Latest / Hittin' Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast / #936: 10 Pressing Phillies Questions

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#936: 10 Pressing Phillies Questions · Hittin' Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast

• 0:01
  Breaking ball and a call.
• 0:02
  Strike three.
• 0:03
  Third strikeout for Zach.
• 0:04
  He's going to just watch it go.
• 0:06
  A grand slam for Bryson Stotts.
• 0:10
  And there's a high fly ball deep right field.
• 0:14
  Harper watches it fly.
• 0:20
  From y'aII and Billy Penn it is hitting season.
• 0:24
  Hey there podcast pals I'm John stolen from the good fight and Billy Penn.
• 0:28
  You can follow me on X and blue Sky at John Stone is coming up.
• 0:31
  Ten questions about this Phillies season.
• 0:34
  The Phillies right now in spring training , ten days away from Opening Day.
• 0:39
  We are getting up on it here.
• 0:41
  So I came up with ten questions that I want to ask my roundtable podcast co-hosts on this episode of The Pod.
• 0:48
  And so we're going to jump right to it here in just a second.
• 0:50
  Justin Kluwe and Liz Rozier , of course , joining me as on the roundtable here as as we do every week.
• 0:57
  Uh , follow Liz on X and blue sky.
• 0:59
  Atlas.
• 0:59
  Roger.
• 1:00
  Elizabeth.
• 1:00
  How are you this fine Monday night ? I'm doing well.
• 1:04
  You said the baseball season is closer than ever , and I could certainly feel it.
• 1:08
  It feels warmer out there.
• 1:11
  It feels like spring , the sun staying up longer , going down later.
• 1:18
  It's a miracle.
• 1:19
  It happens every year and it still feels like a miracle.
• 1:22
  The other night , on Sunday night here in Northern Virginia , it was uncomfortably warm in the evening.
• 1:27
  Now , it's still too early in the year for air conditioning to get thrown on the house , but any time it was like the line of demarcation , you know , you know that the.
• 1:35
  Fan on , you know.
• 1:36
  Yeah.
• 1:37
  The ceiling fans were going on highs first time really since like September.
• 1:40
  I think we turned on the ceiling fans in the bedroom.
• 1:42
  So , um , that's , that's that's the first sign that we're starting to emerge.
• 1:46
  I think , you know , you have the groundhog.
• 1:49
  For me , it's when you really , for the first time , want to turn on your air conditioning in your bedroom and you decide it's still too early in the year.
• 1:58
  Um , Justin Clue from Baseball Prospectus.
• 2:00
  Um , on Twitter and ECS and blue Sky.
• 2:03
  Uh.
• 2:03
  Not anymore.
• 2:03
  Just about blue sky.
• 2:04
  I can't , I keep forgetting.
• 2:06
  Uh , we missed you over there at X , but I , I get it , I get it totally.
• 2:09
  Uh , and just to clear up blue Sky , um , are you a are you , like , when's your air conditioning cut off point , man ? Like , have you some people are just like , if I'm hot , air conditioning goes on.
• 2:19
  I don't care what time of year it is.
• 2:21
  Yeah.
• 2:22
  That's a that's approach.
• 2:23
  Is that.
• 2:24
  Uh.
• 2:24
  Yeah.
• 2:24
  If , if that's just go with what you're feeling.
• 2:27
  You know , our general approach to the temperature of the , of the living space is like , everyone just have a I want you to have a cool time , just like , have a chill , cool time.
• 2:36
  And you know , if you're feeling it , you feel like you want to have a certain kind of experience buttons right there.
• 2:40
  So yeah , I think generally we have a pretty , uh , pretty healthy outlook as far as , uh , keeping our house the ideal temperature.
• 2:49
  It's a very mature look at it , someone who's not necessarily worried about their energy bills , which I think is good.
• 2:56
  Well , what I like to do is crack the window open and then turn that AC up to , I don't know , maybe max force , maybe double max and then just get a nice cross breeze going.
• 3:06
  You get that mix of recirculated air , regularly circulated air.
• 3:11
  You know , it's kind of like what nature intended.
• 3:14
  I like to think.
• 3:16
  It really is.
• 3:17
  It really is.
• 3:18
  I mean , it does it does feel.
• 3:19
  Like it's all this while wearing VR goggles and asleep in an office chair in the middle of them.
• 3:26
  Yeah.
• 3:26
  Huh.
• 3:27
  Yeah , I like it.
• 3:28
  It makes it makes.
• 3:29
  Yeah.
• 3:29
  Makes sense to me.
• 3:31
  Um , well , what we're going to do here on this episode of the podcast , on the roundtable is we're going to go through ten questions that I came up with.
• 3:37
  Uh , it's mostly about the Phillies , but we'll kind of branch out into , you know , the rest of Major League Baseball a little bit as well.
• 3:43
  Um , but we're just going to go down the list one through ten and , uh , see , you see what we think about some of these different things.
• 3:49
  And so , um , we'll start off here , logically enough , at question number one.
• 3:55
  Uh , the Phillies stressed a lot last year , and we as a fan base , kind of stressed out about the Phillies getting off to a fast start in 2022 and 2023.
• 4:07
  The team got off to slow starts and especially in 2022.
• 4:11
  Remember Joe Girardi was the manager at the beginning of that year , got fired after a couple of months , and it was a mad blitz to get into the postseason.
• 4:20
  I mean , it almost didn't happen.
• 4:21
  They barely got in by the skin of their teeth.
• 4:23
  2023 it was another slow start.
• 4:25
  Not quite as bad.
• 4:27
  They had more time.
• 4:27
  They did a better job of getting themselves into the playoffs.
• 4:31
  Uh , number one wild card as opposed to the number three wild card.
• 4:34
  Last year , though , it was just like , you know , let's win the division.
• 4:36
  Let's get that.
• 4:37
  Bye.
• 4:38
  Let's get one of those top two seeds.
• 4:40
  Race off to a fast start so you're not scrambling at the end of the season.
• 4:43
  And so the Phillies did that.
• 4:45
  They got off to that insane start last year.
• 4:48
  And then just kind of put it on cruise control.
• 4:52
  There was a malaise.
• 4:53
  Something happened with the team that they just they lost that edge at a certain point last year.
• 4:58
  So I'm kind of curious , just in your thoughts on what kind of start you feel the Phillies need to get off to here in 2025 ? They stressed about getting off a stressed , getting off to a fast start last year.
• 5:11
  Do you think it kind of messed them up ? And if so , was there anything that they can do differently this year ? How should they approach it ? It was great because the Phillies played so well in the first half of last season that you saw the cliche pop up of like , oh , they only need to play 500 ball the rest of the way and they'll still , you know , have this incredible record.
• 5:31
  And the Phillies.
• 5:32
  The problem was the Phillies heard that.
• 5:34
  And then we're like , what we can just that really ? Okay , that sounds great.
• 5:40
  Let's do that.
• 5:40
  And they did that.
• 5:42
  I think the problem with this whole topic , not to flip the whole table here from the first question , uh , the first answer to the first question is that I don't think the Phillies are really in control of this.
• 5:54
  You know , like they can stress winning early all they want.
• 5:58
  And then they did.
• 5:58
  But then , yeah , like that.
• 6:00
  That meant I guess that had to mean not winning later.
• 6:03
  But did they not intend to also win later ? I mean , the the intent had to be there the entire time.
• 6:08
  They just didn't successfully execute for the second half of the season and then also in the playoffs.
• 6:13
  So I guess it's like what I prefer the hot aspect of the season.
• 6:18
  Like when would I prefer that to happen ? And I think you unquestionably have to say , I'd rather watch a team that falls into a small hole , plays more competitively , and then gets really hot in September and then goes into the playoffs.
• 6:28
  I don't see how you argue against that at this point.
• 6:30
  That's a success story.
• 6:31
  Nine times out of ten last year , the Dodgers won at least 15 games a month every month except July , when they actually had a losing record of 11 and 13.
• 6:40
  Then they came back in August and September and won 35 out of 53 games to close out the season.
• 6:46
  You know , if you win 15 games a month , that's like a 90 win pace.
• 6:49
  So I like to think about this team not being hot or cold , but imagine them just being like steady , a steady winning machine scoring.
• 6:59
  Five.
• 6:59
  Runs a night.
• 7:00
  Sometimes it's enough , sometimes it's not.
• 7:02
  But the pitching can typically make it stand up.
• 7:04
  And if you're good all year , you don't have to get hot.
• 7:07
  So I want to say the Phillies should try to be consistent this time and not get caught up in the whole who's hot , who's cold conversation , but that's not something you can just decide to do.
• 7:15
  And it's not something that this team is either.
• 7:18
  I think consistency at this point is a quality that's a lot more fundamental.
• 7:21
  It's not like , oh yeah , they're coming in and and they're going to be more they want to be more consistent.
• 7:25
  You know , it's like your height or your eye color.
• 7:27
  We just know they're not a consistent team.
• 7:30
  And that's that's it.
• 7:32
  We've watched this team try to fight this playoff monkey three times.
• 7:35
  And they keep getting outmaneuvered , but rarely in a way that makes you feel like they never had a shot even last year heading up to Queens after the game two walk off.
• 7:43
  You can't tell me people weren't talking themselves into winning two games on the road.
• 7:46
  Oh yeah , so I guess what I'm saying is stop trying to control things you can't inconsistency or that you probably aren't going to be able to control like consistency.
