High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Opening Day Mailbag Pod

Episode Date: March 29, 2024

Jack Fritz lists five thoughts on the Phillies ahead of Opening Day, then takes questions from listeners about the team's top prospects and other thoughts on the 2024 season. Presented by Miller Lite. 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

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. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

What's going on? It's a new-ish edition of the High Ops Podcast. I was going to do a yo, but I feel like that would not be doing James Seltzer, you know, the proper, you know, respect. Because I can't do the yo like Seltzer. And, yes, I'm technically two minutes late to doing this pod because Tucker and I were breaking down the fantastic career of former Phil and Nick Martini, who had two home runs today for the Cincinnati Reds. So I think talking about Nick Martini and really remembering the real ones is a good place to start this podcast off. So opening day is tomorrow.

And I am so jealous of every fan base that was able to watch their team today because I just felt like something was missing. It wasn't right. And it's not right that in back-to-back years we've had to delay the home opener. That's not fun. And, you know, it's just every game starting at three there's some 10 o'clock games you set that first fantasy lineup it's just baseball's back and i know there's a it's a long journey it's not for everyone but i think the listeners of this podcast

and the people that really care going through the the 162 game journey is great. And it's interesting because I feel a couple things. Like, on one hand, I can't wait. Like, I can't wait for every day, go through the journey, the ups and downs, you know, living and dying with the baseball team. But there's definitely a part of me, and I talked about this on the air today that is is a little bit of you know get me to the postseason and i'm sure i hate to be that way i really do because you know i i i vowed when when we got back to this point that i won't take a good baseball team for granted again because i i we went through 11 seasons without playoff baseball but when you go to citizens bank park and you have the runs that they've had the last two years and you feel

like you're like you want to feel that intoxicating feeling like opening weekend it's it lives up to a little bit but man like i just want to feel October baseball again. And maybe I'm jumping way ahead of myself. I shouldn't be just almost guaranteeing that the Phillies are going to make the playoffs. But it's where I'm at. And I can't wait for it to start. But, man, getting this team back into the postseason is the best.

So starts tomorrow, supposed to start today. Very jealous of all teams who were able to get it started today. So a couple things on this podcast. So I got like five things that I want to get off my chest and say what I believe about this team. things that I want to get off my chest and say what I believe about this team. And in the meantime, just load up the box there, the chat, with Q&A, mailbag questions.

I'll get to as many as I can, and, you know, we'll kind of do this thing right because, you know me, love talking about the Phils. I just, you know i the night before the season didn't feel right having no real high hopes uh i know we did the the poll predictions podcast i tried to think of something else besides the bowl predictions for the five things that i believe about this team but uh yeah i was able to get the job done so So it's going to be a fun pod. Get your questions in the chat. And if you're not already subscribed to Sports Radio WIP on YouTube, that's where we do all of our live shows. So subscribe there.

And listen, if the season's starting, if you have a friend out there who is looking to get into Phil's baseball or is looking for a podcast, would appreciate sending them the high hopes pod. We're looking to continue to grow this thing. It's James and I's favorite thing to do. We love doing it and every little

bit counts. As always, we are sponsored by Miller Lite. Miller Lite's for Phil's wins, as always. But if you could help us grow the pod, tell a friend to tell a friend and we'll continue to grow this thing. So it's going to be a good time. Can't wait to get going again with two pods.

Usually Sunday nights and one day during the week, go back to two pods a week. And I believe I'm doing postgame again, so we will have the final out podcast back in the feed. So I know it was a quiet offseason. I believe we did what did we get up to, Tucker? Seven podcasts titled Well, This is Boring. I think we got to

seven. Once tomorrow starts, we are fully locked in and fully ready to go. Again, it's going to be a great time. Five things I believe about this team. We are a day away and i think we are all kind of getting how we feel about this team out as we enter into the stretch run of the offseason the the fifth thing that i believe about this team

and i did tweet about this earlier today and i do think it matters, is the cleanup spot just matters more than the leadoff spot. You know, like the leadoff spot is so talked about because for some reason, like we make the first inning like the single most important thing in the history of the world. Like Kyle Schwarber batting leadoff gives you a chance to go up one nothing instantly makes pitchers think instantly you know they don't want to groove a first pitch fastball so the hitter behind kyle schwarber is likely seeing some some breaking pitches off the fastball but when with him there it also protects the bottom of the lineup and you don't want him batting like i know people oh you know you want that 47 home

