High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Well This Feels Familiar

Episode Date: September 18, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a super disappointing Phillies-Braves series and more. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo. It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Presented by Miller Lite. Celebrate responsibly. I don't know how you could

celebrate responsibly not even that i don't know you could celebrate anything right now jack and i were just talking about like something that in in theory should be something that's very positive and it was like who even cares who even cares like it's it's just, and look, I, you know, right now Aaron Judge just hit his 59th homer as we're recording. The Yankees are beating the Brewers. Like, cool, I guess. But, and I look, you know, they're still in a quote unquote good spot mathematically and all that. But man, like, what a just disaster of a September series. The first time it's felt like the last few years for it.

See, and I mean, ever, literally ever since that Acuna bad on Friday night, it's just been disaster. So how you doing? How you doing pal? Jack's the one who's even more fun right now.

I couldn't be doing worse. I don't think I really like I just the only thing keeping me going is the NFL and gambling on it um because everything else is just awful it really is like and dude I know the mathematic thing, whatever. But like I've said a couple times, I think, so far, whether it's on this podcast. You have. It's like how they make the playoffs still matters to me. And, like, I just don't want to be the team that limps into the playoffs and makes the third wild card and then goes and loses in the first round. And it's like, well, what was even the point?

And I'm not there yet. I think where I'm at is that, man, the Braves and the Mets are just on another level. And it's like the Phillies are good, but they're not that good. The Phillies are a team that's good enough to make the playoffs, but they're not good enough to really do damage against top tier teams in the NL. And every single time that I get my hopes up and every single time that I say, this is a massive, like, show me series, they go out and I feel like they do that. They haven't won a series against a good team since July 27th. Like July, James, it's almost, we're almost approaching two months since they've won a series against a good baseball team. And like having to sit through this weekend and, again, have to deal with this Braves nonsense,

which is just big hit after big hit, not being out of games, putting the bat on the ball, playing, winning baseball. It's like I'm infuriated, but I'm also jealous. It's like that's what winning baseball looks like. And while the Braves were playing winning baseball and they were you know big hit after big hit not being out of games pitchers coming in throwing strikes like I feel like the Phillies just continually played losing baseball like it was strikeouts in big spots it's not getting runners in from third base it was just so much losing baseball and that's what makes it even more annoying it's like they're gonna probably end the playoff drought and that's fine whatever but like i thought it would feel different and the

fact that they haven't beaten anyone good in in almost two months it just like it just puts such a damper on on how we should view this team and i i can't sugarcoat it i can't sit up here and lie to you and tell you, like, oh, there should be 45,000 people at the ballpark because this team deserves it. It's like they don't really deserve it. Like, they deserve it, like, in a sense, but they don't really deserve, like, the city

taking their attention away from the Eagles. So it was just a crushing fan morale weekend. The Brewers all of a sudden figuring out how to play competent baseball was quite annoying. I mean, thank God for Aaron Judge today, like stepping up. But other than that, just an awful weekend. And legitimately, like one of those, well, what a waste of my time. It sounds like you're doing great this is good uh look yeah like three minutes it was it was it was it was it was tough man uh look i don't blame you for

any of it like i will say i look i think it's a matter of expectations like at times this season i've thought oh maybe they can make some noise in the playoffs. But at no point, based on the way they've played the Mets, based on what the Dodgers have looked like, I know anything can happen in the playoffs. But I've never really thought that there was a real run coming. I've really just hoped that they could, to the point we've talked about, make us feel like there's at least a chance of it. And I'm with you. This weekend makes it feel like there's no real chance. Certainly maybe, you know, maybe they get lucky somehow if, if Wheeler and Nola pitch gems or something like that, you never know, but there's no way they're, they're going on a run and winning, you know,

four straight series or whatever it is with, with, with, you know, this, this roster. And it is a shame because I do think part of it's the Harper injury and he's just not gotten back and it's hard to get back to that spot and losing Wheeler right now. And look, and I think that Friday night loss, like submarine the entire weekend, I think it was like a death knell. Like, you know, especially having Serenity on the hill, it wasn't even, you know, like these games we're so used to of, you know, we don't curse on the pod, you know, especially having Sir Anthony on the hill, it wasn't even, you know, like these games were so used to of, you know, we don't curse on the pod, you know, bleepy pitchers, you know, blowing games at the end or bad defense or whatever.

