High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Well, This Is Boring

Episode Date: December 7, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the lack of moves in the Phillies offseason so far, plus Rob Thomson's new contract and Bryce Harper's demands. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

Yo! What happened? Oh, it is. Another edition of the High Ops Podcast. I wanted to match the boringness that has been happening with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jack Fritz. Hey, buddy. How you doing?

Why are you talking to me like a pet? I don't know. Because you were just having all kinds of chair issues. You were going up and down. You had to get to your spot. Because I can't find the right angle. You angle you look at you kind of like a child don't ever say that again no i just i really low down it felt like it was like wow you're so tiny yeah i know well he's bigger than me for a moment you weren't well again it is plaid season so that

has helped it's looking good i'm not gonna lie yeah no i know a plaid dad that's who you are i think it's because of the snow like the snow and the wanting to just be around a fire all day and uh you know camp which is a great band that i need you to check out yeah i gotta check out camp i'll check it out it's uh like it's very it's a very wintery day and uh no the jock peterson fake rumors yesterday were not enough to really get my fire burning. But I am curious as we kick off this podcast. Hey, everybody. Which are you more...

I can't tell which one of us is more happy. Me not having to listen to you talk about the Eagles or you not having to listen to me talk about the Eagles. I am so i'm so happy that for the next hour or how long that we have to do this podcast that i don't have to think about the football yeah i know me i just it's a it's a real nice i need a nice break i need something else like the jock peterson rumor was the first time i've really felt something yeah and it turns out the jock pet Peterson rumor might have been about the Eagles. It really might have been. He's from San Francisco.

At least, I don't know what, unless he gets signed. So is he from San Francisco? Apparently. That's what I heard. So it's maybe him being like, I'm a Niners fan. Ha ha. Well. Thanks, Jock.

Yeah, appreciate it. Awesome. We will rescind any bad things we say about Jock Peterson if he signs. Obviously, if he signs. He's our guy. Love him. For sure. He's a winner.

All he does is win right now. He is from Palo Alto. So, yeah, he's probably a Niners. Yeah, I think he's a Niners. No, it's probably a Niners thing. I know. Which, like, in the middle of free agency and winner meetings. Not cool, man.

And it's just like, well, guess what? Dead to me. Until they sign him. Until they sign him. Until they sign him. And then it's like, he's just being a funny guy. Yeah, then it's like, whoa, that was hilarious. Yeah, he gets it. He gets it.

Great clubhouse, guys. You're going to come in and be great. Terrible fantasy football commissioner. Yeah, well, apparently. Hopefully he doesn't get slapped here. And we're going to have to look out for slap issues. Or slap, what's the word I'm looking for? Slap bets?

Slap gate? Slap gate, yes. I should have known you'd go slap bet, how I met your mother, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. slap issues or uh slap uh what's the word i'm looking for um slap bets slap gate slap i should have known you go slap at how i met your mother yeah yeah you just got slapped across the face my friend my friend yes first four seasons fantastic first two last seven awful but at the peak of how i met your mother is one of the best sitcoms of all time i like it's a good take all right let's get i mean do we what are we gonna talk about we like i i got stuff but seriously like just take me in because i look i know that i can get frustrated with the phillies are doing and non-action so for me though it's like i'll get frustrated and then i'll i'll go back to my life you will sit there and and stew and pine and then put out tweets where everyone's like, Jack, are you okay?

My new target list for the Phillies. I went Harrison freaking Bader. We went from Mike Trout to Harrison freaking Bader, man. Are you okay? That's where I want to start the pod. Are you okay? pay heater man are you okay that's where i want to start the pod are you okay so uh in my spare time i have just been watching random relief picture highlights so you you can be the judge of that if you would like to be so strong no no like i just no i am not okay no because like

honestly i'm i'm big bits aside i'm so busy that like i'm so busy that I need a move to get it going again. It's almost to the point where you're checked out. Yeah, just have another, what am I supposed to do? Every single freaking article that comes out is like, I don't think we're going to really do anything. Not really interested in anything. Maybe we'll pick some guys up before the season starts. Yeah, just wait until spring training. Maybe then we'll make a move if we do we do if we don't we don't i mean like it seems it seems as if the like it feels like the the the contracts on the

team are obviously hampering their ability to go and and get something done you know they're they're like i think they would like to get out from under tywin walker but how good of a prospect do you want to attach a town Walker to get him out of here? And then the other thing you're spending money on Taiwan. Yeah. You have to either attach a good, or you're spending money and then you're spending more money to replace him

and the whole thing. Yeah. So I, and apparently like a manga is going to get a hundred million now. Um, you know, and I think like the Yamamoto, they're saying almost 300 million.

Like, I mean, that's the thing. At least we could say that I, when it's all said Yamamoto, they're saying... Yamamoto's at 300 million. I mean, that's the thing. At least we could say... When it's all said and done... If the market... Look, sometimes we'll hear these numbers and the market does not play out the way...

Of course, of course. You know, reporters put stuff out there for agents and all that stuff. But if it does play out this way, the one thing we can say is it might have been a bargain they got Aaron Nolte for. Like, if Yamamoto signs for 275 or 300...

Yeah, it's like, wow. And Grayson's younger. Okay, that's why they re-signed Aaron Nolta. That's exactly it. And I love Yamamoto. And also, I was driving in this morning, and I heard they listed the teams that are in on Yamamoto, and it's like, oh, so everyone is in on Yamamoto.

It's like every big market team is in on Yamamoto. The Dodgers, the Giants, the Cubs, the Yankees, the Mets. Everyone is in on the guy. Yeah. Rightfully so. Rightfully so. He on the guy. Yeah. And for. Rightfully so. Rightfully so. He's really, really good.

And he's really young. But it's just like, it's such a huge financial commitment. And I just think the Phillies are kind of stuck roster wise. And I know like I'm of the mindset of I think running it back is a mistake because I just don't think the buzz is really going to be there. But I also don't know what they're supposed to do. You know, it's one of those things where it's like i would love to be mad about something or i'd love to be fired up and like start a campaign and do all that stuff but i just i don't know what the move is i don't know what the move is because like again do you want to

do you want to still be paying taiwan and then you also attach a prospect and then have to go pay someone else sure like i would have loved the edward rodriguez deal it was a really good contract four years 80 million really good deal um you know castellanos bags of course like our guys our new nemesis yeah no they really are like they oh i hate them yeah i i actually hate them like they there's honestly cowboys are diamondbacks i don't honestly remember it turning quicker. Well, it's the Bucs game. I mean, no one felt anything about the Tampa Bay Bucs. You're right.

They were like our little, I never went under 30 degrees. And it's like, I hate them. Yeah, it's a great point. Until they help the Eagles in 08. Yeah, but I hate the Michael, well, they help by losing, you're saying. Yes, exactly.

Michael Bush helped us out. The Raiders helped us out. DeMarcus Russell. That's right. The highlight of his career. The non-winner highlight of his career but like that's how i feel about nine max like it really went from from whatever to i hate them yeah like i i think they're right there with the mets and braves for me right now in this moment in this moment like obviously historically and odds up like the braves are still the worst i still have the braves the most right now yeah but but the diamondbacks are like third on that list now.