runs in the middle of the lineup well it does come with a ton of strikeouts so do you really want that in in run driving in positions or do you almost want to get it out of the way and the clogging of the base pass thing like it's just it's not a real thing like i think that in the old school way of thinking sure like and when you play baseball i guess at the lower levels it's like yes speed at the top move runners along and stuff like. But what matters more than maybe even like the occasional clocking of the bases is having guys on base so that the guys behind them can either hit a home run or drive them in another way. And Kyle Schwarber, people will bring up the OBP, but it's all about the walks.

Like he gets a ton of walks. His batting average is 200. Like if his batting average is 250, he'll have a 400 on base percentage. So the leadoff thing, it's been beaten to death, beaten to death, beaten to death. Cleanup spot just matters more. Like having JT and having Boehm. And listen, I think the Boehm thing, people will bring up his OPS and stuff. The value of having Boehm batting cleanup is he has pretty good back control.

I think you trust him to not really strike out. And when there's a runner on third, less than two outs, Alec Boehm does a pretty good job of bringing that runner home and getting a job done. He has good back control. So he's not going to strike out. We'll put the bat in the baseball. I think from the jump, I would put JT there.

I think JT has had a really, really good spring. And we talked about the biomechanics lab a lot. Well, the biomechanics lab, it had good results early. I think the key to having swing adjustments and the key to having things stick is early success. I hope that whatever they worked on will get to Johan Rojas, but I hope that whatever they try to work on and implement this offseason with Johan Rojas, he doesn't throw completely away because maybe he didn't get the spring training results that he was looking for. The good part is with JT, he was getting that.

So the cleanup spot, you are having guys who should not be big strikeout guys. You need guys that can get runners home with less than two outs and can kind of do a job. I know the traditional cleanup spot is home runs, RBI, all of that, which is fine. But, you know, when you have a guy like Harper, like, you need someone who is doing a good job protecting him. And, like, I'm not putting schwab for i'm not having back-to-back lefties like i mean eventually down the line if you want to go stott turner harper boom jt if cassie's hot whatever then schwaber whatever i i wouldn't do it but that cleanup spot just matters a ton and and if likeT or Bowen being able to do it,

I just think that that just matters more when it comes to determining outcomes of games rather than the leadoff hitter. It just matters a ton more. So that's the fifth thing I believe about this baseball team. The fourth thing I believe about this baseball team is I think all offseason and definitely at the beginning

all throughout spring training the Rojas thing was viewed as a big deal. And as we get closer to opening day and as it starts tomorrow, it's just not that big of a deal to me. And it's not that I'm putting on blinders and thinking he's going to go hit.302 again like he did for the month and a half there.

But like if, again, Dombrowski said the other day, if 1-7 hit doesn't matter. Like the defense you hope is good enough to make up for it. the defense you hope is good enough to make up for it and through 162 letting a guy kind of grow and see if he can do it like there should be enough talent elsewhere to where not where you're not sitting there like god damn like that nine hitter is killing them right now so it's they're in a good spot and i think they did a good job building in hedges around the Johan Rojas thing while also giving him the leash to go do his thing. And if he can do it, great. If he can take the job and run with it, or not even run with it, just hit 200 or 220 and play phenomenal defense, you take it.

phenomenal defense you take it but with marsh ability to play center field also i think just underrated in general as a player you have marsh that can play center while not as elite as he is and left and and the corner spots whitmerryfield they signed for eight eight and a half million dollars like they're going to use Whit Merrifield. Would you be surprised if Rojas starts the season and it's not going incredibly well that you see an uptick in

Whit playing more and in Marsh playing more center field. They also have Pache there, so they did not lose Pache. They have built in enough hedges around the rojas thing to where if he if he totally sinks if he totally sinks they have enough in place infrastructure wise to where it just won't kill them a couple years ago like they were relying on one of moniak hazley to oh dudeb, to hit because they were more important pieces in the lineup.

With Rojas, it's just not a huge deal because of everything they have around them, both lineup-wise, both with Marsh and Witt, and with Christian Apache there as a bit of insurance. Hopefully he just takes it and runs with it, and this isn't even an issue. And again, what takes it and runs with it is I this isn't even an issue. And again, what takes it and runs with it is, I'm not saying 250 with 10 home runs.

