High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Limping Toward's the Finish Line

Episode Date: September 10, 2018

The Phils are in free fall and James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back in the studio to talk about. The guys talk about the team limping towards the finish line, who's back in 2019, a Mike Trout trade, Jack's take and more! Listen, and rate/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. It actually is. It is another edition of the IHOPE podcast, the High Hopes podcast. It's been so long, I can't even get the name out, Jack. We missed all you beautiful people. It's James Seltzer, Jack Fritz coming your way. We are back, Jack, much like the... No, not back.

Very not back. Not great, Bob. Doing the exact opposite of being back is what the Phillies are doing right now. Still haven't won a series in over a month. July 26th, right? Don't worry. According to Gabe Kapler, they are in a fantastic position to strike. I've done a really good job of not letting the things that Gabe Kapler says annoy me.

Oh, I don't care. Because I don't care. I just don't care. Say whatever you want publicly. Handle it in the locker room. It's a little annoying now, Gabe. Listen, come on. Come on, Gabe. We're in an optimal position to strike. Come on, Gabe. Yeah, Jack.

Four and a half back in both the division and the wild card. I mean, I think we should just write the wild card off. There's no way they're jumping all those teams. Very likely. Look, division's not over mathematically technically all that stuff but i mean this team can't beat the mets they can't beat the marlins jack they can't beat the nationals the three next teams on their schedule they've lost four series against those guys in the last you know five series or whatever haven't won a series in july 26 why why should anyone have any

faith that this team's gonna turn it around the last minute it's not like they're gonna turn around and all of a sudden be a good playoff team like if they make the playoffs it's because they're gonna limp in like and the braves are probably gonna collapse like the braves bullpen is just bad enough to where they could make this interesting um but like you can't feel good about like them making the playoffs like they're making the playoffs a month ago, you're saying, awesome, it's going to be so much fun when they make the playoffs. Now it's just like, oh my God, really? Just so we can get smacked in the wild card game

or just so we can get smacked in the series? Yeah, and they're just playing. It's back to a frustrating watch with the Phillies. The starting staff has completely regressed back to where a lot of the projections had them as. Which we talked about. We talked about the innings, limits, all that stuff. It looks like they're actually wearing down. That happens.

Here's the thing that I'm frustrated by. If you're going to go make moves and bring in a Struble, Jose Bautista, Justin Boer, all these guys to supplant the young talent that you have, why didn't you go get a starter? Yeah, or a closer. It's not even Hamels. It's like Hap was right there.

There was guys out there to make a move for, and I just think they banked on the young staff keeping it up, but they didn't have any faith in their young position players. And it was just weird. Why would you choose that and then not help the other team? If you're serious about trying to win the division this year, your projection models should have shown that there's probably gonna be some regression from your starting staff yeah i mean jack you talked about it months ago yeah

you were the first person i heard say it and i thought it was a great point when you said it but all these guys were headed for career innings limits you know they were all still gonna hit it and they're still gonna it's the point that's what i'm saying so it would make sense that there would be some regression there. That's why you talked about wanting them to go get a starting pitcher towards the deadline and around that time. And, look, it looks like that was a mistake. I think there's no arguing against it at this point.

I think, look, the bigger macro look at it is that they weren't really trying to win this year. And even with the trades they made, they were trying to help out, but they weren't willing to put their feet, both feet in, as it were. They were trying to fortify the roster while also saying, eh, 2019. Yeah, but I'm frustrated by that as well because now we're not seeing the young talent play. Now it's like, oh, there's a true— Go one way or the other, and you said that at the time too.

Well, it's just annoying. Right now, Scott Kingery's actually playing well. Playing better. And I want to make sure he's good for next year. He's a pretty decent shortstop. How about that? He's developed, and he looks like he's good for next year. He's a pretty decent shortstop. How about that? He's developed and he looks like he's just playing out there. Yeah, he looks comfortable out there. The range is great.

The arm is great. He looks like he theoretically could play shortstop in Major League Baseball. And the batting's come a long way, I think. He doesn't look lost. No, it feels like he's starting to figure out what a Major League Strike Zone's like, and he's getting back to his instincts, which are that of a leadoff hitter where it's see a bunch of pitches, foul a bunch pitches off i mean he is seeing the most pitches per plate

appearance of any philly in the second half it's crazy which i think is a good sign it's a great sign for his future and i think he's batting like 290 something in his last 20 games so um kingery i want to see him play every day i like his dribble cabrera i think he's done some nice things may play him at third and kingery it short or whatever But I think it's more important now to where it's like, I got to see if Kingery's a player. I got to see, I don't need to see Justin Boer and Carlos Santana playing third base. Like, I just want to see the young guys play.

Yeah, and look, it was fun to see Carlos Santana play third base. It actually wasn't that bad. He played all right, man. That one, almost turning the double play on that one play was like a legit nice play for a third baseman. Yeah. And look, Santana's bat has been really nice lately. You feel better about that.

Yeah, he's going to. So where are you at on 2019, Carlos Santana? It's a great question. Look, I never thought he wasn't going to be a part of the team. I know a lot of people have had those. Who's going to play first base next year? Carlos Santana is going to play first base for you next year. And I think that's pretty clear.

You know how anti-DH I am? The only reason I want a DH is so that Hoskins can just be a DH. Be a DH. I understand Hoskins' position is first base. You're very anti-DH, too. This is a big deal. I understand his position is first base. But he's a bad...

Carlos Santana is way better as a defensive first baseman than Reese Hoskins is. And then he put Reese in left field. It's just like, oh my god. And that's the only argument to be made for a DH in the NL is to get Reese Hoskins out of the field. That's it. That's the only one. Yeah. Well, you know I'm a DH guy.

We'll argue about it. These are the things we'll argue about in the offseason. Well, you also hate America. Yes. Yes. Clearly. Hate America. But I think you make a really interesting point right now.

Because, what, 20 games left to play. How important are those 20 games for development? Is that something where, you know, obviously look, they're four and a half games out. They're not going to... They're not dead.

Right. And they can't act like it. They can't play games that way. But how important is 20 games of development for you? I just think this would be less frustrating if it was the young guys

that faltered. You know what I mean? But right now it's... Like, why is Jose Bautista playing over Aaron Altair? Yeah. Aaron Altair, I know I'm the Altair guy. You're the Altair guy.

I know I'm the Altair guy. He's smoking the balls. Ah! This is what I get from Jack all the time. But he's smoking the ball. He's smoking it. In his five plate appearances, he has smoked the ball four times.