Like, I hate them more than I hate the Nationals. Don't you? You go very quick. The Marlins? I hate them more than I hate the Marlins now. No, no, no, no. Oh, I do. Well.

I hate the Diamondbacks more. You're probably right. Yeah. I do hate the Marlins, though. Yeah, of course. But it's like, you know. So, I guess. Annoying hate.

And I guess my thing is, I guess my thing is, I think they're stuck. But at the same time, time you know they can make these like if you upgrade some of the some of the the bullpen rolls and you do get a a better a better like platoon bat for for the outfield like there are they are a good team i think that's i think that's the one thing that's being lost in the whole freak out about them not doing anything like that was a 90 win team that also missed bry price for for a little bit of the year it took a while trade turner sucked the first half of this yeah like they should have been better they were better than it look for from what june 1st on similar year before they were 100 win so so i

mean on paper they're 95 win ball club without really making any improvements but they won 90 last year and they weren't even playing that good for a majority of the year so um like i i on one hand i'm bummed because i love the offseason and i love trying to think of what's the trade i love you know what's the free agent signing but like we've also been spoiled the last couple years years of okay they're gonna go after one of the short stops you know they're gonna add a big bat in free agency whether it's schwarber and then we were surprised by the Cassianos thing. You had the Bryce pursuit. John has spent a lot.

Jack Middleton has spent a lot of money. It's been a pretty good run for off-season discussion, and the roster kind of is the roster. And I think if they could have gotten out from Nick Cassianos and someone wanted him, then they would have. But you are losing a 25- run guy he's he can be frustrating when he chases important in the clubhouse like i do i think that matters we can't talk so much about how important that clubhouse culture thing is to this team and how they function and then just totally ignore that when we're talking about casiano 100 so

um yeah it's it's been really boring i still would like to see some kind of cool trade, but on one hand, I do get it. I think it's lame, but I also, we can't, like I can't want a smart, well-run baseball team and then complain because they don't do stuff for us. Yeah, dude, honestly, you're saying exactly how I feel. I think you nailed it like perfectly in that it sucks, it's disappointing. And I do, like there is a part of me that I do go back,

I do still believe and go back to what I said in the perfect off season where it's, and we've talked about this, like you're in a window right now. Like you do everything you can to win a World Series now. Over the next four years, you do whatever it takes to win a World Series. But to your point, I understand like it's still, you still have to be smart about things you're not going to overpay just to overpay you're

not going to overpay just to fill a need i do think the trades are the thing that that we should be hoping for because i am fine trading prospects i said that before like mcable love you buddy i'd be fine trading you griff mcgary love you buddy i'd be fine trading like i'm willing to move on from justin gropper like i'm willing to to upgrade this team and I do think that can happen as the season goes on and all that but it's just I think you're right and I think look so many times where I go they won the off season and then it doesn't translate to wins during the regular season so I I think the Phillies can still be really good I think they could win the World Series off an offseason like that that's all still there it's just frustrating when you you know we go back to what what john middleton said the whole like you know what did the 1927 yankees

cost what did this cost what did that cost whatever like like steve cohen's got a higher payroll than us and i know he's steve cohen but he's in yamamoto he's gonna go out and spend more money and i'm not how is their payroll still so high by the way it's unbelievable they got nothing like they got rid of like all their so but but so i and again i'm not i i think you're right and i i can't we can't complain about the money spent they went out and spent money they still have what the third highest payroll third or fourth they're in that range so it's like you can't complain about that but at the same time it's also like well it's a sense of urgency take advantage of the window it's exactly right it's a sense of urgency this but they they the window. It's exactly right. It's a sense of urgency. But they are. I mean, because what you're really doing is,

who's the Cassianos upgrade out there that you want them to go get? You know what I mean? Yeah. If it's Mike Trout, they could have beat the Juan Soto deal if they wanted to. And now it probably would have been like, I'm trying to think, is it fair to say, no, I think he's better. It's almost like it would have been Ranger, like Ranger and Michael King. Michael King's better.

I mean, I think Michael King's a better prospect. I mean, I think Michael King is more valued. You're right, Ranger's pitching the playoffs and that's success, but I would say Michael King is more valuable in a trade. Don't you? Maybe. A little bit? Maybe.

But Ranger too. I know, I know. Michael King was pretty nasty at the end of last year. He's a pitching ninja favorite. But either way. It would have been like Ranger, Abel, and Rojas probably as the cornerstones of a deal. Yeah, as a cornerstone. And they could have beat it if they really, really wanted to.

So I guess that's the move that people would have. But at the same time, we argued about this uh which was which was funny doesn't happen that often but like trading for juan soto when you have a pretty good inclination he's gonna hit free agency for only a year how smart a business is that i mean the yankees do it because they are desperate their fans are like i've never seen Yankees. Like basically the, the worst thing that ever happened to Yankees fans was George Steinbrenner because every single off season, I know you have to be George.

You have to like, it's the, it's the toughest thing for the Yankees that George Steinbrenner existed. Um, so like, there's always that you got to get the star, you got to get the star, you got to get the star or else the fans aren't,

aren't very happy. Um, and the Phillies like, do you really want to go kind of shed down some of your your talent to go get juan soto for a year when he's gonna hit for agency like the yankees now have made it like we gotta sign them or else we gave up all this for essentially nothing and they didn't even really give up that much the yankees had to do it more than the phillies did it's just what it is they They had the need and they have, from a public perception standpoint,

like we were talking about, I mean, like people are really angry with the Yankees, like really angry with the Yankees. Their fan base after last season,

obviously they didn't make the playoffs, that whole thing and they kept their boot like people weren't happy about that. Kept cashmen, all that stuff.

I think there was no team in baseball that needed to trade for Juan Soto more than the Yankees. Yeah, I agree. And, you know, and I think my big, my big baseball that needed to trade for Juan Soto more than the Indians. Yeah, I agree. And I think my big concern is- That sucked, though.

I mean, look, I'd rather be a Yankee than a Brave or whatever, but- Yeah, I'm just- Look, I hate the Yankees. I know you have. You're such a sports fan. Cowboys, Yankees, Duke, Lakers, Celtics, hate them all. I do. I really do.

You're such a sports fan. I get it. I get it. But I sort of like when the Yankees are good. It's fun for baseball. It's fun. It's fun to watch. And he feels like a Yankee.

Oh, man. He's going to be. I'm excited to see how it all works. A judge in center field for a season seems like a disaster. So wouldn't they put him in left and put Verdugo in center? I don't know if he can play center, Verdugo. He's got to play better than Judge, no? Judge is a good outfielder.

