High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Arizona Fall League is my Playoffs

Episode Date: September 16, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back talking about the team and what is going to happen this offseason and also get into Arizona Fall League stuff.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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Yo! Ew. It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack, I could have gone, yeah. Yeah, it's over. It's over. You're not going to be giving me any of their going on the runs today, are you, buddy? You never know, Jackie.

It was a really inspiring weekend. Left a lot to be desired. All right, so officially official, yes, they have a.7% chance to make the playoffs, according to Fangraphs. Yes, theoretically it is technically possible. They ain't making the playoffs. It's over.

It's done. And the 2019 Phillies will go down in the record books as a team that did not make the playoffs, Jack. Yeah, and we're not going to get playoff NOLA, which is very sad. Remember before the season started, we were breaking down spring training games and breakout Pavetta. I remember you saying when Bryce Harper was signed, the best thing about this signing is we get to see playoff NOLA. We'll eventually see playoff NOLA, I think.

Someday. I don't know. It's been eight years. It's been eight years. Well, that's what I was thinking about before and it really sucks to put it in these terms, but Jack, we are coming up on a decade of not making the playoffs.

Yeah. A decade. I was in high school the last time the Phillies made the playoffs. Oh, man. You were in your early 30s. I knew that was coming. At least that's not that far off. Late 20s.

It's crazy. I know. It's crazy to think about. It has been a really, it's so funny because it kind of just slid in there because there was so much futility our whole lives. You know, as Phillies fans, it was just losing his franchise, all that type of stuff. And then 93, that's why we love that team so much

because it was the only team for eons of Phillies baseball that did anything. And then in 08, we finally win it. And we have that run with that team, and it felt like the good times were never going to end. And then they did, and we understood it. And I feel like now it's gotten to the point where it almost snuck up on us that it's about to be a decade without the playoffs, Jack.

It's actually, for as bad as it's been, it's been a quick eight years. Somehow, someway. I remember a lot about the run. I remember everything about the runs. Tommy Joseph era? No, no, no. I'm talking about even 07 to 11.

I got you. It feels like it wasn't that long ago. And then you see Scott Ayers got gray hair and Jamie Moyer. Jamie Moyer looks like a sensei or something. Yeah. So it's crazy. It's been the quickest eight years of awful baseball. Oh, man.

It's just like, man, it was, the thing that kind of sucked about this team was that it wasn't even a fun, bad team. No, it was an infuriating bad team. It was like, it was two steps forward, one step back. That was the problem. It was, again, we talked about this, is that if we had just had different expectations

and if this season had played out differently, like even if they had had a season like the Mets, where there were some really low lows and it was frustrating, but they had that 15-17. They got Pete Alonso going at 50 frickin' home runs. It would have been fun at least. I'll bet you that Mets season felt more, and I know they've had their dumpster fire moments,

but that season seems a lot more fun than our season. I mean, to go from the first half where they were the biggest laughingstock in baseball. We thought Mickey Galloway was going to get fired after that series where we swept them. We were like, oh, well, Mickey Galloway's screwed. And now they're ahead of the Phillies. Yeah, they are ahead of the Phillies. That's something we don't talk about enough. The Phillies are going to come in fourth place In the NLE somehow

They are going to come in fourth place Yeah Oh they're going to come in fourth place That's insane It's insane right Insane I mean think about that Yeah

Well at least you can hire a draft pick Oh I love you That is such a Jack Fritz thing to say right there At least you can hire a draft pick Oh man But yeah No it's like I don't know

Like I'm For as disappointing as As the season's been I still Oh, man. But, yeah. No, it's like, I don't know. For as disappointing as the season's been, I still really like our core guys. Oh, I know. You love them. You talk about it. They have the core. They have the guys. They have building blocks, per se.

They just have to do a better job of putting talent. Obviously, this is obvious, but putting talent. They need pitching. But at least they have the offense. This is obvious. I'm going to tell you something. They have the offense, and they also have – like, Boehm's going to come up and be an impact bat.

Yeah. Like, he's going to come up and be a legitimate middle-year-older bat. Like, Haseley's already kind of proven he's a – Major league player. A major league player. Like, he's going to end up batting, like, 260 to 320 OBP. And he's looked like he belongs. I think, you know, for a guy who we weren't expecting him to come up as quickly as he did,

he has almost, and he's gotten better, and he had that one little rough stretch. But really from day one, he's looked like a ball player, like a major league baseball player. And now he really looks like he belongs. Yeah, I'm with you. And look, there is definitely reason for optimism. And we'll get into all that. It's tough where we just see them get swept by the Red Sox and come to grips with the fact that there's no more hope. There's no more adventure.

