High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Whit Merrifield is Phillie and Dancing On My Own is the New Sweet Caroline

Episode Date: February 17, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Whit Merrifield signing, Pitchers and Catchers reporting, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, 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 B.I.B. 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. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

It is another edition of the IOMS podcast. Was that maybe a little too much of a yo for Whitmerryfield, Jack? No, it wasn't because I freaking heard of Whitmerryfield, and they signed him. They did a thing, buddy. How are you? I'm alive. How are things? I know.

I had to do a whole solo pod by myself the other night. I know. I was way worse the other night. I'm doing much better, much better. Unfortunately, my family is doing less better. So they're sick upstairs. The old cycle. Yes, yes.

And it's all my fault. So good times. No, I'm glad to see that you're doing much better. You look pretty healthy. I do. At one point, you said you could not leave your bed, not even to watch a movie. Well, the first day, it was tough. I eventually got to movies and then went on an epic run the next two days.

It was, I was in the basement by myself trying not to get my wife and daughter sick. That worked out great. No, but the first day was rough. Second day was, you know, I was sick, but I, you know, and then yesterday and today I feel, I feel fine. So we're in good shape, buddy. Yeah. And to make everything that much better. Whitmerry fields of Philly.

Fields of Philly. How many years have we been talking about Whitmerry field being a Philly? Dude, I was going to bring this up, but it's like the amount of, of, of Fritz guys that they've signed in the last week. I mean, Turnbull, you know, David doll, David doll David Dahl. My guy. My guy. I mean, definitely. I've overdrafted him in fantasy.

Dude's going to go nuts in course. Speed. He can hit. Let's go. I mean, he was at one point dubbed Colorado Ted Williams. Yes. I thought he was the next cargo, man. It didn't work out.

No, dude. I loved David Dahl back in the day listen for a little minor league signing with some upside for sure there were definitely a few weeks where i was not upset he was on my fantasy team he had a couple moments here in 2019 he's an all-star in 2019 who could forget that davidahl runs? Between Turnbull Dahl and Whitmerryfield, it's a good way to reel your boy back in. Whitmerryfield has been a part of a perfect offseason. I think every offseason

besides this one. Both of ours. We've definitely both put him in perfect offseasons, for sure. He was perfect. We've talked about trading for him at the deadline multiple times. He has been a Phillies target target and look why not you know like he he's when you've got a hole let's get with my field to fill it you know so i know all right uh let's dive are you doing good by the way yeah okay yeah you're all healthy and

good in the fast hold i love it beautiful Beautiful thing. Beautiful thing. Beautiful thing. Your last few weeks of your 20s, by the way. How are you holding up? No, I did start to think about that. Yeah, I mean, you know, get ready, buddy. Old jokes coming your way. We are under 30 days left in my 20s. I know.

And I have already decided the 30s are going left in my 20s i know and i i have already already decided the 30s are gonna be my my decade oh i'm excited for the 30s i believe it i mean well you're really like a 50 year old in a 29 year old's body as it is so like you're just gonna be the most uh well put together 30 year old like way ahead of it when everyone's like wanting to be like dad guy you're gonna have been dad guy for for just years and kicking butt at it so come come step into my office you know like come exactly yeah i'll teach you how we did things around welcome in yeah yes i am wearing a flannel thank you for noticing yes sit down it'll be nice maybe maybe we'll sit outside by the fire and i'll make you some chili i'll make i'll make you some some some chili in my dutch oven yes hey maybe maybe we'll

go camping we'll we're really disconnect this is good yes get away from everything other than phil others and philly scores and then as soon as march like 29th hits jack's in the corner of the tent with his phone watching the phies. It's great. I did watch the Halliday Perfect Game from the bank of the Delaware River. I totally believe it.

We were taking canoes down in the Delaware and then camping off to the side. Yes, that's where I watched the... If anyone wonders how dedicated you are, I mean, come on. I heard about the Halliday Perfect game in Miami. Yes, of course I missed it. All right.

Let's get into it because I don't have that much time. I have two sick women upstairs. But so one year, it's $7 million, but there's a $1 million buy-off. So it's ultimately one year, $8 million. I think maybe only seven7 against the tax. I don't know how that works. It's an interesting thing. Regardless, when I saw the signing, it was just like, yeah, that's perfect.

The perfect amount for the guy. Like, yes, hey, guys, guess what? I know he's 35 years old. I know that. I know that he's not the Whit Merrifield he was even three years ago. I get it. But, like, he's a bench guy. Like, this is the exact guy the Phillies needed for this role.

