High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Rising to the Occasion Against the Dodgers

Episode Date: July 26, 2018

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back on this Thursday breaking down the Dodgers series, how the team played, the debut of Ranger Suarez, trade deadline do's and don't's 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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It is a special edition. I am James Seltzer, and for once, it feels like this never gets to happen, I get to look my buddy Jack Fritz in the eyes. Fritzy. Yes, so we won't get reviews about how the mic levels are off. It's going to be amazing. Yeah, so we won't have you sounding loud and me sounding lower because I can't figure out my mic.

It's big. We're getting there. It's big. We're getting there on the mic thing. Listen, we're still in the infancy stage of the I Hope's podcast. So listen, as we grow this baby, as our listeners continue to help us grow this baby, we will eventually figure out the mic situation. Also, James, it's Rangers Flores Day.

Ooh. How about this, Jack? The first time a left-hander has started a game for the Phillies since 2016. Yes, and that lefty is now bad in the bullpen. So it's great. It's all coming full circle. It has, yeah. It's great.

That's a good point. Adam Morgan, the last lefty to start a game. Much better in the bullpen than in the— Well, it wasn't a— That's how bad a starter he was, Fritz. That's what I'm getting at. All right, look. We're coming off a big week so far for the Phillies.

Yeah, buddy. Look, the Dodgers come into town. They lose that first game. They're tightening it. They come back from the, what, 3-0 deficit, then a 4-1 deficit, take the lead, end up losing the game. Tough outing for Sir Anthony. But this team storms back, Fritzie.

They take the next two games. I feel like we all just keep saying the word resilient, but I can't think of a better word for this team. General impressions. We'll get into the nitty-gritty of it, and we'll maybe talk about a little Chase Utley ovation as well. But big picture, what was kind of your takeaway from it? We talked about it being a measuring stick series.

Yeah, it was a measuring stick series, and that was probably the biggest series win in six years. It's crazy. Probably the biggest series win. The crowds were great. I know a lot of that was aided by Chase Utley, but the fact that they came out and they played exciting – that was three exciting baseball games.

It was. They were long baseball games. Yes. They were all long. The 16-inning game was long, obviously, but the others were long games as well. Yeah, so they were long. But, listen, I don't care if a game's long if it's exciting. If it's a good game, who cares?

What else am I doing that is better than watching a baseball game? Right. So game one, I thought it was interesting because they had three mental errors that happened in that game that cost them the game, basically. The early error was the Valentin mix-up. That was obviously terrible. Terrible. Essentially allowed that run in the first inning to score. Yeah, and it was Herrera's. Herrera called him off too late.

It was just bad miscommunication. And the fact that that stuff's still happening in in end of july is bad yeah if you heard larry anderson talking about he was not happy believe it i did and in between breaks yeah so i can only imagine because what he said on the air was pretty close to a little edgy enough as it was what he said during the break probably a lot more edgy right so uh wasn't happy believe it or not but um and then and then obviously you have nick have Nick Williams was playing the ball in right field that cost him another run and a doable not being able to get the ball home. So and even a doable letting the guy get to second base there because he didn't cut it off properly. So three little things that happened in game one. But what I found interesting was that Chase talked about how the crowds held him accountable during that whole run.

And I think the crowd on Monday night was like, it wasn't booze. It was just like, figure it out. Like, just stop doing this stuff. And I know the Phillies made minor errors the next couple of days. And there were still some minor stuffs. But I think that, and Reese talked about it as well. Just that the fans, I think, are beginning to hold the team accountable and it's going to raise their level of play and they did they raised their level of play the next two days big hits and big spots their offense is not built around like the the four hits in a row like that's

just not their offense and i think we have to adjust the way we watch this team because it's not how we watched baseball in this town for 130 years. So they're not that kind of offense. We have to get used to that they're just playing for the beginning. That's what they're always going for. They got the beginning on Tuesday and Wednesday. Is that sustainable? Not totally, but it's also modern baseball. Yeah, I agree with you.

I think that's just the way the game is being played right now. I know people went crazy with the Franco not bunting the runner over with two outs or with no outs and the runner on second base. That's baseball, especially with a guy like Franco. Never bunts in his life. Not a bunter. Like, sorry, it's a worse percentage situation to allow that guy to bunt in that situation than to swing away like he did and almost won them the baseball game in that spot.

So I'm very with you on that. I was actually talking to Ben Harris because he was the one that was like, he was getting all angry on Twitter. Name-drabber. He was getting all angry on Twitter about the people that were saying to bunt there. He had a very sternly worded tweet. Basically like, idiots. It's

not a better percentage play. And I was like, what are the numbers? And he basically said that if a runner's on second base, no outs, you have a 61% chance of scoring rather than if he moves base, no outs, you have a 61% chance of scoring, rather than if he moves them over to third, you have like a 45% chance of scoring. I mean, that's a significant difference. It really is when you're thinking about the percentages and the amount of sample size that is involved in that.

It's the same exact thing as Doug going for it on fourth down. Yeah, it's a very similar comparison. I agree. And I think also you kind of hit on it there, but in addition to a team that plays for the beginning, it is a team that, and you've said this multiple times on High Hopes podcasts already this season, but it's a team that's never out of a game is, no matter what the situation is, you never believe the game is truly over. And especially for such a young team, such an inexperienced team, it's surprising to see that. It is. It is. And I wonder how much that has to do with their success in the minor leagues and the fact that they all won down there.

It's a really interesting point. Because they did. They're just used to winning. At every level, they've won. And they may not have the most talent. The Phillies don't have the most overwhelming talent in the league. You watch that Dodgers team, and it's like, how did the Phillies beat this team two out of three? It's crazy.

But it's just the fact that they've come up winning. They've come up through a winning organization. And maybe that has set the standard. It might be. It's a winning culture, Jack. Right. They've established a winning culture. It's interesting.

And no better example than this week. They were down 4-0 on... They were down every single game. They were down every game. They were down four runs in every game, weren't they? They were down at least three runs. It was 3-0 and then it was 4-1, I think, in every single game, except the final game where they went down 1-0 and then just took the big lead.

