High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Previously Unreleased Bryce Harper is Never Coming Here Podcast

Episode Date: July 4, 2019

Here it is... the Bryce Harper is never, ever coming here podcast.  Enjoy!  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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Available in refreshing lemon-lime, passion fruit, and strawberry flavors. Buy a stick in store at Costco, Walmart, Amazon, and other Canadian retailers. Now remember, what you're about to hear is the Bryce Harper is never coming here podcast that James and I did and finished like three minutes before Bryce Harper decided to sign with the Phillies. This is not a new podcast, but before I got angry tweets about Bryce Harper not signing here, you guys are idiots, and why'd you put this out? I figured I'd put this in the front of it. So, again, this is an old podcast recorded and finished three minutes before Bryce Harper decided to sign with the Phillies

for the next 13 years. Enjoy. This is the Highies for the next 13 years. Enjoy. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast.

Sound like one of those poets. Hey, listen. Slam poetry? Listen, this is where we're at, Jack Ritzes. It has been a tumultuous week since the last time we talked. I know you've had a couple meltdowns. I think at one point you even texted me,

I don't even know if I want a High Hopes. I can't High Hopes. The Hopes, they are not... But we're here. We're here, and I think I'm a little more positive than you right now, but look, we get it. It has been a really crappy week for those of us who felt like Bryce Harper was coming to Philly.

I'm still on that train. I know it's tough to kind of see it right now. It has been a really rough week. We're going to dive into all of the newest stuff. Remember Friday? Do I remember Friday? I remember Jack texting me Sunday night saying, we might have to emergency pot at midnight tonight because it's going to happen, baby.

What happened? Why did John Milton get on the plane if you're not going to close? What are you doing? Look. Did you go out there and just take Scott Borst at his word that he wasn't going to go shop your offer around? Why did you get on the plane if you weren't going to close? Look, I think that's been the prevailing sentiment about that flight out there was

he's not coming back without a deal done. He's not coming back without Harper on the plane, like the Arrieta thing. Came back without a deal done. And now since that, I mean, look, let's chronologically discuss it. Since the last time we talked, that was the weekend. Middleton flew out on Saturday night.

Can we go back to the last podcast? Yeah. Everything was fun. Last podcast was like a pseudo-emergency podcast. We felt like he was coming. Oh, my God. And here's the thing. We weren't the only ones.

Bob Nightingale put out on Sunday night or whatever that it's just a matter of how much Middleton's going to pay, not if he's going to sign with the Phillies or not. There were reports, Buster Olney, I mean, legitimate, legitimate sources saying this deal is done for all intents and purposes. It's just crossing the T's, dotting the I's. Jack, it wasn't done. It wasn't done.

Believe it or not, no. It was not done. We're never going to have an emergency podcast. And Scott Boris, okay, here's what I'm going to say. I know we all hate Scott Boris right now because he is our adversary. We hate him. But, man, when you step back and look at what this guy does, he is amazing at his job.

It is unbelievable that he has found a way to get the dodgers and the giants back into this thing and make this feel like it's a real thing and we don't know look this might all be bs it might be that the phillies have the highest offer on the table they've always had the highest offer on the table and boris is doing everything he can to convince them that they don't that is still possible but this last week has certainly been the most trying week yet, Jack. Yeah, it's been horrible. And Scott Boris is the worst. He's so good at his job. He's so good.

It's ridiculous. He's used the media to a T. He's used the fan base against the team. He has riled us up time and time again to create a situation where the Phillies feel like they have to pay Bryce Harper what Scott Boris wants them to pay him. I will say this. And we feel that way. That's the prevailing sentiment of the fans.

It's either you're either half on the like, screw you, Bryce. We're done with you. You've offended us. Or the other half that's just saying, pay him his freaking money. What are we doing here? Pay him. Listen, I'm just going to say this. No one should be mad at Scott Boris and Bryce Harper.

Exactly. I think this is directly the Phillillies fault for letting this happen yep this should not have happened none of this should have happened you let the dodgers and giants get back into this thing that is on you and i will say the before we get into that the one thing that i think scott boris has done completely wrong here is that I don't totally know if he understands what how Bryce is perceived in Philadelphia right now. Because right now it's approaching the Donovan level

stuff. Well yeah he's making it so that if he actually does sign with the Phillies which again. The fan base is going to be split. That's the problem. He's making he's making it a very difficult situation especially like if Harper starts cold. Man it's going to be split that's the problem he's making he's making it a very difficult situation especially like if harper starts cold man it's gonna get ugly and there's a guy they're paying 300 plus million dollars to theoretically hopefully whatever yeah and not obviously this is not our listeners but like obviously our listeners are not the whole fan base but like

there are people out there who are like 330 million i work five days a week doing construction. He shouldn't be worth that. He's picking the wrong city to pull this stuff against. Because if Bryce Harper signs here, which is now sad. We went from when to if. It's like there's going to be half the fan base that's like, oh, thank God. And the other half now is going to be like, you don't want to be here. We don't support you. And I think that's a mistake from boris and i just think that it's he's just he's played the fan base it's he's gotten the fan base to a point where it's all this pressure is on middleton

and clintack and mcphail to close but he's also create a faction of the fan base that's never going to accept him unless he brings the world series and puts up mvp caliber numbers because they can't wrap their mind around they're paying this guy 330 million dollars and he didn't want to be here yep and i just think that's i think that's that's the only thing he's really done wrong now close it like like like the freaking opt-out thing like i are you kidding me no i don't care listen i'm not losing a 26-year-old Hall of Famer because of a freaking three-year opt-out. Listen, if you can't convince him that he's going to win a World Series here in those three years, then you don't even deserve Bryce Harper.

