High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Three of Four Should have Been Four of Four But Nevertheless, the Phillies Everybody

Episode Date: May 16, 2022

James and Jack react to the Phillies taking three of four in LA vs. the Dodgers. The guys talk the highs of the first three games, the low of the last one, 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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Now that's some smart shopping conditions apply. See in store or Joe fresh.com for details. 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! Yo! It

is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. It's a shame because that yo could have been you know, 30% more enthusiastic, but still, you know what?

4-2 West Coast, 5-2 percent more enthusiastic but still you know what five uh four and two west coast five and two west coast trip i'll take that jack i mean we haven't won back-to-back road series since 1994 can you believe that um no i'm just kidding i have no idea it doesn't it feel somewhat believable that's the messed up thing but back-to-back road, they take three or four from the Dodgers. Like you said to me before we started recording, was there any doubt in any timeline of this world that they were going to lose the game today? And obviously there wasn't. I was just wishing they wouldn't have made it so painful. But yeah, could have been a super fun pod, but still look, I think, uh, you know, I think you feel much better last time we spoke, you know, you're, you're trying to pull, uh, you know, optimism out of any tiny crevice where you can find it. Now there's real

optimism to be pulled, you know, you know, they're, they're hitting the baseball they're starting to you know play some good baseball and again they had a great road trip jack i mean that's been one of the hallmarks of of the the the sadness the last few years but you know the fact that they end it with a gut-wrenching blow it and the ninth loss certainly feels appropriate how you feeling pal so honestly how i feel james i feel amazing i feel great everything's awesome no like i i genuinely i don't know how to feel i was i know literally for the last hour i've been like how do i approach this podcast tonight because like on one hand i'm obviously excited they took three or four and the games this week i i don't know how i'm gonna handle playoff games james like i just i keep i don't know how I'm going to handle playoff games, James.

I don't know if we'll ever make the playoffs again, so I don't know if we'll ever have to worry about that. Yeah, this is a potentially unimportant problem to worry about. Yeah, because it's just heart-wrenching. I mean, having to watch close baseball games is just – for people that say baseball is boring, I guess they don't really care about their baseball team. Cause it's just,

it's just gut wrenching. And you could feel like you feel like they're going to lose a thousand times a game. And I literally tweet that a thousand times a game. So, um, it makes sense. But like,

I genuinely, I don't know how to feel because I'm very excited that it was a five and two road trip. James, I never see this team play well on the road. I really don't. I don't, they never seem seem to be to create their own energy they never like the fact that they they came back on on thursday and friday night and won games against the best team in baseball the best team in the nl um i thought that was massive and i'm really excited about

saturday they just kind of crushed them like they just outplayed the Dodgers on Saturday. And then today happened. And it just. What a good phrase. Today happened. It just puts it puts a little bit of a damper. So, you know, I'm not because I'm not. Obviously, I'm not negative on the Phillies. Like I tried to tell people last week that I thought they were genuinely playing good baseball.

And I think this series kind of proved that. But today happens and it's like yeah they are there's talent here but there's still that little feeling in the in the back of your head that's like there i don't trust them yet and and that's what today was was like see that's why i don't trust them yet and that's what honestly has me frustrated today and tonight is that because I just I just wanted to come on here and have a meltdown excited like parade back on. Who let the feels get over and over? I was going to annoy people with how excited I was. And then, you know, that happened. And it's like, there it is.

The little little feeling that they're always going to let you down whenever you start fully believing. a little feeling that they're always going to let you down whenever you start fully believing. But 5-2 Road Trip, again, I haven't seen them fight like that in a while. You know, James, we've done this podcast since 2017, 2018-ish. And we've obviously followed this team post-World Series and Good Run. And it had been really, to me, since that kind of heyday where I saw them fight back against a good team and not fold. So I think that's a good sign. Mostly encouraging. But again, today, blowing into the night just leaves that little bit of doubt in the back of your head. Yeah. Well, talking about how long we've done the podcast it's

you know for the most part been a pretty consistent theme we're both big fans and we both get excited and we both sometimes go over the top with certain moves or certain you know because we're excited and we're fans and we want it to work and stuff but for the most part the dynamic is you trying to find the positives and me pulling you back from the positives. But I actually feel really good about the team. You know, I think you can look at it and say, you know, I think on two ends, to your point, the fact that they keep blowing these games. Look, they all three of the games that they won, you know, the three close games, excuse me, two of them. They won and look credit to them for winning two of three toss-up games against the dodgers

but you know to all three they blew games they blew leads you know and it's funny because the the smallest lead they blew was actually the one they lost you know but but they that that can't happen and you pointed out to me the audio after uh was it after thursday night or whatever where bryce where bryce was like this can't happen like we can't do this and he's absolutely right so from that perspective and then the combination of the fact they have had some real no-show games you know the what is it eight times they've scored one run or less so i think from that perspective you can say all right all right, that's concerning, but, but I'm like five and two road trip on the West coast for a team that has struggled so long to your point from before on the road. Like, again, I joked since I named four, but it really does feel like it's been

forever since they've won back-to-back road series. And certainly it feels like forever since they went into LA and won a series, certainly a four game series. And, you know, the bats are, are, are heating up, man. Like all of a sudden, and, and it is, you know, kind of tampered by that, you know, eight game stat I just threw out there, but all of a sudden, and everyone was tweeting it out over the weekend, but all of a sudden the Phillies are what, like top two or three in every single offensive category in baseball, literally. So, you know, it is, there are things to get excited about and we'll get into it. And, you know, obviously some of the offense we've seen some, you know, the hot bats we're seeing is our reason for excitement and the starting pitching has been

really good, but I definitely think it's fair to, to where, where today today as much as I'm I'm positive about the road trip and I feel good about the team today is a reminder that they are still the Phillies and that they're not where they need to be yet you know what I mean yeah and I'll say this um I think my biggest takeaway honestly from the Dodgers series is that they do have a lot and i mean a lot of talent on this team you know when even when everyone was down the last couple weeks with with how lethargic they kind of looked it just it didn't add up to me in my head and maybe it was just being the full-on you know negadelphia-ness of the whole thing but i kept looking i just don't know how you look at that roster up and down,

the lineup up and down, and think, okay, they do have talent here. It's not like they're going to be this 75-win ball club. They're going to figure it out. And I think what this Dodgers series showed, I mean, their lineup went toe-to-toe, if not outplayed, one of the best lineups in baseball, if not the best lineup in baseball. And the Phillies, honestly, they look deeper than the Dodgers. So that's something that you can kind of take away and feel good.

I mean, what Gene and what Bryce are doing right now. It's insane. So why couldn't Bryce get the PRP shot after the game if he's going to miss the two games? If he's going to be off Monday anyway? I don't know. I don't know. I mean, it's whatever.

It's a game in May, and I want to get him right. But it just seemed weird to me. Like, why couldn't you just do it after the game? You know, what's the difference? But maybe. Yeah, honestly, I can make the argument, wait until he cools down and just give it to him whenever.

He's not going to play the field again this season anyway. Let's all be honest with ourselves. Honestly, he's not going to play the field again. Give him the PRP a little later. He's locked in right now. Why mess with anything? I mean, he's the hottest hitter in baseball. He's been 500 in his last nine games.

