High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - We'll Live With A Split

Episode Date: April 14, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies splitting a four-game series with the Pirates over the weekend and preview the rest of the 10-game homestand. 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.

Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo. It is another edition of the IOPs podcast. I was trying to think of what a 500 yo feels like. Just a bland little yo, because that's what we do like above below below at down at down at above at above and we're back and we split you wanted to split this is on you pal yeah and up to one i'm ready i'm like yes no no way another sunday they're gonna do this to us. I texted Jack when it was like 7-2 at one point. I'm like, the winning percentage on High Hopes recording Sundays has to be like below 300 over the years.

They are just horrible on Sundays for us. How you doing, buddy? Nice to see you. By the way, shout out to Miller Lite. You know, last pod, you were like, yes, there you go. See, but there's a difference in the Miller Lites because you need them in both situations. The fun win,

win a series, Miller Lite, and a summer day, which is beautiful, and then the oh, the Phillies just lost 9-2. I definitely need some Miller Lites. Either way, it works. Miller Lite, of course, the sponsor of High Hopes and the official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taste like Miller time, of course, the sponsor of High Hopes and the official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Taste like Miller time, Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly. And, of course, we love Miller Lite. We're going to have some Miller Lite announcements, related announcements coming up in the near future. I can definitely say that our first High Hopes watch party at a bar somewhere near at least some of you and and and you're uh generally all of us around here uh will be able to announce that in the very near future so fun stuff coming up obviously uh like always with the miller light um miller light a lot more fun than baseball today zach wheeler uh it like and god was he was he looking nasty he was just cruising and just one pitch and i

almost said when we did our uh you know who's gonna kill us and o'neill cruz did homer by the way kibrian hayes did have a all right you know rbi at that one point but i almost said so winsky and i was like nah i'm not gonna say yeah. That was a frustrating one today. Yesterday, a great one. The Cassidy walk-off, you know. How you doing, pal? Nice to see you. I'm okay. I know.

That's where it's at. Like, I'm just, I'm fine. They split. They're still 500. They're playing like it, too. Like, they're playing about as 500 as a baseball team could which is frustrating for for a team that that came this close to winning the world series two years ago and like this close to this close to being in it last year and this close to winning

it yeah yeah well and here's what i don't want them to do is i don't want them resting on their laurels saying well when it gets to june we'll turn it on and figure it out. Because they're just playing so dumb. Reckless and careless. Yep. Like just the little things add up. I mean, the bone marrow to start that inning. JT throwing through on a first and third situation.

Brandon Marsh. In a one run game with a runner on third. Like, what are you thinking there? Brandon Marsh. In a one-run game with a runner on third. Like, what are you thinking there? And it's almost like he, as he was, I think he threw it poorly because I think in the moment, he's like, crap, I probably shouldn't be doing this. And it could have been. It also could have been, and I'm trying to remember in my head,

I believe Stott should be in front of the bag looking to make a throw home. So maybe Stott was in the wrong position too. It's just, it's so, like, again, I think we've talked about this a lot on this podcast. Like, I can handle losing. It's just when it's bad, like, bad baseball and dumb baseball and, like, almost just the whole idea of, ah, like, it's early. We'll get them in June. And to their credit, the whole idea of, eh, it's early. We'll get him in June.

And to their credit, the last couple years, they've done this nonsense to start the season. And then they right the ship, and they figure it out. They don't play as dumb baseball. But they are an older team. They are professionals. It's not like they're a bunch of kids out there. I don't expect the Pirates to be doing this.

Speaking of the Pirates, Brian Reynolds is infuriating, dude. I hate him. He's so annoying. I felt like he was going to get a hit every single time he was up. He made a million catches in the field. And I know we won the game, but that kid, Jared Jones, is like disgusting, dude. That kid is nasty. Anyway, go ahead. is like disgusting dude that kid is nasty anyway god yeah so so i'm just i'm just kind of

i'm not i'm like just kind of with the team right now it's how i've been for a little bit the pitching staff's still really good it's weird to see wheeler like get hit around a little bit i'm not used to that you know he had the he was because he's dominant dude 10 strikeouts splitters looking great i feel like he's got a good rhythm with finding his off speed. And he made a bad pitch to Jack Swinsky, but also bone man and air to start that inning. And also, it barely got out. It was like a squeaker of homers you're going to get, too.

Yeah. So you have that. The pitching staff is really, really good. And the offense is just an annoying watch almost every single night. Like even when they win, it's like you should have, I mean, I'm not expecting you to score every single time there's a guy in scoring

position, but they can just never break through. And it feels like when they're all, when a couple of guys are cold, they all go cold. Like it's, like Turner's hitting very well right now. Turner's been awesome in Schwarber.

Yep, that's exactly what I was going to say. And March obviously has been good all year. I mean, Bryce has had two hits in a week. Two hits a week. I mean, he didn't get a hit in the St. Louis series. He got two this time. He had a couple that I thought were going to be gone, but they weren't. He just missed them.

