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

Episode Date: January 9, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz plead for the Phillies to make a move after months of inactivity. 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. I know. I know. I was kind of feeling it once I started doing it.

Of the I Am Spot. Well, this is boring part four, Jack. We made it. It's still boring. A month later or whatever. A month and a half later. Whatever it is. It's still freaking boring, and and look look before i was like all right you know take your time it's all good like

i need it now okay why what happened because there is a because your football team fell apart it's happening in the city right now like i need my team to give me something to be happy about. Billy, please. How you doing, buddy? I don't know, man. I'm kind of doing pretty good. Billy, how are you doing? I'm really good. I've recovered semi from...

Obviously, you being a dad, Tucker, having no idea how to be a parent. Obviously, the parents out there. So last week, of course, you know, or two weeks ago, I'm off for post-Christmas and we don't do a pod, whatever. And, you know, Walk is dealing with his first runny nose and obviously has no idea what's happening. Can you imagine being a baby, by the way, the first time? Like you can't breathe. So one of my all-time baby takes is that people don't understand

how horrible nose blowing is for babies. Yeah. And how hard it is, and I have to suck it out of their nose. Oh, this is what Jill's been doing. Yeah. I did this. No, I would never. I would never.

I did it. Yeah, we had, like, a nose Frida. This little thing, and I stick it in there. Like, hoofer out her. But, like, you don't understand. Like, they can't do it. Like, they don't understand what blowing their nose is't understand like they can't do it like they don't understand what blowing their nose is like they can't do it like so it's like something where it's just this constant annoyance so i feel well it's funny it's funny and i feel so bad because like if you're

you know he's nine months old so he's getting held down against his will with basically his arms on his back of that he's getting snot sucked out it's like of course he's crying all the time so so he's dealing with that which is a uh which is which is interesting so the first time they're sick is never fun it sucks for them and then it sucks for you right and then jill's sick on top of it because obviously he gets and you were sick right we were gonna record last week for what it's worth your voice i kept getting met voice messages by the way jack the biggest fan of voice texting out there yeah uh i just keep getting messages like i can't do the pot i sound like this some version of that and you did sound that way i did so uh apologize in advance we did not do a podcast last week or the week before

we wanted and we're still here i mean we're still here and nothing mean, we're still here. And we missed nothing. All they do is they keep getting loosely. I know, tangentially connected to things. Like, this makes sense for the team. Well, let's throw the Phillies in there. They could use a starter. Yeah, no, they could use a closer. So let's put the Josh Hader stuff out there. Yeah, Hader. They're in on Hader.

Oh, it's a great idea. Let's pay 60-some million dollars for a closer. Dude, I do not want them to sign Josh Hader. Like, very strongly do not want them to sign josh hater like very strongly do not want them well unless it's like some amazing discount that we're not expecting like one year deal or whatever yeah sure like the uh the t-oscar contract yeah you can divert money awesome give them 23 million dollars what yeah and the fun dude it's so i don't i never i don't i try my best not to complain about my mentions because it's whatever.

Yeah, it's tough being so big time. It's just so funny seeing how people respond to your Philly stuff. Not your Philly stuff, my Philly stuff. Because I feel like everyone is living in La La Land. I'll put out one thing and it's like, well, their bullpen sucks. It's like, well, their top five bullpen sucks. What are you talking about?

They won the most bullpens in baseball. I know. It's like, well, their starters suck. It's like, well, they won. Maybe the best. It's not like well their starters suck it's like well they may be the best right yeah like and then they're like well no the offense sucks it's like no they don't i mean good yeah so the the tough part about where we're at with the phillies is that they're they are probably top five and just about in all the three major categories and if you if they keep the rojasston, And they're good defensively too, yeah. The defense goes way up and Turner won't have,

I don't think he'll have as bad a year defensively. So there's not really an obvious move. Now what I think that they're doing is they're 100% looking for an upgrade to the Taiwan Walker thing. They were prepared to shell out 300 plus million for Yamamoto. And sure, you could view that as,

well, he's 25. And it's a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity to do that so that that makes sense um but then you you start seeing some of the the snell markets where he might take what i saw one year two year deal typing or an option deal type stuff that's nuts right there's that there's could be a three-year deal for 100 million or 105 whatever something so there's there's that stuff. They're still loosely linked to Jordan Montgomery. The only thing about Jordan Montgomery, and I really like Jordan Montgomery, but if you're going to invest in, I mean, it's probably going to cost $130 million, $150 million.

I think it's more than Snell. Yeah. Again, Blake Snell, two-time Cy Young winner, including this year's Cy Young winner. He is this, and I get get it I feel the same way like I I'm very leery about certain contracts with him and whatnot but it is I don't ever remember a guy like winning the Cy Young and just being like

his second Cy Young excuse me and when the Snell stuff came out two Cy Youngs there aren't that many guys who won two Cy Young I know 20 something dudes or whatever the Snell thing came out it's like ahs. There weren't that many guys who won two Cy Young games through the sport. Well, and then... 20-something dudes or whatever. The Snell thing came out.

I was like, oh, man, this really reminds me of Arrieta. It's like, Arrieta's trending down and Blake Snell just won Cy Young. Not even close. I'm not a huge Blake Snell guy,

but I think I had him for three years at $75-200 million. In. Yeah. Fully in. No doubt about it. Would do it.

