High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Why Can't They Beat the Braves?

Episode Date: April 30, 2018

The Phillies struggles against the Braves continue and James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are here to talk about it. The Odubel hate is becoming infuriating, Vince Velasquez has gotta go and the series against the Marlins is coming at the right time. All of that and more on this episode of High Hopes! 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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And part of mine includes biodiversity. Why care so much? Because Canadian dairy farmers hold themselves to higher standards. That's what's behind the blue cow logo. Dairy Farmers of Canada. Yo, it is another edition of the High Host Podcast. I am James Seltzer and with me right now, wanting to let you know what he is drinking as he wants to appear more relatable, he said.

So, Jack Fritz, what beer are you having tonight? Oh, come on, that's not fair. It's not fair. You're taking a shot too early into this podcast. Oh, no, Jack. Listen, if Eno Saris can do it, why can't I do it? Because it's Eno's thing. Why can't it be my thing?

Make it your thing. What are you drinking tonight, Jack? I'm drinking a nice Two Roads, Two Juicy New England IPA. It's juicy. What I don't get about New England IPAs is for some reason they're the juiciest IPAs, which doesn't make any sense because New England IPA. It's juicy. What I don't get about New England IPAs is for some reason they're the juiciest IPAs, which doesn't make any sense because New England is black all the time.

Juicy. So what makes an IPA juicier than another one in your estimation? I don't know, but I think it's the hops. And I don't know, for some reason they just taste fresher. And they go down way smoother when the Phillies are winning, but also you have to drink them more when the Phillies play bad like they did today and this week against the Braves.

Like, why can't we beat this Braves team, James? It's a great question, especially coming off a year where they literally own the Braves' soul. I was thinking about it. I was wondering, like, because I'm trying to come up with reasons. As you look at the team sitting now at 16-11, we're recording this Sunday evening to get this out for all of you heading to work on Monday morning.

I'm sorry. Work sucks, especially on a Monday. But hopefully talking to little Phillies can brighten the day a little bit. Big week of baseball coming up. We'll get to that a little later. But tough weekend coming off the losing two out of three to the Braves, including the 10 to one stomping yesterday or today for us, Jack. But I think, and look, they're three and six against the Braves now and 11 and five, excuse me, 12, 13 and five against every other team.

So the Braves have certainly been their kryptonite so far this season. So I was trying to think about what it is, because it's not like the Braves are crazy talented. They're better than they were last year a little bit, mostly because of maturation and a healthy Freddie Freeman and whatnot. But, and Ozzie Albies is playing great and Acuna is up and he's legit and all that. But is it possible, Jack, that because the Phillies owned the Braves' souls so hard last season that maybe the Braves have a little bit more of an edge against them this year?

Is there something where they're like, there's enough guys, pretty much the vast majority of the team from last year is here now minus, again, Acuna and Albies was only there for a little bit last year and all that. But do you think these guys just hate the Phillies a little extra hard Jack I kind of have a hard time believing that because both teams were terrible last year so like like if both teams were good and they were fighting and they're vying in the division and the Phillies just own the Braves I could see that carrying over another year but like both teams were bad I don't know

it's like the the two worst teams being angry at each other or trying to get a vendetta against each other. I don't know. It just doesn't really make sense to me. I just think the Braves have upped their talent level a little bit. The pitching staff, getting shut down by Brandon McCarthy three times this year has been super frustrating. But I don't really put too much into that.

I think if both teams were good and they were vying the year before in the division and one team just pounded the other team, like the Phillies and the Mets a couple years ago, like in 2007 and 2008, that would make more sense. Two of the worst teams in the entire game having a vendetta against each other doesn't really vibe with me.

Yeah, no, look, I think, and I don't think the Phillies have a vendetta against each other doesn't really vibe with me yeah no I look I think and I don't think the Phillies have a vendetta I think maybe there's a little extra juice a tiny little bit for some of those Braves saying these guys beat our ass so much last year but I agree with you I don't think it's a real factor I think the Braves are not an awful baseball team and and it's early in the season I think the good news is that they've already played half their games against the Braves this season you know know, you're halfway home with that. Hopefully over the second half, they could do a better job in the first half. But yeah, I'm with you. Look, luckily, the Braves are not on the schedule for a little bit now. And we can focus on other teams like

Miami Marlins coming in, which should be an easier task. But then after that, the Nationals, which should be interesting as well, heading to Washington after heading to Miami. But, Jack, a couple things we got to talk about real quick, and we're going to get to the Odebo Herrera thing in a little bit because I know you have a lot to say there. But let's start with J.B. Crawford heading to the DL, on the DL. How do you think it's going to kind of impact the team? Are we going to finally see, like I said, infield? Is it just going to kind of impact the team? Is it, are we going to finally see like a set infield?

