High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Who Cares That They Lost Today... The Phils Took 2 of 3 From Arizona

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies extra-inning loss to the Diamondbacks and give their thoughts on the team's 4-2 homestand. 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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celebrate responsibly. We were this close, Jack. This, I mean, expected. And I said to you multiple times at the game, they're just gonna find a way to make it painful for us. Like they're not winning, they never win this. And like, they were like, oh, maybe we will win it. Ha ha, not winning it.

Look, they won the series. I think overall you're happy with that. The results of the weekend, we'll get win it. Ha ha. Not winning it. Look, they won the series. I think overall you're happy with that. The results of the weekend will get to it. Obviously, Harper, Homer, today, Oppo, like, like, let's go. Like a reason for optimism, even though, you know, still like, seems like a struggle for this team to score runs. But look, that was like that for Diamondbacks fans. That was the game of the year.

It could have been for us and it would have been better because you're down 7-1 actually came back like tied it. The whole thing like man Jack man. What was Alvarado doing back out for the second inning? He clearly didn't have it. Oh, let's bring it. I know we don't have dudes. I get it like but like but like really what are we doing there?

You didn't have it the first thing you brought him out like oh it's working out again come on you had to i mean what are you talking about even off day tomorrow i know i know i know give him a shot he didn't have it it was so clear get him out quicker get the hook quicker whatever uh let me tell you something let me tell you something i don't care about something. I don't care about today. I know you don't. I know they fought. Do you see this? I do like that they fought, but like that that like that's a game we could have remembered like and instead of to get you know, what are you? What are you Elliot over there? Oh, it's so special. We started a comeback Friday night with a beautiful game that we'll all remember when that you know, kid is down there and Jose closes it out for him like Emily was sitting there like I've never wanted to play so when a game more with this kid sitting there doing the thing and like after the whole story it's like Jose you better freaking win this one like seriously like I yeah like it's like a Luke Williams thing it's like bigger than sports like come on Jack So like we had that to start seriously could have this the end. It was this close Jack

Yeah, and shout out to shout the coffee by the way, I mean an unbelievable all over It was like immediately like it was like you could just at this point If Alex coffee doesn't have the human interest story about something cool like that like the day after it happens. I'm disappointed now at this point. I guess my biggest question is where was he today? We also needed that one. Right. You know, it's a weekend. It's a you know, school tomorrow. I get it. But we have a series to win against the Diamondbacks. So like, all right, I just I listen, I'm gonna be completely honest. I can't be too upset. I can't be too upset

I can't be able to accept when I take two or three from the diamondbacks I wasn't expecting to take three or three from diamondbacks diamondbacks are a good team and they they're a very well constructed team I don't care. There's only 17 and 16 heading into the year I don't like they just took two or three from the mets and obviously we have all the the the freaking pain Of of a year and a half ago. It was annoying how much they ripped fought. It was annoying watching Ryan Thompson again. It was annoying watching Kevin Dinkle again. It was annoying existing in the same world as Corbin Carroll.

And guess what? Guess what? They took two or three and like they've won three straight series. They were never going to give us a win for us today. You've been waiting to just to just spin hard here. I love this. Well, it's not spin. I just, I can't. No, no, look, they're 19 and 15. They're not bad.

They're not bad. They're not bad. I just know, do you want me to come on and like act like they suck when they- No, and they don't. They don't. And that was a good series. I agree with you.

Of course it was a good series. My point is like, we had a chance. I'm just disappointed because we had a chance to come on here and be like you're looking for a game of the year series in the year like let's go like you're looking you're

looking for clicks. I'm looking for straight out. No, I'm looking glass F MD or looking glass half full and that's fair. That's fair. What do you want me to do? Like dude, they took two or three of the diamond backs they and you're gonna mock this and everyone who hates the Phillies is gonna mock this. But they fought today. They could easily rolled over and died. They have a game. They have an off day tomorrow. So it doesn't totally matter. I get it. If Ranger, a Ranger a month from now. That's not even a game. They run away with that one today.

We've seen this team for as much as you and I have ripped them for laying down and completely folding. They didn't do it today. They didn't do it today. They fought back and some bad baseball mixed in per usual. It's never going to be crisp. It's never going to be clean, not allowed. and some bad baseball mixed in per usual. It's never gonna be crisp. It's never gonna be clean, not allowed.

Going to third base. Look, when you go into the game with Couch, where we're starting in left field, you're like, all right, we got a number of potential bad baseball coming in. Made a good throw, made a good throw, skipped up on JT. No, he did. Look, they should have gotten him there.

Now, why he didn't even try it thrown the second one was interesting. But, you know. Well, Trey tried to throw a ball and then went seven is bounce 16 times to the first baseman. So and how many like pass balls and missed that? We don't do Chris baseball here. We don't do Chris baseball. All right. All right. All baseball. All right. All right.

Let's say, all right. I really didn't really. Yeah. Well, I only once eat dinner and we went later. Not the fault, but and Zoe is cooked after causing me here all weekend. So yes, you get it. You have two kids. All right. Real quick. Real quick. We're five minutes into this part.