And just give me a super rotation. Yeah. But back to Jordan Montgomery. So if this is going to be the most like Bill Simmons kind of. Oh, lay it on me. Yes. The thing I could say. Are we sure he's that much better than Rangers for us?

No, we're not. Not at all. I mean, honestly, Jordan Montgomery and Rangers forarez, I kind of feel about the same. I totally am with you on this. Both have a strong winner. Yeah. Both pitched well in the postseason, yeah. So he just reminds me a ton of Ranger and Chris Sanchez.

Yeah. Chris Sanchez has to be thrown into the mix with the starters. He gets so... Like forgotten or discarded or whatever. It's like, he's good. Chris Sanchez is a good pitcher. He was really good last year. Yeah.

He was good in the one post. He's very happy to have him in my rotation this year. As your number five. I mean, that's the best starter in baseball. Yeah. Maybe up there in the discussion. If he does what he did last year,

he would be for sure. So like, um, I think, I, I think if it was, if you, if it was Montgomery for five,

one 50 or Snell three years, seven, 10, one Oh five. I mean, maybe he's even less than that. Wow. Three years 80 is close, right? I mean, that's how much is three years 80 million?

No, it's I mean, so if he is 300, be like 33 million a year. Like he's not going to get that much less than that. If he's taking a short term deal, the idea is to get like 30 plus a year. $26 million a year. So, so 3-110. Sure. I would take the short term of Blake Snell over 5 Montgomery because I do think the upside is that much different

to where he could go on a run. I mean, Snell's ceiling is significantly higher than Montgomery's. We've seen it, obviously. For sure. I do like Jordan Montgomery a lot. It's just, again, he's basically the same thing as Ranger. And we already have Ranger under contract. But, yeah, it's just I know the title of the podcast has been for a while here and it's very

frustrating continue to be like god forsaken one one move just one just one again adam duvall yeah just begging again the adam duvall thing it's gonna cost you like six million yeah something like that. Something. $5 million, something like that. Give me a little something. It's not going to be much, yeah. You know?

Maybe not even that much. Maybe it's like $3.5. I don't know. I don't care. Just give me something. Yeah. So, like, yeah, I know that this is the bit, the running bit, is that this is boring. Yeah, it's incredibly boring.

Well, it's not just, again, it's also, let's remember, not just the Phillies. Like, there's not been that much action. If you're not a Dodgers fan, there hasn't been that much action for any of these teams really we had a couple trades that one day which was like thrilling it was like wow look at these trades that was fun like the mitch hannigan's like oh that was interesting but like there's like nothing really happening in baseball no even but i think they're gonna do something and and it and it's frustrating to talk about and it's frustrating that because obviously people are like well they're they're not doing anything.

They're just sitting on their hands, and they're happy with the result of last year. I don't believe that. I think they're just simply waiting out the market. Which it seems like, again, a lot of people are. I mean, like, Reese Hoskins hasn't signed anywhere. Like, there are a lot of guys who are still just out there on the— I use Reese because he's here, obviously, but the example of being like, there's a lot of guys who are still out there on the market.

Like, a vast majority of the free agents agents off season are still waiting to be signed would you put harper back and right and then that reese on like a really like a really affordable one-year deal i'd be more likely to put schwarber back and left and make i think i just yeah no and make reese the d.a. oh and keep har. I would sign, yeah, I would keep Harper. I'm keeping Harper first. If first base is moving forward, like, that's his spot. Like, I would take Reese as a full-time DH, though. I'm not putting Reese in the field.

Why not? I mean, I guess he's better than Schwarber, but like, even then. I don't think he is. He might not be. You're right. He might not be. Listen. Schwarber's not the, he's not good.

People, Schwarber got off to a cold start in the field at the beginning of last year. No, think about this. They went to the World Series. They almost won the World Series with Schwarber playing off to a cold start in the field at the beginning of last year they went to the World Series they almost won the World Series they came this close so it can happen yeah

so the whole lead off there's like you can't win with him leading off it's like they did twice yeah

I just think about that like as this keeps going on and Reese is like well do I want to be a giant do I want to be a cub

or would I rather go home just one year Reese let him go out I mean I would to be a giant. I want to be a cub. Would I rather go home? One year. Reese, let me go out. I mean, I would do that in a second. I wonder if this keeps going on. This is what we talked about.

We were like, there's a real chance that the market may not play out the way he wants to and it makes sense for him to come reproof his value and then sign something. Yeah. Come on, Reese. Well, can you imagine? It'd be fun. It'd be really fun. It'd be fun. And look, we did feel like,

and I know in the end of the playoffs, they ratchet back up, and then obviously at the very end, the bats went cold, but there were portions of the season last year where we missed Reese. We felt it. We felt it.