Verdugo's a really good outfielder. Judge is a really, really good defensive center fielder. It's just he's huge. You think Judge can play center field? I think they're going to try. Yeah, I know he's a good outfielder but he's six seven yeah well listen he's got he's only gotten hurt running into walls yeah it just seems so it would be you'll be unique to watch that's for sure he's gonna be a big center fielder i think is the takeaway is the takeaway but um you know so i think my big concern with with everything and it's not for us and it's not for our listeners,

but, like, the buzz heading in the spring training is just not going to be there. There won't be any. Which is fine. Maybe it helps the team. Probably not. Well, the season's going to start, and I feel like people will check in more in May and June rather than, like, Or they need to get off and get off to a hot start for once

and go to a start like 15 and five and then people show up. Yes. And I think people show up because I think people like the baseball team. Yeah. They showed up last year when we thought they might not after the World Series. They showed up while Trey was still struggling. They showed up throughout the year. I think people will show up.

It's more about the buzz. People will go to the ballpark. That's an activity. It's something you do with your family. It's something that's ingrained in us. And they're good. People don't go when they're not. But when they're good,

I'm saying people will go. It's the excitement around the team. It's the vibes around the team, which we talked about last year, the magic of the whole thing, you know, and now it just felt so special. And like, I just don't, I don't think it,

and look, maybe that doesn't matter. All we really want to win is a World Series and everything else is secondary. So, like, who cares? But it won't have that same kind of, you know, excitement to it. And we love that. It's our favorite thing. It's our favorite team.

It's our favorite sport. Like, we want it to – we want everyone to be as excited about them as we are. And I don't think that – it'll take a little time for that. And maybe we'll run during the fan base. Like, maybe when it gets closer to spring training, it'll be like, oh, man, the boys are back, which i can't wait for by the way like it's just you know let's go yeah it's like 70 something days let's go i know i'm just i do already miss it i do i already missed the daily grind like i just again i kind of walk around

when the phillies aren't a thing and it's just what's the point you know really uh walker just like say that to walker no no like walker probably would say i'm the point you know it's a thought you know yeah i'm just saying like it's like a part of you is missing a part of me is missing a A part of my core is missing. Who you are. Am I filling it by gambling on the NBA? Yes. I was going to add to my Fandle Reef. How's that going?

It's awesome. Yeah, you're crushing it. No, it's awesome. I had a $500 parlay last night. Whoa! Look at you! I've taken probably $500 out of Fandle the last week and a half. Oh my God.

Are you serious? Yeah. No, I've been hot. Yeah. I took $300 out two nights ago. You're like winning, winning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. a week and a half so oh my god are you serious yeah no i've been hot yeah i took 300 out tonight two nights ago you're like winning winning yeah yeah yeah no that's it's i watch a lot of nba look at you just let him just letting you know yeah i'm proud of you that's like wow it takes a lot it's like a second job for you it's yeah well Well, dude, I was up. I was. All right. I was watching.

I was watching Clippers Nuggets in my bed at 1230 at night last night on my phone. So I'll be up in a few hours. Yeah. Yeah. So that's how you ask me what I'm doing with what I'm not thinking about the Phillies. It's we really need baseball. I really need it. I really need that.

I love this. It's just like baseball. Just like there's nothing. There's no other sport that makes me feel the way that the baseball team. I think we all know. They're just they're just the best. They're just they're simply the best. And like, I'm not going to do an Eagles thing now.

It's just it's every night. Is there something new? There's something exciting. I get to see a young kid guy. I just there's so many storylines. Oh, I know you get it. You get to see a young kid guy. There's so many storylines. Oh, I know. You get a Wes Wilson, Michael Lorenzen game out.

I know you get Luke Williams and his family in the stands. Trust me. I get it, buddy. Just miss it. I miss the daily Phillies game. All right. Speaking of Phillies, let's get back to it. Which I feel like we get to every time around this point of the year. Yeah.

I miss the daily Phillies game. This is the time. Yeah. All right. So let's get back to the they're not gonna do anything like do you the one do you want my do you want my updated perfect off season it makes me sad but yes we're gonna do it but it makes it really sad but but is there any chance there's some robo-doping going here is there any chance that they're putting out hey we're

not really doing anything and they're the team to pounce on someone i don't think it's gonna be yamamoto or whatever but like blake snell is only 100 boom or whatever it is like do you think the phillies are are potentially lying in wait they're really saying look this this market's not playing out for us if there's a trade there we'll take it but more likely we're gonna kind of fill on the fringes and and head in the game i think there's a 100% chance that they're... It's not a rope-a-dope. I just think they're going to be opportunistic. It reminds me a lot of when they signed Castellanos.

I mean, it was essentially the market crater. And they're like, why would we not sign Castellanos? So maybe that happens for Blake Snell. If you're telling me they can add Blake Snell with Aaron Ola, obviously a win. No-brainer at that point. Yes, please. Yeah, so I think there's 100%. And really, I think the next thing that could, obviously a win. No-brainer at that point. Yes, please. Yeah, so I think there's 100%.

And really, I think the next thing that could happen is a trade. I mean, that's where it comes down to. Is free agency, I think, and I was going to put it in my take bag, but now that we're talking about it, I think the biggest thing that we have to adjust with the current state of the Phillies and the way that free agency is going and the way the offseason is going is that now

it is entirely on, and not to put pressure on them, I'm very sorry, but it's on player development and it's on Brian Barber to keep getting talent in the system because now it's trades. Well, that's what I said in the pod. That's why I said I trust these guys to draft and develop talent, and

that's part of the reason I was willing to trade away our guys. I don't think the Phillies are going to be huge players in free agency, because I think when you have, at least for the next couple years, because I think when you have your roster pretty much set, and they have their core, their core for the next three years is Bryce, JT, Schwarber, Cassianos, Turner,

Stott, Boehm, Marsh. It's pretty set. Wheeler, they'll probably extend this offseason yeah nola uh ranger chris sanchez andrew painter whatever like it's pretty much set but if you able hopefully in a couple years and look at like or trade him look what the dodgers have done you know the last couple years it's like their roster is pretty much set but then they go out and they trade their prospects to to add around those guys you know and the mookie trade was bigger but like i think about the scherzer trade and really the turner trade um like when you get to this point as a as a franchise and you get to this point as a team then it becomes about

the trades you make not the free agent signings that you make and that's what we're currently dealing with is is people want these free agents signs because we've been so accustomed the last couple years of they're gonna be players in free agency it's not the case when the roster is pretty much set now it's about the trades around those guys maybe the trade for a a lockdown shutdown star reliever like we've talked about we've talked about i mean i think that's i think that's a trade that could happen um and then i don't know you know i mean maybe the snell market craters and they sign him but i think there is definitely one possible big move left. And I think if I had to choose one, it'd be for one of the star leavers.

Please, buddy. I would be very... We talked about it. I mean, we talked about it. I don't... There seems to be this thing, and I don't get why. I do get why. It's because people like to be fake smart.

And there's nothing that bothers me more than this fake smart sports arguments. Like the run the ball stuff right now of course the eagles have to establish a run of course they like just shut up it's so annoying like yes they have to run the ball and they have to run it better like what else why are we even having this discussion it shouldn't be this hard thank you it shouldn't be so with you like it's it's okay some things are obvious um but some things we don't have to fight about some things we can all say yeah you know what we all agree that that's what happened well you love those arguments i do you know me but that's why i feel by the closer position like having a guy that can just shut down the knife is valuable

and it's like yeah i know the phillies the last couple years they've had a revolving door back there but that's because they haven't had the guy. They haven't had someone they can just stick in the ninth. And like, yeah, maybe Alvarado's better than whatever closer they can go trade for. Maybe not. But at that point, Alvarado can be in the seventh. He can be in the eighth.

