High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - What If?

Episode Date: July 12, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz get excited about the Phillies finally winning a road series against a good team. The guys recap the Boston series, talk MLB Draft, High Hopes Night, and much more. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yeah. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast.

Jack Fritz, that yo was for the Philadelphia Phillies. What? Who let them get hot. That yo was for Andrew Painter and the rest of the draft class. And that yo was for all the awesome people we met on High Hopes Night. What up buddy, James, buddy. Why not? The Phil's baby. Why not? The Phil's. Oh, they got a closer. They got their offenses averaging like 8.7 runs per game since the last two weeks. Like 8.7. Everything's starting to come together.

Vince Velasquez is a real Philly guy. Listen, it's a good time to be a Phils fan. I mean, we're two podcasts removed from an absolute meltdown. And now we're back. I'm pretty sure our last podcast was named Am I an Idiot? Yes. So, yeah. No, it was.

It was. And, sure and sure listen maybe we're idiots james but i don't care i just don't care anymore i'm so ready to just to just jump in this pool like a cannonball and believe in this baseball team again anyone know why james oh you really of all people to hear those words come out of your mouth. I think the entire listening audience is just like dropped whatever they were holding, spit out whatever they were drinking. Jack Fritz is ready to buy in. I know, but this is the best I have felt about them in like forever. Because you want to know why, James? You want to know why?

You want to know why? You want to know why? Yeah, I do. Because even when they lose, it's a normal loss. want to know why james you want to know why you want to know why you want to know why yeah i do because even when they lose it's a normal loss it's not the most painful way possible they just lose eight three and they mix it in and it's just it's not even like oh that was absolutely dreadful and a miserable experience like they've lost twice in the last week and it's like you know what that's a perfectly fine loss like we'll take that loss. Was there a little frustration and things? Sure.

But even when they lose, they don't play that bad. And I just like the vibes from the team. You know, I really like the home run hat. I like how they're acting in the dugout. For the first time, I felt like they are a team. And I just feel like that core that we have talked about you know having to come in from the outside and have to come together and rebuild the Phillies culture I feel like they're doing that and it's their plant like for a lot of people their litmus test was this weekend and they took two or three from the Red Sox in Boston they took three or four

in Chicago there are two tough places to play I know the Cubs stink but the litmus test has been passed yeah look I'm as optimistic I'm not where you are I am as optimistic as I've been about the team

in a while like you said look I said going into that if they go into boston and win two of three like i'll take it seriously i won't i won't just throw it to the side and say oh you know like this team they never get hot when i think they're gonna which is still true jack i mean they're still 500 team but but look they look, they went back to back road series. They went in and faced a good team and beat them on the road. Jack, like that sentence alone is not something we've heard in a few years. And look, the Red Sox are a good team. And they also did it

in a, you know, obviously for fans, the, the more terrifying fashion, but they lose the first and then bounce back and win the second two. And that last one, like a gutty win, man. Like that's a gutty win with Ranger giving you seven outs and a bullpen game. When you find out that, you know, four important players, all guys who could have played in two of them who would have played in that game, couldn't play for you because of the COVID stuff. You know, we'll get it at some point, I'm sure. But for them to come back out like that in that spot. Couldn't play for you because of the COVID stuff. We'll get it out at some point, I'm sure.

But for them to come back out like that in that spot and find a way to win the baseball game, getting big performances from big spots, Ronald Torres coming in and just hitting big hits and Christopher Sanchez giving him three and all that stuff. And that's what winning ball clubs do, James. Exactly. That's where I was going. That's where I was going.

I'm not ready to anoint them yet, but they're starting to look like a team that's kind of pulling it together and playing a brand, at least, of winning baseball, Jack. And that's all we ask for. That's all we ask from them. A competent major league team. Right. Right. Right. winning baseball, Jack. And that's all we asked for. You know, that's all we asked from them. But, you know. A competent major league team. Right.

Right. And you look at them now, and it's like, you know, the lineup is healthy. The lineup is coming together. Whenever Bone gets back, then you'll get back to the one through eight that is deep and it's healthy. And the fact that Torres now is a guy that can bring it off the bench. Luke Williams is going to bring it off the bench luke williams to bring off the bench brad miller in a spot start that we did not rip joe gerardi for uh no can can hit three homers dude all right i gotta we never lie to those listeners i'm so mad

at myself because as we were tearing gerardi up for that lineup in our longer just teardown of gerardi in general i almost said at the end of it you know Brad Miller's gonna hit home run tonight because we just said all that like that's definitely gonna happen and I didn't say it and and it wouldn't have been as good if I said multiple homers obviously but I'm mad at myself Jack I knew it I knew it yeah Brad Miller going out and and and doing that was was hilarious also it is quite funny that he does that once and everyone's like well trade Reese it's like come on like relax relax he had a good game uh he's good he's a good bench piece I mean Brad Miller could be a folk hero here if his team goes on a little bit of a run but like like you're seeing like are the Phillies deep I mean

look they're like we talked about this last time Like, that's the thing where I think we had such a perception of the bench as being this just devastatingly bad thing because of the center field situation to start the season. And because of all these injuries and the bench having to get deeper and deeper and deeper. And as we've talked about a million times, like the Phillies, real problems are with the roster depth, you know, the ability to just plug guys in, bring them up. Like, you know, where the Dodgers, it's like, oh, major league or major league or major, like, you know, every draft class. Oh, these guys just all make the majors like Phillies don't have that. So, you know, when you start to go deeper into that reservoir, so to speak, it makes the bench look horrible. And when you have the starting lineup back and everyone's healthy, it's like, oh, you know what? Brad Miller, Torres, Luke Williams, like, yeah, I can get down with that.

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And it makes those guys even more valuable. And the fact that now, and it's funny because Girardi hasn't really been double switching as much, but it makes the double switches make more sense. Now late in games, you can put either Luke Williams or Torres at third for a little defensive replacement. You can

do these kind of things. If you want to substitute out Reese, you can put JT at first and Nappy behind the plate. If McCutcheon you feel like looks a step slow, they have guys that can actually do it. That's how you win in National League Baseball. National League Baseball is almost a war of attrition in a way. You, like they have guys that can actually do it. So, you know, and that's how you win in National League Baseball. You know, National League Baseball is almost a war of attrition in a way.

