High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Phils Break Out the Brooms and Have Their First Big Test

Episode Date: April 23, 2018

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are talkin' sweeps as the Phils sweep out the Pirates at home over the weekend. Revenge Season Jake is here and when will people appreciate Odubel? They also look ahead to the Phils' first big test, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are coming into town this week.  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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today. Terms and conditions apply. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. I am James Seltzer. And with me, I'm so excited not just to talk about a 14-7 Phillies team, a team that has swept the Pirates since we at the High Hopes crew last spoke to you, but I'm even more excited because I get to talk to my buddy about it, Jack Fritz. Fritzy, what's going on, brother? 14-7. And, James, I don't know about you, but I was watching the game today,

and I saw a mostly full Citizens Bank Park, and it made my heart happy. It was a beautiful day. And, like, just seeing that many people at the ballpark again, I was so excited. I was like, man, it feels like there's a different buzz about this team. Everyone's kind of gotten over the Aaron Nola being pulled after 68 pitches thing. It feels like more people are just behind the team now. It feels like we have a summer of fun baseball ahead, and you can kind of see that with the crowd that was at Citizens Bank Park today. Yeah, people can't be upset anymore

holby milner's not even on the team there's no one to get upset about anymore um milner of course getting optioned for tommy hunter thank you tommy hunter's back which is exciting enough as it is but um but i'm with you i thought you know it's one of those things where it's been a while you know just to be frank about it it's been a while, you know, just to be frank about it. It's been a while since we've seen Citizens Bank Park filled, close to filled, whatever, on a nightly basis. And I remember there's some times over the last few years where it's been, you know, really upsetting how empty it has been. And I'm with you, Jack. That's the thing is that, you know, people sometimes memories are short and you don't remember. But this place from 2007 to 2011,

Citizens Bank Park, was the coolest spot in town. It really was like the spot to go down and have a great time. And I'm with you, Jack. I think it's going to get back to that. I thought you kind of felt that yesterday. And look, not only does it take time, obviously, for the weather to get better, and that's just a fact of life. People are more likely to go

down to a baseball game when it's gorgeous out than when it's you know cold or whatever but they also want to see a good baseball team and and this team is is starting to earn that trust of the fan back in the sense of saying you know what if you come out and you pay some money we're gonna go out and we're gonna play hard hard for you. And, Jack, I think let's start there because we'll get into the sweep of the Pirates, and we'll get into finally a real test coming up this week. But at least for me, my biggest takeaway through almost a month of watching this team play and certainly over the weekend, the type of baseball they played, it's just a fun team. Yeah, they're a fun team that is is young they have found ways to win like last year

they lost so many one run games and ended up killing them record wise in the end that is completely flipped this year and one of the things that i think we we as as fans of this team and guys who are trying to project this team one of the things I think we really underrated was the fact that these guys all came up together. They all came up through single A, double A, triple A, and they all won at every single level. These guys have won at every single level, and they're bringing that winning atmosphere to the ballpark

on a night-in, night-out basis. I mean, you see Reese Hoskins having the clutch home run last night. You know, it's just like these guys, they've been in pressure-filled moments before. While it's still minor leagues, it doesn't really matter. I mean, you're used to pressure-filled moments all the time. I was 2-0 in the high school playoffs. I mean, we all – I mean, baseball players, just no pressure.

And they all stay calm, cold, and collected. And they're getting to the point where it feels like even if they're down late in a ballgame, that they're going to find a way to win a ballgame. And that's a fun time to tune in. When you're just a casual baseball fan getting back into baseball, and, you know, it's the sixth inning and your team is down by one, you can tune in and be like, listen, the Phillies have a chance in this game. It's not like years past where you have Peter Borges in the eighth hole

and you're like, well, there's an easy out. And then the pitcher's up. It's becoming a night in, night out, must watch this Phillies team. And I'm so glad they're back. Yeah, I think you hit on some interesting stuff in there. For a stat guy, I don't know how many stat guys would love these guys coming up together. But I think there's something to that. And look, not all of them, but I do think that there is something to that. And I think it's also just kind of – I think that these types of experiences early in the season are going to be huge.

