High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Who in Their Right Mind Let the Phils Get Hot?

Episode Date: June 14, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a hot Phillies team sweeping the Yankees. The guys discuss the team's new offensive approach, Nola being kinda back, the Hector haters, and much more. Plus, James and Jack look ahead to West Coast Phillies baseball. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yo, Yo, it is another edition of the High Ops Podcast. Jack Fritz, we are actually talking about a hot Phillies team, buddy.

Phils are hot, Phils are hot, Phils are hot, Phils are hot. Gosh, it's so beautiful, isn't it? It's such a beautiful thing. Let me start out by apologizing. Thank you. The reason the pod wasn't out yesterday, Jack likes to make jokes about me being old, but guess what? I'm bleeping old, and I went to my buddy's 40th birthday party on Saturday night. I am still feeling it, buddy. Wow.

I'm still feeling it, buddy. Wow. I'm still feeling it. I'm so tired and still hungover that I'm not even going to make a big joke. I'm just going to say Jim Nance, and now that's out of the way. That's how tired and hungover I am. A truly once great, great in his prime drinker has really just really fallen off. drinker has really just really fallen off uh you know i and and i honestly like you know performances by elder statesman the last couple weeks have been the big thing um but i would say that this is right up there with phil mickelson winning the pga like i don't like i mean staying up till however late you stayed up till maybe 5 a.m i don't know

that's what the sources are saying it was 5 a.m yes yes as't know. That's what the sources are saying. It was 5 a.m. Yes. Yes. As a near 40 year old sure is ambitious. Um, I respect it. I respect that you tried to have a throwback performance. Um, unfortunately I think you might've fallen short and took you out, took you two days to bounce back. But, um, yeah, it's just, you know, you know, Phil's are hot, Phil's are hot and you know, we're trying to capitalize on the big momentum. And James is like, you know what?

Can't. I'm out. And it's like. I didn't even tell Jack why I couldn't. I literally just texted him saying I can't record. Yeah. Yeah. That was it.

That was all I had. Left it as vague as possible, which is always great when you're dealing with someone who has a young child and everything else. So, you know. Yeah. Meanwhile. He's fine. I was the one who's not fine. Yeah. when you're dealing with someone who has a young child and everything else. So, you know, yeah. Meanwhile, I was the one who's not fine. Yeah.

Meanwhile, I'm worried about Seltzer's family. This guy decided to stay up till 5. A.M. Partying with his body. I'm still feeling it, Jack. I'm still feeling it,

but you know what? What? I'm feeling a lot better because the Phillies are freaking awesome, man. Seven of nine, four straight winning three straight series. Like, what is this? Jack, they won two games over the weekend against New York Yankees.

They put up eight runs and seven runs and didn't hit a home run. Small ball, hits, putting the ball in play, Jack Fritz. What am I watching? Not striking out. Low strikeout rate in baseball over the last two weeks. Yeah, who's shout out to mid-major in baseball over the last two weeks. Yeah. Shout out to mid-major Matt. He tweeted that at us.

And going into that, the second worst strikeout rate in all baseball. So, like, fundamental changes with how this team is playing baseball. Wow. Crazy concept that hitting the ball, putting the ball in play, equals more success. Wow. Well, and honestly, in all seriousness, winning baseball games this way is way, it's like,

it's just that's how winning baseball is done. More sustainable. Exactly. Right. And you see postseason teams. They do the little things right. That's how you win big. And for the Yankees, they came into town this this weekend and all they try to do is hit dingers.

It's like that's what the Phillies were for most of the season. It was a dinger or not dinger. The fact that it's almost like they've changed their offensive approach on the fly. It's been crazy to see. I think I pointed it out around the Marlins series

where I was like, they're starting to do things a little bit differently here. And I think that we're just starting to see them get comfortable with an offensive approach. They're starting to do some things like, you know, put guys in motion, hit and run, bunt and stuff. And it just seems like there's a way higher attention to detail that we just hadn't seen. And maybe now, James, and we've been hard on the guy,

but maybe now we're starting to see the Girardi influence over this roster because we've been dying. Like we've literally been dying to find the Girardi influence over this roster. And like the team that I've watched for the last two weeks, that's what I thought we were getting with a Girardi-led baseball team. That's what I thought we were getting. I thought we were getting a solid defensive team. They've had their hiccups, but they're not very talented defensively.

Doing the little things well. Pitching well. Bullpen more consistent. I know Hector did his Hector thing on Saturday. I get it, but overall, I feel like he's finally settling into his role. There hasn't been crazy double switches. He's double switching when they

make sense. A crazy concept, but maybe we're finally starting to see the real joe gerardi stand up and like i don't want to kill joe gerardi like i just i just want to love the phillies and love my manager and believe in them and the guy that i had seen the first half of the year and last year was not a guy that i believed in but man i think we're starting to see his influence over this roster. This weekend was fun. They're playing a good brand of baseball.

