High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - They Do Just Enough to Get Me Excited Then They Punch Me in the Face

Episode Date: September 11, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the disappointment that is the Phillies. The guys discuss two straight losses to the Rockies, where the organization goes from here, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, the most worst titled podcast in the history of podcasting. I used to think we had the best name ever, Jack.

Now it just taunts me. It taunts me. Our name taunts me, Jack. I can't believe we even, and I didn't think they were going to make the playoffs, but I can't believe I even gave them a chance again think they were going to make the playoffs, but I can't believe I even, like, gave them a chance again. Like, I hate them. I hate this team, Jack. Yeah, it's not great.

It's not great. It's not great. And it's like, you know, at the same time where I'm obviously furious, like I'm furious at them for doing this crap again. Like, I'm just glad they're getting it out of the way. I'm glad they're getting it out of the way. Like, I'm just, I'm so sick and tired of it. I'm glad they're getting it out of the way. I'm so sick and tired of it. I'm so sick and tired of every year coming into it, getting excited,

and then September happens, and they completely fall apart again. And they're a loser franchise. They just continue to be a loser franchise. They are such a loser franchise. Well, because it's every year. All right. This is the third straight year of this core uh second year of dd and and wheeler um but really it's the third straight year of this core

and again in september they're completely collapsing again which is like at some point either you know how to win you don't know how to win and like they don't know how to win they have no idea how to win like it doesn't take this long to figure out if you guys win or you cannot. And obviously, no, Reese hurts, but dude, like... I mean, the Braves have lost to Cunha and Ozuna. Like, both guys, no offense to Reese Hoskins, both better hitters than Reese Hoskins, and obviously, Cunha, like, a top three player in this sport.

Like, come on. You can't, you can't, and I'm with you, like, losing Reese definitely hurts, but like, that's not an excuse. Like, you can't do that when the team that's beating you lost more guys or more important guys. Yeah, well, and honestly, it comes down to this. It comes down to this.

Boehm sunk them. Yep. Didi sunk them. Aaron Nola sunk them. The closer position sunk them. And hey, JT did too. And JT sunk them, yeah. He did.

Yeah, JT has been... The least clutch hitter I've ever seen in my life. I'd rather have myself up in a, and I'm not like Elliot. I don't think I could ever get a hit off a major league pitcher. I still think I have a better chance of JT in a clutch spot. There was a real rational thought of I'd rather have Torres up the other night than, than JT Real Amito. Like, of course you'd, like, that's not even a question.

How sad is that? That is very sad. Yeah. Given how bad Torres has been hitting. I'd rather have Matt Veerling up in a big spot. Veerling is the guy. But it's just, you know, you sit here, and like last night happens, and they just get the doors blown off.

Yeah. And, you know. Especially after losing the first game of the series, right? Like, you could. I just can't believe it. I can't. I'm going in. I'm like, they had 14 games against the Rock game of the series, right? Like, you could... I just can't believe it. I can't. I'm going in. I'm like, they had 14 games against the Rockies on the road

who coming into the series were 18-50 on the road, Jack. 18-50. You got the Cubs who stink. The Orioles, worst team in baseball. The Pirates, one of the three worst teams in baseball. Like, you're supposed to win 12 of those 14, and now they'd have to sweep the rest to do that, Jack? Great. Yeah.

And you know what they're not going to do? They're not going to do that. Because all they know how to do is lay down. And they don't know how to rise up, and they don't know how to win. They don't know how to do anything. Like, they're just, they are just a mediocre baseball team, and it's the third straight year of mediocre baseball. And, like,

this comes back to, it comes back to Andy McPhail and Matt Klintak. And, like, I couldn't loathe two people more than I loathe those two. Because they have completely wasted a great opportunity here. And, like, the whole talk of, like, 2014, 2015, 2016, whatever, was the Phillies were a sleeping giant. And it was like, oh, the sleeping giant. Like, they have all this money. They have no money on the books in, like, 2018 or whatever.

And they're going to go out and they're going to be crazy. And instead, what they did was that they basically had no plan. Like, there was no plan for anything when it came to Klintak and McPhail. There was no plan. Well, first off, it goes one step higher. Let's hire the guy from the Angels to run our... Yeah, let's not forget, Chaim Bloom was a finalist, okay? You made the wrong call, my friend.

So if we go all the way to the top, right? He hires Andy McPhail, who had no interest in even being a president. Like, Andy McPhail wanted to just be like a... He wanted to just run the business side. He wanted to be like a senior advisor. You know, he wanted to be someone who hangs out, maybe gets involved in a decision or two, and puts his feet up on the desk and watches TV. That's what Andy McPhail wanted to be.

The problem was, he's the president of the freaking team doing that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why are we hiring a guy who doesn't want to be here? Which, like, was... And also a dinosaur. Like, a combo of a guy who doesn't want to be here and a dinosaur in the sport. Yeah, and that was the first mistake. And then he lets that guy hire the guy

who doesn't care about being here, doesn't care about the Phillies, doesn't care about rebuilding them, and just wants a paycheck and says, I can't believe they hired me, basically, which is great. Like, Literally awesome. That's exactly what you want to hear.