Listen, what's the point of putting Jose Bautista out there? Well, that's a fair question. I just think it's like, but what's the point of putting Jose Bautista out there? Well, that's a fair question. I would just, I just think it's frustrating to have all the old guys playing, the young guys not,

and the old guys aren't performing and it's just like, I would, I would be more, I would accept this downturn if it was the young guys playing and it wasn't the old guys they brought in

to supplant the young talent. I thought they were going to bring in guys to be bench pieces to help facilitate the young guys and help the young guys down the stretch and it's just the old guys they brought in to supplant the young talent. I thought they were going to bring in guys to be bench pieces to help facilitate the young guys and help the young guys down the stretch, and it just turned into the complete opposite, where it's only the veterans they brought in that are playing. Yeah.

No, and look, I get it. You can't manage a baseball game that way. If you are trying to win baseball games, you have to look at it as what lineup, what players give me the best opportunity to win this game tonight. So I understand it because those guys are here. I think it's a better question of was it worth bringing Jose Bautista here? I didn't get the Bautista thing.

I was fine with it. I thought he was being brought in as a bench bat. That's where it's come. He can't catch up to 90 right down the middle. He looks behind on everything. That's been the story for a year and a half. Yeah. I think, look, I think it's incredibly frustrating.

I think frustrating is really the word of the last month and a half with this team, especially because while there were signs, we talked a lot about the run differential. We talked about those types of things where you could say, all right, maybe they're not as good as their record shows. Yeah, I think if you're objectively watching the team all year, like you kind of sense this coming. Well, we talked about this a lot, right? We had how many conversations of how are they winning games

type conversations did we have? You ask yourself once a week, how is this team in first place? Yes, and I think that that is borne out here. I think we're starting to see that play out, but I think it's incredibly frustrating because of how tough and resilient they were the first two-thirds of the season or whatever it was. It was a team where you never felt like they were out of a game you never felt like they were out of a series and now to see them losing these series against bad teams bad baseball teams

in games that they need to have I think that for me at least has been the most frustrating part it's it's yesterday against the Mets you don't getacob degrom you get cory oswald on the hill right this is your chance like you got to win these games the same thing with the last game in williamsport against the mets the last time they played him the same thing with the series is against washington these these brutal losses coupled with the inability to rise up and play your best when it matters the most which is even more frustrating after watching them do it against the Red Sox. We knew they had it in them. We knew that if they're locked in, if they're bringing it, Jack, that this team can compete

with any team in baseball on a given night. And then to see them just drop these series and lose these important games, for me at least, that's been the most frustrating part of this whole thing. Yeah, and it's almost like there's no urgency. Like, I don't see any, like, urgency. Like, we've got to win this game. Like, fight in this team. It just seems like it's just been, there's no, the energy's not there.

I agree with you. And that's with games they need to win. Do you blame Kapler for that? I think it's kind of the whole coaching staff. Because the whole coaching staff has kind of had this philosophy, like, we're going to go on a run. Like, we're not worried. But, guys, there's like 20-some games left. When's the run happening? like, we're going to go on a run. We're not worried. But, guys, there's like 20-some games left.

When's the run happening? Right. You're going to go on a run in December? I mean, what's the deal here? And what signs are there that there's a run coming? Like the Reese Hoskins hot streak? Well, Reese is in a hot streak right now, and you've lost two or three games. I'm curious to see how it plays out because the coaching staff has been feeding this positivity,

which I think is great. But I wonder if a little bit of the urgency is taken out of games because of the coaching staff's kind of lack of, we've got to win this ballgame tonight. And look, I think that we've talked about it a lot. I think we have not given capler and the staff enough credit for being a young new staff look gabe capler has never managed a baseball season before this is his first season in major league baseball as a manager

so these are his first reps in these types of situations this is the first time he's playing meaningful games down the stretch he's coaching meaningful games down the stretch all that type of stuff so um i'm willing to give him and the staff a pass for that, but I'm with you. I think that he needs to learn from it. He needs to learn that it's all well and good to be positive. I'm all about that too, and I agree with Gabe when he says, you know, you're talking to grown men. Grown men don't respond to you crapping all over them.

I agree with that. I don't. You know, if you treat me that way and I'm going to be like, screw you, I don't want to work for you. That's my reaction. I think there are a lot of people that way. But I think there has to be something. And look, buying closed doors, we don't know what goes down.

But there has to be some urgency and a display of urgency. It feels like no one on this team is going out there every night and saying, guys, this is our season. Like, their season was on the line yesterday against Corey Oswald. I know. And I don't know if it's as much Kapler as it is the players and Reese Hoskins. Like, Hoskins, I view as the face of the franchise, the team leader, the guy that the rest of the team looks up to and says, that's our guy.

We're going to get behind that guy. And I just haven't seen, like, that kind of fire from him either right and i but i still blame gabe for that because reese hoskins a 24 year old 25 year old kid playing in these games the first time in his life too being in this situation for the first time in his life like whether or not your first year manager it's it's on gabe like gabe has to do a better job of you if you don't have leaders on the team who've been there and you know jake arietta do a better job of, if you don't have leaders on the team who've been there and, you know,

Jake Arrieta, where the hell you at? But, if you don't have guys who've been there, who've been in these games, who've been in these types of situations,

trying to light a fire under that team and if your leaders aren't doing it, you gotta take more on yourself. Yeah, I'd love to see it. I'd love to be in the locker room

and just see how it's all working out. Because I want to see what a pre-game locker room looks like. Me too. Like, and maybe it's tough to get up for games when there's like 5,000 people in the crowd true it seems like that

it seems like there's something to that with this team and maybe that's something with young teams where they go on the road and there's no one there it's hard to get juiced for and you see it at home they play better at home because there's at least you know some semblance of a crowd they play their best when there seems like there's a big bigger crowd on hand and i think for a young team to go on the road and there's like no one in the stands like where's the sometimes players feed off the energy from the crowd and i just don't think that that's there as well yeah i think the home road thing is a really interesting thing to look at because it's incredible the difference how stark i mean we're the best home teams in baseball one of the worst road teams it i mean

other than the teams that just don't win any games. That's a really good hypothesis for what it is, but it's something they need to look at. And it's not just, this is not, it's too big a sample size to just be a fluke. This team doesn't feel as comfortable playing on the road, and that's something that down

the road they're going to have to address. Yeah, well, it's the growth of a young team. It's the growth of a, I mean, we saw the Eagles. I mean, the Eagles were a great, well, it's the growth of a young team. It's the growth of a, I mean, we saw with the Eagles. I mean, the Eagles were a great road team, and then at home they were obviously dominant. But I think it's more of a stark difference from football to baseball, home field advantage, means more and all that. But it's just a fact that young teams struggle on the road. And especially when there's no one there, it sucks, and it sucks to watch. But it's just the philosophy of the human mind.