Like you've got to have guys that are ready to go, ready to come off the bench that can perform and step up. And, you know, it's nice that right now your stars are playing like your stars. I mean, they're not all doing it in the same night, but like one night it'll be Harper, one night it'll be Hoskins, one night it'll be Kutch, one night it'll be Gene, but then supplemented by the rounds for races. And it's just, you know, it's something, and again, we said this last

podcast, but if you're going to believe in the Phillies and believe in them in one way, it has to be because of what the offense is doing. You're not buying into the Phillies because their pitching staff goes on a two-week stretch where, you know, they're dominating teams, or their bullpen has two weeks, although they haven't blown a save in 10 games. Yay!

So, so, so. We got Hector pitching in the fifth inning of games. Listen, anytime you can bring a closer into a fifth-inning game, that's not a bad situation. But if you're going to buy into any part of this team, it comes down to the offense. The offense is the thing that they are built on and they were built to out hit their mistakes.

They have a good one through three that on most nights should get the job done. Four or five is, is just, it's just a weird spot right now. Like Velasquez is very hit or miss been more missed recently. The Phillies are six and one in Matt Moore starts, which is ridiculous, but he's, he's not pitching like too bad. He's keeping them in games. It's, which is ridiculous, but he's not pitching too bad. He's keeping them in games. He's like four innings, two runs.

It's like a high-end opener, Jack. Yeah, just like Jacob DeGrom. He's also a high-end opener. How do you say these things? How do these things just pop out of your mouth? Listen, he's a fine pitcher. He's got some good stuff. He's okay. I think he's got some good stuff i think he's okay i think he's got a shot but the truth of the matter is i think he's averaging like five and two-thirds

to start and it's like listen if you really if you really want to be if you really want to be like i hate the comparisons between him and what bob gibson did in 1968 like bob gibson threw i think 17 complete games that year the most amazing bob Bob Gibson stat of that whole thing is I think it was in June and July. He had 12 starts, 12 complete games. Yeah. It's like, okay. I mean, like that's a different thing that's happening. Right.

And Jacob deGrom's having a nice little season. Wow. I loved it. I didn't see this coming. Like of all the things i could have seen coming this is not one that i saw um um respect he's a really he's a really good opener so um opener like probably the best opener yeah he's ever he and then he turns it over and that's why their their record is so poor and in the games that he starts because he can only go five and two-thirds innings.

I mean, he's no Tywon Walker, right? No, no, no, no. And the fact of the matter is that if Zach Wheeler was on that staff, that he would be the ace of them. He has more, he pitches more innings, and he strikes out more guys. Who's been more valuable this year, Zach Wheeler or Jacob DeGrom? This has gone way longer than I expected.

The commitment is super impressive. It's impressive. I gotta be honest. It's a pat on the back moment. There's probably people out there listening right now. Is he serious? But can you tell if I'm serious or not?

Never, Jack. That's the point. That's what makes you special. That's the point. That's what makes you special. Yep. Yep. How did we even get here?

How are we talking about Jacob DeGrom right now? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Somehow we got from Matt Moore to Jacob DeGrom. Oh, we talked about how Matt Moore. Oh, this is how we got there. We talked about how Matt Moore and Jacob DeGrom are the two best openers in baseball right now.

How do I pivot from this? Like, where do I go from here? Fills are hot. Just say the fills are hot. I look at my notes and I'm like, what do I do here? Like, where do I go? Well, why don't you think on your feet? Fills are hot, Jack.

Yeah, think on your feet. Yeah, not my specialty. Just kidding. All right. Well, how about this? Two things. We'll get to the Vinny fan thing in a sec, but speaking of the Matt Moore Vinny thing, there is a name out there.

And we talk a lot about trades and, oh, they've got to get closer. Is Dombrowski going to buy or sell or whatever? There's one easy buy in the sense that if he looks good, it literally only costs you money. Where are you at on Cole Hamels? I am firmly in the camp of bringing him back. There's really no downside to it. Obviously, we'll see how he throws and all that stuff.

But the Phillies need help. And even if Matt Moore continues pitching well and all that stuff, and Vince Velasquez is doing many things where it's good, bad, good, bad, good, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, pretty good starts. Bringing Cole Hamels is not the worst thing in the world. And I'm not the nostalgia, you know, bring the guy. We've heard you rip Cole Hamels mercilessly. It's not.

Your Cole Hamels shots are the most unwarranted thing that's probably ever happened in the history of this podcast, so we know. He cost them the 09 World Series. But either way, I still love Cole Hamels. It is not meant to be negative. I just feel like he doesn't get pointed out enough that they should have been back-to-back World Series champs. But bringing him back just makes too much sense.

And it's a – first off, it's a good PR move. You know, let the guy finish his career here. He's an all-time great and, you know, and that kind of stuff. But it just makes too much sense. And, you know, there's a lot of people that say he's done and all that stuff. But, I mean, a year ago, obviously last year in Atlanta, just couldn't get healthy and all that stuff. But he's had time off now.

Like, for the Cubs, he had a 3.80 ERA and 27 starts. He took down 141 innings. Like, I'll take that. I mean, obviously we'd take that. And I think the key point in why I would bring Hamels in is I saw, even when he didn't pitch last year, what he did for that brave staff. And the way that those guys were able to lean on Cole Hamels and kind of let him be that veteran mentor to them. And Max Freed had an unbelievable year, and he's taken a huge step back this year.