You mentioned the one-run games. They're 6-1 in one-run games. They're 4-0 in extra inning games. They're finding ways to win games. And I think that that type of stuff is crucial. You see it all the time where there are just teams that that find ways to win games and if you can cultivate that type of of feeling in a team that type of belief that every time they're down they're saying you know we got this we can win this we're gonna win this we always

win this like that matters i think that really matters and especially in a sport like baseball and and like you said I think just from a talent perspective there aren't really a lot of holes in the lineup and look we've seen a lot of the guys already contribute it feels like it's a different guy coming through with a big hit you know each night like your boy coming through yesterday or today when people hear this probably yesterday your boy Aaron Altair coming through with the big hit in the 11th to win the game and you know I think it feels like it's a different guy each night I know we've seen Kingery come through we've seen Reese Hoskins come through we see JP Crawford scoring from first base on a single we see a lot of effort and it's a fun team

and I think that's part of it Jack I think that that's part of the reason it's such a fun team to watch is because they they aren't out of any game and because they do have such a, you know, kind of a mentality about them where you feel like they're never out of it. So whether or not it's because they came up together, I certainly think that that is something that is being cultivated with this team and something that this early winning, these record and one-run games, these close games are going to really help them as the season goes on, as they get into more important games like that. And, yeah, it's just, like you said, Jack, it's just fun to have a team that's worth watching on a night in, night out basis.

And also, you know what? Like, I know that the haters have quieted down a bit, but you can't not give credit to Gabe Kapler for a little bit of this as well. That dude weathered a really tough first week. Since that 1-5 start when people booed him at the home opener and everyone wanted to fire him three games into the season or whatever, since that 1-5 start, they're 13-2. All right?

I mean that 13-2. And I know the competition hasn't been that great, but they're winning the games that they have to play. Jack, let's look back at this weekend. a four-game sweep of the Pirates. Obviously, we got to see peak Jake Arrieta in the first game of the series. We got to see a couple one-run wins, tough wins. What was your kind of main takeaways from this four-game sweep of the Pirates at home? I mean, I can't believe i haven't

even you know jumped through the the screen yet uh revenge season jake is upon us like revenge like revenge season jake is a thing now the guy like i i was sitting here i got home from the game i was just sitting down and I was recapping in my mind. And I was like. Recapping in your mind, eh? Yeah. I was like, imagine. Jack's not a nerd, guys. He's not.

Imagine choosing you, Darvish, instead of Jake Arrieta, the heart and soul of that Cubs team. Like, it's such a bad decision. It was a bad decision at the time. You, Darvvish is garbage he will always be garbage and like wow and like we have revenge season jake revenge season jake he is coming out every night trying to make a point to the cubs saying you gave up on me and guess what now i'm here in philadelphia throwing 94 again he is throwing 94 again i He is throwing 94 again.

I mean, the NL has to be put on notice. The dude's throwing 94. He was averaging 92 miles an hour the last couple years. Guess what? 94-mile-an-hour Jake is a legit Cy Young candidate, and Theo Epstein, you moron, you let that go. Is Theo Epstein even a good GM like oh man I cannot believe how egregious of a mistake it was to choose you Darvish over Jake revenge season Arrieta

well you the one flaw in your argument here is there is no revenge season if they don't choose Darvish over him so one begets the other no yeah but revenge season doesn't happen if they choose jake air if they choose you darvish or not yeah that's my point so but sure and i have to your question yes theo epsine is a good general manager i mean i've been squatting on this. I don't know, can you? I'm a little nervous. I've been squatting on this take for a while. Oh, God. Theo Epstein is the best builder of teams I've ever seen. He is not a good maintainer. He is not a good sustainer.

He's a good builder, not a good maintainer. He ruined the Red Sox for a little bit there. Listen, that's a take I've been sitting on for a while. I feel good about it. Theo Epstein, great builder, bad maintainer. Yeah, I don't know. It's hard to rip Theo for really anything when he ended the two longest droughts in all of sports. He won a World Series for the Red Sox and for the Cubs.

When I was a kid, when I was growing up, those were two things that were like fait accompli. They were never going to happen. The Cubs were never going to win the World Series. The Red Sox were never going to win the World Series. I was in my 20s by the time it happened for the Red Sox. I was in my 30s by the time it happened for the Cubs. Theo Epstein, I don't know.

I think he's pretty good. That's helping my point. He's a great builder.. Theo Epstein, I don't know. I think he's pretty good. That's helping my point. He's a great builder. I don't care. I don't care. He's a legend. He is. And that's the way I look at it.

He is. But I get what you're saying. And I don't know if there's enough of a sample size to really make a call on that. And who knows? We'll see. But I do. Look, I don't think Darvish sucks as much as you do. I think they grossly overpaid him based on what the mark how the market shook out it certainly looked

like an overpay and i would certainly like it's not even a question i think jake arietta at three for 75 is a a light years a better deal than than darvish at whatever six for 126 or five or whatever it was i would much rather have the Arrieta deal. But I don't think Darvish is trash like you do, but we'll agree to disagree on that one. Hold on. What were your thoughts on the powder blue uniforms? Because I want them all the time.

