High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Well, This Is Boring (Part II)

Episode Date: December 14, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss all the latest MLB offseason rumors and wonder what other moves the Phillies could make. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

Odyssey and Sports Radio 94. WIP. Yo. It is. Another edition of the House of I Guess. Yes. It's still boring, Jack. It's still boring.

It's still boring. I latched on to a Yamamoto mention. They're one of 17. Mention from John Heyman, right? When it's like them and, you know, all the teams that spend all the money, like, you know, oh, they'll outbid Steve Cohen, I'm sure. It's like I latched onto, like it was a life preserver and I'm in the middle of the ocean.

Like it was the door in Titanic that she wouldn't let him on. You know, that, I think that's how boring it's been. Nice, positive. Yeah, I'm wondering. You're Mr.'s how boring it's been. Nice. Positive. Yeah. I'm wondering. You're Mr. Positive. So it's good.

I'm wondering if I need to start getting dramatic around here. Like, do I need to threaten to quit the podcast? Do I need like, do we need to turn to a raise podcast? Like what measures? We've done that. What measures do I have to take? Because I feel like it's on me per usual. Well, I mean, most things.

All we have to do is look at real. Yeah. Real, real dramatic change that's happened in the last few years. It's on me, per usual. Well, I mean, all we have to do is look at real dramatic changes that's happened in the last few years. It's always come back to you. I mean, we all remember what happened with the ovations. I feel like I've just been sitting idly by as I've just let the Phillies be like, You're just too busy out here ripping the Eagles, talking birds.

Where are you? Where is the leader of this movement when he's needed? Where are you? Where is the leader of this movement? So I will say. When he's needed. So I'm not going to. I'm starting to feel like the Stephen A. Smith of WIP.

Both in talent and how good I am at this. I like what you did there. There you go. But also, it's just I'm getting pulled in a bunch of different directions. I got this podcast, which I care about the most. And I got a little Sixers podcast with Elliot. And then I got Marks and Reese. And then I got Frith at Six. And then I got Marks and Reese. And then I got Frith at Six. And then I got Eagles pre and post.

And it's just. Welcome to my world, buddy. It's a decade of this. 13 years of this. We started going up and down the line here. Yeah. There's a lot going on. And plus, you know, being a phenomenal dad of the year per usual.

Yes. Yes. So I just feel like it is all and maybe this is designed by WIP to divert me from the attention that I need to spend leading movements to get the Phillies to do something but holy cow

I mean I can't even what am I supposed to do a deep dive on if they're rumored to be interested in a trade or a free agent guy, I can be like, bang. When they,

when Jack Peterson put up an Instagram post of like, I was like, oh, sweet. I could talk myself into 30 homers with Jack Peterson and like him and Schwarber launching baseballs into the second deck of Citizens Bank Park. I felt something. I felt alive. And here we are,

two weeks later, nothing. didn't even get that that in and of itself was not actually a real thing that happened it didn't make any sense niners fan and he's just taking a shot at philly i guess appreciate that thanks thank you yeah we really that's what we needed when we're salivating for any rumor we can get you know essentially like they signed nola immediately. It was like the first, first of all, the most boring move they could have made. But also, like,

then it's just, that's it. It's like, all right, so now we're playing the fringes now, you know? But,

all right. I don't, here's the thing, here's the thing, I don't really think they are, though. Like,

I, I don't, I don't, I just don't trust Dave Dombrowski when he says, like, eh,

I'm good. It's just, when has he been good? Like, when has he says, like, eh, I'm good. It's just so when has he been good? Never in his career. When has he been like, eh, we're fine? Never in his career. And I just, you see what the Dodgers do. You see what the other NL teams are doing.

And it's like, yeah, I think the Phillies are a 90 to 95 win baseball team right now. And if you go out and trade for a high-end reliever probably adds a win or two um yeah they're they're already a good baseball team but what would annoy me is that i'm seeing great teams being built like on paper and it's like look at it's an arms race i mean this is what we talk about this is an arm race and the phillies are in the middle of that they've been in the nlcs last years they were in the world series so like they have to participate in it i just i think just sitting that out and that's why i think maybe the the yamamoto stuff is still out there um and what's interesting about the yamamoto thing is that it really seems like and both hayman kind of mentioned it and rosenthal said it the other

day that it's not really about money for him like he'll obviously he's gonna get 250 to 300 million and so obviously it's there but he's not making get $250 to $300 million. Obviously, it's there. He's not making a monetary decision. It's not like, go pay Yamamoto $400 million. He's going to be a Philly. He needs to be sold on it. I don't know if the Phillies have. He did say he wanted to play with other Japanese players.

Not the best start to that. The Dodgers and the Mets, a bit of a heads up on us. Look, I'm with you. From a philosophical standpoint, you can't, and again, I think Middleton has spent his money and no issues with John Middleton. He's done a great job.

It's trades. But just from a philosophical standpoint, you need to be in on stuff. That goes back to that quote about what did the 1927 Yankees spend what did this what did that like you gotta be involved you have to be invested in in making this team better even if you already have spent a lot of money like sorry like you're in a window you have to win the world series there is look you have to we want you to win multiple worlds here but the point is is if you don't win a world series the next three four years whatever it is with this core of guys in their primes or slightly post primes or whatever then it's a massive failure like that this era of baseball philly's baseball is a failure

if they can't win a championship i mean i know it's high stakes but you would agree with that right yeah i just did the way i know i know you can't do it you made it i kind of wanted to stop recording and leave frankly that made you sad huh so sad i mean i know but it's true of course it's true i know it's true i know like they have the highest payroll in team history they're into the luxury tax they have stars they have bryce harper who and they went to the world series and they went to the nlcs already yeah they went to the World Series and then added trade. It's massive. It's absolutely massive. That's why I don't believe

them when they say we're pretty content with their roster. Maybe that's because they're not able to make a trade right now and whatnot. I think they're not content with the starting rotation. I think that's been put out there a little prematurely. I do not think that they are content with the starting rotation. I think that's been put out there a little prematurely.

