High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - THE KYLE SCHWARBER IS A PHILLIE EMERGENCY POD

Episode Date: March 17, 2022

KYLE SCHWARBER IS A PHILLIE!!! James and Jack are back talking about Schwarbombs at CBP. The guys share their excitement about the Schwarber signing, discuss the issues the team still has to solve, and much more. 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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WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, a Schwarm bombs edition. Fritzy, how excited are you? I mean, it almost is like you willed this into existence. I mean, this was, you know, you you posting videos talking about it throughout the lockout even in your most broken moments of the lockout which you know luckily we were all able to hear on this podcast a few episodes ago

you were still talking about schwab bombs and cvp it's real buddy It's real, buddy. It's real. Schwab! God, what a day. What a day. I'm so excited. There are so many thoughts going through my head of just pure excitement about this move. One, I appreciate that Phil's listening to the podcast. I think that's the main takeaway.

And you know my other takeaway, James? Obviously, we'll get to everything involved with it, but it was just nice that it felt like all the smart teams were in on Schwarber and wanted Schwarber, and I don't want to put the Phillies in this category. But it was the Phillies and the Rockies and not Chris Bryant. Yeah, like the dumb teams. Now, hopefully the Phillies have turned a corner. Yeah.

But the dumb teams were in on Chris Bryant. It's the Jays and the Red Sox and the Dodgers and whoever else talking about Schwarber. It's like, hey, the Rockies are going to get Chris Bryant after trading out Nolan Arenado. What a smart move. Yeah, so that made me excited. It felt like we got the guy that smart baseball people view

as the right decision here, which is exciting. And the smarter of the two contracts oh yeah well say that i mean geez louise i don't even think that look the brian contract i think is too much money in too many years more than anything and the no trade clause is the kicker but like it's not like crazy chris bryant's a good player it's just more the idea of getting schwerber at four for 20 as opposed to you know seven for 26 like it's just such a idea of getting Schwarber at four for 20 as opposed to, you know, seven for 26. Like, it's just such a better contract, such a better gamble. Yeah.

And a year younger on top of that for Schwarber. A year younger and all that good stuff. There are a lot of things I like about it. Just on the surface, I like, I trust his bat to age well. Generally, I like to bet on guys that have elite eyes i mean he's a he's a 370 obp guy last year which is great um his swing it's not like it's a it's a it's a violent swing but it's not like overpowering i think it's gonna age pretty well um you know i think he

really started coming to his own last year i like that he's back with kevin long i think that's the big thing that makes me really excited about this is that schwarber for most of his career um i felt like it was a guy that never lived up to his potential like when he came out of indiana uh i'll never forget for picking the draft yeah and i'll never forget theo epstein after he came out of indiana uh i'll never forget for picking the draft yeah and i'll never forget theo epstein after he came out or in the cubs way that came out a year later um just talking about or cubs way that came out after they won the world series he said that when they picked schwarber they viewed it as their david ortiz and their guy that's going to be in the middle of the lineup forever and james do you know do you know at what age david ortiz joined the boston red sox i'm gonna guess it's 29 hold on i should have probably looked this up before

i made this point hold on hold on was i right was i right he joined freaking stupid computer. He joined the Red Sox at 27. But at 28, he was an all-star big poppy. But so for me, Schwarber always seemed like a guy that kind of disappointed. Like he never really lived up to the full billing as a middle of the order bat. And then he's a top prospect. I mean, he's legit prospect, too. Yeah. But but Kevin Long changed some things with his swing he came off of a brutal 2020 where he batted like 188 he had he got non-tendered by the cubs the the washington picks him up and he gets to work with kevin long starts off a little bit slow but james in his final 88 games and that's

not that's not a small sample size but final 88 games 290 400 obp 1020 ops 29 homers like good that's called figuring it out and i just like that we have the guy that is credited with having the major turnaround for kyle schwarber so um there's a lot to get into with this but overall i think he was a uh he's a perfect mix of very good eye like if you look at oh swing percentage which calculates um the amount of times that guys chase out of the zone, basically, he's in the top 15 of not chasing out of the zone. He swings at pitches within the strike zone. He does swing through pitches like he'll strike out. But he is he is not wrong when it comes to making their correct decision and looking on when to launch on baseballs.

And that is a very it's a very very important thing and like i know it's funny andrew mccutcheon batted like 200 last year i don't know like it doesn't matter um but i felt like he had a really a decently productive year because he had those 27 homers and like they're adding a way better player than andrew mccutcheon but andrew mccutcheon still brought value with the stuff that he did to the team last year. And he still has upside. Schwarber, I think, is still ascending. So there's that. There's the whole clubhouse factor where he seems like a real fun guy

to be around. When you think of the term winner, I think of a guy like Schwarber, going to keep it loose and light in the clubhouse. It's a 162-game season, so it's a grind. And I thinkwarber's the kind of guy that makes it fun i'll never forget the the play up in boston during the raid series or whatever this year where he made an error at first base next play came right to him he made a play and gave a fist pump to the crowd like that's that's fun uh i think he has fun playing baseball

there's a lot um there's just there's just so many so many good things to be excited about Kyle Schwarber and couldn't be happier that he's a Phil. Yeah, the O-swing percentage, obviously the top thing. I love how you're like, you're Mr. Hate analytics or rip analytics one day and come back with O-swing percentage the next day. Analytics makes sports arguments not fun. And then you're like, let me tell you about the O-swing percentage here. I like analytics when they back up my take.

I mean. Oh, buddy. It backs up my take. And I've always said I like analytics when they back up the eye test. And the eye test suggests that when Schwarber looks to launch, Schwarber launches, baby. Oh, man. Look, I think it's exciting. Would you sound more excited?

It's hard to. What am I supposed to say? Oh, my gosh. When Schwarber looks to launch, Schwarber launches, baby. I mean, all I want to do is make fun of you for that. But, you know, I felt, you know, I should not do that. So I decided not to make fun of you. I decided to talk about Kyle Schwarber.

