High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - What is the Point of All of This?

Episode Date: May 30, 2022

James and Jack are back reacting to a disastrous Mets series aka what else is new. The guys talk about the bummer that is the Phillies, Girardi needing to go, and much more. High Hopes is Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is the High Hopes Podcast. Presented by Miller Lite. We love you Miller Lite. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly.

Miller Lite is the single wonderful thing that I have in my life when it comes to the Philadelphia Phillies. Because other than that, Jack, I got to be honest with you. And I don't say this lightly, okay? This is not just, oh, I'm angry or whatever. I honestly mean this. I hate this team, Jack. I hate them. Yesterday was the first time, Jack, and it's the Sunday Memorial Day weekend. I do a show on Saturdays. It's rare that I get a day off

that's not a Sunday. It was really nice to have a Saturday type of day where I had nothing to do, and I'm loving the day, and I'm waiting for baseball. And Jack, honestly, it was the first time all season where I, like, I have, like, not been, like, super excited about games because they're annoying me. Last night, I actually dreaded having to watch it. But that day was so nice. I was having such a lovely day and I was like, man, like, I got to watch the Phillies tonight. Like, that sucks. And that was the first time I felt that all season and then of course they deliver on that feeling in full force jack um where you at buddy i'm i'm like man i mean fire george gerardi obviously like whatever like it's like whatever

it is like i'm just i'm i am beat the bleep down right now jack i hate this team yeah and i uh i literally you ever have one of those moments where you feel bad for yourself no i like that that's good you were just like oh poor jack he's really this is this is tough stuff for jack right here well no it's just like yesterday i was at a family get together and it was like seven. All right. It was like seven 30 ish. And like I was getting notifications on my phone, but like someone was watching something on the TV, but I was still in my head.

I was like, I need them to get off the TV so I can watch the Phillies. And then I sat there and I was like, what am I doing? Like, you know, I should be at this family party having a good time hanging out with family and,

and having many many Miller lights. But there I was, like a true sucker, sitting down by myself, watching my baseball team and, you know, got home. And honestly, like, you know it's bad, right? Like, casting out was a home run. I was, like, excited, but it was, like, cool. I mean, cool moment. We all know it's bad, right? Castellanos with a home run. I was excited, but it was like, cool. I mean, cool moment. We all know what's going to happen. Neighbor Dan texted me.

He's like, they're going to lose this game. And I was like, yeah, they're definitely going to lose this game. Honestly, Jack, I was excited about the Castellanos-Homer, not because I thought they would win the game. I was excited because it was Castellanos. I was like, all right, maybe he's getting going a little bit. That's cool. It wasn't my, oh, we'll win the game. It was, oh, was Castellanos. I was like, all right, maybe he's getting going a little bit. That's cool. It wasn't my, oh, we'll win the game.

It was, oh, nice to see Castellanos hit one. Cool. Well, yeah, and you know it's bad because when Plummer hit the home run in the ninth, I wasn't even mad. No. I was like, of course it's some dude I've never heard of named Nick Plummer. Of course it is. Like, yes.

Yes, it is. Nick. I almost cursed. Nick bleeping Plummer, Jack. Yeah, he's the new Hernandez on the Nationals. Like, no one's ever heard of. And then hits a back-breaking home run. So, yeah, it was classic.

Honestly, just. It was so classic. It was classic. It honestly just. It was so classic. It was classic. Like anyone that predicted any, like, like anyone that, anyone that thought they were going to win that game after the Cassianos home run has not been a Philly Spaniel. I know. I know. Frankly.

But yeah, it's just been a, it's been a debilitating weekend. And we really, let's be honest, like really, like I know they split the brave series, but like the way they lost those two games and we talked about it and stuff, but it's just been, I mean, it's been a really rough stretch, especially when you take the home stand against the Dodgers and Padres, they're losing five or six. They're like, basically since that West coast trip, it's been almost all bad. all bad yeah it has been and like this weekend honestly for most of the year i was like the meds are fine the meds the meds have just a a different feel to them like they just they do and they score in different ways they're not a classic modern day offense where it's three outcomes it's a lot of balls in play and and not striking out and i don't like what makes it so frustrating james for me is that the mets also have a bunch of outside talent brought in

like they brought in shers they brought in basset they brought in carasco they brought in lindor they brought in marte and and and and even even though yeah like escobar and Kana and even the role guys. There are a bunch of guys from the outside there. So what makes it so annoying is because all we hear at the Phillies is, well, they're all brought from the outside. They're mercenaries brought in here to kind of create a culture. Well, so are the Mets for the most part. I mean, I know Alonzo.