The hopes are not high, John. The hopes are low. Saturday was a good baseball game. Sure. And Nola pitched well. Yet again, though, just runs into trouble in the seventh. He's got an ERA in the eights. It's crazy.

I didn't know the numbers, but anecdotally it just seemed like every time he just, that inning. All year long. Well, the story of the Phillies, well, not, yeah. Well, the story of Nola is that he'll get to the seventh, but he won't get through the seventh. The story of the Phillies is that he can never get the hit to put him ahead. And they just have no momentum. They can't win game to game to game to game. No, they can't get in a row.

It's unbelievable. I don't ever remember a team, ever, in my time watching the Phillies, or really watching baseball. And granted, I don't think you would notice it as much if you don't follow the team every day, so probably only the Phillies applies. But I don't ever remember a team that was a playoff competitor until, for all intents and purposes, the end of the season that never went on a run of any kind.

Not even like 11 of 12. Nope. 14 of 15. Not allowed. 10 of 12. It's crazy, though. I mean, do you ever remember that? Haven't you ever remembered that type of team before? Well, they're the only team in baseball that has maintained a record above 500 the whole entire season.

They have not won more than four games in a row. Which is great. They haven't won more than four games in a row. They are probably the weirdest team. They're the weirdest semi-good team in baseball. Well, if you think about it this way, they are four games above 500. They have essentially played 500 baseballs since the first four games of the season. They're a 500 baseball team.

Literally, that's what they are. And I think that that's, again, I think that if that were only the reality that we had to come to grips with, it would be easier to not be as upset as we've been throughout and the angst. But, again, it's to what you said. It's the way it's happened, the way it's all. And, again, it's not just that they, like, it's that they teased us so many times. Spring training. Obviously the Harper home run, you know,

the Grand Slam feels like the biggest tease of all, the Charlie was Zach. Like that felt like we said at the time, like, if they're going on a run, it's going to be now. They didn't. And they didn't. So they certainly did not. But I think that I think that up and down nature of it and the insane amount of gut punch losses

they had this season just really makes this seem like a much, much more disappointing season than it probably was. 2019 Philly's video yearbook, blue ball. That's what it is. That's so perfect. That's all it was. That is so perfect.

162 nights of blue balls. Really, since the moment Bryce Harper was signed, it was just like blue balls. Yeah. Well, opening weekend was like, we're getting there. And then squat. It's crazy how fast. That might be the best analogy ever brought to this. It's crazy how fast and slow a baseball season goes.

Like, it felt like the season has flown by, but it's also been five months of just up and down. Oh, yeah. Excruciating baseball. Devast awesome yeah yeah yeah but like it's i just i'm gonna miss baseball me too and i'm i'm gonna watch the crap out of the playoffs and i'm going to um hope the yankees don't win the world series you know by the way in case you haven't noticed, someone, I don't think it's going to happen. I think the Dodgers are definitely representing the National League. But I did say Yankees over the Cardinals in the World Series. That's cool.

Still on the board. All right. Good luck with that one. We'll see how the playoffs work out. No. Okay. So let's see that real quick, just because we're talking about it. What is your, if you had to pick right now, and obviously we don't know the exact playoff

field set, but what do you think the World Series matchup is? The Yankees or Chokers. I'm not worried about them. It's Astros-Dodgers. That's Astros. I mean, it's so lame, but it's Astros-Dodgers. I hope it's Astros-Dodgers.

I do too. I would love to see that again. Well, because I missed the World Series two years ago because I was doing the morning show at that point. Oh. So like the freaking

14 inning. That's a shame. That was an amazing World Series. It was an unbelievable World Series. Seven gamer. Yeah. Yeah. Meanwhile, I shame. That was an amazing World Series. It was an unbelievable World Series. Seven gamer. Yeah. Yeah. Meanwhile, I'm stuck with last year's World Series. Now, I agree.

At this point, like, just give me the two super teams and let them go to battle together. Yeah. And I actually think the Dodgers have a way better chance this year than years past. I agree. I still think the Astros are the best team. Especially, I mean, think about a playoff series where you've got to go up against Verlander, Cole, and Greinke. I mean, whew. playoff series where you've got to go up against Verlander, Cole, and Greinke. I mean, whew.

