High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Why?

Episode Date: April 13, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies 4-8 start. Presented by Miller Lite. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! Oh, it is. Another edition of the High Hopes Podcast presented by Miller Lite. Shout out to Miller Lite. Miller Lite's for Phil's losses.

Yes, buddy. That might have to be what we do this year. We had such success with the Miller Lite's for Phil's wins last year, getting the spreading awareness of Miller Lite and how great it is. And this year, not so many wins to talk about so far. How you doing, pal? Everything's fine, right? Everything is fine.

I genuinely believe that they're going to turn this around. They lost 2-3 to the Marlins and that was annoying. By the way, shout out to this podcast for telling everyone that Larissa Rise was going to be our least favorite player moving forward. Like, did we not nail that one? I mean, could we have nailed

that one more? At least he didn't hit for the cycle or anything. At least he didn't do that. But yeah, it's just like, you know, they played decent baseball. There were some frustrating things they did. There's still those dumb little mistakes that they're making. Overall, I think they're close to, like, kind of getting everything right. Like, at the beginning of the season, I feel like they got blitzed.

Like, they went down to Texas and it was like, oh, the Rangers, like, really cared this year. Yeah. And then they went to New York, and the Yankees are a good team. My biggest fear, though, is that, like, you know, I thought they played better, but now it's like it was better to beat the Reds and Marlins, who are not the— To just and not even beat the Marlins. They're not the benchmark.

They're not the benchmark. And yesterday was a coin flip. The game they lost're not the benchmark and and yesterday was a coin flip the uh the game they lost eight three i believe was a coin flip you know we don't round first base and thinking we can go to second base for what reason i don't know yeah um but it's just like we we've said it a lot this year but with the harper injury the hoskins injury ranger painter um and and where they are with that, they can't afford to have the bad base running. They can't afford pitchers not coming in and doing their job. They can't afford, like, Zach Wheeler is their first starter to go into the sixth inning

this year. Unbelievable. That is astounding. It's terrible. I mean, think about it this way. Like, definitively, definitively, through two turns and plus a little through the rotation, Matt Strom has easily been the best starter. The guy who was not supposed to be in the starting rotation has easily been their best starter.

And someone who's not going to be in the rotation. Yeah, he's going to go back to the pad. When Ranger's back, Matt Strom is not going to be in the rotation. Yeah, Rob Thompson said it on the morning show yesterday. And I know that's viewed as like, well, how could they do that? It's like, well, look at his stuff. I mean, do you think Bailey Falter can go to the bullpen and be a situational lefty?

There's no other option. Yes, that's what it is. And I do think Strom to the bullpen is really going to help at this point. It's massive. I mean, look at the game yesterday. I mean... Yeah, exactly. Rather than having to put in... So Rob Thompson said after the game, his big fear was that

they got Alvarado hot in the fifth, and they don't want to have him sit down and come out and and sit for a couple innings and then get hot again so that's why he faced that portion of the lineup rather than waiting till the eighth to face yeah my issue is more bringing him back out again right how many i mean that is a jack fritz special seriously like how many years of this pod anyone who's listened to this pod for a long time knows that Jack has long had the belief and been proven right over and over and over again that it's hard for these guys to come into a big spot get big out and then go sit on the bench and then come back out like you just don't have the same juice and we and you know we've seen it over and over and over again I let you can even broaden it out I mean let's. I mean, he had a magic touch last year until Game 6 of the World Series.

Topper has been horrendous to start. I mean, and again, it's not all on him. Players got to make plays. But like last year where it felt like every decision he made until Game 6 of the World Series would go the right way, it feels like every decision he's making is going the wrong way. And the tough part is that I do feel like they're mostly rooted in logic, you know, for the most part. I think they're there. Players do have to make plays.

But at the same time, you have to put them in positions to make plays. Like for me yesterday, what annoyed me was that I think they managed fearful of a rise. And he batted second that inning, and they said, okay, so he'll get Solaire, and then we want a lefty versus a rise. got it second that inning, and they said, okay, so he'll get Solaire, and then we want a lefty versus a rise. And in my, how I believe, is like, you got to get out number one.

And Sir Anthony gives you the best chance to get out number one there. I mean, Solaire's crushed lefty's rise career. And, well, crushes, but he's still 240. But, like, better, you know, power numbers, slug, and all that stuff. So what gives you the best chance to get out number one? Yep. Is obviously Sir Anthony versus Jorge Soler. Especially in a one-run baseball game.

In a one-run baseball game. We're not talking about having a cushion here. No. And I know Sir Anthony's been up and down. I thought he actually looked better yesterday. I was finally like, good to see you, Sir Anthony. Welcome to the season. But, you know, you've got to have a trust in one of your back-end options there. And I thought that was annoying.

And then if you're going to bring Soto back out and he strikes a dude out, leave him in there. Like, what are we doing going to Kimball there? Like, Soto thought that was annoying. And then if you're going to bring Soto back out, and he strikes a dude out, leave him in there. What were you doing going to Kimbrel there? Soto looked awesome. They were swinging and missing by a foot on some of those ladders. I just don't get the decision making, and that's not even talking

about the lineup stuff he's been doing. You score 15 runs with Bryson Satt at the top of the lineup, and then you move him to 8th the next night? I know you're facing a lefty, but we talked about it, but the commitment to the righty-lefty thing and all this stuff, it just...

He has not had a feel. And I know that, again, players have let him down, but it feels like the touch he had last year, it's going the complete opposite way. Well, and the Boehm thing is driving me more into this. Why was he batting seventh? What about Josh Harrison?

What is that, Jack? What is that? And JT should not be batting in front of Boehm. Nick Cassiano should not. And Cassiano, at least you can argue he's played well, but JT's batting 180 or whatever. Why is he in the five hole instead of Boehm? None of it makes sense.

Well, I would flip Boehm and JT today. Me too. I would have done it the other night. At this point, like, JT has come up in so many spots where it's like, this is a chance to break through and get some RBIs, and it's like. One time, he had the one homer against the Reds, and that's it. So, you know, and, like, it feels like we go through this with JT, where he just gets, like, unclutched for a month's stretch.

