High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Live from Chickie's with Joe Giglio

Episode Date: March 28, 2019

The entire High Hopes crew is live from Chickie's with Joe Giglio for his Phillies roundtable! 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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Dairy Farmers of Canada Stand up. Must remember that. And whoop there goes another Robertree. Whoop there goes another Robertree. Whoop there goes another Robertree. Now that's the way to a welcome in this hour. Welcome back, Sports Radio 94 WIP. We're live tonight, Chickies and Pete's in South Philadelphia. Joe Giglio with you. Our Phillies roundtable. Joining me this hour is the High Hopes podcast all together here, which we don't usually get on every episode, but they're all three of

them are here. I've got James Seltzer, John Marks, Jack Fritz. Guys, how we doing, James? Oh, my God. I'm here. The Phillies are playing a meaningful baseball game tomorrow. How could I not be awesome, Jeff? John Marks, how you doing? I was thrown out of the High Hopes crew. I'm an outsider, not currently active. But... Well, tonight you're back. I'm back tonight. You're always back. No, I felt like Bart Giamatti. I got Pete Rose here. No, I'm kidding. This is a great night to be on the radio the night before opening day where we have a baseball team that actually matters again. And it's been a long time, Jack. It's been a long time since the Phillies matter.

I know you wrote today on our website that people are about to fall in love with Phillies baseball again. It does feel that way. It feels like the city is about to re-fall in love and reintroduce themselves to baseball because this whole idea that baseball is dying, I never really believed. It's really just a regional sport,

and when the teams are bad, then people are not going to pay as attention as they usually would. And when baseball is going well in this town, it is unlike anything else. I mean, 07 to 11, this was a Phillies town. I mean, the Eagles obviously are still the Eagles, but people were really, really invested in that Phillies team,

and you saw a reaction to the Harper signing. I mean, 300,000 tickets sold, all the merchandise, and the city was craving for good baseball, and we're a day away from it starting up again. Yeah, and the expectation, my favorite part of this is not just that they landed these players, guys, not just they got better off of last year, James, but there are really expectations now.

I mean, they're over or under number is almost 90, second most in the NL. People are picking them to go to the World Series. It feels like, it's almost like they skipped a year. You know, at the end of last year, I thought, okay, they'd improve next year. Then maybe 2020, we're talking about a real contender. It feels like they skipped a year, and people really look at this team as a legitimate contender now.

Well, that's what happens when you have the best offseason in the history of the franchise. One of the best offseasons in the history of baseball. We've heard this stat a million times, but the first time in baseball history that three All-Stars from the previous season came to a team in the same offseason. that three All-Stars from the previous season came to a team in the same offseason. So, yeah, it is. You think about 2007, that year where they kind of, you know, like you're talking about, it started. And they made it a little.

They got in, but they didn't do anything in the playoffs. It feels like expectations are already what they are for 2008 for this club without that kind of, you know, get-them-ready year. So, yeah, it's exciting, though. Look, and I think it's fair to have expectations. When you've got a team with this much talent, especially on the offensive side, you should have expectations. John Marks, the over-under for the Phillies, 89.5 wins. They won 80 last year.

Matt Klintak spent a bunch of this offseason saying they had to bridge that 10-win gap. They had to become a 90-win team. You think he did it? Better. I'll tell you that. The expectation is certainly. I look at this team, I mean, we can do like an official win total or whatever.

I see them right at 90-91, kind of peaking in at the division. It's still a good division. The Nationals are not talked about enough. They have a ton of talent on that team. But the Phillies are going to be right there. And, you know, it just depends. To me, what can the starting pitchers do outside of Aaron Nola? Can Pavetta make that jump to where he has the stuff?

Can he be reliable? When he makes the jump. Listen, I know this is your whole platform that you're running on jack thank you he's got to actually do it now all right and he's got the stuff but see here's the thing even if he just does it the first half of the year and kind of carries the staff and then another guy in the second half is able to kind of pick up for him tailing off um i mean what are we talking about with arietta i mean a three ERA with really high strikeout numbers would be what I'm looking for out of him this year. I mean, that would be amazing.

I would take that. Somewhere in the 3s. I'll take a mid-3s ERA from Arrieta, and I'll be happy about it. Right? Last year was almost 4. In the end, he was bad. Right. And what are we thinking about Pavetta?

I mean, I love the stuff. I love the fact that he has swing and miss stuff, and he's pitched well this year. What are we talking about with him? Another get in the threes at this point? Yeah, I think that's – Based on how he's talked about, he better be in the threes. He has to be. And we talked about – Larry Boa came on our show and said Nick Pavetta's the guy

everyone's talking about down there. It's been kind of the in-spring training. Nick Pavetta's the name that you hear the most about, who's impressed people the most. And look, it's not just Jack. Like, it has become a national thing. Because of me. Of course. Thank you.

This guy started it. Yes. Evening show producer WIP started the training. And that's why every other national baseball writer is talking about it. But it's true. It's not just us talking about Pavetta. When you look at his numbers, you look at the underlying stats, the strikeout to walk and all that,

the numbers suggest that he's going to take a step forward. But you're right. He has to actually go out and do it. And people are talking about that because they're focusing more on the Phillies because of Bryce Harper. So they're watching a game in spring training. They're saying, like, holy crap, yeah, who is this Pavetta guy? Because his stuff looks that good.