He hires the analytics guy from the Angels because apparently analytics are hot, right? The analytics are hot. You got to get invested in analytics. All these nerdy GMs. You got to do that. You got to do that. They hire the guy from the Angels who are just the Phillies of the West. That's what they are.

So great. Awesome. Great. They hire Gabe Kapler. Gabe Kapler. Oh, I thought it was Gabe's fault. Now you look at Gabe and it's like they're 41 games over 500. They're 91 and 50, Jack.

Because they had a plan. Darren Ruff is one of the best players in the National League right now. What is happening? He didn't get the nickname Babe Ruff without merit. I was told this was Gabe Kapler's fault, Jack. Right. So they hire Gabe, but give Gabe no direction. Give him literally halfway through the year, they changed their whole

shifting around because their analytics were so wrong. And also a dog bleep roster that first year, too. Like, he had Reese Hoskins playing left field for him. Yeah. Like, come on, man. They signed Carlos Santana. Which is like, again, instead of just letting Reese Hoskins play first base, they're like, hey, let's sign Carlos Santana. That's another great idea.

A great plan. Another. Another great plan. You hire a manager who now is turning out to be one of the best in the sport, but you give them no plan, no direction. Then they hire data-driven player development guys. And then give them no plan. And then give them no direction. Say, hey, please, just throw money at it and go

fix our farm system. Go fix it. Because that's what smart teams do, is they invest in data, rather than saying, hey, here's a plan. Here's what we're going to put in motion. Everyone's on the same page. And instead what they've created is a culture where no one believes each other. Everyone's pushing in different directions and they can't get on the same freaking page, which is why Dabrowski had to clear out like the top of the top because it's all created this culture of like nothingness.

And then they're like, oh, we're ready to win. Let's go throw a bunch of money at Bryce Harper. Let's go throw a bunch of money at JT Real Immuno. Let's go spend, spend, spend because we're ready to win. They's go throw a bunch of money at Bryce Harper. Let's go throw a bunch of money at JT Real Immuno. Let's go spend, spend, spend because we're ready to win. They weren't ready to win. They had no idea how to win. Like, there's no – there was no plan here. Spend money in international markets.

That's how you win. Here's $3 million for Jalen Ortiz. Here – like, it's just consistent. There was no freaking plan under those guys, and it keeps bearing out. Where there's – they have to start a freaking bullpen game against the rockies who suck and like you can't beat them because you have no depth in the minor leagues to be able to do anything don't bring these guys up and it's just like it's just so frustrating sitting here again in september with a team who's not gonna

make the playoffs because those guys sucked at their jobs. You had a president who didn't want to be here. He hired a guy who was weighing over his head and just like, let's just throw a bunch of money around. And there was never a clear, concise, here's what we're doing, here's why we're doing it, this is the Phillies way. It was just throw a bunch of money around and everyone pulling in different directions and no one feeling like they knew what they were doing. And it's again, while we're

sitting here in September, freaking 20 games left and we're not going to make the playoffs again. They're one game over 500. All this has gotten us is a team that is one game over 500. And that's a joke. And that's a joke. I'm at the point where I'm just hoping I win my over 81 and a half bet.

Yeah, well, bankrupt the bookies. Bankrupt the bookies. No, but you made a great point in there. Like, you made a lot of great points. But the point before about when you were talking about, like, them just wasting an opportunity. Like, the whole point of what the Phillies, like at least the initial plan that they had, the idea,

as you pointed out, they never really had a plan, they never executed, but the idea of being bad for a few years, stocking up on young. Which is fine. That's my point. I'm saying that was the right idea in the spot they were in. Be bad for a few years. Build up talent.

Do what the Astros lost 100 games three years in a row, and then all of a sudden, a few years later, they've got all these freaking talented guys. They have Correa and Altuve and all these guys they can bring up and build from within. And obviously, we know the Phillies can never do that, have only done that twice in the history of their franchise. But, like, to waste that opportunity to come out of that with, and we love Mick, but, like, to miss on the first pick in the draft. Well, and the idea there was, oh, we'll save money here so we can spread out the talent for the rest of the draft. Well, you have no idea what you're doing.

And also, Milk Toast, by the way, when there's so much talent now that's come out of that draft. I mean, I know you went a few runs later, but Shane Bieber was in that freaking draft. Pete Alonzo was in that draft. Ian Anderson, right after the Phillies, is a thousand times better player. No offense to Mick.

They blew this, man. Gavin offense to Mick. They blew this. Gavin Lux, yeah. Gavin Lux, they had so many opportunities at the top of drafts with an institutional push to build young, get players, draft and develop, and they did nothing, man, to the point. To your point right there, which is the key and which we've talked about all season,

the roster depth, the reason this team keeps falling apart is because when they lose guys, talked about all season, the roster depth. The reason this team keeps falling apart is because when they lose guys, they don't have that institutional roster depth where they can just bring guys up and cycle guys in and cycle guys in and out and maintain a level of play. And that's one of the biggest reasons why they are where they are. Oh, let's lose for a couple years and then have no idea how to draft. And get nothing out of it. Like, nothing out of it.