I think they're the greatest uniforms in the sport. But here's the thing. I don't know if you could do them all the time. i think it's one of those things where they're too great like the joy of them getting them you know i think they should be in the rotation more it should be like a once a week thing once a week it's like up they busted out the powder blues oh they're gonna win tonight they're in the powder blues they are the greatest uniform that philadelphia had that and that the original flyers like true blue flyers uniforms pretty great too but the uh the powder blue phillies uniform is is among the great

uniforms in all of sports in my opinion also we have to talk about uh you okay there i mean yeah i just dropped my phone we're good we have to talk about the starting rotation as a whole they have the best you mean You mean the best starting rotation in the National League? Is that where you're going with this? When did that happen? I don't know. So, all right. Real quick, I'm with you with the Pirates series.

They just look great. And the bullpen, we'll get to the bullpen as well because it's just lights out. You know, if you get to the bullpen, the game is over apparently but um let's talk about the rotation look we've already gotten into arietta and we know what he can be if he's peak arietta and and we're gonna ride the revenge season and and if he's close to what he was in that pirates game any other times out this season it's gonna be a good year but uh and i think we both feel confident with aaron nola uh for those who don't know in the fantasy league that jack and i earned together jack does not own aaron nola on his team yet his team name is still aaron nola is my baby forever and always but so but but it's

really been the other three who have kind of made it where you know you expect what you expect and we've gotten what we expect and maybe a little bit more in that area to start but from these top two but Nick Cy Young, Pavetta Vincent Velasquez two great starts in a row you know three if you count the 20 to 1 game I don't know if I do but Lively has been

more than serviceable Jack you're the pitching guru what's happening here Ben I just rolled out of bed and pitched five innings and allowed four runs. That's about Ben Lively. That's pretty much the part of the course for Ben Lively. I'll start with Ben Lively.

Except for the six innings, one run he gave up two days ago. Come on, Jack. Yeah, whatever. No, I know. He's fine. He's fine. I'll start with Lively, and I'll work my way up to Nicholas Giancarlo Pavetta. Ben Lively is fine.

He's just a fine pitcher. And the thing is is that what has really unleashed him this year and what has unleashed all of these guys is pitching up in the zone. And Lively's been pitching up in the zone more and more. He only throws 91, but it looks harder coming out of out of his arm because he goes elbow first before throwing it so it's kind of like a slingshot and the first two times through the lineup it's it's hard to pick up on that's why i think he's so good at getting through uh the first two times in the lineup and keep you in a ball game before turning it over to the bullpen i mean the bullpen ispen's going to be in the sixth inning or seventh inning in most of Lively's starts.

It's just that that third time around the lineup is when he gets lit up because of his arm angle. But I trust him enough to get me five. So I've been fine with Lively. He'll get you what he gets you. It's fine. Vince Velasquez has really, really impressed me. Not as much as Pavetta, but he is using his off speed more and more. Vince Velasquez has really, really impressed me. Not as much as Pavetta, but he is using his off-speed more and more early in counts. And my one quip with Velasquez was that when things got tough the other day in Atlanta,

he reverted back to being the old Vince Velasquez. He was like, here, here's six straight fastballs, 94 miles an hour. And they started getting hit around, which is something that Velasquez has to get past if he wants to become a better pitcher in this league. But his curveball, he's been throwing it more and more. Some kind of third pitch, I think it's a changeup. It seems like a split changeup.

It moves like a split changeup. I am in a holding pattern on Velasquez. I am encouraged. I am not holding pattern on velasquez i am in i am encouraged i am not completely out on velasquez but uh not completely in on him being great now the guy that i'm in on is the the beautiful canadian himself nicholas john carlo pavetta this guy is he is disgusting like his curveball i was on the floor watching it today because my ankles were so broken. And it's just like the guy throws a hard-ass fastball at 94,

but it has rise to it. And for some reason, he was trying to throw that fastball at 94 with rise to it at the bottom of the zone last year, which is just so stupid because, of course, if the ball's rising, it's rising right into the batter's wheelhouse. This year, he's completely changed that. He's throwing it up in the zone, so it's starting at the guy's letters and ending up at the guy's head, but guys are swinging at it because it's rising and they're not making hard contact on it.

Whereas if you're starting it at the knees, it's rising right down the middle of the plate. So, like, he has just taken a huge step forward in the evolution of being a starting pitcher. And that's what makes me most excited about him. Velasquez really hasn't. Pavetta, in the other hand, last year, whenever he started allowing runs, they'd just be like, oh, here's a fastball right down the middle. Here, hit this 450 feet. Now, it's like, here, you just got a double off me.

Here's a curveball. Here's a slider. Here's a fastball up in the zone. He actually is pitching with a plan. I am going to win my pizza bet with Jody McDonald, and Nick Pavetta is emerging into a very, very good pitcher in this league. Look at you. You went double very. He's not just a very good. He's a very, very good pitcher. this league. Look at you. You went double very.

He's not just a very good. He's a very, very good pitcher. I didn't want to go ace. I thought I'd be too early for ace. Well, because he's not a stop. Yes. Let's rein it in a little bit here and keep this. Oh, man.