We talked about it right in at bat. A guy who can put the bat on the ball when you need someone to go up and just put a freaking ball in play. You know who's better at it than almost anyone in baseball the last 10 years? Whit frickin' Merrifield.ield i just he can play multiple positions a few of them at a pretty good level like i just i i thought so jack here's where i'll start okay i love it i think it's a perfect little move right now and yes maybe we're a little overexcited because we haven't had moves but i was shocked how many people didn't seem to like it i expected to log on and be like whit merrifield party and there's a lot of backlash where are you out on the wet thing so i think it's a home run i mean he doesn't hit me

yes not anymore he'll get you like 10 if he played not Maybe not when he's not playing every day. I just, you know, there's been one too many Josh Harrison comps out of nowhere, which I find just absurd. Like, can we just maybe, all right, this is going to sound, hey, I'm entering my 30s. So, like, you know, this might sound old nanny. Oh, don't worry. You're in the right place for that, buddy. You know, turn on the tape and get off the baseball reference for me one time.

Seriously. You know, so I just – listen, I think it's a really smart signing. Probably can't play center field anymore. No, no, no, no. But he could play left for sure. And the thing about Rojas insurance, you could play Martian center. He came up as a center fielder. So it's not about like Whitmerryfield can play center field. He is a, I just, for $8 million, I know that they're getting close to the luxury tax, the third one.

But we can't do the whole spend money, spend money, spend money thing. And then when it gets to this point, it's like, well, hold on. We are in a World Series window. Whitmerryfield fills a lot of holes for this team. He can like, let's say we get into a postseason series. He's not starting, but he can come off the bench late and steal a bet. He had 26 to one bases. And he's like a, still a really good runner, just base runner period.

Like he's a smart base runner, good base runner, gets extra bags. Like he's a, he's good base runner gets extra bags like he's a he's an asset there of course so like last year and again can play left field can play any infield position outside a shortstop for you if you need it play second at a high level third you know he'll get by they're not great but the point is like he's a versatile piece we just saw in the postseason how much having a guy where you can put in different spots at different times in different situations matters. Well, and I just think that I think he can he can put the bat on the baseball. Obviously, he has the second most hits in baseball since 2017. And like, listen, he had that. And I did do a deep dive into his year last year.

So he had a like up his first. I looked at his. I definitely did the baseball savant thing and all that you know well but if you look at his if you look at his 100 his first 115 games pretty large sample size right i think we can say that's pretty pretty pretty good he's batting over 300 he's batting 300 with a 343 obp he had like a 760 ops and he had 130 hits like so and then he had a groin injury that hampered him for the rest of the season so the last the last 31 games he batted 170 so so completely derailed the season so what the opportunity and by the way still ended batting 270 something for the season like it's not like he had a horrible season when you look at the numbers you know but like they're going to be

able to keep him more fresh they're not going to play him every day like he was a he started for the for the blue jays he's playing a ton that's not going to be able to keep him more fresh. They're not going to play him every day. He started for the Blue Jays. He was playing a ton. That's not going to be the case here. It's going to be, okay, there's a tough lefty on the mound. We'll sit Brandon Marsh. Or if Johan Rojas, and again, this does not deter the plans they have for Johan Rojas. It's just they're protecting themselves a little bit,

which they have to do. I thought it would be moronic to enter into a season. It would be malpractice. Yes. I was so shocked at the reaction to it, where it's very obvious he fills a ton of needs for this team. Is he going to be a gold glover? No. Is he going to hit a million home runs?

No. But they also don't really always need that. They need someone that they can trust. And I think he's someone that you'll be able to trust. And if you get him off his feet, and he's not playing every day, and you play him, I mean, how many games for Whitmerry for next year? Like, 90? 90 to 100?

Yeah, somewhere. I was thinking 190, somewhere in that range. Yeah. And you get the best version of Whitmerry. And listen, he also could just start going off, and you can kind of put him in the lineup and let him stay there for a little bit. Totally. The one thing that I –

Because guys will get hurt. He's a guy you can fill in when that happens too, you know, like all that stuff. You got to think about that. You know, guys, know guys guys would be the first to say it this year it's a marathon not a sprint the season thank you it's a long season it's a really long season it's a long season it's long um but the one thing i'm interested in is like second base is probably his best spot i wonder that is definitely his best spot if they're gonna to do the Stott versus lefty thing again, where we got so annoyed by him. They better not.

They can't. They can't. They won't do it. Nope. I think what it'll be is when Stott needs an off day, they'll kind of schedule it when like, oh, look, they're going up against Chris Sale or whatever. Some lefty who really is good against left-handed hitters or whatever.

Chris Sale is a brave. I tried to think of the first one in the division that popped in my head. I'm not scared of Chris Sale at all. against Chris sale or whatever, some lefty who really is good against left-handed hitters or whatever. Chris sales, Chris sales. I tried to think of the first one, the division that popped in my head. I'm not scared of Chris sale at all, but that just an example, but the point being, you know what I mean? Like,

I think they'll look for those opportunities, but I don't, I think stats too important and too good. Yes. Now I will, I will be curious, like on days they want to get Bryce off his feet and they put boom at first would they put stott at third base and put merrifield at second base i mean and and

i think you'll probably see so is it there but i mean i don't know i do think what you will see though is like if they want to get turn off, they'll put Sosa at short. But, I mean, they could also – I'm sorry. They could put Stott at short and play Murrayfield at second. Oh, but hold on. I was told Scott Kingery was ruined by moving him all over the field. It is pretty crazy. I love how you just said you could put Stott at third.