All of a sudden, his OPS is right around a thousand again and it was like 800 like a week ago it's insane and to your point Gene has been on a serious heater and that's the thing you know when you look at this I'm and I agree with you I think you know you look at the Dodgers lineup they have Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and um you know Max Muncy and who is betting 140 140 out of nowhere, by the way. Yeah, yeah. He's struggling this year. But, you know, they have Trey Turner.

They have dudes. Justin Turner. And Trey Turner. I know. But Justin Turner, Trey Turner. Also, yeah, they got dudes. But I do think, you know, when this Phillies time gets going, you know, you can put Harper right there with any of them, obviously.

You know, he was the best hitter in this series, obviously, without playing today. And the top of the line, Castellanos is in that class. Schwarber heating up when he's locked in. But the bottom of the lineup when Tagur is getting going and Boma's been good. And Stott had good at-bats this weekend. And it really is a you know, if they can kind of iron out a few kinks or maybe make a trade for, as we talked about last time, like a prototypical true leadoff hitter before the deadline, you know, it has a chance to, the lineup's good enough to win with. There's no doubt. And I think the starting pitching, which we'll get to, is, you know, good enough to win with it's just this team hasn't figured out how to win consistently and how to

you know avoid the type of pitfalls that they had in this series but you know they won games and then obviously the bullpen is a concern yeah but i mean i guess you know we we've seen them not be able to figure out how to win ball games we've seen them figure out more ways to lose games than win but for the first time really in a while and i guess what what sucks so much about where we're at right now and frankly my age is that is that like i don't remember what fully what it's like to watch a team that knows how to win you know like i i see when it gets to the postseason what it takes to win so i'm kind of watching the phillies with blinders on sometimes like is this how you're supposed to win this how you're not supposed to win is this showing signs

of life um from that aspect from that standpoint but i mean i know how to win it at a division two level i mean obviously i mean i mean yeah obviously um know, honestly, for the first time since we've been doing this podcast, I feel like they found more ways to win this series than didn't. And the thing that I liked a lot more than what has happened in years past was we talk all the time about how frustrating it is just waiting around for the beginning and just, oh, let's just wait for a three-run home run because that's something that happens all the time. I mean, six of the last 10 games, they do have double, double digit hits.

Like they are scoring in different ways. I mean, I know Saturday night was a lot of moon shots and it was like, honestly, that game was euphoric. It was incredible. Oh my God. I was like, what was it? Three in that one inning. It was nuts. It just kept coming. It was, you know, And, like, what was it, three in that one inning? It was nuts. It just kept coming.

It was, you know. It was up Urias, too. Yeah. Yeah, Urias, too, is good. Yeah, I agree. And they hit Buehler up pretty, like, comparatively, at least, early on, for sure, you know. Dude, the Dodgers, like, team ERA heading into the series was, like, 1-8.

Yeah. I mean, like, that's a team ERA. That's not just one ridiculous pitcher. And, I mean, Buehler, Urias, they got two gifts in anderson and whoever started today but but but uh i don't know his first name that's why i just said i forget it i forget i feel like it's like michael grove maybe but either way it's grove definitely not mike uh macro i don't know um like you say it's definitely not michael but then you say matt like that well it's called having conviction it's uh it's part of one of my things um oh you say it's definitely not michael but then you say matt like that well it's called having conviction it's uh it's part of one of my things um oh you're totally a conviction guy

that's so true i don't flip-flop at all i don't know i don't let my emotions get the best i'm looking it up let's find out real quick here we go oh better not be mike jack guess what his name is oh i cursed damn it here we go you're addicted to cursing i'll fix that i will not leave it and apparently i left it in last time and i apologize i really thought i edited it i downloaded a bleep and everything i apologize either way his name's mike and and and i win and i'm so happy so happy listen little wins, man. I get it. You got to take those when you can get it. Michael Grump. But the overall point is that the Dodgers have pitching in waves.

I mean, that's what Andy McPhail was saying when he took over the team. Like, we need to have pitching in waves. Well, the Dodgers actually do. You know, they actually have a ton of guys. And what the Phillies did to a Dodgers pitching staff is something that no team in baseball has done to this Dodgers pitching staff so far. So I think that's notable. And I like where their approaches are at, James. It's a lot of opposite field thinking.

And I think when you are thinking opposite field, you are more online. You know, I think right now Hoskins is more online. Schwarber is definitely more online. Segura, Harper, I mean, he's been pulling home runs, but you can just see him staying balanced. And I just, for my concerns about the bullpen, little concerns about the starting staff, where this lineup is at right now,

you know, and the beauty of where this lineup, how this lineup is constructed, is that theoretically, if any of these guys are having a down spell, whether it's, you know, Cassianos goes cold or Hoskins goes through his streets. Or Reese, yeah. Yeah. They should have enough talent to where around them, guys can pick them them up and that's kind of what you're seeing right now like this week harper and segura and and reese carried them you know i'm sure i'm sure two weeks from now it's gonna be like castellanos will be carrying them but that's what happens when you have a lineup that's talented so um so i just i i felt like this week more than before uh they found more ways to win than they found ways to lose now the bullpen is a different story but i think the fact that they they they grinded it out came back had good at bats that's almost more important when we're when we're evaluating the rest of the season

because we kind of knew the bullpen wasn't going to be locked down you know i think they do have more talent than your years past i think they have guys back there with interesting stuff i i still mostly trust coric enables for anthony being back as massive um but what was going to make this team go was its offense and where they are right now i think is a really good spot all right we'll get to the the bullpen in a little bit because you know what let's try and focus on the positives right let's fritz it early on I got I want to talk about specific guys you mentioned a bunch of guys in there but I want to dig down

a few let's start with you know kind of the yin and the yang part positive I guess with this part negative but the yin and the yang of the weekend to where we get the three straight wins and it feels like we're going to sweep or one out away from a sweep and then it's you know snatch from us as you know and then it's funny that that's like the you know i don't know 41st most painful loss of the last three years or five years or whatever you want to say um but um the

harbor thing because you know locked in as we just talked about, raised his OPS like 150 points or whatever in like a week. Like just on such an unbelievable heater became the Jason Stark tweet where he was like the first player to come in. And then back to back, you know, a home run, multiple extra base hit games at Dodger Stadium ever and all this stuff. But then, you know, he's out today for the PRP. He's going to potentially tuesday as well um and you know he's got ucl tear so where are you at with the harvard thing overall well james i guess for the first i i don't want to do this i really don't um and it pains me to say this but thank god for the dh yes buddy oh yes welcome you can cut that audio if you want to cut that audio i don't care for a non-existent podcast producer you can you could

cut that audio all you want was that a plea to get a producer because i'm in on that if anyone wants to produce the pod i mean mean, do we really need one? No, I'm mostly just joking around. Yeah, I mean, it's not rocket science. No, it's edit and post it, and that's it. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah. We're supposed to make it seem like a lot more work, Jack. All right?

Yeah, I would argue staying up until 2 in the morning for most of this week has been more taxing than 45 to an hour where you and I could just be idiots on this podcast. I'm still feeling it. I haven't recovered yet. I slept in until like 9 today, and I don't even know if that was enough. But regardless. All right. So anyway, as you were saying.