I do not think that they are content with the starting rotation. I think that comes to Tylan Walker. Well, and the fact that they're even being rumored with Yamamoto moves shows that they are still looking to upgrade the starting rotation. Well, and the way that they're still whispered as they're looking for starters. And if you're a fifth, sixth starter type that's a free agent, they're not signing that guy. Like, they're only interested in an upgrade.

And I think the Phillies are a – like, I think they like Nola, but I think they would like one more stud there. Well, and the funny thing is, I mean, they have arguably – Studs are rich. I don't know. They have arguably, you know, one of the two or three best rotations in baseball right now today. Like if they don't do anything else and everything stays as it is, obviously if the Dodgers at Yamamoto with Ohtani, and Ohtani's not pitching next year, but you know what I mean?

They're, but like, like 70 million for a DH. We'll get to that. I definitely would rather have Reese or Ohtani. I mean, considering Reese is going to make, what, like 60 million less this year? 55 million less. Well, I guess not technically. We'll get into that. I hope the Giants sign him, Reese.

Reese, I could see that. They just signed that Korean guy. Yeah, yeah. He looks good. Yeah. He took your boy, Yon Moto. Yeah, grandson of the wind. Did you know that?

The who? Yeah. So his dad is considered like considered like the most famous player in the history of korean baseball his name was the son of the wind they called him that's a heck of so this guy i know what a great nickname right so now this kid is the grandson of the wind i'm like that's wrong that's pretty all right they made me like him more i was in on him more after that yeah we'll see yeah but uh yeah him on the giants gets to go home it just it makes sense it makes sense yeah patient approach bad defense yeah yeah sounds like a giant sounds like a giant

yeah sounds like a giant um i was gonna say this for the take back by mine as well since we're talking about the starting rotation i just so you know just from a pod perspective i love when you do uh i was gonna save this for a take back but well you know it adds like a level of of importance to it i feel like like that you just couldn't wait you gotta get it out big qualifiers and we're so dumb you know yes we are like we are very that's the end of the statement right it's just we're so dumb we're so dumb because like whenever we have events like ah we should probably talk about this first and then we're 85 minutes into the podcast like hey we had an event coming up yeah obviously stupid and i feel like i always bury like headlines and i was just about real quick i got terrified there i'm like do we have an event coming up yeah obviously stupid and i feel like i always bury like headlines and i was just real quick i got terrified there i'm like do we have an event coming up that i don't know about that's where it's all like it's going with free

agent watch party no you know what you sit and stare at the wall no what we would do what we would do again if any company wants to sponsor this, we will come to your restaurant. It'll be sponsored by Miller Lite. I don't think anyone else is jumping in for some reason. We're here. Sponsored by Miller Lite. If you are a local restaurant, us, we will have a High Hopes event at your restaurant

where we will go into your kitchen and watch you turn on the stove. And that's it. we'll watch that i love we'll watch the stove it's way more entertaining than anything else going on and see if it happens what a good idea man that's what you're saying he's the idea guy you know miller light wants to sponsor that we will come to your place of business the high hopes hot stove watch party watch party where we literally just turn on the stove i like it's my favorite idea ever i'm not kidding and and and at the end someone has to touch it yeah okay here's what i'll say if there if that if that actually happens it will be the greatest sales job in the history of sales like someone's able to sell that you're you are a true hero we're gonna come at first i don't even know if legally there's some like dangerous ground where i set you to your last point then someone has to touch it

yeah i know this business has to sign off on burn marks but you want to do business is business that's right i mean think about how many people will show up at your restaurant to watch. To get burned by the hot stove. Yeah. Yes. Look, watch us get burned. I mean, I'm sure someone would show up. We can bring Elliot.

Elliot can burn his hand. I think people would show up for that. People would push him. I think they'd push him on the stove. It has to also be one of the flame little stoves, too. I don't want an electric stove. No, no, no. No, no, no.

I agree. I agree. And we have one. I have an electric one, too. I wish I had. I like the traditional. I'm with you. I like the, there are obviously reasons for it that I like, but in terms of when you're

cooking stuff, it doesn't have that same zhuzh. What do you cook? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. You're like, oh, when I'm whipping up something on the stove. Eggs. I can make some scrambled eggs like a MF-er, man.

I'm a beast with scrambled eggs. I can make pasta. Very good at boiling pasta. Heating up sauce. Do you grill, man? Do you ever get on the grill? I can grill, yeah. But we just don't grill that often in our house.

But yeah, I can grill. It's not that hard to flip them over and whatnot. I don't consider myself like a... My problem is grilling. I'm not like it look if i'm at a big house party i'm not gonna be on the grill someone else will be on the grill yeah you're not you know why because i got other things to do and i'm just gonna stand there and grow i'm gonna talk to people i'm gonna be a life at the party it's what i do and uh but the grill can be a conversation

it can be but i don't hold court at the grill i get it i'm like you jack i don't need a conversation starter i could just start any conversation with anything like i don't need a i don't you hold court at the grill I get it unlike you Jack I don't need a conversation starter I could just start any conversation with anything like I don't need I don't need a a reason for people to talk to me

you know well what I do is I have it all planned out in my head I have very stock questions I bet you do yeah

and then we'll see where the conversation goes yeah that's why we need to be together then we play off each other and it's perfect when I get four stock questions in yeah

then I run out then I need to get together. Then we play off each other. When I get four stock questions in, then I run out. Then I need to get out of the conversation. My problem with grilling is that I always convince myself I gave myself food poisoning. You gave yourself what? Food poisoning. Oh, by not cooking enough? By not cooking enough. So I always burn everything.

