High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Things Are Still Boring, But Maybe Heating Up A Little?

Episode Date: December 21, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss all the latest Phillies rumors regarding Yoshinobu Yamamoto and also run through their thoughts on the other three teams in the city as well. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

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

It is another edition of the I Am Podcast. Jack, what do you think was better, that yo or the first yo that Tucker screwed up and messed up? Well, they were the same yo. They were pretty much the same. It was pretty close, actually. Yeah, I usually can't recreate the yo like that, especially a weird one. It was easy to recreate. If that was a post-World Series yo. Well, you know, yeah, Yeah, I usually can't recreate the yo like that, especially a weird one. It was easy to recreate. If that was a post-World Series yo.

Well, you know, yeah, see, I could do that and just go until I can't go anymore. Yeah. I, as you know, I really think about the yo. Yep. And what type of yo. I noticed how distracted you were. I'm struggling right now.

I know. I'm struggling right now. I don't know where to go with the yo because it's so like blah. It's just going to be like, yo, we're back. Hey, how's it going, guys? Listen, if the Phillies don't want us to have a great yo, this is what they're going to get.

It's a great point. It's on them. It's not my fault. What am I supposed to do? No, you sign Yoshi, you get a big yo. Wow, you get a Yoshi. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I agree.

Yamamoto, yo, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, I agree. So like Yamamoto, yo. I know. There is a, there's, again, we have to hold the Phillies accountable. They have to do something for us to be excited. We will be downtrodden. We, no one's better. I would say there's not a podcast in all of Philadelphia

that is better at being downtrodden. We're very good at it, yes. To the point where we will get emails and tweets hey is jack okay like do i need to worry about like we've actually gotten concern for you in the grand scheme of life that you're so down let's put it this way yeah you should be you should be well i'll be back yeah it's gonna be back but you know i know that our our now ongoing bit is this is boring right it's so boring yes and it is it's pretty boring but every i will say this every little yamamoto update i know does fill me with a lot of joy. Like the Bryce thing's great.

The whole, the Alex Coffey article, great. And you know, credit to the Phillies. Like the idea of saying like, hey, you could be the Japanese player in Philly.

Like you could, like that was a really clever pitch, you know, for a guy who said he wanted to go to a team with a Japanese player and we don't have one. I thought it was really clever. I think as far as it goes, the Phillies,

and look, I wish I could say I was confident that they were going to sign Yamamoto yeah me too just the fact that they're in it and the way they played it I think they've done

a really good job with it and it is a shame too because right now you know if they if like if they sign Yamamoto today like

the Phillies could own the town in December in a way that never ever ever ever ever ever ever happened lift the spirits of the city yes we all be like thank you Phillies that own the town in December in a way that never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever happened. Lift the spirits of the city. Yes.

We all be like, thank you, Phillies. That's what they do. Never have we needed a sports Christmas present more. Yeah, it'd be awesome. So I will say, the longer they stay in this, the longer I start to believe, like, maybe they really, and maybe their sales pitch is kind of working here. It's a clever pitch, man. You get to be the face of Japanese baseball in Philadelphia. I mean, you are it.

You are the trailblazer. And let me just, I just want to give a chance to kind of peacock. Really? Is that where we're going? Seems like a fair point. I was not expecting this. Right time to do this? Sure, yeah.

It's kind of, I want to peacock about our fans Which we are very good at We love Propping up the Phillies fans In this city So the Marosi report the other day Was He wants to pitch on the biggest stage in baseball Literally that was it

And of course all the replies are Yankee Stadium You tell me They showed him clips And he's like Of course, all the replies are Yankee Stadium. You tell me they showed him clips. This is the bank part the last two years. And he's like, oh, yeah, let me go play in the morgue. That is Yankee Stadium. No doubt, buddy. Or city field.

Listen, big city, overrated city, too many people. Please move. Why would you live there? It's expensive. It's expensive. At least half the price. Think about how much money. You 300 million or whatever think about how much further that 300 million goes here rather than new york correct um plus seltzer was born there and

grew up maybe a mets fan but um but like he's talking about the biggest stage in baseball right now there's not a bigger stage in baseball than philadelphia and i know los angeles and the dodgers and and shohei's there and that's going to be... I can't wait to stay up and watch the beginning of Dodgers games. Do not plan on staying up. Sadly, I will be watching very few. You'll see the highlights. I used to watch late night baseball. What a thrill. Well,

West Coast Fills is now... There's more. It's going to nap during the day. Look, I got through the playoff run. I can do anything. Yeah, you're fine. I'm fine. I haven't got as many tired texts which is i've been pretty good yeah yeah i've been doing good well i like to think that you're thinking about it and then you're like yeah so i actually pick up the phone i'm about to fire it off and i'm like no i'm not gonna do it no um so like but but the biggest stage in baseball is philadelphia right now and i think if they

showed him the clips and he heard Bryce Harper talk, like, this is the biggest stage in baseball. You come here, you are part of a star-studded team. We're going to pay you. Now, it's so funny because all the reports are, they're not going to be the highest bidder. Yep. It's like, okay.

Great. Which shows that he really wants to go to a place that, A, he feels like he can win and feels like he can put his talents out there for the world to see. And Philly's kind of that place. They're going to pay him. I think they're more probably in the $250 range than the threes. I mean, it was interesting.