With Harper, thank God for the DH. I'm glad it's here because if it wasn't we would think about what we would be robbed of right now if he would he would have been out for the last month and then we just would have gotten an update saying he's out for at least another month before he even starts throwing so it'd be like oh he's going to be out for at least three months and potentially the entire season. Like how insane is that? Like Bryce Harper would not have had a season this year if it were over the DH. And then you see what Bryce is doing.

I know. I know. He's like MVP Bryce the last two weeks. Yeah, and it's been unbelievable. And it's been unbelievable. But, yeah, I mean, I'm not as down on as you are when it comes to thinking if he's going to play the field again. I do think he will get out there, but I like that you're setting the expectations low and painful because that's what we do with this baseball team.

But, yeah, I don't know. I mean, I think he's – I i don't know what i don't know what else i'm supposed to say like there is nothing to say he's getting the prp injection which i think is good i like the prp injections i think those are you know really it's a cool um you know it's a cool you know um technology and a cool i think it could help but you know how often do we see the ucl tears not end up in tommy john you know now it and a cool i think it could help but you know how often do we see the ucl tears not end up in tommy john you know now it's different for a pitcher because they have to you know use that arm a lot more aggressively and stuff but and obviously more consistently but

um it's concerning but either way you know if he's hitting like this and it clearly is not affecting his offense then you know let him hit and and he's the DH, and it is what it is. It is what it is. Yeah, I got two thoughts on Bryce real quick. One, I do hope that this leads him to start taking his throwing mechanics seriously. Like, we all know Bryce has a hose, but when he throws, it's pretty much all arm, and it puts a lot of strain on that elbow. Like, he got hurt this year in years past.

He would kind of he's been shaking it before. It's because he puts a ton of strain on his arm because he doesn't really get behind the ball and throw it. He kind of stands flat foot and flat footed and throws it. So hopefully this is kind of a wake up call. Like, dude, you need to make sure you hone in your mechanics out there. You're not putting a ton of strain on your elbow and the other thing is you know he kind of has a little bit of in bead in him yes the drama queen thing no where no where because i do think he has that too where sometimes he'll like let you know he's hurting a little bit, you know? He does that.

He does that a little bit. I agree. But what I mean with Embiid is, like, when Bryce is going right, I mean, the Phillies are, like, a 95-win ball club. Ah, front-runner type of thing. Well, a little bit. You know, I don't think it's baseball's harder. But you can just kind of sense the energy level is up when Bryce is going. And when Bryce is kind of down, you see, you see how they've, they've played in years past. So, you know, he, I, and that's,

that's something honestly, I hope that he notices and I hope that he kind of says like, okay, listen, I'm a leader. My, how I act may influence how hard we play or whatnot and, and kind of just always laying on the line and that kind of stuff. Because that's what the first three games of the series was. It was like Bryce is going, bang, the rest of the team kind of follows suit and follows their leader. And I think that's going to be something to monitor going forward

when he gets back. Yeah, I 100 percent agree with you. And look, when he's locked in, he is so special right now. So it is such a difference maker. All right. The other guy is on a heater right now and a longer one, you know, not quite as intense as as Harvard the last few weeks. But but Segura has been awesome. And in a lot of ways, he's played a really strong second base. He's like, you know, it feels like we've come so long since the Andrew McCutcheon ACL hustle thing.

I feel like Segura hustles as much as anyone. He is really busting his ass out there. And maybe it was a dumb decision the other day. I remember it was Thursday or Friday when other day and that was it i remember it was thursday or friday when he tagged on like basically the pop out to second base but you know he's really out there you know going for it and i appreciate it and he's been locked in offensively and he's the kind of guy who look he's had seasons in the past where he could be this hitter for the majority of the season like it's not like he's not someone who's like a reese

hoskins where it's like let's take that streaks when we get it and have the cold streaks like if sagara can stay healthy and stay in line up there's at least not you know as hot as he's been the last few weeks but that he could be a 300 ish hitter for this team with this type of you know 14 home run power or whatever and if that guy can be consistent for this lineup to the conversation we were having before it just could be such a massive thing to have some consistency when there are some some streaky hitters between Schwarber and Hoskins and Harper potentially in this lineup well the thing was with Gene is that the the the part I love about Gene's game right now is obviously the hitting is great and he's game right now is obviously the hitting is great

and he's hitting the ball out of the yard and he's kind of spraying it a little bit. But he has legitimately stolen three runs on the bases this week, which is big. I mean, that's what winning ball clubs have to do. That's the little things that it takes to consistently win in this league. So he's done that little stuff. You know, he stole second and then he was able to score on that, I think, last night. So, you know, just doing those little things.

Winning teams do the little things. So, yeah, I mean, he's been really good here for a good stretch. I mean, he got off to a bit of a slow start this year, but it seems like he's kind of figured it out towards the bottom of the lineup. You know, I think on most nights, it's either going to be Schwarber in the leadoff spot or Hoskins in the leadoff spot. And the kind of reason that I like Hoskins in the leadoff spot is late in games, like what's been kind of killing the Phillies in, you know, late in games like what's been kind of killing the phillies in um you know late in late in games i guess is that the other teams will bring in lefties towards the bottom of the lineup and it'll go schwarber whatever and and then whoever's batting the two hole you know whether it's boom jt uh

segura if they don't come through then it's it's pretty much just two automatic outs with bryce and and sch Schwarber obviously Bryce has been better against lefties he's just a good overall hitter I mean he obviously you know took Urias deep last night but what what is kind of sunk the Philly Leighton games is these this Schwarber righty Harper situation where guys can just bring in their lefty and kind of shut down any momentum the Phillies have so I kind of like Hoskins at the top of the lineup. But Segura is a traditional two-hole hitter. But, you know, I actually like him down in that 6-7 spot where he can kind of turn over the bottom of the lineup.

And, you know, honestly, when a pitcher, like, they get through the Castellanos, Hoskins, Schwarber, Real Muto, whatever, however they do the 4-5-6, and then it's like, oh, crap, not going to face Gene Segura. Like, it's just a different kind of at-bat for most pitchers to go through. So, you know, the interesting part about Gene is he plays really good second base. It seems like this year more than ever the shifts are actually working. Shout out to our guy, Ani. You know just he's

been the right spot and i i don't know how you really let him walk this offseason i know people have been talking about oh we get off the segura contract at the end of the year are you sure you want to move on from gene segura i mean if he's giving you that kind of production from second base playing really good solid defense and and, and making winning plays in the base, bat base pass. Like I, I want to make sure he's around. I don't,

I don't know. I don't know if there's a clear fix for second base in the organization. Like even start. Okay. You put them at second base. Who's a shortstop, you know? So if you want to move on from,

well, they better move on from DD this off season, but obviously they will. Right. But you put Stata short, you know, why not re-sign Segura? So I think he's actually working himself into being a re-sign candidate for this team, which is something I was not expecting heading into the season. Yeah, and look, there's a long way to go before that.