Over my, yeah. I'm with you, especially with burgers. Like when it comes to burgers, I grew up in the time of E. coli and all that. I'm a mad cow and all that i'm mad cow and all that which i know is ridiculous but i definitely have a like no i gotta cook that more guys we got to sorry i can see that and then it ruins it yeah for most people for most people not for me yeah well i'm fine it's all about living that's right avoid sickness at all costs yeah so this feels like the conversation we should be having about the phillies right now speaking of

hot stuff so i was gonna say this for the take bag but but i might as well get it out now yeah uh i think they're gonna sign blake snell wow i think it just feels like it it feels like there's been no market there's been no market it feels like his it feels so castellanos-ish yeah where it's like which is a guy they were connected to early everyone's like oh blake's now instead of Nola, this or that, whatever. And as we've said many times along here, you would have talked yourself into Snell regardless. But if you want to sign Nola then Snell,

that's a whole different outlook on Snell for us. Hey, you want to go full spin zone here? Love it. Let me take you into – Deep into the spin zone. How's this sound? Would you rather just sign Yoshi Yamamoto or Blake Snell and Aaron Nola? Oh, see?

If you had said that before the offseason, I would have said... That sounds like a more winning rotation. I would have said Nola and Snell, obviously. I mean, who wouldn't? In a heartbeat. Yeah, no problem. Blake Snell. Well, I mean, look.

Let's see how low the Blake Snell market goes. Maybe you get the two of them for the total price that Yamamoto goes for. Like, let's say Yamamoto gets $300, right? Which is possible, them for the total price that Yano Moto goes for. Let's say Yano Moto gets $300. Which is possible, I guess. If you get Snell for $115, it's the same. I don't think you would, but I'm saying if it were $125, $175, $128.

If you get Snell for $128, then that's $300 between the two. Five years, $150 for Blake Snell. It's pretty good. Can I get him for four years? could i get him for four years can i get him for four years no i know i don't uh is he better than like is he better he's better than rodone right i thought you're gonna say chris sanchez and i was like yes he's right i'm kidding uh yes he's better let me he's he's better he's he's better than rodone in the sense

that i feel more confident blake Snell will pitch for me for the next five years more often than not I really am a Rodon sucker oh I think I like I Rodon's like Pete I guess not you can't say Rodon ceiling because Blake Snell ceiling is Cy Young twice no no so I think I think sounds better yeah I think yeah I think because we're doing got 160 160 160 five years 160 did not work out well the first. No, he went 616. 616. Okay.

Didn't work out the first year of it. We'll say that. Well, at least he got Juan Soto. That's true. Yeah. So, yeah. That's since we've talked. Yeah.

So, but I. The thing with Snell is that I feel like the market's not. He should be a Yankee. If he's not going to be here. Who? Juan Soto should be a Yankee. It's fine. Sure.

Yeah. It's good. Like, if he's not going to be here, Juan Soto should be a Yankee. It's fine. Sure. Yeah, it's good. Like, if he's not going to be a Philly, like, that's fine. Because someone who was going to compete was going to trade for Juan Soto. Let it be the Yankees. Like, at least he's not in the National League. It makes sense. I'm fine with it.

It's good for baseball. Is that fair? Good growth value. That made me sick to my stomach. It's good growth value. That's because you grew up in New York. I hate the Yankees. I hate them. That's because you grew up in New York. I hate the Yankees. I hate them.

It's because you grew up there. I hate them. But with Snell, okay, so I think the market's going to maybe not be there. You know, maybe after Yamamoto signs, we start to get more in the Blake Snell market. But it just feels a little Cassie Youngish where it's like, okay, he's hanging around in February or March. And it's like, and Dave DeMoroski kind of goes, dude, we can get a two-time Cy Young winner to add to this rotation for a discount compared to what he was asking for. It feels like such a Phillies move, like such a Phillies move.

If their whole message is we're going to be opportunistic when the time comes, like, again, five years for 150 for Blake Snell at this point to go with Nola and Wheeler and, like, just extending the rotation to where Rangers of four and you have five and you can, that's a lot of lefties. And then it's also, I mean, so they would,

in that case, you'd have to find a way to get rid of Tyrone Walker. I mean, cause, cause then we're talking about having, so let's assume next year, Zach Wheeler, uh,

a Nola isish contract right is a couple years older so maybe like a little less years but like five for 200 i mean what do you or five for one 175 like less years same amount of money like what do you do like wheeler's got to get more per year than nola right i mean i think like what is what is 300 workout math wise that is that's like 33.3 or whatever. That was pretty easy math right there. Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess you're right. Don't worry about it.

You think Wheeler, why would Wheeler sign a three year deal? Well, he's 34. I thought he was 32. He's 34? He's entering his age 34 season. Wow, I thought he was entering his 33. I was a year ahead. Okay, wow. So, he's in through 30 age 37

so you're thinking like Scherzer type deals where he gets it okay I mean I would do that in a second but that alright

let's say it's maybe 4 let's say 4 for 1 4 for 125 okay is that enough money for him I don't know

say 4 for 4 for 140 whatever alright regardless what's that like alright regardless the point I'm trying don't bring out your iPhone the point I'm trying to make is then if you sign say four for four for 140 whatever all right regardless what's that like what all right regardless let's the point i'm trying to bring out your point i'm trying to make is then if you sign snell too we're talking about having something somewhere in the world like 500 million dollars

committed to four starting pitchers for the next five years wherever like it's cool but it's like you're also betting on guys staying healthy you're're betting on guys going. It's like a lot of money. Hold on, Mr. Window. No, I'm with the window. I'm talking more about just like investing that much in the pitching staff. Yeah, I mean, listen, maybe they are done. I love it. I'm not.