I know he's important, and he's still the most annoying player in baseball, and him mic'd up last night was just awful. But you're telling me that Alonzo, McNeil, Nimmo, that's the winning core J.D. Davis who doesn't even play anymore? So the Mets have also brought in a ton of outside talent and been tasked with kind of building a culture. Well, yeah, tasked with building a culture on the fly. Yeah, I didn't think about it.

It's a really good point by you. So what makes them different? Is it they brought in Scherzer? Is it they brought in contact guys? Is it Showalter? Is it Showalter? But also, I mean, it's not like they brought in classic winner. I mean, I think Scherzer's a winner.

And Lindor is. I think, you know, he won a lot of games in Cleveland. Yeah, and Lindor definitely has like an infectious personality, and he's a notorious team leader. So I think those you know, he won a lot of games in Cleveland. Yeah, and Lindor definitely has, like, an infectious personality, and he's a notorious team leader. So I think those two are winners. But other than that, like, Marte, I don't think he's really won anywhere. Bassett hasn't really won anywhere. You know, Kanye's been out in Oakland.

I guess they know how to win in their standards. But, yeah, it's just interesting because the Mets have basically been built very similar to the Phillies it's just like they have jump-started this thing and they're they're on their their way to running away with the NL East and it's just we're sitting here again watching what we know is talented players not getting the job done and I'm not even mad like Girardi should be fired I get it I just think there's there's just so much more than just Girardi. Same thing that was, like, with Gabe. And I don't know how you fix it.

I really don't, James. Unless Dombrowski does, like, a big shake-up trade at the deadline, I don't know what really jumpstarts this team. You can fire the manager, but there's more than just Girardi wrong with this team right now. Yeah, it really does. Like, you know, I keep going back to you doing the whole we're cursed thing and me poo-pooing and all that and ever since then honestly I every day just feels more like you know what I think we're just

cursed like I I don't know what else makes sense like I agree with you I think Girardi's a horrible baseball manager I think he doesn't want to be here. I think the vibe that he permeates through this clubhouse is one of not giving a bleep, of we'll get him tomorrow. It doesn't matter. We've talked about it all. I think the guy sucks, and I think you can only get better by getting rid of him. But I agree, this feels rotten to the core, Jack. This whole bleeping thing feels rotten to the core.

Nick Cassiano's bets like 309 with 32 homers last year and is a pure stud. Comes here, starts hot, and then all of a sudden falls apart. Kyle Schwarber can't hit a baseball as soon as he signs a $79 million contract here. Like it is, it's astounding. It is astounding how players come here to die. Like if you want your career to fall apart become a philly because all of a sudden you're going to inexplicably forget how to do what you do it's unbelievable jack you're right like the mets are a bunch of mercenary parts or at least a lot of mercenary parts that are put together and are finding ways to put those pieces together

and be successful and this philly's team just is so underachieving, to such an extreme level of underachievement. And to your point, Jack, yeah, I don't know. I think you fired Girardi, and I saw someone on Twitter, I wish I could remember who it was. It might have been Franski in LA. I can't remember, but someone on Twitter was like, there's no way they're firing Girardi with Gabentown.

And I was like, great point. I should have thought about that. There's a 0% chance they will fire Girardi with Gabentown and I was like great point like I should have thought about that there's a zero percent chance they will fire Girardi with Gabentown but like Thursday assuming they lose this series I think there's a real chance Thursday it happens it's an off day whatever like but like at a certain point if nothing else you just do it because why the hell not like what else are you going to do that could maybe light a fuse that could maybe spur something in this team but i agree with you like it just doesn't feel like this group has it especially when you watch them go up against a group like the mets that that it just feels different i mean look they lost scherzer to grom and they're still

just chugging along winning games that'd be like if the phillies lost nolan wheeler and it's like yeah no problem we'd be cooked if it was like we're already cooked it feels like and the only thing that's carrying us is our starting pitching and those two guys like so you know it just it really I'm with you man like and look they're not out of the wild card I think the division like you know it's almost June 1st I think we can you know you know it's not officially over but I I feel pretty confident saying the Phillies are not winning the National League East this year but you know the wild card is still out there but it just I don't I don't know what you can see in this team right now that that would make you be like yeah let's let's go make the playoffs like

