High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Playing Down to the Competition

Episode Date: August 20, 2018

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back on this Sunday evening talking about the Phillies playing down to their competition, Aaron Nola's brilliance, a bunch of bad takes and more! 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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A little pissed off tonight after watching the Sunday night baseball showing from this Phillies team in a big game, the chance to take first place back, full possession now, a half game back at the Braves. But, Fritzy, were you as frustrated with the Williams Ford showing as I was? Well, first off, it's good to have you back, buddy. I have missed you. Aw, thanks, buddy. I have missed talking baseball with you.

And I tell you what, James, I am in such a mental state where I needed the I Hopes podcast because, listen, I feel like I'm in a bunker and there are just takes being flied. You know, there's just shots being fired and I have to defend them all at the same time. You know, like Roman Quinn should play over a Dubal Herrera. Oh, yeah. And Justin Boer. We're going to get into that. And like all this stuff and Nick Pavetta and Cole Hamels.

And I just feel like I am in the bunker and I'm just getting fired at a lot. And I need this podcast to calm me down. So what what was a beautiful day for baseball? Like, yeah, we're going to get into that. Like the best day, I would say. It was like, you know, for for three years now, it's been baseball, dying, baseball, dying, baseball is boring. Like, you know, for three years now, it's been baseball's dying, baseball's dying, baseball's boring. Today was like a freaking awesome day of just purebred baseball. And it was really cool seeing everyone engage and whatever. I was so excited to watch the Phillies tonight. And then they get dominated by Jason Vargas, who freaking stinks.

Like, Jason Vargas has an 8 ERA, and it's for good reason, because that guy is absolute trash. And I think this offense is better. I think this offense is good. I think they're going to be fine. But getting dominated by that fraud is embarrassing. And, you know, it was an annoying was it was an annoying, annoying game.

Yeah. And I think you said it pretty well there. Jason Vargas is absolutely atrocious. And it's look, baseball is a weird game. It's a it's a night to night game. It's the ebbs and flows are are drastic, as we saw. And we'll get to as the podcast is not their, their takes on the whole 24 to four of it, but you know, they lose 24 to four and then they come back right that day and win the next game and gain in the NLE. So baseball is a weird game like that. And sometimes you have your ace

going up against a terrible pitcher and, and you end up losing, you know, 10 to one, it's just a strange sport. So I, you know, it's not specifically that it's just that it was Jason Vargas and he stinks. I think it's more that it was a big spot and granted every game matters now where this team is at and where they're at in the division and, and in a crazy wildcard waste race to Jack, you know, there, there is a, it will get into it, but it's a really tight race right now. The Phillies actually tied right now with two other teams for the wildcard spot for that top wildcard spot. So, um, it's pretty crazy.

So when you look at it in that spot, after having split the first four with the Mets, a team you're better than in Williamsport on national television. And like you said, Jack, the best day for baseball that, I mean, I want the Phillies to play there every year. I want the Phillies to play all their home games there. It was so great watching just the love of baseball and the little leaguers in the stands and like the pitchers who weren't pitching going and sitting with the little leaguers, you know, to watch the game and, and players watching the game with little, the little leaguer games earlier in the day. And then just watching the game there in this kind of different place

to watch a baseball game, more intimate, more old school. So I'm with you, and that's what's frustrating to me, Jack. It's not just that it was Jason Vargas. It's not just that it's the Mets because the Phillies have really played down to the Mets a lot this season. They haven't played well against the Mets, which is strange, but again, baseball. Jack, for me, it's more the spot they were in.

This is a club that has a real chance to make a run at the playoffs here, and those are the types of games I feel like you need to win. Yeah, it's just frustrating because the Braves have a terrible weekend. The Braves have the kind of weekend that should debilitate a young team like that. And for the Phillies not to be able to capitalize on that against the Mets,

it's just really, really frustrating. I think the most frustrating part of it all is that the Mets aren't even a good offensive team. The Mets are a worse offensive team than the Phillies. And if you watched all five games of the series, you would think the roles would be reversed. The Mets looked like a very competent offense, and the Phillies looked incompetent. It was frustrating to a point.

Baseball happens. Last year's Phillies team that won 66 games had, I think, a little under 500 record against the Nats who won the division last year, one 90 plus games. Like sometimes teams just struggle against certain teams. That doesn't mean that I still can't be frustrated when you lose three games to the Mets in a five game series. Absolutely.