Yeah. Yo, buddy. That is some real deal tough sledding in the playoffs. Good thing the Dodgers traded Jordan Alvarez. Yeah, Jordan Alvarez. That was definitely before Friedman was there. Of course it was. But can you imagine if the Phillies ever made a trade like that?

We never get those trades. Besides soccer for a break. Yeah. Okay. Sure. But can you imagine if the Phillies ever made a trade like that? We never get those trades. Besides soccer for a break. Yeah. Okay. Sure. Yes, you're right. 20 years ago. Good call.

You're welcome. And again, we're not talking about, you know, I just, we're not talking about Jordan Alvarez. Bobby O'Brien, I'm sorry. I can already say, Bobby O'Brien, borderline Hall of Fame player. Some people would say Hall of Famer. I don't know. I'm on the fence about it. I would probably know.

Same player. Some people would say Hall of Famer. I don't know. I'm on the fence about it. I would probably lean no. But I would take Jordan Alvarez's potential career over Bobby all day. Yeah. Jordan Alvarez reminds me of a young Howard.

Yeah, but a young Howard who's built way better. A young Howard who's going to age better. A ripped Ryan Howard. That's just jacked. Yeah. I mean, Ryan Howard, you knew at some point it was going to fall off. That's why I hate, I know in the time people didn't, like, I hated the Ryan Howard contract in the moment it happened because I was like, look at the history of baseball. These guys never age well.

Not one. Ortiz is like the semi-exception and he DH'd his whole career practically. No one that size, that build lasts. Jordan Alvarez, that dude could last. So how about those Phillies? Back to the Phillies. Anyway. See, I can't even talk about them. I get excited talking about their baseball. Anyway, I'm with you. Jordan Alvarez that dude could last yeah so how about those Phillies back to the Phillies anyway see that's I can't even talk about them

I get excited talking about their baseball anyway I'm with you the point is as you can see from that conversation I'm gonna miss baseball too

yeah I'm gonna miss baseball and I mean I'm gonna miss baseball but I also can't wait for I can't wait for like free agency

and the offseason like I just I don't wanna see what they're gonna do want to see what they're going to do. I want to see what they're going to do coaching staff-wise, management-wise. I'm going to get into that. I know, but there's just so much intrigue. This is, for as important as last offseason was and landing Bryce Harper.

This could be just as important. This is just as important. This changes the trajectory of the team. Exactly. You have to re-sign Real Amudo. Yep. That's got to happen. You have to add a massive starting pitching upgrade. Garrett Cole, potentially. You have to re-sign Real Amudo. Yep. That's got to happen. You have to add a massive starting pitching upgrade.

Garrett Cole, potentially. You have to decide if... It's a $200-plus million contract. You have to decide if... You don't have to decide this offseason, but it's getting close to that time when you decide what you're going to do with Reese. If you're going to extend him this offseason,

it's... Are you going to bring back Gabe? Are you going to bring back Klentak? Well, that's where i want to go i wanted to actually get into the game thing the clint see i think clint tag's back i think he's back i don't want him back no i don't i don't i blame clint tag far more than anyone else for the failures of this season i'm sure over the the coming weeks we're gonna dive into the real all the issues we have with clint tag i agree i want matt clintac gone i don't trust him to

handle the future of this franchise well there's so there's one second on the clintac thing there's been so much of like well everyone got hurt and and a cutchen and it's like it's like it's year four yeah it's year four he's he hasn't built solid depth well that's the problem through anything it's the organizational depth that they don't have. And it's the philosophies. It's not signing power pitchers. It's focusing on the wrong things, and you're looking at analytics. Everything they do is behind the times. Klintak is just a very replaceable, boring GM that can spend the owner's money and doesn't have any kind of foresight or progressiveness.

And you can't. The sport is too smart now. It's too smart. You can't have those guys. These teams are going to lap you. They are lapping you. The smart teams, the Dodgers, the Rays, all these types of teams are lapping you. And the Phillies, as I've said about a zillion times on here,

you look at a team like the Braves, which we've talked about nonstop, how way light years ahead they are in terms of infrastructure, from player talent, from development, from all that stuff, from the players on the Major League roster. But the one thing the Phillies can do that they can't is they can go out and spend money. Yes. They are a big market.