The Bowdoin report yesterday was... It had the Yankees and Dodgers as the favorite. Yes. The Mets. And who was the other highest bidder? It was Mets and someone else as the highest bidders. Giants, maybe? Gi else is the highest bidders giants maybe giants as the highest bidders and then add back burner phillies blue jays and was there one other team or was it just those ones i think there might be one other blue back

burner uh red sox red sox yeah so expected highest bidders metzer giants uh favorites the landham dodgers or yankees back burner teams uh red sox phillies blue jays so like again they're just in it. They're there. They're there. They're in it. And, obviously, from the standpoint of opening up that market and having a presence in Japan is massive.

Because there's, like, for as good as, listen, for as good as Yoshi is, and I think Yoshi is really, really good. Like, Suzuki coming in a couple years is, I think, one of the three best pitchers on the planet right now. I think he's stupid, how good he is. So he's coming. Just in general, there's been a much bigger pipeline

in the last few years. I mean, Yoshida and Senga and guys are coming over and they're good baseball players. Of course. And it's just refreshing that and maybe part of me was thinking this morning when thinking about the Yoshi thing, is this just more of a hat tip or a courtesy by the agent of Dombrowski who's like a legend in the game? Maybe.

But I like having the legend of the game getting the courtesy of that. And I don't think it is. I think this seems too involved, too specific. And look, there are other GMs on teams that he could hat tip to. And I know Dombrowski's probably the most, I mean, elder statesman now. I guess that's probably the best term for him. But it just feels like

they're in it. Again, I'm not going to sit here and pretend to say that I think they're going to get him. But the fact that they're still in it, that's shocking. That's my point. I do think it's real. My point is I don't think it's just like, hey, we're going to... I think it's real. I think the Phillies't think it's just like, hey, we're going to. I think it's real. I think the Phillies are in it. The fact that they're still, like, he hasn't eliminated them.

Like, he's still taking meetings. There's definitely something here. The thing that has me most encouraged is, you know, we can have all the lip service from Dombrowski throughout this offseason of like, yeah, we're probably done. The fact that they're even willing to go like 250 plus for another pitcher well it's like that you talked about last time with like the Blake Snell thing or an example like that where if it's like if they don't get Yamamoto which you know we think there's a likelihood it shows that they're still willing to spend money and if if Blake Snell's price is too low in their mind, I believe they would swoop in.

Or that type of thing. It gives a belief. And also to the trades, whether it's Burns, whatever. The point is the Phillies might say they're dumb, but they know they're not. At least internally, they know they want to still add. And that's super important. That's all I care about.

Me too, buddy. Hope. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't want to, well, this is boring part nine. Yes, exactly. Well, we signed Nola. Now we're going to wait for the rest of the season, well, this is boring part nine. Well, we signed Nola. Now we're going to wait for the rest. It is so funny. The Phillies have spent the second most amount. I saw that tweet. Hilarious.

I hate this. I know. But to that point, and I know we've done a lot, but credit to John Middleton. The fact that whether they get him or not, John Middleton is willing to that whether they get him or not john middleton is willing to offer 250 27 whatever it is a number to be in this with these seven teams like a number that has to like be at least of a certain level like middleton's willing to dish

that out after just giving 175 or 172 million nola like credit dude credit credit yes but there is the third part of the luxury tax but i believe that they are 24 million dollars under um and if you go that and this is again this is for this is for me so let me have this appreciate you have something to do with drop bags i'm guessing this drops this drops the pick back 10 spots how did i know what are we talking about here i can't have that pick dropping back 10 spots. I mean, you're talking about Aiden Miller. Would you rather have Yoshi Yamamoto or another Aiden Miller? I mean, that's what, by the way.

It's a really tough choice for me. By the way. I'm not going to say Yoshi, but I really thought about it. I don't know if anyone's going to agree with you. I don't know if you'd rather have Yoshi. You think I'm alone on that one? How does it feel being an alone wolf? Well, what's funny is that if we did the poll,

97% of Phillies fans, the funny thing is all the 3% would be high hopes listeners. Very. They would care a lot. They would be high hopes listeners. The only people we could be talking to right now are sitting there maybe like, well, a draft pick.

It's important. You've got to have young talent coming through the system. Are your people. Yes. Which is great. Well, listen, John Middleton is the one that said like draft and develop wasn't no but he also said i have no problem spending money now because i know we have talent coming through the system well that's a little i mean talk about pressure on our guys i know but you know what i believe in him precedent

and brian got this like i've no doubt in those guys and once again confidence and i know that we um we've been accused i would say, of bullying. You're never allowed to leave. Oh, no, no, no. Yeah. You're never. Preston and Brian, I'm sorry. No, lifetime.

It's a lifetime deal. I'm sorry, man. You came on the pod. Yeah. You're like one of us now. Yeah. They traded Mickey, who was a friend of the pod. Yeah.

You can't get rid of too many friends of the pod. I know. We don't have enough. Well, because Preston was labeled as one of the, what, 10 rising stars in baseball. I saw. According to Eno, which, what are you doing, Eno? Yeah, like, chill out.

Yeah, just relax. All right, relax. Yeah, he's our guy. Yeah, we know he's going to be a general manager someday. Let's rein in it. We have the 90s Cleveland front office. Yes, that's right. Yes, except we're going to keep them all.

Never leave. Never leave. Never allowed to leave. So I'm sorry again to feel like this is bullying, but I usually get what I want. It's part of being an only child is if I don't get what I want, then temper tantrums. Tell me about that.