Like if no one's there, there's no pressure on you, and like it's one guy chirping you maybe, like it's just hard to get completely focused in. And again, you know that's one of my big things is, you know, we have to remember these guys are human beings and not just robots or whatever sent to do our bidding and play the game. And ha-ha, dance, puppets, dance.

That's not what it is. They're human beings who have real human emotion and all that. bots or whatever sent to do our bidding and play the game and ha ha dance puppets dance that that's not what it is they're human beings who have real human emotion and all that i think that's a a huge part of it jack um before we kind of look ahead and and really start to take stock of what's possible and what we hope and what we think's going to happen let's take a quick look back anything outside of kind of what we talked about obviously with the inability to to win big games they need to win, are there any signs for hope? What are some things that you've seen from this team?

Obviously, Reese Hoskins starting to hit the ball a little bit. What can you bank on? Look, if we're going to say they're only four and a half back with 20 to play, I shouldn't say only. They're four and a half back with 20 to play. What can you put your hope in? What can you say, hey, I think they could do it. Why?

Why? Hmm. Uh-oh. Good question. Silence. Yeah, because it's just tough to predict right now because the offense has been inconsistent, which it's been this entire year.

You can't really bank on them getting super hot unless a Reese hot streak is coming. You know, maybe, I mean, I'm kind of, I'm in the evaluative stage where I just want to see Kingery, and I think he's done some nice things. But the staff, the starting staff is taking a huge step back. I mean, Arrieta's pitching to a round of 3-5, which is

kind of fine for your 4-5 starter. It's just that all the young guys that were pitching far ahead of where they are at this point have just completely taken a huge step back. Like, Eflin... Eflin's a disaster. I don't even know if you can roll him out there every fifth day anymore.

Like, give Eikhoff to start. I mean, not that Eikhoff looked very good in the relief appearance, but, I mean, Zach Eflin is an automatic six earned in three innings right now. Well, it's frustrating, too, because when in his 5-0 month of June, he threw 51% of fastballs. And what made him a different pitcher was that he was using his fastball more and more he's using his foreseeing fastball up in the zone um he was spotting it to both sides of the plate no problem and he looked like a legit starter in this league and this and

if you look at month by month since that his fastball has he's decreased his usage of it why i have no idea he's throwing a change up more and more. His changeup's not very good. And I can't tell if it's a, I wonder if it's an injury thing. I don't think it'd be an injury thing. But you'd think the Phillies are looking at his peak and being like, wow, a lot of fastballs. Let's do that more. I mean, for the most analytically inclined organization, you'd think that's the type of thing that they would notice.

Right. And they just seem to have completely missed that. I mean, it was what made Eflin good was was his fastball and now he's not throwing he's throwing his change up more and he's getting rocked like i don't know what are you doing like this and the most ridiculous thing is that oh god please please real quick this is it's the worst take in the city the worst take in the city full stop after each of those. It's ridiculous. People think that because he got sent down that this is the reason why he's struggling.

It's beyond stupid. Every time I see this one, I bang my head through the wall. It's such a bad take. It's an epically bad take. It's just not even thinking. It's not even a take. It's just stupid. It's like there's no room for regression.

It's just, well, they sent him down. That $20,000. Every time he goes out there, he's just thinking about It's like there's no room for regression. It's just, well, they sent him down, you know, and messed up his confidence. That $20,000. Every time he goes out there, he's just thinking about that $20,000 he lost. What do you even mean? The most ridiculous thing is people think it messed up his confidence. It's ridiculous. It messed up his confidence.

He didn't even get sent down. Yeah. He was even in AAA. It's such a bad take. I hate that take. I hate it with all of my... I hated the discussion about the thing. He's a Major League Baseball player, alright?

You know what happens to Major League Baseball players? You get sent down in the minors sometimes, and then you get brought back up. It's what happens. It's the freaking sport. And he didn't get sent down. And he didn't get sent down. That's the other part people forget about.

So is Eflin, long term where you're at with Eflin? Is this the type of thing where you think they're more likely to in the future see the guy we saw in June more or is the Eflin we're seeing now more Zach Eflin or is it somewhere in the middle? I certainly would have traded him for Manny Machado. I would have too.

Why? I don't know. Thinking back on all the things that happened this season, the whole the Phillies won't trade Zach Eflin straight up for Manny Machado may have been one of the dumbest that happened. It just didn't make any sense. It's so ridiculous. It didn't make any sense at the time.

I know. I know. I don't want to completely write Eflin off because I thought that month was really good. And I wonder... I just... I can't get behind... I don't understand why he stopped using his fastball.

Maybe if he gets that back, but it's certainly, he's nothing more than a four at this point. That's what I think, too. So a little frustrating end of the season for Zach Eflin. Vince Velasquez, seems like he's back to being Vince Velasquez. Five innings, 1,000 pitches. Such a bummer, man. That was such a fun stretch we had there.

Where did the two-seamer go that was starting at people's hip, and it was 93, and then you jump up to 97. Well, how much of that is wear and tear? I mean, you pitched D1 college pitcher over here. D2. I got D1 looks. D2 college pitcher. I need 1,100 to get to Georgetown, and I couldn't do it. I'm trying to help you out here, Fritz, all right?

How much of that is wear and tear? How much of that is something to really worry about long term? With Velasquez, with Eflin, Pavetta, these guys were just, obviously it's going to look sharper when you're fresher, but how much of a worry is this for the long term? Well, I almost think it's important that they're getting these reps because hopefully in the next coming years when they're actually trying to compete for the World Series, that they're going to be used to pitching in these kind of games

and pitch this long into the season. So I think it's just natural wear and tear. I mean, you've seen it with Eflin. Like Eflin in June, he was pretty fresh. He was finishing through the ball. He was hitting the outside corner with his fastball. And it's just natural when you get a little tired as you get longer into the season, it starts leaking because your legs get tired.

And it's just harder to bounce back. And that's why legs are more important than your arm when it comes to pitching. So if you look at Aaron Nola, he used to have this problem, but he spent all season just bulking up his legs, and now he's got tree trunks down there. Same thing with Halladay. Halladay used to have tree trunks. And Aaron Nola's gotten to that point.