And please, for the love of God, do not crack down your leg on this West Coast road trip. I mean, that's really it, right? Because winning at home, while it's fun and nice, and three walk-offs in a row, by the way, Jack Fritz, two in a row for us, a girl will get to. But it's all whatever until they show they can do a road trip like this and win some games and honestly we'll be ecstatic if they just split

just split out there take three of six and we'll be you know sell singing your praises like just show us something on the road especially a west coast trip but to your point too jack like and and please please let this be the the Joe Girardi moving forward because it has certainly been a better brand of baseball. And we're also seeing the thing that we've talked about. We talked about it last pod too, but over the last 10 games or so, the 17 to 3 on, we're seeing some life from these guys, man. We talked about it last time, but it looks like they're having fun playing baseball.

It looks like they're all like in it everybody hits they're you know there's there's an energy there that we haven't seen all season and and it's it's refreshing man like it's fun to watch them play right now yeah and and it's because you know and i love homers and i love and like the blue jays hit seven the other day and i was like wow i, I didn't think that was. I think it was eight. I think it was eight. But they ended up at eight. Black Girl Junior Homer's every game. You know that? He just, it's every game he gets one. I love him.

I love him. But, like, having an offense that just goes on a run, and it's, like, single, single, and then, like, a ball in the gap, like, that's fun baseball. And they're just playing fun baseball. And credit to the guys at the top of the lineup. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. It's a great point.

They can just jump on you. I mean, like, Oduble, he'll jump on a first pitch and slap it through the left side. And it's like, oh, awesome. We already got a guy on first base. But really the key to me, and I know he's scorching hot right now, but, like, Segura is such a throwback 2-0 hitter. Like, he reminds me, he's always reminded me a ton of Placido Polanco. Like just in the two-hole, he's going to work in a bat,

he's going to grind in a bat down. And right now with the way he's going, like he's just shooting balls to the right side, you know, and he's looking to do power by hitting balls in the gap and stuff like that. But it's not even early in counts. Like he's getting eight pitches in. He's getting eight pitches into these at-bats, making a pitcher work, and then most, not most times, but a good amount of time,

you have runners on first and second with Bryce Harper coming up. Like, that's how this offense was built. And honestly, I think they're going as far as 37, and Segura are kind of taking them right now. I mean, Hoskins is in, like, what, an 0 for 24 stretch? Yeah. Harper's clearly still coming back from the IL. He did smoke the ball on Saturday, which was good to see.

And he's got some hits here and there, but not at the price that we were seeing earlier. I mean, this team is being carried by one and two in the lineup. Yeah, and it's funny, too, because we talk about the type of baseball they're playing. It makes sense when it's fueled from those two guys because that's their type of baseball. Go up ball hit ball you know and that's what the phillies have been doing putting it in play and segura absolutely man i mean this is the best

gene segura we've seen since he's been here we're actually getting we're actually getting a throwback right like the the batted 300 or better three seasons ago before he got here like that's this dude and you've been saying two holes since the moment he got here. Like, that's this dude. And you've been saying two-hole since the moment he got here as the perfect two-hole type of guy, and he is showing it right now. And like you said, it sets up the rest of the lineup. And, yeah, Reese has been bad, but we know he's a hot, cold guy. And Reese came through when they needed him. Reese came through when JT wasn't there, when Harper wasn't there,

and helped kind of get them some wins when they needed them. And now the other guys are picking it up, and that's what good teams do. Like, baseball is all about streaks. It's all about hot streaks and cold streaks. Every player in the world goes through hot and cold streaks. It's about the other guys picking you up and people coming through when you need it. And it feels like we're starting to see that type of team. is that ultimately this team needs the offense. They're not good enough defensively. They have a great top three at the rotation, but the pitching staff is not going to carry this team.

They need to score runs, and when they start to do that, good things happen, Jack. Right, and you are starting to see guys pick each other up. Even when they make a mistake, like a doable, I think, Thursday, when he hit the ball off the wall but wasn't running and he should have been on third base. I mean, Segura hit the ball down the line, and he doubled down the line and picked his teammate up. And, like, you're starting to see it up and down the lineup.

There's a renewed energy about him. You know, obviously Hoskins is struggling. I think JT is still hitting the ball really well. Bryce is hitting the ball really well. And then you get to Bomer, and we talked about this, I don't know, a couple podcasts ago. But, like, he's almost the key to this whole thing turning around. And what you've seen over the weekend, last couple weeks, or last, I would say, week, he's starting to get more comfortable.

And he's starting to smoke some balls. Rather than grounding the ball hard to the right side, he's finally lifting it a little bit and hitting more line drives. So, you know, if they can get Boehm going along with everything else, it makes the Reese struggles not hurt as bad. Like, Reese is killing him right now, which is, I mean, he's an up-and-down player. We get it.

He did carry him for a little bit. But the facts are the facts, and he's killing him right now. So, you know, maybe if Boehm starts going up here a little bit, then you can move him up the lineup, move Reese down a little bit until he gets going. Like, it's just a very interchangeable lineup. And when they're going like this, and I saw it during the Braves series, I saw it during the Nationals series, and even against the Yankees,

this is a really dangerous lineup. And that's what made the first, I don't know, month and a half, two months of the season so frustrating. It's like they're way better than this, and they have way more talent than they are showing right now, and that's what they're way better than this, and they have way more talent than they are showing right now, and that's what they're doing. Their talent is finally starting to shine through, and we're seeing a deep lineup.