I got an only child right now. So I feel you. So yeah. But the fact that they're even in it, I think, is really impressive. And it shows the commitment to obviously winning. And I don't buy this whole notion that, okay, well, we're out in this offseason. And obviously the main thing it comes back to is the Tywon Walker thing. And if he's going to be on this team.

Because if the $24 million thing is right there, if you get off Walker, obviously that opens up another $18 million before the next threshold of the luxury tax. I don't think they really want to get into that. It is. It's punitive. It's punitive. And they're not Steve Cohen.

As much as John spends and we appreciate, I understand the realities of one guy has $20 billion and another guy has a few billion, another guy is like a few billion, 4 billion, 5 billion. Believe it or not. Can't relate. No,

can't relate. Can't relate to a million, much less a billion. By the way, I've, I've, I have started looking at the 2024 draft. I love it.

You see that like it would be surprising. Like, it's like, I'm surprised it took you this long. I'm surprised you weren't looking at it the day Aiden Miller got drafted drafted all right on the next year it's a little fast i put so much into that draft yeah that it's like i don't want to like i can't mentally get there emotionally mentally correct um and what i used to do is every pre-game show uh i would just sit on my computer look up drafts for for the eagles yeah you know seems like I'm locked in on the game. Yeah, of course.

Which is good. You're doing your job. I feel like I've had more responsibility this year. What a tough beat for you. The Phillies went deeper into the playoffs. So it's just less time. Less time to really get into the draft. You can't half-ass it.

I mean, you've got to full-ass it. Exactly. And I don't really half-ass anything when it comes to the Phillies. That's right. There is not half-ass the Eagles, for sure. I know. No. But it was dead right Phillies. That's right. There is not half pass Eagles for sure. I know. No, but it was dead right also. Oh yeah.

So for those wondering, it's not official yet. You don't know what it is, but I'm going to go Jack dinner. I'm going to lose our bet. It took a long time. It did. It was up in the air. It looked good for you for a while. I thought I had it.

At one point you even said, I'm buying you dinner. I'm buying you dinner. It's a good reverse. Congrats to Jack. Good reverse. You won the bet. Unless this is a reverse jinx and I can win it still. Yeah, no, I think that's what you're doing. I'm probably not going to win it. even said i'm buying you dinner buying you dinner it's good congrats to jack good or on the bat unless this is a reverse jinx and i can win it still yeah no i think that's what you're doing i'm probably not gonna win i'm gonna buy you dinner and i'm looking forward to a night out

the big question about the draft cycle this year is do i send my thoughts to barbs i mean you know you got a contact now hold on kind of, that was a giant mistake by Brian. Like, not just coming on the pod, but to like. When you called him Bill? All right. Can we move past this? Did I say Bill there? I said Brian.

All right. Everyone makes mistakes. All right, pal. Can we move? You said Jim Nance resigned on the freaking pod. All right. That was a grammatical. It was also.

I mean, you were right eventually eventually yes um yeah i think brian made a huge mistake like opening the channel of connectivity with you yeah because that's like man what a risk yeah what a risk to his time his mental sanity sanity. Whitley hires me. Whitley says, come on board, buddy. I really like your insight. I like the cut of your jib. All I want is this.

No analytics. Strictly eye test. I will say. That's what I'm there for. I will not be able to get on a spreadsheet and break it. I'm not breaking any new analytics out.

I will say, and we believe in analytics. They're important stuff the older i get the more i just veer towards the eye test like was there so much more fun so you do a pod with elliot now so you know how this is like elliot just fires stats oh i know and i i literally the other pod i was just like stop with the stats i was like what do you see what are you seeing with your eyes right now? Like, look at that. And it's like. Pretty intense. I know, because I'm getting tired of it.

And I'm an eye test man. An eye test min. I've always been an eye test min. But now I'm like so firmly in the eye test. Because listen, analytics are boring. And like, you know, you know, is the breaking point for me is, is. The 753rd stat that Elliott threw at you? Is that the breaking point?

Because that was it for me. No, it's always the Ryan Howard war. Oh, yeah. Where it's like, I know how good Ryan Howard was. It's a great one. I can't. Or the Schwarber war this past year. Like, that was silly.

That was nonsense. Or like, I'm glad they re-signed him. But like the NOLA war the last couple years. Oh, I know. Like the best pitcher in baseball. You didn't know that? Well, come on.

You see, you didn't know he's the best pitcher in baseball? Oh, because he doesn't walk anyone. He strikes people out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm with you. Boring. No.

I'm very, I love analytics. They're super important. I get it. I just, it can't be the end all be all. You gotta use, what do you see?

What do you see with your eye? You can tell a sportsman by what they see. Like, trying to tell me the Eagles offense is good because they've got a bunch of points. Like, stop it. I want to. Are you watching anything with your eyes? When he does that.

It drives me crazy. I feel like once every four months. I love Elliot. Me too. And every time he does it. So like, once every four months, it actually makes me mad. I too. And every time he does it. So like once every four months it actually makes me mad. I know. That's what happened to me. And I want to just

shove him in and crash him. That's what happened to me. It's currently the offense thing. Like well you don't like being seventh in points per game? Not with this offense. I don't like watching it. Does it look good to you? Does it ever feel easy? Do you ever watch him and say like oh that was a cool play? Never! T go birds bob you get way more yelly seltzer sorry it is way more yelling oh my

god we don't do that i know i love you buddy yeah well and i don't know you don't you don't irk me ever i don't really irk many well i irk our listeners of wip more yeah that's true here here everyone gets you you, we get you. Yeah, they don't get this. This is your trust tree when you're talking to a microphone. Yeah. Yeah.

