High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Obviously Sold Their Soul for the Howard Double in '09

Episode Date: April 22, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as the Phillies struggle in Colorado again. The guys talk about the series, why Nola is struggling, Harper on track and a whole lot more! See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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happy tastes good. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds. Well, without the computers. Talking about the Philadelphia Phillies. On Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast

for the second time in a row. We have been banished from our room, Jack. What is happening here? James, I got one question for you and one question only. Which was a worse watch this weekend, the Phillies in Colorado or the aria scene in game of thrones oh no you're an aria hater aren't you i love aria she's maybe my favorite up that's why i didn't like what the scene that oh i got you yeah it felt uncomfortable it was like it was a little

girl turning into a grown woman i wasn't ready for it good point i didn't appreciate it a little much but also the phillies in colorado in Colorado was a rough one. It's worse. I never want to go to Colorado again. It's like a House of Horrors for this team, Jack. We sold our soul with the Howard double in 09, and we will never play well in Colorado ever again. I think that's a great take, actually. It's unbelievable. Because I don't know what it

is, but they hate playing in Colorado. They can't pitch there. They can't field there. Everyone got hurt, and the offense left 41 runners on base 41 was that how many it was i didn't see that number that's insane 41 the friday night game the friday night game was the most runners they left on base in a game since 2008 wow guess who produced every inning of that game me so here's what i'm sure you were psyched that it went 12 too here's what i want to say to everyone.

Every time a game goes extra innings and you're thinking about tweeting out free baseball, I want you to think of me because guess who has to be here while that game is going into extras and cannot go home. Thus, he has to go to bed at 2.30 on a Friday night and wake up early enough, earlier than I want to wake up. Just, you know, before you start tweeting out about free baseball, just say, poor one out for Jack. He has to do this whole game. And then free baseball. Thank you. Yeah. Okay.

I feel you. I generally, during the week and I have to wake up the next day, I'm generally not as big a fan of free baseball as I normally am. But at least they're not on the West Coast anymore. Or close enough to the West Coast, because Denver's technically not on the West Coast. Thank God. I don't know if you know that, but it's not on the West Coast. It Or close enough to the West Coast, because Denver's technically not on the West Coast. Thank God. I don't know if you know that, but it's not on the West Coast. It's not. It's mountain time, Jack.

My ability to argue very basic facts is out of this world. It's really impressive. Thank you. Thank you. I know that I'm impressed. I'm guessing the listeners are impressed. I appreciate it. I could be wrong. Speaking of impressed, let's dive right in. Okay.

And we're going to go in non-chronological order. I said Aria. I'm thinking of Aria. It's still in my head, Jack. All right. We're going to go in non-chronological order because we got to start with Nola. Okay. Because you have some interesting thoughts on Nola.

We were talking a little bit, texting during the game. First and foremost, I thought a lot of people were really upset with the performance. I thought it was actually good for Nola this season. He was able to battle through. Which is so sad. It's very sad. Five and two-thirds, three earned was a nice outing for Nola. Look, he looked really bad early and then able to kind of right himself and get some outs.

Yeah. Where are you at with Nola? You got a little theory on him. Yeah, I got a little theory here. So we've all been scrambling as to what's wrong with Nola. I don't think he's hurt. I definitely don't think he's hurt. I definitely don't think he's hurt. He's throwing as hard as he is. You know what I didn't like?

You know what I didn't like at all is that he hiked seven miles the day before with Jake Arrieta and the rest of the pitching staff before he has to pitch in Colorado. Why? In Colorado? Like, what are you doing, man? I mean, I'm not here to rip a guy's personal life, but you're starting the next day. Yeah, and the air is thin, bro. Like, come on, man.

Yeah, so let's relax here. So everyone's been trying to scramble and find what's wrong with Nola, all this stuff. And I have this theory that it comes down to the balls, and it's not about the balls being juiced. None of that stuff. I think MLB might have raised the seams on the baseball. And when you raise the seams on a baseball, it is easier to grip, but it's less aerodynamic. So how major league baseballs have been for a long time is they're very, very smooth and down to its roots pretty much. When you're playing little league, the seams are really, really high or whatever.

They're fine. But when it gets to the big leagues, they don't have that anymore. When you lower the seams, it makes it more aerodynamic, and thus you can get more movement on the ball. And when you watch Nola's curveball this year, it just doesn't look the same. It doesn't look like he's getting as much break to it, and the numbers bear it out. But by raising the seams, i think it causes less movement from his curveball um and the balls like the crook was talking about it all game it felt like was how

they just looked like they're white now and when when you were looking at baseballs in the past they'd be rubbed up with the delaware mud and be able to get a grip and all that stuff so if they if they're not able to grip it up the the ball's slick and the seams are raised, then that's why people can't locate it and why there's not as much movement on the ball. So I think that's what's going on with Nolan. Okay, so what does that mean? Take the next step. What is, like, is that something?

I mean, you say that to me and my initial reaction is, well, he's screwed, right? I mean, like, how do you adjust? Well, I think he did start adjusting as the game went on. And you saw with his curveball late in the game, I think he got two straight strikeouts on it. I think what he has to start doing is he's not going to get the same amount of vertical break to it, so he has to get more horizontal break to it. I think he can still grip that.

