High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Who Should The Phillies REALLY Trade For Before Next Week's Deadline?

Episode Date: July 24, 2025

The MLB trade deadline is one week away and the High Hopes Pod has a list of candidates that should be Phillies for the stretch run. 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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High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes! Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes! High Hopes! I feel a little less alone. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo edition of the High Hopes podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tastes Like Miller Time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. Fritz, I was at like 10 o'clock last night or so, whatever time JT hit that home runoff Chapman,

I'm sitting there, I was thinking about the, yo, I'm like, this is gonna be the best series of the season. Like what a way for this series to go. We get the awesome catcher's interference, never seen it before thing. We get the sanchi complete game 12 strikeout gem. And then we're gonna get this walk off win somehow. It's gonna be amazing.

Not to be. Two or three, not to be. How you doing, pal? First off, you always take two or three. I'm not complaining. I just was ready to like really bring it. I know. And this is the problem with hope.

Why do we do it? Why do we do it to ourselves? It's never easy. It's never easy. You always take it down a notch. Always when things get too high, you got to bring it back down. Yeah, I'm not great at that. You might know that about me.

I know, it's good. I'm a get high and keep it high kind of guy. I know, and I'm always a lower expectations. You are, no doubt. They're not making a trade. They're not making a trade. They're not making a trade. They're actually not. That's good.

No, David Robertson's the big mover. I heard Austin Aids is available. You know, you could do that. Oh wait, he's not. He's hitting too well for the runs. First off, on Austin Aids, not to derail the podcast, they should have just re-signed him in the offseason. Just have a take.

Just have a take. It was right there. They should have re-signed him. We were saying it too. I know. I mean, go back and listen. It got to a point where it's like, it was, it was, just have a take. Just have a take. It was right there. They should've, they should've, they should've, We were saying it too. I know. I mean, go back and listen. It got to a point where it's like, if you're not gonna re-sign a righty,

just, just sign us a haze. Yeah. We're worried about bad PR? I mean, what are we talking about? Anyway. Yeah, it was an annoying one. Obviously the Lazardo thing, if JT catches the ball, that doesn't happen.

They win the game. I mean, no, they don't necessarily win the game, but like, they don't. They win the game. That, I think so too. That inning doesn't happen. And especially cause like, I mean, how often do you see that, especially with JT, but just in general, it's really,

like that's not the easiest play in the world, but it's not. Well, majorly baseball players make it easy. That's my point. What I was about to say, it's not the easiest play in the world, but it is so rare. Like every once in a while,

you'll see a ball bounce off a catcher's mitt or something. They won't quite be able to get to it. It's so rare that it just loses it like that. And it was a freaking killer, man. I know. And Lizardo, like eighth of an inch off, an inch off on all his pitches, it wasn't like he was all over the place.

And I do think they were balls. Yeah, yeah. I thought, actually the Dolphine was pretty good last night. He was pretty locked in, but they were so close. And then he finally throws it over the plate, and of course. Gets smoked. Crush. And people are showing that video of Alex Cora maybe

really, I don't think that's what he was doing. People are saying. Tipping pitches that you haven't had to. I think that's a little quick. To be like, Cora's sitting there saying this, and then all of a sudden he got really to second base, and then he's got to relay to the end, and a second later, I think that's a little far-matched.

I agree. So, I feel a couple things. Like, Lazardo, what actually annoyed me was he has to get Marcelo Meyer out, like Marcelo Meyer's a ninth hitter, he's a lefty that should not be on the touch. The rookie, yeah. He just, just married out a good time. He's over-matched, right?

He'll be a good player, I think, but he is over-matched. Right, and so JTS made the catch. All that is a big qualifier. I understand that. But this is a fear of mine with Lizardo, is the mental toughness and being able to bear down and get that out. And it's actually the biggest thing

that I've been so impressed with Chris, is that Chris, a couple of years ago, was like Lizardo, where you would see it, and he would start melting down. I remember that game out in Arizona, where he had the bases loaded, and I think he walked two straight guys. It was very similar to that.

And then you have Chris Sanchez, the maturation of him. I mean, remember the Pirate start, where he's dominant, but then he extended him one inning too far, and it kind of fell apart really quickly. Then you saw the maturation towards what happened, the Red Sox. He gets to start the ninth against the lefty after a huge emotion in the eighth. I'm sitting there saying, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it. That emotion after the eighth, I mean that was a big out and he was pumping his fist.

He was into it. I was surprised he came back out there. I was like, okay, well I understand that he's dominated Roman Anthony. You let him get through Anthony and then you yank him. And he kept him in there. Just kept him in. And good for Sanchez, good for Taber. I mean, that was neat to watch.

Totally. Just real quick, it's just as crazy. I like it used to be like, I feel like we celebrate, sorry, I feel like we celebrate complete games now like it's a no-hitter. Oh yeah. I can't believe I just saw a complete game. So Walker's still up because he's the least sleepy kid in America.

It's pretty ridiculous. He's just running around the house. And I said, Walk, sit down. Because Chris Sanchez is about to do something. You may never see it again. A complete game. Yeah, sit down. Come on.

This is the moment you're going to talk about for years. Look at this, a complete game. Yeah, so I totally agree. I actually did do that. I was like, you've Yeah, sit down, come on. This is the moment you're gonna talk about for years. Look at this, a complete game. Yeah, so I totally agree. I actually did do that. Like I was like, you gotta sit down. No, I, dude, I like, I felt juices,

like it was like a no hitter or something. It's so crazy to feel that way for just a complete game these days. But I do, I get so excited when they're gonna go, I'm like, it's coming out. Well, and I'm always, you always look back and you're like, well, didn't have to do that. You know what I mean? I know. Because when it're gonna go, I'm like, it's coming out. Well, and I'm always, you always look back and you're like, well, they didn't have to do that. You know what I mean?

Like, because when it starts going bad, but in the moment, it's hard not to be like, it's hard not to start welling up a little at a complete game. So, but that's where, like, Lizardo, and that's what I think has always held him back. He's always had his stuff. What we're starting to see more now is,

I think he gets in his own head a little bit. I think that, and what's concerning is, we talk about, Lizard of the pen, Lizard of the pen, Lizard of the pen. Well, that was my first thought. I was like, well, what does that mean for the playoffs? I mean, if you're talking about bringing him into the biggest of spots.

There's two things. One, he might stink out of the stretch. Yeah, we have no idea. So, it seems like he has a problem pitching out of the stretch. It's when everything derails. So, guess what happens in the postseason? You're pitching out of the stretch, yeah. a problem pitching out of the stretch. It's when everything derails. So guess what happens in the postseason? You're pitching out of the stretch.

You're pitching out of the stretch. So that's one thing. And second, we're tasking him with getting the biggest outs in the game possibly being like an Andrew Miller type. I don't know if he can do it. I don't know if he can. He needs to get back to wherever he was. And hey, people said at the time, I poo-pooed it.

I still mostly poo-poo it, but maybe leaving him in the Brewer's Star did screw him. Like from a- A mental standpoint or something? From an invincibility standpoint, maybe that's what it was. I still find that far-fetched, like I would hope that we'd be able to put that behind us,

but he was invincible before that. He was pitching to a 2.05 ERA. It was ridiculous. So I think the Lazardo concerns are fair, but then I also have concerns about Ranger, and then we start talking about... Yeah, and Nolas still isn't back. I mean, we've no idea, like no idea what that guy's gonna look like when he comes back.