Which is a beautiful thing. Thank you. Everyone makes us happy. We love doing this. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from reception perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position

that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. So do we have anything else? What else you got is there any other uh any other phillies action to discuss how long are we into this podcast

that's a great question let me guess this is the longest 18 minutes of my life holy cow 18 minutes you're gonna guess 30 i was gonna get at least 24 i was gonna guess 15 to wear this out so we're at 24 um but yamamoto back to yamamoto um so so yeah so it gives me hope but obviously if they sign him i think it's it's it's freak out and the fact that it's probably going to be like $250 is insane. Again, he's 25, so who cares? Whatever.

He's this smart. If you're going to give someone this much money, that's why the Harper contract was so smart. He's 26. So you give him this contract. And just, again, heading into next year with that rotation, where it's like, okay, and by the way, they're going to possibly be in on Yamamoto for $250 minimum.

They're going to also extend Zach Wheeler. They already brought back Noah. And there's the possible price thing. Like it's going to be, again, when the – John Middleton has opened up the checkbook. Yeah, but again, they have to get off Tyler Walker. I mean, it's as simple as that. They have to get off. Well, then they're going to have to give up Mc It's as simple as that. They have to get off.

Well, then they're going to have to give up McAble or something like that. Something like that. So what I was thinking, and I'm not saying I want this, but the one thing that is kind of kicking around in my brain is we know that whenever the Marlins make the postseason, they usually tear it down. Oh, it's what they do. No one's better. Change general managers make the postseason. They usually tear it down. Oh, it's what they do. No one's better.

Change general managers, the whole thing. By the way, the fact that she just quit, essentially, like Kim Ng just walked away from it. The same thing that she did. Yeah, which I think is a sign of like, I'm guessing the general manager's like, let's keep winning. And they're like, yeah, we're not going to set up that funny. Bad idea.

No, no, no, no, no, no. That would be my guess, at least. Bad idea. We do not want that. I mean, how many teams have GMs just walk away all the time? That never happens. hit the bat. No, no, no, no, no. That would be my guess at least. Bad idea. We do not want that. I mean, how many teams have GMs just walk away all the time? That never happens. All the time. I mean, when was the last Phillies GM who walked away?

I mean, Gillick kind of handed off because he retired. Well, Sandberg, but he was in the GMs. He was a manager. It never happens. They all get fired. No. Yeah. So, with the Marlins, if you're looking for a cost move

because you don't want to get super into the third luxury tax, I mean, Castellanos is from Miami. Obviously, Liam is back down to school there. He wanted to sign there. And I think Liam is a big part of it. He wants to be close to Liam. That makes sense. I mean, we saw it this year.

He wanted Liam there any chance he could get. And they are looking to move some arms. Obviously, Castellanos for Lizardo straight up would not work. Yeah, you think? Believe the breaking news. this year he wanted to leave him there any chance he could get and they are looking to move some arms obviously they're not like Cassianos or Lizardo straight up would not work you think you don't think we could get Lizardo for Cassianos no they did I know but I'm saying Cassianos plus Abel

plus more maybe like Abel Crawford Cassianos for Lizardo you think you'd have to give it both Crawford and Abel for Lizardo how many years does he have left before he gets paid? So maybe it's not that much if you get two.

If it's like four years, maybe three, four years, maybe. I think if they have to, if they sign someone else and they have to cut salary, I do look at the

possible Marlins fire sale and getting in on one of those arms. I would even take a shot on Trevor Rogers just because I... You got stuff, dude.

All they do is have guys' stuff. dude. All you have all you do is have guys and stuff. Yeah. Would you would you trade for six though? I is he still is he still playing? Is it can he still be healthy? No, he cannot say it was him and man him Max Meyer like they should have been nasty man. Yeah, like Max

Meyer Lizardo six though Pablo Lopez and Sandy by the way right? right i forget sandy holy cow yeah i mean pablo lopez they trade him ways it's a young canada minnesota not great not great now lorisa rice was good for them that was not a bad trade oh come on but a little slap at her i'd take him a heartbeat please give him to me oh my god talk about swing and miss guys like we could actually like you know yeah so Yeah. So, yeah. So I think that maybe there's something there at the Marlins and one of

their, and one of the, if they, if they go more of the trade route and then we'll see what happens. You know, I've also been thinking about more as we're just trying to think of things during the talk. Yeah.

Yeah. I feel a lot about Stoddy, like how good he was last year up until like September. Yeah. And now I'm thinking like we get a rob thompson's comments were really interesting maybe about about him leading off yeah i thought that was interesting like he does have the traditional leadoff hitter totally and turner is is he's like a lot like arius's hitter like we just saw he's got more power but he's a lot

like arius yeah uh also the the stock grand slam off the Marlins is an underrated moment man I've only watched we did have some moments our guy Ben Silver I love Ben Silver the whole family we love him all he put out the 2023 highlights

it's 45 minutes by the way I only got through the first 15 this one and that's tough for you man of all people I mean you're the one who was like you'll watch a loss like the day after just at the the only thing from game 7 I went

back and watched was the stop double just to remember how loud Citizens Bank Park was but like someone shared the Casio's Homer off Strider, and it's just like, damn. I know. Well, that Braves series, it's like... The Braves series was such euphoria.

It was magic. I mean, the... It was... Braves series through game two of the NSCS, the 10-0, just pure magic. Like, the gallon chance, the whole stuff. It was magic. Magic.

