High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Finally Beat the Braves and Can't Stop Thinking About Seranthony

Episode Date: May 24, 2018

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are in the studio today coming off of the exhilirating series win over the first place Atlanta Braves. No, they haven't stopped thinking about Seranthony Dominguez and his domination and no, Jack hasn't stopped thinking about Nick Pivetta. They also have an idea for High Hopes night at the Ballpark that they are working on. Rate and review us on itunes! 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, it is another edition of the High Hopes podcast. I am James Seltzer and with me, the man, the myth, legend, Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. I am James Seltzer, and with me, the man, the myth, the legend, the Idea Man himself, Mr. Jack Fritz. What's up, Fritz? Takes men? Idea men? Listen, I got a lot of ideas to bring up. I like this.

Idea men is good. We've got some things here in the High Hopes hopper that is... It's going to come out. It's going to be great. It's exciting. I'll tell you this. Jack threw some ideas at me before we got started here, and I loved every single one. It's very rare that you're like, oh, I'm so in on that.

Oh, I'm so in on that. I was in on all the ideas you brought. That is your brand, though. You're very in. I'm an in guy. You're in. You're always in. I'm a positive guy.

What can I say? Listen, it's time to bring back the feeling of being a Phillies fan. I agree. Even when the team was bad, these people were at the Phillies game, and it's time to bring those people back. We're going to get into that. That's what they call a tease in the radio business right there. I've been working here for a little bit.

I'm really excited about this idea because he said this idea to me, and I was like, yes, let's do it right now. We're talking about it on this show. So that's coming up but we we gotta start an actual awesome baseball team right now Jack sitting at 28 and 19 right now coming off a series win against the Braves taking two or three and um let's start there and we're gonna dive into all of it including the love of your life Sir Anthony Dominguez among other things no I have not stopped thinking about it.

That 99 mile per hour heater is just like playing in my head on a loop, on a loop. I mean, to bust that pitch out in that spot. On a 3-2 count. After Jorge stole a strike. He stole a strike on 3-1. And it comes back with 99 at the knees. That was some pitching

right there. So we'll get into this, Anthony. But just overall take, we just – look, the Phillies have struggled against the Braves so far this season. Braves come into town in first place. They still leave a half game up. But a really successful series, taking two at three. And in my mind, really kind of putting themselves on the map saying, hey, we're for real.

This is not, you know, fluky. This is not just an early season start. We can compete with the best teams in the league. What was your biggest takeaway from the series? Well, first off, I just love that Kapler came out yesterday before the game. And most managers definitely that deadbeat Pete McKinnon. Pete McKinnon would have been like, yeah, just another one of 162. Oh, absolutely.

And Gabe comes out, and he's like, this is a big game. This is a big game. It's a show-me game for the Braves against the Braves. And the fact that they went out and they responded, I mean, the pitching staff allowed three runs the entire series. Yeah, just the one game. Two shutouts. Which is wild.

But Gabe set the tone, and then Carlos Santana was the first one on the field yesterday taking fielding practice after, what, four straight games with an error. It felt like a heightened level of baseball. I think they were treating

it almost as if it was a playoff series, which I really liked. I love that. It's great. They went out and they responded. They held down. The Braves offense is legit. The best in the National League by far and other than maybe the Yankees and Red Sox and Astros, the best in baseball potentially.

The only guy that really, really killed them was Ozzie Albies who is... Killed everybody. I would need him on this team. He's 21 years old and he's got 14 overs and leading the league in doubles that's okay he's going to kill us for years the thought of him and Acuna is I don't like that

I mean for the next decade I don't like that I know and I don't like it one bit they're not going anywhere I am worried about the Braves for the future they feel just like the Celtics do well it's the competing rebuilds and I think both teams had a schedule.

I think both teams weren't expecting to compete this year. I think it was more a 2019 and beyond type of rebuild for both these teams. And the young guys are coming up and playing well, and you just can't hold them back. Celtics are – I almost think the Braves are kind of a better comp for the Sixers with the really high-end young talent who are just coming up and just way ahead of their years

in terms of their talent. And we could be the Celtics and actually win the series. How about that? But look, I totally agree with everything you said. It felt like for the first time in a long, long time in this city, that series felt like meaningful baseball.

Like, these games matter, not just to us, not just to this fan base, these games matter to Major League Baseball. It is part of the map of Major League Baseball of the 2018 season. They were the lead stories on MLB Network. And they should be! And MLB Tonight, leading up to the game, it was like, Phil's Braves,

this is the series to watch, series to pay attention to. It's awesome! Like, ah! I've been waiting for that for six years me too and we'll get into that pavetta in just a little bit because i know that that i could just say jack it go and we could spend the next hour with you just gushing about nick pavetta but it just feels good to be right and and and hell yeah like because you were all on pavetta last year when when he was stinking it up you're like no no no he's good. He's good. He's got stuff. Trust me. I will give you all the credit in the world on that.

First, though, let's go back to yesterday and to a guy that they brought in here for these types of series, for these types of games. Jake Arrieta, I thought that was such a big moment. 1-1 in the series.

You've lost three straight series to the Braves. You're at home. They needed to win that series. Again, a game in May can't be that important, but this was a series. It was such an important game to win. And Arrieta went out,

and he did exactly what they signed him to do. He put them on his back and said, we're not losing while I'm on the hill today. What were your impressions? It was a big bounce-back start after St. Louis. He was bad in St. Louis. And, like, I went on the podcast, the solo pod, and I was like, I've been frustrated with Arrieta the last couple of starts.

Just because, man, just locate your fastball. That's the key to everything with him is locating his fastball. And I get frustrated when a guy who's been around as long as he has just doesn't locate it. But I think that's just me learning how to watch Arrieta on a night in, night out basis. That's a good point. But the guy is a.84 ERA at home.

Like, that's pretty ridiculous. That's absurd. That's just the season. But I think overall, I think they said on the broadcast last night, overall his ERA at home is.71 at Citizens Bank Park. Like, not just this year. This year it's.84. Right, career ERA at Citizens Bank Park.

Right. It was a really big moment for him. Right, career ERA at Citizens Bank Park. Right. It was a really big moment for him. I think it was a big moment for the clubhouse, too, because Pavetta was starting to pitch well. Velasco was starting to pitch well. And everyone, myself included, started to forget about Jake Arrieta.

And this was the moment where he's like, guys, I got this. Get on my back. I'll lead you to the promised land. And now those guys are in the locker room. We're like, we're not as good as him yet. But I think it was just a big moment for the locker room coming together-wise, just saying, like, that's a guy that I can watch him prepare and know that he's going to go out there every fifth day and give it what he's got.