The thing that has me most frustrated is that it feels like the Phillies are trying to win the negotiation rather than getting the player. And he's going to come here and it's going to be like, well, I'm only here because you guys offer me the most money. The Phillies aren't acting like they want Bryce Harper. They're acting like they just want to win the negotiation. And that is not the way to start off a 10-year marriage. It is a bad idea.

And guess what? It is a terrible perception for your fan base to have. I'm sorry. John Middleton, you screwed up and said, we're going to be a little stupid about it. I didn't say that. Jack didn't say that. Matt Klintak didn't say that. You said it. And whether or not I hate when people are like, well, you didn't say stupid money. He said stupid money for all intents and purposes. He said, we're going to spend money and maybe even be a little stupid about it. he said that when you do that and you are the owner

of a team who for 18 months has come out and said we're gonna be a big boy we're gonna spend money we are a major market club i want to bring the world series trophy back to philadelphia steinberg of the south you set the expectation john i'm sorry but you're the one who put that out there and that's why i'm so with you like look i understand being frustrated with scott boris and bryce harper i understand being annoyed with the tactics they're using and all that but all they are doing is trying to capitalize on a player for his highest earning potential in his entire life and get him a contract that he has waited his life, played his life for. You can't kill them for that. You can be annoyed by it. You can be frustrated. But the person and the team and the organization that you should be frustrated with right now is your Philadelphia Phillies. And yes,

if they put on the table $350 million and Harper takes four years, 200 from the Dodgers, fine. They tried. They went for it. But the stuff we're hearing now, and Jim Duquette, who certainly former general manager, locked in, you would think at least somewhere in the neighborhood of what he's talking about. Rosenthal said it first, and everyone trusts Rosenthal. Jim Duquette says that the offer is somewhere between 270 and 300 million. If that is true, that is an outrage from this team. It's embarrassing. It is an outrage from this team it's embarrassing it is an embarrassment from what

and again i understand valuations all that type of stuff that's out the window you set a precedent for your fan base you told them what you're gonna do you have to go out and make good on that promise they're acting they're acting like they're not one of the top five they're acting like a small market club and guess what if they're small market clubs like top five bases. They're acting like a small market club. And guess what? They're small market clubs like, I don't know, the San Diego Padres, who are acting a lot more big market than the Philadelphia Phillies are right now. The biggest contracts in the sport have been signed by the Rangers,

the Padres, and the Marlins. For three years, they have been leaking about how, oh, this is when it's go time. And they're going to pull the, they're going to pull the, exceed our valuations. They are just so not with it. Like, they don't understand. I think they're so out of touch. I think they're so out of touch.

No one gives a crap about your evaluations. No. Like, here's the thing. Here's the, here's the, Here's the God's honest truth. Is you need Bryce Harper more than Bryce Harper needs you. You don't have any blue chippers in the system. I love Mickey Moniak. I love Adam Haseley.

I love Alec Baum. They are all adorable players. They're not Bryce Harper! They are not blue chip talent. And they don't have blue chip talent coming out. They don't have blue chip talent coming through the system. Bryce Harper is a blue chipper. Reese Hoskins is a blue chipper. But you need at least three blue chippers

to win a World Series on the offensive side of the ball. You don't have a choice but to bring in Bryce Harper. You don't have a choice but to offer between $330 and $350 million. You offer what it takes to get it done in this situation. This is the situation that you brought upon yourself. You put yourselves

in it. Because you haven't drafted well and you haven't spent money the last couple seasons. Because you're a big market ball club that has a two and a half billion dollar television contract and a owner's worth close to four billion dollars or whatever it is. This is not going to play well, guys. This is a massive

mistake if the Phillies cheap out here. And again, I understand. And people aren't going to show up. Do they not understand that this is the most the city has cared about baseball since 2011? And they're squandering it. The only reason Bryce Harper is still in the market is because they didn't offer enough money. They could have ended this whenever they wanted. They could end this whenever they want.

That's the big takeaway. And the Dodgers were like, well, I mean, I guess if no one's going to sign him, we'll jump in. Sure, we'll give you a $40 million year for four years. Why not? Sure. You're Bryce freaking Harper. And the Giants. The Giants.

Wow. I mean. It's so Boris. Sure. And look, if you lose Bryce Harper to the Giants, man, I don't even know what to say. Listen. I don't even know what to say. First off.

A top five worst team in baseball with a top five worst farm system, and oh yeah, by the way, one of the oldest teams in baseball. And a horrible ballpark. And a manager who's retiring at the end of the year. It's just a... And the worst ballpark. Yes, Fort Rice-Harper is special. You know, there's only been one player who's had...

One left-handed hitter who has hit more than eight home runs in a season there. Barry. That's Barry. It's the greatest hitter of all time. Eight home runs. That's a season there? Barry. That's Barry. It's the greatest hitter of all time. Eight home runs. That's a pretty astounding stat. Because they've had some, not a lot of great players, but a guy like Brandon Bell, or someone you would think could have hit more than eight home runs there in a season.