It's like, it is the most infuriating part of all this when you look back at going through that. Like, giving away baseball seasons. Like, Jack, you might not know this, I'm about to turn 40. I know, pal. I'm trying not to remind you. We are two weeks away from me being 40 years old. And let me tell you, the older you get, the more you start to think,

how many freaking seasons do I have left? And I'm fine with completely giving away a season. Like, at least there's times where there's hope in other seasons. Let me tell you, the older you get, the more you start to think, how many freaking seasons do I have left? All right? And I'm fine with completely giving away a season. Like, at least there's times where there's hope in other seasons. But, like, that was saying we are purposefully not trying to win for the future. And I'm fine with that. But when that bears nothing, it's that much more upsetting

that we just gave seasons away. I mean this in all sincerity. I think I would trade being all sincerity. I think I would trade being a fan I would think I would trade any team. I think in all of baseball, I think I would trade there is hope for almost every team.

I could talk myself into almost every team. The Angels is tough. Shohei though. You have Shohei and Mike Trout. The Pirates. No, but they just got the number one overall pick. They had an unbelievable draft. It doesn't matter. They got Bob Nuttick as their owner.

Like, we go back, and Middleton, your point to the top, like, deserves a lot of blame for this whole thing. He's the one who hired McPhail. He's the one who gave those guys rope. He's the one who didn't fire Klintak when he should have. I guess still hasn't fired Klintak, if we're being honest. Still there. Yeah.

Still there. Like, he deserves a ton of blame for this. Like, the Pirates guy, like, he'll never stand. He'll never do it. I know. But I'm with you. I'm with you. Like, let's say there are 27 teams I'd rather be or whatever you want to say.

28? I don't know. Like, here's what bothers me. It's like, you look at the Blue Jays. And I know this is kind of like a random example. But, like, the Blue Jays were just in the playoffs in 2016. Or 2015, 2016. No, it was the fall of 2015 of Batiste, the home run.

And then they win a tank for a couple years, and they come out of it. Well, what did they do? Who did they hire as their president? Mark Shapiro. Like, yeah, okay, I'm going to go get the guy from the Indians who did all that great stuff. Like, let's go get someone who's talented and smart and understands the game.

And look, Dombrowski, we'll see. I mean, Dombrowski's had a lot of success. Honestly, honest to God, and I know it sounds negative right now, and it should sound negative because, again, they're collapsing, but I have hope, actually, in Dave Dombrowski. I appreciate that he cleaned house. Like you said, that needed to happen. He needs to hire the right people, but that had to happen.

Yeah, and what he'll be at the worst, then Braski will be a boss that will get everyone on the same page and will get everyone. He knows what a well-functioning organization should look like. It's a perfect way to put it, Jack. He knows what a well-functioning organization should look like, and he can see those things

and say, all right, this is not right. We need to fix this, this, this. You know who didn't know how to do that? Yeah. The guy that built the 1988 twins. You know who didn't care to to do that? The guy that built the 1988 twins. You know who didn't care to do that, too? Yes. That's the big one.

The big one didn't care. I would love to have been the fly on the wall for the freaking interview process. Seriously. How do you sit there and listen to Andy McPhail talk and say, you are inspiring? This is the guy. I found the guy.

Right. Middleton deserves credit, or deserves blame for letting it get to this point. I mean, believing in Matt Glintak, ridiculous. Just kind of... Paulian Brandtricchi, ridiculous, yes. Well, and just throwing, honestly, just throwing the money around without, like, just, alright.

Like, the player development's a perfect example. Like, Driveline is a smart baseball place that Shohei Otani went through this offseason. Everybody does. I mean, the results are inarguable. The amount of players who've gone there and had success. Joey Votto went through this offseason. He's hit 30-plus homers this year. Had a renaissance year.

Driveline is not the problem with the Phillies. No, it's the one thing I feel good about right now. The idea, basically, their plan was, let's throw all of our money at this. We'll spend a ton of money on the player development stuff. But like, and you guys fix it. Rather than having a plan from the top saying, here's how we're going to do it. It was just you fix it. And then that creates division with the old coaches and the new wave coaches.

And then creates separation. And you can't win if people are all on different pages. And that's why you continue to see nothing at the higher levels. I believe there are some dudes in the low minors, which is great, and that's fun, and I can't wait for them to get here. I've thought about the bullpen from two years away from now. That's going to be amazing. Giddy thinking about it.

But that's two years away. You've got to live in the moment right now. At least it seems like. Like two years potentially longer. Yeah, exactly. We've got one more year of just brutalness. But, yeah, it's just like Middleton deserves a lot of blame for that. I will say that I give him credit for going and getting Dombrowski.

No question. And, look, spending on the roster, I mean, it's been spent poorly, but he does have the fifth. We want him to go over the tax. He does have the fifth or sixth or whatever, his highest payroll in baseball. He's not Bob Nutting is my point. No, and the problem is that he just didn't know what to do. And still doesn't.