And I say put him at short, and it's like, oh, hold up. Oh, no. Well, I was just joking. I know you were. I know you were. They didn't do that at all last year, though. They kind of just left Stott alone. No, no.

But the point is it gives you versatility, especially in a pinch. And again, it just allows you. And then the DH, too. Like, look, Torbjorn will need off days. Then you could put, if you want to get Turner off his feet for a game, or if you want to get whoever, Harper in the DH spot for or if you want to get whoever you know harper in the dh spot for a game like you said move boom it just it just gives versatility and again there's a bench guy and if you look at like eight million dollars like if you look at the type of signings that have happened this offseason like harrison bader got 10 million

like jason hayward got i i'm not hating on harrison bader he's a fine player but the point is like jason hayward got 10 million nine million is, it's like Jason Hayward got 10 million, $9 million. It's like, it's the right level of player. Like Whitmerryfield is that level of player. Like maybe he's, you know,

he's not good defensively as those guys, obviously at their positions. But point being that Merrifield is like, and again, we're all talking about context. It's not just look at the player and the price and the stats. It's look at the fit on the fricking team. What have we talked about all off season? What's one of the biggest needs we brought up every freaking time you're out of the ball thing, like get us a right-handed bat

who can come in in a pinch and put the bat on the ball or get you a hit or do whatever. And they got the most versatile version of that. And probably the best at putting the bat on the ball that one specific skill that was out there like i'm just i'm like so confused that yes he's 35 i get it he is declining but you know what he's been the exact same player the last three years it you know prior to that he was you know all-star whitmerryfield they know he's an all-star last year but come on but but well i guess he had the first half you're right but but again he's been the same exact player for the last three years and that player is is a valuable guy especially in this spot um i mean listen i believe

that they gave jerry's familia eight million um you know i believe it was seven but exactly yes yes i mean exactly think about the money wasted. Think about the $7 million combined for freaking Matt Moore, who, you know, belated. Get there on no hitter. Chase Anderson. Like, you know, they gave $4 million to Chase Anderson. You know what I mean?

They've thrown money away. You know, Dave has missed on these guys, you know? I know. I keep waiting for that patented move. But, hey, maybe Merrifield is that. Merrifield, yep. But I just don't feel that. And once again, I feel like this podcast has to help calm the people down.

This is what we're here for. I just – he clearly makes them better and gives them insurance at a lot of spots and gives them a veteran bat off the bench that like probably won't strike out, which I appreciate. It's not going to, you're not going to have the home runs. It's just, you know,

if you want to just use game seven as an example, you know, he probably bats there for Rojas in the third and probably is a better job in that, in that probably, I mean, like you never know, but I would be willing to bet more

than i've ever bet on anything that he would yes you'd have confidence in that yes i would yes i would and they just they haven't had this kind of guy the last couple years you know they've had some older bench guys but like i don't even like they went so young with the bench last year and it felt like a huge mistake when he got other than josh harrison early on and then that didn't work out and josh harrison is not with merrifield josh harrison couldn't play the outfield you know realistically you know and and josh harrison was nowhere close to the player that whit merrifield has been the last few years of prior to coming in in terms of in his mid-30s you know and like just and again like josh harrison looked like he couldn't run anymore i mean what merrifield stole 26 bases last year yep yep um you know it's it's such a and this is

uh i guess it's a it's a respect kind of thing it's such a like brave signing you know what i mean where totally and and the thing that braves and hopefully doesn't lead to you know a loss in the second round but but like the thing that they've, and hopefully it doesn't lead to a loss in the second round, but the thing that they've done, I feel like, so well the last couple of years is they always have that guy who's been around forever. Yeah, the freaking Eddie Rosarios, the freaking Jock Petersons, these guys that they bring in. Adam Duvall. Adam Duvall, who have playoff moments.

Jorge Soler. I mean, Jorge Soler. Robby Cano. Led A on homers. Robby Cano. Robby Cano. But they do. You're right.

Pablo Zanvall. They bring in these guys, and they have moments for them. I could absolutely see Whitmerry Field having big moments for this team in the playoffs. Plus, I liked it. Look, he's a veteran who's never really had, who was in Kansas City after they won and labored forever, went to Toronto, got a taste, has not had any real...

He's someone I think is hungry. And I think that's part of the reason he came here, is he wants a chance to win. And I think he'll fit in really well in this clubhouse of guys who are clearly super hungry for it and have tasted being close to it and want it. I just think it's like on every level, it just seems like a perfect fit.

I'm so shocked there's any... I thought this would be like on every level, it just seems like a perfect fit. I'm so shocked. There's any, I thought this would be one of those like, Oh, put up, you know, we know never, no Twitter polls ever a hundred percent,

but I'd be like 90. Do you like the Whitmerryfield signing? 90%. Yes. Like I'm shocked. Yeah. I mean, it is what it is.