That's crazy. It's crazy. It's crazy. So, listen, first off, I think the Giants thing, the Giants thing seems more like, you know, they were discussing it. They haven't offered 10 years, and I think if they did offer 10 years, it's a lot of deferred money. I think the Phillies, here's what I believe,

is the Phillies are the only team that has gone over $300 million guaranteed. I think the Giants have gone over $300 million, but it's deferred money. Like a Nationals offer. Right. I think it's deferred money. I believe that the Phillies have the highest offer on the table. I do believe that, and I believe that the Dodgers are in between $35 and $40 million a year

for three to four seasons or whatever. Which is very in line with all the reports we've heard so far. But again, the only reason the situation is even being presented is because you lowballed Scott Boras all offseason and he does not

for as much as he's so good he does not respect that. He has he's so good he does not he does not respect that he has an ego too and he has an ego too and he's not gonna take the L he's not gonna take less than Stanton like

did they walk into this offseason not understanding that they were gonna have to top the Stanton contract clearly they didn't and like when they saw Machado

did they think well we don't have to top that it's like it's like you do of course you do this is outrageous you're selling the face of the sport of have to top that. It's like, you do. Of course you do. This is outrageous. You're selling the face of the sport

on coming to play in Philadelphia. That's the part that people don't talk about enough. It's just like, oh, Machado, they're like similar players. Bryce Harper's the most famous player in baseball. He just brings something in addition to what he does on the field. James, they let Machado just go sign with the Padres without knowing for a freaking fact that Bryce Harper is going to be a Philly.

And we said that. We were like, they would never do that. We said they'd never let Machado go if they didn't think they had Harper locked up. Machado only cares about the money. They could have gotten him for 10 for 310. They could have gotten Machado for 10 for 310. The only thing he cares about is the money. Period.

There was this SI article that came out last night, two nights ago and Lozano called Machado, his wife picked up, gave him the $300 million number and his wife said, we're going to San Diego. That's literally all it is, is money. And they let Machado,

another 26-year-old Hall of Famer that they supposedly wanted, let him go. For them not to be 100% concrete sure that Bryce Harper was in the fold and closing this, it's like, are you kidding me? Do you know what you're doing?

That's something, too, where if Harper does leave, the Machado thing is going to come back on them big time. Because you're going to look at it and say, why'd you let him go? Why did you let him go? Hey, maybe we shouldn't have hired people from Baltimore, another small market team, to run a major market team.

Maybe it's the one time that Dave Dombrowski would have been the right guy to bring in. Hey, maybe we shouldn't have hired people from Baltimore, another small market team, to run a major market team. It's true. Maybe it's the one time that Dave Dombrowski would have been the right guy to bring in. Where he would actually... And that's the thing. They have so much money. They don't pay anybody. Hey, guess what? It's not like if they don't pay Bryce Harper, it's going to charity.

Well, and that's the other thing, too. Let's talk about the whole Arenado thing, which seems to have certainly played a role in this. Arenado re-signs, taken off the market. The AAV, the opt-out after 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, which is something that wasn't reported initially. The Nolan Arenado signing, to look at it, to what Jack is saying here, if you're not going to spend this money on Bryce Harper, who are you spending it on? I know Mike Trout, we're the leaders of the Mike Trout here, bandwagon,

we hope it'll happen. Honestly, anything but a sure thing. Listen, now with this front office, I don't know. I'm getting, now I'm frustrated by the Mike Trout thing.

Because it's still two years away, at best, unless you're going to trade a bunch of assets for him. And you can't plan your team around a guy that might hit the preseason mark. Well, we just saw it. Everyone's like, well,

we're waiting for Renato next offseason. Whoops. Hey. Whoops. Hey, you know what might never happen again if this continues with the way the trends in baseball are happening? 26-year-old Hall of Famers are never going to hit the market anymore.

Never again. They're going to buy out the RBers. This might be the last time. Look, it's only happened once before. We've talked about this. Alex Rodriguez is the only comp here. There's no one with this. We've said it a million times.

There's no one with this type of resume at this type of age who has been available as a free agent. It's never happened. And this might be the last time. This might be the last time. And they... Sign him! What are we doing here? This is not like... We don't think it's over. I actually think they're still gonna get him. I think they're gonna get him too. If I'm

betting money, I'm betting on the Phillies to still get him. I'm looking through all this recent smoke. He doesn't want to play here. But the key is that I'm believing in the Phillies to still get him I'm looking through all this recent smoke that he doesn't want to play here and I'm but the key is that I'm believing in the Phillies to put that offer on the table and that's that's where I still think they get him but my one hang-up is I guess I don't know if they're gonna pay him anymore how crazy is that yeah how crazy is that well and if and here's what I always come back to and like, this is the – every day I wake up and I look up at my ceiling, I feel like I have written there three things. One, I don't think the Players Union lets him sign.

Well, that's my other thing. I've said this from the beginning. I mean, they did it with CeCe Sabathia. He didn't want to go to New York. They said it's $60 million more, you're going to New York. Right. I mean, the Players Union – listen if if he has a record-breaking contract on the table then the players union is is not going to just let that go like it's just they will especially that won't happen well especially when you consider how many

players have been complaining about free agency complaining about the labor situation complaining about the cba i mean there's even more pressure than there would be in any random year for bryce harper to take the stone-cold lock biggest highest money deal on the table right and the one the other thing I can't get past is that is that is that even if there's a momentum building towards him signing elsewhere Scott Boris is not not going to come back to the Phillies and let Middleton sink or swim that's basically what it's going to be it's like do you want them him? Do you not want him? Because we're taking the Dodgers offer if you don't want him.

I can't get past that. So that's one, two, I can't get past one, the players union, and two, Scott Boris is not going to not come back to the Phillies. And again, also, also, and I know that everyone, if Herbert doesn't want to play here, then he's not going to be here, and all that type of stuff, and whatever.