Look, I'm with you. I've been really encouraged by what I've seen from Vett. I think you make really, really great points, especially just about his approach and his plan as a pitcher. And you've seen it. You've seen his demeanor even, it feels like. It feels like he's got a different demeanor on the Hill this year. You see so much less of the hot-headedness that you would see last year.

And he's really, he's pitching with a purpose, it feels like, out there. And I've been really impressed with Pivetta and what he's done this season. I don't know how you couldn't be. Obviously, I want to see it continue. I want to see with tougher competition coming in, see him continue along this path and continue to trust his stuff like you said and not revert back to some of those bad habits uh as vinny velasquez i don't know what i'm right there with you with velasquez in the sense that i'm somewhat encouraged by the last couple outings but i like i just feel like it's it's a ticking time bomb

with velasquez worth with pavetta i can believe that these changes are, could be real permanent changes. Velasquez, I've just, I don't know if it's that I've just been burned too many times, but I just, I need to see it for a far longer period of time and need to see the approach and need to see him not drop back into bad habits consistently for me to be back in on Vinny Velasquez's island, as it were. And I'm with you. Lively's just a guy. But he's a guy who's been giving you solid innings right now, so you take what you can get out of him. And regardless, I think you're hitting it on the head with Pavetta.

I'm not ready to go where you're going. I think for right now, he's a really nice third starter for this team. And we'll have to see if he continues against stronger competition. One thing I will say that I think is is going to continue and and only continue to get better phillies have one of the best bullpens in the sport right now jack uh i i mean after week one i think a lot of people in this city wanted to take the entire bullpen and throw it in the trash now it has just been uh you know two a half, three weeks straight of lockdown, shutdown performances from literally everyone in the pen,

and now they bring Hunter back. What has been your take on that? You're a bullpen guy. You're a fan of the bullpen arms, Jack. What have you seen that's kind of stood out to you from this lights-out bullpen over the last few weeks? That's so flattering to be named a bullpen fanatic. Hey, I call him like I see him, Jack.

Listen, just because I dream. Yes, when I get texts from you being like, guess who my new reliever crush is. I'm like, come on. That's a bullpen guy. Just because I have dreams about Josh Hader being a Philly doesn't mean that I like him. Here's the thing. I have been very in on the bullpen, and the bullpen's been great. They also just got back their best bullpen pitcher today.

Yeah, that's my take, too. Tommy Hunter is really good. Really good. He's throwing that cutter up in the zone. Left-handed, he's good against lefties. He's good against righties. He just knows how to pitch. I mean, Tommy Hunter is the best guy in this bullpen,

and I think you saw that game one today. I don't trust – I just don't trust Neris. And I don't know if I'll ever trust Neris. Like, I think he's good. I don't trust him to be a closer. And I was thinking about this week about how the Orioles are basically a dumpster fire and they're going to be trading at the deadline. I wonder if they've been keeping, like the Phillies in a sense,

have been keeping that closer role kind of by committee because they have their eyes set on one, Zach Britton. Because I think Zach Britton would be a guy that would come in here and kind of just let everyone settle into a role. I don't think Neres is a closer. I think he's a really, really good stop-the-fire guy slash set-up guy, however you talk about modern baseball. And I think Tommy Hunter is in that same sense. Pat Neshek, Luis Garcia, Eduray Ramos, Victor Arano, Adam Morgan. All those guys are really, really, really good bullpen pieces.

But none of those guys are closers. And I think if they go and get Zach Britton at the deadline, it lets him be the closer and everyone else settle into a role. So, Neres is one guy I don't really trust. Everyone else, now that Hobie Milliner has got his ass out of town, I am fully in on this Phillies bullpen. Victor Arano, still great. He's still doing everything.

No more perfect. Yeah, well, I mean, that was never going to last. Still, comes in, throws strikes, 94-95. A slider that he can control. I mean, once you have two pitches as a middle reliever that he can throw for strikes, it's kind of game over because usually those guys come in and just walk people. Luis Garcia threw

two of the nastiest pitches I've ever seen yesterday afternoon or two days after afternoon. The bullpen is really rounding into form. Tommy Hunter's coming back. Tommy Hunter's back. Tommy Hunter's back. Tommy Hunter's back. The only one I don't really, really 100% trust is Hector Neris.

