High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Earned A Sunday Podcast

Episode Date: June 29, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' series win over the Braves and what Max Kepler's comments might mean for his future with the team. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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Are you ready to dive into the story stats and personalities that make baseball the greatest game in the world? Rob Bradford from the Baseballs & Boring Podcast here, and we'll have you covered every day with podcasts that bring you closer to the action. From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed to educate, entertain, and most importantly, inform you. Follow the Baseballs and Boring podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast.

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose Oh hi ho, hi ho I feel a little less alone Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Oh, it is another edition of the I Hope Spot Guys, sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner

of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller Time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly and thank God, thank goodness. Thank whatever God you believe in or don't believe in or whatever, thank God they won that freaking game today. Like they had to take that series, you know, the weekend, of course, like the 13 to nothing after, you know, you love to see it after the Astros embarrassment on it. They come out with some pride and you know,

the big guys hit, we'll get into it all. But then Saturday, the most predictable Philly's performance of all time with the one run and 14 strikeouts. Swalmok had 12 strikeouts on 90 pitches. Like that's how do you even do that? And then to see them bounce back today when a tough game was some manufactured runs with ranger, just, you know, making a side young bid the way this guy's pitching. Yeah.

I know he missed a month, but, um, it was just, and you see the, as of right now, it's, I know it's in the eighth inning, but the Mets are losing 10 to one of the pirates. They've been outscored. Get ready for this 28 to four by the pirates this weekend in this series against Pittsburgh. So if this holds, it will be a game and I've like kind of, you know, it's not writing the ship a little bit after, you know,

of course, Jack, I'm in on them. And then it's like the first time I'm like, let's go. And then it's like the Houston series. It's like screw yourself. So, all right. Good to see you. Well, so and I want to get this out immediately, immediately because I know there's a lot of questions about, oh, why didn't you guys record after the Astro series? You kidding me? If you know this podcast, like I think that you know, we are we are as front running as it gets. So there was a zero percent chance for recording after getting swept by the Astros. And what do you want to say for 45 minutes, they scored one run, they got swept

in the series in which they allowed five runs, five, and they got swept. That has to be the first time in the history of baseball. So it was a- It's not sadly, cause they talked about it. I was listening to Fransky during the last game when they hadn't scored yet. It was like the sixth inning and they've gone 24 or 25 straight innings without scoring.

Then Fransky actually said that at one point they had lost a series like four nothing essentially, but it hadn't happened in like, I can't remember how many years. So it was, yeah, like, I'm with you. I mean, they almost lost a series for nothing, Jack, which thing like, you can only do one worse. Like you could only lose three nothing. Like there's only to lose a three game series. There's no, there's no less runs you can allow that like only one more than that. Yeah. And to your point, only one more than that. So just yeah, I was the most

the most frustrating series, not just in this season, like it was one of the most frustrating, like non play out like Mets play out whatever series that I remember in like the last few years, honestly, like that was a old school Philly series. Yeah, well, can I and now the hindsight being 2020, of course, it took two or three from the Braves weekend. And I say this, now looking back, it was kind of charming. It was kind of charming. I should not go like 24 innings without getting

without scoring a run. It was like, it was kind of funny. I want to see how long it would take for them to score. I know for most people, it was not funny. For me, it's kind of funny. I want to see how long it would take for them to score. I know for most people it was not funny. For me, it was kind of funny by the end. I'm happy at the levity. I think if it were against any other team than the team that no hit us in the World Series recently, the offensive futility and zeros piling up along the box score wouldn't feel quite as painful in any moment. And especially with like like Frambers part of it too. And I know it wasn't the no hitter, but you know, the World Series and all the thing, it's just like, all right, like, chill with this.

But yeah, I'm with you. Look, if ultimately it's, you're gonna, and it's funny, because when we talked about how we were excited about the team a week ago, you're sitting there like, now be prepared. They're gonna have a downturn. They're not gonna be great all year. And then they lose three games. And cause of the way it was, we're all like, this team stinks. How can we ever believe it?

Like, it's just, it really was, you know, for, we try to do the, you know, long season thing, but this was a true roller coaster week of how I felt about the team. Yeah. And it was, I mean, it's, we can, we can sit up here and get on our high horse and say Yada yada yada too long season if you watch every game, it's impossible to feel that way and you know credit to them you know, they came out on on Friday night and

Eventually, you know after the hour and a half randall. Oh my god. I forgot about that, too I was thank god. It was a weekend game with that during the week. I probably gonna, yeah. Yeah, I didn't make it towards the end. I had toward the end I have to I had to I helped put Walker down I fell asleep putting Walker down when I was like 10 nothing and I woke up at about 1155 saw the game was still going on and I was like I'm good. Yeah Exactly. It's like I think I know how this gonna end and if it doesn't guess what you know, and I don't want to see that. Nope. Nope. I wouldn't want to experience it live. So I felt pretty confident that that was going to go the way it is.