Is it just going to be Scott Kingery at short and that's how they roll? I mean, that would seem to make the most sense. I know we've seen Pedro Florman get in there at third at short a little bit, but is this just a potential for a little bit more set lineup over the next few weeks? I think it's actually going to end up being a blessing in disguise. It's going to let Kingery settle into a spot a little bit. I know he's not a natural shortstop,

but I think he has been hurt a little bit by the jumping around of positions. So I think him getting a set position, having a spot in the lineup, is only going to help him. And it does take a little bit of pressure off of J.P. Crawford, who was struggling a little bit at the plate. And it was weird because I was watching J.P., and I was like, something is just off. And I thought he may have had the yips.

Like sometimes you're a shortstop or you're anywhere in the infield, and the ball just feels weird coming out of your hands for like three games, and then all of a sudden you kind of just get it back, and everything's fine. And I thought maybe JP was developing the yips just a little bit, but it turns out it was the arm injury, which makes more sense. He didn't just forget how to throw across the first base. It's not like JP Crawford's a bad defensive player,

even though I was reminded like three times today, like Freddie would never make those. It's been frustrating. I think it's going to be a low-key good thing for this team. Let Kingery kind of settle in, get his feet under him, not have him play multiple positions. Just let him play shortstop.

Get that bat going. Hopefully, JP can come back fully healthy. He's not making the same. I mean, he's the most errors in Major League Baseball right now, which is not a good thing for your shortstop so um it's gonna be a good thing let kingery kind of just get out of this little funk that he's in and then we'll go from there yeah i i definitely agree with the kingery point i've i've heard a lot of people say that the switching positions has absolutely no effect on on his offense I think that's

ridiculous like there's a guy who played second base his entire career and now they're asking him to play shortstop third base left field right field all over the diamond like as a rookie in Major League Baseball who's literally never played a game in Major League Baseball never had a bat in Major League Baseball prior to the start of the season, Jack. I'm with you, man. I think to say that having all of that on your plate isn't going to affect him across the board is ridiculous. I just think that's stupid. On top of the fact that you and I have talked a fair amount about

that he is a rookie and a very raw rookie at that. Even a guy like J.P. Crawford came up last September. We saw Hoskins, who's not a rookie anymore, get that time last season. I mean, Kingery is coming up with zero major league experience, and I think it takes time to learn how to adjust to the way pitchers adjust to you and the way defenses play you and all that type of stuff and to have to worry about mastering all these different positions. And he's done a really good job. Like, we've definitely seen some errors here and there, some mental mistakes.

But for the most part, he's really acquitted himself well defensively considering all that's been thrown at him. But I'm with you, man. I think that at least in the long run, and I think even in the short term, this could be a really good thing. Crawford is no use if he's not healthy. And I think you are absolutely right that it was certainly affecting him in the short term, this could be a really good thing. Crawford is no use if he's not healthy. And I think you are absolutely right that it was certainly affecting him in the field. He's a much better defender than we've seen the last week, two weeks from him.

So I feel the same way. And the other thing is, and I know you don't want to hear this, but it's going to let Mike Alfranco be in the lineup. Listen, man. He homered over the weekend. That was nice. He's been consistently making better contacts. His average is 250.

He's finally over 300 with the OBP, which I know is like, it's like, oh, my God. That's such a low benchmark. It's unbelievable. But it's the baby steps with Mike L. And I think he's been putting consistent at-bats together. Now, once it's 0-1, 0-2, he's just a wreck. His pitch recognition is some of the worst I've ever seen.

But getting him in the lineup every night. But I still love him! Listen, man. All I'm saying is I just want to make sure he sucks. I just want to make sure he sucks. I'm not sure he's 100% suck right now. Okay? Look, I get what you're saying.