But again, down in every single game, it almost feels like the first inning they're going to give up a run and then they're going to storm back. That's just the formula for this team. They've got to figure out the first inning. And especially going to give up a run, and then they're going to storm back. That's just the formula for this team. They've got to figure out the first inning. And especially, I think something you mentioned on before that I don't think we can underrate, this team is playing way too poorly defensively this deep into a season. I don't think you can argue with that. I mean, it cost them game one.

It could have cost them game two. I mean, that first inning was a comedy of errors. I don't know what Andrew Knapp was thinking, throwing the ball in the center field on a walk. The ball was in the dirt. It's not like, oh, it was a walk. You gotta know the situation there, be better. And Knapp, obviously, some struggles defensively to begin with.

But he's also been their best hitter. Exactly. No, I'm fine with him getting playing time. Well, especially when you look at the bench, whether it's him or how far on the bench, the fact that your backup catcher is far and away your best hitting bench guy we'll get to that coming up but um look 57 and 44 jack this team is in first place a game and a half up on the braves we'll get to ranger suarez making the start later tonight i want to hear your take on suarez i'm excited to hear you to say i believe in the baseball american midseason

rankings he was their number seven prospect according to them and yeah and that's the interesting thing with the Phillies list, is they vary so much because there's so much quantity of quality and different judgments by different outlets and all that. All right, this Dodgers series, a couple things I want to note on before we get to the whole chase of it all. Reese Hoskins, four homers in five days. I know the whole home run derby ruins the swing crowd,

probably not feeling too good right now. Help them. I think the whole home run derby ruins the swing crowd. Probably not feeling too good right now. I think it might have. What have you seen from Reeves in these six games since the break that makes you feel like he's about to go on a serious roll here? I just think that the home run derby instilled even more about figuring out his launch angle.

I totally agree with you. You could see it. You could see him doing the math in the derby. His home run on Monday night was he almost went down to a knee, but he knew he had to get to that angle to get the ball and yank it out of the ballpark. I think it made him think about home runs more and more, which just unlocks another level of Reese that I don't know if I'm ready for. But since he's come back from the break,

I feel like he could have had four home runs and a doubleheader on Sunday. Yeah, well, that game, he could have had five hits in that game. Travis Janikowski steals the home run. It felt like every ball he hit was hit hard on a nose. It just seemed to be right to a fielder every time. Every single game, he's been smoking balls. It's great. And he's starting to ascent to, like, a –

I think he could be the second star on a good team. On a great team. On a really good team. I think Reece Hoskins is a star, but he's not like the Harper, Machado, that kind of star. Mike Trout, like the top, top level. I was thinking about his comp today. For some reason, I stumbled across his baseball reference page.

He might be Mark Teixeira. 265 hitter, 360 OBP, 35 homers a year. I can see that. That's exactly what I'm picturing of Reece Hoskins. Teixeira wasn't the best player on the 2009 Yankees. It was A-Rod. But I think Reece is getting to the point where he's such a good player. A middle-of-the-lineup hitter.

You know, a classic, you know, where lineups are different now. But that classic idea of a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. Who can be one of your best hitters? I agree with you. Second best player on championship. And I said this before the break, and again, he's proving me right a little too quickly, but I expected him to have a month where he just goes off. Well, he does it every year.

He does it every year. He did it what? It was the beginning of, it was in May he went off? Mm-hmm. Or was it, no, no. He just gets on runs. He gets locked in. No, he had a terrible May and a really good June.

He had a... The May was when he swooned. Yeah, and then he broke his jaw and came back in June, and he was great. He's been really good since coming back from the job. But, yeah, I think you can be excited about Reeves. I think we're starting to see him kind of turn a corner here offensively. All right, anything else offensively? We'll get to the pitching.

Anything else stand out from that series from an offensive perspective? I know Santana hitting the ball a little bit since coming back. Mike Calfranco. I know! He's been awesome. He's been really good. He's been really good. He's covering more of the plate, it feels like.

I still don't trust him on guys that throw. I know Jansen throws hard, but guys with really wicked sliders, he just comes out just as not competitive. But he's holding his own. He's been great. He's very much holding his own. It's been impressive. I'm beginning to trust him. Timely hits, too.

Timely hits. Yeah. Carlos Santana has an OPS over 1,000 with runners in scoring position, but his batting average is 209. So obviously he's not a good player. Obviously he's not a good offensive player if his batting average is 209 uh he's driving in runs um other things offensively i think santana in the leadoff hole was interesting i don't love it but look i don't love it but let's put it this way i like him better as a leadoff hitter than a four hitter i want i want jorge alfaro to to be

amazing so bad because his home run on well did you did you hear the stat cast put it out that that was the third hardest hit home run they've ever tracked dude the first the first two were jorge alfaro jorge alfaro has the three hardest hit home runs in the history of stat cast that they've ever tracked so he's gonna break stack ass right because he already he has the hardest balls it's like he's like built for stat cast. It's crazy. Yeah, and it was weird. He was rated as the fifth best defensive catcher for Fangrass, which I don't buy that one. I like Fangrass.

The arm's pretty awesome. Let's relax there for a second. But yeah, yeah. Alfaro, just that. When he gets a hold of one. I love the phrase because I think it's perfect for him, but he has light tower power when he gets a hold of one. He the phrase because i think it's perfect word but he has light tower power when he gets a hold of one he really does have that elite skill like his power tool is is a 75 or an 80 just the pure power yeah and it's just like maybe start your swing a bit earlier

that's maybe all you need to do and you could turn into a middle of the pack gary sanchez yeah and look look right now even even if he can shore up the defensive stuff, which we've already seen him make a jump, I think, defensively from what we expected, and then you add in the arm, he could be a top 10 catcher in baseball with this skill set. He could be a top 5 catcher in baseball with this skill set if he could develop some consistency on the offensive end. Yeah. Nick Williams had a really good at-bat the other day.