And then obviously, dude, it's like, what hasn't happened in the history of the franchise from a pitcher's perspective of a homegrown guy that they just let go. I mean, it's, and the more and more he pitches. Now today, today was fascinating because he barely touched 90. I mean, he did not have his fastball

and credit to him, he was pitching which is what he is so the velocity is something to monitor with him because when I was driving home and I started hearing about our Francine stock we're talking about diminished velocities is barely touching 90. I was saying immediately like there here it is he Ranger can't hold up and credit to him he battles battles his way through it. But literally, I'm trying to think off the top of my head. Now, position players, they've let go. They let work go.

Oh yeah, for sure. They let Burrow go. They let a couple other guys in the past. But pitchers, it would be unprecedented. And we're not talking about during a rebuild or like when Schilling got traded or when Hamels got traded. I'm just talking about teams good, guys pitching through a two ERA

and possibly could just be walking out the door at the end of the year. It's sort of ridiculous to think about because he just continues to do it. He continues to do it. He continues to do it. He's been unbelievable. Dude, again, I wasn't joking with this Sa Young thing that wasn't tongue in cheek at all.

Like he is a Sa Young contender. We haven't talked about it that way, but he is. And I know he missed some time, but if he can stay healthy, and obviously if he continues at this rate, like you're walking in, but if he can pitch really well I think that you know, he is really should be considered in that world. I mean he has been their best pitcher

I know Wheeler is their best pitcher just Holistically and you give him the ball in the biggest games and you trust him the most but like Rangers been better Rangers been better than any pitcher on the staff this year and the crazy thing to your point, you're right It's never been anything like this. Hey, there's no parallel in Philly sports history, especially like not a team that's like trying to, you know, shed salary or this or that or whatever. It's just that, you know, the fact that they have the best pitching staff

we've ever seen for this team. And yet also have guys in the minors or guys ready to come up guys who've, you know, gone, you know, the able types who you're excited about and have potential and all that. So it's, it's a, a fascinating situation there. And I agree with you. I mean, look, Rangers has been here for 14 years since he was 16. He's been in this organization.

That's crazy to think about. And he, and, and on top of that beloved, and on top of that has had real amazing memorable playoff success here too which is not something we can say about huge errors of Phillies players so I'm with you it's a really unique weird situation and I like I don't I think it's as I thought it was such a fixed thing. Starting the year like Ranger is gone. Like that's it. Like unless you know, who knows, like if he gets hurt, and then he takes a disc, you never know weird thing. But like, you know, he's gone. And as it plays out and plays out, you like I still if I debate my

life, I would bet he's probably gone. But, but I definitely am not as sure as I was. And I think the situation as it continues and continually does change changes so much. And he's made himself so much money, that's for sure. So it's just it's a wild situation. Well, and I think the big disclaimer here is, is he able to do it for the rest of the year? Like, I mean, that's, of course, because he's like last year, same thing. Because I think I remember us talking at this time last year, but how obviously he was ridiculous. He was a seventh win today, James, he already has seven wins. I think he has 10 quality starts already, which in a row in a row, in a row. Yeah, nice. I mean, he he at times, I said, podcast go, he could be pitched like a top 10 pitcher in the National League. He pitched like a top 10 pitcher in all baseball for. Well, that's what I'm saying. Yeah. So man, I, it is,

it is so tricky. And I know that I brought the idea of trading with a deadline. I mean, absolutely not. He's, well, that's, that's off the table. I mean, that's it. Like, we're just talking about whether he's in Philly next season. The whole that was you're right. That was a discussion point and a fair one like that's way gone. I mean, he's your game to starter like boom, done, you know, game three, if you want to do Sanchez at home, like who knows what the situation is. But I mean, he's, he's a lock for the rotation, assuming he continues. Yeah, and they might only need three starters in the first

round, because of the extra off day. So, you know, that would push someone else to the bullpen and it's crazy because Swarr has been so good and that's not the slight anything, you know, Chris Sanchez has done. I mean, Chris Sanchez- The 11 strikeouts the other night. Like it-

Chris Sanchez and Ranger right now are going like pitch for pitch. It seems like they are. It's like the old, you know, Braves one upping the next guy. And it seems like with him and Sanchez, they're just both pitching it at such an insane level. So, man, I, uh, first off, I mean, as a Philly couldn't be happier for Ranger and what he's doing. I really hope he can hold up.

I hope that he can make it through the rest of the season and we don't have to deal with the back thing. But man, he is making himself some serious money. And I guess my one saving grace on Ranger and Willie the back and yada, yada, yada is, I mean, if you're Middleton, how do you just sit here and be like, we're just gonna let him go? That's the plan.

Well, especially depending on how it all plays out. Like what if he continues this way? You know, even if he wins, I young is kind of thing and then leads them to a world series or something like, you know, it could, it complicates things so much more. I mean, we've seen that so many times where you might think a player's gone. And then all of a sudden they have this unbelievable like finish with a team. And it's like, well, we can't let this hero of Philadelphia leave, you know, so it's sure.