I think he can still get that kind of – because a four-seam curveball or whatever, like you have the four-seam grip, and it's just going directly into the wind path kind of and when he's when he throws his curveball he throws it from the same angle and it comes out like a four seam curveball but if he throws it more on the side it's harder to pick up the aerodynamics you know i'm talking about i do so it's like so this is how his curveball usually is but now it's coming out like this and that's harder to it's hard for people it is hard i know jack's moving his finger around the circle but the the vertical all right how about this he can get more horizontal break to it there you go the

vertical break may not be there so and i think i think what he started to do what he started to do is the game wore on on saturday was that he started getting more horizontal break it looked much better and yeah he settled down it was fine um but the fact that we're at the point where six innings three runs is like good nola is it's on it is unbelievable i do you remember the first episode we did of the season it was like when i was like yeah i was a little worried like i can't believe it's actually here you made a joke you said i can't but the one thing i didn't see coming the nola regression regression season we're like well it's here okay it's here. Not great. So where are you at with Noel moving forward? I think he's

too smart of a pitcher to not be able to adjust. If there are new balls, and I think there are new balls, whether they're juiced or whatnot, I think he's just a smart enough pitcher to where he'll figure it out. Baseball's always adjusting. Great pitchers always adjust back. It feels like the last couple days, it feels like pitchers in

general are starting to figure it out a little bit. and i think he's just going to be fine um i i do have i do wonder if guys that rely on like i wonder how it's going to affect guys the vertical movement versus horizontal movement but i i just think i think he's going to be fine i i will always think he's gonna be fine unless he gets hurt and i thought thought Saturday, for the most part... Until it's like September and he's got a 4-5. Right, right. It's like, ah, he's fine. Wait till the playoffs. Yes. I have a hard time worrying about Nola. He hasn't been great, but

the velocity is still there. And I was encouraged by the last couple innings on Saturday. And hopefully we get good Nola. Luckily, that was the only game they played in Colorado. Let's move on, Jack. Yeah. It was a great game. The Harper-Homer was awesome. McCutcheon, it's a bomb.

It was five hits for Harper. That was the night before. Let's go to – all right. So let's jump back now. Thursday, not a ton to take away from. Eflin, thoughts? Eflin, he used his four-seam fastball more. And in the sixth inning, it wasn't totally his fault.

I mean, Kingery made the error. And then if he doesn't make that error the next ball by story is fielded by kingery perfectly but he's out of position because of what happened with the error before that and i thought efflin was just efficient i thought efflin was efficient it wasn't dominant um i still i think his slider is just so meh and his cutter it's whatever he throws it's like a cutter slider kind of thing uh i think it's just so may it's just not great and i did like that how he uses four seam more he was up to 45 on his four seam up from 22 they start before which i think is a big sign uh i just talked about on the last part yes yes so solid effluent performance nothing crazy it felt like for me that thursday game it felt like a team that was in the middle of a long

stretch of playing a bunch of days in a row and just flew out to Colorado, and they just came out flat. And I kind of expected it. And they had the emotional win that Wednesday. The day before, yep. With the narrows. Bryce Harper did not come out flat. Five-hit game for Harper. Harper had a good weekend.

We talked a lot about the slump and how great it is that when he's walking, when he's slumping, at least he's getting on base. You can never really be too upset with the production. But Harper looking to be a little locked in again. Hitting lefties, Jack. He's been so good. I haven't seen the numbers, but I guarantee they're awesome. Do you want the numbers?

Oh, you have them? Yeah. Right at your disposal. I tweeted them out this morning. Oh, this guy. Ready to go. Bryce Harper's batting.389 with9 with a 1300 OPS against lefties. Wow.

That's better than I thought. That's even better than I thought. Yeah. It's awesome. And if he's going to hit lefties like this, I just think that eventually the righty numbers are going to be also as ridiculous. So he still has reached base in every single game. Which is something that you would think with all the Harper love at the beginning of the

season, that's the kind of thing we'd grab onto and talk about a lot. No one does. Well, and also he's so unclutched that he had the RBI on Friday. In the 12th. In the double. I was so hyped. I was like, yes, I get to go home because I thought it was game over, obviously. I mean, it was eventually game over, just not in a good way.

You want to know what my problem is, James? What, that it's the second loss this season where they had two strikes and two outs away from winning the game? We talked about this last time. When the Phillies lose, the Phillies absolutely lose. They reinvent the wheel when it comes to losing baseball games. Yeah, they just give up. Yeah, it's just like a stab.

It's gut punches. It's already. I mean, you think about it. How many gut punch losses do we already have this year? And last year, too. It's ridiculous. We had the Robertson game in Washington. We had the Juan Soto home run, not home run victor robles game we had that one and then we had a couple

where they just got their doors blown off weren't even competitive i know it's horrible but let me just tell you something and they're still in first place by the way they're still in first place we're a lot of complaining for a team that's still in first place nine in first place so maybe maybe it's maybe this is an is it weird impromptu that I did not plan on. That's my favorite kind of impromptu. The ones that are not planned. I just have to be honest. I think the Phillies are going to lose every game.

You go in just being like, feels like a loss. Yeah. Every game, I just feel like they're going to lose. That's weird. I know. And as the game goes on, they're going to find a way. Last season, sure, that makes more sense. This season, less so. Maybe I've watched so much Phillies baseball in the last eight years.

The Phillies have just crushed you. Yeah, they've just crushed me internally. I don't know how to root for a good team. I just think they're going to lose all the time. Obviously, I know the Phillies are good. I watch every night. We talk about it here. You come off as very positive about this Phillies game.

I just always think they're going to lose. I have this bracket. I have thislb challenge that i'm doing with my friends where every single game we were betting on just not like actually but just seeing how much smarter we are than everyone else look at you i'm like 5 and 13 like i'm not even close i'm so bad at it i have no read if they're gonna win or lose i am a broken man i don't know when they're gonna win i don't know when they're gonna play bad i I don't know when they're going to play bad. I don't know if I can tweet out anything anymore because all of a sudden everything turns to crap. I tweet

one thing about Jared Eickhoff next inning, three runs. It's just, I'm lost. I don't know where I'm at. I don't know what to do. I don't know if I can ever tweet again. I tried to be better this weekend about just waiting until after the game to start tweeting all my thoughts, but I can't do that. I physically can't do that. Well, we know. And then all of a sudden on my Saturday, my TV is starting to speak Spanish to me. that i physically can't do that well we know and then all of a sudden on saturday my my my my tv

is starting to speak spanish to me so somehow i got this is a very joe to camera type of rant right somehow i got the spanish feed i don't know how but i i couldn't get it back until the next day i'm just lost i feel like we should clip the last 45 seconds and put it out as like why you should listen to the high hopes podcast i just this guy knows phillies yeah well does he know does he know Phillies? Everything he's touched this year has turned to crap. Mickey Moniac's batting 200. The only thing that's going well for me right now

is that Adam Morgan is unbelievable. Literally, that's it. That's all I got. You're having a rough year so far, Jack. I don't know. I'm a broken man. Ever since Harper, Len, it's just been straight down. People don't get crapped on.