Like the run's coming for Bryce. JT's cooled off. Boom. I mean, when he gets into this rhythm of just drilling the baseball into the ground and and just every it's a double play like I I know they haven't grounded into the most all plays in baseball they are third but I would love to watch a team that grounds to more double plays than this team it's just they're annoying they are they are incredibly annoying i keep waiting for the flip the switch here or switch to flip whatever flip

the switch whatever i don't care you're right right yeah no yeah uh yeah flip the switch no flip the switch yeah yeah you're right yeah yeah you have me doubting it yeah no it's flip the switch yeah because i get my own head with that i know well because you don me doubting it. No, it's flip a switch. I get in my own head with that. I know, because you don't normally nail it. Now you're on it. Yeah, but it's really been the story of this offense for the last couple of years. It's just that when it's mattered the most outside of games six and seven, they have largely been a pretty good offense. It feels like they go through this in the regular season a couple of couple times and it's annoying that at the beginning of the year versus

winnable teams i know the pirates are 11 and 5 or whatever but they're they're not that good i mean they have some decent players they have some young players they have some good pitchers but they're just they're the pirates you look at the lineup look at the lineup i mean it's it's it's nothing no i'm i preach buddy you know we that's why we talked about them getting off to a hot starter and you know like the braves come back and win today against the marlins and it's just like the braves of course lou strider officially done for the year you know we thought it was gonna happen it's it's official over the weekend quietly on on twitter they just released the news it's gonna that he that he got his surgery or whatever. But, you know, it's like, but the Braves just keep mashing.

They got like, look up the team leaders in OPS so far this season. Guess who it is? It's the Braves, you know, because they just go and mash. They got like an 880 OPS last I looked, and all they did is put up nine today. So, you know, it's frustrating because, like, you can't let the Braves build a lead on you. And they need to, especially like we talked about with what the schedule is like.

I mean, it's cake. I mean, they got the Rockies coming up. They got the White Sox there. I mean, this is like. Should be a five-in-one week. Like, get on a roll here. And that's what's so frustrating is you're also, I don't think you're, it's not like you're wasting the great pitching

because I think the pitching is going to be pretty great all year obviously they're going to be you know like every year there'll be some some stretches for certain pitchers and whatnot but i think you're going to get great pitching this year but you are wasting great pitching you know at the same time and and these guys it's just incredibly frustrating and that's the i think you know that obviously there's a lot that's frustrating, but, but the biggest thing for me is absolutely the stupid baseball. I think it's an arguable to say it's anything else because they should know better and you can't, it's one thing to, you know,

talk about coming in and starting hot and how important it is to you as, as a team to, we know we want to win the division this year, and we got to come in and not do that. And look, it's one thing if your bats aren't there yet. Like it seemed like in spring training, the dreaded flu, the whole thing, it seemed like they were behind. I mean, look, you know, I don't pay attention to spring training chats, but they didn't hit no one in spring training.

No one in spring training, you know? So they've carried that over. Like I can understand the bats being cold and timing off, and them have to get in rhythm, especially some of these guys who are really, you know, rhythm hitters get in that groove and streaky as a result. But the thing I can't excuse is when you're losing games because you're getting picked off first base on a fly ball to center field

or you're, you know, Christopher sanchez making two errors when like you otherwise could have it would have been a great outing a great outing from that guy and instead it's like okay like too much of that man like that's that's what's frustrating and that's where even if you know the the braves will take a hit from losing strider and whatever but we know they have organizational depth they'll they'll they're gonna win in win in the 90s. And if the Phillies lose the division by a game or two,

we're going to be able to look back at some of these boneheaded mistakes that they should not be making. Again, I can excuse cold bats. I can excuse a tired arm or a not ready arm to start the season. I can't excuse losing games in any way, shape, or form because of correctable mistakes that one or two is fine. We've just seen, like every game, there's multiple jams. Yeah, well, and the thing is, you know,

when it was back in the day when you had Schwarber and left or you had guys in the field that just shouldn't be there. Hoskins or whatever, yeah. He kind of excused it away. Like, Marsh is a plus defender in left field. JT is a plus defender behind the plate. But there's also been – and listen, he took a ball off the wrist on Friday. I know.

That's what I was thinking with the bat today where I was like, I'm not – I'm going to give him a little chance to get back. I mean, the toughest Philly we've seen in a while. I think I said that last pod. It's ridiculous. Yeah, he's all – and he's great. Yeah. It's just there's been a weird amount of pass balls.

Even Stubbe had one yesterday. And he's also really been down on throwing runners out. I mean, the numbers are crazy. He's one of the league leaders in terms of getting against teams converting stolen bases against him. Which is... We've got to fix that. We can't let that continue at all.

It's almost like... I think the best way to explain it, James, and maybe this is a silver lining. I'm not sure if it's a silver lining. You can let me know maybe this is a silver lining i'm not sure if it's silver lining you can let me know if it's a silver lining maybe they are just such a vibes team that like because that's what it seems like it's like when when they're hitting when they're hitting their feelings good when they're not hitting their feelings also horrible so they seem like such a team that when

they can they can get in a rhythm and get in a role like everything just picks up it's just annoying that it takes until june for that to happen and it feels like it happens every single year and the annoying part about the beginning of this year is that this is a schedule there's missed opportunities yeah now they are two games over 500 in the uh in the month well and look they also do still have a you know a half a month of of a easy schedule left if they rail off a 10 and 2 or a 9 and 3 or even an 8 and 4 to finish the month we're like all right four games up at the end five games up at the end like hell yeah you know If they can just get going. And I think you're starting to see signs of it, at least offensively.

