High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Which Is Worse: Getting Hit With A Nuclear Bomb or Getting Swept By The Pirates?

Episode Date: June 8, 2025

Hopes are not high after the Phillies got swept by the Pirates this weekend. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the recent skid and talk about how Bryce Harper's wrist injury could affect the team's plans for the trade deadline. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Smiling through a broken nose. Oh hi ho, hi ho. I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the Iowa podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tastes Like Miller Time, Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly. I don't know if there are enough Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Miller time, Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. I don't know if there are enough Miller lights in Philadelphia to get through

that abomination of a series. The Phillies score a one, uh, two runs in their last, like 23 innings, one run, you know, into the last two days. The run yesterday was a short room and the first fricking inning. Uh, just fricking inning. Just look, we talked about the Friday thing and you know, bullpen game and Oh, it might be hard to win. What a freaking embarrassment against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are now after winning today 26 and 40 because that means they came into this series 23 and 40. Like I don't care the Bryce Harper's out. I don't care if you had a bullpen game, which by the way, you only gave up five

runs overall, including the winning run. Like those, those at bats on Friday night and those situations, those at bats yesterday at the end of the game, like just like other than the pitching, honestly, I don't have too much to say about the pitching that they they you know Sanchez did what he had to Ranger did what he had to you know the bullpen for the most part did what they had to you know obviously gave it up late and to lose games but you know it happens when you don't score any freaking runs when there's no life to a freaking baseball team. When after that embarrassment in Toronto and poor Jesus Los

Artos, like arbitration numbers dropped through $10 million over the last two weeks, like the beating they taken and then they go into Pittsburgh, which should be like a familiar place to be. You're on the road, you play good baseball on the road and you get that embarrassment, lifeless series. Like what a joke, man man what a freaking joke and they're by the way i think they're like 0 and 8 without harper now like 0 and 8 you know they are they are it's well they won they won the first embarrassment they won the first brace game without them so they definitely have at least one win with them okay well without them what an embarrassment man what an embarrassment like an embarrassing i'm embarrassed an embarrassment. Like an embarrassment. I'm embarrassed today. Yeah, I'm pretty depressed. I'm not gonna lie. I appreciate your anger. I appreciate your fire.

I just kind of look at them right now like a dead team walking. I just I do and I'm not like offensively. I'm not even sure they're better than the Pir. They should be better than the pirates, but without like this lineup, when Harper's not in it, it is brutal. I mean, it's Shwerburn Trey and like Castellanos is like an average and then everyone else stinks. Like it's not just bad, you use the phrase and I can't get out of my head, use the last on the last pod. There's zeros off it.

Like they have a bunch of freaking zeros. Well, and they're batting a guy lead off hitting who's hitting two 40. I mean, that's way less than that over the last month plus or whatever it's been. Yeah. Was there ever a bigger lock for a double play than the ninth inning today?

Oh, boom. I said it definitely. I'm like, because I was talking about when I should go downstairs to come record this podcast, you know, in my basement as opposed to upstairs where I was watching with Emily. And first and second, I'm like, they're pinch running for Schwaber. My first thought is, oh, well, that's dumb.

Like, you know, I get it. But, you know, let's go to extras. Do you want to get rid of Schwaber? Do I like this? And then I saw Boam up, and I was like, oh, it doesn't matter. You want to get rid of Schwab? Or do I like this? And then I saw a bum up and I was like, oh, it doesn't matter. It's gonna be fine. Yeah, man.

Yeah. Yeah, and that's the hardest thing for me to reconcile is I just, so not only is the bullpen pretty terrible, it's the Alan Wrangle special on Friday night, although he ended up doing okay in the middle there. No, no, no, no. You did. Hold on. Well, Josh, call Spencer. Oh, my God, dude. Good.

But but, you know, the bullpen is certainly I mean, since Alvarado has gone out and they're like 28th in baseball. Well, and also, Jack, even when they have the stretches of being OK, like we know the talent level and the playoffs is so different for both paying guys it's just it's so far from okay yeah but it's the most concerning part for me is the offense and it's gonna continue to be the offense because again like you said there's just zeros that their baseman to zero the second baseman might be a zero the left fielders is zero centerfield

zero I mean it up at the catcher Mostly zero the the right fielder. I would say is a is a half Zero once yeah, I think it's a on the warp, you know the value of a replacement player is like the Replacement like the line, you know, and they just they they just look like they have no energy and the camp bring up a call up, didn't add any juice. I think we probably got a little ahead of ourselves with thinking that he's going to save and pick up the offense. That was, that was always a tall task. And unfair to him, unfair to him.