You bring in Cole Hamels here, and he can kind of be what Jamie Moyer was for him in 2006. And it just helps make Aaron Ola better. It helps make Zach Eflin better. Wheeler's pretty established, so I don't think he's going to help him. But I just think that you have a guy in Cole Hamels who has done it before, who's won on big stages. And I think he's a good guy that these young players can lean on. That's not Jake Arrieta. Like Jake Arrieta was our veteran leader a couple of years ago. And you substitute that for Cole Hamels. So I just think it makes too much sense, and I firmly –

there's no reason why, if Cole Hamels is healthy and looks pretty good, that he should not be a Philly. They need him. They're three and a half games back. It's go time. And this could be what basically Pedro did in 09. Yeah, like you said, it's literally a no-brainer. Obviously, it's all dependent upon seeing him pitch, and he's healthy, and he looks good, but it's just money you said it's literally a no-brainer obviously it's all dependent upon

seeing him pitch and he's healthy and he looks good but it's just money it's just money it's just money that's it that's it john mr middleton talks big game like this is the kind of thing you do you know if you really want to go for it here in in that you know sense of you're in a horrible division you have a chance to actually win it this year and actually make the playoffs for the first time in a decade, you bring back the Phillies legend. You bring back the World Series MVP. Because it's one of those things that you point out, Jack. It's just like a no-lose thing.

Even if Cole Hamels came back and stunk, everyone would be happy Hamels was here because he's Cole Hamels and he's ending his career in Phillies pinstripes. It's's just such a no brainer. And I don't think he's going to stink if he looks okay. Like he's not going to stink more than Vince Velasquez. I'll tell you that much. He's not going to sink more than the best opener on the, on the planet, Matt Moore. You know, I, I think this is such an easy move and it's just, it's going to be a real window into, I think also what they might do with the trade deadline in terms of adding from a cash perspective because if john middleton's not willing to pony up for cole hamels which you know for half a season prorated like what are we talking

about a few million bucks like you know i think that's a real concern for for the trade deadline coming up well but also they could just believe that he's done. That's true, too. Again, the caveat at the beginning is it's all dependent upon that, like the showcase and how he looks and all that stuff. But if there are multiple teams bidding for him because he looks good, like you're his team. Like you have to be able to make this happen. Let's put it this way. If he goes elsewhere and helps his team to a pennant run, then.

Oh, my God. Can you imagine? Can you imagine? We'll never forget about it. We'll bring it up all the time, as we should. And listen, even if you sign Cole Hamels, then you still have a chance to add more to the deadline. It's not like Cole Hamels can be your big acquisition,

but he's a guy that will help. He's a guy that if you need to go to a six-man rotation or spread guys out, he's a guy that can fill in. And to a six-man rotation or spread guys out, like, he's a guy that can fill in. And it's just, it's such a no-brainer. It's such a no-brainer. And I hope they're there on Friday. I hope he looks good. And I hope he's a Philly.

You know, I think there's been some hesitancy to bring, you know, guys from that team back because they kind of want to move on to a new chapter. You know, Reese has talked about that a lot. Like, we respect what those guys did, but we want to create our own legacy. But at some point, like, this is too important. And this is a guy that's not going to walk in that clubhouse and think that he's 08 Cole Hamels. Like, he's going to be a Cole Hamels that is, you know,

hopefully has some in the tank and that is a guy that has willfully helped out young pitchers on a brave staff, not a Philly staff, um, get better and have the best season of their career. So I really hope they do it. I think they need to do it. And you know,

as long as he is healthy and throwing well, I hope, I hope they bring them back. All right. A couple more things before we get to the Jack Fritz draft day, Scrava Gans. I want the whole thing. I want to start, start to finish. I want the, what's going through yourza. I want the whole thing. I want the start to finish.

I want what's going through your head. I want all of it. Yeah, definitely. You can bring it. I don't have anywhere to go. All right? So we'll get to that. A couple things quickly.

I mentioned it before, the Vinny fan thing. I feel like we pretty much are aligned in this. Like, stop saying dumb crap to players. You know? No need. i have no problem with how vinny reacted do you have any issues with that uh no no i mean it's just like it's just such a like a jackass thing to y'all like dude like vinny knows he's not pitching well you don't gotta tell you just gave up eight runs all right in two and a third you don't

gotta tell him i know i know and it's just – I hope he's a Boston fan. I hope it wasn't a Philly fan. It was up in Boston, but I know. It's hard. Let's say this. It definitely wasn't a High Hopes listener. No, no, no. High Hopes listeners are very classy, but yeah.

Would never, Jack. Would never. It is funny now that Vince is like the most popular athlete in Philly. Like the most popular he's been as a Philly, I would say. Yeah. That and the throw from left field. And the lefty throw to first. That was a fun play, too.

All right. A couple more things. Let's just quickly talk about it because, I mean, you know. Yeah. Aaron Nolan didn't pitch in Fenway because of this freaking COVID thing. Like, all right. You can't tell anyone to do what to do with their body or whatever,

but like you're a professional baseball player. Like there is an option for you to not have to go through this. It hurts your team. Like, I don't know. Like, I'm not going to say that I say that i'm gonna say oh you have to get vaccinated but i am gonna say that as a fan i'm disappointed that aaron nola couldn't pitch in that game because he's not vaccinated and like whatever it is what it is but you know i don't

know the whole situation sucked and it makes you concerned like what what happens if that happens in september what happens if that happens you know in october if they make it i don't know it's not great jack yeah well i just the reasoning behind it was just insane oh my god and the whole art of the mac galbargo which is a great article but the whole like you know i think the vaccine caused my injury brandon kintzler just stop just stop talking just don't talk anymore yeah ever i don't ever need to hear another brandon kintzler quote unless it's thanks for the time philly i'll see another decade i think i think i think kintzler shaping up for a danny green light quote on his way out oh buddy i could see it yeah for sure for sure guy who's

terrible here telling us how to be fans um yeah it was it was frustrating and it's just like come on guys like come on let's grow up a little bit and la they won though they won and yeah it's like it's not like that's gonna happen often no it's being able to this is this bullpen being able to bullpen their way through a game real quick on the ranger part and really yeah any of the other guys like sanchez if you want to comment on that but the r Ranger thing, he was nails. And I know he walked a couple guys in that inning and people were scared, but he was really not going after them.

He was going for Verdugo and he got him. But man, just throwing his change up in basically any count, I don't know how it's working as well as it is for as long as it is, but it is, and can it keep up? Well, I mean, it's pretty obvious why it's working. I mean, it's the same exact arm speed as his fastball. His fastball's been up to 95, and he has that little hitch that creates some deception, and it comes out looking like a fastball.