Atlanta is not. That's just what it is. Atlanta is historically cheap as a franchise. Yeah. And yet they're the ones that signed Dallas Keuchel and were left holding our, you know what? Yep. It's great.

Oh, by the way, Dallas Keuchel pitching in the next game tomorrow night again, so that should be great. But even if it's spending money on free agents and having that kind of financial flexibility that Phillies do have, which is great, and I'm glad they have it, use that money to build up resources. It's not just about going and signing free agents. It's the infrastructure. Spend all that money on infrastructure and bringing in smart people. that's why this this this potential johnny almaraz uh replacement is massive like find someone that from a smart organization that is progressive and spend like spend all the money on building an infrastructure well you could spend whatever

you want on that yeah there's no salary that's what i'm saying you can still spend on players but do that too and spend way more i agree with you i mean that is the most important thing that is going in this sport right now bring me in yeah obviously hi i'm bloom jack fritz sure same guy same guy both from here yes hashtag from here um but i like that that's incredibly frustrating and look there are so many things we can point to at clintac and and we will. But just on a basic level, to come into the season with the pitching staff he did and say, this works, this is going to be good, we're going to be fine. And then, to use Ken Rosenthal's perfect word for it, the ambivalence he showed throughout the entire season while seeing these things weren't working,

whether it's not Tony Dow's Keuchel, whether it's not adding at the trade deadline, whether it's looking at the bullpen and guys it's not adding at the trade deadline whether it's looking at the bullpen and guys like mike moore and jared hughes and blake freaking parker coming out to pitch high leverage innings like there are other things they could have done that wouldn't have crippled the future or whatever they could have all those things are like matt klintak is to blame for all that for not adding to this team and they could have not being smart in season as well as prior to the season i mean it's there's it's institutional failure with a lot of these things but I want to get to Kapler because I think that's the again we both feel pretty confident that despite what we believe despite

what I think a lot of Phillies fans believe now in whether Klintak should come back or not he's probably back where are you at with Kapler I think that's the most interesting hard to get a read on is he going to be gone, is he not type of decision. I know which way I lean, but I wouldn't bet on it. Which way are you leaning? And again, not should, will. You can say what you think, but will he be back? I don't think he'll be back.

I don't think he'll be back just because, like, I think they're too worried about the business side of things and they're too worried about the business side of things, and they're too worried about the public perception and how people will say, oh, I'm not buying tickets if Gabe Koppel is back. Well, listen, if they start winning, you're going to be back. That's pretty much as simple as that. Yep.

And winning in an actually sustainable watching way. Yes. We've watched this team last year. We're too smart. They've proven it. The last two years, they've proven that they're not going to buy into something that is not real. Right.

So I don't think he's going to be back just because, oh, unless Clint, because Clint acts so arrogant that he might do it just to spite the fans. Right. Look, I don't think, I think if it's Clint's decision, Kapler's back. Oh, I think so too. But I don't think he's going to have a choice. That's my point. I mean, Middleton fired Maley after the White Sox series when 31,000 people showed up for Alumni Weekend

to see a team that was actually revered here. There was 25,000 people for a Braves series a night in a, quote, unquote, pennant race. And there were less than that. That was what they said. And the Wednesday game of that or whatever, Penetrates. Yeah, and there were less than that. That was what they said. Right. And the Wednesday game of that or whatever, the third game of that, on national television in front of a national audience, you got freaking A-Rod and whoever else here calling the game and all that.

I saw Smoltz that night. Oh, Smoltz. I went to the game, and I saw Smoltz, and I was like, I passed right by him. You hate that guy. I don't hate him. You hate him. I don't like the way – It's so annoying the way he talks about modern baseball to where it's like, I passed right by him. You hate that guy. I don't hate him. You hate him. I don't like the way, I don't like, like, it's so annoying the way he talks about modern baseball to where it's like a crime to like the modern baseball. I'm not a big Smoltz guy.

But, and it was so annoying because the first time I heard him, I was like, oh my God, he's unbelievable. But I was so close to showing him my John Smoltz. I should have probably just done that. You should have. He probably would have enjoyed it. I do a really good John Smoltz. I should have probably. You should have. He probably would have enjoyed it. I do a really good John Smoltz. All Jack does for those walking around the office is comes in and just mimics different

windups. Yeah. I work on them all. I know. It's all about getting better. I'm pretty good at them. Listen, you can't get better unless you're working on them. The problem is you're 10,000 hours. You haven't perfected the lefty. I mean, you do a great right-handed Cliff Lee, but it's not Cliff Lee because it's right-handed. Yeah, my right-handed Cliff Lee and my right-handed Cole Hamels are probably

two of my best. They're amazing, but they're also not amazing. I know. I know. I'm not that talented, and I'm not that coordinated, but- At least you acknowledge it. If I had Smaltzy right in front of me, and he could have seen my Smaltzy- He probably would have been impressed.