Your boy. Yeah. He's the only bat in like 2-0-9 in the last two weeks. But I will not slander Nick Williams anymore. really good at bat the other day. Your boy. Yeah. He's the only bat in like 209 in the last two weeks. But I will not slander Nick Williams anymore. Look at this. He is having good – Momentous. All I care is that he has good plate coverage

and comes up with big hits in a certain amount of time. But the offense, it's just – it's not – they play for the beginning. It's fine. It's not going to blow you away. They need another piece. They need a bat and we're gonna get into that because obviously a new name has come out outfielder i think a name a lot of people know we'll get to that yeah as well as some of the potential infield options as

well but pitching real quick before we move ahead arietta decent enough start that's all we need that's that's all we need give us a quality start that's what we're asking we just know more the four innings 100 pitches and balls all over the place like keep us in a ball game that's all we'll ask i'll pay you 75 million please for the love of god we're doing it anyway just just give us six innings and and and do your job yeah and that's not too much to ask interesting enough uh you know you go into this series you're like efflin nola arietta you feel really good about those first two arietta the best start of the three for this series uh you know you go into this series you're like eflin nola arietta you feel really good about those first two arietta the best start of the three for this series uh you know nola you're not worried about at all no eflin though two straight one mediocre start in this

past one a bad start against the dodgers any worry in regression or is this just a bad set of circumstances from a lock perspective no i think a lot of it had to do with rust and i think he had to get a lot of cobwebs off and he hadn't pitched in two weeks i think by that point uh yeah the blister held him back a little bit right but like i've been saying for the last month like the thing that made him get to the next level was the fact that he's locating that fastball both sides of the plate and what he did on monday night was just leaving meatballs right down the middle and if we're seeing his fastball start to get back towards the middle of the plate then he's in for big trouble because he's just not the same pitcher so um if he like obviously I will count the first start as rust it's perfectly fine uh he just needs to make sure he can get back to how he was feeling before the

blister and make sure that fastballs both sides of the plate high low mixing it up um but i'm not pressing the panic button yet i agree but again blisters too one of those things that you know as well as anyone for a pitcher really bad injury to have something that can linger and well that's that's the problem with throwing the knuckle curve and they're all spiking their curve now but it creates a blister because it's putting all that pressure if you can't get that same pressure that same grip and the blister is causing even the slightest bit of discomfort, it can really affect how you pitch, affect your spin rate, all that type of stuff. It's going to leave your stuff up, and then it's going to get crushed.

But yeah, no, his fastball is just right down the middle on Monday night, and nothing you can do about it. It also brings up an interesting thing that you've talked about a lot, is the amount of innings these young pitchers are pitching and are going to be expected to pitch over the long haul. I think probably a good time to dive into some of the trade stuff going around is Jay Happ gets moved today to the New York Yankees. Being finalized, apparently.

Two Yankees, a two-for-one deal. McKinley is in it, and I can't remember the other player in the deal. Brandon Drury, I saw, might be in the deal. I don't know what that does. They're piping up Brandon Drury like he's a prospect it's crazy the guy's 30 years old for christ's sake it's absurd he couldn't even win the third base job miguel anduar got it like that he was supposed to be their opening day third baseman and miguel anduar who's played really well but was nothing at that time and beat him out for that job they did not expect him to take the leap that

quickly but yes cashman or theo jay leap that quickly. Cashman or Theo? Okay. Cashman or Theo? Let's address this real quick because you're the world's biggest Theo-ator, and it is so strange to me. Look, I get it. I think if we're talking purely just pure GM ability, I understand why you would take Cashman.

I think that is a fair take, but at the same time, Theo Epstein stewarded the two franchises that had never won the World Series. He ended 200 years of futility and sadness and frustration. I've said this before, I'll say it again. I think what Theo Epstein did is the greatest accomplishment in our lifetime as sports fans.

That's what I think. History of the world. Theo Epstein. Abe Lincoln and Theo Epstein. So I will take Theo Epstein to run my franchise over Brian Cashman. How about that? I would give Brian Cashman ownership stake. Look, Cashman's been doing it a really long time. He's done a really good job. I think Cashman deserves all the credit in the world for what he did a few years ago.

He has turned this team from depleted assets into like... Into one of the best farm systems in baseball, into a team that is, you know what, 60-something wins already, like has been awesome this year. And again, you go back a few deadlines ago. Actually, when the Phillies were moving Cole Hamels, when they traded him to the Rangers, the two players that deadline, the cashman said, I am not trading for pieces.

They were in the Hamels sweepstakes. They were in other sweepstakes. Aaron Judge, Luis Severino. And Sanchez. But those were the two guys that he refused to move, that he was asked about ad nauseum. Refused to move them. That worked out.

And it doesn't always work out, but I'm with you. Cashman's a really good GM. I think that's a good place to look at the Phillies from this deadline. 100% agree. That was the example I kept using when people were freaking out about, give up Sixto, give up Blum, whatever. It doesn't matter. It does matter.

It does. Just because you don't know these prospects, just because they're maybe not a household name doesn't mean that they can't become something that is going to be a real massive piece for you in the future. Having organizational depth and really solid players all throughout it, it helps in trades, and you don't get rid of elite prospects. You just don't do it. You don't get rid of elite prospects you just don't

do it like you don't put six or seven inches in a deal for a rental if you want to like it's just it was it was always ridiculous i'm glad that clintzak didn't jump in um and i think showing the strength looking at the yankees model i think is an interesting model yeah they could be that because they are building that kind of farm system like the phillies farm system is legit uh and they also have the money that's great they are in a very of farm system. The Phillies' farm system is legit. And they also have the money. It's great. They are in a very unique position like that. And granted, they don't have some of the higher-end guys like Gleybar Torres,

the top three or four prospect in baseball before he got called up. They don't have a guy like that in their system. But Sixto could be that theoretically from a pitching side. But regardless, what Cashman's done out there, both building a roster that can can compete aggressively compete now and also have a lot of pieces either to trade or to help fortify them the futures very impressive but you know what jack screw the yankees let's talk some phillies so half off the market let's start with starting pitcher then we'll work our way down to the bats um so cole hamels still on the board as it is, has not pitched well, Phillies fans. But I think there are a lot of Phillies fans still happy to potentially see Hamels come back.

Some of the controlled starters have been thrown on the market lately. There's been a lot of Chris Archer buzz out there. Jacob DeGrom, I don't think they move him, but that is a name that's been out there as they need a haul to get. That's the kind of guy you trade 6-0 for if you're really going to trade for someone. That's the kind of guy the Yan 6-0 for if you're really going to trade for someone. That's the kind of guy the Yankees should give everything for. Exactly. But, alright, so how do you assess this starting pitcher market? And to your point before about all the innings,

we say, oh, they don't need a starter, but they might. Yeah, well, I mean, Aria is the only guy on this roster, or on the starting staff, that has pitched over 200 innings. No one else has done it yet. Velasquez threw 73 innings last year. Pavetta, you know, he made all the starts, but he didn't get to 200 innings. No one else has done it yet. Velasquez threw 73 innings last year. Pavetta, he made all the starts, but he didn't get to 200 innings.

