High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Phillies Podcast: Wilson Ramos Nation

Episode Date: August 16, 2018

James Seltzer and Jon Marks break down an exciting win over the Red Sox, highlighted by an outstanding Phillies debut from Wilson Ramos. The guys discuss the affect Ramos (and Bour) could have on the lineup moving forward, and what that could mean for the stretch run. James and Jon also talk about the pitching staff's brilliance of late, the resilliency the team has shown all season, and much 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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so your business insurance should be too. Contact a licensed TD Insurance advisor to learn more. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes podcast, potentially soon to be renamed the Wilson Ramos Fan Club podcast. I am James Seltzer, and we are coming to you right after a monster Phillies victory over the Red Sox with me. It's my distinct pleasure. I actually get to talk to him for once. My buddy, Johnny Marks. John, what's up, brother?

They just showered Wilson with the orange Powerade. I know. It's great. Remember when they did the whipped cream facial thing? Tomas Perez? Yeah, I like the Gatorade bath. I think that's a Powerade bath. I think that's a strong move. Let's start there. Thomas Perez. this win over the Red Sox, taking one or two in the series. People will start to chill out a little bit. But let's start with the man of the night,

just a monster debut in Philadelphia for Wilson Ramos, three for four, two doubles and a triple, responsible for three RBIs, two runs scored, just an outstanding welcome to Philadelphia type of night for Wilson Ramos. What's your take on what you saw in Ramos' first appearance and, of course, what this could mean for this lineup moving forward? Well, based on what they gave up for Ramos, if he does nothing else as a Philly at all, it was a great trade.

Right? It's true. He set a career high in his first game as a Philly with three extra base hits, which is incredible as it is and the triple roman quinn would have rounded the bases twice in the time it took him to get the third base but um yeah man this team needed a spark and wilson ramos i was talking about today on the air and i didn't expect this but you know what i expected a guy that actually has been here been there and done that.

He was playing in high A. He was playing for Clearwater, so you don't know if his timing is going to be down or whatever. Looked great. Really hit those three balls all in the same spot. You know what, James? You go down 3-0 and even your biggest Philly supporter or optimist isn't feeling

very great about that. And that was another great resilient win by this team. Great win. Yeah, that's the key though, right? It's the word. I feel like we're pounding the word to death, but it's resilient. It doesn't matter whether it's in a game or over a course of a period of time. This team just is resilient and they battle back from

adversity and difficult situations and they have fun doing it. I mean, it was so fun to watch this team tonight when, when Reese Hoskins is fanning Wilson Ramos with a towel and they're just into it. And I think the culture that's been created down there, and obviously we've all been pretty positive with Gabe from the jump, but I'm with you, man. I think that the Ramos addition to this lineup, we saw it last night, what it can mean for this team. It is such a giant upgrade over Jorge Alfaro. Jorge Alfaro is a little deceiving because he can hit the ball 10,000 miles

and he hits it just those rocket shots that just launch out of the ballpark. But he's been a pretty terrible hitter this season, striking out in an insane clip. No one you can count on to put the ball in play. You know, the game one against the Red Sox, that huge bat in the eighth inning just watches that pitch go right down the middle of the plate. On a three-two, I was like, go.

I need you out of here. And look, I like Alfaro. There is a great future there. So many tools. But Ramos is a legit difference maker. And like you said, John, I think the hallmark of this team, man, they battled, they battled, they battled. So looking, I think one other thing to mention too

before we kind of look at the series as a whole here, but a nice night for Justin board too. It was definitely not a good night for the Matt Klintak haters bore. Obviously I think the most prominent moment was keeping his foot on the bag in that replay review that if it's a four, three game there and, and runners on, I mean, it's a totally different situation. And then the Phillies end up scoring a run and ending later on the Ramos triple and ultimately scoring.

But what was your takeaway of Justin Bore tonight and any message for the Clintag haters out there? Well, the Clintag hater would point out that Carlos Santana, the reason Bore is even in there is because Carlos Santana isn't producing.