He probably would have been impressed. Plus, he's right-handed, so he'd probably be more- Well, he probably would have chuckled and been like, beat it, nerd. Yeah. Or he'd have been like, what a weirdo. Security? Yeah. Security? You're not a real press member, are you? Not really. Alright. So back to the point.

National television, everybody's seeing that. There was no one in that ballpark for a quote-unquote pen and chase. I agree with you. I think perception matters. I don't think Gabe Gabler's back either. Look, I think that, I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be back. I've had more issues with Gabler than you. I think perception matters. I don't think Gabe Gabler's back either. Look, I think that I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be back. I've had more issues with Gabler than you. I personally, and it doesn't matter,

I wouldn't say hire and fire a manager over it, but I'm tired of his relentless positivity. It's enough. I'm sick of it. Did you see what he said after the game on Sunday? He's like, every game's game seven for now. It's like, shut up already, man. And more than that, I don't think, to your point, I don't think that's ever going to fly in this city.

Yeah, it's just a bad matchup. Exactly. You can't have a situation. No matter what, again, I don't think teams should make decisions based on public perception. But you can't have a manager that your city hates, like incessantly, like obsessively hates. Yeah, but they don't like him because he thinks progressively. Well, I think the analytics is more of a front for people who's not liking Gabe Kavler.

I don't. It's because of the way he talks and the way he acts. It's because the analytics are only an issue because of the way he explains them, because of the way he talks about them. Like if they just went out and used analytics and didn't talk about it, no one would be upset. It's like the Eagles.

Exactly. The Eagles won a freaking Super Bowl by being at the forefront of NFL analytic use, and everyone's like, yay, good job, Doug. It's your gut. Yes, it's your gut. It's your balls. No, it's not. It's all about how you package it.

Type, yeah. That's the point. It's all about how you package it. All right? It's all- Type. Yeah. Ah, see? Hey. That's the point. It's all about how you package it. So I'm with you. I think Gabe's probably gone. Yeah, I mean, it's Francona 2.0.

It's fine. Well, and I think the situation that could set- Ooh, look at you. It's going to be Francona 2.0. Wow. Not to worry about it. I don't know. I think Gabe's a really solid tactical manager. I still think he has a lot to learn in terms of the leader of men part.

Well, I think accountability and, you know, and presenting. Look, part of being a manager, like it or not, part of a manager's job is to be the public face of the franchise. You're the one who talks to me every freaking day before a game, after a game. You are out there. You are the one explaining your organizational ideology to the public, to the media. Hear from Klintac, what, once a month or something like that? So that is part of the job, and it's a part of the job that Gabe Kapler is horrendous at. Yeah, and I almost feel like this team would respond better to an old school manager.

Sure. Just looking at the players in the roster. It's a younger roster with a lot of those guys, which makes sense. Well, it's a younger roster, but it also has Harper and Real Muto. And Harper, in spring training, said to boa he was like you were one of the managers i wanted to play for growing up like so he just seems like he wants the older and i and i think middleton wants that here and i think middleton has his eye on joe madden and i literally that's where i was going to go and i i think what middleton is setting up is a situation where his general manager and

manager are going to be at odds i mean that is a situation where his general manager and manager are going to be at odds. I mean, that is a situation where Joe Maddon is not going to do exactly what Matt Klintec wants him to do if he disagrees with it. He already has the cachet. He doesn't have to. I agree with you. I think Middleton wants, whether it's Maddon, whether it's Joe Girardi, he wants someone in here where he's saying, all right, I got rid of Gabe Kabler. I'm bringing an adult in here, a guy who has won it before, a guy who knows how to win. And this guy's in charge now,

and that could create a friction type of situation with Klentak, whose guy is getting fired and someone who he has maybe no say in whether he comes in or not. If Middleton wants Madden or Girardi, whether Klentak wants him or not won't matter. Yep, it's going to be Middleton. And then when Joe Madden's here, he's going to bring in a Rolish Chapman up six runs in game six and then have to bring him back in game seven, not thinking ahead enough. He's overrated.