And last night, it was a huge moment for him, a huge game, and just respect to Jake Arians. Yeah. He used the last episode of High Hopes as motivation. Well, obviously he did. That's all he does. I believe the only thing he listens to to get pumped up for games. But I think you also made a great point there about it being big for the team.

Because Arieta is the only guy here with that sort of status. He's the only guy here who has won a Cy Young award, who has won a World Series, pitched in World Series, been a starter in World Series games, all that type of stuff. Santana obviously played in the World Series, but the Indians didn't win it. But Arrieta is a guy who, and we heard it, Nola's been on WIP a couple times this week, and he's talked about it. Everyone that you hear about, Velasquez talked about it when he was on the air, what it's like to have that guy come into this staff and how much that means. And to see him in that spot go out and do that, I think that only heightens that.

It only adds to that. So I'm with you, Andre. The competitiveness. Just the competitiveness. Yeah, exactly. The guy who wants the ball in that spot. The guy who's like, I'm going out there. I'm winning tonight.

And I thought Pavetta did a really, really nice job of that. I was about to get there, yeah. On the first game. And not that I want to gush about Pavetta. Just kidding. I totally want to gush about Pavetta. You totally. But you could sense that Pavetta was like, this is my moment.

And Pivetta's always been an animated pitcher. Oh, I love that about him. I know. I know. It's awesome. He's got like a dog kind of mentality out there, you know? I'm not going to say it. I've been sitting on a take that I'm waiting to unleash.

I have a take for you later, too, by the way. But it's nothing to do with the Phillies. It's a baseball take. But we'll get to the takes. But Pivetta, I thought he was really into it. He knew it was a big moment for the team. And he went out there and he shined. And I think that's directly from Arrieta.

Because I could kind of see Velasquez and Pavetta and Eflin kind of like needling Arrieta. Like, hey, old man, you going to catch up to us or whatever? Yeah, sure. And yesterday he went out there and shoved. And I also, what I loved, and look, I think the, not, old man, you going to catch up to us or whatever? Yeah, sure. And yesterday he went out there and shoved. And I also, what I loved, and look, I think the not striking guys out thing is so overrated. Look, you need, and that's what we saw. Well, that's what I'm saying. That's what we saw yesterday.

When he needs the strikeouts, they're still there for him. In a sense, but he also needs them to get out of, like when he gets into trouble, he needs to be able to strike guys out. Which we saw, and then obviously, you know. And the Cardinals started, he just didn't have it. He just didn't have it. And that is a fair point, but I do, I think that it is somewhat overrated in the sense that if you can be efficient with your pitches and can, you know, induce weak contact, which that was the problem in St. Louis.

Balls were getting hit hard on him. But if you can induce weak contact, you don't have to have the strikeouts. You just need to be able to get them when you need them. he was able to do that yesterday but um he was 92 to 94 too oh yeah which was great and it is a good point he has looked much better at home just consistently you think about all his rough starts the miami start was rough that yeah the pirate start was the best start we've seen i mean that was that was vintage 2015 jay geta there. But, yeah, I'm with you there. And, look, again, just a monster series for them to win. And Pavetta, just on Pavetta, man, he's a lot better than I thought.

All the props because you called this last year. If we had only had the High Hopes podcast during last season, this take would be everywhere. But you were all on him. And you said, I love the motion. I love the stuff. I love the stuff. I love the demeanor. And that's what I love.

I love this kid's demeanor. Like he looks like a pitcher out there. He looks like a guy who is just so intense and he fights through tough spots. I love that he fights. He's not one of those guys who goes on tilt like Vincent Velasquez, who when he gets into a tough spot,

granted Velasquez, those three strikeouts with the base load the other night was nice to see. He's developing. He's developing. I agree. Yeah, that's why I wanted to kind of table that. But Pavetta's ability to kind of put his head down in tough spots and work his way through and get out of tough spots has been the thing that's impressed me the most about him this

year. Yeah, it's a lot like watching high school fritz. has been the thing that's impressed me the most about him this year. Yeah, it's a lot like watching high school fritz. It's like a mirror image when I see the intensity, the fashion. But seriously. The stuff, obviously, right? Of course.

But if you take out the national start, I know you can't take out starts. His ERA is 2.25. Oh, yeah, no, it's one bad start. Like, you know, obviously a couple so-so starts, but only one time he got rocked. Yeah. And I thought his curveball took some steps back the last couple starts. It's been back the last two. Definitely his curveball the other day was just disgusting. He's starting to love his changeup, which if he develops his changeup, it's just game over.

It's game over. He threw three straight changeups, and I was mad at him because, like, what are you doing that for? And then finally the one got rocked to, like, the wall. But, listen, I'd be lying if I said that I haven't been thinking about playoff Pavetta. And, like, I kind of want Pavetta to start the first wildcard game. Just start the wildcard game.

The play-in game? Come on! Play-in game Pavetta! Can you imagine? And, look, I mean... But, you know, I mean, but you know what? I love the heart of your point because you're right. He is like Arrieta in that way. He has that feel of someone who is intense and who is going to want the ball in a big spot. I said this last year is that he looks like 2013 Arrieta.

Yeah, he does. Before he blew up. He really does. The delivery is even so similar too. But easier. Easier. Like Arrieta labors. When you watch Arrieta when he's bad

like the Cardinals game, very laboring. Pavetta's just free and easy. A little crossfire even though not as much this year. His mechanics basically just from mechanic wise, they're just much more sound.

They're much more repeatable. Everything. That leads me to a perfect question because we're starting to see a lot and perfect question for you as someone who pitched at a high level. Sort of. You know, look at this.

More than most. I'm trying to give you compliments now, and you go, see, it's funny because you'll say them, but then when someone else says it, you're like, nah. But we're starting to see a little bit of the pieces coming out, and we're starting to see more people say it and starting to say, hey, we should be talking about the job that Rick Kranitz is doing here. For real. For real.

Like, and I'm guilty of it. I think we're all good. We haven't mentioned his name nearly enough on this podcast. As someone who understands the role of a pitching coach, all that type of stuff, I think it's hard for the average fan to really know what that guy does. And obviously, you're not in there. You're not seeing Kranitz work with them and stuff. But the effect that Rick Kranitz has had had on this staff what do you make of it well i remember when he was

announced i was actually mad i think we all were we're like the assistant guy like okay he's the assistant pitching coach last year and they waited a month after they signed capler to to do it so it felt like they were looking for someone else and and it was the only one of them that wasn't a big announcement you know i mean it was like oh we got them that wasn't a big announcement. You know what I mean? It was like, oh, we got John Maley. Oh, we got Rob Thompson. But then it's like, who's the pitching coach? If you look on the site, it says the pitching coach is Rick Krantz. I never even heard anything about it.