I'm just playing devil's advocate. I would do it. But I just can't get the feeling that's the direction. They could do that. So how real is the Yamamoto thing? We never really. Oh, okay. the feeling that's the direction they could do that um so how real is the yamato thing we never really like so like because again i look they are in on him they've been around from the jump you know we had ruben tomorrow on the morning show he's like i know they're i know they really like

him like i know that like they really like him um but again it just feels no it's not just money but it feels like well it would be shocking if they gave Aaron Nola 7 for 172 and then gave Yamamoto 10 for 270 or whatever. That would be shocking. I think it would be more shocking that he'd choose the Phillies over the Dodgers. That too. No Japanese players here. No like all the type of stuff he's talked about.

Yeah, I just – You have to really love Bryce Harper. But it's weird that they're still mentioned in there. That's why – I know. Now it could be that, you know, Scott Boras trying to get as many names of big-time teams involved. Hey, the Phillies are in.

They've been spending money. Like, it could be as simple as that. Yeah, maybe. I mean, they're interested in it, but I'm saying that them being brought up could consistently be like, hey, the Phillies are in, the Phillies are in. Yeah, again, I'd be floored.

I'd be ecstatic, but I'd be floored. I think there's almost no chance they say that. I don't. I think they're probably being used here as one of the big marketing teams. That's my point. No, of'd be floored. I'd be ecstatic, but I'd be floored. I think there's almost no chance they sign him. I don't. I think they're probably being used here as one of the big market teams. That's my point. No, of course they like him. I mean, why wouldn't you like him? He's 25 and he's a stud.

He's 25 and could be, has ace level upside. We talked about it. The 25-year-old pitchers do not hit free agency. And that's why he's getting 300 million, probably. But again, it comes down to, do I really believe he's going to pick the Phill phillies over i mean if they want to do boston you want to do new york well yeah new york he's got cody sanga's there like just this past year los angeles we know who just went there yeah already a part of the free literally said i want to like these are like it just it just seems like a more natural fit and then you know uh bigger asian populations in those cities to begin with

in new york and los angeles you know so yeah, it just feels like the Phillies are coming in at a disadvantage when they're like, they're only, look, their pitches were a great organization, you know, and we're in Philadelphia, but it seems like the pitches they have are not as, are theoretically not as strong, on top of the fact that I don't expect them to offer as much money as Steve Cohen or the Dodgers will.

So, you know? Yeah, I don't think it's, I don't think it's there, but if you want to, again, create buzz and create a splash, then yeah. I mean, the Yamada's the kind of guy to go after to where you just consider building a super rotation. I mean, that's what it comes down to, is you want to build a super rotation, and that's what

the Dave Dombrowski MO, the old kind of Ruben Amaro MO is we lost in the World Series, NLCS, NLDS, and went out and made major moves. And I support it. Like, that's what I said. No, I know.

Builds, window. I would be shocked. I don't think it's going to happen. But I also – the fact that they're still being mentioned does give me hope of, like, we're not sitting on our hands. We realize it's also time to go out there and make sure that we do improve this roster any chance that we do improve this roster any chance that we can.

So I know part of the, flipping it over the offensive side of things, I know part of it is just that there's not really a lot of guys on the market. It is a particularly rough group of position players available to be signed. Don't say that. Adam Duvall's still there.

Yeah, exactly. Do you think there's, do you think there's still, I know they're looking to upgrade yeah exactly um do you think there's like do you think they're still look i know they're looking to upgrade there but do you think they're still looking to make a real move it's it feels more uh platoonish yeah like i like what merrifield by the way did you like five years ago we're like yeah that's what kingery's supposed to be did you have any idea he was an all-star last year with the blue jays was he really no i did not now for what it's worth but no i didn't did he play like an all-star was that like

because i know the blue jays got a bunch of guys voted in so was he voted an all-star was that what it was i have no idea okay but he's technically an all-star yeah it's a wild see like 35 36 now it oh i think still 33 34 really yeah i don't think he's as old as you think here you talk about you've been totally off age wise by the way i feel like i'm right about whitmerryfield we're gonna find out i don't know i think he's who'd you rather have next year whitmerryfield i mean i guess he's 35 years old which is 34 34 but he turns 35 in a month so i think now you're right you're right you're right you're right it's not too bad um that wasn't wrong twice but like i i think that i think they'll look and sign a left fielder,

a right-handed hitting left fielder, when they want to put Martian center against. If they want to do a Martian center, Rojas maybe. Again. Pache can't be your go-to right-handed bat off the bench. That's why. Can't be. They might be in the World Series if he was not the right-handed.

No doubt. Where the hell is Steveve pierce like yeah exactly where is the steve pierce guy and that is the thing look and dorothy's done a great job but he has not hit on those guys like other than the alvarado trade suit first movie made here like that was like a hallmark of dave is making those little moves to bring guys like steve pierce and those type of players you come and see first was the world series mvp for bleep's sake like i almost cursed uh i love when you're like i know um where are those moves uh i don't know i mean he's gotten these he spent money here he's got star players but yeah i mean some of the french they've done better the french stuff i mean obviously i mean the pache trade was a was a great trade yeah they didn't give up anything you know like it's

a good move but they've they've filled out their roster with more more competent players but yeah like the classic like the bench has felt i remember i actually remember heading into the postseason last year i was like the thing that might come back to haunt them is that they don't have that guy that you can just turn to and get off the bench and go get you a big hit or or pop on the ballpark they don't have that like it was jake turn to and get off the bench and go get you a big hit or pop on the ballpark. They don't have that. It was Jake Cave. It was Jake Cave.

It was Jake Cave. Yeah, I mean, that was your go-to bat off the bench. So I know this is going to drive SEO, and this is going to get people to tune into the podcast, but a nice righty bench bat could really go a long way for this baseball team. And we're back to Adam Duvall, baby. We are right back. How many times?

Again, if you just close out the offseason with Robert, again, I'm looking right at the camera, Robert Stevenson and Adam Duvall, I guarantee you 195. So I've yet to remember to look at the camera when I talk. There we go. Hi. I look at the camera. That's a good move.