Yeah, I'm very – I mean, and Drew Hodgson. Hodgson, really a long guy. We're both – I'm a Drew Hodgson fan. I would assume you are too from back in the day. I always thought Hodgson had promise when he was trying to be a starter. He fills a role in that pen, but I'm you on narrows i've never felt super confident anytime hector narrows comes in and this is coming off a weekend where he had two saves and pitched pretty well but i uh i'm with you i've never really felt like he was a closer i never really felt like he

had the demeanor and again i also i um i always kind of that's another one of those things where i kind of separate from the analytics crowd or the stack crowd where a lot of those guys would say that anyone can be a closer it doesn't matter that you know as long as you can pitch just throw them in there and they'll be fine i do think there is something to being a closer there's a mentality there's a you know you kind of need to want to be out there on the ledge you know you got to be that guy who wants to be out there with the game on the line in that moment. And I think that that does matter, at least to a certain point. So I've never really felt like Neris was that type of guy.

So I get that. And Britton, a really interesting name. I think Britton, a free agent after the seasons, that could complicate some things. Obviously, at the moment, still coming back from injury. But really interesting name there, especially because with the injury with the free agency especially if you're getting a guy for now for this year to to compete i think it's a perfect name because i don't think he costs you much and he can come in and like you said jack really sets the the kind of roles in that bullpen pretty well pretty clearly but it really is amazing to think that obviously they could add somebody.

But regardless of that, just the amount of talent in this bullpen right now, I mean, you listen them all off, but I trust all those guys. Every name you send from Victor Rano to Ramos to Garcia to Adam Morgan to Tommy Hunter coming back to Neshek's not even back yet. I mean, these are all guys who, if they come in in the seventh or eighth inning of an important game, I feel confident they're going to get me out. That's something we haven't had here in Philadelphia

in a while, especially with big games on the line. Exciting stuff, and I'm with you 100% there, Jack. The one thing I want to say about the Britain deal is you mentioned you don't know what it's going to be worth. So I was trying to think of comps to a possible Britain deal. And the last one that came to mind was, well, I mean, you had the Arash Chapman one where it cost them Gleyber Torres, which is a huge price.

And that was crazy. Granted, they won a World Series, but that was an insane price. And Andrew Miller was traded from the— But he was under a couple more years of team control. Well, no, no, no. But the first time he got traded, it was for— Oh, when you're talking about that Cameron Maben trade? No, no, no.

He was traded for Eduardo Rodriguez. Oh, when he got traded to Boston. Duh. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. That seems like a trade that would make a lot of sense on paper. Eduardo Rodriguez is a promising talent. And the Phillies have a couple guys in the minor leagues like Medina, Suarez, not 6-0 obviously, but they have a couple arms that I think that could intrigue

the Orioles in that sense. So a deal could definitely come down. I like the idea of Britton just because it lets everyone settle into a role. I think he'll be available. I think he's good. I think obviously with Andy McPhail and Matt Klintak's background there, I think they'd be interested in re-signing him and kind of having that role solidified down for a long time

and just getting him in the building for the free agency next year instead of letting another team meet with him. Britton is becoming a big fan. I'm becoming a big Zach Britton fan, talking myself very quickly into him. Yeah, I'm surprised because I would be surprised. I don't think this organization is going to sign a closer for big money. That doesn't seem like the organizational philosophy that they would employ. I don't think it makes a ton of sense to sign closers for big money. That doesn't seem like the organizational philosophy that, that they would employ. I don't think it makes a ton of sense to sign closers for big money.

I don't think you necessarily, I, you know, not that you, like I said before, I think it takes a certain type of guy to be a closer, but I certainly don't think that guy is someone you have to go out and pay. I think you can find those guys.

I think you get, you know, we see them come up every year. I like a guy like Edwin Diaz, like guys, pretty good closer. You know, they brought them up through their organization. A guy like Edwin Diaz, that guy's a pretty good closer. They brought him up through their organization. I think you see it more than enough where you can find a guy who can fill that role.

Pittsburgh did it with Felipe Rivera. I can't remember what he changed his name to a week ago or whatever, but that dude's pretty good. So I get what you're saying. I personally, I would not, if it were me me I would not invest too many resources in filling the closer role I would try and find someone who I think could fill that role either internally or trade for someone who I think could fill that role but who is

not yet in that role or whatever but I wouldn't go crazy I would consider getting someone if you're making a push if the Phillies are sitting at 20 games over 500 at the trade deadline and they're really going for it, sure, go buy a closer to come in and really seal it down. But I would not bring a guy in and then give him $20 million a year

or something to be my closer or $15 million a year to be my closer. I think that's a little over the top. Did you say if and not when? All right. Yeah, that's a little over the top. Did you just say if and not when? Alright, yeah, let's look at how we got a big, big series coming up. The biggest series for this team yet this season. Six games this week, off day today,

Monday, but Tuesday through Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks coming to town. We get Robbie Ray, Zach Greinke, and something named Matt Kutch pitching for Arizona this week. What's your take on this? Look, you and I did our over-unders preview before the season, our over-unders, and I can't remember what the number was for the Diamondbacks, but we both went over on them, and so far that's looking like a pretty damn good call. They are 16-5 coming in, or excuse me, 15-6.

