High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - We're So Lucky Zack Wheeler Is A Phillie

Episode Date: July 6, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Zack Wheeler's dominant complete game against the Reds on Sunday and discuss everything else that happened over the weekend with the Phillies. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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

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Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit connectsontario.ca. Please play responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. On the Odyssey app in sports radio 94 WIP. Oh Feel a little less alone, yo Is Another Addition of the high hopes podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the philadelphia affiliates taste like miller time But i'll be a celebrate responsibly last pod jack. I opened up the pod being like, I know there's a lot to talk about but

You know, can we just talk for a minute about how great zack wheeler is and I thought it was his best ad of the season And we talked about I get the curveball looked and then Yeah, I mean you want went opposite. I mean, goes to the complete game instead of eight, obviously it was like Tom from going back out there, did quick work, was 11, 12 strikeouts. First complete game for Wheeler since the Roy Halliday game, you know, the class. Who could forget?

Probably Wheeler's, you know, number one, like regular season moment as affiliate to this point. I mean, what do you say? What do you say? I saw your tweet and I think you're right. It's like, I don't really know what else to say. He's unbelievable. That's a hall of favor right there.

You're watching the way he's pitching. I mean, that's the best pitcher in baseball. That's, I mean, that's just as good as it gets just that's as good as it gets, you know, it's as good as it gets. Well, we watch. Get that guy a ring, dude. Get that guy a parade down Broad Street. He is he is he's hard to put into words. He's hard to put into words what he is doing right now. And he's getting better with age. And if you really retire-

Oh, John- It might be the best Zach Wheeler we've ever seen. Like I was gonna say that to you. I mean, how's that possible? Like, he's the best he's ever been. He's like 34 or whatever, 35. I don't know. Like it's crazy.

It's crazy. You and I are two of the biggest dad guys that I know. Right? Big time. You can't retire in two years. You can't. You can't retire in two years. You can't, you can't retire in two years. He's too good, he's too good. And so I was watching the game, sent on my phone because I'm in the process of signing 500 more copies

of Ring the Bell. So it was a, hands tired, but it's all good. It's all good. Because when you have that kind of masterclass and he gets it. First off, I'm glad that he gave me the opportunity for the night. I know the bullpen is not exactly the most locked down. Yeah, there was only two runs. I think all of us there was there was not one Philly's fan.

It was up to upset to see Wheeler walk back out there like not one. Well, I want the first pitch is 98. And I said myself, I said 9798 the whole night. That is fine. No problem. Remember when maybe one member of this podcast, I don't know where you are, but remember when one member of this podcast was like a little worried about Wheeler only being in the 94 95 range?

Well, he's just like living back in the 98 range. Like it's nothing. I get into night dinner at 100 100 pitches he came out at 100 pitches he was like bang let me just keep dealing. I'll tell you what for a series that this is a really annoying series. I mean the bats just it was like pulling freaking teeth like other than Schwerber and you know, obviously at the bone Homer and and today The study Homer. I mean star I was ready to come on here I was expecting to start to get out in that spot I was ready come on here and be like this guy's things like when he hits the ball

It feels like it feels like the ball actually gets slower off his bat Like it's like automatically like it's not like it just died. Like it's like dead the moment he hits it. Like, and then he does that. But yeah, other than that, it was very, it was very frustrating because Ranger and Wheeler obviously were, you know, brilliant. And, and those two games, you know, they get wins,

but, you know, frustrating. And obviously Friday was a whole different story. Well, and if they lost the game where the only hit Wheeler allowed was a fricking awesome. Oh, I know, dude. I know. I actually saw I'm thinking it. So it was like through four there and I'm sitting there and I'm thinking about my go against the Reds. Feels familiar. You know, I've seen this before.

It also made me think that I was like, oh oh, it's gotta be the most famous Phillies no hitter of all time. And then it's like, well, you know, the Jim Bunning perfect game on Father's Day is pretty famous. And then it's like, oh, Rick Wise hit two home runs and threw a no hitter in the game. Like, he got some famous ones.

I feel like the playoff one has to be, but anyway, I was out of the red. Yeah, that kind of stuff today was the point. Like you had it, you felt felt like whoa, this could be special The Rick wise game it's like the greatest game of players ever played right like it has to be Wake me up. Wake me up. What a tiny does that? All right. Yeah exactly show I you loser exactly, right? No, but the Rick wise game I was actually thinking about the other day That's the that's like the Iron Man equivalent like the Iron Man. These guys and girls,

they they run a full marathon. They swim two miles crazy miles crazy and they bike they bike 100 miles 20 years is 100 Wow, geez, my it's gotta be 100 but they run to a marathon a full marathon. Yeah, my my father-in-law did that two years ago. And then my brother-in-law did it, but I'm still here, you know. We don't need to go through anything. There are some things that like, not just I will never do, but like I am good for them and good for people who do it. I just can't understand ever saying to myself, I want to do that. I want to like, put in the work that it takes

to be able to do that. Sounds like just horrifying to me. But props, you know, props. I'm so impressed. I'm very impressed when people can do that. I was very impressed sitting on the sidelines. I love that you just compared Rick Wise, a no hitter and two runs in one day of baseball to friggin Ironman competition. Well, it's the fact that they got to run a marathon and bike 100 miles. And, you know, whatever. That's my confidence. I think it's a good thing.

It's a horrible, horrible, horrible, actually. But look, yeah, I feel like to your point, like they won two or three. It felt like if if Wheeler hadn't had gone the complete game today and they just win that game, like, let's say three to two, let's say they bring like Stroman or something or Romano or whoever. And then he gives up a run and they win close. Like we're annoyed, I think, more than happy with this series, even though they went through three, I think the Wheeler complete game and the dominance, you know, puts a fun stamp on it, we're all going to be a good move because that was, we don't get to see that ever again. I mean, wheelers the best picture in baseball, I throw a complete game since 2021. He's as much of a horse as there is like it just, you don't see that kind of stuff that often. So, but it was it was a really annoying series. And took some, again, like both games took late

inning home runs for them to win, essentially, for them to score enough runs to back these, you know, dominant pitching performances. Now, Granite Rangers was short and we'll get into that whole thing. But yeah, do you come out, forgetting the Wheeler part of it, like, you know, let's take Wheeler out of the equation because like you said, there's not much else to say. He's a freaking superstar. It was amazing. And I'm sure we'll continue to, to reference it throughout because it was. Again, an all time great day for him.

And, um, you know, he's been, and look, it just extends that June run, you know, he gave up two runs in June, guess what? He's, you know, giving up one more and going nine more innings with 12, so I got to whatever. Um, but, but the weekend as a whole, if you take the Wheeler part out of it, how, like, cause I come out of the weekend, feeling it so strongly that they have to go out and get a bat. Like even if they bring up Justin Crawford, which I'm fine with, like, they're like, they need a real. like they need a real bat, a major league proven bat in the worst way that is my other than Wheeler is a god that is my number one takeaway from the end and obviously prices doesn't

look great. But yeah, I want to spend I want to spend at least 10 minutes talking about Bryce and how terrified I am about the the future there. I'm really I, you want to talk about this? What you see right now, the smile that I'm putting on, it's strictly because of Zach Wheeler, you know? And it's really just a brave face more than anything. That's what I'm getting to.

Like Wheeler put a smile on something that probably would not have been out. But also, you know, Friday was all time, all time annoying game. And I apologize for the glare. It looks like you're like, the sun shining down on you. It's like many people do say that, you know, angelic is the word. It's what this podcast is. It's actually pretty horrible. I feel like if if Spike was watching this, I'd be getting a text about how annoyed he is By the look I met my parents

Spike if you're watching this, what are you doing? No, but uh, you have to have something better to do, please. I'm at my parents house and I'm in their office and I did not Factor in how annoying the the sound well, I'm in Zoe's room if you can tell. I can tell, yeah, because that dress that's behind you, it looks like the, do you remember the viral debate of purple dress? Yeah, it's got that gold dress kind of vibe to it, yeah. Totally.

That's what it looks like, that's what it looks like. So it's actually, it actually is that dress. It is that dress, a viral sensation as always. I'd go $3 million for it. I'm sure you do. It is that dress. A viral sensation, as always. $3 million for it. You know that morning show money. You know that morning show money. But yeah, the Friday all time annoying game,

they could have won it. Yesterday I felt pretty solid. I mean, it was just a professional win. Yeah, the boom homer helps. Yeah, let's put it that way. What were they? I think there are three for 20. So for me, four for 28. But it was a frustrating professional way. You know, they should have they should have kicked their asses.

Not good. Exactly. Right. That's the main thing. The reds are not good. That's the thing that that should be remembered. Yeah. And I like that we've gotten to the point. It feels like it happens a lot with the now are annoyed by a two or three series. It's been all year. I feel like it's been happening You know, it's it's been like a theme Who do you blame most for the win type of thing, you know Yeah, there's nothing better. There's nothing better. Are you annoyed by this one? It's real. It's real It's real like old school Eagles,

WIP type stuff, I appreciate it. That's it, that's it, that's it. The Eagles are too good, that never happens with the Eagles anymore. Even that we still do it with the Eagles, and we did during the start at least. So yeah, I mean it was definitely an annoying series. I guess again, where I've kind of gotten to is,

I don't think I need to learn anything more about this team. I think I know who this team is. I think I know, I know that the offense needs a bat and I think they need a real bat. I think I know that this bullpen is a problem. And then Lazardo is throwing a wrench in what should be the best rotation of our lives with Ranger and Wheeler and Sanchez and Lazardo. Um, You know, I think right now I think the game is speeding up on him a little bit, you know, and so in the most not trying to make an excuse for him, but just trying to look at him because I thought he pitched really emotionally on Friday, which pitching emotionally can go one of two ways.

I appreciate you holding in the on there, by the way, I can, I can try to yard coming, I can see a yard coming. I'm just trying to break down Hazel, Luzardo on Friday. I love it. It's amazing. You're doing a great job. It's really, you know, No, but so I, I thought you pitched really emotional on, and I think that can be good and

it can be bad. And I think Friday was an example of it can be bad because I thought that he was so worked up when things weren't going his way that he took himself out of the game. So that kind of concerns me from an October standpoint where you got to be locked in and make sure you're ready to go. It also concerned me from a bullpen standpoint. Like, all right, well, if we're going to put you in the bullpen and we're going to need you to get huge outs in big spots and playoff games, like you have to be able to handle those situations. So I think he let the game speed up on him. And that was pretty evident. I thought early on

But you know credit again, I think I think the one thing even for how annoying They can be at times I think the one thing I give this team a lot of credit for is they do battle back in games they don't just roll over and You know that they've done a better job of of scoring late You know, they're they're not just hanging on and they're they're usually doing a pretty good job of adding on late Even though the middle portion of the game is usually you know, you want to gouge your eyes out with a spoon Yeah, and again, they've gotten country like yes, and they've gotten contributions from guys and the me of Marsh had the big hit You know in the the last game of the Padres series.

And then, you know, you get the big one from Bohm the other night or last night. Swarmer's been back to being money, which is great. Swarmer's just been great. I'm with you. Look, and I think with Lazaro too, I mean, look, something that you were going to have to monitor and just give me something to, you know, like it's possible that, you know, his arm is going to go through periods of just being tired and being like, he is pitched already more than he did last year. He's never someone who stayed healthy through a season, you know, or multiple

seasons at this level. And, you know, like there's a chance that they're going to have to monitor that and maybe does need an IELTS stretch at some point to rest the arm and all that. So we'll see. All right. A couple of things I want to get to from the weekend before the take bag and all that. But you mentioned it and I don't know if I can handle 10 minutes of it, but you know, I know you're not. I know. Yeah. But it was my way of saying it's like, man, it's not super fun to talk about.

And look, I think with Bryce, obviously is what we're saying that, you know, we know, and we said, look, look, expect Bryce to struggle when he comes back. He always does. He might hit a homer in that first game back, but then it'll go through a super cold stretch. It feels like every single time he is injured. And, you know, a lot of those times, not this one in particular, a lot of times it feels like he's like white hot when he gets hurt. And then he, you know, just takes him a while to get going.

And we know that the switch can flip quickly with him. Obviously we're concerned about the power and the long-term ramifications, all of this. But I mean, he's certainly lived up to that slow start out of injury. This might be the worst one yet. He's been awful. And I think this series, the worst he's looked, obviously, he's only been two series, but

he looked just awful this weekend. You know, I think he struck out like seven out of 10 played appearances at some time, like, he has just been, you got to walk in that last one, which was like, Yay, Bryce. And really, since he's back, it's really been like walk or a or a weak single has not been awesome. And also to the point of making like they need a bat period. But like that's like they need Bryce, like if Bryce doesn't get back to being Bryce, like they're they're in some trouble.

But like. Bryce has been tough. Yeah. Yeah. And and the tough part is now like I watch them. And now I've got to the point of like I get nervous watching him because I just I'd say I've entered into protection mode with him to where I just want things to go right so he can reestablish himself and get back to being Bryce but it just hasn't been that way this year. And like the at-bats today and yesterday

felt pretty non-competitive. It was just like, oh, nasty slider out of the zone. Nah, I'm just gonna wave at it. And I don't know, man. It's really, the one thing that I'm hoping is not true, but I keep watching them and thinking if it is true, is like, are we just seeing a shell of Bryce Harper? I mean, are we just seeing a shell of a once great player that is going through injuries?

And I think the injuries are now, could they be affecting him mentally? I don't know. Of course they could. Of course they could. Yeah, of course they could. They could, especially if it's something with like like that, it seems like something that's lingered and come back like if I'm Bryce, like I'd be scared. Like it'd be something where to your

point, somebody cares about these records and the history and all that stuff like and I can't get this risk to feel better. And I know that it's like impeding, if nothing else, my power. Like, yeah, like I'm sure mentally that you, it's hard to be in the right place when that's going on,

no matter how much, you know, the wrist is a back damn. Yeah. So I felt, I just, I feel so, so bombed about the bright situation because I think that we could be watching injuries dropping ourselves of a, of a ourselves of a great, great player. I mean, no matter what people say, Price was a great player for the Phillies, and hopefully he can return to being a great player for the Phillies. And I hope it's just early coming back from the injury kind of thing,

but it's kind of been this way this entire year. You know, there hasn't been that time where he really got on that two week tear and raised his batting average to 285 and all of a sudden he's got 20 home runs or like 15 home runs. We just haven't seen it and he hasn't been able to kind of get on that sustainable run. He's looked off all year, he's looked in between all year, he hasn't looked... Like there used to be a time when I expected Bryce to come through in big moments and now I hope which I hate getting into the mindset of hope because that's when I got a little defensive and I start getting like start getting my back up a little bit but I think that's

where I've gotten to where like if there's two outs and and runners are first and second I'm almost like just get out so so Bryce doesn't come up. And we got to deal with like, oh, he's not the player that he used to be. So yeah, I'm really worried about the Bryce thing. I hope to, I just, I couldn't hope anymore that he gets on a roll here gets going maybe San Fran He loves hitting in San Fran me that

Calms him down, but man the way that he's going right now is super super concerning and this weekend Even with the two hits on Friday, you know, it didn't ease any concerns there Yeah, I I'm not gonna panic yet because we've seen him struggle so much coming out of injuries and all that. But to your point, it has been all season long and get no point this season. Has it been like, Oh, we're in a Bryce run. He's gotten going. He's feeling it. And I do think that, you know, in a general sense, he is such a smart, patient, good hitter with such a great eye, that if he has to learn

to adjust to not have the power that he can turn himself into a 300. I mean, you know, be he has not turned he's done it before. I think that he can, I think that he can age as a productive hitter, if you know what I mean, while not being Bryce Harper. But I think right now, like I don't think that this is there's the chance that this is not something that he can figure out in season that the injury, you know what I mean? That like, he's just not going to either feel good enough or comfortable enough or learn if nothing else, you know, something you hear football players talk all about. And obviously it's a much more, but you know, a prolific thing in their sport.

But a lot of guys learn to play with their, with injuries or if injuries change how fast they are, how this, and you have to learn. You have to learn to adapt to what your bike can do. I mean, we've seen it with pitchers all the time. I mean, the, you can't throw as hard, guess what? You'll learn to change speeds better, learn a new pitch, all that.

I mean, it's possible that Bryce is going to have to do that. It's just hard to kind of adjust on the fly. So I'm with you. It's concerning. When planning for life's most important moments, sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to start. That's why we're here to help. When you pre-plan and prepay a celebration of life with us, every detail will be handled

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Follow the Baseballs and Boring podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. I also, just as a separate thing, I don't know why he's hitting third and not second. I mean, it's probably cause he wants to, but I mean, the way short was winning against lefties. It just, yeah, it feels like such a no brainer to have short behind him. Like it, it feels, it just is strange. Like I, you know, I, it's gotta be Harper, right? That he wants me to three. I mean, yeah Yeah, I that's what I think and it does make me

Really like of all the positions or spots to go get a bat. Obviously a real clean up hitter would be nice I don't I I know the bone at the home run yesterday and that's That's great, I did not want out bone hitting clean Nice bone in the six hole sounds Clear some bases maybe you know look rip a little like single or a double. Yeah, buddy like good You can't be in cleanup. You know what is that all day? Yeah, you take you take Boomer in the in the five through seven and your lineup every day of the week Four is a stretch. So going in and getting a cleanup hitter would be great. But also going and getting someone with speed that's dynamic at the top that you can you can bat either lead off or or second behind trade either one and

then push everyone down really would lengthen this line up out because, you know, I even watching the Duran is that the kind of guy you're talking about? They're a buck. I'm not giving up on the box and dream bucks. But bucks has got pop to bucks and could that work for you? I know that's leadoff usually for the tournament. You can have four. Yeah. And I haven't been monitoring the Duran situation as close as I probably should. He's like he's like batting six today.

Yeah, but he's been playing better. He's had a really rough start to the season, but he's turned it on lately. But yeah, would still take with 100%. Oh yeah, and under control for a while and he's young and all that or young for baseball player. Yep, so, but getting someone dynamic at the top and then just lengthening out the lineup a little bit.

They see another bat, they see another good hitter? You know, preferably like ideally a right-handed power bat like that'd be awesome. But you know what? Ideally then just a right-handed bat. But you know what? Just get a friggin bat. Just get another guy who can hit in this lineup. You know, it's it's it is the most important thing that they need, which is saying something because no one has any faith in this bullpen whatsoever. No. Although they did piece it together yesterday. They did it. So yeah, I want to get to that. So anything else on Harvard before that gets a Ranger?

No. Okay. No more thoughts on that. It was close to 10 minutes. All right Ranger a lot of people made a big deal of the 80 pitches there 85 pitches Whatever was it? I think it was 80 was pulled out for a man. Oh in the six Rangers pitching Well, obviously look at work from you know got out of it. They piece together moments the homer they win the game whatever

But you know and then after topper says well, that was the plan, you know, if I pitches, he's pitched a lot, whatever, which you look, I'm fine with them limiting some of these guys they have to our, to the point, you know, talked about many times because of how bad the bullpen is, they've had to really stretch them. These guys and we look, Wheeler's gone 17 innings in his last two starts, you know, Sanchez just went eight. We've seen Ranger go seven. It feels like every outing. So like, I don't't I don't hate the idea of saying All right, you know what? Let's get you a little rest breaks coming up like kind of whatever managing these guys I'm fine with it, but it did seem like something that

People kind of people because the raised eyebrow they're like that's gone here. What'd you make of it? Yeah Well, I certainly did not feel like it was gonna be a win when he got pulled And and meeting on Romano came out. I think anyone did no four innings out of this bullpen So that it that spot out of Romano. I thought they were lose the game right there. Anyway, and how about our known The only podcast that might ever believe in Tanner Banks. I mean what a what a performance What a guy go back and listen. Look, these are all out there. Our pods don't go away. Go back and listen to every single pod. I guarantee you, you will not hear one bad word about Tanner Banks just glowing, positive. Like that's all you'll hear just the most positive things you could possibly want to hear about Tanner Banks.

about Tanner Banks. What a stud that guy is. I do think he could probably get out some of the B-SAC, but a good run for Tanner Banks. But yes, so the Ranger thing, had this podcast been live, I would have been talking, I would have been freaking out in the first inning when I saw 84 mile an hour cutters being thrown up in there. Especially coming off the last start, which was that was the target point that the velocity was down. Yeah. And I was like, oh, so is he just Jamie Moore now? Is that what we're, is that where the current range

is successful career, my friend. He did. So, yeah, I think the velocity is, it's certainly one to monitor there, but he just, he really pitched his way through it. And I thought, you know, middle of the game. The velocity got back up to 91 to 93 touch 94, which is good. And and I think it's smart. I know it's hindsight 2020, so they won the game and that makes it way easier to say it was smart.

But you know, you have to try to manage a guy like Ranger who has been hurt. It had been going through interest and and also is and also has as consistently, you know, kind of not been able to make it through a full season at the pitching at the same level that he's pitched at. And I think early in the year they they managed Sanchez. I mean, Sanchez didn't touch 90 pitches, I think, in six starts. So, you know, I think they I think they've done this. I wonder if they do it with Wheeler I mean that you would hate to look back in October and say well

Do we have to push him in July because our bullpen was so shoddy that we had to? To run him into the ground and in the middle of the season, you know Maybe maybe if they can frickin go get some real bullpen pieces They could rest some of these starters to where that they're not Grinding into the ground and you know heading into the postseason. So I Like it on the whole I understand like you have to win Games to make the postseason, but I I think it's a pretty sound strategy As long as again they win the games.

If they lose the games, everyone's gonna start freaking out. They won't care. They won't care that you're doing this to manage innings. Like we could sit here and say, it's smart, but fans don't care about smart. Fans want fans want wins. And as long as they do it and they win games, it's not going to be a problem. But I really think it's a pretty sound strategy for a group that has been, I mean, there's been what, in the last month, four games where you felt like they extended to starter when they didn't need to extend to starter

because the bullpen is so average. So yeah, I'm fine with it. Ranger has not been able to manage his work or has had a lot of workload the last couple years But it cannot also cause some wins All right. I have one more question for you before the take bag But first shout out to Miller like the my part of the week this week's no light bar of the week Out in your neck of the woods. It's the square bar in Westchester in your neck of the woods, it's the square bar in Westchester. We watch all of these games. The three dollar Miller like can special go to Square Bar WC dot com.

Shout out to Westchester. Yeah, I got that Westchester locals hat on right now. Oh, you are. You are just the king of rap in Westchester. All right. Last question, then the take bag. I believe 5 p.m. is the time, I'm not sure, but I know the All-Star game announced, rosters are being announced, and they're clearly starting.

Here's my question for you, who makes it? Obviously there'll be people who drop out, maybe somebody, but the initial announcement tonight, they're announcing the rosters, what Phillies will make it? I think we can say Zach Wheeler's a lock, and I think Schwab would try a lock, but- I feel pretty good about Zach Wheeler's a lock and I think Schwabers by a lock. But you feel pretty good about Zach Wheeler making it. That's my big take.

I hope Sanchez makes it. Dude, Sanchez turning into a two time All-Star after how his career here started. And in the contract we have him at, it's a Braves deal, it's unbelievable. I think- Braves are cooked. I don't know if you know that. Braves are cooked. They use all their voodoo magic in 21. They just gotta worry about the Marlins. have a man to brave deal. It's unbelievable. I brazenly talked to you know, they use

other voodoo magic magic. They just got to worry about the Marlins. Just catch up to those Marlins and go from there. So we say we learn to revert. You agree. Schwerber's a lot to write like he will be in the eye. I would hope so.

There's no way. Is he my prediction is. Yeah, my prediction is one of the two. I think I actually think it's going to be Ranger who makes it. And Sanchez doesn't. But we'll see. You need to be Sanchez. But I think it'll be three people who make it.

It'll be Wheeler for sure. Schwaber and I think one of the two makes it. I think both have a chance. I think Turner has a chance. But I think that's going to play out. Do I have to start slandering Francis Golan door every time I open this microphone to get you do it more than enough on Twitter? You know, I think everyone knows what are we

talking about? Is it 256 or something? Can we can we relax on on Francis Golan door? I know Trey Buddha ball that was right out of me yesterday. He seems to have trouble with the ones that are right at right at him, right? He can make the most acrobatic dance like, you know, where it's like a choreographed play and, you know, he's actually really great at throwing from like off positions and stuff. It's yeah. Then it's like, it's like, don't hit it at him.

It was that old joke when it's like, oh, hit him in the worst place, the hands. Yeah. It's like when Steph Curry's so wide open that he missed. Yeah. He's almost like, oh, hit him in the worst place the hands. Yeah, it's like when Steph Curry's so wide open that he missed Yeah, it's he's almost like yeah, exactly. Yeah not to compare Should do that I think that would be a He's been really good Credit deserves some credit. I hear the I Should make the author I agree when you look at the short stops in the national league, by the way, I've been thinking about a lot because we the Harper Machado thing has come up again with the series and the Harper contracts and talked a lot about.

And I know turn has a lot of years left and we're going to be lamenting and we have lamented and all that. But like, I will say when you look at that class of shortstop, we've got a lot with Bogart's here. I mean, imagine having Bogart's here. Bogart's got like 280 instead of 300. He's a disaster. He's like borderline unplayable for them. You know, Swanson's fine, but not as I'm in like a superstar or anything like that. And Korea has been like hurt and had moments but not great like Turner's actually been the best of those guys. I know that that's not a popular thing to say right now. I'm sick of it. He's he's a good baseball player. I know he's like a million. Dude, he's been unbelievable this year. He's really good. After April 18th, he has been so... I know

Schwaberexists, but he's been their best player. Yeah, him and Troyer. Yeah. There's always qualifiers with trey turner he's a damn good dynamic baseball player that that makes this team better every single day and he has not gone through the swans and even when he goes over four it's not a dreadful over four he's been good man he's been good he he was the only one touching ladola yesterday who, who Lodolo, I mean, if there's a lock for career high and strikeouts against the Phillies, it's Nick Lodolo. They've never hit him. And then like, I don't know, I just, I didn't mean to wind you up there. That was not the intent.

It's just like, there's this whole thing about Trey. It's like, wow, you know, he's great. Can we just shut up about Trace Archer? I just don't get it. I don't get it. He's obviously very good. He's obviously very good. Workday knows there are two kinds of people in business, backward thinkers and forward thinkers.

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If it's not too time all-Star, I'm going to be sick. I'm going to be sick. Gosh. All right. Aruna Escobar has been promoted to Jersey Shore. Oh, buddy. Come on. Come on.

And this is my yearly plea. This plea is strictly for maybe 10 people that care and maybe the higher ups in the organization if they happen to listen to this podcast. I beg of you to tear that stadium down in Jersey Shore and build a new one. It is dreadful. It is so huge. Hitters go there and die. Like every single time they go there and all their numbers start falling apart The stadium I'm sure it's nice. I'm sure it's fine. But like it's too big. It's way too big Oh Jack, tell I'm trying not the engineer jumping into the chat Exactly, right. Just fine. Just build something new. Just building new one guys. I mean go on. Yeah, what are you doing? No, I know a guy. Oh, yeah the I would say lukewarm on it. OK, I feel like every time I talked to you about Dante Nore on or off the pod,

which is far more talk all the time. Anyone that should talk probably about that, I know you I feel like you're like more and more into him each time I talk to you. Yeah, listen, it's it's growing a little bit. It's growing a little bit. Yeah, listen, it's growing a little bit. It's growing a little bit. I'm a boss. I'm a boss.

Yep, yep, yep, yep. Mony acts on fire, by the way, if you're looking for a drink that might get him. I don't wanna talk about it. I don't wanna talk about it. I love you, Mick. You're the man, dude. You gonna holler?

I hope, sure, but I can't talk about the fact that you would have the second most hummers on the village. Everyone tweeted it, we saw it, thanks. I, yeah, I get it, I get it. I love you, man. Keep doing you but I can't think about the how much rather I'd have you than other people. He's got a homer and a triple. He's got a homer and a triple. I really do think I think these next I think it's next like week or two. It actually might be up until a trade of, I don't know. But I feel like it's just so make or break for Max Kepler. Oh, yeah, because I think Marsh is

playing well. Marsh is playing well enough to be warranting everyday playing status. And in center field, I mean, Rojas obviously Rojas, but Crawford's clearly knocking on the doorstep like he he's hitting and

it's not the prettiest 330 I get it but he's hitting 330 you know if he continues to knock on the doorstep and again they released they released Kepler or the Maryfield last year in July 12th now he's been more for as much as people like to compare the two I mean Kepler has been better than Maryfield yes for that Maryfield was batting like one something you know I guess I was kind of close to that but but Kepler sits exactly Kepler's been a more productive player yeah so but I think it is getting close to the time of like well what can we do here I know you can send Rojas down if you wanted but then you're just having another lefty up here

But I think from the standpoint of like adding another bat Maybe that's one to kind of look at with it with the capital situation a name that we haven't talked a lot about Trade deadline wise because now it's all we talk about is The yearly plea for Joe Adele At least now he's got. He's been white. I mean, he's been one of the best players in baseball last month,

month and a half or whatever. He's been all the angels. The angels are going to are going to trick themselves into believing that this team can like make the playoffs or something. They'll do something stupid and they won't trade anyone. It does seem like Dave only calls

like the angels and the pirates and a few other teams though when he's looking for things. I'm glad you brought up the pirates because I know we were on the radio yesterday. They're doing the batting art thing, yeah. And Dennis Santana who is pitching to like a 1-5 but his walks per nine is about six. Is it really sick? Yeah, it's pretty up there. Dude, that's bad. It's it sounds like a great trade target.