By the way, we are on YouTube. Yeah, check it out. Listen, if you look for Jack's Twitter, he'll put it out there if you know we a good move yeah check it out listen you know if you look for jack's twitter he'll put it out there if you know we're recording which he'll always let you know yep yeah and you can see that i still have my life you still use the water bottle thank you to maureen from the who gave it to us from the phillies um i i am now beginning to believe that this will be uh next to me in my coffin it It might be. Yeah. You're implying that you're going to die soon because that's usually a joke about me. 70 years.

It's aluminum. It's aluminum water bottle. Yeah, Tucker, our producer, Tucker, was aghast when he ran in. He's like, is that reusable? And you're like, well, it's aluminum. Bro. It's water.

You know aluminum is not necessarily the way you always want to go with these things right i do not know that but i feel like it's better than plastic you need one of these one of these uh you know reusable but is it i don't know it's more aluminum than metal is that metal i don't know i don't know what do you think that is you think that's aluminum okay thank you thank you tucker said no i don't know why i said thank you what's the problem with alumina i don't think it's good for you alumina is not good for you i think so it's better than plastic well i don't think it's reusable is the point i don't think

it's water it's the bottle that you're putting in listen okay i'll look it up after i believe in you but i don't know if i don't know if i believe in myself um are aluminum bottles reused no one does i did think it was funny before we're talking about my age and i'm like dude my hair is getting so gray and you're like i know like thanks man thanks uh all right are you looking up are we talking i'm looking up okay aluminum bottles are reusable okay look it up yeah are they what's the uh this is riveting there's pros and cons of it well break it down buddy listen i'll throw it out don't throw it out we want you to keep using it and i think it's a good vibe okay um what

mary felt excited but yeah so i can't wait no i just i think they'll find they'll sign some guy that i remember i was gonna say i was gonna say that i think adam duvall probably the lowest level of player who if they signed him we would do an emergency pod for. If they signed Duvall we have to do an emergency pod. Of course. But that's ridiculous. The level of player. They're adding a guy that can hit 25 home runs and play

gold glove defense. What is the issue? I don't see the issue. A winner. A guy who has rings on his fingers. Multiple. I think. He's definitely got one. I don't know if he has two. Well, yeah, because he's got one on the braids. I know. Dude, he's a stud, man. Like, you guys are...

The amount of hate that I get for the Adam Duvall thing. I would take him in a second. I love Adam Duvall. It's just funny. Adam, buddy. It's time. I feel like if I could... I can't bully the Phillies into signing Alamodo. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't bully the Phillies into signing Yamamoto. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I can bully them into signing Adam Dillon. Yeah, I think so. No, he's going to be on my wish list until he's a photographer. Yeah, yeah. So Robert Stevenson, you're bringing that up a lot. It's just your go-to now. It's just Robert. Dude, like, all right.

He could close for this team if you want to put Alvarado and have everyone else kind of. If you don't want to pay. I would rather give Robert Stevenson money than Josh Hader. Wow. I would much rather do that. I mean, I get that. I think Hader's probably...

Hader's going to cost like $65 million. It feels like Babelbon. Stevenson's 30. Stevenson's 30? He's 30 years old. So? I'm just surprised he's that old. I thought he was younger.

Well, he's been around forever. He's just never been good for the last two years. Yeah, I just didn't realize he was... He doesn't years old. So? I'm just surprised he's that old. I thought he was younger. Well, he's been around forever. He's just never been good for the last two years. Yeah, I just didn't realize he doesn't walk people. He strikes every two days. He had like 72 strikeouts in 50-some innings last year.

Yeah, that is right. Can you grow up? He had 77 strikeouts in 52. Seriously, seriously. Everyone mocking Robert Stevenson. Go look at his numbers. No, I think he's good. I'm just saying

you talk about him like he's, again, like Josh Hader. He might be better next year.osh hater's trying it down you can you can keep your josh hater again i'm just trying to add a stud at a semi-reasonable price although i think he might like stevenson might get and look at some of the reliever contracts out out there right you might get paid like He might get three years 40. Which is wild. That's what, look at the numbers.

Well, it's what, you know, look. Yeah, you're right. I mean, that's why. Look, Dave did a good job with the Strom contract last year. That actually looks like a really good signing. And look, I think for the money in the regular season, Craig Kimbrough was a good signing. A good Strom kind of signing right now.

It didn't work out. That's what I'm saying. A Strom type guy. Give me something like that. 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. 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, back to the Phillies in a sec, and then we get to take back. Good, back to the Phillies. Yeah, but no, we should talk about, we are baseball fans. We always talk about it.

It's our favorite sport. It's why we're here. The biggest thing that happened in baseball this entire offseason. We should talk about the Otani contract. The Mets signed Trace Thompson. It is. Did they? Yeah.

The Mets have signed a bunch of little guys that I like. Yeah. Like Wendell. Well, the Mets have David Stearns now. I'm not surprised they're out there doing smart things. Yeah, the Otani contract. So let's talk about the Otani con. We were actually going to add $700 million, 10-year deal,

and then we find out it's all deferred. Seems unfair. Seems unfair. And did you see the opt-out clause now? I've never seen this before. It came out yesterday that Otani can opt out if either Mark Walter, the owner, or Andrew Friedman, the president of the baseball operations operations leave the dodgers like what what a strange opt out and i get it like

you know you're the people i did the deal with and stuff but like this is the weirdest contract i ever remember in my life there's so many weird little things to it and just again the fact that like they somehow it's only like what 46 million a year on the luxury tax it's going to be when they're deferring it all because that's they're basically getting away with getting an extra 30 million off the luxury tax essentially everything they should like i don't know oh it's a joke it seems like not the spirit of what the rules are there for joke it's it's an absolute joke and like of course the dodgers benefit from it and now they're gonna be able to go sign yamato on top of on top of Otani and

build a freaking super team out there like I mean they're losers but on one hand like sure I mean Otani signing is smart if he wants to win and he gets to keep all the money for when he probably isn't living that's the thing he's going to leave Cali and then I have seen that the IRS

is going to go for it anyway like apparently awesome well I love the dude that worried about the IRS and a freaking baseball contract. That's a point. That should be a thing. So this is where I get with fantasy sports where it's like we can't just go play fantasy baseball. We have to have like a million different rules. Can you just sign a contract? And like have to – why is there so like everyone i i hate

i hate how smart sports have gotten dumb it down like i'm with you dude i i don't want to have to think about that like it's and it's just it just sucks because the dodgers already have a ton of money and now it's almost now they are gonna have to pay it like 46 million dollars on the on the tax when even when he's gone. Which is good. 10 years from now. Yes, which is good. So that's good.

