not, this is a really unique. thing that probably won't happen here for a long time again. You take advantage of it.

Get every part of it that you can. If you're a baseball fan, you know, it's a special thing. All right. We won't do too much on the weekend. Obviously, we've talked a lot about it the last couple days. But general thoughts, two or three, I think the biggest thing, I said this yesterday, but we were doing the show on Saturday from the village and, you know, the 10, 2, 103, whatever it was on Friday loss.

And, you know, the kind of bit of a lull for the first time since the Mattingly came in. and, you know, they've been playing great baseball, a bit of a low. And we were going into that Saturday game saying, man, you know, just don't go into the break week. Don't just kind of mail it in and get to that break and, you know, kind of, you know, slink into the break, so to speak. And it felt like we were potentially heading in that direction. And then apparently Don Mattingly is like, no way, guys, let's freaking go. Bring it. You know, we'll finish the break strong.

And they played really well those last two games and handled business. JT, offensively, the star of the two games, who had thought. dunk it and we learn Sanchez dominate and and you get you into a three and you head in the break you know in a much better spot than if they had that faltered you know yeah you certainly head into it feeling like okay they they right of the ship just enough to where you don't head into it like dude they really have to go out and lose two at three and just sad fashion out in Detroit or god forbid get swept out in Detroit and and there's a little bit of panic setting in like them going out and and responding I mean Friday night was embarrassed

And there's been a lot of games recently where they have a chance to keep it close and the bullpeners can't hold up and do their job and give the offense a chance to come back and and steal a game late. And and them responding on Saturday, obviously the starting pitching set the tone for for both of those games. But that's how they're going to have to win in October. I mean, you see the you see the blueprint, right? I mean, it's Sanchez and Wheeler doing their thing and the offense doesn't need to live. light at the scoreboard. They just have to do their thing. But it's pretty imperative that those guys give you at least six because we know where

the bullpen is currently at. Now, the bullpen will change, I'm sure, after the trade deadline. But as it currently stands, like, that's the blueprint.

The offense is never going to be some juggernaut. The offense is not going to be something that you can hang your hat on and say, they're going to go win us a ballgame. It just has to be enough to where they can get scratch across three or four. But it's it's so, so imperative that those two and Lazzardo at the top of the rotation do their thing because it's the only way that they're going to win in October. But I thought it was impressive what they did against Scouble. I thought their effort level yesterday wasn't impressive. I thought Stott beating that ball out was impressive.

Harper had good hustle throughout the day. They went into the break still hitting the gas pedal after it felt like they were leaking oil there. And the bullpen is still leaking oil. But there may be some good developments there. John the Bowling could be someone who is pitching his way more into that eighth inning role. Really interesting that they didn't even give Keller that spot in a, in what, a 5-0 game yesterday. They still went to Boland, even though he pitched on Saturday and got out of that jam. They still didn't go to Keller.

So maybe there's a shift in the bullpen hierarchy or making sure that Keller's healthy before just putting it back out there. Or Keller has to work his way back to those roles, you know? He does. He does. So, yeah, like, JT, just being our clutch hero. Well, hey, you know what? If you're not going to hit that much, make the ones you hit clutch, you know, make them important. Yeah.

I mean, we were monitoring the JT clutch situation last season. Who could forget the home run against the Mariners that helped him come back in the one. I forgot it. I did. Now I don't. Look at you. Yeah, the triple against Shohay. So he's had this, like, after a year.

years and years of being the player at a one-up least in a big spot. J-T. might be turning into late in his career, just turning into a clutch hero for this baseball team. So yeah, so a positive weekend, Derek Hill continues to do. I'm believing.

Winning baseball player, the Edmundo of the outfield. You don't need, well, the one thing that I keep thinking about is, and again, I'm fine letting him grow out there. But like, Derek Hill is such a better defensive centerfielder than Crawford. Oh, it's not even close.