I had to look on the Philly site to find out who their pitching coach was. I never even heard it from them. Yeah, I know. And look at us. Because we were wrong about Rick Krantz. Yes. He's been just really good, and he talked to the guys, and they just really trust him.

Pavetta's taken a really, really good step forward. What I didn't like about him last year, and this is going to get inside pitching, but when he dropped down your hands, he was changing his hand motion a lot, whereas now he's just straightforward, and it's just a much simpler mechanics. But in games, it's kind of tough to see what a pitching coach

does because every time they come out there it's pretty much always first strikes right yeah that's what it always is um but i mean my pitching coach in college my sophomore year he was the first one that really brought the whole um first guy out of the pen thing to my to my eyes and it was wild because i was like this actually makes a lot of sense and our best reliever was our closer the year before and I think he was I think he's top five in the league and saves he became our first guy out of the pen and it just changed our games it was a our games got way shorter so the first time I really saw it and then that year was the year that Andrew Miller was unleashed in this role sure and I was like listen coach

you're pretty good yeah Terry Francona light over here. Yeah. And, and, and Kranitz, I think has done a good job of knowing which guys to use in which situation. I think he's, I think he's done a good job with the numbers really. Cause they, they know who's like, like if Ramos slider works against this guy, if, if, if it's a great point, Garcia's stuff, we don't see if Garcia's splitter works against this guy. Uh, sir, Anthony, just come in and do you. Yeah, just be you. I got nothing to say to you, man.

You're perfect. I think what Krantz has done for the most part has been great is he's been a great communicator, and I think what he does really well is uses the numbers to his advantage. They don't always go with what the numbers say because Sir Anthony should not have been there against Freddie Freeman. Yeah, no. Especially when you have Adam Morgan waiting to go. Right, who owns him. Owns him.

I think the guys just trust him. Every time I listen to them talk about it, they call him Cranny. I love that. Yeah, it's been good. He's been really impressive. Velasquez, I think he's – I think Kranz has changed Velasquez's mentality. I mean, Velasquez, during the Giants game, was saying, I just changed my mentality and started saying, F it.

Which is awesome. That's what we always ask for. No, I know. Trust your stuff. And it's weird because you would think that a pitcher can always be in the F it mentality, but it's just not realistic. They're human beings. You get in your head.

You overthink things. It's who we are. Unless if you're Max Scherzer. Like somehow Max Scherzer is always in the F it mode, which he's just a crazy person. But Velasquez is in a really nice stretch of that. I think Kranitz has done a really good job of mostly communicating, and I think he just has elevated these guys' mentalities. Yeah, I think that's a great point, and I'm happy you brought up that.

Actually, hold on, one more. Yeah, yeah, sure. One more that I forgot about. Nola's talked about it a lot, Velasquez has talked about it a lot, and so has Vavetta, is that they noticed, Kranitz noticed, that last year they weren't using their legs enough. And now they're all using their legs more. It's huge.

And their velocity has stayed up or even gone up a little bit early in games and maintained throughout the game. So the nice thing about Velasquez right now is he's still hitting 96 in the sixth, which you've never really seen from him. Pavetta all throughout his starts using more and more legs and he is hitting 97 uh noel is up to 96 and no we keep talking about it like whoa velocia whoa velocia affluent arietta like all of them affluent uh um i think the legs thing is a great point because i don't think the average baseball fan realizes how crucial a pitcher's legs are to them.

Most important. That's what Roger Clemens always used to say. He's like, I don't work out on my arm, I work out on my lower body. He's like, all of it. That's all I do. Yeah, after he injects himself. Exactly. It worked, right? By the way, don't tell 12-year-old Jack that Roger Clemens is a pitcher. I was watching a CBS interview and my dad was saying, oh, he's lying. I'm like,

I think it was the first time I was like, shut up, dad. Nuh-uh. He's not lying. It's a rocket. It's a rocket. I love it, I think it was the first time I was like, shut up, dad. Nuh-uh. He's not lying. It's a rocket. It's a rocket. I love it. I was at his first 20-strikeout game. Now, that's one to write home about. It was.

If I were not five years old or whatever and I remembered it better, it would be a lot cooler, but still cool to say. I would say so. But I'm really happy you brought up the point about the use of statistics there, and we've seen that a few times where this staff as a whole has decided to not just follow the numbers like everyone thought they're gonna do it's your gut gabe and he's done it and i think that he deserves a little credit for that because people have given him so much crap for saying he's never gonna do that it's always the numbers he's done that multiple times especially of late where he said you know i don't

care what the numbers say this is my feel, and that's been fun to watch. Yeah. Yeah, it's just that it's funny because when it works out, it's always the feel. And when it, this is gay though, like when it works out, it's always the feel. When it doesn't work out, it's like, well, the numbers. Yeah, no, it's a nice

excuse there, sure. I know. He's so smart with the media. He's genius. Dude, I mean, sending Angela flowers after he had his, like, that is such a subtle, brilliant thing to do. Because Angelo is going to do what he's going to do. But, like, even if it's the tiniest little bit he takes off the top, you know what I mean? Contributing to Howard Eskin's bike thing.

Like, all that stuff. Like, that was just really second level type of stuff that I've never seen another man do. Now he just has to endorse the High Hopes podcast. We're waiting for it, Gabe. Gabe, come on. Just come on. You're back before you got here. Fritz and I were sitting here going, hire Gabe Kapler.

We need you. I think we're the only ones. We were the only ones. So, Gabe, we love you. Whenever you want to come on and hang out at High Hopes, you're an honored guest. I will even work out. Yeah. I would come out of working out retirement for you, Gabe Gabler.

But I think that's been interesting. We've belabored it way too long. We've been talking pitching. We've been talking bullpen. We've been talking just Sir Anthony. Sir Anthony. Sir Anthony. Listen, listen.