It's remarkable. You know, I think it's funny. Actually, he didn't even throw his slider much yesterday, and I actually think his slider's his out pitch if he wanted to throw that more. It's probably more of a pitch to lefties than righties, but I thought he could have mixed it in a couple of bats. Honestly, like the most impressive thing from what Ranger did yesterday is like, James, I mean, you and I have seen pitchers, especially Phillies pitchers,

in big moments where it's like, oh, the crowd's like on their feet and they're just going crazy. And oh, here comes a backbreaking hit. Right. I mean, we've seen that seen that a thousand times. It always happens in Atlanta. It feels like. But, you know, two straight batters.

He goes three to crowds on their feet, you know, getting everything fired up, trying to will the Red Sox to win. And he drops back to back three to. Like, that takes some freaking stone. So the thing about... And he's had that all year, for what it's worth. I feel like, you know, anecdotally, you can think of, like, five times when he's come in, like, bases loaded, one out, or two on, no outs, and all that.

Like, he always comes into these situations where it's high, high, high leverage, and he's just seemed to never be, like, he really is, you know, it's a cliche, but he feels like one of those ice in his veins guys. He is. I mean, that's what he is. Does he have overwhelming stuff?

No, he doesn't have overwhelming stuff. Although, I mean, 95 is good. Change-ups plays well off of it. And I think the slider is really good to lefties. But, you know, the thing that I have always trusted with Ranger this year is just that he'll come into any spot and it doesn't faze him. He's very calm, and he's

not afraid of anyone. He will attack anyone and not afraid of big moments, and that's what you need from a closer. You need a closer that is flatlined in a way, that doesn't get too high, doesn't get too low. Hector is a very emotional pitcher. It seems like you can kind of see in Hector when he's, you know, not so sure of his stuff.

But with Ranger, you have no idea. Like he would probably be the best poker player in the history of the world. I mean, all he does there is just the same face over and over again. It doesn't matter what the scenario is. So, you know, do I think he's a long-term closer? I don't but i think at least they have a guy that they can trust in in big spots for years to come all right last thing before we get to the the jack fritz draft day extravaganza and i have other stuff to get

to after and stuff but um how much you mine in on the the second half schedule because when you look at it is significantly easier i mean you look at look at September alone, you got, you know, four against the Rockies. You got a seven game stretch against the Orioles and the Pirates. There's a bunch of Marlins games scattered over the second half. You know, on the face of it, just scanning through it, it does look like an easier schedule. Atlanta without Acuna, you know, so you got some Nats games in there, all that stuff. You know know the numbers by opponent record it's it's the easiest you know they had the hardest by opponent record in the

first half of any above 500 team like there's all these things like how much you buying into that is a a real I mean like baseball reference has the Phillies is the favorite to win the division Jack and Fangraff says the Mets is is like a 75 favorite so which just goes to show that you know it's really hard to project this for who's actually going to win a vision but like this schedule seems to be a real reason for optimism for a lot of people are you one of them yes and no um yes because the the teams they're playing are terrible i mean like there's a rocky they're called rocky series there's a couple of Rocky series. There's a Pirate series. They're a series against legitimately bad teams.

My only fear is that it feels like they always play down to the competition. And we haven't, outside the Cubs series, which they won 3 of 4 in that, we never really see them just take care of the competition. So I do think it's great. But, man, if they miss the playoffs with this with this schedule they have and losing games to the pirates to to the rockies and these teams would just make diamond bags would just be awful dime bags have a run differential of minus like 147 or something it's insane oh they are a terrible thing i think they lost seven games we

please have seven games against the Diamondbacks, four of which on the road, and the Diamondbacks are the worst road team ever. Yeah, listen. And they stink, but... The schedule is so easy, Jack, when you look at it, especially compared to the first half. It is like, just even on the face of it,

just scrolling through, looking at it quickly, it is noticeably easier than the first. I mean, remember heading into June, we were like, how are they going to survive June? And then they went 12-12, and I was like, all right, we survived June. So, yeah, so obviously I'm fired up that they're playing those teams. It's just that they have routinely let me down in those spots. So, you know, let's take it.

Until they beat the Marlins, we're not going to believe they're going to beat the Marlins. But I will say, like, going on the road against the Cubs, it was the most business like they had looked. It was the most like, you know, they were able to create their own energy in the dugout. And I think that's important when you're projecting this team going against bad teams on the road. So, listen, it's definitely positive. It's definitely all good stuff. It's just until they beat up on bad road. So, listen, it's definitely positive. It's definitely all good stuff. It's just until they beat up on bad teams, I can't fully say like, oh, they're going to, you know,

they're going to beat 10 games over 500 in the second half. Like, I just can't get there. All right. Take me through it. I want the whole, and we'll get to the second round picks and beyond, you know, but just in terms of setting the scene, Sunday, you wake up, Jack Fritz knows it's draft day.

You got to wait until 7, get the nerves, the this, the that. Take us through the day. Well, it was a big one. You know, I woke up, you know, just try, like, I do the same thing on Eagles game days is I just try to find, like, stuff to do so I don't have to, you know, think try, like, I do the same thing on Eagles game days, is I just try to find, like, stuff to do, so I don't have to, you know, think about it too much, like, you know, Jill and I went plant shopping, you know, trying to find more plants for our, for our garden, um, you know, put some mulch down, um, like, all right, so I'd say we woke up, um, had some coffee, obviously,

we went and walked to a local bakery, bakery, grabbed some donuts, of course, and then walked back and then just started to, again, just started to find things to do. We went to a local plant shop, got some plants, whatever, and I'm kind of just texting and DMing like everyone I know in draft circles, just seeing if they've heard if Benny's going to be there at 13. So there's a lot of that, a lot of checking the phones. I was on Twitter a lot.