Look, I'm with you on everything you said i think i think it's a great signing i think especially considering the years the commitment the money like i look and i know we'll get into the the defense part of this which you know oh my god are are the complaints coming i mean oh my god the complaints coming uh but i like they i i echo everything you said about trober as a hitter as a teammate as a fun guy around but i think the kevin long thing is like paramount for me you know it seems like kevin long really unlocked something in this guy and was able to get him to really achieve his potential this is he's hit 38 home runs in a season earlier in his career, too. It's not like he hasn't had, people are like,

oh, he's only had one good year. Nah, he's had a few good years, and he's always had elite, elite power and an elite, elite eye. And to your point, that's a really effective combination. And look, there are a lot of guys, to your David Achilles point, who don't break out until later in life or later in their career especially guys who weren't necessarily close to the talent level or prospect talent level that that Schwarber was I mean like Nelson Cruz was uh um back and forth to the minor leagues guy until he was 28 years old like he's a quad a guy and now he's still getting signed at like 42

or whatever he is like you know I mean this happens all the time with these guys. And Schwarber is someone who's always had that talent, always had that lurking, and has flashed it enough at the Major League level to show that, like, yep, he can do it. He can do it in the majors. And last season, to your point, it really felt like he figured it out. And, oh, what happens at the age of 28 usually for a lot of guys? Oh, they figure it out. Like, that seems to age of 28 usually for a lot of guys oh they figure it out

like that seems to be to your point before with Ortiz like 28 27 28 like seems to be when a lot of guys really figure it out like it's not a crazy thing for a baseball player and it seems like Schwerber is one of those guys and again to put him with Kevin Long so he's still going to have that consistency of of that type ofics work all the stuff that he was Doing like it's I think it's just an awesome signing like we're going to Get into things you can be annoyed about With the Phillies even though I know you're so

On cloud nine about Schwarber you're Probably talked yourself into these other things as well But you know Again we'll get to the defense part but like from A overall perspective Considering the money it cost, the years it costs, and the fact that you're going to have all of a sudden, how much did we bitch last year about Bryson nothing,

especially no pop in the lineup? Bryce Reese and Schwarber is legit. That is a legit power trio, no matter where you put those three guys in the lineup. For what it's worth, two of them can lead off if you really need them to. But if those three guys are in the middle of the lineup together, I mean, that's like real deal pop, like high-level pop for a Major League team. And that's, as we always talk about, like sadly, whether we like it or not, where baseball is, you need guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark,

and the Phillies have lacked in that. And I think that trio should be really exciting for phillies fans kyle schwarber is going to be the big poppy of the 2020s that's that's very exciting i it took me it took me 10 minutes but i mean i think i've been feeling it all day i had to figure out a way to work it into how I wanted to say that. That's what I came down to. It's good that these proclamations have never gone wrong for you in the past. You always nail these. I know. I know.

No one's been more consistent with me. But I will say this, is that I think it's also another good thing. Listen, I didn't want the DH, but it's here. But the fact that- Welcome aboard welcome aboard jack how great is it is there a team in the national league that is more suited to have the dh than this team absolutely not that like there might not be a team in baseball that needs the dh more i guess other than any team that nelson cruz is on like bro like it is a godsend that the dh is coming this year you're 100 right and the thing that i like about it is that like it's not like

you have to stick kyle schwarber in left field next year or like it doesn't it doesn't it doesn't hamstring them from being able to go and make moves and or if like ethan wilson's ready to go next year at left field like you have him you He can just come up and play left field. If you have Johan Rojas starting in center field next year, you can move Vildling to left field. It's not like Schwarber has to be in left field like he would have had to have been if the DH had been kept out of the National League. So he can play left.

I guess he can play left field. But he can stand in left field, I guess. I think it's way better. I think the thing you're really thinking about with the Schroeder contract is maybe not this year where, look, we'll get to it, but I think with the way this defense is likely going to shake out, I think they're going to have multiple positions that you want to be the DH instead of the position they're fielding at.

But I think it's really especially years 2, 3, and 2, and particularly 3 and 4 of the position they're fielding at. But I think it's really, especially years three, four, years two, three, and two, and particularly three and four of the contract, when you can kind of shake up the roster a little bit more and actually have a real left fielder and shortboard as your go-to DH, where all of a sudden that bat at that spot is super valuable. Yeah, so I think that's another part of this, is that in the coming years, the short-work contract is not going to hamstring you. And, yeah, it's like, dude, I just don't – there's two things that are driving me nuts.

And, like, all right, the one thing is the, well, how could you be excited about a 237 career? how could you be excited about a 237 career? It's like, oh, my God. Can we just do a little bit more research into it rather than regurgitating what everyone says or just looking at his baseball reference for 30 seconds? He had a 188 average in 2020, which is an abbreviated season, and he had an average that got brought down when he's coming back off the ACL tear.

Like, the 237 thing, if I see it one more time, I might blow a gasket. Well, buddy, buddy, buddy. You're going to see it again. No, I know. How stupid are we as baseball? Oh, he batted 237. Don't even look at his career OPS. Just look at the career 237 hitter rather than just like

bigger sample sizes like it just whatever and the other thing is like and listen I think the defense is going to be atrocious but I mean it's freaking March 16th do I have to be dreading like the defense right now or can I get excited about 35 homers from kyle schwimmer like well well the other thing with the defense is like well they're still 80 it's like i don't know what the record's gonna be can you just stop like why can't i just be excited about the guy i wanted the phillies assigned it's just wow why can we just never be happy with the players i he's he's adding 35 plus homers when has that ever been like a Oh that sucks You know

So I agree with that point But I do think it We'll get to the defense thing I think overall it is fair to sit here And be excited about Kyle Schwarber I'm excited he's at Philly I think he absolutely makes them better They are a better team today because of him