They could have Serenity. Like they go from a, why would you trade assets for a closer? Because it lets everyone, it turns your bullpen from really good. It was a top five bullpen last year to, like, the best in the sport. A souped up bullpen. Like, if there's the time to do it, it's probably now. Well, and honestly, if you look at the way they lost the last two post seasons,

I mean, Houston, obviously, that was maybe the greatest bullpen in the history of the sport up there or whatever, but that played a major role in them losing. And last year, not that Ginkle and Seawald are the best bullpen we've ever seen, but they were amazing. They were amazing in the playoffs, those two guys. Until the World Series, those guys were unhittable, and that's part

of the reason they got there. Like, having, being able to shut guys down at the end of playoff games, being able to win games like that. Oh, maybe we saw it in games three and four, what that would have done for the Phillies. If they had shut down guys,

they could come in and shut it down. Like they would have been in the world series last year. Like it's massively important. So I just, I just, I don't understand why it's always, I think we've gone too far with the closer. It doesn't matter thing.

It's still the three hardest outs to get in the baseball game. And especially in the biggest of games when the pressure is the biggest, like those are tough outs to get. Well, and especially if, if, if Rob Thompson is going to be as aggressive as he is in some of these games, like you need,

you need a souped up. And it almost saves him from himself. Having a guy at the end that you can just count. Like that guy's there. Let me build up to that each time and not have to worry about how many a game. So, yeah, I just think that if there's ever a time to do it, and not have to worry about how many a game so yeah i just

think that if there's ever a time to do it it's your world series window to do it and this is the world series window like if you can go get a bednar you can go get a devin williams you can go get it's one of these locked down alex lang or alexis diaz or i just like to throw out names i know but i do um this thing's really good so but i'd rather have bednar for what it's worth oh yeah bednar would be my top number one so i just i think we've gone too far with the whole closer doesn't matter thing and especially listen with the way this team um you know with the way the the manager manages in the biggest games of the year instead of having kimbrough have to come in in that spot or or if sir anthony's not pitching as well or like instead of having to if you want

to not extend chris or chris sanchez later into a game or ranger into a game which i hope we can just knock off like i just i don't want to deal with that anymore just let your freaking starter when he's okay when has he ever shown like he can't handle it yeah um but but you might as well just build a souped up bullpen might as well i mean like souped-up bullpen. Might as well. I mean, I think Kirkering would be, like, honestly, maybe the biggest thing that they're internally debating right now, and I think it's one of the bigger questions about the team,

is how great can a Ryan Kirkering be? Like, can Kirkering be Bednar, be Devin Williams, be one of the best clothes in baseball because if he can be then there's no reason it totally changes everything yeah then he's the guy but you could also have him and those guys yeah so yeah i would be and it especially helps you get through 162 um and we know how important bullpens are in the postseason

speaking of uh you just mentioned his name, thoughts on $13 million for Craig Kimbrell. A raise! Not just by the 101-win Orioles team, but to be their closer. How about that? Well, imagine going from Felix Bautista to Craig Kimbrell. And Bautista's obviously out for the year, so they say Kimbrell's going to be their closer.

Isn't that wild? Like, you just watched it, and then you're like, yep, that guy, I know he's good during the year. So they say Kimbrel's going to be their closer. Isn't that wild? Like, you just watched it, and then you're like, yep, that guy. I know he's good during the year. Yeah, but listen, they'll probably turn him into a stock because they have a bit of a pitching factory down there. They're really good at that stuff. 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. I want to get to your perfect offseason. I want to talk about the Harvard thing. Well, that's not a perfect offseason.

You're boring perfect offseason. You're lame perfect offseason. But you just mentioned Thompson real quick, so I'll just throw that in there. Thoughts on the one-year extension? Like, you know, didn't want him to be a lame duck, clearly. He would have been a lame duck this year. They add the one more year. I think a lot of people are like just one year huh uh thoughts so i can't tell if it's more i can't tell if it's more thompson or the phillies because we all because

he's talked a lot about just being exactly yeah exactly so he doesn't even care what he makes and like doesn't he almost retired before getting the job exactly so like i thought i had that thought too i was like maybe he's just like eh you know i'm gonna kind of go year by year by year year by year and maybe if he gets to the point where it's like eh you know like i'm ready to move on he seems very comfortable with moving on and going back to canada very comfortable talking about it and saying how he really feels about it yeah yeah um so maybe they felt like they didn't have to give him three years. Sure.

So, yeah. Or it's the Phillies being like, we'll play it year by year. And if what happens again happens again this year, then maybe we move on and we'll pay that extra year and see what happens. How shook do you think they were by the playoffs? Like, because again, you know, I think, and you know, we battled about the levels of it, but I think everyone can agree. Rob Thompson, even he said it. He said it in his postseason press conferences.

He made some mistakes. He trusted some guys too much. He should have done some different things in some different spots. How much do you think the Phillies are concerned about that? I don't know if they're concerned. I think that it's something they're monitoring. I think he's a great manager. I think Rob Thompson is one of the best managers in baseball.

I do too. I love the guy if his if his if his fault or or whatever is he's too loyal then i think i think i think they want to see how he does next year if he if he does the loyalty thing if he changes it around and it doesn't work again then it's like okay maybe well maybe it's not rob thompson but my my first thought was is he angling for alex cora alex cora was the guy a year left in boss or two more years left in boston whatever guy he hired in boston rob thompson's getting older red sox i mean he seems frustrated with what's going on up there maybe that was a high and bloom problem maybe under craig breslow he's more uh you know he's more happy but if Alex Cora becomes

available in a year, I think Alex Cora is a difference-making manager. I love Alex Cora. So maybe that's... I think Alex Cora is the best manager in the sport. Council's up there. Man, I'm so sick of Craig Council. I think he's really good, but look, he's never won

the playoffs. No, rephrase. I'm sorry. Bruce Bochy is the best manager of the sport, period. Sure. Sorry, he is. Yeah. I mean, you have to give it to him. Yeah. He won the World Series again.

He's good. But I agree. I think Cora's top three. I think Cora's a stud. So that was one of my thoughts. And the year thing was really interesting. And I couldn't tell if it was more Thompson or more the Phillies. And I think they'll be curious to see what happens in the postseason.

And it might just be if they fall short again, they have to do something. Because, look, yeah. The problem is, like, I just keep loving the staff they build around him. You do. And, look, I think Rob's good. I think Rob Thompson is great. And for what it's worth, I don't think this is going to be an issue because I think he will change.

The way he talked after the season in his postseason press conference, the way he talked about the mistakes he made, he seemed really thoughtful and pensive about it. He was willing to admit that he's like, yeah, I probably did certain things wrong. I probably trusted guys in spots I shouldn't have. He admitted it. And hearing him after he gets the contract saying,

hey, does anybody want to watch a World Series? It hurts too much. I would be surprised if a guy like him didn't learn at least some sort of lesson. Sure. But, you know, and you look at the kind of the staff they're building around him. You know, I like Caleb Cotham a lot. I mean, I think Cotham is stud. Kevin Long, we know.