Probably doesn't. He just put his faith in the wrong guys. Absolutely. But what gives me hope is that, what gives me hope is that Dombrowski's the right guy. I don't know he's the right guy, but I think he can be the right guy. He could be the right guy.

And I think having Sam Folt underneath him and keeping Brian Barber and actually elevating Brian Barber as a good sign, we'll see who they hire. I think it could happen in the next couple of days. But like, Middleton just needs a guy that he can fully buy into and believe. And hopefully Dombrowski is that guy because what we,

why we are here is because they just threw money around as stuff that they didn't know what they were doing with. Like the biggest example, another example is they hired some random like Google guy to run their analytics. Like you work at Google. You must be smart. Do you know anything about baseball? Yeah. Come run our thing. It's like, ah, it was just, you work at Google. You must be smart. Do you know anything about baseball?

Yeah. Come run our thing. It's like, oh, it was just, it's a disaster. And it's why we're here. And, you know, I don't, it's frustrating. It's frustrating. I'm not happy. Well, really?

I feel like I'm. You're not stoked right now? No, and the thing that sucks is that, like, Friday night. No, Thursday night. Thursday night, I'm sitting there, and they're two and a half out at that point. They were two and a half out on Thursday. And, you know, as the game's going on, the same thing happens. I'm like, all right, I'm feeling good. It actually didn't feel like a loss.

Like, I know they mostly do feel like a loss, but I didn't feel it that night. Right. Just like I didn't feel it on Saturday down in Miami with Archie. So, we're talking about the 4-3 disaster, Tudor, Wadney, and Kennedy. Okay, good. Yeah, yeah, and I'm going through the game, and I'm like, yes, Ranger looks great.

We have a guy. They're going to win this game. I feel great about it. And then the ninth happens, and it's like I was— One strike, buddy. One strike away. I hadn't been that despondent over a loss in a while because it's just like, like, here we go again.

And then to come out. And then JT, I mean, come on. Not only Ian Kennedy will screw you, obviously, but you still had a chance again in the ninth. You know, and my man. Yep. Captain Clutch. Mr. No Clutch.

Captain Clutch. Jacob Tyler does not come through. And then yesterday was just like 11, really? And then the gall, the gall to break out the Homer hat for Didi's only hit this month. I can't believe they did that. Oh, it's just so nauseating. It's just so nauseating. Can you just put the Homer hat away when you're getting embarrassed by one of the worst teams in baseball?

Can you do me that little bit? At home. Can you just give me a – can you just not slap me in the face with the home wear hat? Just have a sense of the moment for once. You've killed baseball in this town for, again, the last decade. They've effectively killed baseball in this town. No one cares. Yeah, I know.

We care. Our listeners care. like no one cares yeah i know like no like we care our listeners care yeah but like no one cares and like you hit a freaking home run down 11 nothing in the freaking ninth and you're like yeah put the home run on like you did it these back great oh it's just uh just not and it's not to keep going there but it is such a perfect parallel right now is talking about an organization all firing in the same direction everyone on the same page coaching staff front office that's what's happening in San Francisco right now that's why Gabe Kapler's having success he's with an incredibly smart general manager who him and the general manager on the same page all the coaching staffs on the

same page the minor leagues are on the same page it's all working together like they all have the same plan they all have the same beliefs and they all have the same beliefs. And they employ those things. And they're 41 games above 500. They keep winning, Jack. I keep expecting the Dodgers to pass them, and it doesn't happen. And the Giants aren't good. No. Again, did you not hear what I said?

Darren Ruff is their best player right now. I know. Darren Ruff, dude. Babe Ruff. Yes. That guy is thriving in San Francisco right now. Meanwhile, we're scratching and clawing to be a game over 500 with a $205 million deal. And also with the MVP.

How about that? Like, if the Phillies are a good team this year, we're not talking about, we're like, oh, Harper's the MVP. Like, he's having the best season in the National League, and they are wasting it. Like, just flat out wasting a magical season. Like, one of the best Philly seasons we've seen, certainly the best since Ryan Howard, I would say. 06 Howard, yeah.

One of the best Philly seasons you and I have watched in our lifetime is getting wasted. I'll say 06 Howard. I thought, like, I personally felt like Utley was better than Rollins in 07. I did, too. He was better in 338 before he broke his hand. Yeah, I did, like, I personally felt like Utley was better than Rollins in 07. I did, too. He was better in 338 before he broke his hand. Yeah, I did, too. That's stupid.

Abane is his first half. Rollins had the whole thing, too, with, like, oh, he's the first guy to have 20-20-20. 20 triples and 20-40-no. Like, it was like, all right. And, like, he had most of bats. And, like, it was, like, a lot of, like, spread. He was a great defender. It was all this superfluous stuff.

And the team to beat. And the team to beat. And he was the catalyst. Yeah, all that. So, I'll say 07, Utley. I'll say first half of Banias and 09. Yeah, we're not talking about Roy Halladay. Obviously, that's pitching.

But Halladay, 10 and 11 would be there. No, no, no. I was going to get to those. Yeah. But yeah, and then what Harper's doing right now. I mean, his OPS is higher than Howard's was in 06. I think so, yeah. But also, I mean, Howard didn't walk.