To Jack's point, if he gets blown out of the water, he's going to take it. But also with Boris, just real quick, Scott Boris has a say in all this too. Scott Boris doesn't hire clients and say, oh, where do you want to go? I'll get you there. Don't worry. I'll get you a deal from those guys. He says, I'm getting you a ton of money because you signed with me and you let me run this show. Yeah, and Scott Boris, the time he leaves record-breaking years

and guaranteed dollars on the table will be the first time. It's never happened. So that's the three things I keep coming back to. One, is I'll be the union. Two, Boris does not let the Phillies make a final offer. And three, he doesn't leave dollars and years on the table. That'll be the first time that he's just like, you know what? Yeah, sure, I'll take a four-year.

First off, I won't beat Mannyny machado which i think is ridiculous i won't be i would be i mean we talked we talked john marosi said that he thought they would announce it three minutes before the manny machado press conference because of the no i'm just saying just because of the level of pettiness and the and the competition between those two guys so i agree with you what a cute cute time that was god that was so much fun wasn't it what a good day we were sitting there like oh could today be the day how many could today be the day days that we had and and that's why like again i really i genuinely i'm not just saying i really do still believe bryce harper will be a philly like i'm not moving off it i just i know all this smoke and i know all this stuff but for all the reasons you just said again in my mind and this is why I think it is just asinine for anyone to defend this team if

they don't get him it is a hundred percent on the Phillies right now listen if Bryce Harper doesn't want to be here then pay him more to be here and he will come here. You control this. You are in charge. Like there's no like other side to this. Pay him a record breaking amount of money. And he will be here. That is as simple as it gets. Listen. The difference. It's the difference between 35k at a minimum.

At the ballpark. And 20k. And like 22k. Oh yeah. Like I think. First off. Like Phillies fans. They'll.

If they don't sign Bryce Harper. They'll eventually show up if they're winning, right? Like, they'll eventually get there. Yes. But if they sign Bryce Harper, it's instantaneous. It's instantaneous. I'm going to the ballpark to see Bryce Harper. That alone is worth $330 million over 10 years. Like, having one of the faces of the sport being on your team. Well, that's why it seems like the Giants are only in for that reason.

Because they're losing money. It's been reported that Farhan Zahidi and the front office don't want to do this, and ownership is overruling them because of ticket sales, because of fan interest, lack of fan interest. That is the reason Bryce Harper could, and I don't think he will, but that's the reason the Giants are in it, the face of baseball part of it. Not the competing thing, because they're not going to compete.

I want to send this directly to John Middleton. John. John. If you want to become Jack, freaking kick those nerds out in McPhail and Klintzak and just finish this yourself. I don't care if you have to get emotional. I don't care.

I think the only reason the Phillies have an offer of $330 million. Listen, if you're going to come on the station And you're going to say I'm going to get that trophy back Or I'm going to die trying If you're going to leak things That you want to be Steinbrenner of the South

If you say to Ryan Howard Bring me that freaking trophy back Then finish this freaking deal Because this is on you This is your fault Because of the stupid money thing This is all your fault. You have the ability to finish this.

Stop with the low-balling. Get to 330 and just shut up. Nut up or shut up. It's 330 million. Listen, if he turns down between 330 and 350 million, we will not crush you. But if you low-ball him and say, hey, we're only offering you 310 and you're not going to beat the stand contract, then we're will not crush you but if you lowball them and say hey we're only offering you 310 and you're not going to beat the stand contract like then we're going to crush you i don't think you understand how fed up this fan base is right now with the phillies you have a

chance to win everyone back you have a chance to have 35 000 people at a minimum at the ballpark on opening day and throughout the season if you sign this guy like stop messing around take the ball into your own hands and finish this just finish it uh i couldn't agree more obviously my sentiment has as outlined that as well but i think you hit on a really important thing here and that generally speaking i am all for front offices making decisions and being in charge of things and owners hiring guys who they trust to do the job i love that as a general setup for an organization there are certain times and certain decisions where it's going to fall on the owner there's the money involved the face of the franchise all this type of stuff this is one of those decisions and john to jack's point what he all talked about from our perspective the fan

base not just high hopes nascent this fan base, this is all on you now. People are not going to be like, oh, Matt Klintak didn't get us Bryce Harper. Andy McPhail didn't get us Bryce Harper. They're going to say John Middleton didn't get us Bryce Harper. John Middleton went from the difference from $300 million to $330 million, which is $3 million a year on a 10-year contract. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about giving Harper potentially $3 million a more year, $5 million a more year even. That's an extra $50 million.

I mean, what are we talking about here? What are we talking? John Middleton, and look, to Jack's point earlier, ultimately if the Phillies win and they win a championship, whatever, the legacy can change. But right now, John, in theory, and especially because I think it's going to be a lot harder to win World Series if you don't bring in guys like Bryce Harper, your legacy as the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies

is on the line here. Does he understand that we want to be cocky? The whole run from 07 to 11, it was like Phillies fans are walking around being cocky and like if you go if you go cheap like what do we have to fight for anymore like why are you going cheap that's what i don't i just i cannot get i think it's the thing i least expected like if you had come into this offseason and said are you like here are the reasons bright they might not get either guy which i i again i've said a million times, I was 99.9% sure they would get one of the two guys.

I can't believe that it's about, and again, I still don't, I still think they'll get him. But if you had said to me, you know, neither guy wanted to come here, they didn't like Gabe, I believe they didn't like Gabe Kapler before I believed that John Middleton would cheap out. You can give me any other reason in the book. They hate Philadelphia. They hate Philly fans. Whatever it is. And I don't think any of those are true.