Good. I just, like they added these, like I love that they went to the Giants, and I love they went to the Astros when they got these like extra hitting coaches around them because, you know, what sunk them in the playoffs? Started chasing everything. Giants and Astros are two of the best non-chasing teams

in the sport the astros for the last i don't know six years top of baseball in the least amount of strikeouts um so poaching from those teams i think is is is brilliant um like i just this again this kind of like smart organization stuff i i love what they're doing i love that they poach from those two teams and because i'm always like i watched the giants the last couple years and and you say to yourself wow they have no talent and you watch all their hitters and it's like they have a dude the 107 win team is the worst 107 win team i've ever seen in my life like it was unbelievable that that roster won 100 it was outrageous ridiculous and and sure they're pitching insane yeah and look you get lucky in certain spots

to get to 107. You know, like one-run games, things can go your way. But man, they get the most out of what they have. They're building a, I know... Another pitching factory, too. Dude, they're building just a stud, like a stud holistic organization when it comes to what's going on down in Clearwater,

when it comes down to like everything that is doing in player development, the big league coaching staff, like that's been the big stuff behind the scenes that will matter. And matter for a long time. That's the infrastructure that matters. Like we talked about when it comes to organization, when you're not making, when you're not making big roster upgrades,

getting the most out of the players that you do have here that's the upgrades that I think are going to happen in the next couple of years and the trade market is going to be something that they're going to have to explore as these guys become more and more available. Dave has a history of making some really good trades. Not here. No not here. Alvarado. The Alvarado trade was great. No the big trade

he hasn't made the big trade. He hasn't made the big trade here anybody has he's a history of it. Oh yeah. Alright I want to get we'll get to your lame updated offseason we'll call it He hasn't made the big trade. He hasn't made the big trade. He hasn't made the big trade here. Anybody has? He's a history of it. Oh, yeah. All right. We'll get to your lame updated offseason, we'll call it, and the take back in a sec. Last thing before that, the Harper thing. Scott Boris coming out and saying that Bryce Harper wants a contract extension to finish his career in Philadelphia. A little confused jack i thought

we already had that i thought the 13 year 330 million contract was to finish your career there are four people last year in baseball four who were over the age of 39 four there are only six others who are 39 or older like and there's only one and there's only one member of this podcast that is over the age you're damn right buddy let me tell you at the age of 42 it hurts you don't want to go out and buy it hit a baseball i mean everything i wake up at night because my leg is like tight because i'm sleeping with it like crooked like that's all it takes to make my body like convulse with pain like you and bryce harper me we're the same more or less physically fit in similar ways for sure like we love bryce it's our guy i love him love him love him love him like

this is ridiculous like and i get that he didn't get taken out in the contract and that he would have made a lot more money if he had and all that but like he didn't put an opt-out in the contract that wasn't our choice that was your choice to sign that, Bryce. And like, look, I love him. And I would more say, hey, Bryce, when you're done, we'll give you a role with the organization. We'll pay all this, but whatever. Like, I'll do whatever to keep you in the sport, whatever. But like, not now.

Like, in four years, if Bryce is still crushing it and he's awesome, all right, Bryce, let's talk about four more years from now. Like, this is nuts. it and he's awesome. All right, Bryce, let's talk about four more years from now. Like, this is nuts. Like, I'm sorry. Like, I think it's absolutely asinine. I think it is asinine. And it's Scott Boris, and I get it. I think to ask for an extension

when you have eight years left on your contract and you're 30 years old, 31 years old, I actually think it's beyond the pale. Like, I think I love Bryce, and I'm not ripping him, but I think this is outrageous. Outrageous. Well, but Middleton wants to do it. So what's the issue?

It's outrageous. Then John shouldn't do it. Why would you do it? What's the, why? Why? Give me a reason why you would do this. I add on years 40, 41, and 42. You know what the history of baseball says?

That he's going to suck those years if he plays. Yeah, but he's also not going to get, like, all right, so he's 38. He's at the, towards the end. 39 39 and he's towards the end of his career and you know he's not gonna be able to get that kind he's not gonna get 25 million dollars a year i'm not i understand why they're doing that i think it's outrageous though like i'm sorry you're making he's just being he's being smart no i get what he's trying to do. I don't like it, though. Why?

Because he's got eight years left on his contract. Again, if he had three or four years left, fine. We're talking about eight years down the road. Three or four years from now, he's not going to- This has never happened before. This is not something that they do in baseball. We haven't seen many love affairs between a city and a player quite like Bryce. Look, I love the guy.

The point is like... You just strike him while the iron's hot. And if Middleton's like, alright, I'll do it. Well, I think it'd be a mistake. I think John Middleton should put his foot down. I think it sets a really, really bad precedent. But then also... With them Trey Turner has a great year this year. He's like, you know what? I want to add two more years to my contract.

Are you serious? You're setting a precedent. I think it is insane. I think it would be a massive mistake to give him that money. You're setting a precedent i think i think it is insane i think it i think it would be a massive mistake to give him that money you're setting a precedent and i get that but i also think that okay he doesn't do it is bryce as good of an i don't think he would not be i do i do not think bryce harper would would change the way he goes about his business i don't think he'd be like well i'm not gonna try as hard because you can give me money on the back end of my try hard but i mean i'm not gonna be be as loving towards the city. No way.

That's Bryce. Bryce does what he does. Like, I don't think there's any chance. Now, like, theoretically, Boris could cause a problem and then it's a different discussion. If, like, it's like, well, Bryce is going to... Would you rather cause a problem or would you rather give him three years, 75 on the end? I would rather... I would rather put my foot down.

I'm not just getting bullied into this. But he's not getting bullied. He wants to bullied into this. But he's not getting bullied. He wants to do it. He's not getting bullied. Then it's a mistake. Do you not think it's a mistake to give Bryce Harper $75 million to age 39 to 41, see 42 seasons? I think it's crazy.

Financial for the... The reason that they took risks. What if Bryce Harper broke his freaking leg in the first year and is never the same player? The Phillies took on that risk. Signed him a $330 million contract. And he's completely outdone all of that. He has, but you know what?

That's what you paid for. The reason you signed such a big contract is that you're paying for the beginning of the contract to pay off the end. Because yours is $36, $37, $38, $39. He's not going to be worth that money. And you hope that as inflation goes and stuff, he's worth closer to that.

But a 38-year-old Bryce Harper is not going to be worth that money and you hope that as inflation goes and stuff he's worth closer to that but a 38 year old bryce harper is not going to be worth 25 million dollars he's not gonna be worth 20 million dollars most likely so like you're paying off those back end years with the value that you make on the early years that's the whole reason to do a contract like this like and and and this quickly into have an opt-out in your contract then bryce they would have given him one if he won a contract with opt-out they would have given him one. If he won a contract with an opt-out, they would have given it to him. That was his freaking idea. Like, I get it, and I love Bryce, but I think this is a step too far.