We'll see how it plays out. But he's certainly – if he continues his production, that's certainly a potential outcome all right couple quick hitters and then i want to want to talk about the bullpen but quickly um and then obviously the take bag in the top five um schwarber a nice road trip for him you know had the homers and back-to-back games didn't get hit today but had two walks he was starting to kind of get it going a little bit. Feels like had the Homer in Seattle. Where are you at on Schwarber? And do you think he's kind of turning a corner? Or is this just, you know, some power and he's going to get a hold of everyone

and not really excited about it? Well, no, I think, I mean, he got on base three times today. He was hit by a pitch in one of those at-bats. And overall, I thought he had good ABs. Oh, yeah, I mean, he got on base three times today. He was hit by a pitch in one of those at-bats. And overall, I thought he had good ABs. Oh, yeah, I did. It almost looked like he didn't get hit on that one. It was so close. Like, but he just started walking at first with such confidence.

It was like, okay. Yeah, no, it's, but whatever. I mean, he needed to get his on-base percentage up. I mean, he, that was part of the selling of Schwarber here. his on-base percentage up. I mean, that was part of the selling of Schwarber here. But honestly, I think we're about to see a really good prolonged stretch from Kyle Schwarber. Early in the season, I felt like he's kind of pulling off everything. There's a lot of soft contact. And for a guy who I thought was really good at making swing decisions, I felt like through the first month of the season, I didn't like what he was doing at the plate. Didn't feel like the

Kyle Shulver that I'd kind of grown accustomed to seeing. But really this last little bit here, he's been much more on plane. He's been much more balanced. His hands look really fast. Even his pop-ups, it's like he just missed that. And there's been a couple instances where he's flown out to the warning track, and it's just like, here we go, dead balls. But, no, I legitimately feel good about where I was. I was really frustrated up until, like, you know, a week and a half ago. But I do genuinely believe he's having good at bats.

He's kind of, you can kind of tell, you know, like when there's, when new players come in, it takes a little bit to figure out when they're going to have to get going, when they're, when they're going to get right. And I just feel like now we're starting to see it when he's on balance, the ball is going to left center field um he's fouling off good pitches he's he he has a little bit he has a little bit of soto when he's not getting his pitch where he just kind of just kind of throws the bat back and is a little bit frustrated when

he's not getting a pitch he thinks he can do damage with so um you know i like where he's at right now and i think we're about to get the real Kyle Schwarber for the next little stretch here because it's been frustrating so far, but he has generally been a slow starter, and I'm good with where Schwarber is at. Yeah, again, if you look at his stats from last year, it was right around this time last year. Same stats, more or less, especially from an average recycling and all that. All right, I want to get to the bullpen in one sec. Reeves, last time we talked, he just had the nice series or the nice first few games in Seattle, the couple homers.

I think a good series in L.A. too had the homer yesterday. Also, honestly, I think he's played better defense. He's done a really nice job with this. Unbelievable. Like the stretches in general, I think he's done a great job job with unbelievable right like the stretches in general i think he's done a great job on the receiving end at first basically a really great job this year and obviously he's not you know the most agile or you know going to cover the most range out there but i feel like reese has improved defensively i do too and and that's not something i was

expecting to say ever on this podcast. Um, cause there's just been so many instances where the, where you just, he can't scoop the ball and it goes past them. Um, but he had like, he had three scoops today. I don't think I've ever seen him make, well, the first one I've seen him make the second two, I've never seen a reason to make those kinds of scoops. Like he, he just has, he hasn't done that in the past. So, you know, credit to him. You know, I think he, I mean, you, you, you know credit to him you know i i think he i mean you you heard the story uh after the they got rained out on friday and saturday where him and kevin long just had like grinded out sessions in in the batting cage so it seems like he kind of figured that out

a little bit and and reese is really good on this road trip seems to really love playing on the west coast so we get our our best reese when he is on uh the west coast like it seems like it kind of just gets him going a little bit which is good um but really defensively like you know that that double play they turn late in the game it's like i i've never seen him scoot the ball like that so you know that's him putting in work and it does it does go to show you that players can get better defensively. And frankly, you know, I think you can make the case that Bobby Dickerson has been the most important offseason coaching addition to the staff. I think Kevin Long, you're starting to see kind of what Kevin Long brings to this team. You know, I think the at-bats have been better.

I mean, you don't get top five in slugging and top five in every offensive category unless you're doing something right so obviously the talent is there but i i like where where k long has these guys right now but bobby dickerson had a way harder job i mean bobby dickerson had to be tasked with having like the worst defense in the history of baseball on paper and making it serviceable so it's not killing him and you know i think bone I think Boehm's been solid defensively. He, for some reason, can't get any ball to sit down third baseline. Like, it just, it's automatically through for a base hit. But whatever, as long as he's making the plays in front of him, we'll take that. But I think Boehm's taking good steps forward. I think Gene takes good steps forward. It might go unnoticed, but, I mean, the Bryson Stott tag today

on the Garrett Stubbs throwdown, that was a really fast tag that I know Bobby Dickerson was working with these guys on. So that's Bobby Dickerson. And then you look at a guy like Reese. I mean, Reese has been not a great defensive first baseman in his career, made two game-saving plays today that good teams have to make if you're going to win and try to make the playoffs. So I think Bobby Dickerson has just done a really good job. And every time they talk about him on any broadcast, whether it's radio or TV, they just rave about how early he's out there throwing or hitting fungos and making sure he's grabbing guys and doing extra work with them. And that's what has

to happen when you have a defense that is not super talented on paper and making sure that they are not killing you. I mean, James, this defense, for as much as it's been crushed heading into the year, it hasn't totally killed them like I think we thought it was going to. No, certainly not as the seasons were on. There were some incidents early, obviously. Remember the Boehm stuff? There was some bad play early on, but I think they've really settled into being better than expected, if nothing else.

Again, I think range is an issue across the board, but they've kind of gotten the balls that have come their way, which I think is more than I expected, in all honesty. So I'm with you on that. All right. If you have anything to say about the starting pitching, I'm sure you can say in the take back, not much to say. Noel was great today.

Noel's been great. Gibby had his first bad outing of the season. Not much to say. So let's just get to the main course before we get to the take back and stuff. suit the main course before you get to the take bag and stuff. Outside of Sir Anthony, who has clearly been the bright spot, like shining bright spot compared to the rest of the bullpen, he's just been everything you could hope he'd be and more coming back from that injury and in high leverage spots.

But outside of that, dude, they keep blowing games. Like Familia is a disaster. Alvarado is terrifying. Knable today, I thought I felt great about Knable. And, you know, another one today after the 7-1-1. And I know it was back-to-back days, but still. And, you know, it's, I think every single Phillies fan right now, we talked about the defense, defense, defense.

To your point, every single one would say bullpen is the biggest concern with the team by far right now. Yeah, and honestly, that's the one thing that makes it so frustrating. You know, they did, um, they did win three or four, but then, you know, how they won three or four also matters. I think it's important that they, that they fought back, but it's also, I mean, the, the, the, the, the, the bullpen did blow it. And they did kind of multiple times, both of them.

Multiple times. All of them. Other than the 8-3 game, the Saturday game where— By the way, a 2-hour and 40-minute game, an 8-3 baseball game that was 2 hours and 40 minutes, it was unbelievable. But, yeah, how does that happen? Thursday and Friday, it was a 7-1 lead and an 8-1 lead, whatever. It's like, how does that happen? Thursday and Friday, it was a 7-1 lead and, like, an 8-1 lead, whatever.