It's great. Arrieta's gotten to that point. I have no fear of those guys finishing out the season. I this since this is their first time really going through pitching this deep into a season um they'll come back next year much more prepared knowing what they're gonna need to go through um yeah do you worry at all about some residual issues early next season from the you know not verducci-esque type of jump but the the larger jump and workload for these guys uh no because i think i think they're going to spend all off season they know where they need to get their body to and i think they're they're going to spend a

lot of season being like this is where i need to be um and they'll be they'll be much more prepared for next all right pivetta it's the only one you really haven't touched on your favorite your baby nick pivetta let me put it this way does jill know that you guys already have a baby is this All right, Pavetta is the only one you really haven't touched on. Your favorite, your baby, Nick Pavetta. Let me put it this way. Does Jill know that you guys already have a baby? By the way, it's fun to do a show with Jack and actually see a wedding ring. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look at that.

Yeah, don't worry. I was still watching on vacation. We all know you were. We told you to stop. We'll get to it. I want to hear the Jack Fritz vacation stories. That's coming. Don't worry.

So Pavetta is still, he doesn't have a pitch to get out lefties. And he, the guys just foul off a bunch of pitches. His curveball hasn't been as like dominant as it was for the first

two months of the season. Like really in a month and a half, he hasn't had that Nick Pavetta curveball that we all know he has in there. Now his last start

was better. He was throwing his slider more and he was actually getting over first strikes. It's just not a good slider. But if it gives a batter something else to think about, that's important. Nick Pavetta just needs to spend all offseason working on a third pitch.

I don't care what it is. I hope it's a changeup. He threw like 13% changeups two starts ago, which was the most of the season. And then he kind of went back to not using his changeup as much. him and he kind of went back to not using his changeup as much so if i'm nick pivetta and and you have like he do i want to say it yeah you do i do want to say yeah i just say it he's a away from being john small he he's he like he is a splitter i swear to god he is a splitter away from being small strasburg like i love when you say the things that you text me out loud in a microphone. I love it.

I think you went Strasburg when you texted it to me, but that's a good thing. I want to see a splitter so bad because it would set him apart, man. He's a splitter away from being a Hall of Famer. I love it. He is going to finish with Cy Young votes next year. I love it. I don't care what anyone says. Nick Favetta is in his second year, 25 years old.

He's going to pitch to a 4.5. I love it. Maybe he's Robbie Ray. Look at this. I like this. All right. Hold on, hold on, hold on. He's a right-handed Robbie Ray.

He is at 11.9 Ks per nine, which is the best K per nine season since Curt Schillings in 1999. Wow, really? Yeah. It's not some fluke I'm not on freaking Mars okay

the guy doesn't walk anyone and he strikes up I love when you get super defensive about your Nick Favetta things because he's oh my god people just

I don't understand how you can't see how good he's gonna be I love it and even if he's not a starter he's gonna be dominant out of the pen no matter what

Nick Favetta is going to be good it's the pen. No matter what, Nick Pavetta is going to be good. It's a valuable asset, no matter what. All right. Carries my grade. Here's what I'll throw at you. You threw the Carlos Santana one at me. Arrieta Noah locks to be in the rotation next year, provided some weird injury things don't happen or whatever.

Are all three of the other guys in the starting five when the season starts? Obviously, there's all kinds of free agency and stuff, but just right now, September 10th, if you had to bet on the starting rotation for next year, Pavetta, Eflin, Velasquez, who's in, who's out? Pavetta's in, obviously. Duh. John Smoltz. I think we should know that that was coming.

Before I get ripped on Twitter, he's John Smoltz if he gets a splitter. Yes, you didn't say now. I didn't say he's John Smoltz now. He needs a third pitch. I've been very open that he gets a splitter yes yes you didn't say now i didn't say yes yes very clear he needs a third pitch i've been very open that he has a third pitch okay um i am done evaluating pitchers this is this has been a big step for me so like i used to love tyler skaggs and he's a love like

nick pavetta but i realized they don't have a third pitch they need every every pitcher to reach their level of talent needs a third pitch i like that you saw patrick corbin this year anyway um okay so i think i think velasquez is and i think efflin's gonna mold into like a brad peacock kind of role oh i could see that especially with the increased velocity we saw this year he could be that guy yeah like the long man and they go get a legitimate starting pitcher i think if i had to bet that's the way i would bet too. I think Pavetta and Velasquez more likely than Eflin to be in the rotation. Well, I just think they're going to start morphing Eflin into a long reliever kind of guy.

They're going to get a fifth starter from somewhere else. I'm pretty sure that the Angels will take him straight up for Mike Trout, I heard. But the Phillies don't want to do that. Yeah, we'll see. If you bend our arms. Straight up for Manny Machado. Oh, my God.

Yeah, it was like at a time. I understand because he has six years of service time left. But it's Manny Machado. And it's Zach Eflin. Let's just calm down for a second there, buddy. All right, Jack. I'm looking at this, by the way. We'll get to this coming up, too.

Yes, of course. Astro Ball. Do a little High Hopes book review. Okay. On the High Hopes podcast. Totally down. I'm looking at this, by the way. We'll get to this coming up, too. Yes, of course. Astro Ball. We'll do a little High Hopes book review. Okay. On the High Hopes podcast. Totally down. I'm excited about that. All right, before we get to all the fun stuff, coming up,

we have three against the Nationals starting tonight, three against the Mets and the Marlins, or the Marlins and the Mets. Nine games at home. Marlins are next weekend. Okay, so then the Mets this weekend and then the Marlins. They have nine. Or this weekend. So then it's the Marlins this weekend, then the Mets after that.

Yeah. Nine straight games at home. And then it's that 11-game gauntlet with the, you know, four in Atlanta, four in Colorado, three in Atlanta. We all know they have to win whatever. At this point, they have to win like six out of seven against Atlanta or whatever. But we all know that those 11 games will make or break them.

But in reality, these nine home games are going to make or break them because you need to be in a position going into that last stretch even for it to matter. Yeah, well, especially because they've been so good at home. And their home team, exactly. But again, they can't win series, especially against bad teams, Jack. What are you looking for here? What should we as Phillies fans be looking for over this nine-game stretch?

How many do they need to win? Can they do what they need to do? Where's your head at? My head is at, I want to see how they react to being in this situation. I don't understand how if you lose that series in New York, there's no one there,

and you don't capitalize on some of the Braves' falters. I'm really curious to see if they have a sense of urgency tonight. And if they, not tonight, but in this home series and starting tonight. It starts with Eric Fetty, who's all over the place. He was their guy for a little bit.

I know I like Eric Fetty. I knew you did. You're in Eric Fetty. No, I like Eric Fetty. But still, Arrieta, you should have the advantage on the hill tonight. I think it's the fourth time we've said this. Arrieta needs to earn that money tonight. I've said it 500 times this year.