I don't think this is right, and I don't think John Middleton should do it. That's how I feel about it. Well, if there's one guy to do it with, he's the right guy to do it with. Agree. He's the only person I would even consider it for, but, like, again, I just think it's a massive mistake.

I would say, Bryce, wait a couple years but he's not but he's not gonna get the contract in a couple years is what it is like again like then you should have put it out you should have put an opt-out in your contract you should have put an opt-out like sorry again you're paying for he's not gonna be even there's a let's be honest Bryce Harper will not even likely be playing at the age of 40 or 41 the way he violent with his body the amount of injuries he's had on again there are four players in the sport this year over 40 years old four like it just doesn't happen and i know with medical and stuff we're getting better and people are doing it more and more but the idea that bryce harper is going to be a valuable player for those right now the last three years the contract must less the three you would add are are are unlikely they are unlikely but at the same time like if

like i i just think that it's 25 million if and now if it turns into like that's a lot of money for someone probably not gonna play for you though it's almost it's a lifetime achievement award it's crazy it him a freaking award don't give him money like this is crazy pay him in other ways like i said give him a job with the organization where you make 20 million a year once you're done that doesn't go against the freaking luxury tax like i just think it's a mistake uh well yeah i mean i think financially sure it's a mistake like because it's taking 25 million off of in 2031 i just don't think you get bullied around by everyone. Scott Boris knows that any time he wants to do this with a player who's valuable,

he can do it to you. Yeah, but I just think that this is a unique situation. I think this is a unique situation. It is. I just think it's eight years out. It's crazy. Be good for a couple more years. Be really good.

If he's good for three more years and he's closer to that age, then it makes sense. Then it's like, all right, you could be good in four years from now. It couple more years. Be really good. If he's good for three more years and he's closer to that age, then it makes sense. Then it's like, all right, you could be good in four years from now. It's eight years. He missed half the length of the last two seasons, practically. Like, I just, again, I love Bryce. I'm super happy he's here for the next eight years. I think it is insane to tack on stuff to this kind.

I honestly think it's crazy. Huh? Gus, you disagree. I just don't care. Okay. Whatever. it's crazy. Huh? So you disagree? I just don't care. Okay. Whatever. That's fine. Whatever keeps Bryce happy.

Yeah, I get that, man. I just... I know you're worried about your 50s. Dude, look, I've only got... How many more seasons do I have left in my life? All right? I want to maximize them. Yeah.

And look, those years are already going to be tough. We all know the back end of the T trade contract and the back end of the price contract in tandem are going to suck that's going to be 60 million dollars a year to two guys who can't play close to that level it is what it is that's what you do with these contracts but that's why you sign them so that you get the value early and then that they you pay it off late by having to pay guys who are not as good as that money. Like, that's the way it works. Don't sign a 13-year deal, Bryce. Sign a 7-year deal and get another contract.

Yeah, but I just think that when, because he knows right now that when he's 38, 39, he's never going to get $25 million a year. He's getting $330 million. Yeah, but he's also. On top of all the other money that he's already made and all the other money. And look, I get it. I'm not ripping someone for going for more money. He's an athlete.

I'm just saying I wouldn't give it to him. And I would, I think it's crazy to think to give it. I just think the downside of possibly causing any rifts is, is not worth it. So I, if it keeps him happy, keeps him happy. If it's $25 million,

eight years from now, then whatever. I think that's a really bad way to do business. You just talked about being a winning organization, like winning organizations. Don't do that. Organizations also keep their players happy. You just talked about being a winning organization. Winning organizations don't do that. Winning organizations also keep their players happy. And he's an all-timer. And he will be happy.

I agree he'll be happy. But I think there'll be a little... I think he'll be happy either way. He's making money in this year. He's getting a chance to win. He wants to win. Guy wants to win. He also wants to make sure he's financially stable.

Yes. Is he going to be okay with that $330 million plus all the money he already made plus whatever endorsement? I mean, the guy's probably going to make $500 million in his life without this extra money. Well, he has to play through his 40s in the Phillies. It's all right. Yeah, it'll be okay. If you're still good in four years, Bryce, we can talk.

That's where I'm at. Well, I don't know if he gets it. I don't know if he gets it. It's for you, Bryce. I think this is crazy to me. I think this is nonsense as far as I'm concerned. I wouldn't give it to him. That's how I feel. Well, it seems like John wants to. Do you think he's going to?

Because I don't think it's a lock that he's going to give it to him. What if Bryce held out? Does Bryce hold out? I don't think Bryce would. I don't think it's that big a deal. I think Scott's taking a shot. He's going to miss, hopefully, and then we move on. That's what I think.

All right, what do you got for a lame lineup for me? Or a lame off for me let's get it back to the important let's get yes harrison vader uh i don't know i don't know i just i like kyle lewis so i'm trying to i'm trying to look at where we are now and i did not expect that the jock peter we'll see the jock peterson things that thing happened and look if they do so i'm fine with that like i like yeah but it was weird it was like another lefty that's essentially mini schwarber yeah well that's the weird part it's a guy who strikes out yeah well that's why i wanted like eddie rosario where it's at least someone's gonna put the ball in play for you and stuff like that like yeah i'm with you yeah it was just so when it happened i was like well that's obviously a weird fit. I mean, the idea is he's a Jake Cave replacement, right?

But it's just... But he's like a... How many millions are we playing Jack Peterson to fit the Jake Cave role? I don't know. And I guess it would be Marsh and him on a platoon against righties. It doesn't make any sense. It was... It doesn't make a lot of sense.

You talk yourself into it because he's a Philly. And because he wins. Because he's a guy who's shown up in the playoffs. But Harrison Bader is a good defensive center fielder that hit some dope home runs for the Yankees. And he did have, like, what, a 400 OPS with the Reds last year after the trade? So that hurts him a little bit. It's a tough one.

But I do think it would be a mistake. And I like Johan Rojas. I just think it would be a mistake to go into next year, that's my center fielder. Oh, I what about marso well yeah i mean but i i really liked the martian left i did too rojas and center field like defensively um and martians if they could go get uh a more established left fielder that which they could they could theoretically yeah is there is there a trade? Well, the one

that I wanted to bring up because it wasn't just free agents. If the Cardinals are just giving away Tyler O'Neal, I would take him a second. Yes! Dude, the guy has 35 home run potential. He hasn't been able to stay healthy. It's a huge outfield in St. Louis. He's a

good defensive player if you sign him to play left field and hit 30 home runs here 35 like it's he's been banged up and i get that but that's a that's a trade i would 100 be all over is i think they need to i mean they definitely have to add a bat of some kind they will yeah no they will i think they have to the rest of the offseason is finding the right field. The back pieces and the bat. Yeah, not right field. Finding a right-handed bat that can come off the bench or possibly start in left.