It's like, how does this happen? 9-7 in the ninth, the home run, you know, on Saturday or Friday. Like, how does that happen, Jack? It's crazy. And then today, obviously. Yeah. And the thing that just – we go through it every year, and there are bullpen pieces for a reason.

It's like cornerbacks, the reason they're not receivers is because they can't catch. Well, bullpen pitchers are bullpen pitchers because they can't locate most times because they're not starters or because they don't have enough pitches or whatever, because they're not starters. All pitchers wishes they were starters. Right.

And, and like these guys and they come out of the bullpen, they have no idea where the ball's going. It's just, it just drives me nuts. And I mean, familiar and Alvarado innings are just, they come out of the bullpen, they have no idea where the ball is going. It just drives me nuts. I mean, Familia and Alvarado innings, they are just terrifying. They are gut-wrenching. They are awful.

They are not inspiring, I would say. And what's frustrating is they optioned Francisco Morales while we're doing this podcast. I was going to bring it up. It made no sense to me. He looked great in a little bit of time he got yeah I mean he

I like him it's just like I can't trust him yet and he still has the control issues but at least he has stuff I mean his his slider is is like a better version this isn't like the most inspiring comp but it reminds me a ton of Edgar Garcia slider except it has more depth than is actually.

I love that you went Edgar Garcia. I know. How's that for? Is that giving confidence in Francisco? But, yeah, it's just they do have better stuff than in years past. And it's frustrating when like Hector is having the years that he's having out in Houston, which was never a doubt. And we're sitting here agonizing through Alvarado and familiar innings.

But there are a lot like the lineup where a guy's going to be hot and you're going to kind of have to ride him. I think there's a lot of people freaking out about Knable. And I think the biggest thing I learned this week about Knable is that I don't trust him on back-to-backs or two out of three days. You know, I think when he has a couple days rest and then has to come in and close, I think he's much better. But, you know, I felt like today and even his last outing, you know, he is so used to be able to just throw 97 that when his arms tired and he's 95 he tries to make up for it by really reaching back and going for it and when he really reaches back and goes for it it causes you to miss your spot by two feet to Cody Bellinger

and he smokes one down the line and and and you know puts puts the Dodgers in business there. So he's one of those guys where I think when he's rested, he's a really good closer. But I don't trust him when it comes to back-to-backs or two out of three days. So you go from Knievel, concerns out of nowhere. You go to Sir Anthony, who's been really good. But, again, last night, runners on first and second, hard-hit ball that they were able to kind of get out of it that's whatever we take that um i think brad hand doesn't look like i just i i didn't i don't trust brad hand i think the the results are fine at this point but

another guy who i feel like has no idea where the ball is going um alvarado obviously familia obviously so that's you know three that's four out of the five guys at the back of your bullpen that you don't trust on a night-in, night-out basis. I think Knievel most times gets the job done, but we see today that's obviously not going to happen every time. And then it goes down to like, okay, Brogdon looks pretty good last night, got it back up to 97, and changeup looked pretty good. You have the Nor norwoods who

they are are having more confidence in which is good because i think there is legitimate upside there um but other than that like nick nelson i think has some stuff there's just there's not guys that you can trust and unless gerardi starts trusting the young guys more in high leverage spots i think you're going to see more of the familias and, and the Alvarados instead of seeing, you know, Norwood, Bilotti,

Nelson. It's just, it, it, for some reason, well, not for some reason, it's obvious with Girardi.

It just takes him. It just takes him forever to, to really trust young players. Whereas these old guys that have quote unquote done it before, just get the longest leash as possible it's brutal honestly it's one of derardi's biggest deficiencies as a manager and there are many um all right uh take back buddy well the first part of take back is i don't think i've seen worse managing there we go go. See, look at that. It's like perfect.

That was perfect. Well, it's just like I thought Joe Maddon in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series was some of the worst managing I've seen in my – the worst managing I've ever seen in my entire life. I know they won, but it was egregious how he managed that game. But how Girardi managed the eighth on Thursday was up there with that. I have some stuff written down, the Girardi files, but it's pretty much just what the hell are you doing

in the eighth inning of the game on Thursday night. I hate him, man. I hate him. I want him on my team. It was so bad. But, hey, shout out to Joe. Last night, up five in the eighth. He didn't go to.

Yeah, he went Sir Anthony there. That was good. You're right. You're right. Very proud of him. That's a big step forward. It's a big step forward. Yeah.

One thing I have in the take bag, and it's it's i just i i feel like the pitching staff as a whole is a is a ticking time bomb like i just even the even the starting staff and i know the numbers of the numbers and i i i like where most of them are at like ranger ranger the last two starts by the end it's like okay ranger is obviously good but there was also periods within the first three innings of both starts that was like this could get out of control and then he writes himself and credit to him he he writes himself and and gets on plane and finishes through jt rather than falling off to the side. But even Ranger, I'm not on the train of he's back. I'm not where I was last year where I just trusted with my life to go six or seven innings, three runs or less.

Because there are periods early in games where I think it could kind of spiral out of control a little bit. I think Noel is definitely more back than he's not. You know, his fastball command has, again, been the best I've seen since 2018. Wheeler, definitely more back than not. Gibson was – like, that's what we saw a lot of last year, James. And what frustrates me about Gibby is every time there's runners on base, I feel like he starts panicking and he doesn't focus on,

on getting out and he's any, um, you know, I, I think he just lets it kind of unravel more than being a stopper. So, um, you know,

I think there's some, there's some Gibson concerns for me. It just, they're pitching well as a whole, as a starting staff, the ERA is under three in the last three weeks. But I just don't have this great overwhelming feeling that the starting staff is dominant. Mim has one bad start and you make fun of his nickname.

Cool. Cool, cool, cool. Listen, that's what happens. Who doesn't like Gibby? I get it. He's not the best pitcher. We all agree on that. But who has to hate on Gibby? I get it. He's not the best pitcher. We all agree on that. But who has to hate on Gibby?

I don't get it. There was no hate on Gibby. It's such a weird angle to hate on Gibby. I mean, he's one of the five most likable guys. All right. No, I get your point. I do think Nola is a cause for optimism he looks he looks really good man and the fact that they keep losing every game he starts in painful ways that are you know

it's weird I'm not gonna lie but well it's like Hamels yeah it really is I had the exact same thought Jack um but he's been great um all right what else you got uh i'm not i'm not hating on gibby it's just stop with the i'm just messed up with the curveballs oh by the way with the with the bullpen one thing i meant to mention thinking about gibby obviously you know because he was a trade deadline guy you know and again you have to make the right moves and all that but theoretically one potential positive with the pen is that it is probably the easiest part of the team to you know fix on the fly during a season so to speak so you know for what that's worth yeah it's just like what what i'm what i'm already dreading is like we we trade

for a reliever who is is kind of past his like craig kimbrbrell or something? Well, it's like Kimbrell, Michael Fulmer, these older relievers. Dombrowski's like, I know that guy. He was on my team. I drafted Michael Fulmer. Let's get him. I have very little interest in- He didn't draft Michael Fulmer. I was joking.