When he's on, he's on. It's just when he goes through the four, six-week swoon where when you hear guys that cover the team talking about him, they will say it's Pavetta's head. He thinks he's better than he is. He thinks maybe that he knows more than other people. Can he kind of just wrap everything up and just put it together at this point? Well, let's work backwards here because they did a lot this offseason,

a lot of great things. But the one thing they didn't do, and I know, Jack, you've been harping on this, is they didn't improve the staff. Like they were expecting a lot of Pavetta. But even if Pavetta's good, this staff might have a hole or two. Velasquez is still Vince Velasquez. Zach Eflin has had a very odd up-and-down kind of career. The one thing Matt Klintak didn't do was go get a starting pitcher.

He was after Corbin, and then it got too expensive. He went to the Nationals. Jay Happ. They pursued Jay Happ, didn't get him. It's the same staff that fell apart in September. Like, that's the Achilles heel if there's one. Well, it's the same staff that they didn't improve on the deadline last year. Right.

I mean, they were a first-place team, and they went out and got marginal talent to help everyone else out, but he never went and addressed the rotation, and ultimately was a downfall. And I just hope that it's not a downfall of this team. Because here's the thing, is that this division is going to be too good to have – it's going to come down to one or two games at the end of the year. And if you're relying on Vince Velasquez to be your five starter,

or Zach Eflin, or hopefully Pavetta breaks out, I just think it could cost them a division title. I think not – sure, the idea of waiting until the deadline and then going and making a move and bringing in a Baumgartner, a Ray, one of those guys, like that works on paper. But when you're talking about a division race that is going to have to start right from game one, I don't like the idea of having Zach Eflin and Vince Velasquez in there over a Dallas Keuchel-ish type.

Well, Dallas Keuchel's still out there. Should they go get him, James? I'm not a big fan of his. I just wonder at this point, how much would he sign for? If it's a really low number, it becomes a why don't you just get this guy. Absolutely. I mean, if you can get him for less than a three-year deal at this point because he's still sitting out there on the market.

And look, the fact that he's still sitting out there shows probably that he's not looking to cave on his demands yet but which is a bad idea which is crazy at what point do you say i'm not gonna play baseball some money's better than no money exactly and to the point about the trade deadline and we all love that we've all talked about the madison bum garners of the world this will be the first trade deadline where you can't make moves after July 31st. There's going to be more aggressive bidding. It's going to cost more potentially than it has in the past to add a guy like that. Obviously, it depends on what teams are out of it, what teams are in it, and all that.

But that's another factor to this where you can't just say, oh, we'll definitely go get a guy at the deadline and have that be the plan you rely on when, as Jack says says this team is offensively geared to go i think it's i think it's a mistake not to to supplement that staff now and try and see what you have in velasquez because i don't think he's got it john did did clintac make a mistake here by leaving this staff i remember you last summer saying go get a starter and look clintac has now doubled down on the same staff twice he's in july he said we don't need a starting pitcher he was wrong three of his starters staff twice. In July, he said, we don't need a starting pitcher. He was wrong.

Three of his starters fell apart. In the offseason, he basically said, we don't need a starting pitcher. He's betting on them again. Well, I mean, I think he's betting that they can get them to the trade deadline, and if they don't, they can go after and they can improve the staff. Ultimately, is that going to be enough? Probably not. You would have your best starter.

And you're right about last year with Cole. I wanted Cole Hamels. And after the season, you said, well, here's another reason you want Cole Hamels. You essentially have a one-year, $20 million contract if you pick up his option. How would Cole Hamels look right now in this staff? A lefty, albeit he's not the Cole Hamels of 2008, but he's Cole Hamels that would be better than anybody else that you're going to have right now. It was a huge mistake. He was awesome in Chicago. I was surprised. Me too. I thought he was cooked, but he's Cole Hamels that would be better than anybody else that you're going to add right now. And he did get better when he went to the National League.

It was a huge mistake. He was awesome in Chicago. I was surprised. Me too. I thought he was cooked, and he clearly wasn't. He's not cooked. And here's the other thing. They gave up nothing for him.

The Cubs gave up, I think, an international player that they signed. They gave him up. It was a couple hundred thousand dollar prospect. It was a prospect. It wasn't a top prospect in their system. So am I worried about, to answer your question, Joe, am I worried about starting pitching on this team? Yeah, I am.

Am I looking forward to having the opportunity of Eflin and Pavetta? Yes. Do I think Vince Velasquez is ever going to be a good starting pitcher in this league? No, I'm not. So bold prediction. Yeah. Right now it's a glaring hole in this team, but it's still, if Vince Velasquez is your fifth starter, that's okay.

You know, the other guys have to perform. I do think 1-3-3 is going to be good, though. Like, I'm more bullish on 1-3-3 than I was. You believe in Pavetta more than anybody. And I believe in Arrieta. I think Arrieta looks good. I'm not sold he's coming back. He had 20 swings and misses the other day.

His stuff looks good. He didn't have 20 swings and misses off last year. How good is he going to be? Can he pitch to a 3-3? Maybe. 3-9 last year. Yeah. I understand, but he also had the torn meniscus.

And a short – for a guy who's all about conditioning, leg, the power of his legs, a guy who didn't have a full spring training last year. Look. That's why I don't want Keuchel now. I noticed that I kind of wanted Keuchel, but I think he'd just be so bad because without getting the spring training. Plus, how long would it take him to get here? Well, that's the thing.

I wanted him before when you could have had him for the entire season. And then, to Jack's point, if the division comes down to a game or two, Dallas Keuchel could have won you those games early. But also remember this about the pitchers. Even if Arrieta and Pavetta are pitching really well in the first half, it's a 162-game season. These guys have to do it. Arrieta by August may be throwing the ball 88.