Like that kid shouldn't have that on him. Well, we're all like, well, I know Bryce got hurt, but thank God for auto-cams. It's like, that's not, like he's not Eden Miller. He's not like a top 10 prospect in the sport. He's not a top 100 prospect. You know, it's like, it's just not fair to the kid, you know? And they just got swept out by the Pirates, dude. I mean, they just got swept out.

And I know they never play well at PNC Park. It feels like they go out there and horrible things happen. But to get swept out by the pirates and not even it wasn't even the pirates didn't look that much worse than the Phillies. That was the most I mean, they barely lost it. They lost by three runs. They lost by three runs, three games, three runs. They lost. I mean, for the run differential crowd, you can't do better in losing

three games, you know. Sure. Sure. Now for the run differential crowd, you can't do better and losing three games, you know? Sure, sure. Now, the one thing is, there is some definite, unlucky things happening to them at all at the same time, which is annoying. I mean, that the ball off the coaches bat was like 64 miles an hour and just fell in there. I thought it was I understand they want to go lefty lefty to start the inning. I thought Sanchez was done. I think Sanchez mentally thought he was done. And that was obvious when he went out and walked him on four pitches. I thought that was a mistake. We'll just let Kirk Curring start the inning. But regardless, you had that, you had the Davis

home run yesterday. This really does, James, this feels so much like 11. And I know people romanticize that year because we remember the four Aces and really it was the three Aces in Vance Worley. And the final record, the 102, it's six out the most they've won in all that. You know, right 102, yeah. They wanted to, well, but there was also, like this is that offense.

I mean, 27, there was a stretch in the middle of that season where I think like it was either 37 to 44 games. They scored three runs or less or 27 out of 44 games. And they were horrible going into the playoffs. They won that member. We all remember winning that last series against the Cardinals or not to get the Cardinals in and the, not against Carl, but to get the Cardinals in.

And then they had to play and we're like, should they have won that? And it's like, oh, they needed to get on track they're playing poorly well they had lost 10 straight before yeah exactly exactly yeah they lost that tree so the similarities between this team and 11 really are are showing more and more a random ass bullpen with like you know it was Stutzi yeah I wish we had a Madsen though I mean there's no one like close to a Matt like that's the thing too is it's like because the bullpen is obviously just so deficient and the deeper you get down, like, we always talked about like, you know, last year and the year before out, it's like,

great to have those high end guys. But you know, we liked guys who are guys four and five and six, like to certain varying degrees. I mean, here, one, two, and three are nowhere close to a guy like Madsen was, or what Hoffman was, or Strom was for you last year, or whatever. Like Strom, Kirk Ring, and Romano have not been anything close to that this year. And it gets exponentially worse once you get past them. I mean, none of these guys, I, do you trust if any of these guys to get a big out? Like Joe Ross has been fine, like a nice signing for he's been like Their guys really go, you know Tanner Banks has actually been better than you'd expect this year and all that

But like do you really if it's like Ari season on the line gotta get now Like do you trust a single one of those guys to come in and get it? so Kirkering is slowly developing some trust for me But I I understand your point and I was really talking about the ones, not three, the other guys, no chance. But even then like, yes, you could maybe see yourself giving the top three the ball,

but it's not like you trust them. It's how you're sure of it. Well, and Romano's taking a bit of a step back here. You know, he had that good stretch and then the mound issue in Oakland, but even, or sorry, Sacramento. But after that, he's been more more shaky than I don't know if you can cite the mound issue anymore. Yeah. Well