I go to sleep saying it. I feel like every time the guy takes off, I'm like, this is what they paid Jake Arrieta for. I know. Well, that worked out. I know. So even if they don't make the playoffs, right? Probably when they don't make the playoffs.

Probably when they don't make the playoffs. I want to see them finish out the year strong. Show me there's something to be excited for looking into next year. Show me you can bounce back from a tough month. Like they had a tough month at just about the worst time you could have a tough month no just about it right it was the worst time the worst time to possibly have a rough stretch um i want to see them bounce back from that i want to see them finish the year strong if they lose on the division by like two games three games and they're fighting down the

end you saw a sense of listen nut up or shut up time. Yes. And I see that. I'm content. But if you just end the season and it's just dog crap and just boring, terrible baseball, it's unacceptable. Yeah, and it would be a real bummer from multiple angles. I think first and foremost, like you kind of hit on there, that it would just be really good for this team to get those kind of reps. We talked about this a lot. Hopefully with the young guys. I think first and foremost, like you kind of hit on there, that it would just be really good for this team to get those kind of reps.

We talked about this a lot. Hopefully with the young guys. I think it matters. I think it matters whether, even for the guys who are definitely going to play, the Reese Hoskins of the world, the Alfaro will be playing, young guys who will get reps in King of Real Play, like those guys will get reps, and these pitchers, like you mentioned, the young pitchers, even Aaron Noel has never pitched in games like that before.

I think all that matters. And to learn how to pitch this late into the season. Yes, yeah. It matters to maybe your arm, not maybe, your arm doesn't feel fresh. You're worn down. You need to learn how to get guys out. And hopefully Arrieta's been teaching them. Yeah. Hopefully. What's interesting though. I'm not putting anything on Arrieta anymore.

What's so interesting is that they've been, they brought back Brad Lidge to help and they brought back Jimmy Rollins down in Miami. I love it. It's smart. Get the winners in there. It's smart.

It's interesting. There's a lot to watch towards the end of the season. If they just crawl to the finish line. That's the problem, right? I think that it's a bigger problem in the sense that I think right now, if the season ended today, and granted the last month and a half has sucked, and it's been very disappointing, but I think the vast majority of real Phillies fans fans not the people who just want to hate on gabe

capler or whatever but i think the vast majority of real phillies fans when you could step back from this season step back from the last month and a half step back from the why can't they beat the freaking mets of it all i think you will step back and say hey this is a real step forward for this franchise like this season is a positive. They have so much young talent moving into the future. They have all the money in the world. You should, maybe everyone doesn't, but you should feel good about the infrastructure here,

the general manager, the coach, all that type of stuff. All that, I feel like we should all feel very positive about this team heading into next season. But like you said, if they just continue this string of losing two or three, losing three or three, crapping the bed when it matters most, I don't know if people are going to be able to step back and have that same type of feeling. But I also think at the same time they've created a lot of questions about the future of the team.

Like how many real blue chippers do the Phillies have right now? Yeah. I mean there's Hoskins. Hoskins and Nola there's Hoskins. Hoskins and Nola. But Hoskins is the streakiest player in baseball. Yeah, I think that ultimately, look, again, 24, 25 years old, played 170 games, 180 games, whatever, in his career,

and what you see is really good, 185, 190, whatever it is. I think you could say Hoskins, you're right. He's not a no-doubt-about-it, lock-it-in blue chipper, but I think— Well, he's pretty close. I think he will be, is my point. I think from an offensive perspective, at least, he will be a blue chip player. Yeah, I think he's great. I think Hoskins— And Noel is a clear blue chip.

Right. I don't have questions about those guys. But there is rising questions about Scott Kingery, about Jorge Alfaro, Roman Quinn, if he can stay healthy, Oduble. Nick Williams. We're a very pro-Double podcast. He's been terrible. He's been awful.

For about two months now. We keep waiting for the Odubel Herrera hot trick. And that real issue with Odubel, and we've talked about this a lot. I mean, it's all an issue. But the fact that he's playing bad defense now. Well, he's been better the last two weeks. Right. But I'm talking about on the season as a whole.

I mean, he was a good defensive outfielder, and he hasn't looked like that. Well, he's in left field, which doesn't help. Yeah, it makes him look worse. It's a fair point. And Nick Williams in right field for most of the season. Not great. So that doesn't help. They are as bad a defensive baseball team as I can.

They're the worst defensive baseball team I've ever seen. And by far, no question, the worst defensive baseball team for a team that was competitive I've ever seen. I'm close. Yeah, and they would have been the first team. Well, obviously, the season's not over. But if they make the playoffs, they're the first team, well, the season's not over, but if they make the playoffs, they're the first team in MLB history

to have a batting average below 237 make the playoffs. I mean, again, it goes back to the whole, how are they even competing to begin with of it all? Right. You know, it really does. You look at all the numbers, all the advanced analytics, everything offensive, defensive,

I mean, this team should stink. They should stink. They should stink. They should stink. And unfortunately, it's a reader that's ugly head recently. Yes. But there's legitimate questions about the upside of the future of this team. I think there is. I think Alfaro's going to be good.

I think he's, in his last 20 games, he's batting.270 with a.351 OBP and two homers. Still striking out a ton, but there's legitimate signs there. Nick Williams had a really positive season. Where are you at with John Maley? That's a great question. Who the hell has gotten better under John Maley? Nobody.

Not a single guy. Every single player has gotten worse. Think about it. As great as Rick Kranitz has been and as much praise as we heaped, deservedly so on Rick Kranitz, you're right. We have not done a good enough job of calling out John Maley because he hasn't done a very good job. For those who don't know, the hitting coach for the only players

that's had really two players, positive season, have been Franco and Nick Williams. Yep. But everyone, like, Altair. And even then, Williams has regressed lately. There's the injury, but he doesn't look the same. He's not squaring as many balls as he was. I mean, a doable major step back. Hoskins, I think.'t look the same. He's not squaring off as many balls as he was. A doable major step back.

Hoskins, I think... At best, lateral. At best. A hitting coach won't really affect Hoskins. He's his own hitting coach. Yeah, Santana I'm not worried about. He's been much better recently, but for the most part of the season he's been bad. Cesar, step back, hitting-wise. A bit hot recently. Kingery, mostly bad.

But even the guys that have brought in, like, as Drupal. It's a great point. And I don't know how much Mailey has to do with the Vets who come in and do their thing. But regardless, I think on the whole, it's been bad. It has been bad. And two teams that have been ascending in their World Series run have gotten rid of them. It's a good point, actually. I didn't think about that.