Well, certainly with certain guys. I mean, Rojas has been much better the last week. But, I mean, Trey's the one. Hey, hey, hey, hey, Rojas sitting over 400 in his last seven games. Trey, and like Trey, it's like the outs are are smoked i mean trey looks totally locked in schwarber looks really good i mean he's fighting the early season struggles by by changing the approach a little bit and and you i mean i'm sure everyone saw the stab but i mean five times got on base five times against a left-hander, the first left-handed Philly to do that since freaking Richie Ashburn in 58,

Jack. So, you know. Who's a better player? Our leadoff hitter, man. Yeah, right? But so, like, yeah, I think that there are signs. And obviously, Marsh has been great. Stott had that, you know, crushed that homer the other night.

Like, I think he's starting to add the single eight. You know, I think he's starting to be a little more comfortable with the plate but you know it's Bryce it's that when Bryce is going cold like that and to his credit just drags the team dude it does it's the whole thing because he's so mad and he's like he probably don't want to bug him you know you try the vibe to the vibes thing I will say to his credit like though the one guy who is not at any defense and i mean he has been a at like an all-time great first big win so far this season so what am i watching it was the it was the eighth inning when he made a diving play i believe yeah and then so his play do you remember the remember the eagles game this year where britain covey was like feeling himself yeah

yeah made that catch. Yeah, yeah. You're talking about the punt return. He went up to go get it and it was like, alright Britton, deep breaths. Relax, pal. That's how I felt when Bryce basically took Stott's ball and still made a play. But yeah, he's been really good

over there. What do you see at the plate? What's going on? Because it is I mean, it's so strange because he's had moments where it looks like he's kind of starting to get out of it the two hits the other was it last night you know the ball that was like 402 or whatever the out but and then obviously had the one game where he's like was hit list for the season he's like screw this i'm going in and i'm getting some hits and at the three three-homer game, what is it? What are you seeing? I think he's just a bit off.

I really do. Like, even today, he hit the ball to the wall. It was almost out. He's hit a couple balls, like, hard just right at people. Same with Trey. That's what I was saying. Yep. And it reminds me a lot of last year. You know, he had the series against the Tigers where he was kind of going

through something similar, hit a bunch of balls to the wall. He came into the dugout, was kind of going through something similar hit a bunch of balls of the wall he came into the dugout was slamming stuff it was just furious yeah and yeah he's definitely one of those guys like he's going bad oh you know buddy you know yeah yeah yeah it's kind of like me i respect it yes yeah hey know me. I'm going to wear my emotions on my sleeve guy, too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, if one of the two of us is throwing their batting helmet, actually, it's probably both of us. No, it's me.

Yeah, well. You would do it, but you would go in the little dugout or behind the dugout area. I wouldn't make a scene, you mean? Yes, I would do it in front of everyone because I wouldn't be able to control myself in the moment. Yeah, I've gotten much better at it. Actually playing, I used to be really bad at it.

Like, really bad at it. But yes, I've figured it out. So, he did the same thing last year. Again, in that Tiger series. And then, it's so hard for me to really freak out about Bryce. Yeah, I feel the same way. I know people will do it because it's like, oh, he's a star player, and he's got a good...

It's baseball, deep breaths. Was it a mistake to put him at first base? Well, and it's like, who is the contract weighing on? It's like, oh my God. Yeah, come on, stop. The only concern is the back. The back. And to be fair, we have not brought that up enough hang on. It's like, Oh yeah, come on, stop. The only concern, the only concern is the back, the back, the back.

And to be fair with the, like, we have not brought that up enough as not an excuse, but an explanation. We're not an excuse podcast. We've never been an excuse podcast. Jack is what I, one of my,

my, my core beliefs or sayings in life is it's not an excuse. It's an explanation. I like, okay. Wow. You know, that really does fit you to a T. It's pretty good, right?'s an explanation. I like, okay. Uh, you know, that really does fit you to a T.

It's pretty good, right? It's if I could, I'm not, again, I'm not trying to, to prematurely kill you off, but you never do that.

So it's good. Yeah. I do think if that should be on your team, so it's a good one, right? Because like, there's nothing, there's nothing that I find funnier than obviously i'm

listening to the morning show yeah a lot more these days as i slowly back on the running grind look at you but yeah dude i can't take the comments anymore i know you can't stop being mean to jack they're all dead to me stop it's like if you want to be mean about his philly's opinions fine don't be mean about his weight like opinions, fine. Don't be mean about his weight. What is wrong with you people? Who are you? Stop. Jeez Louise.

It's all good. Horrible. Anyway, go ahead. But you'll sort of mess something up, but you pass the buck, man. Oh, yeah. Well, again again yeah it's never it's never me hey there's there's a reason for my because it rarely is because it rarely is jack that's the point so you know anyway no not an excuse but perhaps an explanation for

bryce's struggles yes like he didn't have a real spring trade and his spring training. He was hurt for the last two weeks of spring training. Only got a couple games in right before he came up. So it's not crazy to say that this is kind of a little spring training-ish extended in a sense for him, potentially, as a potential explanation. Well, and I think we should know by now that he's going to figure it out. Like, he's betting 196 right now. That's not good. And he's just grounding into so many.