Throw him off it threw him off. Yeah, we're always gonna talk about the mountain in Sacramento It's the time that ruin the season But the the there has been some unluckiness to this. You shouldn't need too much luck to beat the Pirates, but whatever We're desperate. So you had the you had the ball today. You had the Davis home run last night You had the frickin bleeder up the line against Romano on on Friday night, which was ridiculous I'm talking about yes. Yeah, the one yeah, and then you had you had the second game down in or the second game to in Toronto That's a coin flip game They're finding ways to lose games and that's the annoying part about a team that is supposedly their strength is being together

their strength is is You know the camaraderie they're not even they're not even close getting it done But my my bigger worry is that they just look deficient like it's not just it's they look deficient in the lineup And they look deficient in the bullpen starters. They're great. I mean the starters are Swores and Sanchez you couldn't have asked awesome from from them this weekend But I'm not gonna sit here and say well Wheeler was back in paternity. They probably won these games dude. It's the Pirates It's the freaking Pirates. Well, what are we having? He's having a kid like Zach Wheeler has been there when we've needed him

in every big spot so far, like he can miss a game in Pittsburgh and hope that his guys can get him up for his kid's birth. OK, like I'm sorry. Like I will. I will. I will not take that. Like we're not doing that. I'd also rather have a pitch against the Cubs anyway. I mean, of course, you should not go out.

You should not go out and get swept against the freaking pirates. You should not do that. You should not do that. I'd also rather have a pitch against the Cubs anyway. I mean, of course, you should not go out. You should not go out and get swept against the freaking pirates. You should not do that. You should not do that. That's it's embarrassing. And this is worse than after the Mets, right? I mean, this is absolutely I mean, look, they've lost nine and 10 to we're just talking about getting swept by the pirates, which is bad. They've lost nine of 10, man. And they like to your your point when it's been because the bats have been so incredibly cold especially I mean look at the the one game they won it so Jack they've lost nine and ten the one game they won they won it because of a six run inning and that's it like they have had just zero consistency over the last ten games from the bats and they've lost nine of them. And

when you have such a bad bullpen, you know, it doesn't matter how good you're starting pitching is if you don't hit and you have a bad bullpen like you know, it just it doesn't matter. You can have the best starting pitching on the planet and it won't matter if you don't score runs and if they can't hold those leads or leads that maybe you can get if you ever score runs with the bullpen. So it's they are a really flawed team right now. And the Harper thing is scary, too, because you don't like seeing it.

It's just such a sign of how like they are and how not deep offensively they are that Harper goes out and it's this just boom. We are just a disaster. And then on top of that, the fact that you know, Harper, you know, where he's saying stuff like, Yeah, I hope rest will make it better. It's like, well, what does that mean, dude? Like, what else? Are we you know, does that mean you might have surgery? Does that mean there might be like, it's just, to your point, Jack, when you think about it overall, and then you think about like, even the things that were bright spots, a little you think about it overall, and then you think about like, even the things that were bright spots, the Losardo like was so much fun. And now that, and, uh, I mean, and even them with how good that the pitching's

been, you know, excluding today, heading into today, their team ERA is middle of the pack because of the bullpen and the whole thing. I mean, they have a team ERA over four, Jack, their team, you carry is over four. And we were talking about pitching. They're going to be the greatest pitching team 13 years over four, like, and they can't hit Oh, and oh, by the way, they're a pretty subpar defensive team for the most part. And oh, yeah, most of their important players are in

their mid 30s or approaching their mid 30s. Yep. So it's to your point, you can it does feel and look, they can turn this around and, you know, Harvard come back and they can go on a run. We know all that, but it does feel, it feels like a real low point right now. Well, I, the biggest thing I'm struggling with is, listen, I, we're all smart enough to realize that nine out of 10 stretches are probably going to happen. I mean, the teams that we've seen win World Series here have had stretches like this.

The 08 team, they had a power outage in the middle of the summer. Every single year you have... The Rangers, the Rangers, when they won a couple years ago, they lost 10 straight in August. 10 straight! So, I understand all of that. If we can walk into this and say, disclaimer, we know that the season's not over,

but I struggle watching them and think, the one thought that keeps hitting me square between the eyes is, are we watching the window close in front of our eyes with this core or are they just going through a rut? And that's the biggest predicament I find myself in. Are they just old and are they playing out the string here? And I don't really want to invest in them in the trade deadline. I don't wanna trade some of the top five prospects to go and make this team

and try to put lipstick on a pig or whatever. Or do they need the wind at the sails? And do they need, are they just a veteran team that's going through a slump here and they'll find their way through it I if you had if I had to bet I still think it's closer to