He just didn't. Howard also had like 50 plus homers, 56 homers or whatever. It's just so annoying. It's like, I love it. I love analytics. I get it. But like, dude, Ryan Howard had a better year than Harper's having now. Like, I'm sorry.

Dude, Ryan Howard's year is insane. Dude, I know. He was about 312 or something like that? Dude. It was insane. 58 homers. You don't see that year. Yeah, here.

You know what? It's worth just- It's worth just- It's worth pulling it up while we're sitting here. see that yeah here you know what it's worth just it's worth just it's worth pulling it up while we're sitting here um but like and like what harvard's doing that but but again like that's what makes it so frustrating is because like he's clearly you laughing at harvard howard stats 313 425 659 so howard's ops OPS was higher. It's 1084. A 1084 OPS to go along with 58 home runs. He batted 313 with 58 home runs.

That's like Jimmy Fox, Babe Ruth stuff. Yeah. Like, people don't do that. Yeah. Anyway. Again, we really took that. Oh, my God. We took 06 to 11 so for granted.

And I think because of the contract and the way it ended and stuff, we like, you know, soured on the whole thing and all that. But like, he was unreal. Like, unreal as a hitter. All right, back to the present. Yeah, back to the present. It was nice reminiscing about fun times. Okay.

But like, and I honestly, I feel so bad for Bryce. I really do. I mean, the guy is clearly doing everything. Dude, he's like, he's clearly doing everything he can to get this team to the postseason. He's not getting pitches to hit. He's making things happen. He's hitting them anyway. It's insane.

Dude, he's got JT Real Muto batting clean up. Like, talk about no protection. Ugh. And usually like Vierling or likeas or someone right at Didi. Didi in the 5-0 or whatever. It's like, what are we doing? Yes. The trash line.

It's just. Well, it's about time. Like, honestly, it was getting frustrating when they were scoring. When they had, like, seven runs, 12 runs. It's like, this is not real. No, this isn't going to work. It's like, this is not real. This is not how this works.

Not sustainable, as they say. But, yeah, with Bryce, it's just this is not real no this is not real this is not how this works not sustainable as they say um but yeah with bryce it's just you know and his comments after the game last night i thought were fascinating um just because he's beaten down he's dead he's he's broken like he's he's broken um and it's like pleading he's basically like all like putting it boiling it all down to one thing he's like someone help help me. Yeah. And I just have this feeling that Bryce is looking at the season he's having, looking at the guys around him, and I do worry that he's going to ask out. And I know that when he got signed, he was like, I'm here for 13 years. I'm by schools, hospitals. I want to put my roots here and all that stuff.

And that's great. But at some point, he's 28. He's going to have an MVP caliber season. And he's going to want to win. And I don't know how, if you're Bryce, you're looking around this roster and seeing a World Series contender in three years. Yeah, of course you can. So they're wasting a Harper year.

Wouldn't that be something if Harper convinced them to sign JT, then they'd trade Harper and we're stuck with JT? Yeah, that'd be great. Harper convinced them to sign JT, then they trade Harper and we're stuck with JT. Yeah, that'd be great. So I just, I think I have this like almost pit in my stomach that Bryce is going to be like, I want out. And I think his market has definitely rebuilt. Like if, I mean, we love Bryce, but the market for Bryce in 2018 was not robust.

But right now, but if he's coming off the year that he's having, like he would, he would garner a lot of interest. And I just, I would hate for that to happen because I think he's special and I year that he's having, he would garner a lot of interest. And I would hate for that to happen because I think he's special and I think what he's doing here. And it's just like, wow, that's what talent looks like. You know, most teams have four Bryce Harper-ish guys. We have one. So it's great.

It's just a maddening time. And last night was maddening. Last night was so embarrassing for a team that is claiming they're in a pennant run. Yeah, it is. I mean, they were down 11-0 at home to the Rockies. Again, heading into the series, now they're 20-50. They were 18-50 on the road heading into the series, Jack. Wait, they were what?

18-50, man. 18-50 on the road heading into the season. They were one of the worst teams 18-50 on the road at the end of the season. Like, they were one of the worst teams in the sport on the road. Is that worse than the Diamondbacks or whatever? It's close. I think they were very close in terms of here. I can tell you. Look at this.

Ready? So now they're 20-50 on the road. No, the Diamondbacks are 17-53 still. But it is the second worst road record in baseball still with two straight road wins against the Phillies. Still second-worst road record in baseball. Right. Awesome. Awesome.

Texas is just as bad too. At least they're playing inspired baseball. At least the Phillies are going down swinging. So this team lost four games to the Diamondbacks and has lost four games to the Rockies this year. Yeah. Well, at least the schedule's easy. Eight games!

You've lost two of the five worst teams in baseball. Yes, and it's equally frustrating because they'll go up against a team that's actually pretty good and play well. Yeah. And then they'll go against... It's the Brewers. I mean, I know there's a blah, blah,

but that last game was a well-fought... They lost, but it was a good baseball game. Speaking of the Brewers, I mean, holy blah, blah. But that last game was a well-fought. They lost, but it was like a good baseball game. You know? And speaking of the Brewers, I mean, holy cow, man. The guys that they can bring out of the bullpen. It's insane. It's like Hader and Williams are like the two best relievers in baseball maybe, and they're just like the backing guys.