i just they they don't look like a despondent bunch well yeah and honestly i've kind of been in the i feel like i've been in the proof to me that you're good rather than me believing you're good mindset for a little bit now where it's like i'm just sick and tired of having to do the whole like blind put on the blinders and no they're going to be fine like i don't know if they're going to be fine so but i i think to you know i thought it was interesting we talk about our perception of this team and we talk about like like watching other baseball teams look like they're having fun out there and i thought it was interesting because alex coffee the the the inquire writer had talked to like the the parents or whatever i guess of some of the players and even they were like yeah i don't get why they don't look like they're having fun yeah like this this is what she this is what she wrote

uh last thursday night kyle gibson's parents were watching the phillies game on television as they normally do aaron nola was on the mound throwing well, but Gibson's mother noticed something was off. When you guys took the field, you didn't look too excited, she told her son a few days later. What's going on? Gibson shared the observation with a few teammates and realized that he was not alone. Cassiano's had a family member who said the same thing.

Why does it not look like we're having fun? Like, awesome. Great. Love to hear that. Like, love to. Like, even the parents are like seriously like what's going on so which which does say something because you watch your kids play baseball their whole lives and you know that like it's a kid's game and it should be super fun and the reason they do it is

because it's super fun and you've seen your kid have fun doing this their whole lives like i'm sure that stands out for a parent more than than other people even You know what I mean? Like, you notice that stuff. And that is, like, incredibly alarming, Jack. It's insane. And the eye test backs it up. It looks like they're not having any fun, like any fun at all going to the ballpark. And I thought it was interesting. Like, Heyman wrote a whole piece,

because now the Phillies like the talk of baseball and how disappointing they are. So, of course, all these pieces have to come out. I mean, as they should be. It deserves. Look, they went over the tax this is a big off season they brought in two of the biggest guys on the market like they deserve it like they deserve to get skewered nationally that is correct sorry it is what it is deserved but he had a he had a national league uh scout on I guess and the scout was like yeah i don't know if gerardi is the right kind of manager for that team thanks pal no but but his point was interesting he was like uh it's a star laden team and he might be like too much of a hard ass in a way so like i just wonder if maybe

this could be one of the reasons why you move on from gerardi is that like no one really likes playing for him. He's such a stickler and so intense, but he also looks like he doesn't want to be there. It's such a weird thing to say because you say that and it's like he's an intense manager. The guy looks like he's not even paying attention to the game 80% of the time he's

out there. It certainly doesn't feel like there's any fire. Again, the constant feeling of, you know, there's another game tomorrow. i mean again like the the constant feeling of you know there's another game tomorrow like it's just so i i can't get out of my head jack the last pot we did i thought you you summed it up so perfectly when talking about what you thought gabe learned here about you know and then going out to san francisco and just trying to win every pitch every inning every bat every game as opposed to this, like, ah, you know, it's early.

You know, the whole philosophy, and I really think that it's a Phillies thing, maybe. Because I'm blaming Girardi, but it feels like a Phillies thing. Regardless, you know, whatever it is, Girardi's not the answer. I think that's pretty clear. He doesn't want to be here. This team doesn't want him here. If nothing else, even if it's not his fault and i do we both talked many times about how we think how culpable he is in this team's mindset in the you know tactical decisions all that stuff but even if he weren't like you fire the manager in this spot no matter what anyway

because like you gotta do something right we're not firing 26 baseball players like you have to do something like you may as well take a shot with a shake up with a manager and see what happens but so like it's almost like a why not fire Girardi at this point especially in the situation we talked about many times the last year the deal and the not to browse he's guy and all that but I mean even outside of that to your point Jack like it does feel like as much as I think Girardi holds a lot of blame for the vibe of this team and the, you know, and specific games lost because of his decisions. I'm starting to get to the point with you where it does start to feel like it's like, I don't even know if a manager change matters that much at this point. Like it's so rotten there.

Well, it didn't matter with Gabe. I mean, I mean, they fired Gabe, which is fine. Like I thought, I thought at the time it made sense. but not in season, you know, like in season you can sometimes get a jolt was more the point I was trying to make, you know? Yeah. Yeah. So it really is the last resort. It's really the, listen, you're not, unless you're, unless you're trading one of the pieces you brought in this off season, or you're trading JT or Reese or, or one of those kind of, uh of culture changing moves. It's really the only thing you can do.

