High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Jon Marks and Joe Giglio on Rebounding After the D.C Nightmare

Episode Date: May 11, 2018

Jon Marks and Joe Giglio were live from the AT&T Store in Philly talking some Phils. The guys were impressed with the teams resolve after the weekend in Washington. This is the best version of Maikel Franco they've seen and the progress of one, El Oso, Jorge Alfaro.  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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Good morning. Welcome to the brand new AT&T store, the grand opening of the AT&T store here at 11th and Market. John Marks and Joe Giglio from 94WIP. Hello, everybody. Get your, what do they have there, Joe? Cookies? They've got pretzels, cookies, water. It's good to know.

Someone just brought donuts, and I think he might have brought it for himself, though. I'm not sure if that's for everybody else. Someone brought donuts for them because I don't see a whole helping of them out there. I see some WIP listeners are coming in already. And listen, it's a beautiful day outside, a great day to come in. For every half hour, a giveaway of Phillies Diamond Club tickets. I'm assuming they do this over here to our right. So if you're in the store right now, every half hour, 1130,

you'll be the first drawing. There are Diamond Club tickets to the Phillies game, Joe. And that comes with a gift or some cash, not cash, but diamond dollars to get $30 in food credit. That's not bad. Diamond Club tickets and $30. Yeah, you don't have to pay fored, but diamond dollars to get 30 bucks in food credit. That's not bad. Diamond Club tickets and 30 bucks. Says Rob Razai. Yeah, you don't have to pay for anything, but you're in.

Yeah, you take the subway down, you pay three bucks, and you're in. There you go, Joe Giglio. What's up, man? How we doing? I'm good. Jorge Alfaro coming here. And the Philly Fanatic. From 12 to 1.

Philly Fanatic. Who doesn't like the Philly Fanatic? Everyone loves him. Kids love him. Half of my childhood, the Philly Fanatic was the best thing on the team. He will make this place even better when he gets here. It's pretty cool the way it is anyway. Yeah, so he's 130-230.

And then Jorge from 12-1. 12-1. By the way, Jorge Alfaro hit a 470-foot home run the other night. Doesn't even look like he swings hard and the ball goes 450 feet. He just ain't. Kind of like Carlos Santana, who's come on as of late as well. But kind of like him where he's just, he's

big, he's thick, and that's what you want out of a catcher. Yeah, he's got strong hands, arms, forearms. He's been great defensively, so that's been the biggest difference with him. He's really good behind the plate. He's got a great arm. Well, they're the comparisons you see to Ivan Rodriguez. And what Pudge was able to do back there.

And, listen, he's got a long way to go to anywhere he's close to there, but he's got the tools. That's for sure. Despite the low average, he's done well. I'm not thirsting for more and saying get him down with the other catcher. I'm saying that sometimes. Right, with Knapp. But not him. And you notice the last two weeks, it feels like since the year started,

it was like, all right, they're going to rotate everybody. Alfaro's become the catcher. Alfaro plays like 70% of the time now. He's the catcher. Knapp's clearly the backup. The beginning of the year, it was split. It was split or even the other way a little bit. It was.

And I think Alfaro's just played his way into being the starter. Well, they were getting him comfortable. But, you know, we sit here today at the grand opening of the AT&T store, and the first drawing's going to come up in ten minutes, so get over here and fill out your chance to win the tickets. But 22-15, 22 wins and 15 losses. And it's been fun. For all the people that were bent and nuts after the first weekend,

I understand you being frustrated, but I think it's time that at least you've got to give it up and say, all right, this manager's doing a pretty good job. Let's see what he does. I'm not going all in yet, but he's done a pretty good job so far. And the one thing I've noticed, look, that loss they had John Sunday in Washington against the Nationals, that's the kind of loss that sets a young team back.