I a hundred percent agree with you. And I think you laid that out really well. And again, especially because of the whole Braves of it all, as the Rockies really did you a favor there. And granted, the Rockies fighting for a wild card spot against you as well in the grand scheme of things, but the Rockies take four straight against the Braves. That one on Saturday night, last night, I was watching it. Such a debilitating type of loss.

Up 3-0 in the ninth. Two outs. And the Rockies rally for three. They end up hitting a couple homers in the 10th inning or 11th inning, whatever it was, and end up winning 5-3. And that's a tight, like you said, those are tough losses. And that's why I'm not ready to freak out right now. Because with this Phillies team, again, a young team though, they've added some,

some veteran leadership, especially over the last couple of weeks here. But, um, I think that I'm not ready to freak out as frustrating as it was. And as, as annoyed as I am with the weekend's performance, because as we've talked about all season long, every time this team is down, every time they face adversity, they bounce back. But this was certainly, I think, just a real disappointment this Sunday night game and the series in general, but especially this game, especially let's look back at the weekend because I feel like there are certain things that I'm more okay with, like the understanding that sometimes Jacob deGrom just shuts you down. But today's loss, I think certainly the most frustrating.

Let's go back to the beginning of it all, Jack, is, you know, obviously I think the game that caused the biggest stir in this series, the Mets put up a franchise record, 24 runs, 24 to four. But all anyone wanted to talk about, and I'll really care about this point, is the dog you know what takes coming out about the embarrassment of baseball, oh my goodness, baseball, oh what an embarrassment for this sport, when I think everyone who listens to IOPs, I would hope, knows that Gabe Kepler absolutely made the right decision

to pitch position players in that spot, and they won the next game because of it. And it's a five game series in four days where you need your bullpen rested, Jack. I know you agree with me, but throw some takes out about this whole 24 to four thing. This city is just so embarrassing sometimes when it comes to baseball takes. It's just like, is just so embarrassing sometimes when it comes to baseball takes. It's just like I feel like people just haven't watched baseball. In what sense is that embarrassing the game? You are down.

You know what's embarrassing is all the little errors and how the rest of your actual MLB players have played in the field and your pitcher has pitched. They were already down 11 runs when you brought in Roman Quinn. I understand it was three innings. I understand that. And I had to physically produce that whole entire game. You don't think I was frustrated? You don't think I wish they brought in Hector Neris to pitch maybe two innings?

I was frustrated too. But at the same time, are you really simple-minded enough to where you can't just step out and be like you know what this makes a lot of sense like i feel like with gabe capler people have just been they are not capable of of just taking zooming out zooming out for a second looking at this thing on a holistic level and being like hey this actually makes a lot of sense let me sit down here explaining to you like what is so hard to understand about why would you blow pitchers in a 14-run game? Why would you do that? I would be more embarrassed if they actually pitched real pitchers in those games. That is embarrassing.

That is thinking that you still have a chance to win a game when you don't have a chance to win a game. I can't believe the faux outrage over that. I thought it was ridiculous. And was it embarrassing to the game? No, it was not embarrassing to the game. Now, what I will take away from that is that I thought that Ranger Suarez looked overmatched. I thought that he was missing right down the middle, which he's a guy that is supposed to have really good control. And for him to have that kind of control was a little depressing.

He was just missing right down the middle. But the fact that they pitched pitchers or pitch position players, that doesn't matter. That doesn't matter at all. And the takes were just infuriating for 24 hours. And they won game two. No one talked about they won game two. Yeah, I know.

It was like an afterthought. And that they gained ground in the National League East that day. As the Braves lost, they gained a half game in the division. And on top of what you said, Jack, I'll take it a step further with the concept that, like you said, you'd be more embarrassed if Austin Davis or if whoever comes in in that spot, Hector Neris to pitch two innings in a 12-run game, I think it would have been malpractice for Gabe Kapler to waste an arm in that spot with another game that day

and three more in three days coming up. Especially because you don't know if Zach Eflin, what if Zach Eflin gets hurt in the first inning of game two? And then you've got to throw your bullpen for nine innings. I mean, there's so many variables where you could get completely screwed if you don't, you know, if you waste your position pitch, if you waste your bullpen pitchers there. And again, taking it a step further, I actually think it's more fun to watch a position player's pitch. Obviously, it sucks when your team's losing by a bunch. And I'm sure the people down at the ballpark are waiting for game two.

