High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Where Were You When Schwarber's 11 Pitch Strikeout Saved the Season?

Episode Date: April 20, 2022

James and Jack are back reacting to a rough Phillies roadtrip. Despite the team's struggles, the guys still find some hope from the last two games in Colorado. They discuss said hope, Carmago's quick ascent to becoming the greatest Phillie of all time, Schwarber finally Schwarbombing, and 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

Miller Lite, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching up on the latest High Hopes Pod, or at the ballpark, remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. What's it like to trade crypto on Kraken? Let's say I'm in a state-of-the-art gym surrounded by powerful-looking machines. Do I head straight for the squat rack? I could, but this gym has options, like trainers, fitness pros, spotters to back me up. That's Crypto on Kraken, powerful crypto tools backed by 24-7 support and multi-layered security.

Go to kraken.com and see what crypto can be. Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. See kraken.com slash legal slash ca dash pru dash disclaimer for info on Kraken's undertaking to register in Canada. This is the High Hopes Podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and Sports Radio 94

WIP. Yo! Oh! It is! Wow. Another edition. I was trying to try and, that was horrible. I was trying to kind of get into a yo, how I feel about the Phillies right now.

And I think that yo is absolutely representative of how I feel. I mean, I'm really happy they won a game today Jack and I'm not panicking or anything like that but I was pretty upset last night I'll tell you that much buddy you know all right we've been doing this we've been doing this podcast for a while and uh you know it's been a lot of down and I feel like it's been a lot of down. And I feel like there's been a lot. Like, yeah, a lot of down. Well aware. Mostly down.

A ton of down. Well aware. But they won today. Well, here's my thing. Now, you don't have to be in the same position that I am in. And that's totally fair. I fully expect you not to be. But in my head, they won last night too like they really like they really did you know i think they won yesterday i don't care that you know uh jt jt

called a slider to cj crone for no reason i don't care that you know we pulled uh sir anthony um in the eight which i mean you could argue that i mean he did strike out blackman and he didn't get the call so like i mean they did kind of win in that way. I can't believe we're doing this again. No, I know. It's like we're back. I was literally going to be like, oh, that weekend didn't happen. Remember when they actually won that game?

They lost. That was great. You know what we are, though, James, is that we're getting back to the ethos of this podcast. Because honestly, I am like giddy talking about this team again. I'm sorry. Like I know that my, I know that it might not be representative of the, uh,

the rest of the, the representative, the representative, not good. Not how the rest of the fan base feels representative. Well, at least I can announce our superstar, a short stops name,

right? Unlike someone, um, you mean, you mean third baseman? Well, I don't know. Don't let Bomer get hot over there. At least I can announce our superstar shortstop's name right, unlike someone. You mean Thurberism. Well, I don't know. Don't let Bomer get hot over there. Maybe the best Philly in the history of the franchise since 1883. Has anyone ever been as good as Johan Camargo?

I don't know. I mean, probably not. Evidence suggests not. No, I know it's not. I don't know. I just think people need to grow up and stop complaining all the time and i know like it's been a long time and i know i was really down last podcast and you know i honestly got to a point james where the first week happened and i was like super down it's like ah same year

they're same stuff different year and um you know And then Apathy started setting in very quickly this year, which usually it takes a little bit for Apathy to set in. And then they played well today, and I don't feel that bad. So I'm sorry if people are expecting Meltdown City. I genuinely feel pretty good about the team yeah i wouldn't go pretty good but i'm definitely not like panicking like there there are concerns that i have that i you know you can definitely point to and chief among them joe friggin gerardi we'll get to that guy but god do i hate him i i even when they flash him in the dugout, I just get, like, a surge of anger.

It's not good for my blood pressure, I don't think. But, you know, look, they're only 5-8. It's not like the season's over. It's been 13 games. You know, I'm very, very much in the don't panic, relax. I mean, the Braves started the season 4-8 last year. I year i said it last pot i think but they were under 500 until august they were under 500 until august last year i mean we all remember the nationals a couple years ago the same thing where they were under 10 games under through 50 or whatever it was i mean like you just can't

overreact to this stuff the season is way way way way way too long to have these overreactions now you can like look at things and say oh you, you know, I'm concerned about that. That's something that I'm going to keep an eye on. But I don't think that you can or don't think you should be freaking out. I just think that to your point, Jack, it's just that we're so used to this. It's like this. I saw your tweet and I actually said the same thing yesterday and the the it feels like September baseball like it feels like watching the September

Phillies it feels like last season never ended and they just carried it right into this season and I think that's part of why everyone's like so you know kind of like shook by it because we all came in with these high hopes and we're all ready for them to at least not even you know, kind of like shook by it because we all came in with these high hopes and we're all ready for them to at least not even, you know, start hot, much less start like fine. And instead that, you know, they're, and it's the same old stuff, right? It's, it's disaster in Miami, disaster in Colorado, like the NOLA stuff, Girardi. It's just, it's all the stuff, man. It's like everything. It's like a microcosm of the last two years three years all of it so i think that's why i i think to your point i think it's hard for

people to not be concerned right now and to be fair like i totally get it like i i'm not one of the uh the baseball police or whatever or you know where you're not allowed to react strongly to your team letting you down, that's fine. That's part of being a fan. That's part of what makes us love sports and part of the reason why we do this podcast. Because honestly, James, I know we're both baseball savants and we're just geniuses, but we're fans as well.