So they are a game better than the Phillies. Best record in the National League right now, Jack. What do you think about this Diamondbacks team? And also about this Phillies team kind of going up in their first real test of the season. I like the Diamondbacks, and I of the season? I like the Diamondbacks, and I think the only reason I like the Diamondbacks is because of Archie Bradley and A.J. Pollock. Because you're not a bullpen guy.

Not at all. I don't like Robbie Ray. I think Robbie Ray is fine, but I'm mostly judging this off of the fantasy community and how they handled Robbie Ray. And they had him as a talent. How they gave him all the love in the world. And I was just like, calm down.

He's not that good. He had one good year. Yeah, he had one good year. He had one good year. I like Diamondbacks a lot, just offensively wise. Goldie, obviously. Pollock. Jake Lamb's hurt.

But still, it's still a pretty potent offense. It'll be a good test. They have Archie out of the bullpen, which will be damn near unhittable when he comes in. But the matchups are fun. You have Arrieta versus Robbie Ray, which will be great. I think it's Arrieta

versus Greinke, isn't it? The Phillies' probables list is way messed up. So, yeah, no, you're definitely right on that. They have Jake Arrieta starting game one, and they have Jake Arrieta starting game three. So now that's being read. I actually think he's starting game two, which is the funny part. I'm pretty sure it's Vinny versus Robbie Ray, Arrieta versus Greinke,

and then Lively versus Matt Koch, assuming that holds. Okay, so the Phillies website is fake news. They have Arietta starting two games in three days, which is a little bold. If anyone could do it, right? Right. Seriously, if anyone could do it. I mean, just looking at the rotation, it'll be Vinny in game two. I don't think they would skip him, right?

So he's up next. So Vinny and then Arrieta. So, yeah. Listen, I'm already looking forward to Arrieta versus Granke. I mean, that is a throwback to aces just grabbing the ball and hopefully going. It's a match. When was the last time, Jack? You know, it's obviously when Halliday was here or Cliff Lee or whatever, but it's a match when was the last time jack you know it's obviously when holiday was here or cliff lee or whatever but it's a matchup of cy young winners

how cool is that it's very cool and it's happening in our city uh you're damn right no it'll be fun it'll be fun and and i'm really intrigued to see how the phillies handle themselves this series listen they've played against not great opponents and and sure we're all excited uh about where this team is listen they're off to their best home record in like 40 years or something which is just insane and that is putting in the the best like the 2007 and 2011 teams like this team is off to an unbelievably hot start at home which is which is awesome So, yeah, against the Diamondbacks, they are the best team or whatever in the NL at this moment. So show us what you've got.

You've played against some okay teams. The Pirates are a very, very okay team. And other than that, it's been mostly dreck. Go out there, make a statement, show us your back, and watch the fans pile into Citizens Bank Park. Yeah, I think it's a great point, Jack. It's not just mostly Drek, it's been Drek. The one team who they've played so far, who's played pretty well,

has been the Braves, and obviously they've lost four out of six against them. But, I mean, you've got the Reds who fired their manager already, and rightfully so. The Rays, who are a dumpster fire. The Marlins might be the worst team in baseball. It hasn't been a strong schedule. And like you said, the Pirates are very okay. I think that is the perfect way to describe the Pirates. They are just so average. But it's a big series.

I'm with you, Jack. This is an exciting start for this team sitting at 14-7, a young baseball team. I think you and I were excited about them. There were some people locally who were really geared up for this season, but I think nationally not a lot of people really expected them to take that big a jump, even after the Arrieta signing, even with bringing in Santana. I think a lot of people looked at his new manager, young team, you know, 75 wins was the original over-under.

I think a lot of people said, you know, maybe they're a 500 baseball team at best. And I think that, you know, a 14 and seven start isn't going to change anyone's opinion on that, but a 14 and seven start and then coming out and and you know show them what you got against the team with the best record in the the in the national league a team that also made the playoffs last year and was expected to be a contender again this year i think that that can make a bit of a statement and again you know we're still in april

you can't get carried away with anything you see in April. But you can build confidence. You can create a mentality around a baseball team, all that type of stuff. And I think we're seeing that with this team. I think that's why I've been so impressed with the way they've played. And like we were talking about before, the record in one-run games, the extra inning wins, just the guttiness, the kind of really toughness that we've seen from them. I'm with you, Jay is a big spot for them. This is a

spot to take on the best team in the league in your home, you know, in your home stadium with a chance to make a statement. It's really exciting, Jay. I mean, this is, this is the biggest series of Philly. It's absurd. Again, this is April, but this is the biggest series of philly it's absurd again this is april but this is the biggest series of philly's baseball we've had here since like 2011 and let's not get carried away with april results but nick pivetta is going to be in a site on candidacy this year i thought you were gonna say let's not get carried but nick fett is a hall of famer listen that's next that's next week's episode that's what that's what you call a tease james i don't know if you ever worked in this business before but oh wow that's good to know

thank you that's really good coming up see how i kill jack no i'm kidding um no no i i i i completely agree and i i hope that i hope that aaron altair is starting game one. And I know everyone's like, oh, my God, you love Aaron Altair and whatever. That's actually the exact way. They're like, oh, my God, you love Aaron Altair. That's how they say it. I do love Aaron Altair. Listen, the guy was three for three today.