This is who they are They're gonna win another game the rest of the year. We understand that but they just they just look old I mean jt looks old You know stock might just be what he is. Marsh is what he is. Kepler is not he's been he's batting 140 something since May 1. It's horrible. So that's what that's the dilemma. The dilemma I find myself in watching them on a night in night out basis right now. in watching them on a night-in-night-out basis right now. Breaking news, a brand new game is now live at Bet365. Introducing Prize Matcher, a daily game that's never ordinary. All you have to do is match as many tiles as you can,

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to give you the tools to raise an aspiring athlete. It's not simple, but we talk straight and give you the best insight there is when it comes to youth sports. We'll cover everything from nutrition and training to mental toughness and teamwork. It's a podcast you can listen to together with your kids. So everyone can benefit. Follow next pitch on the Odyssey app or wherever you listen to podcasts. Yeah. And honestly, I think it's, I think it's the dilemma. And I think it's the most interesting, like, of these that I remember as a Phillies fan in terms of, of should they go in on a team all in, in it all, or should they prioritize the future? Because it's rare that in my lifetime, the Phillies have had as many good high end prospects as they actually have right now.

You know, I mean, we've talked about this, they have four top 40 ish guys and Tied wasn't even up there. Probably should be like, you know, potentially five top 50 guys, you know, early, you know, by the end of the year or whatever it is. And then on top of that, the Mick Abels and, you know, these other, you know, the auto camps and whoever else, you know, type of players, like it's, it's, we haven't had that before. So to have that surplus is a unique thing. And also to have this team that, that, you know, we want to say is in the middle of a run, especially considering some of the contracts, you know, between the Nola Turner and Harper contracts, at least, and, you know, that, that in the middle of this type of thing, you would hope, but we know that when you look at a lot of other stuff

around, they're gonna need these prospects to bridge these gaps and to be able to afford these longer contracts with cheaper guys and all that stuff. The question is, how do they balance it all? And how much do they invest in this group that it does feel like one way or another, whether Dombrowski tries to actually put lipstick on a pig, whether he is able to, you know, make over that pig and actually make moves that matter, or

whether he, you know, put some clear lipstick on a bag and like tries to trick people and think that he is when he's really not making like I could see any of these type of things come out. But it does feel regardless that this now moment, both the decision from the team and how the team plays leading up to the deadline and what they do at it is like last chance. Like it really does feel like for this group,

you know, it feels like this is it, you know, put up or shut up time because to your point, Jack, it's starting to feel like we know who almost all these guys are. And unfortunately, the vast majority of them aren't good enough. Well, and then I think today about how they're going to be aggressive at the trade deadline. My first thought was, should they, Jack, to the conversation was having. My first thought was, should they?

Yeah. And it's it's what I said on Friday. If you listen to the afternoon show, we basically did this and I said like I'm not trading one of the I'm not trading one of the five prospects for Like a rental piece or like now if it's a super difference maker Yeah, like if it was like Soto as a rental when he was traded last year or whatever it was like, okay like you know, different. And the market might be super weak, but like I I expect more of like a haze is that that is kind of a kind of kind of trade that line.

You have to get that right. Like you have to get the players right. Last year, they didn't get the players right. But yeah, like if they had to re-improve Chisholm instead, it would have looked a lot different, you know that type of the production He gave the Yankees, you know what I mean sure. Yeah, make smarter bets I just and Abel's pitching his way into like are we sure we want to trade this guy? So I it's that it's a tough spot to be in just saying hey

Let this group kind of play out a string here but you also have to think about the health and the future of your organization. And again, they have a month and a half to change our minds and they can. But I would be very surprised if heading into July 31st, I'm saying, you know what? Might have to put Aiden on the table or you might have to put one of these guys on the table.