I get what you're saying. And the talent and all that, it's worth figuring it out for sure. And, you know, we've seen some things this season that have been better than in years past. But, you know, we just need to see a better approach. We need to. We have to at this point. I mean, he has to have a better approach at the plate. He can't just be as, you know, free-swinging as he's been.

But, look, I certainly think knowing you're going to be the third baseman every day, getting a chance to go out for the next two and a half, three weeks, whatever it is, you know, saying, all right, I'm going to be in the sixth hole, seven hole, whatever it is. And I'm going to go every day and I'm going to do my business. I think that's going to help as it will for Kingery. I agree with you, Jack, from, from that perspective. But, um, I, you know, I look, I think, I think the team is better with JP Crawford at shortstop if he's healthy and full go then then not. But I think for right now, the kind of the situation the team is in, I don't think the injury hurts him that much. But to that point,

really quickly, just looking at the offense, I think one way you can kind of give Franco a pass is that it's the entire team. We've had three guys. It's Oduble Herrera. Again, we're going to get into the whole Ruben Frank of it all in a bit with Oduble Herrera. But really quickly, just from an offensive perspective, it's been Oduble Herrera, Reese Hoskins, and Cesar Hernandez literally throwing this team on their backs and carrying them from an offensive perspective. And then they've gotten by with working counts,

clutch hits in big spots, and grinding out tough wins. But, Jack, what do we need to see here? And I know we talked on the last episode of IOPs about the strikeouts and how that's a little overblown and all that. But, you know, what are you looking for? What are we going to start to see some turns here? Because, ultimately, they're going to have to get more production

from the rest of this offense for them to continue to win baseball games. Well, I think we're slowly starting to see the turn from a couple players. I think Altair had a great week. He was, what, 3-4 today. He's had a really productive week. Now, on the contrary, Nick Williams

I think is 0-15 on this homestand. He is. Which isn't great. I think we're slowly but surely seeing the effects being put into place. Alfaro has that. He has one game a month where it's like this guy could be Gary Sanchez. And then he goes back to being Jorge Alfaro the next night.

It's just like, dude, stop swinging so hard. Just put the ball on the bat or put the bat on the ball and it will fly. Man, he is super frustrating but also super tantalizing at the same time. I think Franco is put together good at bats. Andrew Knapp is... I cannot stand

Andrew Knapp. I know he works at bats and he gets walks but man, man, I just can't. I can't stand him. Carlos Santana, he had a pretty good week. He had another ball that was six inches from going out the other night. He seems like it's slowly but surely starting to turn around. I know it's the first month. They're really struggling to score runs.

But I think there's been adjustments from john maylee from the working counts to to trying to grind out at bats uh i think it's i think it's been the first month's been uh trying to get adjusted to the new hitting approach more than these guys these guys aren't talented hitters um it just takes a little bit it takes a little bit for everyone to get on the same page uh to implement a new system. I know it's just hitting, but it's still, you're learning about launch angle and all these kind of different things, and mainly it's teaching something new

that previous hitting coaches here did not teach. I'm not even sure what hitting coaches did before here, because they probably didn't do anything besides, like, hey, go hit, and go get your hacks in at the cage. So I think we're starting to see the offense kind of emerge just a little bit. I've been more encouraged by some of the at-bats in the past week than I have in recent weeks. Yeah, you're a big fan of the phrase, water always finds its level.

And I think it's a really good phrase for this. Like, these guys are going to hit. Carlos Santana is going is gonna get on base 36 of the time this season it's gonna happen he's gonna hit even when you look at the average at 154 he's still got an obp 150 points higher than that like he's gonna get on base and he's gonna figure it out and some of the balls that he's you know his line drive percentage is high like he's gonna he's going to start getting on base he's gonna start hitting home runs and i think the same thing with a lot of these other guys like you said altair starting to turn it around i feel good about his you know immediate future and future over the rest of this season

and just say it come on say it yeah the altair meter is it's getting better it's rising it's moving the altair meter is moving when before i thought it was broken. So you're saying it moved. It moved. Yeah. There you go. In more ways than one. Yeah. Well said. Yes. I will,

I will let you make the innuendo there and I will roll with it. But, and I think, look, Nick Williams has definitely been struggling, but I think, and I know you're not a huge Nick Williams guy. I'm not a huge Nick Williams guy either,

but I think he'll be better than he's been. I think Crawford, once he gets going and gets healthy, we'll be better than he's been. Even King I think he'll be better than he's been. I think Crawford, once he gets going and gets healthy, will be better than he's been. Even Kingery is going to be better than he's been. And I think the real big takeaway for me is not how bad they've been, but the fact that they're 16-11 with how bad the rest of the offense has been. And I think that Cesar and Odoble and Reese

are going to continue to do what they're doing. So I'm with you, Jack. I think, I think it's actually more of a positive than anything that you look at the fact that they found ways to win games, even against some, some subpar competition when they haven't really been firing on all cylinders or anywhere near close to all cylinders on offense.