If we wake up at the end of the year, he's playing, he wins a gold glove, batting 220 with five homers. I think I would sign up for that, which is pretty insane. But again, the defense is that good. They believe in him. And the closer and closer

we get to opening day i just don't really feel like it's a huge deal and and i don't i don't think it's going to come back to to really really bite them um and i think that they wanted to keep him up here with kevin long and they wanted him to be around major league coaching and be with dustin lind on swing decision stuff because that's's the Johan Rojas thing that has to get fixed if he's going to be a competent major leaguer. He has to make better swing decisions, and that's part of the reasons why Dustin Lind is here. So maybe they don't think he can get that in AAA.

And while, yes, you could be getting more at-bats, if it's not as quality of at-bats, then it's sort of a moot point. So that's kind of where I stand with the Rojas thing a day before opening day. The third thing I believe is that the Phillies all-stars this year are going to be Bryce Harper, JT RealMuto, Trey Turner, Zach Wheeler, and Jeff Hoffman, I think Jeff Hoffman makes the all-star game, and I don't know if it's going to be as a closer, I don't know, it could be as just a regular reliever. He has such a ridiculous first half that he's just in the game from that standpoint. But Jeff Hoffman, I believe, is in a free agent year. So, like, he could, they could extend him, you know, now.

They could extend him during the season. But the way Jeff Hoffman looked in spring, the way Jeff Hoffman looked last year, the stones in which he pitched with, the confidence in which he pitched with, like there's some real upside to Jeff Hoffman. And I tweeted about it. We talked about it on the podcast. But I do believe it. Like I think he could be closing games for this team.

I think Sir Anthony's looked really good. I think Alvarado. Like I just don't think they want to make him the closer. I think he could. I feel the same way about Sir Anthony. Like they have options in the back of the bullpen you know like gregory soto like i'm a little disappointed in the fastball like i know it's 100 but seems like it gets squared up way too often so that it must just be flat jeff hoffman kind of has a package. And I know he came out of nowhere. I know he's a former top prospect, or top draftee,

that didn't really pan out. Pedigree's there. And I just had this Jeff Hoffman feeling to the year. So I think Hoffman makes the all-star team. I really do. Wheeler, I think there's a chance he starts the all-star game. I did take him plus 900 to win the cy young i i just i love everything about him i love him talking about that he feels like the splitter is going to put him over the top and and help him

win a cy young so i i just i think zach wheeler is poised for you know like last year i think he somehow did he have like a three six i think he somehow had a 3-6. I think we're back in the 2-8, the 2-9s kind of year for Zach Wheeler. Full disclosure, like, respect. Like, Spencer Strider, I think, is going to go pretty nuts this year. So it might take an injury for Zach Wheeler to win the Cy Young. But I just, even if he doesn't, you know, finishing top three, I think is, is, is right there barring any injury.

And I think Zach Wheeler's in for a monster, monster season now that he's, now that he's, uh, has his extension and stuff. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship Starts now I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive Into the position that's going to make or break Your fantasy roster Wide receivers

We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter Giving you the insights you need to draft The best wide receivers As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need Follow and listen to Reception Perception On odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts try turn i just i i refuse to believe that we're getting anywhere close to pre-ovation turner and i think he's ready to put that all in the past i don't think the defense is going to be a super big issue we thought in the last pod that could he be the first philly to hit had to under hit since jay roll in a season i think

that's on the table especially with all the pieces he has around them and just in spring so far like just looks locked in just just looks great hitting the balls and gaps you know there's a couple times he had home runs or balls that should have been home runs that just stayed in the park because of the wind down there. But I think we're in for one of these, you know, hopefully three. If we can get 290 to 310, Trey Turner would love 200 hits. We'll see. I mean, his career high is 195. I think there's 30-30 potential from Trey Turner.