They'll spin it. But you're right, the Bore, and if that's not an out, who knows what happens after that? because Carlos Santana isn't producing. They'll spin it. They'll spin it. But you're right, the boar, and if that's not an out, who knows what happens after that? Tommy Hunter's in the game. So now the whole narrative is, oh, Tommy Hunter did it again. Watching it live, I know Tom McCarthy on the broadcast thought he had it. I didn't. I didn't either.

John, watching it live, I literally was just like well that sucks i like boar i i like his uh i like his reaction there i like his energy he had a nice walk last night that uh on uh on tuesday night that almost set up a potential tying run uh tonight he showed what he is with the bat listen he he may be at this point of the year with what Santana is doing, he may be a better option than Carlos Santana. I don't expect him to take over his job, but if he produces, he's going to see more time and I expect him to see some more time. Again, what you gave up to get Boer is essentially nothing. You gave up nothing to get him. A-level prospect at best, and he's a guy that at the very least is a dangerous bench bat. And you saw tonight, he can start,

and I expect him to see him in there a little bit. Yeah, you basically traded Howie Kendrick for him. I mean, from last season, when you think about it, McKenzie Mills, the prospect, he came back in that deal. McKenzie Mills is a left-handed prospect that hasn't been doing all that great in Clearwater at high A. And he's 22 or 23 years old. So it's not like he's 19 and he's down there kind of learning the league. He may be a major league pitcher.

But it was a no-brainer trade. The fact that you even have an option to bring him back because he's arbitration eligible. Or you can just non-tender him. It was a great move for this year. It was a great move potentially for the future. And, and hey he's already paying dividends both both of those trades they gave up very little to get Ramos and Boer both have already helped they gave up nothing they gave up literally nothing of value and they got guys who have really fortified this roster and like you said I really I know that Kapler the the public line so far, has been Carlos Santana's my first baseman, and I get that.

But I do believe this is a meritocracy here, and I think we've seen that with Nick Williams and the Aaron Altair situation. Granted, Altair stuck around longer than I think a lot of us expected him to the way he was playing, but Nick Williams earned that job, and he got that job job and he took that job and Kapler wasn't afraid to do that. And I think that this is going to be a meritocracy.

And if we keep seeing Justin Moore do what he did, like you mentioned, I think that was a really underrated spot, that pinch hit walk that really gave him a chance, you know, run her on no outs in the ninth inning in that first game against Boston. And then, and then tonight bore with, you know, a bunch of really nice at bats at that, at bat in the seventh inning to work back from the O2 count and end up with a single that started the rally that started the kind of insurance runs that, you know, this team you always like to have needs. Exactly. Um, so I was, um, I'm with you. I thought Justin were at a really nice night, both offensively and defensively. He's a little lumbering out there.

He's certainly not, he doesn't seem that athletic, but he's a good baseball player. And he, you know, taking third base on the fly out to right field. Nice play. Yeah, he's just a heady baseball player, and he knows what he's doing out there. And like you said, two years of arbitration, I believe, available still. Correct.

It's a good asset for nothing. I think Matt Klintak really, really had a nice deadline here. All right, any other takeaways from the series with the Red Sox? Vinny Velasquez struggles big time, big time. Pavetta looked great in the first game. What were your takeaways from those two guys? Big time. Pavetta looked great in the first game.

What were your takeaways from those two guys? Well, you know, I was watching Cole Hamels in his first three starts as a Cub, and this is something we've talked about. You know, did you see what the Cubs gave up for Hamels? It was a player to be named later. They named the player. It's like a 17-year-old guy they signed for 300 grand. It's not even a ranked prospect yet because he's so young so he has some promise but he's a guy that hasn't played in the states yet literally he's a he's a fresh

international signing prospect from last year so the cubs were able to get cole hamels and i know people were saying oh well he's been terrible and this and that i would have bet i would have bet a lot that he would have come here and wherever he was going, a playoff atmosphere, it's a wake-up. It's like, all right, let's do it. And he's looked like that so far. I don't like Vinny Velasquez. I like him.