He may be throwing meatballs up there like we saw. It's great that he has movement right now and he's pitching well, but that doesn't mean in August the guy that ran out of gas before and a staff that ran out of gas last year outside of NOAA, not to have another experienced arm in there leaves yourself a hole. So hopefully they can remain and win enough games so they can get somebody to trade their life. And they were so healthy last year.

I mean, we talked about that too. They had remarkable health. I mean, usually you lose a starter, so they didn't lose any. All right, here's the one thing, guys, that could make all of these questions disappear at least until July. If they hit the way we think they're going to hit, if they score runs, they can get away with this pitching staff. And this team should score runs.

I'm looking at it right now. We had a caller last night say three runs an inning. Three runs. That's bold. That's a little bold. Yeah, we had a caller say double-digit runs a game. I thought that was bold. That is bold. Three innings, even more bold. I'll go kind of bold,'s a little bold. Yeah, we had a caller say double-digit runs a game. I thought that was bold. That is bold.

Three innings, even more bold. I'll go kind of bold, but a little less. The Phillies haven't scored 700 runs in a season since 2011. They haven't scored 800 since 2009. This team could score close to 800 runs. Oh, yeah. Especially if we get the Bryce Harper that we've seen before. And I think that's the biggest question about how good the Phillies offense is.

They're going to be good. They're going to score runs. What Bryce Harper are we getting, John Marks? Are we getting the Bryce Harper that is an MVP? Are we getting the Bryce Harper that is good, not great? Because there's been a lot of different Bryce Harpers in seven years of his career. Yeah, there has been. With the narrative right now in baseball that he's overrated,

he's the 41st best player, ESPN having a 15. Which is silly. The 41st is silly. Observing. Right. I mean, really, if you're looking for what I would want if I was the manager or the GM of this team is a lot of people talking about the Phillies and a lot of people doubting the Phillies.

Use that as motivation. And right now people doubting Bryce Harper. I think he's going to have a huge first half, and he's going to have a really big first year. I don't expect 249 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs. I'm thinking closer to 300 with 35 and up. He's going to, especially the first half, I think he's going to explode to a big first half.

And if he's not an MVP candidate in September, then it's going to be disappointing because that's the expectation from signing him this year. James, I feel like a lot of times in baseball you sign a big player to a contract, free agent, that first year, whether it is new city, expectations, pressure, you don't get the best out of that player. It's happened so many times. Bryce might be different, though, because he's just not your typical player.

I mean, he's been in the spotlight his whole life i think he's ready for this i totally agree we've seen that from the moment he got here obviously he said and done all the right things too good to be true is the phrase i like it feels like he has a manual on how to win over philadelphia he's got a full pr team working he's got it down but i i do think and i'm jack knows we talk about this on the iops podcast a lot i'm a big mike one of my corners is that athletes are human beings, and we don't talk about it enough. We talk about them like they're robots who can just go out and perform. You can just say, like, this number.

He's going to hit 35 home runs and all that, and I do think there is something to that Harper his whole life, it's the reason he went to JUCO. He did everything he could to get on the free agent market by the age of 26 to get the biggest contract in the history of baseball. That's done. In my mind, I know there's new pressures that come, but that has

to be a weight off of him. I think he can go out and focus on playing baseball. It might be why last year he was bad in the first half. I think it was. I think that's why he played the way he did in the outfield. He wasn't always diving for things. He was a little, maybe less aggressive than he'd like to be. I'm with John. I think it was. And I think that's why he played the way he did in the outfield. He wasn't always diving for things. He was a little maybe less aggressive than he'd like to be. I'm with John. I feel really good about a Bryce Harper MVP-type season.

What about Mr. Harper Lent over here? What's your expectation for the guy that you think? I'm just the guy who does the podcast. That's right. I said you're going to start. Maybe I shouldn't have. Jack, what do you think? Bryce Harper, expectations year one.

Well, I think with Harper this year, it kind of reminds me of, like, a nerd in high school going to college and becoming a cool kid. Like, how he was in Washington was like – I think he's going to be a different person here. We've already seen it. Like, he's already been a completely different person than he was in Washington. It feels like he's more of a leader here than he ever was.

He never was that in Washington. He was the quiet guy that kind of just – he would do his locker room stuff, but he was in Washington. He feels like he's more of a leader here than he ever was. He never was that in Washington. He was the quiet guy that kind of just he would do his locker room stuff, but he was a lot different. So he's like reinventing himself at his new place. Exactly. The nerd into college turning into a flourishing. I love this take, especially because when you think about it, no matter who

came and went, he went to Washington as a 19-year-old kid. And he had Zimmerman there, who was the old guy. Exactly. He's always that kid in those people's eyes. You have to go somewhere else to reinvent yourself. I love that call. And I think it's going to be a huge exhale for him. I think he's going to be relaxed.

And I know he has $330 million and all that stuff, but I don't think that matters to him. Obviously, the money's great, but I just think he wants to go out there, perform, be him, and I feel like him in Philadelphia is just going to be a huge exhale, plus you factor in the ballpark. I think the fans are going to add him juice every single night, and really the NL East is going to be so loaded that he has to be on from day one. So 35-100?

You know, I was a little afraid as the process played out that he'd come here and people would already be negative about Bryce Harper. Me too. Well, the opt-outs saved them. Yeah, and the press played out that he'd come here and people would already be negative about Bryce Harper. Me too. Well, the opt-outs saved them. Yeah. And the press conference and everything he said. It's just anything that could have been an issue has just splashed. It's amazing, John.

It feels like in three weeks Bryce went from, oh, yeah, he's going to have a tough time playing well in front of us here in Philadelphia to now it's like there's a love affair between Bryce Harper and this city. He was nervous about the afternoon show is what it really was. Yeah, well, you know what? Holding him accountable. I don't know if he's worried about that. No, but, I mean, think about this.

