Your questions answered: Is more coming for Phillies?

00:00:04
Speaker 1: Hi, this is Chase that Lee.

00:00:05
Speaker 2: This is the Philly Show. Hi, everybody, Rubin Tomorrow Junior, Jim Salisbury, Todd z Olecky. Brought to you by the Foul Territory Network. It is Monday morning, January sixth, twenty twenty five. Guys, how are we doing. How's your weekend? You have a good weekend?

00:00:23
Speaker 3: Excellent? How about you?

00:00:25
Speaker 2: It was good? My weekend is continuing. Today's a snow day, so all three all three kids, all three kids are home from school. We did the math last night. My middle child, Margo, she's in kindergarten. She has now been off of school for nineteenth days, nineteen almost three weeks.

00:00:47
Speaker 1: She's living her that's very easy on riot. I'm sure she's living. Our daughter.

00:00:53
Speaker 2: Margo's living her best life. She just doesn't know it, you know, she's nineteenth straight days.

00:00:57
Speaker 3: On this snow day. I'm going to dig into this. This is a book preserved honor by our good friend ed Wayne. Oh yeah, I love it. Yeah. I ordered it on Amazon and I'm looking forward to getting into it today and watching the snowfall. So it should be fun.

00:01:17
Speaker 4: Yeah, and it's got a birthday coming up at the end of this month, but my dad. Just in addition, I just wanted to mention that there's a pretty special day for my dad, A heavenly birthday for Rube Senor would have been eighty nine, I believe today and think about him all the time. Miss him dearly, and as many of you who have lost your one or two of your parents. It's a memorable day for me, but also brings back some great, great memories of.

00:01:50
Speaker 1: What he meant to us and to me and to our family.

00:01:55
Speaker 3: Well, happy birthday. Yeah, remains a good man in all our hearts. So yeah birthday.

00:02:01
Speaker 2: What a great what a great what a great guy. I mean I talked him a few times over the years, and as allays, I was like, what a good what a good man, what a good man?

00:02:10
Speaker 1: So yeah, happy, Yeah.

00:02:10
Speaker 4: One of my proudest one of my proudest moments was that, you know, having the opportunity to work with my dad and Wade. As you mentioned earlier, Jim uh graciously brought my bat dad back into the organization as a minor league instructor for many years, and uh, while I was in the assistant GM post, he would uh, you know, we would invite all of our you know, rovers into spring training major League camp, and so I would stay with him with my and he with my kids during the course of the spring and clear Water just brought back justus, brings back tremendous memories during this time as we get closer and closer to pictures and catchers.

00:02:52
Speaker 1: How much time he.

00:02:53
Speaker 4: Got to spend with my kids and with my girls, and those were great moments.

00:02:58
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's great stuff. And Ruben, this weekend I got to see you, brother David. I was in DC for the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention. I was down there with my friends from Perfect Games. So it was good to see David. And it just is amazing how many the dedication of baseball coaches and all coaches in sports. But I mean just to see all these baseball coaches really of all ages just there, you know, the dedication to their craft in using the event as a resource and sitting in on all these conferences about coaching techniques, everything from coaching techniques to strategy to equipment to handling kids. Just amazing. And there's so many wonderful coaches out there just who love the game and give to the game. And your brother David is one of those guys. It was just great to see this weekend.

00:03:57
Speaker 4: Yeah, my brother, I got to give a shout out doing family stuff, and you know, for Philly, my brother's been running the Philly Bandits for a long long time and he's tremendously passionate about it. He's carried on my dad's sort of legacy with the Ruben Marles Senior Foundation and so many different things that he's been involved with. With youth baseball, my brother's done an amazing job of trying to create opportunities for young kids and both male and female software are involved in some softball tough too. But yeah, his dedication to youth baseball has been just amazing and he's been doing it for many, many years and he certainly deserves a.

00:04:39
Speaker 1: Lot of love for that. Man. It's it's it's not a monetary thing.

00:04:43
Speaker 4: I will tell you that it's been something that's it's a labor of love for him and really proud of him.

00:04:48
Speaker 3: For that, as you should be. Yeah.

00:04:52
Speaker 2: Yeah, Jim, Well I saw on Twitter you ran out. You ran into somebody down at the show and he said we talked the safety squeeze and cheeseburgers. Yeah, well, I see your reputation has preceded you.

00:05:05
Speaker 1: Yes.

00:05:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, ran to a bunch of local coaches and had some great conversations.

00:05:10
Speaker 1: That's cool.