But if you had said, what's one thing that won't happen this offseason? It's that John Middleton will cheap out. I would have said that would never, ever happen. But why is it happening? I don't know. That's what I don't get. They have no revenue. They have revenue. They have the TV contract that they haven't spent money on.

Why are you cheapening out? Is it waiting for the final offer to come in and say, hey, I can top that with whatever? And look, they might not be. We might be getting misinformation. There is the possibility that it just seemed like it could have been done. I agree. If they had given enough, it could have been done. And obviously, we don't want them to bid against themselves, but it's $20 million from 310 to 330

versus letting his dream destination coming back in and another town that he also loves in San Francisco, two West Coast teams. That's the difference between doing business here. The Phillies will have the ability to match and trump whatever offers out there. I just hope that right now they've been playing hardball because they've been able to play hardball. Because

they've been the only ones that are really offering the big money contract. But if he comes back, if Boers comes back to Middleton and says hey, we're going to take this short year contract offer unless you trump this. And if he does not trump that offer I just want to know why. Because then that is

embarrassing. It's embarrassing. It's an embarrassment if he doesn't. Once again, the thing that has been most frustrating with this whole thing is that the Phillies feel like a small market team in a big market city. They feel like they don't want to spend the money that they have. And to me, that is a slap in the face to the fans that have had to watch Cedric Hunter on opening day two years ago or three years ago in 2016.

Well, and again, it's a slap in the face to everyone who believed you when you said, I'm going to go and spend money. Both this offseason and 18 months ago when you were in the studio right here at WIP with Angelo Cataldi and said, I want to bring this trophy back. We're going to spend. We're going to be the big boys. You are

acting like the Kansas City Royals. You're acting like a small market team that doesn't have the resources to compete with big boys. It's embarrassing. Hey man, if you had legit talent to pay, I wouldn't blame you. But you don't have legit talent to pay. Oh, absolutely.

I mean, yeah, if you said for a fact hey, look, Mike Trout's out there or someone else is out there or someone on the team is worth paying $300 million to down the road, whatever. There's no one like that here. There's no one like that who's going to be available. It seems.

Like the Nationals are a bigger market scene than the Phillies right now. The Rockies are. I mean, everybody. The Rockies just played Blackman last offseason, Peyronado this offseason.

Colorado. I mean, this is an embarrassment. We are a top five market in all of America. Act like it. Act like it. Act like it. Especially because you said you're goingica act like it act like it like it especially

because you said you're gonna act like it it's the double thing of not only should you act like it because of the television contract because the lack of money you spent on the books because the ability to spend money because the money you have but because you told us you were going to have what kind of a connection do you have to this fan base it's just like clintac doing the objectively awesome offseason thing or whatever where it's like, yeah, you had a good offseason, but you're saying that now? Yeah, I know.

Again, we see the valuation comment. Over and over, this team seems to have a disconnect from their fan base, and it is a fan base that is and can be as passionate as any in the sport. The ballpark is buzzing. It's electric

at the bank when it's exciting, when they're good, when it's fun. It's electric. I can't believe we're even in this scenario. I can't believe we're having a discussion. I didn't think we were going to make it to another regular non-emergency podcast, much less be morose and... John Morosey.

John Morosey John Morose. I can't wait. One good thing, whatever happens after this, I'm never going to see Andy Martino's name again, as far as I'm concerned. I never want to see that guy's name again. I tell you what, I think I've learned more about baseball in this offseason than ever.

I've learned to never trust Bobby. Bobby came on the show. Came on the show. Bobby comes out today. Philly's no longer the favorite. You said bank on it. They said on the show. Came on the show. Bobby comes out today. Philly's no longer the favorite. You said bank on it. They said bank on it, Bob. Yeah. You jerk.

Yeah, I really, I really learned. If I'm not mistaken, Buster Olney owes everyone the family farm. You're right. The family farm in Vermont. I believe that was a bet that was made earlier. But hey, maybe they wouldn't have been betting the family farm saying bank on it if you hadn't come out and said stupid money and then not spend it. Yes. Like, I think it's fair. It fair it's a fair that's the reason we've all

thought this the whole time like all everything is lined up to say that the phillies would get one of these guys the one thing we could have never guessed was that they would be lying about wanting to spend money i mean how could we possibly when he's Okay. Let's go back further. Because you said why would he go out on the plane and not get the deal done? And why would you not offer a contract? You know what Hector Neris and John Milton have in common? What? Can't close.

Oh, buddy! You did it! Can't close. Right now, I can't argue with that. Why did you say the stupid money thing? Seriously. I mean, why did you let that slip out of your mouth? You're a $4 billion billionaire of an owner of a baseball team,

a shrewd businessman, apparently, which is what everyone talked about this whole frigging time. Why would you say that? Why would you let that slip? Why would you possibly say that? I can't tell if he's more interested in being the big market owner than he is actually owning a baseball team.

If he was, he'd go and pay people though. You know what I mean? Him coming on our stage and saying I'm going to get the trophy back or die trying. Him taking a plane to Las Vegas. Him saying stupid money. Just to be able to do all those things. It's like a show. It is a show. It's almost like a show. But once you don't come through on it, it's going to look bad. It's going don't come through on it, then it's going to look bad.

It's going to look really bad. I mean, it's going to be embarrassed. I will be embarrassed as a Phillies fan. Well, listen, I don't want to kill him too bad, but this is... And again,

it all depends on how it plays out. Look, if Bryce Harper takes a short-term deal with the Dodgers and it comes out the Phillies offered a ton of money, yeah, fine.