Like, yeah, it's not a blast. But what is what are you going to remember more watching Scott Kingery, Ephus pitch the ball up to the plate or remember Austin Davis in a 16 to four game or whatever it was. I just think I can't get over the outrage. I think it's so ridiculous. And you know who else enjoyed that? The players, because if you're ever in a dugout, if you're ever in a, in a baseball dugout what is the

what is the dichotomy of that of that dugout it is position players think they can pitch and pitchers think they can hit and they always think that they can do one thing better than the other and that is a perfect example of hey maybe you can't do that like i it was it was perfectly fine it was perfectly normal and again like the the takes were just out of control. He did not disrespect the game. He's playing 2018 baseball. He is not – it's just – it's honestly fundamentally smart. That's a good way to put it.

It's fundamentally smart. All right. They win game two. Not much to really take away other than Velasquez does not pitch well, Jack. Too straight. Yeah, the bullpen able to kind of keep a minute uh not a great one there there's a big start coming up for him against Washington 8-8 potentially Velasquez's biggest start of the season two straight bad ones but he looked so good before then but I want to talk about a guy who is making a legitimate run at this young thing and though we saw another guy

on the other team do it the next day but Aaron Nola just another outstanding dominant whatever you want to call it you know whatever label you want to put on a type of performance seven one run innings 11 strikeouts just the ball was moving like he's like a witch out there the way he can move the ball Jack what did you see fromola and take away from that 4-2 victory on Friday? Yeah, I mean, Nola is just on another level. Obviously, DeGrom. I think DeGrom's better, and that's not really a take or a slight towards Aaron Nola. It's just that DeGrom is basically Nola, except he has 97 in his back pocket

rather than Nola's 94. Nola, except he has 97 in his back pocket rather than Nola's 94. But it's just that Nola, he's perfectly calm in every situation. It doesn't matter if it's a playoff race. It doesn't matter if it's a pennant chase, a random start in April. The guy is just calm, cool, collected. And right now, he has three pitches. He can pitch. He can throw it in any scenario,

and it doesn't matter because he feels confident in throwing every single one for strikes. What makes me the most excited coming off of that start is that I thought that was his best curveball of the season, and if we're just getting Aaron Nola's best curveball of the season, I don't know how good he could be for the stretch run, and I just thought he was downright brilliant. He is brilliant.

I've said it before. He's a modern-day Greg Maddox. He is a middleman's Pedro Martinez. He is all those things. And the fact that Pete McKinnon and his fraud ass thought that he was a number three starter. He said he was a number three starter at the end of last season. Like, that is embarrassing. And the fact that people wanted that guy to continue to be the manager of this team is utterly ridiculous.

Because that guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Aaron Nola is an ace. He is a top five pitcher in the game. And every fifth day, you have a chance to win no matter who you're going against, you're going to have a chance to win that ballgame. I don't know. I think Aaron Nola right now. Let's talk about this, James, for a second.

If you needed one win, where does Aaron Nola rank? Like, I think Scherzer. In all of baseball, yeah. Scherzer, you put in front, yeah. Scherzer, you put in front of him. Scherzer, sale. Yeah, and I think now that Kershaw is back healthy and pitching like Kershaw, I think you have to put Kershaw there. Perfectly fine.

DeGrom? DeGrom. That's four. Man. I think Verlander's in the discussion. I wouldn't say I'd automatically put him there, but I think you'd have to consider putting him ahead of Nola, but it's close. I mean, I think I'd put Nola to James Paxton.

Paxton's probably pretty high on my list. Severino has been really bad lately. I think you have to take Nola for him. Nola's better than him and Paxton, yes. It's really crazy how high up he is. We're definitely missing someone. Baumgartner hasn't been great. Right.

But he's still Baumgartner. But Baumgartner, I would take Baumgartner in a must win game, obviously, based on his history. At the same time, your point holds. Yeah, right. He's still a top six, six ish option in the entire game. And it's not even because he's such an unbelievable pitcher, but it's that, you know, he will not get phased in that situation.