You know, and we've talked about this last few pods where, you know, this, the thing, and look, Wheeler and Sanchez at the top are still- As good as it gets. It gives you a chance in every series because you have those guys pitching the first two games. But man, this thing that we thought was this, this invincible, like, can't, like the one part

of this thing that's truly special, that makes them different, that gives them a real chance, like, it's starting to fall apart in front of us. It's, not a fan, Jack. No, no, no, no, no, no. Not a huge fan of this. Well, because, like, they are only a 95-win baseball team because of a rotation that is otherworldly.

Yeah. And, you know, we talked about this team versus 11, you know, and that's what it was. So, yeah, I am trying to relax on Ranger. Lazardo, I have a pretty good sense of where we're at with Lazardo. He's super Jekyll and Hyde-ish. He was looking, first four innings.

He was first five and two thirds innings, essentially. He looked, or four and two thirds innings, I mean, he looked awesome. Yeah, yeah, and it's like, but then there's that. Was it the second strung out the side? It was beautiful. Yeah, he was into it. I was so back.

I know. I was so back. I didn't even see that loss coming. You know? I didn't either. I really didn't. Again, I was praying to come in here. Even when they were down and then JT hit the home run,

I'm like, oh, we're going to win. Like, I was actually, oh, we're going to win guy in that moment. Never do that. I know. I've learned better. When Scott hit the home run, I was like, there's no shot. They're losing tonight.

Like, they're just not going to lose.. When Scott hit the home run, I was like, there's no shot, they're losing tonight. Like, they're just not gonna lose. Speaking of the JT home run, so I know the home run in Houston happened, but that really felt like the first big hit that JT's ever had. Oh yeah, maybe since then. Certainly is it. So I think the double in game,

one of the World Series should get more credit. I think that was the bigger hit of the two. But yeah. What are you talking, I mean, it was a go ahead home run and extra inning. Well, not the bigger hit of the two. I mean, the better piece of hitting. You're right, yeah, it was a go, you're right, yeah.

The home run was more important. I mean, but the double, so I got him confused. It was the double that was first, and that's why I was thinking. I thought it was the double and extra. It was the home run and extra innings? Of course, the right field. Or remember, it's the right field.

Yeah, the double was the right field too. Off of? Pressley? No, it was Garcia. It was Luis Garcia. I've blocked some of that out. I was there. Yeah.

I forgot you were in the building. Yeah, I didn't go to Heath. I'm not a bleep talker. I don't like it. Because you know why I don't like it? It's because it usually comes back to bite me. And I don't like putting myself in that situation at all. It's not a great situation.

No, it's not. It's not. But when you have a few, and JT, it's a home run. Oh, we're getting chastity. Any of Ike Reese behind you? Oh, yeah. You got a little safety blanket. Exactly right.

Makes it very different. It makes it very different. But it really felt like the biggest that if JT still be there. He's just been so dormant for so long. He never gets the big hit. Yeah. Well, since 22. He had some hits in 22, but it does feel like you're right.

Since 22, it's just been nothing. Well, and the other thing that was a takeaway from that is the idea of trading for Chapman, who I would still trade for. Sure, but I would be terrified of having Chapman. But that is a precursor to what happens to him in the postseason. And what would also drive me nuts is,

who is that for him, Marsh? He got Marsh out, and he did like his stare down thing. If you let up a game tying home run, or a go ahead home run in a playoff game, and then you stare down like you're something, oh, you would be seeing red. Nope. I, and Sunday, we will be doing our perfect deadline pod.

Yeah. Don't make a trade before then, Dave. Okay, give us a little break, you know. I could really use a trade. We could use a trade though, you know. We're down to do an emergency pod, that'd be cool too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like I, I just, I think I've migrated over,

as we're talking about, I was going back and forth the reliever and the bat, we all have, I just think it's so clear they need a bat. I mean, they need a reliever too, we've talked about this, but it's just the closer we get, the more it happens. I'm watching Duran, I'm like, just go get one of these guys. Go with it, Quan or Duran,

or whoever, Buxxon doesn't look like he's gonna trade. Go get a real bet. Go get a real bet. Yeah, and I just think the way the market is shaping, again, and this was always gonna happen, but I feel like the closer price is just so insane. It seems insane. Versus what the value really is of it.

Do I really wanna go send like Aiden and other top-ish type, Aiden and Aiden, let's say to get Closet, Duran, or Felix. Aiden and Able is the start of a package. Do I really want to do that? I don't. Or do I want to trade a little bit less for like Bednar? Or like one of these other,

and the other thing is that, just see if Kirk Haring can do it, and get someone in the middle there. He's still 142 away or whatever. No, he would be 119 away. What? Yeah, it was 123, right? No, no, no, it's 140.

No, I'm pretty sure it's 100. I'm pretty sure it's 100, he's 100. Well, you were doing the bits, you would know sure it's 100. I'm pretty sure it's 100. He's 100. Well, you were doing the bets. You would know better than I was. 95% sure that it's 120 some way. Because I think the record's 123. I thought it was 143. It actually shouldn't not be that hard to break.

It shouldn't be. It really shouldn't be. You're right. You're right. OK, because Kirk Ring was warming up in the Sanchez inning, and I was like, yes, I get to tweet it out. They don't do it anymore. It never closes, actually.

No, no, well, they don't have, they haven't totally. They have a lot of save situations. Like a vintage save situation, but like if Kirk Ring can do it, just see if he can do it and then get someone. But the problem is with Kirk Ring being their only reliever that we would call good. Oh, Strahm's eating up.

Strahm's eating up, he's doing better. Strahm's eating up. No, he has,. He's getting better. Strahm's heating up. No, he has. But I'm saying the only one we fully trust is Kergering. We just know, and I think if Topper feels that way, we know he's not going to make him the closer. He's going to use him in the eighth. He's going to use him in the seventh.

He's going to use him in the ninth. He's going to play the man. Rob Thompson has made it so. I even think if they brought a Bednar guy in or whatever, I don't think he would just use him as the closer. I think he would use him in the high leverage situations when it matters. Even honestly, I think that, like they did with Chapman, Chapman and Boston did, like I think that even if they trade

for Durand or some big closer guy, like I think there's the potential that in a spot in the eighth inning of a playoff game, he goes to Batista instead of in the closing spot because that's the way to, I know that's the way topper manages. I'm not ripping it. I'm just saying I think that's the way he goes about his business. Of course. And it would work out because then he could go Kirkering 9th if you were in that scenario.

So it does, listen, the whole matchup thing does, in general, make sense. Of course. It does. If you have enough, the thing is they need enough arms to wear their game. And we also know that some guys can't handle a 9th. It's just, we've seen it.

We've seen it too many times to know that there is something to the mental part of the game. There are just some guys who are not built for that. Like, it is what it is, you know? So I do think that matters. Like, when Rich Doobie said, did Ryan Madsen take a class on how to close games? It's an all-timer. It's an all-timer.