Without a doubt. And he's a massive upgrade over Andrew McCutcheon. But you can also still sit here and look at the roster they have and look at, to your point last time, Uncle Stevie up in New York spending $300, being like, $300 million? Yeah, whatever. No biggie. It's just money. And see Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom warming up next to each other and being like, yeah, I'm kind of annoyed that they re-signed Odubo Herrera

and they're adding middling relievers who were awesome four years ago or three years ago and not really committing to going all in on this roster when you have Harper, when you have pieces here, Wheeler and lesser degree, but Romero and Hoskins, and you have guys, you know, pieces here, Wheeler and lesser degree, but Romero and Hoskins, and you have guys, you've got this team, you're in this situation, like, you know, nut up, man. Like, John, hey, pal, you're not poor. Like, go over the luxury tax for once. And we know he's not going to. And it is what it is. And it's like a stupid argument to keep having. Like, but like, I can, I don't, I'm not going to begrudge Phillies fans for looking at this and being like, it's not good enough because it's not like it's not good enough. Like, but like I can, I don't, I, I'm not going to begrudge Phillies fans for looking

at this and being like, it's not good enough. Cause it's not like, it's not good enough. Like I'm super psyched about Schwarber, but if this is the end of the off season and it's like, are a piece here and a piece there that are, that are not like big, you know, a ticket items, then yeah, I'm going to come away from this off season and say, I don't think they did enough to be a true contender. Like, do you, do you think this Phillies team is a true contender right now? Cause I don't, I don't think they did enough to be a true contender. Like, do you? Do you think this Phillies team is a true contender right now? Because I don't.

I don't think they're close. I'm sorry. Are you not excited about Brad Hand and Jared Simele? Are those not the moves that you thought that they would have done? Yeah, I just, I don't know. I mean, Odubel's back, Jack. Like, come on, man. Like, Odubel's back. And, like, the off the field part is is is you know we've talked about that you know how we feel about

that but like put that aside like the dude stinks like he's a dumb baseball player we have watched him enough to know that yeah he's gonna make some plays he's gonna do a couple things that are pretty impressive and some things that certain other guys couldn't do but on the whole on a night-to-night basis we're gonna walk away being like that guy sucks I hate that he's on my baseball team he's super annoying he's dumb and he does dumb things like like why why you're just gonna throw away the center field position I like Veerling like he's nice like I think there's potential there but like let's be honest they're throwing away the center field position we might be a boom playing third base or dd playing third base really that's the plan that's the move like i think it's fair to criticize this team even and i think it's also fair at the same time to say i

love the schwerber signing i think it's exciting i'm really pumped about it and i can't wait to see this guy play and he makes him better but i think it's okay to say on the whole so far this offseason has been like pretty meh. Well, I mean, I think the Oduble thing is highly, highly annoying. And I very much wish he was not back. I think he's a poor representation of the Phillies. And I had very much moved on. And, yes, I can't believe he's back, frankly. Honestly, I don't know.

In my head, Matt Vierling is a starting center fielder, and he's going to play 162. I mean, cool, but even then. I know, I know, I know. But I do think it is a – I legitimately do think it's a one-year thing where – and I get the sense that they believe that Johan Rojas can be their starting center fielder next year. I think that's their plan. So, you know, it's interesting.

And like the Kiermaier thing, that was interesting as well. Apparently, they were demanding Johan Rojas in a Kiermaier deal. It's like, hold on, Tampa. Like, relax here. We don't need to go that far. So, I understand why they did not um do that and when it comes to i guess when it comes to the rest of the rest of the team and listen i i i think they're like an 86 win team again like i don't i don't think that again buddy

yeah i i don't know i guess again they haven't worn 82 in a decade okay well i walked into last two years thinking they're an 86 you're saying i got you at my fault i thought you were saying like i think they're 86 wait like what since 2003 when they went no like like i guess maybe i'm just resigned to the fact that they won't go over the luxury tax like i'm just resigned to the fact that this is what it's gonna be and like i just i it's like sounds like a it sounds like a cop out and a weak move but like i just i don't really i don't i'm sick and tired of fighting about the luxury tax thing to where i'm just like listen i gotta make do with what i gotta make do like i can't yell about militant garment attacks anymore you are so

broken well what am i supposed to do like i like am i supposed to just yell to for pointlessness every day that he should go to the luxury tax? Sure. I think it's stupid. It's annoying, and it makes me mad. Yeah, I know. It's just like I know he's not going to do it, so whatever. It's not even worth getting so upset about.

But I don't know. The defense is going to be a massive concern. Yeah, it really is. concern and i and yeah like it really is unless yeah unless like they're resigned to just putting dd on the bench and stop plays shortstop which i hope he's good at even then i mean you're still talking about bowman hoskins at the corners again and schwerber and left i mean that's high level bad man that's like rough again and we and to your point, look, I agree. And again, I really think people should be really excited about Kyle Schwarber. Like it is, as you heard for the first, you know, 10 to 15 minutes or whatever it was of this podcast,

like we're freaking pumped about this and it's a great move and I'm pumped. But like we also, I'm sure we can go back to a bunch of podcasts from last year and probably the year before that and listen to pods where we're talking about how is people watch this team every single night, like every night, how much it sucks to watch. Oh, listen,

bad defense is fine. Bad defense is fine in March. Like in March, bad defense isn't a problem. Bad defense in July is the worst. It's, it's really, I, it's it's really it i've it's tough to watch and we've seen a lot of it the last years and like again like i almost went

into this off season just as like thinking the dh was going to come and saying all right bomer hoskins will be the dh we're set there we move one of the two off off you know we move boom off third whoever's a better first baseman plays first and they're going to upgrade the third base spot and then like just that alone would make them such a more competent defensive team and and i can't i honestly can't believe that as of right now it looks like there's a really good chance that it's either going to be dd who's never played their face in his life and who has not looked good defensively in short the last year when he played, or boom, back at third.

Like, that's tough, Jack. Well, hey, how about a dark horse candidate? We put Segura at third. Kingery. He's back. He's working with Kevin Long. Stop. Come on, man.

Stop. Come on. No. No. We've done man. Stop. Stop. No. Come on. No. No. We've done this. I won't let you even do this. How about this? What about Kingery and Shortstop?

What about Kingery and Centerfield? I just saw that the Jays are trying to trade for Jose Ramirez. Where are you at, John? Where are you at, Dave? Go trade for Jose Ramirez. That's the guy you actually give up prospects for. Whatever. We're cool. Like, that's the guy you actually give up prospects for. Like, whatever. We're cool.