Yeah. Except with burrow, except with burrow, but you know, you know what I'm saying? Like, so it's, especially as a pitcher and like we've talked about, we think he'll age well and he's such a great guy and he's such a, you know, we know you've had him here like it's, I don't know. It's a movie. It's a really fascinating. All right.

I want to get to more of the games cause there is stuff to react to. And I'm sure we'll get to something to take back, but I do think we have to do too quick off the field things. We'll start with the good and then we'll go to the bad. The good being, uh, it seems like a pretty positive update on Harper for the first time since we've been getting updates on Harper spoke on Friday said that uh

What was the exact quote? He said which makes me think like I can't believe how bad he thought it was But he said, you know, if you told me had three weeks ago, I'd be where I am now I would have said you're kind of crazy. No, I'm very happy with her. I'm at Way way farther ahead than I felt like I would be definitely way healthier than I was a couple of weeks ago, which you know, he's been pretty frank about how he's felt and stuff. So I think hearing him say that is great.

And Topper didn't rule out the possibility of him playing this series against Bajie's potentially even tomorrow. So we'll see. So awesome, awesome news. But it's also like what the hell was going on before? Like how bad did they think it was that the harbor think it was like, like the way he's talking, it's like, I thought my wrist was going to fall off, but it magically stayed on. Like it's crazy, but thank goodness.

You know? Well, yeah. I mean, my only hope with all this is like, are we about to get a superhuman Bryce to where, yeah, where he's rested and healthy and like, let's go. I mean, come on, man. I I tell you what, top 11 week was one of the top weeks of my life because of what was

going on with the Bryce discourse around around the stage. Yeah, it was tough. It was tough. It was tough. I need more prisoners at the moment. Like, you know, if it had been even just a few weeks earlier on, Bryce

wasn't out yet, but was like hitting okay and whatever, he like, he wouldn't have gotten it, but then he gets hurt and everyone's like, he's breaking down and this and that. Like, it's like, we need him to come back and shut some people up. Yeah, big time. So that is a positive update.

My biggest fear is like, okay, well, it comes back to three games and then does it start hurting again? Because he's swinging all the time. Okay. That's a evergreen statement for every Phillies fan right there. It's like all of our biggest fears come back. Ah, damn. Yeah.

Yeah. I, I think that the thing I fear in life more than anything right now is currently Bryce Harper's wrist and what it could possibly mean for the future of Bryce Harper as a filly because it sure doesn't seem like it's getting any better. And I do wonder, I mean, I think we talked about last podcast, but I mean, I mean, Worth had wrist injuries. Maybe it's something he has to just have a brace on and that's how he can work his way through it. I don't know, but I am fascinated to see what he looks like when he gets back in

there. And if we can get close to the Bryce Harper that we're used to seeing. But it really does feel like he's going to play the series against against Padres. And I don't know, every single time he talks, I'm like, are we sure this is gonna go first time I've been like great to hear you talk price because every other time it's like again Even the way you talk about there is that I was feeling so much better. It's great. Like this is awesome It's like great, but even him being like three weeks ago. I thought I might never play again Yeah, it's a guy dude like to you really hurt I like it really hurts Seems like it really hurts.

And I still need to know how it went from the hit in the elbow to up to the rest. All I've got is the, and this is the extent of my science and body knowledge is the hip bones connected to the knee. Yeah, the knee bones connect to the leg bone. I think bones connect to the. Is there a verse in there about the the wrist bone? The response connected to the elbow

and the elbows connected to that other sound. What is your arm? You're not. Yeah. Femur is the the leg. You said the leg. Yeah, it's the ulna and the I'm not good with bones. It's a bit less. Right. I think that's the leg, too. It's the ulna and the I'm not good with bones.

I think that's the leg to it's the Ulna and the oh my God, radio, something like that. People are going to I sound like an idiot. I've no I this is my weakest area. Emily would be so embarrassed. We're not. This is not our show. I know. I know. I know. Just know that we have someone in the chat. I'll tell us.

Yeah, it'd be great. May it scold us. I know. Just know that. Yeah. Someone in the chat will tell us. Yeah, it'd be great. Skulldust. Shame us. Moms, dads, are you the parent of a student athlete? Do you want to know how to get the most out of youth sports? If so, listen to the next pitch podcast to give you the tools to raise an aspiring athlete. It's not simple, but we talk straight and give you the best insight there is when it comes to youth sports. We'll cover everything from nutrition and training to mental toughness and teamwork. It's a podcast you can listen to together with your kids so everyone can benefit. Follow next pitch on the Odyssey app or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right, let's get to the bad speaking of shaming and then we'll get to some reaction and take back and our children and all that. Yes. Um, all right. Uh,

I, uh, when I named him, uh, I now say the word bleeping in between his two names, but I named this Philly who said this to the athletic. Well, the biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely. That's the biggest challenge. Yeah. I was told I was going to be the starting position. Yeah. I signed here being told that I was always going to be the starting blank. That's what I came here for. Why I came here. Oh, like Max B bleep in Kepler.