The Astros got rid of them. Read that. Him and J.D. Martinez. Like, he was the first one that, to his credit, he was the first one that was like, J.D., like, you're just not very good. Like, you need to go and figure it all out because you have a terrible swing. And he did. And he did.

He figured it out. And then they got rid of him. After he came back, he was like, guys, I swear I'm good. So I was reading the Astro Ball. He goes into the office of Jeff Luno and he's like I went to Mexico. I figured out everything like I'm

this is my year and he didn't he barely played in spring training. They got rid of him. They released him goes to the Tigers and just starts raking in spring training and he just

turns. They're playing at the Astros. He turns find Jeff Luno and gives him like a little wink. Nice. And then J.D.

Martinez turn it to J.D. Martinez. So, mainly, they're a little thing there. But other than that, the Cubs moved on from him. The Cubs had a really frustrating offense, I thought, last year. And now, look at them. I mean, Javi's an MVP candidate. It's a really fair point. It's interesting.

It is interesting. I'm not completely out. You're not condemning him yet, but they're looking great. There's a legitimate concern there. And I'm not going to blame it on launch angle. I just don't. How much of it do you blame on the over-organizational approach as a whole? We've talked

about this a lot this season, but the whole waning deep in counts, walking, and not really necessarily if you see a good pitch early in a bet, don't go get it. All that type of stuff. They preach that they're selectively aggressive, which I think is a great approach. You're looking for a pitch you can drive.

But they haven't exemplified, one out of every five games they exemplified that. And they seem to only do it against pitchers that are really good. Like Noah Syndergaard, they own Noah Syndergaard. They don't own Max Scherzer, but they've beaten Scherzer twice. Again, they rise up to where they need to rise up, and they falter against dog crap pitchers. It's crazy, right?

And I think it makes it more frustrating because I feel like we should just label the title of the show should just be frustrating because we've said it a hundred times. But that's why it's more frustrating because you know they have it in them. You can see the way they play against the Red Sox. You can see the way they play against Scherzer, and you're like, oh, why isn't that team going out every night? Well, the Philly-style offense, it has worked.

When they are completely focused and dialed in and are playing Philly-style offense, which is working the counts, getting on base. Waiting for big innings. Waiting for big innings. The bad part is that they get guys on base and then they can't bring them home, which has been another frustrating part of this entire season.

They need a guy that can drive those runs home. Yeah, they need Bryce Harper. They need Mike Trout. They need Manny Machado. They need one of those guys. Like, they do. It's like you talked about with the Blue Chippers and all that. I think the skeleton of this team that is here now, when you think about the guys and

the potential, look, not everyone's going to hit in the minors. We all know that. But I think they have enough depth of talent there that they will have some hits. They have a bunch of depth, but they don't have the top guys. Well, that's what I'm saying. I'm saying they'll have guys who will help be part of the Major League roster. I'm saying they need those top guys.

And I think they're going to. I think whether it's Harper, Machado, Trout, one of those guys is going to be here. I really feel confidently about that. They better because I've suppressed this for long enough to where I try not to think about it because once I start thinking about them possibly striking out on Machado or Harper, I go into a really dark place.

So look, I've long thought that Mike Trout will be here one way or another. Yeah, so do I. I still believe that. You think this is the offseason they're going to trade him? It might be, man. Look, that Otani injury matters. The fact that— If he gets surgery, he's out until 2019.

Yeah. And think about that division they're in. I mean, the Astros aren't going anywhere. Nope. The A's aren't... Well, unless they trade. Who knows with the A's? But the A's are 30 games over 500.

The Mariners are a better team than you are. Then you look at the rest of the American League, the Yankees aren't going anywhere, the Red Sox aren't going anywhere, and the Indians aren't going anywhere in the next couple years. But, you know, whatever. You see it coming whatever you see it coming you see it coming not when you could sort they'll win that division again next year that division's dog crap all that stuff but

I think that uh I think the Angels if they and again who knows they're the Angels they've been run poorly for a while but if the Angels step back and look at the situation I think they're going to trade Mike Trout this off and especially if they go to him and say hey we want to sign well that's what they'll do they'll Mike, here's a record-breaking contract. Will you sign it? And if he says no, they'll trade him. If he says yes, they'll keep him. Because there's such a big difference in the package

you get for two years left on a contract rather than one. Night and day. I mean, let's put it this way. If they trade Mike Trout this offseason, who knows about will, it should be the richest package ever returned for a major league baseball player.

Yeah, it won't even be close. It has to be. And if you're looking for a prime example of what not to do, it's what the Orioles did. Yep. Which, hold on to... Wait until the last possible second.

The traded guy you know is not coming back. And they still did a nice... I mean, they still got a nice player for him. I'm surprised with what they got for him. Me too. Because they got lucky. There were enough teams competing who wanted his services that they were able to drive it up

but this offseason if they trade Trout and that's the interesting thing is the Phillies are maybe one of five teams in baseball who have the depth, the salary room everything they want to do to just do that Yeah It feels like Middleton would just be like just do it Whatever it takes

So is Nola completely off limits for you? Yeah. Hoskins? No And that takes. So is Nola completely off limits for you? Yeah. Hoskins? No. And that's it? Aaron Nola is the only player in this organization who I would not trade for. And Nick Favetta. Look, I don't think they trade Reeves.

I don't think that's part of it. I think Reeves, obviously. I honestly, I'm not 100% sure they'd have to give up everything. No. I think it's, look, a package. they'd have to give up everything. No. I think it's, look, a package. Stars don't get traded for everything. It's just not how it works. Look, Sixto and it'll be more the type of, I don't think it'll be major league guys as much.

Maybe one or two. I think it's that type of guy, but I think it's more like your top five prospects. It's like Sixto, Medina, like, you know, Baum, like whoever people feel like the Angels have to, you know, see who they like the most. But I think you're willing to give up your top four

five prospects. I would start to deal with Adubo and Cesar just to create some space for us. Like I think Kingery should be our second baseman next year.

Oh, that's another thing. Cesar next year. Like, yeah, I kind of, we talked a lot about this early in the season

when Cesar was playing so well. And he's been playing better the last four games. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm fine to move on. I think it's time. This is the off-season move on from him. I'm fine with it. It's too...

Look, what you hope is you hope he has a hot 20 games to end it out, and then the numbers look better and you move him. Yeah, he's a good player. He's a good player. He has value. A good second baseman. But you paid Scott Kinger that money

to be your second baseman in the future. I agree with you there. So I think this is the last season of Cesar. And I talked to Franzen about it, and he thinks that if you put Kingery at second base, you're going to see a completely different player. Look at the name drop. Which I don't. It was on our podcast, so it wasn't really a name drop.