But I think he's going to be on the all-star team. Is he starting? Not sure. But we're talking about a guy who should finish top 10 in MVP. So you have Wheeler should finish top three in Cy Young. I think you have Turner should finish top 10 in MVP. JT, I think he reestablishes himself as the best catcher in baseball this year. I think he was annoyed at what happened last year offensively for a majority of that season and and given what he's done in the in the biomechanics lab and just how kind of spry he looks i think we are i think we're in for a very very very strong um jt kind of year this year to where he plays himself into an extension like i we i think we

talked like three pods ago how i'm already like dreading the post jt himself into an extension like i we i think we talked like three pods ago how i'm already like dreading the post jt phillies because like i think we've been spoiled by how good jt is and given that he hasn't really caught it didn't really start catching into the minor leagues hopefully his legs are a little bit fresh it's just he's such a good athlete that am i super worried about like two extra years on the back end of that deal? Probably not. But it all starts with showing that last year's offensive decline was just that. And even during the regular season when his offense wasn't that great.

I mean, he was probably their third. I know the last three games for turner happened but he's probably second before that but jt was was right back to being you know peak jt in the postseason so he's kind of been a rise to the occasion type player but i i think jt is is you know is probably locked to be an all-star given some of the catching in the NL. Him, Sean Murphy, William Gutierrez. There's definitely one I'm forgetting. But Will Smith, obviously, with the 10-year, $140 million contract. Man, they're just, I'll tell you what, they make some money out there in L.A., it seems.

And that contract that Shohei had signed definitely helps with that kind of stuff. But, man, you're going to talk about some big contracts. Although 10 years, 140 is not that bad for Will Smith. He's a really good player in the middle of that Dodgers lineup. So regardless. And then Bryce. You know, a full year of Bryce at first base, he made one error the entire time last year. So I just, it's time to see Bryce in the All-Star game.

It's crazy. Like he's made the All-Star team as a Philly, but he hasn't been able to play in it. Seeing Bryce on the biggest stage and seeing what he can do, like I just, I pray the back isn't an issue. And I think we finally get to see Bryce Harper at the All-Star game this year because he's had huge moments. He's had regular season moments. He's had postseason moments. He's won an MVP.

But he hasn't had an All-Star game yet, and it's ridiculous. But that ends this year. The second thing I believe about this baseball team is that we get the real Dombo trade this year. I've been kind of on this one for a while. I thought we were going to get it last year. But, you know, last year was kind of an odd deadline. Like they were in, but they weren't like fully push chips in.

I think that's done this year. When you make comments before the season about how, hey, save the powder for the regular season. We don't have to go push the chips in on Jordan Montgomery signing. Save it. We'll get to it i you know that makes me feel like we're getting one of those real kind of dombrowski trades at the deadline and the interesting point is you know i think justin crawford can be a good player but if rojas hits you know they have other kind of pieces around in the minor leagues. It feels like the minor league system is in a pretty good spot to where

it's not that they're expendable, but they have pieces that are interesting to other teams. Obviously, Aiden Miller is untouchable. Don't even think about it. And Andrew Painter as well, of course. And I'm definitely thinking about getting there with Starling Gava, who is another one of my guys. It's good to see that he's starting to get some good prospect buzz out there. But there are some pieces around there that I think we can get the real Dombo trade this year.

I don't know what it is. I don't know what position it is. But the nice part about where this team is at is it feels like there's going to be the circle, like, go get that. Whether it's you need a lockdown closer. I think we'll know that by the deadline the taiwan injury the staff not up to par maybe chris sanchez gets off to a slow start you know the ranger spring training doesn't matter injuries like i think that'll be clear they need to go get a starter or the bats like i don't know like maybe it's center field like maybe they have to go get a

center fielder but that's really kind of it like you're not moving off cassie the deadline short or uh you know marsh wit whatever everything else is pretty much defined like it's gonna be a starter and probably maybe a bench bat but i don't know um but i i the real Dombo trade, whether it's for, like, Klasse or, you know, one of those aces in the AL Central that I seemingly love to trade for. Although Dylan Cease is gone, so that's a big one. But I might have to work on it. No, the Tigers rotation is too small, although I am infatuated with the Tigers rotation. I'm not saying I would flip rotations with them, but there's a lot of my kind of guys on the tiger staff i mean scuba casey mys manny got sent down josh job a lot of my kind of like

brie salston regardless this is not a tiger's podcast this is a philly's podcast opening day baby and the number one thing the number one thing that I do believe about this baseball team is they're going to win the NL East like I whether they win the NL East or not you know they've proven

in the last two years like as long as they get the number on wild card and you get the home three game series it probably matters more you know given you don't have the off days you you can continue to play you can stay fresh you don't go through the lull like there's a case to be made that that matters more but i just don't think that's going to happen this year like i i think they're going to win the nl east i think the braves are going to play down to it a little bit.