They desperately needed a patient right-handed hitter with some pop. Yep. Well, there he is. I mean, that's who Reese Hoskins was and like the nice part if they did bring back Reese

is they wouldn't have to put him in the 2-hole like I hated the Schwarber-Hoskins 1-2 just way too many strikeouts and like it did

pop down the base pass yeah again I'm not you can have someone you can't have like the two slowest guys on the team 1-2 the Yankees tried it

not really but if you bring back Reese like Reese in the 4-hole instead of Boehm you you know i mean i'd much rather have recent my four order than boom yeah i just would now obviously off the acl he wasn't the most uh fleet of foot pre true i don't think he's gonna exactly get that much quicker post well that's what i'm saying it's not like tommy john he's a dh for me where you can come back throwing harder yeah no no you definitely don't no you don't yeah so i don't know that'd be interesting i do not expect it to happen i don't they're gonna sign a bat of some

kind i think they're probably more like a bench it's gonna be a bench you mentioned the rowing thing like how much do you think do you think row us is there in their mind they're starting center fielder next year do you think that they're they're martian science went to play left or whatever like where do you think they're organizationally speaking? Obviously, they come into spring training and Ross hits like a beast. It's like they make the decision for you that's easy. What do you think they expect? What do you think they're planning?

I think they're planning for Rojas to start. And I mean, it looks pretty jacked, by the way. Some of the off-season videos. That always works out. Whenever it's the best shape of his life. Yeah, it always does. Well, and I guess him his life. I guess Kevin Long sent him a whole rundown of

things he wanted to work on. The interesting part about Rojas' swing is that him and Bone have the same issue. For some reason, they get... We're on camera here. Oh, look at you. Most power hitters are here. They both flatten.

They both flatten when they're on their path, on their swing path to the baseball. So I kind of think it kind of kills their power. But, yeah, I think that they are anticipating Rojas, and they want him to go take the center field job. It's just such a big risk, I think, for a team that is where this team is at. And I know he hit,

hit three. Yeah. Yeah. Like we all saw when it, when it mattered most, when it matters, they're in their hardest and yeah. Max, max effort.

And I just, I don't know. Like the one thing that I think is the toughest thing to, um, develop as a hitter is pitch recognition. I think either your eyes are trained for it or they're not. I mean, Cassianos is not also going a sudden going to be this...

Like discerning, yeah. Exactly. And I think that was always the problem with Rojas. And in the regular season when he's batting ninth, people are just like, all right, we'll pump fastballs and whatever. Whatever. And in the postseason, it was like, hold on.

I don't think he can hit... I don't think he can see slider or see breaking balls. So I think that next year, I think they make that adjustment, and it's on him to adjust back. I just don't know if he's ever really going to have the eye to lay off it and do enough damage. Look, he doesn't have to be a great offensive player. He just has to, in the situations we all know about in the playoffs,

he has to be able to put the bat on the ball. Also, bunt. Yeah, or bunt. Absolutely, he needs to be able to put the bat on the ball. Also, bunt. Yeah, or bunt. Absolutely, he needs to learn a bunt. He needs to be an elite bunter. But to the point being that he can be a nine-hitter. That's cool, man. He is an elite defensive center fielder.

He brings real value there. He doesn't need to become a great hitter. He doesn't even need to be a 300-hitter. He just needs to be someone who can get on base enough and put the bat on the ball when he has to that's it that's all he has to do i agree i just don't we don't i don't know if you do that or not and i guess what they have to determine is is his defensive value so great that it takes them out of like again if you want to bring back reese then you're putting forward back and left and you're putting yeah bro it can't be it you're putting you're putting marsh in center. And the other thing that's going to be really interesting

and why they have to, I think, sign a right-handed bench bat, at least an outfield bat, and once again, describing Adam Duvall. Obviously, there's other guys out there if they want to. It's just like, in my head, it's always Adam Duvall, I guess. It's a perfect fit. But like last year, they had no confidence in Marsh against lefties. Even when Marsh was hitting lefties. And then Jake Cave is the guy who got off the bat.

I mean, what's the difference? It's like, you need a right-handed bat. No more Jake Cave. Yeah. Oh, no, we're done. It's over. No, I don't think it is over. You think Jake Cave will be on the roster?

I think it's in the sign-up. Well, he'll be on the team. Jake Cave can't be your go-to bench back. When you need a hit in the postseason, you're like, all right, Jake. When it's the fourth inning

and bases are loaded in a game seven, you would rather have Rojas or Jake Cave. I'd rather not have that decision. Yes. Well, good thing

they didn't have that decision. Oh. Wait. Oh, wait. We traded for Adolfo Castro at the deadline. That was tough. We were excited about that move when it happened. I'll take rodolfo castro at the deadline that was tough we were excited about that movement i'll take the point i'll take the ball here i'll be like i'll be like you got me excited about it i'm not gonna lie i haven't given up on rodolfo man he's young but

it was tough the early returns were not well i agree there's no don't give up on him last year's deadline i know lorenzo threw the night but holy I mean, also, honestly, if you really go back, last year some of the – I mean, Dave has been really good with the big moves. Obviously, the Harper signing, the Turner signing, I think the Noah contract is a good contract, all that type of stuff. But we've talked about it. Kimball was good.

Now, it ended badly. He signed an all-star, James. Yeah. He signed an all-star. But the Taiwan Walker contract, disaster. And years before, Chase Anderson, Matt Moore, all the pitching signings, familiar. He has not been great nailing the pitching.