And I think that's certainly going to change. And you got to hope that the pitching can obviously maybe not keep up the insane levels as we're already starting to see some guys Vinny Velasquez fall back to the pack but back to what we expected from him but uh you know the the pitching is not going to be quite as good as we've seen but I think the offense is going to pick up the slack and the fact that they're 16-11 right now after the first month of the season essentially in terms of the the month and time the season, essentially, in terms of the month and time. The season started on March 29th. You and I are recording this on April 29th.

I think you have to be really happy with where they're at despite some of those struggles. Before we get to the pitching staff, because I do want to get to Velasquez, I know you've got some strong thoughts there, and, of course, Ben Lively going to the DL as well. We'll get into that. It's the return of Zach Eflin, but quickly, Jack, let's, let's get to it as a audible Herrera, who has been probably, you know, I think you could even say the best hitter on this team,

even better than Reese Hoskins, or maybe right there, the same as Reese Hoskins, whatever you want to say, Certainly a better average than Reese and has just been an outstanding player this season offensively, defensively. He had made six or seven highlight reel catches heading into the weekend and then makes the catch of the year this weekend, jumping into the bramble in center field

with his glove going in there and somehow coming out with the ball. He's gotten on base 29 straight games, Jack. And yet, and yet, in a 9-1 game at the time, 10-1 even when it was at that point in the eighth inning, he hits a grounder and he doesn't bust his ass to first base. And we have people like Reuben Frank tweeting, way to run, Odubol.

Like, look, I know you got a lot to say on this. I'm just going to like say Jack go. But in going, also, you know, answer me this question. Is this city ever, ever going to appreciate Odubol Herrera for even close to what he is? Unless the team gets good, like really good, no. Because they just, this city has the most Neanderthalistic baseball fans I've ever seen in my entire life. It is infuriating that we can't appreciate a guy like Odubel Herrera.

Like, dude, people get mad about his freaking dreadlocks. Who gives a crap? Like, who cares if he has dreadlocks? Like, let the dude live. He's batting 345, and no one's talking about it. Everyone's talking about, oh, my God, Reese Hoskins, and I love Reese Hoskins. Adubo's batting better than Reese Hoskins.

It is pure laziness it is embarrassing that every single time he does one little thing wrong whereas if anyone else on the team did it it's not a big deal like nick williams did the same thing a night before except it was 10 times worse and no one brought it up not one person i was the only person that noticed it maybe that's my anti nick williams bias And maybe that's the thought of everyone else that watches Adubo. But like, get over it. Like, get over it. The guy, the guy's batting, like he's your, he's the ultimate, 98% of the things that Adubo Herrera does in the baseball field is good. The 2%, just get over it. Just get over it. What he does is good. Like you can move past the one thing he does a week that is like,

oh my God, he's just such an embarrassment to baseball. The guy is one of the most talented hitters in the league. He could legit win the batting title this year, and yet we're still tweeting like, oh my God, he didn't run it out, and then seventh inning of a blowout. Are you seriously that stupid? Are you just that small of a blowout like are you are you seriously that stupid like are you just that much of a you've like that small of a brain to where it's like oh i don't like this uh this is clearly bad he can't win here like imagine thinking that you can't win with a

dubo herrera like imagine being that stupid in a sport like baseball where like you can't you can't win with a guy that's batting 340 and makes highlight real catches in the outfield. Honestly, are you stupid? That's my question. I knew you would be able to explain the situation well and with grace. But look, I agree with you. I think where it comes from with Odo, I think part of it is that he was the best player on a terrible team for a few years where i think he got kind of picked apart a lot more than he should have because he was the only player people knew even at that time and thus everything he did was kind