Like, Aaron Nola will not get rattled at all. And I just, I don't think we, like, even me and you, and even the listeners of this podcast, and John Marks, and everyone associated with High Hopes, which, I mean, I need the High Hopes crew so bad right now. I don't even think we understand how good aaron nola is like aaron nola right now has a if the season ended today would have a would would have a better season than roy halliday had in 2011 roy halliday in 2011 at 235 era now of course he pitched uh 30

more innings at this point but still i mean we're talking about Roy Halladay. Roy Halladay was the best pitcher of the 2000s. And Aaron Nola is having a better statistical season than Roy Halladay had in his best season as a pro in his like 11th year. Like it's crazy how good this guy is. Yeah, I'm with you. Look, I think that's kind of been a theme with Nola. I think all of us, even the people who watch him every day, have continually underrated him. And only this season are we starting to see and really see the guy that he is and the upside that he has. And he's 24 years old too, Jack. He's 24. Think about that. You think about Cole Hamels was 24 during that 2008 run. And Hamels was amazing, obviously, especially in the playoffs.

Aaron Nola right now is a better pitcher than Cole Hamels was in that spot. He's 25 now, by the way. Nola's 25. He just turned 25. All right. But either way, like, he's a better pitcher than Hamels was at that age. And that's definitely saying something, too. I'm with you, man.

I think that as a city, city as a fan base and certainly nationally nolan not getting the crazers i don't know if i agree with uh you and joe gilio's take that he is better at pitching than carson wentz is as a quarterback i don't listen i don't even think that's much of a take i think it's pretty clear oh my goodness i look i i i get it but And obviously this is such a stupid thing to try and compare because it's really impossible to do. But I think that Carson, I think being a quarterback is so much harder, first of all. Kind of.

I think it is. It's one throw to one spot. This guy has to manipulate three different pitches. One throw to one spot. This guy has to manipulate three different pitches. One throw to one spot. He has to throw to guys on the move in all kinds of different situations with guys trying to cover them and guys trying to take the ball away. More impressive. But either way.

Which is more impressive? You know what? Let's – No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Which is more impressive, 33-6 or a 2-2-4 ERA? Probably 33-6. Oh, stop. 33-6 happens every year-2-4 ERA? Probably 33-6. Oh, stop. 33-6 happens every year.

I don't know. And also just, I mean, like, we are underrating what Wentz does. Like, I'm talking about being a quarterback. What that dude does is from the brainpower on the field, from the recognition, from the athleticism, like everything I think that Carson Wentz is ultimately a better quarterback than Aaron Nola is a pitcher. But look, we're splitting hairs.

I think the fact that it's close at all is something that a lot of people would be surprised by. I think a lot of people wouldn't think about it that way. So is Nola the third best athlete in the city? I think Embiid's the best athlete. Yeah, I think it's Embiid, Wentz, and Nola, and then probably Ben Simmons after Nola yeah i think it's mb once and nola and then probably ben simmons after nola i think that's fair i think it's a very fair ranking yeah i agree and and nola versus wentz is just splitting hairs and also also isn't it crazy that philadelphia right now has four, maybe five, maybe six.

There's so many studs that are 25 and under. Yeah, how about Reese Hoskins? I mean, all the numbers, you know, he just finished his first 162-game stretch. Yep. 43 homers, a mid-900s OPS. In your first 162 games, that's absurd. Ridiculous.

That's all-time great type stuff right there, and obviously a long way to go. But in terms of just his first 162 games, it doesn't get that much better than what that guy did. It's a great point, Jack. And that's what's so exciting about this Phillies team is kind of how good they are right now, and yet how much brighter the future is.

All right, moving on to Saturday. Not really much to say. Like we said before, Jacob DeGrom is, like Nola, one of the best pitchers in baseball, and he was just awesome. And he pitched a complete game, and that happens. What did you see from Arrieta? I didn't think Arrieta looked great, but I thought he was solid. Yeah, he looked really comfortable early.

He's just – I think what think what we gotta learn is there's gonna be some like watching watching jake arieta on on most nights is a frustrating experience just because like it's like man another ball another ball but here's a nice little two seam and whatever uh i thought arieta sported probably his best curveball this season he he really threw some nice ones. I just think he is what he is at this point. He's not going to strike out a ton of guys. He's going to get a ton of ground balls, and hopefully that day,

his two-seamer is running and his sinker is running, and guys just hit it into the ground. I don't think we're ever going to see straight-up dominance from Jake Ariettarietta like even his start in arizona it was a lot of ground balls it was a lot of balls put in play that just happened to be right at people and that was great like if he can be if he can be 2004 derrick low i'm perfectly fine with that um it's just that i think we kind of change our expectation with him uh he does certainly doesn't have the upside of the other guys in the rotation, but if he can be a solid number four or five, they can go out there. Six innings, less than two runs. I will take it every single time. And that's kind of where he's at right now. Against the Padres,