That's what people think. They hear it, they're just like savants. They're like, oh, man, i learned so much listening to that podcast but um like we're fans too and i understand that fans first fans first yeah well also you know but at the same time like if they if they lost five if they weren't five and eight in the middle of july like no one would care dude i said the same thing yesterday too like it's you're you're exactly right you know the middle of July. Like no one would care. Dude, I said the same thing yesterday too. Like it's, you're, you're exactly right. You know, the seven of eight, you might pay attention to, cause it was seven of eight going into today. You might be like, Oh, seven of eight, not great. But if they had been good before and it's just kind of leveling out, no one, you're absolutely

right. No one will pay attention to it. And the weird thing is too, it's like, you know, you can't put your finger on specific i mean you can if you dig deep right the the average against fastballs versus off speed stuff the somehow inability to to hit the ball when runners are on base and you know outside of a couple games you know there are specific things you can point to but like you look through like you know the numbers and where people are at it's like oh castellanos has been really good. Oh, Schwarber's obviously struggled, but had a big weekend in Colorado. The numbers aren't horrible. Harper's been struggling, but Boehm is a monster.

Camargo is giving you so much more than you could have expected. It's surprising to me. It doesn't feel like the numbers reflect just how lifeless and how frustrating this offense has been most nights and I get it it's you know a couple games can inflate numbers all that type of stuff especially this early in the season but I you know it look let's just get to it because I do think that the Girardi thing is something that is hanging over this team and and I am not panicking you're not panicking.

But we've talked many times. I think everyone who listens to this pod knows how I feel about Girardi. But, I mean, for them to come out and just look like the exact same brand of baseball the last two years and to go on this road trip and just be lifeless again for the vast majority of it. And obviously today was a nice win. And yesterday they fought and whatever. But like, for the most part, it just, when are we going to see a Joe Girardi baseball team

that has some fricking passion, some fire, that goes out ready to play every day, that goes out and seems to have some life, you know, outside of the in-game stuff that we detest and we'll talk about and all that, the bullpen decisions, can't stick with the lineup. I mean, has he had his same lineup two games in a row yet this season? I mean, it's just wild. But outside of that, just the thing that you and I talked about so much when he was hired, Jack, was the culture builder. You know, a Joe Girardi baseball team. What a winner this guy's been his whole life.

You know, player and coach, all this stuff. And in two plus years, we've literally seen zero. Yeah. And honestly, where I'm at right now is like, I want to be all in on, I think they're going to turn it around. I think they're going to be good. You know, I believe in the talent. I believe in the offense. I've liked the approach the last couple of days. Like I want to be, I want to be cannonballs off the deep end. Right. Like I want to be the guy that's going to be,

and I will be full disclosure. Like, obviously I'm going to be all in I will be, full disclosure. Like, obviously, I'm going to be all in when, like, the time is right. The one part that is giving me cause for pause is Joe Girardi. Like, I just, I don't trust the guy. And I don't trust the decisions he makes. It's not even totally his fault, James. Like, I genuinely, like, it's not that it's not his fault. It's like even decisions I agree with, I'm like, well, this is going to backfire. And it was that same with Gabe.

It was the same with Gabe too. Like I felt like Gabe made, I agreed with Gabe when he was making decisions. I was like, okay, that makes sense. That makes sense. Like, okay, good decision. And it would backfire and be like ah gabe's an idiot get get him out of here gerardi it's like i agree with maybe one out of every three decisions with gerardi um and it's like i just think it's gonna go wrong and i will and

the lineup thing is just annoying uh from the standpoint of you brought in Kyle Schwarber to be the leadoff hitter. And in five games, you're ditching it. And, you know, a part of being a leader is being calm in the presence of danger. Not that baseball is like a danger. No, but it's a good metaphor. You're right. A calming force you hear that so much when people talk about great managers is that they're they're always steady they're always the same person you know no matter what's happening you can always kind of go to them

and they're going to be that calming influence I think it's a great point Jack and I just don't feel that way with him I feel like every day with the change in the lineup it's like well I gotta do this I gotta do this I gotta it's weird it's I feel like every day with the change in the lineup, it's like, well, I got to do this. I got to do this. I got to. It's weird. It's like he's panicky with the lineup. And then with average relievers, he's like, just give me one more. Chris Sanchez, you got it.