of under a microscope and and that's not fair and it's you know ridiculous uh to i mean do you know how many guys like look would you love it if every uh player was mike trout and ran out every single ground ball they hit and even mike trout will loaf to first base every now and again it's part of the sport it's 162 game season that is a long trying grind of a season and you know what sometimes if you're down 10 to 1 in the eighth inning it might not be proud of it but sometimes you just don't bust your ass to first base on a ground out like it's not the end of the world and it seems like you said jack that people in this city or at least there's a portion of people in this city, I don't want to paint with too wide a brush here,

but it just seems like no matter what this guy does, all they care about is the bat flips and the one time he makes a mistake in the outfield or stuff like this when everything else he does is elite. He is an elite center fielder. He's an elite batter. He can be the second, third, fourth best player on a championship team. That's how talented he is. It is so ridiculous to think of anything other. And then on top of that, he's a good dude. It's not like

he's some cancer in the locker room who is just tearing the locker room apart because he's some piece of crap human being. He's a good guy and he's affable and he's likable. He just sometimes has some lapses of, you know, mental, sometimes he's not focused enough. Sometimes he doesn't maybe, you know, again, give it his all, which is ridiculous. I mean, this whole giving it your all is ridiculous. Everyone doesn't run out of ball at some point during the season. Jack, I think you make a great point that for 99% of players,

it doesn't even get mentioned. It doesn't even get noticed. It doesn't even get talked about because it always happens. Yet for some reason, when a guy like Odo Bo Herrera does it, it's the worst thing that's ever happened in baseball history. I just want to know, like, if you're going to point that out, if you're going to point out that minuscule thing that has absolutely no effect on anything that is happening in the game,

then please point out the catch from the night before, the two homers he hit in the game before to win a game against the Braves and all the good that he does because I tell you what what he does well is more important than the one time he doesn't run out the first base like you Neanderthals I just can't I cannot take it like he is such a good player he helps his team win, like, he makes one little lapse, and everyone's ready to jump down his throat. And just get over yourselves. Like, just enjoy a double. Like, listen, baseball needs more guys like a double.

Yeah, I agree. Like, just get over it. Baseball needs as much personality as it can get. Odo Moreira has personality, and, oh, yeah, he's a great player. People should be lauding him, not criticizing him. I couldn't agree more. Jack, let's pivot over to the pitching staff. Some news this week.

I'll give you a quick break from being fired up, because I'm sure once I mention Vinny Velasquez, his name, we'll get there. But Ben Lively to the DL, a back strain. Zach Eflin coming back to make a start. I mean, like, you know, it's basically the same thing, right? I mean, Lively may be a little better than Eflin, but same deal. Time is a flat circle, James. Zach Eflin's back. Super.

So, and look, Jared Eikhoff not that far away, I would think. I'm sure he's going to come back and take that spot and hopefully be healthy enough to contribute. Increase velocity. The bigger question long term, because I think we all know whether it's Lively, whether it's Eflin, when Eikhoff comes back, we'll see. But that is a innings eater, fifth starter. You see what you get.

You hope you get something good. You probably won't. Vincent Velasquez is a wholenings eater fifth starter you see what you get you hope you get something good you probably won't Vincent Velasquez is a whole nother issue as as we have seen the last two starts out the Vincent Velasquez that we all remembered and didn't love hated in fact uh I never I didn't buy in the three starts in a row one of which was the 20 to 1 game which didn't even count for me I wasn't in on it I I didn't I that he was, quote-unquote, back. And I don't even know if you could say back because he's never really been a successful major league pitcher. He had one good start and one amazing start

and has never really come close to that ever again. But, Jack, what do we do here? Like, are you officially out on Velasquez? I've been saying this for a while that I'm out on Velasquez as a starter. I understand why they're trying it. I don't think they have any better options right now per se, but what do they do? What do you think of Velasquez?

Do they move on? What can they do here? What is a potential outcome that is a real viable situation? Because I don't think either of us want to see Vince Velasquez pitching every fifth day. I don't think I'll make it through the season. I just can't take it. He's just so inaccurate all the time.