Like, I don't think they're gunning for the division. And I think the Phillies, the way they've talked about it, the way they've cared about it, the way that they're sick of seeing the Braves at the top of the division, it kind of feels like they want to plant their flag and they want to send a message. And by chasing down the Braves, it lets everyone else kind of know, hey, we're not just this team that gets hot every postseason like we're real we're they might have the second most if

that like the Phillies have the second most playoff wins in baseball the last two years and well I think a lot of people think they're good it's like well there's the Dodgers Braves and then everyone else or you know Astros R yeah, Rays are kind of down this year. But you get the point. Like, it's always those other teams and then, like, the Phillies are in that next kind of mix. And I think they're ready to put that to bed. So while the division doesn't totally matter a lot to me,

obviously winning the division and winning the World Series is great, but there's definitely a part of me that thinks having that couple days off takes you out of your rhythm a little bit. Winning the NLEs would be sweet. And really arriving, winning 95-plus games, and just letting everyone know you're for real. It feels like that this year. It feels like this is a year that they win the NL East.

They care about it a lot. Braves have a down year. Had a lot of career years from guys. And this team takes it. And they care a lot about it. And while I don't want them gunning and really, really pushing for it, you know, it seems like that's their team goal. So who am I to poo-poo it? So that's the five things that I believe about this baseball team. Cannot wait for tomorrow.

I'll be down at the ballpark. So it feels like I was just at Citizens Bank Park. Like, literally, I mean, I know it was like five months ago, but man, it's just like, it's going to be walking right back in and we'll be right there. I believe we're usually outside section 127. That's about right. So yeah, if you're down by the ballpark or down the ballpark, come by, say hi. I can be hanging out until about like 2 30 ish

and then i think i'm just gonna stand and do whatever so come on out hang out and uh listen it's great it's great to be back we're back i'm going down saturday too so full weekend at the bank it is is great all right uh let's get to some mailbag questions here as tucker will put some up on the screen as we go and you can continue to get your questions in of course jb in your opinion where's christopher sanchez ranked just in terms of number four starters feels like it's a really solid number four especially after last year but i'm no expert well it's interesting because it feels like here, there's still questions about Christopher Sanchez. Meanwhile, in fantasy communities, he is viewed higher than Ranger. Here, we don't think that way at all. So who's more right?

I think we're more right. I think Ranger's better. But it's not a slight to chris for sanchez the one thing that i that is going to be interesting is does the velo change or the uptick in velo does it cause him to lose command does it flatten out any of his stuff um you know like i i'm in on chris for sanchez like i think he has a similar makeup to ranger suarez in terms of four starters, I mean, I think he could do a lot worse. I mean, in an absolutely perfect ideal world, he's your fifth starter. But I think here he's a little bit underrated. I think nationally he's a little bit overrated.

But I think that's perfect for a four starter. Am I expecting a 3-6-1 like we got last year? Probably not. perfect for a four starter am i expecting a three six one like we got last year probably not but he kind of has that ranger makeup where it's not like i just don't think he's gonna go out there and get rocked ever i think he's always gonna keep him in a ball game give you quality innings we'll see how much they want to push him early in the season do they try to you know lessen that so he's not stretched out or so he's not uh worn down for later in the year maybe uh but i'm definitely in on christopher sanchez and and as it goes for four starters i think it's a really

really good good piece what's next from jeffrey hostetter do you think spencer turnbull is the long-term solution as a fifth starter or do you anticipate Mick Abel being ready to come up this year? So I am doing my best not to put too much pressure on Mick Abel to come up and save the franchise, because I feel like I do that far too often with our prospects. And Aiden Miller, if you're listening, I'm sure you are. I'm sorry already for the hype surrounding you, but I can't help it.