Go out. We'll see. Whatever. Just gut feel. I mean, I don't have anyone else. I mean, come on. Right. I mean, guys can't pitch two nights in a row.

You know, what do you want me to do here? Well, except for Familia today. He's able to days i know and he was horrible and he left him out too long what a shocker yeah it's just like i i just don't there's no real rhyme or reason and he seems in over his head i don't trust it ever just i don't stress like many decisions he makes and even if they go on a run here and even if they make the playoffs i would still move on from like i don't i don't think he's a good manager i don't think the players particularly like playing for him like i don't think i've never heard one player say how much they like playing for joe gerardi and if it was one player i would bet it's either dd or ronald torres like i don't i don't think there's

any other guy and he he seems like a really nice guy and and i like you know i actually do like that he seems just as upset when they lose um you know as as we do like he does seem exasperated in the in the postgame pressers but like you know it again every time i look at him i feel like he's he's looking at a binder and i don't want to do the whole binder joe thing but like look up and watch the game and and i just don't know why every young player has a short leash every veteran player has too far of a leash why the lineup it's like you know anything that works is moving around and i don't get why um uh i don't know like i don't know he just falls out of favor with young players quickly and trusts veterans. It's worked out for Marco.

Unless it's a young reliever with no experience struggling in his second inning of work. He just leaves them to die. Well, because he wants to so that he can validate. I know. They can validate not putting him out there. So, you know, I kind of thought they were Girardi-proof, but that take has beyond backfired early in the season because they're not

Girardi proof. And he is really the main reason, James, why there is a bit of a cause for pause for me when it comes to this baseball team and evaluating their future this season. Yeah, me too. But look, I'm with you on everything else. Like, I am not truly, genuinely concerned about this, the players on this team in any meaningful way. You know, if you want to say, am I still concerned about Wheeler just because I'm always concerned with his shoulder? And, you know, sure.

But if I say my real feelings about Wheeler, it's that I think it's just spring training for him and he's going to get there. And he might not be Zach Wheeler from last year after the innings increased, but I think Wheeler will be fine but you know you can point to little things like that where you can say yeah that's like slightly concerning or a little concerning but the only thing that for me is a real true concern is Joe Girardi and for all the

points he made and again the other the outside the in-game stuff just the the lack of of this team ever having any sort of swag, any sort of, you know, especially on the road. I mean, how many years is this now, Jack? I mean, it's crazy just to start the season with like seven to lose, you know, five of seven or was it seven of nine on the road trip, five of seven on the road trip. I mean, like, it's just like, yep, that's the Phillies. Just go on the road and lose to teams they shouldn't in these bad spots.

Yeah, I don't know if you know this, James, but you do have to win games in the road if you want to make a playoff. Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's a great point, Jack. Astute. See, people do learn stuff when they listen to this pod. We knew it. But, yeah, so, all right, let's get some more fun stuff

because people might not know, but we don't have all night because, you know, Jack's got other engagements. Oh, and we got, you know, big, big, big Sixers game. In demand. In demand. Big Sixers game and Jack's, you know, in demand, as they say. Right. Of course. Yeah. I'm just messing around.

But let's get some fun stuff. Let's start with the two guys who I think right now, certainly today, really had such a big impact and who have been the two most consistent hitters on the team somehow, but also two players who play the same position. And obviously you alluded to some potential movement there, whatever. But the whole Boehm-Camargo thing, like, I mean, Boehm, to our point with Girardi,ardi I mean he took him way too Long to get him in the lineup like you just

For a team that is not hitting consistently Like the guy who's batting 700 and then Six whatever and 580 and whatever He's at now like like yeah Like have that guy in the lineup you know I mean He should be in the lineup there are not enough guys seeing the Ball well right now and who are locked in right now Like play him you figure it out that was the whole

Point of this team the defense doesn't matter As much as you figure it out that was the whole point of this team the defense doesn't matter to as much as offense does like right that was the whole point of this team but um but then you also have camargo there just being awesome and and obviously a way better defensive third baseman like light years better but also camargo has been you know one of the best hitters on the team and and the homer today i couldn't believe it i because at this point i i pretty much assumed that every single yom kamargo hit whether from the right or left side plate was the same thing just a little flare into a spot in the outfield he's like the king of just finding a little hole in the outfield and just plopping a ball in a little soffit or maybe it must be it must be a true brave i mean seriously though right i mean how many of those um but what do you make

of the the boom kam camargo thing how you make sure like right now especially for a team that needs some juice like you get these guys in the lineup how do you see these two kind of shaking out and also moving forward especially because look camargo love the guy we've talked about he's a player who's on a winning team but he's also someone who certainly has the potential to get exposed if he's asked to do too much over the course of the season. My official position is it'd be a real shame if DeeDee missed a couple of months here or whatever. Oh, yeah.