Yeah. It's actually malpractice not to have him play center field. Certainly in late innings especially, you know. Yeah. I wonder in the playoffs if like they move Crawford to a corner and and put Hill out there if they're going for defense first. but yeah it's just like he is a difference maker out there whereas Crawford is I think turned into serviceable I certainly don't think he's one of the worst outfielers in the game like he was the first two months of the season I think he's figured some of that out and it would cut off

his development out there but it's also trying to win a world series best for the team but have Darry kill manning center field defensively I'd fine having Crawford bat I'm not saying I want Crawford on the bench for Derek Hill every day. I'm fine with Derekill playing against, you know, lefties. And maybe if they want to start mixing them in against righties and, and put Ronconis on the bench. I don't know. But certainly on the days against lefties,

maybe just put Derek Hill and start. Yeah. Brother. Crawford and right. Yeah. I'm with you. All right. We're going to get to the draft,

the take bag, miners minute. I don't know if that's part of the draft. We'll get to all that coming up in a minute. I want to hit one last thing before, because in case you didn't listen to the radio show, and I got to give credit to someone right here, it's my co-host, Jack Freds. Oh, again. I thought you had such a good point yesterday that I just want to reiterate it here in that,

especially because, and rightfully so, with the playoff losses we've had the last few years, the disappointments, I understand that the fan base is at a certain point where there's more frustration, there's a lot of weight to the playoffs, there's a lot of, well, I know they're going to disappoint us, whatever the Lyme does now and all that. And I get all that. I think it's all fair. Like I have some of that too. But I do think, and you said this yesterday and you're so right,

we need to take a step back and give this group some freaking credit. Because they were 9 and 19, an older group, you know, all. Like it could have been so easy for this season to fall away or for nothing else for them to, you know, get back to 500 or whatever, just kind of like not have the juice, not, you know, have the resilience to bounce back from that. spot they were in and they've done it with flying colors. They're 46 and 25 since Manningley took over. They are two games back from the Braves, which we all thought was that the division was over. I just, I think the framing of the perspective on this team has been so

negative all year. And again, I get it. But I do think as we stop for the all star break, as we celebrate the all star game in our city with a lot of our players there, I do think people should try, even for their own happiness and mental sanity to step back and, and look at it from a bit of a different perspective and give this group some freaking credit for what they've done. And at least for me, like I do take some. I know they still have to do it in the playoffs and we have to see it to believe it, but I take some hope out of the resiliency they've shown and how tough they've been and what they've done for the playoffs where you're at.

Yeah, I mean, there's a, there is, I would be very, very surprised that they went out sad in the first round. I just, I don't have that feeling. I think, I think this is a year where as long as they don't face the Dodgers in the first round like last year that they could they could make some noise because of everything they've gone through and it's almost like we've just forgotten that they started 9 and 19 yeah their playoff odds were what they were and I think there were some I think they mean the run differential still hasn't recovered jack the run like for us who care it is devastating that start from a they just still

have been able to get back from and they've won a lot of close games and all that but like man I know well 15 to 1 against the royals 10 3 against the tigers and 11 or whatever against the breads don't exactly doesn't exactly help the run differential. Yeah, exactly, yeah. But yeah, I just, they you look at both teams who started 9-19, the Mets and the Phillies

and the Phillies rallied and it shows I think it shows some some gumption in that in that clubhouse. I think madly taking over and I think putting it on the players and forcing them to come together. I said yesterday I think there might have been a little

bit too much focus in the off season on the name on the back of the jersey and not the name on the front of the jersey you know the harper elite thing the uh j t buchette thing um i it didn't look like a connected unit boom thinking that he's getting traded you know stott maybe he is getting traded they didn't uh wheeler working his way back they didn't look like a team that was together they looked disconnected and one of the things that madly told him was like i need to hear you talk in the dugout like i you guys don't talk and that's concerning now I don't think that's been a problem in the past. I just think that maybe this year,

and the first time that he is seeing it, it probably drove him nuts. So, yeah, I think that they deserve a lot of credit. And I hope that hopefully this season ends differently than the last couple of years. I don't want to come on and say, they're going to win the World Series. But I think that they can make noise in October. Hopefully they make noise in October.