People don't respect the fact that I'm the only reason Bryce Harper was here. They should. They should be bowing down to you, Jack. Austin Davis is back on my team. I know. Former backup quarterback for the St. Louis Rams. Somehow gets through those two innings on Sunday without giving up any runs. They were the worst

two innings I've ever seen anyone pitch. I think he loaded the bases in both innings and somehow got out of it. I mean, cool he got out of it, but it was torture watching that guy get in. Sounds like the Austin Davis experience. Austin Davis is back. Yeah. All right. Friday's game.

We talked a little bit about the disappointment at the end. We don't have to get into the gut punch of it all. Vinny, though. I thought Vinny looked really good again. Yeah. No, Vinny was great. And even, I mean, he's almost Jack Fred's drinks. He's unjinxable.

I can't even jinx him. Yeah, he's that good. I can't even jinx him. He's the one person who can defeat the Fritz drinks. Right, the guy who I've loathed for many years. Sounds about right. Yeah, this is how it works for me. Nothing ever works out for me.

Honestly, as people learn more and more about me, Bryce Harper coming here was a miracle, given my luck in recent years.'re in rare form today this is really very very deep in a hole right now i like it i like it uh vinny was great um like the fastballs up like they had like legitimate lift to it um he's doing over the head thing which is great because did you're starting to realize what i was kind of talking about where he's kind of has that pause right before he goes that is what i have it's very noticeable it's like what i've been begging for for years because obviously he has the fastball i don't think his off speed is that great but i think it can play off of his

fastball and be legitimate good strikeout worthy stuff i mean nolan arenado wasn't even close to vinny on on friday which like if you told me that a year ago, I would think you're crazy. But I thought he was really good. And the one problem I do still have with Vinny is that out of the stretch, he's still way too quick to home, and he kind of gets there a little bit early, and his fastball just goes up and in to the righties. Like, he doesn't have the full command out of the stretch, but I will say, out of the windup, he looks really, really comfortable and confident. And the ball's going where he wants it to go, where he needs it to go. And I've been impressed with Vinny.

I'm not going to say I totally trust him yet because he does this all the time. And because it would tank his season if he did it. Right. No. Your power is real. Vinny Velasquez. No. Bray.

No. Okay, I'll stop. No. Bread. Bread. Yeah. It'sny Velasquez. No. Bray. No. Okay, I'll stop. No. Bread. Yeah. It's a type of bread. Okay.

Named after Vincent Velasquez. But it was good. He was really good. And the game, it was just unfortunate that they just didn't do anything. I know. The runners on base were crazy. Just one of those days. It was one of, again, I don't know how to parse out which is the most frustrating loss, but it was right there.

It was right there. Yeah, Friday was infuriating. No, I'm talking about of the season. Like, it's right there with the Victor Robles home run in the bottom of the ninth, or top of the ninth. Like, it's right there. It might be the worst loss of the season. It might not, but it's right there.

No, they went up 6-1 against the Nats. I know. That's infuriating. That's the one. That's the one. But still, man, to go up in the top of the 12th and take the lead and then blow it in the bottom. Another thing about Vinny. How many swings and misses do you think he got on his fastball?

I'm going to say six. 16. What? Yeah. Wow. Yeah. He was at 14 when I charted him. That's a lot on a fastball, especially.

Especially on fastballs. That's what I mean. Last podcast you said the fastball's dead. Yeah, fast was at 14 when I charted him. That's a lot on the fastballs, especially. Especially on fastballs. That's what I mean. Last podcast you said the fastball's dead. Yeah, fastball's dead. Not if you're Vincent Velasquez. Guess what? Fastball's back.

Jack's lost. I don't know. Just whatever you say, it's the opposite. It's good. It is the worst. It is the worst right now. So Friday night was frustrating, too, because the bullpen was really good. The bullpen was until Nicasio.

They allowed one hit. Yeah, Nicasio had one clean inning, and obviously in the second inning kind of lost it. Games go long, it happens. And here's what people are misinterpreting. Nicasio had to go back out there because Arano got hurt. So Arano got banged up. Arano probably closes that game on any other basis. But with him going out, and like, Gade got screwed that game in so many ways because you had the kingery injury had mccutchen injury so you couldn't double switch guys in and out

so you have those guys getting hurt you have a ronald getting hurt while warming up i think because he's warming up in the 11th and um and then they brought in the cost to be a long man so i just think i think it was an unfortunate unlucky game for it one thing i will say though and i want to get your take on it and we saw it again in that game, one out from Sir Anthony. I don't think he's using Sir Anthony right. I feel like it's a lot of – first of all, we talked about it last pod where he brings Sir Anthony in in the late innings of a blowout. He's done that a couple times now.

Yeah, Miami. It just feels like – last year it felt like while he was going good and obviously kind of hit a wall, but it felt like Sir he was going good and obviously kind of hit a wall but it felt like sir anthony was his go-to guy yeah and this year it almost feels like he's an afterthought in a lot of situations yeah it's super weird and i can't tell if listen if their plan is they want to save him for later in the season when the games matter more i i understand that to a t or to an extent because last year i mean they just used them way him way too much. Yeah, they beat him into the ground. Yeah.