It feels like 50, 50 out there. I think that's probably strong. I think it's probably, is it more, is it more? Okay. Okay.

I think 70, 30 people are mostly happy. It's a vocal minority. Yes. Yes. Yes. That, you know? Yeah. I think it's probably 70-30. Is it more? Okay. I think 70-30 people are mostly happy with it. It's a vocal minority. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, I mean, listen, we'll obviously see how it plays out. But obviously, Rob Thompson talked a lot this week. I like the messaging from Rob Thompson. It feels a lot more like, I think they're always there to win,

but it feels more poignant this time. Totally. You know, where it's like, you know, they got a taste of it and now they want to finish the job. It's like they get it now. It's like, all right, we get it now. Like, this is like. And I brought this up on the air and I actually meant to run it by you. And it was the interview that he did with Taryn.

And Taryn brought up, she brought up the the 83 Sixers the we owe you one Sixers and I was wondering if if the mantra of this Phillies team needs to be great like the we owe you one Phillies because I love that to us the fans yes and the whole love affair it's such a great call yeah I mean think about the relationship that we had with the the team totally here and and the way they gave it back and and they're all back. They're all back, you know? They're all back. They're all back. And it's been so nice.

And plus with Merrill. Yeah, exactly. It's been so nice that, and maybe it's just because people missed baseball, but I haven't really had the sense. I know you're off the last couple of days, but we've done a lot of Philly shows the last two days. And I really haven't sensed the whole like,

the whole like, ah ah wake me up when you get to the part Jack I'm so happy you said this I had the so we've done a few Philly shows and just talked Phillies and everyone I've talked to people calling up like we talked about this I keep thinking I'm so happy you mentioned this because I want to talk to you about this too because I remember so vividly us doing those you know painful shows when they lost and talking about was mocking us yes yes yes yes we remember thanks uh stacy um but like remember talking about that thing where we're like well now it's like you know like there's no fun in it it's like you know come back and like gotta win and it's just like, you know, this like, you know, thing. And, and I'm so with

you, man, the way I feel and every person I've talked to, people go on the air. It's just like, I'm so fricking psyched for the Phil's man. I'm psyched for Philly's baseball to be back. I can't wait for this. And I do think, look, I think the way the Eagles collapsed and the way that ended probably helped because people are like, all let this team we thought that was pain at least this team like really almost did get to the world series and really did have a great you know some run and some good stuff like so i think that's part of it but i also think like you know hope springs eternal time heals wounds like it doesn't heal it we don't forget the pain it's not going away but like it's like oh yeah we back. We love this team still. Like that love affair doesn't just go away

because they lost a couple games. Like, it's not like I stopped loving Bryce Harper because they lost in the playoffs. So that's back. We love baseball. It's our favorite sport. That's back and people love baseball. And then, oh yeah, they are really good

and have a chance to win the World Series again. So it's awesome man i i there's so much more excitement right now at this moment than at that time when we did those pods i or we expect their thing yeah and that's because there are guys um now i am curious to see uh the fanatics jerseys how they are they going to be able to fix them by opening day because the early returns are not great. You know what's funny? I feel like there are very few times where everyone is on board on something on social media.

Where it's like everyone is like, oh yeah, this sucks. Normally there's people being like, no, it isn't soccer. Everyone agrees this fanatic thing is a disaster. These jerseys are awful. Like it looks so like small time compared to what they're supposed to look like, what they look like, you know, always. It's a it's a it's thing, buddy. It looks like they look like video game jerseys. Like it looks like the back of an MLB The Show jersey. Yeah, exactly.

Well, they and they honestly it all looks on it. What it really looks like is it looks like like a like a shirzy jersey almost yeah yes exactly yes it's it's it's an abomination like you better fix this michael rubin like this is not good no unless we got we got opening day around the corner like yeah we can't have those no you see the jerseys i'm gonna see who's on the field like when fans are coming to the stadium in nicer jerseys than the players are wearing you got a problem yeah it's a problem it's a problem um but yeah no and um the next thing it seems like that they hope to get done is is the wheeler extension so yeah i think that's probably how it rounds out this offseason like they're probably done you know i don't know the

montgomery things hot but it just it does feel like it's uh it's the phillies are kind of how it rounds out this offseason. They're probably done. You know, I know the Montgomery thing's hot, but it does feel like the Phillies are kind of being used. I think they're in on Montgomery, but it does feel like all this smoke is like, hey, the Phillies are here, guys. Don't let this happen kind of thing, you know? Yeah, well, and, you know, listen, it could be, I think they would sign up for the perfect deal for them, you know, like one or two years. Two years, 40 million, yeah, and, you know, listen, it could be, I think they would sign up for, like, the perfect deal for them,

you know, like one or two years. Like two years, $40 million, yeah, sure, let's do that. Yeah, we'll go over the tax again, the third tax for that one. Now, they'd probably have to get off Taiwan for that, but regardless, regardless, this is probably it, you know, unless there's a trade out there for a more closing type. But again, like, they could figure that out at the deadline. And I think they want to have the flexibility.