• 7:55
  Play ball every night in the way that you.
• 7:57
  I started talking to the Phillies at some point during this answer.
• 8:00
  But play ball every night the way that makes you most comfortable.
• 8:03
  Because one thing you do know in this sea of chaos is that you're a really good team that keeps going to the postseason because you're so good , they can clearly execute.
• 8:11
  There's a collective 19 all star game appearances in this batting order on a given night , but they've struggled mentally.
• 8:18
  And I'm not a mental skills specialist , but I've been reading about guys who've been looking for consistency when they start the season and like what they're talking about and what they're trying to address , and the hopes of finding some kind of answer for the Phillies to say like , oh , maybe , maybe this would be a good thing for them to do to find that elusive consistency.
• 8:34
  But really , all these guys talk about is finding routines , sticking to them , changing them up a bit when they get burned out , picking dumb little things to rally around , pinning stuff to the bulletin board photoshopping Mr. Mets head onto the bodies of famous movie serial killers.
• 8:49
  Stay loose , keep having fun.
• 8:51
  Don't get stuck like this team doesn't need to bring back dancing on my own , but I do think it needs to bring back that kind of level of energy.
• 8:58
  They were just that 22 was a looser , wackier team and 24 was like , no , we have to be really serious and intense about this because it's time to win the World Series.
• 9:07
  And we've had a couple chances and we blew it.
• 9:09
  So I don't think moving in the in the more it's time to get down to business like direction is going to be super helpful for this team.
• 9:16
  I think they got to just play in a way that makes them comfortable and try to find that level of consistency , so nobody's telling them when they should have won because they're just not in control of that.
• 9:27
  Yeah , I mean , I hear everything Justin is saying and I think he's right.
• 9:30
  I think consistency undoubtedly is the key.
• 9:33
  But I do think that I think that last year they did they did seem to be and the schedule certainly benefited them early in the season.
• 9:42
  Like we look at like and think , oh , they were they were so great in the beginning of the season.
• 9:45
  And then the schedule got significantly harder in the second half than it was in the first half of the season.
• 9:50
  And so that we kind of forget about that.
• 9:52
  But that , that and we were we were scoffing against that notion early in the year.
• 9:56
  You can only and they were destroying everybody in their path.
• 9:59
  But we do remember like how they approached J.T. Realmuto s injury.
• 10:02
  There was just kind of like once they got off to that big lead , it did seem like they kind of lost that edge.
• 10:08
  And so that's what I mean.
• 10:10
  Like , did they learn anything from last year ? Is there anything they can take away from how they approach the second half of the season ? Decisions that they made , maybe the the energy in the clubhouse as Justin was kind of talking to , is there a is there a way that they can learn from last year and put it towards this year ? I mean , theoretically , yes.
• 10:28
  But like , no , like the key to this year is they need to not have as many silent injuries among guys who were key players , because that's what happened.
• 10:39
  They had guys who were nursing long term injuries that needed to be 100% that weren't 100%.
• 10:45
  And what happens every year is we theorize , hey , it seems like this guy might not be 100%.
• 10:50
  The Phillies say that you have no reason to believe that this guy is anything other than completely healthy.
• 10:56
  And we're like , okay , but it kind of does seem like he might not be.
• 11:00
  And we find out.
• 11:01
  The chief example , I think.
• 11:03
  But like in this but this was it was others throughout the season , like Bryce Harper was one of them at one point or another.
• 11:09
  You know , uh , Alec Bohm was one of them.
• 11:12
  So , you know , the the Phillies are going to take what they get from the , you know , the baseball gods.
• 11:21
  But like , the key is just to remain healthy , really , and have everyone performing well like they can.
• 11:29
  There's anything they can learn other than play better and right.
• 11:35
  You know , that's the that's the eternal battle.
• 11:38
  If every team could play perfect.
• 11:39
  What are you even doing here ? Right ? Just don't.
• 11:42
  Don't lose there.
• 11:43
  Don't lose your edge.
• 11:44
  Every at-bat should be a grind.
• 11:46
  Like , don't lose that.
• 11:47
  Don't lose that mindset.
• 11:49
  You know , even if you've got a 12 game lead.
• 11:52
  You know , I keep thinking back to the Super Bowl and and and some of the behind the scenes quotes and Saquon Barkley the whole game is just it's zero zero.
• 12:02
  Don't worry about the score.
• 12:03
  Stay right here.
• 12:04
  You're right here.
• 12:04
  Now that's one game.
• 12:05
  It's easier to do that in like a championship game to have that mentality there than over a six month season.
• 12:10
  But that's kind of where they need to be.
• 12:12
  Like you said , balancing the the looseness that they had in 2022 with the idea that , you know , they got to take care of business here in 2025 and , and to handle their business and , and to approach it like , you know , like whether they're six games out or six games up , every game is the same.
• 12:28
  Every day is the same , same sense of urgency every day going out there.
• 12:32
  And I think that's I think that to me is the key to 2025.
• 12:35
  Just maintain that sense of urgency and that consistency.
• 12:37
  And it's really easy.
• 12:38
  You do that and you're going to you're going to win the World Series.
• 12:40
  So why can't they just do that ? Oh , it's just weird.
• 12:43
  They've got a simple goal but it's not an easy goal.
• 12:46
  Correct.
• 12:46
  You're the one the one thing.
• 12:48
  They just got to check that box.
• 12:50
  Yeah that's it.
• 12:51
  Come on guys it's easy.
• 12:52
  Let's do it.
• 12:54
  Um , again not easy.
• 12:55
  Simple but not easy.
• 12:56
  Question number two.
• 12:58
  Liz I'm going to start this one off with you.
• 13:00
  Which player can this team least afford to lose to ? Injury.
• 13:06
  This was an easy one for me.
• 13:07
  And that would be Zack Wheeler if if you if there's if a rubber stamp of a player , it's that guy.
• 13:15
  You know he'll have a couple of misses per season and that's to be expected.
• 13:19
  But he's solid and he the Phillies need him to stay solid in order for everything else to work.
• 13:26
  Well , if they lose him , like that's a huge problem.
• 13:29
  So , you know , let's hope that they don't because that he's the player to me that they can least afford to lose it.
• 13:36
  Like everything starts at that foundation.
• 13:40
  Justin , how about you ? I also said , Zack Wheeler , just because I typically look past the pitching in questions like this , and I really was trying to devastate myself.
• 13:50
  And , uh , the Phillies whole strength comes from starting pitching in depth like this at this point in the season , that's that's the preseason.
• 13:58
  That's the narrative about the Phillies is , yeah , they'll come at you with really strong starting pitching , and they have a lot of it.
• 14:03
  But how often have you seen like the top of a rotation go down and then like that's kind of like the isolated incident for an entire rotation throughout the season.
• 14:12
  It just feels like starting pitching injuries are so contagious , even though scientifically that's not true.
• 14:19
  It just feels like if your top guy goes down , it just makes it more likely , like your depth is you're going to burn through your depth really fast.
• 14:26
  And I think we've learned that and teams that have had a good amount of depth have , you know , learned that lesson countless times that like , it can all go away very quickly.
• 14:34
  Wheeler misses , like a couple months.
• 14:36
  And then Sanchez , you know , his arm sore and Suarez's shoulder isn't right.
• 14:40
  And everybody's things that used to haunt them start creeping back in.
• 14:44
  And yeah , it just feels like it's so easily becomes a huge mess.
• 14:47
  And Wheeler being as um , dominant but also , uh , reliable in that position is such a huge , huge thing for the Phillies.
• 14:58
  It would be like knocking down a statue.
• 15:01
  And that's just.
• 15:02
  Yeah , that for for the kind of season they're trying to have and the strengths that they're supposed to have right now , that would just be hugely devastating for them.
• 15:10
  Ordinarily , in seasons past I would have agreed with you.
• 15:13
  And I think Zack Wheeler , you lose Zack Wheeler , especially for a long period of time.
• 15:17
  It would be devastating , especially in the postseason.
• 15:20
  I mean , he's such a great game.
• 15:22
  One guy , you know , he's he would be really a devastating loss.
• 15:26
  But because of the strength of the starting rotation , because I think you have , you know a number one in Wheeler , but then you've got like four number twos , like legitimate number twos with with potential upside to to even better than that for for guys like Nola and Sanchez and Luzardo really even if he if he has the kind of year that he had a couple of years ago.
• 15:46
  I think they if you lost Zack Wheeler for a month or six weeks or something like that , I think this rotation is better able to handle that.
• 15:55
  Um , and it wouldn't be as devastating as if they were to lose.
• 15:58
  And this is the guy that I think.
• 16:00
  And it may be it may sound weird , but I think if they lost Kyle Schwarber for a long period of time , I think the offense would be in some real trouble because he is the one guy who is like the legitimate 40 home run threat in that lineup.
• 16:16
  Like all the guys in the lineup , they can hit some home runs like Bryce Harper , Bryce Harper.
• 16:20
  Like I'm predicting a big home run year for Bryce Harper just because it's kind of a fun prediction to make.
• 16:24
  But he's typically been like a a 30 to 33 homer a year guy , which is good.
• 16:30
  That's a decent amount of home runs.