Like, like, first of all, like, look, maybe the Phillies told him, Hey, we want you to be our everyday field or like, fine, whatever. But like production matters. Like you can't just assume that if you stink, you're just going to be out there every day. Not to mention that he started like 60 something of 80 games, like he's not starting all the time. And then on top of that, like even if you felt this way, like don't say it to the if you want to say the problem is not playing routinely. Boom, done sentence over discussion over. That's fine. You can say, I just gotta get out there more, whatever. It's a little lame and

whatever. But like, I don't care if they promised you the world like, you got to freaking perform to earn that. And then again, like he's actually playing like, I, this is so infuriating for someone who's been annoying as a, as a signing and someone who we liked as like a flyer type guy, you know, you know, we've owned him in fantasy as I, Oh, you know, you can be good for stretches and all. I never put it together, but I mean, he is so annoying. Like I am not a huge fan of Max Kepler being a, uh, on my team that I root for at the moment. How you feel? Well, Andy doubled down the next day before the game.

Yes, thank you. He has a chance to be like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, sorry to be like that. Well, so on top of what you said about 60 out of 81 games heading into the series, he had played in 72 of 81 games overall, meaning that he would come into games as well. So a couple of things. First off, get ready to learn DFA pal, because

I think, I think, I think he's walking on, I think his time here is going to come. I hope you enjoy this device as they say. I hope, I hope we enjoy being international in, in, in two weeks when, when he is moved on from, I, I, first off, I think in the locker room, if I was his teammate, if I was a Schwaber, if I was a JT, if I was a Harper and I saw that one big eye roll and there's no way that they saw those quotes and were like, yeah, bleep Rob Thompson, right Max? Like go get him pal. Yeah, Dombrowski is a real jerk. I always promises things never delivers. Like are you kidding me?

Yeah, so this looks like a guy playing up a string as a Philly. He played that way today. I mean the bad play that way in the 13 nothing game like they're all raking. He's like a pouty. You know, the only guy didn't. I think he ended up getting hit.

He had two guys technically. They were both lady and it was like, he was like, they, I think it was somewhere like double digit runs already. At least I wasn't as locked in at the end as I was earlier in the game. I kept locking him for trays of bats because we were still waiting for that tray cycle. We were promised and it was so close. Uh, but will Trey ever hit a home run that says this bank bark is a fantastic thing, especially cause he hit two that night and the third,

the double like really looked like it was going to be out to lead off the game. Like it was as close as you're going to get. Like he should have had a three overnight. It was nuts. Yeah. So, so like Max Kepler, you know, that you hit in 200 man and, and you get a stretch there in the middle of last month or there's a month long stretch or hitting one 50 something. I like what What do you want them to do? Do you want them?

If you're not they and he'll say and he'll say well the Castellanos or whatever like you you let him work through it He's better Better like he's just been better. His numbers are better. He's just better and he's more established anyway. But he's also just better. It's just that the guy's a 10 year vets and multiple time All-Star. Who are you? Who are you? I just it was infuriating. And his energy has looked off since and I think he's trying to

to get out of here. I think he's trying to get out of here. I don't think he wants to be here anymore. And he's in a contract here. He's not playing well. He needs to play every day. He's gonna get he's gonna get cut. He's be here anymore. And he's in a contract here. He's not playing well I didn't see he needs to play every day. He's gonna get he's gonna get cut He's gonna get cut and he's gonna go play for for some garbage team get his at bats and and maybe he gets He signed somewhere for next year But at the same time if I'm Dave Nebraska, I see those comments. I say hey Max, I feel misled too. I feel misled $10 million and you're and you're you're you're hitting with nine home runs hitting 207 you've had multiple bad plays in the outfield.

Yes, yes. Like, he like I know he's like been fine defensively metrics wise and all that. He really has had some big misses and boneheaded plays like big time that one, when he was filling in for Castellanos was at the night after two nights, I had the thing like I was a big play in that game. You know? Yeah. So I just unless he turns it around, unless he digs deep and and finds his way out of this, I don't think he's going to be here much longer. I really don't. I mean, they cut, they cut Maryfield on July 12th.

Maybe that's maybe the new. They cut Familia. Like they were the only difference. Oh, do a little, oh, do one Familia. That was a trade deadline though. So that's different. It was August 1st. I mean, they cut.

Yeah, you're right. All those guys were, yeah, you're right. Cause they were replacing them. Yeah. Yeah. And they're going to replace him if they trade it. Like if they're cutting him, they're going to trade for an outfielder.

Yeah. Well, I think Crawford's coming up this week. So, so I think, I think what that leads to is maybe more March every single day in left field. Well, March has been really good. Like I don't trust it long-term. He needs to prove it, but like he's got to play now. Yeah. And by the way, I mean, some big plays in the ninth today as Matt Strom is, is. Terrifying. He continues to be.