It's just and honestly, I hope it gives them a spark. I hope it gets them going. I hope it's, you know, the wake up call that you need. But nothing's been a wake up call like like nothing has been a wake up call. Losing in heartbreaking fashion has been a wake up call over and in heartbreaking fashion hasn't been a wake-up call over and over and over and over and over again it's uh i can't believe they lost like that last night it was like nothing it was like nothing i felt nothing jack i mean they blew two leads in a week or blew two saves in a week which like just another another week for for this baseball team but it's like

nothing has been nothing has given them a spark like even got a gift last Sunday against the Dodgers. That's supposed to be something that you can – like the Braves would have rallied behind that. These teams that know how to win would rally behind what happened last Sunday and use it as positive momentum. But it seems like it's just every day. It's like, oh, here we are at the ballpark again. There is no positive momentum ever, ever with this team, right?

How many times have we had this conversation, Jack, where it's like this is the thing. They're going to latch on to it. It's going to propel them forward. It's never happened. Not once, man. In all these years we've been doing this, they never have a moment and react to it in a positive way

that propels them forward. It never happens. It's crazy. No. And I don't know if there's a manager that can do that. I. And, and I, I don't know. I don't know if there's a manager that can do that. I don't know that. And I don't know.

I just think that you move on from now. You hope that it jumpstarts the team. And if it doesn't, then, you know, you got a, a culture problem and you can address that in the off season when we get there. But,

you know, maybe, maybe just move on from the manager to see if it sparks anything see if it gives us i mean he's on a last year of a deal he is a lame duck manager it's not like you're really if you were super interested in having joe gerardi here long term then you would sign into a a bs contract extension like they did with pete mccannon so they're clearly not interested in that but at least if you fire them then you can yeah you can see what these guys are like you

can see if another manager sparks you can see if it's a younger guy you can see if a like an old school guy you know they do have options whether whether it's Leland or Bochy or they can stick with Dusty Wathen or a younger guy or bring Sam Fold down from the from the front office and and and see if there's something that can kind of spark this team. Because if another manager can't spark this team, then it's got to be a player's issue. And then you got to figure it out from there. So it's a really tough spot to be in. It's one of those, like, it's just frustrating when you see all these other teams are able to do it and do it well.

And it's like, oh, that's what it's supposed to look like. You know, like, we've seen other teams have momentum changing wins, and then they go on a bit of a run. And we know that's how it's supposed to look like. We've seen other teams have momentum-changing wins, and then they go on a bit of a run, and we know that's how it's supposed to work in baseball. But then we watch this team every night, and it's like, well, I guess we're not going to do that anymore. Yeah, it is pretty crazy.

I would be really interested to see a breakdown, and I'm not a savant when it comes to baseball reference or, you know, breaking this heavy down, but I would be fascinated to know in terms of win streaks, how we know the eight game win streak is the only one since 2012. Cause we talked forever about that, you know, Oh, they haven't won more than four games or whatever it was for, for however many years, like those crazy numbers we used to talk about all the time. Like I'll bet you they are on the low, low low low low low end in terms of major league baseball in terms of win streaks um you know in terms of sustained winning in terms of you know going on runs or whatever over the last five years or whatever like they are absolutely at the bottom of that list because it it just never happens

shag it never happens like this team never ever just gets on a run like and it's not even just the like you know that one eight game win streak that we can point to as this like beacon of they actually did something once like but it's it's not just that it's not you know they don't win four in a row even that often or five in a row ever or whatever it's they don't go on like the 10 of 12s or the you know they've won 11 of their last 15. Like, they don't even do that. Like, it is so, that tweet that came out before the quarter bowl, and obviously now it's below that because they're now like six games below, and that was like they were three or whatever when it happened.

But that tweet about them being whatever, like 10-10 and 25-25 and 100-100 in the last 200 games or whatever, it's like, it's just so dead on. Like, this team is like the definition of just like a bleeping straight line. And that straight line is right down the middle of the standings. Right down the mediocre line. Like they just are so, and right now they're worse than that. Like don't get me wrong. I don't want to, you know, give them more credit than they deserve. They're bad right now.

But it is astounding, Jack, how they're just pure inability to ever, ever, ever, ever, ever string a couple good months together. Like even a couple good months, Jack. It's crazy. Welcome to our lives, man. And selfishly, for our sakes, it would be great. But instead, it seems like every year, James, we just log on to this podcast and wallow in our own misery. We're like the team. It's like every year.