You know, he's done. So I think Mick Abel has looked fantastic in the spring. You know, he's done. So I think McCable has looked fantastic in the spring. You know, he hasn't really had a hiccup. I think the command has taken a huge uptick. I thought, like, full disclosure, watching him last year and a little bit the year before that, I just never saw the fastball command

being good enough to last long term in the big leagues. I thought it wasn't good enough to where he couldn't consistently repeat his mechanics and get out of whack and not being able to consistently spot. And I thought it would hurt him. But what we saw this spring is that it looks like a lot of that has been corrected. And it looks like he's back on the trajectory we saw a couple years ago where it was like, okay, we got a top 50 prospect. And that's awesome because I did not want to have to deal with a prospect losing its luster. You know, like having a good farm system does matter.

So I think he can come up and help them. But I'm also incredibly intrigued by Spencer Turnbull. And we talked about earlier Rojas in the center field thing, not a big deal. I'm just so not worried about the Tywin Walker thing. I know that he won 15 games last year, but it was almost like the team showed up on Tywin Walker days and said, okay, we've got to really go out there and do our thing today because Tywin's on the mound.

It's the opposite of Steve Carlton day where it's like it's win day and you don't really have to do much. That was the opposite when Taiwan pitched last year. So, again, I hope we can get healthy and help this team, but I'm not going to miss him every fifth day. So I think Turnbull can be an option. I was intrigued by the Yankees' start in Struckout 5. Wasn't all the best players in the lineup, but he did get Judge and Stanton.

The slider, I think, is a weapon. He threw his little two-seam sinker pitch that was like 95 miles an hour. So I think there's something with Turnbull. I just would be more intrigued if he was back to 96, 97, and not so much 93. What's next? Daniel Mormack, if you were Schwarber, what are you sitting for pitch one from Schreider? We have a real launch chance. I know.

I know. I mean, would there be anything better than first pitch? I'm not saying it's 100 from Schreider. I feel like Schreider probably goes curveball first pitch. I'm not saying it's 100 from Strider. I feel like Strider probably goes curveball first pitch. He wants to flash the new pitch he's learned. I don't think he throws him a first pitch fastball. And if he does,

it's probably up and out of the zone. But... I mean, come on. Come on, Spencer. Be cool one time. Just be cool one time. Throw 100 right down the middle. And let's start the season off right. But if I was Spencer Strider, I probably wouldn't start fastball.

But it was interesting. Rube was on this morning with the morning show and DeCanter actually made the point which is DeCanter making a good baseball point is rare. But it feels like people sometimes or pitchers sometimes get away from pitching to

kyle schwerber and they get away from throwing fastballs and stuff and it's just like he does bat 200 it's like you can't get out so rather than trying to be cute and nibble with your off speed pitches like he could get himself out so so i think some of it's a little bit overthinking but if spencer strider wants to be cool and and groove 100 to our guy i would definitely take that what's next john what minor league player can make a jump like rojas or kirkering to make an impact later in the season you know a lot of their studs are more in clear water. A couple of them will get the double A. I think Crawford will and Cohen's will.

But I think Michael Mercado is a guy that jumps out. Griff jumps out. The key for Griff is just show you can command within the strike zone at AAA. He went to AAA last year, late in the year, and it was a colossal disaster. Now, he has made a couple mechanical tweaks. He does not have a windup anymore. He's strictly out of the stretch. They're converting him to a reliever.

Of course, there's upside there. The good part is the bullpen is pretty set. We're talking about the 6th, 7th, 8th guys in the bullpen. We're talking about the grifts of the world. So the times where it would become important for him or Mercado

would be if there's an injury, I guess. But the Kirkring-Foran thing is definitely something to monitor. I know Rob Thompson downplayed it today. I'll give them a pass. I didn't totally believe them with the Bryce back thing, but it seems like he's going to be okay. Rob Thompson did say that a Ryan Kirk ring is going to be okay. It's more just ramped up from the flu.

I don't know whether that translates into the elbow, but whatever. Not trying to worry about it, but I don't think we'll see. The Kirk ring jump was ridiculous. We're not having a guy go through five. Although he's probably not going to do it, but George Glasson is someone who's 100% interesting, and I can't wait to see what he does this year. But I think the two names that jump out off the top of my head

are really Griff and Mercado. And they hyped up Mercado a good amount this spring so uh i think he's definitely in their plans if they can go to triple a and and show some strides there uh right from the jump what's next from bligh26 who starts in left field for game two and if not merrifield what is his role while everyone is healthy well he's a pretty good insurance policy you know i think one i wonder if he starts tomorrow you know like do you really want one rojas facing spencer strider or would you rather him start game two against max freed so i think witt's gonna play between 100 and 110 110 games. You know, I think it's good insurance from the standpoint of if Rojas is like really craters,