But at this time of year, I was expecting this kind of start tonight. And he was wild. He was off. Gabe did a good job to get him out early. But this potentially could have been a game that, they've lost five of seven coming into this game, and the fans are already ready to bail. And you lose this game tonight, and Velasquez does what he does,

it would have been nice to have another starting pitcher like Cole Hamels here, especially a lefty. But with that being said, Nick Pavetta was great last night. He worked out of some early trouble. He got him six innings. At this point, my number three starter, whether it's Pavetta or Eflin, give me six innings and two runs, and I'll take that every time. And let's not forget this, James. This is a deadly lineup

that the Phillies, in four games, except for Velasquez, have pitched exceptionally in their starting pitcher. So the fact that they've been able to split two games, split a four-game series two games, they've pitched as well as they have. They shut down this offense, and they had a comeback win. It bodes well going forward if you're bullish on the Phillies making the playoffs and maybe making some waves. The starting pitching has been great. Oh, my goodness. And you win in October with starting pitching.

We've seen that time and time again. And I'm with you, man. And look, I'm not quite ready to bail on Velasquez because up until the last couple starts, he has been really good, especially compared to what we expected from him. And he's starting to flash the stuff and trust the stuff. He is.

But the last two starts has been old school Vinny Velasquez. And I hate that guy, John. I hate that guy. I hate that guy I hate old school throw strikes bro you've got stuff what are you doing um but it's frustrating it's frustrating to watch but again like you pointed out and Pavetta was just outstanding and his last three starts he has completely turned it around and um has looked great and trusting his stuff and getting himself out of jams like you said like he was earlier in the season when he, when he was having so much success.

So I'm with you, Pavetta Afflin. And still, I I'm not out on Velasquez, but he's certainly been frustrating. But in addition, we saw some, some nice pitching from the bullpen Neshek,

a little, a little of a struggle tonight, but a little unlucky too. A little unlucky as well, but I mean, damn, the bullpen pulled it together tonight yet again and um they again it's not it's kind of funny because it's guys that we don't

trust like hector neris i don't trust hector neris i just can't i've been burned so much but hector neris came in with the bases loaded and went out and did a freaking awesome job tonight and he looked good in doing it and guys like austin davis and um you know adam morgan sometimes but tommy hunter prior to the homer he gave up uh last night um you know these guys have been getting the job done kind of quietly over the last month and a half or so how are you feeling about this bullpen based obviously off the recent pitching year, but in general moving forward into a stretch run in September? Yeah, I wish I had a stronger lefty.

I don't know how I feel about loop unless you're doing really a one batter. And tonight, if he's going to face a couple righties, you don't want him in there. But I like him. And I like the upside of some of these guys. I like Neshek, even though he struggled, had a little bit of a struggle tonight. You know, and you have guys that it'd be nice to have a true back-end closer.

Sir Anthony, I guess, is going to be that guy at this point. But, yeah, listen, James, they've been good all year. They really have. They've had ups and downs like any bullpen, but people don't want to pitch a complaint about the Phillies bullpen. Go look at any other team in Major League Baseball right now, and you know what you're going to see? You're going to see bullpens that give up runs.

Tommy Hunter, I'm not a huge Tommy Hunter fan. I have no problem with the home run last night. It's going to happen. You're going to give up home runs. It was a solo shot. He's not the reason they lost the game last night. They had two hits. So Tommy Hunter has looked better.

It's really encouraging. This pitching staff, top to bottom, starter to relievers, is good enough. It's a playoff rotation, and they're good enough. The offense has to come around, and we saw a little bit of that tonight. Yeah, I absolutely believe 100% that this pitching staff, like you said, top to bottom is good enough to make it to the playoffs and compete in the playoffs. I mean, you just look at the national league as it is now,

and especially with the nationals and Max Scherzer sliding out of it continually, maybe, you know, Kershaw hasn't quite been the same guy since he's returned there. You can make the argument that whatever top three or four, the Phillies are going to throw out in a, in a playoff matchup is going to be better than any of their opponents. It's certainly better than what the Braves will throw at them. It's certainly better than what the Brewers will throw at them. It's probably better than what the Cubs will throw at them. But, you know, John Lester is a pretty, you know, good big game pitcher and they've got some talent there, obviously, but I would still take Nolan Arrieta over their top two