I don't know. Real quick, let me set this up with you. My phone has been broken for three days, and my phone starts working working this morning and the first text i get from fritz is have you stopped thinking about sir anthony dominguez because i haven't and that was it yeah i i haven't stopped thinking about him just like and i wrote an article this week on wip about how he should be the fireman and and through two games it's been brilliant it's been been perfect. Listen, we on the High Host podcast and on the WIP evening show do not endorse Sir Anthony Dominguez to be the closer. We want Sir Anthony Dominguez to be our 7th inning guy, our 8th inning guy,

multi-inning, and then close. It's a whatever inning you need him guy. Right. So, for example, honestly, it was so perfect to show people what we were talking about because against the Braves Monday and against the Braves last night, he came in, well, first last night it was second and third. It wasn't the top of the order. But the eighth inning, he faced Albies, Acuna, and Freeman again,

as well as Monday night. And that's the important part of the game. You don't want Hector Neris in that situation in the eighth inning just so you can hope you can use Sir Anthony in the ninth inning. Absolutely. You have to use your guy at the time of the crux of the game. Yep. And Sir Anthony has come in to these ridiculous situations

for a guy who's been up here for 17 days. It's unreal. Been calm, cool, collected, 99, cutters. He looks like, like, I don't know what young Mariano Rivera looked like, but it had to be this. I do. It had to be this. Look, it's similar.

Like, at least he's not. Young Mo was pretty amazing on that, like, 95 team when Wetland was the closer, or 96 or whatever it was, when Wetland was the closer, and Mo was that guy. He was the two-inning guy, and he was everything and more. Well, Sir Anthony hasn't had a lot of run yet. Yeah, no, and look, again, I think history also changes your view. It's hard to say anything was ever better than Mariano Rivera. No, I mean, Mariano's going to stand the test of time.

Right. I don't think we'll ever see a closer better than him. Not just that. I mean, it is just a tangent. The most amazing thing ever that he is the greatest reliever of all time and he had one pitch. It is the most amazing thing ever. I think what's more amazing is that more people have walked on the moon

that have scored on him in the postseason. Wow. That's a really fun stat. That's an insane stat. That's an insane stat. Honestly, I don't want to throw the Moe comparison because it's almost not fair. It's not fair. He looks like a shorter Kenley Jansen.

That's a great comparison. Just from the stuff, it cuts at 98 just like Jansen. That's a great comparison. Just from the stuff. It cuts at 98, just like Jansen's does. It's just the demeanor. Also, he's a great kid. If you've heard any of his interviews. He's fun. He's just like, yeah, man, thanks. This is awesome.

Even though it's broken English, but it's still like, it's like watching Dario Sarge. Watching Dario Sarge is like the European guy that doesn't quite get the American stuff. Yeah, sure. I think it's hilarious. And Sir Anthony kind of has the same thing. But just comes in, 98.

Last night is a 3-1 count in the biggest spot of the game. He gets a called strike on the outside corner and then blows 99 by a guy. It was such a great pitch in that spot. It was such a great pitch. I can't believe that they already trust him this much, but adding it... That's what I'm... He's their number one reliever.

Like, however you figure it out, with clothes or all that stuff, he is the guy that Gabe trusts most already. Period. Yeah, and he's just... Day one, he's the best reliever on the team, comes up here, and just the fact that he can go out there,

face the best part of a lineup, and shut that down really quickly, like, he's the fireman. And adding that to this bullpen that's already ridiculously talented, it's just like he's such a weapon. He's an X factor. He's going to be, down the stretch, we're going to get a heavy dose of Sir Anthony. And the fact that he's a former starter.

He's huge. His arms already built up. He's used to this. It's a Josh Hader type thing. It's Josh Hader. It's Andrew Miller. It's Archie Bradley. It's all those guys.

All these failed starters. Listen, I have been searching for that guy for about three years. That's all you talk about. I mean, the amount of times I've heard you say Archie Bradley to me, it's more than any non-Philly athlete on the planet you have said, Archie Bradley, I want an Archie Bradley, I need an Archie Bradley. By the way, Josh Hader is on face for 200 strikeouts in 98 minutes. Josh Hader has a 57% strikeout rate.

It's impossible. Like, it is not, it doesn't seem possible what that guy is doing. He might be better than Andrew Miller. He might, well, right now he certainly is. I mean, better than Miller with that run. And just to your point there, like, yes, like, to all the people out there who maybe don't get it or whatever or aren't quite on the, Sir Anthony Dominguez should be the high leverage guy rather than the closer guy.

Jack is a trillion percent right on this. Like you saw the value of that. What Terry Francona did with the Indians in the playoffs was, in my opinion, the best baseball managing job I've ever seen. And they obviously didn't win. But the way he – he brought Miller out in the fourth inning of a game. He brought him out in the ninth inning. He brought him out in the fourth inning of a game, brought him out in the ninth inning, brought him out in the sixth inning,

it didn't matter. Well, remember, along with that, Joe Girardi brought out Chad Green in the wild card game last year in the second inning. Yep. And they won that game. They won that game. He pitched, what, four innings that night, I think? Yeah.

It was amazing. He was the reason they won. He kept them in the game. Kept them right in the game. Yeah. Having that guy, it just changes the dynamic of the whole bullpen. And to your point, it is so silly to say, hey, let's wait for a three-run or less lead in the ninth inning to use our best pitcher.

It's stupid. It's antithetical. It is malpractice, and I'm so happy that Gabe sees that, and especially a guy who can go multiple innings. That's the other thing. You wait for the closer spot. That's what's been interesting with haters. They're getting him some saves by letting can go multiple innings. That's the other thing. You wait for the closer spot. That's what's been interesting with Hader is they're getting him some saves by letting him go two innings at the end of games. I thought he was about to go three last night. Me too.

Sir Anthony. If his spot wasn't up in the order, I think he would have let him go. I think he might have if it weren't a close game too. Six pitches in the end. Yeah, no. I'm with you. Obviously, Hector Neris is not the answer. He's not the answer. Very clearly. You can go find Zach Britton. You want to sign him in the offseason?

Sure. Go get a closer. Go trade for Kelvin Herrera or someone like Brad Hand, someone who's not going to cost a ton of money, who's on a team that has no chance. Did you see the sliders that Brad Hand threw? Brad Hand's awesome. I don't think they trade Brad Hand,

but I always throw his name in when I'm talking about this just because I really would love that Brad Hand. He'd be sweet. And leave Sir Anthony. It's a waste. They trade Brad Ham, but I always throw his name in when I'm talking about this just because I really would love to have Brad Ham here. Oh, he'd be sweet. And leave Sir Anthony. It's a waste. He's way too valuable in the high leverage. Listen, this is just us trying to explain it to people that maybe don't understand what we're talking about.