he had a bad start. Balls over the place. I thought this start, he was much more comfortable. He was really able to get around his pitches. When he's really struggling, it feels like he's cutting himself off, and he just can't finish glove side and i thought against the mets he was much better at uh getting through the baseball and it had a nice sink and he looked comfortable and and fine uh but i think it mostly is just going to be an adjustment of watching jake arietta yeah i think more often than not that's what you get i mean that red start, he was pretty awesome and flashed some great stuff. I still think you can see not peak Jake Arrieta, but really good Jake Arrieta. And, you know, again, you like what he's done in big games in his career so far, but I'm with you. Look, I think that Arrieta is kind of one of those. You're not sure what version of that guy you're

going to get from start to start. And that can definitely be frustrating. I forgot to mention, by the way, how about Mikel Franco getting an infield hit and a stolen base on Friday night and then Jorge Alfaro running all day. Everybody's stealing on Noah Syndergaard. I had forgotten coming into that game that Syndergaard can't hold anybody on, but it's really stark to watch it happen. All I wanted to see was wilson ramos play that night just to see if he could even steal a base yeah if i could have if he far out a couple

didn't he yeah but i thought i was like fast like i thought i was fast for a catcher but catcher if wilson ramos could have stolen i mean if michael franco stole the base doesn't get that much slower than michael right but almost is slower i agree but I'm really slow. Yeah. Yeah. Um, all right. Uh, on to, uh, back to today, which I think the most frustrating, obviously of the losses, as I know, I'm sure a lot of people at 24 to four was, and that was definitely a bummer, but with the winning the second game that day, I think that took a lot of the edge off that one, but this one off day tomorrow, a much needed off day. They played a lot of games in a short period of time. I think like 11 and 10 days or something like that. So they can certainly use the day off, but, um, it is,

uh, it's going to be a frustrating day tomorrow, Jack, you know, that, that the takes will be flying. People will be mad. And again, I understand it from the perspective of they should have won that game. That's the type of game that you need to win. But what do you make of the fact that they just have not played the Mets well all season? And I know we talked a little bit before about just baseball being weird sometimes. But I think there are also some spots where certain teams match up well against other teams. Do you think that's a case of that? But I think there are also some spots where certain teams match up well against other teams. Do you think that's a case of that?

Or is this just more the Phillies playing down to bad competition like we've seen them do also this season? Yeah, I mean, it seems like they kind of just play down to it. And specifically against the Mets, they really do. And I just, you know, it's kind of just baseball. Like sometimes you struggle against one team for a whole year. Like sometimes you struggle against one team for a whole year. Sometimes you're good against a team for a whole year. This year just feels like the Mets have just had our number, and that's kind of the way it goes.

I don't know what else we can really say at this point. Like the Mets have just been better than us this year. And sometimes it's just the game. I mean, last year the Phillies, who won 66 games, they were good against the Nationals. I'm sure down in Washington that frustrated Nationals fans were like, wow, this Phillies team stinks. I can't believe that we lose to them. That's just kind of the nature of the game.

Yeah, maybe the Phillies do play down to the competition. I'm trying to think personally. It does happen sometimes. Sometimes you head into... The Padres series reason. Are you talking about yourself personally? I'm trying to think of like in the clubhouse. And sometimes it does happen.

It's just natural. It's like you look at the record and you're like, well, we can just roll into this game and win. It's a shame that they do that against so many bad teams. But it does feel like a team that just gets up for the big games. And, I mean, it would be very 2018 Phillies to come out and win two of three against this nationals team. Cause they realize it as the nationals and they have a chance to bury them. Like that'd be so Phillies. But yeah,

they, they do play down the Mets. The measures have their number. I don't know what else we can really say about at this point. They just, they just don't play well against that team. It's a great point about them getting up for big. I mean,

you think about the both red socks series, they come off the first time, you know, losing three straight to the Reds this time coming off the Padres and then they go and, you know, falter against the Mets as well after it really is interesting how this team does seem to really get up for, for the big games and, and kind of more often than not played down to the bad teams. And like you said, I think, you know, we always forget. I try and always, you know, put this into when you're analyzing or talking about things or whatever. I try and always remember that they're human beings and not these, you know, robot baseball players who should be reacting the way I think that they should

in any situation. I mean, sometimes, like you said, Jack, it's sometimes you just don't get up for a game. And I don't think the Sunday night, tonight's game, I don't think there's an excuse for that. I mean, that was a big game on national television, at Williamsport, all that. But I do think that on a macro scale, I think you're right about that. I think that sometimes it's just harder to get yourself up for the worst teams.