Just, you know, I was on Prospects Live just because they had a live blog going of all their latest rumors and stuff like that. One of like four or five people in there? Yeah. No, it's like i was just i was just all in i needed to figure out how this thing was going to play out um watch the phils game which was obviously great um was you know very tense at the end um and then like around like 5 5 30 it was getting to the point where i was just too nervous. Like I was just, I was just finding stuff

to do. Like I went up and I did laundry and I cleaned our bedroom and I cleaned the kitchen because I was just trying to take my mind off of, off of seven o'clock. Um, so yeah, so I did all that stuff, you know, I was, you know, trying to try to figure out how to, how to grow up, which is great. Um, but yeah, literally just finding anything I could do to take my mind off of the draft. So the draft rolls around right around 7 o'clock. Sit down. I mean, Henry Davis going number one was shocking. But what I noticed early was how fast the picks were getting out

before they were announced on TV. And I was like, oh, this is a disaster. I hate that. I hate it, oh, this is a disaster. I hate that. I hate it so much. I hate it too. It's like, why even have this on television if everyone's just going to let the pics out before? Like, I think it's the, like, either watch it or be on Twitter,

but there's no point in doing both. Exactly, exactly. So then, you know, I'm sitting there nervously, but everything seems like it's kind of playing out well. It seems like Kumar Rocker, Brady House and Khalil Watson are falling. And it's like, oh, good. You know, those guys keep falling and Benny should fall to us at 13. And then the Rockies took him. And I was like, oh, that stinks. I was I was I was pretty upset I was like it hurts I get it I

kind of had this lingering feeling that he was going to go at number eight or nine to the Rockies or Angels and it happened and it sucks but at least the Rockies have a long track record of developing hitters so maybe I'll end up being right about Benny um and then it was scramble time like when when Benny was drafted eighth it was scramble time because then you know I don't really like Brady House that much. But I had to start looking up, like, all right, how do I talk myself into him? And I talked myself into him. But then he went number 11.

I was like, okay, okay. Kumar Rocker, I was like, man, are we about to mess around and get Kumar Rocker at 13? That didn't happen. He went to the Mets. Like, that's bull. Boo. Just a big, fat boo to that. Yes.

And then I saw him scram like, oh, what are they going to do? What are they going to do? What are they going to do? And then so around pick 11, after the house pick, I turned my computer off and I put my phone on night mode so I didn't get anything so I didn't get anything I was fully locked in I wanted to hear it live

I yeah even though I really wanted to check I knew I would get texts and DMs and all that stuff of like oh my god whatever so I turned it all off and I'm just pacing around my living room um i kept the doors closed because i didn't want i didn't want to see jill see me pacing around like a madman um and i saw the pic and oh first off i saw the mariners

pass on khalil watson and i was like if i know brian barber like i know brian barber he's gonna bring me khalil watson he didn't bring me khalil watson he brought me andrew painter which we talked last time about how this is a guy i was gonna talk myself into but there's a chance yeah he was on your your don't want list yes he was on my don't want list and i was gonna talk myself into him and i have to an extent like i'm not gonna go overboard and because he's not as good as abel like abel is special abel's a star my friend yes he is they nailed it um so all right here's my here's my feelings on andrew painter i'm not gonna go overboard i'll try not to go overboard um fully talking myself because i do want to give an honest assessment of of them and i'm not like listen i'm all in on these draft picks like i'm

sorry if that is isn't your your style but i love draft picks like i love thinking of their upside so very sorry but um here's the here's the facts he can command four pitches um he's been up to 99 from what i've heard and um it's a so the problem with his fastball is it doesn't have great spin efficiency like he throws it hard but like we talked about last time like everyone throws hard now and the fastballs that stick out of the fast balls that have good spin efficiency and all that and i think eventually he's going to be a sinker sinker baller like he just has that kind of look to him you know six seven gets on top of the ball i think it comes out like in a sinker ish kind of way um but kind of look to him. 6'7", gets on top of the ball. I think it comes out in a sinker-ish kind of way.

But the fact that he's 18 and he can command those pitches the way he can, you see it. All of his stuff needs a little bit of uptick in stuff, which I believe the Phillies PD guys can get out of him. The fact that he has a feel for

four pitches, and I think his changeup is actually going to be disgusting as it keeps going on here, but the fact that he has a feel for four pitches, and I think his changeup is actually going to be disgusting as it keeps going on here, but the fact that he has a feel for that, he has a feel for pitching, is really encouraging for a guy his age and his size and all that stuff. So from that standpoint, it's good. And you should be able to project

that he should be able to get more out of his stuff, get more spin rate, get all of that stuff. The one thing that he's gonna have to uh work on and fix is is his just his explosiveness like his extension isn't that great um and that's probably why his fastball like i watched all the starts i could find um last night in the all the perfect game showcases and stuff and like i feel like his fastball got squared up more than it should for being 97 but i do think that that comes with his extension not being very long so i think that he fixes extension fixes his explosiveness like he should just watch tape of roy halliday because they they

have a similar um body and the way the ball comes out is very similar but but doc was explosive and i think that that's what painter has to work work on. So I see why they did it. I would have taken Khalil Watson because I think you're getting a superstar caliber player at 13. But I see why they took Andrew Painter, and I'm glad that they're betting on upside. You're telling me he goes to Florida for a couple years and he's not a top 10 pick. I think that would be disappointing. So they're kind of taking the shot on that now. The fact that he's been in big tournaments for the last three years, there's a long track record of him being good at these

tournaments, much like Mick Abel was. So I think his upside is like a number three, if I have to be honest. But, you know, having a guy that throws 98 with more in the tank for sure and a good feel for four pitches at 6' seven is a good thing yeah you're definitely talking yourself there but i think people who know you can hear you're not you're not gaga over this and here's the thing here's my biggest take and i'm and we'll get to the ethan wilson who if you want to get excited yeah you know on ethan wilson we'll get to the most in the rest of the class. You said the rest of class? Class, draft class.