But the thing is is that Gabe knows. Gabe knows. They all know. And you'll see this more and more as the season goes on. Totally agree. And you'll see it more and more throughout baseball. We're already starting to see that since Tito kind of changed the model.

He changed baseball. Yeah, he really did. And I think to your point too as well there that when you look at the situation, look, Neres is not the guy. Just because we're saying we want Sir Anthony to be the kind of tool that you can use for any different thing,

the Swiss army knife of the bullpen in that way in the most important spots, that doesn't mean we're not saying we don't want them to find a closer. Like, I want someone who I feel confident in handling that role. I think it's important to have a guy you trust in that spot. It's just not important enough to take all the downside of moving Sir Anthony out of the role that he's in right now. Yeah, and guess what? Like, if it calls for it, Sir Anthony's going to close games.

If a guy pitches eight innings or whatever and the game gets tight, I mean, Sir Anthony's going to be there in the ninth inning. And he can close games if he needs to. If you need him, if it's a 2-1 game and it's a crucial game and you've got the ninth inning, of course. Yes, he's there. That's the point. You can use him wherever.

The most important high-leverage spot of the game, that's where he should be used. So let me ask you this, and I've been thinking about this for the last couple days. Let's say the eighth inning, 2-1 game, and it's 7-8-9 up. I think I would use someone else and then leave Sir Anthony. Have him for the top?

Well, I mean, why not have him? Or both. Or if they get on base, like 7-8 get on base, 9 is up, or no, like 7 gets on base. Well, it's a question of how many innings, like if he's pitched the night before or whatever no like like seven gets on base well it's a question of how many innings like if he's pitched the night before or whatever stuff like that because i think normally you say screw it i'm leaving him at eight nine go get three outs and go face the top of the order he could pitch the he could finish the eighth and then close the night sure but i i'm

just wondering how how matchup dependent yeah yeah i think it's interesting when also you could look at it and say like and in that case i think you know you probably would if you think hey you know ramos can get the 789 guy out that's fine and then bring sir and so i'm with you i think the key to this whole discussion is it is correct for gabe to be flexible with his role and not kind of pigeonhole him in that closer role their bullpen is ridiculous it's exciting man i mean ramos luis garcia all legit high high really good weapons. Adam Morgan is, I can't believe how good he is.

One of the most surprising things that has happened in my time as a Philly sports fan is Adam Morgan being used. He was the punchline of every joke. I hated him. We all did. I hated him.

And he is such a valuable reliever. The only lefty you can really count on on this team. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He is a really valuable piece. I feel Brad Hank is here. Yeah, exactly. See? Good can really count on on this team. He is a really valuable piece. I feel Brad Hank is here. Yeah, exactly. See?

Good job by you, Fritzy. But, yeah, no, I've been really impressed. Like you said, Arano. I mean, granted, hurt for a little bit, but that's another guy where you're like, whoa, he's like the fifth, sixth guy in the bullpen. Yeah, they brought him out in the fifth the other night. Yep. And he got out of a tough spot.

That was a big spot for him to come in when Velasquez struggled. So, yeah, I'm with you 100%. It's exciting. The bullpen, we don't talk about enough what a major factor that could be, especially come the playoffs. We've all seen the last few years how crucial that part of the game can be.

And especially once Tommy Hunter gets going. I know everyone's kind of down on him a little bit, but he's also, this is basically his spring training, so he's still feeling things out. He's a really good weapon against left-handed hitters. He'll figure it out. I'm very confident in Tommy Hunter. It's basically his extended spring training right now. I couldn't agree more. All right. Covered the pitching staff pretty in-depth here. Just a bit.

Basically the whole podcast. Well, I mean, they allowed three runs against the best offense in the NL. And look, and not just that, that's the thing. The reason they are 28-19 right now is because their pitching has been awesome. Yeah. That is the reason they're a good team right now, and that's kind of where I'm going. Outside of Odubo Herrera, literally no one on this team,

Cesar has had some nice weeks here and there. You know, he's been good, better than I expected. Reeves had a nice couple weeks to start the season. Now he's in a real funk. Are you worried at all about the offense or do you feel like that they're going to work through these things and they're going to be fine from an offensive perspective?

I actually think last night was a really positive offensive game just from the swings I saw. Granted, the Altair ball didn't go out, but it was smoked. Smoked it. Smoked to the wall. And, like, you can't really justify starting Nick Williams. I mean, Nick Williams is –

I'm with you. No, no, no. Especially as a weapon. He is a pinch hitter on top of everything. Right. Like, Gabe is like, listen, buddy, I can't really play you because we need you in the eighth. Yes. And also, it's like whenever I start you, you suck.

And then you come through with monster pinchions every time I put you in there. Like, sorry, bro, you're doing it to yourself. Yeah, I know. Just stop being good as a pensioner. Last night was a really positive game. I thought Hoskins had a really, really good game last night. I know it didn't really translate to the box score, but if you watch the at-bats, he had two classic Reese at-bats.

Yeah, that walk was a really good at-bat. And that's what we haven't seen in this little slump he's been in, which has been very frustrating. But, of course, not giving up. He's going to be fine. 96 games, folks. Please. He's played 96 games in the major leagues.

We talk about him like he's a 20-year veteran or whatever. It's crazy. Inevitably, he's going to struggle. It's all fine. Everybody does. Last night was a really, really positive sign. He smoked the ball the other way. He just got a little bit underneath.

But the approach is what I needed to see from him because that's what's been so frustrating is even when he struggled last year during the end of the season, he was still walking. He was still seeing good pitches. Totally. He was letting balls go in the dirt. This year this little slump he's been in, cutters in the outside corner he's still swinging at, even

though they're a foot outside, which has been something I never thought I'd see from him. But it's fine. He's growing. And last night I think you see him coming out of the slump a little bit. Showing a lot of chest last night. His chest was, no, I mean like physically. I mean like literally showing chest. Like showing some serious chest. I didn't notice the chest there.

I wasn't paying attention to his chest. Oh, man, like usually he's buttoned to the top last night. He's usually buttoned up. I didn't notice. He let it flow. It looked like Harper. I like that. Loosen up a little bit, Reece.

Loosen it up, buddy. Have a little fun out there brother kingery's been like uh just it's been dreadful watching scott king tough to watch however however what he's done the last two nights i think is important for his growth because last night two nights ago he started swinging the first pitch a little bit more and last night he swung at the first pitch, I think once, and Acuna made the great diving catch and that stunk. But he stunk two balls in two straight nights that were both caught, which, you know, water will find its level.