Hopefully they give us a little bit of a run again. And let this city just, you know, fall back in love with a group of guys that have put together the third best run in franchise history and hopefully you can get a parade down Broad Street so they can be remembered the way that they should be remembered.

I totally agree with you. They should be. They should be remembered as a great, great, great, great, great, great, great Phillies team. And they already are. But yeah, no, you're right. They have to win it to get that like, you know, forever status.

Yeah. It is what it is. Yeah, it is. Yeah, I'm with you. And I so desperately want those guys to get it. All right. Draft, take bag, the whole thing, coming up in a sec.

But shout out to originals. Today's show is sponsored by Miller Light and originals on State Road. Check out of originals for every Phillies game and enjoy their Miller Light pints for $3.25. Just $3.25. That's a great deal, along with their 150-inch HD projection screen

and signature homemade meatballs. Miller Lights and Philzwin celebrate responsibly Fritzy. A couple quick pitching things. Really important to see Sanchez bounced back the way that he did. It wasn't like the best. ever, but he bounced back from from where he was.

Wheeler, not making the all-star team, I think, will be the best thing for him and this team the rest of the year because he is certainly pitching with a chip on his shoulder. When he wins the Cy Young, he'll hold it up and say, thank you for not voting me on the All-Star team, you know? Hopefully, hopefully so. And actually, I thought Nola was really good. I thought Nola was really good. I wish they didn't pull him.

But I understand why he pulled him. I wouldn't have pulled him. But he has earned that this year of getting pulled in that situation. But some signs of life. And again, in watching it, I didn't see a ball like leak above the knees unless it was thrown with intent. And even when it was thrown with intent, it was thrown out of the zone. So signs of life, maybe. Hey, that's great to hear.

Yeah. I love here. Love to hear. He was down in the zone. Even that pirate started, he was down early and then he got blasted. but like there's been some signs of him being able to stay on top of the baseball recently, and that's really, really important. All right.

So a couple of things here in the like minor league minute slash important for the big league club. The broadcasters of the futures game yesterday, I couldn't tell if they knew something or if they were just talking. but when Gage Wood was on the mound, they kept saying he could be here in a month. A month, wow. And you know how that stuff works. Yeah,

oh, they talk to teams, they get information on players. Like, it is not, when they say those things, it's usually sourced some, you know.

They have the production meetings, you know, I mean, I always remember like Monday night football. Yeah, of course. You have like random stories that come in throughout the broadcast.

I was talking to Coach Siriani before the game. And, you know, Of course. Yeah. Yeah. And yeah.

So they kept saying it'd be here within a month. And I really think there's two outcomes for Gage this year. Trade it or up. He's either in the big leagues or not. Yeah. I think so, yeah. In the big leagues or moved in a deal. I agree with you.

And like we said over the weekend, like there's, it's kind of training towards, I don't know what the all in move is because the Red Sox got right back into it. Tigers got. Diamondbacks, all these teams. that were like the rumors of they've all getting back into it. They've all got back into it. So it's like there might not be an opportunity to even trade gauge. Not that I'm dying to trade gauge, but like there's not that there might not be that

Wilson Contreras or, you know, one of those moves out there that you would have to put him on the table in order to get done. So they might just be like, well, or he's here. We love him. We want to be a part of our future. And, and that's where the idea of putting him in the, pen and thinking like, okay, we can only use our resources to get one lefty out there. We need two arms.

Gage can be the other arm. He is at 55 innings. Like I've said, I think the, I think the limit is. 80 to 100, you said more or less, right? I think the first hurdle is 80 and how he's feeling at 80 will determine how much further they want to push him past it. But obviously, we're leaving. Only an ending at a time.