It's an all-timer. What a fun find. It was like, I was in the middle of, like, writing the chapter on Eleven, and I was just, I would just, I don't, I feel like my eyes must have, I must have lost, like, I should have worn blue leg glasses because I was just gla middle of writing the chapter on Eleven, and I was just, I don't, I feel like my eyes must have, I must have lost, I should have worn blue light glasses because I was just glazing over stuff

at like five in the morning. But I just remember randomly stumbling on this, this Rich Juby quote heading into the season when they named Contreras the starter. And then Juby saying, because Matt's been pissed about because he's heading to a contract here and Scott Boris is his agent, and he's like, I wanna close, and Richie would be going like,

did Ryan Madsen take a class on how to close? He can't close. It's so good. It's amazing, it's amazing. So yeah, I totally agree. I just, I am so much more in the mindset of like, I'm okay trading the prospects if it gets a big bat. Me too.

Like, I would rather take a shot on like, a Suarez, and then, again, a Eugenio Suarez. Mm-hmm. I assumed it was my chance of talking about bats. Not Robert Suarez, I'm not trading Ranger Suarez. But it's funny that, yeah, just the closer thing, too, that you could have been talking about a closer.

Well, I could also have been talking about Duran, and then you wouldn't know if it was, like, Jaren Duran or Yoan Duran. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. What are you doing all over the place? All over the place. So, but I would rather trade for a higher end bat and a lower end reliever than a higher end reliever

and a lower end bat. I totally agree with you. 100% agree with you. I'm really, I am opening up to the idea of a Euhenio. I mean, the dude just keeps hitting home runs. It's like every day, it's like another bomb, another bomb. What, do you have three the other day? I've long been like, it's like another bomb, another bomb. What, he had three the other day? He's like. And I've long been like, it's the emptiest

four 30-some home runs in the league. But except it's like 40-some. I will take an empty 30-some. He might have 50 this year, buddy. He should. I mean, he's at 36. He's been close before, he's been in the mid-40s before. He's like a real deal.

And this is not like someone just popping off. Like, you know Suarez has hit a lot of home runs in Major League Baseball. He has an established power right hand at bat, like established. Well, I think I saw some tweet when he hit his 300th that he should just sign with the Rockies and just try to get the 500

and have the most ridiculous Hall of Fame case of all time. It would be. That'd be amazing. Union Swarrows is absolutely not a Hall of Famer. Nowhere in the hemisphere of a Hall of Famer. Not even close to the close level of Hall. I don't even know if he's the Hall of Very Good. I guess he must be. But if he gets the 500 home runs, you got to make a case.

You got to make a case. It would be pretty insulting. But regardless, would you rather, I can't tell. I can't tell what makes the Phillies better. Is it just getting the best player, like I think if I was ranking the best players available semi, like I think Kwan. Kwan's one.

I think Kwan. Duran. And Duran. I think they're the top two for me. If you don't include Buxton, because he's probably not getting traded. I think those are the top two guys for me. The other guys, look, and every year,

like Austin Hayes wasn't mentioned last year as a potential trade guy, and then he gets traded. Always there are guys who were not expecting to get traded, but of the names that have been out there, I think those are the bullet points top two. Well, would you rather get, because you're probably going to have to trade, obviously, a lot for those guys,

or less for Suarez. I'd rather trade less for Suarez. I think Suarez is a better fit too. I mean, how much have we talked about? Right hand at power bat. Like he is the right hand at power bat on the market. He is, he is. I just, but if you did get Quan or Duran.

They're under control. Well, they also lengthen the lineup at the beginning too, where it was with Scott. Look, and they're just better baseball players. Like Quan and Duran are also both really good center fielders as well. I think, a little over. Well, Kwan's gonna be a corner guy.

Yeah, a left, excuse me, but he's a good left fielder. That's what I meant to say. They're good outfielders, is what I meant to say, yes. They are outfielders that can hit ends. And field, that's my point. Like, they're just good baseball players all around. And look, they need a power map, but if you're talking about guys who are,

I mean, if Steven's Kwan's gonna come in here and get on base 35% of the time and hit 280, 290, like that's such a valuable thing for this team right now. So like, I, look, and again, we've talked about the Steve Pierce thing so many times, like it really could be a guy like that who ends up making a difference where it's not the top tier guys that get traded,

but it's just to the point we're getting on, like they just need production. Like they need production, they need to get rid of one of the holes in the lineup with someone who's not a hole in the lineup. Like that's it, it's that simple. Yeah, and I keep, you know, as you get closer to the deadline,

you have your idea of who these guys are, right? So with Duran, Duran I think, before I started digging into it, it was like Duran to me reminds me of what Rollins was at the top of the lineup, like spark plug, hits the ball hard, gap to gap, will steal a bag, fiery type, right? He's definitely a fiery, the way he plays the game.

Sure, my fear with Duran is his strikeouts going up. He's not as consistent a hitter as Quan. And he really struggles against left-handed pitching. Like they've pretty much turned him into a platoon player versus lefties. And that's bad. That's not good. No, when you're trading as much as you are for him, I think the Duran package starts with Tite. I think that that's what the,

if they want to go after Durant, I think that's who they need. I think that's who they would want. So that's a concern for me with Durant. Kwan, what concerns me about Kwan, not much. Because I love Stephen Kwan. He's a good ball player, man. Love Stephen Kwan.

Has the wrist thing this year, his slugging percentage is in the 300s, which. Is it that low? Which is not great. Is it really? He had six home runs on the year. Yeah. Wow, I didn't realize it was that low.

He had 14 last year, and that was probably... I mean, he's been getting on base, he's been doing all that other stuff, but wow. Yeah. 300, now it's a high threes, but still, I would... Not great. Prefer one of them. Not what you want, yeah.

For what, again, for what you're're probably going to trade up. What means his OPS is probably in the sixes or the sevens, the low sevens, because I think he's got an on base of 350, 360 or something like that. So that's a 730, 740 OPS. I mean, that's not good enough for a guy. If you're going to trade what you're going to trade for him, you want a guy who's an 800 OPS or better. I mean, I know it's not just one to one, but like in theory you want that type of bat.

Yeah, so his slug is 392 when his OPS is 742. Yeah, that's exactly where I guess it'd be, 737 for you right in there based on what you were saying. Only 11 stolen bases. So not running a ton. Not running a ton. He had a cortisol shot in his wrist. I guess Stephen Voet said,

you should play in the All-Star game. And then he missed the first two games after the All-Star game. Great. Knowing that he had the wrist thing. But I guess Stephen Voet said, you should play in the All-Star game. And then he missed the first two games after the All-Star game. Great. Knowing that he had the wrist thing. But I guess it meant, see, if that happened here, I think we'd be. We would crush Stephen Voet.

Yeah. More importantly, the All-Star game is a party. Fire's a manager, what are we doing here? Yeah. You mean people are ready to fire Rob Thompson for like a bullpen decision? Give me if that had happened? Yeah.

Yeah. And last night clearly sped up on Thompson with that inning. And so I had to- So would you have gotten Lazard out quicker in that spot? Yeah, I mean- I would have too. Hindsight being 20-20. Hindsight being 20-20.