The two days before he actually signed, we thought he wasn't coming here, right? The day before, we thought he wasn't coming here. It went off in our head like, they're not getting him. He's going to go to the freaking Giants. We've been being used the whole time. You played taps on your show. You played taps on your show. You played taps on your show. And people started buying tickets to Phillies games to see the Giants.

They were buying Giants and Phillies tickets. So the same people called two days later and said, I have Giants-Phillies tickets, but I'm going to be seeing Bryce Harper as a Philly. Like, how great is that? How Philadelphia is that? That's amazing. And, you know, and that's what it is. I mean, that's how far we went from being totally like he signed in here to,

oh, my God, I can't believe this prick did this, to now he's a hero. And, I mean, I'm not saying it's going to be easy the whole time, but he's a savvy guy. He's like LeBron James. He knows what he should say. And if he plays it right, we're easy to manipulate in this city. I mean, just look at his Instagram since he got here. He's pushing every note.

He's the thirstiest athlete I've ever seen in my life. Come on. It's unbelievable. The legend of Nick Foles and whatnot. Come on, man. It seems. Did you see the Liberty Bell or whatever that was? No, you weren't.

No one's that excited to see the Liberty Bell. He might be. He might be. I believe everything he's that excited to see the Liberty Bell. He might be. He might be. I believe everything he said. You're all in. He might be. Oh, absolutely. But it might be a really, really good fit because not everybody works in Philadelphia.

We know this. Pat Gillick, when he ran the Phillies, he made sure that when he brought in guys, he said, can they handle playing in a northeast environment like Philadelphia? Could Manny Machado have played in philadelphia knowing the savages that we are they made they made the right business move but did they right make make the right baseball move with the player with bryce harper and i think you get the best of both worlds with it i think you do too and and i think machado is much easier to project year to year harper's got bigger he's got a bigger ceiling though hopefully he hits that all right we'll come back to this

side the high hopes podcast is with me live here from Chickies and Pete's in South Philadelphia. And speaking of guys that fit Philadelphia, maybe don't fit Philadelphia, we're going to find out. We'll talk about the manager, Gabe Kapler, heading into year two, what we think of him and how he'll manage this new group coming in to the season starting tomorrow. We're live tonight. Chickies and Pete's in South Philly giving away opening day tickets and tickets to the Fans of Philly trip on Tuesday down to D.C.

right here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back, Sports Radio 94 WIP. Joe Giglio with you live tonight from Chickies and Peets in South Philadelphia. We are about to give away a winner for tomorrow's opening day. We have tickets to give away, also a trip, fans of Philly trip Tuesday down to Nationals Park to see Bryce Harper's first game down there in D.C. I'm going to be there. Jack's going to be there.

Half of this hour is going to be down there. It's going to be amazing. Bus trip. Nice of you guys to invite us, but whatever. So what's the – It's all about the evening show. It's the most important show on the station. What is the reaction from Nationals fans when he gets introduced?

Good question. Because I think he's going to get more cheers than anything. There are National fans? Right. That's my point. The people in the park. Let's put it. The people in the park that night.

I think he'll get some cheers. I think he gets cheers. There's no way. There's some Nationals fans in the park, I guess. No, there's no way. Listen, they got so offended by CBP South. They do hate Philadelphia, though. They do.

Yeah, but how many Phillies fans are also going to be there? It's going to be difficult to gauge. We have 600 in right field. Well, no, there's easily going to be a couple thousand people. There's a lot of people that live in the Maryland, Northern Virginia area, D.C. area. D.C. is a transplant city. Exactly. Exactly.

So if there's 1,000 Phillies fans, that's going to – that will be louder than 10,000 Nationals fans. It really will be. It will be. It reminds me of when A-Rod signed with the Rangers. He went back to Seattle. They threw dollar bills on the field. I would love it if it's something like that.

That's clever. That is strong. Well, there's no way the Nationals fans are that clever. Let's not give them that much credit. They'll have some sort of dumb chant. Yeah, like Natitude or something. Write it. Yeah, write it.

I can't tell you how many people that I'm just talking to and meeting or wherever that are from the D.C. area that now are trying to sell me on how Bryce Harper is going to be a bad signing. They're like, oh, you don't know how he is. And I'm like, well, I mean, I don't really care how he is. Like, I probably have a better idea how he is than you think I do. You know what I mean? We didn't want him anyway. Right.

Okay. We never wanted that guy. We just offered him $300 million. All right. High Hopes Pot is here this hour. James Seltzer, John Marks, and Jack Fritz. Let's talk about the manager who last year, and you guys were with me last year doing this hour, Gabe Kapler was the story.

And I think it's a really good thing for the Phillies that the manager's not as big of the story. Now, he's still going to be a story because he is what he is and how he managed the way he manages. He's not as big of a story. What do we expect out of Gabe here, too? He's already saying and doing things more conventionally. He's going to have more of a set lineup.

My feeling is he'll do some things more conventionally. He'll still be Gabe in a lot of areas. The bullpen, I think he'll still do his Gabe thing. I think he could be really creative in center field and third base because they don't have anything locked down there. But I just wonder at what point of the season does he go back to tinkering? If they get into a slump, if they

are struggling, is he going to leave that lineup the way it is or is he going to say no, I've got to shake things up and I've got to do it my way? I don't think he does it. I don't think with the veterans on this team. Do you think he's going to leave it? He'd be making a mistake if they struggle and he decides to tell guys that have been MVPs in this league,

that have been All-Stars in this league, that I'm going to do this Gabe Kapler analytics stuff. I think he'd be best served in just rolling with your veterans. Like you said, there's going to be areas where he can do the Gabe stuff. He can do the tickering, the bullpen, center field, third base. There's some moving parts there. But for the most part, one through five, even six, leave it how it is. It's a long season.