Oh, I thought you meant classes and session. No, no. I like that, classes and session. Here's my problem. The MLB draft is so stupid, Jack. I'm so sorry, buddy. This whole slot, underslot, this team has more money, they can go over slot and still like it's so dumb it's not

fan friendly it's not entertaining and like just the general concept that the best players don't go for the most part obviously it's all subjective but in the order they should go in and then in some cases definitively worse players go before definitively better players because of signability issues is a disaster like it's a horrible horrible product and that's not even getting into the the stupidity of not being able to trade graphics which is absurd on top of it jack i'm sorry i know you love this thing it is nonsense the way this works yeah and it's like it's just like trying to like trying to explain it to like an alien coming down and and explaining the mlb draft to them would be impossible like like you're telling me that

you know like frank mozacato goes like number seven over all over kumar rocker like why i mean like it's it's just it's it's just funny it's it's just a it's a funny process and you know sometimes players slip and everyone's like everyone who watches normal drafts is like well that makes no sense and all the mlb draft fans are like yeah i know it doesn't make any sense um and like and like the marlins having more uh more money to spend on draft picks this year than like the phillies is is just weird it's just you know it is what it is it is what it is um so and i like even i can't really explain all of it like i i follow it really closely and even i'm just like i i can't explain that one to you i'm sorry i'm very sorry um so

i just appreciate you not like going to the bag for it and trying to come up with some ridiculous defense for it. I appreciate that. No, no, no. They need to let these guys trade draft picks. Oh, it's crazy. I know it's tough because there's 20 rounds and it would just be hard to track and stuff.

But still, you're a multi-billion dollar organization. I'm sure you can figure something out well and it would just be so much fun like yeah it would make it more interesting like don't you want people interested like there's a reason that the nba and nfl drafts and granted we watch those guys play in college that's a big part of it too but like these they're they're events they're way more fun they're way more entertaining like you know i don't know all right anyway anyway i'm done assaulting the draft give me your take on the rest of the uh the class ethan wilson you know it seems like you and me after watching his highlights and reading about him are not the only ones this seems like a absolute home

run of a pig third rounder though seems like a super projection reach kind of guy, 17 or whatever. Where do you come down, Ethan Wilson and the pigs after? All right. So Ethan Wilson, I think, is Max Muncy. I think he is. Yes, you've been saying, where's my Max Muncy? Right. He's in the second round.

For years. Yeah, he's in the second round. So I just think that the hit tool is really strong. You know, he is a guy that does not whiff, does not whiff and walks and whatnot. Like he's just a, he looks like a very, very valuable offensive player. Like he doesn't whiff and hits the ball hard. Like that's pretty much what you're looking for. So elite bat to ball skills, probably just a corner outfielder, which is probably why he went in the second round.

He was also a little bit banged up this year. That's another reason why. Because I remember when I first started getting into the process, there was a lot of Ethan Wilson to the fills at 13. And I think he came out slow this year, but he ended up batting like 318 with a 410 OBP. So he did heat up there a little bit. But either way, you watch him swing,

and he had a 10-p pitch at bat against Florida State. And it's like, oh, this guy's a high, high level hitter. And you can make the case he's already the best offensive prospect in the system, which is crazy. But wow, that's a big time. Wow. Both ends. Yeah. But he's he's I think he's going to be a really, really productive player.

And I think he I trust the hit tool. Big time power. Big time exit V-low. But also seems like he has a knack for getting the bat to the ball. So I think it was a massive, massive steal for the Phillies in the second round. And I'm just downright giddy. And this is what we've seen under

Brian Barber. And we'll get to the rest of the draft. But like, big tools, big power on both sides, and just kind of taking shots on upside rather than just playing it safe and kind of getting these guys in the hands of the Phil's player development staff. And that's one other thing. I tweeted last night, like Andrew Painter's a perfect guy to give to the Phil's player development staff and let them work.

And obviously High Hopes listeners know what is really going on. We're seeing them actually get a lot out of pitching talent and getting these guys to levels that we had not seen before. Ranger Suarez, Bailey Falter, that's just a couple guys. But you're seeing guys actually getting developed that didn't have the stuff that these guys have now. I mean, Mick Abel's a top 25 prospect in the sport already. You're seeing these guys get handed to the Phil's player development staff

and letting those guys go to work. And a guy like Andrew Painter, who is obviously raw but has command of four pitches and all you need to do is teach him more explosiveness, I will bet on the Phillies player development figuring that out. So I know that the Phillies have been dogged for years and years and years about their player development and how they can't develop guys for the draft. These guys have been here for, I think, what, like a year and a half,

two years on the pitching side? And you're seeing dividends. So, you know, Ethan Wilson seems like another one of those guys where it's like he's got good bat-to-ball skills, good pop. Let's see what they can get out of him. So I'm super fired up about him. I think it's a really good pick, and I can't wait for him to get up to the big leagues.

Yeah, I'm in. He's my new Casey Martin. They're my two favorites. I'm in on both those guys. Yeah, I think he's a top-ten prospectin yeah they're my two favorites i'm in on both those guys yeah i think he's already i think he's top 10 prospect in the system already oh i love that all right what else all right so uh so vrs is is interesting i don't totally know how to say i think i think it's vrs so it's interesting like so he's 17 right he's 17 and he's the number one outfield

prospect in freaking texas but he wasn't wasn't in Baseball America's top 400. It just doesn't add up. But here's what I'm thinking. Here's what I'm thinking. He's an Arkansas commit. Arkansas is one of the best college baseball programs in the country. They develop guys like Hassan Kerstad and all of that. This guy has stupid raw power.

And I just think that they got him at 17 so that they're kind of his college program in a way. The Phillies, I think, are taking – and you'll see it throughout the draft. They're taking super young guys because they believe in their development system and they're not letting them get to campus and have someone possibly screw them up. So it's really interesting. But either way, this guy has really good power, can drive the ball all over the ballpark, 17 years old. Again, number one outfielder in Texas, but wasn't in the top 400.

That's not – it's just something doesn't add up. But apparently he had a lot of helium, was a late riser. He screams like a guy in two and a half years that is in first-round consideration, and they got him in the third. I think it's a risky bet, obviously, but I think it's a worthwhile bet. I love that. I'm all right with taking shots. Lottery tickets, baby.

Yeah, and baseball projection is so hard to begin with i mean you're taking these kids at 17 18 years old and trying to project how their body's going to grow how they're going to develop all these types of things there's so many variables in it that are in a lot of cases impossible to predict and in other cases hard to predict that i i have no problem if you believe, and like we've talked about, one of the few things in this Phillies organization that we feel really strongly about is their ability to develop guys right now because of O-Chart, because of the driveline guys, because of the whole team and all that, that it makes sense for the organization to bet on that.