I know. He traded for him, though, didn't he? I guess. He did. Well, I don't know if he was with Boston yet because that was 2015. No, I'm talking about with Detroit because Fulmer was a Met prospect and then got traded to Detroit. So either way, go ahead.

Yeah. Well, honestly, you're playing good point guard right now because you're kind of setting up a take back, which is like that's when you know this podcast is in good sync. point guard right now because you're kind of setting up a take bag which is like that's when you know this podcast is in good sync um but i just i have no interest i have no interest in another familiar always got a job done before oh brad hands got the job yeah i agree with you i like so well you could go right now honestly he could go and i wouldn't notice i'd be fine with it well yeah well i know i think i know i'm being extreme, but I do not enjoy watching him pitch.

That's for sure. No, not especially when he's short on me like he was today. But I just I want you to go. I want them to go spend real prospect inventory or whatever. Like David Bednar or something like that. Yeah. Bednar is like my guy. He has five years of control left, which makes it tough.

Go get just go get one. But that's your point. Go get one of those dudes from a team. Go get Josh Stallmont from the Royals. So I want them to go and get a legit dude. I don't want to deal with another older... I totally get it. The Padres gave him Chris Paddock, but they got Taylor Rodgers, who's a legit, legit

dude. So I get it. And the Phillies, for the first time in a while, actually have excess pieces in the minor leagues that don't really make sense for the major league roster within the next, like, four years. Yeah, no, I like that. That's a good call. Yeah.

It's honestly the thing I care the most about heading into the deadline. You know, I don't think they need offensive help. Hey, hey, hey, keep the perfect deadline tight. You know, don't tell them what it's gonna be at all right geez all right but all right that's fine jack come on that's fine but i will say ethan wilson and logan ahapi and plus fourth david bednar is already pretty much gonna be my deadline so bednar is so nasty that dude is so nasty. That dude is so nasty. How about the kid in that? They wouldn't dream, but the kid in Minnesota, too. What's his name? Dohan or whatever.

Duran. Oh, dude. Yeah. Dude, he is nasty. He's like Gratterall, except actually good. Yeah. All right, what else you got? Hold on.

I want to make sure I... Yeah, it's Duran. Okay. I want to make sure I didn't mess up his name. Yeah, his name is like Johan Duran or something, I think is what it is. Like J-H. Anyway, go ahead. What was I going to say? I think those two rain outs were actually really important for this team.

They were at home, so they were able to kind of get away from the field for two days. There was so much expectations on this team heading into the season, and they came out slow, and a lot of people were freaking out about them, and they were down on this team. And, you know, I think those two rain outs where they can kind of just go home or, you know, Reese came in and had marathon hitting sessions with Kevin Long. You know, I think that's actually – and you saw how they played. and had marathon hitting sessions with Kevin Long. You know, I think that's actually – and you saw how they played.

I mean, even Sunday had 10 hits off Shurzer, played well in game one. Game two, they laid an absolute egg. But, you know, they went on the road to – Seattle took two or three and then took three or four from the Dodgers. You know, I think that both going on the road, getting away from here, being able to kind of get a mental reset and those two rain delays, I think they really help this team just from a mindset standpoint. And it's just one of those things that I want to file away for the future 2023. And the most important 2026, obviously. Well, they're the team I care about the most,

but you could argue it's the most important back-to-back rain delays in the team this year. I actually was going to make a point like that, too. I think the rain delays are a good way to put it, but also just that they have bounced back since that all-time horrendous loss. And they didn't win the doubleheader on Sunday, but they beat Scherzer and teams usually don't, the Phillies certainly don't seem to win a lot of doubleheaders. But then they won 5-7 on a road trip or whatever, you know? So it's pretty good,

especially against the Dodgers. So yeah, like I said earlier, I'm feeling much better than not about the team right now, even despite today's loss? Well, I think how I genuinely feel is that we're going to have a summer of competitive baseball. And I don't think it's going to be a summer of bad baseball. I think we've got to mix those two up. Whereas the last couple of years, like, yeah, they're in first place in August and September, but they're not actually good.

I genuinely think that this team is more good than bad. And I think that this summer is more good than bad and i think that this the summer actually has a chance to be a especially i mean the the the second james that the the weather heats up a little bit out west the offense just comes more than alive so you know i think that i think they're i thought they were playing good baseball heading into this west coast trip and i just i like that a five and two trip kind of confirms those beliefs that yes they are playing good baseball heading into this west coast trip and i just i like that a five and two trip kind of confirms those beliefs that yes they are playing good baseball now the key is coming home and doing the same thing because they've actually looked better on the road i think this year than

than at home which is just absolutely impossible to believe all right what else you got um i don't think i've ever seen a worse swing and miss than a doable today with the oh it was horrible horrible like embarrassing like maybe the like i it was a one of the worst ones of ours yeah i'm with you i mean just like he there have probably been worse but it was really bad like there's a lot of frustrating things about adubo and by the way is uh i think his ovp is back down to 300 which is classic given that oh he's hot for a week oh no he's actually good no he stinks but um like i there's there's a lot of frustrating things about adubble but nothing is worse than when he goes up there just trying to swing at everything you know and you can tell from the

first pitch like if they're they're throw a first pitch slider and he won't even be close to it and then it's like okay this is gonna be one of the oduble bats where he just swings it you could you could throw the ball 54 feet and there's a good chance that he swings at it, which he did, and the ball went through his legs. And Joe Davis on the Dodgers broadcast was just beside himself. Yeah, yeah, and I don't blame him. I'm with you. Okay. That's a lot of I'm with you's.

Sounds like someone's ready for bed. No, I just don't have a strong – There's a lot of I'm with you's. To be fair, yes, I am ready for bed without a doubt. But I just like, you know, everyone knows how I feel about Odubo. I 100% agree. I hate watching him play baseball. The fact that his OBP is back down is the least surprising thing I've literally ever heard in my life.

I would have been shocked if it weren't. So, yeah, I'm with you, buddy. You know what the funniest part about doing this podcast is, James? What's that? Is that I feel like you and I finally, by year four, like we've just seen all this before. I know. It's all there.

It's all familiar. You know, and like I – It's so familiar. Yeah, like, dude, you know, I'm just not surprised. There's nothing – The times that I actually get angry are the things that I'm not surprised by. You know? Like, 7-1 was one of those nights.

Same. Same. Same. Really? It's like, no way. Like, enough. Like, this is stupid. Dude, Knievel blowing the game today was nothing.

I mean, frankly. Oh, dude, I was honestly, I was expecting it. I was like, sure. Yeah. Okay. Now, before I get my top five, are you a fan of my new bit of betting against the Phillies when they're up late in games?

So, I don't know. I mean, is it working? Is it working? They're three and one. They're three and one. Yeah, that's good. I actually started doing pushups on the road trip. So five and two on days I've done push-ups.

Are you feeling stronger? I'm just saying. You're always like, oh, Mr. Runner guy, I've got to help the Phillies out, and it never works. But I did push-ups, and they're five and two. So I'm just saying. So I'm going to keep doing push-ups and see what happens. I just want to say, if they're five and two so far,

depending on what the record is, I most likely will have saved the season at some point. That's all I'm saying. Okay. Well, it doesn't count until you tweet about it. No, I'm not like you. I don't need to tweet about it. It counts when I say it on the I Hope Spy guest because it's the only thing that matters.