He's the king. You want to see him talk about double plays before? I mean, jeez. He's the king of these right now. He's just ripping the baseball into the ground or just missing home runs. That's like the current state of Bryce Harper. Or Brian Reynolds is like a cat out there stealing hits

from him. Yeah, or he's ripping one that the second baseman makes a diving catch on or whatever. I think as soon as... It's almost like... It's sort of Rollins-like in a way. Where as soon as he gets going,

I feel like everything starts picking back up. Everyone's like, okay, we got our guy back. Let's go on a run. And when he's batting third and he's just not producing at the current time, I think it does suck a lot out of him, and it's very, very annoying. But the good part is that the guys in front of them are heating up in short and the the honestly the biggest sticking point for me with the offense is still who bats for i just yeah because jc's been really good but but he should be your six hitter or five at best you

know like they just don't have that, that guy. I mean, that's why the Castellanos mean when Dave was building the team, if he, it was like, all right, if you could predict how this all plays out,

like he was like, most likely Nick Castellanos is my four hitter behind Bryce Harper, because he's a perfect guy to protect him because he goes up and he's bad. He batted three Oh nine with 34 home runs last year. Doesn't that sound like someone you want to find Harper? You know what I mean? And that's where the Castellanos struggles.

And Boehm's inability to really add power to his repertoire outside of flashes here and there. That's where it's killing him. It's not JT's fault. JT's actually been really good for a catcher. He's great. But you know, there aren't many teams that have catchers as their cleanup hitter, like the Dodgers.

And that's a weird, you know, they also have Tani batting too. They have a tie bang too. And also their catchers, Will Smith, who, you know,

is probably the best sitting catcher in the game. So like, I, you know, I'm with you. I think that is absolutely absolutely when you look at long term over the course of the season lineup construction wise that's the issue because like jt again like you just said good hitter should not be batting fourth but like it's the it's

the casagandhas thing where he was 300 hitter last year in the four hole do you just put him back there and see what happens i mean he he did say heading into the at bat in the ninth yesterday that it was the first battle year where he didn't think about anything so hey we've known he said with the outfield too you know he's like yeah i just got you know some really just not thinking about stuff out there he does seem like one of those just clear your mind and do it kind of guys. That's a stone cast, to be honest. With Boehm.

At some point. Worry too much about defense. I appreciate getting better defensively. I mean, hey. Spend a little more time with kevin long than bobby diggers and is what you're saying yeah enough of the defense defense me fence whatever i mean you know and he has become very and the error yeah you know notwithstanding he's very good out there like great out there but yeah i just i'm with you man you gotta hit more especially they need this

team needs needs him to hit he has to be better about driving the baseball. And it's just, he's just too, there's too much there, like size-wise, swing-wise. He's a, it's huge. The Boehm conversation is so frustrating because, like, he's good. It's not that he's bad. No. It's just how good is he?

He's a valuable major league baseball player no matter what like it already how good is he that's my issue and i thought the other day he was hitting the ball to right field he was he was just thinking opposite field well not homer that he hit was up you know like right center to into that boat in the bullpen there yeah right and that was right after he was like really cons being a concerted effort to to drive the ball the opposite way maybe the pitchers made the the adjustment to that and we're like okay well we're just gonna jam you in with these two seamers and he's like oh sweet awesome let me just rip it into the ground to the shortstop it's just and it's not too i mean it's

like it's tough because I don't really – I just have faith that a lot of these guys are going to figure it out. You know what I mean? Like, I think Stott's a good hitter. Back in the baseball card thing. I think Baum's a good hitter. I think JT's a good hitter. I think Bryce is a great hitter.

I think Turner – maybe this is the Turner we get all year, which would be awesome. It's a lot of infield hits. Yeah, but he's been their best hitter. Trey Turner, to this point in the season, take it all into account,'s been their best hitter. Trey Turner, to this point in the season, take it all into account, has been their best hitter. I mean, him or Marsh? Probably Marsh, just because of the home run.

Yeah, I thought of Marsh second. But Turner's certainly been their best hitter the last four or five games. The last week, he's been good. He was kind of brutal before that. He was, he was. But look, I didn't look, but I bet he's over 300 now. He is over 300 bet he's over 300 now yeah 307 yeah i knew he was in the 290s so i was like with today he definitely went over at some point so yeah and again and again like even that the outs have been you know hard hit it seems like he's really you know got a good feel for for the zone and coverage and all that

like he's been great uh you know but yeah and look he hasn't had a horrendous defensive moment for like three or four days or whatever. When you're hitting better, all of a sudden the defense is playing better. It's true. If we could translate that to the entire team, I think we'd be in pretty good shape. Totally. 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. All right. We're going to get to take back in a sec. One guy we didn't mention.

I'll let you cover other stuff. But just nice to have a Ryan Kirk ring back, huh? What a thought. And, you know, honestly, look, I'm surprised Pinto over Nick Nelson. Maybe it's an options thing. I don't know. But I think Nick Nelson probably a better pitcher than Pinto over Nick Nelson. Maybe it's an options thing. I don't know, but I think Nick Nelson probably a better pitcher than Pinto, but obviously it's a mop up role anyway.