Well, like we said, we've hypothesized on this podcast. The analytics department gives him, you know, this is your move. You can go sign the cooked guy and then we'll take care of everything else. But they have done, you know, building out the fringes of the roster. I think he has done a definitely a good job at doing that. So, but yeah, he's definitely been 100% better at obviously the big signings because that's why he's here but finding the finding the under the radar guy then come out and and and you know make a difference would be important as well yeah it'd be nice you know that'd be great it'd be great but like the deadline last year and not getting another arm to to the hedge against

kimbrough and i think they for the last couple years it feels like they keep trusting guys and that's where the rojas thing scares me where it's like you're putting a lot of faith that rojas is going to be good enough for that spot where he was playing in double a and he was like he was hitting well last year before that like his prospects that had kind of fallen off because they didn't think he could ever recognize spin. Of course, teams are going to spend offseason saying, can he recognize spin?

I just have this fear that, I don't know, it's April 25th. He's batting 130. And they're like, oh no. Oh no. We made the wrong decision. Right. And they didn't trust Marsh enough to go play center field all the time. He's kind of overrated defensively center field.

Yeah, he's not as good as we thought he was. When he first got here, it was like, oh, this guy's great. That's because we're going from a two-ball to a three. Yeah, it was the jump. I mean, he's fine. He's better than average. But he always has those weird, like, overruns of ball. Yes, and also, like, times his jumps wrong.

It always feels like he covers a ton of ground, but whenever he's asked to make a catch that requires something extra, he's not great at that. But left field, he's great. Yeah, left field, he's way above average. He's phenomenal. Phenomenal left. So I just – that's my big fear with the Rojas thing is that, like,

we spend a lot of season like, ah, seems like a pretty big bet on a kid that, you know, doesn't have doesn't have unbelievable prospect pedigree. And then we're in April and it's like, oh, bleep, he can't play. Because that's what they did with freaking Haseley. Yeah. We just went through this with center field a couple years ago where it was the most unplayable.

Because obviously what doable was out, Haseley, Mickey. That was a tough draft pick, Adam Haseley. Oh, yeah. That's just tough. But no one's really been good. I mean, I thought... I love the Brewers kid, Kesson Hiura.

And he is just completely crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's not like there was an obvious pick there. Even the Moniak draft. Senza went through. He's a free agent, signed somewhere. Groom, remember when they were in? Jason Groom.

Yes, the trout. The next trout. The Phillies got so unlucky with those drafts. With where they were, I know. Dude, every draft, I swear to God, every draft post-2020. Has been great. They would have gotten a stud.

I know. Like, you're talking Adley. You're talking Holiday. Well, Adley. Yeah, Holiday. Yeah. They cratered. At the worst possible time.

It's the most Philly thing that ever happened. Ever. Ever. It's like from when Howard tore his achilles to bryce signing the most unlucky friend you're luckiest franchise in sports yeah pretty wild it's like we already were it's like can we catch a break like just just maybe for a minute or two yeah just take it take some time off from being the phillies okay do it? No. Well, it's just so funny because I feel like, I feel like there's,

there's such parallels in some instances between the Sixers and the Phillies. It's like, oh, of course that happens to the Sixers.

Of course that happens to the Phillies. Yeah. Those two teams. And by the way, the Eagles are back. I mean like, I can't even talk.

I don't even want to talk about the Eagles. This is the Eagles. What good thing you host the Eagles. This is. They're not. They're not. They're not. They're not playing anymore as far as I'm concerned. That's good.

That's good. Playoffs are Monday. Did you like my. Here's what I'm thinking. Go Phil's tweet during the Eagles game. Did you even notice it? I thought of all people. I tweeted during the Eagles Giants game.

I tweeted. Here's what I'm thinking. Go Phil's. And I was like, it was all. I should have said CC Jack Prince because it was for you I don't I want to preface this by saying that I love you

can't take seltzer during games I barely tweet I tweet like 10 times a game it's a lot of yeah I do that. Come on. Do you need to stop?

Really? I've stopped doing it. I've stopped doing that more recently. Cause it's just like, could you seven here? Okay. Yeah. I just tweet cause I have to,

but where I would literally never tweet if I didn't have a job. Well, my, my, the biggest thing I've changed with my Twitter game is, uh, I no longer really tweet during the games because I'm so worried about reverse-tracing. Oh, wow.

So you're like that in your head. I'm a big after-the-fact guy. That's good. That's smart. Well, because I don't listen. Here's what I can't take. Here's a little inside jack frame. Great.

I hate when people tweet me this day and age. Well, just shut up i never notice them i know you don't just not check your mentions it's so much better like check them if you have to for like a specific interaction thing but nice high hopes listeners in my mention it's true you do connect us to have listeners so thank you you don't know i cold chest that's what it is cold shoulder seltzer it's me um but i did feel comfortable don't know i cold yes that's what cold shoulder seltzer but i did feel comfortable don't even talk to me normie all right i did feel comfortable enough in the first half to tweet out that they should go after belichick so you're you're in on belichick 100 yeah didn't

know people didn't want the best coach of all time i mean i'd take that yeah yeah insane nuts i mean i wouldn't fire sirianni but i'm in the minority on that one he's so good when I look at all he does for this team I think wow he's like the flag thrower guy that's all he does his only job is to worry about throwing the challenge flag well

what's the difference between him and Garrett him and Jason Garrett one's better at clapping one claps one yells why are we talking to each other between him and Garrett. Him and Jason Garrett. One's better at clapping. One claps, one yells. Oh, no. One claps, one yells. Why are we talking to each other?

Oh, man. Because the Phillies won't do anything. Do you have a take back? Are we done? Hold on. How crazy is it? I mean, we've gone for like 30 minutes or something. I figure take back usually takes a little while. Tugger ditched us.