It doesn't really get shaky until you get to Reyes. Who's been good. Who's been perfectly fine and plays just a very fun shortstop, like just a fun shortstop. Oh, yeah, like a guy who could play good defense? Like what a wild thought that is in an important position. Yeah, it's a crazy concept. Yeah.

No, but it's also a good point, too, with, you know, you know, Didi coming back hopefully soon. I know he had the AAA assignment, had some soreness, so it's still feeling that out. But we talk so long about how bad the depth is and the benches. Once you get everyone back in this lineup gets dangerous. Then also the bench is so much better. Like Brad Miller coming off the bench is a lot better than Brad Miller

having to start every game. You know, Luke Williams coming off the bench is better than Luke Williams having to start every game. Like they have guys who you can kind of start to feel like, okay, man. And then when Trey is like, all of a sudden you feel better about the bench. It all comes, you know, it all starts to make sense from a roster perspective

once these guys get back and start hitting and stuff. And, again, I just, you know, the top two in the lineup have been great. Like, they've really carried this team. And Segura, I mean, just so much credit there. You know, and, again, I know that he's not always going to hustle. I think what we've learned with Gene Segura at this point is, you know, he is who he is at this point in his career. He's got

his flaws, but the dude can hit. The dude can hit. He's the guy this team needs right now. And I think when he's going like this, it's almost like it funnels throughout the entire team. He's clearly just excited to be there right now.

He's excited for everything that has to do with the baseball game. And that level of excitement, I think just, just kind of feeds through the entire team. And, and now that he's hitting well, it doesn't bother me that it's, it's him messing around with the other players.

I actually think is funny. I love it. I've always liked it, but I didn't get it when he, when he's going bad, it's harder to enjoy. Or when like Acuna is just ripping us for a weekend and like he's like hey buddy how you doing yeah yeah i mean yeah but now it's like oh it's amazing so um yeah but his energy i think kind of just feeds through

the rest of the team and you know those guys at the top they can just jump on you and they can they can jump on you fast and all of a sudden you got runners on first and second with Bryce Harper coming up, and that's just tough for any pitcher to have to deal with. Yeah, and that's the way this lineup was supposed to work, and we're seeing it work. And again, if Boehm can get going, man, like, it's pretty exciting to think about what this lineup can do and what they can be if they stay healthy.

If Boehm can get going, if Didi comes back and gives you some power from that spot, you know, another left-handed bat in there. You're feeling exciting, man. And Harper can get back to hitting the ball. The park, he's doing great. You could tell he's still kind of working his way back, but he's finding holes, putting the ball in play. And again, we go back to it.

It's so silly, but when you put the ball in play, good things can happen. If you don't put the ball in play, guess what? Nothing good can happen. If you don't put the ball in play, guess what? Nothing good can happen. So I know it's simple, but I really hope this is a fundamental change, Jack, with the approach, the way they go about their business, and like you said, a Girardi thing. But the last two weeks, if they can keep doing this, there is real reason to believe that this team can compete for this division.

Yeah, and for as much credit as we're giving Girardi here, I think it was TMAC or maybe it was Franski just said that hitting the ball the opposite way is a Joe Dillon thing. So maybe we're starting to see his influence over this roster, but it's just a fun

brand of baseball, and again, it looks like they're finally having fun, and that's the thing that I just... That's what made the losing hurt even more. It's like, do you guys even care to be there? And again, it looks like they're finally having fun. And that's the thing that I just, that's what made the losing hurt even more. It's like, do you guys even care to be there? And now, like for the first time, I really felt like that they are a team, you know, and they're starting to get each other and they're starting to understand each other.

And that was what we talked about earlier in the year about how these guys were all brought in from the outside and they were expected to create a new culture. And maybe now we're starting to see that new culture kind of manifest and start to figure out how each other works and how they can kind of push each other and how they can back off. Because it just takes a while. And when they're all brought in from the outside

and expected to come together and win ballgames, it's just hard when, when things get tough. And I just think that right now they are, they're, they're figuring out what makes each guy go and they're finally having fun. They feel comfortable around each other. And I just think that is so massive for the rest of the season.

And that's why, that's part of the reason why I don't think this is some flash in the pan. Why I don't think this is some like, Oh, they just popped up for a week and then they're back to being same old Phillies. I just have a different feeling about this baseball team. Yeah, and again, I think they have a different feeling.

Again, on a basic level, it looks like they're enjoying themselves. Luke Williams saved the season. Yes, we said it in the moment. Luke Williams saved the season. But also, to the point you just made, that's why this West Coast trip is so important for me. Yeah. Because this is the first chance for the group that we're seeing right now,

playing the way they're playing, with everyone back and the energy there, to go do what you always talk about and create that energy on the road. Create your own fire on the road. And that's been the struggle for this team. All right, we'll get to the Dodgers series again later in a sec, but I want to get to the pitching real quick. We'll get to the bullpen in a sec. Vinny, you know, okay, five innings, two runs, you know,

an okay Vinny outing. You know, the two prior have been bad. Where are you at on Vinny right now? I mean, I have no idea where I'm at on Vinny because, like, I don't know how anyone could have a take on Vinny. Like, he's fine. I mean, like, Saturday was fine. A lot of people are saying, like, why didn't Girardi leave him out there?

Because Vinny, as he goes deeper into a ballgame, is not going to get stronger. And third time through, it's just not a good mix with Vinny. So, I was cool with him pulling him there. Like, I don't know. He's still a little nibbly, but he's fine. I mean, the problem with Vinny is that it just hurts with Spencer Howard being as up and down as he is because you don't know what you're going to get

from him. Like, if Vinny's your five, then five innings, two runs is good enough. But right now he's pretty much their four. So they've got to get a little bit more out of him. But, like, listen, I think more often than not, I would say two-thirds of the time, you're going to get a pretty good Vinny game. And by pretty good, I mean six innings, three runs or less.

And I'll take that. Because his stuff is good, and he does seem like he's getting more comfortable with it but if you're asking me if i he's gonna get back to what he was in may i just i don't feel that way i think he mixed one of those in i just don't think he's gonna be an utter disaster well it's good man i will take it not utter disaster from vincent velasquez like you said six innings three runs are less five innings two runs are less like sure you know sure i'm good with that nola is he back he is close to being back i will say i will say yeah like his fastball command was was definitely

much better and that was really good to see uh his curveball i actually thought even when he was struggling was having a nice bite to it but of course it's better when he can locate his fastball uh change was pretty good i will say for me to to be fully he's back it's better when he can locate his fastball. Changer was pretty good. I will say, for me to be fully he's back, he's back, he's back. Now I do think he took a major step forward. Obviously when he shut down the Yankees like he did, it was awesome. But he was still a little up in the zone.

Even with his fastball, a couple of the strikeouts were up when JT was calling from outside and down. Yeah, I mean, listen. It's one of those starts that we needed to see from him because it's like you can't project this team going forward if aaron noah is going to be what he was his last six starts so um i definitely think it was a step in the right direction i would like for him to his fastball to get down a little bit more before i'm like back

back back um but in chris burman standards i'll say i'm back okay i'm not back back back back back i'm just back. I like that. I like that. Look, it's got to start somewhere. And we know, like, you know, we've talked about Nola is the kind of guy who'll get on a roll and give you, you know, 10 straight or something. I mean, imagine if you can get Wheeler and Nola just rolling.

That's what I'm saying, man. If it's, like, normal Nola. Like, it doesn't even have to be 2018 Nola but like good Nola and Wheeler keeps doing what he's doing I mean it's a serious one too and Eflin's a serious three I mean that's that's real like you can compete with most teams with that of course yeah yeah I mean if Nolan Wheeler back to being back I mean you're talking about the best ones who bunch of the NL potentially I mean yeah I think Burns and and Woodruff is the only and I guess Buehler and Bauer or whatever, Kershaw, whichever one you want to put.

Those are the three that stick out. Burns, Burns. I mean, and DeGrom and Stroman or whoever you want to go with. Yeah, just DeGrom. Just DeGrom. Yeah, whoever's the two. Speaking of DeGrom real quick, are we watching the Barry Bonds of pitching right now? Are we going to look at the Grom stats this year

like we look at Barry Bonds' season when he had like a 600-plus OBP? I mean, if he continues on this path, he's going to freaking break Bob Gibson's record. Yeah, like, I mean, we're heading towards a sub-one ERA from him. Dude, his ERA plus is in the 600s. It's unbelievable. It's in the

600s. Well, it's just crazy to think that this guy who's won back-to-back Cy Youngs and has clearly been the best pitcher in baseball for two years is better. Like, it's the best DeGrom we've ever seen. Like, what is that? Well, he's paired with also the worst offense we've seen since 1968. I know.

That's true. But, I mean, who's to say with a spider attack? Maybe he'll be terrible after this. I think the 101-102 will still play. Yeah, we'll see. But, yeah, I was actually thinking that the other day when I was looking at the stats. I feel like we're going to look back on this and be like,

wow, we were watching the greatest pitcher of all time. I mean, it's not impossible. I mean, that's you know a strong statement but what he's doing is special he's literally putting together arietta's second half in 2015 for a full season yeah i mean corbin burns is better but i mean the grounds are pretty good too um but but uh yeah i mean Peralta, Woodruff is nasty. Bueller, Kershaw, Bauer is nasty. DeGrom by himself, nasty.

But I think right after those, and then it's Wheeler, Nola, Eflin. Yep. Yeah. Fun to have. I don't think there's any question. It is fun to have. And, like, I don't think there's any question. All right.

Less fun, the bullpen. What? Look, look enough with the hector hey i'm so tired i like that's the thing people take it so far look is hector narris the best closer ever obviously not is he ideally your closer maybe not you know if hector's a seven day thinning guy no one's bitching about him every single day all the time but like people take it so far do you know how many people i've heard over the last couple days be like get hector off the team and it's like stop watching baseball all right stop watching baseball if your take is get hector off the team i'm so tired of it jack now hector had a bad weekend yeah we'll admit it like that was a tough one and a tough one thursday too yes Yes. But, you know, I never worry too much with Hector, but the closer thing.

Let's – look, we like Hector. We think he's very good. But is there a better option on the team right now to close? I mean – all right, so the options are what? Like, I don't think Coonrod – Archie, Coonrod. Coonrod can't close. And he's been bad.

I think it's Archie. Like, I think if we're talking about it, the way they're pitching right now, it's probably Archie. I would put Brogdon in there. Personally, I would put Brogdon in there. I get it, but he has not been great lately either. Has not been great, but I trust his demeanor and his stuff and all that stuff. And look, when he did get that save, when given the opportunity, in those spots, he's shown up. Yeah, like, and the Hector stuff is just so frustrating because like he's clearly a good

pitcher like like just stop and then people are like oh he loves lots of runs every time he's out there it's like what are you just say you don't watch the games like just just sit there and just say hey i don't really watch the games feels like hector watches every feels like hector blows every game i see just just tweet that at me rather than this guy sucks so um yeah it's it is frustrating and listen i get it. Like, I get that Hector frustrates people. Do I fully trust him when he comes into a game? Not really.

I mean, every one-run game I'm sweating. I'm shocked he blew the Yankees game on Saturday. I really am. And listen, it's fine. It's just the idea of Hector back there is good because then it lets all those other guys do their roles that they're better at. You know, like, all those guys are better set-up guys than Hector, I think, would be. And I think Hector is fine back there.

So, but listen, if it keeps happening, I mean, he does have four blown saves and all that good stuff. Yeah, I mean, then you can consider a change. But, like, Bradley, Archie's just getting back to where we kind of thought he would be. I mean, him hitting 95 on Saturday was a really good development. I like Brogdon if they did make the move, but I'm not there yet. If this continues heading into the All-Star break, I'd consider it. But, I mean, he had one bad week where his ERA ballooned to barely over three. Relax. Relax,

relax. He's, he's, he's mostly been a good pitcher here. Yeah. Uh, same. And look,

if they contend, if they're in at the end of July, I think that's a discussion we'll have is, you know, should they go get, um, closer X on a bad team who's willing to be moved to whoever that guy is, a Taylor Rogers or or this or that or

whatever. You know, it's a discussion that we can have when the time comes. But I think for right now, actors, the best option they have. And if it's not Hector, it's probably Archie just because he's done it before. But I think Archie gives you value in other spots, too. Speaking of Archie, real quick, go go on your little Archie thing. I saw your tweet. Yeah.

Do you like it? I did. I think it's a strong point yeah i mean listen you're in on archie the clubhouse guy yeah i mean listen archie the door is always open we would love to have you on the podcast we're still here buddy yeah i mean still here uh but i i really do think that his addition to the clubhouse has just been absolutely massive he is a he is a good vibes guy and um you know he was the one that brought the the straw hat and said hey we need more life you know let's let's get get our

guys out of our shell here a little bit and and the straw hat becomes a thing that when they hit home runs the whole team can come together and celebrate that guy and i think that's that's part of modern baseball it's part of like you see it in college baseball all the time. Like everyone has their rallying cries. And that's why I love the bamboo a couple of years ago. Did it work for the whole year? No, it didn't. But like, it's just, it's that kind of stuff's important. And then you see the, the, the Jersey thing. I mean, having everyone show up in a, in an NBA Jersey gets these guys out of their shell. And I heard JT talk last week about like, you know, we're not the most outgoing team and we're not like these big emotion guys. Like we kind of stick to ourselves and Archie is almost tasked with trying to

get that out of these guys. And I think that is massive because, you know, we talked about team building. We talked about getting these guys together and believing each other. Well, if none of them ever come out of their shell, then no one's going to know anything about each other. So what we're seeing now and what we've seen these last week, I want to say, week and a half, is a team that's starting to have some fun. And they're not miserable going to the ballpark.

And there's laughs. And there's like they're starting to learn each other a little bit. And I think Archie, now that he's starting to pitch well, is nice. But I think his biggest addition to this team is just the camaraderie and forcing guys to have fun and just coming in and being a good vibes guy. That is massive for a baseball team. There were so many downers the last couple years, Heath Embry, Workman, that you can just tell, miserable to be here.

Archie's not miserable to be there here Archie's not miserable to be there Brad Miller's not miserable to be there like those are two really important clubhouse guys and what you're starting to see is you're starting to see these guys come together and I and and I hope it continues because like we could be in for a really fun summer because what I've seen these last you know week and a half two weeks is is the makings of what could be a fun summer. So, again, massive West Coast road trip, but I think Archie's biggest thing he's brought to this team

has been just the vibes and getting these guys comfortable and getting them to kind of break out of their shell here a little bit. And that's just massive. And we're starting to see the benefits of it now. It's so big, man. and I'm so with you, and you could tell from the moment Archie got here

when he did that interview with Angelo, and you hear him talk, and you hear the way he goes about it, you're like, all right, this is an awesome guy. This is just a dude who's awesome and loves to have fun and seems like a great guy, minus not coming on a particular podcast, but I'm with you, man. I think he's kind of changed the vibe there and they need that. They desperately needed that as we talked about

so much heading in. So if Archie is the catalyst for it, which it does seem like from, from everything we hear from the stride to the attitude and all that, like props to Archie, man, that, that's so big and they need it. They needed a guy like that. They need someone who's going to make it fun and loose. And to the point we always say, like, have fun. This should be fun. Now it's going to be, look, they're not going to win out the rest of the year. So, like, it's going to be, does this carry through the hurdles? You know, does this carry through the tougher times?

And can you get back to that point is going to be the hurdle that we're going to see if they can clear. But it's exciting, man. This is the most excited we have been about the phillies this season easily and honestly really in the last few years right i mean at least in terms of of what we're seeing right now like you know obviously when harper signs like there are different things in the off season but in terms of in the season other than that first week of harper right like i feel like this is the most excited i've been about a phillies

team since then well i was pretty giddy after they swept the Braves to open the year this year. Sure. But this has felt, to me, this has felt the most real because of the way they're winning. So it's the 15 runs without a homer. It's Archie with the straw hat. It's them wearing jerseys, them having fun.

And honestly, three straight walk-offs and i know with the with the run on second base rule and all that like it kind of you know waters down the term walk-off but you're they're finding ways to win ball games and you know the the hector blows it on saturday come right back and win and you know maybe rogers chapman maybe not a closer so um like it's just the way they're winning, the style of baseball they're playing. Now, it's easy to do that at home. Like, it's easy to do that at home. The real measure of how good this team is, like, we might know the fate of the Phillies after this West Coast road trip.

It's crazy. Buddy, it is crazy, especially going West. Like, this is a real road trip for two of the five best teams in baseball record-wise. I think the only – the two best teams in baseball record-wise. I think the two best records in the National League, it's the Giants and the Dodgers. I think the only teams that have better records than them in baseball are Tampa Bay and I believe Oakland maybe. There are two teams, or no, excuse me, Tampa Bay and the White Sox

are the only two teams with a better record in all of baseball than the San Francisco Giants, and no one in the National League has a better record than the Dodgers or the Giants. So, you know, It's real. Not only West Coast, but you're playing two baseball teams that have been playing great baseball. I need this whole Giants

thing to end. They are just not that talented. They're just not. It's driving me crazy. When you got a great manager, man. When you have a great general manager, it's easy to be propped up that way. So I need the Phillies to end this whole Giants thing this week.

Wouldn't that be beautiful if the Giants skid coincides with the Phillies? That would just that would be poetic. And I would be very, very in on it. All right. Last thing for me before the take bag. And I'm assuming it's in the take bag, but I got to bring it up. Okay. You're what, 26 or 27?

You turn 26, right? I'm 27. 27. Very mature. What 27-year-old has never run a grill before in their life, Jack? This 27-year-old. Grill master. Yeah, I don't get the

big deal I didn't know I was being followed by a thousand grill masters some of us mature at a different rate as everyone else I'm trying to figure out life over here I'm getting ripped on Twitter saying make sure James brings this up so he can make fun of you

I only saw your tweet our good friend Steve wanted to make sure that you you know i just people actually say that i only saw your tweet i didn't see any response no my good our good friend steve pointed made wanted to make sure that you brought it up on this podcast so um no you know i'm just trying to be i'm trying to be a real human to my twitter followers and and just be like listen this is what i'm doing you know real relatable content per usual and uh you know i got ripped for it and you know i'm sorry that all of you matured at a faster rate than me, but I'm figuring out this whole adult thing every single day. I don't like being an adult.

I got to be honest with you. I wish I could just drink and hang out with friends and chill all the time. But you know what? Some of us have to grow up. And I'm starting to think about the bigger picture with the grill. I'm thinking about, like, future cookouts with kids and stuff. And I can't blow it. Like, I don't want to be the guy that can't master a grill and you know people ask me well when you were in college didn't you grill with

people it's like yeah maybe but also you know I didn't want to blow it for everyone else I wanted them to have good burgers and good dogs you know I didn't want to ruin it for them and when I was growing up my dad was a good cook so he made all stuff on the grill and I didn't want to blow the grill up so listen join me on my journey to adulthood. I'm trying to figure this whole thing out. And yeah, I grew up for the first time yesterday and it was hard, but you know, you battle through it and you get better. That's what life's all about, James. I'm proud of you, buddy. Thank you. Grown before my eyes. Does it bring it soon enough? It's going gonna take you three days to get over a hangover

so just get ready well listen i i hope i don't ever get to that point because that is just that is just very i'm still feeling it jack i know i know what's in the tape i know buddy oh the take back how about travis jankowski making up for it. In all seriousness, him getting to second base the other night and taking out a double play in extras was such a smart baseball play. It was under-talked about and

under-appreciated, but on the walk-off by Segura on Saturday, Jan Kowski's on first. They get one out. There's no outs. And he has the wherewithal that when that ball's popped up to a fly out, I think Urshela or Sanchez caught it, he had the wherewithal to get to second base so that a double play does not end the game.

And you just don't know how that affects what Urshela does on the Segura ground ball. Does he... Or even where he's playing defensively. Like, you know what I mean? Like. It's probably still corners in. Like, it's probably still corners in.

Probably, but not a lot. Probably. And the same outcome probably happens. But I just thought in that scenario, to get that right was massive. And I thought it was really good base running. And, you know, we got to give props because he was. Because we killed him. Yeah, he made the worst base running decision I you know we gotta give props because he was because we killed him yeah he made the worst base running decision i'd ever seen yeah yeah he deserves props for that because he did get destroyed and rightfully so for that so when you do the right thing that's that deserves

credit good call i'm not a big uh cancel guy but i feel like we have to cancel luke williams i'm very sorry he had that thing yeah i mean. Yeah. I mean, Luke, buddy. What are you doing, dude? Well, now, here's the one thing. Is he, like, from New Jersey? No, he's from California. What are we doing? Well, but, but, but, but, here's what could have happened is that his teammates in a rookie hazing thing said,

Hey, we know this is going to be caught on camera. We're going to get you a Durant Nets jersey so that you know the Philly fans get mad at you now it seems a little harsh by the teammates I think I think he's just a Kevin Durant fan um but Luke buddy Sixers playoffs yeah we're gonna have to take down Kevin Durant and I just think it's a bad look yeah it was a horrible look but you're be smarter Luke don't do that. Don't be dumb. Everyone gets it. So he's canceled.

Look, you don't, yeah, I think so. Because you don't have to be a Sixers fan if you're here. Just don't rub the Nets in our faces. Like, that's it. Yeah. Come on, Luke. And also don't be a Nets fan, you loser. No, he's a Durant fan.

That's what it is. Okay. Well, if we can get one of these kids who doesn't have a favorite team he's got a favorite player all right buddy right um but if we do get luke on the podcast uh we will have to ask him about it because we didn't appreciate it we do yeah we don't lie no that's what it is no and uh and uh we asked tough questions and we will grill luke williams on wearing the durant jersey but at the time being, he's canceled. So it was a good run.

I appreciate the walk-off. I appreciate you saving the season, Luke. But I'm sorry, buddy. It's over. Yeah. I have no complaints with that. I have another take on the jerseys. Brandon Kintzler could not wear Kobe.

I'm sorry. That's the rules. I mean, Kobe is far too important. cannot wear kobe like like i'm sorry like that's that's the rules i mean like kinsler like kobe is far too important to yeah if bryce wants to wear kobe okay right you know that works but yeah i'm with you right i mean here's my real reaction that brandon kinsler still in the team jack somehow what's what are we doing here gm bryce baby um the phillies have three pitchers in the top 20 in war which is just so. I saw that in the top 16, right?

Even better. Even better. God, it's just so nice having a good top three. Uh, tonight is going to be really interesting. Uh, Bailey Falters going to be the piggyback guy to,

to Spencer. I think, I think Ranger might be able to do it, but again, Girardi, why are you pitching Ranger Suarez in a 7-3 game on Saturday? Like, when you know, or was it Saturday?

Yeah, it was Saturday. Because you know Spencer was starting on Monday. Like, what are we doing? I mean, whatever. It was weird to me, but Falter's out there, and they do seem like they're going to kind of run that plan out there. And Bailey Falter has been unbelievable at AAA. So the Rockies thing was not a good start

for for him but um you know i think there's there's talent there and he's got a really high spin fastball he's a model's darling and i'm excited to see what he can do well he also i can't i apologize it was either matt gelb or matt breen that tweeted it i can't remember but he has the deepest release in all of baseball so like the ball leaves his hand closer to home plate than anyone else in the sport which makes a 92 mile per hour fastball seem just a little bit faster so i know that's a weird little thing but that is important you know that that you know the later it gets out the the quicker it gets to you well that's what we used to call the robertson remember that of course yeah david robertson had the longest stride in baseball, and he was like 5'11". Yeah, no, he is a model's darling.

The models love Bailey Falter because the fastball, again, high spin efficiency jumps on you, and yeah, that release point makes a lot of sense. So I legitimately think there's some talent with Bailey Falter, and I just hope that we see it tonight. And also, Spencer, maybe five innings tonight. Yeah, okay. Yeah, maybe five. Against the yeah okay yeah maybe yeah against the

dodgers okay i love west coast games it's been two years it's been two years and i know that we're older now so like i know you in particular have a long one but like i just feel like the real fans are up at for the for the west coast games and i thoroughly enjoy them i thoroughly enjoy west coast games and i can't wait to see Dodger Stadium tonight. I can't wait for all of it. Also, very upset that the game this weekend's on Peacock. I don't have Peacock. I guess I'll have to do a free trial. But it's just like, what are we doing?

Why are we putting... You can use my Peacock, buddy. We'll coordinate. Oh, nice. You got Peacock? Great. Awesome. I need that. So, yeah. It's just like, whatever. Stop putting baseball games on streaming services that no one has. Totally with you on this. Like YouTube. Sure. Everyone's got freaking YouTube. That's cool. Like when you have to pay for a service that a lot of people don't have, but people pay for cable.

And obviously I'm not, you know, want to talk, but like like put them on the cable that the people pay for the package for. All right. Like it's just the right thing to do. And if you want to put on these other streaming services for other people, fine. But still put it on the package that people pay to get. Like, it's the right thing to do, in my opinion. So, I'm with you on that one. We pay for the regional sports packages. Like, that's part of the gig. Yeah.

And by the way, with you on the, like, other than the fact that I get up at 6 in the morning now and it sounds horrible to, especially, you know, sleepy hangover guy um but i do love west coast baseball and like weekend west coast baseball is my still my favorite thing yes so uh we are exactly one month until the mlb draft and i know and i'm i'm such a i know i'm usually around now isn't it usually june yeah they push it back yeah they push it back. Yeah. They push it back. But I have to be honest with everyone. And I, like, trust me, I've been doing the research. Like, I love the draft.

And it's probably the most, like, it's probably the longest I've been doing it. Like, the longest I've been on these guys and following them to the best ability that I can. Like, I just don't have a guy. Like, I always have a guy. What? I know. I don't have a guy yet. You've always got multiple guys. You've got your guy, and then you've got your B guy't have a guy. Like I always have a guy. What? I know. I don't have a guy yet.

You've always got multiple guys. You've got your guy and then you've got your B guy, your C guy. I have multiple guys like that, but I don't have like my guy that I'm campaigning to go for. Like because I feel like my guy would be Khalil Watson. Like I think he's amazing. But I think he's going to go top 10. And I thought he was going to be there at 13 when this whole process started,

but it turns out he's probably not going to be. So I don't want to feel like I'm settling because I think they're going to get a really good player. I just don't have that conviction. I mean, I'll get there. I'll figure it out, and I'll finally get my guy. But my official prediction one month out is to take Ryan Cusick, this right-hander from Wake Forest, get this fastball to 100.

I mean, he's got pretty nasty stuff. His mechanics are a little funky to me, but I think they can be worked out, and you kind of believe in the arms. So I think they're going to go the college route because I think they want a guy that can contribute immediately, or not immediately, but as fast as possible, and they don't want to develop high school players. But again, like, McCable fell to them, and they took him.

And it's, I mean, he's unbelievable. He's already going to be a top 50 prospect. So I hope that they're not pigeonholing themselves into a college guy because they wanted to move faster to the system. That's how you drafted the Adam Hazelys of the world and that stuff. So, yeah, I can't wait. I'm sorry that I don't have a guy just yet. You know, I'm still sorting through everything, trying to figure out where guys are going to go. But I will't wait. I'm sorry that I don't have a guy just yet. You know, I'm still sorting through everything,

trying to figure out where guys are going to go. But I will get there. I will get there. Yeah, you better. Honestly, I'm incredibly disappointed. Yes. But, you know, you say you'll have a guy. Never lie to the High Hopes listeners.

You better have a guy. I'll have a guy. And to the other point, don't take a college guy because of that. Like, that would be the wrong process and this team needs to draft and develop well so draft and develop and draft talent and high school players are usually a good return investment that's what um yeah and then the final thing is high hopes night the brewery july 10th come on out it'll be fun we'll have beer yes and we we can't announce it yet but could have something

else fun coming yeah let's just say keep a weekend in late july open yes yes i think that is a good way to put it something fun coming down the pike um all right uh any final thoughts fritzy final thoughts get me a 10 10 uh it would be nice to pair a 10-10 start with a Sixers win um it'll be a fun night west coast road trips are the best and again just don't crap down your leg that's all I ask for yeah and you miss Bauer and Buehler which is good you still gotta face Kershaw but getting that I mean not that Julio Urias is like a great consolation prize but um it is nice well Wheeler Kershaw on Wednesday is going to be amazing. Oh, buddy. I know.

It's going to be glorious. We got the better pitcher for once when we're facing Kershaw. How about that? Yep. All right. My final thought, I would like to apologize to Jim Nance for that horrible just shirking of my responsibilities, my ode to Jim. I just I threw it away earlier because I'm tired and I wasn't into it. So, Jim, I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again.

And I appreciate you. Well, he's a professional and you're not. That's what we learned here today. That's the, dude, I couldn't do the podcast yesterday because it was hung over. Clearly not a profession. It's time to be an adult, buddy. All right. Please don't suck on the West Coast, Phillies.

Please, please keep it going. We need it desperately. All right. He's spread some cells. We'll see you later.