I mean, we see that in a lot of sports as well. Before we kind of look ahead i wanted go ahead jack well i just want to talk about pivetta for a second because i'm sure oh yeah yeah of course uh how could i i buried the leader i should have opened the show asking you about pivetta i was frustrated especially after that first inning you look good yeah and uh listen i think nick pivetta is going to be a very, very good pitcher in this league. And he's only 25. And I know a lot of people, a lot of Phillies fans get frustrated with Nick Pavetta.

And believe me, I do too. Like, I get frustrated watching Nick Pavetta as well. But the most thing I get frustrated with Nick Pavetta is that he is just dying to get a third pitch. And he needs a third pitch so freaking bad, it is remarkable. Like, it's just so easy as a hitter in the major leagues. You can throw 97, all that stuff, wherever you want. But when you have two pitches, when batters can eliminate one pitch and only sit on your fastball, they'll catch up to 97.

Like, that's what they did tonight. They singled him to death, and it stunk to watch. It was frustrating. But, like, Nick Pavetta is a, he is a splitter or, like, a split changeup, just one of those kind of pitches away from, he could be a Cy Young winner. Like, he could be that freaking good. And this offseason, if he just doesn't, if he doesn't hunker down and learn a third pitch,

and I hope it's a splitter, I hope it's like a split changeup or something that kind of falls off the table and is something that can get out lefties, he's just not going to reach the ceiling that he has. Like, Nick Pavetta probably has the second highest ceiling on this team outside of Aaron Nola. And until he learns that third pitch, he's just not going to reach it. And if he doesn't learn that third pitch, just put him in the bullpen.

Two pitches plays up in the bullpen. That's perfectly fine. But if you want to be a legitimate starter, get a third pitch. Because against lefties, they foul ball on the death because he doesn't have a pitch that can get him out. They spit on the curveball, and they sit on the fastball. Like, that's just what it is. And tonight was just another example of that.

He pitched pretty well against the Diamondbacks. But even in those last couple of starts, his curveball hasn't been as dominant as it was. And I'm excited given his last couple of starts. But I still left those starts feeling a little bit underwhelmed because it felt like there was moments in each game, in each game that he has pitched well since the All-Star break, where teams could have capitalized. And until he learns a third pitch,

I'm always going to be pretty nervous watching Nick Pavetta. And that's all I got to say about that. There's a lot of Nick Pavetta geeking out right there. Cranny, get at it get him a third pitch what are you doing i know do it we we give you a lot of credit here now so we have to get rick kranitz on the podcast that's our next yeah let's get him on and then we're gonna ask him when are you gonna give him a third pitch yeah well i think if we got kranitz on the podcast do you think you'd consider bringing me on the staff

it's a close one wow that was a long pause you really thought about that well i'm really thinking about it um man no i'm gonna say no okay that's fair i'm i i thought about it i really didn't i didn't just have asked that i really thought about it all right jack two more things real quick before we we kind of look ahead here um you mentioned it before, but the Odubel-Quinn debate, man, I'm already tired of it. And it's just starting up here. I've already had like four different people be like, do you think Quinn should start ahead of Odubel?

Stop, stop it. And I get it, I get it. Look, I think that Quinn brings some nice things to this team. And I really think that ultimately, especially if you're in the playoffs, he's a legit weapon as a bench player. he's a guy who's a switch hitter that's so valuable he's a guy who can give you a pinch runner so valuable guy can play uh out give you an outfield defense replacement he is such a more valuable piece coming off the bench than he is a starter

but more so and I'm sure Jack is gonna hammer home, but if Oduble can get it going and just get locked in even a little bit, he's just a much better player than Roman Quinn. And I think Roman Quinn, I think in a pinch, he can bring a lot of energy to this lineup. But it hurts my brain. It really hurts my brain. The guy this year, now everyone has this whole, like, oh, my God, you've got to get Roman Quinn in the lineup.

The guy's a 293 OBP. What are you talking about? You want to bat that guy leadoff? If you want to bat Roman Quinn leadoff, just quit talking about baseball for the rest of your life because you are an embarrassment and you are dumbing down the rest of the city. Like Cesar Hernandez has had a has had it looks like he's playing a little sluggish.