Arenol, I think, pitched 170-something last year. None of these guys have thrown over 200 innings in a season. Obviously, you have the arm issues with Velasquez and all that. While it's been great, and while it's... On paper, it's like, well, they don't really need a

starter. They do need a starter they do need a starter they need someone that they can kind of trust it can be a four or five or if you go get archer be your two or three um and and make sure you're not running these guys into the ground or put pivette in the bullpen one of those two um i mean i just saw joel sherman just come out and said the cubs are making in rows to let land cole hamels so i'm just done with cole hamels like i don't want cole Hamels on this team. He's not good anymore. He's been really bad.

He's doing the exact opposite of what he did heading into the trade deadline in 2016. Yeah, you're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. So, I mean, like, maybe, basically, if you trade for Cole Hamels, you're betting on him getting back here, getting out of Arlington Ballpark. National League, all that type of stuff. And a pennant run and hoping that he can recreate some of that magic. But from what I've seen, the fastball's flat.

It's leaking out towards the middle of the plate again. He's not able to get into righties anymore. He's leaving out of the plate. And guys like Jonathan Luke Roy, who weren't even good hitters, are taking him tank shots for 400 feet or right to center field. I'm actually growing more interest in Chris Archer. I've long not really been a big Chris Archer guy. I remember standing for Chris Archer and coming back to me.

Right. It's weird because his peripherals are always amazing. Always. Every single year. FIP, K per nine, all that stuff is great. But he's actually not pitching that well. It's the ERA still 4-3 for the last five years,

besides with the one... He had the one really good year, yep. But, here's the thing, is that with Nola emerging as the ace, Arrieta hopefully six innings, less than three runs, Archer can come in here and just help facilitate a rotation, and I think getting him out of the

AL East would be massive for his upside putting him in the nl east where he can just face like the marlins and the mets yeah i think that for sure goes a long way his k per nine numbers are still ridiculous um i wouldn't put six though in a deal i wouldn't put hazel i may put hazley in a deal whoa i don't know coming from you it's a cheap contract for the next three. It's an amazing guy. It's potentially, if he pitches close to what his ability is, it could be one of the best contracts in baseball.

I think there's a lot of people nervous about Chris Archer because his numbers, his ERA isn't great. But he's coming to the NL East and leaving the AL East. I think that helps him immensely. He's got all the talent. All the talent. I don't know if I'd put Haseley in the deal. I would think about putting Haseley in the deal.

And there's been some weird Haseley stuff. Haseley's been insanely hot at double A. He's been white hot. He's crushing the ball. And back-to-back days from fan graphs and another thing I think top1500prospects.com, whatever I was looking at, scouts view him as a fourth outfielder.

And I just want to be like, what am I missing? Yeah, it's surprising. It's probably because the power... The power hasn't been there yet. And I understand because he has a really small load and you can't really see the full attack. But I think he's going to be really good. I don't know.

But I would be really interested in Archer because everything else in the market I don't love. Danny Duffy, I think, would be interesting. And apparently the Royals said that they're not going to trade Duffy. Who knows? Could be posturing. But another good contract is a way to look at it. But who else is out there that would even really make sense?

I thought Happ would have been a good guy you can get on cheap. Rental. Rental kind of guy that helps you right now. Listen, if they want to swing big, they want to be bold, Archer's probably the guy. Yeah, I think so too. And when you look again, time for three more years, you have real control over this guy.

He's someone who can come in and help you in this run now and be a part of the future as well. And to your point as well, how about this? The fact that we've spent all season hyping up Rick Kranitz and the job this pitching staff coaching staff has done bring archer in here give him the chance to work with these guys thank you very much for bringing that up because i was sitting on something this morning and i completely forgot about it until that exact second what about gossman get gossman in here well

they they're talking about i know they're talking about moving i would trade for kevin gosman in a second i'm just i think he's the exact type of guy you're just talking about someone who just has not lived up to that talent but has shown in stretches like his second half last year he has shown in stretches that when he's on he's really on like gosman is infuriating and i really don't like him. But he's really talented. He's so talented. And I think if you get him out of that slop down in Baltimore, who they're just now implementing analytic departments and stuff. Baltimore is as far behind as any organization in the sport.

It's like watching the 2015 Phillies all over again. I feel so bad for them. Because by that point, all of us were like, oh, my God, can you please, please implement some analytics? Gosman's the kind of guy that like if you go get him, it's the buy as low as possible. And if he can figure it out, you're getting a top of the line starter. And the Cubs did this with Arrieta, obviously. You bring Gosman here. He was in the Orioles system with Joe Jordan, all those guys. And you get him with Rick Kranitz, who might be legitimately really good.

The wizard, Rick Kranitz. The next Dave Duncan, Rick Kranitz. He has been the most underappreciated Philly. I can't believe it. He's done such a great job. And was part of the staff last year, too, as the assistant pitching coach. You have to give him a little credit for developing these guys along the way. Bob McClure?

Bob McClure. Seriously? What up, Bob? We're suppressing Rick Kranitz for Bob McClure? Jesus, what are we doing here? Yeah, well, Pete McKinnon has his guys. Fritz, come on. Pete.

Pete. Miss Pete McKinnon. Enter on Pete. I'm interested. I would be interested in trying to get a guy like Gosman I think Bundy would probably cost more I think Bundy would cost more He's pitched better I'm interested to see what they do

From a reclamation project standpoint I'm interested Gosman, Carlos Rodon Maybe they're ready to move on From him a little bit Very talented. They might have to get creative is the point. You might have to get creative because there's not that controllable.

There's not that rental starter on the market now that Hap's gone, and there's not that controllable guy outside of Archer. All right, let's move on to some relief pitchers. I know a lot of people have been starting to bug out a little bit as the relief pitcher market is starting to cool. Joachim Soria, the latest to be traded. He got traded, too? He got traded today.