00:05:12
Speaker 3: That was John from timber Creek High School in John Kate's timber Creek High School in South Jersey. Just like I was mentioning, these guys are so dedicated to their craft, so dedic dedicated to the kids, and so dedicated to improving themselves, so they can, you know, improve, help the kids improve. So I just, I just I have a warm spot for high school baseball coaches, youth baseball coaches as well, like Grouve, My dad was a high school coach. So great weekend, Great weekend.

00:05:48
Speaker 2: I'm sure John asked you some some Phillies questions yesterday. On all of our social media platforms, we asked for Phillies questions, and man, did we get a ton. I know I always say that, but our audience grows, and we appreciate everybody that has subscribed to us on whatever podcast platform they listen to or YouTube or whatever. It is crazy how the number of questions keeps growing and growing and growing on all the different platforms. So we got a ton, and we're going to try to get to a few here, and let's start with the most basic question of all, and this is from our Phils twenty two on YouTube. If this is it for the Phillies this offseason, are you guys satisfied? If this is it, are you satisfied? Ruben? Are you happy?

00:06:37
Speaker 1: Well?

00:06:37
Speaker 4: I'm happy because I think they're still one of the best, top maybe four or five teams in all baseball. I mean, you look at the and you know, papers, paper, but when you look at the overall length and breadth of the talent of the team, I mean, you can't deny that it's probably the best rotation in baseball. Although the Arizona Diamonbacks have done a good job of adding Corbyn Burns to theirs, and you can talk about the LA Dodgers with their depth and how much you know, again, there's a lot of questions about the health of that rotation with the Dodgers. But that said, talent wise, very very high on the list, and obviously Seattle who's had the last couple of years of great rotation. But I really love the Phillies rotation. I would love to create a little bit more depth in that bullpen. I know that they've made them move with Romano, But you know, and I think that they're gonna have some maturity with Kirkering. I think that they're gonna be okay with Strom, and I hope that they can have Alvarado b Alvarado of a couple of years ago, and I think they're hoping that that will take place.

00:07:39
Speaker 1: But I do still think that there's some time to make some tweaks.

00:07:44
Speaker 4: I know that there's continuing to try to do some things, and they're not going to stop trying. I would like to add if I couldn't, and you know, you talk about Kapler and or Kepler's I mean he was he was a very very solid outfielder and solid outfield pickup. That said, I just don't know what kind of production will have. So there's a little bit of a question mark still in the outfield. But if the guys like Stott and Boehm continue to develop as players, and I do think Scott's a huge key for them because he can be the type of player that's necessary to make that lineup longer. Whether he's at the top of it or in the bottom of it, he's a really important piece of the puzzle.

00:08:28
Speaker 1: Am I satisfied. I'm never satisfied. I want the best team. I want as many great players as possible. But I think it's a really, really good team.

00:08:37
Speaker 4: They will compete for the World Series because of the talent that they have today.

00:08:44
Speaker 1: And as I said, I think they have got a great manager.

00:08:48
Speaker 4: I really, I really think that Rob Thompson's pretty special. So I fully believe that there are a contending teams, There's no question about it. But there's always room for improvement. As mister Lee used to say all the time, exactly.

00:09:05
Speaker 3: I think. I think the word satisfy is an interesting word. Excuse me. I don't think good athletes and good teams are really ever satisfied until you have a parade, and then it starts over again, and you're not satisfied for the next season, because you know, there's always something to gain, always something to get better at, always a new achievement to reach for. But so I'm not I'm not necessarily satisfied until we see the results, and you know, I think what they're going to put on the field is going to be is going to give them a good chance. I like the rotation. How could you not love the iron of the lineup, it's you know, it's about I think they'll play in October and then you've got to go perform. You've got to play good at the right time. I do think Turner and Stot are key, and I do think there's more there offensively, both guys, Turner, consistent, consistency, stop, more production. But I just think there's probably twenty seven other teams out there that would take their chances with the Phillies personnel, and then it becomes about you know, performing and in terms of roster construction, because that's such a focus here in the winter. I would remind you, like we always talk about, it doesn't stop until the gun goes off with the trade deadline. You know, good front offices, good gms, they're constantly evaluating, constantly tweaking, constantly churning to come up with that perfect mix or that that the mix they feel good about going into October. And that doesn't have to stop until until the trade deadline. And I expect Dave Debroski and his guys to continue to do that. But you know, going into camp a month from now, I like where they are. Gotta stay healthy, got to play good. But a lot of teams would like to have the Phillies' issues. If there are issues, a lot of teams would like to have them, but satisfied never until they have a parade, and if they play good and things come together, this is the team capable of having said parade.