And then he was back. He was the star. Remember last year, the start of the season, going to that Toronto series. He made those dumb comments. We're all crushing him. And then from that point on, he was awesome. Best player in baseball. But he sucked until then.

He sucked. Yeah. So, like, the lineup thing has been annoying, you know. And I think that's Scott continuing to prove that he can hit and hit majorly pitching you might win a batting title someday that dude like he's that good a hitter as long as i mean that hit and i know that the rounding was rounding first base was a real dumb rookie mistake from him but getting a hit in that spot against lazardo i mean what more do you need

to see from this game i need the big hit yesterday yesterday, too. Yeah, I mean, it's just consistent. I mean, as long as Luis Uribe is not in the NL, he has a chance. Yeah. It could be for a batting title. Yeah, Luis Uribe is going to bat over 500 this year. It's just like, it's refreshing to see, in a way. I love him. A guy just goes and hits.

Like, if we didn't have to play against him, I'd love to get him. Well, we don't have to play against him as much this year. That's true. So that's a big step forward. But yeah, like Stott, I think he's continuing to prove that he should be the top of the lineup. And I just like, I like Troy Turner. I think he's been great. I think he's been pretty good so far.

I need the power to start coming because I keep betting his home runs. And the impact. He's been really good, about like 320 or whatever. The steals, all that stuff. The defense has been great, but it feels like the big spots he's been in, he's been really good about like 320 whatever you know the steals all that stuff the defense i mean great but it feels like the big spots he's been in he's yet to come through well and and what what annoys me with him at the leadoff spot is this is like he swings first pitch all the time let's just let the game breathe a little and now he's in the more of the middle line but schwarber's doing it all year too yeah well like schwarber has just been

going up there and like remember going into the season schwarber's like doing it all year, too. Yeah, wow. Schwarber's just been going up there. Remember going into the season, Schwarber's like, oh, shift. I'm gonna play for the shift. I'm gonna get some hits. I'm gonna put the ball in play. He's swinging for a home run every single pitch he sees. It's unbelievable. Yeah, well, that's kind of the Kyle Schwarber experience. I know!

But like, you know, it's a little frustrating when he's not popping them out all the time. And it's not June yet. He's a slow starter. Trust me. We know. He's a slow starter. So, yeah, the lineup stuff's annoying.

I think there's some things that, like, just see if it works. It's early in the season. Just try something. Maybe it gets on a little bit of a roll here and you can, you know. The most interesting part about the offense right now is that they get a ton of hits. I think they have the highest batting average in the NL right now. Unbelievable. But, again, yesterday, two of 12 runners in scoring.

Yeah, the first inning, first and third, no outs, zero runs. That happens way too often with this team. And 15-3 is going to make it lopsided here for a little bit. We needed it to even out the 16-3 in Texas for a run differential thing. We're still negative, obviously, but that was a big one. But again, the idea that you've been struggling offensively and then you go out and put up a 15 spot with the lineup,

how do you change it the next day? At a certain point, find a lineup that works and stick with it. I understand, and I'm down to try stuff but again the idea that bryson stott leads off you put up a 15 spot i know your face is tough left he's eight hole in the lineup like i just that's bad managing to me that's bad management well you know that i mean not every game they're gonna score 15 i mean like of course not i expected them to get shut out after the 15 spot but not because they changed the freaking lineup afterwards. Yeah, I mean, it comes down to, obviously, what they value the most is... Matchups and righty lefty.

Matchups and then... It is what it is. And also, like, how guys' swing paths line up with whatever pitchers. Great. That's exactly what I want to value in this spot. But, like... Yeah, that's awesome. To me... You know, it's a good swing path matchup for us.

Let's make sure we move him up in the lineup. To me, it's overthinking and a little bit overthinking. I don't want to, you know, break any news here. Smells a little bit like overthinking. How are they in? It's okay. They could just, again, and this is, you know, I feel like we're back in like Gabe discussions,

but like no one liked Gabe. Where it's just like. It is Gabe-y. You're right. Let it go. Just roll out a lineup. See what happens. Just roll out a lineup. Believe it or not, they've played baseball for a long time without any of this.

How about two days in a row, give me the same lineup? Does that fit? Maybe the day after you score 15 runs. I don't know. Just see if it works. Also, on Rob Thompson, because he's no longer a to know. Just see if it works. Also, like, on Rob Thompson because he's no longer a topper. Oh, I like this.

Should we go back to Tomper or are you just so devastated by that loss that you took? It wasn't a loss. I'm still right about it. But, no, the thing with Rob Thompson now, and he said yesterday, you know, it's the 10th inning

and a runner on second base, it's Christian Pache up, or whatever. I couldn't believe it. Like, what are you doing? How are you not punting him there? Like, what are you doing there? Well, then he said after the game, he said after the game, well, I want to go— We want to win the game. We want to go for the win there.

What are you talking about, dude? It's Christian Pache. Like, freaking bunt. That was the most, like, that might have been the most— You've long been a small ball guy. You know me always Seriously though you got a guy who can't hit He can't hit

That was the most obvious Bun him over situation I remember In a regular season game in a while Where they didn't do it It's so obvious And the idea of We're going for the win there How about we tie it up first

Dude you're four and seven. All right. Like tie the game. Live to play another day. Right. Right. And I know, I know they were down. You know how you can't win if you don't tie the game first.

It's just a fact. I know you're down bullpen pitchers. Like, I mean, they're down. Like Kimbrel, they probably don't want to use there, but they had to. I actually don't know. Did he have to? Because he could have left Soto in. Could have left Soto in.

I feel very confident that Soto in that spot could have done a better job. Now everyone's in on Soto. We've never left, for what it's worth. But he looked nasty, right? I mean, he did. Like, he looked awesome. It's like, it's just frustrating. It's frustrating.