But when you think about it, either something's gone wrong. Exactly. But I mean, you, I mean, but I thought, I actually thought Nelson's look pretty good when he's been in there so

far in the, you know, a couple of times we saw him, but I, I mean this, this bullpen when you had Kirk ring in, I mean, it's pretty, you know, I know that everyone clowned on the tweet when it came out.

MLB.com. Yeah, when the first two games, they were disaster. But really, ever since then, I mean, they've lived up to it. It's been a lights out bullpen since then. Yeah, yeah. And, you know, a couple that was also Brockton. You know, Brockton wasn't exactly – Sir Anthony is the one we're a little –

Yeah, yeah. I think people are – I mean, I know ZR raised the sevens, which isn't great, but I thought today not the home run was – It's the last two outings. I didn't think he was horrible. It's just he gave up a solo shot in each of them. And it's like you just can't kind of like really give you a full outing. He's sort of the Nola of relief pitchers. Yes, I love that.

Where he's like, ah, he's pretty good. He's good. And then here's the home run out of nowhere. Because he was flashing 99 today. I thought he had pretty good command of his stuff. It's just like it's him and Marte have that slider that backs up sometimes. And I wish he had a different pitch besides that slider. Because it feels like it backs up more often than it should for the stuff that he has.

So, yeah, on paper, the bullpen is really good. And then the nice part about Kirk Green coming back is that if Sir Anthony does struggle, he can kind of reverse roles there. Martey who knows what you have at this point i already have in my head for what it's worth like my trust level for righties and the pangos hoffman kirkering sir anthony personally yeah i still i still want kirkering to throw more fastballs i i it was a little bit of a flat 98 today like i would i want to i know he's been throwing more of that two seam sinker kind of fastball that that he needs frankly because the fact that he doesn't throw 98 as you know more often than not kind of suggests to me that they think his fastball doesn't grade up very well

so i hope that he starts flashing more of that two seamer to get guys off of this four seamer and become kind of a three pitch guy but either way i mean the sweeper like he made he made jt and reynolds look stupid on the same pitch like that's how nasty it was like jt almost missed it and he knows he knows what pitch is coming unless it was friday night where he did not yeah where he clearly miscommunication. Yeah, yeah. So, I mean, on paper, it's so funny because you think about the 08 bullpen, and it's like JC, stud. Madsen, stud. Scott Ayer, acquired, stud. Lidge, obviously.

And then, like, the other options were who? Like, Clay Condry. I know. Like, all these random guys. But the bullpen was, like, one of the biggest strengths of that team. And like this bullpen on paper is obviously better. I mean, I know they don't have a 48 for 48 guy closing him out. But I don't.

And this could 100% come back to haunt me and bite me. Right. I just don't. I don't disagree with the whole matchups dependent closer thing. I think Hoffman can do it, but I think if Alvarado can get important outs in the eighth, then I'll leave Hoffman for the ninth. Worst case scenario is that both of them can do it. And I guess if it comes down to the who do you rather do it, it's probably Alvarado.

But it seems like the matchup thing I don't hate. I really don't i thought i would hate it more i in a perfect world yeah give me a traditional closer but i just it's it's working it's fine it's fine i try the point is is like they happen to have two guys that i trust in that situation so like i don't care. Cause I trust the person coming in. It's just, we know that when we've tried, at least the Phillies have tried to do this over the years,

it never works. And thus we have this kind of feel towards it, but look, they've, they've never had a pen like this. So, uh, all right,

let's take bag it. All right, let's do it. So, uh, let's just do some of the pitching stuff. Ranger was great. I mean, the Ranger kind of breakout or Ranger arriving season, I think is definitely here.

Command's there. He's kind of taking what he did in the postseason and now translating it to regular season stuff. I mean, he's cool, calm, collected. We know that. of taking what he did in the postseason and now translating it to regular season stuff i mean he's cool calm collected we know that but it feels like that curveball has become more of a weapon for him and it's really the fastball command i mean he was 94 the other night in in and out all night long i just i think i think the ranger breakout feels like a tear, and it's phenomenal to see. Sanchez was fine.

The two errors were annoying, but Ranger's just a stud, man. And I'm curious to see what they do contract-wise with him. Yeah, and it passes eye test. It's like before, especially like 2022, and then last year it started to turn more. But when you watch Ranger, you know you'd be like he's good but like you would kind of and you'd see that the you know the velocity was good whatever but like you're just kind of like wow how's he getting these outs and it just felt like because he was so calm that it just worked but like now like he's gotten

to the point where where his stuff looks nasty when you watch. You know, he looks noticeably better than he did a couple years ago. You know what I mean? Well, all this stuff kind of jumps at you. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like, there's so much more life to his stuff. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. Well, and I think that's why you don't really see Ranger on Pitching Ninja, or you don't see him on these websites of

oh look how good Ranger Suarez is because he's kind of an old school 2000, from my lifetime 2000, 2009 kind of pitcher where it just gets the ball, goes, does his thing and it's not spectacular stuff but it's

he's like Glavin-esque that kind of guy he's not going to overpower you but he goes out like he's like glavin-esque like time you know that kind of guy you know where he's not gonna overpower you but he goes out and he's just smart and his stuff is is very good but not you know overpowering but he's so smart and he changes speeds and he you know can paint and and all that yeah he's and again like we talk about it mattering in the playoffs but you know having the slow heartbeat thing matters always in any situation. It can't hurt to just be a little bit calmer,

a little bit less rattled in all kinds of situations throughout a season. You watch Ranger and you see winning vibes. You mentioned Glavin and stuff like that. It's so different than watching Fal falter who they should have smoked or marco gonzalez who they should have smoked this dude the soft tossing lefties like what is it what they can't hit them it doesn't matter who's on the team like it it could be anyone on the phillies and they'll just all of a sudden you can't hit them well it's not even it's not even this team i mean i used to talk about jaime garcia that used to eat the great team. That's my point.