00:11:19
Speaker 2: We'll be right back.

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00:12:23
Speaker 2: Talking about being satisfied, not satisfied. Yeah, you see the met sin Juan Soto, you would love for the Phillies have gone out and gotten Tasker, Hernandez and Corbeburns. But that's not the financial reality anybody is living with right now. But here's here's an interesting question. This is from Andy Drew on Blue Sky. Which free agent could be an unlikely last minute Nick Castianos in terms of timing, not necessarily money or impact, like you know, Dave Dombrowski taking advantage of a broken market? Could something similar happen with a boone trade with teams like Seattle and the Cubs running out of good options? So, you know, the top of my head, was it Ruben or maybe both of you guys mentioning bullpen depth? You know, Tanner Scott's still out there, Jeff Hoffman, Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Carloso, Stevez, Canley, Janser is still out there. Maybe one of those guys is lingering on February eighth, ninth tenth, and they go, you know what, how about a one year deal? Give me one year, twelve million dollars, and I'll come and pitch for the Phillies and help the bullpen out. You know, maybe there's to me that seems like a possibility for the Phillies. What about you guys, what about free agent guy, maybe that Nick Castiano's type mid March guy. And what about maybe Alec Bohm still possibly getting created.

00:13:40
Speaker 3: Well, I think their ears are still wide open on Alec Boum depending. I think some of that could shake out or maybe become more of a topic when Bregman funds his landing spot. But then you know, the Arnato piece is there, So that whole third base thing there seems to still be moving parts. But I think Bomb could be part of it. But I also very comfortable having him back. I think all these trade discussions, if he's a competitor, it should really motivate him. He's two years away from free agency. It's good, very good player. No rush to move him. But I think their ears are continually open on that, So I don't know where that's going to go, But I think Kirby Yates is a good name in terms of a late pickup. It's clear they would like to keep things in the bullpen to one year, and as those markets come down, they might be ready to pounce on something like that, something affordable. I mean, they're at that fourth above that fourth luxury tax threshold, so I do think they're going to exercise some caution there. But a guy like Yates veteran coming off a great year, you never know.

00:14:55
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think the market place right now, I mean those bullpen relief those guys that are you know, pretty good and possible closers, guys you can pitch in the eighth and ninth. They're looking for those three year deals and I think there's only two year deals out there for them. And once they once that starts to sort of develop, and once one of those guys signs, then you may end up getting an opportunity to go to a one year deal. Maybe maybe a guy, maybe a Hoffman, comes back for a one year deal to try to re establish himself as a you know, power arm in the bullpen, and you see something you know he's actually looking to possibly start, you know a little bit like Clay Holmes and stuff like that.

00:15:38
Speaker 1: That said.

00:15:41
Speaker 4: That that reliever marketplace hasn't fully developed, and so honestly, I think the teams are setting their budgets. I don't know that they have the kind of money and they want to put the you know, a two or three or four year deal together for some of those guys because they're not real closers, are not like the definite closer out there, and so there's some caution because there, you know, a lot of those relievers are year to year. You know, you think about guys like real Cormier for years. One year he is great, next year he's not so great, you know that that sort of thing. And so it's a very volatile piece of the puzzle. And I think that you know, at least some of the caution as being you'll see some caution with his front offices as far as those bullpen pieces are concerned in it, and that price, those prices might come down, which could bode well for the fightings.

00:16:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, Alec Bohm was mentioned in that question. Here's another Alec Bohm question from thirty Ballparks on Threads. If Alec Bohm is still with the Phillies when the season starts. How do you think he'll react? Will you play with a chip on his shoulder, pout like a child, hit seventy home runs? What do you think he is going to do. I think he's going to be very motivated. I mean, yeah, yeah, I mean, like like you said, Jim, two years remaining of team control before he hits free agency. He wants to get a big payday.

00:17:01
Speaker 3: He needs to walk through that door with his equipment bag over his shoulder and a big smile on his face and a humongous, invisible chip on his shoulder that he uses to and don't tell anybody about it. Just use it as motivation. Have a great year, to keep getting better, have two great years, and go make a score on the free agent market. I think with Aiden Miller percolating down there in his left side of the infield, potentially either shortstop or third base, and you know some of the actions of this winter relating to Alec Palm, I think it's probably safe to say they're not going to extend him when he becomes a free agent. But that's fine. He's got a bright future. He's going to make a lot of money. Use all this as fuel, use all this is fuel to go out and knock him dead.

00:17:53
Speaker 1: Yeah. I totally agree with that, Jim.