DFA? I don't know. Is it crazy? He actually doesn't look mean he doesn't look terrible And you're not they're definitely not I'm joking They're definitely not gonna do that No they will they will not But I mean Like it could have the best case

In there he could have played out today where You know I mean DD's Out and and Johan Camargo Steps in there and and Goes four for five with the dinger i mean that's about as good i mean i think he's uh six for his last nine nice um so so that is uh that's good to see but no he i i think he might be my favorite philly like i don't know I love him I love him he's I have I love him dude like I yeah it's like Torres last year but but better like the guys that can actually hit the ball

yeah he's actually a hitter like and obviously you know again we know he's not going to do this all season but I just love the guy he makes every play he gets clutch hits he's a switch hitter he seems to do the exact same thing both sides of the plate. He just, like, for a team that has not had a ton of dependable all-around baseball players the last few years, Jack, like, you know, this guy's a good player. And put this one in the win column for our good friend Adi Kalambi, our Rays guy.

Was that a Rays guy move? I am pretty sure it was a Rays guy. So, you know, that's an already big win paying off for the Phils. Yeah, but listen, Johan Camargo, he's just a winning type player. He's a guy that good teams have, and when he steps in, he has upside defensively. I mean, at third base, he's just unbelievable. Shortstop definitely does not have the range, but every ball that is grounded

to him, he's like a vacuum out there and can make every single play and has an absolute hose. And certainly not worse than Didi, at least from what we've seen. No, he's definitely not worse than Didi.

And I just don't know with with Boehm I actually think he's looking well I guess good as a stretch but better defensively like I think he's he's starting to make some plays over there made a nice play today made the routine plays last night like if he can just make the routine plays you don't feel terrible about it we made the Mets game such a meltdown was like he wasn't even making the routine plays, you don't feel terrible about it. What made the Mets game such a meltdown was he wasn't even making the routine plays. And in the Mets game, he had the ball off Ranger that he threw away. Last night, a ball was off the pitcher, same kind of thing.

He ate it, and he didn't throw it. So possibly some strides there because you can't take the bat out of the lineup. But also, I understand because he was such a sieve defensively that you couldn't put him out there. I just think he has taken a good step forward defensively. So I don't know how you keep him out of the lineup at this point just based on his defense because I think his defense is taking a nice step up. So for as long as DD is missing time here, I don't know how long that's going to be um you know camargo at short and and boom at third base maybe that's the kind of thing

that gets his team rolling and and we can finally get a semblance of a consistent lineup out there that they can do the thing on a night in night out basis but you know i think's taking a step up defensively from being unplayable to being okay. And at the plate, I mean, he has done everything that we had asked him to do pretty much. If you look at the numbers, like balls in the air, he's pulling it more, driving with more consistency in the home run today. That's a massive, massive step forward from a guy that wasn't doing that last year. So I'm really, really positive and in on Alec Baum. He's officially off the table in any Frankie Montage trade. And let's just go from there. But Didi kind of going down might be a blessing in disguise for this baseball team.

Baum's 11 for 21 on the season. It's just locked in and you're right about the Homer today. And, and also, you know, you're right. He has been at least somewhat better. I don't know if okay is still fair,

like below average still, but he's been better to your point. He's not throwing the ball like five feet over Hoskins head. So, you know, we're, we're making improvements, but again,

to the point we just made, the bat has to be in the lineup. You know, if you look at this team, and you can point to a lot of things, and, you know, we just talked about Joe Girardi and some of the reasons that they've struggled record-wise so far this season. But, you know, in terms of what you expect

coming into the season versus what you get, I mean, the offense having no consistency, they've had a couple big games, but the offense having no night-to-night consistency is absolutely the biggest issue. And if you've got two guys, especially Boehm, who's just been raking, because Camargo's going to be in the lineup,

but to your point, they're finding spots to get him in. And he has played 70 games in his life at shortstop. I just looked it up. I didn't know how many it was. I wasn't sure if it was like five or if it was... 70 is not a ton, but he's played shortstop at I just looked it up. I didn't know how many it was. I wasn't sure if it was like five or if it was 70 is not, you know, a ton, but it's, he's played shortstop at the major league level. And to your point is acquitted himself fine. So, you know, for a team that, that needs to hit and, you know, eventually we both think and look, Schwarber this weekend, we'll get to

that in a sec, but, and Castellanos has been just really good consistently, but you know, Harper, Hoskins, these guys aren't hitting where, where where we need them to but eventually they're all going to get rolling and having bowman camargo hitting is a luxury but right now you need those guys to hit you need those guys in the lineup because right now not everything is clicking well it's just crazy even today's lineup um like after cassianos it was like oh oh, okay, there's JT, and there's Schwarber, and there's Boehm, and there's Camargo, and even Vierlich. Today and yesterday, I felt like, okay, there's the lineup,