He took some good hacks the day before. Well, he didn't even start. Let's say he came in as a pinch hitter and went three for three. You don't see that too often. He came in as a pinch hitter, was three-for-3. You don't see that too often. He came in as a pinch hitter, was 3-for-3, took some nice hacks the game before. I think the highest upside of this Phillies team is getting Altair going. And Altair, for most of his career, has been a very, very streaky hitter. It's all about his front foot timing, which is so frustrating.

Figure it out, man. If all of your timing is based off your front foot, then just figure out what to do with your front foot. He's been a streaky hitter for all of his career. It feels like Altair is one of those guys and Abdul is one of those guys as well

where you kind of watch him and you're like, this guy is about to get hot. Altair has that look right now of a guy that's about to get hot and about to has that look right now of a guy that's about to get hot and about to raise his hopeful one is like 100 batting average to maybe something more respectable uh i hope he's starting game one and uh hopefully we can get a little bit because here's the thing this philly's offense has been pretty okay and they really haven't gotten anything from from their corner outfield spots well well right field or right field, or their catcher position.

I mean, Jorge Alfaro. Or their first baseman, let's not forget that, who's been incredibly unlucky. And please, people, chill out. If I see another, why did they sign Carlos Antetis? Terrible thing. I'm going to kill everybody.

He's been incredibly unlucky. He's got more walks than strikeouts. Chill out. But they haven't gotten any production from him either other than gold glove caliber first base. But otherwise, you know, add that to the list. No, I know. And they haven't gotten those guys going yet.

And once those guys are going, I mean, Alfaro has taken some nice swings the last couple days. I mean, he was a walking strikeout for about a week and a half there, and I was just like, dude, you can't possibly, you can't possibly be this bad. So if he can get some production going from Altair, if he can get some production going from Santana, Santana, he took some nice swings this past weekend. This offense has potential to get even better. The one guy who is, like, surprisingly struggling, and we haven't really heard about it because he's everyone's, like, favorite son,

is Scott Kingery. And I like Scott Kingery. I think Scott Kingery is going to be a really good player in this league. But the overrated, the overration, if that's a word of scott it's not it's not a word at all whatever you know the overrating of of is how you would say it like he's had some big hits and big moments and it's been great and i think he's gonna be fine he is just he's been a rookie he's just looked like a rookie at the plate he He's striking out all the time. His slash line is like 225 with like a 300 OBP.

It's just like people just assume this guy was going to come up and be amazing. That's just not how baseball works. Baseball has a way of humbling every single guy that plays it. And right now, Kingery is in that humble phase. He's being humbled at the moment. And I'm curious to see how he responds because a lot of guys can just dive and just be like, whatever.

I'm never going to get out of this. Kingery is a guy that seems like he's going to work and work and work until he gets out of it. I'm intrigued to see what these next two weeks hold for Scott Kingery. Yeah, I think he'll get it. Like you said, he has already shown an ability to come through in the clutch and whether or not Yeah, I think he'll get it. I mean, look, like you said, he has already shown an ability to, you know,

come through in the clutch, and whether or not, you know, that matters to people. I do think he has shown an ability to be really, for someone who's a rookie, he hasn't looked like a rookie in big spots, but I agree. When you look at the numbers and really the quality of the bats at late, you've seen pitchers adjust, and he has to learn to adjust too. And look, we saw it with Reese Hoskins. Everyone was freaking out about that coming into the season oh you know it was so good to start and then even they figured him out no he you know it's adjustments the game of adjustments pitchers are always adjusting hitters are always adjusting that's just the way the sport

works and it's the guys who adjust the best who end up having long successful careers like reese hoskins is going to and i do think Kingery will get there. But Jack, I mean, look, he's a 23-year-old kid playing in the majors for the first time. It takes time. It takes time sometimes. Do you ever think to yourself that we have Aaron Nola and Reese Hoskins on our teams and we get to root for them for the next decade? I love it.

You're such a nerd. It's terrific. I do, though, with Reeves. It's really exciting. Reeves Hoskins is really exciting. It's exciting to have that guy on your team. It's exciting to know that you get to watch that guy hit once your lineup ever done.