You gotta go for it. Because people will say, this core, this core, this core, you gotta give them a shot, you gotta give them a shot. And you can say, last year's probably the time to give them a shot. Or, you know, but you also can't make, you can't make bad bets and put the future of your franchise at risk, and having those guys come around

that can help bridge the gap, I think just matters more. So it stinks. The Harper injury is going to really dictate a lot of things. It's going to dictate a lot of things. And I know in years past they've played okay with Bryce not in there. It doesn't look that way now. I mean it's it gets dark quick with Bryce out of the lineup. It's just that lineup is brutal when he's not in there. And I am for the first time in my life watching Bryce like I am legitimately getting concerned about what his future looks like. And are we watching it and then beat ish type type player here now, which stinks. I love Bryce. I think Bryce is my favorite player.

I won't like, but this is another little injury that seemingly is not going away. And they said maybe getting hit in the elbow is why his wrist is inflamed. Like, what are we? What are we some of the way that they've explained injuries this year? The elbows connected to the wrist bone is maybe maybe maybe I'm out of my depth here. But that feels like a stretch. I the I've just I'm really fearful a stretch. I, the, I'm just, I'm really fearful for Bryce. I really am.

And I don't want to watch a compromise Bryce Harper with six years left on his contract. That sounds excruciating, but unfortunately, man, it's just another injury. It's just another injury that is zapping his power. People keep showing that home running game five against the Diamondbacks and how violent that swing was. Like, where's that? Can't even do that anymore. It's the of all the things that happens we get getting swept by the pirates.

The Bryce thing I haven't I haven't been able to shake it for for two days. Yeah, and the end of what you just said, like it is the, I think it's the single most important determining factor on what they're going to end up doing both as a team and also as an organization to help that team. Because I think if Bryce, you does need surgery or does elective surgery or whatever the, I don't know what the situation is the way he talked about it. It's like, we'll see what happens. Um, you know, if he's out for an extended period of time, I certainly don't want them making big trades of like even mckable I'm I would probably lean towards keeping mckable over trading him, you know, and, but, you

know, so if prices back, it's a different discussion. And you know, but on the whole, I generally really agree with the idea of I'm not treating any of the top top tier guys, unless to your point, I'm getting a young ish difference maker for more than a half a season, you know, if we're talking about someone who can be here, and by the way, that's, that's not Mason. Oh, unlikely. Yeah. Oh, it's not. Yeah, where does the knock knocking off? He's a frickin closer. Yeah, yeah. And also, he's he's got five years of control for his control. It's

just like, it's not worth what they're gonna have to give up from all types of stuff. Regardless. I think that, uh, to your point, Jack, I just don't think they're good enough right now to, to, for Dombrausky and the organization and look to, to invest, reinvest in a big way. If, if Harper can't come back and if they can't right the ship before the deadline. And look, one of the hardest jobs and most important jobs that general managers, a president of baseball ops, owners, the whole thing that they have to be able to make is to say, listen, I know that I have spent a lot of money on this or that, or I've invested in this belief of this group or whatever. But you know what, it's a sunk cost, and it didn't

work. And I have to be able to move on and say what's best for the future organization. I'm not saying we're there yet. But that's, that's what these guys have to determine, you know, that's the job and it's hard to do. But this might be a case where, you know, they're just not good enough. And it's absolutely not worth and it's the consider do but this might be a case where you know, they're just not good enough and it's absolutely not worth and it's the consider and look the Harper thing brings in a whole other like layers of questions in terms of we were talking about like she moved back to right field or this or that like, maybe

he moves to DH and short breast to go because of that or whatever like, you know what I mean though, like I'm just I'm throwing stuff out there that if it is an issue with Harper, where it's like, all right, well maybe the only way to get the best six years at the last six years of the deal is to put them in bubble wrap and just have them hit. I mean, that limit, the bank, that thing, that was the age and that whole thing. Like, so, you know, it's just, it's a year point. And again, we could be talking in two weeks and be like, Oh, you know, it's just it to your point again, we could be talking in two weeks and be like,

Oh, you know, look, they they're back and Harper is good again and you know, whatever. But it right now it does. I feel like, you know, if you're like betting on futures, probabilities, whatever you want to say, I feel like right now betting on the Phillies to turn it around and Harper to come back healthy and to be good in this year to end up being super successful is probably like a underdog. You know, it's probably plus money at this point. You know what I'm saying? I do. I do. I do. And I, I, I don't really know what else to say. I really don't. I don't

know what else to say. I just, I'm pretty down. I think they're gonna I think they're gonna write the ship enough I think it's been an annoying week. I think they're on if they feel they look and feel like an 87 to 90 ish team to me, but Like unless something drastic changes here. I Like, unless something drastic changes here, I don't know what this deadline is going to look like. And you might as well just see what these guys got and if they can help you with paying Max Kepler $11 million to do nothing. I mean, he's doing absolutely nothing.