The Braves series is it's a good bit beating the braves in the playoffs every day i know they lost the nlcs i know i know they didn't go back to the world series beating the braves in the playoffs really is really a fun thing i mean the stare down was great like the stare down if they had gone on to win the world series like the stare down is yeah like that is like the all-time moment. It's like into the night. We'll talk about it forever and ever and ever. And it's a shame because it's like, it just loses luster. So whenever anyone like shares any post-season highlights,

I click on it and then I get off. Like I say, no. I will say that the Castellanos home run off strider, I can watch a million times. Yeah. I mean, Castellanos became the first player in the history of baseball to back multi-over playoff games. History.

It's like Reggie Jackson stuff there. It's just, how did they just- And now it's like, try to do these things. It's just a wild turn. They chased everything. I think it's honestly, in my lifetime, from 10-0 to losing the series, the highest to lowest.

Dude, it's the Brian Mitchell return against the Bucs, right? To, what was it, Deuce Ron? Deuce touchdown. It was a Deuce run. Yeah, it was sub-7-0. Deuce touchdown against the Bucs to Rondé Barber. Yeah, straight through. Straight through. If a series was a football game. You're right. touched down against the Bucs to Rondé Barber. Yeah, straight through. Straight through.

If a series was a football game, it's the 2002 Bucs game. Perfect way to put it, yeah. And it's so clear as 2011. And 2011 took me such a long time to get over. Such a long time. Well, I do think at least the thing with 2011 that stuck so long, obviously, is 2012. It was over.

2012 grader, and then we spent over a decade waiting for playoff baseball again. I don't think that's going to happen. It would be truly devastating if that happens. Can we just do – can the Phillies just promise me one thing? Can you not be five-plus games under 500? Dude, can you just start hot? Like, win 100 games.

Like, what a crazy thought. You're talented enough to win 100 games. I'll take 95. Sure. I just want a hot start. I just want, like, 17 and 10 after March or something like that. I mean, April. After March?

Yeah, well, that'd be impressive. Counting spring training? After April. Like, give me something like that. Like, I'm not even asking to 20 and 5 or some crazy almost cursed like i held it in though yeah you know disappointment right there yeah um you know i just just start hot could you or start like start good i don't think start hot start solid if you want to have a little swoon in june june july no one's making great every that's it's

what teams do it's fine just get off to a hot start please bring people back in unless you sign someone big let me ask you a question do you think because i i've been feeling it like this you know me like i was i have not really like, it's been hard to get excited again about the Phils. Like, I'm excited to talk about it, but it's hard to, like, be like... I still think about the pain when anything... I will say, the Eagles season cratering has gotten me more than it's almost.

Like, all right, just bring the Phils back, buddy. Let's go. Look at you pivot. I know. Pivot, dude. Pivoting right off. Wait, wait. Bring me my boys, all right?

Hey, don't worry. Hey, don't worry. Sixers got them't worry hey don't worry sixers got it everybody check it out oh sixers they're they're setting this up oh it's the classic like they are it is vintage second round loss it's vintage they like they have to get it out of the second round yeah it is honestly like here's the thing and beat is probably the most talented player i'll ever see in Philadelphia. Oh, that's a really interesting one. He is. I mean, Harper.

I think Harper. Yeah, but Embiid's better. I mean, Embiid's better than Harper. I don't know if he is. I mean, Harper's won two MVPs. I know what Embiid's doing is unbelievable. I think they're similar. I think it's just harder in baseball to do.

I agree. Basketball, it's very easy to go out and knife them. Totally. I agree. I think Harper's level of greatness is similar to like in basketball it's very easy to go out and I have to make a move but I think Harper's level of greatness is similar to what but either way I get your point like Harper has already pretty much achieved all time Philly status like he's hit the home run he got the World Series yeah no no

it would be a freaking travesty it would be a tragedy if he can't get at least to the conference finals or like he needs to get the I agree I agree. I agree. But it's not. One step at a time.

I made this comp. On Club Your Hands. Hey. Check it out. But it reminds me a lot of. And I wasn't alive for him. You were. It was your formative years.

Okay. But it's like Reggie. Yeah, it is. I mean, Reggie's the second best defensive player ever. The best ever. And Embiid's one of the three most talented centers of all time. He probably is. I mean, he's up there.

I mean, what is it? Jokic, him, and Shaq, talent-wise? Wilt? Bill? You know your big Wilt guy. No. I mean, Jokic is not on my list. Big Wilt. Kareem?

But, no. Akeem? Jokic is one of the best offensive players in the history of the game. Yeah. Embiid's better. I think right now, today, Embiid might be better. But, like, I think Jokic has to be above him. I mean, he led his history of the game. Embiid's better. I think right now today, Embiid might be better, but I think Jokic has to be above him. Maybe let his team to the title.

End of discussion. Embiid won the MVP. You know who you sound like right now. I love Jokic, but I don't hate Jokic. He hates Jokic. I know. I watch them both. Embiid is a better basketball player.

He's playing better right now, but in terms of where you rank them, Jokic is ahead of him. No, period. Jokic won a title, and he was the best player on a title team. Look at this. Until Embiid died. I know.

We've talked Eagles. We're talking Sixers. It shows how little. Well, this is boring. Yeah, anyway. Jokic is great. He's great. I agree.