First 71 career games, Reeves Hoskins has 22 homers 67 rbi and 56 walks so that's that's the second most walks in baseball history in their in their first 71 games he is sixth all-time in rbi through their first 71 games and he is tied for one two three he's tied for fifth all time through the first 71 games in the history of the entire sport james it's not bad jack he's okay he's all right um awesome awesome stuff man this is uh it's exciting we have an exciting baseball team to talk about, a team that's going to compete and a team that's fun and has likable guys who are really good baseball players.

It's like you said, Jack. I think just that reaction you have is just like it's just so exciting because it's been so long since we've had this in this city, and now we have it, and it's like kind of all coming back at once, and it's coming back in full force aggressively and quickly, and it's awesome and there's again a big big week we'll be here to talk about it uh diamondbacks and then later in the week the braves will be back later in the week to preview that brave series weekend what we'll hopefully i know it's enough with the braves already at least they're coming into our building this time but uh uh also uh we will be back to

talk about what will hopefully be a sweep of the dime mechs but even still i'm happy with two and three jack all all i need is two and three here two and three works yeah of course uh and before i know you're we're wrapping up here but i have some things that i wrote down that i want to make sure that i get into this podcast lay it on us what are your final thoughts jack many thoughts. Adubo Herrera has reached base in 23 straight games, and the fact that no one is talking about that makes me want to jump out of building. Like, the guy is batting, I think, in a 2. That's pretty impressive. He's batting in the 240s.

His OBP is in the 380s. And literally all we hear from the people that cover this team is, well, you know know he has those mental errors listen man he does more good than bad he plays good center field i'm so sick and tired of the anti of the answer i know you're choking right now because you're so proud of dubo herrera um it's just like it's so frustrating watching this guy do good things on a night-in, night-out basis. And then everyone who covers the team, who's a fan of the team, being like, oh, well, yeah, but did you see what he did in center field the other day? It's just like, oh, my God, get over it.

He does more bad than good. Or he does more good than bad. Just calm down. Oh, it's not even close. And not just that. In center field, he's making terrific catches on a night-in, night-out basis. It's like this guy makes highlight reel plays look like they're easy, and he's making terrific catches on a night in night out basis it's like this guy makes highlight reel plays look like look like they're easy and he's doing it i feel like i've seen him make five you know like sports center top 10 type catches already this season

not even good he's not even worth having on his team get rid of him he he makes his team worse uh other final thought six of sanchez Sanchez today in his second start. He threw six innings, allowed five hits, two earned, five Ks. He threw 63 strikes in 83 pitches, continuing to be right around the zone. He hasn't been as dominant as he was last year, but he's clearly just ramping himself back up to where he was. The strikes are really encouraging. I saw some clips today.

I mean, the slider is now just falling off the table. Also, James, are you sitting down? James, are you sitting down? I am. You are sitting down. Cool. Because he's wearing number 45. Uh-oh. Mini Pedro. I thought Pedro retired. he's wearing number 45 mini Pedro

I thought Pedro retired guess what is he really wearing number 45 he is it has to be because of Pedro right listen if it's not it is now there's no other answer

I mean that's really cool. He's the best. I'm very in on this. I almost started fainting. And then my final thought is that leave us some reviews because I love reading the reviews. And we're trying to build this podcast. We're having so much fun with this podcast. We're trying to put out multiple podcasts a week.

And we just want to hear what you guys think about it, what we can improve on uh and mostly how much you love this philly's baseball team yeah and how could you not again like that's a beautiful thing is not only are they 14 and 7 and they're winning games in fun and exciting ways and they're they're fighting and they're gutty and all that but but they're and and likable but they're fighting and they're gutty and all that, and likable, but they're also young. I mean, that's the most exciting part is, like, they're fun right at this moment, and they're bringing excitement back, and there's so much of it to come. Like, this is just the beginning, and that is a really exciting thing to think about, especially when Jack just brings up Mini Pedro.

They got a guy in the minors who's the best pitcher in the organization and he's not even here uh it's it's really awesome it's an exciting time exciting time to be philly's fans and and i'll make my final thought just for jack because jack's the best do this for jack please give us the itunes reviews it really does jack basically is like um you know just sitting there just in front of the computer screen. Refresh, refresh, refresh. We're just waiting. It's all he does. Like when he's not talking baseball to me, that's all he does.

He just sits there. He has little like dings set up for when he's at work and he can't refresh. So it'll ding. That's how crazy is about this. So please do it for Jack. And if you care about me at all, do it for me for Jack. So we really do appreciate everyone listening, and we love people interacting, both through reviews.

Hit us up on Twitter, all that type of stuff. We love to talk Phillies. We can't get enough of it, and we will continue to do so. As again, off day today, and then the Phillies back at it tomorrow. Big, big series. We'll be back to talk about it later this week. So again, for jack fritz i'm james seltzer thank you for listening to another edition of high hopes we'll talk to you

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