He has no idea where his fastball is going. Listen, I don't know why this was considered a hot take, but apparently everything I say is a hot take, which isn't fair. But I said that he doesn't have good stuff. He has a good fastball. everything else is is is average at best his curveball is average his sliders average his changeup is average like he's just he is just not a good pitcher he's not a good starting pitcher like i i just can't i can't stand watching him every fifth day it's not exciting watch. The only way you can salvage him is to see if he could be a good first guy out of the pen. People say, hey, make him a closer.

What? Why would you want that guy being your closer? He throws 97 and doesn't know where it's going. I don't want that for an inning. I already have Hector Neris. Hector Neris has way better stuff than Vince Velasquez does. I mean, maybe if he developed into like had a hammer curveball or something I'd be more in but no he doesn't have that at all he's

a he is a borderline average curveball that is just a get me over curveball at this point uh maybe if he spiked it there's something there he just has to he like the difference between him Pavetta is is just more and more stark between every single start that these two make. It's like once crap hits the fan for Pavetta, he grinds it out and figures it out and gets out of it and actually has good off-speed to where he can kind of full hitters, whereas Velasquez relies on his fastball. Now, the only way that you're ever going to get anything out of him is Velasquez

because I am out on him being a starter. It's infuriating watching him. It's bringing him in to try to stop fires in the middle of a ballgame and hope that he develops into an Archie Bradley kind of guy. I know he won't be Archie Bradley, but that's the only hope you have. And just start that development in the offseason, whatever. I know it's only a month into the season, so already looking ahead to next season is a little much. And I don't want to just throw vince velasquez to the curb because he does

throw 97 and he does have pretty clean mechanics but just him as a starter it's just it's just not going to work yeah i agree and i've been saying it for a while and i i've not wavered from it and i won't waver from it i just i haven't seen anything in the last two and a half years that makes me believe that this guy's going to be able to be a starter on the major league level and be any sort of consistent guy in that in that type of role so I'm with you do whatever you can to to start that that process of converting him to an arm in the pen because because like you say he does throw 97 he's an asset like one way he does throw 97. He's an asset. Like, one way or another, wherever he goes, he's an asset, whether he's a, you know, they can try and figure something out.

I mean, look, I'm with you. I just don't see him as a starter. I don't see him as anyone who's ever going to be able to give you any sort of real consistent innings. But, again, I don't know what the answer is, at least for right now. You know, I think, you know, look, you've got Arrieta, Nola, and Pavetta you feel really good about. You're hoping and praying that Jared Eikhoff can come back

and be, you know, half of what you got from him a couple years ago, but just a guy who can be somewhat consistent, not walk guys like he used to be able to, and eat some innings for you. But I think that when you look at that Velasquez, lively, Eflin type of trio there, you're really hoping that that is a spot that is filled by someone who is not on the team right now, I think. If you're really looking ahead towards competing in September, I think that's a spot that right now, the clearest, biggest weakness for this team, personally, in my mind,

when you're thinking about how this team is constructed right now. Jack, all right, looking ahead to this week, the Marlins, heading to Miami to play the Marlins. You feel obviously pretty good about heading down to take on that team. They have played exactly to their talent level, what you would expect. But an interesting series after that is we get our first look at the Washington Nationals this season who have struggled so far this season, still sitting in fourth place in the National League East,

still under.500. What have you seen from the Nationals so far this season? And do you think this is just a slow start and they're still going to be by far the team to beat in this division? Or is this a sign of a team that might be a little bit more vulnerable than people thought? Yeah, I don't really think that at all. I think they'll be fine.

I think they'll figure it out. Rendon's been banged up. I think he's a pretty key piece. To be honest, I haven't sat down and watched much Nationals, so I don't really know what the flaws in that team are. I think they're just a talented team that's gotten off to a slow start that will will eventually figure it out I mean they're just they're just too talented I mean Adam Eaton's been banged up too so uh once they get Rendon back and once they're they're

fully healthy and the staff's fully going then and they're still struggling then I'll be worried but it's a month into the season there are a couple games under 500 a good homestand can pretty much change that in a heartbeat i i am interested to see how they they the phillies handle the nationals because last year it feels i feel like the nationals just whooped us every single game it felt like they whooped us so uh it's a nice test this is a little bit frustrating end to a homestand, but they went six and four in this homestand. They're still 16 and 11. It's still the best start since 2011. And like we said, I mean, the offense really hasn't gotten going. They've had nice late game heroics, big late game hits. They've grinded out wins. Now I think the pitching staff

is going to regress. I think we've seen the cracks in the Vince Velasquez shield. We have Zach Eflin back on a rotation, which is just cringeworthy. It's just not fun at all. We're going to see the staff regress a little bit. Even Pavetta the other day, I saw someone. I was listening to an update on our station, and they were like, Nick Pavetta pitched bad today.