Like, go get that guy. Well, and honestly, James, and honestly, if they weren't going to put Painter, I don't think, in a deal for Chapman, and I guess that's, I mean, that's fine.

I would have done Boehm and Painter as like the... Oh my God, Painter, I'll drive him to Cleveland. But, I mean, Boe but i mean bone painter and plus for plus for jose ramirez easy plus it makes everything on this team so i mean you're it's like it's a game-changing move it's a kind of with one move right now like all of a sudden

like i honestly i'm talking like oh they could win the world series like look the braves won it last year like they could win the world series if Like, look, the Braves won it last year. Like, they could win the World Series if they got Jose Ramirez. Like, I'm not kidding. Like, it's that kind of move. Yeah, no. And, I mean, that's a heck of a finishing move. Because, honestly, I figured out my take while you were talking as to why. Good.

I'm happy that you were thinking about your take and not what I was saying. Well, because I was like, yeah, I heard you talking, and I don't want to give you too much credit here. But I was like, yeah, I guess he's right. They're not going to be that good next year. And I know they're not going to be that good next year. I'm just excited for like 35-plus homers from Hoskins, Harper, and Schwarber. So I know they're not.

So I'm already like, here's my thing. You know me. I'm on to the 2023 I know like I'm on I got I'm ready to get some contracts off the books I'm ready to go like I said to myself today how the frick are they at 212 million dollars like where it's insane dude I it makes no sense you look around the diamond you're like how is this especially with Bryce only being at 25 like around the diamond and you're like, how is this possible? Especially with Bryce only being 25. You look at Bryce and you're like, Bryce must be making 40 and that's part of why it's so high.

It's crazy. And then you look at it and it's like, oh, Bryce is making almost nothing compared to how good he is. But then you started talking about Jose Ramirez and I got real excited. That's the move. that's the move, I mean,

that's, that's the move. Um, and it's going to cost you some prospects, but when you're, I mean, he's 29, he's one of the best players in baseball. Like,

yeah, he's only making $12 million. He's a defensive wizard. Third. He can play second. If you needed to down the road, if you need like maneuverability or whatever but like he's a phenomenal defensive player i mean going back to the schwerber point of like seems like a joy to play with is like a super happy fun guy like i mean it changes everything it changes everything

well i i guess i just don't know why you have to trade for Jose Ramirez when Scott Kingery is clearly on his way back. Oh, man. Ah, buddy. Okay, so I usually don't like having you try to convince me of things. So my official position is go trade for Jose Ramirez, okay? Yes, I'm happy you came. Thank you. Can I get on board with this? Because that seems like a really good idea. I'll hop on. Yeah, happy you came. Thank you. Can I get on board with this?

Because that seems like a really good idea. I'll hop on. Yeah, there you go. Now hop on my back. There will be a new video tomorrow for a new campaign. Oh, it's good. And you'll just take it as yours. I like that.

That's what I do, pal. I know. It's a classy move, my friend. Yep. No one's better. You're the best. All right. Can I throw some other just, some other just minor concerns at you?

Like not major, and then we'll get to the potential for what else is going to happen. Can Darius Garland give me one more assist? I don't think so, buddy. I think you're in trouble here. You average eight and a half a game. So I'm behind. I'm not watching. It's already over.

I would assume it's already over. In mine, it's 116 to 114. There's six seconds left, and they're about to free throw, so I figured they were going to win. Sucks for you, Jack. Don't bet against the Sixers, buddy. I didn't bet against the Sixers. I bet on a player playing against the Sixers.

All right, a couple minor, minor concerns. Well, how minor? I'm not looking to get brought down. Well, one of them, I'm actually asking your opinion on how minor is it? Like the Zach Wheeler shoulder thing.

Like you're the pitcher guy. Should I be concerned? Cause I mean, shoulder always like, you know, it's never like, um, no concern at all.

Like obviously, but like, like the shoulder thing. Oh, massive concern. Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah no i'm not yeah i can't i don't i try i try not to think about that i laugh too loud there i laugh too loud there as i was sleeping i i i try not to think about it in my head zach wheeler starting opening day so um it's bad i i i legitimately do not like the idea of it um like and the whole flu thing that came out the other day i'm like well could that be they're just trying to hide the fact that he has a shoulder issue um like i think uh dibroski said yeah it's nothing like it just he's just behind

and exactly looks like no my shoulder is not doing great so i don't love that uh at all so and i mean that's gonna be the problem with this with this sped up spring training thing where you gotta have a lot of arms because if you don't and like there's gonna be a ton of pitching injuries this year like they're speeding up spring training. These guys aren't in routines yet. They were throwing on their own all like from December, January, February, early March. Like they're throwing on their own.

They're not in the, in the, the, the, the organization's facilities. So I am not feeling good about the wheeler shoulder thing, especially coming off a career high in innings last year. Um,

like it just feels like, like I it just feels like one of those things that's just going to plague them all year long. The Wheeler shoulder is a massive concern for me, yes. Yeah, I'm concerned too. And look, if they actually have more information and they're, like, really concerned about it, then maybe that's why they're not going all in on this year. And then I would understand that more because, look, I mean, let's be honest.

You lose Wheeler, you're pretty screwed. We're talking about the second best player on the team. So, awesome. Well, that was fun. I'm happy we got that off our chest. Well, I don't think we're getting the bounce back Nola. No bounce back Nola. Even that.

He's not as good as Wheeler. But fingers crossed on that one. The Ranger Visa thing, it's a concern. Yeah, he's fine. I mean, he's not as good as Wheeler, but fingers crossed on that one. The Ranger visa thing, it's a concern. Yeah, he's fine. I mean, he'll be here. He might miss the first. You know the thing with Ranger is he's so no emotion at all. I just feel like he's just going to go out there every single night

and be like, here's seven, eight innings. I actually have more confidence in him this year than Nolo, which is crazy to say because he has had way less Major League success. But I thought what we saw last year was real. I think that guy's just got something. You know what I'm saying? He's just nails. It's like ice.