Because right now they're what, like 15 million below that or 13 million below that next level, whatever it is. Yeah, it's 14. 14, whatever. There's someone in that range. I think they want to maintain that flexibility for the deadline so they can add pieces and stay under it potentially still at the deadline if they need to.

Yeah. And I think they do want to give Kirkner a chance to be the deadline if they need to you know yeah and you know i think they do want to give kirk a chance to be the closer if need be um so it's not the worst strategy that like you get maryfield he's a good insurance policy for if rojas can't hit or marsh like marsh he saves me right for opening day my big concern with that is is it going to be is he is he like going to be at least hitting before that or i just don't see any way he's like ready ready like i just how many we i feel like this first of all i i know we'll never get an explanation but like did he just heard it now or did he wait he said he felt it after like the reds game last year so what are we doing here

what are we doing here but i feel like this happens you know I feel like this happens, you know, every few years, you'll have a guy where this will happen, where it's like late in camp. It's like, oh, why do you wait this? That we always have these discussions. I feel like the guy's never ready when the season starts, because it's too important to have those at bats in spring training. Like, honestly, I'm, this is, I actually think a bigger deal for Brandon Marsh's season than we're making

out to be. I think he's going to start slow. Even when he does come back, I think it's going to take him a little while to get going. I feel like this happens every year. He's going to start slow. Even when he does come back, I think it's going to take him a little while to get going. I feel like this happens every year. He's going to start slow. Did I say that? Hey, this is the first time I've talked to anyone in like four days.

I've been alone in my basement. Yes. Yes. No, I agree. And, and, and it also allows them not to just have to rush him out there. You know, if he looks, if he looks slow or it looks like the bat's a little bit off, he's not, his timing is not totally there. Then it lets them just be like, all right, hold on. We'll, we'll get Mary fit out there you know if he looks if he looks slow or it looks like the bat's a little bit off he's not his timing's not totally there then it lets them just be like all right

hold on we'll get mary fit out there whatever so it's it's it's a uh it's a win-win all around but um unless like one of these closer trades come down you know the classic the classic thing honestly felt more like a uh prelude to the deadline you know and setting the stage setting the table type of right and you know exactly what you need at that point and you hope that you don't just collapse but they won't i mean like they they're too they have too many guys in them yeah like injuries is the only thing that could could make it closer it's the only thing you know and that's any team any year any season the other thing too with the marsh thing that i did you know it's like a you know i don't

think it's a bad part of it and look rojas hasjas has to hit, he has to, you know, prove that he can hit the major league level to stay there. But I do think that, you know, Marsh starting slow, not having, it kind of doesn't like, there's no looking over the shoulder right away for Rojas. I think it gives him a chance to really kind of settle in and feel like it's his job. If it's not constantly like Marsh is there switching in and out and stuff like that. So I do think that could be an unintended benefit of Marsh, you know, maybe not being ready to go to start the season for what it's worth. Yeah, but either way, it gives him a whole bunch of stuff. And the biggest part for me is that David Buchanan is no longer the oldest member of the uh the team in camp can't

happen like david buchanan for me is perpetually 20 like eight years old you know what i mean like when he left in 2015 2016 whatever like he's just stayed the same he i like that he can't like jonathan pettibone is still 26 years old or whatever. I love this. This is a phenomenal take. I fully support this. I fully support this. Thank you. David Buchanan cannot be 34 years old. No, this is great. This is phenomenal.

I'm such a big fan of this. This is some of your best work. Thank you. I mean, you have David Buchanan, which they signed. They signed Ricardo Pinto out of nowhere. I can't help that. Yes. I mean, where's yoxel rios

where's edu bryan did i would love to bring that dude yeah he had moments dude and well edu bryan had moments too he's pitched he's been all right and what's his name uh uh who is the guy he's he was good in San Diego. Luis Garcia? No, no, no. Three names. Not three names, but a San something. Oh, my God. Oh, yeah.

Del Santos. He's been good. He's a major league pitcher, Enyel. Yeah. I mean, the problem is not to give a big discussion about Enyel Del Santos. We definitely don't need that. No. Zoe and Emily would not be psyched if I was like, why'd you take so long? We had to dive

deep on Angel De Los Santos. Oh, is he a Philly? No, and hasn't been for a while. Traded four? Oh, I know this. If my brain is foggy right now, just tell me because I can get a swimwear to my side. And I believe I tweeted... San Diego!

I believe I tweeted the second the trade happened. I said, the Phillies won the trade poor Freddie I've I've looked back I've looked back like you know Freddie's fine I just yeah it's more my war with uh Pete McKinnon I remember I remember second yeah um and and all the uh you people out there. It wasn't, it was the war with Pete McKinnon and all the Phillies fans and be writers who, who would get on you. Could not get over the, that maybe he was,

well, some, some believe that Freddie, a better fielder than Angleton Simmons. So, you know, that is, yeah,

it's out there. No, it's, it's a hundred percent out there that, that, that opinion was, was shared. I do think it's funny though.