and there's how we win ballgames, and there's some depth, and there's the length win ball games and there's there's some depth and there's the length that we were all talking about where you know you get past castellanos and you still have to deal with those five six seven like that's a having having bone be your seven hitter right now at what he's doing at the plate like it's crazy and then you add in camargo and and the bottom of the lineup's the bottom of the lineup but like when we were talking about wow the depth of this lineup the upside this lineup it wasn't just bryce is the mvp castellanos is a silver slugger uh reese is reese schwarber is 30 and 100 hopefully it's like you're getting that but the in the sixth hole and and then you have a guy

like aleph boom who if he can just stick defensively is giving you close to 300 average and 20 plus bombs out of the seven hole so um today and seeing a lineup even the last two nights just seeing them start to kind of click a little bit and i just have a feeling they're about to go on a run here like they finally look you know like they've settled in a little bit. And I just have a feeling they're about to go on a run here. They finally look like they've settled in a little bit. The lineup is just really, really deep and really tough for pitchers to consistently get through. And that's what made, honestly, James, that's what made the Miami series and Monday Night so frustrating was like, you guys are really talented hitters.

Where is the plan? Where is the approach? Where is the approach? Where is any of that? And I felt like last night and tonight was almost like the turning over into what they actually want their offense to be. We had talked about how Kevin Long's whole thing was hunt the fastballs, and they've done a good job at that. They have a 3-12 heading into yesterday's game.

They had a 325 average. They were number one in baseball, but you know who else knows that? Every single team in baseball. So like you're going to have to adjust. And I think what we saw the last two nights and hopefully we'll see going forward was the correction on just trying to go up there

and hunt fastballs. Like Bryce swinging first pitch, Castellanos swinging first pitch and just trying to do damage on fastballs because the fastball rate, James, right now in Major League Baseball is 47%, which is the lowest in history. 47% of pitches

are fastballs, which is insane given how much, when you're growing up, how important the fastball is. I think the last couple days, we've seen them take a more patient approach, more let's work these pitchers, which is what they should be doing, by the way. Exactly. That was what was so frustrating.

You're absolutely right. And we hadn't seen them do that. Opening day was great, but I just don't think that's as sustainable as work pitchers and get the pitch you look to do damage on. And I think part of the reason why I do feel positive leaving the Rocky series is because I felt like the last two nights we saw what their offensive approach is hopefully going to be for the rest of the season, and I think that's an offensive approach that's going to be tough to stop.

Yeah, and look, I think great points, too, there. It really did feel that, too. It's the kind of thing where that just jives with what we watched to start the season. I feel like Bryce Harper swung at the first pitch like every at-bat for the first like seven games of the season, you know, anecdotally. It was unbelievable. And it really did feel like they weren't working the at-bats,

working the pitches, and getting deep into, you know, getting starters out of games and all that. Like, and look, in Miami, you know, if you're – I can understand if you're against Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez, fine. But, I mean, Alicia Hernandez shutting you down? I'm very with you on that. Let's get to part of the reason the offenses look so much better the last two games in particular.

Like, Schwarbs, you know, it was getting bleak for our guy, as you said, dropped from the one hole in the lineup, a rash quick decision by Joe Girardi, but nonetheless, you know, I, you know, sign this guy to a massive contract. Oh yeah. Let's just, you know, move them down right away. But, um, Schwartz the last few days really, you know, you pointed out on Twitter and got some flag, but you know, that strikeout, uh, early in the game was really good at bat. You know, he fought, fouled some balls off. Didn't look as tentative as he had prior you know you said to me it worked uh i think after the martin series we're like it just looks like he

doesn't want to strike out it's just like kind of going up there and just being defensive and all that and and we didn't see that as much and then you know kind of just the the opposite field homer kind of just a like a coarse field homer for sure but also shows just how strong he was that just to get the that little contact on the ball that kind of weak contact and just kind of muscles it out the opposite way and then obviously today we see the a real schwarbaum a true schwarbaum a monster monster shot a 468 foot shot um schwarber look schwarber also a streaky hitter too we've talked about that when he was signed you know had you know the greatest June we've ever

seen and was you know bad prior to that and there will be streaks but you know it had to feel good at least for you as the number one certified number one Kyle Schwerber fan in Philly the last two days made me breathe a little easier

it was a tough stretch you aren't lying easier it was a tough stretch yeah it's a tough stretch you aren't lying uh yeah it was like oh it was classic he was struggling your boy your boy stinks like calm down relax um but good for kyle i mean i believe it i wanted to see it too just because the grounding into uh double plays was getting infating. The strikeouts were getting infuriating. And then the whole defensive swings, because you don't want to strike out swings, were actually more infuriating than the strikeout swings. And, yeah, the 11-pitch strikeout was massive.

Where were you when Kyle Schwarber's 11-pitch strikeout saved the season? In a game they lost. In a game they lost. And then, yeah, going opposite field is a good sign. With Hoskins and Schwarber, I think more – well, Harper too. Harper too. When they're thinking opposite field. We're going to get to him.