This team should not be 4-8 right now, and they're 4-8. Well, and the thing that's tough right now is one feels a lot like the beginning of last year it does where it feels eerily similar you know what they lost yesterday and i was like this feels right i know like this well it's even the same complaint like i hate to do it but like the gerardi stuff of course the lineups changing every day the weird bullpen usage like it's all the same stuff it It's all Girardi-ish. Although Girardi... Girardi's a dick about it. That makes it a little less, you know. Well, Girardi

and like he would never use relievers for multiple innings. And my thing right now is like, Rob, I appreciate the idea in a way here, but at the same time, it is April. Like, it is the second we really need to push Alvarado because he's the one guy

that we totally trust right now? But so far early in the season, they have found – they've continued to find ways to lose games rather than find ways to win games. And that's the separation of a good team versus a bad team because baseball, a lot of games come down to, most games are coin flips. They're very rare to see the 15 to 15. Yeah, what's the saying?

You're going to win a quarter of your games, you're going to lose a quarter of your games. Sorry, you're going to win a third of your games, you're going to lose a third of your games. It's what you do in the other third that makes a good team a great team. Right. And right now, it's every facet of the team. Besides, actually, it's funny. The defense has been fine. Defense has been fine.

Even Cassidy should have caught the ball the other day. Yeah, but other than that, and Marsh missing that one in New York. A couple moments, but comparatively, you're right. The defense has not been an issue. By the way, another Cassidy on his assist yesterday. Just saying. Just saying. We signed him for his defense and his on-base percentage, and it's good to see they're finally getting their money's yesterday. Just saying. Just saying. We signed him for his defense

and his on-base percentage, and it's good to see they're finally getting their money's worth. Yeah, that's exactly right. No, but every facet has been just not there early in the season, whether it's one guy in the bullpens who feels like they let them down

every single night. Starters not going deep into games. Manager just not having a feel yet for the team. Offense not scoring at the runners. Scoring position, getting runners on base, this, that, whatever. And then the dumb baseball. That's five things that they're trying to overcome at one time.

And again, to the point you made before that we made last time, that five things you're trying to overcome when you can't have any of those type of things happening, when you're without Harper, when you're out with Reese Hoskins, you're without Hall. You've got to be playing tight, smart baseball to make up for those losses. Now, what is still giving me hope, obviously because they're 4-8

and it's April, is that I feel like a lot of it's correctable. I just continue to believe that the guys down the bullpen are talented enough to figure it out. I don't believe that in Craig Campbell. Which we never did. But, I will say, it was back to 96 yesterday and it was fine.

Besides the game-winning hit. It was totally good. I think that as Boehm hopefully gets higher to the top of the lineup, I think the runners will get better. But they've never been that good at it. There was times last year where it was like this is the same kind of conversation that's happening

where they weren't good. But we also know that it seems like MP3 is on its way back. Thank God. Thank God. Sooner than – I mean, Rob Thompson on the morning show yesterday said he actually has a date. He said he wasn't going to tell us, but he has an actual date. Like to know in your mind if you're Rob Thompson, the day that Bryce Harper will be back, that means it ain't that far away.

He's not predicting a month out from now. Harper's going to be back way sooner than anyone ever expected. And I think so. And I agree with you. And before I finish my last point, quick on the Bryce. First base. Well, first base, but also I know there's this fear

of rushing him back. Yeah, it's weird. First off, he's agent Scott Boris. Yeah, there's no chance Boris is, like, letting... Absolutely. And second off, like, he has to be cleared by doctors. Yeah. So it's not like they can hold him and say,

you have to pass him or you're... He's either cleared or he's not, right? He's cleared. He is either cleared to play baseball or he's not. Cleared to slide. And guess what? He's not going to play baseball until the doctors say, you're cleared to play in a major's not and guess what he's not gonna play baseball until the doctors say you're cleared to play in a major league game but guess what if the doctors say

he's cleared that means he's cleared that means he can play i'm so with you i like it's no offense anyone out there saying it i think it's one of the dumber narratives like and i know there's this fear of like what happened with carson but carson was trying to force his way back in the field. Yes, and it's a totally different thing. Carson had a torn ACL or broken back the one year, torn ACL the year before, and this is a quarterback playing a contact sport. Yeah, especially because he had you and everyone else trying to run him out of town.

See, at that point, I loved Carson. I know. It's very funny how you talk about him now. See, some of us don't forget. He's the worst. He stunk. He lost it. We just disrespect the guy that... I can't believe you're still trying to defend Carson. Help bring the team a Super Bowl.

Yeah. Thank God for Nick Foles. That's all I'll say. Help bring the team... Because if Carson played in that game, they probably would have lost. Well, you don't know that. You know why? Dude, small time. Not a big time player. Not at that point. Not like Nick Foles.

Oh, yeah. He started 16 games so many times in his career. Prime time. He doesn't need to start 16. Just when it matters most. Put him out there and you're going to win. But with Bryce, you know, I'm just not worried. When he's cleared, the doctors have to clear him.

They can't just like say, ah, your elbow's not big. You know, it could explode. Get back out there. Your elbow could explode if you slide, but you know what? Go for it. Yeah, rub some dirt on it. So Bryce is on his way back, and we'll get into the first thing, I'm sure, a little bit later. But Bryce should help with the scoring position thing.

The down-base running, I just think that this can't possibly. If it happens all year, I mean, no set of records. Yeah, just quit. Just fold the franchise. So I'm not not there the starting thing is interesting to me like of all the of all the pieces right i think the lineup can figure it out i think base runs gonna figure it out i think the bullpen's talented enough to figure it out rob thompson like i still trust them let's trust rob thompson i think he's made some frustrating moves i think he's smart i think he has a good pulse down there and I think when he gets a better feel for this team, I think they'll go on a bit of a run.

Look, this is his first season, first spring training as a manager, first beginning of a season as a manager. I'll give him a chance to figure it out. But the starting staff thing, you know, Nola's worrying me. I'm not slamming down the panic button, but the slowest start to his career. We know he has the ability to get on runs here and go on a run for a month where it's like five quality starts, and he'll do that. And I still think that's in there.