Um, his, the lineup and David Buch shared. I do think it's funny though. His, the lineup and David Buchanan's last start. Do you want me to give it to you? Yeah. So what year is it? 15 or 60. So it was, it was October 4th of 2015. What was, what was, oh, wow. So that's like the last game of the season.

Well, 2015 was a miserable sports year. I mean, that was chip. Like the end of chip was coming at that point. We're like beginning of that year. Yeah. That, that's the point. We're like a little bit of the way into it. So it's going to start falling apart there. This, I was like, I think it might've been, it was at the 10 win Sixers. Yeah. I mean like, what are you, I mean, that's just a disastrous sports here.

I was, you know, just starting to make my way in the business. Yeah. That was when I was an intern. Yeah. I think you were. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. That's where he first met. That's where he first met, buddy.

How about it? 2015. Oh man. It's like a, a origin story. Do you remember the first thing I said to you? No, I don't.

I said, I said, Oh, you're the, you're the guy that does the baseball podcast. Nice. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I never listened to it. That's a good first line. No, I should do it. It was probably so bad back then. I was like, oh my God. Oh, so bad.

So bad. Yeah. I was sitting in the back desk. There was like four of us. Giving me dog bones. Yes. Always. Yes.

Always dog bones. I was making them every day. That's why I listened to radio. That's why you gave them to me. I remember. Who would have thought? Here we are. Nine years later.

How about it, buddy? All right, so in the leadoff spot, and this is, again, my war on Pete McKinnon, Freddy Galvis. That's what we're doing. Freddy Galvis in the one spot. Aaron Altair batting second. Oh, your boy.

Your boy. By the way, kind of lighten up the Caribbean series if you want to bring him back too. It would prop back everyone else. Sure. Why not? I'm sure he could still hit. Mike L batting third. Of course he was. Babe Ruff

batting fourth in left field. Wow. Wow. Left field. Wow. I thought Hoskins left was bad. Jeez. Jeff Francor and Wright. I didn't think Jeff Francor made it through the year. I did not. Full disclosure, did not remember Jeff Francor on the 2015 Phillies. Oh no, you have to remember that.

I remembered that Jeff Francor was a Philly. I did not remember that it was in 2015. Do you remember the biggest... This was the 66-win team, right? Or no, they were the one year later. They were right there. No, 66 because they drafted... It was. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's what I thought. But do you remember the most important thing that happened in the Jeff Rancourt era as a Philly? Like on the field? No, but I will when you say it, I'm sure. Okay, well, he was the one that came into pitch down in Camden Yards when... I think it was Krantz waving the not crayon but waving the white the white flag and utley was so

mad i remember that that's great oh that's so funny by the way i it was just circulating on social media again if you if if anyone out there has never seen the jeff frank or prank yeah yeah getting tricked by his minor league team with the deaf teammate like just just google jeff rank or deaf teammate you won't be disappointed it is it is really really great stuff uh andres blanco sorry at second base i was a huge andres blanco fan like andres on this team they might win the world series yeah i mean mvp probably crafty was the first baseman and uh and cameron ruff was the catcher wow ruff and ruff in the lineup that's great so this is a serious question this is a

serious question to you okay good do you think they'll ever be like that bad again are we gonna see of course you think someday someday yeah i mean that's what happens yeah maybe not i mean dave is that you you're saying that dave dombrowski has is the is the person who has finally forever taken the phillies away from being the phillies yeah that's what you're saying you're saying that never again will we fall that low. I love it. And John Middleton. Ultimately, you're right. It is John Middleton. I hope so, buddy. I'm just saying the odds are at some point they will.

But dude, look, I'm not expecting it anytime. I feel great. Now, in six years when we got paying $500 million to a 40-year-old Bryce Harper and Trey Turner and this and that. Who knows?

Who knows? The nice part about that, and they don't really have many people committed after the... No, see, look, it's fine. It's fine. The numbers, the cap's going to go up or the tax will go up. Look at you using the cap.

You know, all the same. Is that cancelable? Wow. I didn't know that calling the baseball luxury tax a salary cap was a cancelable wow i didn't know that calling the baseball luxury taxes salary account was a cancelable thing i would definitely rein that into the future it's a really good point thank you thank you um but what you're what you're not factoring in um when we're talking about like 34 35 year old turner and 34 and 35 year old harper and like i was talking about 37 38 year old turner and harper but yes

go ahead okay but we're not factoring into that whole equation is that aiden miller exists and yes that's true and it's gonna be like and you know when you have barry bonds 2.0 on your team it doesn't really matter who else is there you remember the you remember the middleton quote from what was it two months ago like right after we interviewed Preston, where he said, listen, I'm not worried about spending money when I believe that we have maybe the next Trey Turner's and Bryce Harper's coming through the system. Love it.