They all are. I mean, Romano, I mean Romano yesterday, like, you know, Kirk Ring's been good, you know, but like, you know, and, and look, you know, the, the runs made it easier, but shout out to Tanner Banks, Tywan Walker and Alan Wrangel. No, nine shuddy from those guys on Friday. I woke up on Saturday morning and I said who pitched five innings of schools, baseball, you know, I hate, I know like some people like it.

I hate the, if you pitch the last three innings of a game, you get the save rule. Like I remember the guy in the Texas game where they won 30 to three, got the save. And it's like it's a 13 and nothing like Wrangler deserves to win more. He pitched five innings and like they gave Taiwan the win just because he pitched the third and their fourth. Like why? Like whatever. Or the second and third, whatever. Such a I think, yeah, it was such a baseball thing to get worked on.

Now, oh, I mean, you're right. I don't even care about wins. I just feel so silly. It's like, why? Why? Well, I do love the once again, once again, just railing against how they score plays. It's been a desire.

I know LA and Fransky pointed out why, and especially last couple of years really like railed on it. But they are absolutely right. I mean some of these calls like it's like a grounder to the guy and he like hits it in his glove and bounces away and they'll be like, well, that was clearly hit. Would it be it out? It's like, what? What are we? What are we watching here? Like, obviously, Nick, you know, don't get mad at me, anyone anyone but you know, from from the family or anything. But I mean, like, yes, the reason he has the no errors thing is because he doesn't get the balls like they should be errors. He just doesn't touch them. Like so it's like, okay, you know, like that ball, that ball that he was

in the foul territory while landing like 10 feet away from him. That was it. That was a hit. Okay, like, you know, it's just whatever. Anyway. Sorry. Well, I mean, hey, no errors. So he's clearly one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball. Don't use your use your eyes. Don't use the numbers. Right.

Yep. Yep. Yep. But to Cassie's credit, he is he was really good this year. He's smoked that ball on Friday night. And I saw Stocker had this stat in I think it was after his double in the one today. He has won at 73% first pitches. And that is the most honestly, I would have guessed 80 if you had told me it's I feel like it's every about it's so insane. It's so I've never seen a guy go from,

you know, I'm gonna do what they want me to do to like, yeah, total like, F everyone I'm just gonna be me like, yeah. It was like, like, shave Ted Sirianni. Yeah, well, I guess it could be working in his favor. Because if I was a pitcher, I would just easily throw him a slider and see, of course could be up 1o. It could be up 1o if he if he just lays off of it. So Yeah, dude, it's his what I don't love what I don't love and I think this is something that they're gonna have to navigate is So Cassie house calls him out calls Thompson out or you know has the thing with Thompson and challenges him in a way

by the way if you're keeping track at home has not been pulled from a game since late for defense and I will work. Yeah, I Will defend today I'm okay with not pulling him in a one in a one-on-one game, especially if he's anywhere close in the lineup I'm fine with that too. Oh, sorry. get pulled on Friday my bad he got pulled on Friday. Yeah but that was 13 it was like 11 nothing or whatever yeah. Yeah I'm with you one run game especially if he's coming up but like if he had batted

in the last inning like then maybe you want to like maybe but either way the point is is there have been multiple opportunities since that game Miami Miami, whether one-round game, two-round games, where he could have, and if he were setting a precedent, should have replaced Cassiano's late in games, he didn't. Yeah, so my, I don't think concern's the right level, but let me just talk my way through it. You know, Cassiano's challenges management, challenges Rob Thompson Thompson and Rob Thompson

benches in for the game and ruins his streak but at the same time has clearly given you know he's clearly you know bent to Castellanos demands here and then you have the Kepler thing Now Kepler played every game of the series, did absolutely nothing. But, you know, that's too straight, where is he setting the precedent? Now, Stott also kinda, he had comments about he's a rhythm player, needs to be in there against lefties to get himself going. And while I agree, I agree with these guys

from the standpoint of you need to be out there to get in a good rhythm. My thing is, well, you also have to produce and I don't know what you want the team to do. So so you have you have Castellanos gets what he wants. Kepler so far has gotten what he wants. Stop, stop. Now they did not face a lefty in this series. No. The next time they face a lefty is not gonna be in there. And I think that's one of the things

to kind of see right now is, this is really the first time that we've seen Thompson being pushed or being questioned. Yeah, especially publicly. We've never never they've always had his back the Torber y'all have everyone over the bar other thing like this is the first time players have publicly you know kind of put him on blast for lack of a better way of putting it yeah I think blast is I think only strong too strong yeah like Kepler put him on blast and Kepler kind of put them brass can blast who knows but

But yeah, you like not on blast but like they have like openly questioned their manager publicly whether Casting house doing it face to face in the moment or with like Scott saying it's media and saying to the media these guys like that's like it's that is different, you know, and that is notable and What's annoying about it is you are 14 games over 500. You're on a good stretch right now. Your in first place, yep. It feels a little me guy-ish. Feels a little bit like a me guy thing to do.