Get a good feel for when players need a couple days. Charlie Emanuel was great at knowing when Pat Burrow was struggling, stood him out for a week. You know what I mean? He had a really good pulse on how to handle his hitters. That's what I want to see from Gabe, not tinkering. I feel like this is the most pro-Gabe Kapler hour you'll get on WIP. Yes.

In the history. Four Gabe guys right here. That's pretty much it. This never happens. Shock full of Gabe guys. I think that we might be the most you'll get at any point on any show on WIP. So we're all Gabe guys. We're all on board with this guy.

But I do think there are some things he does have to tweak and improve. I'll give you one thing that worried me at the end of last year. I felt like at the end of last year they took on his personnel. I remember after a game they lost to the Mets. Remember they played the Little League field in Williamsport? Of course. That was a rough Pavetta start. Bad series.

They looked awful. They were slumping. And after the game, I heard Reese Hoskins talk, but I felt like I was listening to the game. He was like, oh, we're fine. Look at the standings. We're good. We're a good team.

They never had a sense of urgency last year, and I think part of that was because he was always very calm. At some point, you've got to push the button and say, okay, it's time to go. Well, and he's already changed that a bit. I mean, listen to him talk now. I remember yesterday we were talking about how last year in spring training it was like, we're making the playoffs. Yeah.

And then this year he's like, I'm not sure. We have to prove it, he said. Right. He's been so much more. I think the PR staff finally was like, listen, you've got to be this way in this town. You can't be full Gabe. I mean, Andy McPhail said it out loud. He said he can't keep doing this.

He has to be more critical of his players in public, all that type of stuff. He's got to be a human. And, look, I am willing to give Gabe the benefit of the doubt in this area in the sense that, and, look, it could just be rhetoric, but everything he's said, everything he's talked about has been introspective. It's been, I'm going to look at what I've done. I'm going to take this criticism. I'm going to use it.

And he does seem like that type of person, right? Like he's never seemed like someone who is like, screw you, I know better. It's just he is a certain way, and he acted that way as a manager, and I think that he hopefully has learned from that first season, heard what people have said, including the president of the team, and I think he's going to react to that, and I think he's going to attempt. Look, you're never going to change who you are, like you said. He's still Gabe.

He's still a different guy from the type of guy we generally are drawn to in Philadelphia, but I think he's willing to change, and you hope you see it this year. John, the one thing that he does too much, and maybe he'll change it this year, he explains things too in-depth to the fans. Yeah, we don't need to hear about FIP, man. Right, like, if he wants to use... I mean, some people do.

If he wants to use the numbers to make his decisions, I'm fine with that. He should do that. He doesn't have to explain what those numbers are. He could just dumb it down, and I think people would like that better. Don't talk about it because no fan wants to hear analytics and this is why I did this and do that. I couldn't care less if Gabe Kapler criticizes his players publicly. Yeah, me too.

I actually like the fact that now he goes overboard and he tries to when they lose 6-2, he's trying to spin it positively. I don't want that. Just keep it simple and get the hell out of there, Gabe. Like the janitor that one time. Yeah, no, exactly. Seriously, I don't need that. But also, I can just not pay attention to that, right?

I don't want him publicly ripping his players. I think it's ridiculous. You don't need to criticize. You don't. You need to be. Pete McKinnon, I thought, did a good job of this. Just be honest. If somebody wasn't good, just say, yeah, well,

obviously he didn't have a great night tonight, or obviously he made some mistakes, but that's going to happen over the course of a year, and we'll talk about it, and we'll be fine. I think if his strategy was different in the press conferences, he could still not rip his players, but just seem more real to the fans. Be real. It's a great, I think that's it.

Just be real with us. This is a that's it. Just be real with us. This is a city where you have to be real with us. We are too good at detecting the BS. We just are. The fans were really good at it last year. Yes. I mean, no one showed up. They didn't believe it.

They knew it. Yes, you just be honest, be real, and I think John makes a great point. You can do it without throwing guys under the bus. Just be tactful. And don't be Sandberg. Well, you have to care to be Sandberg. But I also think a lot of fans want Larry Bowe to come in and flip the clubhouse table. He's not going to do it.

Which, you know what? Every once in a while, I think you need that. To your point, you just can't have the same positive message. Sometimes you need to show people you're unhappy. But in press conferences, Gabe's not going to come out ripping guys, nor should he. And they would see right through it. Do it behind closed doors. Right. Do it behind closed doors

because, I mean, I'll ask you, what manager coach right now in pro sports will rip specific players after games? It doesn't happen. Those days are over. They're over. They're over, and I'm fine with that. The one thing that I think is a big deal this season for Gabe, and this came out a couple weeks ago, guys,

he only signed a three-year contract, which means we're in the middle year, which means if nothing happens, if they just play this year and then they go into 2020, he's a lame duck manager. So I feel like we're heading down the path of a few things. Lame duck, I find that hard to believe. They give him a contract extension after this year, which could happen if they're good. Or if they're not good, they might have to make a decision here.

I don't like Gabe Kapler, but the reality of his contract is. I don't think they're bringing him back as a lame duck guy. I think it's a contract extension or he's gone. I think it's an extension or he's gone. Well, it doesn't really matter. McCannon got a contract extension in the middle of the season. Right. But they would do something.