I'm saying every Phillies team ever, it feels like. Slow starts and soft tossing lefties. That's the MO. The Phillies way, yeah. Oh, it's great. It's infuriating when they get shut down by those guys. Infuriating. Especially Falter.

Well, obviously, yes. Yes, for sure. You can't get shelled by falter no no you definitely can't you can't get shelled by falter so uh and then turnbull it's me one of those days where he just didn't have his command at all like he you know like he couldn't i did i will say i did have a buddy uh say uh has jack you know has jack commented on the the turnbull start yet so i think people were waiting to hear how you're feeling. He's fine. Okay.

Nothing, nothing. Yeah. I mean, he just didn't have his command. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you. And there are a couple little things that didn't go his way, and then it kind of, you know, I'm with you. Well, he's never going to be efficient.

I mean, Spencer Turnbull's not an efficient starter. He is a... He's a 3-2 count on most guys. He's like, yeah, exactly. Well, he's a 5-6 inning pitcher. Yeah. That's kind of what he is. So, yeah, it wasn't a great start.

It wasn't a terrifying start. Everything's fine. Schwarber's batting, four so 407 i believe dude and it's like he's so funny and he's like really struggled against righties it's really strange uh it's there's i i don't want to say like it's such a strange phenomena you know it's baseball i mean It's baseball It's baseball I texted you baseball with an exclamation point It makes no sense

It just makes no sense He's figured out lefties, can't figure out righties He's off to a pretty hot start Hitting a lot of singles On baseball at times in the game on Saturday Sure Makes sense They are undefeated with the C lineup this year.

Should they do that every day? Dude, we all know it at this point. Like, oh, who was I talking to? I was talking to someone about the lineup, and I was like, you know, and you say it all the time. It's like, yeah, well, you know, with a lineup like this, I feel like they always win. Like, every time they roll out the bottom of the order when you got

Pache, Rojas. It was Sosa, Stubbs, Pache, Rojas. That's what it was. I was doing leading off yesterday. That's what it is. It was after Go Birds and I was doing leading off. I said I did the starting lineup and I was like,

get ready for this. I was like, first of all, Castie at five. for this. I was like, it's like, first of all, Cassidy at five. Honestly, we should probably include that. It's like Cassidy. So, you know,

as far as it goes. And I was like, but you know what? They, they just always seem to win when they, they roll out these guys. So probably win today. It's so funny.

See lineup more often, but the sea line about there more often. That seems like the recipe for success. Yeah. But no one believes that's when the Phillies are at their best Marte and Strom continue to look really good Strom, yesterday, comes in Strikes out

He goes two innings, which I'm usually not a huge fan of But just comes in, does his thing And Marte just I don't know what Again, trying not to get ahead of myself, because you know I want to get ahead of myself, but it's stupid. He looks

really good. You were a year early. You were a year early. They always say. He was good. I know what you're going to say. Better to be a year early than a year late. That's right. That's the key. That is the key. You know what term I don't get?

I can't wait for this. And imagine it on the broadcast today. Like, what the hell is a high sky? It's the sky. So, I don't know this either. I'm with you, buddy. Maybe like no clouds, maybe, or something. So, there's like you

could see up i mean i don't know sure but they're all high skies i honestly don't know that i've heard this phrase very really oh dude yeah it's such a baseball term it's okay it's a high sky today really you know it can't get any higher you know it just kind of keeps going it's the same same as it was yesterday same sky yeah and the other day and the other day it probably has to do with like there's no visibility yeah it definitely has to be nothing else but it's ridiculous you know they always talk about maybe because you don't watch spring training games like i do like they always talk about how high the sky is and it's like well it can't get any higher i think this is a great i'm very normally i'm i'm so ready

to jump on you in these you know what term i don't get you know and i'm like and then you say something and i'm like oh god jack really in this case fully support this no idea like why why do you say there's ways yeah how about how about wow pretty sky today not a cloud or how about, wow, pretty sky today, not a cloud. How about just not a cloud in the sky today you can see for a mile? Like, whatever. It's a high sky. High sky. It's a high sky.

It does not compete with me. It doesn't compete with me at all. I don't really disagree with Whit Merrifield not going home on Saturday. It was no outs. Do I really want him? Oh, I was fine with it too. There's a lot of harsh reaction to it. Now, Whitmerryfield's been incredibly disappointing. He's been horrible.

So much weak contact. I'm not killing him for that situation. I think it was because he was pinch running for Schwarber. It's like, expect more out of that. I was with you. I think he would have been out if he ran.