Beginning of the season has been frustrating. Wheeler, yesterday was a positive step forward. You know, like he was 96th in the sixth, and I think that's important. But he still hasn't looked as, like... Dominant. There's Zach Wheeler. He does not look like Zach Wheeler yet. And then, you know, we'll see with Ranger.

He had a three-walk inning yesterday. Yes, first time since, like, 20... 2021, I want to say something like that. It was about a year and a half or a little before that. Ranger's obviously on his way back. Hopefully that he's fine, and hopefully the rubber arm thing comes back, and he's back to... the rubber arm thing comes back.

I think Ranger with the pitch clock is just going to be awesome. He's just going to get the ball, go, strike, bang, bang, bang. Ready to go. He's going to get the ball and be staring at him like, you ready, batter? Let's go. I don't know if you can bet on this, but if I could bet length of games when Ranger's pitching, I feel like he's going to mix in an hour and 45-er.

Bro, the pitch clock is a revelation. It is unbelievable how fast these games are. I mean, that was an extra inning game last night. It was over in like two and a half hours or whatever it was. I do. The 18-run game was two hours and 29 minutes. Yeah, I wonder if in the building it's going a little fast. I think at home it's great.

I wonder if in the building it's like, well, hold on. Well, yeah, I think you're going to get a hot dog or something you get back at your seat. It's like, wow, I missed an inning. Especially when there's like 58,000 hot dogs. Well, that's a different, yeah. A dollar dog night, you're just screwed. You're just not going to get them.

No, and that's, like, I'm not, look, it is what it is. I think people will adjust. I've said this before. My only concern is once we get to the playoffs, I think then where you want that drama, you want those moments of stepping off and the bat and the battle and the whole thing then i think we might be like

oh maybe go back to what we did before but for the so far of the regular season i'm 100 and i know it's like really tough to tell guys like we're doing this all year and then we're going to take it away in the postseason they do that in other other sports. Yeah, well, but not with the shot clock. You know, the shot clock doesn't go away. Oh, yeah, I was thinking like overtime rules change. No, I know. I mean, the ghost runner on second, even though Scott Franski's right, it should be a zombie runner.

I agree. It's absolutely. I've always thought that. I thought that was the correct thing. The thing I don't get about that is that the whole point of that was to speed up the game. Like, kind of good there now. Probably don't need it anymore.

Well, but it goes away in the postseason. Yes. It does. Exactly. So I wonder if they'd consider getting rid of the pitch clock in the postseason. I think, look, I don't think they'll do it this year, but I think if there's... A disaster. Yeah.

A lot of complaints or, you know, it's like, wow, that was not right. That doesn't feel good. The funniest part about the pace of play conversation or whatever is that no one cares when the playoffs start. Nope. Like there wasn't one conversation last year about baseball's boring. That game really should have been real quick. Yeah, I wish that game was over faster. No.

We loved it. Give me more. I can't believe the game's over. I want another one. Exactly. I agree. So it's just that's the funniest thing with these old like, you know, baseball's dead, baseball's boring. It's like, well, in the postseason, no one cares about the pace's over. I want another one. That's the funniest thing with these baseballs. Baseball's dead. Baseball's boring. It's like, well, in the postseason

no one cares about the base of play. They just want to see more. But Ranger comes back. Hopefully that helps. Strom goes back to the bullpen. I think that helps Strom. Falter, fine. And then Tom Walker,

again, his last start was so just not what I thought we were getting. So I'm not going to, like, freak out. But, like, you know, if Wheeler and Nola don't give you the length that they can right now, that's worrisome. And those are the two guys that we headed into the year saying they pitched a ton of innings last year. Are they going to be able to bounce back and prove they can do it again? And it's, you know, through three turns through the rotation, like only wheelers pitch into the sixth, thus creating a ton of taxing on your bullpen, which hurts you there.

So I think the four other aspects that are killing them right now, we'll figure it out. The starting staff's the one where I'm like, hmm, might need some help there. Yeah. Well, and look, look they might they certainly might and i think it's a really fair fair thing to bring up especially again with it with a bullpen that you know you're gonna tax these guys early you're gonna struggle late they're gonna need help there late if they if they use these guys as much they've had to use them early and local wheeler know that, I think that's not just a concern

in terms of the effect on the bullpen, but I think it's a valid concern, again, like we talked about coming off the year last year. It's something that we were worried about coming in. It's why you talked about a six-man rotation. It's that this is a concern. These guys pitch way deeper into the season than they normally do. And look, without Wheeler and Nola being good at the top,

this team's screwed. They need those two guys to carry the staff. Yeah, and I guess the one thing that could help a lot is obviously whenever Andrew Painter gets back. Obviously. Like, if he can just, and I know there's this idea that, oh, they're just going to sit him for the year. I don't think so.

Why would they? If he can pitch again, he's going to pitch again. So, he started throwing last week. And let's say we get into july and we get into around the trade deadline time or even after and they want to do what they did last year with let's let's maybe you know come up with an injury for ranger or an injury for wheeler injury for nola um you know andrew painter's presence should only help like facilitate that to where it's not you're falling off the cliff. Now, you've got to start winning ballgames before you can start worrying about,

like, hey, let's shut our starters down, you know, in the middle of a division slash, you know, wildcard chase. It's an important component. Yeah. Believe it or not, it's important to win games. Yes. And I think Painter's emergence back into that should only help. Yeah.

Totally, totally agree. And obviously, if we see Painter this year, that this year that would be i think we will too yeah um i think again we need to make sure his arm's okay and all that but all right let's get to the first base thing did you see that one coming uh no not at all but again i'm not that i'm not that shocked in the sense that it is less strain on the arm if he's going to try and play a position this year. It would make sense that first is a less taxing thing for his arm to do with the new surgically repaired elbow and all that stuff. And look, I mean, Harper was a catcher to start his career, his move to the outfield.