I go in the car for an hour. I love that I'm just breaking all this news to you. Joachim Soria traded to the Brewers today, so he is off the board. That's such a Brewers move. It is such a Brewers move. I mean, but you know what? The thing with the Brewers is they have the back end of the bullpen

pretty set up. You're trading for Soria to be a middle of the rotation guy, not too bad, or middle of the bullpen guy. So Mark Feinstein puts out this tweet just to throw a few names at you. With Soria joining Herrera, Colombe, Britton, Famiglia, Hannon, Chavez as relievers on the move, the remaining batch available includes Rysel Iglesias, which we've talked about a bunch. Acosta-Ton. Acosta-Ton, obviously the best name on the bunch. But then some other names we've talked about a bunch. It cost a ton. It cost a ton. Obviously the best name on the bunch. But then some other names we've talked about.

Fernando Rodney, I've mentioned a fair amount. Keone Kella, closer for the Rangers. Zach Duke. I didn't even know Zach Duke was still pitching. Get out. Addison Reed. Kirby Yates, of course, would be a great buy, I think, for them. Kyle Barraclough.

Drew Steckenreiter. Oh, my God. Kirby Yates, a right-handed pitcher for the Padres. Drew Stakenrider, Adam Conley is a left-hander. Conley, he throws a few other names in there. Tyler Clippard, Sergio Romo, Jake Diekman, formerly of the Phillies. Did you see, well, here's the thing that I've come to with the relievers market. Is that, like, it's out of control.

The Marlins are asking for Michael Chavis or Jason Groom. For a second rider. It was like, are you out of your mind? Dude, start converting all the starters. I would hang up the phone immediately. Oh my, click. I'm sorry, but I would love another reliever here. I'm with you.

The market is weird. Just develop guys. They have a lefty down in the minor leagues right now who's absolutely killing it and probably would be one of their best lefty relievers. He's brought him up. I forget his last name, but listen, there's a guy who calls here who's really like Wayne in Ocean City.

I love Wayne. He's a legitimately smart baseball guy. I love Wayne. Wayne's a good dude. And he's interesting. He's interesting. But just develop guys. I am not interested in paying a premium for a guy like Derek Steckenreiter, who's really

good. Drew Steckenreiter. Drew like derrick second rider who's really good drew second drew second rider uh who's really good but it's just that's a crazy price to pay it's an insane price to pray um i don't know what kirby yates is going to cost he would be interesting did the reds put amir garrett on the table or no not that i've seen garrett's an interesting name obviously a starter turn reliever which happens a fair amount i think that if all the reds do yeah yeah exactly if i had to guess i would guess they still have plans to make him a name obviously a starter turn reliever which happens a fair amount i think that if all the reds do yeah yeah exactly if i had to guess i would guess they still have plans to make him a starter at some point would be my guess too much upside there i think is a starter but really good reliever yeah if america if america it's on the table i but i think again if second rider is

costing that right garrett gonna call no i know i same idea i think the really the reliever market is just it's crazy It's gone crazy. And I know most fans, not listeners of the High Host podcast, are going to freak out when the Phillies don't really make a big move for a bullpen piece. But if it's going to cost you a top-five prospect, then that's just bad team building. I'm sorry. I agree with you. And the bullpen's been legitimately good.

That's what I was about to go to. I mean, you see what the bullpen has done. Really, this whole month, the whole month of July. They've been absolutely outstanding. We saw it again in that 16-inning game. They won the game because the bullpen was able to keep it up and keep going for eight innings or ten innings of shutout ball or whatever it was. Austin Davis. That's my guy.

Gritting it out. I love Austin Davis. He's gritting it out. I feel like he pitches well every time I watch him pitch. That's just the way I feel about Austin Davis. I'm so glad that Neshek threw those 13 pitches and then couldn't help them out yeah don't count on pat neshek ever coming through for you if you need it i love that tommy hunter throws two innings on monday night has to come back tuesday grits it out pitches well and neshek can't go he pitches

13 pitches and can't throw on Wednesday. He is absurd. Tommy Hunter, where's the trust level? Because I think he's good. I think Tommy Hunter's good. I'm sorry. I have been squatting on that take for a little while now. Well, here's the thing. He's good.

He's legitimately. He was good. Like last year, the year before, Tommy Hunter was a really good pitcher. When they signed him, you and I, I'm sure, go check the High Hopes tapes. We love the signing. Well, because he had the same exact peripheral numbers as brandon morrow and brandon morrow got paid by the cubs to be their closer and he's really good tommy hunter is a is a he's he it seems like he's rounding into form he is still nasty against lefties like lefties don't touch the guy it's the cutters in it's just it's game over um i'm beginning to trust

him more um sir anthony they can't pitch him here's game over. I'm beginning to trust him more. Sir Anthony, they can't pitch him. Here's what they have to do. They can't pitch Sir Anthony on back-to-back days because on the second day his numbers are just bad. It's not the same pitcher. It's tough because he's a starter turning into a bullpen. It's just

the nature of the business. They need one more shut down guy. Neshek shut down, but he's not like Sir Anthony. I agree with you. They need one more guy guy. Like Neshek's shutdown, but he's not like Serenity's shutdown. I agree with you. They need one more guy they can put in any situation and you feel confident. Though I will say Victor Arana, getting back to being the guy you thought he was. He's been great again. And started the season, we all were, Victor Arana's legit,

and then injured, came back, wasn't quite as good. I think Victor Arana may be someone we can count on as well. Hold on. One name I want to throw by you. I want to see what you think. Buy low on Tavi Canely. Yeah, I would do that in a second. He's in AAA. He's striking out

40% of his batters. Just get him here. Yeah, he was great for the Yankees last year. The stuff is there. It's not his fault that they brought in Zach Britton and David Robertson. It's not his fault that they have the greatest bullpen in the history of baseball. I say that without any equivocation, any question. The Yankees right now have the greatest bullpen in the history of baseball. I say that without any equivocation, any question. The Yankees right now have the best bullpen that certainly I've ever seen in my life.

It's absurd. It's ridiculous. They added Zach Britton to it. Like, what the hell? All right, to the bats. Name comes out this week. Yesterday, Indians and the Phillies, the frontrunners for that, Adam Jones. Fritzy, thoughts?