What Embiid's doing now is miraculous. I'm not trying to take away from mb he is he is glorious right now but but again we've talked about this a million times you know how i judge things flags fly forever like i'm the one who argued that nick foals the greatest quarterback of eagles quarterback of all time and you hate it you hate it it makes you so mad but you know what the dude won the freaking super bowl and played the best game i've ever seen eagles quarterback play in it he beat the greatest quarterback we've ever seen when he had his best freaking game like it's magic man so yeah i'm with you like i i'm sorry mb needs to win something i mean to put him on that level i'm just saying it would be a shame if he didn't uh it'd be a tragedy like a literal tragedy sports tragedy well and harper too like

harper harper at least has got a World Series. But I need, I need, we said this during the run. I was like, I really said, and I believe even more than Embiid. No offense. I love the guy. Like, I've never wanted a player to win a ring more than Bryce Harper. Like, it's not even close. I just, like, I want him to get a ring.

I try not to think about it if he doesn't. I know. Because that's a, like, you a... Again, this whole stretch, you can't beat Boston until you win. And they are really close to being... They've been close. I mean, Eagles Super Bowl. Yeah.

I'm not going to say the Sixers were close. No. No, don't do that. I'm not going to do that. But they've gotten back to... Because I think a lot about 15, like 2015, 2016, where it's like we had 10 wins. We had nothing baseball team lost 99 games yep uh Eagles were seven and nine or

whatever and really six and nine and then they won with Shermer that last game so like like that was bad and we've we've rebuilt it to where all the teams are good it's just now someone's got they gotta win titles like I'm so sick of it. I know I did this. I can't. I'm 42 years old. I have two titles. Again, it's statistically improbable.

It is 14. How many titles will you see before you're 50? Dude, it's not just that. So I've started doing that. So you listen to Cousin Sal. And Cousin Sal is this whole thing where he'll mess with Bill, where he'll do the whole like, how many times do you think you'll see your dad again?

How many visits does he have left? Very nice. It's like messed up, messed up right he's like i don't know like do you think 32 33 and bill's always like what the hell's wrong with you very dark i've started thinking about that with titles though i'm like how many more scenes do i have left 40 30 20 who the hell knows like like i'm starting i know that's where i'm at i'm like starting to be like i need titles before I freaking die. You know what I mean? And there are people older than me. I'm sure they're thinking way more of that. So like, win some freaking titles, man. Sign Yoshi.

Win some freaking titles. Sign Yoshi. Sign Yoshi and win me a freaking title. And that's as close as possible to winning a title. Please. Because again, that loss is going to hang around for a while. Yes. And I think that until they get – if they start the season strong,

I think people forget it. And then, you know, it will be less wake me up on the postseason because it's just such a long season. If your whole MO is wake me up when we get to the postseason, it's kind of a miserable way to go through a baseball season. I know. Well, and that's the Sixers thing. And I said that, and now it's fun.

People are back, though. No, they're fun because they're fun because Embiid's playing – he's even better than last year. It's unbelievable. Yeah, Maxie's delightful, you's delightful to root for and to watch. So he is. He's such a joy. I know.

I was going to say, just don't let the Flyers win the next title. Can we have one of the real teams win one? Go Flyers, buddy. Jonesy, let's go. Nothing against Jonesy. I know. I get it. I would love it.

The Flyers. It'd be fun. I like playoff high. My dad and my uncle, the Flyers, were their favorite team. The Phillies were my dad's second team, and I was like, yeah, I'm going to be a Phillies first. Thank you. But the Flyers were my dad's favorite team.

The Flyers were my uncle's favorite. You met my uncle, Rick. He's the biggest Flyers fan on the planet. It would mean a lot to a lot of people. They were there in the freaking building in 76. My dad's dead, but they used to tell me about it all the time, you know? It'd be fun. Just the other ones.

Dude, let the Phillies win a title. All right? I need the Phillies to win the title. I want Bryce Harper to win a freaking title. I want, like, we saw an Eagles title recently enough.

Like, I want the Eagles to win two. Don't get me wrong. But, like, we saw an Eagles title. Like, in my adult years, in my old years. I need a Phillies win. I was like a child when child when you were a real child when they won yeah well I will say this I really I don't think I think I've come to grips with I don't ever gonna see the Sixers did you notice I didn't even just mention them there

it doesn't compute my brain I don't need to see them there? No, no. I didn't even mention the discussion. It doesn't compute my brain. I would need to see it to believe it. I agree. You know what I mean? I agree. Same with the Flyers. Yeah, it's like I don't think they're going to win. Heading into the Super Bowl in 17, I was like, they're going to win.

Yeah, I did too. That was the most sure I've ever been in a big game. They're going to win. The line told you. I remember, dude. The line was like a three-point line. And everyone's like, whoa. It's only three by three?

What? Yeah. Come on, man. Come on. Let's grow up, Vegas. All right. I feel like we have a long talk. Hold on.

Let's guess. Let's guess. I'm going to guess we're at 36 minutes. I was going to say 36 minutes. Were you really? We're at 34 minutes. Not too bad. All right.