Calm down, Big Milla. Johnny, Jack. Calm down, Big Milla. I love him. If we ever develop a player as good. I do love him. Thank you, John Middle. We're in the second luxury tax.

They're just spending. They still could sign George. It wouldn't be crazy because he spends. It has been so lovely. The way he talks about it. Again, I don't care how much money I spend, quotes, can you throw out there and then keep backing it up it's wonderful there are there are many many many we don't curse on this this pod but i will say bleepy baseball owners

we have one of the great ones that's very very awesome yes yes john fisher i'm talking about you sorry what is what a bleep show that is out there holy god dude unbelievable right like unbelievable yeah holy cow um but yeah i just because i've been i look the line i remember the times and like just remembering the players you know that they've had and it's just it's great to be where we're at i would be surprised if it gets like that that bad again like the yankees never get that bad that's true where we're at i would be surprised if it gets like that that bad again like the yankees never get that bad that's true no you're right it would have to be obviously a horror look the braves the braves haven't been that bad since the 80s you know you know there's going to be some horrible years mixed in there i'm sure with injuries and whatnot but like

i don't know i think here's the thing i think i think the thing that you're your point is there will might be down years, but there'll be guys on the team that are worth it. And that are part of the next thing. Still draft on the develop. Well, we believe in this and all this, the infrastructure and all that.

Whereas like that team you listed, like literally none of those players had careers. Like they were all bad. Like Freddie, like Freddie had the best career of the bunch. I think maybe like, I mean, think about it. Like Freddie, like Freddie had the best career of the bunch. I think maybe like, I mean, think about it. Like it's a disastrous group of players. Like that is like, you have to be, there's not even hope there.

So that, I think that, no, I agree with you. I think that at least in our lifetimes, that will never happen. Well, and they're never going to make, I don't, I'd be shocked if they ever went a decade without making the playoffs. Like, like I'd be, especially with – they're only going to keep increasing the amount of playoff teams and all that stuff. That's true, yeah. So, yeah, David Buchanan is back.

Welcome back, buddy. Welcome back. We spent – I said 30 minutes. We're at 36. I told him I'm leaving at 30, but that's good. All right, let's you take back now. I'm assuming – turn bolt real quick because he is a Fritz guy. I'm sure you talked about it in the mailbag though, you i haven't listened all right so i just want to let

you get you what's your spencer turn i'm excited you know i love spencer turnbull it's a fritz guy you know so for those who don't know what every year in fantasy jack will send me his because we're not only together so he'll he'll hook me up with like his his he calls him well we were in a league we were in a league we're in in a league. We're in a league together. And he took like four of them right before me. So I know. And I made the finals. But you also stopped paying attention to that league very quickly.

I know. I know. And I went to the finals. Um, but, um, every year Fritz gives me his list of like Fritz guys, his pitchers that, and it's, it's, you know, from like there, it's not like top guy. He's not like, you know, corporate burns or whatever. It's, it's it's like you know all guys who would go from maybe like the seventh to tenth round and much later much later and like his hit rate is unbelievable like it's it is incredibly impressive and spencer turnbull has long been a

fritz guy he has he has He has. He has been. So I'm excited. He's got stuff. It's a good low-risk high reward. Used to have stuff. We'll see. Yeah, if he's healthy. It's all, you know, we'll see.

Dude, he was like 93 last year. It was sad. Yeah. It was sad. It was about, yeah. Yeah. No, it was funny because, you know, obviously being on WIP and hosting every day,

like with Ike, like someone calledIP and hosting every day, like with Ike, someone called in and said, oh, what do you think about the Spencer Turnbull signing? And I was thinking in my head, I had producer ear. I was like, dude, I could easily do five. Oh, I could do, yeah. Let me cook, buddy. Ike, clear out.

Let me cook. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I was like, you know what? I'll give you a quick minute. But even the minute, I was like, we got to get out of here. You felt like you should. I totally get it. I would have been like, get off Spencer Turnbull, get off. Yeah. You're wasting your time. I love it for what it is for, for two million. Oh, sure. I think it's a nice upside play. They need starting pitching depth and we know they're not going to spend unless

the Montgomery thing happens. They're not going to spend a ton of money. They have seven, the miners that we're excited about, but I think Turnbull's a really nice guy who's been hurt maybe you can use your your uh you know the the biomechanics the stuff they've been doing here all this stuff to kind of a get him healthy and get his his stuff right and if you do like he's a guy who could give you some some innings you know over the course of a season so i i think it's a nice move i feel like it's been a while since i've had one of these you know one of these. You know, one of these real high hopes kind of takes.

I know. If things go well, he could be a number three. I mean that, dude. I'm telling you what, man. If he gets back to prime to turn bull, they might have found a third starter for

$2 million. Like, Jordan Montgomery who? I don't know. back to prime's kinds of turnbull they might have found a third starter for for a for a two million dollars like george montgomery who i don't know i don't know um but let's he's got a minor league option so you know you can start he's probably gonna start triple a yeah i'm sure velocity back up 96 97 you know get that slide get that the last thing that usually comes with avatami john is command you know it's like short game and golf you know it's the last thing that kind of comes back when you're coming off an injury. Us golfers, no. Yeah, everyone knows that.