And I was like, he didn't really pitch that bad. The defense didn't help him at all. And, I mean, obviously, if Duke will help him the one time to keep the ball in the yard against Freddie Freeman. Yeah, he had a bad inning, but he grinded. Like, he grinded it out. Like, that could have very easily ballooned into what it was for Vinny the next day, and he gave up six and four innings.

Instead, he only gave up three runs, and he grinded it out, or four runs, whatever it is. But I know what you're saying, Jack. That was a game that could have gotten out of hand, and instead Pavetta bared down and kept his team in the game. The maturation of Nick Pavetta, a 30 for 30 by Jack Fritz. Slowly but surely, we're getting there. Yeah.

They need to take at least two or three of the Marlins. Just right the ship a little bit. This is kind of like the timing of the last Marlins series. There was a lot of questions about the offense, whatever. The Gabe Kapler stuff was starting up. And then the Marlins came to town and everything kind of

got righted. It's a good time for this Marlins series. You get the lineup. It should be three straight nights of a pretty similar lineup so uh a nice a nice way to get to get back on track here but will marlins fans boo don mattingly that's what i want to know uh baseball guy james i don't know if you know that what'd you say he's a real baseball guy i don't know yeah that's true it's a good. Yeah, he played in the majors for less time than Gabe Kapler. That's just a guess based on Mattingly ending his career early because of the back injuries and how long Kapler was in the league.

But if I had to bet, I would bet he's in the league longer than Mattingly. Obviously not as good a player as Mattingly. I get it. I get it. But real quick, I have watched a fair amount of Nationals so far this season, and I do agree with you. I think if sitting here at one day left on April 30th when most people listen to this,

and I had to bet my life on someone to win the National League East, it would still be the nationals. But I do think that they are a little bit more vulnerable than I expected coming into the season just because they have had a lot of injuries, but it's a lot of guys who I could see continue. I mean, first of all, Adam Eaton, whenever that guy stays on the field is the first time. Because sadly, as someone who's owned him many times in fantasy, he can't stay on the field. And it's a bummer because he's a

really great player and he's fun to watch. Spanky Eaton, a great nickname too. But he hasn't been able to stay on the field. Daniel Murphy is still coming back from the microfracture surgery. They got a lot of guys in that lineup right now who you wouldn't expect to be in the lineup and wouldn't be able to count on in a lineup. But I think when it comes down to it, Bryce Harper contract year is real. Anthony Rendon's going to be just fine.

He's going to bring it. Michael Taylor has played pretty well for them, at least counting stats wise, he's, uh, hit some home runs, stealing some bases, that kind of stuff. I think they're going to be fine too, but I don't think, and again, the pitching staff, you still have Steven Strasburg and Max Scherzer at the top, but they're going to have to make some moves. Like they need to fortify that bullpen. It's not great. And I think that depending on injuries, they might need to add another piece offensively too. We'll see. But I think they're going to, they might need to add another piece offensively too.

We'll see. But I think they're going to, and Ryan Zimmerman, that's another guy who I think was overrated, had a great year last year. I didn't expect that to bounce back, but I think they're beatable. I don't think they are the monolith

that a lot of people thought they were, but I also think the Mets and the Braves are better than people expected too. And I don't know if I expect, obviously not the Mets start to last, but I think those teams are both better than Braves are better than people expected to, and I don't know if I expect, obviously not the Mets start to last, but I think those teams are both better than I think a lot of people expected, as are the Phillies, which means I think it's going to be a really interesting division, Jack. One more thing I want to touch on before we get out of here,

non-Phillies related, as I am sitting here watching the Yankees and the Angels play in Sunday Night Baseball, and I saw you tweet about it, and I thought it was a really interesting point that Albert Pujols is now four hits away. I don't remember how far he was when you tweeted, but four hits away from 3,000, and you said you couldn't care less, and you're a huge baseball fan. I thought that was a really interesting thing because I feel similarly,

but at the same time, I mean, I still feel the impact of how important 3 000 hits was because i grew up with it being such an important thing but i do think that when you look on it on a whole scale people don't seem to care about that like they used to jack well it's i think it's a product of two things i think the west coast does hurt them and and i tweeted that and everyone was like you know there's a bunch of people in L.A. And I was like, well, that's not the point. There's an East Coast machine that is baseball.