This team believes in themselves. I was so mad after that. It was awful. That was worse than the opening day loss because that meant more. Well, I felt it. I did. I felt it. I felt like eighth inning Hunter was throwing a lot of pitches,

and that's like, all right, they get out of the eighth fine, but now you've got to deal with Neres in the ninth, and I didn't feel good. It looked like they were going to bring him in for a four-out save, which I wish. Well, he couldn't get the three. And they battled in that game to get the lead. There's something about this team so far.

They fight. They're never really out of a game. And I think whatever Kapler's preaching, like, they believe in themselves. They think they're pretty good. They've got some confidence about them, which is fun. They've got some confidence. They're having fun. Yep.

Watching the game every night. And you're doing the pre and post leading off and the final out. How soon I forget. How could you forget? Jeez. It's a fun team. But also, I enjoy the cuts they go to to Kapler and the dugouts. You know, during baseball games, there's lots of time for conversation and shots everywhere around the ballpark.

And I like watching him because you're just kind of studying him right now and seeing what he's doing. I like him. I like his personality. You can tell he really enjoys what he's doing and he enjoys the game. And I'm excited. He's been good so far. It's fun watching a young team.

You notice almost every pitch of every game, all the guys are up on the dugout steps. There's no one sitting back and not paying attention. It's almost like you're watching a team that's in on every pitch. When Herrera's up, every one of his teammates is on the dugout railing, watching his at-bat. That's fun. There's something about this team right now.

They're new. It's different. They're talented. And look, when you get bad. That's fun. Like, there's something about this team right now. They're new. It's different. They're talented. And, look, when you get off to a 22-15 start, you've got a chance. Like, they've got a chance to stay in this thing this year, John, and make a run. I'm not saying they're going to win division, but they could be in this thing and compete for a wild card.

I mean, we have the great employees here at the AT&T store with their Philly stuff on right there. Everyone's all Philly'd up here. Yeah. No, it's crazy because you didn't see Sixers things for years. And now this year, and last year, but this year especially, it's back. Philly stuff, 10 years ago, 6 years ago, you would see the Carlos Ruiz t-shirt jerseys on. The Hamels t-shirts.

Yeah, you'd see the girls wearing them. You'd see the guys wearing the t-shirts and the hats and everything else. 2018. It's it went away for a while. It's not. It's not. You know what it is. It's not.

You don't see it everywhere right now. If you're walking around Center City where we are at 11th and market, you don't see a lot of people wearing it. Ten years ago, you saw everybody wearing the. Well, they haven't had many players the last couple years worth go buying a t-shirt for. You're right. Now they have some.

Aaron Nola, Reese Hoskins. Kingry will be a guy that everyone has his shirt for the next five, six years. So, Joe Giglio, were you a truther for the third baseman? Were you a guy that said that Franco – I never gave up. But I never was up but I never I never was willing to say like I'm buying in all the way but I was always hesitant your producer Jack Fritz has been oh Mike Hill I only talked about he even when you shouldn't be saying that

right he has this is the best I've ever seen him over an extended period his rookie year was good John but then he went to the tank for two years something's different about him now he's changed the swing the rookie year was him hitting a lot of fastballs and not knowing how to get him out. And at that point in the season, not really caring. This is the most depressing he's ever been. He's been good. He's definitely been good. Can he continue through the whole season?

I don't see why not. I think the Crawford injury is the best thing that ever happened to him. Because it got him regular playing time. Because Kingery moved to shortstop. Kingery was playing a lot of third. Kingery's ineffectiveness also has given him some playing time. But you're right, J.P. Crawford going certainly made him the everyday third baseman. Right, who else is going to play third?

If Kingery's got to play short, Mike Hill's at third. Yeah, but Kingery's got to start hitting. So before, and I was listening to L.A. the other night, and L.A. was saying that he – because he's not a walk guy, and he's not a patient guy. It seems like that he's trying to be that guy at the major league level. And L.A., I've heard him say it a couple times, he's seen a lot of first-pitch fastballs that he should be looking for.