You could say it doesn't matter, but that's doing something. I would say this. After this year, you're going to know ifabe capler's your manager going forward right like even if you don't make the playoffs the circumstances could have been your your starting pitching fell apart bryce harper got hurt it was still a good team it just they fell a little bit short we're excited about next year or it could be guys are rolling their eyes at gabe they're fighting in the club house you know what i mean like collapse again or something. There is a scenario where he is not back this year. I think you're

going to know everything you need to know about Gabe Kapler after this year. He gets an extension. I don't think he comes back as a lame duck. The one aspect of this team that he's going to have the most imprint on is the bullpen. That's what he did last year. And for a while, there was that stretch in late June into July.

He was getting a ton of outs every night from guys that... Austin Davis. Remember the Austin Davis game? I mean, they had guys come out of the pool. Who could forget the Austin Davis game? It was unbelievable. And he was pushing all the right buttons. I think he's good at that, but the one thing he will... He's putting himself out there because it feels like they're not going to have a

closer again, and it feels like every night he's going to decide, okay, Sir Anthony here, Robertson here, Neris here, like every night he's going to decide, okay, Sir Anthony here, Robertson here, Neris here, Hunter here when he's healthy, Neshek. Do you trust Gabe running the bullpen without set roles? So the one thing that really bothered me last year was that a guy would go out and finish an inning, and then he put that guy back out there after they got out of a big spot. Usually to try to get one more or two more guys out, and then he want to take them right so like he'd bring in sir anthony with second and

third two outs he'd get out of that and then he'd bring him back out there and that guy would like always get rocked and i feel like that might have been a data point last year that might have been a thing like we want to have that number this year so we can use it in the next coming years martin figuring out what you have yeah and i'm fine if you want to do that in year one year two though like if you see a trend that's definitely not working, like putting a guy out there after he gets out of a big spot for the emotional letdown that eventually comes with that, like that's one thing he definitely has to work on from that standpoint. I agree.

Yeah, I personally would love for them to have more defined roles. I'm fine with the mixing and matching of matchups, but at least in the closer spot. First of all, I think back to the athletes as humans things, I think it's not something that every pitcher can do. Just because you're a great pitcher, I don't think that means you can close. Yeah, like high school Fritz couldn't come out of the bullpen. Exactly, because he's a head case. College Fritz couldn't get anybody out.

I mean, it happens. Hector Neris is a pitcher I actually really like from a talent perspective. The guy can't close. It just is what he is. He doesn't have the head for it. So I personally would feel better if they had a guy in that role because I do think that it stabilizes things. Well, who's the guy then?

Is it Robertson or is it Dominguez? That's the question, right? Look, Robertson's done it in the past. I think Sir Anthony's a better pitcher. Does that mean you put him in the ninth and just lock that down, or does that mean he's more valuable as a fireman type of guy you can move around i think that's debatable personally i think that ultimately when it all shakes out i think sir anthony will be an end of the game type of guy so i do think it ultimately gets to him especially because robertson is so good against left he's a little bit more of a

match i mean sir anthony's great against boats pretty clear john they went after robertson because he's comfortable pitching anywhere like if you're going to have Gabe do this with the bullpen, you've got to find pitchers that are okay if he says sixth inning tonight, eighth inning tomorrow night. Yeah, I think he does. And, again, everybody wants to define roles right now. That's going to work itself out over the course of, you know, really the first couple months of the season.

By June, July, you get to August. You're going to know who your eighth inning guy is. You're going to know who your seventh inning guys are. You're going to know who your seventh inning guys are. You're going to know who your ninth inning guy is. I would put Robertson in from the start to be the closer, without a doubt. And he can handle it. Let him handle it. And then you can use Sir Anthony, how you used him last year, which is sixth inning, seventh inning, whatever. I'm fine with that, especially this year. Ultimately, he's going to be your closer, but you don't have to do that yet. All right, we'll come back. We're live at

Chickies at Pizza tonight. The High Hopes podcast here with me for this hour. John Marks, James Seltzer, Jack Fritz. We'll come back, talk about the NL East, some of the X factors on this team, and some bold predictions for the 2019 season. Live tonight, Chickies at Pizza at South Philadelphia. Give it away.

Opening day tickets and tickets to the fans of Philly Trip to Washington, D.C. next week to see Bryce Harper take on the Nationals right here at Chickens and Beats in South Philadelphia. And, hey, college sports fans, the tournament is finally here, and you can get in on all the college basketball madness with FanDuel Sportsbook. Your knowledge of the game and the top teams could be about to pay off for you in a big way. FanDuel is more ways to win with spreads, props, and parlays, so it's easy to go find the right bet for you.

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Phillies roundtable. Joe Jilio with you live tonight. Chinkies and Peets in South Philadelphia. Join this hour by the High Hopes podcast. Sir Anthony's song. That's right. The Gillian with you live tonight. Chinkies and Peets in South Philadelphia. Join this hour by the High Hopes podcast. Sir Anthony's song. That's right. The Fireman. The Fireman. James Seltzer, Jack Fritz, John Marks with me here talking Phillies. We get ready for the season. The season open tomorrow

right here on WIP 305. The Braves coming in and Bryce Harper's the story. Bryce Harper's the big name. But guys, they brought in so many other players besides Bryce Harper this offseason that it's amazing how deep they've become. If they just got Bryce Harper off the team they had last year, the expectations would be nowhere near what they are right now.