And I fully recognize that Cesar Hernandez also has an OBP of 360. If you think that that an OBP of 360 is less valuable than a guy who gets on base at 293 clip and sometimes steals sometimes steals a base, just have your baseball watching card revoked. It's just embarrassing. That doesn't make any sense. Fundamentally, if I sat you down, no matter if you're an analyst guy or not an analyst guy, and I said to you, this guy gets on base 70% more than this other guy, but this other guy may steal a base when he does get on base, which one are you going to choose?

You're going to choose the likely outcome that the guy gets on base because getting on base is more important than the threat of possibly stealing a base. Now, if you want to bat Roman Quinn in the nine hole sometimes and maybe flip over the lineup, that's perfectly fine. But I've heard so many like roman quinn should should bat lead off because he sometimes steals a base like i think that is that is very stupid like that is just a stupid opinion and i think roman quinn is fun i think when he gets on base it's electrifying and when he hits a triple but like adubo herrera is gonna to – he's the streakiest hitter in Major League Baseball.

He batted 360 for the first 40 games of the season and has batted, like, 220 since that. And I thought tonight was actually a really big step forward. I thought his at-bat in the third inning was his best at-bat in a month. He was locked in. And Gabe talked to him yesterday. And Gabe said to him, listen, you are the catalyst of this team. You can carry this team. We need your swagger back, and we need your energy.

And I thought Adubo, for the most part tonight, played with more energy and more focus. And I know he had this kind of mental error in center field in the eighth inning, allowed Ploiecki to score the ninth inning. But also, like, he tried to cut it off. It hits the wall. Ploiecki scores anyway. Like, he was also playing over in freaking right center field and whatever and he has had a bad defensive season i thought adubo herrera heading into the season was a good defensive

outfielder and he was legitimately both eye test and analytics both backed it up that adubo was a good defensive center fielder i thought he i think he's taking a step back this season but that doesn't mean that engaged adubo herrera can't get back to the levels that we saw earlier this season and yes it's been a tough stretch here but you also don't really know when the adubo herrera hot streak is coming and that's what makes him so volatile but if it comes and you miss it because he's on the bench for roman quinn who again gets on base at a 293 clip this season you're going you're gonna miss the playoffs and it feels like an adubo hop streak we are just due for one and it feels like he is starting to get back locked in

mentally it's a fiery rant you're throwing slanderous words at lots of people i love it i don't i i i i agree i agree i agree i'm just i'm so i'm just so done with the takes in this i i can go you want calm down buddy no i can't calm down i can't no no no no it's all good i i i legitimately cannot calm down i i just just just take it in stride. Help to educate. Help to try and set the take straight, Jack. Don't let them affect you so much. You really did see a lot of fish this last weekend, didn't you? I did see some fish, and it was awesome.

But that has nothing to do with sometimes you just got to let it roll off your back, Jack. Sure. All right, real quick uh williamsport we mentioned it before it was it really was amazing i don't think we can emphasize enough just what a cool baseball experience and baseball watching experience it was even like i said down to the stadium and the different feel of how the game felt and all that but um fritz where else should they play a game you know where where what's the next spot that they could do this at you know like they did the the winter classic

originally and now it moves over all all around the you know to different places across the country and say in different cities what what else could they do with this like uh obviously you know not just go to some little league field somewhere even though i wouldn't hate that but but what could they do that could be fun where should they play a baseball game well maybe they have like a hall of fame game like a at double day yeah double day they have not like played there in a long time right i think that'd be cool if you if you bring out all the hall of famers and the funny the funniest part about that whole thing is that they would all hate watching the game uh great they would all just they would all just be bitching to each other

about how horrible the modern baseball product is. But I would enjoy it. I think it'd be kind of cool. Really, I mean, Cooperstown's the only one that kind of jumps out. That's a great one. Yeah, I mean, I don't think the MLB does enough of a Cooperstown.