It's the same bleeping thing. We finish out. But when we do this podcast, we come in as winners. Yeah, we bring it. We're like a 108-win podcast playing with an 81-win baseball team. I agree. We are a World Series caliber podcast, and we have a barely 500 baseball team every single agree. Like we are, we are a world series caliber podcast and we have a barely 500 baseball team

every single year. Like what, what gives the guy, I frankly, I don't, I don't know. It's outrageous. I mean,

Miller light sees the value of us. If only the Phillies could, you know what I'm saying? I agree. And now if Miller light, you know, like as they, you know,

they would be getting even better return on investment. If, if this baseball team could, could get out of their own way a little bit. Yes, by the way, June 11th, coming out with us. Time back. Yes, speaking of wallowing in our own misery, let's do it all together. Let's do it together, 4-0-5. We'll have some information this week for sure on how you can get tickets.

Avett Brothers are playing that night. Avett Brothers, better than the Phillies, pretty much anything is these days. We could all hang out together. That would be fun, Jack, right? If you're. Avett brothers better than the Phillies. Pretty much anything is these days. We could all hang out together. That'd be fun, Jack, right? If you're trying to find a positive with the Phillies, it's us.

We are the positive with the Phillies. I agree. Um, so listen, as we've said, sadly, far too many times in this podcast, James,

if we can't go through it alone, it's better to go through it together. Right? So true. You know, and, and honestly, like we're going to continue to do the podcast.

We're going to love doing the podcast. Cause I love talking to my friend James. Um, and we're going to try to keep the good vibes going. I don't want to come on every week and just be down, but it's just like, I don't know what to do anymore. I really don't like,

I, I carve out a lot of time to, to watch and invest in this baseball team. And it i love it like it's not i'm not complaining like it's not something that i don't love to do like i would want to do it anyway it's just like i just feel like i'm just wasting so much of like but but i just keep you know you know it's sad james i keep saying to myself like when they win it's gonna be worth it and i just feel like you know, you know, it's sad, James. I keep saying to myself, like when they win, it's going to be worth it. And I just feel like, you know, you know, what's bad is I was listening to Ray yesterday.

The great Ray Dittinger retired over the weekend. And just like hearing about the years and years of like pain, Philly sports. And then I started thinking like about my own, like, let's say 50 years from now, we're doing a, uh, high,

high hopes, retirement tour. Uh, well, I mean, you'd be 90. I don't think that's going to happen. Wow.

You're going to be 90 in 50 years. That's great. It's great. It's good. Just took a turn. Um, no, Thanks, buddy. That's great. That's great. It's good. This took a turn. See ya. See ya. No, but it's just like.

I didn't think this pod could get more depressing. Somehow you found a way. So thank you. It's good. It's just what I needed. You're still going to be producing Joe and John? Yeah, just what I needed right there. This is really good.

Anyway, let's turn this back around. Are we done yet? Are we done yet? I'm going to go eat with my family soon so yeah no there's something worthwhile with life instead of watch and talk about the stupid phillies no they're great anyway um no it's just like you think about the the future you're possible next 50 years and it's like well i guess just give me one more i don't know like it you know i don't know well jack i you know, I don't know. Well, Jack, I mean, think about it.

Like, I tweeted this last night. Like, the Phillies could lose their next 1,182 games straight and still be under.500 as a franchise. That is seven-plus years. That is, Jack, they could not lose a baseball game until the year 2029 and still be under 500 as a franchise. I mean, that's us. That's what we got,

man. That that's our squad. And I, again, I don't get what we did to deserve this. Like the Phillies have one more win than the Orioles, James. They have one more win than the freaking Orioles.

Like, the Orioles stink. Yeah, the Orioles are horrible. But, I mean, the Leafs, they look like they play hard. I don't know. I can't. I don't know. I don't know. This is really sad.

This is a sad one. This is a sad one. Listen, listen. It's going to be okay. Life will move on. I just don't know if the baseball team is going to be a part of our summer Well, Miller Lite will be Miller Lite's going to be a heavy

There's going to be a lot of Miller Lite talk on this pod Get ready, that's my prediction Listen, yeah, and honestly Every time someone sends me a photo Of them drinking Miller Lite Saying it's Miller time to watch a sweep Yeah, see, this was our mistake with the bit It should have been Miller Lite saying it's Miller time to watch a sweep or Miller time to see. This was our mistake with the bit. It should have been Miller Lite

for a loss. We would have gotten them a lot more pub. Yes. It would have been the smart one. Crack a Miller Lite when they lose. We'd all be getting wasted. Yeah. Donovan Chespad. That's on me. I thought this team maybe had a pulse,

but looks like they don't. Just a disheartening weekend. Oh, God, this is so depressing. Keeps you down. I really don't have much left. I'm really not kidding. I'm going out to the diner with Zoe and Emily. It sounds so much better.