Kingery is a guy, throughout his minor league career, never really walked. His OBP wasn't great because he was an aggressive hitter. And out of eye contact, right? Right. And I think they tried to change that too much and it got him out of his own comfort zone. I think you're absolutely right. By kind of pigeonholing him into the team approach that we've seen,

it took away what he does best. And you can't do that with every single player. It's just not possible. It's not baseball. And I like the whole working down pitchers thing, but also bullpens are really good now. Well, that's kind of the different thing about it, right? It's like sometimes you don't want to get to the bullpen at times.

Why am I going to face this guy who's fresh, who throws 99 and has a nasty singer? Or I can face Trevor Williams or Chad Chewell or whatever. Attacking the Pirates starters. I don't know. They were the first two that popped in my head for some reason. It was so random that I went both Pirates. But you know what I mean. Were you watching that Reds?

Yeah. I was watching a lot of Red Pirates, but still.ven brault um uh no it's just like it's just like uh just jump on a pitcher yeah and i think that's what kingery was so good at in minor leagues and the last couple nights i've been encouraged by that even hoskins you know he was letting he was letting strikes go right down the middle yeah and just jump on those pitches like you have a great approach a great two-strike approach but to get out of this slump start swinging earlier and counts yeah i i think you're absolutely right. And look, a lot of hitters have all kinds of things that they can do

to get out of funks, and that could be one, swinging earlier in counts, trying to drive the ball to the opposite field, whatever, opening up your stands, closing up your stands, whatever it is, do something a little bit to try and just get going a little bit. But either way, 96 games, and they've been, for the most part, a really impressive 96 games. It takes time. Baseball is a game of adjustments.

Even Mike Trout, when he first came up, struggled and then went back down to the minors. Mickey Mantle. Then got pulled up and has never struggled again, but that's besides the point. Just like Mickey Mantle. Just like Mickey Mantle. Basically, we're saying Reese Hoskins is Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle.

Well, they didn't send him down, so he's not as bad as those two. See, look at that. See? Look at that. See? Look at this. This is genius. And Franco, really, really, like I was so mad at him for the Cardinals series and the first two games of this series. And then he had a great game.

Dude, just stop. Just stop opening up. It's crazy, too. Just stop opening up. It's such a simple thing. It's infuriating. He has to know that that's when he's bad. He's only really, really bad on playable when he's opening up it's such a simple thing it's it's in fear if you know like he has to know that that's when he's bad like he's only really really bad on playable when he's opening up like i don't know if he needs to change his foot so he's like turning in and keeping his clothes but last night however

it was a really really good uh yeah that one single he had just really going with the pitch and kind of hitting up the middle of the field last night was when they doubled off the wall well you two hits last night did he have two hits oh he did have two hits yeah the the double was with the pitch and kind of hit up the middle of the field. Last night was the one they doubled off the wall. Well, he had two hits last night. Did he have two hits? Oh, he did have two hits. Yeah. The double was great, but that single was a really nice piece of hitting because it was a spot where he usually opens up in that spot,

and he kind of did, but he was able to adjust and get the bat on the ball and go with the pitch, which is what you don't see. I thought he was going to swing right through it, and I was impressed. After the double, how worried were you for the how does it feel to be dead wrong about that's the funny thing is that literally i've gotten so many tweeter tweets and texts from jack fritz every time so like now it's the point where it doesn't matter what michael franco does like no matter what i just assume that that text or tweet is coming also like like listen he's a good defender and

like that's the thing he's a very good defense like a very sure-handed defender and he makes some tough play as i think what it is is he doesn't look like he's like big he's a great range no and he also like he doesn't move well like fluidly like he kind of looks like he's like hunkering around but he makes great plays i'm, man. He's got a cannon of an arm. He's almost always just right on point with the throws. I've been really impressed with Bronco. Yeah, the defense has been pretty frustrating the last couple nights. Yeah. It's also baseball.

It's baseball. Kingery can't play short. He's bad at shorts up. I'm with you. I'd rather have Flormone out there defensively, and he's not a superstar there either. Well, we've seen Gay do that late in games. Yeah, and it makes sense. I'm with you.

Kingery, and he's really bad at covering second base. In any situation when he's playing shortstop, he does a terrible job in any situation, whether it's double plays, whether it's covering second on throws from Alfaro. I don't know why, but for some reason, he really struggles with the mechanics of covering second base from the shortstop position.

It's a weird thing. Yeah, shortstop's different, for sure. It's different, exactly. And the angles are different. The way you approach is different. But he's played shortstop before. You would think that he should be much better at it. But I'm with you.

When he's playing shortstop, he has been disappointing. I don't know what they're going to do. Because he's a second baseman. He's a second baseman. Cesar's really good. Cesar's really good. Cesar's turned 28 yesterday. Yeah, dude, I've said this multiple times.

The players surprise me the most. No, I know. But like, Kingery's not a shortstop. He's not a third base. Nope. Like, are they just going to move Cesar because they gave Kingery the contract? They almost have to, right? Yeah, eventually they do.

You made the bet on Kingery. And then what if they go draft your boy Nick Madrigal, and all of a sudden it's like a second base. Yeah. He's a little guy, too. I didn't realize how little he is. The little guy. Are we talking market inefficiencies? Are we talking market inefficiencies?

I actually have a take on market inefficiencies. That's where I was going to go. Because short players work. Okay. Look at the short players. I mean, Kingery. Altuve. Altuve.

Albies. Kingery. Dustin Pedroia. Short guys win. I like this. I mean, Magical's hit at every level. Like he's, you know, everywhere you see him, you know, the Team USA, all the type of stuff he's done, he has hit everywhere he's been.

So you feel good about that. Contact rate is incredibly high. Let me speak directly into the mic. He's batting.458 this year. He's batting.458 this year. He's batting.458 this year at the over.500 OBP. No, he absolutely breaks, and the problem is that he's 5'7". Yeah. He's little. He looks little.

Oh, he's- And it's like when you're at that spot in the draft, what, third pick or whatever, it's just tough, man. It's tough to take the load out of there. No, I know, but he's the best third in the draft. No, and look, I want them to take him. I'm happy with that. They're going to take Baum. Yeah, well, I think It's tough to take DeLongo in there. No, I know, but he's the best hitter in the draft. No, and look, I want them to take him. I'm happy with that. They're going to take Baum.