I'm not that shocked that he would be willing to do it. The guy loves baseball. The guy's obsessed with whatever. And I do think, look, it makes a lot of sense for this team. It gives you a lot more freedom. Because again, I don't think that the arm, and Dabrowski even said it when we met with him down in Clearwater, he's like, Harper's not going to play right field

this year. We're not concerned about him playing right field this year. Is it realistic to you, the first baseman? Because again, I get it. He's not going to have to throw 100 feet on a rope, and that is more taxing on the arm. But there's still throws you have to make.

If you're getting a long cutoff down the right field line, you've got to throw home. It's still a hard throw. So I'm still a little dubious. Now, it's pretty easy to control. It's easier, I think, to control. Now, obviously, if it's a big game, it's a postseason game, he's going to have to make that throw. But I think in the i think in the regular season they can be like have the second baseman do

it like kind of change your cutoff routine so to speak you're right now he's gonna have to throw to second base on double play balls stuff like that throw across the diamond every once in a while that kind of stuff yeah even though like the shame the first the third throw is pretty much out he doesn't feel you know it never happens that you're right that's a good point you really never see you're right it is a shame it never happens um so and but. That's a good point. You're right. It is a shame. It never happens. The one part that no one's really brought up is first off,

Reese got hurt last year, or hurt a couple years ago, on a guy running into his elbow on a bad throw that opened up his elbow. That's right on the elbow. That's concerning for elbow. That's right on the elbow. That's concerning for me. No doubt.

Might be more than the throwing. But at the same time, not a throwing elbow. Yeah, so it would be on the glove hand, but still it's a dangerous spot to be in. Right. The tagging should be fine. That won't be a concern. The interesting part about this is that the Yankees were thinking

about signing him to play first base. Remember during that whole offseason? They want him to be a first baseman right because they had I think they had scrub Aaron Hicks and centerfield oh yeah I think and then they had Stanton and Judge and Gardy oh yeah you're right about this now I remember yeah yeah Gardy and they had Stan they had Judge they had Aaron Hicks um and they were like we'll still sign him to possibly play first base so uh the Nationals tried it a couple years ago too. Yeah, he's played like one inning of first base in his career. That's my first baseman.

That's my first baseman. Look, it really would help the team. I mean, opening up the DH and letting it move around and having Harper play the field would help this team this year, without a doubt. Yeah, and honestly, it helps them going forward, because if they're going to let Reese go, and Bryce can play first... Oh, my God, it opens up from

a team-building perspective. And you can go sign an outfielder, you've drafted outfielders, they can play there. I mean, Justin Crawford down the road, I mean, all that stuff. We'll see. Not a fan. Not in. We'll see. See where it ends When the pick happens

Yeah we'll see No I just crushed Not to make this Into a draft thing But like Spencer Jones Has gotten off To an unbelievable start Has he

It's just like He's right there You know Like these guys Are right there We do it Anyway Barber

Trust Brian Barber Trust Brian Barber Anyway For pitchers So yeah definitely But Harbour at first base Like you know It makes It makes a lot you know, it makes...

It makes a lot of sense. Well, it makes a lot of sense, and it does help him length his career. Like, rather than having to play right field at 38 or whatever, having to run around out there. Or DH or whatever. Right, but if he plays first base, obviously it's not easy, but it's much less taxing on your body than running around the outfield. So I think that's massive.

And he's a solid right fielder. He's not like a great right fielder. It's not like he's an elite one. He's good. He's gotten there. He's good. He's good. Let's say he's good.

I wouldn't say he's great. Is that fair? Yeah, I think that's fair. He doesn't have as many outfield assists as Cassidy. Who does? No one. But with Harper at first base, being a catcher does help. I think it does. I agree with you. The funniest part is I don't even know if he base Being a catcher does help I think it does, I agree with you

The funniest part is, I don't even know if he's a good catcher I know he played catcher I don't think he was Let's put it this way, they moved him And I know it's for career reasons But they moved him off catcher real quick But I will say, it's a similar pick Oh, that's a good point

It's not like a massive change Let's put it this way It's not like it's not like a massive change where you're kind of like let's put it this way it's not like they're teaching an outfielder how to play first base yeah like he has similar hand movements when you look to pick uh uh the pitch in the dirt versus picking that so that's it i that's a really interesting thought i did not i would not have thought of that he's an athletic guy he would have the ability to do it he's obsessed with baseball i think he'll be smart enough, and I think it's smart. And I didn't see it coming. I didn't think about it.

But now that it's here, it's like, I see it. Yeah, I do too. I'm all for it. I fully, fully support it. Again, I just, and for long term, I think it's an absolute no-brainer. It should be the plan for the team. Like, do it. Done.

This year, I'm just dubious and i guess look who knows i mean bryce harper seems like he's you know you know we joked about it with the jalen hurts thing where like sirianni was like oh he's he's different he just heals different and he didn't right it still took like six weeks or whatever it was or bryce harper might be like it seems like bryce harper might actually be built differently than us. Came back super quick last year from the broken hand, like quicker than people expected. This, I mean, if he comes back when people are talking, I mean, this is like an all-time, like they're going to tell this in like textbooks. Like, oh, this is how you can get back from an ACL reconstruction.

Like this. I mean, I, Tommy John, UCL. And, and, talking about being, you know, different than everyone. I mean, he took 95 off the face I know Great point It was back like a week later Didn't break anything

Yeah Yeah exactly Built different He's built different Built different RIP your grandma I'm built different I don't know what that's from

Isn't that the big meme? No Never seen that You're the Twitter guy I said that Because I thought you would know it Yeah Big old swing and a miss

I don't Someone knows Someone 100% knows That you know it There's a meme If I know it If would know it. Yeah, big old swing and a miss. Someone knows. Someone 100% knows that you know it. Yeah, there's a meme. If I know it. If you know it, someone else there knows it. R.I.P. your grandma, but I'm built different. Okay.