Yeah. Well, let me ask you a quick question on this before you go on. the idea of how long do you think they would have like how long do you think it would take him to transition essentially like if they because obviously you'd want him to pitch out the pen of the minors before you brought him to majors I would think um how long do you think that would take him to be like how many minor league outings or whatever because especially the back to back to back days thing they probably wouldn't use them back to back days in the playoffs but like yeah two out of three days all the type of stuff is is different you know it is and it's and it's it's a

different routine for guys who have been starting pitchers. I think the difference here is that Gage has pitched out of the bullpen. Yeah, and that's huge. Like at Arkansas, he has done it before. And he, there's a very real chance. And I think he's going to be really good. But there's a really good chance if he is a reliever long term. Sure.

And the biggest fear I would have rather than that, I'm not too fearful of like transitioning into being a bullpen arm for this restaurant. I think he'd be fine. with it. I think that whatever gets into the big leagues he's okay with. My thing is more about this has been an arm that you've been careful with. Now you're going to put him in the bullpen. If you want him to be a real- Ask him to go max effort, you know. If you want to be a real piece out there, he's going to have to pitch two out of three games like you just said, maybe back-to-back. They wouldn't pitch him back-to-back. I don't think. So that would be more my concern than

anything. But I think mentality-wise, I think he could do it. I think he could be a closer one day if they need him to be. Yesterday he was super jittery of being out there. Like he's got to, you know, rain that in. And he certainly talked about it after the game, about how he walked out and said,

well, this is different. Yeah, he was like, that is way bigger than I thought it'd be. Yeah. Well, I think Boa always says it's that third deck that gets you. Yeah, I'm sure. I can imagine.

I mean, if you played in Meyer League stadiums and college stadiums and stuff, and then you step into a major league park, and it is different when you're on the mound or on the field than in the stand. I'm sure it feels, I'm sure it feels different. It has to. It has to.

So, yeah, I just, that's one to, I think, monitor and see if they have some kind of plan there. Because he could be a impact reliever if they wanted to be. Fastball was really, really good yesterday. You know, 11 pitches, one run scored. He didn't have good feel for his breaking pitches. He was overthrowing them trying to make a point. And that's something you have to rain in if he got called up. But the fastball plays at whatever level.

I mean, he was facing Leo de Verizon, you know, bloom away with his first two fastballs. So that was exciting. All right. Really quick, just like minor league things. Cato Bermuller shoved yesterday, very important. He did not pitch very well his last outing. He like walked four and allowed a couple earn runs.

So he locked back in. Ramon Marquez did his thing again, five innings, nine K's one run. All of a sudden, Titan Kennedy Hayes, who I kind of rode off of throwing 100 out of nowhere, which is exciting. Love a good. All of a sudden they're throwing 100.

That's always fun. Well, him and Marty Gare, like Marty Gare, now he's struggled a little bit recently, but he, another fastball guy. Alex McFarland continues to shove and is just sitting in double A. I can't wait to see who they're going to trade him for, you know, and if he's not traded, how quickly he is in AAA slash maybe right to the big leagues because it's insane that he's still there. Cody Balker pitched really well, and so did Matthew Fisher.

So a lot of the pitchers who we have been excited about or drafted last couple of years kind of rounding into uh rounding into form would you say McFarland is the most likely player to get traded on the Phillies uh yeah I think so too that's why I asked yep yeah I mean maybe for the trade deadline I'll have to put together my that's why I think it'd be really interesting actually I would love that give us a list in order like of the most likely to least likely you know of the the guys who are being talked to because I think they'd be really fascinating yeah I mean he's certainly far in a way number one. I don't know what his value is. He's 25 year old double labor lever lever. Um, so I don't know if teams are like knocking down the door, but he also

might be he's also major league ready and, and, and pretty good to go. All right. The draft. Yeah, buddy. All right. So, uh, if you heard the reaction on Saturday, it was quick, uh, quick reaction, but the Tyler Spangler pick was, was very, very exciting. Um, now, obviously that comes with some, some risk. He has the back injury, stress fracture there, I believe, I think, I don't know, that he is, he came back from now.