I know it's not that easy and like- And they don't have like great options. Well, that's the other thing too. People are like, they had a fully rested pen. Of who? Of who? And even then it wasn't like that fully right. I mean, like I know that, yes, because of Sanchez,

but they still have guys go in game one, like for wheelers. I mean, Strom and Kerger and Pichano in that game, like. But I also think when he does stuff like that, it is also about learning about the pitcher. Yes, seeing if Lizardo can battle through it. I think there's an argument to be made that learning what situations Lizardo can handle in big spots is as important as winning an individual game.

You know what I mean? Now it's tough, is that? It actually is kind of refreshing having, we've had a division race this entire year. Dude, it's back and forth, especially because it does seem like they've kind of lined up where, I mean, look, the Phillies really had a chance over the last 40 games to gain ground.

The Mets really played bad baseball for a while, and the Phillies just kept getting in their own way. And the Mets did the same thing earlier when the Phillies were struggling. So it's really, they've kind of really matched each other this season, it's fascinating. Yeah, it's good, it's good. So yeah, the deadline is just-

And it's more fun than it's the Mets. Way more fun, like come on man, we're back and forth. Yeah, and it's also like we've done this with the Braves, like enough already. Like it's more fun with the Mets. The Voodoo- It feels fresh, I hate the Mets more now, like it's good. Yeah, done this with the Braves. Like enough already. Like it's more fun with the Mets. The Voodoo. It feels fresh. I hate the Mets more now.

Like it's good. Yeah, the Voodoo Braves thing is over it seems like. They are fourth place man. The Miami Marlins are right in the Braves. Playing good ball? Let's go. Playing good ball. Yeah, playing good ball.

They're like 10 games under. I love looking at Lindor and his over 30 streak, which is currently going on. Batting average down to 240s. Struggling. Hate to see it. Hate to see it. Hate to see it. So, but yeah, I just, I keep, so the Durant thing,

the Quant thing, semi-concerning. Suarez just, I mean, playing at a ridiculous level. And I just don't know. Yeah, so while you're trading for him, like while he's on the heater of heaters. Sure. It's like, if you were trading for Suarez, even two weeks ago, you'd probably get him for less

than you're gonna get him for now. Just, and which is silly, cause teams don't think that way in baseball. They're smart enough to know about longterm and sample size and all that. But like sometimes when a guy's just on a fricking heater, like. And the other thing is that with him,

I mean, the Yankees need him. Oh yeah, he'll be in demand. Again, because of what we said before, he's really the right-handed power bat on the market. If Buxin's not there, again, people could be true, we're not talking about, but there are no other real right-handed power bats that are being talked about. Especially not the 36-some run.

I mean, he's like the elite power bat. Pretty good third base. I just wonder if they did get him. I wonder... How they would, like, shake it out from there? Like, Schwarber, I guess, goes back to left, and they do a rotating DH thing with, like, Schwarber and... Schwarber and Auhanio.

And Suarez and have both. I mean, who's a better third baseman? So, I tell you what, after seeing Kemp out there the last go, I'm like, boom, hold. Dude, it's like, give me an alley. I can't believe it. Love Otto Kemp, ball player. Ball player.

Tough at third. Tough. Get the second base. Tough, yeah. Look. He might be a better left fielder. He's played third base. How is that?

He might be a better left fielder than he is at third base. Is that possible? Yeah. Wow. He's played third base in his career. Yeah, because third base is way more premium. I know. It's a way tougher position. I'm just, you know, he is! He's spent third base of his career. Because third base is a way more premium position. Way tougher position. I'm just, you know, he is overmatched at third base.

Yes, he is. So I think it's, so I think Suarez, I think Suarez is, I guess it's probably boom. I think Suarez was really good at it, but I think he's slowing down now. Yeah, but it's wild. Shout out to Alec. Yeah.

He can even talk about that for real. Yeah, that is. Kind of wish he would have developed more as a hitter. to Alec, I can't even talk about that for real. Kind of wish he would have developed more as a hitter. Oh, no, I'm not giving him credit for it. I'm not saying like, yay Alec, boom, you're awesome. I'm just saying, I can't believe that we're actually having a conversation about him being a better fielder than anyone, you know?

I would probably trade bone to get Suarez. Oh, in a second. Like, I just, you know, cut ties. Now, to be fair, look, and again, it's the lineup and how you construct it and all that, but you'd rather have Alec bone bad than Kepler, right? I mean, you know, cut ties. Now to be fair, look, and again, it's the lineup and how you construct it and all that, but like you'd rather have Alec Bohm bad than Kepler, right? I mean, you would, but like it's not one to one, but I'm just saying, I agree with you,

I would trade Alec Bohm to get Suarez, but at the same time, I'm also like, Alec Bohm is better than some of these other options. Well, I'd rather, I would rather Bohm, Suarez, make the swap there and then get a real left fielder. But the, I was thinking about Kepler. I brought this up the other night. DFA.

Well, hold on. I can't stand him. Just hold on for one second. Just don't like him. When he almost hit the home run in like the ninth or whatever last night. Before he struck out, you mean? Well, yeah, early in the game, I guess.

Sorry, yeah. Oh, you're talking about the actual foul ball. Not a foul ball, yeah, yeah, deep foul. It wasn't that close. It was like, it was like, for a second I thought it was foul. A foot away from the wall. I agree, Sorry. Yeah. Oh, you talk about the flat the actual not a foul ball. Yeah. Yeah deep thought I was it wasn't that close. It was like it was like for a second I thought a foot away from the word I agree off the bed He was like a foot in front of the warning track when he caught it But it was to write to it was deep. I was happy didn't go out. I don't want him. I don't I

Had the same I and I felt better I was like I'll take the homer but like I don't have to tweet like yay Kepler I want to like go like I was like, I'll take the homer. But I don't want to have to tweet like Yate Kepler. I don't want to have to go like, I had the same thought, man. How messed up is that? I don't want him to fool them in the next seven days into thinking they have something there. He's going to start going off. Just go away. Just go away.

So yeah, that was something I was thinking about. I almost turned the game off at DM when he was up. That's how little faith I had in Kepler to come through in thinking about. I almost turned the game off at DM when he was up. I was like, that's how little faith I had in Kepler to come through in that spot. I almost turned it off. Instead I kept it on and watched him strike out. What a shock. I came this close to just, I was so tired too.

And at that point I'm annoyed that I stayed up. I was like, oh, it's 10, 30, 11 o'clock. I'm getting no sleep tonight. And I was like, I've got to watch Max Kepler in this game and I almost turned it off, but I didn't. You did. You stayed up for that extra minute. I know, I know. Like a true warrior. Ipler in this game, and I almost earned it all. But I didn't. You did. You stayed after that extra minute. I know.

I know. Like a true warrior. I really did. Yeah. You really grinded it out. I did. I know. I know.

Plus, can we be honest? We, as a duo, were grinding it out. Elliot, nonstop with the techs last night during the game. Yeah, what did you think about that? He was just. Did you like my responses? Yes.

