High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - We're Just Philling Time Until Opening Day

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz can hardly contain their excitement eight days ahead of the Phillies first game of the 2025 season. 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

Hey it's Jim Costa with Cash the Ticket. It's March. So Mike Velleney and I are all over the tournament again this year. There's just nothing like betting in March. Breakdowns of every region and every game. From conference tournaments to the final horn, we'll have the picks and the plays on every single game. Cinderella spotlights, upset alerts, and some of that value for the last team standing. It's tourney time, so hunker down and bet the board with us. Subscribe and listen to Cash the Ticket in the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. singing hi ho, smiling through a broken nose. Oh hi ho, hi ho.

I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the I was podcast sponsored by Miller Lite official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate responsibly. It's Miller time. All right. I missed the Philadelphia part. Celebrate responsibly Philadelphia. Yeah.

It's Miller. Yeah. Well, the we've listeners all over the. It's true. I was trying to be, you know, inclusive. Yeah. I'm not trying to say like if you're not in Philly, sorry. When it's not like Miller, Miller lights everywhere. It's not anywhere. Yes. I'm saying, inclusive Jack. I'm not trying to say like, if you're not in Philly, sorry. When it's not like Miller, Miller lights everywhere.

It's not anywhere. Yes. I'm saying, you know, I think Philadelphia is a Miller light town. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And not just that, I think. Not just because of us, but, you know, partially because of us, I think the Phillies are a Miller light team, you know, since the bank is a Miller light stadium, seen a lot of Rob Thompson, you know, in the end of his little cooler.

It's a it's a Miller Lite. That's right. Sitting there. That's it. Looking appetizing. So I can go from right now. Yeah, of course. Always. Always. It doesn't matter what that really doesn't. Maybe later, maybe later. You're a little tired, I think, for it. Now we're good. You're good.

It wakes you up. It does. It's true. I think it's a good way to deal with the, you know, two kids under two. Doing all right. Two kids under two for only one more week. Yes. And then walks to and under. Still has birthdays. March 20. Oh, my God. God bless you, Jack. It's all good. It's more it's more on Joe. That's true. More on Joe and the grandparents.

Yeah. Yeah. Nothing. You're you're like, I will do exactly the same as I did before. Everyone else has to disagree. I took I had both kids in the grocery store today. Oh, wow. Yeah. So yeah. Let Jill sleep a little bit again. Like I can't it sounds horrible. Not horrible. Ah, no.

And one kid at the grocery store is a disaster. Yeah. Well, at least was. Sadi just still hangs in the carrier in the little. Yeah, yeah. The Bjorn. Is that what they call it? Is it the little thing in front of you like a baby Bjorn? Yeah, well, baby Bjorn is the thing that's on the ground that you push.

Is it? Yeah. That's the one that went around your we just call it a baby carrier. You can call you can whatever fancy language. I know you're could you do something? No way, Tucker. Are these what are you five years away from having time to look? Yeah. I mean, I have a poodle. You can use the internet under my my arm.

Tucker Google. That was what I was saying. We have a baby Bjorn, but it's like a different thing. The Bjorn is not the one around. Yes. Well, this we call it a baby carrier. OK, that's all I know. So as baby Bjorn is a bouncer, that's what we have.

There you go. Wow. So what's the baby carrier around the neck thing called? Oh, so you see that also says BabyBjorn. Thank you. Seems like we got an issue with Sweden. Yeah, I'm Swedes. I think it's the same company as it says BabyBjorn Official Shop, Baby Carriers and Bouncers. I think it started with the carriers.

I think it started with the carriers. Yeah. Up a baby. Pretty good about this. Up a baby and BabyBjorn. For a moment, I thought I was completely wrong. And now I'm 100 percent sure I'm right. Well, because listen, you don't handle being 100% wrong very well I can find compared to most people Company's first product was a bouncing cradle bouncing cradle there. I was wrong again flipped it around. Hey Good to see them. I'm handling it fine. I do they want to spot the podcast

We are giving them some free pub right now good we could use another spot, but they are best known for their baby carrier Again are we still in Philly time or we doing the podcast that's my big question So the Phillies yeah, so last night Walker been napped all day, so he went down at like seven. It's not bad when he does that. Like, that was a great. Yeah. But like also I don't see him, you know, until the next morning.

But with your schedule, I get it. That's that. But, uh, so last night I was watching the 2022 world series film, which is there. I never saw. Is that why you tweeted out the Jasmine? I was wondering, people weren't happy with that. I'm sure I was like, it's just a tweet of Jasmine Cormac's I'm like what I do have a take on it though. Yeah, what is it? It's an overrated catch a little bit

It is like the moment and all that but like the catch itself like he I don't even know if he needed to go into The wall it was a hard. Oh, it was like kind of like caught it and it's like oh I could go to the wall here Too it was like I think jazz played it off a little bit in rewatching. Cause I've decided to never rewatch it prior, but then you decided to just throw it into my feet. Yeah. It's overrated. I get hurt and you know, whatever, but like it wasn't like Aaron Rowan.