Cooperstown's a really fun trip. And especially if you're a young kid, if you ever played in the cooperstown tournament my team never played in it and i don't think i will ever get over it i'm so mad that i was never on a travel you're bringing it up right now i was like what are we doing we're on a travel team we're in westchester which is some say the hotbed of baseball talent in the entire country because i came from there and and you know we're not going to take our talions talents to cooper's cooper's town i thought that was ridiculous um but i think i think

cooper's town is uh underrated by major league baseball and is underutilized you know what else is underutilized they should bring back old timers games i don't know why they don't have those anymore those were great what like yankee Stadium having Yogi Berra. Yeah! It was so much fun watching these old dudes out there hitting baseballs and running around. It was great. I'd be so cynical watching those games because if they walked,

I would just start yelling like, oh, nice walk. What are you working on? Your OBP? I would have no less than 10 beers and head into that game and just be firing off. Just angry takes that they've been throwing at modern baseball for the last. Like I said,

like I said, it would be awesome. Bring back the old timers game. All right, Jack, uh, uh, off day today,

then three in Washington, then three in Toronto. We'll be back to talk to you guys before the three in Toronto, which is three. You hope they win a series and don't play down to be back to talk to you guys before the three in Toronto, which is three. You hope they win a series and don't play down to the competition. But like you said before, the chance to bury this Washington team, Velasquez, Eflin, and Nola go for the fills in the three. But unfortunately you get about the toughest draw you're going to get from a

nationals perspective, Roark, Strasburg returning, and then Scherzer. How are you feeling about this series coming up? As again, it's kind of a big one coming off this kind of Mets disappointment here. I feel good because this Phillies team is going to win two of three because that would just be about the most 2018 Phillies thing they could possibly do. Anytime I try to get a read on this team, it just ultimately becomes the complete opposite. So I'm going to go into this series saying they're gonna take two of three because that would be something that april jack would not have said but i just i just trust this team now and

what sucks well it sucks and it's also awesome at the same time that it's gonna be nola scherzer um i'm actually surprised it's not ari Scherzer because Arietta gets every big start this entire season. But Nola Scherzer is just going to be a geek fest. It's going to be awesome. I'm so excited. I can actually watch that game. Well, yeah, I'm actually going to be able to watch that game.

Might be able to maybe record a little High Hopes during that game. Yeah. That sounds like fun. That'll be my last High Hopes before i get married before you become a married man and costa rica it up baby shout out to fritzy like i like what do i do in costa rica like i i can't not be focused on the phillies like it's gonna be tough man i don't know what i'm gonna do it's your honeymoon it is my honeymoon but also i think it's fair to to take your mind off off the Phillies for a week or whatever.

I think check the scores and all that, but don't be like saying, Jill, we got to find a bar to watch the Phillies in. I don't think that's okay. Yeah, but, you know, people say, oh, it's so nice to disconnect, and I just totally disagree. Like, I don't want to. I don't want to disconnect. I want to be a part like i'm i'm nervous i need to find some uh costa rican friends that we can watch the game with yeah i'm sure

there's a ton of philly's faithful down there yeah i think so i think so maybe i'll go scout some talent as well and see if i like this yeah i like this i agree they're rarely they're rarely tapped costa rican player market. I could be the first one. This is a budding career for you, advanced Costa Rican scout. Yeah. Well, I was mad at Jim Jackson yesterday because he had the director of advanced scouting

on for the Phillies, and I said, hey, Jim, there's a guy behind the glass right now that would love to get involved, and he didn't throw your boy a bone. Like, what are we doing? It's outrageous. I know, I know.

But I'm excited. While I'm excited to be married and excited for Costa Rica, I'm just excited for the Costa Rican coffee because I heard it's just tremendous and I like coffee. Look at you. It's actually a food item you like,

so that's nice. That's not true. I'm 15 pounds overweight. Tell me how I don't like food oh fritzy um look i'm excited to talk to you one more time before the wedding we'll have a little fun with that next time is jack and jill yes jack and jill will be getting wed uh next weekend very excited maybe to be there for all that and all that maybe a live i hopes from the wedding that is the plan potentially if possible certainly if nothing else we'll we'll record some audio from the wedding i don't know if

people want to listen to me and mark's like yabbering into our phones but we might yeah i mean i'll i will have i will have takes that's all i gotta say this guy it's your wedding and your honeymoon enjoy it um all right fritz and I will be back on Thursday. Maybe Mark's, maybe other people. We will see. But either way, we will definitely be back to talk a little Nola Scherzer and whatever happens over the next few days here as well. And, again, like Jack said,

I really do think they're going to take two or three here. And I think this team bounces back. That's what they've done all season. I have no reason to believe that they're going to take two or three here, and I think this team bounces back. That's what they've done all season. I have no reason to believe that they're going to do it here. Just when everyone's out, the Phillies just really are right back in. That's what they do all year. It's all year, and I think it happens

again. All right, we'll be back to talk about it either way on Thursday for the soon-to-be-married Jack Fritz. I'm James Seltzer. Talk to you guys soon. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby.

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