So yeah, I just, I think it's one of these things where, hey, and maybe he'll give him a shot against the lefty. Maybe Thompson needed to have his eyes open too and say, am I, because I think one of the things that's been interesting about this year is I do think Thompson has changed. I think Rob Thompson has been different this year than he's been in the last couple of years.

Now, Stott was a, he ended up being a platoon player last year, but I don't think that was their design for him and Marsh the same way, but maybe, maybe this is the players saying. This isn't how it's been done for the last two and a half years. What gives what gives here. And this is something that as someone who is a relationship type manager, he's going to have to work his way through because these guys don't seem super thrilled with it,

even when they're winning games, because they're winning games right now, and they still don't seem that happy. So I just think that that is something that's gonna be really, really interesting here. Yeah, we gotta monitor it. I totally agree with you. All right, two shout outs, one to Otto Kem for, we got to monitor it. I totally agree with you. All right.

Two shout outs, one to Otto Kemper's first major league home run in a good series. Yeah, he had a really good series. And again, he's just talking about where he just feels and I know he's so young and there'll be adjustments up, but he just feels like a winning wall player. Like he just feels like the kind of guy who contributes more to winning games and losing games when he's out there. And, you know, that's, you know, the Phillies haven't had the Phillies have guys that we'd like, stop was the exact thing.

We think Bryson size out type of player. And he hasn't been like auto camps, you know, early has been that type of player so far, uh, second shout out to the Miller light bar of the week, Graham's pub in Roxborough, uh, where you can watch all Phillies games with a $3 50 cent Miller light draft and bottle special Miller lights for Phil's wins. All right, take back, Frenzy. So there's one, there's like one thing with them that I find that I'm gonna find really interesting from from here until the end of the year. And because to me it's pretty obvious what he could do if put in the situation. But I was watching him yesterday.

Lazardo in the bullpen. Yeah, you brought that you floated this like a month ago or so. And we back then it like just seemed like a range real private, you know, it's to the point where you're right. It is something to really consider, especially with that the high end velocity that he has out of there. Yeah. And I thought yesterday, I give him a ton of credit. I think the biggest thing that I've been in of the things I've

been impressed by with Hazel's Lazzardo, I think is how he battles. Yeah, like I had him, I had him more pegged as when things aren't going his way, he kind of shuts down a little bit. Um, and he's been way more of a, of a, of a battler than I gave him credit for. I totally agree with you. He makes tough pitches. He works out of tough situations. He's,'s, and he also shows that emotion, he's super fiery in those spots when he does get out of those big spots, like, you know, do the fist pump and he'll get fired up and like, he just feels, you know, as he feels competitive,

which is what you something I want to see in all your athletes, you know. Now sometimes competitiveness can backfire and you get to in your own head. Well, of course, of course, Everything falls apart right in front of you. But, but yes, yes, I think Lazardo at the same time, he, he grinded yesterday and it was only five and he allowed two. It was a high stress outing. But at the same time, you know, his last, it's, it's really about how, how, how Ranger and Chris have been pitching to where there's no way that you're

pitching Lazardo over them and in a playoff series right now, at least for the DS and then, yeah, you might need to, you will need a fourth for that. Yeah. But man, if him coming out of the bullpen and, and being a real weapon in the sixth, seventh, eighth could significantly help this team. And Dabrowski talks, by the way, talked a couple of times last week.

I didn't feel better after any of them. He just kept talking, I know. It was like Dave. Dave, Dave, Dave. So first off, actually that's why I was so happy after the Astro series, as cruel as that sounds, because I needed him to understand that the offense is not fine. Like, let's knock the nonsense off. But I think that the one thing that he said that was interesting was about this team versus

the 18 Red Sox. Now, the difference, big difference, the 18 Red Sox raked and raked JD Martinez was ridiculous. And yet prime Mookie, prime Xander, prime Mitch Morland, who could forget. I mean, they won 108 games like they were awesome. Awesome that year, you know, now, his point was more about what they did with the starters. And I've already went to the bullpen. I forgot the price.

Yeah, I'll help them. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I forgot about that yeah, I mean that's what she had done with Tampa way back in the anoyed who could forget who could forget So that's clearly His plan and and their plan. I think they're gonna trade for a bullpen piece hundred percent But I still think it's I mean, should they trade back for Carlos Estevez? I mean, great, reacquire them. So Estevez not as that is but they're gonna require they're gonna acquire Estevez like peace or Estevez like peace is what

you're saying. And my hope is like and I and I felt it today. I did you know, just give Kirk ring the knife. I yeah, well, of the guys here, if you're not gonna go get someone who's like a Halsey or something, which I don't expect them to I'm just saying, if you're not getting someone who's like the ninth guy, like, it's insane to give it to strong or Romano right now, like, they are, I mean, they are a tight rope act every time like, I can't I can't give them the night.