Nothing. Great. Great defensive left fielder. Amazing. I don't care. I really don't care. I really don't care. And they just, they just look like they're, they're miserable going to the ballpark. They just don't have that same level of happiness. And it's funny, because we said that early in the year, right, where it's

like, oh, they're too businesslike. And then they got hot. And it's like, well, I appreciate the business like, and now they're cold again. It's like, there they go to two business like, so I mean, it could change multiple times, but, um, man, I just. With the Harper stuff getting swept up by the pirates, watching this bullpen, watching this lineup and feeling dead inside. I don't know. Like, I don't know where to go from here. It's not it's not 2012. You know, when they just

literally ran out the string. I don't I don't think it's that I mean, they're better than that. And maybe this rotation can just go into frickin ultra turbo mode and get them close enough. And you get this rotation in a playoff series and man who knows what could happen but it feels like they need like three moves and I just I don't know how you get that done without you know investing real real prospects into it yeah no I'm look I look I think to the point of I don't know I'll say and I'm with you like I don't think there's

much else to say right now, because it is like the bottom, like this is the bottom of the season right now. And I know just funny because there's 37 and 28 right now or something like that. I think, which is like, you know, many teams would kill the pirates would kill to be 37 and 28, you know, so I get it. But I think like anything else we say right now will be like overreaction. And I do think that, you know, we'll see. But I'm with you. It is it I just don't think they're talented enough. And that's really what

we've the issue all off season. They didn't think they did enough. You didn't think they did enough. And I think we're just seeing kind of all play out along with some aging and you know, it's just a question of, you know, what we're seeing right now. How real is it? So quickly before you get out of here, two things. One thing I'm hoping will put a smile on your face because I'm going to do it. Well, let's be honest, but quickly. One thing that I know put a smile on your face because you love Pizza Como in Pennsburg. Today's Miller

Light Bar of the Week is Pizza Como in Pennsburg where you can watch all the Phillies games with $3 Miller Light pint specials. Go to pizzacomopc PC pub.com. So I knew that would make you happy. But also I actually have a question about a minor leaguer for you. Great. Right. From our buddy Mike. Great listener to the pod. Love Mike. He's our guy. Mike asked, Does Keaton Anthony who we saw when we were in running, does he have any real value slash potential? Yeah, so he really does. I want to see how he does in AAA because he is 23 and not to act like 23 is he's on his deathbed. But he's he's 23 raking in in in AA. So funny. I mean, he was also undrafted him and camp both. And you don't see that a lot. Like, it's pretty rare, man. I mean, even like it's just rare. I mean, Piazza, the big like they had more rounds.

It was like a 61st round pick back in the day. And you always heard that with them. But it's just rare. Yeah. So both those guys undrafted and both, you know, raking. I I really like Keaton Anthony. He reminds me of of obviously Reese. Reese had more power. He's really slow. Like, just like slow footed. But I want to see how he does at AAA.

But I mean, listen, if Bryce has to miss time, you know, he might force his hand, probably won't't because he's not in AAA yet. I appreciate it. Keep now. Thank you, Mike. I know. Thank you. I know. Too bad. It's not Roman Anthony. He's to the 497 foot home run. Yeah, yeah. I know. I know. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, I know, I know. At least Aidan, Aidan in the home run. Aidan's in the air.