When I'm almost dead, the Dodgers will have to pay a bunch of money. I'll be really happy about that. Yeah. And who knows if there's even going to be money in 2033. You're going to have gray hairs now. I'm going to be like white hairs, but fully white by then, which would be great. Are we doing the podcast with Tucker? Yes.

Tucker just gave us a thumbs thumbs up he is in yes limp thumbs up what's up yeah just a heartbeat away there you go i like that there you go yikes stick a fork in so wow i know wow i know i'm gonna get wally pipped over here i might i just i just uh i don't know it felt like really you can't even you can't even like the daughters gross the daughters can't even just have to pay 70 million a year for a player it has to be all the first that they can go add more to an arty super team just to lose to rangers suarez in the nlcs but really like that's that's the path that you went down if that team loses they should be ashamed you're talking about massive failures yeah you're at least don't want a world series if well so they have that bobo one i mean no one considers that really yeah 2020 does not count

which i honestly do not it doesn't count to me which uh which was more memorable lebron's in-season tournament win or the it's pretty close i might go i might go lebron i mean at least lebron totally won in the bubble or LeBron winning in the in-season tournament. Oh, I thought you were saying the LeBron in-season tournament or the Dodgers winning. Both were all there. LA was dominant. The bubble was more impressive as much as I

hate to say it, but they're all Bobo. That's what LA does. Bobo titles. Bobo contracts. Bobo contracts. Just a joke. LeBron, I'm sure he's going to start taking less money and signing people. That'll happen too because he doesn't need it as a billionaire.

He's going to be a sixer next year. Oh, yeah. Yeah. That's my campaign. That little look at the camera. You're much better at the camera. That's my... You literally looked at the camera and gave a little smirk wink type thing. That was great. That's my campaign for clap your hands.

That's good. Is bring LeBron. Cute little pod. I like it. Yeah. Cute little six foot pod. Cute little six foot pod. Coming up soon actually.

Oh yeah. So we should probably hurry up. Um, all right. Uh, yeah, I will say it is like, thank God Otani didn't go back to the angels or whatever, like for the sport of baseball. Well, like to see the guy play for an organization that matters at least is a good thing. Well, I'm glad that I'm glad he's in the NL. I mean, it's fun.

Yeah. He's going to come here once a year. It's fun. You're right. You know, you're right. You're right. That is a neat thing. And again, like, honestly, I know you have a lot of mindset, but like I, I can't help

it. I'm not scared of the Dodgers in the same way that I am the Braves or anything that we've been in the Braves last year. Like, I just, I believe the Braves could win the World Series. I don't. I don't. They could, of course. But Dave Roberts is a disaster.

They just don't scare me that same way. No, because you've seen them lose all the time. Exactly. I do wonder if they're going to get Glass now. Yeah, so there's been a lot of rumors of that. I think they get Glass now and Randy, actually. Oh, God. Well, that would be a mess.

Why aren't the Phillies in on Randy? Like, they've been attached to Glass now. Randy would be like a perfect fit for this team. Put him in left field. Yes. I'm saying that'd be a perfect guy to go for. Maybe they are. I hope so, buddy.

I hope so, too. Well, apparently they were in on Glass now, right? A lot of people think that might have been what the Kirk ring tree was like. Right? That makes sense because we know they've been connected to glass and that seems like a pretty fair i mean i don't think there's been a bigger lock of the century than the race trading glass now it's all season all it's all it's talked about the entire time i know and i i know and it's like it's one of those where it's like every yeah 100 the drink he will be traded

i know it's so funny and Burns is probably getting moved, too. So I actually think, I think the Orioles get Burns. Really? Yeah. To pair with Craig Kimbrell. Yeah, everything's fine. Start him and Kimbrell can close him out. Yeah, everything's fine.

So, yeah, no, Randy would be, I mean, talking about. You want to talk about a perfect guy for them. I wish I had thought of it. I didn't think of it in the first season. I think it was available. I'm like like what is happening like what a perfect dude the playoff guy the whole thing like a guy you can count on like the whole thing it's funny because randy when you look at the numbers it's like but then you watch him play you watch him play and it's like wow really good yeah and a great defender the whole thing oh dude i can already imagine

randy like getting a big double that saysissons. Oh, I'm just freaking out and doing his thing. Yeah. On second base. Oh, God. Randy would be awesome. He'd be awesome. I think he has two years left

before he has to get paid. But yeah, they can get him and put him in left. I mean, a Rosarandian in left field and Marcus Turner. I mean, you're the best defensive outfield in baseball. Easy.

Yeah. Again, I think I like Johan Rojasjas it feels like they're banking way too much on johan rojas like being a star like it not you know it doesn't need to be no just being a a serviceable hitter and being the best offensive center fielder in baseball that's what they're going for hitting 300 last year was all time i mean yeah and hit like Ross kind of feels like a Ray ooh ooh Randy ooh

Randy yeah but the problem is if they trade Ross to the Rays then he will turn into a 300 dude he's Kiermaier no I'm kidding you know what we develop better in the Rays

these days how do you like that and if they trade Margot it's true it's true I like where your head's at bring Randy home we're getting Snell and Randy

I like bring Randy home exactly so I'm justnell and randy i like bring randy home exactly so i'm just i'm just i would like to i would like to put this podcast it's our new thing i would like to put this podcast up in the pantheon a podcast that we've done because for for one simple reason yes and it's very high hopes ish we went from close this off season out with adam duvall and Robert Stevenson or else to their sign. Blake's not ready. And they're trading for Andy Rosa.