Especially considering him coming up from the minors and never having that type of experience at the major league level and all that. But he had a whole offseason to get in shape, to get ready for this and be ready to be used whenever. And he started the season off slow. But, I mean, he's been really good. That's my point. I think he's looked great.

Like, I don't understand his usage. I think there's been two times in the last week where he'll throw like set less than eight pitches and then not come back out one out in two games this last week just one out and that's it and then he's done for the night i'm like what are you doing yeah maybe i don't get it maybe he's looking into he doesn't want to use him send him back out there that would be a very logical explanation and also like you said maybe he's really maybe because of last season's experience, they're saying, all right, we need to be more wary of how we use Sir Anthony so we have him for the full season and he's full go,

but he's looked great, and I'm befuddled by him constantly. Especially when they don't have Robertson. I mean, like, so you only have so many good bullpenny members. Like, right now it's Morgan, Neshek, although I don't think he should ever pitch in Colorado again. No. And he's had a couple rough outings. I mean, obviously the Soto game we were talking about, he's had a couple rough outings lately. Got the save in the one, but made it really tight.

Yeah, I don't think he does well in late inning type stuff. High leverage things. I'm with you. It's very strange because when he's on, he looks unhittable at times. He needs like a full inning in a non-pressure situation. I mean, look, Jack, again, I know you've not had many nice things said about you this season. Adam Morgan's the best reliever on this team right now. Right now?

I don't think there's any question, but you're right. Outside of that, I would probably put Sir Anthony second right now, and he's not being used that way. Yeah, it's weird, and they're using Hector a lot. Hector's their closer, man. Hector's their closer. Hector's their closer. Who's excited?

Five-out save over the weekend. How about that? Are you excited for a ninth inning, Ner's their closer, man. Hector's their closer. Hector's their closer. Who's excited? Five out save over the weekend. How about that? Are you excited for a nice thing, Neris? No, I'm not. High leverage, Neris? I will live with it. It is funny. I mean, will you live with it?

Or will you just, you're going to just die? Do I have a choice, Jack? I'm trying not to die, so I guess I'll live with it. Yeah. It does feel, the saves that he's had this year, and he's been perfect so far this year, but it does feel very Lidge-ish in the life on a Lidge part of it, where it just is never easy with Hector Neris the 9th. And granted, he's converting now, so great, but it's terrifying.

It's terrifying! The one thing I thought was interesting with Neris on Saturday was... Yeah, the one game they won. Right. I blacked out the other games. Yeah, nothing else happened. He played one game this weekend. So, it was muto put down a four right and then narris threw this this splitter that went that moved like a curveball so maybe he really is throwing different splitters yeah maybe he's mastered it's just kind of yeah going different ways maybe he's

mastered the splitter so much that he is able to put different kinds of spin that would be devastating i mean it's already devastating if he doesn't know where it's going. Yeah. Can you imagine if he can control it? His splitter's nasty. I hope I...

It might be right now at this exact moment it's probably the best pitch on the team. Just one pitch. The best pitch on the Phillies is Hector Naras' splitter. Right at this moment.

I'm talking about... No, no, I know. I'm just processing it. I know you are. Let's see. Naras' splitter. Morgan Slider's up there, no, I know. I'm just processing it. I know you are. Let's see. Narrow's a splitter. Morgan Slider's up there. Morgan Slider.

Pavetta's curveball in AAA. Pavetta's curveball in AAA. We'll factor that one in. It was up here for a second. I mean, Jake Sinker is sinking. Yeah. Jake's changeup. Jake's changeup.

Jake's definitely got two... Yeah. Jake's been great. I would say Sir Anthony's cutter's back. Yeah. It looked like it's darting over the weekend. Yeah, it's a good take. It's a defensible take.

Yeah. I mean, his fastball's still as straight as an arrow. Straight as an arrow. But it's okay. But when you're playing off that slider, it works a little bit. Yeah, it works. It works. And listen, I would love for Hector to be good.

It's just I don't trust that guy in the ninth inning. Me either. I also don't trust any Philly ever, so maybe that's another problem of mine. Yeah, and certainly none of these guys in the ninth inning. Is there anyone you're like, oh, he should be pitching in the ninth inning? I want Adam Morgan in the ninth. I mean, that's how I feel right now. Even Morgan, I'm like, I don't know.

You can still go back to old Adam Morgan. I know. We remember the other guy. It's not that far removed from that. You're not fooling me, buddy. You're not all of a sudden going to be dominant, are you? Although Adam Morgan was on that strenuous hike that Jake Arrieta brought everyone on, and he was able to pitch this weekend.

What are you doing, Jake? Jake! Chill out a little bit, man. I get it. You love to work out. You love the outdoors. But you're in Colorado. Give him a break.

All right. Sunday. Jared Eikhoff. He looked all right. Yeah. I mean, that last inning ran into some trouble, obviously. Walk two guys. That didn't help.

But overall, I thought he was fine. I thought it was a good was a good ike off out i think he threw 33 curveballs and they look good in especially in colorado where the ball doesn't have that same sort of bite to it yeah he's i think he made an interesting adjustment i thought in the mets outing he was throwing a hard curveball and remember when ike off was going well in 16 he would throw that hard breaking curveball and also have a slower one and it was like so he had the hard one that would be like 78 ish and then throw the softer one like 73 ish i thought he i thought he did a good job of that um on sunday because he has to mix up that curveball i didn't think he had a great feel for his slider so i guess his plan when his slider's not on is his ability to throw two different curveballs and get guys kind of off balance with that obviously

the the sixth inning wasn't great um but you know i thought he was fine for a fight he's your fifth starter yeah so what was it he gave him the chance to win a ball game um the offense didn't show up the offense did not show up i don't know what the story of the rocky series is like i think the bullpen was good starting pitching was good enough i guess the story of the weekend is they they left a lot of runners come through i think my biggest takeaway from the weekend is the bats let them down. And I know they put up eight on Saturday, but other than that, I mean, like you said, they had so many opportunities.