All right? Overall, though, do you feel like— I don't tweet my whole life to everyone, Jack. You know? Well, I mean, I don't tweet my whole life to everyone jack you know well i mean i don't really i i just tweet what i feel all the time and also use reverse reverse jinxes and also just there's people that don't understand that like they can't the crippling pressure of always having to tweet feels like a loss or the post-game video reaction or whatever it must be dude you want to talk about pressure situations i feel like i have the weight of an entire fan base oh yeah you do that's but you're right to feel that way you should feel that way

but overall like do you do you feel like you're getting stronger like do you feel like you know it's only been a week but yeah it's push-ups push-ups are good do you feel like you're getting stronger? Do you feel like the chest is starting to fill up? I mean, it was push-ups. It's only been a week, but yeah, it's push-ups. Push-ups are good. Do you think you could beat me in arm wrestling, Matt? Yeah, I do. I think I could probably. No, you don't.

Really? I think so. I don't know. You're much bigger than me. Well, no. That sounds like an insult. I'm not that much bigger than you. It was only meant to be like 25% an insult. 75% was just stating a fact.

All right. Listen. Listen. If you want to fight, we'll fight. This is where this is going. I've never been in a fight in my life. Here's what I definitely know, and it is germane to the first part of the conversation. I'm sure I could do more push-ups than you.

I feel incredibly confident about that. Oh, yeah. No, you definitely can. Remember, I'm pushing a lot of weight. I'm pushing a good amount of weight. I'm strong, but not strong at pushing my body. Yeah, you're pretty strong. You might be me in an arm wrestling.

You're big. You're definitely tall and... Strong. Anything else to say? Husky. Is that a word? Looks like someone that sat 82 to 84 and got rocked in college. Anything else?

I mean, you run every day, dude. I mean, you run every day. All right. Is it top five? It feels like it's top five. I don't know. I kind of want to continue this conversation we're having right now, thus also keeping you awake.

Yeah, I know. You always do, buddy. You always do. It's really kind of you. Who's better? Who's better at extending games slash podcasts? Me or the Phillies bullpen? Oh, my God.

Oh, man. Are you going to answer the question? I mean. Oh, God, you are. Because the Phillies bullpen can't be better at anything other than being terrible. So there you go. All right, here's my top five. You ready?

Is it a revised list of most painful loss or no? No, no, no. I could do that. I totally – there's a couple. There's my guy SK and there's Mike chiotto who like they also feel pain with philly stuff and they've been tweeting out like their most painful losses you know what loss i totally blacked out and totally forgot about but should have definitely been on my top five list was the which one the yadiel hernandez like scrub from the nationals, who hit a ball off, I think, Workman, like 450 feet.

Oh, yeah. He was like the Chris Coast of those Nationals games. Yeah, that sounds familiar to me. I mean, Brandon Workman, man. God, Brandon Workman and Heath Embry, that is... Well, I don't know, man. That era was just... Those two guys in particular were close to as rough

as it's ever been we'll see because there might be something on my top five about that tough oh so we're about a month in what but a month and a half into the season uh we are a little yeah like so it started april so like a month and a week wow it's already been man i always forget how much pain they pack into oh they they they keep it it's like it's like a box you're watching a boxing match and they just keep pummeling the belly like the you know the boom boom boom that's a philly season for us anyway um here are my top five most reliable things about this philly's team given that we are a month and a half in and i think that we we sort of know them james um the the fifth one is that ben davis will always critique any catcher that goes to one knee it is like dude it's a passion project for him like he like he can't help himself i mean it's so it's so great he gets so upset about it he's like how

could you do that like it's great like dude it'll be it'll be like 1 30 in the morning east coast time and ben davis will be yelling about a catcher that is on one knee trying to block baseballs i will say i appreciate any announcer in general across the board like getting really passionate about stuff like that because it's like good like you have a little fire about the game you still are involved in it's good yeah god forbid right exactly that's my point you know like we've heard so many announcers over time especially like national guys who it sounds like don't even like care about the sport they're announcing. So yeah, I'm with you. And I keep thinking like, all right, is Ben Davis right or wrong? And like, there's a part of me that's like, all right, I totally get

it. But then I'm trying to think like, how much does stealing strikes help your team more than blocking a baseball? But there's just no But there's just no way that blocking the baseball is not a more important task than framing a pick. Yeah, especially situationally, right? Also, why can't you do both? Exactly. That's my thing. I think it's a combination of two things.

One, I think it's that in any situation, if there's no one on base, fine, do the, you know, the one leg who cares, but if they're runners on base, you shouldn't. And then on top of that, to your point, do you think there are just certain guys who are particularly talented or ambidextrous, excuse me, um, uh, agile or, you know, um, whatever that are able to just quick or whatever that can do it any number of ways and be successful or that's the way they feel most comfortable or whatever.

But I think for the most part, you probably, I think he's probably more right than wrong. Yeah. I mean, yeah. So, you know,

I, I appreciate a good bit and I think Ben Davis is a bit of, you really do appreciate a good bit. You know, I'm a bit guy. Um, a bit man, my, You really do appreciate a good bit. You know, I'm a bit guy. You're a bit guy. A bit man. My fourth most reliable thing about this Phillies team is, James,

I am just – I couldn't be more in love with Johan Camargo. And I just – I think he just makes winning plays. Like, my fourth most reliable thing is, like, I don't know if it's the plate. I don't know if it's in the field. I don't know if it's base running. But when Johan Camargo plays, he is going to make winning baseball plays. And that's something I think, like, he might be the best bench player of my life. You know, I think Dobbsy's up there.

Tomas Perez is up there. Abraham Nunez, Juan Castro, like, they're all up there. But, man. Wow, you don't even give Bruntlett a shout out. The champion. Oh, stop. Eric Bruntlett was I mean, a shout out. Champion Eric Bruntlett. I mean, unbelievable. But anyway, Camargo,

you know, even when he starts, it's like not a disaster. Also, I'm not one to call out stats or websites or official rule book keepers at baseball games. But my eyes tell me that Johan Camargo is not batting 239. Like there's just, yeah, thank you. If you could please get Johan Camargo back to what his actual, uh, stash line is, which I'm pretty sure is at

least two 80. That'd be great. Like there's no way, There's no way Johan Camargo is batting 239. Yeah, I was surprised when I looked at his numbers too. But, you know, he's had some big hits. And he plays three spots. He could play second. I'm sure if they need him to, they should have him. But, like, he plays multiple spots around the dime, which is super valuable. He's a really valuable guy.