It was just like, like our best guy got beat by their best guy and by others after that. And like, it just, it was, I think it was, you know, obviously I know it was demoralizing as a fan like you know we're like all right Sir Anthony Robertson let's go it's just we're good and and you know then Acuna and then it just snowballs but I think it was demoralizing for the team too you know I think they went out there with their best shot on Friday night and they lost like that and I think it kind of submarine the whole weekend they look like they you know I know they fought back yesterday but it really didn't at any point feel like they believed they belonged, you know, on the field with the Braves this weekend after that Friday night loss.

You know what I mean? Yeah. Although I think they, they fought pretty well Saturday, you know, and they did, they did, they did,

they fought, but you know, yeah, it's just like, it, James, it pretty much, I think it's pretty simple. And if you know. Yeah, it's just like, James, I think it's pretty simple. And if you want to end the podcast after this,

you're perfectly okay with that. Well, I did tell Emily, and I've told her a million times. Emily and I have had so many, like, you said it was going to be quick. And I was like, yeah, I know. It wasn't. It never is. I was like, Emily, I know I've said this before, but I really do think tonight won't be the longest podcast so yes I think it just boils down to the Braves are just a little bit better than the

Phillies in pretty much every aspect of the game like they just are and I hate to admit that about the Braves because I loathe that team um but it's like they're young guys come up and they're incredible I know the Phillies have the Phillies young guys have been, you know, part of the catalyst of this team. I mean, like who doesn't love the Phillies daycare? But it's like they're good. And then you see like, you know, Michael Harris and Contreras. And it's like, okay, this is like a different level of that.

But it's that, it's the defense, it's the clutch hitting, it's the starting pitching, it's the bullpen. It's just like every single phase of the game, the Braves are just a little bit better than the Phillies at. And that doesn't make, again, that doesn't make the Phillies a complete disaster. It's just annoying. The Braves won the World Series last year.

Did they? Really? I thought we weren't counting that. But to your point, Jack, they're just better. They're a better baseball team that knows how to win big games. Yeah, and that's what, honestly, losing obviously stinks. But I just didn't see, if I came out this weekend feeling like, okay, they lost, they got swept,

but there were some signs of winning baseball, I think I'd be okay with it. But it was just a lot of losing baseball. It was so many strikeouts. You know, the perfect example is today with, you know, a runner gets on second base, a bomb hits the ball down the line that Riley can't snag, and then three straight strikeouts.

Like, do you think that in that situation, the Braves, with the runner on second base with no outs, they don't get that run home somehow, some way in a game that is supposed to matter? 100%. They find a way to do that. And it was just all weekend long. It was like, how do you strike out in that spot? And it just, again, this is how I felt after the Mets series.

And this is how I just felt every time they go up against a good team. But it just, they continue to not look ready for it. They don't look ready for it from the pitching side to the hitting side. Billy Foster was good again today per usual. The stopper was the stopper again, but you get into the bullpen, it's like not ready for it. You get to Nola again last night, and I know he finished out strong, and I know he went, like, what, like seven innings last night.

It was annoying because, of course, as soon as the game was out of reach you decided. You knew that was going to happen. You knew it was going to happen. And look Ranger was really good on Friday. That was certainly not his fault that they lost that game. If you're looking for a positive from the weekend the fact that Ranger looked back to being the Ranger that we'd seen like before his

last like five starts I think that's something to look forward to. But again, just not a lot of winning baseball. And I think that's what makes it more frustrating. If they lost a couple of tough games, close games, where they're going tooth and nail, whatever. But even Friday night, it's like 2-1 game, boom, you have a lead. It's like how in the... Whatever.

Insert whatever curse word you want to insert there. Like, how does that game end up being 7-2? Like, how does it have to... Why does it always have to collapse like that? Why does it always have to just blow up? Like, it just always has to be the worst possible, most excruciating way to lose a game. It can't just be bang, home run, whatever. Ron Acuna is freaking incredible.

And of all the things that Ron Acuna did this weekend, whether it was- Oh, my God. The catch, the throw. I mean, that throw, he didn't even get him. It was like, it's unbelievable. He did 105 miles an hour from the right field. Unbelievable. It was a strike.