Even the ninth inning yesterday on Sunday was a perfect example of it, you know? It's like they're dormant all game, and then they make a run for it, and they just can't quite close it out. Oh, man. I was ready for Harper to get up, though. Oh, me too, man. I know. I was like, Cesar, just get on base.

For once. Just do whatever you got to do. Do something good today, Cesar. I mean, Cesar, the though. Oh, me too, man. I was like, Cesar, just get on base. Just do whatever you gotta do. Do something good today, Cesar. I mean, Cesar... Oh my god, that... So did he think he was out? He thought he was out. That's the only takeaway that I have from that base running gaffe was he thought he was out,

they called him safe, and all of a sudden he's in between second and third, and he's like, crap, I got caught. Yeah. I got out of the new. Yeah, no, he thought he was out. So when he slid in a second, he thought he was out. Even though the ball was right in front of him. Here's the thing. to do. Yeah, no, he thought he was out. So when he slid in a second, he thought he was out. Even though the ball was right in front of him. Here's the thing. If Oduble did that, it would be a month of people yelling about how terrible he

is and what a knucklehead and all that. I'm glad you brought up my friend Oduble Herrera. Thank you. You're welcome. Does anyone miss Oduble Herrera? You're damn right! Roman Quinn, not a starter in Major League Baseball. Where could I have heard that said? What? Roman Quinn's not the savior? Where's the start Roman Quinn crowd?

Where's the Roman Quinn is better than Oduble crowd? Because they're a loud freaking crowd. I've heard from them a lot. Yeah. Where they at? Looks like September Quinn is transferred over rather than the guy who was good for like two weeks and everyone convinced themselves he was good. And he'll be hurt in a week.

So, you know. I'm actually shocked that he survived the weekend of all the injuries the fact that roman quinn is still standing is shocking it is so funny though when you see him on uh on that um the gosling bases loaded uh double when you see when you see quinn like really fly it's crazy it's it's wild no it's so fast his speed is like right on his body he's like coming right around like damn man his speed is game changing he just does not put the ball in play enough and he's a pinch runner yeah it's a hell of a pinch runner he's a really he if he wants to be our Dave Roberts be our Dave Roberts please that's that's what we

will take um but yeah the the this the Roman Quinn is better than Herrera takes even though Herrera has been really good it's it's not it's not doing too well speaking than Herrera takes, even though Herrera has been really good. Horrendous take. It's not doing too well, I would say. Speaking of Herrera, and we think he'll be back soon. They said, you know, expect it to be 10 days. But, man, Jack, you and I talked a lot last year about how the Phillies were incredibly lucky with injuries last year. That they didn't really have serious injuries really at any point all season long. We're starting to get hit by injuries. Obviously talked about the robertson thing last week we have no idea how long that'll be and now the soft tissue stuff we see kingery go down over the

weekend obviously segura actually put on the injured list they had said you know only four or five days he's on the injured list now and obviously not soft tissue but the victor arano elbow soreness where you at with these injuries Are you worried at all about any of them? And how do you see the team kind of dealing with it? They should try stretching. Why don't these guys just stretch, Jack? Yeah, I love that. It's like, are they stretching?

Yeah, they're major league baseball players. Yeah, no. Yeah, they decided, no, we're good with that stretching stuff. Screw it. I'm just going to go out and just do it today. It's like some of the tweets and calls and whatever, it's like, did you think before you called? Or are you just irrationally just... I'm just going to say it.

Are you just irrationally like... Look, here's the thing. I pulled my hamstring in the third grade and it's because I didn't stretch. So are they stretching? Yeah. Someone tell them they should probably start stretching. Good looking out. I can't tell what it is.

I mean, I think injuries just kind of happen. It is weird that they're happening all at the same time. Colorado maybe is just harder to get loose because of the air. Which is absolutely possible. Maybe if you want to attribute it back to not getting enough reps in spring training, maybe there's something with there. But I think they got enough reps. I don't know.

I just think the kind of pulled hamstrings happen. I would be lying if I tried to interpret what the Phillies training staff is doing or not doing. This has not been a thing that has happened last year, the year before, whatever. I mean, some guys, and it's only a couple guys, and McCutcheon, I think it felt like more of a thing when we thought McCutcheon was going to be hurt longer too, and

obviously back in the lineup on Sunday, but yeah, it happens. It sucks. It's a bummer for Kingery, man. I mean, how long have we been waiting for Scott to finally look like a Major League Baseball player and obviously doing that and more and worse possible timing for that one for him, especially getting a chance to play with Segura down. It was just a real bummer. Although it has opened the door for Kevin Franson 2.0.

Phil Gosselin. All right. Westchester Zone. I'm going to do an unpopular take here. People aren't going to like this. Okay. It's perfect. It's great. People love theelin. All right. Westchester Zone. I'm going to do an unpopular take here. People aren't going to like this. Okay. It's perfect. It's great.

People love the stories and all that. Oh, my God. Can we quit it with the Phil Gosselin love? Who cares that he's from around here? People are acting like- Me. He's living his dream playing for the Phillies. He's already been in Major League Baseball.

He played for the Diamondbacks. Who cares? He- Oh, my God. We're acting like he is like... Tell me why. Why do you love him? Because he's from here.

Because he's from Westchester, and I'm from Westchester. That's why I love him. I mean, two Westchester legends. Do you agree that the love for Phil Gosselin, guy who will not be on the roster in a month, is way overblown? He's raking, though. For Phil Gosselin.

He had a good weekend. He had a good weekend. You love Phil Gosselin. Look at you. Listen, he is... He's raking, though. Yeah. For Phil Gosselin. He had a good weekend. He had a good weekend. You love Phil Gosselin. Look at you. Listen, he is... He's so out of... But he's living out... Oh, my God!