It could have been out. Also, it was just dumb. Could have been out. It's no out. Why would I send him home at that point for a possible bang-bang play? If you can't hit the ball to the outfield at that point and do a job then that's that's on you more than uh merrifield the wheeler splitter was gross today until it wasn't it was nasty though yeah until it wasn't but it was man couple like the back-to-back strikeouts to end the

fifth uh i think or that yeah i think i got the side so when you strike out the side yeah like but those last two especially on the splitter like that was i mean he just looked so nasty to start the season i mean the fact that they're oh and four and his four starts is mind-numbing like it's hard yeah it's hard to yeah exactly it's just hard to process with how good he's looked. Ten strikeouts in five, essentially. Nice. The next six should be at least five and one. No doubt about it. They're two of the worst teams in baseball. Rockies.

So it's Rockies, then who? White Sox. White. Oh, yeah. I knew the White Sox were coming out, but I didn't think it was that great. You have to. Guys. Guys.

This is... Even Jack, who was like, predicted the split against the Pirates, asked for it. Yeah. Thank you for it. Win some freaking games this week, please. It's time. Yeah. Now to the final portion of the take back.

Ooh. This feels very solemn or, you know, whatever. I got two things to get to. I can't wait. I know that I host a sixers podcast oh yeah you do it's true listen to clap your hands for like if you want in-depth check it out oh yeah break it down you know zone defense and you know how much time jack has to work on the sixers with how much time he puts into the Phillies. It's the same thing. He works just as much on the Sixers. I wish

the High Hopes people and you could have seen me at our event on Friday night. Just, like, every single TV was Sixers magic. And I was sitting in the corner by myself

furious at the Phillies so I didn't confer Elliot Sherbarks when we did go bird yesterday without even you told me this on your own he told me it on his own but I don't know he's like dude Jack he's like this is what he did I was like I heard I don't it was one of the again it was one of those moments where I was like, I know this makes me look like a loser. I know this is not the best look for me. Couldn't help it. I couldn't help it. Because you're unambiguously authentic.

Relentlessly myself. That's right. Relentlessly authentic. That's even better. I like authentic. Relentlessly myself. That's right. Relentlessly authentic. That's even better. I like that. Relentlessly myself. Yes, yes. So, well, it was a great time.

Good food, good beer, all that stuff. I just, I couldn't handle, like, the Sixers are doing something over here, and I'm just glaring at the City Connects as they are getting shut down by Bailey freaking Falter. So just for people wondering if I've changed, I don't think anything has really changed at all. Nope, nope, nope, nope.

All right. I have one more thing, by the way. I have one more thing. Okay, good. So do I. I'll do mine very quickly just because you know it is Master Sunday and I would like to give a shout out to Jim Nance

that's all that's good shout out to Jim who did resign from the tournament which was weird I thought he did a great job but it was weird watching the tournament without Nancy nah I'm anti-Ion Eagle

oh it's tough I mean i need to start in radio like us he's a wfan update guy who worked his way up and called games and made his way to chattatine my issue my issue goes back to you as a fellow grinder i appreciate the effort and the work, pal. Great job. Here's my issue. Your name's Ian, man. I've never heard the name. Okay, so I don't disagree with this. There's no Ian. I won't stop you on this. Your name's Ian, all right?

Get over it. Now, the same time, Ian Eagle has no flash. It's tough. It's tough. Whereas Ian Eagle, as annoying as Iron is, it does work. Oh, it pops. Yeah, it pops. It pops.

Iron Eagle pops. Bird, good nickname. So, you know. I still can't believe he does. He let Raftery cook. I thought that was good. I can't believe he still does Nets games, dude. Like, give it up.

He's all over the place. Like, these guys. Some of these guys. Like, you know. I think I work hard. And then I look at Iron Eagle. I'm like, wow, you work hard. All right. Hold on. Hold on. Final thought on final follow that yeah there is an opening now because vern is retiring i know let t-mac call the masters man i mean get him i like our guy he's good at

everything he does like him him calling the games, he's phenomenal. He calls a great basketball game. Here's my issue. I hope Pat McCarthy is still listening for this conversation. Even the traitor. Even though he's a traitor. Here's my big question about T-Mac.

Is he allowed to listen? I thought we banned him from listening. Maybe someone will tell him. Go ahead. Here's my big question about T-Mac. Does he have the golf voice? Because there's a difference. Yeah, well, because T-Mac loves to rev it up, and it's part of what makes him great is he can live up to a big moment and really – because, you know, there's nothing worse than there's a big moment.

It's like, and they win. It's like, you know, unless it's like – Hold on, hold on. If you want to let the crowd tell the story – That's your goat.. It's like, and they win. And it's like, you know, unless it's like, all right, if you want to let the crowd tell the story. That's your goat, Pat Summerall. The crowd tell the story. I don't think Pat Summerall. Pat Summerall's not my goat.

I just knew who he was. There's a difference between you and me. But T-Mac nails the big moments, and that's huge. So I'm with you, though. Can T-Mac do? And we're looking down. You are looking live at the 16th green. We're looking at the 16th green.