It was like on the fly, right to where the catcher's bit was to make a tag. It was unbelievable. I mean, it's very rare that a baseball player can take over a series, but holy crap. I mean, I'm not talking about a guy taking over a series. I mean, big home run on Friday night, big home run on Saturday night, big throw on Saturday night, big catch on Bryce on Saturday. It's just like, my gosh, it's just annoying having to deal with the Braves.

And it's night after night with someone else that just finds a way to kill you. They find a way every single night to find someone that is going to hit a back-breaking home run. I feel like it's been contrarious, I don't know, like eight games this year. It's like, oh, it's a close game late. Bang, here's a home run. It's just they're good. They're good. And I hate to admit it. I'm not handling it well at all, James. And I don't know. We're just continuing to unpack this whole thing, but whatever. Yeah, look, they're just better you know there there's really no way to put it and you know it's frustrating because again i didn't have any real delusions of them winning the world series this year you know again anything in eminent baseball but i never really

believed it in any meaningful way but you know again it it is tough to look at the Braves and look at the Mets and look at the Dodgers and I mean the Dodgers are way better but like feel hopeless playing them in meaningful games and that's how we feel until they they prove differently and you know again the fact the Braves and the Mets especially the Braves look again these guys you guys, you know, credit were due, you know, we can, I mean, here real quick, just to kind of, you know, soften the freaking love fest. How is the Tomahawk chop still a thing? Like, how does this still exist? How are they still doing it? Why it's the dumbest thing of all time to begin with outside of, you know, all the other stuff to do with it anyway. Um, just better i i don't have you know there's not a ton to say about it i i again i am not quite as despondent about the fact that they're not a true

threat in that like i do think that making the playoffs would be a real accomplishment and it does matter and this is not the year that they were ready, I think, to go and make a real true run or whatever. You know what I mean? I think that's more... But the payroll is too high. I know it is, but it is what it is. It's a bunch of guys who haven't played together before and a bunch of guys here who haven't been.

I mean, they have the top two guys in baseball. The top two guys in baseball in Segura and Romulo in terms of guys who have played in regular season games but guys in baseball, the top two guys in baseball in Zagur and Romulo in terms of guys who have played in regular season games but not made it to the playoffs. Like, it's just not a group

that's won a bunch. You know, they're obviously bringing Schwarber into helps and stuff, but it's not like this is like a group that has like a bunch of veteran dudes

who've, you know, gone on a bunch of playoff runs. But a majority of the team has. I mean, not playoff runs. But a majority of the team has. I mean, not playoff runs, but a majority of the team has been around long enough. Like, they've been here long enough. I mean, JT's been here long enough.

Bryce has been here long enough. Gene's been here long enough. Noel's been here long enough. Hoskins has been here long enough. Like, they've all been here long enough to where it's like, then what are you? Are you a winner or are you a loser? Well, that's a fair question

just figure it out like dude i would love to do the whole they haven't played together but like figure it out then like it's been 11 freaking seasons have a backbone you know like can you can we step up for me at one time and come through and and and give a little bit of wind to the sails of the fan base you want to talk talk about why no one's showing up at the ballpark, and there's 20,000 people there for a midweek game. Maybe because every single time that we want to get in, and we want to believe in this team, and we want to just wrap our arms around them,

they go out, they do this. They go on the one-in-five road trip out west. They do the Mets tour. It's like, congratulations on being better than the Reds, Marlins, nationals, like super pirates. You want to,

you want to parade, go do it. But then it comes down to congratulations. You're just a little bit better than those teams, but you're not good enough to compete against the highest level. And like, that's where we're at. Like,

that's where we're at. And it's like, it's just, it's not acceptable anymore. It's not acceptable anymore it's not acceptable to like at some point you got to figure out how to win or and stop complaining about it and and just figure it out it's as simple as that you got to figure it out there's been plenty of teams that have gone through losing stretches that have gone through losing baseball that have figured out how to win the the the red socks didn't win for 86 years the the the cubs didn't win for 100 and whatever years and those streaks pale in

comparison to 11 seasons without playoff baseball um like they just they gotta figure it out like you gotta figure out what is winning baseball and what is not. I don't know who that comes from. I don't know who has to say it, but there was so much losing baseball this weekend. Like, I just, I can't, I can't with the whole they haven't played. They've played together enough. They've played together enough. Like, you're supposed to, at this point, have the culture set in stone to where a Schwarber can come in and take it to another level from a winning standpoint. Casting on us, whatever.