They were very funny. There was none? Yes. I knew exactly what you were doing there. He was a barrage of tags. Did he have any, I think there was one ridiculous. He said the infielder should wear a helmet. That's what it was, and I sent a picture of John O'Lourdes. Of course, of course, which there's no way he had any idea

who that is, who that is. What do you think about like a, I wish I had the confidence or the belief I have no idea who that is. What do you think about like a, I wish I had the confidence or the belief that they could be as creative as the Braves got in 21, but it's almost like they should just do- Like the jock and Eddie Rosario and doing all those type of like lower radar- Saler, Duvall, I mean just taking-

Look, it's kind of what the Dodgers did last year. Just take a bunch of- Shots. Just take a, take a shot on Luis Robert. I mean- Well, the problem is I don't know that, all those guys we just talked about cost very little. In the, I mean, some of the guys just picked them up.

I think Soler, they picked them off the street. Soler they did trade for. But it wasn't like they traded. He was betting 186 for the Royals. He was like almost, it was like a trade. He was gonna be DFA'd and they trade. Like that type is it. And look, I don't think he should cost as much,

but it does, like all the stuff you're hearing out of the White Sox is that they've got packages for Robert and it's not enough. So it's like, hmm. And he's heating up right now. So I don't think you could just like, you know, I like what you're going, and it's, look, we keep bringing it up, it's for a reason.

Whether it's Steve Pearce, Eddie Rosario was the NLCS MVP for them, Jorge Soler, the World Series MVP, those were two guys who, to our point, all intents and purposes, picked them off the scrap heap. Tommy Edmond last year. Yeah, exactly, that's my point. Like, I do think that, and look,

I want them to make a big trade, I want them to make a real bet, but I think more often than not, the trades at the deadline that end up being big parts of World Series-winning teams are usually the lower-rate radar moves. They just are. They totally are. They totally are. Now, for as much as we talk about Steve Pierce in the 18th, we talk about the 18th Red Sox a lot.

A lot. Yeah. It's the Dabrowski thing. It makes sense. I also, for some reason, I really locked in on that thing. You loved them in the moment. So we were doing pods then. And I just remember doing pods with you and you coming in like waxing poetic about the way they hit and like they sprayed the ball over. It's just, this is the type of baseball I wanna watch.

Alex Cora's greatest manager I've ever seen. Alex Cora was unbelievable in 18. I have vivid memories of sitting in that old, where we recorded the Bryce Harbor Bod, that studio in the old at Foringer Market. And I have vivid memories of sitting in that old, where we recorded the Bryce Harbor Bod, that studio in the old, at Foringer Market, and that, I have vivid memories of just sitting in there with you and you just going off about how much you loved the 28.9 Red Sox.

This is like a real thing. Again, if I ever, if the Phillies ever made me so mad that I had to quit, which would be shocking at this point, given my career. You've gone through a lot with them. Yeah. I don't know what they could do at this point to push you away. They've tried really hard. I know gone through a lot with them. Yeah. I don't know what they could do at this point to push you away.

They've tried really hard. I know. I know. I know. Probably take a lot. The fanatic will probably have to kick Walker. I know, right? Dude, last night, by the way, we're outside watching the game.

Beautiful couple nights to sit outside and watch a game. Dude, so I was at the game on Tuesday, the Sanchez game. It was a perfect night. Even like the pregame, like there was like a gust of wind. It was perfect. The CBP Sunsets were great this week. Amazing. You thought a little pink hue in the sky?

Except for JT apparently. Right, too high. The highest guy. You can't see it. But the, so the, you wanna talk about a pretty insane decision. I would love to know whose decision it was to, hey, you know what we should do?

We should mic up a masked guy that doesn't talk. I know. And like, Ravage is like playing along like, oh, you're a voiceless guy. I know. It's like, we don't need that. I know. On the flip side, I do think, and this is a very cold take.

I think this is, sometimes we can all just agree on something, the Coldplay Kiss Cam fanatic thing, maybe the funniest thing the fanatic has ever done. Ever done. Like up there, I mean that was one of the great fanatic bits of all time. The timing of it, the next day was all perfect,

and the camera coming in the house, and the talking, it was just really good. like, the camera coming up, and the talking, and all, it was just really good. Like, he's the best. There's a reason why. He's the best. There's a reason why he's the best. Like, 30, 40, whatever, years in, 50 years in,

like, he's still evolving, you know, reinventing. Yeah. It's amazing. But they were interviewing the fanatic, and. Ha ha ha ha! It's just that sentence. I know. They were interviewing the fanatic.

Boom, joke. Yeah. And Walker, like, was the full And Walker was inches away from the screen. Eyes all wide. Fanatic. So that was special. There is nothing that, I mean, the kid's joy. Every time a fanatic comes on screen,

because Zoe has gotten the opportunity to go down to a game and meet the fanatic. And the fanatic threw popcorn for her because that was her favorite thing when she would watch the videos that you know do the popcorn and she still says this day the fanatic on the screen she goes he threw popcorn for me and it's like yeah you're right he did and then she'll go I love hugging him he's so soft I'm like this is the greatest thing that ever happened so keep this energy before kids I obviously love the Fnatic,

but I was like, we make a little too much of the Fnatic. And now you're like, we don't make enough, honestly. Then you have kids, you're like, I get it. Fnatic is the best thing about this team. He brings them in, man. He does. He brings them in, and then once they're there, they're in. He's the first player they love.

Yeah, it's true, you're right. It's such a good way to put it. So, shout out to the fanatic. Shout out to the fanatic. And his good friend, Tom Burgoyne. Yes, of course. Awesome stuff. All right, let's get to, by the way, real quick, because we'll get to the take back coming up in a minute,

but I do think we had 33 minutes in the pod, 32 minutes in the pod. It is pretty crazy that something that happened like once ever maybe, and only once since 1971 in the sport and we haven't even brought it up yet. Jack, we saw a game end on catchers interference. I know. And it was so great too because it goes to the replay and I was sitting there with Emily

and it's so clear there was catchers interference. And usually when the batter is that emphatic about it, like they know, they know if they hit a glove, they could feel it. But like you see you see the replay, and it's, like, clear, and I turned to Emily, I'm like, we're gonna win this game right now. I'm like, this is weird. And it felt weird in the moment, and as it was happening, I was like, this probably never happens.

I would have never guessed that it did not happen in the sports since 1971. Like, that's pretty wild, man. Thoughts on just a wild one on Monday? Well, so, what I found so baseball-y about it was you had a game end on a catcher's interference, first time in 71, in the same month, the Phillies got walked off in an inside the park home run

by a catcher. That's a great call. By a catcher. And then the next night, you stole home with another catcher's interference slash balk. The craziest part about that is that's what the Johnny Bench one in 1971 was. What happened was it was Manny Moda stealing home.

Johnny Bench jumps out too quickly. Now, Manny Moda was out in that case. He didn't score like our, I mean, he did, technically. But he wasn't, like, it looked like Harper wouldn't save anyway. But he jumps out, impedes the better, and the catcher's interference, game ends. So a different way of it ending,

like hitting the bat on the catcher's mitt may have never happened before an end of baseball game, which is crazy. You said Moda. The first person I thought it was Guillermo Moda, who was probably my go-to. There's a lot of go-to middle 2000s believers. Don't say your go-to.

You have 800,000, like basically 95% of the guys who pitch in the. Al Albuquerque, Girmamoto. Al Albuquerque's a great one. And like, LaTroy Hawkins. Like those are the. LaTroy was a. Pitched all over that place.

Yeah, beast. Octavio Dutel, may he rest in peace. RIP. There is like. He's a great one. God, I love. There's no, I love baseball now. I just wish I could like.