I think Kapler mentioned yesterday. Make the adjustment. They have five guys that are the top 50, I think, in all of baseball in pitches per plate appearance seen. Kingery's one of them. Some guys are good at it. Like, Reese can hit with two strikes. Santana can hit with two strikes.

He's going to strike out a lot because he sees so many pitches. But he can hit with two strikes. He knows what he's doing, right? I'm not sure Kingery – if I'm Kingery, I'm going to step up there. If I see a first-pitch fastball, hit it. I'm okay with that with him. I agree, you know, because I think the pitchers are just – they're getting ahead of him in the count.

And when he's behind, he's in trouble. Right, and then he's pressing, and then guys are saying, like, all right, well, I've got a couple pitches to throw a curveball, to do whatever. I mean, there's already a book on the kid in the league, and that's what you do. He's covered, though, because they're playing well. No one's talking about Kingery struggling. No one has to talk about it, which is good because once he finally gets comfortable. Remember, he was playing left and right field, taking starts away early in the season.

That's how gung-ho they were over Kingery. He's not going to be playing a lot of left and right field at this point. I don't know when Crawford's coming back, but if Crawford comes back and hits, Kingery's not going to play much because they kind of have an everyday lineup now. Alterra's become the right fielder. Franco's hitting. So Kingery has to hit if he wants to keep playing.

But the fun part about this team right now, John, they have a lot of depth. There's not those dead spots lined up. They're fun to watch. No, they're not. John Marks and Joe Giglio were live at the AT&T store, 11th and Market. It's the grand opening. And it's one of these, I mean, even walking up, it has the big video board outside. I felt like I was in Times Square.

It did. Joe Giglio. You can't miss this place when you're walking down Market Street. You cannot miss it. So we're here, cookies and pretzels, and Joe's already eaten a couple cookies and pretzels. He brought me a water, and I drank some of it. Look. You drank about a sip.

Yeah, drank a sip of it. It was delicious. But they got deals going on here every half hour. We're going to be giving away Phillies tickets. So coming up in about five minutes or so, we're going to make the first drawing. So yeah, definitely a lot of people are going to be showing up.

Jorge Alfaro will be here. I'll be gone by then. You'll be here? Yeah, I'll be here till 1. He's 12 to 1. Yeah, so I'll hang out with Alfaro for an hour. So you're going to do a show with him? Sure. If Jorge's up for I'll do a show with Jorge. Is that in the cards there, Dave Brightmire? A Jorge and Joe show?

When Alfaro comes? They're going to jump on the microphone for Dave's up for it? I'm up for it. There you go. We'll see if Jorge's up for it. You can do like a Scott Franski. Oh, in the pregame show? Yeah, here with Philly skipper Pete McKinnon.

Pete, big ball. I don't miss those Pete pregame interviews. Pete's a nice guy. He was a nice guy. Not a great manager, but he was a nice guy. And thankfully, the Phillies didn't get fooled into the last month and a half and bring him back. They said, yeah, no, he's not our guy and we're going to move on.

Remember a year ago, they gave him a contract extension. And at the end of the year, they were like, well, no big deal. They ate it. They ate it. Which is interesting with the Sixers, because Brett Brown's going into the final year of his contract. I didn't have to give him an extension. You don't want to blame Duck Coats.

But here's the thing. Do they give him a one-year extension? Which is not really an extension. Or do they say, Brett, great job. Here's a five-year contract extension. Here's a five-year contract extension. Here's a three-year contract extension. The details will tell us how much they believe in him. Are you ready for my guess?

He's not getting a three-year contract extension. One or two? Yep. Tack one or two on there? They have to do something. They'll do something. They will do something. They can't let it be a lame duck.

They'll do one. They may do two. Two. They ain't doing three. That's my prediction. I feel like two they can hedge. Like, all right, we gave them two, but it's not three or four or five. What do you make of the Instagram post that was like it?