I'm not sure. But, like, those guys have been here, James. They've been here. And it's just infuriating to still have to deal with this four years later. Yeah, I agree with everything you just said. I think it was a phenomenal rant. I think all true, every word of it. I'm just, I think the point is that I'm not surprised by it. Like, you know what I mean?

I'm with you. There's a reason that I'm usually the one who's more pessimistic on this podcast and why that's kind of our thing until certain times of the season. Because, like, I just was never expecting this to be the year. Like, but you're right. I don't disagree. But, like, just because Reese Hoskins has been here a long time doesn't mean he's a winner that they've never they've never won like how the hell

do I know if that guy can win meaningful games he's never done it same with Nola it's a freaking thing with Nola that he can't win them like I get your point and you're not wrong about it like you are absolutely not wrong but this is a team that has not made the playoffs for 11 years for a reason like it is a it is a losing culture and it has been a losing culture for a long time there is a reason that teams lose lose lose lose and why the phillies have so long over their history because they're poorly run and they're poorly managed and they are bad at development they're bad at drafting and stuff and the Phillies have been that and like I get your points and you're not wrong about any of it but like it's just one of those things where because of the the crater that you know the Andy McPhail feet on his desk uh philosophy has left

this team in and Klintak and all that they did you know and they've had to spend and they went over the tax and look they've had some poorly timed injuries some poor you know this and that like there's a lot of factors you can put into it but like ultimately on a basic level like they're just not as good they're not as talented organizationally as these other teams like we're talking about the Braves like yeah because a the Braves GM has like been on basically like as as good a heater as we've seen from anyone in a long time like he's the best in the game right now and has been for the last you know two and a half years just like everything the guy does is a hit um but then like they're really talented and they have a super talented minor league system where they can keep bringing these guys up like Grissom and this and that and like you know same thing with the Mets all of a sudden

they have an owner who comes in and they spend a bunch of money and they have a little more leeway a little more you know maneuverability as a franchise and they made some smart moves and got some guys in there to get good quick and like the Dodgers just talent talent talent talent like like I'm with you, but we can't lose sight of the fact that this is a franchise that hasn't won more than 82 games in the last 11 years and just won 82 for the first time last year.

Like I'm with you. It is unacceptable. It's a shame. And this weekend highlights all of it. But like, I never expected them to take that leap this year i i just want to make the playoffs and like anything else to me is gravy and i get your point and this is not acceptable and it is a bummer but like i never like i'm not as i don't think it's not that i'm not as down on on it as you are it's just more that i'm not as surprised or as not as like

you know hurt by it because I was expecting it. But it's not for me. It's not about winning the World Series. Like I'm not I'm not in World Series. Right. It's being being a real contender going in. And like, I get it. I get it.

And let's not do the whole like, oh, third wild card is some big success. Like, I'm just not in the success mode. It's like, again, I'm not trying to say it's like a home run. Yay. Whatever. I just,

you know, I'm not, I'm not surprised. Like they, I think that for me, what it highlighted this weekend is what I knew. The Braves are a better organization right now and a better team. That they are.

That was, I don't know if, you know, feels like that was abundantly clear throughout the series that they are that was uh i don't know if you know feels like that was abundantly clear throughout the series that uh the they're on two different playing fields and then and that's just a frustrating place to be at um now again it's like yeah i think they're figuring it out and whatever but it's like at some point the whole winner loser thing i think it's always tough in baseball but at some point you gotta figure it out like again it's it sounds simplistic and in in many ways it is but

um like you just you can't sit here and lose year in year out and and not at some point just be like can we can we can we you know power through and maybe like again again, it shouldn't be this hard. But again, they look like the moment gets to them. You know what I mean? And it just feels like the moment consistently gets to them. And that's what it comes down to when you're looking at winning teams versus teams that don't win long-term and win big picture, is that like some teams rise to the moment.