Great. I'm just telling you, there is no bigger lock to come here and struggle more than more than Dennis Santana. Great. I truly might. I'm tell you a model item is walks per nine is like is like almost two. Oh, that's much better than sex. You scared me. What did he send me? Because he was texting me about it yesterday.

Maybe it's been over. I had a Julia fake news. Well, that's what people have said for years. People always. They're finally around. This submarine. I hope so. That's what's happening. He's like, oh, sorry.

So he's a six point eight K for nine guy, which is also that's not great either. Yeah. A lot of a lot of it. No, I was right. Yeah. At least we got a great defense. Oh, yeah. Just say you put the ball on the ground. Well, they'll they will back you up. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. So that's the thing that terrifies me. I would love that. And are I mean, we've long long been Pro bad. Nah on this bud. Yep coming out to renegade would just be phenomenal

But joy Dell is like 19 home runs in the year. He can stand in centerfield It's all we asked for just stand there, you know Stand there I Would Taylor Ward has 20 plus home runs too, but he's hitting like 205. I don't know. I mean, at least, at least Adele has some positional versatility. I don't know. And excited.

You know, he's Taylor Ward's, you know, on the wrong side of 30 and Adele is not. I don't think people are too fired up about the idea of, uh, of adding Taylor Ward. So I was, I was good this is before the start home run but so so is starting to get real consideration just playing second base almost every day yeah yesterday you were

yesterday you were one other in Taiwan one whatever was yesterday Taiwan one yeah they got a lot of platoons and that's if you got I know the 93 team lived off platoons, but I don't know Second-base it's not the right way to go about your business. Ideally, you know, it's pretty hard When it's not like it like again like it's not like Stoddard Kepler is crushing right hand and pitching like it's not like as you pointed Out like and he's not platoon, but Romulo can't hit left-handed pitching

It's like for a platoon that like the the way you do a platoon is like, oh this guy matches lefties This guy matches righties boom platoon They just let him cuz they're just like those guys not good enough he's not good enough either Well, I guess he'll play against these guys who plays in this guy's and see what happens did the lineup the I I know the bullpen is so clearly not good enough either. But this lineup is so clearly not good. It's not good.

It ain't it. It's just they are they're just not a good offense. I don't know. They've been annoying most of the year besides like the one stretch for the pirate series where they So so yeah, and it's also happy draft week is I guess so I guess the midweek pod Thursday will do the pod Thursday because that they get the series in San Francisco

Monday to through Wednesday, so we'll do the pod Thursday and as much time as you want on the draft is yours. It's yours. All right. You got anything else in that bag that it takes? No, no. It is a joyous Sunday pod, except with the price information. Yeah, the price conversation stuff.

Yes, it is. But Zach Wheeler is the man, and that guy deserves a parade down Broad Street. So pod on Thursday, two or three in San Francisco. They've been struggling, the Giants take advantage. The Phillies never play well there. So I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate those games. I hate how late they are.

Everything about it. I just. Well, you're not saying for them, you're not saying. Oh, the first job. No chance. No chance. I'll stand for the 345 game now after I come watch after I come watch you pitch. Right. You never you've never seen me pitch, right? Like not really. I've seen you. You know, I've seen you throw.

I've never seen you like bear down as they say And again, like I hate when people I get back experience when people bring up the pitching Verzellia thing And it's like that's in county. You never catcher. He's throwing to like a backstop like yeah picked without a catcher You need a mitt like what do you come also better? I'm a much better shape now regardless like that Just shouldn't count for anything. You're throwing a backstop like that's not pitching. It's getting practice and do anything but he literally and I think you may look like you'd never picked up a bat in his life. So yes, it's hard to hit that way. So he'll see how it goes. We'll see how it goes.

2323 always. Yeah. And we'll be back Thursday and it's good good Brazos are eating. Thank you Zach Wheeler for for the magic that you're giving us. We're truly lucky to get to watch you play All right. We'll be back on Thursdays for some cells there