Let us know if you know that. I want to see how few people know it. I mean, when I'm shouting at memes, it's probably not a good thing anyway. Yeah, it's probably old. It's probably an old person meme. Yeah, you're probably still doing Facebook memes. I don't do Facebook, but yeah, same idea. You're right.

Yeah. You excited to face Nick Lodolo again? No, dude, no. I never want to. He was good against us last year. Yes, I'm right. Yeah, like Lodolo just owns the fills, man. Yeah, yeah.

Something about that, dude. I don't know what, well. Yeah, he's nasty. He is. He's part of it. But I like how you segued there to the Reds. Are you excited to preview the Reds series? I just, I don't like having to face the Reds again.

Like, can we spread out my Reds series? Dude, we just said that on the air today. It's like, what are we doing here? We just played them. Like, this is it, right? We're not playing them again. It's like all the Reds games now. Yeah.

Done. Yeah, so it's fine. It's just like, it's weird to play. Like, in the balanced schedule era. Yeah, it's like you would think, you know, take some time. Yeah, spread out's fine. It's just like it's weird to play. In the balanced schedule era. Yeah, it's like you would think, you know, take some time. Yeah, spread out the Red series, you know. I want to see Graham Ashcraft later in the season when he's really figuring it out.

Well, he's still pretty good. I know. I know. It's not very fun. But they avoid Hunter Green. Hunter Green struck out like 10 and 5 last night against the Braves. Good, good. They avoid Hunter Green, thank God.

Okay. They're facing two scrubs and two good ones. Yeah. Okay. I mean, the Reds avoid Zach Wheeler, so I guess it all kind of evens out. Okay. Well, I don't care about the Reds. How about that?

That's good. Thank you. Yeah. So I'm with you on the Harper thing. I just need to see him be able to throw to make sure this is going to work out. How about this? I just want to see him play baseball again. Yeah, me too.

Like, I don't really. First base, whatever. Just DH. Whatever. Just go on hit. I honestly desperately need to see him right now. This is where I'm at. I desperately need to see Bryce Harper play baseball.

Again, I don't know if this is a big take. You know, you can determine that. Oh, good. I know it's a big take. Yeah. I miss him. It's a big take. It's a big take. Yeah. I miss him. It's a big take. It's a big take.

I really miss him. I could use Bryce Harper being back. Because I laid it out on Final Night the other night, but the lineup is just stupid at that point. If you stick with the Stott at leadoff thing, which you should, but you go Stott, Turner, Harper, Boehm,

I think. I mean, no, but they should be. It would be, but no, it'll be Cassianos. Boehm or Gore.

Don's back Cassie. It'll be Cassie, JT, some lefty, Boehm in seven. That's what he's going to do because he's like a zealot about this righty lefty thing.

Well, he did move Stott up to the leadoff in like a week and a half. He did. Yeah, with Trey Turner batting second and Schwarber batting third. Let's let Tomper cook a little bit. And then JT, then a lefty or Marsh in the six hole because he's a lefty

and then, you know, Bowman seven. Well, what are you going to say when this all turns around? I hope so. You're right. He did put Stout in the up hole and that was a big... I was shocked. Me too. Legitimately, I was like, wow. And I was shocked he was in the 8-hole the next night. As was I. Yeah, I need to see him.

Where he says, like, real quick, like, can we just take a second? I know we joked about it before, but, like, Bryson Stott is a way better hitter than I expected him to be at this point in his career. Like, we have always been a very pro-Bryson Stott podcast. Like, we've always liked him. We were excited about him. We were really excited about him last year

when he got on that run after June and really started to... We've always just loved the... It bats. He steps in the box and he's like a tough out every time he's in there. He's going to battle. He gets an 0-2 count and it's 3-2 before you know it. He fouled three balls off in the moment.

He's just... From last year, this year, I was joking a little bit before – but he's – I mean, from last year, this year, I was joking a little bit before, but he looks like the type of hitter who could win a batting title someday. Hold on. Why would you joke about that? I'm not.

I'm not joking. How is he this good? How is he this good a hitter right now? Well, going the two-strike approach for an entire at-bat is smart, I think. But obviously it comes down to freakish hand-eye coordination. An amazing eye. What's so funny... An amazing eye. What's so funny, there's multiple times when he's facing 95-plus.

It'll be in the strike zone, and he just fouls it off. It's almost like he can foul off whatever he wants when he needs to. Well, and I believe this was two nights ago. I think I saw the stat. But he had swung and missed at one pitch in the strike zone. Yeah, but with zero, he was one of seven dudes who, like, I think it was, like, three or four days ago, he was one of seven dudes who had yet to swing and miss

at a pitch in the strike zone. Yeah, that's stupid. I mean, him and Arise are. Guess who else was on the list. It's like Arise, Stephen Kwan. Like, the list was exactly the guys you would expect. And, you know, those guys have been phased out for some reason. Those guys matter. Big time!

Those are winning baseball players. Winning baseball players. And I just think that he's only continued to develop into a guy that, you know, I think is going to be loved here. Absolutely. I mean, him and Boe think is going to be loved here. Absolutely. I mean, him and Boehm, like, really. And Marshy. You know what?

And Marshy, you're right. Marshy's been great. But just in terms of, like, the two guys who came up through the system I'm talking about and have come up, like, man, they both look like big-time hits. Like, they both look like they can be two of your five best players for the next decade or whatever it ends up being, like eight years. I mean, but the development, you know?

No, development. It got developed, all right? They were the obvious picks in this. Yeah. It's just I've been really impressed with how much of it. We talked a lot about the Boehm leap and expected it. I've been super impressed with it. I've been really impressed with the Stotley.

Well, but what's funny is that, well, to be batting 424, I did not expect him to rise to that. 424, yeah. But I sort of... He's hitting every... He's got a 12-game hit streak to start the season. Every single game this season, he's got to hit it. And nine multi-hit games, which is also

absurd. Like, what are we doing here? But I expected Stott to be... And then you look at a rise batting like 530. I know. Well, I guess. But I expected Stott to be. And then you look at a rise back like 530. Like, well, I guess. But, like, I expected Stott to be pretty good this year. I expected him to continue to develop. We were excited about him. The bone breakout, like, I just, I looked at his swing.