I mean, he could literally triple his ERA this year and still be a good number three. His ERA would be like 3.5. It's pretty insane when you think about it yeah i mean he was ranger suarez's season last year was one of the most insane like he goes from he goes from bullpen guy like first of all like i didn't believe in ranger at all like i thought his stuff was just uh and then he turns like this bullpen ace and then he turns into the closer and then turns just like the best starter in baseball for the last like three months of the season i mean like it's it was it was insane to watch it's never happened now like a season like that has never happened especially considering the season he had before

to go from the season he had before to that season it's never happened before no it's not like his stuff's crazy. It's just there. Yeah. The uptick in velocity, though, is impressive. It matters, and it's a shout-out to the affiliate development staff and what they're doing and what they're building. Whoa, I thought they don't develop players. I thought every player they bring in stinks,

and there's no hope for the future. Yeah, that's correct. All right, last concern, and then we'll get to all right get through it are you at all and i look i think the schwerber signing somewhat mitigates this i put this on my notes before the schwerber signing you at all concerned about this team being just incredibly unlikable like just a lot of guys that aren't great to root for on this team in a multitude of ways i mean yeah i i don't know i just like the the familia thing is just a massive downer it's tough man it's tough that's not like not awesome no it's not awesome no not at all um bradahan doesn't

seem like it i mean nothing like that but youahan doesn't seem like a, I mean, nothing like that, but, you know, doesn't seem like a super fun guy either. Yeah, it's just, I don't know. Like, I think if they win, people will be fine. I agree with you. But it's going to be. Maybe on the field, if they're animated and if they're fun to watch and if it's Schwarber and Harper and all that stuff,

like, I think we can get past some of it. I agree. I need if they're fun to watch and if it's Schwarber and Harper and all that stuff like I think we can get past some of it I agree I need them to be fun to watch I mean I really better like buddy they haven't which means they better hit because I don't have a lot of uh a lot of faith in them uh oh I don't think the feeling is going to be fun at all pitching could be fun at least the starting staff yeah well uh you know i don't know i mean you have kyle gibson is a ground ball guy uh you know oh buddy it's gonna be fun to watch that that sounds like an adventure yeah um all right uh one other philly's thing and then i'll ask you about two other teams i'm gonna get to take bad but last philly's thing is what do you expect to happen like it look they're what like somewhere between 10 and 15 million under the

tax right now. Um, obviously they could create room if they found a way to get off the DD contract, which obviously they'd have to, you know, give a good prospect up or like, you know, pay someone else's money, which that wouldn't make any sense. They'd really have to give up a good prospect with DD to get rid of DD. So I don't think that's super likely. But what else is going to happen here? I mean, how much more do you expect them to spend? What type of positions do you see them targeting? How are the, how else are they going to kind of fill out this roster? Cause like, it looks like Bierling and Oduble in center, but like, and that's not a lock, it's going to be that, but that's what it looks like this you know situation is like we just talked about like boom dd at third stott at short dd at short um you know the the bullpen still

you know i guess they're probably done there but you know you you wouldn't argue if they sign another guy like how do you see them kind of finishing out this roster obviously provided they don't listen to you and trade for Jose Ramirez. Correct. My idea. So I think they have about 12. Destiny put out a pretty detailed salary. I want to start calling it a salary cap because it might as well. Might as well. Yeah.

So they have about 12 million. And the thing that you have to factor in with these always is that hopefully, God forbid, we could beat a playoff run, but potential trades at the deadline, so you probably want to leave yourself at least $6 million. So I'd say they probably have $6 million to work with here. I think it's just going to be hopefully some, you know, defensive players, you know, guys that can come in. They can double switch.

They still need bench guys. Yeah. I mean, they have, like, no bench guys. Like, losing Brad Miller to Texas was annoying, you know? I would like to have had Brad Miller back. I mean, Torres is still out there. Oh, Ronnie. Ronnie.

But that's the point. Like, I mean, they don't have any bench guys right now. I mean, like, the Veerling Odubel platoon, and then it's like, you know, guys we, you know, Moniak, Haisley. No. I won't even say his name. Johan Camargo. Yeah, you kept talking about him before.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. You know what I mean? Like, we'll see. Kangary, obviously. Future 3030. Future 3030. Yeah, our petroleum. Well, petroleum mortality.

Get it right. So, yeah, that would be good. All right. I lied. It's only one other thing about another team, and it's not even a question for you. It's just a statement. The Cincinnati Reds should be ashamed. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Like, what an embarrassment. You sign this deal, you get all this freaking shit. Yeah, I almost cursed there. Well, you did. Wasn't an almost situation. Freaking stuff from the players. You get all this money, and then they're like, oh, it's going to prove it's tanking.

And then it's like, guess what, pal? And the saddest part, like, if there had been this playoff structure last year the expanded playoffs you know the sixth playoff team was it was the reds like the reds would have been a playoff team last year under that format under what the format is now and this year they just literally like are instituting one of the all-time honestly seemingly poorly orchestrated tank jobs i've ever seen i mean they traded amir garrett for mike minor like what is that what is that trade like the winker trade seemed to make no sense like all these moves they trade luis castillo like

they've literally traded every sunny gray obviously like every good player they have it is it is it is insane to me jack and i just think the reds deserve that all that that i feel horrible for their fans the reds themselves as an organization it should be embarrassed they should be publicly chided and derided and skewered as much as possible. I hate it. It's bad for baseball when this kind of thing happens right after the CBA and it's like, and look, let's not let the A's off the hook too. They're just a little less aggressive about it. Oh, we knew they were going to do that.

And it's also the A's have always done that. Exactly. But the Reds, man, I mean, they're an embarrassment in my mind. Well, I will say they did not trade louise castillo yet i mean they they rumored to i thought i saw that they did trade in my fault right so uh he's gonna get traded so everything's fine he's a good he's a good player so he'll get traded they're not tanking everything's fine um yeah no i totally agree with you and i totally think that the philly should be all over tyler maylear louise i can't

believe they haven't been all over this stuff either. Well, dude, I mean, honestly, like go get Jesse Winker. A Duke can hit. I love Jesse.