guys. And, you know, I think that's a really, that's an exciting thing to think about that if they can find a way to get to October, that this pitching staff can really give them an advantage. And I think flipping it around to the offense, I think that you have to feel good at least about, I know that we've been, again, you were mentioning before people were panicking, John. It was, I couldn't believe how quickly people were ready to bail on this team when all they've done all season is bounce back from adversity and continue to anytime they lose a few games in a row or have a rough stretch,

like five and seven like they did, they bounce back with big wins. They've done it time and time again, and I didn't understand why everyone was ready to bail on them now in this moment. But I think that the offense, though it has struggled a bit lately, it's actually kind of setting up to be a potentially dangerous, somewhat dangerous offense heading into September with a lot of guys who are tough outs. We saw that with Wilson.

Just the upgrades of Wilson Ramos, Estrubo Cabrera, and Justin Boras, whether it's getting more for his base time or as a bench bat as well, it's a much better lineup than it was before, John. It's much better, and I'll tell you what, Cabrera made a nice turn of that double play tonight. He did, didn't he? He's played good defense since he came here. Not a ton of range, but he had that really nice flip-it-off-the-glove play

that he made a few nights ago. He's been solid out there. He's in the lineup for his bat. We know that. But he has been, like you said, the range isn't there. But balls that he can get to. He's crafty. He knows how to turn two.

This is a much better team right now. And based on them, Oduble's been ice cold. Reese has been cold. Really, this entire team has been cold. If they can kind of catch fire here in the next six weeks, you're in the playoffs right now. If the season ended today, you're a wild card team. So you play the Braves seven out of the last ten days of the season.

You have seven games in the last three series against the Braves seven of the seven out of the last 10 days of the season you have seven games in the last three series against the Braves you could be two or three games out and if you go on a little bit of a run and you get hot you win the division so I would look at it and say the Phillies are in a great great spot right now being that they are where they are without the offense being great and with their starting pitching more or less carrying this team look at back what the Eagles did. Some weeks the defense carried them. Some weeks the offense carried them.

The Phillies need the same kind of thing. They need the offense to pick them up because the starting pitching is not going to be able to do this for the next six weeks. But this has been a true team. It really, really has. And it's been fun watching them grow. And Gabe has been consistent with everything. He said it last night.

They weren't outplayed in all these games against the Red Sox, the best team in baseball, 50 games over 500. They weren't totally outplayed. The games they lost, they lost. This wasn't a 14-5 game or you left feeling like, damn, the Red Sox are that much better than the Phillies the Phillies just went toe-to-toe with the best team in baseball 50 games over 500 and split in four games I'll take that every time yeah they outscored them now with the three-run

win tonight yes they did yeah so I'm with you man and I think that that has to be something that any Phillies fan looks at and is heartened by. I think that we've been so intense with this. It's so funny, John, because like you mentioned before, this was a team that we didn't, most people at least, you and I were on the high end. I felt like we were out on a limb with 88 and 87 wins as our calls. But most people didn't expect them to be here and yet now that they're here people have such high expectations i thought it was really good uh

what you and i crease were talking about today on the afternoon show the idea that it's already a success this season we want them to make the playoffs desperately especially because they're right here and it's so close and i think they're good enough but what they've done this season is already a success they've already won the amount of games they won last season tonight 66 games i mean to not give kapler klentak this whole crew and obviously the players credit right now and to and to to still it's unbelievable the amount of hate there is for both Kapler and Klentak when all they've done is put a contender on the tee on the field a year ahead of schedule and continue to play fun baseball mounts back I'm with you John I think this um this has been a really great season already and I think we've got a lot of fun left to go but either way people need to to relax with the the capler hate with the

clintac hate they've done everything they can do to have this team where they are right now they really have they played a big role clintac masterfully found a way to to upgrade this team now without giving up anything that is of value to the future and capler has brought together a team that again won 66 games last year with an influx of youth and then some spare parts that have been added and has created a culture. And it's been fun, John. It is.