Yeah, well, I think they're going to take a pitcher. I would rather they take a hitter. And the problem is it's just him and Swaggerton, and then there's really no one else. Swaggerty. Swaggerty. What a great name. Travis Swaggerty, bring it, dude. Yeah, but does a name like that ever really work out?

No, but it's an awesome name. And when it does work out, it's going to be like the Swaggerty. We'll get more draft stuff. Jack Fritz is your go-to. No one loves the MLB draft. Honestly, I go home,

I crack open a cold one, and I start looking at draft stuff. I can't wait. I'm so excited. We're going to talk draft. We're going to try to get on a Baseball America guy. I emailed a guy today. Hopefully we can get him on. Ooh, I like this. We'll get some experts who really, really can't wait. I'm so excited. We're going to talk draft. We're going to try to get on a Baseball America guy. I emailed a guy today. Hopefully we can get him on. Oh, I like this. We've got some experts who really, really can talk. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're going to cover the draft wholeheartedly. We try. Yes. Alright,

I'll give you my take since you brought it up. I've been thinking about this a lot. I'm excited. I'm going to tell you what is going to be the new market in efficiency in baseball. This is going to be the thing that we're all talking about. We always talk about things when they change, whatever it may be. We're just talking about

those bullpen games in Tampa Bay and all these types of things. The new market inefficiency is there is going to be a manager or an organization, however they do it, who is going to take a very aggressive approach with teaching their hitters to hit against shifts.

That is going to be the team that finds a way to beat shifts. And it is insane to me that a guy like Joey Votto, a guy like Freddie Freeman, these great hitters, still. And I know that they figure if I'm pulling the ball, I'm a better, I got more of a chance for a home run, all that type of stuff. But how do you not force teams to play you more honestly defensively? How do you not just slap the ball to the left side? It perplexes me.

It befuddles me. Like, I don't have an answer. You're a great hitter. Like, bunt it if you have to. Carlos Payton used to get bunt hits all the time against the shift. Like, I don't understand it. The next market inefficiency, a team is going to figure out the way the best attack, aggressive shifts, and that's going to be something that's going to change the game.

Maybe. It's just that— It's a hot take because it would be hard. Because the shift is so different for each player, you're against what they're supposed to do. Because the shift is so different for each player, you're against what they're supposed to do. Whoever can figure out the way, at least for the biggest type of shifts,

to consistently beat that, it's going to be a market. Who can ever make it more effective than a home run, basically. Exactly. That's my point. One out of 13, 16, 18, whatever type of hitter you have, 20 times they hit a home run in that spot. Whatever you can make it so it's more effective when they can hit, you know, 10 out of 20 singles because they bunt it or do whatever,

eventually it will get to that point where the numbers say that it makes more sense to do that and that's going to be a change. Like, I don't understand. Nick Marqueca is the guy that spreads it all over the field. Nick Marqueca says over 2,000 hitters. Yeah, it's ridiculous. Get out of here. And, like, they're even shifting him.

I don't get it. I mean, I'm all for shifts and all that, but, like, the shift on Joey Gallo, the Astros did, which— That makes sense. I get it. It's what they should do. It worked. You're—

Like, the entire team's on the other side of the field. Just lay down a bunt. Do whatever. Like, oh, my God. like the entire team's on the other side of the field just lay down a bunt do whatever it like oh my god it is so it's it's so against what common sense would say you should do in those situations no i know i don't i don't love the shifting just like i i don't love it i get it i'm i'm fine with change and thus i don't but yeah i'm with you i think it's it's way overdone i just you know just play baseball that's what i'm saying i agree and look it's fine whatever it works i understand it works it doesn't mean that i have to like it. That's what I'm saying. I agree. And look, it's fine whatever. It works. I understand it works. It doesn't mean that I have to like it. But that's why I'm saying

there's going to be a team that's going to figure out at least a better way to approach it from the offensive perspective and not let teams just, you know, if it's Joey Gallo, not let a team put nine or eight fielders on the right side of the field. I think that, I think the other market inefficiency that you're starting to see

more and more of is what we talked about earlier with trying to crush the starter rather than work him. And I think the Phillies are late to the party, whereas everyone else is starting to go towards be aggressive against the starter and try to knock him out. And look, I think that's also going to be dependent on teams. I mean, certain teams don't have great bullpens and have good starters or vice versa, whatever. Yeah. Yeah. But it'll be matchup dependent. Pretty much every bullpen now has 95 plus coming in.

Well, that's the thing too. Yeah. That's the thing. It's the specialization. I mean, there are enough guys who, especially when you're just asking them to throw one inning and all that type of stuff. All right. Coming up in just a minute, I want to get to your, it's not even a take.

It's just a brilliant idea. And I'm really excited about it. But first, coming up this week, we've got Toronto coming into town. We don't need to talk about the Blue Jays. They're 23 and 26. They're fine. No, I'm very excited because I want to see Justin Smoak, Teoscar Hernandez, and Ian Gervais-Solarte.

Yeah, forget that. What I want to know, just because they're playing the Blue Jays, we'll take a quick second. Vlad Goro, Jr. We're not going to see him this just because they're playing the Blue Jays, we'll take a quick second. Vlad Guerrero Jr. We're not going to see him this weekend because he's in the minors. But, oh, my God. Folks, folks, folks, go to Baseball Reference right now and look up Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Look at what he is doing in AA at the age of 19. He's batting.423 in AA as a 19-year-old. As a 19-year-old. Like, he could be the best hitter the next trout, from a hitting perspective. He's going to be better than his dad. Oh, he's going to be? Yeah, absolutely. And his dad's a Hall of Famer. He's going to be a better hitter than his dad. Basically, how scouts have

compared him is that he's his dad with plate discipline. It's unreal. He's basically Miggy. He's going to be what a young Miguel Cabrera looked like. It is unreal. Unreal. Also, the Blue Jays coming to town. Very important question that I have been saving, I've been squatting on,

but I feel the need to bring you out on this episode of High Hopes. And this is a trust tree. This is like- It's always trust tree. It's trust tree time, and this is going to be pulling at the heartstrings of Phillies fans.

Uh-oh. Does it have to do with J.A. Happ or something? I want J.A. Happ more than I want Cole Hamels. Oh, no! Whoa. Ooh. Hold on. Hold on. I need to really think about this because I mean, Happ's been better the last three years. 11.9K for none.

He is not here. Hasn't been hurt. He's had a better year than Cole Hamels this year. Yeah, no, he's been better for sure. He's going to cost you way less than it's going to cost to get Cole Hamels. I don't think either costs that much. I mean, Cole Hamels is making $20 million on a team that has zero chance to compete, and I don't think he'd be that expensive to get Cole Hamels, especially where he's at now.