Oh, I know. Go back and like, like appreciate the, my. I wish baseball now. I just wish I could go back and appreciate my young Jack. Remember the Jabba Chamberlain moment? I thought Jabba Chamberlain was going to be the best reliever I'd ever seen in my life. I was like, this guy. Look at this. And then the Nats. And then it was over. And then Pedro Feliz took him deep. And then it was over. It was done. So actually, Gage Wood sort of reminds me

stuff wise of a young Jabba. I could see that. That's actually a really fascinating comp. Shorter, like he's shorter than Jabba. Jabba's much bigger. So I saw Gage, the game I was at was when he was there to sign the contract and stuff. I saw him, so we did the fantastic auction thing.

Shout out to what a great event we do every year. Yeah, Humblebrag by you. I'm just saying, you know what, I was saying we were on the field. Yes. Humble brag, yeah. First time I've ever done it. It was a really neat experience to watch. No big deal to me.

You're right, I'm so cool. So I was just like, yeah, I belong here. So Gage Wood, he's tiny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was actually really shocked at how, like, he's compact and he looks like stout, but he was, like, not big. I was really surprised by it, but he's intense. Well, you can almost see it Like he's one of those guys you just look at and you're like, alright buddy, you're intense

Are you now don't want across you? Is that serious? He was like that kind of vibe. It's just like Yes, you could feel it like you could feel it across the like field there Well, because Salisbury asked him at the I saw so good He's like how often do you think about the guy, one guy you hit or whatever, walked, and he's like, I think about it every day. Every day. And he said it so seriously.

He said it seriously. He's like, oh, every day. He's like, I think about it every day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So. Start foaming at the mouth. So I know it, again, it's why I know, I totally understand it's a long shot

for him to be in the bullpen. I don't know if it is. In September. But I need that lun be in the bullpen in September. But I need that lunatic in Philadelphia as soon as possible. Like I agree with you. I think the odds are under 50. If you had to lean one way, I think it's unlikely. But I think it's a lot closer to 50% than I would have.

Like I think he's got to, I think they drafted him with it absolutely being a thought in mind that it's a potentially thing they could have. So there's a couple things. He had the shoulder thing that he came back from, so that's a concern. But you hear it being talked about with Gage Wood, and while I agree, I think he has to develop some pitches and they want to develop him as a starter. He's also pretty dang developed. It's 97 with a white back curveball.

I think that could play in the bullpen. So I know the Phillies will never say right now. They'll never say right now. Ever. And you put an expectation on a kid that is so unfair in that situation. They're not gonna say right now, okay, he could help us in September.

Because what's the point? If he goes down to, let's say they start him bang right in clear water Blowing guys away and and whatever's happening at the deadline. We'll see I mean the deadline could totally change it of course But I find a deal where they can get two separate relievers that work I get to then they you know Totally it's a need thing as well, but I just think that they're it's not I don't think it's out of their own possibilities I agree. I don't know if's out of their realm of possibilities. I agree.

They will never say, well, we're thinking about it. They're gonna say, we're developing as a starter. Of course, and they should. And that's the right thing. And you don't want to put that pressure on that kid where now all of a sudden. I think, I think he wants that. I think he wants, I do, I just,

I can already envision him having a big moment in a playoff game. I can too, man. Look, again, he threw in the College World Series, he threw a 19 strikeout, no hitter, where his only reason there was no hitter was to hit a guy. No, it was Murray State. I don't care, dude. I mean, 19 strikeouts against a team that's

in the College World Series, I don't care if they're a surprise team or whatever, they're playing in the College World Series. It's not like it was against, no offense, Bloomsburg or something. Like, they're playing a team that's in the College World Series. Come on. And the star before, I think he struck out 12.

He has something. We'll see if he makes it or not, but the stones part of it, the toughness part of it, it feels like he's got that. Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, which is exciting. All right, let's take back it. All right, so nothing too crazy in here. More trade deadline stuff. Again, reminder, totally. Yeah, which is exciting. All right, let's take back it. All right, so nothing too crazy in here. More trade deadline stuff.

Again, reminder, Sunday. Perfect deadline. I might have three editions. Only three? I feel like you had five last time. It might have been like six. You're like, all right, here's my third basement edition. Now I have one that focuses on, now I've got one.

This one's just for fun, guys. This one I tried to see if I could all get players who played in the SEC to trade for. This time I just got one. This one's just for fun, guys. This one I tried to see if I could all get players who played in the SEC to trade for it. This time I just, yeah. I usually do a realistic one and then an unrealistic one. But I feel like last year for the first time you did like five or something. I feel like that was the first time ever

you had done like, maybe it was like four, but you definitely had like, normally you do two. I feel like you upped it last year. I'm just saying. Soroka's probably available. Uh-oh. I wanna bring it back.rocca's probably available. Uh-oh. I want to bring it back. My, my, my, my, my, Sirocca.

Too good. Too good of a bet. Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. Matthew Fisher signed. Big deal. Big deal. A million over slot, which is insane. Not a totally million.

That's our guy pressing, getting things done. It was like 250 was his slot, and he signed for 1.25. So they backed up the brinkstruck for him. And look, that's a massive pick. I mean. It's the highest number ever in the seventh round. Is it really? I mean, look, I believe I saw that they paid him

what the number is for the 68th overall pick, essentially. And look, to the point, that guy doesn't fall to the seventh round if people think he's gonna sign. If people knew going in the draft he was gonna sign, he would've gone way earlier. That's a huge win. And yes, the baseball draft is so freaking weird. But I'll take it.

In this case, it worked out. I would much rather have gotten him to the seventh round than the second round. The upside is just, it's not as high leverage of a pick, is I guess the point. So, do people, I feel like I've talked about, I feel like I've talked about this guy, and I get blank looks out of you,

and it goes over everyone's head. Do people understand Rob Refsnyder yet, or no? So, like, I get it. I don't think people do, no. No, I don't. I mean, they just saw him. They just saw him taste. He's going to be the next Duvall and the next Harrison Bader. I need Rob Refsnyder in a frickin Philly's uniform.

You love Rob Refsnyder. Rob Refsnyder rakes against lefties. Just get me an outfit that rakes against lefties. That's Steve Pierce. You want to look at Steve Pierce? It's Rob Refsnyder. You're right. You're we've been talking about this, that kind of move, like that's that type of move, without a doubt. Yeah. Bring me Reff. Reff, Durant, and Chad.

Man, is Adam Duvall still around? It's such a shame. I know. Like if I could pick one player who was never a filly to be a filly, it might be Adam Duvall. That's what many people say. Yeah, many people are like,

the one guy in all of this, not Trout, not Otani. What am I saying? You know, he should have been a Philly. It's a shame. Adam Duvall. Yeah. What do you think about trading for O'Neill Cruz? Is he available?

Yeah. OK, so interesting. I think they've. To play shortstop? No, to play center field. OK. Yeah, I think they've checked in on O'Neill Cruz. Really?

I mean, I'd be fascinated. What does he have, like 40 steals this year? He's been running a lot? So he's hitting 215. Is he? I mean, he's a huge man with a lot of- He's been benched multiple times for not running the first base.