Yeah, we've only got five minutes left. No, I'm kidding. Let's get into it. Let's start with today and then we'll get back to the rest of the series. But I think like the thing that was coming in the series outside the Dime Max thing, and I'm with you, I just hate them. I don't. I think that's part of why I was so annoyed they couldn't pull this thing off today. Can I ask you something before sure? Enjoy oh You know what even before you do that?

Bro, yeah, taxi me about it. Hey. Hey, we got some stuff coming up Wednesday May 7th that is two and a half three days from now this upcoming Wednesday Casey's in Drexel Hill we got an event, we're gonna go watch the game there, raise Phillies, we're gonna be there for it in Casey's Drexel coming out. Miller Lite's trivia, Phillies tickets, you win Phillies tickets, based on the trivia, it's gonna be awesome. You can hear Jack tell you why he should buy you should buy his book in person. Ring the bell book.com. But Wednesday's Wednesday,

Casey's coming out then yes, bigger deal. Not necessarily bigger deal, but like big deal, you know, like fun, fun thing we're doing. Come to the Reading Fills game with us. We're going on May 31 to watch Aiden to hang out, drink some Miller Lights. It's like a family night. I'm gonna bring the family, Jax is gonna bring the family. We're gonna be hanging. Come hang out. We're gonna have a link on our Twitter. Jax is up. I'll put it up tomorrow morning and all that. It's gonna be awesome. Yeah, so looking forward to that obviously. And I think that'll be something that besides his first baseball game. So that would be a big deal. So you could say when, you know, 20 years from now when Sutton's, you know,

making his major league debut as a young, you know, former number one pig who cruised through the minors, people who were at that game can be like, I was at that kid's first base. Well, so what's what's's gonna be so funny to me is eventually, right, you know, given this podcast and the trajectory it's on, now you're gonna be 60, 61 when he is draft eligible. And I'm really just wondering if-

I don't like where this conversation went and I don't know how it went, where it went, but God, you got it. My problem is got my problem is I tried to do a thing and then you had to turn into something else we got I'm just thinking about how like am I going to be able to put Sutton on my my fritz guys for the draft oh well yeah especially where will the fritz list be after this you know gavin williams debacle like we've you know gonna step back and like really get back to the fundamentals, you know? Well, what about what about Max Meyer allowing like five runs and four? Ever since that 14 straight game, he's had two horrible start.

Trust me, I wasn't going to bring it up. I was going to hit you while you're down with the Gavin Williams. But, you know, just just continue to pile on, just pile on. He did generate the fourth most with whiffs in baseball that day. So we think that as a as a win. No, but like, well, first off, Fr off, first list is different than my draft guys list. So I just need to make sure that studies in a good spot. Walker as well.

Oh, yeah, clearly. Yeah. Different lists. Obviously, at least I do think I do think the credibility of both lists are always in tandem because it's about evaluating baseball players at the end of the day, you know? Right. Well, if you want to sleep tight at night, just know that you'll still be in your fifties when Walker is draft eligible.

Great. Oh, good. Good. How's that make you feel? But before we get into everything else and again, Ada Miller's road to the show, Reading on May 31st and Casey and Casey Drexel Hill, you are one that wears your emotions on your sleeve? Yes, like a psychopath sometimes. Yes, go ahead.

Hasn't exactly gotten over many things. Are the like, what's the comparison between like the O2 box and the 23 D backs? Because I feel like they're very similar from the standpoint of That bucks team now. I actually think the difference is that bucks team turned out to be an all-time Yeah, the difference is the bucks actually won the Super Bowl Like if the diamondbacks had won the World Series I think it would have been it would have added an extra layer to it or level to it That would have made it worse and I

think the bucks going on to win the world win the Super Bowl that year and to your point like kind of aging very you know gracefully and again all favors on that yeah I mean like the defense insane is like four of them are rare file like Ronde Warren's have Derek Brooks like just full of them John Lynch John Lynch yeah like and yes, I'm with you. They are. So I think they're they they're still a little more historically, you know, impactful in a bad way for us. But the Diamondbacks, a still have a chance to play as a player again,

which can change narratives. But also, I think, like in a way, it's it's more frustrating because to your point, like this time Maxine wasn't that good. Like, like, I think they're better team now. I think the team they just beat is like overall probably a better team than that. Yeah, 84 wins and negative run differential and only two teams ever to make the World Series negative run differential like, you know, and they lost it obviously to it, not even great Rangers team like so. I yeah, I think in a lot of ways, it's more frustrating because they are not the 10th of May by like at least the 11 Cardinals won the World Series. Yeah, yeah. And had like some goat players on there. Like, you know, like had some like all timers on there. And had an all time run from a guy to where you're like, actually, Chris Carpenter had his Madison Bumgarner this that whatever like that dude had a run, you know, it's probably it's probably like losing to the Atlanta, Atlanta Hawks at home. If I had to guess that's probably the dude, I think that's it. Good job. That's probably it. Good job. We got there earlier in the playoffs because this doesn't ever make the yeah. All right. Can we talk about the baseball now? Yeah. Yes. Okay.

Fills in reading obviously, okay Today, I think the biggest thing this weekend outside the dot-max thing just in general was that was the return of Ranger? It wasn't a great return On Star Wars day, I know you're a huge Star Wars day guy only seen the new one Yes, so like return of the Jedi obviously it was refan the Ranger today. That's it. That. Yes, much less successful. Yeah, I love you. You're just like needling. Ranger, your thoughts? Unbelievable early, looked like Ranger.

And then I think that he got tired. Obviously, he went to the stretch. That kind of derailed things. And I think his stuff just flattened out. But as one of our good friends that totally needed to text us in the middle of the game asked if he's cooked or not. No, no, I don't think he's cooked. I think it was I think it's just a matter of getting his feet underneath

him. And sure, we can we can bring up his minor league numbers and what he did down there. It's obviously different in the big leagues, more stressful innings, more stressful pitches. And I think he simply just got tired. I think for the majority of it, the fastball velocity was good. Love a good got tired is an excuse for it. And I get it. I'm with you. Spencer Howard used it for a whole year.

Like, hey, listen, guys, he was tired. Yeah, he got a little tuckered out. That was the best of us. Anthony Richardson, we should call it that. Sorry, guys. Listen, I'm just, hey, listen, guys, here's tired. Yeah. You got a little tuckered out. That was the best of us. Anthony Richardson, we should call it that. You know what I mean? Sorry guys, listen, I'm just a little tired. I got a little time. You can go in there.

So if this is still happening two stars from now, I'll be concerned tonight. Not really. I thought it was just his first start and I think he'll end up being okay. And I actually thought like early looked much better than I thought he was gonna look. So we know he's someone that relies on command. He relies on hitting spots. I think he's gonna be okay. I do wonder if

Taiwan was giving little fist pumps in the bullpen. But that is that is besides the point. Yeah, look, hey, shout out to Taiwan, man. I mean, he's ready to go, man. He was he was right there. He was right there. Played and started the game like that was like you always hear people say like He's like way more athletic than you would think and like he really is way more athletic like a cat He's like that was I wasn't really really really good play. All right He's also ready to go. He's gonna come in probably

I don't think I don't like we can talk about the bad first two years and him like probably you know um you know costing them last year with just morale and belief in the team and every time I turn this positive but like he's done a nice job this year I don't think he'll remember all this for this year um let's do a pitching and then we'll get some other stuff in the series. But again, I do think that I just didn't know what they lost. But I'm with you that the fact they actually came back from 7-1 and ended up losing next ratings and fought back is a shocking good thing.

Let me ask you this. Can I just ask you this? Sure. Do you not feel more positive about the team than you did a week and a half ago? On Friday? Yes, I do. I do. I absolutely 100% do. I still and it's funny because you know, we talked a lot. You talked a lot too about this whole like, I don't want it to be about, you know, just getting the playoffs and whatever happens. But it's also hard to go through the season after the last years without it being about that. And I feel like, yeah.

And I feel like I've been doing it in waves where like there are like times where I kind of not think about as much. I'll be able to be in the moment. And then there'll be times where I like, can't help but focus on it. And I think what happened prior to like this weekend, especially was you're just watching the bullpen, which we'll get to, you know, signs of life, uh, but watching the bullpen and also just the general struggle that this team has to score on a nightly basis where everyone's like, Oh, I want a small ball team. Guess what? You got it.

You know what they don't do? Score a ton of runs like home runs, score runs and like watching them not hit home runs and like trade, just slap the ball around the field and then not stealing bases and be an albatross defensively and just the general boneheaded play we had been seeing and the defensive misuse and the defensive limitations and you know it's like the combination of all those things it made it like hard for me to not think about how those things were gonna like be at Killy's heels for this team at the end, but you know, then, you know it's a long season and you see them play well on

and I know Harper is gonna hit better today. We'll talk about that. And as it goes on, but you also can in those moments look at the struggle and say like, well, trade Turner is gonna be 32 in June. You know, Harper's turning 33 in October, like JT who had a good day, is it 34, 35, whatever it is, it's like, Oh, is it just the time where they the back of the baseball card thing stops

being true because they fall off. So it's like, you know, but we're going through it, man. It's a tough time to be a fast like you're going through it. It really does. I mean, at the same time, it's been really good for about two weeks of the play. I know it has not been extra bases, but it's like, again, like the slugging percentage being lower than the on base percentage. He's been good, but it's also like, like, what does that mean? Like, what is what is a what is that impactfully mean on a on a baseball team to winning games Especially when you know, we came again into the contract part of it. But yeah, anyway Why don't you when you're a horrible defender at the most important position?

But what much dick a little slug and shove it? I want you just to watch you stop worrying What matters more what matters more the average or the little sluggy percentage? Oh, I see his base hits base, base hits all around the field. So I don't know, man. Yeah, and while Horado Perdomo has a slugging percentage well above 500, like 520 or whatever, it's like, OK. I can't believe how good he is. It's infuriating, actually, how good he is.

It's infuriating. Like, yeah. He was basically in the NLCS. He was viewed as an automatic out because he was like, he was a nine hole hitter that did nothing. And now he's a pretty interesting piece that I'm in game seven. Yeah, too. Nice.

Well, guess what, buddy? Phil's looked through a three today. So who cares about the NLCS? No, no. All right. All right. Um, no. But yeah, so I hear you on most parts. I will say outside of Carlos Hernandez, who good thing, no one on this podcast believe them. The bullpen I think is as at least found its footing.

You know, I don't think it's been a total disaster. I think Carlos Hernandez, maybe they sent him down or caught him like it. First off, if you put Carlos Hernandez on waivers, no one's claiming them. So I think you'll be okay. If you want to bring up like a Joe Cuno from up from from up at Lehigh Valley. Don't you worry, don't you worry. I'll start dropping Lehigh Valley names is whenever you need it, buddy. Don't you worry, don't you worry. I'll start dropping Lehigh Valley names is whenever you need it, buddy.

Don't wait, wait till the auto kept discussion about all they do is win, buddy. All they do is when they are a wagon. The Lehigh Valley Iron Figs are. I think if you put them up against the Phillies. Fills my mind like it might be an under minus 200 favorite. I'm going to be completely honest with you, especially if

mix on the mound. If next month you got a problem, all this stuff grades out at an MLB quality level right now. So we're very excited about the Nick Able development. It's why it's hard to get too upset about this. I mean, yes, dude, auto camp. It's like, we're at the point where it's like, you like, you got to bring him up. But what else do you do? Like it's a guy is breaking.

Hey, hey, hey, I was going to text you this earlier, but I simply forgot because I have two kids. You have one kid, but you complain more. So dude, my kid is that my kid is is a little me and us is probably like in terms of like it probably feels like having more kids than your two kids combined. We call your junior lately for me. Nice because the bad is named junior and we're like that's nice. Nice. Nice. Well, I took it. I took a little joke and I was right there. I took a little joke and it was right there. So we get a lot of credit, I believe, on this podcast for the Hazus-Lazardo development, which I think we might've undersold

if I'm gonna be- Yeah, no doubt. Well, we didn't know what he could look like with a real pitching coach and a real staff and a real whatever, you know? And he changed his slider grip the other night, which is really interesting. I actually wish he didn't change his slider. And, and he changed his slider grip the other night, which is really interesting. I actually wish he didn't change his slider grip, but apparently he changed his

slider grip because he wants to throw more strikes with it. I, I like where it was, where it was a bullet slider, regardless, who cares Hazel Salzardo is awesome. So we get a lot of credit. I think we deserve more for how excited we are about Hazel Salzardo, But we do simply not get enough credit for being the first podcast that was all over the auto camp break out Oh, totally and it was because of me. I was like that auto camp guy seems pretty good And then you jumped on it, but you know you're welcome. Well, so here's what I like about what I just said Is it really shows that we're a we not me podcast?

Is it really shows that we're a we not me podcast? Yes, that's it. I was obviously, you know, giving you a chance to get credit for it. Yeah, I like that we're a we or a group. Hey, you always have been right. The guy you do the pod with. That's what I'm well. Hey, if you have to wear Carlos Hernandez, you also have to wear. That's true. Yeah.

The podcast title doesn't say jack things. That's true. Yeah. The podcast title doesn't say Jack things. That's true. Yeah. Good point. So I can still I I I have this in the big bag, but might as well get to it now. Oh, yeah. I don't know what to do with auto camp, because first of all, I keep calling auto auto like an auto. Not auto, it's auto. Simply don't care. I don't know where to put them.

Like I know that everyone's going to comment. I can't just feel it right now, James, where it's just like people are firing up their old computers like playing the third, playing the third, playing the third, playing the third. Well, if you play the third, then you're gonna lose Boehm probably for the eternity. So while I hear you in a society in which that, like there is no feelings involved, I would agree with you and say,

just play out of Kev the third base. I don't think that's realistic. I don't think it's realistic to say, bring him up and play him at third base because they want Boehm to be the third baseman at least for this year. I still believe that that Alec bone as bus gives this team the best chance to win on a night and night out basis. Is he doing it so far? Absolutely not. Do a put him in left field. Well, Weston Wilson hit a three

run home run today, which was beautiful and can physically stand in left field. Well, Weston Wilson hit a three run home run today, which was beautiful and can physically stand in left field. Also, if you want to say, well, what about Kepler? Well, Kepler is on fire right now. So you can't take Kepler out of the lineup. You also in center field, you have a Marsh Rojas platoon where it seems like Rojas is taking that job and running with it, which is good to see. Very happy for Johan. And I do think people freak out about every little thing Johan does, which is infuriating sometimes, but I think he's done more good than bad. So while I am dying to see Otto Kemp in the

Phillies Jersey, I simply do not know where he's going to play. I don't know where he's going to play. And I don't think it's as simple as just sit down down because I think that if you do that, then you might as well just trade him. So I don't know. I don't know. I have my hands up and I can't like see on screen. I got my hands up. Whatever they decide, I hope that that ends well. But I don't know what they do with AutoCamp.

Yeah. And look, sometimes that situation. And I think that they're certainly going to give these guys more leash before they decide to do something drastic, like say, hey, you know what? We don't we have to win this year. And Alec Bohm is not as good a hitter as AutoCamp. So we're going to play AutoCamp like that would be a drastic decision. So I'm with you. I think it's going to be some time.

And I think you the best case scenario is that they don't have to force him in. If baseball is a season where these situations present themselves, like, like we want everyone to stay healthy, players will get hurt at some point. Someone will at some point, you'll have to move someone here, do something else or whatever, like something will present an opportunity for Otto to come up and get an opportunity. And then if he hits, he hits. And then guess what? He's going to create his own space by hitting. Like that's just the way the sport works. So I'm with you. I don't think there's anything right now, but I do think that he's ready. Like the numbers, the, at the level and what he's done, like

he does, he deserves a shot to see what he can do at the major league level. I guess. No. All right. Let's get to some other stuff in the series the Major League level. I think from today, at least outside of the fight and all that, which was great, I think the thing that was the best thing we saw was the Harper Homer. He has been so mired in this slump and didn't have a great weekend, period, really. and didn't have a great weekend period really. But you know, opposite field like clear home run, like actually, you know, first thing, it was like, Wow, Bryce, all right. We're Adam Bryce, just overall, because I do think heading into the weekend in the beginning of the weekend, it's we're starting to get to the point where, and not like people hate Bryce or anything like, you know, he's Bryce, but I didn't think we're at the point where we're starting to hear more people say like,

hey, Bryce, we love you, but like, you gotta do better. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think that's totally fair. I just think that this weekend was a step forward from that standpoint. I really do. I thought he made a clear swing adjustment the other night. And, you know, I think that was designed

to help get the bat through the zone quicker. And I thought today the bat was getting through the zone much, much, much quicker. And I think that. Home run was great. Seeing it the opposite way, seeing him carry it through was really big. Even the, the, the hit late, I thought was huge or not late, but in the middle of the game was huge. And then, I mean, like the, the, the pitcher kind of just dotted up the

outside corner of them a couple of times. It happens, whatever. But I think from the standpoint of not looking completely lost to the plate, not looking disinterested, I thought it was a poss of a positive weekend from that standpoint, because I was incredibly frustrated. I mean, I led the show with it on Friday on, on the old W I P I bet I was incredibly frustrated. I mean, I led the show with it on Friday on, on the old WIP. I was just disappointed. I was just disappointed. Absolutely.

And I thought this weekend and wasn't disappointment. I know that everyone goes through ebbs and flows of the season. I'm not like dumb enough to not understand that. Of course, there's ups and downs and guys are going to go through like three for 28 stretches. It happens. But I thought of an extra level of mopiness, a little bit too bohmish for me. And the approach, falling off it at bat, going up and hacking, and not really going about his business

in a professional way. And I think that this weekend, you saw more of the, again, if you get out, if you strike out, whatever, it just can't be 0-1 and then flailing at a pitch on the outside corner and like weekly popping up the left field. That was more my thing. And I think that, I think overall was a positive weekend for Bryce. So it was good to see the home run today. Obviously they're gonna go on the road here in a little bit. I'll tell you what, not a bad spot to hit down in a Stunner field.

Oh yeah, the minor league field down there. Yeah, I know. It would be a good time to get hot. So I was frustrated, but I think overall it was a mostly positive weekend for Bryce. Yeah, look, I think offensively and you know, I want to get your thoughts on one other thing, but in general, you know, it's a struggle, but like Kepler heating up has been nice. Obviously, really good. Our guy Max, you know, the German as we call him in this house,

because Emily is half German, so I was like the German. Cap. Nice. I call him Cap, like because I feel if everybody's with him, I like it. Cap, you know, like I just think that's what I call him and he'd be cool with it. So whatever, no big deal. But I think and if you have anything else offensively in the tape, I can get to it. But yeah, the tray thing, because we just joked about it a bit and stuff. And like you you've sent me a video like the Rob Thompson, me and asked about and kind of talking about how, you know, this kind of singles approach, this don't worry about lifting

the ball, worry about spraying it all over the field and just getting good pitches and making good contact and getting on base is a is a purposeful philosophical thing that Trey Turner is trying to do according to Rob Thompson that they want him to do. Um, like, and you know, obviously forgetting the money. Cause like you can't pay that guy that kind of money for a singles hit or whatever, it was a bad defender, but, but you know, where we are right now, compared to what he's been, like if that's like the best, you know, offensive player that you can pull out of him now,

that's the way he's not going to strike out and chase and stuff like. Fine, but like then, like, why isn't he running like I need? I need I need more from Trey Turner, even though he's starting to not look like a total disaster at the place. Yeah, I mean, I think I think he's been pretty solid. I'm okay with the... My philosophy on is this, is that I hate when he is expanding the strike zone.

I hate when he is striking out. I hate when he is just weakly popping up pitches into the outfield. I think for this version of Trey Turner, getting on like, just be a competent. We're so beaten down. But like, I know, I get it. Which would you rather have?

I don't disagree. I just can't help while not disagreeing, thinking about what I expected from him and what I'm now hold on. Happy to get you know, alright, alright, so. Obviously we want more than one home run at this point. Now one more than Alec Bohm, of course, but God, would you like the 615 third baseman to have more than zero?

We got a shout out on you. We had a listener. Do you have it handy, we got a shout out. Hold on. You, we had a listener. Do you have it handy? I think I took a picture of it. We had a listener who, when we talked about in the last part about Alec Bohm potentially being like the largest man who homered the least for his size of anyone ever.

Like it turns out that he's like third ever, whatever it was. We had a listener who, I'll find it while we're talking to you. Well, you will. So like, it was awesome. Great work by that guy. I think from this, like I will, I will take this. And I know it's a lot of broken bad singles that somehow barely get over the second base or short stop heads. Like, I'll take it whatever. I mean, I would much prefer that than the strikeouts,

even if it comes with mixing in home run every once in a while because at least he's on first base So I agree through from the standpoint of running but at the same time It's like do I really want him running a lot if if if Harper and Schwab are are going offensively Probably not so I don't know. It's's a really tough position they're in I think that Trey has been more good than bad there's some defensive things like I don't really crush him for the double play ball in the with the ninth or tenth like I thought it was a bang bang play struck out yeah I'm talking about in the field I'm talking about in the field like Corbin Carra was flying down the line yeah he's really tough to double on the fastest,

if not faster player in baseball. And he tried, you know, like he, I know it sounds simplistic. We've already had the lines. He was tired and he tried as things that we've said at this time, that's good. He tried, I mean, he went as fast as he could. And I don't know if even the most perfect turn

is the one that gets that done. So yeah, I don't know if even the most perfect turn is the one that gets that done. So yeah, I don't know. I like it from the standpoint of I think the power will come. I just think he needs to get his swing in rhythm and he needs to get his swing down and then the power will come. Rather than like one for five with a home run does nothing for me. So I want the power to come. But I I'm at the mindset where I think the power will eventually get there. I think it's gonna take a little bit. And in the meantime, he's hitting like 292 of the three, I know, I know, I don't disagree with what you're saying. It's just frustrating, but I don't disagree.

By the way, Rico, shout out to Rico at Rico, JAA or Rico John Twitter. So he ran the guys over six five with the least home runs per plate appearance with minimum 2000 plate appearances and Alec Gomez third worst in the division error. So pretty well. But shout out to him. Thank you. All right. Two more things and then the division area. So pretty wild. But so shout out to him, thank you.

All right, two more things and then the take bag. One is, and you could just, the first one I don't think there's too much to say about Aaron Nola, but you know, another really great outing and two straight really nice outings from Nola, he was good again on Friday. Yes.

So the Nola thing. And then, you know, another two things that we were incredibly concerned about. One, I think Nola we were again on Friday. Yes. So the Nola thing and then I, you know, another two things that we were incredibly concerned about one, I think Nola were less concerned about, but the bullpen, you know, I'm not, you know, there or anything, but a good, a good weekend and you know, and it really a good week. I would say if you take out Carlos Hernandez today, of course today with Alvarado Hernandez, yeah, if you take out Carlos Hernandez, I believe that they've allowed like one earned round in their last

22 plus innings bitch. Good. Good. So He might just be done and again, thank God that you never put your name on Carlos Hernandez would never do that but Hold on. Uh Was the first thing you brought up besides? No, no, no. Yeah, like no. First off, I did not bring up Carlos Hernandez, by the way you did. Go ahead. You were he was always going to go on this run in the middle of the summer or where he stabilizes and turns closer into the air.

No, that we've seen. I think the biggest thing is that he was down again. I didn't notice as much, like I thought the last start, I noticed a lot the cut to the right-handed hitters of the Cubs, didn't notice that as much. Now, maybe that was because, maybe more lefties in the lineup, I don't know. But regardless, fastball velocity was right back up where you wanted it to be more 92 93 and

You know just just overall he kept everything down and when he went it when he expanded He went out of the zone up and he kept the curveball down I don't think he's been too over reliant on the curveball, which is huge. So Yeah, so so no, So, uh, yeah. So, so Nola was, Nola was fine. I, again, you never want to get, want to get too high. Never want to get too low with Aaron Nola because he can make you look foolish in the next outing. But I think you're seeing more good than bad from Nola's as the weather is warming up. And there's interesting, and two good teams, you know, the Cubs and the Dalmics. Sure. But I think there's an interesting comment from Caleb Cotham to our good pal Ty Dobert.

And it was good to see Ty first off read a real story. Not some dumb story that had no purpose for anyone that was reading. There you go. But so I... You have a character, right? Yeah, that's good. So Gotham, Gotham was saying that, was saying that it's almost by design that he is 89 in the first month of the season because how he preserves his longevity.

Can you tell us that before the season, not after? We'd love to hear it. We'd love to hear him. We'd love to hear it. So yeah, Noel's a shoving man. Noel's a sho love to hear it. We'd love to hear him. We'd love to hear it. So yeah, no, also shoving man knows a shoving and I just hope that hope it keeps going. And maybe we just have to get used to him being virtually unpitchable in April. bullpen bullpen again, like the bullpen has been mostly fine. Like Carlos Hernandez, obviously not it. Jose Avarado was fine. And I agree until today. Yeah, I agree.

Just because they didn't have it as much. Like I get it where it's like the who else are you going to trust? It's like I get that as a general thing. And I like I generally like gay, you got to trust your guys. But also you do have to like trust your eyes at times and say, like, even though he's my guy, like he just absolutely doesn't have it today and that's like taking a shot on someone who's not as good but maybe they have it today like we know pitchers can have it on days and not have it on others and like maybe you get a day where Carlos

Hernandez doesn't suck very unlikely but like I just you know look I'm not like destroying tober for it but I just I didn't love it. I think if if if Rangers has given three and two-thirds, of course, probably of course, of course I mean for a crime culprit for all that Kirk Randy give it an extra inning which you don't love So what's interesting about the bullpen? I think they finally found the spot for Joe Ross and then they finally found what he's supposed to be. He hasn't allowed to run his last like eight innings, which is which is really important. Strong was always gonna be fine. I actually thought Romano's

stuff took a decline today. Still was able to get through it, which is good. But I thought his stuff kind of did not look fantastic. Now on Friday, he had a scoreless inning which was important and they're starting to slowly I think they're about to flip him and Kirk ring in the in the trust rankings and I think What's tough is like rightfully so I? just don't I think Kirk ring right now is is is down from the standpoint of a confidence perspective. I think confidence wise, he's really shaken.

And- He's never gone through a stretch like this really in the majors, you know what I mean? Like every year he hasn't been in that long and he's like, yeah, he had that playoff stuff but that's like a couple of outings. Like he's never really had a prolonged stretch of like really struggling in the majors before.

And like today I know he didn't allow a run, but it still wasn't crisp at all. And like you expect him to be better because he can obviously command the baseball. And I just can, he is so ripe for a cutter. I mean, he is so ripe for a nice little cutter to lefties. So, you know, I think Alvarado is fine. I think Joe Ross, they found a good spot for him.

Romano, I mean, we're at the point where we can say that we expect him to be more good than bad. Like it's not, it's not like you wanna go, you wanna go, you know, take a walk. I will say, I will say I am trending up on Romano. Good, we're finding Romano's. I will not say that like Friday night, for example, when he came to a close game in a big spot, I can't say I didn't feel nervous about it. But he's

winning back by trust. What hurts is that they need one more. Like they just need they at least honestly, ideally two more. But like, yes, I agree with you. They need what they need is a lockdown guy. Like they need. They need if they're only going to get one one. Yeah, point being that like if they're going to get one more, like I think they need two more. If we're talking about getting two more guys of a similar oak to what they have, or if you're going to get one more, he's your best reliever. Like it's he's better than Alvarado more trustworthy and over like, they need a guy who can come

in and we can you know feel like okay it's done like this guy's got it like no matter what you know and a big and like as much as Alvarado is as close to as we have he he still isn't bad you know well at least Mason Miller has an e-r-a of five so how's that how's that make you feel maybe Ryan how's this one I just want people to understand how much it would cost to get Mason everyone just trade for Mason Miller it's like, okay, so you're giving up a Miller like are you because I don't want to do that and like that's the type of price it would cost to get Mason Miller like I sorry,

but I just trade Justin Cobham for him like you're not getting him for just Justin Crawford like, are you crazy? Well, by the way, by the way, the A's have the same record as the Phillies. If not a game. Yeah. The yeah, exactly. And an easier path to the playoffs and an easier comp like a week. Oh, by the way, big take from Joel Sherman today, where he said that the

national league is better than the American league. Oh, thanks pal. Whoa. Welcome aboard. No way. Really? That's crazy, man.. Whoa. Wow. Welcome aboard. No way. Really? That's crazy, man. I had no idea.

I had no idea. What are we doing? Yeah. I would actually trade for Lawrence Butler before I trade for Mason. I love like DA's entire roster. They have so many guys. Like even guys whose names I've never even heard of. My buddy was telling me about Gunnar Hoglund.

It's like, oh man, he was nasty a couple of years ago. That name sounds made up. Love it. And like, you know, now I, I, I. Our guy, Nick Kurtz, local guy. How about that? Yeah. High hopes listener.

High hopes family. They got dudes. They got dudes. Well, and they have. Rokers of Stodd. I mean, Langoliers is a, is an interesting guy. Friggin' Jacob Wilson. Like, like what a, what a stud. I mean Langoliers is an interesting guy. Friggin Jacob Wilson like what a king. Love that guy. Stinks.

He never walks, but you know what he does? He's always on base. Now, Jacob Wilson, say Jacob Wilson's a draft eval who I was dreading the Phillies would take, but turns out he might be all right. They're a fun team as a point of view. Anyway, I can't keep talking to you as Emily's like, Dimey. Well, the A's are at the end of the month anyway. So there you go. It's the race, not the A's now.

All right. What's in the take back? What's in the take back? How long can I extend this? You're hurting Emily, not me. Think about it. Yeah. She's talking to me about putting food in the oven. Can I start it out long? Well, how long does she want me to talk about painters fastball? I guess not long, but do you got to do about Andrew painters fastball?

Just do it. If you're gonna do it, talk about it. Okay, when you might get to talk about talking about it. So I just need to get this out there for the High Hopes listeners so that it is officially on the record and one that they can refer to when talking about Andrew Painter. So while I think that Andrew Painter is an amazing prospect

and I cannot wait to see him in a Philly's uniform and cannot wait for his debut. I think at the beginning, it might be a little struggle from the standpoint of home run wise. And I think the biggest thing he has to develop in watching his last start and really just his last couple of starts. While the fastball can hit 98, it's a flat fastball. So he's got to do he's got to do two things. Either one if you want to stick with four seam, go to the Zach Wheeler school of how to throw a four seam fastball to where it has much more spin efficiency to it, and can be a

swing and miss pitch because right now it's not totally a swing and miss pitch. And then or go to a sinker. Like I think that either a sinker or find a way to fix the foreseam efficiency to it. Now I believe it is not recouped since before Tommy John and I think that Tommy John as he's rehabilitating from it will be fine. But I and I can see you dying on the inside. But I just can't wait to tell Emily why dinner was later. Jack had to talk about spit efficiency.

That'll go great. I have been sitting on this entrepreneur thing weekend. And how did you make it through? Like I surprise you survived the weekend. Just didn't spend days like a bus. I didn't want to tweet about it. I mean, this inside. Well, it's like, it's like, didn't want to tweet about it. Tweeting this inside. Well, it's like, oh, let me tweet about it.

And people are like, oh, his socks bring him up. His socks, whatever. So that's why I have this podcast. I don't tweet about anything, Jack. Dude, everything I tweet now is like, hey, this is awesome. Great. So I think either a sinker or I think either fixing the

floor seam efficiency would go a long way towards Andrew Panic Yeah, everything else. Everything else is great. Everything is great So they're clearly pitching max Kepler up, but the problem is max couplers making them put them pay So like when they miss up the German right in the middle. Yeah. Yeah max Kepler right in the middle. Yeah, yeah. Max Kepler. Also, I want to check in on the people who said the Phillies made no upgrades offseason. Romano, hottest fire. Max Kepler on fire. And Rousky Renaissance, the take Renaissance here. And Jesus Lazardo. Jesus Lazardo is the is a maybe a Cy Young winner. So I was told the Phillies didn't make any upgrades anywhere. Also, Max Kepler played center field today. That's very exciting. For a hot minute. Yes. Yep made a plan and then a final thing

is If I never saw them swinging the first pitch ever again And it's I totally understand I'm just taking every first pitch. I would really even if teams knew it and they just two strikes. I mean, it's okay I know that sometimes they get the hit Every time I watch them it feels like it's a double play Yeah, I think I was are actually probably pretty good on the first pitch anything, but I don't I I totally understand Might be the best pitch they get I get it. I don't this is one of those classic like I

always say like and you've been in a car with me like I I would rather be five minutes late, later somewhere, and not sit in traffic, then get there five minutes earlier and sit in traffic to get there. Not myself sir. Yeah, that's me. All right, we good. I'm coming on.

We're gonna eat soon. She's like, cool. Nice. Nice. Nice. Hold on. What can I do? What can I do to extend this. She's like, cool. Nice, nice, nice. Hold on. What can I do?

What can I do? Overall, overall, I know, I know you're going to go to I know you're going to go to bed and you'll be so furious about the loss today. They've won three straight series. They're playing good baseball and they're about to go to Tampa Bay and take another series on the road. So I just be great two or three. Keep doing good. Hey, hey, hey.

You stack these series wins right now. Yeah. One also. Hey, hey, hey, Jack. Before we go shout to the Merlite account of the week, Jack's Stakes Taproom. Today's out of the week. The bar of the week. Jack's Stake, J. Jax, J. X. X Stakes Taps Room in Philadelphia where you can watch all Phil's games

three hour middle like drafts, go to Jax that's J-X-X StakeTapRoom.com. All right, shout out to Jax, shout out to Mother Light coming out Wednesday, Casey's, Jax's, coming out May 31st in Reading. I'm gonna not even let Jack talk again so I can go and eat dinner. I'll see you tomorrow, pal.

Everyone will talk to you later. It's for themselves.