We've talked about it. And I dig him too. I think he might be going slightly too far. I would never. we've talked about it and I, I dig him too. Um, I think you might be going slightly too far, but, um, and he, I would never, and he,

and he certainly has cooled down since his, uh, you know, he's the best player on the team in April, uh, early April, uh, performance,

but yeah, he's a nice find. I'm really happy. He's on the team. I'm with you. Um, my third most reliable thing about this Phillies team is he might not have the highest average. He might ground it to an absurd amount of double plays. But man, Kyle Schwarber is going

to hit big home runs for this team. It seems like whenever they need one or everyone they need to extend the lead, he's done it so far this season. He did it that Met series up in Queens. He had a big home run, obviously, last night. You know, I just trust that guy in big moments. And frankly, that's been his calling card, whether it's only off Garrett Cole in playoff series or the home run last year against the Astros. Kyle Schwarber is a slow heartbeat guy. And I just, I can't get the image of Matt Stairs out of my head when he hit that home run

on Friday night. It was the same thing. It was number 12 in LA hitting a ball into the night. And the average has been frustrating. I get that. But I think that guy helps this team win more ball games than he doesn't. And I still trust them to hit big home runs when they need them. A hundred percent with you. Like couldn't agree more. And I definitely get the stairs flashbacks to it. So clear, especially the build,

the whole thing. I'm with you. I'm with you. And the amount of like, he's already hit one from there and almost had another, like his ability to go down to one knee and almost hit or hit home runs is, is truly astounding. Yeah.

And he's like powering through the whole. Also, are the balls getting unjuiced or is it just the weather heating up? I don't know. Yeah, I can't tell. I don't know. The second most reliable thing about this Phillies team, which I felt again today, when there's a chance to really capitalize on momentum,

they will automatically halt that. I mean, today the the biggest lock of the year was they're gonna lose today it's so true well because the whole week it's like hey phil's are back phil's are back phil's are hot you know because they're playing until 2 30 in the morning um like most sane people aren't staying away for it the day that everyone can finally sit down and watch a nice sunday afternoon of course they blow it. So, you know, any chance they can to not fully capitalize the momentum. And, like, dude, if they lost on Saturday like how they lost today and they came back and won like they did on Saturday,

if they won, if you just flip-flop today and yesterday. Yeah, I'm so with you. We're recording a film of our winning the World Series. Three of four with a big win today. Totally with you, buddy. Totally with you. So that part just frustrates me. And the number one most reliable thing about this Philly season going forward

is that the Alvarado-Familia innings. You called it before. We called it when they signed Familia. You did this exact same thing. You were like, all right, Familia, it's going to be that type of thing. You literally said that. And now they're in high leverage spots, which is like...

That's the problem. Joe has to use those guys. I would rather see James Norwood than either of those guys in a high leverage spot. I would rather use Norwood, Bilotti... Nick Nelson who looked good in that high leverage spot. I would rather use Norwood, Bilotti. Nick Nelson, who looked good in that high leverage spot the other night. I mean, yeah, for sure. Yeah.

So, and honestly, you know, Brogdon, it was nice that he got back to 97 yesterday and was able to find the strike zone. Not totally sold on him being back, but, you know, good signs from him but like the the alvarado familia innings are just gonna be killer the rest of the year and you know if you want to use those guys in the sixth seventh i get it but you're gonna lose more games than you'll win with them being high lever spots and i i will i i don't care what the numbers are i don't trust them at all my gut doesn't trust them at all

and today was another example of that and like if you can just if he can just if the brass can just add one more legit legit reliever through a trade. Then I think Knievel can get a job done most nights in the ninth. I don't think he's about to down spiral into a disaster. I believe in Sir Anthony more than I don't. But if you can have that third guy to where it just pushes everyone back down a little bit in the bullpen, it would just be so massive. So those two are just brutal. everyone back down a little bit on the on the in the bullpen it would just be so massive so um

those two are just brutal they have no idea where the ball is going it seems like it's it's all of a sudden runners on second and third less than two outs in a heartbeat and it just it just makes games excruciating so um it's frustrating and i i don't really see it changing anytime soon until around the trade deadline. Outstanding top five, buddy. I couldn't agree more. And I'm ready for bed. What do you got?

You got any final thoughts, my friend? Cooked. Cooked. This guy's cooked. I will say the West Coast trips really took it out of me. Like, yes, I'm old. And especially when I text you today, when the,

uh, the reds lost a game when they throw a new hitter. And I was texting you about Andy Hawkins losing a four, nothing, no hitter. And it turns out 1990, I said the early nineties, I looked up,

it was 1990, um, that I remember vividly. I showed my age. So, you know, I'm old Jack, the west coast games took it out of me buddy i'm feeling it yeah you know and honestly the first time in a while

i appreciated staying up for the west coast games i made some coffee late at night maybe it was because i know you're tweeting like coffee's on it's like let's go win a ball game i'm like you're such a dad you're like way more of a dad than I am. Well, no. Coffee's on. Well, I mean, how else am I supposed to stay up? Through pure adrenaline? No, I don't.

Like I said before, no problem with you drinking coffee. Just don't tweet, coffee's on. Let's go get a win. I'm just trying to help this team win ball games. You did, and they won that game. So you know what? I really can't quibble too much, buddy. I'm just trying to let the team win ball games. You did, and they won that game. So you know what? I really can't go over too much, buddy. I'm just trying to let the Phillies know that, hey, I'm up,

and it's time to go win a ball game. That's a very motivating tweet. I'm sure you felt really motivated. I was. I can't tell if it was the coffee that kept me awake or just the heart attacks I felt like I was giving myself having to watch the fellows blow leads. Um, but it was a good West coast trip and thankfully they made it mostly worth it until today, but Hey, at least today was a day game. So it's not that bad.

Love it. It's a really great take Jack. Thank you for that. Um, all right. Uh, I'll give you, uh, do you have any final thoughts or is that it? No, I'll let you go to bed, I guess. Thanks, buddy. I'll leave you – Padres in town this week. I'm excited for this. The Padres have been good.

They've played really good baseball. Beat the Braves today, which was nice, and extras. So they've been on the road. They're coming in from a road trip, so that's nice too. So you're not the only one traveling. And you get the off day tomorrow. So it's good. The schedule's intense.

Like, till the, you know, a week and a half into June, it's nuts. They got a lot of good teams on it. So, you know, beating good teams is important. So it was really good to see them do that. I'll leave you with a Kevin Stocker stat here when I was listening. Did you realize that eight of Kyle Schrober's home runs have come on the road so he hasn't hit a home run at home since he hit that opening day open the season home run isn't that wild yeah yeah i think t-mac brought that up as well did he okay i heard stocker bring it up but that's nuts i had no

idea that's that's pretty wild hit a home run in Philly, Schwarbs. Come on, buddy. Well, but road road games are where, uh, we need it. We need it. We need it.

I agree. Yeah. Well, so winners show that they're truly winners. So, um, yeah, I mean,

is are born on the road. Yeah. Just pure. I've literally, I think I've only been on, on one losing baseball team. I believe it, man.

I believe it. Um, but yeah, so I'll let you go to bed i want to go to bed for real but quick but quick quick final thought um i think the phillips are playing at baseball you're just keeping me awake now this is i you don't have anything else to say you're just doing this aren't you i'm on to you i'm on you. I do feel good about where this team is at. And I listen, just don't, don't kill all momentum by facing the Padres at home. Let's,

let's, let's ride this thing out for a little bit. Hey, maybe you get over 500. Let's just, yeah. A noble cause. All right.

Um, follow the analytics. I'm going to get out of here before you keep talking. You spread some salt. I'll see you later. All-Star Closer. Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time?

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