But I do love talking to you. You're my salvation when it comes to Philly Jack, honestly. Everything else, I wouldn't do this if it weren't for you. I hate this team right now. I actually hate it. I really dreaded watching like i i'm dreading 405 today like you're like you know your tweets of like oh just gotta get me to 705 you gotta get me to 405 like i'm like the opposite of that right now like i am actively dreading having to watch this team like i don't want to watch them play baseball it's's very sad, Jack. I'm in a bad spot. At least we might have a new season.

I'm going to end the pod whenever we get there because we're about to do take back and stuff because I'm cooked. I'm going to end the bad. Get ready for this. This is a tease. I'm going to end the pod with maybe the meanest thing I've ever said about the Phillies to the Phillies

on this podcast. So stay tuned for that. It's coming. All right. Well, don't make tuned for that. It's coming. All right. Well, don't make it too personal. It's not. Don't you'll get it when I do it.

It's more like a, I'm not going to be like bleep the Phillies or anything. You know, you'll see, you'll see, you'll see. Well, at least,

at least they'll probably have a new center fielder today. So that'd be fun. Yeah. Um, okay. Uh, yes, yes.

Thank you. The one positive vibes. There we go. What's what we need. Why not baby? Why not? All right. Uh, take bag it up for it. See, cause, uh, I vibes There we go It's what we need Why not, baby? Why not? All right Take Bag It Up, Fritzy

Because I'm going to go eat breakfast soon I know I think you felt this I think I felt this last night But it seems like the Castellanos Kind of writing himself That little run You know

It seems like it's coming I had a home run last night His first in a while I think the first one's like i got pulled over in april so um good to see cassiano's back and his swing looks better like he just a week ago i was like it looks like all defensive swings from cassiano's and i know cassiano's i have watched him hit for years and he is an aggressive, trying to hit home runs almost all the time. And he was taking very conservative hacks.

So I think this Castellanos hot streak at least will be fun to watch for a little bit here. What do you think about Sir Anthony at closer? I mean. Why not at this point, man? Why not at this point? I mean, Knievel is clearly just in his head a bit and doesn't have it right now. And Cernanthi looks great. So, yes, sure.

Yeah, it's just annoying because he does have – I like having him – yeah, I like having him as someone you can put into the most important spots in the game and not have him set in that role. But, I mean, like – I mean, it's getting to the point where I don't trust Knievel, and that sucks. Yeah, because he's a good pitcher. I know. And this is a classic Phillies. They get a guy who's good, and he turns out to not be that good.

I know. He's going to leave here and be nasty again. It's so frustrating, man. It's so frustrating. But if they swapped Knievel on Sir Anthony's roles, I don't think that's the worst idea in the world. I think Knievel actually has a lot of value, because he should have value doing what sir anthony does and maybe that's

just what he's better suited for and sir anthony looks great so um i tell you what sir anthony being back to being sir anthony has been one of the uh the highlights of the season so far a few few highlights yes and and if he if i guess he had arm fatigue earlier this week. So, you know, at least they could put Knabel back there. But either way, maybe Sir Anthony at the closer. Try that out for a little bit. The little things are starting to add up on this team. Like, you know, what was it, freaking Friday night? Like the Mets just hit shallow fly balls to right field

and Cassiano's couldn't throw anyone out. Like if Bryce is out there, that's a different ball game. I mean, the stop play in the first inning on Friday night, it's like, okay, awesome, great, love to see that. So, like, for the first time, really all year, like, the defense has kind of held up. I mean, there's been little moments where it's faltered, but it's really starting to add up now,

and it seems like every night there's like i mean o'double and schwarber oh my god how many bad news bears moments have we had just like the last two weeks well i mean nothing i don't know if anything will ever top what happened in in atlanta the o'double ball yeah i mean yeah that was just so bad so and and and the night before the the you know uh nick nelson fly ball with the three of those guys kind of ball dropping right between them. Just too many of those types of things. Way too many.