The power's pretty much gone. I mean, he's hit 10 homers this year. He's battingrunner for that Adam Jones. Fritzie, thoughts? The power's pretty much gone. I mean, he's hit 10 homers this year. He's batting.277. So basically he's a singles hitter. I like it from the standpoint that he's one of the best clubhouse guys in the league. He would be playing right field so his defense would automatically improve. He's not the same. He used to be a great center fielder.

He's not the same. He used to be a great center fielder. He's not the same anymore. It's basically like adding a younger, over-the-hill Torrey Hunter. Sure. I think that's a good comeback, actually. And Torrey Hunter was a viable player for the last three years. He was a part of winning teams for the last three years of his career. I think Adam Jones can bring a level of leadership to this clubhouse, accountability to this clubhouse, a win-now-ish thing to this clubhouse.

But if you're expecting him to be the Adam Jones from three years ago or two years ago, he's not going to be that guy. He's a platoon bat that he's basically going to be what Aaron Altair was supposed to be. Was supposed to be. He would platoon with Williams. I agree with you. I think that's the move if you bring him in here. And I think it makes a lot of sense.

You look at this team right now. I don't think he should cost much in the last year of his deal. I mean, the one, you look at the way this bench is shaving up. It's a bad bench. Oh, dude. And then on top of that. Trevor Plouffe? Trevor Plouffe.

You mean Mr. 16th inning Trevor Plouffe. But even with that in mind, it's not just a bad bench, but it's a bench without an outfielder. Yep. When they send Aaron Altair down, they do not have a single guy who can play the outfielder. I know Ploof has been out there a couple times. They don't have a single guy who can play the outfielder. So whether it's Adam Jones or someone else like that, I think

adding an outfielder unless... What do you think about Granderson? Fine. Exact same idea, except he's a left-handed hitter. I would rather have Adam Jones than Granderson. All-L sequel. Granderson won't cost as much. Granderson will not. Granderson's 37 years old. He's over there. Granderson's a real platoon

at bat. Adam Jones, if he were your everyday outfielder, you could be okay. Curtis Granderson cannot play the outfield every day. That's where he's at in his career. He adds a little bit of pop off the bench. I'm not a huge Granderson guy, just because I don't think the fit is perfect. They don't really need a left-handed outfield bat as much as they need a right-handed hitting outfield bat.

But look, I think they need another outfielder. So someone who's a veteran who's been around and can come in and give you some good at-bats, I'm good with. I don't need to see Mitch Walding batting again. I just don't need to see that guy hitting in a major league game anymore. I'm done with it. I mean, I don't even think Mitch Walding wants to be out there. Yeah, I think Mitch is good. I'm like, alright, I'm not going to get a hit anyway.

I think, if I could map out my perfect deadline. Yeah, well, infield, real quick, and then we'll get to your perfect deadline, because two names, I think, have kind of made the most sense throughout this process. One a little bit more expensive than the other. Eduardo Escobar, I think, probably the name that makes the most sense, can play

third and short for you. He can play either position. He's having a really good season, a breakout-type season, even though he's 29 years old. And I think on kind of a step down, also having a great season, but wouldn't cost as much as Dribble-Gabrera, that same type of guy who can play pretty much any position in the infield, switch hitting bat type of thing.

Those two names and anyone else in the infield kind of mix that stands out to you. Yeah. Well, Santana, it's weird. So I thought the same way you did, that he can play short, third, second, all that. But I've been looking at some Mets boards and stuff, and they're saying he can. That's true. What are you talking about? Yeah, he can pretty much only play second base now.

Like, he doesn't have the same versatility. Oh, really? He doesn't? Because he was a shortstop the majority of his career. I would have assumed he could still play third, short. I wasn't sure about. You would think he could still play third. Maybe in a pinch.

Maybe get him here and figure it out. It's been weird. So you'd bring up his dribble on Twitter or whatnot, and people would be like, no, he's bad. I would take him. I don't care if it's an outlier season. I would take him for cheap, and I think he can help spell Kingery if he struggles.

Even though yesterday was a really nice step forward for Kingery. He actually hit a home run. Miracles do happen. He almost hit the second home run. The second home run was almost or the second almost home run was actually I thought more impressive than the first one. It was because he caught up to a curveball, which I've never seen him do.

But it was a nice day for Kingery. I don't want to bring in a guy that's going to hurt his development. I want to see Kingery play for the rest of the season. We've been through this. I know, I know. But I would go after Eduardo Escobar just because he can play short and third. I think Franco, what he's doing right now is great.

I don't trust it completely. If he becomes a falter at all, Eduardo's right there. If Kingery struggles, then you can put in Eduardo. I just think that I don't trust it completely. If he becomes a falter at all, Eduardo's right there. If Kingery struggles, then you can put in Eduardo. I just think that I don't want to... The Phillies are legitimately in a position to win the division. This is my argument. I'm with you.

It's not just getting to the wild card game and playing the one game. You can win the division. You could be playing a seven game series off the bat. I think if you bring in Eduardo Escobar, it won't kill you. It makes you better. Eduardo Escobar, it won't kill you. It makes you better. It won't kill you for the future and it'll help you now.

It'll help you win now. I'm in on that. I'm in on that idea of Eduardo Escobar. A dribble is just like fine, but I think Eduardo is the move. Yeah.

Look, Eduardo, I've long been a fan of Eduardo Escobar. I own him in the fantasy league we're in together. Nice. But yeah, I think Eduardo makes a ton of sense. By the way, I picked up Matt Carpenter off the waivers.

Did you really? Yeah. Well, that worked out. Yeah, he's been the best player in the national league. Oh, my God. He's been amazing. That worked out. Someone put him on the waivers.

I was like, what are you doing? To be fair, he was atrocious to start the season. But still, it's worked out well. Yeah, just a bit. Especially last week. So, yeah. So, I think your perfect deadline is? Perfect deadline is you get Eduardo Escobar for the third base

and shortstop capability that he has because I think that ups your team from day one. You go get Adam Jones. You give him Derek Hall. You give him Derek Hall for Adam Jones or some of that because the Phillies have a Rule 5 problem, and they're going to have to start protecting guys that are talented or not protecting guys that are talented like Derek Hall. It's what the Yankees are going through right now as well.