The culture's set, too. And that's the thing, right? You know what's going to be going forward. You don't know what players are going to be here in three years. you know what's going going to be going forward you don't know what what players are going to be here in three years but you know going forward that um that what what Gabe is is trying to do here what Matt Klintak's trying to do and it it's exciting it really is and let me read and I hate to go to Twitter to be like well listen to what this person says on Twitter because people are idiots on Twitter all the time but this kind of encapsulates the negative stuff on Gabe Kapler

that it has been turned into a truth because people keep saying it over and over again. So this guy tweets in and says, Gabe needs to stop trying to be the craftiest manager in the league and let the players play. Too many moves at the wrong time with the wrong players. It's not Maddenden it's for real i responded back and i said i'm not saying your criticisms without merit but what are you exactly are you talking about and he has no examples at all he has he has because

there aren't examples people just have this illusion of the analytics and he's trying to outsmart everybody and he over manages. When has that happened? Maybe earlier in the year. You know, it's just it's a silly narrative that people need to get off of. I totally. I mean, look what we were talking about with the bullpen before. I mean, when was last time this guy hasn't made a good bullpen decision?

Like you said with Tommy Hunter last night. I mean, that happens. People get beat. decision like you said with Tommy Hunter last night I mean that that happens people get beat but I mean tonight he lost Vincent Velasquez in the third inning against the best lineup in baseball and found a way to navigate the rest of the game giving up one more run with Hector Neris, Austin Davis, Adam Morgan, Tommy Hunter, Aaron Loop, Pat Neshek and then Sir Anthony at the end I mean come on you out you're not going to give the dude credit for using the guys in the right spots for making the, that's a tight, that's John, you're totally right. As people just want to hate this guy instead of actually looking at what's happening and looking at what he's doing and giving him any credit for it.

And I think it's crazy. I look, I know we do stuff like this in the city sometimes. And, and I think that sometimes things in the past, like Chip Kelly of scarred people where they believed in, and then there was some success and then it all cratered, but that's not what's happening here. And, and regardless, whatever is happening, you can't just not give the man credit. It's, it's just, it's petty and it's silly. And it's petty. It's petty. It's petty. This is your team.

Why do you hate your manager? What's the big deal? He talks differently than you. Sorry. Big deal. He thinks a little differently. He doesn't want to rip his players in public. Is that really what we care about so much instead of caring about a 66-53 win team that is a heck of a lot of fun to watch every night?

If Gabe would have grabbed Odubel by his braids and drug him out in front of the press conference, people would be Gabe for mayor. You know what I mean? They'd love him, but he's standing behind his guys. And his players would hate him. That would work out great. Awesome.

Right, right. Yeah, I'm done trying to – I understand why people maybe dislike Gabe or not dislike Gabe. The way he talks, how he's positive about everything. I understand that rubs some people the wrong way, but here's what I say to that. Get over it. What manager, what NFL coach, whatba coach heavily criticizes his players in 2018

the answer is very few if any none none barely any and if they do it's a couple old school guys and they end they do it only when they think that it's gonna get you know something done guys that have won like like a popovich can come out and say certain things. Exactly. Because he's earned that. He's a first year manager. I mean, and then on top of that, I heard Joe Giglia talking about this.

And he's like, also, Kapler's going to be who he is. He's a positive person. You want him to not be who he is? It's crazy. He's genuine. He's genuine.

Nothing that he does feels forced. Nothing that he does, people, people may not like it, but it's genuine. He's a genuine person and you can tell he cares about the players and the players respect that and like that I've talked I've I've interviewed guys in person over the last six eight ten weeks uh players and

it's not what they say on the air because most of the time the players are going to say what they're going to say on the air it's what they say off the air it's what when you're just talking to them and they know it's you're not live what they say that's when you the air. It's what they say off the air. It's what when you're just talking to them and they know you're not live, what they say. That's when you get a real feel for what the players think about Gabe Kapler. And they like him. I think they get a kick out of him. I love that.