So of the other players they brought in, of the other additions, who's the guy that either you're most excited for or you think is going to be an X factor here jt romito i mean the upgrade obviously offensively from alfaro to him is just massive you were talking about it before with mac and mac but there just aren't catchers who hit anymore in baseball it's a lost thing it's a lost thing and this guy is handily the best hitting catcher in baseball a guy who has hit really well his entire career when not playing in that cavernous ballpark in miami and then you look at the defensive side obviously

alfaro had the strong arm and good frame but real muto does everything else better and the calling a game perspective i think that's probably been the most under talked about huge thing for this team coming in is how that guy handles the staff and the difference that's going to make i am like super bullish about jt romito this year john who's your guy real muto someone else all the guys they brought in outside of harper who's the one you're most excited to watch especially after this whole fortnight thing where it took carlos santana and and a Louisville slugger to straighten these guys out, right? Like, what the hell's going on in that clubhouse? And in year one, Gabe trying to be the guy that's –

he ticked everybody off at the beginning of the year with the lineups and everything where he's just trying to keep his head above water. Now they're losing games. This obviously had been a problem the whole year, but when you're winning games, then you're not worried about guys that are maybe during the game, whoever it was. Andrew McCutcheon brings a level of professionalism into that clubhouse that was needed last year that wasn't there.

And Matt Klintak for sure realized that, hey, I need to bring in guys that have been there, done that, to where now Gabe doesn't have to worry about patrolling the clubhouse. You let your veterans do it. And Reese Hoskins isn't that guy. Still too young in the game. Bryce Harper's going to help with that, but he's more of a lead-by-example guy than going to go yelling at somebody.

Andrew McCutcheon will chew somebody out because he's been there, done that. And the whole Arrieta spring, too. Like, Arrieta came in at the end of last year. He had no credibility. I mean, other than he was Jake Arrieta. Wasn't he the one playing Fortnite with the rest of them? He was. He's a big Fortnite fan.

Right. Like, I don't even want to hear it. And he also called out Kingery with the rest of them? He was. He's a big Fortnite fan. Right. I don't even want to hear it. He also called out Kingery in that game. Yeah, I know. He wasn't really a leader last year. Right, but he looks different this year, though, from our leadership. Great point, Joe. He did after that San Francisco game.

Just to put a bow tie on it, we're not even talking about what McCutcheon's capable of on the field, which is maybe 280 and 18 home runs and 75 RBIs. And a ton of runs. He'll get on base a lot. He'll bring a level of professionalism that they haven't had both on the field and in the clubhouse. Well, they're replacing Carlos Santana with a Carlos Santana-esque player and moving Hoskins back to first base.

Like, it's just a seamless transition. He's a better Santana. Yeah, he's a better Santana. They like that player. He's that kind of offensive player. And in the leadoff spot last year at the Yankees, he peed on the OBP of 425, I think. It was a good signing. I don't think Bryce Harper is much of a talker.

Like you said, he'll lead by example. But when things got bad last year, Reese Hoskins was the only guy that would talk. McCutcheon will talk. I think teams need that. They need someone. When everything's going bad, they've lost 7 out of 10, who's going to stand there in front of the media and answer the questions? That had to be tiring on Reese.

He was the only guy last year to answer questions. That's a big deal. Jack, who's your guy? Besides Jason O'Chart? For me, it's Jason O'Chart. Yeah, I know it is. We all know it's Jason O'Chart for you. Yeah, well, since everyone's taken everyone.

I'll say Gene Segura just from the standpoint of you're adding in a 300-hitter in your two-hole. It's like getting 2011 Placido Polanco, basically, as your two-hole hitter. You have Gene Segura, who's a better shortstop than Kingery was. Going from Kingery, who batted.226 with a.276 OEP, to Gene Segura. It's a big difference. Just think about it. Huge. Just think about it.

You go from McCutcheon in left field to Reese Hoskins, or Reese Hoskins to McCutcheon. That's a huge upgrade. You have Reese Hoskins back to first base. Obviously, Santana's a better first left field to Reese Hoskins, or Reese Hoskins to McCutcheon. That's a huge upgrade. You have Reese Hoskins back to first base. Obviously, Santana's a better first baseman than Reese Hoskins. You've got Harper over Nick Williams and Altair in right field. Well, that's going to make Herrera way better. Catcher. Catcher.

It's crazy. Like, Herrera last year, the only reason his defensive numbers slipped was because he had me in left field playing defense, and he had Nick Williams in right field who can't play the field either. So, like, everything on this team actually finally makes sense, whereas last year was the mishmash. And the other thing is now with Oduble's just kind of a, you don't even think about him, right? He sits there in the sixth hole.

He could be dangerous because nobody's focusing on him. Before, the offense didn't go if Oduble wasn't going with the offense. And Franco's an eight-hole hitter now. on him before the offense didn't go if if oduble wasn't going with the offense and and franco is an eight hole hitter now so you put him in the eight hole before you needed him to drive and runs on this team doesn't really matter pedro feliz if he does pedro feliz you're happy i mean two years ago i looked at the lineup the other night the lineup two opening days ago insane three of the top four hitters were cesar oduble and michael and now they're six seven eight it's totally different yeah i think the oduble point really Kellenko. And now they're 6-7-8. It's totally different. Yeah, I think

the Oduble point really too, and especially because this offense is already going to be so good, and if they can get the locked-in version of him more often than not, and look, you know, you hear stuff, whatever, it doesn't matter, but the Jim Salisbury article about him working on the between-the-ears stuff, I know

that we all know that's been the issue for him, but to hear that they've actually got a sports psychologist going through a batch with him, saying, why were you successful here? Let's go through this. And if they can do anything to make that between-the-ears stuff work, I mean, think about what this offense could be with a locked-in Odubo Herrera. I think he's the X factor for this team in the sense that he can make this offense the best in the National League. And they go from good to great if he hits.