Take back. I feel like we made it. We made it. Is Chase going to be a Hall of Famer? Dude, so yes, 100%. He's not going to get in this year, but chase utley is gonna get above 50 this year no player has ever gotten what chase has gotten in his first year on the ballot not gotten in the hall of fame like chase chase utley is going in i thank you i meant to be that was the one thing i meant to

chase utley will be a hall of famer i'm very proud me too proud of people i'm proud of the voters like for him to be this high as for like, I would guess he'd be in the twenties. He's like, what's he tracking now? Like sixties. I guess when you share the 50s, sixties, I guess when you put out the stat that he had the second highest war in baseball from Oh five to 14,

I guess now, now broadly, I'm very pro war. Yeah. Pick and choose, pick and choose. I will say, I think the voting,

you know, they've done a lot to change the voting body in the hall of fame and it started to veer more towards people who think in a little bit smarter way and people really cover the sport and all that seven all right i counting stats matter for the hall of fame i agree with that like 500 matters you gotta play you gotta do that but like seven year peak should matter the most i'm with you dude should matter the most again it goes back to my foals argument like i, you know, I am fine saying

someone's better than someone else even if they didn't do it nearly as long because the peaks they hit mattered the most to me. I've gotten over the Foles. I'm really happy. I appreciate Foles now.

Oh, what? I'm so happy. Yeah. Thank you. That makes my soul happy. It's because I, this current team, I'm not a huge fan of.

Yeah, I get it. We can tell. Everyone can tell. This is not breaking news to anybody. They bother not a huge fan of. Yeah, I get it. We can tell. Everyone can tell. This is not breaking news to anybody. They bother you. They bother me a lot. Yeah, and Nick just went about his business. He's a great guy.

And it's funny. I'm a bits guy. Yeah, come on. The Foles bit is the all-time bit in Philly sports. I've also, I think the tush bush is nonsense. But I've given up the tush bush. Firing off the takes. I've given up on it.

It's funny. It's funny to watch. So I'm at the point with the takes I love it I've given up on it it's funny it's funny so I'm at the point with Dush Brothers where the hate fuels me like I I think it's the greatest play I don't think people

really hate it anymore though I think it's kind of going around the other way yeah like Eggman on Monday night was like I want to see it stick around great

but yeah like the chase thing I'm surprised I'm surprised I'm shocked he's this high. I'm shocked. I mean, Jimmy's at like 20-something or whatever.

He's like way above Jimmy. And I think he should be all of him above Jimmy. But like it's at least, I think, closer than the numbers are. I mean, I'm surprised he's as far out in front. If you look at J. Roll's counting stats, it's like, well, he should probably be higher. That's why most people argue it. It's like, eh. Watch the game.

Yep. No, I love Jimmy. I'm Jimmy. He's like, eh. Watch the game. Yep. No, I love Jimmy. I'm Jimmy. He's great. I hope Jimmy gets in. I'm not sure he's going to get in. I hope he gets in. I don't think Jimmy is going to get in.

But I am glad that Utley is moving in that direction. We're going to go to Cooperstown. We've got to go to Cooperstown. Oh, we're going. It's locked. I care more about going to Cooperstown for at least Hall of Fame than London. Agree. I mean, obviously nothing about

the playoff games, but... Still would go to London. Still would definitely go to London. There you know, Rod Lakin, if you're listening, I've had many people say that I hope Spodger go to London, so I just want that to be in the universe. Have you been to London? I have. You seem like a London guy. I've been to London.

You seem like an England guy. I've been to London. Yeah, yeah, yeah. An Anglophile? Is that what it is? My dad was a big Anglophile. You know who's an Anglophile? Peter Seltzer. My brother? Big time Anglophile.

Don't, what is that? Someone who loves England. Oh. Okay. Yeah, I don't know what that means. Obviously not. Yeah. Someone who loves England.

I would like to go to England. It's a cool place. Yeah. Yeah, it is a cool place. Only to see Dave Shaw. There's a number one reason. He's infiltrated the city too much. Oh, yeah.

It's time for us to take over there. Yeah, 100%. Dave Shaw, one of the few people I could text and gets back to me. My work schedule. All right. Dave and I text like four in the morning. He's awake. It's lovely.

It's it. Let me tell you, the joy of getting a response at four in the morning is a really beautiful thing. Yeah. I feel like you're alone in the morning. I was in bed at 4 a.m. on Monday. Really? Yeah.

Oh, because of the game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, so oddly, he seems like he's trying for the Hall of Fame, which is proud of everyone. Yeah, me too. And I can't wait. I would 100%. I would guess like three, four years from now, I'll get the Hall of Fame.

Perfect. Yeah. Bring Walk. Bring Walk. Let him know. Well, first trip to the Hall of Fame. This is the guy. This is the guy.

Love it. This is the guy. So, yes. Then you get to tell him, tie him on Walker and say you were named after him. Exactly. So, yeah, good.

Yeah, exactly. Speaking of that, I do have signed baseball by Walker Bueller. Do you really? Yeah. So, like... What do you do with that, huh?

It's a cool one to have if he stays healthy. He's great, yeah. But if they face the Phils on the playoff series. Yeah. What do you do with that, huh? It's a cool one to have if he stays healthy. He's great, yeah. But if they face the Phils on the playoff series, it might burn it. Yeah, it might burn it. I can't wait. I need a Phils-Dodgers NLC.

I know you do. After you beat the Braves, of course, because that's what we do. Watching Shohei DH in the playoffs, that'll be sweet. That'll be awesome. Yoshi versus Shohei. Yoshi versus Shohei.

Don't join that team, Yoshi. Come on, man. Do you want to be like the second Japanese guy on a team? Or do you want to be like the Japanese icon of a city? Correct. Icon. On the biggest stage. On the stage where people care.