Brian Barber said the other night that after the, after the media availability, that they're sending him to clear water. He's been cleared for baseball activities. That's great. That's huge. So they're going to monitor it and hopefully get him in games for during the rest of the season.

I already am counting down the seconds until the spring breakout game in 2027. There's be so many of our guys in it if it ever happens because baseball may be gone forever but put the spring breakout game with francisco renteria and and and and and and remo marquez starting to game anyway so tyler spangler the quick uh cliff notes version of this is he reminds me of of corey seager he doesn't really have a hole in his in his game right now uh he like we'll need to eventually develop power, but like his swing is is geared to where I think that's going to come naturally. He is a hit first guy right now with the possibility for more. I thought my personal opinion,

as believe it or not, you know, this is not something I just picked up yesterday looking at the drafts, given the comments on on all the post about how I just, I just knew who he was yesterday. Oh, God. Do people not listen to this podcast? Like, what are we doing here, guys? This has been going on since January. This is a seven-month process of getting ready for this weekend. And for my money, I had him as the second best prep shortstop in the class behind Grady Emerson, who went number two. Grady Emerson is freaking awesome, by the way. Like, he's going to be any relation to Colt?

No, actually not. I figured not, but I figured I'd ask just because there have been so many brothers these days, it feels like. I know. And they're two years apart in the draft. There's a part in the draft. Usually, usually there would be. brothers but no but no they are not brothers so um yeah he's me sick so tyler spangler had him as as the second as the second best prep shortstop i thought no doubt about a top 15 pick um and really

only was here because of the of the of the back and i wouldn't be surprised if you know they target him and said hey we'll take care of you at 36 i'm sure he could have gone earlier um but yeah it's it's really exciting they added someone who can be a difference maker i i applaud them from the standpoint of being okay taking the risk of another back injury with the thing going on with Aden. But like as we've learned throughout the years, like it's concerning. But Lana Dickerson had a bunch of injuries. Yeah. I don't think just because one player has an issue, you can say, whoa, we can't drop a player

with that type of injury. I mean, that's, that's how you become a bad franchise. I mean, that would be bad decision making. I, you have to judge each one individually. Yeah. So I'm really, really excited. He could be a third baseman, but I think he moves well at shortstop. And I guess he had to work out the week before the draft and looked like Tyler Spangler.

So that's exciting. And I really think he chance. They have a chance here with him. And Aiden can get back and Francisco Runtaria. There's the pocket of young, exciting bats that could be coming. Now, Cade and Bougainpool, I knew of him because of the combine. His combine performance is legendary. He'd about 119 miles an hour.

The quick, you know, again, cliff notes on him is he broke Ryan Howard's Missouri State home run record. He went to Missouri State just like Ryan Howard did, which is fun symmetry. He had like 20 home runs this first year, 13 to the second year, and then only six last year. But apparently he just, he stopped chasing. He stopped swinging. He didn't swing as much as he. did in the past because he wanted to cut down and chase, cut down on strikeouts.

So it may have cost him and made him be a little bit hesitant. I went back and watched him in the, uh, in the regionals last night. And he had a ball like 120 miles an hour off of Gabe Geichel, who got drafted in like the second round. And it's like you see it. And watching the at bats, he has a pretty patient approach. He, he can really hit the baseball. He's got to develop some loft.

I would tell him to like, if I'm the Phillies, don't worry about the strikeouts, don't worry about the chase, like go up here and try to hit as many home runs as you can. Like there is a spot in that. I think that Brian Barber saw him and said there's Judge. He's 6'6. He can play center field just like Judge. He moves.