So I have not been following the Pirates at all this year. I've been like checked out. We've been playing good ball, man. Well, he's hitting 219 now, sorry. Okay, but he has a lot of steals, right? So he has 33. See, I knew he was close to 40, some of that range. He has 123 strikeouts in 91 games.

Wow. Whoa. So he's like... He's got 16 home runs. He's kind of, I mean, he's been pretty much... He's a lefty, which sucks. Well, yeah, yeah. He just does, hold on.

And he's not a natural center fielder. I mean, he's been a short side of his whole life. Against lefties, you wanna hear? Oh, I can't, I'm sure he's been raking against lefties. He's hitting 128 with a 221 slugging percentage. Oh my God, that is hard to do. That's like, they traded for ROAS. Wow.

71 OPS. That is like ROAS numbers, yeah. One home run against lefties this year. I guess righties, it was credit. He's 15 home runs in 251 with an 834 OPS. Good player. So he's a platoon player is what you're saying. Yeah.

The upside is obviously insane. Yeah, the upside's insane, but I don't think the Pirates are just going to give him away. Yeah, but I don't think he's going to sign a second contract there. The Pirates are dumb, so maybe he could take advantage of that. I don't know. The Cruz You know, I don't know. I don't know. Like, the Cruz Bednar? I don't know.

Hey, that's the friggin' Rodolfo Castro package on steroids, essentially. Sure, sure, yeah. Falter went seven innings against Tigers. I love when you do the point. People can't see us right next to on camera, but Jack will do his little thing. He's like, by the way.

By the way. So, it's one of my favorite things. It just, cruises cost a lot. I probably wouldn't do it. I probably wouldn't. I love the upside, and you're right, it's a rare thing that, I think it'd be a smarter move for a team,

like the Royals or this or that, or one of these other teams that could take the risk. Like the Phillies need a guy who can come in right now and contribute and help the team. I like the upside play of it, but I need to make a now side play, if you know what I'm saying. Although, again, I still would take Luis Robert.

I love how- Oh, I know you would. You are the Luis. Honestly, I will say, I think it is- People get so mad about Luis Robert. I think it is probably better for you if the Phillies don't get Luis Robert. No, I know. No, I know say, I think it is probably better for you if the Phillies don't get Louis. No, I know. I know.

Like, cause it could go well, but it also could be like something that like ruins your life for two months. Yeah. You know what I mean? I know. Cause you kind of put yourself out there with that one. Well, again, I sit in 299 against lefties with this. I do love, I love the blind resonance.

So I am not a huge fan of them. Like it's funny to me, but the one you did was hilarious when you were down to numbers, you could learn would you like to say or it's like 91% or whatever and you're like glad to see 91% of you want Louise. I just love, cause the whole time you're setting it up to be able to do the, well glad to know, idiots.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You made fun of me, you all want him, sorry. sorry yeah that's what I do because the Lewis Robert thing drives me nuts I did I saw before I saw the follow-up tweet I knew exactly where it was all adding I saw the numbers I like this is beautiful thank you and to make my point clear on Lewis Robert I'm not saying that I want to like trade Aidan Miller for him again and he's like the guy you're a chain make able I want to make my point clear on Lewis Roberts. I'm not saying that I want to trade Aiden Miller for him, and he's the guy. You want to trade Mick Abel. I want to trade Mick Abel, and he's not even my first option.

My first option is Kwon and Duran, and if Buxom's available. I'm just saying that the guy's in the worst position, on the worst team in baseball, and I refuse to believe that if he gets in front of that crowd and he can still hit like eighth, if you want to hit him eighth, still play go glove center field, 25 plus to on bases. And he's heating up with the plate. He's heating up at the plate right at the right time.

So I do think the change of scenery thing is a great point. Like the White Sox are an all time bad organization. Like obviously last year, literally wins losses wise. But I mean, how many stories have we heard about the way they go about their business, the way they treat their players, and the way the infrastructure is, and all that type of stuff.

And Ryan Serp couldn't care less about that franchise and all that stuff. Like, I do think there is something compelling about the idea of getting a guy away from a horrible, horrible situation and putting him in a much better situation and that alone being something that could change your guys. But like, I believe in that.

Like athletes are humans, Jack. No, people aren't talking about it. So yeah, like I am not giving up anything like to your point. I'm not giving up one of our big four guys, the ones we always talk about, like even Crawford. I don't, I wouldn't love to give up Robert, but you could maybe talk me into that. But if you can get him for a package that is able

and some interesting upside guys or whatever, then you're talking about language. So, and here's a comp for people out there. Because again, now I feel like I have to be the Luis Robert guy. Now you're getting serious about it, yeah. Yeah. So this guy, before he got picked up in a trade deadline,

was playing for a dead franchise. And this is at this point, the Royals. He was hitting 192 with a 658 OPS and 13 home runs. Or yeah, 13 home runs. He gets to a winning team, winning culture, winning situation, and he ends the year hitting 269 with an 882 OPS and winning World Series MVP. You know who that is?

Carlos Beltran. Jorge Soler. Ah, that was close. Here you go. Soler was in a horrible spot. Carlos Beltran never won a World Series in a movie. He might have in Houston. I was just trying to think of someone who was a royal.

Beltran was on the O4. Might have struggled with the Royals then. I don't think he ever struggled with the Royals. I was just trying to think of a royal. No, Beltran was on the O4 Astros, not the O5 Astros. I don't think so. So he didn't win one. Oh, okay.

So they never won one. Yeah, you're right. The Astros didn't win one. No, they didn't. No, no, no, no, no, no. I was thinking, yeah, you're right. He didn't win with the Astros. Did Beltran ever win one?

Beltran won with the- He's such a good playoff player. Did he win with the Astros? That's what I was asking. No, the 17 Astros. That's what he meant. I was talking about the 17, not the 04 Astros. No, I was talking about the 17 Astros.

04 Beltran in the postseason was a problem. Well, what a stud. Anyway, Royal Salera is a great call. I think Beltran- People forget he was a royal at all. I know. Yeah. There's a lot of like. Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran.

But that's where to give you the era of baseball. I was thinking of when you started that, those are the two guys who were royals who went on to success. Nice. Could have been talking about Mike Sweeney when he came here. Could have been. That was a. Eleven?

A legendary Phillies career. Mike Sweeney, yeah. That's back when the waiver deadline happened. Oh, God. I loved Mike Sweeney. Don't you miss the waiver deadline? What did that guy write? Of course I do. Are you kidding me? waiver deadline happened. God, I love that scene.

Don't you miss the waiver deadline? What did that guy write? Of course I do. Are you kidding me? It's so annoying that the rosters are essentially locked after this. It's like, OK, cool. No more trades.

No more like waivers moves. That's cool. Verlander on the waiver deadline. Yeah. That's when real GMs were built. Smart moves are made from July 31 to September 1. Kibs today. We're signing here. K. Kids today don't remember.

They don't even know. You could add to your playoff roster through trade till August 31. That wasn't a thing. You didn't know that. They don't remember loogies. They don't remember. It's a shame.

That's why we're here. We've got to remind them. They don't remember 18 innings. That's why they've got to buy your book, RingTheBellBook.com, the Ring The Bell Book, of course. Check it out, and you can learn about some of your freaking history of your team. That's right.