That's a nice little nugget there. All right, John, coming up in a couple minutes, we're going to dive in and look ahead. Five-game series with the Mets, which is a beautiful thing. They got some tough pitching matchups, but a couple of quick things I had to get your take on really quickly. One, I'm sure will be the biggest story in baseball tomorrow was certainly the

biggest story on Twitter and whatever tonight the Braves and relating to the, the Braves were playing great baseball, continue to, to pace the Phillies a little bit here, but the Ronald Acuna getting thrown at by Jose Urena in the first inning, first at bat, Acuna had been just eating the Marlins for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the last three days, just dominant leadoff homers in three straight games, homer in another.

Yeah, and look, I hate that he is in the NL East for at least the next six, seven years. That dude is a phenom, going to be one of the best players in baseball. But what was, I think we're going to be on the same side in this one, but what was your take of the whole Jose Urena come out and just pelting at Cunha? It was his highest velocity pitch that he's thrown all year. Did you hear that one? I did. Literally the fastest pitch that he threw all year, clearly with intent.

97.5 miles per hour. Hit him in the wrist. I didn't see what the injury was. I know he came out. Hopefully, as much as we're fighting against the Braves to get the division in the playoffs, that's not what I want to see, that kid going out. He is great for the game of baseball um I you know hit him in the butt pitch inside it's important to pitch inside I wouldn't go up

there and let him hit another home run but you can't hurt the kid you know and and that's where it's bad so you know but you know it's good for baseball It's bad for baseball that the kids hurt. It's really bad for baseball, but people are paying attention. Yeah. Like, I think it's just the most outrageous thing on the planet. Like, you don't hit a dude in his arm. You don't hit him. You're a major league baseball player. You're throwing as hard as you can.

You can control at least the general region. Yeah, don't hit him because he's better than you really that's what you got this guy is better than you and he's better than your team and you're just gonna hit him like because maybe he flipped a bat or celebrated a home run as a 20 year old kid playing in major league baseball and he was excited he hit a home run. Like, what is wrong with you? Like, I get so angry about this, John, because we're not talking about, you know, a punch in the arm or, you know, some sort of playful prank. You're hurling a rock at someone at 100 miles an hour or just under, and that's effed up is what it is. And if,'s a real injury there, and I really hope there isn't,

like you said, look, I don't want Acuna playing because he's awesome and he helps the Braves, but I certainly don't want him not playing because of some BS like this. I usually don't agree with the extreme takes on Twitter, but I 100% agree. Urena should be tossed for the rest of the season. That kind of stuff can't happen in Major League Baseball. It is, I know people are talking about it,

but it's for all the wrong reasons, and it sets a terrible precedent. It's not the way Major League Baseball should be played. You know what's fun is kids flipping bats and being awesome at baseball and enjoying the sport they're playing. It's not fun to see someone peg a dude because he's beating you.

So I thought it was, ah, it really pissed me off. Like I really, I think it's so messed up. We're not, you know, and I have no problem with some unwritten rules stuff. And like, you know, look, if your guy gets hit purposely by a pitcher and you want to go out and protect your teammate and hit someone in the butt, like I'm not going to lose my mind over it. I don't love any of that stuff. And you know the butt, I'm not going to lose my mind over it. I don't love any of that stuff, but I'm going to lose my mind over it.

But this is crossing a line. You take 10 miles an hour off of what you throw and you hit him in the butt. Exactly. You don't throw the hardest pitch you've thrown all season. And if he has a broken wrist and I'm the Braves, man, that is, it's pretty screwed up, and I wonder what the great Derek Jeter is going to do about this

since now he's the expert in everything involving baseball. What an ass. Whatever. Talk about someone who's really tarnishing their legacy with their actions. All right, but quickly, Elsa, before we get to the Mets, because I have to get your take on this because I know you're a big nicknames guy. I know you're a fan of nicknames. I even heard you talking about it today on the radio about the old Chris Berman nicknames and all that.