And for what it's worth, Hamels has been pretty decent this year compared to what I think we expected. But I actually think I can support that. I think I'd rather have J.A. Happ. I think he's a better pitcher right now. Yeah. I think he's going to age better. Well, he is aging.

I mean, he's older, right? He's older than Cole Hamlin. So he's already aging. No, I know. But I think that either way, I think both of those guys would help. I think that's the type of guy. What if they just brought him back, both of them? Oh, my God.

Can you imagine? Bring it back to 2007, 2008. Let's go, baby. 2009, let's roll. I like J.A. Happ. I think he's a good pitcher. I don't think they face him this weekend. They do.

They do? Sunday. All right, well, let's get a little scouting. So it's actually pretty funny because it's Eflin. For the Phillies, it's Eflin, Nola, and Pavetta, which you love, that you've got Nola and Pavetta going in a three-game series. That's so great that you have those. A very important Eflin start.

I agree with you, especially after the last one. And, you know, kind of We've talked about this, how last year he came up and had three great starts and then stunk. The two starts were great, but he needs to show some consistency. It was fine. It wasn't bad. It was a bad error that really screwed him. That's true, too. I think he pitched well.

Just the thing that set Eflin apart this year that I'm more excited about than years past, he's spotting 96 on both sides of the plate, which he'd never really shown before. And that slider seems like it's hard to square up. Very important Eflin start. I'm excited to see what he can do. And they should have the pitching advantage. They've got

Sam... It's too Italian. Joe Biagini is pitching on Saturday, and then Sam Gaviglio or something like that is pitching tomorrow. So nice options for the Phillies. This is a real chance. But that's what I was about to say, and the last thing we'll do is your idea in a sec.

But real quick, when you look ahead, this Toronto series, the Dodgers series, the Giants series, those are the next three series. They're incredibly important because come the month of June, have you looked at the Phillies schedule in the month of June? No, but I think it's pretty tough. It is as tough as it gets. They have the Giants the in the month of June. No, but I think it's pretty tough. It is as tough as it gets. They have the Giants the first three games of June,

and then not a single team who is not in first or second place right now. They have two series with Milwaukee. They have a series with the Yankees. They have two series with Washington. They have a series with the Cubs. They have a series with the Rockies. It's all teams that are playing really good baseball, all teams that are five games or more over 500,

some of the best teams in baseball in that group. It's put-up-or-shut-up time in the month of June. It's going to be fun. It's going to be fun. Speaking of fun, Jack, if people waited 46 minutes just to get this idea, guess what? It was totally worth it. It's such a great idea.

Jack, lay it on. I want to bring back the fan groups. I want to bring back the fan groups to Citizens Bank Park. Where's my wolf pack at? Yeah. The Padillas Flotillas. The best one ever. Burl's Girls.

Yes. All of them. All right. So let's real quick. Let's think about this real quick and pick one on the team here. Kingery's Kings. Kingery's Court. Oh!

Kingery's Court. Kingery's Court. Kaffler's Corner. Kaffler's Corner is a no-brainer. Reese's Pieces. Obvious one. And Sir Anthony's Knights. Kingery's Court. Caffler's Corner. Caffler's Corner is a no-brainer. Reese's Pieces. Obvious one. And Sir Anthony's Nights. Sir Anthony's Nights.

Oh, my goodness. Right. This is happening. This is such a good idea. So we're eventually going to do a High Hopes Night at the Ballpark. Yes. And we're going to bring back the fan groups. You have had many great ideas.

This might be my favorite. And the other idea that's going to take a lot more work, a lot more logistic work. This one is, this one is, like, it's a great idea, too. But this one we could make happen with the movement, with people. This one you actually might need some team help on this one. Yeah, we're going to need some team help. But it's a very, very, it's an ambitious idea. We're going to officially knight Sir Anthony at a ball game this year.

We're going to have a guy dressed up as a king. We're going to have someone that has a Sir Anthony face on, mask on, and that person is going to be knighted officially in front of the whole crowd. It's a great idea. We're going to need some teamwork. This one is a little tougher to make happen, but I like it. We're going to get Cindy on it. Don't worry.

Okay, well, then it's going to happen. I mean, Cindy will make it happen. So hopefully we can start working on High Hopes Night at the Ballpark. We're going to bring back the fan groups. I love the fan groups. It was so much fun back in the day, and it just – Howard's Homers with the Homer Simpson mask? Oh, they were great, man.

I'm so in on this. And the ones we just named are all – those are Reese's Pieces, King Reese Core, all these Sir Anthony's Nights. Great. These are perfect. This is happening. High hopes, people. We are going to make this happen. Rate and review, right, Jack? Rate and review. We did really well with the reviews

this last week. There was a good influx of them. That's not the word. Influx of the word? Cool. Just keep them coming. We're trying to build this thing. We have good listenership recently. And it's a good look at you. Just keep them coming. We're trying to build this thing. We have good listenership recently, and it's been great. As the team gets better, I assume more people are going to listen. Tell your friends.

You know, word of mouth still works. It's a thing. Yeah, it still works. Rate and review. We love doing this podcast. I think about this podcast a lot. Jack calls it his baby. It is my baby.

He texts me all the time. Hey, I hope this is my baby. And then, yeah, keep a big, big stretch coming up here before June, which is Murderer's Row. Yeah. Now, these games are crucial. They are playing bad baseball, especially the Dodgers. Who would have thunk it? The worst team on the schedule right now. Dodgers are awful.

Big, big, big series against Toronto, LA, and San Francisco just because of what's coming up after that. We'll be with you through it all, though, which is a beautiful thing. And again, rate and review. It makes Jack's... It makes him so happy. Do it for me, because Jack's great. And a happy Jack is a good Jack

for everybody. And to his point, we couldn't do any of this without you guys, so thank you so much to all you beautiful, wonderful people out there listening. Definitely tell your family and friends about the IOBS podcast. Tell your uncle family and friends about the IHOPES podcast. Tell your uncle that hates a dooble. That's right.

Yes. Tell him this is the podcast for him. Tell your uncle that they love a dooble Herrera and that Sir Anthony shouldn't be the closer. Yep. It'll be great. That'll drag him right in. Yes. What else do I have to say?

It's perfect. Again, rate and review for Jack Fritz. I'm James Helter. Thank you for listening to another edition of the IHOPs podcast. I'll see you. Now take out the F-bomb. 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 to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national

daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.