Kirkland's been the only one who's been consistent. Yeah, I and he's just pitching with such a moxie right now. I mean, a great like he's he's like letting him hang when he's in there and he's throwing that 98 on the outside corner. I mean, that is closer stuff that is closer mentality and he is I mostly this is for the bit I need him to take down that one. Right? Yeah. Yeah, we're still 122 away. But it's also like strong, strong cannot pitch the night that was

good. I don't want want Strom pitching the eighth. I want Strom in like the sixth. I know it's not possible with this book right now, but I mean Strom is absolutely not trustworthy in almost any situation right now. Like he'll get you some outs, but like in a big playoff game, you're giving Matt Strom like the eighth inning

against like you're playing the Mets in the playoffs and you got Soto and Nemo up in an inning. You're going to go to Matt Strom and tell me I feel good about that. Like, of course not. So I'm, I'm very concerned about that, especially the lefty thing. Like we've talked about, you know, they are the Alvarado thing. Obviously killed him because he was their best reliever, but it also killed him because he was the other the lefty you can count on. Like they don't have a lefty that they can go to. I mean, you know, Tanner Banks aside that, uh, that you can count on and that that's, that's scary against, you know, some of these big time

left handed hitters that, you know, whether it's Ohtani, whether it's Soto, whether it's Freeman, whoever it is, like that's scary. Well, Strom owns S strong owns a tiny so I want that on the record. But there it is. Zeus Come on, man. Zeus. Well, that's the point. No, that brings it back around. Right? Yeah. Now the the thing I most hopeful for that they do is when alvarado comes back, just let strong go on the IL or something and try to make sure he is as fresh as possible.

And just Barry Alvarado. Just Barry Alvarado. Oh, pitch him four out of five games. Whatever. Whatever. I don't care, dude. So yeah, how that all kind of shakes out is going to be really interesting. Bullpen wise, but again, and on Romano, last night, not great. He has his moments where it's like, it's excruciating watching a pitch. I feel like he is a, he's one of those relievers where he's going to have four

great outings and then the fifth ones. And he looks awesome. That like he definitely, of all the guys on the staff, he has the potential to make hitters look the silliest. If you know what I'm saying, like his stuff bites when it's on, you know? Yep. Yep. Uh, and then other things here.

So 12, one, the Mets lost today. I don't know if you saw they had 12 now. So 30 to four in that series. That's phenomenal. Mont Montoss, uh, six iron. Thank God that met voodoo Magic with the pitching. It was so annoying. Yeah, it was like, all right, so maybe not the best pitching

coach of all time. Cool. Thank you. What is it? Two months in. Yeah. Well, and the thing that I find interesting about that is that they had a team meeting yesterday,

and the players only meeting maybe maybe maybe the the stupid Mets Magic that happened last year with the players only meeting and the OMG and the grimace Maybe all that that nonsense is is starting to wear off a little bit. So but still Really good to see really good to see that from the warmest of heart man. It warms the heart. It really does, you know Seems like there are them. I think they've lost like 13 or 16 or something in that. Yeah, that's I mean That's I mean think about we freaked out Phillies lost 9 and 10 It was a horrible stretch like this has kept going for the Mets like that's that plus more, you know, it's it's

like This is kept going for the Mets. Like that's that plus more, you know, it's it's uh, like fun to watch. But again, still lots of baseball left to go as we know. All right. What else? Yeah. Uh, what else do I have? I bought a house this week. So yeah, buddy. So yeah, yeah, it's been a soldier other. You're all like, you're good. You're good. Yeah, it was I mean, other than the whole moving your family and two young children and into a new house and all that other than that whole thing. You're good. We'll cross that bridge when we get here. Yeah, right. Exactly. So I am moving so single worst activity on the planet. Anyway, I'm so ready to transition into a pure neighborhood guy. So I've been driving around the street. I drive by it pretty much every single night. Oh my God, of course you do.

If that's not a normal activity. You're going in and this is, let's hope your neighbor is not looking out and saying like, oh my God, why is there he is again? There he is again. Why is he here every day? Is he like a serial killer? And he's like, stocking his price. He can come here. Yep. Nope. Nope. Just a friendly neighborhood guy. Just want to be your friend, guys. I'm just scouting out friendships. That's all I'm doing.

Don't worry. Scott not chip friendships for me and for my kids. If you have kids. Well, I so early projections, I think that we are one of the youngest families to move in on the on the neighborhood. I think this is I think it's a neighborhood in transition. And you're on the on the on the come up as they say. Well, I think it's I think it's one more older age perspective. Yeah, I got it. Yeah, it's a changeover. You know, yes. So I think we'll be we'll be early. I'm trying to get my neighborly wave down

am I gonna be like a Hand wave guy or like a one-on-one. That's what I'm looking forward to. I have noticed three Phillies flags on On the street and I always say I always say yeah. Oh, I'm so excited to talk Phillies with people and then Not here what they have to say I don so excited to talk Phillies with people. And then I hear what they have to say. And I don't want to talk Phillies anymore. I don't want to talk. Hey, you guys know who I am?