But they just announced the Players Weekend nickname. But first of all, what do you think of this where, you know, the weekend where the players all have nicknames on the back of their jersey and stuff? Are you yay or nay for that? They did it last year. Nicknames are pretty weak i'll say that but um i i'm for anything that's different and i remember it last year and now are they going with with the nicknames that the players have oh i'm gonna fire something i'm gonna fire some at you don't you worry um i think gabe capper they are not the games yeah they well yeah they're

definitely not as we can tell because andrewnapp's nickname is not Knappy. It's Knapp Time, which is also super lame. So bad. All right. Let me throw some at you. We'll go with some of the worst and some of the best. Jake Arrieta's nickname is Snake, which is just weird. I don't know why.

Jake the Snake. Oh, that's actually pretty good. Okay. I can dig on that. Some that are just silly. I hate when it's like, Justin Boer's nickname pretty good. Okay, I can dig on that. Some that are just silly. I hate when it's like Justin Boer's nickname is JB. Really? That's what we got.

How about this? Enyel De Los Santos' nickname is De Los Santos. It's his last name, John. It rolls off the tongue, though. It does. I guess when you got that great a name. Pat Neshek's nickname is Neshek. Of course that ass would have a, you know, no fun with it.

And then like Nicky Doves is kind of lame, but some good ones. Tell me what you think of these. These are ones that are in the James Seltzer approved category. I'm going to say my favorite for last. Sir Anthony's is Sir Anthony but S-I-R and then a space Anthony. I think that's clever having a little fun with the name. Obviously

not groundbreaking. Here's what I really like and I want to get your take on just because I want to know where this comes from. Pedro Florimon's nickname is Don Ramon. Don Ramon. Don Ramon. And the Ramon is spelled differently than Florimon.

I read you that. I'm like, oh, Florimon. And it's no. Don Ramon. I want to Google it. I like it. I like it. I do, too.

I like anything with Don in it. I think it has a badassness to it that I'm a fan of. All right. Here's some good ones. badassness to it that i'm a fan of um i'm re all right here's some good ones ruse hoskins nickname big fella and tommy hunters tommy hunters nickname bigger fella that's kind of funny i could do you not a big fella too i know i know all right ready here's Ready? Here's my favorite one. And it's just because we could spend years trying to figure out why this is this man's nickname for Players Weekend. It could be that he lost a bet or it could be something hilarious.

But Austin Davis's nickname, Big Fudge. Big Fudge. That's so odd. Big Fudge. Big fudge. That's so odd. Big fudge. Don Ramon, a quick Google search. Is Floriman from Mexico? He might be. Or is he D.C.?

Well, there's an iconic character named Don Ramon from some kind of a Mexican actor in his comedic roles. Ramon Valdez played an iconic character named Don Ramon. He's Dominican. Okay, well, that doesn't make sense. All right, well, then it's just weird. Yes. As most of the nicknames are.

Not nearly as weird as Big Fudge. I'm never calling Austin Davis anything else ever again. He's Big Fudge. Don Ramone's also a family-friendly restaurant in Merrimack, New Hampshire, serving authentic Mexican cuisine. That's what it is. Obviously. Yeah, he's a big New Hampshire guy.

He's a big live free or die guy. All right, Johnny, let's look ahead here. New York Mets coming to town. Big one. Five games in four days. Doubleheader. Philly's doing a little fancy work with the roster maneuvers here. They will have Ranger Suarez and Zach Eflin pitch tomorrow in the doubleheader.

Today, for a lot of people listening, as Eflin, the 26th man for those doubleheaders. as Eflin, the 26th man for those doubleheaders. And they did it so that they will have Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta to line up against Sindergaard and DeGrom over the weekend. Do you like this strategy, or would you rather have, you know, and look, I think you could argue that other than those two matchups, the Phillies do have the pitching matchups either way with Suarez and Eflin against Oswalt and Matz. But do you like them doing that and trying to get your best

guys? I mean, obviously it's fun as a fan. We all want to see those awesome pitching matchups, but would you rather try and get Nola against a weaker pitcher and try and lock down a win and take your chances against a DeGrom, or do you want to get your best guys against their best guys? Well, you know what I think happens if you try to think too much about it, what I would do is I would put Nola and Arrieta on their regular rest in their regular turn

regardless of who he was going up against. Totally agree. It's not the playoffs. No, it's not. I think if you overthink it and you try to match it up, you can end up getting burned. Honestly, dude, with this, this is one of these series that I just, I would almost like to take that take a pill and wake up at the end of it.