And that's not what winning teams do. Exactly. Very simply. That's not what winners do. Yeah, maybe a little bit more attention to detail. Figure out the defensive stuff. I don't know what to tell you. You're paid a lot of money to be here. Work on it. Figure it out. Let's maybe win some ball games. attention to detail like figure out the defensive stuff i don't know what to tell you like you're

paid a lot of money to be here work on it figure it out and you know let's let's maybe win some ball games um uh that's really all i have i mean you know i don't blame you there's not much i brought up most of the stuff earlier um i i yeah i got nothing but i do have a quick fun little top five before we here i will before i make me i do have three quick things and my mean thing i'm gonna say for the very end three quick things the minor league player the the housing stuff like what are we doing guys like what are we doing like as an organization can we just be better can can the phillies please be better with this stuff the The only team in Major League Baseball that doesn't do this for players. It's awesome.

Can we just, like, you wonder why we're the losingest franchise in the history of sports. You wonder why we consistently struggle with drafting and developing. Like, it's everything. It's all of it. Like, it's just one part of the whole thing. Like, treat them right. Like, oh, my God. Oh, my God, dude.

Quick, I tweeted, and I quote to you last night with the the 1182 straight game thing but but uh i meant to bring this up last pod and i forgot but just i tweeted out after you know a week ago whatever i think it was during the dodgers series wherever like the phillies are the most frustrating team in the history of sports root for something to it and i just like to to give a quick shout out to all the adorable people who said, have you heard of the Sixers? Don't you know the Sixers? Like adorable. All right, guys, like very sweet. It's very sweet, but like get the bleep out of here. All right. Like, yes, the Sixers for the last decade have been pretty frustrating. I'm with you. I'm a Sixers fan. I've never seen him win a championship. I get

it. It's pretty frustrating. They're not even in the hemisphere of the phillies they're not even like sniffing the phillies jockstrap when it comes to most frustrating franchise so thank you very much and then last thing and jack this is on both of us because this is your fault and it's my fault and i meant to bring this up like a week and a half ago whenever it happened two weeks ago whatever and it was because we didn't do one close to right after but still i will take the l big time shout out to pat mccarthy when he filled in on the radio like did a freaking awesome job i got to it just worked out that i was listening to most of that game rather than watching and it's just fun to hear pat doing his thing he's really good at it and uh and you know obviously a uh one of our dudes here so shout out to pat mcc. Like a couple weeks ago, whenever he did that game,

I just thought he crushed it. And I'm excited to see him get more shots. Ah, it's our guy, PMAC. PMAC. Good dude. Good broadcaster. And real quick on your Sixers point. Like the comparison would be if the Sixers lost seven times a year on buzzer beaters

like it pretty much be that where it's just like oh they lost that buzzer beater again like oh they blew it I mean I know that Doc has been notorious for blowing like 20 plus point leads but um it's just like it's every it's it's almost two times a week where you're like what what's the point of all this where i don't feel that way as a sixers fan now they do play every day yeah and at least the sixers make the playoffs at least the sixers have winning seasons like again we even had we've had we won 82 games last year it was like oh god our first winning season in a decade and that's one of now 11 years that's one of many 11 year stretches in the histories of the phillies franchising and they went like 30 whatever years with under 500 records straight

like it just doesn't compare i'm sorry yeah i mean this team is probably it's probably the most disappointing team in my lifetime so far i mean you're talking this specific year yeah wow wow that's a wow i don't disagree i'm not saying I disagree, but that is... There's six games under 500. I'm with you. They went over the tax. It's a bold statement, though. $230-plus million payroll.

Dream Team 2011 is one that pops to mind. It's probably... I'll have a top five for it tomorrow on the real radio. Okay, yes, of course you will. All right, let's get to your top five. All right, top five must-haves for a great cookout, James. I hope everyone was able to... Thank you for not doing something Phillies-related.

I really appreciate this. Well, that's funny because number five is no Phillies. Perfect mindset. We agree. Even though I couldn't abide by my own rule last night. So I hope people are having a nice time outside. It's a beautiful uh couple days here uh number four is is if your cookout doesn't have mac and cheese like what's the point of even showing up like it's a must-have it it's hard to i would say mac and cheese is probably the food

that is the hardest to screw up like even bad mac and cheese is still pretty dang good so 100% agree with everything you said it It just, it makes it. So if it doesn't have it, what's the point? What's the point? I'm so with you. This is a great statement. Number three, and this is a key and it frustrates me when I go to cookouts and, and the, the host will, will cheapen out on, on the good buns.