Randy, like we're fully back with Randy. Oh, I don't know why that's so sad. He ripped Yamamoto in the world. That's true. That's true. Yamo fraud.

Yamanoto. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Randy. Randy ownsandy owns them come on bring them home oh all right take back you got a little basketball pot to do randy or rosa rania i have to go i have to go to the dentist i had a filling come out not fun jack i've had my i like my dentist i do too i i actually love my dentist shouts out to Dr. Bruner.

The guy is amazing. He's the best dentist I've ever had. Does he want to sponsor our hot stove watch party? He might. Before we go watch the stove turn off. He's from Cleveland. He's a Cleveland fan, but he married into a Phillies family. His wife is from here.

His kids are Phillies fans. He's getting into it. Shout out to Dr. Bruner. It's good. The guardians are cooked. Yeah his wife is from here. His kids are Phillies fans. So he's getting into it. So shout out to Dr. Bruner. It's good. Well, the Guardians are cooked. Yeah, I wouldn't stop. I mean, just in terms of like, man, imagine. We get mad when like the last years are like,

Middleton, spend more. Get another $300 million guy. Like imagine spending nothing. Imagine having a team that's like, nah. Good. Nah. They did get the number overall pick. So that's a team that jack

cares about things that i could dream on look it is wild how consistently they have had great front office stuff there i mean it's like the use of the factory i mean they in the 90s it's the greatest front office in the history of sports the 90s indians there's stories written about it i mean think about all the guys who went there they're like they're like 15 different general managers 90s browns do you the 90s hold on hold on all right take a deep breath take a deep breath you take a deep breath so the nine so in cleveland in the 90s had the greatest front office in the history of the sport and also the greatest coaching tree in the history of the sport with belichick saban uh oh i didn't think about that i wasn't thinking about the cleveland was basically silicon Valley of coaches in the 90s?

Yeah. Hold on. 90s front office. Well, they had Antonetti, right? They had Dan O'Dowd, Mark Shapiro, like all these guys. This is just 1998. Oh, Mark Shapiro actually is pretty good. Mark Shapiro's great.

Yeah. John Hart was the guy originally. Was David Ross the guy? Josh Burns ended up being a general manager. Paul DePodesta was there. Ever heard of him? Ben Charrington, Neil Huntington, Chris Hennig.

I mean, those guys all were GMs and that was just 1998. Every single one of these guys became a GM. John Hart went on to Texas, did their Dan O'Dowd, Mark Shapiro, all GMs, presidents. Josh Burns ended up

being a general manager, I believe. Paul DePodesta, obviously we know who Paul DePodesta is. Ben Charrington ended up being a GM. Neil Huntington ended up being a GM and then Ann Nennies,

the president of Base Rob's now. Like, I mean, think about that. That's just one year in the 90s. They all ended up being GMs. Not greatton ended up being a GM. And then Ann Nennies, the president of the Base Robles now. Think about that. That's just one year in the 90s. They all ended up being GMs. Not great ones. How many titles? It's fine. Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski took their title. They should have won in 97. Stole it.

Right up under him. I remember it to this day. Do you remember who had the winning hit? Edgar Renteria. Do you remember who scored the winning run? Craig Council. Look at this guy. Do you remember who he was off of? It was a scrub little guy. Former Phillies great. Mesa? Jose Mesa.

Do you remember who made the error at second base that cost the they could have won in the ninth. They were up. They blew the Mesa save. Alomar? No. Tony Fernandez. Nice. Big error from Tony Fern. Tough. Were you are broken no all right uh take back how about chase utley coming in fifth on prime nine best second baseman of all

time wow since 1945 that's pretty strong so who is he behind i don't know okay good good stuff good where the hell all right all right there we go number one Jackie Robinson number two Joe Morgan number three Biggio number four Fraud Sandberg the Whitaker number seven

Cano eight and Kent nine it's gonna seem that a Cano even though no way he's better than Cano I know

I know Cano is like had the PD stuff I mean Cano is ridiculous also Altuve is already better than him Altuve is probably Altuve is already better than him. Altuve is probably...

Altuve is top three. Well, especially when you put the postseason stuff in there. Altuve is what people think Derek Jeter is. Good one. I like that. That was good. Put that in the title. Yeah.

That would be a great Phillies podcast title title jose altiv is what people thought derrick jeter was it's like what the hell's happening here anything to do with us uh what do you think of uh no i know you are captain uh i mean dallas sucks and dallas sucks yes yes yes how was how was dallas by the way i had a great time in dallas did you actually watch the game by yourself i I did. I was by myself. All right. Actually, I did want to get.

It was a really strange experience. So how did you handle when you were starting to get just boat raced? Quiet. I got real quiet. Were you loud in the beginning? No, I wasn't like loud like Eagles fan loud, but I was like in a good mood. I was saying hi to people. I'm like jovial.

And then I progressively kind of receded in on myself and just kind of sat there. I said this on the radio, and this is the God's honest truth. I've never in my lifetime felt like a bigger chump than wearing my Eagles Jersey in that stadium. Do you have an Eagles Jersey? I got it for free with the morning show. It's a Devante Jersey, Kelly green.