Well, yeah, because if you can move Marsh back and forth between center and left, theoretically, if you don't want to go with Raw as a full-time guy and so on and so forth. And a closer. I think there's three things. If they can get out from under the Taiwan deal and sign another starter or trade for a starter,

I think that's on the table. Reliever, hopefully a stud, and then a right-handed bench bat. I love it. I mean, I don't love it, but I will take it. You do love it. All right, take back. Hold on.

You want to finish this? There's more. There's more. I think it's Kyle Lewis, who I like. Duvall. I mean, how many times do I have to do this? On every list forever. Adam Duvall is just... Until he's retired. You know know like in your notes abby will go through and you're like uh oh i'm gonna add to this change it like

he's just a perma stays on the list for for for life i'm sorry adam you better be a philly one day uh kyle lewis uh is i just i can't quit i like i can't quit kyle lewis we'll always want him and the upside is is really really high obviously uh kike just plays everywhere and seems like a good clubhouse guy he does and chase i feel like he's on winning teams i feel like i've seen kike play in the playoffs fair amount uh jordan hicks i mean of course we can have 102 yeah he's pretty good wasn't 104 i thought it's just stupid so he's the guy who has like the 15 fastest pitches ever in baseball. I think so. I'm pretty sure.

Like, if you look at the list of fat, I'm going to do it real quick. Fastest pitches ever done. I'm pretty sure the whole list is Jordan. So it goes, I mean, if you tip Chapman,

obviously, but fastest, if you have a, if you have a back end of your bullpen of, of like Hicks, Alvarado Soto, I mean like it's, it goes from,

it's the superpower Ben. No. Okay. here we go. That's from 2010. 2011, Roldis Chapman did have the top 15. Let's see. Here we go. Pulling it up. What is the fastest pitch ever thrown?

Oh, is this an old article? I keep finding old articles. Oh, no, this is new. Okay, good. So, Roldis Chapman does have the fastest pitch ever thrown. 105.8. Nice. Hunter Green 105.2.

Starter. Both reds. This is not a list. This is just like random Either way. Jordan Hicks throws hard. It was very hard. And he was a great linebacker for the Eagles. But if you have a power If you have a power bullpen and he was a great linebacker for the Eagles but if you have a power

bullpen I just think that you have those guys in the back and it's nasty Hector is kind of you know he was kind of lucky last year even though ZRA was 1.7 but regardless Shintaro Fujinami like as a reliever like he throws

103 and has like he's all over pitching ninja. Insane as stuff is. But then his ERA is in the sevens. A little different as a reliever. And then my personal favorite who I need that. He's my number one target for the rest of the offseason, which I know is very, very exciting for everyone.

But it's Robert Stevenson. Oh, of course. Robert Stevenson. Yes. 235 ERA. Former Red. Red Pirate. And then was straight of the Rays last year. He's a stud. That's what I was expecting. He'd have a chance to close

if they brought him here. That was not what I was expecting. He's number one target for the rest of the offseason. Robert Stevenson. Get excited. Robert Stevenson. Okay. So we're in on Robert Stevenson. Robert Stevenson. He's the guy. So he's we're in on Robert Stevenson. Robert Stevenson. He's the guy. So he's the new Jesse Chavez. Yeah.

Except he's not like Jesse Chavez is more of a bit. Believe it or not. Cause he's like kind of a bit. This is not a bit. This is the number one. Robert Stevenson needs to be a Philly. Oh good. He's disgusting.

Wow. I love it. No, he's disgusting. He, if it comes down to it, he could close for this team. Oh wow. He's going to be one of the best relievers in baseball next year there's no doubt about it

i love the confidence you say i'm just telling you like if you're looking for next year's uh you know fritz guys if you're looking for you know uh well you don't do holds leagues which is lame no that's lame no it's not oh it's the greatest real thing come on man you get middle relievers and fantasy baseball outside of you ever watched outside of fantasy? Have you ever watched a game and been like, oh, great hole by Dominguez tonight? It's not a... No! You never say that!

You don't think about it. It's not a real stat. It's like a... Dude. When Andrew Miller was at his peak, of course I was watching Andrew Miller. Yeah, Andrew Miller was stuck. Yeah, so why don't you calm down? I love that guy.

Why don't you calm down and grow up? Robert Stevenson. Number one target. All right. He's right. For those not there was only listening the pod jack turned and just did a real smile at the camera right into the camera sign robert stevenson uh all that matters that's all there it is look at that all right um take back sign robert stevenson is that it that's a take back all right we're out of here um

oh no more red uniforms. Are you heartbroken? No, I'm actually quite happy about it. They were bad. They were my least favorite Phillies uniform. They look rinky-dink. They look like spring training uniforms to me. Well, they were. Yeah, I know, but that's what I always felt like. I'm like, all right, so we're bringing out the spring training uniforms.

Cool. Yeah. So, yeah, so no more red uniforms. I think they're getting City Connects next year, which is going to be. They are. Which is, I hate the City Connects. Enough already. They red uniforms. I think they're getting City Connects next year, which is going to be... They are. Which is... I hate the City Connects. Enough already.

They're bad. Here's my thing. All these things are just to get people to buy new jerseys. Like, it's just always... Let's do a new... Like... Just make the... Enough.

Just give me the creams and the powder blues, the pinstripes, and I'm good. I don't need anything else. What about a Kelly Green? You said you wanted dog eagles. What are you doing here? No, but a Kelly Green Phillies jersey. It dog eagles. What are you doing here? A Kelly Green Phillies jersey. It would be awesome. I would love it.

Get the eagles to wear maroon sometime. No. We tried the blue and green the one time and that was not great. That was not great. Are you mad at Shohei Otani for not revealing who he's meeting with is he killing the sport i did that was a really dumb dude all those are dude i can't stand it's

like oh this should be such a big deal for this sport i i think it's actually kind of hilarious i like how mad like i just i can't take i can't take beat writer sometimes yeah it's like it's just too much i'm sorry that you're not getting easy scoops I'm sorry you can't write 10,000 articles about show his visits everywhere I know and yet we still all know

we've all heard it's the Cubs and it's the Blue Jays and it's the Giants the Dave Roberts yeah we talked to him what are you doing would you they probably should have fired him The Dave Roberts. Yeah, we talked to him. It was like, what are you doing? Would you? Would you? Damn it.

Mark that, Tucker. They probably should have fired him. First of all, he's a horrible manager. Mark it. Tucker did not mark it. Mark it. We don't mess around. We don't curse on this podcast, Tucker.

Okay, good. You got to go back and fix that. 51-30. If it's not fixed, I apologize, everyone. It's Tucker Bagley's fault. Yes. Just so everyone knows. Not your fault.

Never take. I always go everyone. It's Tucker Bagley's fault. Yes. Just so everyone knows. Yes. Not your fault. Never take. Never take. I always go back and edit it perfectly. There's never one time that I forgot to edit out the game. Yeah. So, no. The Dave Roberts thing. Like, honestly, if it cost them Shohei, he should be fired.