Like all the guys in the middle are better than everyone the Phillies has too. Yeah. Well, and they have like Andy Ashby's kid who's like unbelievable. Is it Alec? I think it's Aaron. No, Alex. Andy Ashby's kid who's, like, unbelievable. Is it Alec? I think it's Aaron. No, Alec's the one. Aaron Ashby? Alec's the, from back in the day.

Whatever. I mean, the Ashby kid. Dude, it's like Blake Trinan from the left side. It's 97 with, like, a foot of sink, and then it's a white-bottom slider that's, like, unhittable. It's just, that's what an organization looks like. That's what that's what that's what an organization looks like that's what winning looks like that's what like we have

the guys that we trotted out of the bullpen like wouldn't even sniff the Brewers like the Brewers didn't even like besides like Hector

Coonrod's pitching well by the way Hector's good Hector's good Coonrod's good everyone else is mad like great awesome

but it's like and the Brewers don't go out and spend a ton of money they don't spend any money no they develop people. I mean, look, they have the best starting rotation in baseball.

All homegrown guys. Woodruff, Burns, Peralta, like, homegrown guys. Drafted, signed, developed, like, that's what you do, right? You turn these guys, and I mean, like, no one thought Corbin Burns was going to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Guess what? was going to be one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Guess what? Corbin Burns was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Brandon Woodruff originally. People didn't think he was going to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Last year I knew Corbin was out. You did. You were actually way out in front on Corbin. Mad credit to you on that one. Thank you.

But, I mean, like they just, you're right. That's what a good organization looks like. They can take these guys and turn them into superstars. So, like, you know, it's already happening with Phillies fans. And, like, obviously we're Phillies fans. I'm not trying to attack fans because I love them. But, like, it's already starting with, well, just sign Correa this offseason and, like, sign all these guys.

Like, I got to be honest, James. Like, I'm so over signing all these guys. Yeah, I almost, like, I was going to say before we were talking about how they wasted the tank years. Like, in reality, like, I don't want it because it hurts. Oh, say it. Like, they should tank. Yes. They should sell everybody and just draft and develop and start over and start the whole friggin' thing over and rebuild.

Like, that's what they should do. The smartest thing for the Phillies to do as an organization for for the long-term health of the organization, is to rebuild. Yes. It sucks, man. Are they going to do it? No. There's no shot. Zero.

There's no shot. So basically. They won't even fire Joe Girardi, I bet. So basically what they have to do. Which they should. What they have to do is they have to get lucky in the international market and they have to find draft steals between between 15 picking 15 and 25 and then and you gotta sign the right players if you're gonna go about it this way can we get one guy

at the margins that turns out to be exactly like we signed freaking chase anderson and matt moore and they were like that's gonna be fine like meanwhile like these guys like uh you know taewon walkers cost nothing walker, these guys, other teams can find steals. Meanwhile, and I love- We've talked about so many of them. I mean, like, look at a different position, but how about Marcus Semyon? One-year deal. Marcus, I mean, like, 18-

Marcus Semyon. He's got 36 home runs or 37 home runs. Like, he's been freaking awesome playing great defense for the Blue Jays. We have- Bleeping Dainey here. I got it. I'll bleep it. On the Willie Adamas trade.

Oh, another perfect example. Who trades their shortstop in the middle of the season? Oh, when you get the best prospect in baseball, you can bring him up. By the way, like. Was it 38 games or whatever? It's unreal. They just bring these guys. I'm so sick of it.

The best player in baseball. It's like, okay, awesome. I gotta be honest, man. I'm so sick of it. I'm just so sick of it. I was watching Devin Williams over the weekend, or whatever, Tuesday or Wednesday or whatever,

and it's like, oh, the Brewers Rookie of the Year didn't take a massive step back in year two. The top three in Rookie of the Year voting, Devin Williams, Jay Cronenberg, Alec Bohm, those guys just continue to be great. Meanwhile, our guys back in AAA, awesome, great. Oh, I love it here. I love being a philly's man i hate how much i love this team i tweeted

that the other day like i genuinely i i love the i love them and like they all they do is just pile on that over and over and over again and it's like like they need to take a step back, but they won't. And it's going to be the same bowl next year. It's going to be the same crap. It's going to just keep happening and happening and happening. And there's no plan here. There's no direction. I hope Dombrowski has an idea because they're literally heading towards

what the Sixers were like post oh two the agadala sixers yeah yeah or like end of iverson with harper now like that's the comment like sure it's just it's so it's so not how winning is done like this is not how winning is winning long term is done whatever their plan is right now it's just nauseating it's just such dude they have had leads such... Dude, they have had leads. They've had leads. I saw this. Oh my god. I wrote it down.

They've had leads in 106 of 141 games. The Giants have had leads in 110 of 141 games. That's a courtesy of Ryan Spader. Yeah. How about Shad out Spader, how about, I mean, just think about on a basic level the fact that last year we had the worst

bullpen in the history of the sport, and this year we break the record for most blunt season. It's like. No, it's a sick joke. I got to be honest. It's awesome, man. What did we do? I know.