So I'm good with it. What else you got? Micah Odenbright, I found some video of him. He's another guy like Painter, although he's up to 94 already. But I mean, he's a guy that needs to use his legs a little bit more and use his body more. So seems like a classic projection

guy. I don't know much about him, but again, he's 17 years old and they're kind of betting on their player development staff and letting him develop under their guys rather than letting him get to campus and maybe not trusting those guys as much so uh don't have as much on him but just in looking at his stuff he's been up to 94 but he's a little bit stiff with his mechanics so uh you hope you can get more out of him this is up there this might be my second favorite like andrew painter notwithstanding like i get it just just a guy of

my kind of guys and that is griff mcgary i love griff mcgary he walks a ton of guys but he was starting to figure it out towards the end of his of his senior year like 99 with an absolute wipeout slider his fastball is is disgusting. It's 99 with high high spin, slider same thing. I don't know what he is long term, but when I watch him, it screams Roy Oswald. Same

fastball, jumps out of his hand the same kind of way. Towards the end of the season had two monster back-to-back games in big college games and was fired up. I love Griff McGarry. I don't know if he's a starter or a reliever, but if you're telling me

you get 99 with his elite level spin, it's just home run, home run pick. Yeah, his name's Griff McGarry. I mean, I didn't need any of the other stuff. Griff McGarry. I mean, that's just a winning name, Jack. yeah his name's griff mcgary i mean i didn't need any other stuff superstar griff griff mcgary i mean that's just a he's gonna be a winning name jack he's gonna be a winning name they got a

they got a lot of good names uh jose the pena kid yeah jose pena jr when i saw on twitter about him i liked very very good very good um up to 99 again high spin just turned 18 um but either way like like he is high spin numbers can get up to 99 he reminds me a lot of like starling castillo same kind of uh mechanics and whatnot but yeah just another big projectable arm that is young that um just seems like he's wowing some guys uh down there so that's good to see uh christian mcgowan is the number one rated juco arm in the draft they got him in the seventh uh up to 99 again uh up to 99 uh his changeup is nasty i think if those two pitches develop like they should um they they got again probably a bullpen piece but another guy that throws hard same thing with jason rough corn a guy who should move through the system very fast but 99 again 99 which is which is just uh tremendous to see so um again

like the fact that they're taking guys with stuff over command just it makes me giddy like they thought we'd see the day jack like they have they have so many power arms and they're already like rough corn 99 McGowan 99 pain in 99 Griff McGarry 99 um painter 99 I think he'll eventually get there but yes like it's just it's just it's just power power power and um yeah just the right kind of guys to give to the PD guys don't know much about Gavin Tonkle um seems like an underslot guy that they're just gonna take a shot on um Speedy and all of that and then there's Logan Cerny who I didn't know about like I mean honestly like the first I knew Griff McGarry was the last guy I was like ah and there's a couple other guys but um this is this is just strictly through Twitter and and following smart people um a lot of people thought he would go in like the third or fourth round and and like he's

got so he is he is like stupid power um explosive hips like an explosive athlete that can play um they can play center field uh the one question you say stupid hips stupid hips like how quick and explosive his hips are i shouldn't make sure make sure I got the... Yeah, like, just all the athleticism in the world, all the, like, the stuff that you want to give to driveline and let them figure out, that's what he is. The big question is the hit tool, but I will take it. Yeah, no biggie, right? The hit tool? Whatever, we'll figure it out.

Is that an important tool in the tool bag? Yeah, obviously. Obviously. Obviously. But, you know, I think he's a perfect guy to give to to the the pd guys and see what see what they can get out of them um because the the the raw tools are are special so um overall like they they drafted they drafted power on both sides uh they drafted exit VLOs. And, like, it's just my kind of draft. Like, you're betting on tools. You're betting on upside.

You're not afraid to take risks. And, you know, that's what you want to see from an organization. And, honestly, it shows a lot of faith in the guys they have developing these guys. And I think that's important. The fact that Brian Barber, it seems like, is in lockstep with the guys that are going to be tasked with developing these guys. And I think that's important. Like the fact that Brian Barber, it seems like is in lockstep with the guys that are, they're going to be tasked with developing these players. I just think that show that's a sign of a healthy organization. Um,

and just, just pairing this pairing, the arms they got in this draft with the arms that they signed last year, they, the uptick in velocity is just insane. So, um, I just,

I can't wait. I can't wait to. So I just, I can't wait. I can't wait to see what they do. I can't wait to start following them. And I just, like, I'm just giddy over here. I'm just giddy. I can tell, buddy. I can't wait for Ethan Wilson. Like, the first, when we start hearing Ethan Wilson buzz,

I will be genuinely fired up. I love it. I am all in on ethan wilson that that is my favorite guy in the draft class um and obviously i've really studied this as well so exactly take that yes take that all right i have one more thing draft wise to bring up before we um get to a couple last things before we get out of here um so i hate to do this. You know, you're on the high of the draft thing and you know, I hate to do it, but, um, my buddy, Matt, uh, friend of the pod, listen to the pod. Okay.

Um, listen to the last pod and in the section where you're talking about the draft picks, talk about Trey Sweeney, who I have since learned is, is a New York Yankee now. So congratulations to trey okay um jack you said something i can guarantee jim nance wouldn't do it and i can guarantee that most of us would not do it in talking about trey sweeney jack you said eastern illinois oh i think oh okay oh buddy i missed it in the moment and i would love to say that i caught Eastern Illinois. Oh, I didn't. Oh, okay. Oh, buddy. I missed it in the moment, and I would love to say that I caught it. I didn't.

Matt, thank you for catching it. Yeah, thanks a lot, man. Matt sent me the timestamp, like really made it easy for me. But you said it. I went back. For those who aren't jacked, 4220 in the last pod right around there. Illinois, Jack. Explain yourself. Matt matt i appreciate you listening

to the podcast get a life pal it's time to grow up a little bit oh so what have you never heard of the state of illinois before i mean i don't know in my big state in my defense i called arkansas arkansas until i was at least 14 years old so it's not that surprising whatever i said illinois i'm from philly you're from new york it is what it is why don't you go root for the yankees you you big new yorker all right this This is you lashing out because you know you messed up. I feel like, no. You're lashing out. You know what I feel like? I feel like Vinny.