He's severely overrated. Here's the thing. I thought he was really good in Tampa. Yeah, that's because now everyone's caught up to everything he did. Yeah, it's true. It's true. So it is interesting. Maybe he needs to change his scenery. That's a tough place. Yeah, but he seems to run Yeah, it's true. It's true. So it is interesting. Maybe he needs to change his scenery.

That's a tough place. Yeah, but he seems to run his course everywhere he goes. He's been in two places. And look, I'll take the success for five years and then move on to another manager. I'm trying to think, who does he remind me of? Like La Russa? I mean, La Russa's the best manager of all time. Or at least of modern times, excuse me.

What about Bochy? Bochy's right there. He's one of them. Did you, excuse me. What about Bochy? Bochy's right there. He's one of them. Did you see that Bochy statue the other day? Bochy's right there. Oh, it was amazing. 1995, yeah.

That was amazing. Bochy's right there. I think La Russa's the best manager of my lifetime, if I had to put it in. So I'd say he's not as good as La Russa. But La Russa, who was the guy that wore out

his welcome and moved around like a good amount? La Russa didn't move out of around his welcome. Right, he was just only Oakland and St. Louis. And St. Louis. Yeah.inella should have moved out. Right, he was just only Oakland and St. Louis. Well, Lou Pinella. Right.

Lou Pinella was the exact type of guy. Come in. And Buck Showalter was the type of guy. Not great manager, but a similar type of guy. I could definitely see Middleton wanting Buck Showalter or Mike Socha, and let me just put this out there now. If they hire Mike Socha. Mike Socha's the ultimate no.

There is no bigger no on the planet than Mike Socha. I would rather me manage the thing. I don't want Buck Showalter, but Buck Showalter at least is open to new ways of thinking. Yeah, I don't hate Buck as much as I hate Mike Socha. He actually did a decent job in Baltimore until they really just gave up on the team and he gave up on them.

Yeah, besides not bringing in Britton. Yeah, that was a massive mistake. I mean, that was one of those, the not bringing in Britton. Everyone on the was a massive mistake. I mean, that was one of those, the not bringing in Britton. Everyone on the planet knew it was a horrible move. I was sitting at home like, uh, what are you doing? Yeah. Buck would not be high on my list, but I wouldn't, like Mike Socia, I would riot.

Yes. I would consider not being a fan of the Phillies anymore. Not quite, but I would be so mad if they brought Mike Socia. Oh, I would be devastated. He's my last choice. He's the last person on the list of available candidates. I'd rather they hired someone I've never heard of before.

Don't go trout with me. I know what you're doing here. Don't do it. No. Bring Mike home. No. Socia would be a total disaster. It's the worst possible hire

they could make. But I don't know. I like Gabe. I think Gabe's a good possible hire they could make. But I don't know. I like Gabe. I think Gabe's a good manager. I totally understand where people come from, where they don't think he's genuine, and maybe players don't buy into him. I just think this team, and I think Real Muto would respond better to an old school manager. I think Harper would respond better.

I think Hoskins would respond better. I think Kingery. Well, and especially coming off of Gabe. That's something we saw with Boa to charlie you know and we've seen it in the past in baseball history like when you go from uh uh and and gabe's on a hard ass but like a polar opposite where you go from someone who's super new age and wants to be your bud and all that and then you go to someone who's a lot more like all right i'm your manager you're the players like we'll get along but like what I say goes.

He's a baseball guy. Yeah, and again, to use the phrase before, the adult-in-the-room type of guy, I do think that matters. To quote Brett Brown, the James Butler, the adult-in-the-room, I think that matters in a clubhouse that is structured this way. Yeah, it's just a fascinating offseason. It's really fascinating. They have's just a fascinating offseason. It's really fascinating. They have to spend a lot of money.

Now they're letting go a lot of minor league instructors, coordinators, coaches. I mean, they're not letting go of our boy. No, obviously. Obviously the only good move they've made in the last three years.

Literally. How do you think that happened? Do you think someone like underneath Clint Tech, Clint Tech was like, yeah, yeah, sure, you could do it or something like that.

They have a smart person in the front office who certainly couldn't come from clinton um um but it's just i'm i'm i can't for as much as i love baseball and i'm i'm ready for the philly season to be over like i just i honestly i'm really sad coming from you because i feel like you're the last person oh dude i you that, it really is the end of the game. I've literally been dead inside since the Reds game. When I said that I felt like a deer that just got ran over, that's what I felt like. I haven't been able to really get up for a game since then.