Tugger ditched us. He said he'd be back. He texted me. I don't believe him. I don't either. We'll just keep going until he gets back. We literally cannot actually stop the podcast. 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. What was I going to say to you? It is crazy that we're sitting here and the NOLA signing

was when it was and nothing else. Nothing. Zero. Zero. No, they haven't done anything. Zero? Not even like an inch.

I mean, although if you want to get excited about Ryan Burr, we can. I don't know who that is. He's a minor league for AD signing. Sweet. He's got some really good stuff.

In relation to Aaron? Was Aaron Burr the guy that was in the duel? Never a doubt. I was going to be a history teacher at one point. Oh, great.

How did he get? I did have, at one point, I was like, Is he the one in the duel? Yep. Nailed it. Against?

The easier one is that. It's the one they freaking made a musical about. I think the most Hamilton. Thank you.

After my freshman year at Bloomsburg, when I believe I had two, three. Wow. Oh, it was bad, dude. I was,

again, I went in as a, as a finance major. Yeah. That's a good point. Yeah. Um, I was sitting there.

I remember I was sitting on a, a bench. Uh huh. What do I want it to? Yeah. I was like, I, on one hand, I was sitting there I remember I was sitting on a bench I was like what do I want to do I was like on one hand I could change courses I could be a history teacher coach high school baseball

sounds pretty good on the other hand do sports radio I mean talk about how lucky this city got I mean you want to talk about the origin story. What a sliding doors moment.

Like, thank God, you know. I mean, it literally changed the course of Prince of... Yeah. Trey Turner. Trey Turner's whole life. Bryce Harper. You know, before Bryce Harper, before Trey Turner, there was Harper Lynn. And I feel like that...

That's true. You're right. Harper Lynn does not get the historical credit that it deserves. It never gets brought up anymore. You're right. You're right. It's outrageous. You know, you and that guy you did the pod with really

illustrated that to a T. It was good. Like I texted you when the trout fishing came about. I do feel like I'm at the Apple release party when it's like for my next You're like Steve Jobs. Yeah, exactly. When he's unveiling a new iPhone for my next job yeah exactly when he's unveiling a new iphone for my next bit

and i expect everyone to give oh that's a great one you did it again jack you did it again i'm gonna get bell bell jack to be the eagles i go oh yeah that's it oh i love it what a good bet for my next bit i gotta figure out figure out another Phillies one because like, I know it's because I've thought about it. You know, it's kind of hard to, you know,

it's like, kind of like the Eagles coming off the almost winning the Super Bowl. It's amazing thing. You have this whole ovation thing. You come off that.

It's like, what are you supposed to do now? Well, no, but it's not even that. It's only 30% of the teams that do the trade turner ovation actually make the playoffs

the next season. By the way, I've got a lot of requests to try to bring it back for the Eagles. No. People don't understand the ovation thing. How do people not understand? This is a unique moment in time.

Correct. It's not an extended bit to other teams. No. No. And I would never. I know. I'm just kidding. No, but like, all right.

So we had the turn of ovation the year before we had Miles or Phil's wins you know the year before that that was when I first started running that's when it was like oh yeah

front run first run yeah yeah but then it became like Miles and it got to almost 10 that's true

so Harper Lent I know Harper Lent it's been every year there's been a Fritz bit yeah you know and if you want there's been a Fritz bit. Yeah.

You know? And if you want to rename Fitbit Fritz bit, you can. Oh, look at you. Just giving out freaking winners free. I don't know. I don't know what I got. Well, I think it has to be natural, right? You can't force this. No, I'm not forcing it.

I mean, you can't like, it'll come to you. I mean, this is the beauty of it. I really do hope it comes to you. It always has. Yeah. When is it not? That's a good question, James. I know. It's a fair follow-up to you. I mean, this is the beauty of it. I really do hope it comes to me. It always has. When is it not? That's a good question, James. I know.

It's a fair follow-up to... I have nothing to do with any of the bets. They're all you. I follow your lead when it comes to the bets. I know. It's just,

I really... As I've been forced to talk about the Eagles more, I really miss talking about the Phillies. Yeah, me too. And I could really use a nice move.

I'm pretty tired of talking about the Eagles. Can I be completely honest with you? It's a good thing that you pretty good on it. I know. I know. I know. We're doing daily pods. Check out the go birds pod right now.

Daily pods. You're either over there. Yeah. That's a real sneeze. God bless you. Gesundheit. Oh God. Got him.

So if you're not watching the video, it's definitely the brand new shirt could have used the tissue on that one yeah oh that's bad that's bad i see it i see it that's a lot no back up you just got over being sick back up that is a lot of snot on your shirt wow wow hello hello everyone it It's not for Phil's wins. You were looking for a bit. Wow, that's bad. That's really unprofessional.

You're the bastion of professionalism. People are like, Jack Fritz, you know what? That guy's professional. Would you rather trade for Dylan Cease and... I think that's serious you got there. You're intense right there. That was good. Would you rather trade for Dylan Cease

and not sign Zach Lill to an extent in his offseason and let him hit free agency or just sign Blake Snell and re-sign Wheeler? So if I get Cease, I'm not, like, automatically not. You're not re-signing Wheeler? But it's not like... You're letting him test free agency. I think I'd take Snell and Wheeler.