He should be fired. I mean, can we be honest? He should have been fired a long time ago. He's a terrible man. He is an awful, a horrendous man. They've never gotten it right. No. Tom and Lasorda. They haven't gotten it right no um time of the sorta they haven't

gotten right since the sorta before your time i know i know i'm old who needs him he tried to fight the he tried to fight the fanatic yeah it was funny about it though it is almost speaking of good things it's almost yearbook time it's a lot i think it came out december i think about new year's eve last, all right, let's get inside the head here. I forgot about it until this second. Okay. How, obviously you expect to be in it, let's be honest. I don't. Let's be honest.

Let's be honest a little bit this year. You expect, I mean, certain things happened this year that would make a lot of sense for you to make your official yearbook debut. Like, if ever it was was gonna happen how how i know how excited you'll be if you're in it that that goes i'm saying how disappointed will you be if you're not oh incredibly like you serious there's one year to do it it's it's this year i'll be i will be disappointed they're gonna put it there i would if i had to bet they'd probably put like a video compilation audio compilation of everyone and the whole thing so we'll be a part of it and one day

when walker and i go back and start probably 2001 video yearbook me and walker oh you go start there and go one two the current as we work our way through the video yearbooks he'll hear my voice why not start with 2000 if you're just gonna pick a random year in the 2000s like why not start with the i don't remember anything about 2000 2001 is the first year you remember i don't remember anything wow in life so usually usually when you when you try to make me feel old like by telling me i'm old it doesn't actually make the only thing i remember about the year i felt really old there for a minute i graduated high school in 2000 no i so again my first memory of life is doug peterson playing quarterback for the eagles wow and then i remember i was a lion on halloween and i remember that outfit and then i remember wow so 1999 is your first memory yeah yeah and then doug peterson playing quarterback

that's pretty hilarious. And then I remember I was at a 2000 like New Year's Eve party. And then that's about it. I remember I changed the channel. So one of my earliest memories of life is in 2001, there was some like football game going on during the World Series. And I only wanted to watch the World Series. And my parents were at like a big party or whatever. And I changed the channel from the football game going on during the World Series. And I only wanted to watch the World Series. And my parents were at a big party or whatever. And I changed channel from the football game.

And everyone got so mad at me. That's hilarious. And I was like, it's game seven. What are you talking about? Lil Jack. I do not like being yelled at. So I remember every single time in my life I've been yelled at. Do you really?

Yes. And I never get over it. It's actually the biggest thing that Jill and I have in common is that we both remember every, like we. What? Yeah. This is wild. Every time anyone's ever been mad at me, I remember every single time. No way.

Really? Yeah. And I, yeah. I can't get over it. I cannot get over it. Millions of them have been mad at me. Until people like me, I don't get over it. Good to know.

Jill and I's the biggest thing that we have so fascinating is that is that we remember every single time that we've gotten like talked to wow yeah that's good to know yeah deep inside don't ever don't ever cross i know well yeah you might not recover from it we'll never recover from it yeah good well i do think there is a lesson there though that if i do do that then you will just spend all your time trying to get me to be your friend again. Right. We're getting there with the sequel season.

Yeah, we've had a moment or two. Yeah. And then my final take is, I'm excited to tell you about my new passion in life. Ooh. I can't wait to hear what this is. In the past, this has been like the gardening passion for a moment.

I hate gardening. Whatever you had. Your backyard. Oh, well, growing my grass. Yes, thank you. I knew it was grass. Don't talk to me like I'm crazy. I remember this.

So my new passion in life is finding the best loaf of sourdough I can. Oh, I could. I mean, sourdough bread is the best bread. I've become a, my new passion project is sourdough. Now I haven't like. So is this a new thing? Did you just get introduced to sourdough? Because sourdough, I'm a long time.

No, I've not been just introduced to sourdough. The best bread there is. I mean, sourdough bread is the best bread there is. It's not like I've just. You just got into it. i just got into like so we went to this one place uh and they had like a fresh loaf of sourdough i was like oh let's just pick it up i started eating i was like oh it's phenomenal and then now i go to the other places around westchester and it's like that's a pretty good loaf of sourdough how does it compare

to that uh and i haven't got to the point where i want to like start actually baking it because i don't know how to cook anything well it's a of effort. It seems like a lot of effort to make bread. You need a starter. That's all I know about bread. I am now on the hunt. I'm on the hunt to find the best. I'm really excited. You have to keep me updated

because I love sourdough bread. So let me know what the best is and I'll dive in. Yeah. Almost cursed again. I know. I'm getting excited. Didn't see that bastard coming about sourdough.

I love sourdough. I'm with you on this. I you've cursed you didn't curse when you're yelling at bryce harper for wanting money but you did curse about sourdough yeah that's the way it works buddy it's the way it works that's good all right the new passion in life that's right sourdough bread that is right on brand that's the exact type of thing i was expecting so plaid shirts fires and sourdough bread it's good you are you are right in a in a box there i like it i think it's safe to say i need baseball i know desperately every single podcast i feel like at the end everyone's like sounds like you need something well yeah we've actually had people

reach out to jack to make sure he's not depressed at times this off season that's good is he okay yeah yeah he's okay yes it's good all right as long as the fan don't count so uh flowing yeah as long as that's going well as long as there's nba games on to watch but by the way i came at five today it's the middle of the show oh it's exciting i'm excited for you buddy yeah all right you got anything else uh no good this was this was productive i think always. It always is. Now we're not going to go like two weeks between podcasts. We'll be here next week.

We're good. Well, let's be honest. We'll be here next week. We'll be here the week after that, and then we'll be off for Christmas and all that stuff. So a couple in a row coming. We're there. Were you ready to do a Jock Peterson emergency podcast last night? I was.

I would have stayed up late. Yeah. To talk about Jock Peterson. Sure. Our guy. So guy so many thoughts yeah like a five minute pod yeah also he spells it in a winner's way he spells it like doug i do like that it's joc i know p like instead of oh the peterson i also like this joc instead of joc k jock jock yeah well because i think jock with the k is not a real name. Jock with a C is a real name. Well, it's Jockstrap. Right. Yeah.

Right. You know? A jock. You were a jock back in high school. Some would argue I still am. No one would. No one would. You just talked about wearing plaid and checking out sourdough.

Your jock days are over, bud. Dude, I can't even run anymore because of my rib injury. Oh, yeah. We didn't talk about that. Dude. You all right? It's actually, we're getting past it, but I did have to run from my car into the house the other day so I didn't get a ticket.

And it immediately, just a shooting pain up my rib. That's tough. Yeah. I'm sorry. We're getting there. Good. We're battling our way through it. All right.

This has been fun. Thank you. Oh, by the way, shout out to the, do you remember the name because you gave it to me? The listener who got me the fish, fish shirt, fish fisher fish philly shirt like i have wanted this shirt forever i'd never buy myself things ever i just i'll be like oh i want that and i just won't actually do anything to get it you should buy stuff i have wanted this shirt forever you are my hero thank you so much seriously like i'm i'm really genuinely happy to have that shirt. So thank you. Whoever you are. Ryan Lickveld. Ryan, thank you, dude.

Seriously, like that was freaking awesome. Someday I will get Jack to wear his. I will die trying to get Jack to wear his. I really appreciate it. So thank you. All right. This has been more than enough of this. We'll be back next week.

Until then, he's read some salt.