Michael Rubin? I mean, is this ridiculous or is this just how it is in 2018 where an Instagram post that says, trust the process, not the coach, is liked by the 76ers co-owner and that becomes news? It blew up right away. Do I like it? Within 10 minutes. I kind of like it. process, not the coach, is liked by the 76ers co-owner, and that becomes news. It blew up right away. Do I like it? Within 10 minutes, my buddy sent me a screenshot of it. Like, do you see this?

It's so good. Now, did he slip on a banana peel, as a lot of people would want you to believe? And on the process of going to the ground, his finger happened to touch the like button at the exact same time on the screen as him hitting the ground, right? Maybe. Maybe. Probably not, though. Because, you know, all those posts that you like by accident,

that's always everyone's excuse. That was an accident. I got hacked. No, it's second best after I got hacked. It wasn't me. Which anytime anyone gets caught. He should say he got hacked instead. I got hacked and he liked a post to try to.

So he went and unliked it. Someone must have called him immediately and be like, listen, Michael, get that out. So listen, here's my question. Is it possible that he just liked it because he thought it was funny but didn't agree with it? Was he liking it because he was like, yeah, bleep Brett Brown? Yeah, the coach stinks. Or is he just a dope that was just like, ha, ha, funny? I hope he's just a dope because otherwise it's a big deal.

I don't think that's the case. Probably isn't. I don't think that's the case. You know, we've seen it, though. Your team gives the coach an extension, he's gone a year later. They'll give Brett an extension. There's no doubt. Because they have to and because he doesn't decide as a co-owner

whether or not the coaches get – he may think that Brett got out coached in the in the in the Celtics series which is fine he did which they did but he may be the type of guy that says that's the guy I want not him right now he's in the corner of being like I like Brett but that's the guy I want not him because he's under contract with the Celtics but the next Brad Stevens right the next guy they could get. It's funny. These teams are getting good now, and this stuff matters.

Like five years ago, it was like, just let the guy coach the team. It doesn't matter. Now everything matters with all these teams. It's fun. Yeah, it is fun. It is. So we'll see how that plays out. But it'll be interesting to see because if they were really happy with the job he was doing, it'd be a five-year contract extension.

The details will tell us everything. If they truly believe in him, because otherwise they're going to eat money. Three or four. Yeah. If they don't believe in him and they give him the deal, they're going to eat money eventually because they'll fire him. A three-year extension is, to me, would be great job. We're not convinced that you're going to be the coach that wins us the championship,

but thank you for everything that you've done with the crap we gave you, and thank you for this season. And done With the crap we gave you And thank you for this season And now go improve it again Keep going and we'll take care of you again One year extension is You have to earn That's nothing He could be fired next year

At any point he could be fired But they will give him an extension No they're not going to make him a lame duck Because it's just, it's not what you do. That Harrison and, and Colangelo understands how the game's played. Let's see the other thing. Is, is, is it Colangelo that's iffy on him?

Cause I'll say this. Well, it's not his coach. He didn't hire him. Right. I know. But the fact that Colangelo is the one running the organization worries me. Well, this is his summer. He has to do something big this summer with the coach and a player.

Otherwise, they'll be the same thing next year. They'll be one guy short. At this point is where I want the Jeffrey Lurie influence to where you're saying, like, no, no, no. Jeffrey Lurie lets his guys do their work, but he has no problem voicing his opinion. Now is the time for something. Yeah. Yeah, like, listen, Brian, we want to give him a threat, and if they want to do that, then he'll have the extension.

Right. That's what I almost think they have to do. They're going to have to tell Colangelo, reward him. This comes above Colangelo. This is an ownership decision to give him a contract extension. I think they should do it quickly because there's a negative tone, a little bit of negative tone the way things ended. You kind of bring everyone back to, oh, this was a good season

by giving them an extension soon. It was a good season. You're sending a message. I don't know if Joshua Harris is doing a press conference at the end of the year. I don't know. Today, Brett and – Delangelo and Brett were talking. Yeah, they were already talking today.