Snell and Wheeler over two years in season. I would definitely take Cease over Snell, without a doubt, unequivocally. But also, I wouldn't have to give up anything for Snell and Wheeler over two years in season. I would definitely take Cease over Snell without a doubt, unequivocally. But also, I wouldn't have to give up anything for Snell prospect-wise and stuff. So when you add that in the equation, I'd probably go Snell and Wheeler. Can we just rewind 30 seconds? Sure. I snotted on myself on camera.

You really did. Like a literally big chunk of snot. I couldn't believe how much snot it was. Like you sneezed, no big deal. And then it was like this like trail.

I was like, wow. What a podcast. I mean, seriously. Why, again, we love our listeners.

Yes. Why are you listening? I don't even know what we're talking about right now. I have no idea what we're talking about. We actually are just talking because Tucker left. we can't even stop we want no i have stuff i have stuff in the take back okay well it's a take back is it all about snot or well it's not

snot oh buddy that's not about snot that wasn't as good no it wasn't um what do you think about them offering yamato over 300 million like It's such an interesting, like, because they have two $300 million contracts already. We obviously don't know if it would have been deferred. But, like, the fact that they're willing to do that, I mean, that's putting them into the next luxury tax category, which would, well, actually it might not because it could have been under 24 million years but like I mean they to shell out potentially that he could have said yes obviously

and then they're like yeah you offer him the contract you take on the risk of him saying sure I'll sign that thank you yeah yeah yeah so like

they could have had another $300 million contract on their hands like that's it's pretty insane it's very insane I mean they're the only team with two of them

to begin with already I believe well I mean the Dodgers have to be. Well, now I'm saying coming into the offseason. Prior to this offseason, the Phillies were the only team with two of those. And look, first and foremost, you know, shouts, John. We love you, Jack Middleton. You're our guy.

Continue to do what you do. And I really do appreciate from the bottom of my soul him being willing to spend that money. I also think that they believe in the stretching of contracts. Like, clearly, I think organizationally that's something that they're into. So the idea to get someone at 25 and stretch it over that time where you get the 25-year-old and he's going to be good for most of that time, hopefully, I think they saw that as a unique opportunity. Like, I don't think there are a ton of guys they would have given

$300 million to this offseason, if you know what I mean. Well, yeah, definitely. I mean, not just guys available. I'm saying a ton of guys, they would have given $300 million to this offseason, if you know what I mean. Well, yeah, obviously. Yeah. I mean, not just guys available. I'm saying a ton of guys, period. And like any free agent, I think there are very few specific free agents they would have given $300 million to this offseason. But, yeah, I think it's a great sign. I will say, look, I think that personally,

I think the luxury tax thing is incredibly overrated. Like, did you see what John Middleton had to pay this year? It was like six million. It was six million. It was six million dollars. Like, come on, man. They made that in what, one playoff? Yes.

That's nothing. Of course nothing. It's nothing. It's nothing. It's more about the picks for me. It's about the picks. And that's a fine thing. But like, my point is, is like the whole over the tax thing.

It does keep going up the more that. Now, if you're Steve Cohen, you're paying a hundred million in taxes. It's like, all right. Well, at least they're so good. It's a pretty substantial. Yeah, exactly. A pretty tax thing. It does keep going up the more that... Now, if you're Steve Cohen and you're paying $100 million in taxes, it's like, all right. Well, at least they were so good. It's a pretty substantial... Yeah, exactly. A pretty substantial thing. So, like, yes.

Has there been a worse investment than last year's Mets game? No, in the history of sports. It's the most expensive team ever, and they won, like, 70-something games. It's a disaster. They traded everyone, and they took money.

Yeah, it was just an all-time disaster. So, like, I make of it that John Middleton is not afraid to to mess with luxury tax and to continue to pay it and he knows it's the window and he knows and he knows he's trying to win and i i appreciate it i do too i just i was surprised that when i shocked i was surprised that when it came out i was like wow and i think i'm pretty sure they offered more than the dodgers so i think it was actually 330. Wow. Yeah. Wow.

Wow, wow, wow. Which is shocking. It is shocking. It's shocking. It is shocking. Especially because, you know, you grew up when they were talking about small market team and like. Oh, yeah, buddy. Now it's like, hold on. We have three $300 million contracts.

But yeah. And it does. The main thing it does, whether they got him or not, I would have loved Yamamoto. I'm not as in on um um imanga the other japanese pitcher that's out there um like he he struck out i believe 159 and 159 innings um and the other problem with him is he has weird like home run numbers so like his if you look at his stuff plus which i know a huge fan oh i've what do you mean if i look at it i've looked at it yeah obviously yeah so he has like better stuff plus than yamamoto

so like people like oh we should think we should you know invest in him but he's 31 31 and he's again a good amount of home runs last year in japan so he's got a home run problem he's a little bit older i think he wants a hundred plus million. Like I just, I, I take snow. I think I'd, I'd much rather have proven. Um,

but the one, it just, it just gives me, cause the Walker spot is really the spot on the team outside of closer. Um, which again, if Orion Kirk ring, I think people are way too down on Kirk ring.

Oh my God. It's crazy. Like he's, he's very good. Everyone loved him. And then he, again, if Orion Kirkering, I think people are way too down on Kirkering. Oh, man. It's crazy. He's very good. Everyone loved him. And also, he should have been put in those spots. I agree. Yeah. I agree.