I felt like the 08, I know we always like to go back to whatever, 07 through 11, but it felt like at most times they were the team that was coming through late that was going to steal a game from you, whether it was the Howard double against the Rockies, whether it was obviously the J-roll triple off of Broxton, the stairs homer. It felt like they always pounced whenever they felt weakness coming from other teams. And I think what, again, makes this even more frustrating is that it feels like the Braves now are that team where whenever there's a moment of weakness with the Phillies, and even the Mets too, the Mets do the same thing. It's like whenever there's a little moment of weakness with this team,

the Mets and the Braves just consistently power through and they make us feel terrible. And, and, and that's what winning cultures do. And, and that's what the having them go down there this weekend where, you know,

we did shows. I mean, you and I did shows on Thursday and Friday of like, why does no one care about this team? They're going to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. It's like, well, that's it. You can't bully people to go down to the ballpark and force them to go spend money to watch a team that, frankly, for the most part, doesn't really deserve it in a ways. frankly for the most part doesn't really deserve it in a ways um so it it it's just like the losing winning culture thing is annoying it's annoying that it feels like they get that get tense in big spots and it feel like all weekend long it's like big spot okay there's a brace back breaking hit and and and again just a just a really really annoying weekend yeah honestly i really don't

have much else to add like i i can't um again i don't want it to seem like i'm like not super disappointed with the team it's just i'm i'm not surprised it's disappointing but i'm not surprised and like you know you gotta hope look we have good news on wheeler this weekend great to hear like wheeler is coming back that is like massive news and if they have any hope of you know they need to you know find a way to maybe not limp into the playoffs maybe show up against toronto this week show up against the braves at home at least um but if they're gonna have any chance in the playoffs it's it's wheeler youeler being amazing and maybe winning him a game, stealing him a game, maybe Ranger or Nola stealing him a game. Who knows? I trust Ranger more, obviously, at this point in a big one, a playoff one, essentially.

But, you know, look, I think there's no way to spin this weekend. There's not much to say. The Amundo Sosa injury is a bummer. That guy's obviously been such a nice piece for this team like it was just a bad weekend it was a bad weekend for the phillies it showed us where they stand and look they you know i i still think they're going to make the playoffs again the brewers are still losing today all that but but it certainly was a you know uh they made it a lot more interesting for the brewers and brewers fans and the padres and padres fans with their weekend um and the padres are winning right now last i saw so um yeah i don't really have much to say i'm with you it's a real disappointing weekend and you know look um

obviously they could beat up on the cubs and and nationals not this upcoming week the week after and and you know make the playoffs and whatever. But, no, hold on, but there's the point. This is their last chance to change the tenor. And I know it's at home, so it's different, but Blue Jays-Braves coming up six games this week, two against the Blue Jays, four against the Braves, like massive. In terms of, obviously, the playoffs itself,

but also our ability to believe in this team at all. It's like their last chance. And once again, I am sitting here saying, I love this baseball team too much. That's where it comes from. That's where it comes from. This is, this is not based out of any level of uh you know whatever but yeah again yet again it's just like really good i think the people need to hear you be hard on the team sometimes well listen man they made it easy this weekend so whatever whatever maybe maybe of course

the eagles will probably beat the vikings tomorrow and everyone's gonna stop paying attention and everything's gonna be fine for the majority of the city of Philadelphia. While Jack is slowly dying, literally. Yeah. Yeah. Again, before we started recording, we were talking about something fun that was happening, and Jack's like, honestly, who cares? I just want to die.

That was the actual quote that he said to me. So, yeah, that's where we're at. Do you have anything else? Honestly, I love everyone. This is what he said to me. So, yeah, that's where we're at. Do you have anything else? Honestly, I really love everyone. This is what I have to say. I love the IOPs listeners. I am so happy you're here with us, and there are better times ahead.

I think the real, if we really want to, you know, he said, Jack said the Ranger thing is a reason for positivity with this weekend, and it is, but I think the real reason for positivity with this team um and it is um but i think the real reason for positivity with this team outside of the the moment is that you know we do believe in what dombrowski has done from a front office perspective and the people he's put in power and the annies and the mattingly's and the guys who were here before barber and and all that stuff like we feel really good about that

stuff there's real guys to be excited about in the system for the first time. Like, I mean, as Jack said last time, painter, the best pitching prospect of his life is a Phillies player. And like, I mean, you know, that's something to like legitimately be excited for and Griff and able.