And when Jeter got his 3,000th hit, I was like, wow, this is the most amazing thing ever, and I cared so much about it. Yeah, well, he also hit it out of the park, too, which didn't hurt. Well, of course, over the overrated David Price. Sure. And the other thing was that 3,000 is just such an arbitrary number. Like, I don't need 3,000 hits to validate how good Albert Pujols was. Like, it's a cool career milestone, but, like, I know how good peak Albert Pujols was. He's the best right-handed hitter of my generation.

I don't need 3,000 hits to validate that. And I think it's just such a – it's such a – it's an easy number to get where it's like 3,000 hits, that means you're automatically one of the greatest players ever. I know that. And I know he's going to get there eventually. And I don't know. It just doesn't mean as much as it used to mean.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I think 3,000 3000 is a little different. And look, a lot of these things are longevity-based. I think part of it is that we remember Albert Pujols, like you said, as the best right-handed hitter of our generation, at least until potentially Mike Trout has come along. Oh, Reese Hoskins, yeah. Yeah, and obvious.

Well, duh. But, I mean, Pujols is the best, you know, one of the best I've ever seen do it. And, you know, now he is a shell of that and watch him get to 3000 hits is the shell of what he once was it. Right. It takes some of that luster away. It's like, sure, he got to 3000, but like he used to be awesome, you know. do think that um i also think that and it's 3000 isn't a number that was as affected by this but i really do think that the steroid era and the just um you know obviously the numbers that came out of that era and and the the warping of numbers that meant so much to the game like 61 home runs like 755 home runs like even 714 home, like all those types of numbers that were, were so ingrained in us growing up in baseball. You can, like I said, you can just list them off. Um, I think that when those numbers became less important or less real because, you know, Barry Bonds had 73 freaking home runs in a season and stuff like that, that I think that it just kind of across the board devalued

the historical importance of baseball stats. And I think that that's something that, right or wrong, it just isn't across the board type of thing. But I think it was an interesting point, and I thought it was an interesting kind of thing to point out as big baseball fans. All right, Jack, before we get out of here, any final thoughts as we look into another week of six games, three games, Monday through Wednesday and off day Thursday,

and then to Washington for three. Any final thoughts before we head out? I'm excited that I don't have to see Ryan Flaherty's beady-ass eyes anymore. I hate that guy. I'm so sick and tired of the Braves. But also, of course, I have to plug this. Get your reviews in.

We love the reviews. We're trying to build this podcast and become the voice of Phillies fans everywhere. We love your reviews, your five-star reviews. It's cool to get feedback on the podcast. The Phillies community is a really't know. It's cool to get feedback on the podcast. The Phillies community is a really fun community.

It's only getting started now because the team is finally interesting to watch after years of being dormant. I love doing this podcast every week, and I hope you guys do like listening to it as well. Yeah, I can vouch for that. Jack talks about very little other than high hopes and how excited he is about it all the time. So I'll make my final thought to echo Jack's and say, please, please, please get those reviews in.

If you're nothing else than to put a smile on Jack's face because he's always so ornery all the time. You know, it's nice to make him smile sometimes. What does ornery mean? What were you going to say, Jack? What does ornery mean? What were you going to say, Jay? What does ornery mean? Look it up. You'll learn something.

It's about me, so it's probably a negative thing. Yeah, feisty. It means you're always a little, there's an edge to you. How about that? You always got a bit of an edge to you. Only in relation to anti-Double Herrera takes. There we go. And again, I will

echo Jack's thought in thank you, everyone who's been listening and filling out the reviews and all that. We can't tell you how much we appreciate it. It is an amazing community, and we're just excited to talk Phillies with you guys. So, we will be back later in the week to look ahead to next weekend and

to update you on everything Phillies. So, for Jack Fritz, I'm James Seltzer. See you later. to look at to next weekend and to update you on everything Philly. So for Jack Fritz, I'm James Seltzer. See you 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

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