Because I'm telling you, I'm, I'm worried about a series like this. And this could be painful five fricking games against the Mets who are a terrible team. There's bad team with two unbelievable starting pitchers that could beat you in any night. So I just want these games to be over with. I want the Phillies to win three of the five, win three of the five, win the series, and move on. That's what I want. So this is going to be a tough stretch for me to watch.

Yeah, I feel the same way. And they've just struggled with the Mets for some reason this year. You cincinnati series was the type of thing where you're going against a team you're thinking you're going to dominate same thing with san diego they've been playing down to their opponents lately so i think this is a spot where they need to play up to them and uh especially those two big i mean look that's going to be fun i mean aaron nola cinder guard and then de grom arietta is going to be a couple of fun games and Sunday night game in Williamsport, which is fun too. That's kind of a neat thing as well.

Yeah, man, that'd be fun to watch. I'm happy. The Phillies are that game. Uh, Johnny, uh,

we will obviously be back to break all that down on Sunday and, uh, and look at the five game series. Hopefully John can, uh, take a pill and, and not have to watch any of it, but might make doing the podcast after a little harder,

but either way we'll figure it out. A little difficult. We'll work it out. Any final thoughts before we get out of here, Johnny? Well, three things. I had some questions on Twitter, James. My buddy Seattle Sam wants to know, how long until somebody other than Cesar Hernandez is hitting leadoff?

That's a great question. Well, I said this today on the air that with Oduble's struggle that he's going through right now, I feel like that him hitting seventh almost hurts him more than taking the pressure off of him. I would hit him leadoff. Cesar is a quality player. I don't know if I would do that.

Look, go ahead. Explain. No, I'm trying to get him started. I don't know if I would do that. Look, go ahead. Explain. No, I'm trying to get him started. I'm trying to get him going. Trying to get him started. I think that, yeah, the two-hole, I think, would make more sense for me for Oduble. We've seen him have success there in the past. Yeah, look, I like the idea of trying to get him going.

Cesar's still gotten on base for what it's worth. He's struggled lately. But I'm still a proponent of the Santana in the leadoff leadoff spot idea i think that if he's gonna be in the lineup i think he makes as much sense in the leadoff spot as anywhere he gets on base i don't need speed at the top of the lamp i just want people are getting on base yep you know it's it's less about cesar and it's then it's more about oduble i'd be fine with him hitting second but you know what gabe does with the two and the four hitter yeah So that's not going to happen. So I have that.

And lastly, Adonis Medina, who was the Phillies' top prospect, that almost got traded for Machado. That's who they were willing. He's had some struggles this year. He's pitching at high A Clearwater, and his ERA is over four. He's been hit a little bit recently. He came back tonight with a seven-inning run, 12 strikeout, no walk game. So if you're looking for some positives from some young arms down on the farm,

Medina had an excellent game and he shows you that he shows you the high ceiling, what this kid has. So even though six, those not back yet and, and, and, and throwing games, Adonis Medina had a nice start tonight. John, I'm going to end with this. I just saw this. Apparently in tonight's Gabe Kepler press conference, he called Justin Boer an emotional warrior.

That's what I'm talking about right there. That's what I'm talking about. You know what that is? I'm talking about it right there. I could see Gabe being a proponent of emotional intelligence like Jeff Lurie. Oh, totally. Hey, John, it worked out. It did work out.

I'm a fan of the emotional intelligence. I can take the emotional intelligence anytime. All right. For Johnny Marks, I'm James Seltzer. Thanks for listening to another edition of the High Ops Podcast. We will be back on Sunday to break down, hopefully, a Mets series that John Marks will be happy that he did not take a pill for. So until then, maybe.

Yeah, go Phillies. See you guys later. See you. 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. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby.