High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Why Is Taijuan Still Here? (At Least They Took 2 of 3 From The Astros)

Episode Date: August 29, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning two of three against the Astros and Taijuan Walker's disastrous performance yesterday before naming their favorite pitchers from the early 2000s. 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

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I feel a little less alone I was 5% in my Miller Lite official sponsor. I was filled out with your affiliates. That was in Taiwan? No. No. No, you know what? Because the other times I was like, oh, it's six starters, or oh, what else are you going to do? Get him off my team! Get him off my team!

I can't do this anymore! I'm done! I am so freaking done with that guy! Never again! DFA him! Eat the freaking money like I don't care. I am NOT watching him pitch for the Phillies again I can't you can't win with that guy. They've lost nine straight Jack nine straight Started you're getting a tie when you know, how you tell me how you really feel I can't stand him as a player

Personal Taiwan, but if I see you pitching it it's gonna be personal well I can't do this you need to start adopting my philosophy. Okay, don't care. Just don't watch How I treated yesterday is It didn't watch. Yeah, just like that's how I treated it yesterday is it didn't happen. So the Phillies have won four straight. Okay. And every time once they magically just lost the game to the Braves or the Dodgers, I mean, they're just the one and the Braves too. Yeah.

And they want that too. They're only five games back before game series. Oh, I'm there. I like, I, I kid you not. I am. I woke up this morning. Very, very not happy right now. No, like it's not nerves out of like the it's more, I'm there. I like I I kid you not I am I woke up this morning. Yeah, very not happy right now No, like it's not nerves out like the it's more

I'm always looking for the other shoe to drop like it could go really really bad and all of a sudden you're looking at A three game division lead or a two game division lead, which is a nightmare scenario Well, it can only be three or one I think right what gave you two I don't think so right because if you lose three, but then you win the four that goes back up to three so I think it can only be, am I right about that? I think so. Yeah. It can only be three or one.

Either they win all four in your one up, oh my god, or you win, they win three of four in your three. That's fine. Either way, not a math guy, but it's okay. It's just whatever it is. I'm nervous, I'm clearly nervous The Taiwan thing is obviously reached a breaking point like I I don't know what else to say I if they if they start him again, I it's I think it's a slap in the face to the players

So I think showed up yesterday saying we're gonna lose you think yeah. Oh you think that no hit in seven innings? Yeah, I think I think they did showed up expected like I think yeah think they did not care or did not show up. Expect was it out too late to hit the ball at the wall in the first inning and. Yeah. And then score for you. Well, to be scored from third and first pick off there. Yeah. But he hit the ball at the wall and like the first inning. And I could just sense it was like, yeah, oh, me.

There it is. There it is. So, yeah, so it's first off, you enough to watch Jordan Alvarez hit bombs or anything Sure, sure. And at least they he did take down six uniques Topper let us know that after the game. Well, you didn't know did you hear Taiwan is splitter the shape on his splitter was It was really good in the contact. Yeah, he's getting ground balls, man And come on and he was there there. And it's unbelievable. Was it Ben that said this morning that he had two whiffs? Yeah, two, 45, 45 swings to it.

He's the first pitcher to go six plus innings without recording a strikeout since like the 19th, early, especially with 13 hits. Give it up. That's a good one. That's an innings eater. That's honestly, it's funny because people get so mad at his and like, no, it's not like that's not an innings eater. That's what you want. Honestly, it's funny because people get so mad at his eating and like, no, it's not like that's not an innings eater. That's a bad picture. That's a bad picture.

Yeah, exactly. And I there is a part of me that buys into the theory that he's sitting on 997 strikeouts. He's thrown away from a thousand. Like, do they want to see if they can get him to a thousand before, letting him see a big league man again they're just saying just saying so they'd be like jean seguire's 200 exactly exactly but like it is it is so i'm not this guy usually when it comes down to like you know it's your choice if you want to go to the game or not but like it's actually insulting to the fans that are paying money to go see the phillies yeah to put him out there like it's just it like at least offer half off concessions

Could you imagine that like that announcement that a time was in the mountain? I guys have half of everything It'd be the funniest motion of all time Never do it but like of course I mean be like basically like crap for Taiwan publicly. Funny, but it's actually, it's actually insulting to the people that are paying money. Well, and I think you made a more important point. Like it's not like,

it's one of those things where if it's a bullpen game or if it's just that, like, yeah, like, you know, you're not going in with your best chance to win. Like if you have wheels or no on the Hill or whatever, but like, at least you go in saying like, all right, maybe our relievers are going to pitch well or whatever. Maybe we got a chance to win. Like, like the Taiwan thing has gotten to the point. We've lost nine straight games. He started Jack nine straight. Like this is at the point where it's like, I do think those players go in expecting to lose, not thinking we might lose,

not thinking we have our best guy on the Hill. They were going in saying we're losing today. And that's unacceptable. Like that's when you cross the hill there going in saying we're losing today. And that's unacceptable. Like that's when you cross the line over from from, hey, listen, we're a little beat up or we need to get through this day. Let's see what the two going in and like actively playing to lose. And it's because of money. It's because of a contract. Like those players aren't dumb. They know that the only reason that Taiwan Walker is getting the ball is because he's owed money. And, and that's not good enough. Like, especially for a team trying to win the World Series. If you want to waste those starts early in the season, which, again, could come back

to bite you as we're finding out all these starts, every single one could matter when we're talking about one, two, three games, whatever. But if you want to waste that early in the season, see if he's got it, whatever. I get that. But it's September, man. We're a couple of days away from a September push. And they're still rolling this guy out there. Like it's offensive. Yeah I was a schedule loss schedule loss every time he comes every time he takes them out and like I I'm like they had to Give him a shot like we were I was fine with it with him coming back and getting the shot

But it's after the last one is shit over this one. It's over over. It's done I mean, there's there's you believe that though in your in your core you do there's no they can't they can't but you said this after Last one let's watch it. I said, okay, maybe one only because I said I was like Jack You sure about that because I think he's coming out again Like you did feel the last part we're doing you felt confident wasn't gonna start again. Why so at one point so I was Believe or not. I was looking up the Adam Eaton game logs today I was looking up the Adam Eaton game logs today. I did. That is the least surprising thing,

said this whole podcast. I try to remember what it was like. Because it is eerie. Somehow Taiwan's been slightly worse, which is, yeah. Worse. And it does make me believe more than ever the Phillies are winning the World Series this year. So that.

It is about as good an angle as we've had. He's going to get, dude, Taiwan is going to get. The Taiwan ring ceremony. Boo at the ring ceremony. Yeah, is the thing. So like, that's going to be, I'm more convinced than ring ceremony. Boo at the ring ceremony. Yeah, is the thing. So like, that's gonna be... I'm more convinced than ever this team's winning the World Series. But like, they...

Eaton had back-to-back starts after 19 starts in 2008. Taiwan's only at 14. Yeah. So, hey, we can give him five more. Only because he got a fourth, buddy. He would be there. I know. So, he had 19 starts. His last two starts, it was,

it was 806. Wow. So even that's those two. And that's where it feels like this seems that it's unbelievable how Gillick and now Dabrowski do the best ever do it. Big old swings. Yeah. Massive swings. And this obviously an even bigger swing. And what is seeing them hands three times the price that well, yeah, I know it's, it's years later. It's that's not fair. You're right. It's 12 or 14 years later, whatever. So it's, but so it is.

Well, there, yeah. I mean, it's more money. It's very out of money. It is. And, but Arietta was viewed as I believe a bigger deal than, because he's coming off the site or a few years ish, but you know, honestly, I'm happy you bring up Dave because, and, and we have praised him. We always wanted him.

Never doubted it from day one. Um, but we praise him a lot on this part. I think rightfully so, especially not just for the team he's put together. That is, you know, the last two years, given us the best years we had had in 12 years prior and all that stuff. But, but the stuff we talk about all the time with like building a winning organization and showing what the please, what it's like to win and what the drafting and development groups and what everything should look like and how it should function and how it should work. I think David Murawski has been literally invaluable there. I think he's been one of the most important people in the Phillies

in this franchise in the last 15, 20 years, whatever you want to say, like since Gillick, he has been about as important a figure in the building as we have had. But if we're being honest about it, and we're calling it like we see it, he has had a bad year. Like it's not just right this moment. It's not the Taiwan signing. It's like the Taiwan thing bringing him back this year. It's the off season of deciding, Hey, we're not going to add guys. Like we're going to add Whit Maryfield. That's going to be our move. Eight and a half million. Obviously a complete and total disaster with that one. It's the decision

at the trade down line that you and I have talked about many times, and we're both still upset about to not add more to this roster. When had a chance when you save the powder, not to sign Blake's now at that point, like there's so many things you can point to where, where for someone who for first two years, you had some small misses, we talked about the familiar thing and the joke about Kimbrough and then obviously it was good for a bit and then bad, and ultimately a fine signing overall for the money and all that, but like, it was little stuff, it was little moves. Like these are, this has been the first year Dave's been here that especially the Taiwan two years ago, but still that signing and deciding to bring him back and I'm be a part of your

rotation till now. And we believe Dave ultimately leading the decision to keep him pitching. And then the other moves you made, it's been a bad year for David and Rouse. Well, it's been a lot of, it's been a lot of bad bets. I think that's been the biggest. And the problem with one of the things that Brassi has been great at as a general manager, cause you look at his trades, doesn't really lost many. No, like he's, he's been a biggest and the problem with One of things the browsy has been great at as a general manager because you look at his trades It's really lost many know like he's been a very good self-scouter. Yeah, I Think he just got in the wrong feel for this team

And I think that that's been the biggest issue like at a trade deadline Like having the feel that Jose Avarado was gonna be fine I thought it was a mistake and having the feel that that Taiwan could go out there and like he was gonna write the ship I thought was a mistake as well. So it feels like baseball more than other sports is like all about just making bets like what the manager it's literally just a coin flip if the decision is gonna work or not and I just feel like he made bad bets this year and what's what you know it's it sucks right now because like they took

two or three from the Astros and like kind of they played really well the first two nights and then Taiwan kind of threw a wrench in this whole thing like this should be a happy podcast but it's it's coming after Taiwan like you know obviously horrible yesterday but like I think if this doesn't end how we want to end then we've we said as many times like we're gonna like David Ross is gonna get a lot of heat this off yeah like because it's gonna be what'd you do at the deadline? Why didn't you push the chips in more? It was making a lot of questionable bets and and really? Doubling down on the same thing like doubling down on the same exact thing like exact thing and it looked good

Looks great looks great. But if this doesn't end I mean we know what the conversation is gonna to be this off season. And for a majority of that, it's, it's rightfully deserved. Yeah, big time. And again, look, you did this kind of jokingly a couple months ago. And I was thinking back in last night, but I mean, again, and I don't think Matt Klintak deserves more credit than he gets or whatever it is. But if you just look at this roster and you go through the guys who matter on this team, like basically outside of Schwab or in Cassiano's, but like people who help, they're all Clintac guys. Now, Bryce Harvey can give to John Middleton, but it's Clintac's GM, whether it's going around the diamond, Romulo, Stah, Bum, the entire pitching

staff, other than NOLO is actually Ruben Amaro, but you got NOLA, you got Wheeler is a Clintac move. You got Sanchez a Clintac move. Suarez actually a Ruben move, but you got Nola, you got Wheeler is a Klintec move, you got Sanchez, a Klintec move Suarez actually a Ruben move, but developing during the Klintec time, like, I mean, whatever, but the point being like the Sanchez trade was a Maclintec tree, like you go through these moves. I, I, I don't think that Klintec was a good GM, right? But it is interesting that when you look at this roster, like the vast majority of it was built by Maclintec.

Yeah, so and, and I think the, I think the way to look at it is this, is that I think Glantzak deserves, it's much like Ed Wade. Now I think Ed Wade, we completely overrated. Yeah. Because again, Mike Arbuckle did a lot of stuff in this. I need to try to explain this to people. Like GMs don't really get credit for drafting people. Like they, if you want to sit and watch whatever, like the scouting directors draft people. That's why we have Brian Barber. People who listen to our show know all that goes into that stuff. He even said he's like Dave's supportive of us he's involved but like on game day let's make our move. Right now it probably changes when you're looking at a top five pick if I had to guess. I would assume that the more important to pick the more involved the 27th they're like

yeah whatever. 100%. But like Ed Wey I think has been a little overrated because obviously Arbuckle drafted all those guys. So, you know, and whatever the, the Klantzak thing, I actually think he deserves more credit than Ed Wade. Yeah, he might. That's what I'm kind of coming into. I don't know if it's more or less than Ed Wade, but I, he probably deserves more credit than he got.

So I think that the biggest thing that Nebraska has done and it's hard to quantify this and it's hard to talk about because like, we don't like ultimately know is everything behind the scenes and like at the same time the Klintak teams with essentially the same talent except more in their prime like those guys didn't win squat and they joked every year so and look Dave did the the topper thing made the move on from Gerardi you know all those kinds of like he's made he's made the right, he's pulled the right levers, caught them like all these things that were smart decisions along the way. So so he deserves a ton of credit for that. But this the Schwabers signing is a is a real like that doesn't get talked about. It probably could be a great Philadelphia signings and the Schwabers signing is is a legitimate huge game

changer for this team in this organization. Like he taught them how to win. He's the leader of the team. I think people like Bryce, I think, is when we talk with us is more ugly than than Bryce is the emotional. Sure. More than like the most important player. But like Kyle Schwab is the is the most important filly from the standpoint of like of like leadership. They turn to him when the when the waters are a little, you know, choppy, choppy.

It's like, all right, what's Schwab or think like Schwab or is such a huge signing from that standpoint? And listen, casting is going to be frustrating. But like, I think he's added to this club. Oh, he's been there. Most consistent hitter for the last two months. It's funny. Crazy is that you look at his stats. It's still like two fifty three hundred.

I think we forget he's been like 208 to 210. He might have been the 180s at one point. Holy cow. But it's so funny, because they'll just on the broadcast every, you know, four nights or five nights, wherever they'll show like his stats from a certain date, whether it's 40 games or 50 games or whatever. It's like it's like 313. Is that Mike? Okay. But but but the first time in history hasn't moved his average at all. The slowest move of an average I think I've ever seen in my life. 313 over the last two months.

I'm like, how? How? Just money. So like he deserves a lot of credit for change in the whole philosophy of the org. And like dude, they had no idea how to win. They were there. There was a lot of talk of like, we need to sell off all these pieces

so that we can rebuild and draft. And like, he got them out of, he got them out of neutral. And I think that's what they were in. They were a talented group that ultimately was going nowhere. And I think that he got them out of neutral. So he's had a tough year, but like I think Nebraska is gonna be fine. And- Oh, I do too. I don't want it to seem like I'm, you got them at a neutral. So he's had a tough year, but like, I think Nebraska is going to be fine.

And I do too. I don't want it to seem like, um, you know, out on Nebraska. I just think he's had a, you know, we haven't talked to him about it. He's gotten a lot of credit those first two years. He said some missed for sure. So again, they did take two or three from the Astros. Did you realize they talk about the good things too, by the way, did you realize they extended Nebraska through 27?

Uh, I saw that the other day. I didn't even notice it. We didn't really talk about it, but it? I saw that the other day. It just flew by. I didn't even notice it. We didn't really talk about it, but it's not good, which is good. I want him here. I'm happy he's staying, you know, especially with the, all the rumors of like Nashville and going back. Oh, it was good to hear like he's locked in and stuff, but we don't just, but we never

talk like it's like, it's so funny. It just like happened. I was like, wait, what? We don't need another baseball then. Like we don't, you know, I like, uh, sports expansion is, I don't you know I like sports expansion is I don't know it just it waters down the product too much for me so 100% agree I don't think we need another baseball take a deep breath on the old expansion even as it is yeah we still got stadiums that are like not full at all I think

someone counted yesterday at the White Sox game there was 63 people like how do you do you think the obviously you're gonna put out the announced attendance. I think you have to yeah, of course, but it's like what a joke What what number would they put it at to where it's like the guy's look up baseball reverend? I can look at right now. You look just look at I'm gonna box or I believe right here Let's see what their attendance was. I think every box or the poor Travis Shankowski that made the catch of the year to keep them from their 29th win. Are they in 30s yet? I think they are at 31 and 103. It's not bad.

That is what a great deal. I feel so good about that call. The vault. I was like week three of the season or whatever. What's things for them is that I don't like the there's a lottery for the draft. You ready for this attendance? I know that it's bad timing, which there should be a lot of time. Take a guess. I would say three people counted. What which there should be a lot of time. Um, take a guess. 63 people counted.

What do you think they announced as the official attendance? 7,500 11,200. That's good. Ah, it's good. Just those numbers. I mean, like it is so ridiculous. Maybe 11,000 people paid, but I don't think 11,000 people showed up. That's pretty clear. Wow. That's pretty amazing, right?

That's pretty down in the down and dump. So, you know, keep that in perspective, I guess. Sure. Keep that in perspective. So yeah, the White Sox. Let's just take a quick look. Wow. They're, dude, they're run differential.

Have you looked at it? No, it's minus 282. They're going to have a minus over minus 300 run differential. Is that a remember. I did it in my, my vault thing. And I put, uh, they have a 231 winning percentage, man. They're winning 23% of the time. Seeing a record of 31 and like a hundred something is jarring. Sure. I'm sure. They're on Facebook. I'm sure. And at the time, seeing a record of 31 and like a hundred something is jarring.

Sure. I'm sure. They're on pace for 37 wins right now. Can we just stop for a second here? They're on pace to go 37 and one 23 or one 24. Dude, that's the fricking, the amazing Mets went 40 and one 60 40 and one was it 40 and one 22 they went. Is that right? I think that's right or 42 and 120 or something like that. This is wild, dude. They actually are going to be the worst team all time. They're going to

bug Cleveland spiders ass. Don't let them get hot. Don't let them get hot. No one's see the the White Sox in September. Pretty amazing. It always blows my always blows my mind too. They always see the bloopers or whatever. They hit the second baseman on a throw down yesterday in the head. It's like even- Oh, I know. Alex Bregman, by the way. I just don't know how it still happens.

You still are technically major league baseball players. Wasn't that fun when Elliot texted us his take that when he said that all players should be ejected immediately if he hits one. When he starts talking baseball. I know just it is funny because you'll see like it'll be like four or five takes in a row and me and jack just ignoring it not so my new thing is when it's really an annoying one i'll just write nope like no no well what i do what i do i say i say nice like i just I don't need to engage.

I don't, I do not want to engage. So did you hear this that about, uh, and he got fired since, but the, the Pedro Griffal, uh, nugget, uh, this was back. Um, when they were, so it was, uh, I guess this is from, uh, so July 31st. So this is from a month ago, essentially, right? You got fired, I think a week later or whatever. But it was at that time only two managers in baseball history have managed at least 200 games for the same team and had a winning percentage under 333.

By the way, we just saw there. 23, two 30 as their winning percent under 333. One is Pedro Griffal since fired manager of the white Sox. And the other was Dr. James Prothrow, a licensed dentist, a dentist who managed the Phillies during World War II. Just another day like that's how epically bad I thought you were going to say Frank Kona, honestly,

as the Phillies manager there for a little bit. But it seems 160 some games. Yeah, it's 160 some game mock back to the day. I know. I know. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now! I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Co. as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster.

Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers as you prep for your draft Let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to reception perception on the free odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts So but yeah, like what's things about the Taiwan thing is that it was actually a positive series like it was a one the series I know I know I know It didn't happen

Pretend it didn't happen. It was good series if we did this podcast after Tuesday night, we would have been stung Nola Nola Nola, I know no no no good man underrated good I think we've not given her no enough crap. You really take those like three starts. Yeah, they were horrible out like You might be leading lead Now he's just he's he's looking close like the starting as the Astros is the best thing I've seen him look in a long time like it was a pretty big spot and I don't know if he missed a spot dude. Like he was I was pinpoint he was he was awesome and and it's always nice when you get in a rhythm with no love like

Alright, he's gonna do this. He's gonna do this He's gonna do this and that's me kind this, he's gonna do this. And that's what you can kind of tell his love. Rather than like the last couple of starts, he is in the first couple of innings like had trouble finding it. Like he'd been fighting himself a little bit. And then like the fourth or second time through the lineup looks like he kind of finds his spots and gets going.

And then it's usually six innings, two runs, three runs, whatever. Like he had that from jump straight on Tuesday. And it's just funny like hey look at you know what's so shocking is like I look at all these other teams right and it's and it's like the Astros have been unbelievable for about a month and a half. Yeah they've been on a run. And it's like I don't see it like I just I just don't see it like the lineup there's the starting guys that I've heard of. I think there's a really good point in that. And I look at the Phillies, like they should be really good.

I think this this is part of the myopic thing where we follow the Phillies on a night base. We get so locked in on what they're doing and stuff. But if you look around the league, like you made the point, I think it was last time we were talking about judge and how insane he is where it's like, that's it. You've judging Soto. That's it. Like jazz has been good for a bit. It's like, like there, I think there are a lot of the best other, you know, even the Dodgers,

when you look at the pitch, now they're getting guys back, but they're top heavy. You know, so the bullpen isn't great. Like that's the I think you're right about. We get so focused on the face where it's like there's no great team. Like none of these teams are so much better than the others. It's a lot of teams. That's probably why the standings have kind of even out to where they are, where it's I think a lot of these teams are pretty similar. I mean, the playoffs are legit. Like I don't,

there's not a great lineup in baseball. No, no, not even close. Well, that's why I think the Phillies, like if we're talking about optimism and hope and, you know, outside of the obvious, you know, Taiwan getting booted the ring ceremony, there's probably you're you're right, the best belief that we have just that that would happen. But I do think that like I know we've talked about here, but I do think that that's why if you can get these four starters, if you can get which we learned, which are looking good right now, I agree with you. But if you can have that, if you can have a we at the beginning of the season, going into the playoffs with at least a couple of dudes in the pan who bring it to three guys, like that's how you can win. Like because there are no great lineups, it's like you can win by having the best for some yeah, I feel pretty good like overall

I feel pretty good better than you know I have I don't think they're gonna like I don't think they're gonna go in the toilet again like they did you know I The pitching staff rounding back into form is is big from that standpoint Like if they if they weren't pitching well, they weren't hitting well like that's a big red flag But like wheelers turned it back on Noah turn it back on Rangers. It's phenomenal Chris. Ant has been really good the Taiwan thing I mean it's not one thing at this point. It's our gives them a better shot There's no doubt about that doubt which we you know, Jack saying that it's really never about. Yeah, my guy You were always in my guy Colby. Aller

No, no, I got to say something. I can't just his mechanics, his mechanics look like the 12 year old. It does look weird. I guess, yeah. Is how the coach told me. Yeah, it does look very like, all right. Yes. Yeah. Like I just it's a little it's a little like little league, but it's worked.

It's got some giddy up. Yeah, he whips it in there, man. Whips it in there. Not Tyler Phillips. I'm not ready for yet. Yeah. He brought on that. But again, he might be and we just saw it and we saw Michael Mercado.

Like that's the whole like anyone's better than Taiwan thing. Like I don't know for a fact. I don't know. That's what I mean. I don't know for a fact that that's true. But what I will say is I think that anyone's better than Taiwan in the sense that I don't think the team just feels like they're going to lose the same way if Taiwan, you know, with, you know, it's a mentality.

Yeah, it's different. I, I, I think the greatest you mentioned it in 2020. And we, we talked about ever since, like, when you have a horrible bullpen, you know, you're going to lose and those guys run into the game. You could see Bryce the flake and right field be like, like you saw JT when frigging Jared Hughes is running in full speed, just like like I think that's like the way they start a game with Taiwan there. I think they're just like, I know. I know. So the name that I don't know why no one's bringing up

or maybe it's starting to be brought up is Seth Johnson. Like Seth Johnson trade from him, bring him right in, baby. He's up to triple. And I said the other guy that threw a tense straight outs from Moses or whatever the other day or Moises? Yeah. He's young though. No, I know.

No, I'm not saying the Major. I'm just saying that trade. Oh, he's going to be. Yeah. Pretty good. Yeah. Pretty good. Now, Seth Johnson.

I think Seth Johnson at worst is like a good depth beast that could be like a fifth starter. You know, like at least he has got the problem Mercado. He's, he's one pitch. It's his fastball. Yeah. It's one pitch and it doesn't, and it's fastball. Like it, it doesn't have quite as much life as I thought it did that first time out. Like he's got some life.

It's got some, some giddy up at the end, but it's like, it just feels like, it feels like hitters just sit on it and just, of course, Cause they can just spit on whatever, whatever speed pitch he has. He needs to go to the, he needs to, when he spends all off season at the Ryan. Yeah. He's been with one person. I like that. Yeah. I'm not going to do the Pivetta thing where he's a splitter away from

being a Steven Strasburg. No, that was an aggressive statement that you made. A real true statement. They lost the workman Henry. That's true. Not even close. No. Jack was, I mean, the, I think with the Phillies, Phillies lost it by miles.

I think it closed, like, honestly, arguably as big a loss as they've ever had. It's a big one. Just because of how bad Bergman. It's a big one. But Seth Johnson, like he I think you're like this. He reminds me of Javier Vasquez. Oh, and love Bobby Vasquez. I love Bobby Vasquez. I was I mean, I was a good pitcher to the games to have me. Dude, he was. Yeah, I was. I love Tommy Vasquez. I was, I mean, I was, I do the pictures of the games too. I mean, dude, he was, yeah, I, I use a good little picture there.

Yeah, it was like a, a quintessential 2000 and 2005. I remember him being exposed days. How have you asked Ben sheet should have been so much better. Ben sheet. He was for a moment. Like there was a moment where it was like, Oh, Ben sheets might be the best picture. Amazing. Well, certainly one of them, like when Jake PV, yeah, Russ Ortiz. Yeah. He was never as good as,

no, he was not. No, she's, she's Brandon Webb. Yeah. Brandon Webb was sick. Brandon Webb. I mean that he might have the heaviest baseball I've ever seen. Uh, yeah. It was so funny. It's like Brandon Webb and then Logan Webb, like the same exact same guy, dude. I really, he's one of the young like Brandon Webb, like I remember when he was on those years, like where you would watch him pitch and it was like, how does anyone lift the ball? Like how does anybody? Impossible. So I felt about watching low dark lows that way too.

Exactly. Derek Lowe, Dan Heron. I love Dan Heron. And I think Dan Heron seemed like a good dude. I have, if you ever need it, if you ever need it, if you ever down, you go down the list of these men. No, no, no, no. They asked me to do my Jake BV impression.

Oh, my best work. I can do a lot of them. A lot of told you I saw the Phillies beat J.D. Durbin, complete game shout out beating out dueling Jake Peevee and Petco Park. In 2007, Jake Peevee, I might have if walkers are ready, I might have him just study Jake Peevee because I don't think he's going to be doing out dueling Jake Peevee and Petco Park in 2007. Jake Peevee, I might have, if walkers are ready, I might have him just study Jake Peevee. Cause I don't think he's going to be super tall if I had a guess on walkie. So I had to like start, start looking at shorter.

Yeah. Happy birthday. Lindsey, Lindsey. Yeah. Well, Lindsey comes. No, the all time. Don't repeat that. Don't ever do what that guy did. I don't know how it worked, but it was awesome to watch as it happened. Matt Kane. Matt Kane. Sure.

Back to the Giants teams. They're perfect. Matt Kane on the perfect game list, right? Wasn't he one of the perfect game? Where'd you write this podcast? This has been an all time, all over the place. Honestly, I don't even know where we're going. I want to know how many.

I'm trying to think of like, I'm trying to think of like when we actually talked to Billy's like white socks for a while. I know a little too much white socks. We just name it. I know. I know. I know. I know.

I know. I know. I know. I know. I trying to think of like I'm trying to think of like when we actually talked Billy's like White socks for a while. I know a little too much white socks. Are we just naming like late 90s? No, I know how long can we go just naming pictures? I mean we could probably go all day We want to yeah, like you just think of a team and then just rattling off guys in that team You know, by the way, the grid might be back. I'm like Really we need to go away for like six months.

And I agree. I agree. So I've been my brother sent me Cinematrix, which is a they got movie grids now. So I've been doing that. Oh, of course. Of course you're doing that. No, I don't. I really don't.

You sure? I can tell you I've got it open. Ready? Oh, let's see. What's on Cinematrix today? Mike Shelford, Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig and Ben Stiller, right up your alley. And then it's like 2010 to 2019 is here.

It's got one word title. It's got movies with a certain director. It's fun. I'm happy for you. I know I need to mix it up. I should go back to baseball. Cause it's been long enough. Dude, I pulled Esteban, the wise of the.

Oh, Freddie Garcia when he's an Oriole and a and a white sock. We're back. Mark Trumbo. I love Mark. I like Mark. I wanted to illustrate from Mark Trumbo for about five years. Great home run hit name to it was like powerhead or yeah, it sounds right. Mark Trumbo sounds about right. I'm in on that. All right. You ready? Good. You ready to take back?

I don't know. I got nothing else. I mean, we literally got I don't even know what we've talked about. Yeah. Take back, please. Jose Ruiz is is he might be there. So are we OK? Official, we trust Jose Ruiz in a three to game in the eighth inning. Is that are we there yet? So I'm in about I'm in belief in him getting the job done.

I'm at about a six out of 10. OK, two weeks ago, I was at about a three. Yeah, no, I mean, that's pretty good. We're getting up there. Yeah. We're getting up there. Like he's got up to 98 now, which is good. That's big. So hoser we is developing into one of my favorites. I listen, we don't know what's going on. Those Everado. Like I hope everything's fine. And we don't know what needs to be there with the personal stuff and all that. Yeah. I've no idea that. And that was weird. Cause it was just like, Hey,

he's going for a person reason. Well, yeah. So, but like Drew Smiley's out there. He's on waivers. He's a lefty reliever. He hasn't been that bad either. No, I don't. I'm surprised. And Taylor Rogers, who I think is owed money for next year too, but he was on waivers yesterday too.

Wait, hold on. Who let Taylor Rogers go? The Giants. Giants let him go? Yeah, because like, has he been bad? No, he's got like a two something year. Sign Taylor Rogers right now. What are we doing? Well, he clear waivers So you might because he's got a next year. He might clear waivers or you just sign him and pay him

Yeah, well that yeah, yeah, like pay him the rest of your salary than you have for next year I don't know but like that but I know the love that I'm like could not be more So this must be the new thing with baseball. Like they got rid of the waiver. Just getting guys to save money. It's so bad. It's incredible. It's horrendous. So it is like their new August trade thing

where they until September 1st, you mean that. They put guys on waivers and rather than paying them. So that's good. It's healthy. It's so bad. It's so bad for the sport. Like the Cubs just like. They do get to go to maybe.

The Cubs just like gutted their roster roster like it's like they had like guys who are major league players and the Cubs weren't even that far out of it. Like they're out of it. But like, I don't like if I'm a Cubs fan now, I will tell you, I have friends who are Cubs fans and to a man, Chad, my buddy, Justin is definitely not listening. They really are like, OK, with it, like they're like, we won the World Series. Like, that's it. Like I didn't, we won the world series. Like that's it.

Like I didn't expect, like it feels like the lovable loser thing. They're like, they didn't expect to win. They got one. And now they care that much less about it. It's, it's really weird. That's explains my ego. Yeah. That's what I mean.

They're just like, I'm good. No, we got, we, we want one. You get that right. Like the world series, we want it. Yeah. That's us. Like, that's it. I really got it.

Cool. All right. Maybe that maybe they, they, oh, they, they deserve another hundred years. Yeah. Maybe they that's us. Like, that's it. Cool. All right. Maybe that maybe they oh, they they deserve another 100 years. Yeah, maybe they deserve another 100. Let's give them let's give them the double whammy. I like that. I was disappointed to hear the slander from the morning show today. Yes. Yes. Okay. So you really you really don't think I could do a better job than Taiwan Walker?

Yes, I really don't think that you could I'm really sorry to say this to you. It does hurt me a little bit. If I who do I think will get more outs in a major league baseball game You were Taiwan Walker. I think it's Taiwan Walker. I would go so far as to say anyone playing from single a Through the majors right now anyone whoever's on any roster team Would do better than you in the majors. I think if I drop down, I think there's a shot. I think there's a shot. There's a shot. I was it was bad, though. I was on the beach and I was having a cash.

By the way, there's just nothing that is more enjoyable than having a cat. Honestly, having catches the best. Man, we're working on it. So, yeah, you know, having catches the best thing. We're working on it. You know, I can put it wherever you need me to put it. I know it's no big deal because I was trying to teach my 10 year old nephew about pitching. I know I got a text from Jack, a little tags about, you know, just broke down that no landing pitch by pitch my nephew. No big deal. I said he's going to go first pitch curveball,ball you know fastball up and then he's gonna go I think it's the curveball down I don't know but it was like you're like I just

need all ten pitch right and I wanted and hopefully he was sitting there like wow I am sitting next to a literal pitching I should listen to everything he said I'm sure that's what he was thinking. Yeah. But my arm hurt for three days after it really did. No, it had presented. Couldn't lift it. I totally buy that. I was bad. Yeah, I know. But it's the greatest. Fills the beach are just different. Now I had to watch it on my laptop, which is not different. It's actually annoying.

I wanted to watch it on the big screen. Yeah. You've actually been, I feel like throughout the history of this podcast, you watching the fills on your laptop has been just a consistent theme Because you've had to do it so many different places every different situations Like you've watched more games on your laptop than I think but I mean who could forget again Not even no one versus sure sir 2018 and go we're getting it certainly not Jill But any new listeners even know about the I don't know this is true

We do reference things that people might just be like, I guess at one point I did say that it was a splitter away from being Steven. Yes, you did. This is a different podcast. Yeah. I think you might have compared him to Curt Schilling. A little bit mechanic wise. Mechanics.

He's already going over the top a little bit. And that's right. For those who didn't know, Jack on his honeymoon. Yes. Had to watch Phillies Nationals on his honeymoon. On his honeymoon. I don't even know where to go from there. I was like, add something. I'm like, no, that's it. That's it on his honeymoon. Say, Jill, I'm sorry. We can't hang out right now. My honeymoon on our honeymoon because I got to go to the room and watch the Phillies on my laptop while we're in coast. And my rebuttal is it was 2018.

Do people remember 2018? No luck. Like it was, it was like watching Maddox. That's what watching, by the way, speaking of Maddox, have you seen the videos? I did. I mean, so insane. Did you see the 14 strikeout game? No, I, so there's a video out there of his 14th, right? He had his one 14 strikeout game and it's like, the ball is just, like, it's like, how did, like, how does someone, it's like the witch thing, you know, I've always loved the Blake Trennan. He's the witch. Like Greg Maddox is the ultimate witch. Yeah. I mean he was scuffing baseballs at some points. Like, oh, are you kidding me?

No one scuffs baseballs anymore. I want to bring that back. Yeah. Bring back the scuff ball. Yeah. Well, that was, I mean, they went to spider tag. It became spider tag. I know. They're like, this isn't good enough. Let's create something and make this super advanced instead of just getting a little Vaseline on your hat or stuffing up a baseball like that. Like they did it back in the day. Yeah. Back in the analytics. Once again, analytics trying to say it with an act. It's like analytics. Oh my God. It's every caller on a Saturday morning from eight to 10 is, is, is I heard, I heard, I heard someone this weekend and it was like, once again, the analytics it's like, Oh my God, would you just take a deep breath? Anyway,

just chill out. But it was, it was 2018. No, it was special. And then, my final take in the take back. Are you breaking out the account? That's what I thought you're doing. That's good. Yeah. No, I I don't think that I taxidue this rewatched Dumb and Dumber for the first time. Oh, yeah. And I did.

I respond because I think it's up there. If I didn't resign, I thought I'd respond. I said I think it's a thing. The most quote, a movie, a movie of all time. So I know that, that, so you're saying there's a chance is something that is said in my house, maybe every day, like most days, like that gets said all the time. There's a, there's a, yeah, there's a bunch of them that really do get said over and over and over again. Austria. Oh, yeah. It still holds up.

It does. So I watch it probably a year ago or so. Yeah, it's hilarious. Well, it is just a super funny movie. Well, and it's like if you pick up on a little subtlety, heads are full. Or if it's heads are falling off, that's used all the time. And then pull over. It's cardigan. Thanks for asking. Like you want to know the most annoying sound around?

Oh, yeah, that is. I like. Yeah, like there's cardigan. Thanks for asking. Yeah. Like the most annoying sound around. That is like there's so much, there's so much in that movie. High level dude. I dumb and dumber was a good throwback. It's a great movie. It's a great movie and really, really, really me and my two brothers in law is quoting it while everyone's watching. Yeah. You're watching it. You're like, could you shut up already? I get it. You saw the movie a bunch of times. Thanks. If you've not seen them numbers, one.

Yeah, obviously the what I've realized is there's a lot of people and that are, I don't remember a lot of things, but like the Phillies 10 years ago, you know, like everyone's younger now than me. I used to be the young guy. So like, welcome to my world. This is sweet. So if you haven't seen Dumb and Dumber go watch. Yeah, for real.

It's, it's hilarious. It's like truly hilarious. Have you, so have you watched everybody wants them yet? I'm gonna Tucker jumping in on that. A movie about college baseball, starring Glenn Powell and Zoe Deutsch and like no big deal. No one day someday why would you care about watching something that's like perfectly tailored to your likes and dislikes and that you would actually really really enjoy and get a kick out of why after

baseball season okay yeah okay sure like that there you go yeah nothing you know what I have time for the Miller the Miller light account of the week in today's show sponsor Miller light Lite and Gall and Company, located in Port Richmond and Rockledge. Check it out. Gall or Galli. It's G-A-E. I thought so. Gall, Chair Gall and Company for every Phillies game. Enjoy three dollar real life bottles at the home of the. I'm going to go over this. The Witter Witowski Kielbasa Cheese Steak.

Wow. The old Kielbasa Cheese Steak? Witter Witowski Kielbasa Cheese Steak featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drivers, and Times with Guy Fieri. Emily has watched many episodes of that. Miller Lite for Phil's win. Celebrate responsibly. I've never been a food show guy.

No. Never. I can't do it. Well, my problem is I don't know how to cook anything. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Correct.

I do zero cooking. I want to do zero cooking and the result of that is don't care how you make it. Just give it to me. I'm going to figure out the cook. I think I believe in you. Well, you're, you're a long guy now. Well, long guy. Yeah.

Yeah. The natural progression, you know, for you becoming 65 years old. One day, man. Can't wait. You got anything else? No, no. I know. Hey, what are you doing after this? Going back. Yeah, I know. I can't wait. I do have to walk home now, which is a little disappointing. Emily's at the car today.

As always, our dear listeners, pouring out for James. Yeah, pour it out. I it's OK. Ready? It's freaking, it's almost noon. I woke up at three o'clock this morning. All right. I had a big day at work. I had to interview a lot of people. Don't feel bad. You're right, Jack. Screw me. No, you dare do that. Dare do that. You dare. All right. We'll be back after the weekend. Labor day or labor day. Yeah. Labor day, Monday, baby. We'll be back. I've told my mom move that day, so I have to go like early in the morning.

So we'll figure we'll coordinate. Shout out to my mom. She bought a house. Very cool. And Doyle's down. My mom now a homeowner. Your schedule off the five. Yeah. Well, I know you. Yeah, I know. We could do that. I think Tucker has never wanted to podcast the end.

Yeah. Tucker is like looking at the. Oh, like my fourth time this morning. He interviewed people today. I know. Man, this is wild. Aiden's hitting 357. That's what we needed there. All right. Now we can finally go. He's written something. You