I love Jesse Winker, but go get Sonny Gray. Go get whoever. I mean, you're Garrett. We're talking about both. Well, I mean,

Garrett, they basically had a trade painter. Like, like Chase Petty is probably painterish-ish for Sonny Gray, which. No, no, no. Amir Garrett is like, Sonny Gray, I was just throwing the name out. Like, they don't really need Sonny Gray. Like, that's kind of the ones why they don't.

Amir Garrett, Mike Miner. So that means that we could have traded, like, you know, essentially, we don't even have an old guy like Kyle Gibson. Like, Kyle Gibson. I thought that would be too much to give up for Amir Garrett um but in all seriousness I mean you know Dabrowski loves his aces he I mean he's done in Boston the Tigers I mean we know about that rotation he built out there I I wouldn't put it past him to try to get either either maylee or castillo which would be in but also like frankie montas out in oakland he's probably gonna get traded he would be awesome as well like there

are interesting there's probably five interesting trade candidates if they want to like really get the fan base even more excited is maylee castillo uh mont. I would still look at Trevino out in Oakland. And then Jose Ramirez. Again, my idea. So there's a lot of interesting trade candidates out there. And, you know, I think that's for a team in this situation. Trade's not a bad idea. It's something that can kind of jumpstart this

and get some new blood in here, get some new faces. And there are some interesting, interesting candidates out there on teams that are having fire sales right now. And Dombrowski's been an ace guy. Yeah, and he's also been a trades guy. Yeah, that's kind of the one thing we haven't really seen a ton of from Dave since he's been here. And he's well-known as a wheeler and dealer.

Where you at, Dave? And so was Maury. And Maury got his guy, you know? Oh, look at you. Well, I mean, dude, Maury went like his last trade before the Harden deal was freaking George Hill. Like, and Maury's the guy that always makes moves. Well, the Seth Curry trade, bro, that was a great trade.

Well, yeah. Yeah. So there's moves to be made if they want to go and make them. And it's interesting, though, because they're kind of in a tough spot where they do have prospects. I know people like to think they don't. It's just like they're kind of just now getting in the system so they have to like almost do you want to give them up now or and and lose the the talent that you're trying to get into the system or do you kind of want to wait a couple years to be able to make those trades like that's why i think they didn't make

the chapman trade because they could have like i think i think they can make the chapman trade in two years it's just right now it's like we just got another top 15 pick. Do we want to move them on already? So it's kind of a tough spot to be in. Thank you, Matt Klintak and Andy McPhail for this situation. But unfortunately, that's the situation that they're in. Yeah, it seems like they are. All right, take back. All right.

There's a lot of emotions in the take back that I wrote down today. Right. There's a lot of emotions in the take back that I wrote down today. So. I watched a lot of Schwarber highlights and it just feels good that they all came to fruition. I mean, I watched it again last night, which is like I was like, again, down bad. Like I needed to move really bad. And I watch a 15 minute Schwarber highlight thing, get really, really excited. So I am now excited to continue to watch Schwarber highlights, and I already can't wait for his first spring training game. Are we calling him Schwarbombs? Is that what we're calling him?

I mean, can we start yelling that down the streets? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Schwarbomb. Oh, Schwarbomb. What a Schwarbomb. Yeah, actually, I'll be disappointed if T-Mac and, you know, Franski don't start throwing that into the broadcast.

Right. I agree. I've already envisioned two things. Well, there, I mean, you know, you're Mr., you know, Philly's insider guy, you know, reach out to your boys. Yeah, I'll shoot him a text. I'll shoot him a nice little hey. Hey, Pat McCarthy, if you're listening, tell your dad, you know,

throw a Schwermom or two in there for us. Yeah, and then say listen to the High Hopes podcast. Yeah, could you say that? Could you get your dad to say that, actually? If we can get one or give me one, as they say, give us the, hey, Phillies fans, you should check out the High Hopes podcast. They gave me this idea. That's what I'm looking for.

Yeah, I like it. I've envisioned two things, James. Do you know what they are? Obviously. I mean, that's the whole point of this take back segment we do. Lay it on me. I can't stop thinking. Maybe it's because I've watched the Homer off of Cole

and the Homer off of the Astros guy so much. I've watched him so much. I just can't stop envisioning him hitting a tank in the playoffs into a sea of Phillies fans and going nuts. He's an unbelievable postseason hitter. He has 128 more postseason at-bats than the entire roster. Like, I mean, the guy has been in big moments. He seems to own Gary Cole.

Like, I'm excited for Phil's Yankees in two years, where it's Schwarber versus Cole again. I'm just kidding. The Yankees have no shot at ever reaching the World Series again. Oh, you didn't. Dude, they are so washed. They are pretty washed. I mean, it's taking on 50 million of Josh Collins.

I mean, they're the fourth most interesting team in that division. Yes. So, I just, I can't stop thinking about like a Schwarber bomb at CVP and like, you know how the Utley Homer,

they have him coming around third base and the camera like follows him down third base. I've already envisioned that being Kyle Schwarber and it's just, it's making me giddy. And also, uh, I don't know when this will happen. Um, but eventually when Kyle Schwarber brings the Phillies a world series championship, I have already envisioned the Kelsey speech. Like he is going to make the Kelsey speech at the Phillies parade. You're really putting it out there with this Kyle Schwarber signing.

Yeah. James, quite disappointing in you when you brought up other teams in baseball. And you did not mention that we no longer have to face Freddie Freeman. It's a good point. I should have mentioned it. Matt Olsen is not Freddie Freeman. Nice hitter. Not Freddie Freeman. Well, yeah. He's pretty good.. I should have mentioned it. Matt Olsen is not Freddie Freeman. Nice hitter. Not Freddie Freeman.

Well, yeah. He's pretty good. Don't get me wrong. I'm a Matt. I own him in fantasy every year. I'm a Matt Olsen guy. Like, he's going to hit some tank shots. But he's not Freddie Freeman.