I feel like Vinny. This is me responding to you. I messed up. I said Illinois. Sue me. It's Illinois. Good. I should clear it up. One more thing from me and then if you got anything in the tape bag. Last thing from me. It's Illinois. Good. I should clear it up. Thank you. One more thing from me, and then if you've got anything in the tape bag. Last thing from me,

thank you so much to everyone who came out for High Hopes Night. It was at Four Fingers Brewing, drinking high hops all night long. It was awesome. Not only did we get to see the Phillies actually beat the Red Sox in Boston, put up an eight-run inning. It was super fun. it was awesome not only did we get to see the phillies actually beat the red socks in boston put up an eight run inning it was super fun getting excited that was pretty much like the

only part of the game i really watched closely that a run inning because it was saying hi to a lot of people but so many people showed up like neighbor dan showing up i know uh his buddy james where's a dan and the dave brothers who. It was a guy named Nick who was super nice. Charles, super nice. Like just met a bunch of awesome people and, uh, you know, it really meant a lot to us. We appreciate it. I signed a ball. Yeah.

We signed a ball. That was for Dave. That was finally, we finally made it. Yes. And, and tell them what you signed it with. What did you say? Two and O in the high school playoffs. Yep. And then I didn't know what to say,

and he said you should sign it with yo. I was like, that's awesome. You're right. First baseball I've ever signed in my life. Thank you for that, Dave. What an experience. Hopefully not the last one. I think if the Phils are going on a run here

and they're still playing good baseball, I'd love to do it again. Maybe before the year is over. 100% and it was a blast. And if you have not gotten a chance, go down to Four Fingers Brewing. Maybe before the year is over. 100% and it was a blast. If you have not gotten a chance, go down to Four Fingers Brewing. Check out the beer, High Hopes in cans. People took some High Hopes

cans. Oh, Darren from South Philly was there. It was a blast. It was a blast. Thank you to everybody who came out. It was really awesome. We'll definitely do it again. Alright, Fritzy, take back. If there is anything. We hit a lot. Don't have much, but i feel like i can't let this podcast go by without giving an official statement on nick pivetta and oh uh that's a bad job by me i i i forgot to put on my notes because i was like

oh i won't forget to talk about pivetta bad job by me turns out you forgot to talk about look at that you just spun around i ripped you for illinois you you showed up at a job i did yeah um yes so huh should we just call him hothead pivetta should we call him he was fired up wasn't he my man is not great and pulling it together well and like not backing up the bass is he just he felt like what that was so classic. That was amazing. He wanted to remind all of us, High Ops listeners and fans, just for us, that we know why you had his back to begin with. You were the same person.

He was you on the field in Fenway. Exactly. I was watching and I was like, yeah, this is why I love them. I get it. I see this. We were the same guy. But listen, I think he looked pretty good, you know, until obviously it all blew up. But he's got some stuff.

I would take him back. I would take him back. One more chance with Nicky P. But, yeah, it was funny watching him. It was funny. I was conflicted. And then they scored, and I was like, all right, good. Let's just blow him out.

So I did not want to, you know, see him get torched. But it was good. It was like, alright, good. Let's just blow him out. I did not want to see him get torched, but it was good. It was a perfect Pavetta start. He was nasty and then it blew up in his face. It kind of calmed down a little bit. But yeah, he is a little too emotional for me. A little?

Yeah, a little. He is like, dude, man, you are never going to be as successful as you want to be if you can't get that under control. I mean, it's such a mental game out there, especially on the mound by yourself. You know, like it's a mental game. He is a hothead, dude. He just can't control his emotions. Yeah, yeah.

He's a fired up Canadian guy. Yeah. It's like an oxymoron. Yeah. All right. Well, shout out to Nick for letting us win. We really appreciate it. Needed it.

Needed it. Are you taking the over or the under of 519 and a half for furthest home run time? I saw this. I was like 519? Yeah. That's insane. That's really far, man. It's really far.

I'll take the under. Wow. I'm taking the over. It it's humid winds blowing out more important i guess it's colorado i forget that more important question who's gonna win i think soto i i i just think he's gonna get on a roll and it's gonna be like oh my god he's the best hitter of the group, of the eight. I just think it's Gallo. He's so locked in right now. I think he's homer in like 11, 12 games coming in, and he's the most

powerful of all of them, which, yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but I think he is. It's him or Shohei. I'll go Gallo. That's my prediction. I'm looking forward to it. Me too. I'm going to lock in. I am in on the Home Run Derby. Of course, many might remember the scene of the crime of my most famous tweet of all time.

Oh, yeah. You going to rip Pete Alonzo tonight? Yeah, I can't wait. I'm going after Pete. That's what you do on Twitter. You just like riling people up. Yep, that's me. Everyone knows I'm a troll, as they say, Jack.

That you are. That you are. My daughter obsessed with trolls. Not online ones. Actual trolls. She loves Billy Goat Gruff, Jack. You into Billy Goat Gruff? Big fan.

Is he a drag prospect? I actually... All right, what else you got? That's it, pal. That's it. Yeah, I think we've reached the point. Is he a draft prospect? What else you got? That's it, pal. That's it. Yeah, I think we've reached the point. I think that was the point right there.

There's one parent out there listening to this being like, Billy Goat Gruff, man. I know what you're talking about. Yeah, big fan. Sure, whatever. I'm a bigger fan. That person is my person, all right? That's how I feel. You can say Billy Goat Gruff or whatever, and I'll raise you griff mcgary yeah griff billy goat griff mcgary nickname love it love it but we are an ethan

wilson podcast and a mick able podcast yeah we nailed mick we knew it from the jump yeah all right uh we done yeah all right one more time thank you to everyone who came out for I Hope's Night It was super super awesome And we can't wait to do it again And meet more people So until then he's for it's himself See you later