Deep, deep, deep history of your team. That's right. Yeah, yeah. So, I don't know. Oh, I thought they knew where we were sitting, like 339. I saw your tweet again. I love when I catch these tweets and then,

that was freaking numbers though. Was it 33 game sample size? I love a good 33 game sample size. And it's still how I do it. I really like that. I love, I love, in the last 19 games. So, so a little inside the brain. Please. As to why I specifically. As they always say, dangerous place to be, but we'll go there.

Specifically chose the last 33 games. It's because. You're a big Larry Bird fan, is that what it was? Because 33 games ago, he had like a four hit game, and the game before that, he had a four-hit game. And the game before that, he won 0 for 5. Yeah. I've done this too.

I know. I know. Oh, let me look back. Oh, OK. This is good, bad. Oh, yeah. Cut it right there. It's good.

Oh, 34 games. That's what it was. Great. Oh, it's a 12-game sample size. Yeah, I love it. 339 average, 504 slug, 926 OPS, three homers, 22 RBI. I'll see the 504 slug. Surprising.

Yeah. A lot of triples in there, a lot of the couple of home runs. Yeah, when we had talked about Norian, even at Barbara, I didn't talk about it. I wouldn't have expected at this point him to be a 504 slugging type guy. Yeah. That's exciting.

So Aidan's really struggling in redding. It is draining my soul. Oh, I know. We know. I need him to heat up. And I need him to not get traded, but he's mean like get traded. Well, man, it's probably stressful right now.

You're those kids. I know. It's like you have no control over it. And all of a sudden, you just be like a freaking pirate or something. It's like, well, that's great. I went from being a Philly to a pirate. Now, you could get to the big leagues quicker.

Yeah, I don't think it's gonna get done. But yeah, so the Aiden thing is killing my soul. Dude, Bryce looks great. Oh, great, thank you for bringing that up. We shouldn't have got here saying it. Bryce is like super locked in, and I, 350 last night, the 500, back on, back on. 500 watch is back. Back, maybe, I'm feeling good again.

He tried to do a little bit too much in the eighth, or whatever. But you know what? But he's like, and it's funny, because every time we get into one of these conversations because of whatever injuries had or whatever, and it keeps happening, but we get into the like, is this it? This is the more never going to see that guy again.

And then it's just back and it shows us that guy. It's like a switch flips and then all of a sudden he's the best player. Stealing home and he's stealing home. Just the balls to do that. I know. Well, cause like I brought up with, I brought him talking about how he's the best player

in baseball or whatever with Ike and Spike. And they were like, oh, it's obviously about the contract. And I was like, What? I was like, it's not about the contract. At no point did I think it was about the contract. It wasn't even in the realm. Exactly, it wasn't even in the back of my mind.

I was like, he brought it up right when he had a good game, not because he wants to get paid, because I think he still wants to hype himself up. Yes, we talked about it. I really believe that that, especially that first one, was because he needed to get himself hyped up. He needed to remind himself who he was and what he's doing, and it's working.

Like, keep doing it. Yeah, he looks great. So then, thank God. I mean, changes everything. While the starting pitching is faltering, at least Bryce getting back to being Bryce. Well, it's like we talked about, even if the starting pitching weren't faltering,

we said it before, we'll say it again, like, they can't win the World Series out of Bryce Harbor. Like, they just can't. Like, they are not a good enough, they can make trades, like, look, anything can happen in baseball, Bryce has to be good for them to win. It just does, it just is what it is.

And did the Phillies officially win the Curtis Meade for Chris Sanchez? Yeah, how about that? Would you like a little, you know, to take some of the things you said back over time? Because it took you a while to get there. I mean, you were a little morose about losing Curtis Meade for a while there.

I was like, oh my God, I can't believe we lost Curtis Meade. I know, I know. It worked out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I was also, I also was, I liked Falter more than Sanchez. Yeah, no, we had some bad Sanchez takes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Very happy. Not me, not me, I always liked him. You had some bad days. You're right down the middle. Right down the middle. But I'm very happy for Chris Sanchez. Me too. He seems yeah, yeah. Very happy. Not me. I was like, you had some bad things. You're right down the middle. Right down the middle. But I'm very happy for Chris Sanchez. Me too. He seems like the man.

He does. And I'm happy he signed the contract. He did. He's my favorite, Billy, because of that. Well, the thing about it, I screwed there would be if he was going to a free agency. That's what I mean. His contract is the one thing that can pull all this together.

They actually got one like that. I know. I know. And I'm a two year boy, he does seem like a good dude. He clearly works hard. Like to get from where he was, even just two years ago, in like 2023, or is that 2023? Well, 23 started the game down in-

In San Diego, right? No, 22 I'm thinking of. In 22, when he played against San Diego and came in in relief in that game. And then like 23, and really to get to what he's been the last two years. I mean that takes a lot of work, you know, it's not just you know Oh, wow, it happened. It's cuz he worked to make it happen and he worked really hard and he deserves like He started he's turning to an ace Yeah

He's an ace He's one of the five best pitchers in baseball seven best pitchers in baseball like whatever you want to say like he's on that list Like he's a Cy Young cont contender He's freaking awesome, man That's what is change it might be the best pitch in baseball like the best single pitch in baseball so things At least change of eyes. It's currently it's definitely a change up. That's I mean a question. It might be a ball. Yeah. Yeah, you're right So I just don't really count these things. He's just so I think scuba has gotten to the point when no one even really knows who He is but they're just like, he's amazing. Yeah, he's the best.

I mean, everyone knows Skeens. Yeah. But Scooball still feels like no one talks about how good he is. Which is funny, because he really is fun to watch. He has a big lefty, throws hard. He's unbelievable. Like, it's like, that's my favorite type of picture to watch. The big over-pal, like the, you know, he's not Randy Johnson.

But those type of pictures, those are freaking awesome. You know who else isn't Randy Johnson? Seth Johnson. That's, yeah, it's not Randy Johnson, but like those type of pitchers, those are freaking awesome. You know who else isn't Randy Johnson? Seth Johnson. That's, it's not, that was a tough night. Well, especially cause like, you know, of all the things last night, like you don't really blame the bullpen. The bullpen was pretty solid.

I mean, I know Luzardo gave up the run, but it was the inherited runner there. Like Strong was good, Kirkering was good. Like they've been getting out. So the bullpen, like it's not good enough for the playoffs, we know that, but I do think to the, let's give a little credit around, I think these, certainly Kirk Green and Strom

have rounded it for them, they deserve a lot of credit. And I just think like Tanner Banks, like I know he's taking some beatings on this pod, but... Good? Yeah, you know what? He's got some stones too, like he'll step into a spot like he did last night, and that was the spot, and he got out of it.

So I, it's nice to see those guys battle. And you need to learn if you can trust the Daniel Roberts. You need to learn to trust the Seth Johnson. A Max Lazar. A Max Lazar. Now I think the, and Robert, tough night for him last night. That was a bad spot, I had to pull him after that. I couldn't even get through the innings.

But Lazar, like a couple nice guys. Yeah, I'm a Lazar man. Some stones out so. But, but, Lazar, like, a couple, couple nice guys, you know? I'm a Lazar-man. Some stones out there. Yeah, goes up to 97. Yeah. Yeah. Good stuff.

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