So I legitimately think the Matt Olsen trade is going to sink the Braves. Like, I just. They gave up a lot. Well, Christian Pache stinks. You always hated Pache, but people in baseball like him a lot more than you. Well, there's not many people in baseball that know as much about

baseball as me. It's a very good point by you, Jack. I'm semi-kidding. It's also a big contract they gave Matt Olsen, too. Yes. Like a big contract. I think this move is going to sink the Braves because I think that Freeman was their heart and soul.

And I just... Like, I don't think that... I don't think they're going to recover. Like, I think Matt Olsen's a fine player, but it reminds me so much of Teixeira going to Atlanta where it's like, oh, he put up big numbers, but they didn't win anything. That's how I feel about this.

And I can't believe they let Freddie Freeman go. It's trying to be too smart for your own good. And I don't really understand why. He wanted to be there. Like, is 8 for, was it 8-186 for Olsen? Like, 8-200 for Freddie Freeman? I think it was 8 for 168 yeah yeah like just give him 200 I know it's crazy it's insane it just makes no sense to me I mean this guy and not just like look I'm

totally cool with teams you know cutting bait with guys you know trying to move on if they think someone is done just trying to win in general like i'm not a oh this guy has to finish his career with this team type of guy but like if there was ever a guy who should play his whole career in a place with a team it's that guy with that team like what the hell are you doing like what are you doing he's won an mvp for you he just won you a freaking world series your first since 95 like like it's just and again he's like to your point like so well liked in that clubhouse really in the league well respected well like like the clear leader of that team like clearly the dude in that locker room like i'm with you jack like it is it is

perplexing to me it just makes absolutely no sense how you wouldn't just say all right screw it like this is the guy we go all in on especially because he's such a good hitter too where it's not like he's not someone you see like the power like if the power fades you know what he's still gonna do hit 300 you know like he just I think he'll age well he's such a smart good hitter uh you know has such a good eye, all that stuff. I'm really with you, Jack. I was floored they decided to go this route. I just couldn't imagine it happening here.

I couldn't stop thinking about it. Imagine if that was Philly. We just won a World Series and we let the main player. It'd be like letting one of the three guys go after they won the World Series. Exactly. It'd be exactly like that. It's like, it'd be like letting one of the three guys go after they won. Exactly. It'd be exactly like that. It's crazy. Um, so is this,

I don't think this bullpen is terrible. Like if, can able, and again, like, yeah, I mean, it's about health and,

and stay. I don't think it's terrible, but like, let's go. If you do this off names, can able, have a Rado. Can able, can able as a straight up stud. If he's healthy, if he's terrible. But, like, let's go – if you do this off names, Knievel, Alvarado, Kunrod, Brogdon.

Knievel is a straight-up stud if he's healthy. If he's healthy. Brogdon, official high-ups position because I know how you feel. All in. Love Brogdon. We love that that guy's a part of this team. I think, you know, the name that we don't talk about enough that, like, you know, look, it could go either way but has a chance to be a – you know. I mean mean look sir anthony has been dominant in the major leagues before at a very young age like if he can come back healthy

that's a real fascinating swing factor alvarado i think we can lump alvarado and familia together in the you know certain nights you're gonna love this guy in certain nights you're gonna absolutely hate him um so i think that i don't know if we'll ever love Familia, but I meant from the way he pitches perspective. You know, I think those two are like that. And I think, look, Hand, he doesn't have to face Phillies. That's good for him. And Hand has some upside. I agree with you.

I think it's just more that, you know, it just seems like they, you know, kind of half-assed it. But I do think you should be more excited about the bullpen this year than you were last year. Well, I guess I just remember years past where it's like they brought in Robertson and that's going to be our closer, but everything else was just dreadful. And I remember being like, oh, bullpen's fine. They got a closer.

But now it's like – and it was like Robertson and Sir Anthony. It's like that's good. Sir Anthony a closer. But now it's like, and then it was like, it was like Robertson and Sir Anthony. It's like, that's good. Sir Anthony also down 30 pounds, according to the beat reporters down there. Yeah. So that is exciting. But no, I just like, I looked at it on paper and it was like, Knievel, Alvarado, Coonrod, Brogdon, Familia, Sir Anthony, Falter, Hand. I forgot about Coonrod too.

And I like Falter. Falter I like. All right, look at you you're selling me on the bullpen falter's gonna be a dude so i don't hate hand i like i like him more than you actually i think like i think hand can still get outs for you and has gotten out to big you know semi-big spots before so like i don't i don't hate hand i just don't love it yeah i don't love it i guess i think he's pretty much done but I also don't think he should ever throw a fastball again. Like he should just strictly throw sliders. But also maybe Eric Cressy and Caleb Cotham, maybe they can figure out something with his fastball. turns it into like a they try to get more sink on it and maybe that's something that could make it not like guys batting 280 on it you know um so yeah i guess it's fine like he just stopped striking out guys last year which is concerning i i hope that they saw something like i hope i just been

putting faith in the phil's analytics department but i i hope that they saw something um and one more thing like i'm so not pumped familiar like familia is gonna be the classic like three five but it's excruciating to get there like just it's gonna it's gonna be a dreadful experience so um like alvarado and familiar just gonna be uh every night just just hold on to your. But other than that, they go pretty deep with stuff. I don't think it's going to be a total dumpster fire. Yeah, I think there's a chance. Again, you're also relying on some older guys, some guys who have had success in the past.

That could go either way, both production-wise and injury-wise. But I agree with you. Again, I feel better about the bullpen going into this season than I did last season. Not that that saying a ton but you know incrementally better i guess that's what the phillies are trying to be final two things here um i realized today when we were driving out to mcgurk's uh and i was just thinking about baseball i i really feel like costanza in that episode of seinfeld like where the his girlfriend has mono so oh yeah so he can't have sex and he gets super smart yeah yeah that's how i that's how i that's what that's maybe my favorite episode it's up there like it's a high

level episode for me high high level yeah i also watched super underrated people don't talk that talk about that one enough it's a great watch i watched the yada yada episode again the other day which is again it's like i forgot how great that episode was of seinfeld fantastic but i feel like i feel like that except with other sports like i was starting to get into football and like like start to make good points in other sports. And then the second baseball came back, I'm back to like, dude, I don't know anything about any player that's being brought in in any other sport. I'm back to being so dumbed down about other sports

because I'm so focused on baseball. I can't tell if it's a good thing, but I had to share that I feel like it's a good thing. I think for us here right now in this moment with the beautiful wonderful people who listen to this podcast it's an amazing thing everyone else you know the wip listeners or people we work with or whatever debatable well i am who i am uh and my final thing here is that i went to a baby shower over the weekend. Oh, buddy.