That was it. That was it for me. They murdered me. They killed me. Phil Irvin. Shots to Phil Irvin um no idea who he was and like so getting through the playoffs playoffs are absolutely amazing i can't like baseball playoffs are just the most underrated things in sports and to get to the offseason

knowing that they have holes to fill they have they the moves they made this also in in this in season in trade deadline i thought were moves that i hope, and this is my hope, I don't know if it's a fact, but I hope that it was the analytics department seeing something and being able to find value where there wasn't perceived value. Mike Moran stinks, but he's been okay. Jared Hughes was bad.

He's been really good at the last couple of outings. I like Nick Vinson more than a lot, like almost everyone. He's like my guy. He's got a really good spin rate on his four-seam fastball. I know that sounds a lot like Gabe. Really. I like that idea. I love it.

He's got an elite spin on his four-seam fastball, and I'm intrigued by him. He needs to have another pitch, but I'm intrigued. But to find those guys cory dickerson jay bruce was a steal totally um i hope it is my hope that the analytics department is starting to find some underrated talent because everyone they brought in besides cory dickerson i think cory dickerson was always a good hitter just matter of saying he's basically wilson ramos like that's what he was sure um for them for them to be able to find underrated assets in-season was good. Now I want to see that translate over to the off-season.

Find me some kind of stud pitcher out of nowhere. Yes. Make an interesting move. There was no real interesting, like a J.D. Davis trade. Yeah, or like Charlie Morton last off. Charlie Morton signed for two years, $15 million. He was one of the best pitchers in the American League this year. Two years, $15 million.

Yeah, two years, $15 each. He was one of the best pitchers in the American League this year. On two years, $15 million. Yeah, two years, $15 each. He was one of the best pitchers in the American League this year. Point blank. I'm excited. I'm getting excited again. Oh, man. We're back. I can't wait.

I am excited for the offseason. I can't wait for our first emergency podcast. What is going to be our first emergency podcast? You know it's sad what it's going to be. The Gabe Firing podcast? Yeah, it's going to be that. That's going to be our first emergency podcast? You know it's sad what it's going to be. The Gabe Firing podcast? Yeah, it's going to be that. That's going to happen first. Then we will definitely probably be the only scouting director hire emergency podcast that will happen.

Give me two hours. That might be the longest podcast we've ever done. Block out that Studio 2 for two hours. I think we'll get a real read on how we should feel about the offseason from that move. Because you figure that move will happen sooner rather than later once the offseason begins. Certainly before any free agency stuff. This year we'll know that we're not doing any free agency or emergency podcast until February or March. Yeah.

So we won't freak out the way we did this time. We'll follow it all. We'll go crazy. But we'll know. This whole offseason is blue balls. and the actual season was blue balls. I know. So the scouting director hired, that's going to be a big deal. Do they go outside the organization?

Do they hire someone from a smart organization? It doesn't matter whether you've ever heard that guy's name before. You probably won't have. Maybe Jack has, but I bet most people won't. And it doesn't matter. It's just, is it the Phillies promoted X or Y from wherever in the organization? Don't do it. Or did the Phillies hire X or Y from the Rays or the Indians?

That's going to be a massive thing. Dude, if they, all right. There's only six teams they're allowed to hire from. Oh, I like this. There's only six teams. Okay. Rays, Indians. Rays, Indians, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers.

So that's five. That's an easy five. That's an easy five. I think, all right, there's got to be, who am I? Cubs, no. No. Padres have done well recently. Yeah, but they've been at the top of drafts.

I know, I'm with you. A's? Oh, A's is a good one. I mean, Billy Bean. Billy Bean? Still killing it, man. By the way Billy Bean and Andy McPhail

Have the same exact title Any difference there? Notice any difference? Alright so Anyone else? Any other obvious teams? The Heimbacks no I mean the Cardinals

Are usually running pretty well Yeah but then I know I'm saying no They've been jack squats since Jeff Lue now went to the Astros. I'm saying no. I know. No, I don't think there's any other. Oh, Red Sox? No.

Who's in charge even? I know. I mean, Mike Hazen's really smart. Okay, there's five. Okay, there's five. That's what I'm saying. There are five. There are five obvious ones.