He's a kid who never pitched that long. Would you be surprised if by September he's the team's full-time closer? No. And they just use Alvarado, use Sir Anthony, use these guys a little bit. No. I would not be surprised at all. So I think that they're obviously making like I would

wouldn't that be cool if they do like we talk about Bednar and Diaz and all these guys we'd be like I wish we had that guy we could have that guy

like a controlled closer he could be that the Kirkering bet being a high leverage closer type guy is a way way way more sure thing for me

than Ross oh it's light years more I look Kirkering's nasty dude like I wouldn't be like it's light years more. Look, Kirk Green's nasty, dude. I wouldn't be shocked. Can he handle that? It seemed like he was pretty cool, calm, and collected in those spots. Obviously, it ended poorly, but

it seems like he's got the mentality for it. It all comes down to that, but stuff-wise, he could absolutely be a closer. Again, the one thing that I keep coming back to is their fastball. Throw the freaking fastball! It was weird. weird it must be flat but they can fix that um so him you know he could be the closer rojas is obviously a question mark i think they're giving the shot and it's fine i'm fine with them giving him the shot um but again you have to sign a right-handed you know outfit option

the walker spot is really the one thing where if they were looking for an upgrade, they have pretty much top five units all over the place. Starting rotation, bullpen, lineup. That's the one spot where if you were looking to build a super team, that's the obvious spot. And I like that they are seemingly in on that idea and, and looking to upgrade that spot because listen,

he won games last year. He took down innings. I'm not saying that innings aren't valuable. You're paying him just a ton, like a ton to do that. And you couldn't pitch him in the postseason. You couldn't pitch him. Yeah. I mean, that comes out of that.

You couldn't pitch him in the postseason. Boom. He gave him $80 million. Yeah, he's making 18 million a year. He couldn't pitch in the freaking postseason, man. This is 472. So, yeah. So, I was shocked when it came out that he was looking for,

or they offered him 300 plus million. And then we had to address the elephant in the room. Uh-oh. Because there is one. And it's incredibly disappointing but the the the video yearbook oh yeah thank you yeah we needed it thank you it's like i'm saying it's because we didn't i had it ready to go last week and then forgot so good yeah so first off it was very very very well done like the the the camera usage usage, it just seems so big time.

I'm so used to the video yearbooks being like... Yeah, like a chintzy. Like a high school yearbook type project. Yeah. It didn't feel like a big time production. This felt like a big time production. A lot of high quality camera usage. It was very well done.

I was very, very happy with it. To throw out, when they get to the turner ovation thing a local radio station it's a little it hurt can i can i be honest it's outrageous like are you kidding me like honestly like after what this written what everyone said what what this station did for that team this year what they did for trey turner what that whole thing meant and how it was clearly we all know who it was like honestly that i'm i'm i'm actually angry about it like and i don't look you know me i'm not the video yearbook guy like i was did you watch it not yet why honestly so i was gonna watch it can i be honest with you i was gonna watch it and then shad's neighbor dan we had a little text change with you and neighbor dan because you guys were so excited for it. Obviously, you and Neighbor Dan, the two biggest fans of the video yearbook on the planet.

Yep. And when I heard that that happened, I was like, you know what? I was kind of like, it kind of sucked the life out of me watching it. Because that's not right, man. Like, especially like knowing how much you care about it. Like, whatever else. Like, come on, man. Throw my guy a freaking bone

Are we serious right now? Not even me I mean They could have told They could have told The whole story of it They could have Of course

They could have actually made It was the It was the story of the season They named it Brotherly Love Because the fan base Yeah And the team

And they also said Multiple times in it Like the love affair Between the team and the city Where'd you get that from? Such a Yep Like where'd you get that from? I mean We talked about that you get that from i mean we talked about that we said that we said

that on this pot we said it on the wip a million times it's like local radio station just come on we're your partners we hear your games like come on man like throw wip a bone like yeah i think especially because we had the you know also had the bryson and chuck thing yes like it was a good year for wip yes and the Hopes and the Phillies. Bryce Harper talked about how he listens all the time. Rob Thompson's on our show. He listens every day on his way to work. There was a real love affair thing.

It was a beautiful thing, man. I talked to him. It was my favorite thing that ever happened in my career. It was one of my favorite things that ever happened as a sports fan. And it just feels like that's not represented. And honestly, I'm disappointed. Disappointed, wow. I'm disappointed.

Like a true parent. Yes, yes. I mean, like, come on, man. What more does this podcast got to do? Well, you know, if there's any podcast out there that is bringing love to this baseball team, it's freaking this one. Like, you know.

Disappointed. At a certain point, you know. Shows love. At some point, one like you know disappointing at a certain point you know shows love some play hey you know what we'll just tell the story has happened man maybe next year instead of a standing oh lead a boo oh so let's let's throw down the gauntlet you know imagine there's jack fritz out there leading hey boo this man when we find the person who put the video yearbook together and that's the person we all boo yeah he's sitting in this section right over here let's boo him well no i mean there was there was talk behind the scenes of this is my if this is my um turn on the philly's origin story oh

rumors a good one rumors a good one i mean can you imagine could you imagine going from last for like a second you were like oh yeah i love you guys i'm back i'm sorry i didn't mean it please don't leave me ever again that's exactly you know i two things uh there's a few things in life that i can like um like i will give in very quickly on like obviously jill and walker yeah obviously yep and then and the affiliates that's it the three most important things in your life exactly i'll give in i'll give in at all times so uh but yeah overall the video yearbook was great um it'd be a shame don't say. It'd be a real shame if one member of this podcast started leading in more negativity. Yeah.