Which apparently I didn't know that. Guys usually go to be here. Yeah, I know. I didn't know that that was now a thing. But it's cool. It was one of my college friends, so he's having a kid. So it's all good. Wait, so the guy, really?

That's a strange one. Not going to lie. What? What? That you're going to your buddy's baby shower it's weird yeah well listen all my college friends were there so is this an excuse to everyone get together no that's that part of it's fine good call by you but still it's just you know strange but a baby he he is a mets fan so of course on my way out there, by the way, got the gift on the drive out to the baby shower.

Veteran move. It's not. No, it's a terrible idea. But I found a Phillies onesie for a baby. And that was my gift. So I'm very sorry, but I had to get a Mets fan of Phil's onesie. And it was kind of a semi-expensive guy gift.

I have no idea why baby clothes are so expensive, but I was proud of myself. Yeah. It's, I gave myself a chuckle. It's all such a sham. They grow out of them so fast. It's like something they wear for like three months.

And it's like, well, that was awesome. Happy. I spent 40 bucks on that or whatever it was. With you, pal. Yes. But that was a good gift and very on brand. I know.

But what annoyed me is that they didn't open it there. So like, I don't know. You didn't get the pop. You didn't get the reaction I was looking for. Yeah. That sucks, buddy. It does. It does.

I still gave myself a chuckle and i was able to bring it up on this podcast so that's so you're right if you found a way to make it work as you normally do no one's better at it no you are you are elite out of jack rants you are elite thank you um all right that all yet that is all i have kyle schwarber is a Philly. Any final thoughts, pal? My final thought is the first time that Schwarber, Hoskins, Harper hit a homer in the same

game. I can't wait for that moment. What if it's back-to-back-to-back? Well, I guess I don't know if Hoskins is going to beat the two-hole. I was thinking if Schwarber wasn't leading off, it would going to be the two-hole. No, no. I was thinking if Schwarber wasn't leading off, it would have to be like Harper three, Hoskins four, Schwarber five,

or something like that. You know what I can't wait for? I can't wait to tell people that this lineup is better than the 08 fills. That's my favorite annual take, and one day it's going to be right, and we're getting closer to that. I can't wait for Ruben Amaro to quote tweet it and say, Jack, what are you doing? But like I came up with earlier, trade for Jose Ramirez.

Yeah, I think it's one of the better ideas you've ever had. It's a very impressive one. I'm happy you thought of it, buddy. No problem at all. Yeah, I'm happy you're going to just take it from here, spread your wings. Yep. Although I would like to point out, I have heard of Jose Ramirez. I do not think he's a great player. yeah i'm happy you're gonna just take it and from here spread your wings and yeah although i would

like to point out i have heard of osiris i do not i do not need to be handheld good thing you came up with the idea then yeah yes all by myself oh buddy all right uh my final thought um obviously i've talked about it along the way when she got sick and stuff. But Millie passed away over the weekend. It's good that I've had a few days because I would definitely be crying into a microphone right now if I didn't. So it's good we waited a few days since it happened. But, you know, it sucks.

I'm sad. I'm going to miss her. Yeah, dogs should live forever in my i'm gonna miss her dog should live forever she rocks these dogs should live jack that's the best take i think you've ever had in the history of that it was fun dogs should live forever they should live forever it sucks that that we go on without them um but yeah you know we had our 14 years like basically my whole relationship with emily and uh it's a big hole and, uh, I'm bummed and I'm sad, but she had a great life. And, uh, you know, I just appreciate everyone who reached

out. Like when I mentioned it before, it really means a lot to hear from people and to, uh, you know, know that everyone out there cares and all that. Cause she was an awesome dog and she deserves all the, the shine she gets, you know? Um, so, uh, I'm'm gonna miss her and it sucks so goodbye mel you're the boss so yeah and in i believe that she the her parting gift to you was kyle schwarber so as kyle schwarber goes on here you can say hey i like that millie brought us k shwarzer yeah slash jack well well she was born in 2008 so you know yes she was born in 2008 so i'm just saying millie did not see much success millie saw the first millie started high and then it just it faded it's like jill jill comes into my life in 2000 after 2008 Phyllis don't win anything.

Yeah, well, she was born in 08, so Millie's first Philly season was a World Series. So, you know, that's pretty good. It was all downhill from there. It was all downhill from there, but hopefully, you know, her parting gift will be that we get to experience more of those. But, you know, this is what it is. Dogs should live forever, Jack.

I'm with you. How's that for a take? That's a good take. 2-1-5-5-9-2-1-2-3-4. All right. We will be back, look, maybe sooner if the Phillies, you know, decide to, you know, nut up and do something super fun and something big. Otherwise, we'll be back next

week does that sound good well listen pal we got some phil's baseball starting friday if you think i'm not gonna be jones and i do a like a post-game reaction podcast you're crazy well you might be doing it by yourself because i will not be able to record a podcast this weekend unless i absolutely have to but if i can i will all right so the only way we record this weekend unless I absolutely have to, but if I can, I will. Alright, so the only way we're going to record this weekend is Jose Ramirez. Deal. Yes. Or over the luxury tax. Like Castellanos. Let's

go. Another guy who can't play anywhere but left field. Let's go. Castellanos back at third base. Let's put him back there. He's put him before. Let's go. There's so many reasons why I don't want Castellanos. One, I don't want... Draft also i can't i can't take the uh and it's now four nothing reds like oh my gosh like we you're right i didn't think about it would kill me like really we're doing this again every night with the cassiano oh my god it's almost worth

it just for that no it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not if i promise you it's not all right hopefully we'll be back this weekend if not we'll talk to you soon he's read some satsang 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. It's my podcast.

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