How many features were written? He's from here, and he's on the team. You can't believe it. But think about that. How often does someone who loved the Phillies or loved some team or whatever get to actually live out that dream playing for that team?

In sports, how often does it actually happen? It was supposed to happen with Mike Trout. Yeah, well, he's a trader. Benedict Trout. Phil Gosselin would never trade. He totally didn't play for the Braves. Never played for them. Honestly, I like the Phil Gosselin story.

I want to bring him on and quiz him on Philly stuff. Okay. See how real he is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that. Anyone could play the, oh, I'm from here. I was a Phillies guy. Sure.

And he was in the vet. He loved the 93 Phillies. Utley was his favorite guy growing up. I just want to quiz him. I want to see where he's at, you know? I agree with you. I want to see if he passes the Jack Fritz test. I'm calling BS on this whole thing.

You don't think so? I'm done with the whole Phil Gosselin love fest. No, I'm not. I'm in. I mean, because he's from here. He's from Westchester. You know where I want Phil Gosselin? In AAA.

That's where I want Phil Gosselin. No, he's too good. Come at me, Phil. He's too good. You want to come on? Let's talk about it. Phil Goss he's from here. He's from Westchester. You know where I want Phil Gosselin? In AAA. That's where I want Phil Gosselin. No, he's too good. Come at me, Phil. He's too good. You want to come on? Let's talk about it. Phil Gosselin's too good. Gosselin's too good.

He's from Westchester. Look, right now they need him. He's their starting shirt stop, which is terrific. Listen, the more you continue to slander Westchester baseball is the less I will be on this podcast. Oh, really? You mean I can get you off of here by just slandering Westchester? Yes. Westchester's the worst.

You don't mean that. I know off of here by just wondering Westchester? Westchester's the worst! You don't mean that. I know. Here's my thoughts on Westchester. Don't care. Okay. Well, I care. Okay. Here's the God's honest truth. Every time I watch Phil Gosselin, I just think, it could have been me. I know. Trust me. We see it with

Pavetta. This is even more so. This is very natural. People from Westchester do make it. People from Westchester do make it. People from Westchester do make it. Yes, you're right, Jeff. An underdog story unlike many others. People from Westchester making it. How long until Phil Gosselin's back in the minors?

Hopefully in three years. Oh, man. Go on. Why can't he be our utility guy? Leave him alone. Leave him alone. He's already got a utility guy. His name's Scott Kingery.

He's just hurt right now. You have to wait until they trade Cesar, Kingery in, Gosling up, everyone wins. Everybody wins, except Cesar is playing for the Blue Jays or something. Well, that wouldn't be too bad for him. Him and Freddie. So many winners. You're right. Him and reunited, and it feels so good.

I like that. By the way, for what it's worth, Freddie's playing pretty well. He is playing pretty well. He's battling like 350. I just love all the bad teams taking on a bad shortstop to continue being bad you love that freddie galvis is playing well now people will be like he's hitting 350 bring him back glove defense never want to go glove let's just make sure we get that out there never ever has ever won a goal i was told he's the best shortstop in baseball i was told he should start on the angels over andrew alton simmons all right uh Any other thoughts on the weekend before we look ahead to the New York Mets?

I said it once. I'll say it again. I just really appreciate the rest of baseball letting us get Andrew McCutcheon at a discount. That's really kind. That's really kind of them. Ooh, shout out. Great point.

I'm happy you brought this up. Did you see Pitching Ninja tweet this out, by the way? Andrew McCutcheon, when Velasquez makes the second out of the inning at second base, Andrew McCutcheon, when Velasquez makes the second out of the inning at second base, Andrew McCutcheon does what a pros, pros, pros, pro does, and does the slow walk up to

the plate, taking his time. That, I mean, that was such a veteran move, man. That was just getting it. And it's the kind of thing that no one notices. People don't even think about it, but you know, obviously Pitching Ninja brought attention to it, and it is just... Another kind of thing that no one notices people don't even think about it but you know obviously pitching ninja brought attention to it and it is just another example of him being the best but he does it every way like we talked about it with the base running with the fielding and all that this is another level of that like just thinking about the game and about what he

can do to make his team win at all times yeah and it was funny because franzen and and uh franski were both confused as to why he was doing it. Really? Yeah. They're like, what is he doing? Yeah. And I was like, oh, maybe he's waiting for the sun to get behind the clouds so it's not in his eye. But it's cool.

I'm glad that Pitching Ninja brought it on. I was like, oh, right. I didn't notice it either. And I saw the tweet and I was like, duh. I was like, that's perfect. Like, what a really smart thing to do. And by the way, how dare slander phil gosselin when he said in his postgame interviews we have now he said we have high hopes for the season it's like

it's like do you even care about this podcast if many people are wondering that if you were talking about the podcast i might have a different take on phil gosselin if phil wants to come on here and shut me up i'd be happy to have it no phil gosselin is the goat let him live is he on twitter should we have people tweet at phil gosselin to the goat. Let him live. Is he on Twitter? Should we have people tweet at Phil Gosselin to come on the pod? I may have a friend who's a very good friend of Phil Gosselin. Oh, look at you. No wonder you love Phil.

Yeah. You're basically best friends. We would be best friends. I think we would be. Two Westchester legends. I think it would be two. Living out our dreams. You seem like a Phil Gosselin guy.

Me doing this podcast, him on the Phillies. Jack and Phil. Could have been me. like a Phil Gosling guy. Me doing this podcast, him on the Phillies. Jack and Phil. Could have been me. Hey, a lot of athletes

in major sports are trying to get podcasts. You know, Road Trippin', the Cavs podcast. Sure, the Vince Carter podcast. The Vince Carter podcast. There's a White Sox player. JJ Redick has a podcast.