I looked at his strength, and I was like, there it is. Marsh being this good, I think, is, like, it's a little shocking to me. Like, at least, I would have signed up for 250 and 15 home runs from Brandon Marsh pretty easily because I think his defense, he was chasing down some balls yesterday. Dude, that one, I was like, there's no way he's getting to this. Which one was it? The late one, right up against the wall. That was it.

Against Soto, the foreigner. When he tapped the wall after. I was like, there's no way this guy's getting to this. And he got to it. Yeah. It's wild. I love him. But the stride, like, I don't even get it.

I'm not even worried when he's up anymore. I'm excited. I look forward to him coming to the play. I mean, he's batting three-something, too. And he's been hitting lefties. I know. Well, you know, if only we could just let him. What a thought.

I guess he might be 25 now, but your 24-year-old, 25-year-old center fielder that you traded your top prospect for at the time. Who has, by the way, been awesome. I own him in fantasy. Logan Ohapi. Dude hits. Dude hits. Might be a better hitter than JT right now.

Thank God Brandon Marsh can play. Thank God. Yeah, exactly. Because that would be a tough one. Thank God. Yeah. Because he could be a first baser. Whatever.

Yeah. Yeah. He could be. I didn't think about that. Yeah. It's been tough. Yeah. Thank God. Because. Because he could be a first baseman, whatever. Yeah, yeah. He could be. I didn't think about that. Yeah, it's been tough. Yeah, thank God. Because Marsh has been great, and I'm really excited about him. And again, real credit to this.

I mean, Kevin Long and the Phillies' developmental staff when it comes to hitting a baseball, these guys deserve a ton of credit, a ton of credit. Because, I mean, just these three guys alone, just Baum, Stott, Marsh, what we've seen from last year to this year alone has been super impressive. Well, that's part of the reason why

I still feel really confident in the team is that you're getting those guys breaking out at the same time, and then once Harper's back in... Once JT starts hitting, yeah, all these types of things. They're going to go... Schwarber's going to hit. Don't type of things. The run is coming. Schwarber's going to hit. Don't worry.

The Phillies run is coming. There's too much talent, I believe, in a ton of the bullpen. The starters I hope are going to figure it out, and I think they will. They're going to be fine. I wouldn't be shocked if we wake up a month from now and they're like four games over

500. I agree with you. And Bryce is like two weeks away. I'm not freaking out. I agree with you. I'm just, it's more frustrating. Yeah. Well, because we have to try hopes.

I mean, we, no pun intended. Well, like we're, we're taking calls about dusty Woffin. Like people are all in on this team. And like the,

and I tell you what, man, no, no fan base goes quicker from like, this guy's the greatest. Oh, the Kings of it. I mean, holy cow. And like every, uh, no, base goes quicker from, like, this guy's the greatest. Oh, we're the kings of it. I mean, holy cow.

Noel's a three. He was fourth and second last year. Can we calm down? And Noel is unbelievable. And Noel's frustrating. I don't know why it's so hard to just say he's very good and you don't trust him. It's what he is. I mean, it was again the other night where it's just like, you know,

the snowball starts happening and then he can't stop it. Aaron Nola is a dude you want on your team. He is a great piece of a team. He will help you in games. You just don't want him pitching in the biggest spot of the season. Yeah. It's not that hard. It's okay.

Yeah. Okay. We love Nola. You know what? There's a lot of guys like that. There's a lot of guys like that. Yeah. So, yeah.

Just like, it's just every loss is like season's over. I know. It's it. 12 games in a season. There's frustrating points. Look at some of the positives. And over a 162-game season, positives largely outweigh the negatives. I agree.

I agree. All right. Take back time. Obviously, I'm leading my take back with a Ryan Kirkering. Obviously. Obviously, it's the right thing to do. So let me just ask you a question. Who is that? He is the future of this bullpen.

Okay, good. Never heard of him. He is stupid. They drafted him last year out of South Florida. Okay. Okay, good. He is... Never heard of him. He is stupid. I'm just like... They drafted him last year out of South Florida. Okay. I'm a big South Florida reliever guy, so... I'm sure you are. The history is impressive.

Yes. I sat down Saturday morning before the Masters came on, and I watched Brooks Koepka ruin my life. Was it 44 to 1 odds? You had 45 to 1. 10 to win 450. This freaking guy is all over the golf course. It's a tough beat right now.

Dude, he went from four strokes up to four strokes down. Maybe I'll take that live money, buddy. Anyway. But before I started watching the Masters, me and Walkie were hanging out downstairs. Walkie. Oh, I love it.

Walkie. I was like, oh, Clearwater threw no hitter last night. Let me go look at some of the pitchers or whatever. Gets to be the eighth inning. And I didn't see an Orion pitch yet. And it's just schwop, 99. Schwop, 99, right on the corner. And then's just schwop 99. Schwop 99 right on the corner. And then he breaks off this slider.

I mean, it was dumb. It was 3,000 plus RPMs. This thing just freaking fell off the face of the earth. And we're talking about like, first off, he went right through the inning no problem easy

a ton of strikes easy repeatable mechanics and this slide like it's just it's stupid so get him to reading and he's already pitched in college whatever like i i need to see or i could see him i need to see him in september like whatever like he could i'm guaranteed get big leaguers out right now love it like his stuff is oh oh, my God. I'm excited. You just got me excited. I'll show you the video. I took a video of it. I took a video.