I can't blame them for that. I will blame them for letting Machado leave because you thought you had Harper when you didn't. You misread the market. And it just seems like in general, they've misread the market across the board here

with Harper, with Machado, with the whole situation. But regardless, I think that's where you look back and you say, how could you possibly let that guy go? But again, if it comes out, if the Giants get him for 10 years, 300 or something like that, or I mean, like seriously, like what if some are like 10 years, 320, let's say the Giants are the one to beat the Stanton deal and give him 10 years, 330. Yeah.

Really? No, I know. It'd be a disaster. It would be an, it would be an utter, an utter disaster. So listen, John, listen, you don't have to let this happen. Like you don't, you can, you can finish this if you want to. Enough with the, enough with the think you're bidding against yourself thing like you're not bidding against yourself anymore just get the guy even if you are i don't at this point like and again you're not bidding against yourself

anymore we've heard enough where even if it's not the same type of offer that you're making there are offers out there that are appealing to bryce harper yeah you got to react to that and again you know what even if there aren't even if there aren, like you're at the point where there is enough smoke out there that you have to believe that there are. And now you have to pry him away from his childhood dream place of life. Yes. And that's the thing. Well, I think the Yankees was his original childhood dream.

That's because he wears the 34 for Mantle and all that. The 3 plus 4 is a 7. The Dodgers are definitely- Way higher on the list than the Phillies were when he was a kid. You have to sell him on coming to Philadelphia. Well, that's the thing. And that's why, guess what? In a sense, you're bidding against yourselves in the way that you might have to overpay to get him.

But guess what? That's the situation you put yourself in. There was a guy who was strictly money. You didn't pay him. You let him go to San Diego. I know. And again, I was all right with it at the moment. who was strictly money. You didn't pay him. You let him go to San Diego. I can't. San Diego. I know. And again,

I was all right with it at the moment because I really thought they wouldn't do that if they didn't have Bryce Harper. I can't. The more this week has played out, the more I think about the fact that I cannot believe

that they would let Machado walk for $300 million if they didn't have Harper locked in. I know. I'm floored by it. I'm so floored by it. That's where it's like, do you guys know what you're doing? That's what it feels like.

It feels like they had no idea that they were going into negotiations against Scott Boris. It also feels like they had no idea going into negotiations this offseason that they were going to have to spend $300 million or more. I can't believe that. We talked about 10 years, $400 million going into the offseason. Everyone knew these numbers were going to be silly. And you're like, oh, 270.

Yeah, I should get it done. What? I know. What world are you living in? We're not working in Major League Baseball, and we know that's not going to get it done. I'm just... And again, look, this is all with the caveat that...

Who knows anything, right? There's so much smoke out there. Maybe we needed a Meltdown podcast to get everyone. We have been so cocky this whole offseason about how he's coming. Maybe we needed the Meltdown podcast to get the world aligning again. Doesn't this feel like classic Philadelphia? I'm literally, every time I look at Twitter, I'm just waiting for the inevitable. Bryce Harper finalizing a four-year, $200 million contract with the Dodgers. Every time I log on Twitter. Me too. I'm terrified of it. I don't want to go on Twitter. I'm just waiting for the inevitable Bryce Harper finalizing a four-year, $200 million contract with the Dodgers.

Like, every time I log on Twitter. It's like a meltdown. Me too. I'm terrified of it. I don't want to go on Twitter. Yeah. I'm off Twitter. Never going back.

I mean, look, that's the thing where we're at the point as a city, at least certainly as a radio station, at WIP, the calls we've been getting, and really our whole show on the Midday Show today was, why are people acting like he's already signed somewhere else? I mean, the prevailing mentality now is, like you said before, is we're almost going like fight or flight and saying well he's not signing here i didn't want him anyway like what he hasn't signed anywhere yet like it's crazy well and it worked out perfectly for boris i mean he waited as long as possible what a shock what a shock things worked out for scott boris

he waited the man luck is the residue of design, Jack. And Scott Boris has a hell of a design every freaking time. Yeah, he just came back to like, this looked like he was going to, it looked like Brad Sharper was going to come here for way less than he should be coming here for. And Boris worked it into the Dodgers.

And he worked it into the Giants. And he played it out until the Aronado thing happened. And whether he knew that was going to happen or not, he probably did. If I had to bet, I would bet that at least Scott Morris had an inkling that Nolan Aronado

was a potential extension type of thing where it could help his case. Yeah. Of course. So, the Machado thing happens that you know

you have to go over $300 million. The Aronado thing happens, you know you have to beat that AAV. And that's what's so crazy with the fact that the Cats are putting $270 million at $300 million. And let's just give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's $300 million. The Arenado thing happens, you know you have to beat that AAV. And that's what's so crazy with the fact that Duquette's reporting 270 at 300. Let's just give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's 300.

You thought you weren't going to have to pay more than Machado? Like, really? Well, maybe it's 270 for like eight years. I don't know. I hope it's 270. I hope it's big money for like eight years. Sure, whatever.

It's better than just such a drastic misreading of the market that that's your offer? I pray to God he's wrong. That's the only thing I can think. Yeah, he probably is. He's got to be, right? I definitely think it's way above $300.

If I could put a number on it, I think it's like $310. I think it's $310 for 10 years. How do you know you're not going to have to go after Stanton? How do you know? Why wouldn't you go over Stanton? And why wouldn't you just go 10-330? Just end it. 10-330 gets them above Stanton.