But maybe Brian said that. We pulling a name here for some Diamond Club tickets? Oh, what do we got? What do we got? What do we got? Our first winner. First winner is Roger Miller from Lancaster. Roger Miller?

Roger, where are you? Roger, are you in the store here? Do they have to be here? Got to be here, Roger. Should I wait a minute and then? Razai, what's the official? Should I wait a minute and then... Razai, what's the official... Roger Miller, are you here?

Phillies tickets. Roger, come on down. Congratulations. There's Roger Miller. You win a 2007 Camry. Congratulations, Roger. And this. You go to the Phillies game.

Take it to another who has the tickets. My man. You have Diamond Club tickets to a future Phillies game. You got them right there. All right, so there it is. All right, every half hour, Joe Giglio. Now, is this going to be posted to the website or something? So this will be on the website.

We can encourage people to go to 94wip.com. There we go. You can throw it in your high hopes feed Are you writing for 94wip at all? Not yet, but I'm going to soon So you're going to? Yeah Okay Alright, because we just recently went through a change of ownership

Yes And our new owners in the last six months or so Our new owners We went from CBS to Enercom And Enercom is now the second largest radio company and certainly the strongest radio company in the country. And one of the great things that they have is a website, our old website that was affiliated with CBS.

It was awful. You couldn't use it. I couldn't even know how to find stories unless I clicked on a Twitter link. It was bad. Right? It was bad, but it's not anymore. No, it's easier. I mean, it's like any other good sports website out there.

It's like ESPN.com. You go, and there's stories and audio and stuff like that. So I really looked at that, and I'm like, wow, this gives us the opportunity to actually do some good content. Because people want to go there now. Yeah, so if you're listening to this, you're probably on the website, but you should come to the website more, 94wip.com. I even thought about doing a minor league Phillies report on there. I don't know if people do that stuff. People would want to know what's going on down there.

A weekly Wednesday Marks minor league report. That would also mean I would have to do the work for it. So if I had to do it, I'd be an intern. You're interested in that stuff anyway, though. I am interested in it. It wouldn't be that much work for you. No, and I know it wouldn't. But even if I just picked five, like in our High Hopes Phillies podcast that we do,

I oftentimes talk about minor leagues, some of the minor league people. I've done a minor league report, but I need to start doing one every week. And then I can just write what I'm doing. Because this week I wanted to talk about the prospects in Clearwater. Sixto Sanchez. Their last two first-round draft picks. Hazley and Moniak. Which, by the way, neither one of them.

Hazley looks like he's going to be a major league player. Moniak does not. Moniak's now off the top 100 prospects list. Well, he should be. I mean, he's been awful. He should be. And Hazley, I'm not going to say he doesn't look much better, but he's not that much better.

Slow start for him, too. Slow start. Sanchez has had a slow start. Yeah. A lot of other guys have. Actually, some of the AAA guys are doing better than the younger kids. The kid they got back for Freddy Galvez might be the next guy up here. I'm wondering whether that's De Los Santos.

Yes. I don't know how to pronounce his first name. He's with an E. An L? Yeah, an L. Yeah, he's 4-0. His ERA is under 1, so it's not smoke and mirrors. He's only 23.

Yep. How the hell did they get him for Freddy Galvez? I'm almost waiting for something to happen. Why is that good anymore? Kapler was on the morning show, I think Wednesday, and he was asked, who's next, right? Because Sir Anthony Dominguez. I remember you talking about Sir Anthony Dominguez last year,

how much you liked him. And now he's throwing 98 with movement out of the pen. So they asked him on Wednesday, I guess it was, who's next? Like, who's the next guy we should watch? And he mentioned De Los Santos. De Los Santos. He's not far. What you can see with their minor leagues, what they do is they get guys, they draft them,

they're young, and they put them in bullpen rolls right away. And they let them go as fast as they can make it. Because think about it, if you're a bullpen guy and you only have to worry about pitching an inning at a time, you don't really need to learn to be a starting pitcher. No, you don't need four pitches. And if you have high 90s with a second pitch, and that's what Dominguez was. He just has a great fastball, and he's got two other already average pitches

for an inning. Yes. And the ball moves out of his hand. He works quickly. He throws a lot of strikes. And he's hard to – guys are having trouble picking him up. I'll be interested to see how they adjust to him. Yes.