Yep. If he hits. All right, let's end the hour. We'll end it with your bold predictions for the season and some predictions for what this team's going to be. I'm going to throw some over-unders at you guys. You tell me first thought over-unders on whatever I throw at you. Here we go.

Jack, you get the first one here. Okay. Over-under, 200 strikeouts for Nick Pavetta. It's the easiest over you could ever have. The guy struck out 188 guys in 164 innings last year. You're telling me if he doesn't throw seven more innings, he can get over 200?

It's easy. I was thinking about it today because I was writing the bold predictions piece, and it was like 200 is easy. Put me at like 220. That's what I said on the IOP spot. I said 220 is my bold prediction. John, last year Scott Kingery had about 450 plate appearances. Right now he doesn't have a position. He's actually going to be the super utility guy they wanted him to be last year.

Over under, 350 plate appearances. Under three and a quarter. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine with that. So he plays enough. I mean, listen, he's going to earn his at-bats on this team. Last year I wanted him to be given the position so he could develop. Development's over at this point.

So unless you think that Cesar or Franco are going to be completely ineffective, he doesn't have a starting job. Franco's going to go through swoons, and Cesar's going to need some time off, right? Let him earn his at-bats. James Seltzer over-under starts made this year by Vince Velasquez. Nine and a half. One and a half. Can I pray?

Can we give him a couple, Jack? Can I pray for the under? All right. Realistically, I think he's going to go over. I think that, look, this team has clearly shown that they are committed to trying to make Vincent Velasquez work as a starter. And I think they're going to give him a couple months to do it, and that's over double digits. He definitely has a leash this year, though.

Like in the years past, he didn't have a leash. Jared Eichhoff is healthy, and they actually have someone else who has pitched meaningful innings in Major League Baseball before they can put in for him. But I still think they're going to try and make it work. I don't feel great about the over here. And, again, I would prefer it's under,. I don't feel great about the over here. And, again, I would prefer it's under, but I think he'll get over nine off starts.

Jack, when is the date of the first fire Kapler column or take that we see put out there? Will they pull him on opening day again? That won't happen. May 1st for Kapler. May 1st. No. He's going to be the manager of the year, so over. But that means no struggles. All it takes is a bad week, and someone will say it.

No, they'll have a lull in the middle of June. We're going to get Fire Kapler tomorrow on our show. Let's be real about this. He pulls Noel out, and there he goes on the home run. Come on. I think how you have to answer that question is, how do you expect the Phillies to start the season? If they start sluggish, and the pitching's not there,

and the offense is tight early. If they start 2-10. Well,'s not there and the offense is tight early. If they start 2-10. Well, I mean, listen, we'll melt down. 2-6. We won't even be through 10 games if people say it's not the answer. People are ready to pound. 0-1, guys. 0-1.

The reason why you're not hearing a lot of Kapler talk right now is because everybody's positive and happy about getting Bryce Harper and the other guys. The minute they don't win games is the minute the attention turns to the manager. John, the date of the first time Bryce Harper hears legitimate boos, not one guy behind home plate, but he hears boos at Citizens Bank Park. More than a smattering? July 1st, before or after? After.

I agree. Why are we writing the grave already? He's going to be fine. He'll get booed eventually. Why? Why would he get booed He's gonna be fine Look at boot eventually. Why why would he get blue action boo someday? How about this never got I don't think he gets booed this year All right, I don't think he gets booed this year It looks like legitimately booed just because I think he's gonna be really good So if I believe he's gonna be really good

There's gonna be no reason for people to boom look He might not run out of ball in August or something and he gets some booze from a few people over there or something but i i would be surprised if he has again if he has a good season which i believe he will i don't think he's gonna get boozed all right let's end with this your predictions for the 2019 phillies some people think they were world series team a lot of people think they're a definite playoff caliber team over-unders 89 and a half wins james what's your forecast here 92 wins joe gilio and i have to win the division i have them winning the division by a game over the nationals i have the nationals as a wild card team i sadly am not look they are a legitimate contender to make it to the world series i think they fall just short i have them losing in the

nlcs yet again and this time was the the DS before, but it's the Cardinals. I think the Cardinals are their kryptonite again. But I think they make the NLCS. NLCS. How about that? A big one to start. John? 91 wild card, losing four games in the opening round of the playoffs.

So they win the wild card game, you're saying? Yes, they do. All right. Yeah, they get into a series. Aaron Nola's pitching it. He'll win that game. But ultimately, do they have the starting pitching to compete with some of the better teams in the National League?

And I do not believe that they are, but it's a good start, and they have some work to do. Jack? 90 wins, wild card, make it to the NLDS and lose. In my gut, and when I close my eyes, I cannot envision this rotation yet, winning a playoff series. Wow, so I'm the only oneDS and lose in my gut. And when I close my eyes, I cannot envision this rotation yet, winning a playoff series. Wow, so I'm the only one who hasn't won any playoffs.

I have the same thing. I have 90 wins. That wins the division at 90. Okay, so at least you're with me on the win the NLDS. I think they're going to lose in the NLDS, though. That's fair. I guess I just believe more than everybody else. What can I say?

In my gut, I can't see the rotation. If they trade with Robbie Ray or Madison Bumgarner. Madison Bumgarner is going to start game two of the series. He'll be fine. If you get Bumgarner or Ray, it's a different story. That's a totally different story. Give me playoff bump. Well, that would be a game two.

Yeah, like one of the best playoff pitchers in the history of baseball? Sure. Yeah. Guys, it has been a fun hour. James, I'll be here with you tomorrow for the game. That's going to be awesome. Thank you for coming out. Thank you, John Marks, Jack Fritz, and everybody being part of this hour here.

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