Aidan's flashing some leather. Oh, for three today, but that's alright. Look, to the point you just made what Jack's like to show the example, I mean, Kean Anthony is 23 in double A. Aidan is turning tomorrow, actually. Happy birthday in June 9th. Happy birthday tomorrow to Aidan Miller. But yeah, so he's turning 21 tomorrow just to show like that matters, you know, it's yeah I was right three all physically every different things. So, you know, one of the youngest guys in the Eastern League. Yeah matters

Yeah, all right Like must win two or three series must show some gumption must like The Cubs are coming to town and it's a like that's a big series and the Cubs have been playing good baseball have a better record that you know I think they're 40 wins or something like that so you know they really need to show up Jack is a bad yeah well I mean but at the same time I know I'm not saying I expected I'm just saying they need to yeah they need to without Bryce it's just they they just look so weak. I mean, they just look so weak without Bryce in there. It's as simple

as that. So at least wheelers on the mount wheels, wheels tomorrow and look, Wednesday with Lizard will be fasting. Oh, we there we're doing our morning show like game with listeners that day. So we'll be down there. So be fun. Thursday could be or we'll be back on the pod. Obviously, you know, unless if they get swept I don't know if Jack, you know Jack might actually take a pot off. No You know

Honestly, they could be like alert. They're gonna drop the nuclear bomb on all of USA Everyone's dying in 20-minute Jack. They got me on a record. Let's get this done. Doctor, can you get the pot up? This is slowly approaching Earth. Doesn't sound so bad right now. If I'm going to be honest with you. Yeah, I know. Which which which is which is worse, going to get by a nuclear bomb or getting swept by the pirates?

Yeah, yeah. Having Alec Bum with two on and one out and then I think that's the truth. I know he sometimes does good things I cannot take Alec bum I I to do the seltzer Just I know he does some things well, but get him off my team. I am begging you he is He is of all the Excruciating watches on this team the first pitch double play that you can just smell just smell it from a mile away, I

just I Just smell it from a mile away. I just. I, I do not want to watch him play baseball for the Phillies anymore. Like if they accomplish one thing at a trade deadline and it's trading out bomb and just put Kemp there every day, whatever I'll look, I don't get clearly. We'll struggle against off speed pitches. He has to get 35% like chase rate on that in the minors. But I just, I'm so, I'm so done with it. I'm so done with the 65%. We were after last season and then we had to talk ourselves

into ending back as I get to trading. All right. Do you want to, do you want to, do you want to pause it at the start of the take back? No, I didn't even think there was a take back. What do you got? Bullpens in decent shape that I got no Has one hitter has one hitter gotten better under Kevin long no And they even they even get all gotten worse this season

like even the guys who started good like Rojas thinks again like you know Sosa's coming back to earth like all of them like they all like no though honestly you know we've talked about firing Kevin Long a bunch of times and whether we're doing anything this are like why not like what what possible reason do you have for like I can't I got nothing. I just they had a decent stretch there. But he does so little for me. He just he is not they need to find the coffin of hitting coaches. That's what that's the most important thing they can do because with him at the helm, they seem behind the times. Also, they just got a pull the plug on the solid off thing. They just you need a spark at the top. He's again overall numbers.

He's down to 240. He was hitting 290. I felt like three weeks ago. Yeah, I mean, it's just you cannot have that at the top of your lineup. That's as I'm sure we're too for the shore. When he said one totally means we got a top 500 plus slugging percentage or you know, yeah, it's it's it's just not it's nothing. It's like, at this point, it's almost like having a picture. Yeah, it's almost like having a picture batting first to start off a game. You can't do it. You can't do it. I just it kills me because I really like prices side and like I want him to be good and I love the defense. But oh my goodness, he's hitting 240.

If you look at his baseball, Simone Page. No, I'm scared to. It's all blue. It's I'm sure every year it like he hasn't hit a ball hard and in a month and Look and even just like with the boom and Cassie I don't think we talk about something even if getting him out of the top of lineup like gets his head Right is a possibility like I wouldn't count on it, but I'm saying like anything. Yeah, I do like there You just can't leave him up there I mean it was one thing when they were scoring runs like they've been a disaster for two weeks now like

done well and He's in that mode again where it looks like he's swinging a pool noodle like it's just enough There's no drive to anything the ball dies every time it gets in the app hundred percent. I can't tell if these guys are Really hurt. Oh, here's my hope. Here's my hope I wonder if they're getting cute with the injured list like they did in 22 like remember when they put Wheeler on it in the middle of the middle of the nature If you want to look for a glass half-full at the current injury situation Maybe the Bryce thing is a load management thing. Maybe the null thing is a load management thing