Where we actually come to games and cheer for you. It's not Yankee Stadium. It's a morgue of a freaking Yankee Stadium. It's not Yankee Stadium. It's new Yankee Stadium. Like a morgue of a freaking Yankee Stadium. It's not Yankee Stadium. It's new Yankee Stadium. Come on. So come on now. And then the final thing, I guess,

is did you appreciate the kind of standing O for the Eagles outside the Nova Carritera? Have we gone too far? So the standing O thing went too far like months ago when it was like every city. It was like Zach Wilson. Whenever it was at Salicata, that's out thing went too far like you know months ago when it was like every city it was like like zach wilson whenever it was at salicata that's when it went too far whatever the standing i love sal sal's great i think he does a really good job up there that was what but it just how would you know yeah i've heard sal before all right it's not like i listen all

the time but i'm not like you i listen to every cut station in the country and it's like a radio nut or nerd or whatever. I still listen here and there and I think Sal's very good. Regardless, whatever. I think he's very good. But I think that was the moment. I'm not ripping him.

I'm just saying when it was the let's do it for Zach Wilson. Rip Spike. It's all Spike's fault. I mean, Spike just, all he does is steal our bits from here. It's like he keeps, I see the top five and five.

Oh, what's that? Box off, by the way. It's called B-a-c-a uh-huh uh-huh there's so many you know what else they're doing oh free throw competition where have i heard of that oh okay cool cool got it yeah but regardless whatever you know you have your little thing um uh that was the moment though when it was for zach wilson i was like all right we've we've jumped the shark again the key to it and let me just bring you inside the psyche here you got to choose the right player in moment i mean zach wilson never had a chance no i'm just

like that's the thing the ovation is only a thing if the guy plays better that's the whole and if the guy's already been one of the best players yeah of course of course of course yeah so yeah so look here's what i'll say here's what i'll say and i don't know if it's a bit or whatever but like the idea of cheering for the eagles right now like i'm fine with that like i the reason i love the turner thing the heart of it to begin with is that like i do believe that it is never wrong to like want to cheer your team like i'm okay with that but enough of the everything. It's over.

We can't bring it back. Next year is the... No, it's done. There's been a lot of requests. No, it's not how this works. It's not how this works. It's organic. It was good. It was good. It worked. It was magic. It worked. I don't want to do it again. Nope. It was a lot.

It's all good that's all I got listen to me on the radio everyday how excited are you for your walks first Christmas oh yeah I didn't get him anything nor should you give him a hug

when they get older and you have to get them like a Barbie dream house no it's going to be good it's going to be good definitely excited for a couple I know. When they get older and you have to get them stuff like a freaking Barbie dream house we just had to get Zoe for her birthday. Let me tell you. No, it's going to be good. It's going to be good. So definitely excited for a couple of days here. Adorable moments with the little guy.

Well, see my problem is I'm trying to find the right traditions to do. It's an important one. Because here's the thing. I want to be a traditions man. You know what I mean? Traditions are important.

Because as they get older I'm like, oh, I remember when we did that girl. Yeah, or like, hey, it's Christmas Day. This is what we do. It's our family thing, I'm like, oh, I remember when we did that growing up. Yeah, or like, hey, hey, it's Christmas Day. This is what we do. It's our family thing.

I'm big on family things. And like my obvious default is we'll watch 2008 Game 5. Oh my God. It's amazing. Every Christmas. It's amazing. It's amazing.

And sit right here and we can watch it together. That's great idea. This is the high point of your father's life. I was thinking we'd do Home Alone or something. Yeah,

Game 5 is a better idea yeah i mean talk about christmas my dad made me watch game five of the world series every and then he cried at the end because they haven't been back since like dad you know what uh we know what's gonna happen right and then this is magic maybe as years go on, maybe I start picking out the best game. So we get to like Bedlam at the Bank. Oh,

buddy, I like this. You can be like, I was there. Or, son, I was there. But then,

you know what the key is to close out the Christmas tradition is after, maybe dad's had a few pops. A few adult beverages. Is that, is that,

is that, at about seven, eight o'clock at night when Christmas is winding down. is that is that is that at about seven uh huh eight o'clock at night when when Christmas is winding down we put on game seven

of the NLCS you psychopath and then we just bring the mood then we just all cry all the way down yeah and say

that's good yeah so maybe that's what I'll do I like that we'll build it up in the morning with positive cheer and then we'll ruin it

ruin it and then what a ruin it ruin it and then what a christmas what a beautiful christmas description that's the heart of what christmas is about really i don't think you like making family sad yes that's right that's good well you'll be happy to know zoe still calls the eagles the phillies yeah yeah it's just what it is she goes go phillies like it's the eagles go phill! Cool, buddy. So she is fully locked in on the Phillies. There is no other team as far as she's concerned. There shouldn't be.

Raising her right, you know? There should not be. All right. Is that it? From 18 minutes to 45. No idea how, but we did it. And maybe next time we'll have something to talk about. We won't.

At least we won't. Hey, here's the thing. Here's what I will say. Phillies, if you want a pod next week do something because otherwise there won't be a pod next week it's christmas week we're going to take the week off but you have the power yeah get us in the studio and we'll be there so do your thing need be do your thing we want to do an emergency sign yoshi give us a real yo. Enough of these boring yo. Yeah. See, I've brought it all the way back around.

Always do. I'm the best in the business. No, I'm better. All right, buddy. Have a great Christmas. Thanks. You too. Okay.

Give Walk a hug from his uncle, Uncle James. Of course. And I'm excited for you. That's really cool. First Christmas. It'll be nice. Thanks. All right.

And on a positive note, note you know and then we'll go off on game seven and cry tears all right yeah until then until the new year most likely we'll see phillies do something do something until then he's for it's himself We'll see you next time.