Walker Fritz is walking. Yeah, Walker Fritz strolls down the green. I don't know if T-Mac's going to. He has a two-shot lead as he heads into the final backstretch here. Also, imagine that guy sinks a pot. And it's like, it's gone! Yeah. Well, that's still Nance's call. You're right. also imagine that guy sinks a pot and it's like it's like Eddie's one of the masters yeah well that's still

Nance's call learn you're right well I'm looking at I'm trying to get T-Mag multiple promotions not just one here all right no but it shows you're a frog golf fan I do not pretend to be a golf fan am I I pretend nothing

I enjoy golf sure I'm not a golf fan like an aggressive fan anyway uh i just want to give a shout out to jim nance he's one of the patron saints of this podcast so shout out to jim friday we talked to randy wolf oh look at you what a flex by you well it was just like it was kind of funny thinking about like, I was five when he did. Wow. And I remember like Wolfpack. Really, really good. Thank you for this.

Dude, I'm just telling you, I'm just letting you know. I'm letting you know, buddy. My first memory of the Phillies, like my pitchers were Omar Dahl, Robert Person person vicente padilla and and randy and nelson figueroa i believe was in there too what a crew buddy what a crew oh and brandon duckworth yeah duck i remember that that's great that's that's my goats we all have our we all have our you know it's just unbelievable how bad the village has have been for as long. We're in a golden age right now. This is great.

Oh, man. When I think of golden age, I think of this. Yes. Honestly, it's one of the three best eras of Phillies baseball, like already. Ever. Yeah. I know. The franchise is 150 years old.

I know. And this is one of the three best ever of all time. Yeah. Yeah. What a run. What a run. They are 27th in barrels, by the three best ever of all time. What a run. What a run. They are 27th in barrels, by the way, the Phillies are. Guys, come on.

Where's Phil Gosselin when you need him? Like, what are we doing here? 27th in barrels. And that was before the game today. And I'm sure nothing really changed. So that's awesome. It's great. It's great.

Hit the baseball. Thank you. hit the baseball hit the baseball hey you got some you got some bad teams with some bad pitchers coming in everyone has been hitting rocky's pitching do it all right like everyone's been hitting white socks pitching do it okay please white socks have what except for garrett crochet garrett crochet seems like he's oh yeah yeah garrett might be back and my lip my literal boy, Eric Fetty. Yeah. That was a good call by you.

He's looked good. I feel like my first list has been very hit or miss. You've been very good. Yeah, hit or miss, but like Bailey Ober started bad, been really good since. So, you know, we're getting there. I got faith in you. Joe Ryan was my hunter hunter brown

you know that was a late addition to the frizz list because i thought i should have known that next time next time i'm disappointed in dl hall but that's for another time me too me too he's this year's aaron ashby it's a shame yeah well i keep putting my stock in brewers lefties one of them's gonna come through uh so final thing here from my take back as we work through this thing oh we're still not done i got it yes that was not my final point this is i assumed it was okay because it's the first thing i had written down to talk about on this podcast outstanding that's it's called burying the lead right there yes george glassman is oh yeah i forgot like okay just it's something like that's great i knew i totally forgot about this i totally forgot go ahead when you have the ability to find and develop and talk about the next Garrett Richards,

I don't know how there's not. I don't know how people aren't. That's the loftiest you can go, the next Garrett Richards. You can't dream a little bigger than the next Garrett Richards. He is just like Garrett Richards. He's just like him. It's the same exact thing. So I just, yeah, he's got 17 strikeouts and two starts.

His curveball falls at the table. How old is he? Probably 22, 23. He went to Minnesota. And he's in high A now? Well, he got drafted this year. Yeah. I'm just wondering what level he's at.

I mean, the Braves took Hur waldrop in the first round well the phillies took her some waldrop in the sixth round who is that dude shout out to friends of the pod i'm just our guys pressing mattingly you know brian barber just crushing it down there not bill barber that's good. Not Bill Barber. One time I got excited. All right. Dude. We done here. Are we done here? Well, deep breaths.

I'm getting there. Let me work through this. Yes. Because I've watched a sickening amount of Clearwater Threshers games this week. I'm really excited for you. This is great. I'm just saying, ball flies off TJ Walton's bat. It goes, man.

So I have so many. They have so much talent that is starting to work their way through. Good. That's what I want. I'm looking at all these Orioles guys. Oh, it's sick. Krauser. And it's like every dude.

It's unbelievable. They just have a. Well, they haven't even called off Peston Kirsten. I know. Just like rake, rake, rake, rake. Like they're just so I'm ready for some guys who rake to come up. Yeah. Aiden.

Aiden. They might not have anywhere to go, but yes, yes, yes. Yeah, that's the other point. All right. All right. Again, Chad's Miller Lite. This podcast is sponsored by Miller Lite, official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tastes like Miller time. Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. I am assuming we'll be back on Thursday because it's an off day. I will tell you now, if they lose the series to the Rockies, we might not. Probably won't be back on Thursday, but assuming they win the series, assuming

they don't lose on Wednesday in heartbreaking fashion, we'll talk to you guys on Thursday. That's all I got. Freaking win a series win some games sweet now you ripped me last time for asking for a sweep can we get a sweep of the rockies is that too much to ask how about sweep the week just sweep the week how about that thank you yes sweep the week that's the official high hopes podcast position this week all right sweep the week he's fritz. So we'll talk to you guys later.