Marsh can play center, he can play left, or, you know, Pache, it's fine, whatever. Like if there's a tough lefty and they want to keep Marsh out, they can put Pache in center. Regardless, the one thing I'm just hoping doesn't happen and I don't think it will but they did sit stop for some lefties last year and they didn't love it but I guess if it's like sale I could see it if sales healthy it's a funky look for a lefty you get them off his feet for a day I'm curious to see how much infield he plays. I am. I think it's going to be definitely veteran bench bat late if they need a pinch hit. I don't really have a clean or a clear answer for you.

I just think that he's going to play left field if they feel like roas can't really you know hold up i think he's gonna start two or three times a week i i wonder how much infility plays he did play a little third base if bryce in the back thing is is a is a cause for concern he could play third i guess and put boom at first So I think he's going to play a good amount, given they paid him a pretty hefty salary to be here for a bench bat. And, again, like I think last year in the postseason, if they had him, they'd probably beat the time back. So for a team that chased a lot and for a team that, you know, like struck out a good amount,

and believe me, in spring training it was a lot of strikeouts, I think Whitmerryfield's going to help from the standpoint of put the bat on the baseball and get some hits. Sure, are they going to be some dink and dunks? Yeah, it's going to be dink and dunky. But, hey, it's a line drive in the book. So I think he's going to play a good amount. And, again, he's's gonna be a super super

valuable piece for this team and i think they had him last year we're back in the world series what's next from rp do you believe that the phillies weren't interested in montgomery because they wanted payroll flexibility just under the second apron to make a move at the deadline versus now yeah i do i i think they viewed it as okay one year of montgomery for 25 million might not be ready to go until the end of april as he ramps back up is that really worth it versus you know making sure you need starter at the deadline like right now do they need a starter like they you have turnbull you have able do you need jordan montgomery i kind of viewed him as a luxury you know a luxury versus a necessity now the diamondbacks have a really good staff like it's a it's a it's a damn good staff eduardo's banged up i get it but him montgomery

gallon fought and and merrill kelly's is really solid I do wonder if that leads to maybe a Gallon trade if they fall out of it only because I don't fall out of it like they were in the World Series last year but I just they keep signing these starters and Zach Gallon has a year left and he's probably gonna get 200 plus million dollars if I had to guess so I I don't know, that's not what the Dime Packs traditionally do, so I think it was a luxury rather than a necessity, they're gonna save the powder for the deadline, as I say, that's the new term around here, is save the powder, and like, until, like, I don't think that Turnbull and Abel are such a disaster that it, like, sinks sinks them are they good enough to where it's not not an upgrade we'll see does taiwan come back in in a couple weeks we'll see but with the taiwan injury part

of the signing of montgomery would have had to be getting off of tyler walker and when he's hurt you just can't do it so i think it was third tax you don't have to give up the second and fifth round pick but you have to drop back 10 spots and 20 of you were international signing moments if you don't uh get under it by the end of the year so yeah i think that's had that a lot to do with it but also it wasn't something that was necessarily a necessity what's next oh the high was parlay so i have i have been in a i just i i had to put down the app for a little bit i the nba was starting to kill me you know so i had to take a deep breath with with with the whole gambling stuff responsible adult, but I did, you know, I had to deposit to play some futures, so I won't be placing at parlay tomorrow, but if I was to parlay it up, I would go,

I'll go Turner two hits, I would go Marsh two hits. I'm making this up as I go. I'm trying my best not to say Schwarber home run. I feel like I always say Schwarber home run. And I'll take a JT opening day home run. I think JT hits the first home run of the season. We're all in on the JT Romulo breakout season. So I'll say those two two hits and a JT home run don't know what the odds are feels like a pretty good odds so feels

like pretty good odds all right what's next how far through the minors does Aiden Miller make it this year well he's gonna be in the big leagues by the end of the year I mean we're going on the Kirk ring track for Aiden Miller no I think I think if he gets to Reading this year, it's a massive win, and then next year probably starts at Reading. The big question here, and we obviously haven't talked about it because it's like the World Series window, is what they do with Alec