It wasn't like, wow, I know that guy just did that. No, it's sort of like, I've always thought the Rojas catch against the Braves. Was better. I think it was a better guy. It was overrated. It was still better catch. He's covered a lot of ground. Yeah, I covered a lot. It's about the ground. Yes. And

Chas played it up and I'm pretty sure you flicked off the crowd after and you know, all that good stuff. Yeah, for sure. Now I will say like, also, you know, go bleep yourself. That would be one of the sorry. And the one day when we have you on the break it down. That would be great. Really. No, I'm going to bury you, Chas. And you're playing it. I'll be reading your stats from bad season. Yeah. Well, what if they what if they what if they bring him in?

Well, then he's my guy. Yeah. OK. Well, because we'll turn on people quick. You know that. I mean, we rooted for Jake Arrieta. Yeah. Right. We did. We did. Think of a bigger. Well, I was actually thinking I I was thinking about the the history of the podcast yesterday because three of the best setting prospects are Red Sox prospects. And this is the can I just let the audience in?

Sure. Brace yourselves, because this is not going to make you happy. Well, it's just, you know, we had Jason O'Chard here in the building and we let him go because the organization wasn't aligned whether they wanted to be old school or new school And then everyone was in fighting so O chart left He went to the Red Sox the Red Sox bought all the way in and Roman Anthony was not a first round pick Christian Campbell was a fourth round pick Marcelo Meyer was like Whatever, but he's high either way like those three guys are three of the top 10 prospects in baseball. I believe Roman Anthony is number one.

Roman Anthony hits bombs. Yeah. I'm actually more of a Christian Campbell guy than Roman Anthony. Of course. Why? We push you are that's very huge. He missed the curve ball by like this much. And I was like, that's not it.

You got one back to ball skills. One, one curve might not be there So I'm pretty campbell up. I'm letting you know, I mean, I've already he's movie but But I was just thinking about like I Didn't realize they were all top Dave three of the top ten. Yeah, pretty well. Yeah, I mean they're ridiculous so, you know, I like I think about how the movements that we have, we haven't really missed. You know what I mean? Oh yeah. Ochart, Barber, Cotham, Preston. You're right actually. For as wrong as we've

been about a team. About players here and there. Yeah. Like organizational stuff. Other than one. There was one we weren't great. Alba? Yeah. Ah, well, I mean, our baseball stuff might be right. Hold on. Hold on. That takes heat up. That takes heat up.

I underrated his ability to build organizations. Yes. Yes. That's been and we were wrong about Dabrowski. But otherwise, he's on the monitor. Yeah. No, that's on the monitor. Yeah. No, like from the baseball Jack, front office wise and, and, and organizational structure was somewhere out ones breaking it. But when there's like three names, we say go back to that guy and we've been, we've been pretty great.

I think Gotham was a huge one. Yeah. And I think Brian Barber is probably your best win just in the, like, I was, I want to know you were all in on Gotham and you did, you said it before they both you said before they had, that's what it's more the fact that like, like there may be six people on the planet who had heard of Brian Barber when you mentioned him. Like Gotham at least was like in baseball, like Brian Barber was a, like a, a scouting director guy. It wasn't even the scout director for the Yankees.

He was like a, he was like a number two in a scouting department In a drafting department drafted for another team It was just like it was so out of nowhere But both amazing all but you're right cotton you did you were like get this guy's bitch listen We'd never we'd never pat ourselves in the back, but But at least front office structure wise and ideas of the organization not bad not a bad run we've been on but anyway, so I was watching the 22 World Series film last night and Nice bringing it back there. I just totally forgot how we got there. Yeah, I just I

Like going through it, you know next year. I mean Nick Sirianni he talked about how like he like to drag himself through the mud, you know, and get better from it. I'm not getting any better from this. There's nothing I'm learning. You know, it's just going through it again and feeling the pain trying to experience the highs and lows right before right before there's a word for it. It's called masochism. I'm starting to believe in that more and more. I didn't believe in that more and more. So, uh, it was,

it was actually a pretty interesting film. Fair bit's life of Billy's fan for pretty much our entire existence. Yeah. Ellie was in it once, which is infuriating. That was the clip from a couple years ago. I remember. So I actually never watched it. Yeah. Not a lot of people. I don't know. Not a bad. It's a good watch. I'll figure this from Houston fans who watch. No, I know. I'm not here. I agree. And I've never even gone as far into it as I had. Oh, so you went deep. All I remember from it was the fact that Elliot made it in, and that was a big thing. And the cameras in it talking about how in five days they could either win or lose the World Series.