There's Daniel Paca and a Barstool guy. Daniel Paca. Yeah. Got some power. Phil Gosling and me. Just bail on a Barstool guy. Daniel Paca. Yeah. Got some power. Phil Gosselin and me. Just bail on me. I like this. Jack and Phil. I like this. I could do both. High hopes with

Jack and Phil Gosselin. This is a great idea. I'm in. Is it great? I don't know. It would not be great. You never know. Okay. You never know. Maybe Phil's a great talker. Alright. Anything else from the weekend before we move on? I never want to play in Colorado again.

Yeah, we're done with it. We're done with Colorado. Done with Colorado. Never want to see it again. I'm out. I think we sold ourselves with the 0-9. Look.

Listen, get me to the plate. Get me to the plate, boys, was too good of a quote. The double was too good of a moment. We're never going to win in Colorado for at least 10 years. All I'll say is that is

by far... It's been 10 years. Man, that was so long ago. And it doesn't sound like 10 years and you say it and it's like oh man but i think that's the best take i've heard about the struggles in colorado it's the most accurate believable like what else could it be so i'm with you all right jack guess what we get to face steve matt tonight poor ste, welcome back. Steven Matz's line against the Phillies this year. Zero inning pitched, eight runs. Come to daddy, Steve. And he's facing Ace Arrieta.

I feel good about tonight, Jack. Well, let me just say, I never feel good about the Phillies. Yeah, you think they're going to lose everyone. So, I'm excited to see how Arrieta does. I'm actually like, last year I kind of dreaded looking forward to Arrieta starts, and this year I'm actually excited for Arrieta starts. Me too. I actually, he's the one I'm most to see how Arrieta does. I'm actually like, last year I kind of dreaded looking forward to Arrieta starts. And this year I'm actually excited for Arrieta starts.

I actually, he's the one I'm most excited for. I want Jake on the hill in a big spot right now. Yeah, I want to see how the ball's moving. I want to see him on the road against the Mets, against a pretty good Mets team. Again, I mean, the Mets are a legitimately good offense. Pete Alonzo hit a ball to center field against the Cardinals yesterday that was like, it was like 110 miles an hour off the bat and it's like this guy what like like can you just struggle can you get a rookie struggle out of this guy it'd be good yeah i would appreciate

it he doesn't do it just comes up and he's like i'm awesome yeah one soda same thing it's why does this happen to us that's what i brought that up last time it's really annoying i'm actually hoskins was great from j1 was, and we talked about that. But the thing is, Alonzo's batting like.350. Reece wasn't batting.350. Reece was hitting a lot of home runs. Yeah, but I mean, he did hit a historic number of home runs. I'm not going to try and bash Reece's first 50 games.

Listen, we get it. You don't like Reece Hoskins. And I love Pete Alonzo. That's obviously what it is. And he started his career 0 for 10, and you haven't given up on that. This is why Donovan hates the city for people like you. Yes, soft McNabb. I still have Reece Hoskins as a keeper in my fantasy league

because I picked him up before he came up. And you're a Phillies fan. That's how jacked up I was. I'm going to league with Phillies fans. Now, I have Pete Alonzo in a keeper league that I drafted this year. Oh, buddy. I'm going to have to make some decisions. This is a tough one. I know. I love having a slug in first baseman. I drafted this year. Oh, buddy. I'm going to have to make some decisions. This is a tough one.

I know. I love having a slug in first baseman. But, yeah, Arietta, very much looking forward to it. I'm excited. I get to actually watch this at my house. I usually never get to watch these games at home. You get to watch the game and not produce it. I know.

How exciting. So I'm going to be – listen, maybe I'll do a little live tweeting tonight. We'll see. Ooh. A little AMA. I don't know. I just thought you said you weren't going to tweet anymore. You're going to hold off.

I can't, though. I know you can't. I'm addicted to the likes. I know you are. I'm a thirst man. You need it. I've decided I'm just going to embrace the thirst. Thirst is great.

Here's the other thing about thirst. Twitter is thirst. There is no other way to use Twitter without being thirsty. It is just what it is. Embrace the thirst and love it, Jack. All right, Eflin Wheeler. Nothing really stands out. Nice matchup there.

I think it would be a well-pitched game. Obviously, they didn't really hit Wheeler hard last time, but they did their job against Wheeler. They got back to professional at-bats against a guy like Wheeler. Eflin, I thought his start in Colorado was a positive. I thought he threw a lot of fastballs, which is what he has to get back to professional at-bats against a guy like Wheeler. Eflin, I thought his start in Colorado was a positive. I thought he threw a lot of fastballs, which is what he has to get back to. And, yeah, I mean, they just got to start getting healthy here a little bit. And then we got Vince Velasquez versus –

So here's my biggest question. Jason Vargas? I was about to say, my biggest question. Who do they score more against, Matz or Vargas? Vargas. Yeah, that's right. Not even – like, I'm not even sure. I don't think Vargas

could get out some Division II baseball. He's bad, man. And he looks, he doesn't look, he looks like a science teacher or something. You brought that up

last podcast. Did you see the picture of him? Yeah, but you see the guy behind him that looked like a Revolutionary War guy? No, I didn't. I'm going to look back at it again.

Everyone was roasting this guy behind Jason Vargas that looked like a Revolutionary War guy. He looks old and whatever. I saw that guy at the Phil's Mets game the other day and I was like, hey, you He looked like a Revolutionary War guy. He looked old and whatever. I saw that guy at the Phil's Mets game the other day, and I was like, hey, you're that meme. You're the guy.

You were a meme one time. Did he say something to you? No, he didn't. But Jason Vargas, very excited for batting practice off of Jason Vargas. Oh, it's going to be great. A whole night of Jason. Sadly, you remember the last time there was a night

of Jason Vargas. Yeah, Pavetta. Little League. It's sad that we both remember that too easily. Yeah, I mean, we are both pretty sad with our memory of the Phillies. It's terrible. All right. Anything else, Fritzy, before we get to final thoughts?