And like, there's like real excitement for this franchise. Um, but you know, it's hard to grab that when, uh, when you're in the moment of this. So I got nothing else.

Uh, I, you know, this week, this week, this you're in the moment. So I got nothing else. You know, this week is what we need. Yeah, you got any take bag stuff? Yeah, I got some stuff. I know the Phillies have an opening for the minor league hitting coordinator. I would just like to say hire whoever is in second command with the Braves. Yep. Yep.

Like whoever that guy is, hire him. Because, dude, like every single guy they have comes up and is like, oh, guess what? I'm ready to hit 300 in the major leagues. Like, how is that possible? I mean, you literally thought Austin Riley was the worst player in the history of baseball. And he's a perennial MVP candidate because candidate because these guys jack austin riley stinks and i feel pretty confident in saying that um i feel like a lot of this honestly this weekend it has a lot to do with what you said

last on the podcast um they i'm pretty sure i'm paraphrasing here, but I believe that your quote was like, I'm going to start looking at tickets for wherever, you know, I'm pretty. Again, I can't. It wasn't even paraphrase. You nailed it. Like, word for word. Well done. I mean, you were you were you were getting like you you honestly what you were saying sent a cold shiver down my spine. Like, it really did.

Like, you were for as much pain and turmoil as this team has put us through for the last couple years like you basically locking up the fills like did not do that go back and listen i talked about other people being uncomfortable with doing it thus there was the caveat there jack so yeah here is where our roles have most reversed you know as as we get closer to the playoffs i get way more frustrated and you know i just assume the season's over at any turn you know and then as the seasons get closer you are like everything is fine which is just a weird turn weird flip weird flip and again i'm definitely not fine guy today but i feel your point um again i felt like their offensive approach was just bad

all week and i feel like they were going for home runs rather than like the braves i felt like were always just consistently putting the ball in play and if they hit a home run, they did. Quick shout out to Nick and Nate from the Newtown Fire Company Beer Fest yesterday. I was slinging beers out there, and they came up and said hi. Did you get them to like 74, 75 slinging them, or 80? Get close to 80, or no? No. Okay. No.

But they thought I wouldn't give them a shot on the podcast. Oh, so it was like a challenge. Yeah. I like that. It's good work by you. You showed them. Yeah, I sure did. And my final thing to take back is like, listen,

this is not Phillies related, but I love Shohei Otani. I think Otani is obviously like one of the most transcendent figures in the history of baseball. But we got to grow up with the whole MVP thing. Just let's judge when the MVP. He's about to pass Roger Maris the most runs in AL history. It's his year. It's okay.

Otani's a better player. He has more war. He has more overall value. But, like, can we stop with the whole, oh, well, his war is way higher and this and that. It's like, stop. Aaron Judge is the MVP, okay? Like, the guy's about to do something. He could even win the Triple Crown.

Like, Aaron Judge could win the Triple Crown and his war won't be higher than Shohei Otani. Like, I love Ot otani i think he's incredible he's the best player in baseball but like let erin judge have this he's the mvp and enough with the stats all right so first and foremost let me say um crazy that that we also have goldschmidt who's like really competing for a triple crown too um But here's what I'm going to say. Shoya Otani is without a doubt in my mind, the most talented baseball player I've ever seen in my life. And it's not close. Like the fact that he's a top 10, top 15, top 20,

whatever you want to say, starting pitcher and a top 10, top 15, top 20, like hitter, whatever you want to put him at, is the single most ridiculous sports thing potentially that has ever happened in my life i think he is a a of like a virtuoso doesn't even do justice like he is the greatest in terms of talent baseball player i've ever seen by far like light years i couldn't agree more with you jack like aaron judge is the mvp this is so stupid like the angels are gonna slide into another like second to last finish or whatever it's gonna be like couldn't agree more a fantastic take by you fritzy yeah and i mean if you look at

that yankees team like it's pretty much judge it's just so silly he's leading in literally every offensive category like every single one it's other than judge. It's just so silly. He's leading in literally every offensive category, like every single one, other than steals. It's crazy. An average, obviously, which we'll see if he can get there. Right. Speaking of steals, I guess last, last thing. We never talked about the new rules in the last podcast.