Yeah. Do you want a book? Yeah. You guys like Phillies? What do you think about the Phillies? What do you think about the Phillies? And I also signed 500 copies of Ring the Bell. When I have to like, again, the rare times I have to write,

like I'll have to like fill out a card for a wedding or something. By the end of like three sentences, I feel like my hand is going to fall off from pain and cramping. And I'm like, how did I ever, I used to fill those little like blue books of like, scribble writing and like all it's like, it's it, you really lose that skill that muscle memory. Well, so in the process, you know, I started like small, whatever. And then by the end, it was a big, like, you're like the doctor's signature. Yeah, it's great. Exactly.

So the first the first wave of books will be sent out this week. I will get you your copy. I did personalize. I didn't personally. I did it. I did it. I did it. I was gonna say with that, that like whatever you had written couldn't have been that special anyway. So if you had done it. Well, because I wanted to make sure it's more meaningful than at the 12th hour of signing. It was like, hey man, love doing the show with you. Thanks for everything. Yes. So make sure that I can come second.

You get the good paying customers out there, who the Fritz fans out there, make sure they get their copies. And Kevin fans. Yeah, and Kevin fans, of course, Weeby fans. That's right. So I think that's all I got. I think that's all I got. I think I'm going to make my life

incredibly happy that I can help out with my daughter. The one thing to monitor this week is the Crawford thing. I think, yeah, I think he could be coming up. He was taken out of the game. He was scratching the lineup earlier today and I'm curious. They do bring him up. Like I don't, I, I would, I would be surprised if they straight up kept her to bring him up.

Maybe they send Rojas down. I don't know. But I mean, which come on like Ivan checks since what happened this weekend. I don't even know. Did you play much but Rojas had a 288 slugging percentage heading into the weekend. So I think we're pretty good with that 288 think about that. If I said you he had a 288 on base percentage, you'd be like, well, that's awful. Like, wow, yeah, like, slightly higher than I

thought. But horrible. Slugging. He's just a desire. And that was with like the starting hitting like 300 for a month or, you know, for three weeks or ever was thinking about how bad he's been to be died. He's had bang like in the low twos with a low sub 300 slugging like, ah, he's so bad. He's so bad. I honestly I am I am I am done like I am so good with them sending him down for Crawford for like I don't even care. Bring up West. Yes. The legend given 35 again and let them roll. Like, you know, come on. So yeah, I'm just, I'm whatever else they do.

Like I don't think, look, I know everything can be like technically worse, but I don't think there's much that I know he's better defensive than ours, but I don't think there's much worse than us. I think you're putting someone out there who is pretty close to as guaranteed a unproductive at bat slash out as you do at the major league level. And it's just, you know, it's just, I'm sorry, at a certain point, there's no defense that's going to make up for that unless you're like, maybe the greatest catcher, defensive catcher in the league or whatever, you know?

Not a great day for JT from that same point, the ball, the ninth. Yeah. One also couldn't beat out that. I know it wasn't like, I didn't expect him to, but like the ball in the eighth too. That was, I know I definitely, when I first started thinking, Oh my God, they're going to blow this was in the eighth with the second and third. Oh, yeah. Cassie strike out the frickin weak fly ball. Oh, he ground that. It was like we are so screwed.

Yeah. Well, because it's such a shame because earlier in the game, they they played legitimate. Yes. I mean, they they you everyone's small ball. I mean, they they score. They singled, doubled, bunted a guy to third and got a sack fly. Like that's the smallest ball you're going to get baby. Cut that out. Yeah. Cut that out. Yeah. So again, they're in a bit of a gauntlet here, heading into the all-star break Padres reds.

And then I think Padres giants before the all-Star break, Padres, Reds, and then I think Padres, Giants before the All-Star break. Yeah, it's the Giants have been struggling too for what it's like, Matt's- Well, it's about time, speaking of voodoo magic. I know, it's funny because they trade for a real superstar and then it's like, actually, we're not gonna be good now. It's not what we do here, we don't get superstars. It's good, it's good, I'll take it.

All right. We will be back Thursday, I guess, after the Padre series because it's a three-gamer to react to that, or maybe Wednesday because it is a 1 o'clock game. We'll see how the week plays out and all that. And they do play on Friday on a major holiday. Finally, I know. Thank God.

What a beautiful thing. But we'll get to wishing everyone a happy Independence Day when that time comes. All right. We'll be back Wednesday or Thursday reacting to the series, you know, assuming it's not like you know, they lose 20 to nothing over three games. So then we probably won't be but we'll probably be there for Fritz and Seltzer. We'll talk to you guys later. He's for themselves.