Maybe they put Lazardo on there when no was back as a load management thing. Maybe the Nola thing is a load management thing. Maybe they put Lazardo on there when Nola is back as a load management thing. I just that's my my optimistic sense. I hope Harper's fine. I am dreading waking up every single day and wondering if I'm going to get a notification that he's done for the season or getting surgery. My optimistic sense is that they're not panicking. They're 37 and 28. And let's just kind of manage this season and make sure these guys are healthy

and ready to go in September. Do you like that theory or no? Don't like the theory. I mean, look, I love it. It's a great- On to the next one. It's a great way to bend your mind in a way to try and make the evidence fit a theory that

doesn't suck. But thank I doubt that. I mean, nice job. I think it struggled to stick with you there, though. Yes. Great. Great. And then in a truly positive note to close out this podcast, And then in a truly positive note to close out this podcast, they claim Ryan Koosik off waivers. Oh, buddy. Oh, buddy. You want to talk about if you squint, you see Tyler Glass now. Oh, God. He was former former Wake Forest kid, first round pick.

It was drafted by the Braves. I do like a former first round pick. I like a little shot on Patty Green. Only a couple of years ago. I was surprised he was already like DMA worthy, which is because it feels like Hoffman was that yeah Yeah, that's a good comp. You like that fastballs horrible even though there was at 97 98 So you gotta add some you know different spice to it. Yeah sure every other pitch looks alright He has no idea where the baseball is going but regardless an interesting interesting one to monitor on the possible Hoffman watch and He alright this guy definitely is not good hundred percent not good But he's DFA and I need him

Forrest Whitley was DFA. Oh, I would take a shot on Forrest Whitley. I mean, not even I know the name Forrest Whitley. Let's go. Come on, man. One time. He was the I think he was number one overall in all baseball. I know he's number one pitching grass, right? I think he might even like be number one prospect in baseball at some point. Certainly was number one pitching prospect. Certainly was number one pitching prospect. I don't know. I don't know if he ever got to number one,

but he was definitely number one pitching. The Astros having the run they had with like Brady Aiken being horrible and I draft No, you're right. And they also with that. What's his name? The guy was here Mark about yeah him too. Yeah, and now force Whitley. So crazy crazy. I think we need I think we need force Whitley in the bullpen so I Don't know man just saying there's some interesting options out there as we beat Lucas Sims throwing All right for the old iron pigs

We might have the makings of a little bullpen here Alan, right? Mostly interesting on Friday It could be it couldn't be worse pal It could be worse honestly just subbed the iron pigs for the for the Major League Rouser See what happens. I have official statement on the Pigs. I'm glad you brought them up. Oh, great. Thank you. I have anything to extend. Yep.

The depletion of the Iron Pigs roster over the last couple of days of them coming up to the to the big leagues really does hurt. I mean, I know they got torched. They got torched by the fighting Nick Maitzons in the in the Charlotte team. This weekend. So it's been a tough week for the pigs. But by the way, speaking of dumb things, why is the White Sox team in Charlotte? Their triple A team shouldn't be close to your fans can go visit them. It's a great question. Thank you. Thank you. Really crushing this stuff.

What else can I bring up now? In the next minute to extend this to see Salters, it's nice, it's nice that you you are fine just leaving your children with your wife. You have no problem. Like you're not trying to also get back to Ryan. The other hand, you know, care about my child, care about my wife. I'm trying to, you know, help out, but it's fine.

I get it. Let's just hang in. You know, keep going. What you got? Well, I think she's on a walk. Yeah. See, I spun that around on you. That was so good. I'm so proud of myself. Yeah, they would have been spinning stuff around, buddy. Also, why yesterday did you do the top 10 athletes in Philadelphia when you know tomorrow's the start top 11 week? I didn't realize it was.

I thought you guys you are a bad guy. I know. I honestly didn't honestly didn't even think about it. I thought you did it on Friday because you guys were texting about it. I was like, oh, OK, cool. No, it's all good. All right. Go have a go have a nice. No, I would never do that to you, buddy. Yeah, don't say I would never.

All right. I love you, pal. This is great, except for the filliest part, which was horrible. Yeah. All right. We'll we'll be back after the Cub series. We'll see if we're any happier. Until then, use Ritz and Salter.