That's why they're able to make all these deals because they can just throw these guys in. They're not going to protect in the Rule 5 draft. Derek Hall fits that category. They're going to have to move him at this deadline, I would think. So move him in an Adam Jones deal. He's a perfect Oriole. He's a big bat that still strikes out and hits like 250.

Yeah, sure. So I think that makes a lot of sense. Get a Eduardo Escobar, get Adam Jones, and then get like Craig Stammen or Jared Hughes from Cincinnati. Just like a fine reliever, and I'm good. I'm good. If you want to make the big splash for Archer, go for it. I agree with you.

That would be my perfect deadline as well. Give me an infield bat, an outfield bat, and somebody to throw in the bullpen. Yeah. Without giving up too much. That's a perfectly fine deadline. Matt Klintzak, if you do that, high hopes and the crowd will be very happy. The listeners to WIP might not be happy. Yeah, but we got you.

What matters is that we're happy. We got you. That's the key to all of might not be happy. Yeah, but we got you. What matters is that we're happy. We got you. That's the key to all of it. All right. And, of course, we'll be all over the deadline coming up. Oh, yeah. Emergency pods. We will emergency pod the ish out of an Eduardo Escobar trade.

I was born for emergency pods. Especially an Eduardo Escobar trade. It's what I live for. All right. Fritz, real quickly, we're going to look at Deranger Suarez in this weekend coming up, but you can't cheer Chase Utley when he gets a hit in the 12th inning. I cannot believe the takes that have been coming out of this radio station all over the place.

I have zero problem with cheering Chase Utley as he steps up to the plate. Cool. Awesome. He's my favorite player ever, by the way, while I'm saying this. As he is mine. Yes, my favorite. He gets a hit. He could my favorite player ever, by the way, while I'm saying this. As he is mine. Yes, my favorite. He gets a hit. He could be the winning run. He represents the winning run, getting on base in the 12th inning

of a game that I think that, when we look back at it, could be a season-defining win for this team. And people are cheering him getting on base in the 12th inning? Not okay, Jack. No, and what sucks about it is that everyone's like, I don't think people care enough about this team, which makes me so care enough about this team,

which makes me so mad because this team's in first place. And they're booing the pitcher who's trying to pick Chase Utley off. You're booing your own team. I know. I couldn't. I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed by it. I, too, was embarrassed.

I did not like it at all because it's just so not aware. I understand what Chase Utley means here. No other athlete in this town will ever be bigger than Chase Utley for me. Like, he is the guy. Like, the god. Or the man, you might say. Right. And, like, it's just so bad situational awareness to give a guy a rounding applause for getting a hit against your team in extra innings of a game that you need to win. That matters.

That matters. And here's the biggest part that I've said to multiple people. I guarantee you, Chase Utley did not want you cheering him getting a hit in that situation if he were a Philly. If he were a Philly in the flipped around, he would have been pissed off that his fan base was cheering that dude who got a hit and could have beaten your team. And what does it say about

the guys on this team? Like, that's what makes me the most mad, is that these young guys are going to see that and be like, yo, I'm right here. Yo! Luis Garcia. The hell, bro? Like, really? You're going to boo me, who I'm trying to win a game for you? I'm just trying to win a game. What are we talking about here? The fans cared more about Utley than they cared

about the team, and I was upset about that. I couldn't agree more. It made me so mad. All right. If you get a home run, what are you going to do? That's what I said. People, would you have cheered the home run? How about if he gets on first base and then he scores the winning run?

You cheering that? It's just the argument that, well, it didn't end up making a difference doesn't cut it because you cheered in the moment and you didn't know what was going to happen. So we nipped that right in the bud. Thank you. Frit what was going to happen. So we nipped that right in the bud. Thank you. Fritzy, Ranger Suarez. So Ranger Suarez, he had a.57 ERA.

.57 in 15 innings. In Lehigh Valley. 2.76, I believe, in AA prior to that. Right. And he was also, like, his first start was in, like, 35 degrees. Oh, okay. And not a bad one. That's good.

And it was, like, 7ers. So been even better than that. Right, right, right. So he doesn't walk anyone. He is, like a couple years ago, he was famed as the guy that had a 78 to 1 K to walk ratio. Not bad. Pretty good.

It's okay. So he... Very Cliff Lee-esque of him. Not huge strikeout numbers, but he's going to... He's not a velocity guy, right? He's more of a deception type of lefty. But he's been up to 92 and 95, so it's not like he doesn't have a fastball.

The velocity's increased over the last year plus or so. Three pitches he can control. Doesn't walk anyone. Not going to really strike out big numbers. I think, you know, I think last year he was like 81 innings, 78 strikeouts or something like that i think he might even be less than that so yeah i think this year in his 75 innings in double

a or whatever he had like 54 strikeouts but very sound mechanics um nothing crazy kind of like kind of liriano ish but not as not as wild coming out of the like his arm much more control yeah he doesn't short arm it like lariano tried to um but i'm excited i'm excited he i think he like i think he's better than jojo romero and i know jojo romero has been up to uh 40 like keith law had him at 49 overall right which i thought was a little second in the philly system according to keith yeah yeah and suarez like uh according to all the managers and pitching coaches on AA and AAA, just a great locker room guy. He's a guy that other players in the locker room look up to because of his work ethic. And he would just come in the clubhouse and just be smiling.

And I think that's really a positive thing to have around this team. I'm excited. I think he can stick. However, I wonder if it's a showcase start for the deadline. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah, it's a good question. I know the Orioles loved him in the Machado slash Britton deal. That's interesting.

So I wonder if it's a one-for-one Adam Jones. I'm kind of interested in Ranger Suarez for Adam Jones and Michael Givens. Yeah, I mean, Givens controlled as well. Not having his best year, but really talented. Should be next. Yeah, and he was last year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So maybe there's something there. Maybe that's why they're pitching him tonight.