Yeah, that was really funny. It's like in five days the Phillies could either win or lose the World Series. He has a way of saying like true statements, but making them sound like they're this like earth shattering. You know, it's remarkable. It's remarkable. It really adds gravitas to things that don't need or deserve gravitas. Why does he think he could beat me at basketball? So I'm not even saying I'm that good at basketball.

I know. I know. Like it's crazy because he is the most, like along with Elliot, to be fair, like just so deluded about what their actual abilities are. Like, and he's never, like that's what I said to him in the year too. I'm like, you've never even seen Jack do these things.

Like you just assume you're better. Like that's crazy. He didn't play anything in high school. Yes, it's middle school. His sports career ended in middle school. OK, and not to go out bondy, but like you didn't play a JV sport, like a freshman's. No, exactly. You didn't make a varsity team.

Didn't do any of it. Yeah. None of it. I mean, he quit. He went out for ninth grade basketball and he left because they were making them do suicides or wind sprints whatever and he left in the middle of it because like I'm not doing now that is why I left soccer yeah yeah because I'm not they started having us do hills who knew that you turn out to be such a runner yeah I like running I miss running I want to get back into running and as apparent I mean I

signed up for the broad street run we'll see we'll definitely see on that. I was feeling pretty bold when I signed up. I did 10 and 11 miles right before the Met Series. It's like I've done it, but I haven't moved that much in the last, I walk a lot, but I haven't ran. So we'll see. But yeah, it's been interesting. I don't know why he decided me was the one that- I know. Yeah. I just- Which is fine. I don't know why he decided me was the one that I know Yeah, I just just fine like we'll do I'll do the bit you're gonna walk. I'm not so calm. I'm not that good I feel so he I don't know what the other competition like I read and play you're gonna play 18 holes No, you know you would smoke it. It's like what is he talking at?

Does he like he can't break a hundred you're like a golfer wants to do it. He wants to do a bit I guess it's great. I finally like I've been dying to get him to a bit with the afternoon show. Yeah. But you guys have basically called him out eight hundred times at this point. It's like finally something got through. I'm yelling into the forest. I know. I know. Finally heard it. I'm excited. Eight days from opening day.

How crazy is that? Like it's it's we're here, man. We are there. How you feel? Eight days. I know last pod, you made a bold declaration. When in the world. Yeah. You still feeling good? Yeah. My my belief in the in in the baseball team grows every single day. Yeah. And I and I I'm trying to. It is. And I I know you're serious.

It is like sometimes it's hard to tell. I'm even even me sitting right across me, having done this thousands of times now. It's hard to tell. I'm even even me sitting right across me, having done this thousands of times now. Even me, sometimes I'm like, I know he's serious, but I can't. That's the beauty. Now, I did. I was reminded that I did say that this air affiliates baseball is dead after they lost the match, but we're back.

I mean, that was past Jackson. You can't play past Jackson or current Jackson. You get more information. You make big additions like Max Kepler and it changes the trajectory of this thing. I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show. Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new Unrivaled League, and the shifting landscape of the sport. The game is growing and so are we. Listen to and

follow the Women's Hoop Show and Odyssey podcast available now for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. Yeah, my, I, I feel dangerously confident in them. I no longer, I sort of no longer believe they're going to get off to the slow start and then be 500 in July. And then they, you know,

they butch where we're back in the lead off spot. By the way, you know, sure we're adding lead off again. What's going on? Like, what are we doing here? It's so funny. It's, it's almost like Rob's like, I'm just going to mess with everyone. Yeah. What do you think trail start the season opening? Yeah. Yeah. But I also, I can't tell. I can't tell if they also

are interested in like a, uh, uh, like two lineups, you know, like try to like a righty, lefty thing, try to do both. And like, if you're facing a left lefty Why not start off with Trayford like that kind of thing? Yeah And or it could be picture dependent it could be pictured it could be out there fastballs this that with this stuff Yeah, it's interesting. They try that I don't I Don't love it, but I also don't like look I'm I'm open-minded That's the way I'm saying with the with the lineup thing. Yes. Again, after and I think you've done a really good job of reminding people they're not like the worst team of all time. I think we've kind of come into this. Like we have had calls to the station where it's like

they can never win the World Series. Like sure they can. Like what do you what do you they're like top five in every power rankings you want to find. There's been MLB.com. They're number two and most of them. The last one from MLB was their number two. Yeah. So it's like we've gone, we have definitely gone way overboard with the reaction, but specifically with the lineup, with the way the last two seasons have ended, like I'm totally fine messing with it and trying to find something different

and whatever. So I'm good with that. But maybe it's, maybe it's the evolution of the game though. You know, maybe, I mean, they're so, if they make decisions, if they make decisions that both pen off like swing paths of hitters, and they're going to go with that kind of guy. I mean, maybe they're doing the same thing with the lineup. I think it's going to be, Trey. That is that we are, I mean, it's going to drive people nuts. Yeah. So I was about to say, I was like, and I'm fine with it. Like, again,