Yeah, when they're thinking opposite field, it's almost game over. And then Schwarber going 468 today was just magnificent. What a moonshot. Just an absolute tank. Well, it was nice because he has four homers on the season, 468 today was just Magnificent what a moonshot It was so absolute Well it was nice because he has four homers On the season which you know Quietly as four homers Quietly as four homers but the first

One of the season was the only one close to it When he hit the sign but even still Like this was the first like You know Kyle Schwarber's Power on full display As soon as the ball hits the bat, you know, it's a moonshot home run we've gotten from Schwarber in a Phillies uniform. Yes, 100%.

You know, the one in Miami was a bomb, but they're up, they're down like nine threes, who cares? But yeah, no. And even then in that stadium, it's so cavernous and stuff. It doesn't, it didn't have the same effect as watching this one fly into the third deck, you know? Yeah. Yeah. yeah and it just of course it gave me visions of what a playoff game would hopefully sound like here uh if he did that but you know it wasn't even um you know it wasn't

even that it was it was the it was the the the single up the middle late in the game to bring within one and he's here to to get big hits because that's what he's kind of done his entire career to to hit moon shots and and to to bring good vibes to get big hits because that's what he's kind of done his entire career to to hit moon shots and and to bring good vibes in the road like honestly that's what made the miami series so frustrating it's like well like castellanos and schwarber i feel like we're brought here not only for their bats but to win series like that and change the culture on this team but when you're when you're when you're hitting 095 heading into a series like it's just it's tough to say hey let's pick it up because you're not picking it up so hopefully him kind

of doing this gets him more comfortable in that clubhouse and he says like yeah i am freaking kyle schwarber and yes i can't hit the ball 468 so um it was a good weekend and i i are weak and i know that's getting ahead of myself i've already been slipped because they're taking So it was a good weekend or week. I know. I was getting ahead of myself. I've already slipped because we're taking at least two or three from the Brewers this weekend. There you go, buddy. Fully back. But, yeah, hopefully it's one of those things that kind of gets him going here.

Yeah. I mean, you know, not like my guy Nick Castellanos has struggled yet this season, but no biggie. All right. One more thing before because we still got to do a take bag. You got a story. I can, we were going to talk about my jury duty, but not much to say. It sucked. It really sucked. I was there from, I was there from 8.15 in the morning until like 3.20. And I spent most of the day sitting around. I listened to some, a judge gives some instructions and I ultimately got sent home without doing anything. It was a, it was again, you know, happy to serve my civic duty of called upon. It was the biggest waste of my time, maybe in the history of my life. I got to read a book.

So that was fun. But anyway, that was my jury duty experience. Um, so before I want to hear your story in the take back in a sec, um, but quickly on Harper, both the struggles at the plate and obviously, I'm not going to ask, are you concerned about Harper's elbow? I'm going to ask, how concerned are you about Harper's elbow? Because of course it's concerning. him having a DH this weekend and just that is a potential issue down the road especially with the torque that he puts when he throws um and then the the offensive struggles just kind of really you know he's had a couple nice games here and there but just hasn't really been seemed to you know look totally comfortable at the plate yet yeah and he looks off balance you know even on like off speed pitches away from him he's like kind of pulling out to the to the first base side which is not what he did last year but you know i think what we need to kind of learn with like if this was the first year watching bryce be like oh my god freak out but i i genuinely feel like he's one of those field hitters that when he gets locked in he'll be fine like and you know ever

since he's been a philly i feel like he hasn't gotten off to the hottest of starts. No, he'll have like a couple good games. It's always like a good week or a good few days, and then he totally cools off. Like that has been his MO as a Philly. Right. Except I guess last season he started off really good, but then got hit in the face. So I don't know what that counts as.

But anyway, go ahead. Yeah, getting hit in the face you can't really equate for. Yeah, so, you he the the throwing thing is definitely concerning i would probably put it like a five you know it's not great and it's one of those things that you know he's been plagued by little things in the past but last year was able to kind of overcome them all whatever whether it was the back. You know, he's had little nagging injuries in the past. So you just hope that this isn't like a real arm issue, and you hope that these last, I guess it's been, what,

three full days in the DH spot? You hope that these kind of give him the break, and then the off day tomorrow. And they say that it doesn't affect him at the plate, but I don't ever really trust that stuff at all. Like I'm just going to assume it's affect him at the plate but i don't ever really trust that stuff at all like i'm just gonna assume it's affecting me at the plate because i don't know how it couldn't um so yeah it's definitely concerning um i definitely don't love my corners being schwarber and cassianos like i don't think they can get to a ball like fast at all like it

just maybe the worst outfield defense out there, but, um, it is what it is. And, you know, but I, I, I'm not like overly concerned. I'm not hitting the panic button, but I don't know how you could sit here and not be a little worried that our right fielder felt a tingle in his arm. And for some reason they're not like not doing an MRI on it, which seems like a mistake. Um, so definitely worry. It's like a massive mistake. Yeah, it feels like the Sir Anthony thing all over again. But, you know, hopefully he's playing right field on Friday and we don't have to worry about this anymore. Yeah, big time.