Regardless, I'm very excited for Rangers. Yeah, I am too. And again, it'll be fun to see a lefty start a game for the Coast. Yeah, it'll be weird. It's going to take a little bit to get used to. Yeah, but it'll be fun. And I'm with you. I think and again, man, what a great name. This team has the best names. We got Sir Anthony Dominguez, Ranger Suarez,

Daniel De Los Santos. Well, you're leaving the goat off. name this team has the best names we got sir anthony dominguez ranger suarez and yelde lo santos like well it's fun you're leaving the goat off to go to sir anthony but no no no six essentials oh yeah it's a great name too i think sir anthony dominguez better name now pitching for the phillies number 45 we can't under that's a really good damn six. That's a really good Dan Baker. Sixto Sanchez. That's a very good Dan Baker. James, I'm not kidding you. I have dreamt about the day that Dan Baker announces Sixto Sanchez. I'm not kidding you. You've said that to me before. Yeah.

But Ranger Suarez, let's not underrate what a great name that is. No, it's a great name and a really good pitcher and a guy that I think can stick. I think he can stick. 92 to 95. Doesn't walk anyone. That plays. So much young talent in this system. It's really exciting. I know. They much young talent in this system. It's really exciting.

They may not be the sexy names. Exactly. It's not all top 100 prospects, but it's like top 120, top 130, top 140. They got a lot of really good prospects. They just may not be the highest end guys that are out there. I think Reece topped at 44. He did. And everyone watching the minor leagues is like, this guy's going to be a stud.

I love prospects, but it's sometimes— You can only put so much stock in those types of rankings. and like everyone watching the minor leagues like this guy's gonna be a stud so you know I like the I love prospects but it's sometimes you can only put so much stock in those types of rankings right everyone has their own biases well look a perfect example

yes and looking a perfect example is the fact that Keith Law has Joe Jaramero as his number 49 prospect overall in all of baseball and Baseball America

has him as the 6th best prospect in the Philly system so there's just so much variation yeah and based on the eye alright Fritzy big series coming up against And Baseball America has them as the sixth best prospect in the Philly system. So there's just so much. Variation. Yeah, and based on the eye. All right, Fritzie, big series coming up against the Cincinnati Reds. Who are hot.

Hot. Four and six, I think, in their last ten. But prior to that, since that first month plus when they've been awful, better than 500 baseball since then. They've played really good baseball. Any thoughts on this series heading up here, a four-game set in Cincinnati? Yeah, I mean, the bullpen's good. They got Jared Hughes, Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett, obviously. Glacius at the back.

Rossio Glacius. It'll be tough to score runs late in games. The starting staff's nothing special. Go after those guys. Try to attack early. I know their mantra is to. Guys like Anthony Descalfani and whatnot. Yeah, yeah.

So don't try to play for the bullpen because the bullpen's pretty good is my main thing. They have Eugenio Suarez. They have a good lineup. They have a good, fun team. They have a very good lineup. Joey Votto. Joey Votto.

Jose Peraza's having a nice year. I mean, they've been good. They have my least favorite player in fantasy baseball, Billy Hamilton. Billy Hamilton. So your boy Tyler Maley on the hill tonight against Suarez. Nice young arm. He's had some bad starts, some good starts. Matt Harvey we get to see.

Harvey Day? In game three. And then Luis Castillo, who's had a very disappointing season. Man, Luis Castillo. He's a talented kid. Luis Castillo coming into the season was like, draft him top ten. The mystery, exciting breakout guy. Terrible.

Tyler Mailey. I like Mailey. So I like him too. But what I've, so last night I was watching Tyler Skaggs. And Mailey falls into the same category. One's a righty, one's a lefty. So I like him too, but what I've... So last night I was watching Tyler Skaggs, and Maley falls into the same category. One's a righty, one's a lefty. Right, right, right. But this is where Vince Velasquez was.

So Tyler Skaggs has 94 from left side and a hammer curveball, but doesn't have that third pitch that can separate him from other pitchers. Maley is just a fastball guy with average off-speed stuff, so guys just eventually get used to his fastball. What's made Vince Velasquez take the next step in his development is that he's actually has a third pitch that is going to get people off of his fastball anyway minor side tangent but I was just thinking about Tyler Skaggs and Tyler Maley falls in that category and my continued impression with Vince Velasquez all right Fritzy any final thoughts I do have a final thought. So last night, James, I was watching the White Sox Angels,

and guess who comes on the mound? But Chris Volstad. Chris Volstad! Chris Volstad, who is trash, and I cannot believe— Chris Volstad is still in the major leagues. Which should never be the case. Famed trade between me and my brother the first years in our fantasy league that everyone got so mad about when I traded him Adam LaRoche for Chris Volstadt.

And you know what that trade mattered? Nothing. It was me. They're like, brothers are colluding. Chris Volstadt. It was like Chris Volstadt. Anyway, that's my Chris Volstadt memory. So it got me thinking about players that Ryan Howard has dominated his entire career.

So let me just rattle off these career numbers against Chris Volstad. Eight homers, most against any pitcher in the entire sport. A 519 batting average. It's okay. And an OPS of over 2,000. Whoa! Yeah. So Ryan Howard.

You don't see a 2,000 OPS too often. It was nice seeing Chris Volstad again. It was like seeing an old friend. Yeah. I'm sure Ryan Howard would feel that way too. Ryan Howard might actually still be able to homerob Chris Volstead. Set that up for charity or something. Chris Volstead versus

Ryan Howard for one more last time. If Chase Helley can get all this stuff this weekend, bring in Chris Volstead and Ryan Howard for a little charity. They'd probably boo Ryan Howard when he came out. That's how we've treated poor Ryan Howard over the years. Gonna go down as so underappreciated. Shout out to Ryan Howard when he came out. That's how we've treated poor Ryan Howard over the years. Listen, going to go down as so underappreciated. Underappreciated.

Shout out to Ryan Howard. Final thought, rate and review the podcast. It makes Jack so happy. It makes him so happy. I can't even tell you. I'll just get texts from him with copies of reviews and all that. So do it for Fritz. Enjoy Phillies baseball this weekend.

Fritz and I will be back to talk to you on Sunday after the Phillies sweep four games to the Reds. How about that, Fritzie? I like it. After the Phillies take three out of four games to the Reds this weekend. That's what I'm talking about. All right. They don't sweep series. They can only win three.

They can only take two or three or four. I'll take three or four here. That'll be fine. Two against the Red Sox coming up after that, so we'll preview that as well. Showdown. So a lot. And, of course, trade deadline, all that stuff. We've got you covered.

So for Jack Fritz, I'm James Seltzer. See you guys later. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen. We have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game.

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