I mean, hey, all I'll say is. Brought it yourself. Yeah. I don't want to do it. I mean, they should honestly go back and edit it. They go back. Yes, I am. I am outraged.

Honestly, I am. And I'm me. Like, I don't care. I it. I the WIP part bothers me more than, like, anything. Like, local radio stations are absurd. It's absurd. Especially if we're your partner.

Like, we air your games. Like, come on, man. Um, yeah. So, and then, uh, I guess... Keep talking. He's gonna be here any second. I texted him. Could you imagine if the cutter,

Goothier, whatever his name is. Godier. Oh, wow. That's a pretty good pronunciation out of you. It's Godier? Godier, yeah. Godier. Oh, here he is.

Okay, go ahead. But imagine if that, if Aiden Miller ever thought. By the way, Aiden Miller, too, in baseball, was like this in the process rankings. Never doubt. But, welcome back, Tucker. Yeah. We, respected us in the prospect rankings. Never a doubt. But, welcome back, Tucker. Yeah. We're talking hockey now.

We've had a great podcast. Yes, we're talking hockey. No, but like, I can't. I would not be able to handle it. Like, if I wasn't around. Oh, I know. You would be a disaster. Because you were around for J.D. Drew.

I was. Dude, I hated. I still deep down hate J.D. Drew. Oh, yeah. I mean, you have a, again, I mentioned this to you before. You have a childlike still hatred for J.D. Drew. I was. Dude, I hated him. I still deep down hate J.D. Drew. Oh, yeah. I mean, you have a... Again, I mentioned this to you before. You have a childlike still hatred for things. Yes, yes.

If I hated you then, I hate you now. Yes, I hate J.D. I hate that guy. Yeah. Did you throw batteries at him? No. I supported at the time, though. Oh, wow.

No, I didn't. No, I didn't. I... Kidding. Sounds like you did. I would have thrown something less aggressive. You would have yelled at him. You would have yelled at him.

Oh, my God. I would have yelled it nonstop. Oh the jd he's the new jd drew i mean there's yeah oh it is i mean the parallel i mean it's like i've never seen so many people so mad about like everyone's figured out who he was last night it's like wait who is he oh doesn't want to play here no i hate him it's a great it was a great night it really was oh you like that you think it's good for the fly great night for the flyers they got this they got the they got the fan base back they did actually it's a good point tucker you missed a lot you missed jack snotting all over it's not a little bit really the key yeah can you make sure you get a slow-mo it really was bad all right you gotta go to work yeah oh and last thing which

which is a bigger collapse nlcs game game six and seven or the Eagles game? I mean, they're not comparable. Like, baseball game, it's two baseball games. I mean, this is a month and a half long thing. Yes, yes, yes. This is much more painful as it goes. In the moment, like, that loss was still a worse loss, like losing to NLCS.

This is a regular season. More embarrassing. Oh, more embarrassing is the Eagles. Way more. Yeah, yeah. Because again, the Phillies, they choked and they lost,

but it's also like, you know, it happens over two baseball games. That's part of why the baseball playoffs are the crapshoot that they are compared to the regular season that is the real evidence of the best built team.

Have you thought about how good they were in game five though? And the fact that they came home and they were playing an 84 win team and they had them on the ropes and they decided, hey, you know what we're going to do? We're not going to hit and we're not going to like, we're going to chase 50% of our

pitches. You're changing your hands in the moment. You're flipping yourself around on this. I'm pretty mad about it. I'm mad. I'm not trying to defend it. Could we maybe once in a while not talk about all the freaking losing? Could we be like, oh, best championship, 24 or 27? They were both great.

I don't know. Like, could we get some of that going, please? Not in this city, pal. I know. Trust me. Don't got to tell me, all right? Joke about how old I am. I've lived through a lot of it.

All right. That game five was so great, though. It was a really good time. I really thought they were. Believe it or not, I really thought they were. I really thought they were going to win the series after they won game five yeah because shorebird harper went deep it's like oh great we all thought yeah you weren't the only one buddy yeah harper's still holding too i remember when he stared down rca

it was a good time i remember being in arizona oh wait no i remember being at the stadium i didn't want to be there don't worry i know i know i didn't want to be there don't worry I know I didn't want to be there well this yeah yeah spring training is only what 30 days away 33 or something like that

I think it's January I know dude it's 2024 I mean what the hell I know who would have thought you would have made it not me

not me alright we got anything else no no we are way off the deep end right now Tucker thanks for coming back yeah we're right on time.

We're going to show up and actually do a little work. We really appreciate it. All right. I'm going to say we'll be back next week with Well, This is Boring Part 5. The Phillies are going to sign someone between now and the next week. Please, because that's what I was about to say. Because otherwise, Well, This is Boring Part 5 next week. Otherwise, maybe we'll actually have some fun talking to the Phillies.

They're going to sign someone. Either way. They're going to sign someone. Okay, I believe you. I'll hold you to it. He's for it himself. We'll see you next time.