I'm just kidding. I'm helping our podcast grow. That's what I'm doing. That's what I'm doing here. But if you put Kingery at second base, maybe you get him more comfortable. Jack Fritz, friends with former Major League Baseball players. It's like shocking. Got a good amount of friends in baseball.

Look at you. This guy over here. Jackie Bigtime. Well, they know if they look at me, they say, this guy played. This guy. This guy. He played. He played.

So I got a take. I'm ready for it. I've been given a lot of takes. All right, real quick. Before we do it, real quick. Nine games at home, how many do they have to win? Seven. Seven is what I said.

How many do you think they win? Five. Yeah, I think five too. I think they win a series, but yeah, I'm with you. Okay, take, take away. So I got a take, and I've been squatting on this one for about 24 hours. Jack texted me yesterday and this morning

with just, I've got a take. I've got a take. I think John Middleton deserves a lot of blame for how this season went down. Whoa! Pulled up. That's a take. That's a take. I'm intrigued.

Lay it on me. It's a take. I like Matt Klintzak. And I think Klintzak had a different view of how he wanted the season to go. I think what Klintzak wanted to do was play all the young guys and see how it went down. And at the deadline, bring in a guy that can then help the team a little bit. But what they did was they brought in all these old guys who I can just see Middleton just going to Klintzak and being like, we need this, we need that, we need this.

And I think he got too involved. Wow. I think John Middleton, and I mostly like involved owners. Oh, see, I hate involved owners, but go ahead. Well, we saw what Jeff Lurie worked out. I'm worried that he got too involved and it clouded the judgment on this season. And I don't know why Jose Bautista is here. I don't know why he's here.

I don't know why Justin Boer is here. I understand how he's dribbled. If he can play short and he can play third base and he can play second base whenever he wants to plant. But he should not be playing every freaking day. I just want to see who the keepers are here.

And I think John Middleton got so obsessed with making the playoffs and you just gotta be the one seed. You gotta win the division. You gotta get in the playoffs so we can sell more tickets. It clouded his judgment of where this team was, and it's made this even more frustrating because you're watching old guys who probably shouldn't be here down the stretch instead of seeing if your young talent has something there.

I like that take. Look, it's always good when you can come with a hot-ish take that can never be proved wrong. I think it's a really good you know hill to be on as it were very good work right there we'll never know

but I could I could see it but look at their moves all their moves are that of a team that rushed into it and they try to get their cake

and eat it too and they for the most part did but I just but now they're throwing up because of it yeah well it's just...

Too much cake, Jack. It's too much Bautista. It really comes down to Bautista. And I like the Wilson Ramos addition. I really do. I think he's awesome. But Alphard was hitting well. And Wilson Ramos won't be here next year.

Probably not. Probably not. Unlikely. Unlikely he'll be here. Although I wouldn't hate it if they brought him back. A nice one-year deal. Boom. Bring it.

So I just think Middleton pushed all the chips in and on a team that you didn't see. Well, all the chips is not fair. I mean, they gave up Franklin,

Killamay, and Cash. Clint's acted a really good job of not giving up anything for these players, but I think he got so punch drunk that he's like, well, if I can back it, I'll just take Bautista.

Bautista for free? Sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Wilpons will take a quarter for him. Let's do it. Oh, hold on. Oh, I just. This is what I wanted.

I was thinking about this on Saturday. You got another take. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no. Dude, I know this is a Philly's podcast, but can we talk about the mess we're doing to David Wright? Yes, we totally can. So this is like Chase Sutley.

I know. This would be like Chase Sutley coming back from career-threatening injuries. Yes, literally. He is their Chase Sutley. back from career-threatening injuries. Yes, literally. He is their Chase Utley. Minus winning us a World Series. And the Mets just being like, we don't feel like paying you, Chase Utley. So you're just going to sit on the bench. Dude, there are people at Citi Field with free David Wright signs.

The guy was the face of your franchise. He wants to come back and play for the Mets. Yeah, for a team that's done. And because of cash. Middleton, you might have ripped him a little bit there. We're very happy to have John Middleton as our editor. Let me just say, I like John Middleton. Yes.

This offseason is very important for Middleton. Huge. And look, he's going to open it up. I have no fear of that. It's just that this season I thought he miscalculated. And I think that's a potential. I mean, we don't know the answer, but I think if that were the case, I wouldculated. And I think that's a potential I mean we don't know the answer but I think if that were the case I would agree with you that I think that was a mistake

on his part. Right. But the Mets Mets man. Can you imagine having the Wilpons as your owner? Hey maybe don't get Bernie Madoff all your money. Hey maybe don't be best friends with Bud Selig. Yeah that too. The Wilpons having the best baseball market in the city It's a travesty for baseball.

I love seeing the Mets suck. In the it's it's a travesty for baseball i i love seeing the mets suck in the country there is nothing yeah and for the world it's the best baseball market in the in the world yes and it has the cheapest owner in sports by far and an owner who is like i don't even know viable like to spend money if he wants to he's lost it all like terrible for baseball oh it is so bad but i love it because screw the mets but i'm with you it is bad for baseball. Just like, you know, I hate the Knicks but I obviously think if the Knicks are good, it's better for the NBA and it's

fun and all that. Same type of thing here. I agree. And low-key, very concerned about the future of like Wheeler, DeGrom, and Syndergaard if they keep it together. Yeah, I agree with you. Wheeler's taking a huge step forward. We're not a Mets podcast. Speaking of which, we're not an Astros podcast podcast. We're not on a Mets podcast. Speaking of which,

we're not on Astro's podcast either, but Astro Ball by Ben Reiter, you actually read a book. I'm very proud of you. I did. I read 220 pages in my flight home. Look at you. Yeah, I got it.

I went into work real quick. I read the whole thing. It was crazy. Very proud of you. I haven't read a book. It's an entirety. That's why I said you read a book. I'm proud of you.

Yeah, I usually make it three quarters of the way through a book, and i stop i'm a big book guy i know you are that's why i brought astro ball i'm reading a book that's 400 page 1400 pages right now why because i've never read a stephen king book before and people said i should read the stand so i'm reading the stand sounds miserable super long man it's like this freaking thing but astro ball is a is a is a really interesting way they built it, built up the Astros. And they talk about all their – they got lucky.

They got really lucky. It takes some luck in these types of situations. They got really lucky, and they were trying to trade Dallas Keuchel. They didn't want Dallas Keuchel. He turned into a – Cy Young winner. Cy Young guy. Jose Altuve, he came to the first Astros tryout.