Everyone knows that. I still have a short game. There's no injury. There's no injury. It's just lack of – I hate it. I hate short game. I hate putting. Well, you're still much better at it than I am.

I just like hitting the ball far. I don't have any game. Ball go boom. But yeah, I can't wait for everyone that i'm excited about in spring training actually like i can't wait to see obviously abel and like some of the kids pitch late in games uh like there's nothing that caters more to to what i care about oh i know buddy the late inning uh of spring training games oh we know um but i just coming on here and saying ridiculous things and me saying don't overreact of spring training games. Oh, we know. But I just – Coming on here and saying ridiculous things and me saying don't overreact to spring training

and then us doing it again the next year and the next year. Yep, we know. We got it. Yeah, and every year I say I'm not going to do it. Not going to do it. And then Pavetta throws 100 against the Cardinals. It's like what are you going to do? Over under five pitchers you say who are not going to make the roster

or will be like up and out, down and back that you say are going to be like the next, you know, the McKinley Moore trade did not age well. I know it was so McKinley. DFA'd. You got DFA'd. I was glad they were able to retain Simone Luziotti, though. I want to make sure that they were able to bring him back. That's the important stuff.

Yes. Things that matter. Your show debated this on Friday. No, Thursday. No, Thursday. Do you want them to retire dancing on my own? Yes. So here's my counter.

So as soon as I said that, I thought about being at the ballpark for it it made me really sad it made me really sad so you know what no i changed my mind in the moment you don't honestly say whatever you're gonna say anyway but you don't need to sell me like my answer when i said it and how i felt in my soul about it told me all i needed to know bring it back yeah because i'm just thinking you know me you obviously a bunch of high hopes listeners at the ballpark they want to they beat the braves again and dancing on my own comes on it's the greatest dude it's the most i need it i'm in it's impossible it's almost impossible to replicate frankly yeah you know and like francisco tried to do a top five replacements for it and i mean

horrible list and we i'm sure we already discussed it on the air so he knows that it was a horrible list yeah well i'm not surprised francisco and i don't have the same taste in music i would say based on the uh tweets of of his taste in music i i would guess that very different break stuff by, uh, dude, like I said, any like, and no offense to people like it.

And I've never ripped anyone for liking what they like, but like the, the death metal, dark metal, loud metal, like metal period. I'm just, it's not for me.

It's not my thing. Sorry guys. Um, you know, like it's's just it's so hard to replicate a song where people get to sing along to it and like it's all like stocks a okay perfect you know what i mean like well it's why sweet caroline in boston works so well like it's these songs that people either learn the lyrics to or know the lyrics to and enjoy like sweet caroline everyone sings at a bar together. When you're at a bar, it's like those type of songs that have that feel. So Dancing on My Own is the new Sweet Caroline?

Oh, what a take, buddy. Yes! No one better. That's the official take. Dancing on My Own is the new Sweet Caroline. And with Merrifields Affiliate. That's the title of the podcast. We did it.

2-1-5-5-9-2-94-94. This is fun, buddy. I needed this. All right. We'll be back on a way more consistent schedule. Yes, yes. Now we're back. It's baseball season.

I have, you know, I likely won't get sick again soon, I would hope. So I think we're in good shape. So, all right, I should go, though, because I do have a daughter and wife. You got anything else you want to get to before we get out of here? No, but Ricardo Pinto has added an interesting... He really has. No, he really has. He really has.

He has good numbers in the community. I believe it, man. I believe it. Yeah, Ricardo Pinto passes the name test, so... Yeah, he was former fellow great. I remember the 2017 team. Yeah, yeah. It's good work. That legendary 2017 team. Go watch that. I remember the 2017 team. Yeah, man, it's good work.

That, that legendary 2017 teams. Go watch that. Go watch that yearbook. I bet that you could use that tonight. Don't, don't tell me what the, all right.

Uh, we'll be back this week soon. You know, that, that, uh, Wednesday, Tuesday,

Thursday, somewhere in that range. Um, and, uh, freaking go time, baseball games, Philly's games coming up.

What is it? Saturday, the first one? I think 11 days. Saturday is the first one, right? No, I think sooner, right? There's a game one week from today. I'm almost positive. It's like a split squad or something.

I hope so. I thought it was the 28th, but I could have been 100% wrong. You're usually right about this stuff, not me. Well, no. 28th is the start of the baseball season in March no maybe you got that confused yeah maybe date wise maybe uh oh yeah the 24th are we doing a post game are we doing a post game pod reaction probably you know we'll see how it goes we'll figure it out either way. We'll be back before then to preview it, obviously. So, um, let's go, let's go. All right. Um, we'll

talk to you guys this week. This was fun. Whitmerryfield get excited. It's okay to be excited about the Whitmerryfield signing. I promise. All right. Uh, we'll be back there. Peace for now.