He's athletic. He hits the ball a mile when he makes contact. It's the same judge profile. Huge. Athletic hits the ball really freaking hard. Now, my hesitancy is that the Phillies do not develop this kind of player very well. And he could be Matt Wallner, who's like a 200 hitter with that could hit 30 to 35 home runs. That might be kid in Boga Pool.

There's a valuable player in that. But you hope it's not like a Joey Gallo 190 and all those home runs. You hope there's a little bit more hitability. And I think there is in watching him. I don't think he's just homerun or bust. But a really interesting upside. swing that I'm not sure they've taken years past, which makes me think that they feel as if their hitting is getting in a better spot, uh, organizationally.

Develop one. Yeah. Good. That's great. So we'll see. Uh, again, I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself with some of these guys. Uh, Ruger Rueger Rios was one of my guys from the draft. I hadn't taken him the second round because I thought they were going to go overslot and I thought he would be underslot and they could take him there. Uh, he's a 23 year old senior. He just turned 23 yesterday. So pretty good, you know. Yeah, good birthday, man. You're kidding? You're drafted? That's pretty neat. Pretty sweet. So, so he was a two-pitch guy the year before this last year. He developed like five pitches. He reminds me of Lance McCullers. There's a little Lance McCullers in him. And he's up to 98. He sits more 94 to 96. Good feel for a hammer, a hammer slider, feel

for a change up. Should be a fast riser. Could be a pen piece, but obviously, he'll start him as a starter. Devin Sheeran is a local kid, Redding. Very cool. Pitched at Exeter. And he started Mount St. Mary's transferred to LSU was one of their main bullpen pieces. They targeted fastball traits, some of their late guys. He's going to be a pure reliever, but he is super, super exciting. He is like up to 98 on the mound, heavy 37% whiff rate, 31% chase rate on that pitch.

So he throws it a lot. I think there's a clear path to a split if they want. He has the mechanics for it, I believe. He throws this like little crappy cement mix slider sometimes that I hate. And then out of nowhere, he'll flash this like hammer sweeper needs to hone in on that one. Ditch the cement mixer slider. And we might have a little something there. But Devin Sheeran, big, like just a house of a man.

Jackson Jelkin, I'm not a huge fan of. So we'll move on. Love it. I'll take it. Will Gasparino has been on the prospect circuit for a while. I remember watching him three years ago on the perfect game All-American Classic. And 6-6 mountain of a man, but he's more slender, whereas Boganpool is like a house. But this kid can really go play center field.

You look at the raw numbers last year and you get excited. 313, 20 home runs, OPS over 1,000 on who was, I think, the best team in the country last year. They didn't win the World Series. But UCLA was really, really good last year with obviously Rock Kowalski and stuff like that. Um, he is again, much like Bougainpool, someone who they have struggled to develop, but it took chances on two guys that hit the ball a mile. I mean, Will Gasparino hits the ball miles. It's tape measure shots.

Um, two raw, really athletic, talented guys that hit the ball far. There's a path to Jason Worth with Will Gasparino. There is both huge, long lever, struggle to get the inside pitches until they figured it out. he's like those who are really really exciting to see if they can develop them because there is real real upset and he can stick in center field at that height which is uh that's that's yeah it's a big deal and look they just don't have a lot power in the system like they don't they need it yeah they don't um some other guys to like you know get through this uh mac and winslow was a former uh american perfect game all american kid uh he uh was the unc catchers funny transfer from duke

to unc which should be illegal in my opinion But yeah, he's a good little bat. Bo Rudy, I do have to spend at least 10 minutes talking about. So, so Bo Rudy, Bo Rudy is, I can't wait to watch this kid pitch. Early in the season, he was like 90 to 91 and still had super big RPM on his fastball, but that'll get hit. By the end of the year, he was trying like 94, 95 with a fastball that hit 20,

100 plus RPMs, 50 plus times this year. That is a, we talk about unicorn fastballs. Like that is a unicorn fastball. And I watched him last night against Oklahoma and the SEC tournament. I was cackling on my point. Cackling at these, they couldn't hit it. Like it was right there. He kept rising through the zone and these guys could not hit it.