You know, like I want a good roll. I want for a hot dog, for a, for a burger, you know like i want a good roll i want for a hot dog for a for a burger you know get me a good roll yeah this is important across the board like in any situation cheese steaks it's everything no like the i the the buns that like break apart very easily like they're just badly made white bread like out i'm out give me a good bun and let me enjoy this hot dog slash burger don't cheapen out on the buns they're very very important fantastic totally agree what's next number two must-haves for a great cookout you gotta have a great deck slash outdoor space like it's just i was sitting outside on my uh my uncle-in-law's i guess do you call it an uncle-in-law

i probably just get i mean it does but i would probably just go uncle and just like, you know. Yeah. Explain it if you need to, but I hope you don't need to. Just trying to be accurate here. I appreciate it, buddy. And it's just like you're outside. You're kind of like in the grass. I love I love I love a good outdoor space.

I finally we finally got one here uh with the house that jill and i bought and because after like three years of just being in little apartments that didn't have any outdoor space it's like having outdoor space is the key to happiness in life in my opinion i it's a great it's a great take buddy great being outside yeah and the number one key to having a great cookout is make sure that you are stocked up on Miller Lite. What a great answer. Yes, totally true. Really just well done there.

Speaking of Miller Lite, again, we'll have some more information out for our first of the Ring the Bell games that we're going to be doing in the High Ops Night at the Ballpark June 11th. That info will be coming soon. We've got a lot more events coming as well down the pike, so a lot of fun stuff with Miller Lite. It's Miller time. Miller Lite, way better than the Philadelphia Phillies. All right, Jack, here's my last thing that I will say here.

Do you have any final thoughts before I just say something really mean? No, I'm kind of nervous to see what you're going to say. You'll see. You'll see. It's not that. Honestly, what's mean is that here's what I keep thinking as I'm watching the Phillies games. And this is a constant thing for about the last week and a half or so. Really, the last week as I'm watching these Phillies games.

I feel really bad about this. On the High Oaks podcast, I'm saying this. I feel really bad. I just can't wait for Eagle season to start, man. That's where I'm at. Bring on the birds baby Let's go football Give it to me

I'm ready for some Eagles football I'm freaking psyched about this team At least one team isn't letting me down in the city That's where I'm at How sad is that Jack? Like I'm almost like Welling up a little bit as I say that

Because it's so sad that I had to say that But it's deserved It's deserved The Phillies deserve that That's where I'm at Well Well yeah. But for me, you saying that just goes to show how much you like Elliot more than me. It's always about you, isn't it?

It's never about others. It's always directly about you. Yes. You know what I find so funny about the Eagles hype? First off, it's adorable. But it's like, we just went through this with the Sixers oh they got hard in finals the Phillies oh they got casting on some Schwarber they're making the playoffs sure I guess the Eagles are gonna be totally different this time around like

why we've had two straight hype teams let us down why are the Eagles so this is a great point but Jack and and this is something I'm sure you'll agree with when you got a winner like Jalen Hurts a leader like Jalen Hurts this kind of stuff won't happen you know what I'm sure you'll agree with. When you've got a winner like Jalen Hurts, a leader like Jalen Hurts, this kind of stuff won't happen. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I mean, as long as he can hand the ball off and not have to throw the ball, I guess things are going to be fine.

All right. I'm going out. That's definitely how you win in modern football is just handing the ball off when you have A.J. Brown and Devontae Smith. Hey, Phillies, Phillies, could you make me care about you instead of looking at the football season, which is like five months away or whatever? All right.

Well, at least we'll have a new center fielder. Will we? Oh, yeah. Bring us back, please. The question is, will Joe Girardi play him or will he bring him up? That's a good question, Mark. I don't think.

God, I hate Joe Girardi. I hate him so much. All right. We'll be back later in the week. Obviously, we'll have more information coming out soon, so pay attention to our Twitter and the next pod for the June 11th game. We're going to go hang out, have some fun. Hanging out, not watching baseball because this baseball is not fun.

Here's my prediction. By June 11th, the Phillies will be five games back in the NL East. So they're going to win every game until June 11th? They will not be double digits down to the Nets in the NL East. That's my bold take. My prediction is June 11th, I'm going to be looking up, when does training camp start? Do we have dates yet for training camp practices?

That's what I'm thinking down there. Good times, buddy. Go Phils, Jack. Go Phils. I know. Go Miller Lite. I love Miller Lite. All right.

I'm going to brunch, breakfast, whatever you want to call it. I'm done with this. Maybe the Phillies win a game today. Maybe they won't. They probably won't. Gabe's in town. So it should be good.'t. They probably won't. Game's in town. So it should be good. It should be good, buddy.

It's fun times. He's for it himself. So we'll see you later. We'll see you later. We'll see you next time.