It gets them everything you want. Look, you could even go 10-340 and give them the AAV ones or 345. Again, when we're talking the difference between... We're talking 3 million a year, 5 million a year extra. And yes, these are big numbers. As jack said at the beginning of the show i don't want to i don't want to like make light of the fact that we're talking of hundreds of millions of dollars here and like oh two millions nothing but it when you're talking apples to apples and comparative relative value what we're talking about like like that's not it's not the type of number that should get you

to walk away from a franchise changing type of guy on and off the field. Well, the thing that's so ridiculous is that the Dodgers are a team that's been to back to back World Series and they have no problem offering them high AAV for short years. They've won the West six years in a row. All they do is win. Like the Phillies have not. They have not.

It's unbelievable. It's a great point. Like that's a big thing you see is like the Dodgers are in at a high AV for lower years, but they don't even need him. They're just like, sure, why not? I just think that obviously they have an ability to end this whenever. And I pray to God that they don't let this get to the point where another team's taking, you know,

it's gotten to the point where the Dodgers are ready to sign a deal and Boris comes back to the Phillies and say, hey, do you want to top this? And they do that. Like, it's just the way this has played out. And sure, it could end with Bryce Harper being a Philly. And I think it will be. It's just it should never have gotten to this point. Once Machado got 300, you should have just offered 330 and said, let's call it a deal. And them stalling

has allowed Scott Boras to get back into the... allowed the Dodgers and Giants to get back into it. Them taking a... I can't... Do you think when John Middleton left Vegas without a deal, Scott Boras started laughing maniacally and said this moron just went home and now I can take his offer

and play it against other teams? Scott was probably like, I own you. I win. I'm going to take you for everything you're worth. I win is what Scott Boris is thinking. How do you leave there without a contract? Especially in a day and age where everyone knows your plane's out there. It's all that people are talking about.

I don't know, Jack. Do they want to be a big boy? Apparently not. I hope so. If they sign Bryce Harper, sure. The Red So to be a big boy? Well, apparently not. I hope so. If they sign Bryce Harper, sure. The Red Sox are $32 million over the luxury tax, and they have way better players than you do. Yeah.

Look, the Dodgers are saying, fine, we'll go deep into the luxury tax. Even if it's a short-term deal, they're going way over the luxury tax if they sign Bryce Harper. Do you want to be a big boy, or do you not want to be a big boy? Do you want to win at your own terms and luck into Rollins, Utley Howard again? Or do you not want to be a big boy? Do you want to win in your own terms and luck into Rollins, Utley, Howard again? Or do you want to actually be a... Do you want

baseball to run this town for the next... The Eagles are going through a downswing once they pay Carson Wentz because they can't afford everyone anymore because there's a seller gap and whatnot. They're going to go through a down-ish five-year period. The Flyers, no one cares about. The Sixers, if we've learned one thing about this whole process,

is that baseball is way more important than basketball in this town. We can't even talk about anything else but the Phillies for the last two weeks. Yeah, it's only by a second. You have a chance to captivate this city for five to ten years. The fact that they're going small market rather than big market, slam it on the table, let's be one of the big boys, it's just like, is Bill Giles back? Are the old Phillies back?

It's what it feels like, Jack. And also, though, to your point, it's such a big swing. It's going from, like you said, the chance to own this town, the chance to be the biggest sports team in this town for years, as opposed to the other side where like, again, if you don't sign him, like,

you are really alienating your fan base. Like, you're going way far the other end. It's such a massive swing in terms of fan perception of this team. Teams are,

the teams that are in now and the teams that have won recently are at the luxury tax. They are at the luxury tax. So you're not winning cheap anymore. What are you doing? cheap anymore what are you doing like what are you what are you doing i don't know what they're doing i don't i and ultimately just end it and hopefully he's here but like the fact that it's gotten to this point

i think it's just embarrassing so that's that's where i'm at i got nothing else to say and i feel so one more thing setting a deadline is is freaking stupid. Stop suggesting that. Because guess what? What happens if he passes the deadline? And then he's like, oh, if he comes back to you, you're going to be like, nah, we set a deadline. Yeah, we're not taking it anymore. Right, right. Go take that worse offer.

We'll pivot. Here's another. Between the deadline being moronic, another moronic thought is, hey, let's just pivot to Keiko and Kimbrell. Sure. Let's sign two over the hill 31-year-olds to two or three-year contracts. I can't even go there right now. That'll be a needle mover for the next two to three

years. Let's sign a left-handed Arietta and a 32-year-old Billy Wagner. Ray of sunshine walking in the sea at Johnny Marks. The Phillies are back in? Yeah. He's back.

He thinks he's coming definitely now. Oh, I mean, I think he's coming. So I believe that Harper will be here. I just did. Yesterday I felt. You played taps on your show yesterday. Yeah, yesterday I felt like it was over. It's like taps.

So here's where I am today, and it could be different tomorrow. That nothing's changed. That Boris is just continuing to stir the pot, and if you think that offering them $325 right now will get the deal done, then you'll get all the reports that say, well, there's three offers of $325, so $350 is what they need. This isn't going to end until they want it to end, which is probably a couple weeks away. Yeah.

John, I think you nailed it, and I do agree with you. I think, look, all that's changed now is that instead of us being the favorites and all this stuff, people are saying we're not anymore. That's the only thing that's changed in terms of misinformation. It's all the same smoke. It's just more new teams, more new information. The Dodgers are back in!

How does that happen? But I'm with, again, and I know this has been a, I think we needed this. It's been cathartic. We needed to get angry and get annoyed. I just had to pent up in myself. Me too. Like, I've been waiting.

I've been waiting to say all this. But, again, like, the crazy thing is, is that we both still think he's going to be a Philly. He's going to be a Philly. I really think he's going to be a Philly. I really do. To go to the pep you up side of the podcast, I really still think he's going to be a filly. John Middleton just has to get the deal done. If this goes on for two more weeks, I'm not going to be alive.