They said, we don't want you. Yeah, you're 5'5". Get out of here. Yeah, he came to the first Astros tryout. They said, we don't want you. Yeah, you're 5'5". Get out of here. Yeah, he came back the next day and they're like, all right, fine. We'll bring you on. It's amazing.

And they got lucky throughout the way. They also messed up a lot. They took Brady Aiken. Terrible thing. Yep. But they made up for that by taking Bregman the year after

so it was fine. Took Margapelle. Margapelle over Chris Bryant. Imagine if that team had Chris Bryant. You can't imagine. It's so Bryant. Like, imagine if that team had Chris Bryant. You can't imagine. It's so insane to think about. Like, they could have had Chris Bryant.

I know, but... And they made some good moves. Like, Correa was not projected to be the number one pick the year that they took him. They jumped him up a bit, mostly because he was cheaper, was what everyone said. Right, they went underslot. But it worked out.

Because they got McCullers later in the draft. McCullers later, yep. And the one thing in reading Astro Ball, and I read the Cubs way, is that they had legitimate high upside talent guys. And when I step back and look at the Phillies, it's like they thought Nola was going to be a three, by the way. Just like Pete McKenna.

Just like everyone. Just like everyone did. And when I look at the Phillies, I think Hoskins is a potential blue chipper. I think Nola is but the hitting upside it's not of the young cores of the Astros or the Cubs I agree and they both but they

both kind of went through the same kind of process which makes it even more frustrating like they both went to this they both effectively tanked to get higher picks but the Phillies Moniak tell you what great end of the season ooh Mickey Moniak girl so coming I, great end of the season. Ooh, the Mickey Moniak era. Still coming. I would

give up so much just to have Harry Callas. Mickey Moniak. Great end of the season, but Nick Sensel's amazing. I would have very much liked Nick Sensel. Yeah, Nick Sensel will be in the Major League. I mean, already has been. He should be. Yeah, it got hurt.

He got injured. He will be a major league, a contributor before McGee-Money. Right, right, right. Chase and Groom looks, I mean, we had Tommy John, but he looked very good before that.

There are other guys you could have taken who look like they could be good. They've kind of just been meh at the top of drafts. Yeah. And in order for a team to reach its peak,

it needs hit on those guys. I think that's fair, and I love the Ogbomb pick. I think that was a great pick. Makes me really good. Cornelius Randolph, starting to not suck a little bit, too. Not in. Yeah, it's a shame. Haseley's good. Haseley's good.

But you're right. Look, I think if you look at this Phillies franchise and say their biggest worry is they don't have those top, top, top tier guys, I think it's a fair takeaway, and I think that's why they're going to be so invested in Harper Trout. Listen, getting one of those guys is

imperative. If you are serious about winning a World Series in the next three years, four years. I agree with you. Jackie. You need one of those guys. Costa Rica. Costa Rica's great. Was it fun? It was great. Jack's married! I'm married now. He cried during the ceremony in case you haven't heard. You cried during my vows. You keep bringing this.

You've literally told everyone that I've cried. And I said, yeah, well, guess what? He cried when I read my vows. Yeah, I was in tears. You always leave that one out. Balling. It was nice. They were nice vows.

They were good vows. I worked the Phillies into my vows. Well, it was funny because before it, Fritz was like, oh, it's going to be funny. I threw a joke or two in there. Yeah, I made it lighthearted and I finished it with savvy stuff. You were emotional. Of course I was emotional. I love it.

I love it. It's a compliment to you. I don't see the compliment. I really don't. So I went to Costa Rica and I watched Nola versus Scherzer because I wasn't going to miss that. Of course. Come on. You I wasn't going to miss that. Of course. Come on.

You think I'm going to miss that? I told my wife I was watching a Phillies game on Honeymoon. I don't even know. It was great. I was so happy. It was very cool. And then the last day, or last day I had a first allergic,

it wasn't even a reaction. Oh, yeah, I forgot about this. I had some tuna, and I think they mishandled the tuna, and all of a sudden I had hives, and my neck was on fire, and I was doing all the nasty stuff. Not great. Not great. And then I called a Costa Rican doctor, and they came in 15 minutes to my hotel room.

And it was like, hey, so either a shot in your butt, or you're going to be fine, or do you want an IV? So I gave the guy $80 in cash, and I got an IV. You didn't get a shot in the butt? I gave the guy 80 bucks in cash. And I got an IV. And I was good. You didn't get a shot in the butt? I did not take a shot in the butt for 50 bucks. I paid an extra $30 for the IV. Ah, that's good. So I did that.

And it was really... Looking back on it. The Costa Rican doctor comes in. Another guy who doesn't speak English. So that was... I was just not ready for that. And he is, you know, whatever. And then he asked Jill.

He's like, hey, can I go the the balcony and take some pictures real quick and he's on instagram and his his his his uh flashlight is his phone flashlight when he's trying to find my vein to put the iv so um yeah it was looking back i didn't really have a choice did he make you better jack he made me better well that's all that matters. But if I was taking a holistic look at myself, probably a bad decision. All right. What is the, and we'll get out of here, but what is the number one way you are different now that you're married that you were not before the last time you spoke to our fine,

wonderful, beautiful listeners? Well, I am by myself a lot during the day now. listeners well i am uh by myself a lot during the day now so i just watch like today i was watching both the chiefs uh chargers game and the uh uh vikings 49ers game so basically i'm watching a lot more i'm reading a lot more i'm listening to podcasts a lot more so if you get married if you feel like watching more tv well it's just that it's just now i have more free time to just like because of the wedding is so you took that as a not planning the wedding what about being married do you feel different jack oh it's much more fun like it's like we have a fun you know thing going on so it's like hey hey wifey yeah hey husband yeah

she makes healthy food now like it's scary we went to the we went to the to the uh supermarket and i was looking all the stuff she was getting and it was all just like organic, like gluten free. Not cool. And I was just like, this is my life. This is my life. But I can't complain because I don't cook. Look at that.

I just eat whatever's put in front of me. I can't tell if that was an endorsement for marriage or not. I enjoy it. I like being able to consume more sports. All right, Phillies. Win seven and nine. We'll be back somewhere in the middle of that. We'll talk later this week. Yeah, I guess later this week. Yeah, we'll be back. Yeah, soundsies. Win 7-9. We'll be back somewhere in the middle of that. We'll talk later this week. Yeah, I guess later this week.

Yeah, we'll be back. Yeah, sounds good. Okay. Go Phillies. Stop sucking. Please stop sucking. We have high hopes. For our own sanity.

Talk to you guys 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 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. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod. There is another fact. So jump aboard the BIB 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.