Boehm. And I know that Sixers Adam, who I believe is trying to become Phillies Adam now, wrote something about this today. But the Alec Boehm contract extension you know extending stott i think should happen you know i hope it happens i think that's great i just like the the bohm extension is probably the next big question mark of do you do it do you versus do you not do it like do they view aiden miller as having more power upside if alec is how i guess how valuable is 280 and 20 home runs like can we

if we can get a 25 to 30 home run season out of bone i think it makes it that much easier i love bone i think he's a good player um i just i don't i wonder what the plan is also with aiden do they think he could play left field in in a couple years like could they transition him there I mean Ryan Braun did that but he's also a disaster at third base which is not Aiden Miller I don't know but I but I think he is going to be pushing to the big leagues by 20 dude I almost said 2024 because I keep forgetting it's 2024 like i i still am in like it's the 2022 almost so i was yeah he'd be pushing the big leagues by 2024 i'll say i'll say 2026 is when he's pushing for the big leagues i think he can get to reading this year i think he starts next year in reading

and then you know we see what happens but the the Boehm extension conversation is going to happen soon. And I tell you what, it would be nice to have a nice 25 to 30 home run season out of him and just erase all doubt of his long-term future here. All right, what's next? What do you predict will be the biggest weakness and strength in the first half of the season well the good part is and the the the benefit to beginning of the season is the schedule is just a joke in april like they could legitimately it might not play out this way but they legitimately could play they might not play a team that finishes over 500 the entire year like that's how easy the schedule

is in in april so if they don't get off to a hot start and they just nonsense with the seven games over under 500 in in june like it's a disaster because of because of the schedule so the my biggest like if you're looking for my achilles heel of the team is i actually do think it's the offense just continuing a lot of last year where it was like strikeout, strikeout. They go in these hot and cold stretches. Harper's pretty consistent. I think if Turner's normal and gets back to his usual trade to himself, I think that helps out the hot and cold streaks.

Schwarber's hot and cold. Cassianos is hot and cold. Marsh is pretty consistent. Baum has hot and cold streaks from the standpoint of power. Stott's relatively consistent until like september for some reason but they do they are prone to cold streaks i think everything else is pretty solid though like i think the bullpen is really good uh starting rotation first three are really good i believe in sanchez i'm not giving up on turnbull or i'm giving up the wrong term but i am giving term bull a chance and yeah i just the the thing that i think

outside of injuries that could hurt this team is is swing and miss strikeout and being prone to hot and gold streaks but i hope that dustin lynn is brought in to help kind of iron that out all right sucker what do you think you? One, two more? Ready. Does Marsh have a chance to be a legit star this season? He's one of the best players on the team last year. Yeah, the Marsh thing is so interesting to me because he ended the year with a 370 OBP. His OPS was in the

800s, but they didn't trust him against lefties. I don't know if they are going to, but I think that, like, Starr is probably a bit much. I almost put him on my all-star team, but, man, like, gold glove caliber corner outfield play, batting 275 with a plus 360 OBP and, like, 15 to 20 homers, like, that's a valuable player.

So I think that, I think Marsh is definitely underrated, and I'm curious to see how they handle him versus lefties because he was hot early against them and then pretty much tapered off, but he was a super valuable player last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if even by i don't know may june that that him and him and wit are playing the majority of the outfield him in center and wit and left or against the lefty pache i just i hope rojas takes it and runs with it but you know they have good hedge options like we talked about earlier and i think marsh is a stud and uh and it's it's

a good time so feels are back appreciate all the questions thanks for getting them in a lot of fun as always i'm not sure how much we'll do this during the season because again we'll have the final out for for a majority of the games and obviously the regular podcast but uh thanks for everyone to for checking it out enjoy tomorrow the boys are back and um you know it's gonna be it's gonna be good first weekend. And then again, April. Just knock it out. It should be a 20-win month. Can we knock out a nice 20-win month and

get this whole thing started right? Let's go chase down the Braves. Let's take them down, win the NL East, and fly high heading into the postseason. But if you're down at the ballpark, come by and say hi tomorrow. It'll be a great time, and I look forward to it all.

So until next time, for Tucker Bagley producing the program tonight, I appreciate it. Me and Celts will be back, I think, over the weekend. But we'll talk soon, and go Phils. And thanks for listening to a mailbag edition of the High Hopes Podcast.