• 16:31
  You're going to be in the top ten in the league in home runs there , but then everybody else is in like the mid to low 20s or teens like Schwarber is a guy who can carry the team who when he gets that power back going like he's he's like the he's the guy who can get some a lot of runs on the board in a hurry , more so than anybody else on the team.
• 16:50
  And if you were to lose Kyle Schwarber for six weeks , eight weeks , something like that , I think that could have a I think the effect that that could have on the lineup , I think the Phillies would be better able.
• 17:00
  And this doesn't mean he's more valuable , but I think the Phillies would be better able to handle Bryce Harper being out for six weeks than they would Kyle Schwarber being out for six weeks.
• 17:09
  Is that crazy ? The way I kind of approached this , as far as taking people out of the lineup was Schwarber was the first one to come to mind.
• 17:16
  And I think you're right , because he's a player who is so distinct and brings a distinct ability to the Phillies than losing him.
• 17:24
  As you lose that ability , it's not like you're saying it's not somebody who then slots right in and does what Kyle Schwarber does.
• 17:29
  So that is , I can totally see that being devastating.
• 17:31
  But over the years , the Phillies have lost.
• 17:34
  I feel like almost every one of these guys for like at least a month or at least a couple of weeks , and every time almost.
• 17:42
  I think something that's sneaky good about this team is that they have covered in those , like they've obviously gone through bad stretches , obviously , but it's always like , oh yeah , since Bryce Harper's been out there actually , like playing better or Trey Turner's been out and they've actually you know they are hitting.
• 17:57
  They're doing all right despite that.
• 17:59
  So they find ways to cover when it's a guy in the lineup I feel.
• 18:03
  And that's why the pitching aspect is scarier to me , because I don't think we've really seen them suffer that in a big way yet.
• 18:11
  And we don't know if , like , the same kind of deal would happen there , despite there being a lot of depth in the rotation.
• 18:18
  Yeah.
• 18:19
  The only thing that makes me feel okay about about losing Wheeler is they did lose him for a good period of time.
• 18:26
  Uh , was it during the 22 round of the 23 when we're 23 were in.
• 18:30
  Sanchez came in and kind of saved ? No.
• 18:32
  Was it ? It wasn't.
• 18:33
  Sanchez was Bailey falter was the Bailey falter year.
• 18:36
  Remember he came in in 22 and when Wheeler was out for like a month and pitched like a legitimate , like , middle of the rotation guy for a minute and a half there.
• 18:45
  You can take it from our silence that.
• 18:48
  No , we do.
• 18:48
  No one remembers it.
• 18:49
  You can take.
• 18:50
  It from me.
• 18:50
  Didn't happen.
• 18:51
  The sound of my net at all.
• 18:53
  Panicked keystrokes as I was , uh , looking to reference that.
• 18:57
  Oh , I love how you were looking to reference that.
• 18:59
  I'm like , I know that happened , but it did not.
• 19:02
  I mean , I could I could remember it if I wanted to , but I don't feel like it.
• 19:07
  Made.
• 19:07
  16.
• 19:08
  Starts in 2022.
• 19:10
  Yeah.
• 19:10
  That was that was his best era of his career that season.
• 19:13
  So yeah.
• 19:13
  Yeah yeah.
• 19:14
  He was he.
• 19:14
  Was he he really saved that pitching staff for a couple of months there in the middle of the summer.
• 19:19
  Unsung hero from the 2022 team.
• 19:23
  Um , all right.
• 19:23
  Let's move on to question number three.
• 19:25
  This was an interesting story.
• 19:26
  Todd Zaleski had out on Monday noticing that the the wind at citizens Bank Park has prevented 48 home runs from leaving the park over the last two years.
• 19:38
  It has cost Bryce Harper six home runs over the last two seasons.
• 19:43
  I have kind of I mean , it's been well known that citizens Bank Park isn't the bandbox that it once was , that the place that John Smoltz always used to just annoyingly hate and rip on all the all the time , but it's really become it's become park neutral essentially over the over the last couple of years and I , I don't know how all of a sudden now wind is a problem like these last two years at citizens Bank Park.
• 20:08
  Like what else is what other structures have been going up around the stadium or how it's being moved around ? The team doesn't really know.
• 20:15
  I'm not asking you guys to explain it.
• 20:18
  I'm asking.
• 20:18
  I have no clue.
• 20:19
  No , it's , you know , who knows ? But did you guys Prefer Liz.
• 20:24
  I mean , did you prefer when citizens Bank Park was a Homer haven , or do you like it now that it's kind of like , more of a neutral park ? Because I feel like I kind of missed the I missed the bandbox days.
• 20:36
  I missed that I missed the big box days a lot.
• 20:39
  That was fun.
• 20:41
  Home runs are fun.
• 20:43
  Yeah , I enjoy watching them happen.
• 20:46
  And so I , I would like I would like to see Citizen Citizens Bank Park give it more of those when I , when I , um , saw this on the agenda that you sent around the show sheet , I thought , I wonder if he has a reason for it.
• 21:01
  Like , I'm not going to look it up in case it's something really like like I like to look it up at all.
• 21:07
  I want to be surprised if it is.
• 21:09
  And , you know , you don't have an answer.
• 21:11
  No.
• 21:11
  The team officials quoted in the story didn't have an answer.
• 21:14
  I mean.
• 21:15
  Do they not ? I mean , I guess I understand , but I also don't like it's incredible in what we know so little about , and we just continue our lives like we have no idea why there's more wind.
• 21:29
  Is it a suspect ? Park now ? Does seem like that's something someone might want to look into.
• 21:36
  Justin.
• 21:37
  What do you think , man ? So , I mean , it's fun to think about Schwarber and Harper playing in a ballpark built for home runs , but this can go the other way.
• 21:48
  The other team also gets to hit home.
• 21:50
  Yes.
• 21:50
  That's true.
• 21:51
  So in the year as citizens Bank Park opened in oh four , the Phillies had this miserable homestand that ended in a loss to the Astros.
• 21:59
  The Phillies had been up 7 to 2.
• 22:01
  They gave up like seven runs really late , lose the game there without in their bullpen , there without young Ryan Madson there without Billy Wagner and Larry Bowes just sitting there at the end of the game talking about like , well , look , we got a bunch of relievers.
• 22:15
  They're all trying to hold these 1 or 2 run leads late that like , you know , I don't know how diplomatically he phrased it , but like , these are not the relievers we had intended to be using in this situation because of the injuries that the bullpen has sustained.
• 22:28
  And now we're playing in this homer friendly ballpark with , you know , the game on the line and a home run is the difference maker.
• 22:35
  And they wound up on this like going like one and nine on this homestand before they hit the road.
• 22:40
  So like it can turn against you pretty easily.
• 22:43
  And for an offense that's defined itself by inconsistent power , I don't know if the if the home run haven thing is is super valuable for the Phillies at this point.
• 22:55
  Fair.
• 22:55
  That's just all too fair.
• 22:58
  Yeah , that that is fair and.
• 22:59
  Making sense I hate it.
• 23:01
  Yeah.
• 23:01
  And I guess , you know , neutral neutral is is fair.
• 23:05
  I mean , it really is.
• 23:06
  And for for I guess for this team specifically with the starting rotation , it has , you're probably more okay with it , you know , being more balanced than it being a Homer haven.
• 23:16
  But it was it was a good time.
• 23:17
  Remember there was a um , and Todd mentioned this in the story , but , uh , there was the controversy of they actually had the one of the walls , the left center field wall mist numbered , like they said , it was actually like 385 or something like that.
• 23:29
  One was actually 375 or something , like they just had the wrong number on the wall.
• 23:33
  I mean.
• 23:34
  I must have told you this at the same time , but there's a minor league , uh , president team president I interviewed once who was told me he pretty much did the same thing where he was like , yeah , I had a a guy with a tape measure go out to the wall.
• 23:45
  He'd yell how far it was from home plate.
• 23:47
  And I would just say , you know , okay.
• 23:49
  Right.
• 23:49
  Uh , a distance , it's like 20 or 30ft longer than that.
• 23:51
  And they just put that on all the fences.
• 23:53
  And he was like , yeah , we just did that all the time.
• 23:56
  That's great.
• 23:58
  I don't think that was the CBP method , but it wouldn't surprise me.
• 24:02
  Honestly.
• 24:03
  Me either.
• 24:04
  Yeah.
• 24:05
  All right.
• 24:05
  Question number four.
• 24:07
  Um , I don't know if you guys saw Spencer Strider made his spring debut here on Monday.
• 24:13
  Uh , I think he struck out the first five batters that he faced.
• 24:15
  Disturbingly , uh , disturbingly in his element.
• 24:19
  Yeah , I think there was some thought.
• 24:21
  He would be back.
• 24:21
  I hate it so much.
• 24:22
  He's back.
• 24:24
  He's back and it's bad.
• 24:25
  Yeah.
• 24:26
  There was some thought he wouldn't be back until late April.
• 24:28
  I don't think he's ready.
• 24:31
  He's back.
• 24:32
  And so the Braves have their ace back.
• 24:35
  And so the question I think is really interesting.
• 24:37
  I mean , in this division , MLB.com released their power rankings this week.
• 24:42
  And they have the Dodgers at one , the Phillies at two , the Braves at three and the Mets at four.
• 24:46
  I mean , two , three , four in the National League East with the Phillies at the top of both of those teams , which I thought was interesting.
• 24:53
  Which team do you guys think right now ? Justin , I'll start off with you.
• 24:57
  Is the bigger threat to the Phillies ? Is it the Braves or is it the Mets ? So since 2022 against the Phillies , the Mets are 26 and 19.
• 25:08
  And since 2022 against the Phillies , the Braves are also 26 and 19.
• 25:14
  And both of those totals are largely due to 2022 , when the Phillies lost to the Mets 14 out of 19 times and the Braves beat them 11 out of 19 times.
• 25:23
  So , you know , it's been pretty close since then.
• 25:26
  They have very close to 500 records against each other since 2023.
• 25:30
  You can throw in the Phillies , beat the Braves in the playoffs twice and lost to the Mets once.
• 25:34
  So like , this is kind of I don't know if anybody really has like the a full advantage over anybody right now.
• 25:41
  You know , I think it depends on which outlet you're looking at or which preview you're reading.
• 25:46
  But I've seen , you know , the Phillies and Braves kind of getting swapped in and out of that top spot.
• 25:51
  And the Mets are kind of like swap between 2 and 3.
• 25:53
  Some people think they're they're ahead of the Phillies.
• 25:55
  Some people think they're lagging behind.
• 25:57
  But I think , yeah , this is a pretty evenly matched triumvirate in the in the NL East right now.
• 26:02
  When you think about what each of these teams has going on.
• 26:04
  Well , the Braves have this stacked core of all star players , but they've got a similar thing going on in their bullpen and that they they lost two arms.
• 26:12
  And they're hoping they They already have a guy , Dylan Lee , who's going to take the next step , as the Phillies are doing with a Ryan co-occurring.
• 26:19
  They have no catching depth because Darnold's gone.
• 26:21
  They don't have a lot of depth in general beyond their starters.
• 26:23
  They need Acuna to both come back and not need too long of a of a reboot before he starts getting getting going again.
• 26:30
  And they need Chris Sale to be just about as good as he was last year again.
• 26:33
  But people think the Braves got hurt last year and like that was it that that's the defining thing of the season.
• 26:39
  They won 89 games.
• 26:41
  They went to the playoffs.
• 26:42
  Yeah.
• 26:43
  They kept they kept a seven year streak of going to the playoffs intact.
• 26:47
  Yeah.
• 26:47
  And the only injured person they're probably still going to be missing on opening Day is Acuna who's supposed to be back in May.
• 26:53
  They had you know so they know how to deal.
• 26:55
  And that doesn't even sound like they're going to be dealing with , uh , very much to start 2025.
• 27:00
  I don't think everything will go wrong for the Mets , but I think their offense will occasionally look unstoppable and extremely exciting.
• 27:06
  But that said , they're having their own depth issues beyond the lineup and the rotation , and I think their depth issues you start when you're still looking at the lineup.
• 27:13
  Not like who's behind it with the Braves.
• 27:15
  Their pitchers being gassed is part of why the Dodgers went kind of like right through them.
• 27:19
  And they didn't really address that too much in the off season and for for the Phillies.
• 27:24
  The central theme in all these write ups seems to be , boy , these guys are old , but they're gonna suck soon.
• 27:29
  And obviously we're going to see better things for the offense than others , you know , in the future , because this is a Phillies podcast , but that feels like a very lazy hand-wavy dismissal to get out of breaking down this this lineup that has all these , like , prolific hitters in it.
• 27:42
  The Phillies have a lineup that can be the hottest or coldest in the sport , and that can change at any time.
• 27:46
  So that said , their strength is obviously starting pitching where they have fewer questions than the Braves and more talented than the Mets.
• 27:52
  So I think in the end , to finally answer this question , the Braves have a better shot at being the Phillies biggest problem because during the regular season , they have been and very little truly slows them down.
• 28:01
  The Braves have better top to bottom threats across the board , and I think they'll be eager to get the lead back.
• 28:08
  Liz.
• 28:08
  Same question.
• 28:09
  Braves or Mets ? Who's the bigger threat ? I don't know if I can , uh , I could follow that.
• 28:15
  You have.
• 28:16
  I don't know if I.
• 28:17
  Can go back in time and have you go first.
• 28:19
  No , I mean , I pretty much agree.
• 28:21
  I mean , I can't say it better than Justin said it.
• 28:23
  I pretty much agree.
• 28:25
  You know , the Mets are not a bad team.
• 28:28
  They're a good team that has they have a lot of different strengths , but they didn't really address a lot of problems other than , you know , a puzzle piece that was exactly the size and shape of Juan Soto.
• 28:39
  And they got that guy and they fit him right in there.
• 28:42
  And , you know , they thought they were all right.
• 28:44
  Well , this is pretty much good as Braves.
• 28:47
  The Braves are better than that , much better than they're smarter than that.
• 28:52
  And they manage to re-up and reload with less money.
• 28:58
  They are very frustrating that way.
• 29:00
  But yeah , they are.
• 29:01
  They're very evenly matched.
• 29:03
  I'm it's one of the reasons I'm excited for the season.
• 29:06
  Like there as far as narratives go.
• 29:08
  We're waiting for one to happen.
• 29:11
  Yeah.
• 29:11
  I mean , injuries are certainly going to be a it's always a the possibility to upend one of these three teams like it did for the Braves a year ago.
• 29:19
  But like Justin said , I mean , they still made the playoffs.
• 29:21
  I think I undersell the Mets in my mind a little bit because they weren't very good for most of last year , but kind of got hot at the end of the season.
• 29:28
  I also don't love their starting rotation , with Minaya being out and Frankie Montas being out to start the season.
• 29:34
  I think that's a big problem for them.
• 29:35
  Juan Soto is going to make a big difference.
• 29:37
  He's been a monster this spring.
• 29:39
  Like he he's just he's going to make that lineup deep.
• 29:43
  He's going to they're going to score runs.
• 29:44
  I really do think I know Pete Alonso.
• 29:46
  People were down on him at the end of last year.
• 29:48
  He's losing his step.
• 29:49
  He's having that bat in the lineup is better than not having that bat in the lineup for for the Mets.
• 29:54
  But I do look at the Braves.
• 29:56
  I don't think they're going to hit the way they did in 2023 , like I predicted a step back for them in 24 just because their numbers were so ridiculous in 23.
• 30:04
  But nobody saw that happening.
• 30:05
  But even before all the injuries started happening last year , the Brett's off , the Braves offense was taking a step back.
• 30:11
  Like Acuna was struggling , Olson was struggling.
• 30:13
  Arcia was struggling like they they had some issues going on even before the injuries got got to them a little bit.
• 30:20
  All that being said , I do think the Braves roster is a better roster than the Mets roster.
• 30:25
  And I agree with the two of you.
• 30:27
  I think the Braves right now are the biggest threat to the Phillies.
• 30:30
  And if you ask me who's better , the Phillies of the Braves right now , I don't know that I have a clear answer on on that one just just yet , especially now , especially now that Spencer Strider is is back in looking like Spencer Strider here in the spring.
• 30:45
  All right.
• 30:45
  Question number five.
• 30:47
  The Phillies announced on Monday that Zack Wheeler , not surprisingly , is the Phillies Opening Day starter here in 2025.
• 30:54
  Is this the year , Liz , that he finally wins the Cy Young Award ? No , no.
• 31:01
  Sadly.
• 31:02
  I want him to win one.
• 31:03
  But I think there's just always going to be a guy who's a little bit better.
• 31:08
  Not in any meaningful long term way , but when you look at , you know , you put everything side by side for just that season.
• 31:17
  There's always a guy who's just a shade better.
• 31:21
  But , you know , you you can't let that determine your legacy in the greatness of your career , you know ? Yeah.
• 31:31
  Go ahead Justin.
• 31:32
  Yeah.
• 31:34
  Oh yeah I would say yes.
• 31:36
  That it is.
• 31:37
  I think they I think they want to give it to them.
• 31:39
  Yeah.
• 31:39
  I think at this point it's like two misses where he could have won it.
• 31:43
  But I think they want to give it to him.
• 31:44
  And all he has to do is make himself a legitimate candidate and they'll give it to him.
• 31:49
  That is exactly where I land on this.
• 31:52
  Hmm.
• 31:53
  I said , I hope so , I would I would like that a lot.
• 31:56
  I think he's the sentimental favorite now.
• 31:58
  I mean , you can't argue with Chris Sale over him.
• 32:00
  Last year , I think it was close.
• 32:02
  I think there were probably more arguments for Chris Sale than than Zack Wheeler a year ago.
• 32:07
  Totally fair for Chris Sale to be the guy , even though he chickened out at the end of the season and decided he didn't want to pitch in the most important game of the season , but nevertheless , um , it was it was really in 2021 when Corbin Burnes beat him out for it with like 45 fewer innings pitched and very similar numbers across the board , with the exception of like ERA.
• 32:28
  That's the one where Zack Wheeler really got robbed.
• 32:31
  And I think he's widely I think I've seen a couple of different I know I've seen at least one , uh , tally of best starting pitchers in baseball.
• 32:39
  And somebody had Zack Wheeler at number one.
• 32:41
  And I don't know that he's the best in baseball , but he certainly he certainly has been one of the 2 or 3 best starting pitchers over the last six years since coming to Philadelphia.
• 32:52
  So I agree with Justin.
• 32:54
  I think if it's close , if he has a year this year like he's had the last few years , I think this is the year Zack Wheeler wins it , even if he doesn't finish with the most war with the lowest ERA.
• 33:06
  I think he's the sentimental favorite to to get it done here in 2025.
• 33:11
  Question number six which Phillies outfielder will hit more home runs here in 2025 ? Nick Castellanos or Max Kepler ? Justin , let me throw this to you first because , um , you know me , I've always been a big max Kepler fan.
• 33:27
  Love this signing since the first day it happened.
• 33:30
  I'm watching him rake in the spring , and all I can think is I told you so.
• 33:34
  Yeah , yeah.
• 33:37
  Uh , but we have plentiful , plentiful evidence of this.
• 33:40
  Yeah , well , I don't know.
• 33:42
  People check the archives , kids check the archives.
• 33:44
  I don't know if people really focus on the continuity of this show.
• 33:48
  Um , as far as , you know , things that have been said in the past and then hearing things in another episode and assuming it's always been whatever.
• 33:55
  The point is.
• 33:56
  This , this is not a cereal.
• 33:57
  I think Ultimately , you know , let's think about this in a , in a in a fun , positive way.
• 34:03
  Ultimately , Kepler hits 1520 homeruns this year.
• 34:06
  Castellanos is good for 2025 , but Kepler hits 23A month like all through the season , while Castellanos hits like three quarters of his season total in July and August alone.
• 34:19
  Just because he has.
• 34:21
  I'm just looking at the splits again today.
• 34:23
  You know , a lot of guys hit better in July and August.
• 34:26
  You know , it's the it's the height of summer and balls flying hit hitting season obviously is the term probably should.
• 34:33
  I like that term.
• 34:34
  Should have the.
• 34:36
  Talking about.
• 34:37
  Um but he has 58 career home runs in the month of August.
• 34:42
  And the second most single month total he has is , uh , 42 in September.
• 34:47
  And then after that , everything else is in the 30s.
• 34:49
  He has almost 60 career home runs in August.
• 34:52
  Like that's just when he that's just when he hits.
• 34:54
  So I think I think he will hit more of them.
• 34:56
  But Kepler will hit more consistently throughout the season.
• 35:00
  A regular amount of Kepler home runs.
• 35:02
  You look at his numbers and through various factors like injury , global pandemic , what have you.
• 35:08
  His home run totals kind of flexed from like 20 to 35 or single digits from season to season.
• 35:16
  So I'm kind of like hitting that middle ground where like when he was a healthier , younger player and like right around when he had that incredibly power driven season in 2019.
• 35:28
  I think 1520 is like a fair number for him.
• 35:31
  He's I like I , I mean , we're talking about Kepler again and our general attitudes towards him.
• 35:37
  And you know , I will just say again , we're going phase by phase here.
• 35:42
  You know , we're not going to know if it's a success until it's the end of the season.
• 35:45
  But like , you know , phase one was we need somebody for the outfield.
• 35:47
  And they're like , okay , it's Max Kepler.
• 35:49
  I'm like , oh , okay , well is he going to be healthy ? Okay.
• 35:52
  Yeah , he's been healthy.
• 35:53
  Well is he going to he's got to have a good spring.
• 35:56
  Okay.
• 35:57
  He's hitting 346 with three dingers in 11 games.
• 36:00
  Well , he's never played left field I don't know.
• 36:02
  He doesn't look too lost out there so far.
• 36:04
  I mean he did run into a wall today.
• 36:07
  Uh and I that also that the gates both that sarcastic.
• 36:10
  Question.
• 36:10
  Your point real.
• 36:11
  Strong.
• 36:12
  And the first one.
• 36:13
  Yeah as well about staying healthy.
• 36:15
  Uh , but he ran into the wall competitively.
• 36:18
  That's what.
• 36:18
  He did.
• 36:19
  Yeah.
• 36:19
  So I feel like the max Kepler thing is going as well as it could be going right now for the point of the season rant.
• 36:25
  So just point that out there.
• 36:26
  But ultimately , Castellanos will hit more home runs.
• 36:29
  Liz , do you agree ? Uh , I do agree.
• 36:32
  I , uh , not in that , uh , deeper way , but I do agree , I , I just I have a good feeling about Castellanos this year.
• 36:40
  I think it'll be a good year for him.
• 36:42
  And I think he'll actually show us that with his overall numbers.
• 36:47
  Yeah.
• 36:47
  I mean , I guess it's going to be about how many starts does Max Kepler get ? I mean , they're certainly going to face more right handers than left handers , and it certainly sounds like they want him to play every day.
• 36:57
  Same with Brandon Marsh out in center field.
• 36:58
  Having those two guys , they don't want a platoon this year.
• 37:01
  Um , and so Kepler is going to get a chance to play every day.
• 37:04
  But he doesn't hit.
• 37:05
  He doesn't.
• 37:05
  Hit.
• 37:06
  A platoon.
• 37:07
  They certainly sign the wrong players for it.
• 37:09
  Right.
• 37:10
  That's what I'm saying.
• 37:10
  Like they they decided , you know , we're we'll just go all left handed.
• 37:13
  Let's just go all left handed.
• 37:15
  No , Castellanos , flip it around.
• 37:18
  You're lefty now.
• 37:18
  That's that's how we're doing this I agree , I think it's going to be Castellanos , and I think I think it's I don't want to be wishy washy on Kepler , because I still am not enamored with the with the signing.
• 37:29
  But I have to say the swing has looked very good in the spring.
• 37:33
  So I will say it's Castellanos , but I am more optimistic about Max Kepler now than I was a month ago.
• 37:39
  John.
• 37:40
  Optimistic is all you can be right now.
• 37:41
  It would be stupid to sit here and say this signing was a success because it's March 17th.
• 37:46
  I mean , he looks okay at the plate.
• 37:48
  I'm just saying for where we are.
• 37:50
  This is this is going this is going well.
• 37:52
  It's.
• 37:53
  Going well , it's going.
• 37:53
  Well , it's going.
• 37:54
  Well.
• 37:55
  And I and I.
• 37:56
  Hope Patrick's Day this is this ain't bad.
• 37:58
  That's right.
• 37:58
  Yeah.
• 37:59
  Like , what are you looking for in success at this moment it would look a lot like this.
• 38:03
  Which is what's actually happening.
• 38:04
  Looking for a time traveler to step out of a portal and tell me the Max Kepler deal totally worked.
• 38:10
  And that's the only thing we'd want him to come and tell us.
• 38:13
  That's right.
• 38:14
  I don't need to know anything more about my future.
• 38:16
  Or anyone's.
• 38:17
  Or anyone's.
• 38:18
  All right , let's move on to question number seven.
• 38:20
  Brian , we've talked about this a little bit on the podcast , but Bryce Harper once again reiterated over the weekend that he would be willing to move back to the outfield if it means acquiring an impact first baseman at some point in the next year or two.
• 38:34
  It could be as early as the trade deadline.
• 38:36
  Now , we're hearing more rumors and rumblings that the Blue Jays have reengaged in contract negotiations with Vlad Guerrero Jr , who's set to become a free agent at the end of the offseason.
• 38:45
  If they don't get something lined up here in the spring , it's and the Jays fall out of contention , which I don't think that they'll do.
• 38:51
  I think the JS are going to be pretty good this year and they're going to have a decent season , but they could shop Vlad Guerrero Jr at the trade deadline if it looks like the season is going nowhere.
• 39:00
  So all that being said , uh , the fact that he could hit free agency this winter and he would certainly be a guy that I would imagine every contending team that needs some pop would would be after.
• 39:13
  Do you les , let me start with you.
• 39:15
  Do you think Harper will ever play another game in the outfield this year or next year ? And do you want him to ? I do not think he will play in the outfield this year or next year , and I do not want him to anymore.
• 39:33
  Just because he's , uh , he's.
• 39:35
  He's made up.
• 39:36
  Yeah.
• 39:36
  No first baseman.
• 39:37
  No.
• 39:38
  Like , they've they've gone to so much trouble to get him at first base to get a blesses there , to have him stick up.
• 39:46
  He and everyone else thinks he's good too.
• 39:48
  He's really good.
• 39:50
  You know.
• 39:51
  He's like , Now I'll move back if we can get an impact for space.
• 39:53
  And I'm like , well.
• 39:54
  What are you.
• 39:56
  Right ? Like we weren't signed as an impact for space and but guess what.
• 40:00
  Look at what position you play now.
• 40:02
  How do you want people to think of you ? Whether or not you are that impact player anymore is the different story entirely.
• 40:09
  But you know he is.
• 40:11
  That's who he is now.
• 40:13
  But right.
• 40:15
  But if you can , if you can turn him into an impact left fielder and you figure out what to do with like a max Kepler or Castellanos , but you make him an impact outfielder , which you don't really have and bring in an impact first baseman.
• 40:27
  That's the rationale for doing it.
• 40:28
  Yes , he is an impact first baseman , but if you shift him and make him an impact outfielder and bring in an impact first baseman , now you've got two impact people.
• 40:37
  Look , Harper is free to do anything he wants until it's proven to be a problem , that he's doing it.
• 40:43
  It was my understanding this is this is my general position on it.
• 40:47
  It's my understanding that the whole point of not playing in the outfield was for preservation.
• 40:51
  Exactly.
• 40:52
  Exactly.
• 40:53
  That's what I'm saying.
• 40:54
  Easier on his arm post.
• 40:55
  Tommy John , I know left field is different from right field , but , like , is that not the case anymore ? Are we just not worried about that ? Because I'm just I'm not seeing that getting brought up when they talk about him moving back to the outfield.
• 41:06
  Exactly.
• 41:07
  So I'm a little confused.
• 41:09
  This is all shaking out like suddenly it was this health emergency.
• 41:12
  He's got to have Rhys Hoskins job and we don't need to resign him.
• 41:16
  But.
• 41:16
  Well , if Pete Alonso is available , then I'll certainly go back to the outfield or if Vlad Guerrero is available.
• 41:22
  I mean , look , Vlad Guerrero is available and the Phillies are , like , really intensely talking to him.
• 41:27
  Then all this Rhys Hoskins emotional stuff goes right out the window.
• 41:30
  Completely.
• 41:30
  Support that 100%.
• 41:31
  Again , I'm not saying I know I wouldn't want them to go after Vlad Guerrero , not at all.
• 41:37
  But it's just it's just a confusing topic to me because I really thought the whole point was to keep Bryce Harper in his prime.
• 41:45
  You're buying like a year or two more of his prime because now he's , you know , going through less stress in his everyday position.
• 41:52
  But I don't know , hey , whatever.
• 41:54
  If it makes the team better.
• 41:55
  I'm with Bryce.
• 41:56
  You know , it's he's liquid baseball.
• 41:58
  He'll fill any space that you put him into.
• 42:01
  By the way , have either of you guys.
• 42:03
  And I don't know why you would , because I hadn't until I just.
• 42:06
  You mentioned Rhys Hoskins , so now it's just kind of curious.
• 42:09
  Do you have any idea what his spring numbers are right now for Milwaukee ? Actually , no I don't I don't.
• 42:14
  11 games , 34 plate appearances , six home runs this spring , oh ten runs scored.
• 42:22
  He's walking in 14% of his plate appearances , striking out and only 17% of his plate appearances.
• 42:29
  He's batting 310 with a 412 on base percentage and a wait for it 931 slugging percentage in spring training so far.
• 42:39
  Right now , I said , uh oh , not for the reason you probably think , I said uh oh for Reese , because if he's doing that now , that means he's not doing it in April or May.
• 42:50
  True.
• 42:51
  So the wheel spun and it landed on March.
• 42:53
  And honestly , that kind of sucks for him knowing the kind of player he is.
• 42:56
  We talk about streaky players.
• 42:58
  He was the streaky sort of.
• 42:59
  Yeah , he was the streaky player.
• 43:02
  Only a 722 Ops for him last year in Milwaukee.
• 43:05
  So I think I do think the Phillies made the right decision.
• 43:08
  But at the end of the day , you're right.
• 43:10
  That was part of the rationale.
• 43:11
  Get Harper out of the outfield to protect his throwing elbow and his back.
• 43:15
  I mean , the whole the whole , you know , that was a that's a big part of this thing with Bryce Harper that we don't talk a lot about.
• 43:21
  He didn't really have any back issues last year that I remember.
• 43:24
  If they if he did , they were like for a maybe a game here or two or where he had to kind of sit out.
• 43:29
  But , you know , it wasn't like in previous seasons where he was out for a few days and you were like , do you see this is is he going to be okay ? Like it's , you know , I think some of that had to do with the outfield.
• 43:38
  So yeah.
• 43:41
  Interesting.
• 43:41
  Okay.
• 43:42
  Number eight , question number eight.
• 43:44
  Uh , Liz , who finishes with more saves , Jose Alvarado , who looks reborn this spring , or Jordan Romano , who looks unhittable this spring.
• 43:56
  Really , really good looking stuff from both of these guys at the back of the bullpen.
• 44:02
  One righty , one lefty.
• 44:04
  Um , we maybe the Jose Alvarado Redemption tour is here , but both these guys just throwing absolute pills at people.
• 44:13
  Who finishes with more saves ? I guess this is the question.
• 44:15
  Like who's going to be the closer ? Um , I'm going to say it's Jose Alvarado going with the nostalgia pack.
• 44:23
  I think it's him.
• 44:24
  I think he the redemption tour is successful , and it manages to go concurrently with the the Jordan Romano parade of doing well , I don't know.
• 44:36
  Awesome.
• 44:37
  Yeah.
• 44:38
  Justin.
• 44:40
  Uh , yeah.
• 44:40
  I'll go with Romano.
• 44:42
  Uh , so far this spring again , it's Saint Patrick's Day.
• 44:46
  One walk , seven strikeouts and six innings.
• 44:48
  No earned runs allowed.
• 44:51
  He looks healthy.
• 44:51
  And if he's healthy , he's good.
• 44:53
  Healthy.
• 44:53
  Jordan Romano is was an all star for two straight years.
• 44:56
  He had 36 saves both times.
• 44:58
  The most saves Alvarado has finished a season with is 13.
• 45:01
  So I'm saying Romano , Romano and I think uh , I again as far as like guys they got and hoped they would bounce back.
• 45:09
  Everything's going according to plan so far.
• 45:11
  So that's something to be encouraged by.
• 45:14
  No , I and I agree with you.
• 45:15
  I think it's going to be I think it's going to be Jordan Romano.
• 45:17
  I think that Jose Alvarado is going to be the guy that comes in to really kind of take , take care of those really tough lefty spots through the lineup.
• 45:25
  And sometimes that'll be in the ninth inning and you'll , uh , and you'll kind of get the save that way.
• 45:30
  But , uh , you mentioned some of the numbers on Romano so far.
• 45:33
  Uh , looking at Jose Alvarado's , uh , spring numbers so far , six games.
• 45:38
  He has thrown six innings so far.
• 45:44
  I guess how many strikeouts he has in six innings so far while I try to find that number.
• 45:52
  Ten.
• 45:54
  Liz.
• 45:57
  12 I don't know.
• 45:59
  15 strikeouts.
• 46:00
  Oh , I knew it was double digits.
• 46:03
  15 strikeouts against just three walks and two hits.
• 46:07
  Allowed to 24 batters so far this spring.
• 46:11
  So , um , yeah , that's going to be fun.
• 46:15
  That's going to be fun , fun , fun.
• 46:18
  Jose Alvarado with the towel chickens is back.
• 46:20
  I think everybody um.
• 46:22
  All right.
• 46:23
  Number nine looking kind of outside the Phillies right now , um , there is always a couple of teams that surprised that.
• 46:31
  Do do.
• 46:31
  Well , last year the Royals were my pick um , to be kind of that team.
• 46:35
  And they , they they actually they did play really well , not as they didn't go quite as far as the Tigers went last year , which was kind of surprising to everybody.
• 46:42
  And the , you know , the whole Al Central was a big surprise given they had three teams go to the playoffs.
• 46:47
  Who is your surprise team of the season this year ? Justin , which was a team that , you know , maybe nobody's really talking about or wasn't very good last year.
• 46:56
  But you like this year.
• 46:59
  Ali dela Cruz Matt McLain , Brady singers in the rotation with Hunter green and a couple of potential high ceiling guys and Andrew Abbott and Nick Ludlow.
• 47:10
  And most importantly for the Cincinnati Reds , Terry Francona is going to have an impact as manager on this young group.
• 47:17
  That said , I do think they wind up burning out because Dela Cruz doesn't really have a buddy to beat people up with in that lineup yet , and they'll find themselves unequipped to be this real playoff presence.
• 47:27
  But they've got enough of a pulse to be a real bug in the ear to the rest of the National League , and they have to play on that soft underbelly of the senior circuit , and the teams that have to play them when they are at their hottest are going to be mad.
• 47:39
  So yeah , I'm saying the the Reds in the central.
• 47:42
  Liz , do you have a team ? Uh , I think it's going to be the athletics.
• 47:47
  Excuse me.
• 47:48
  That's a good politics.
• 47:49
  Just to bother everybody myself.
• 47:53
  The people who live there , the players , the fans , non-fans , everyone will be bothered if they do well.
• 48:00
  And I like it.
• 48:02
  Well , I mean , they got a good little I mean , if they got a decent little roster , I mean , when they came into citizens Bank Park last summer right before the All-Star game and , and , you know , they they won two out of three and hit all those home runs.
• 48:15
  I think , you know , we kind of looked at it as like , oh man , this team stinks.
• 48:18
  How did the Phillies struggle against this group.
• 48:20
  And and the pitching staff still is very much a work in progress outside of Mason Miller for sure.
• 48:25
  Uh , they do have some interesting arms , um , in on that team , but , like , they've got some actual real good talent there , like JJ , blades is an emerging center fielder.
• 48:36
  That could be good.
• 48:36
  That really is one of the better young players in the American League.
• 48:39
  Lawrence Butler , they just signed a contract extension.
• 48:42
  Brent Rooker looks like a really good player.
• 48:44
  I mean , they've got a lineup that's going to hit a lot of home runs.
• 48:47
  I like that pick a lot.
• 48:48
  Liz.
• 48:49
  My pick was going to be the Reds for the a lot of the reasons you just mentioned Justin , I'll throw one other team out there and that's the Mariners I think I know I know we have you know , the Mariners have been that team that's tantalized.
• 49:04
  You always want to pick them.
• 49:05
  Justin I think you've picked him year after year to do something.
• 49:08
  And you're always disappointed.
• 49:09
  Never.
• 49:09
  I'm never getting back.
• 49:10
  I know with the Mariners and the Padres.
• 49:12
  You are out.
• 49:13
  Of the Mariners wherever.
• 49:14
  And I don't blame you.
• 49:15
  Ended.
• 49:16
  We ended messy.
• 49:17
  Yeah.
• 49:18
  But they're my pick to win the A.L. West.
• 49:19
  We'll get into our picks next week on the podcast , but I think I think this is the year the Mariners actually do come through.
• 49:26
  And they've got that great starting rotation I know.
• 49:29
  Kirby.
• 49:30
  Um.
• 49:31
  Oh , man.
• 49:32
  Name flew out on my head.
• 49:33
  Uh , George Kirby , I think , is banged up right now.
• 49:36
  He might start the season on the injured list , but , um , overall , that team.
• 49:40
  I think it could be a surprise in a an Al West that's very winnable.
• 49:44
  That that's a wide open division that anybody really could win.
• 49:48
  Uh , out there.
• 49:49
  Um , out west.
• 49:50
  Three young starters who are good enough that other teams will trade for them.
• 49:56
  Yes.
• 49:57
  Uh , at the trade deadline.
• 49:58
  That is a mariners season.
• 49:59
  For what is the Mariners.
• 50:00
  Season ? There's no doubt about it.
• 50:02
  All right , uh , last question of the podcast.
• 50:06
  The the Phillies and Citizens Bank Park announced that there are going to be three new major food items coming to citizens Bank Park this year.
• 50:15
  And I want to read them all to you.
• 50:17
  And I want you guys to tell me which one sounds the best to you and which one sounds the worst.
• 50:22
  Which one wouldn't ? Would you eat at least rank them ? All right.
• 50:26
  The first is Kyle's cutlets.
• 50:28
  It is a chicken cutlet sandwich topped with creamy burrata , crispy fried pepperoni , and arugula , drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce on a Lucio's bakery.
• 50:40
  Roll.
• 50:40
  A portion of the proceeds from every sandwich , by the way , will be sold will be donated to Schwarber neighborhood heroes , supporting those who may make a difference in the community that's going to be located behind section 142.
• 50:50
  For those of you who care.
• 50:51
  So that's the Kyle's cutlets.
• 50:53
  That's why Kyle Schwarber , Kyle's cutlets.
• 50:56
  Uh , the second one is Red velvet , a cafe of Affogato affogato.
• 51:02
  Yes.
• 51:03
  Thank you.
• 51:03
  All right , whatever they are , it's a dessert.
• 51:05
  Red velvet cookies , vanilla ice cream and espresso.
• 51:10
  That'll be located in the yard and behind section and section 102.
• 51:13
  And then the final is a s'mores quesadilla with Nutella , mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumble , and a crispy flour tortilla served with a chocolate dipping sauce.
• 51:23
  That's section 142.
• 51:25
  So , Elizabeth , which one are you going for first ? Uh , going for first.
• 51:30
  Is the the red velvet affogato ? That sounds really good.
• 51:34
  A dessert.
• 51:35
  So you're a dessert person first over , like a savory type thing ? Not usually , I would say , but I mean , the chicken cutlet sandwich sounds really good.
• 51:46
  But , like , at this time of day , what I want is like , is is dessert slash breakfast ? Sure , sure.
• 51:54
  I don't like at this time of night when we were recording , the last thing I really want is pepperoni , arugula , and burrata.
• 52:02
  I'm big bucket of crispy fried pepperoni.
• 52:04
  Sounds pretty good to me.
• 52:05
  Anytime.
• 52:06
  But I hear.
• 52:06
  You.
• 52:06
  But I hear what you're saying.
• 52:07
  It's a little late at night.
• 52:08
  You get the get the heartburn right before you go to bed.
• 52:10
  You have something like that , give you a nightmares all night.
• 52:12
  I get it.
• 52:13
  I get.
• 52:13
  It.
• 52:14
  Is there any of those that you that don't sound good to you ? Like the s'mores quesadilla ? I don't know , it sounds like something I could make in my microwave.
• 52:21
  Yeah , it's on a flour tortilla , which is normal , but sounds weird for a sweet thing.
• 52:27
  And it's also just like.
• 52:28
  It's like everything you've ever had.
• 52:31
  Yeah , it's everything you tell , a thing you've ever had , every smallest thing you've ever had.
• 52:35
  Like , and I don't know , my sports don't have Nutella on them.
• 52:39
  No it's tella is the is the lazy is is for lazy people when it's on like a professional venue.
• 52:45
  Come on just I agree I , I'm with you on all of that.
• 52:50
  Uh , well not all of that , but that's certainly on the s'mores quesadilla.
• 52:53
  John agrees.
• 52:54
  It supports every single thing I say at all.
• 52:56
  Times , saying.
• 52:57
  Justin , what do you grabbing ? I mean , I don't have the , um , uh , issues with Kyle's cutlets at , uh , late at night that you guys seem to have , uh , you had me at at cutlet.
• 53:13
  I don't care if you're giving the proceeds to roving packs of feral dogs in the city of Philadelphia.
• 53:20
  I'm probably going to buy that sandwich.
• 53:22
  Uh , the the s'mores quesadilla thing is , I'm not super into the collision of two things that don't go together.
• 53:30
  The thing is , any any of these items , I would eat them and go like , yeah , that was good , I enjoyed that.
• 53:35
  But like , right , right , right.
• 53:36
  Yeah.
• 53:37
  On paper that's like , oh man , quesadilla and a small can you just name it something else for , for like a little more appeal there.
• 53:44
  Uh , big Affogato guy I do , I do like it , but , uh , I think at the ballpark , I'm going for Kyle's cutlet.
• 53:50
  So what is an affogato ? It's like gelato with espresso poured on top of it.
• 53:57
  Okay.
• 53:58
  Yeah.
• 53:58
  See , that's not for me.
• 54:00
  That's not for me.
• 54:01
  And I , you know , I for me , it's the cutlet.
• 54:03
  Also , I go , especially if I'm at the ballpark.
• 54:06
  That's what I'm going for.
• 54:07
  I want like , I want salty , I want protein , I want something filling.
• 54:12
  But I would never buy this because it's going to cost $65 for me to get a Kyle's cutlet.
• 54:18
  And that's the problem with something that substantial like the bigger the heartier , the more ribs sticking the food you get at the ballpark.
• 54:28
  You have to take out a loan in order to be able to buy it.
• 54:32
  Whereas where I think the smores quesadilla that I think the s'mores quesadilla has and has a chance to be the most it's not it wouldn't become close to being the most expensive thing , but the most overpriced thing.
• 54:42
  Like , I'm telling you , I could go downstairs right now and make myself a s'mores quesadilla in my microwave.
• 54:49
  It would take me five minutes.
• 54:51
  I've got chocolate chips.
• 54:52
  I actually have marshmallows right now in my cabinet.
• 54:55
  I have graham crackers because we did s'mores out in the fire pit earlier this week , and I have flour tortillas.
• 55:00
  I could go do that.
• 55:01
  I may go do that when we're done.
• 55:03
  Let's all go do that.
• 55:04
  Let's all go.
• 55:05
  Make us.
• 55:05
  Make.
• 55:06
  Our own personal interpretations of a s'mores quesadilla.
• 55:09
  Yeah , I feel like that's.
• 55:10
  Yeah.
• 55:11
  And then I'll charge $15 for it.
• 55:13
  This is a great idea.
• 55:14
  Yeah.
• 55:14
  You gotta assume all of these things are going to be priced so that human beings Things can't consume them.
• 55:21
  Correct ? Yeah , I remember that.
• 55:23
  That's going to be part of it too.
• 55:24
  And correct.
• 55:25
  Affogato and quesadilla I mean , you know , okay , I guess they give you the location of where they're going to be sold , but they just feel so much more like specialty items.
• 55:33
  Yeah.
• 55:33
  Whereas the cows cutlets , I could see that , like selling out.
• 55:36
  But yes , at the beginning of the season.
• 55:38
  Yeah , I sure.
• 55:40
  I love a good chicken cutlet man cutlets of any of any kind or.
• 55:44
  Bike.
• 55:44
  Yes , it does sound really good.
• 55:46
  Sounds really good.
• 55:47
  All right.
• 55:48
  I've got a little.
• 55:49
  We'll finish up here with a little trivia question.
• 55:51
  This is I don't know if you guys read , uh , Todd Zaleski , Todd Zelensky's , um , uh , uh , newsletter that he puts out.
• 55:58
  He's got a trivia question on it , and this was a good one.
• 56:01
  I.
• 56:01
  And I thought this might stump you guys.
• 56:02
  I don't know if you saw it.
• 56:04
  Then don't answer.
• 56:04
  But I.
• 56:05
  You know , I don't know if you guys read it.
• 56:07
  Uh , J.T. Realmuto is expected to make his seventh straight opening day start for the Phillies on March 27th.
• 56:14
  I didn't realize seven straight opening days for J.T. Realmuto , who started at catcher for the Phillies on Opening Day 2018.
• 56:24
  That was the year before Realmuto started his streak.
• 56:28
  Is it Cameron Rupp , Jorge Alfaro , Andrew Knapp or Wilson Ramos ? Are we working as a team ? Yes.
• 56:39
  Talk amongst yourselves.
• 56:40
  Well , I'll.
• 56:41
  Leave it up to you guys.
• 56:42
  You guys decide if you want to make it a competition.
• 56:44
  Go for it.
• 56:45
  So wasn't Wilson Ramos 2020 ? Didn't they get him ? And the whole thing was like , oh , he was the al starting catcher for the all star game this year.
• 56:54
  For some reason I'm distinctly remembering that for no.
• 56:56
  That was a Matt cleantech.
• 56:58
  Um.
• 56:59
  Oh yeah , that was a Matt cleantech thing , I think from before 2020.
• 57:04
  As a matter of fact , I know exactly when they signed him , but I don't want to give away the answer.
• 57:10
  So I think it might be Wilson Ramos based on how John just answered that question.
• 57:16
  I actually I mean , my first thought was silly.
• 57:19
  My first thought was that it was her Jorge Alfaro , because I remember he's the one that lost his job when they when they brought Realmuto in.
• 57:29
  Well , he wasn't with the team anymore.
• 57:31
  He went in that trade , right.
• 57:33
  He went to the didn't he ? He stayed.
• 57:37
  Wasn't he with the team or did he go in that trade.
• 57:42
  Oh he went in the trade.
• 57:44
  He went in that trade.
• 57:45
  All right.
• 57:45
  Well then never mind.
• 57:46
  I'm remembering something else.
• 57:49
  Yeah.
• 57:49
  It was all farro in Sixto in 2018.
• 57:53
  I'm gonna I'm gonna say something crazy and say , see anjanette.
• 57:59
  Li's final answer.
• 58:03
  To Andrew Knapp.
• 58:04
  Is correct.
• 58:05
  It is Andrew Knapp.
• 58:06
  Nap time.
• 58:07
  Uh , Wilson.
• 58:08
  Ramos , you remember , was acquired at the trade deadline at 2018 , along with that other Mets failure that infielder.
• 58:15
  Asdrubal Cabrera.
• 58:16
  Yes.
• 58:17
  With his dribble and one.
• 58:18
  And because remember Wilson Ramos was like injured.
• 58:20
  He didn't play for the first month after they traded for him.
• 58:23
  He only started playing like in September.
• 58:25
  And he was awesome for the last month.
• 58:27
  But by that time , you know the wheels had come off and we were playing like six first baseman in the starting lineup every day , like Justin Bauer and and Jose Bautista was here for a while , all in the same lineup.
• 58:39
  Yeah.
• 58:39
  Rhys Hoskins and Cameron Ruppert for like they had like six first baseman playing in the starting lineup.
• 58:45
  I feel like the Phillies are like a guy with ten big toes like you just you just don't need all of those.
• 58:53
  They used to.
• 58:54
  Be like a guy with ten big toes.
• 58:56
  I feel like they've evolved since then a little bit , but.
• 58:58
  Yeah , definitely evolved there.
• 58:59
  Yeah.
• 59:00
  We're not talking about a lousy team here.
• 59:01
  But yeah , I don't know.
• 59:02
  Look at the answers to this question.
• 59:03
  I kind of just fell on like , rut feels like it's too far back.
• 59:06
  Alfaro went in the trade and Ramos I don't know , that timeline just didn't make sense in my head.
• 59:13
  So I went with nap.
• 59:14
  Not because I remembered , but just because.
• 59:15
  Process of elimination.
• 59:17
  Yeah.
• 59:17
  When I saw that question from Zaleski , I thought , oh , that's a good one.
• 59:20
  We have to want to talk about that one a little bit.
• 59:22
  All right.
• 59:22
  Let's finish up with some final thoughts from you kids.
• 59:26
  Uh , Justin , any final thoughts ? Uh , just one of the questions we didn't get to you had you had originally wanted to ask NL East or NL West what's better ? And it kind of forced me to like , look a little closer at the NL West because , you know , instinctively we know the Mets and the Braves a little more intimately.
• 59:45
  And I don't know , it's almost like tougher for me to take them seriously.
• 59:48
  I'm like , yeah , no , those teams out west are probably better because we're just like a bunch of scrappy 8889 win teams that are going to be , like knifing at each other.
• 59:56
  Uh , but I don't know.
• 59:57
  I don't know if I actually came up with a conclusion for this , but like the Dodgers or the Dodgers , D-backs have a great one.
• 1:00:04
  Two in Corbin , Carroll and Cattell.
• 1:00:05
  Marte.
• 1:00:06
  Josh Naylor slots in as the new cleanup guy with the power they lost.
• 1:00:10
  With Christian Walker leaving and the Padres almost eliminated the Dodgers in the playoffs last year , which also everyone forget they were one game away from making that whole thing not a thing.
• 1:00:20
  And that lineup is full of guys you don't want to face Cece King and Darvish.
• 1:00:24
  That's a playoff series rotation.
• 1:00:26
  Robert Suarez and Jason Adam in the bullpen I mean that's again very good.
• 1:00:31
  So I I don't know I think what it honestly comes down to is because the way the question was framed was like , are the Phillies , Braves , Mets and Nationals a better top four than the NHL's top four , which would also include the Giants by default ? Because I also love that both divisions have a lousy team that could actually be the worst team of all time in both cases this year.
• 1:00:54
  I love Willie Adams for the Giants.
• 1:00:56
  I don't think Justin Verlander is going to pan out , and a more cohesive lineup doesn't give much , you know , give you a much more significant shot at the West , just potentially a more annoying.
• 1:01:05
  And I think they could be more annoying than the nationals.
• 1:01:08
  So I guess I would give it to the West , but not by a lot.
• 1:01:13
  Yeah , and I think what might put the I still probably go east , but what would put the west over the top is how much higher are the Dodgers than Phillies , Mets , Braves like they're in their own tier.
• 1:01:25
  So they get maybe a little bit of a bump.
• 1:01:26
  And I think I think the Diamondbacks are much closer to Phillies , Mets Braves than maybe we want to think they are.
• 1:01:31
  The Diamondbacks have a really good roster and they have a they have a team that looks they are every every bit of the World Series contender.
• 1:01:37
  Yeah , I didn't even mention Corbin Burnes going to Arizona.
• 1:01:41
  Yeah.
• 1:01:41
  They just they really just need a closer.
• 1:01:43
  Yeah.
• 1:01:43
  Right.
• 1:01:44
  They got they they find one of those or trade for one of those at the deadline.
• 1:01:47
  Yeah that's a problem.
• 1:01:48
  That team's a problem.
• 1:01:50
  Uh , Liz final thoughts ? Um , our good friend Justin Clue won an award.
• 1:01:57
  Yes.
• 1:01:58
  Just know won an award ? The Sabre analytics award for.
• 1:02:04
  Where did it go ? Uh , historical baseball analysis This commentary award for his article Every Streak Is a Part of History , published by Baseball Prospectus on July 11th , 2024.
• 1:02:15
  Justin.
• 1:02:16
  Congratulations , sir.
• 1:02:17
  Congratulations , buddy.
• 1:02:18
  Thank you.
• 1:02:19
  It's my first one of those I was.
• 1:02:21
  There was a ton of people in those nominations who are all very experienced at winning Sabre Awards.
• 1:02:26
  I am I am one of the few fresh faced rookies in that group.
• 1:02:29
  And yeah , very cool , very exciting.
• 1:02:32
  Thank you to Sabre for the award.
• 1:02:34
  Thank you for the nomination.
• 1:02:36
  And thank you to my editors over at BP , Craig Goldstein.
• 1:02:41
  Uh , always very supportive and always , always holding up my work in ways I , you know , do not deserve.
• 1:02:48
  So this was very cool , very flattering.
• 1:02:51
  I couldn't be more thrilled.
• 1:02:52
  So thank and thank you for mentioning it.
• 1:02:54
  Well , it's.
• 1:02:55
  Nice to see.
• 1:02:55
  Them work better.
• 1:02:57
  Right.
• 1:02:57
  Well it's it's nice to see them acknowledge.
• 1:02:59
  I think what Liz and I both know is that you are one of , if not the best baseball writer in the country.
• 1:03:04
  Um , so I think the more people read your stuff , the more they'll know that.
• 1:03:09
  And , uh , Craig , Craig does speak so highly of you whenever I talk to him.
• 1:03:13
  So , um , it's just very cool.
• 1:03:15
  Very cool that that , uh , that you won.
• 1:03:16
  So.
• 1:03:17
  Congratulations , buddy.
• 1:03:18
  We can open every show.
• 1:03:19
  You can now say award winning writer Justin Clue.
• 1:03:23
  An award for you is an award for the show.
• 1:03:26
  There you go.
• 1:03:26
  Which is an award for me.
• 1:03:28
  We all got stronger.
• 1:03:29
  We all got better.
• 1:03:30
  We all got better today.
• 1:03:31
  We all got better.
• 1:03:32
  On the back of Justin Clue we all.
• 1:03:34
  Got thank you today.
• 1:03:35
  Thank you all it is.
• 1:03:36
  I mean , I do my finest work sitting on other people's shoulders.
• 1:03:39
  So this is good stuff.
• 1:03:42
  Thank you for bringing us along.
• 1:03:45
  All right everybody look that's going to do it for this edition of Hidden Season.
• 1:03:48
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• 1:03:52
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• 1:03:53
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• 1:03:54
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• 1:03:55
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• 1:03:59
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• 1:04:01
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• 1:04:03
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• 1:04:03
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• 1:04:46
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• 1:04:52
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