When they did the Kelly green, they gave them orange jerseys, a free Jersey. And it was all, yeah, I would not have an otherwise, but it's a Devante jersey it's a Kelly Green when they did the Kelly Green they gave them one of the more intricate jerseys a free jersey and it was all yeah I would not have one otherwise but it's nice I was happy I had it

until I was in the stadium wearing it and again felt like the biggest jump I felt like a total freaking jump well what about recording a

game seven reaction pod as the Diamondbacks family is walking right past us laughing that was pretty bad too that's a good point but that was

that was only for minutes. This is like you're just sitting. Getting laughed at. Yeah. I would have laughed. And it was just the Dynamax family. This is all the Cowboys fans are there. And I get it was by myself.

There were other Eagles fans around me, but I didn't know any of them. I didn't. Yeah, it was. I watched game five in Arizona pretty much by myself. Yeah. I would not. I can't be in the ballpark no if they're losing it was

horrible i would i i i i did i left when it was 30 to 13 i left in the fourth quarter i didn't stay for the end yeah i didn't save the end of the game i was like screw this we're done i think it was like seven and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter when we turned the ball back over i was like see you yeah out that's smart yeah smart beers are cheaper outside the i had to get to the bus i wasn't missing the bus ride home my phone was like three percent battery so i was like all right so i either get the bus home or i'm wandering around dallas by myself with no phone to call a lifter an uber so you know that's smart yeah uh but what'd you think about the uh the sunday night football intro by bryce uh so i didn't see it in the moment obviously because i was at the game

not a huge did you like seeing him hold a cowboyboys hat? Gonna say, didn't love it, Bryce. Why? What is he doing? What's the upside? If you want more of that, if you want more of the Cowboys stuff, you keep holding up this contract extension. You want more of that. What a great take. You're right.

You know what? Pay. Give him the money. You can defer anything. Well, that's what I would have done. Maybe you should have thought. You know what? Pay. Give them the money. You're right. You can defer anything. Well, that's what I would have done. Yeah. Maybe you should have thought of that in the first place and deferred the whole contract and we could sign six other guys. Yeah, exactly.

Mr. Help the Team Bryce. Maybe defer some freaking money for us, big dog. So, yeah. So, it was a lot of like, I know both sides of the rivalry. It's like, I don't need to hear that. Don't want you to say that. I want you to flip off. I want you to burn the Cowboys. Yeah, exactly. Seriously. Yeah. That would have been. That's exactly what I wanted. That to hear that. Don't want you to say that. I wanted you to flip off. I wanted you to burn the Cowboys hat.

Yeah, exactly. Seriously. That's exactly what I wanted. That would have been. Or like pull your pants down and drop a deuce on it. Like whatever. Something along those lines. I'm surprised you didn't do that.

I know. In Dallas. Honestly, actually, it was shocking. Like Bryce has been so good. And like, what do you do? Well, listen, you keep holding up that contract. You're going to get more of that. It's definitely what it is. Yeah, that's all. Wow, a small tank bag. Well, I had you keep holding up that contract. It's a good take. It's definitely what it is.

Yeah, that's all. Wow, a small tank bag. There's nothing going on. I had to get to the snow. I don't know how we went for 50 minutes or whatever we did. I had to talk about the Shohei thing. I love talking to you, buddy. Yeah, me too.

I really do. I really do. It's my favorite. It's been the funniest part about... There's a lot of funny parts about becoming a parent. But one of the funniest parts about becoming a parent is uh like realizing that everything your parents told you they did they actually did oh yeah so like we've been we've been having to drive walk around at like 9 30 at night the last couple nights yeah it's tough it's like they weren't lying no yeah

so the biggest thing that i learned with that and that's one that every kid heard when they were growing up, but always you'd always be like, oh, I wish I were a grown-up, but I wouldn't have to do this, I wouldn't have to do that. And your parents would always be like, trust me, you don't want to be a grown-up. It is so much better being a kid, whatever. You don't have to wear this, that.

They were so right. It's so much better being a kid. You're kind of like a big kid. Yeah, I know, but you know what? I'm a big kid who has to pay a mortgage and pay for this and worry about taking care of my kid not you know it was nice not having to worry about any of that stuff like that was sweet yeah so if you're one of the kids that listen to this podcast we do have some youngsters listen they're jack's favorite listeners

just call them youngsters yes i'm 42 yeah they're youngsters to me like the 14s and 13s and 15s and 12s and 10s yeah they're super young guys gals enjoy it because it is awesome young kid yeah it's less awesome being an adult you know what you gotta take it one day at a time hey hey either you're the loser you learn right look at you are you jalenisms is that? He keeps the main thing, the main thing, big dog. I love what he said after the game, too. I didn't hear it. I tuned down on all of it. What was the quote?

You can't win unless you lose. He's not wrong. Interesting one. I don't know if it's technically correct, but I get what he's trying to say. All right. You got anything else? Make a freaking move. Make a freaking move. Again freaking move again i need to all

right so all right which was which all right better better off season which would get me people more excited adam duvall and robert stevenson yes or randia rosa randia it's a great question yeah which would you rather have the funny thing thing is I don't know what you would rather have. I know what I'd rather have than be Randy and Blake. Not 100% sure where you are. I just want to record, I think, for the podcast, an Adam Duvall emergency pod. The Adam Duvall emergency pod is the funniest thing that we could do. Can you just sign him? He's not going to cost much.

Just do it for us. We don't ask for much. Give us a chance to do the most ridiculous pod we've ever done. Give his money to us. The yo for an Adam Duvall emergency pod. It'll hit different, buddy. He's perfect. He's perfect.

He's perfect. He does not hit for average. He only hits home runs. He walks, and he plays good defense. Love it. Love it. Winner. All right, everyone, check out Clap Your Hands if you care at all about the Sixers.

Or don't. Or even if you don't. Or don't check it out. Yeah, either way. I was trying to be nice. But, you know, check it out. So we'll be back next week. Right?

Yeah. Yeah, we'll be back next week. Okay. Cool. Good stuff. This is boring part three coming next Thursday. I can't wait. He's first with Seltzer. This is boring part three coming next Thursday. I can't wait.

He's burnt some seltzer. We'll see you next time.