And, look, you know, obviously you just worry about the Tommy John thing. We see it all the time for guys. I mean, there are two other guys on this team, obviously pitchers all the time. But, you know, Hoskins, Deedee both had Tommy John thing. You know, we see it all the time for guys. I mean, there are two other guys on this team, you know, obviously pitchers all the time, but you know, Hoskins, Didi both had Tommy John. So, um, you worry about that. Um, we'll say fingers crossed, but I'm with you. I definitely don't think it's, it's good. You know, it's certainly something to keep an eye on and you hope to see him in right field and see him. Okay. And, and look, if it really doesn't hurt him offensively, you know, I am less concerned.

But to your point, I just I don't know how it couldn't, at least on some level. So, you know, I'm concerned, but I'm not freaking out about it or anything like that. All right. You're not letting it keep you up at night, but you know, I mean, I'm not excited about it, Jack. I'll tell you that much. Like, let's put it this way. I'm more worried about Bryce Arbor's elbow than I am about Zach Wheeler's shoulder. Oh, that's probably fair yeah again and i already said before i'm not not worried about wheeler shoulder at least on some level but the the harper thing is more concerning

to me i mean um and it's frustrating because i i didn't take it too seriously at first because it's you know price seems to be one of those guys who's like always like kind of to your point getting nicked up but also like exaggeratedly letting people know that he's nicked up like he's always like rubbing his knee after something or he's always like kind of it's always freaking us out is the point i always feel like when i'm watching bryce arper he'll slide into a wall or something and then he's like limping around and then he's always fine but he always makes us feel like super nervous so i'm hoping that i was hoping that's what this is but then when they actually don't play him in the field for three games then i'm actually like

you know maybe i'm a little worried about it so fingers crossed um all right we don't we don't have a ton of time when you take back it up fritzy all right well i'll start i'll start with the the story that you teased yes so and all i know about this is literally jack said before the pod i got a hell of a story i was like perfect so i don't want to know anything else go ahead so i'm driving home from from work and i was done work early because all i had to do was do leading off and um i'm driving the back roads back to my house in Westchester. I've driven on these roads thousands of times. And I know them like the back of my hand.

And, of course, when you know roads like the back of your hand, you tend to roll stop signs. So I get to the bottom of the hill and I roll a stop sign. And my car is having trouble accelerating. So I didn't want to, like, fully stop so I could make sure I could get up the hill. Whatever. I'm getting up the hill, and bang, a cop puts on his lights. Oh, no. Yeah.

So he told me, hold on. Hold on. Let me get through this. So I'm sitting there, and I'm going through the whole procedure and license and registration. I'm like, oh, this is the worst, and I'm in through the whole procedure and, you know, license and registration. And I'm like, oh, this is the worst. And I'm so furious. And in the middle of him walking back to give me the citation, I looked down at my phone and Nick Castellanos hit a home run.

And I was like, are you freaking kidding me? Like, it's the meme all over again where bad things happen. Bad things are happening. And Castellanos goes deep. So good. This is unbelievable. This is so great. So, like, I took the ticket and i was like oh whatever you know

cassiano's hit a homer oh my god it's awful it's it's so awful now i did bet on cassiano's to hit a homer on today oh so you basically paid your ticket off no not even close but oh no but yeah i was like i was like i just goted. I just got memed on my. Wow, that is hilarious. Like, kismet. I mean, I'm sad you got a ticket, but it's almost worth it for this. That's amazing. So that's my story.

Oh, my God. That's so great. Jack Fritz getting pulled over. He's about to get the ticket and a deep drive to left field. Nick Cassiano. Yeah, I know. Now, should I have pulled the, like, my right serve fills are losing again,

like bonding about the fills, you know? Yeah, you should have said something. You should have been like, oh, Cassiano's just home. I'm surprised. I mean, knowing you, I'm surprised you didn't just bust out the, I mean, do you know who I am? No, I was thinking about it do you listen to the radio pal come on pal all right uh real quick take back uh i still i haven't i haven't stopped thinking about the nola cutter he threw one on on on monday night that was like

disgusting and if he can if he can act it's not even a cutter. It's more like a slider. But if he can have that pitch to righties, it's like a slider movement with his two-seamer in or four-seamer in, whatever he does that gets it moving. That's a tough pitch to consistently square up. So, color me intrigued with the Nola cutter. I am interested in it. I think it's more like a slider. Also, if he throws a curveball to a lefty ever again,

I am going to lose my mind. I think that's fair. I think it's totally fair. Yeah, it's a great call. Speaking of Aaron Nola, I need him and Kyle Gibson to get over the fact that runners are on base. Every time runners get on base, it's like Meltdown City. You've got to be able to buckle down and get the job done.