I'm fine with all. Imagine Gabe putting this idea out there. It was like, well, Rob, why, why did you decide to go with Romano instead of Alvarado? Well, the Blue Jays really their swing pass or in the, you know, this quadrant of the, you know, this pocket here is really where their swing fast really, you know, heat up. So we were looking for someone who pitches in the bottom quad. Like, like when did baseball get so nerdy to talk about? Like, you know, what are we doing? Well, the amount of the amount of like how RPM is just it's the second

like it is second nature now. I'm talking about RPMs and talking about spin. No, I know. But like how what RPMs matter? It just like all the things that were? Revolutionary like in 2019 or like shocking in 2019. It just it's just part of everyday baseball culture now You know and the stuff plus really is all over the place All I hold twitter feed is just stuff plus models, you know that are looking at looking at algorithm talking to you there Oh, yeah, the algorithm in a good spot. Yeah, but um, no, I just I Kind of get the sense. They're to do both, which is interesting. I would like but I would like for the lion share to be.

Right. I just want to see if just give it a shot goes. And I think the most important thing is getting it. If their whole thing is trying to get the best version of these guys, you know, maybe the best version of tray is leading off. And that was what Thompson said to us. He was like putting him in that spot might get him to change his approach. Yeah. Hell, yeah. The last awesome.

And in the last couple of spring training games, he's had a hit in a walk in each in each of them better. The war to go, but all I care about is the walk. Like I all I do when I sit down and watch the Phillies study walking all the time. All I watch for is that. Yes. Are you are you doing the Phillies have done to us. We're watching these guys be like, take a walk. Well, no.

Don't swing at that. No, it's just like every time I see a ball moving out of the strikes, and I'm like, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't you? Yeah. Yeah. I don't care. I really don't care. I don't care. Can I tell you something that I didn't realize about Tre? And it's just because time moves and you know, you'll find this out when your kids grow quicker than you expect. You're like, Oh my God, I'm already doing it. Yeah, exactly. Um, I didn't realize he's turning 32 in June. Yeah. Kind of caught up on me a bit. Like I know he's the age when he signed himself, but it was like, oh man, like he's going to be 32 for the majority of this. You know, not the other world or ever like 32. Well, I'm 31. Yeah, I know you're not majorly baseball. I started here when I was 23.

But the the 30 because I was thinking about I was thinking about that actually was Soto because we had our fantasy draft for the weekend. Like all my college friends were together for it. And it's like, we started this league before Soto, like Soto is a prospect. Oh yeah. You know what I mean? And like, obviously you've been to the same thing. Oh my God.

But like, I remember the day that Trey got traded for Steven Sousa. Oh yeah. Like when he's a Padres. Oh yeah, oh yeah. And then now he's 32, Bryce is 32. I remember the cover of Sports Illustrated with Bryce, you know? Schw Bryce is 32. I remember the cover of Sports Illustrated Price, you know.

Schwabers 32. I remember he was drafted out of Indiana and the guy's a catcher. Dude, I remember having freaking like Albert Poole's and Ichiro Suzuki and Miguel Pahada on my fantasy team. Well, and now, and now, because obviously our Leza keeper,

the first round, you see Trout in it, you see Machado, and meanwhile, those guys were staples I remember when Joey Vato was a rookie in our fantasy league and my brother at him as a one dollar And Adam is a one dollar keeper and it was such a big deal. Like I did. Yes, still you We've been through a lot of others retired. We've been through a lot of baseball and I did decide by the way I'm ready for them to win the World Series. Yeah Yeah, like good long time coming here. Basically been waiting years for you to get to this point in 2022.

Quick. It's way too fast. Yeah. 23 is like, it's still kind of like the funny part about 23 is like we're going through it and we just kept saying to ourselves, is this just, are they just winners? No, they just, they are just awesome. Now.

All right. They're just going to mess around in the regular season and then just be the best playoff team now. All right. They're just going to mess around in the regular season and then just be the best playoff team we've ever seen. Yeah. And then six and seven ruin that. It really did. But then God, now last year was wild. Like just the putting myself and I know you can choose. We were together for the game, but like putting myself back in the place of 22 and 23 prior to those last two games of, of being in citizens bank park and what that place felt like and the bombs that

they would hit and just the fact that like, I thought every Philly was getting hit every time they came up. Like I was like, price hit one out every time it comes up. Like the confidence that we had in that group offensively in that building until those last two games, it's really crazy how much it, I know they got no hit the year before in the building until those last two games. It's really crazy how much it I know they got no hit the year before in the building, but like it still felt like they were going to show up every single time they were in that building until game six.

Yeah. And again, the energy before game six was the weirdest I've ever felt. The weirdest by far. What are we're way too. I just the overconfidence was terrible. Yeah. But and the biggest fear, I guess, I guess my biggest actually not fear. My biggest hope about this team is that they're not relying on magic anymore. I hope last year I like this. Yeah. I hope last year was a reminder of, hey, you can't just get in.

And even a lead off shore bomb to lead off the entire series is not going to save you. I hope that this year they don't just say they don't rely on vibes. They don't rely on hey, like as long as we get in lifting them up all that all that. It's not nonsense, but it's not it's not a it's not a fix all it's not a magical elixir. 2022 was magic because we hadn't been in there in a while and it was euphoric because we were going through it for the first time in 11 years. You all forgot about it. Kids grew up without knowing what playoff baseball was in Philadelphia. 23 was magical too until the end.

And I hope that last year was a real wake up of you can't just think, you can't just believe in magic. You have to actually be great. You have to actually do the little things you can't just say, or you can't just be like, all right, we're going to hit a home run. Now that's like the game too, was a perfect example, you know, where it's like they have all the home runs and like, okay, we're back, we're back, we're back. And then exactly what it was. Yep.

Fall flat in games three and four. You have to do the little things. And I hope that that's the 10 nothing or whatever that game, something like that. Game four, game three, two. Well, no game. Uh, no, they were down in game two. No, no, I'm talking about the diamond backs. Some of them.

Oh, okay. I said, well, they didn't have any homers. Well, but they have two home I know you mean I got them back into it. You're talking about game two bags and going out there. No, no, no, so like Because this is this is a talented team. We've talked about it they're the most of power rankings have them in the top five and At least in spring training and I know it's spring training But I do think that their quality of the bats have have largely been better and I just hope that they are Committing to playing a winning brand of baseball that is moving runners along getting you know hitting a sack fly

Doing the little things mean Bryce was that's the he was Sitting in the room with him talking about how we needed to play like winning baseball essentially right there Well, it's part of the purpose of the gig. I'm joking, I'm joking. He was so intense about it, so intense about it. Well, and the answer is perfect. I thought he was perfect. So I just hope that they're not,

and I don't think they are. I think last year was a wake up call. Last year was, we were really good, we did what we wanted to do, and then we're gonna get in and we're gonna be fine. You weren't fine. You had messed around for two and a half months good. We did what we want to do. And then we're going to get in and we're going to be fine. You weren't fine. You you you messed around for two and a half months and thought as soon as

buzzes started, you're going to be okay. And I hope that they just are a great team this year. Just be great. Just start to finish. You don't have to be super hot. Just can play consistent good baseball. And at the end of the year, do the little things, hopefully you're healthy and bang, get in and knock off one hundred and twenty one Dodgers team. Dude, they are they are pretty insane. I mean, like it's hard to say anyone's ever going to break one hundred and sixty wins. It's so many wins. It's so hard.

However, they could do it. Do they want one hundred and eleven of years ago? Like I mean, that was like, and I know it's a cause and say, yeah, but just watching the Cubs aren't bad. I mean, they they're they're they're. I mean, they're favorite in the central, but like just the just dude after dude. I know. And they completely fit all the moves they made this off season. Like they completely fixed our bullpen. That's in Freeman didn't even play.

I know. I know the bullpen is nasty. I mean, they got Tanner Scott and they got Gates and they got my boy Casper. They just bring dudes out. Nax good. Like they're all good. Yeah. Yeah. Bezier today. Are you watching it? One time I turned the studio. They shouldn't count. I mean, it's so dumb. It's so dumb. If you want to have an exhibition, it's fine. Fine. This is, this should not be the start to

the season. Like no one, like why do you have to make them count? And also like you don't, right? That, that Tokyo place will sell out no matter what. And you're not doing it for TV. It's at six in the morning. Like, like that place will be sold out for a meaningless game. But like, honestly, I see Rodney Pete catch the hilarious, especially as he's wearing Dodger's gear. And he's like any Dodgers fans are let Max Muncie try and catch that ball, which is hilarious. Yeah. But I think that like of all the sports, I know we do the Thursday night thing for football and then last year the Thursday, the Friday night, like I'm like basketball. They'll start with a game or like I'm fine with that. Like baseball, it's opening freaking day. Like I don't even like the opening

days on Thursday. Let's have the Wednesday night ESPN game. It to be or whatever. Like anything like that. Like, like just let it be opening day for all of us at the same time. Like that's what we grew up with. That's what baseball is. It's opening fricking day or at least you'll have to know it will come back and have their own opening day. But yeah, it's stupid. I know. I know. But the dumb like just just start baseball on the same day. First off, they've done exhibitions for years. You know, they do a good Puerto Rico for a couple of years there. They've gone to Japan before they've done all these. Yeah, I just think last year was the first time it counted.

Right. I don't know why. I don't either. I don't know why. They know it doesn't. You don't need to. You don't. You absolutely don't have to. But yeah, the Dodgers are the Dodgers. I think I think I said this last podcast, you know, my I guess my trepidation with the Phillies, like I think they can win the world series. I think they're going to win the world series. I feel good about them. You know what I mean? The one thing is the Dodgers. It's the Dodgers.

Number one thing, but it's moved from, I'm more worried about the Phillies to I'm more worried about the Dodgers. So for me, it never moved. It was always the Dodgers. Like for me, it's in that, like I have issues with the Phillies. I have concerns, whatever, but like, it was never, I think they're as good as everyone else. It was just the Dodgers like as this Goliath just sitting there, man, the Philly staff is going to be stupid though. It's going to be, it's going to be night in night out, dude.

Alvarado's numbers. I mean, I know it's spring training. You know, I don't care about spring training, but like, you care about, you care about six settings or five innings, 16 Ks or 15 Ks or do you care about throwing one or two and mixing in a new curve ball? He looks at he, I I'm all in on Alvarados or 15 Ks. Do you care about throwing 102 and mixing in a new curveball? He looks, I'm all in on Alvarado. Like I, all in. I feel, so I was definitely my biggest concern

heading into the season was actually not the lineup. It was more the bullpen. Yeah. I feel pretty good about where now I think it's only the four eyes. I feel really good about it. And the Strom injury, we're like, yeah, I mean, at least. It seems good. It seems good as far as shoulder injury.

It's like, OK, yeah, best case scenario. Yeah. And I think Strom, you know, good as far as shoulder injury it's like okay yeah yeah and I think strong you know I'm not he's great when he's right now I agree but I think Kirk Green's taking a step forward totally very easy Alvarado looks phenomenal you know man it looks healthy Romano looks healthy if Romano's healthy he's gonna be fine so much he's his issue has only been injury it's not like you ever pitch bad he's been hurt and then they knew one of those guys that pop I it seems like you know they they're pitching a lot of Devon Sweet. He's a good change up guy.

I just hit around again yesterday. Chris Matt is someone that I think they like a lot. You know, there's one of those guys can pop. My boy Macmillan, he went from 194 in like three outings which is Spencer Howard-ish. Yeah, yeah. So it might be, we're maybe monitoring. maybe monitoring that arm strength up a little bit. Might not be might not be the next Jeff Hoffman.

Maybe not ready to be the next. Yeah. I'm failing to take yet. Yeah. But one of those guys will pop. Tanner Banks is not it. He'll never be it. I'm never going to believe in Tanner Banks.

We'll never believe in a guy. So but if they can have one of those guys, there's some interesting arms they have that we'll see who breaks camp and really like I I'm actually oddly intrigued by the last bench option, you know, like it's like Weston's hurt so he won't be at least on the opening day or I hope they pick Christian Arroyo You know, I know buddy Kennedy's, you know, Millville's finest people Kennedy. We're buddied up. He's not a bad player. He's fine. I just think like Arroyo's done it.

At least it is like a set like not a great clip, but he's had some moments in the big leagues. He can play the outfield like Buddy was playing the left field the other day. And like a ball that a normal left fielder routinely gets in. He he couldn't get to. Not that Arroyo is some stud out there But at least a royal from the room position Yeah, and like Cody Kline is kind of pointless to have on the roster It's a shame like he's a good player

He's a good bench bet but when you have the amount of lefties they have like they need a right-handed bench mat His social is gonna be the infield guy. We know that but a royal I hope is the is the last option All right. I I had hoped they were gonna bring someone and still like well they all gul well, gulp said the day that there's still guys out there. That's why I was like, you know, I'm just, I'm just, I'm just, I'm just looking at the, uh, Alex Redugo is in sign and I wouldn't say bring him in. He's not like the guy, he's not a bench guy, but, and I left, he's not the guy, but that's the example of the type of players just out there. Kimbrel would you have signed him yesterday? Nope. No. Back to the Braves.