Why is it us? What did we do? I know. Why is it us? What did we do? All we do is love our team. Why did we deserve this? What did we do post 2008 that was so bad to the baseball gods? Like, you had to tear Ryan Howard's Achilles. You had to give us Matt Klintzak. You had to give us Andy McPhail.

You had to give us these guys that are going to spend money and none of them are going to work out. We can't have one steal in free agency. They all suck when they get here. Like, what did we do? Why did this have to happen to us? Why us? We're not that bad.

We want to go down and support the team, but we hate them. We hate them because they do crap like last night where they get blown out by the Rockies. How many wins on the road this year? Well, now it's 20. It was not 20. 20 wins. It's September.

20 wins. That's the team that you got blown out by and you had the gall to use the Homer hat? Which was founded by a reliever who sucks. Like the guy who brought the Homer hat is stealing $6.5 million from you this year, and he sucks. Can we also admit the Homer hat's so lame? It was great. No.

We were just happy that they actually looked like they were doing something fun. But, like, the Red Sox do the shopping cart a thousand times cooler than the stupid hat. The Homer chain in San Diego? That looks like something a 75-year-old guy's wearing on the beach and the shore or whatever. It's like a ridiculous hat. I'm sorry if anyone likes these hats. I apologize to you.

They look ridiculous and it's so lame. The stupid Homer hat. Enough. Now I don't want to see it. I kind of like that. They look ridiculous, and it's so lame. Oh, the stupid Homer hat. Like, enough. Enough. Now I don't want to see that. I hate it. I liked it when Brad Miller hit three. Next time they put the Homer hat on one of those hats,

I want to light it on fire. Nice. And just poof. Goodbye. See ya. Bye. All of them. Harper's the only one I want to set on fire.

Okay. Great. Just a brutal time. It's not fun, Jax.s well at least the eagles are here honestly i'm really i'm really just ready for the season to be over if we're gonna be honest like i'm ready to stop watching the phillies every night um it feels like torture it feels like i nightly torture where i sit down and i know what the hell's gonna happen and i know what disappointment i'm gonna be and i sit there and I put myself through it anyway. And it's not fun.

Like, I always say this to you, and we talk about this all the time and I've talked about it all the time, but the idea that, like, sports are supposed to be fun. Like, that's the whole point. Like, we don't, you and I, this is our job. So we have, like, some level of we have to do this. But in reality, we made it our job because we love sports.

And everyone who follows the Phillies, the vast majority of people do it because they choose to do it. It is a life choice to follow the Phillies, to watch these games, and it doesn't feel like that choice is worth it. It feels like I'm wasting my life doing this, Jack. I know it feels that way, but I also love it. I know.

I know. I know. I know. But I haven't loved it a lot this year. I know. I know. I know. I know. But I haven't loved it a lot this year. All right? That's what I'm trying to say. It's been a really tough year for you with the Phillies. Oh, because they just know how to grind me.

Make it worse. Yeah. They can't just lose. They can't just let us lose in peace or whatever. They've always got to like grind you up like win eight straight and then lose 12 of 16 win six straight and then bleep the bet again like it's just like they just they know just how to do just enough to get me back excited and whatever and then to just totally punch me right in the face so yeah it's a really it's a it's a sick relationship

is that the is that the title of the pod i do i we've had like eight titles they do they do just enough to get me excited and then they punch me in the face yeah i think that's a good one that sounds like a good title yeah that's a good one um it is just disgusting yeah it is awful and they'll probably win six straight after this podcast yeah but i can't imagine i agree like i have thought many times like i just can't wait for the season to be over just because like i i need to see i need to see the dembrowski thing yeah you know i want to see what he does this offseason like i'll give a pass for matt more and jason anderson again not a big pass but here's the thing with dembrowski too is like

remember like this guy was hired in December. Like, and he's been out of the sport. Like, he's been trying to get an expansion franchise there. He's not been, like, following the game, like, watching all the players. Like, he's not as locked in on the league as he probably would have been if he were coming straight from another job or whatever. So that's A, and he didn't get the job until December. It's like, you're, like, on the fly there, man. You're trying to make stuff happen.

So I am with you in the sense that I want to see what Dombrowski can do with a full season under his belt, a full kind of understanding of how this organization is functioning, what he needs to do moving forward. Now at least he can have a plan. How are you supposed to have a plan if you get hired in December and you're two months away, three months away from spring training? It's like, all right, figure it out.

It's not a plan. And he definitely, you know, unlike the last team president, shows he cares by making the swift moves that he made a couple of weeks ago. Also, as much as at times we've definitely been down in Nebraska, he has a way better resume than McPhail. Like, way better. Like, light years better. He built the 03 Cubs, I think, didn't he?

It's a Hall of Famer, did you know? He's like almost a Steve Bartman away. I still think about this a lot. To utter the phrase, we almost had the fastest rebuild ever. I know. It's just one of the most shocking statements I've heard a team president ever say. When you missed the playoffs. God, he was the worst.