Oh, yes. Can we talk about the fact that for years on this podcast, one of us, let's not say who, but it was me, championed the pitch clock. And when the pitch clock got agreed to the other day or last week, couple weeks ago, whatever it was, who bursts into my studio going like, pitch clock, fist pump, yeah! Welcome aboard, buddy. I just want you to always remember that I was first. Okay? Welcome.

buddy i just want you to always remember that i was first okay welcome well i don't know what you're talking about but um i will say i i am very very excited for the pitch clock like i think i think it's the one rule that doesn't really change the fabric of the game that i think is going to help it the most you know and and you see what it's done in the minor leagues you see how fast those games are moving along like at some point it's gonna have to change it's gonna have to adapt with the times and I just think that a faster pace I I just I think it's really really gonna help I think the bigger bases it seems like that's a Theo thing um and I'll take that and like this whole idea of well again this is the oldest argument in the book when it comes to the shift thing it's like well just hit it where they ain't

well they're not hitting it where they ain't okay so like they're not doing it like I don't think you're going to change the mindset of a hitter that's going to go from like well I could have four bases or I could have a bunt the other way can't figure out which one I'm going to choose

also it's harder to you know when it's coming in a hundred and two, sometimes you just don't have as many choices about where you're going to hit it through. You almost have to guess and hope that you're in the right spot and you're just cranking one. It's going to be great. I genuinely feel like all these rules are going to get baseball closer to being back to being played at its purest form. You know, pitchers on the mound moving quickly, more stolen bases, more traditional base hits that we've watched for 100 plus years. Like I am. I know I am. I believe I am baseball purist to the T. But I am genuinely, genuinely excited to see what these roles do for the game yeah couldn't agree more i've always been there i wasn't pro banning the shift but like i'm fine

with it as part of this but the pitch clock is something i've i've been a huge proponent of for a while and i'm ecstatic and to your point i don't think it'll change the fabric of the game like certainly not like maybe for like certain pitchers it will, but like in terms of like the fan experience, it certainly won't. No one likes watching guys get off the mound, walk around, rub the baseball, go back on the mound, step on, step off, eye the guy down, call timeout. Like it's not fun. Like it's just not fun. As a baseball consumer, it's just not fun.

Like, yes, there is. Like we love as, you know, disease baseball fans, we love the chess match of all of it, whether it's the not fun like yes there is like we love as you know disease baseball fans we love the chess match of all of it whether it's the what pitches to throw or the you know throwing someone off their timing like i respect and like all that stuff but like let's be honest as a product which ultimately we love baseball we want it to be around forever and be big forever and people to care about our sport and all that like this is good for the game and and i'm totally with you and as we always say in theo we trust um all right fritzy uh this is good emily's gonna be so excited for once a lighter you got any final thoughts hmm what can i do to make this longer for you i'm just kidding we're already sad enough here

all right i know i know and it felt like one of those podcasts that I just had to get off my chest. I get it. I get it. But, yeah, it's a big week. It's a big week. Hopefully they – the Blue Jays are pretty good. They've kind of slowed down ever since they fired the manager. Like, they haven't been as hot.

Obviously, they avoid Manoa, which is massive. So, yeah, it should be a fun series and Wednesday should be an interesting podcast and and listen I just again I'm very curious to see what the attendance numbers are this week

and next series next weekend against the Braves can't wait to relive this whole feeling once again yeah I'm right there with you, buddy. And I am with you. Look, no matter whether they win or lose, it's going to be an interesting podcast coming up on Wednesday. I think we can say that for sure.

I'm very excited to talk to you again, even though I'm less excited. I'm less excited to watch the team than to talk to you about the team. So we're back, buddy. This is what we love and what we do could be here feel it feels familiar um all right we'll be back this week um again big week like a really really massive week for this team um right now i think we can say we're not super hopeful, but hopefully they surprise us. That's all I got, buddy.

This is... It's not over, but it's a big week. What a depressing pod. This is great. This is fun. Just what we always envisioned as they're about to end their 11-year playoff drought.

It's great. It's great. It's a big week. Like, don't... Just freaking bounce back one more time. All right. We'll, it's great. It's great. It was a big week. Like, don't... Just freaking bounce back one more time. All right. We'll be back this week.

Eastford, some Celtic. We'll see you next time.