Dude. All right, so if it's another week similar to this last week, oh boy, get ready for the I Ops podcast. It's coming next week. I don't know what the reaction is going to be if he signs here. Obviously, it's going to be like freak out. It's like, oh my. If he signs here, I'm finally going to be able able to breathe i feel like i haven't really had a deep

breath and i just can't like pick up my phone every second looking hoping thinking i just i need it to end i for my soul for my like i i can't boris man ah i would have i mean yo i we all hate you but props bro you're so good he's so good he's killed me he's effectively murdered me he's killed this whole fan base like he has he has put us

through the ringer in such a way where it's look he's a master he has masterfully played us as a fan base the team

he's played everybody this radio station like he's played us all so shout out to Scott one more thing because I need a break I gotta go pick my daughter up and take care but tomorrow if you listen this friday whatever right friday night five to eight um we are going to be

at chicken pete's playhouse in south philly for the striking out cancer event you heard john marks marks and reese putting it on, it is for an awesome cause. It is to, for very quite simply try and strike out cancer. Um, it is a great time. We'll be guest bartending there. We're gonna have a lot of fun.

So, um, if you do want to coming out and wallow in misery together until this happens, or maybe who knows, maybe it happens sooner than we think and we get excited, but either way, um,

coming out with us, Jack, final thoughts uh listen let's talk about some actual baseball for one second here what's that uh spring training i i i honestly thought i was watching yesterday i was watching the game yesterday and i was just so like downtrodden i was so upset with how things were going that i didn't want to watch my favorite team in the world play baseball. But I will say that I am a big fan of Jeet Segura. He is just such a breath of fresh air. He hits. They're not going to strike out this year.

We're going to actually have a semblance of an offense. I think McCutcheon has looked great. The bat looks like it's back a little bit. There's a little bit of pop. Real Amudo had a huge double yesterday. He's just so fun. He just is such a perfect timing hitter that when he's foot down and he smacks it,

it's just like it's beautiful. And the pitching staff looks really good. The fact that the Phillies did not let me enjoy Adonis Medina day-to-day made me a little bit upset because I wanted to watch Adonis. It was a bummer. Yeah, I'm coming here melting down about Bryce Harper. Meanwhile, Adonis Medina is on the mound. Scott Kingery looks good, which is spring training.

Kingery is back. So that's fun. And now Cesar Hernandez is hurt. Roman Quinn's hurt again. Everybody's hurt, Jack. Odubo Herrera's hurt. It's just like one day after another, it's like I look on Twitter, it's like, oh, Roman Quinn got hurt.

Oh, Cesar Hernandez got hurt. Yeah, Cesar being hurt, it stinks. But I do want to see Kingery get an extended look at second base. Yeah, I guess that's a plus side of a silver lining, isn't it? Oh, and Tommy Hunter didn't want to participate in spring training anymore, so he's out. Yeah, I read that the same way. Surprised it wasn't Pat Neshek.

March 5th is Nola and Pavetta Day. They're pitching on the same day. What a day. Am I counting down to my own World Series? Yes. It's going to be remarkable. I'm all the way in on Jojo Romero. I don't know why you have to sign Dallas Kleckle

when Jojo Romero is just as good. I like that take. Nice little take thrown in there. Daniel De Los Santos is a splitter away from being Jose Contreras. Here we go, baby! Yeah, I mean, Daniel's going to be good, man. I'm telling you he's going to be good. I'm telling you he's going to be good.

Cole Irvin reminds me of Jay Happ. baby. Yeah. I mean, any else can be good, man. I'm telling you, it's going to be good. I'm telling you, it's going to be good. Um, uh, Cole Irvin reminds me of Jay Hap and I think that's all I got. Oh, sir. Anthony Dominguez is going to be an all-star this year. You said that last time,

but I like it. I don't care. I'm tripling and tripling down. We need all the good, positive thoughts. We can think right now. Yeah. So I didn't see the game today. I will be rewatching that later.

All right. Um, right. The podcast is always... John Middleton. Do you want to be Jack? Sign him. I know.

Just sign him and get it done. If you've listened to this podcast, John, the pressure's on. For as much as Harper Lent was a cute, adorable pressure, this is actual pressure. This is real. This is the difference between

having 35,000 people in your ballpark at a minimum and 25,000 people pissed off ballpark at a minimum and 25,000 people pissed off. And for us looking at you, John Middleton, as a weak, soft owner or as our hero. And never... Stupid money could be put away forever. Oh, it'll go down with gold standard. It'll go down as one of the for who, for what.

Some of the all-time... Maybe it might be number one. I think it might be the number... It would trump number one. I think it might be the number, star running all-time. It might be the number one. It will be remembered as the dumbest comment in the history of Philadelphia sports. Not even close. So if you, so for the- So the stakes are high, John. For the PR nightmare, for like, people are, if you see people out, John Middleton, they're

not going to be happy with you. They're not going to be excited to see the owner of the Phillies. Oh no, man. It's a completely different thing. So pressure's on. It's on your hands, John. You can change all that. None of that stuff we said has to happen.

We want to be a happy podcast. Freaking sign him. The High Hopes podcast in and of itself is a happy podcast. Yeah, we don't want to be angry. We don't want to do this ever again. No, this is not our thing. We want to be cocky. So do it for us.

Do it for, and when I say us, I mean every single Philadelphia Phillies fan. John Middleton. All right. Hopefully we'll talk to you guys soon for a good reason. More likely than not, we'll talk to you in a week. Either way, we'll see. 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.

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