To your Phillies. To your Phillies. You're only allowed to your Phillies. To your Phillies. You're only allowed to hire from these five teams. Done. Indians, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers, Rays. It is decided. You're welcome. You're welcome.

Maybe the sprinkle in the A's. Flash forward to Phillies promote. Phillies hire someone from the Orioles. I want to hear hire, not promote. Yeah, I could see it. Like Angels or something. Oh, I know him. He's my buddy.

If they hire someone from the Angels, fold the franchise. Fold the franchise. Seriously. I'm serious about that. All right. Notepad. I got nothing. Nothing.

I got nothing. I was very locked in on Saturday's game and then it happened again and I was just like are you kidding me I was the exact same way I was so locked in on that game I love watching Gabe Kaplan get kicked out of games

it's my favorite thing in the world and you have Harper calling him a sissy one thing I will say and whether it's to Gabe's credit or the players or whatever if nothing else, to take a positive away for a lot of

the guys who will be back next year, this team is not folded like they did last year. They're just not that good. They've showed us for the entire season they are a 500 mediocre baseball team. They haven't folded. At least they're playing hard. At least they're fighting. Literally, that's more than we could say

for them last year. Well, Klintzak did a good job finding culture, guys. He factored in the culture stuff this fighting, and literally that's more than we could say for them last year. Well, Klintak did a good job finding culture, guys. He factored in the culture stuff this year, and they are a likable team that doesn't have enough talent. That's about it. That's what they are. They're a likable team that just doesn't have enough talent. Likable minus Sean Rodriguez. I actually like him now. And Jason Vargas.

Vargy? Vargas is back, by the way. We can use the nickname again. You got a good stretcher on there? Yeah. Five runs. Jason Vargas. I mean, nine starts.

I'm not a big pitcher wins guys, but still has not won a game as a Philly. Derek Lowe bobblehead in here. Wow. Did someone get that for you? That fits me. People know you're a big Derek Lowe guy? Big Derek Lowe guy. All right.

Final question. Oh, wait. Hold on. Hold on. Speaking of Derek Lowe guy? Big Derek Lowe guy. All right, final question. Oh, wait, hold on. Hold on. Speaking of Derek Lowe, did you see that twins picture that has Derek Lowe-like sink, but it's 100 miles an hour? No. What's his name?

Watching it, it's like Trinan. It's like what Trinan can do. Oh, yeah. Like witch-like stuff. Yeah. It shouldn't even be it shouldn't even be legal what and now i forget his name was like it's like a really really cool name um as expected yeah it should be uh bruce brustar gratter oh i know him yeah i i own him in a dynasty

league i'm in but i had no idea that he came up yeah that's really funny he's nasty 100 miles an hour amazing numbers in the minds i've never seen him pitch before. I just knew. I own him in a Dynasty League team. Let me see this. Jack Sherry. Oh, buddy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, that is nasty. That's some unhittable type stuff right there. Brewstar Gratterall. Throws over 100. Phillies are not interested in that Glamtack era. That was an automatic no. Oh, to 100? No, I'm out. I don't even want to watch him pitch.

Right. I would also like to welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to the 2019 Philly season. Oh, no. Don't do it, Jeff. Did you see all those injuries last night? Oh, God. Now, imagine that, but for 162 games.

Oh, buddy. Imagine that. Is that your bundle of joy today? No. My final thought is the Arizona Fall League. There it is. There it is. I will be live streaming, probably live shooting.

It is now my playoffs. My playoffs is the Arizona Fall League. If I get Ammoniac, Boehm, Howard, like, going off in the Arizona Fall League, like, this is what separates the men from the boys. Like,

Alonzo last year in the Arizona Fall League went off. He had the tank shot off of Nate Pearson. Like, give me some of that. Give me some of that. You got Joey Bart and Alec Boehm on the same team. I can't wait. I cannot wait.

I cannot wait. I cannot wait. For as much as everyone's like, oh, the Phillies aren't going to make the playoffs, the Arizona Fall League is our playoffs. The Phillies have never sent anyone interesting to the Arizona Fall League. Literally ever. You are so jacked right now. I can't wait. That's the most excited you've been the entire podcast.

I've been depressed since the Red Series, okay? I need a little life. I don't even. I rate and review the podcast. All right. You're not going to hear it. Jack just edited something out. It's hilarious.

He's Fritz. I'm Seltzer. We'll see you later. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen. We have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names

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