I'm so sick and tired of a runner gets on base and bang, all of a sudden, runners on first and third won out. Figure it out. That's my advice to Gibby and Nola, although Gibson looked good. I actually thought Gibson and Nola looked pretty good. Dude, you get six innings, three runs from Kyle Gibson in cores? Hell yes. Like every time you sign up for that before the start, 100 times out of 100.

And in the Nola point, I think so too. And look, I don't know if now when Girardi makes decisions, I'm almost like predetermined to dislike them, but I wouldn't have pulled him there, especially not for Alvarado in that spot and look I get it I know that Nola has fallen apart in a lot of spots so that's why I'm like oh maybe I shouldn't totally kill Girardi for it because Nola has fallen apart but in the moment I can't lie I did not like him pulling Nola there yeah um I didn't i wasn't a uh i don't think i was a huge fan of it i'd kind of forget the scenario

um if it was if it was gerardi move i probably disagreed with it so i i can just feel it coming james i i feel the i just it feels like we're we're teetering on the edge of this i can just see the angry twitter people and you know angry, angry callers already, you know, starting to write this one down for future reference. But Bryson Stott is not a bust. He is a young player that is adjusting to the major league level. Like, not every player is going to come up and dominate. And even, like, better prospects and guys that, you know, like Julio Rodriguez and Jared Kalanick and even Bobby Witt Jr.

People thought was going to like revolutionize baseball. I mean, batting 171 and like even highly superstar level talent prospects come up and struggle. Bryson Stott is going through that right now. I thought he had some good at bats on Monday, hit the ball hard. So, you know, whatever happens, happens. Eisenstadt is going through that right now. I thought he had some good at-bats on Monday. Hit the ball hard. So, you know, whatever happens, happens. But he's not a boss because he's had a slow start. Oh, my God.

I'm very with you. Go look what Mike Trout's first month in Major League Baseball was. Just go back and look at it. Also, there is one positive with this. At least he has a manager who nurtures and develops young talent and believes in them and gives them opportunities to succeed. So, yeah, that'll help. I want to make up for my Jim Nance resign. Because during the show, Jay Wright is set to retire. So I was going to wait till you were done to bring it up.

Like pretty nuts, man, out of nowhere. It seems like no one saw this coming. Well, I think I did because he's totally

going to be the Sixers head coach. So literally, Jack, literally the text that I'm looking at from my buddy who just sent it to me

said it's, is, is Jay doing this for the Sixers? Interesting. Let's hope so. And then, and then the Sixers? Interesting. Let's hope so. And then the Sixers win the title with Doc. And he still goes to L.A.

Whatever. Who cares? Real quick, top five things I need for my own sanity to stop happening. Number five is the Phillies having the lead. It's just dreadful. There's nothing more dreadful than watching the Phillies with the lead. I'm sorry. Yeah, it has to be like five,

six runs too. And even then it's nerve, nerve wracking, but yeah, the Phillies, the lead is just one run lead. Run run lead is a useless thing. No,

I'd rather not. I'd rather not watch. I'd rather just turn it off. Um, the fourth thing that I need to stop happening for my own sanity is, um, like our bleeders not falling for hits. Meanwhile, the opposing teams,

bleeders falling for hits every time, you know, like the little jam shots off the end of the bat. Like they always fall in for other teams. For us, like they're always caught easily. I need that to stop happening for my own sanity. The third thing I need to stop happening for my own sanity is strikeouts with runners in scoring position. It just, I want to throw my phone through a wall i really do um the second thing i need to uh to stop happening for my own sanity is relievers walking batters to start innings i it just it just i can't i i legitimately can't handle it like all this stuff these last four um you know it was like oh baseball's so back and then these are the four things that remind me like oh baseball is just dreadful most times um and the number one thing i needed for my

own sanity is the phillips to never play in miami ever again and next year with the new schedule where we barely go there oh jack i was gonna make the same point how great is it like the new schedule is a godsend for the i i'm so happy Like I had this on my list to say at the end. So I'm so excited for it. I cannot wait. I don't even care about all the other implications of the schedule. That's all that matters. All right.

I know you got to go right now. So I will say last thing. Welcome to the dark side, Jack Fritz. I'm so happy to have you with us with the many of us on pitch clock island it is an honor to have you well the thing I like about the pitch clock is you don't have to change the entire sport for it to have a good effect that's my take and we'll talk more about it next time Jack has to go but um we'll talk more about it next time um because I definitely have some thoughts and it's awesome and it really is making a difference in my like baseball 20 minutes a game it's nuts all right uh you got anything else to say fritzy uh two of three against the

brokers lock it oh got to got i mean they have to then they will i mean right they will maybe a sweep maybe a sweep who knows all right all right uh we'll see you guys later he's Fred Simselzer talk to you soon All Star Closer Ken Leeansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion.

It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring. Presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.