Yeah, I'll do this before final thoughts. So my one problem with Gabe, and I don't know where it comes from, and I'm wondering if you've noticed the same thing, is when the Phillies get down by one or with Gabe, and I don't know where it comes from, and I'm wondering if you've noticed the same thing, is when the Phillies get down by one or more runs, he kind of treats it like the game's over. Dude, I had the exact same thought yesterday. Austin Davis is a perfect example. He just kind of feels like, and he left Davis in there.

I know he got out of it, but those were classic spots where if you're trying to win the game, you say, all right, we've got to pull Austin here. I know you're trying to save the pen, but we can't right, we've got to pull Austin here. I know you're trying to save the patent, but we can't let this get further than it is. It's 4-0. That's a grand slam and we're tied. I feel like Gabe is very quick to say, eh.

Not our night. Maybe you win, maybe you won't, but I'm not going to put all my chips in the middle for this one. Right, and I think actually a better example from this weekend was it was the eighth inning on Fridayiday night i'm pretty sure seventh or eighth and he brought in jose alvarez who yeah jose alvarez is a walking batting practice right now yep and like like just because you're down a run or two does not mean you start pitching your bad pitchers like maybe i understand he probably doesn't have the horses right now right to where

you like the bigger thing is jose alvarez should not be on this team. And if he's there, what's he do? And that's kind of the issue. Well, Kyle Dowie is lighting up. So, listen, let's get a little fast track for Josh Hader 2.0. Can we please? For the love of God. No, actually, sorry. Sorry.

That's on me. This is – delete this. Kyle Dowie's bad. Horrible. Don't even think about bringing him up. Don't even think about it. Yes. Don't even think about it. Yes! What you said. Yes.

Your offense is loaded, man. I understand you may not have the horses to combat it and all this, and you just have to get through these innings because you're in the middle of a long stretch without a day off. But for the love of God, you're down by one run in the eighth inning. You don't have to put Jose Alvarez in. I mean, the Astros were down 11-0, and they lost 11-10. They almost won that game the other day. It was two days ago or yesterday.

I mean, you got a good offense. You can come back in games. Agreed. So minor frustration. All right, final thought. My final thought is that we're not going to talk about Moniak now batting 200. We're going to talk about Alec Boehm, who is batting like 333 now. Let's just call this your final thought on the Phillies minor leagues.

I feel like we have to. I feel like we have to work in some minor league stuff because it's important. It's important to like five people that listen to this podcast. People are waiting for it. So here's my problem with Boehm, right? He's 23 years old and he's playing in Lakewood. Just move him up. Move him up a level.

He is the only player drafted in the top 10 that is at that level still. And he's 23. We're not talking about a 19-year-old. It's time to get it going a little bit. He is from the Carson Wentz school of he's way older than you think. Yeah, it's like a Chris Bryant guy where he comes up and he should be in the major leagues quickly. Yeah, he's supposed to be a fast track guy. And I don't want to see him in Lakewood for too much longer.

I agree with you. If he's looking comfortable, he's looking healthy. He needs to be moved up. Just move him up. It's based off our competition. Right, of course. It's going to help. I'm with you 100%.

I mean, I think he's batting.333 now, one homer, like five doubles. It's actually a worry that he's not, in my mind. It is. It's a worry. He should be higher. Yes, 100%. Aller, like five doubles. More strikeouts than I would think. It's actually a worry that he's not, in my mind. It is. It's a worry. He should be higher. Yes, 100%. All right, my final thought. And look, if you haven't watched Game of Thrones yet, you can tune out.

But this is not a spoiler at all. It just... Well, we talked about God so far. Yeah, so listen. My final thought, I'm seeding it to this tweet. Tell me who tweeted this. Watching last night, the whole episode felt like the lead up to the battle in the two towers. This is going to be awesome.

Who's nerdy enough to quote Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings in their tweet? This guy. Chuck Fritz. This guy. I had to figure it out. This guy. This guy. You went Game of Thrones into Lord of the Rings.

How freaking nerdy was that? It was awesome. Did you expect that? Here's the thing. I strongly agree with you. I love the tweet. It was just hilarious. Because you wouldn't expect it from an alpha? From you. Yeah, from an alpha with you. I love the tweet. It was just hilarious. Because you wouldn't expect it from an alpha?

From you. Yeah, from an alpha. No, I need you to say from an alpha that throws at least 80 miles an hour. From the big dog. I wasn't expecting it, all right? I wasn't expecting it from the big dog. I would have expected making fun of people for this type of tweet. I like it.

Type of tweet? Type of tweet. It was a mouthful, all right? Okay. You're the one who it swipe of tweet tweet type of tweet it was a mouthful all right okay um tweeted it yeah i did tweet it because i was sitting there last night i was like this is just like in helms deep in the in the battle of two towers like it was exactly what it was it was exactly what it was because you know what game of thrones is it's just lord of the rings was sexy that's maybe your best take of the day it's it's literally the same thing they have a fat sam They have a fat Sam. They have a fat Sam that travels around with the main character.

I like that call. There's just so much stuff that's exactly the same. I love Game of Thrones. I love Lord of the Rings. I'm just saying that George R.R. Martin clearly stole a lot from J.R.R. Tolkien. I love this take. I co-sign it. I just thought it was hilarious.

All right. Phillies-Mets. We'll be back on Thursday. Preview. Nimmo's banged up, which helps. Four more at the Marlins. Thank right. Phillies-Mets. We'll be back on Thursday. Preview. Nimmo's banged up, which helps. Four more at the Marlins. Thank goodness. Yeah, we need it.

Can we get to those four games tomorrow? Can we bring up Pavetta for one of those starts and just get him right? Bring him up! All right. He's fritzing salsa. We'll talk to you later. All-star Closer. Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time?

Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names 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. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact.

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