The worst? Just the worst. Every time he talked, I no longer wanted to be around. Literally every time he talked. Oh, buddy. So we got Wheeler on the mound tonight. Oh, cool. Can't wait to watch him go.

You know what I can't wait for? What? I can't wait for the... All right, which is more likely to happen tomorrow? Noel's, like, goes nine shutty. Oh, yeah. And, like, claims that he owns September now, or, like, he gets absolutely shelled again.

Give me real quick. I know we've been big picture stuff, but we didn't really talk about it. But the gall of that guy, the gall, after getting torched in a September start to come out after the game and say, I'm tired of it. Hey, ask pitch better. No one will say it anymore. What are you talking about? That was one of the, we didn't get to talk about that.

One of the craziest statements of the freaking year. This loser. Are you serious? What a loser. Oh my God, he's such a loser, that guy. Remember we were so excited about that contract? He got paid what he's worth. He's not that good. He's whatever. He's mediocre.

He's got a 4.6 ERA or whatever. Loser. Yeah. And now you got Girardi like kind of defending it. And it's just like. He needs to go. He won't, but he needs to go.

Nebraska, bring your own guy in. That's the other thing. Well, I think him and Girardi, it kind of locks that. Great. Can't wait to see another year from Joe.

He's done such a sterling job. It is unbelievable. It feels like it's three times a week where I'm like that. Yeah. What are you doing? Oh, you're giving this game away? Okay, cool. Okay. Oh, you're bringing this pitcher in? All right. I guess. See how this works. Oh, you're going to leave him in? Oh, cool, cool.

It's all the time. It's been all year. And again, it's not those ones. It's very easy in hindsight to see what happens and go, oh, well, you should have done this. That's not the case. Everyone on Twitter is like, why is he doing this? And then the Patriots give up a home run. It's like, we knew it, you idiot. It's not second-guessing. It's in the

moment. I know the season's over, but are we going to keep the Ian Kennedy closer thing? I mean, Hector... Better not, pal. You mean like for the rest of this? Yeah, like Hector could be there. Sam Coonrod could be there. Yeah, I'd go Coonrod. Better not, pal. You mean like for the rest of this? Yeah, like Hector could be there. Sam Coonrod could be there. I'd go Coonrod.

Why not? Why is Coonrod opening the game? So weird. What was the point of that? Just put Falter up. Yeah, of course. The guy who can actually give you three or four innings. Like, it makes no sense.

Nothing they do makes sense. Everything Gabe Kapler does makes sense. Well. And Farhan Zahid That's an important caveat Alright Maybe the Eagles will win tomorrow Wouldn't that be fun Hey you know what

Maybe Jalen Hurts is good Wouldn't that be cool Wouldn't that be something I mean it wouldn't do anything for us right here right now But like I feel he needs something man It's been a rough year sports wise cool. Wouldn't that be something? I mean, it wouldn't do anything for us right here right now. But like... It would give us a little bit of... A Philly needs something, man. It's been a rough year, sports-wise.

We went from the downfall of Carson to the downfall of Ben to another Philly season. Doug being fired. Don't forget Doug being fired. The Super Bowl winning coach getting fired. This train wreck of a Philly season with all the ups and downs it had. The turning on Girardi.

Done with that guy. Yeah. Like, Flyers, who cares? No one cares. It's just been a... Hey, Jalen. Need you. Need you, buddy.

Fair to say that a win tomorrow over Atlanta would make up for Game 7? No. No? No. No. Okay. Yeah. Are we an Eagles podcast now? we're about to make you have one

do you have an eagles podcast no never heard of it all right cool are there eagles podcast no it's a very it's not a very uh it's a very small market yeah no one really cares about the eagles it's uh we're a philly's town yep this town this town bleeds red oh Oh, man. It could, man. It sucks. I know. Honestly, that's the shame of it all. Yes. We saw it for a split second. A moment. We had a moment.

That A game winning streak. Yeah, that Met series, that was the best it's been in a decade. Since I'm never going to see a championship again, I will put that on my grave. Oh God. Yep. That's where we're at. All right.

Well, you got anything in the, do you even have a take back? No, dude. I got nothing. Given all my takes. All right. You got any final thoughts?

You know, have some Four Fingers beer. Yeah. Or just beer. Yeah. Or just beer. Yeah. Or whatever you need. Go Birds. No, no.

I knew it. No, you get what I mean. How about those Eagles? That's what I said. How about those Eagles? Yep. All right. Well, since the season isn't over, we'll be back.

Yeah, we'll see. We'll talk to you next week. After the Phillies win five of six and all of their two and a half back just in time to get crushed again, we'll be back. You know who's not going to talk to themselves into this team again? This guy. Oh, I'll believe that when I see it. I can guarantee this guy won't. That guy

will find out. Get in the Phillies, get Jack back in one more time this year. We're going to find out. Oh, buddy. Alright. Everyone, let's hope... I don't even know. I hope the. Everyone, let's hope. I don't even know. I hope the Eagles win.

Let's hope they do. He spreads himself through with the other.