Because it'll happen. I thought Kapler said right away when he got up here, was it Monday, that he has no problem putting him in a big spot. So he's not only just here, he's going to use it in a big spot. He's their sixth or seventh inning guy right now right now right now he's pitched three times i think three four times so far yeah he's he's he's gonna see a lot of seven innings until he shows by the end of the year he might be in really big spots he might be the closer with with what narrows looks like just

no command a lot of walks and everything else but it's uh it's exciting to see because you're right, their prospects across the board have had slow starts. They have. Well, the one guy had a good one. They brought him up here. I like that they're not afraid to bring a guy up if he's ready to go. Let's go. Put him in. Where was he even rated in their system?

I think 11? Not even top 10. Top 20, but not even top 10. Which shows they have a lot of talent. And they have a couple other guys down the minors. Trevor Bettencourt was a draft pick. It was two years ago now. Same thing.

Now, he hasn't had the same success that Dominguez has, but he is a high strikeout, certainly over an inning strikeout. But when he gives up runs, he usually gives up runs. He'll go in stretches where he's really dominant, and they have him up in Redding this year. So he could be another guy that comes up. It's funny you mentioned the farm system. But when he gives up runs, he usually gives up runs. He'll go in stretches where he's really dominant, and they have him up in Redding this year. So he could be another guy that comes up. It's funny you mention the farm system.

A lot of the guys, I mean, this team right now, John, I think it's 19 of their 25 guys. You know who they're left over from? They're left over from Ruben Amaro. Ruben Amaro didn't leave this team as bad as everyone said. Was it you that I heard saying Zach Eflin? About Eflin, yeah. You got him for Jimmy Rones.

You got him for J-Roll. You got Pavetta for Papelbon. Correct. And he comes back tonight. Amaro with the Mets for a space coach. Oh, that's right. It's just weird to see him in a Mets uniform. And he brought out the wrong lineup card the other day.

You see that? So that was on him? Well, I don't think it was on him, but he brought out the wrong lineup card the other day. You see that? Oh, so that was on him? Well, I don't think it was on him, but he literally handed the wrong one in. I don't know who typed it up. Maybe it wasn't. I could see him. I could see him doing it. I'm like, Ruben, can you go type it up? Type it up.

Bring it out. Sure, boss. And he goes in and he does it. But, yeah. No, I mean, he did a – what was Chase? Who did they get for Chase? That's what I was just trying to think. Well, it was Phillip Buster.

So, F1 was Rollins. They got – oh, Chase was – Chase was a middle infielder who never ended up working out. Yeah, the guy arrived here. Didn't they put that guy in the lineup right away and hit a home run his first night? But there was another guy. There was a minor leaguer, too.

I thought there was an arm. Valentin. Yes, Mel Valentin. It was. It was. So, he's on the team now, too. Yes, he is. A lot of this team is from Ruben, which is funny. It always takes us in baseball like four extra years to evaluate what a guy did

because you leave the whole farm system left over. You don't know what it's going to be. If they have a good year, John, he'll get some credit at some point. He'll get a little bit of credit for leaving what he left over. Darnell Sweeney. Darnell Sweeney. Darnell Sweeney. And Valentin was that trade. Yep.

Yep, yeah. Did he, uh... No, it says here it wasn't Valentin. Then who was it? Maybe Valentin was for Roberto Hernandez. He got something from the Dodgers. It was. There you go.

Joe and John from 94WIP were live in a jam-packed... Place is packed now.ed AT&T store. 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.

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