My early deal. Um, but like, So Kimberl, would you have signed him yesterday? No. Back to the Braves. Miley do. But like it looks like Chas might be the odd man out in Houston because Kamsmith might make the ring him on. By the way, if you're looking for a top prospect, Kamsmith is awesome. You think he's going to hit right away? Probably. He's the Astros that trade. They I know Tucker's awesome, but like parade is it braises will say. But Kamsmith is pretty awesome. But the I mean the I mean if jazz gets released that's a that's a guy that can play center field a right-handed option yeah he did injures

injuries last year broke our hearts a couple years ago I'm gonna be a friend of the pot so I would sign jazz but we'll see but we'll see and then I think one thing I'd look for is like are they are they able to trade anyone? You know, like, can they work a Taiwan deal? Do they move Marshaan? You know, if they want to try to get his value out there, row off. So they are they trading row? I don't think so.

But yeah, I don't know. We got eight days left. I just want to be open. I know I'm so ready for opening day. Next week, we'll do the draft. Yeah, I'm excited for the draft. Yeah. And it's almost good time. All right.

Let's you take back and then first guys or first guys and take back. How are you going to this is your time as well. Someone argued. Um, I agree. Yeah, I won't argue. Oh, I have to talk about the spring breakout game. I'm sorry. Oh, I forgot.

Spring break. I know I forgot it existed since last time we did the five guys, but good. That's very sad. For but good. That's very sad It's very sad. I did could really did I forgot it couldn't be more in on Arun Escobar. I can't wait Yeah Righty righty Jose Ramirez righty only Jose Ramirez. Yeah, yeah, you rakes Okay, did you remember he was a switch? I like wait a minute righty only Ozir miras. He's awesome. I'm pretty ruined up I'm pretty yeah, you just compared him to the best one of the five to seven best players in the sport

So that's good Moises. Shaz a continues to look just great. Just great now the velocity is down a little bit Maybe they're dropping the V lo to get their top Non Aiden Miller Crawford painter prospect, right? Uh, well tight I think it's tight up there It's tight shot say and that says they're number two pitching brass. Yeah, I'm your painter Yeah, pretty crazy for nothing for nothing Gregory Soto who was the worst but yeah, I say just you look phenomenal D martini continues to look interesting. He's never gonna be I don't like a everyday starter But like a quality guy. You can move around.

They may be like an old school, like Cardinals guy. Okay. You know what I mean? With his annoying Cardinals guys that hit and play everywhere. Donovan. Oh my God. They've had so many of those guys. It's all I do.

That's all we develop is a guy that can play second and third in the outfield. That might be Tommy Edmond was one. Tommy Edmond taught me. He's Tommy Edmond. I know, but I think a fancy draft is so high. I believe it. I mean, I guess batting second for the Dodgers. Yeah.

Yeah. It's a D Martini continues to be interesting and he's got a great, when he launches a home run, it's a beautiful site. The guy I want to talk about who is could be this year's Kirk. If he can stay healthy. He drives, he's drafted a couple of years ago, but Alex McFarland is. I mean, he was just sitting 99, sitting 99 with it. Kirkering one of your great calls,

Kirkering when he was in single A, that he actually might come up that year. And like that was it. We shouldn't have been insane. He shouldn't have been where he was. Whatever, whatever. That was a, that was a bad-ass one by you. McFarland could be that this year.

McFarland's awesome. You saying that means I'm going to pay attention. Pay attention. Lock in. All right, so that's all I have really in the take back. Oh, JT Extension, you talked about it the other day. Yeah. Like official position of me, at least, and I think you is just make him prove it. Yeah, absolutely. If he has a great year. Sure. And I'll take him back for a couple more years. But like, do not give it to him. Do not 225. 225 average. No. Oh, oh, oh, two for 25. I was here for 25. I was like, 225. No, it's probably not going to get him an extension to for 30. Um, yeah, it's fine.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Prove it. Just prove it. I don't I don't need an extension before opening day. 100 billion percent. All right. And then the fritz list so I have I have made some additions to this oh nice of you to do it after my draft but go ahead yeah yeah yeah all right uh so joe my whole my whole staff is like well your staff the of the these are in addition I went low end like the back end of the fritz guys the nice part about if you're still in fantasy drafts the nice part by the Fritz list like get an ace early yeah you know I mean like I've pulled scenes on my team now

play get your ace and then load up on offense that's exactly and then I had schemes that maybe in the seventh round take Gavin Williams just take them I get them in the 15th round should I be excited about I don't know you of course I just like I'm trying to give a redraft whatever. Take Gavin Williams a little earlier than you should. That's good. And then just fill out your roster with the rest of these guys. All right.

So I'm Reese Olson. That is exactly the way to do it, by the way. That is the way. I promise you it'll work out. I promise you. I won a championship last year. Reese Olson of the Tigers. On my team.