When they did, it was a weak pop up to left field. He, like, that's a. dude a really clean mechanics there's a clear path to a split clear path to a slider i really really like uh beau rudy uh their eighth and ninth round picks are two lefties they have interesting traits um like good fast balls up in the zone uh Wyatt don't let it don't let a denilowicz he has a nailed it he has a a really interesting look for a a curveball down the zone but uh they did not have great numbers last year but i think they believe in the stuff over the numbers as does happen.

Reese Moroni is, I'm putting the stamp of approval on like as one of my guys in this like a guy. Rhode Island shortstop, local kid played in the Carpenter Cup at CBP, which is cool. He, he is not going to ever hit for power,

but he reminds me of a Cardinals player from back in the day. Sure. Who just would put the bat on the baseball was a pest, can play a million positions. Like there's a path to being like a two-win utility player for this kid. And I, I, I like him a lot.

We'll see what happens. But I think from the standpoint of, like, being a good major league, like, eventually a Mundo Sosa type player, I think that's Reese Moroni. I think that's a winning player. And then only a couple more. I promise we have to talk about Drew Titzworth. Oh, what a name. Yeah.

What a name. Unbelievable. Unbelievable name. But he has a unicorn fastball as well, like a great traits on that pitch. Not unicorn. Bo Rudy is unicorn. Thank you, Virginia. I feel like we can't do unicorn for all of them or else.

becomes the wrong term for it. You're right. He is a very outlier fastball. Good. Good. You know, so they can build upon that. Christian Coppola, I love. He's a St. Joe's kid. It's a lot of local flavor. Yeah, St. Joe's kid. He has bounced around a couple of places,

landed there, has stayed healthy. He's a supinator. He's a spin guy. Just knows that it's been the baseball. Probably will eventually just throw a cut fastball rather than trying to throw a four seamer. But he is awesome. And then the bats they drafted late were kind of fun. It was just a bunch of like undersized guys that walked more than they

struck out. Braden Bakes is someone who, uh, some other smart organizations have been a fan of, like smart development orgs have liked. So he's interesting. He's the 13th rounder. Patrick Clemmy is his high school kid, six five lefty, uh, had Tommy John a couple years ago, probably would be higher ranked, but they took him in the 14th. Seems like they're going to be able to sign them and listen to Barber last night. Um, and he's a Georgia commit. So it's a real commit to a real school. Um, so that's a one to kind of monitor. And then really the last one that I want to talk about is Matt Quintanar. He is a catcher from Texas Tech.

More bad first, but I think the bat is really interesting and he doesn't really strike out. Again, the bass they targeted late, walked more than this struck out, which I think is a fun little plan. Love it. Look at this. And we will obviously, as soon as he is able, we are efforting, we will get the great Brian Barber on to talk about the draft and react as is our annual tradition. And you can just sit there. I'll just hang. I'll make sure I call him Brian and Upbill

and then everything else will be fine. We'll talk about Bo Rudy against against Oklahoma. Oh, buddy. It's got a nerd out. I'm excited to hear what he says about the judge thing. That's interesting with Boghpur. Dude, I think he had to have.

He had to have said that. Well, I mean, it was there. It's interesting. It's an interesting thought, you know. That's the judge profile. Yeah. I love this. All right.

Let's go. All right. All right. So we'll be back later in the week. Obviously, All-Star Game Reaction. Barber, whenever that happens, we got lots of stuff coming. your way. And if you're down there tonight for the home run,

we all start game tomorrow, Fritz and I will both be there. Come say hi. We love seeing everyone. It's the bus. So let's go. What a week, Fritzy. What a week. Yep. Yep. Big stuff. All right. We'll talk to you guys later. Until that, he's Fritz himself.