Well, I sent it to my buddies, and I was like, look at this. It's stupid. Second thing to take back, and again, we are a podcast of bold takes, and only the biggest takes win on the Ohio's podcast. That's right. And I just hope that Joee dimaggio knows that his streak is in jeopardy i just i hope that he knows that is that you think a little resurrise is actually no no no no i'm just joking you got it stoddy yeah okay come on man 12 games so 12 do

you think that you think joe's a little 36 48 so he's he's only got to do this, you know, four and a half more times. Do you think he's getting nervous? He's dead. Well. I'm going to say no. I'm going to say, is his corpse getting nervous? A little bit, maybe. Heating up a little bit. They didn't freeze his head like they froze Ted Williams, right? No, that was the only time.

Okay, good. But watch out, Joe. It's my official. Good take. Yeah, watch out. Good take. Stoddy's coming. I need to see someone break the hitch, Drake. I think it's going to happen. I guarantee it's going to happen. Do you really?

I really believe that. It's the one of all the unbreakable records in baseball. That's the one that I think someone could break. Well, look, it's not the most unbreakable. Like, no one is getting 512 wins. Like, that is just never going to happen ever again. And your banner's coming. Just not the way this works.

Like, there are certain records that literally are unbeatable. The rip and streak. Yes. But, like, 56 is theoretically possible. Of the most unbreakable. It's not happening. Think about it this way. Well, probably.

No, no, but I'm saying, like, think about it this way. 44 is the next highest. No one's gotten above 44. That's 13 more games you got to do to beat it. You got to do a quarter, a quarter of the 44 streak to get there, the second highest streak. Like, it's just never going to happen. Like, it's so unlikely.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, what's that? Oh, you're going to be okay oh man you'd be all right which is a better chance of happening yes because i think both are highly likely yes highly like oh good start hitting over 400 this year or the 56th game history coming i rock shockingly hitting over 400 is more likely that wow. Wow. Interesting. I mean, it's going to come down to Stoddard or Arise. One of the two is definitely hitting over 400.

I mean, Arise might hit over 500. I'll tell you what. It would be awesome for baseball if someone came a little bit closer. Listen, J-Roll and Chase had long streaks there for a little bit. J-Roll had 38, but J-Roll had the nonsense one season and the other. That doesn't count. It doesn't count. That is not the heart of what we're doing. It has to be the same year. By the way,

it would take until I think June 10th and it's April 13th for him to do it. Think about that. You weren't old enough for this, but I will say in 94, when Tony Guim was batting 390 when they shut down baseball,

or 394, excuse me, that was exciting. As a kid, I was like, I can't believe this dude might bat 400. That is so cool. So I'm with you. I want to see it. And if he went over 162, I believe he did. Oh, if he took the, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, it's unbelievable.

Arises the next Glenn. He might be, dude. Well, maybe it's Soddy. Maybe it's Soddy. Oh, if you took the, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, it's unbelievable. Arises the next Glenn. He might be, dude. Well, maybe it's Soddy. Maybe it's Soddy. Dude, Soddy's such a great. I know. I know. So, DiMaggio, watch out. And my final take in the take bag is that, I mean, Cassidy's back, dude. I just, I love when the, I love when the

triple button's undone and he's like, I love that he got thrown out. Like, I know people were like, yeah, but that's what we want. We need some fire. We need some edgy Casties. Halfway down third base, messing with the pitcher. I will say he looks a lot more confident. 100%.

He really does. You know, he's taking pitches. He's hitting the ball with some authority. Like, it doesn't look like he's flailing up there. He hasn't hit home runs since August 27th. No power. No power. But you know what? We take doubles. I'm with you, dude. I like that take. since August 27th. No power. No power. But you know what?

We take doubles. I'm with you, dude. I like that take. Cassie's back, officially back. Now, I will say. For now. We have like one home run threat in the lineup. Need some pop, buddy.

Could use some more pop. Need some pop. I don't think Cody Clemens is going to be hitting too many out of the ballpark. Cody Clemens, do you think that they saw Cody Clemens go 0 for 5 in the game on Monday and they're like, you know what, Bryce? You can't play for us. Bryce, you're going to have

to do this for us, buddy. Let's do this. Yeah, come on over. I like it. Thank you. I think you did a great job today. Thanks. I know.

You're much better in person now. You look at me the whole time. This is great. I didn't even have my headphones on today, so I think I was a bit thrown off. You did great. Thank you.

I was really impressed with you. Thank you. Okay. Now we need the Philz to turn around. Now we need the Philz to turn around. They're going four straight in Cincinnati and they're going to come in at 500-5. We're like thrown off. You did great. Thank you. I was really impressed with you. Thank you. Okay. Now we need the Phils to turn around. Now we need the Phils to turn around. They're going four straight in Cincinnati and we're going to come in at 500-pod. We're like, hey, we did it.

Yeah. Well, a month from now, there are going to be four games over 500, so calm down. Sunday afternoon. What? We're coming to you. Check us out.

Oh, we're back on YouTube? We're going to be doing the YouTube pod. Sunday afternoon, if you miss the YouTube pods, miss hanging out, chatting with us while we do the pod, Sunday afternoon, after the Phillies game, this thing in your faces.

Nice. It's going to be awesome. Back on YouTube. I can't wait. Okay, that's good. I'm excited to see your face on a Sunday, you know? Maybe Wok makes an appearance. Hold Woky up to the camera there.

Well, how about this? If they take four, Woky goes on the camera. That's a good one. That's a good one. And I will, if Waukee goes on the camera, I will show everyone the video of Zoe that I sent to you from the wedding, which is hilarious. Okay. Good deal? Good deal. Okay. Now it's on the Philz. It's on the Philz.

Alright. Any final thoughts? Not excited about Nicola Dola tonight. No. Maybe face him twice in a week. But you know what? They beat up Alcantara. You never know with this team. Yeah, well, they came back against Lizardo.

Yeah. And then they got thrown out at first base. I know. But it helped our Cy Young tickets. It did. I mean, Alcantara giving up nine and Lizardo giving up three to win. Still a favorite, by the way, Alcantara after that, which is annoying. It's outrageous.

Yeah, it'll take some time. Come on, Fandle, grow up. All right. My final thought is join us on Sunday. Okay. I got nothing. He's friends with

me. We'll see you next time.