I love Reese. I've always liked him. He's just good. And his velocity has picked up. Oh, like he needed it, really. Ryan Weathers, who... He's also had his velocity from 95 last year to 99. Looks like...

Looks like Justin Steele with 99, which is a problem for everyone. Spencer Arigatty, he walked a couple people yesterday. He's just nasty. He was not Fritz's guy last year, but as the season went on, somebody, yeah, look at that. Robbie Ray also maybe reach on the Gavin Williams area. Yeah, he's going around then you'd have to get him a little earlier.

Yeah. Which I was surprised about. Oh, it was surprised by still plus 10,000 for NL Cy Young. And when the Cy Young, a couple of years ago, right. And he spent the off season learning the scuba change up. So if you add that to everything else that Robbie Ray can throw, not a bad one. I will never not believe in Casey Meyers. Yeah. And he's set a great.

Every year you're all in on Casey Meyers. He's not even getting drafted. If this is someone to monitor after the draft. Yeah. He's a, he's a not getting drafted guy. Soroka, same thing. Same thing. He's a not get drafted last round of the draft.

Exactly. David Peterson, I think it's going to be really good for the Mets. Not get drafted, same thing. Same thing. He's a not get drafted last round. Exactly. David Peterson, I think is going to be really good for not get drafted. Same guy. David Peterson is the guy who it's mostly Phillies. Like he was so annoying. Yeah. He was so annoying in the playoffs. So annoying. He's good. Like he's got stuff. I know. He had a 2-9 coming back last year. He just threw a 97-98 in the playoffs. Yeah. Hayden Birdsong is one to monitor from the standpoint of I'm not sure he's gonna make the world. He should make the rotation is an unbelievable. Yeah. So I look he's nasty.

Yeah. Birdsongs. Yeah. I just don't know if we're in the rotation now, but he's sick. Yep. Ryan, I'm happy. I don't know. I think it's yeah. Pep Pepiot. Whatever. Pepio. I think it's Pepio. Ray's guy. Yeah.

Yeah. French. Archie the P. French. And then the last two that I added is Grant Holmes from the Braves. So I was wondering about yeah, he's awesome. I could have taken I think I might be he might be better than Schwellenbach. Oh, really? I love Schwellenbach's fine. I think I think Grant Holmes might be better. Okay Yeah, Grant Holmes is one of those So I looked at stuff after I drafted guys just kind of saying it The grant Holmes one of those is a darling of the fantasy sites yeah and Max Meyer is obviously me on a lot of people's list now of course Max Meyer

looks like he's healthy is he's throwing his slider 92 again which is what he was doing in Minnesota so he's back and if you can stay healthy so I've always weathers that Miami rotation and Eddie Cabrera Oh and of course figure it out a lot of people like Eddie Cabrera to this year I will never trust him in fantasy But yeah, Meyer wet do the moment you trust Eric Barre's gonna like a six-walk outing Yeah, no doubt about it. No doubt about it. So yeah fancy baseball's back. Those are the first list Appreciate everyone reaching out next year. I'll also attach my Venmo. Yeah, yeah we're gonna turn this into a money thing. We don't make enough money, all right? Struggling father of two?

That's right, exactly. We work in radio people, all right? Not much money in radio. Yep, so no, I'm just kidding. Sort of. Not about the money. Oh no, I'm talking about, yeah, yeah, yeah. The Venmos, the Venmo's will be coming. Just kidding. So yeah, we're eight days away. Next week, probably just, I think we should do the draft. We'll do the draft.

Maybe have a special guest on. We're trying. We're trying. But either way, we'll be back to get you pumped on it. Thursday, 4.05, the Phillies opener against Washington in Washington. And then the home opener my 30 It's worth Through that is a 330. It's fuckers at 330. It's 45. I think it's 405

I think the home opener is 305 Monday which I'm assuming will be down the ballpark, right? You'll be doing the show for the ballpark. I would think right on Monday Yeah, oh, yeah, we're five Thursday 305. Yeah. Four or five Thursday, three or five Monday. Bad Donovan Chess Pat. Donovan Chess Pat. You're so right all the time. I know. That's how I was 100% right. I do know. All the time. Mackenzie Yagora, not exactly the most fun guy to open up.

I know. And another guy, it feels like, is the Phillies. Oh, not like when he stunk, but he's good now. He's good. He's good now. All right. We got anything else? No. This was great. I really, really, really enjoyed it. It was good. We didn't talk too much. Passionate police. What else is new? All right. We'll be back next week. We're going to draft Phillies players from the roster.

We're going to make our own like fantasy league against each other. We should track it. Yeah, well Tucker's tracking. Yeah, well of course we're not. That's his job. All right. Finally I have something to do. Yeah. All right, until next week. Peace for it's themselves.