00:17:54
Speaker 4: And you know, I go back to the same adage that that I learned years in year, years ago. The second you put on a major league uniform or a professional uniform, you're not just playing for yourself or your team.

00:18:07
Speaker 1: You're playing for all thirty teams. Everybody's watching.

00:18:11
Speaker 4: And this guy is a very talented player who's improved in his game in a lot of way. He's always been a good, solid hitter, but his power is power. Numbers are pretty good. He's drives in runs very very well. He makes contact for a big man. He's improved his defense. He can play third or first. He allows himself, you know, some flexibility as far as you know what he could become as on the free agent market. So he needs to continue to improve. I agree with you about the chip on your shoulder. Go play, and who knows will he be playing for the Phillies three or four years down the road possibly. I mean, you do have some numbers coming off the books. You do have JT coming off the books. You do have shoever coming off the books at some point next year after next year, and or after this season, and so who knows what the finances are going to be, But hey, the thought process has to be I'm going to show this world what kind of player I am and hopefully just much like you see him, you'll see in Ranger Suarez this year.

00:19:10
Speaker 1: You know, you gotta you're playing for big do man.

00:19:13
Speaker 4: This is like stupid money they're throwing out there right now, and he's playing for it, and I think that's the way he's got to handle it.

00:19:19
Speaker 2: Two Scott Boris, guys, right there, Rubin, But tell me behind the scenes do you have is the front office? Is the PR staff having a conversation with Alec Bohm before that first scrum in front of his locker, saying hey, do we want to talk about what we want to say here? Or is he an adult? And what do you worry about? Offending him by saying now, listen, don't tell them that you're upset that we were talking about trading you this offseason, He might say, but you were, so go screw yourself. How does that? What do you think? What do you think might happen behind the scenes there? So the the right tone is set. On the first day of spring training, well.

00:19:56
Speaker 4: I think Kevin greg did a superb job of the last time he kind of got into this issue when he made those comments about you know, I really hate this effing place. And I think that they hit him right away, and and the result of that was so positive. You almost have to believe that Alec would maybe seek some advice from him again.

00:20:17
Speaker 1: And he doesn't necessarily have to put words in his mouth.

00:20:20
Speaker 4: He just has to make I think it's just important for the PR people, and I'm sure he will because Kevin's a professional, to make him aware. Hey, this is You're gonna get pounded with a lot of questions about you know, your trade. You know business, you know that the fact that you're out there on the trade market, and you know, it's just gonna have to deal with it. I mean, this is part of the maturity and the part of the process that he's going to have to go through. I mean he's got to become a mature player and handle it well and and just move on. I think you just say, you know, if I'm Alec Bohm, I go, hey, listen, I get it.

00:20:50
Speaker 1: It's a business. It's part of the game.

00:20:52
Speaker 4: But I'm here to try to help the Phillies, win and do the best I possibly can, and uh, it's time to go play baseball.

00:20:59
Speaker 1: I mean that it's as simple as that.

00:21:01
Speaker 4: I don't know that he'll do that, but I think it's really as simple as that.

00:21:05
Speaker 3: He'll do that. He'll also receive counsel from Scott Boris's team. I mean they're good at that stuff because you know, they want to present him in the best light possible, and I think it behooves him to come in with a real good attitude, positive, it's part of the game, ready to move on, ready to have a great year. I don't know that the Phillies would initiate counsel, but if he asked for it, I'm sure he'd get it and get good counsel. But I also think he's what twenty eight years old. He's been around a little bit, he's been around pros in that clubhouse. He should at this age know what to say. He should know what lies in the future, the potential, the potential earnings, potential achievement on the diamond. So it's about him coming in with, you know, just a real positive outlook, a real team for ut outlook, and looking to do good things for our team and get us to where we want to go and having a great year. And you know, in so many cases the mind leads the body. He needs to come in with a good, healthy mindset and that would be a real good first step to achievement.

00:22:11
Speaker 2: I believe a good joke or two and maybe to open up that session in front of his locker would ease any you know, perceived tensions or whatever. You know, you make light of it, you poke fun at yourself, you poke fun at the situation. That would kind of And.

00:22:27
Speaker 3: They've already started it with Topper reaching out to him and saying, you know, it's not people want you whether or not where the you know where the actual truth in that is. But you know, whenever you're part of trade rumors, I think you do have to look at it as it's good to be wanted in other cities. You know, the more teams that want you, the better. And so that's the way I think he needs to take it head on on day one, and you know, spitting his glove and pound the pocket of his glove and go play third Bay and say that's all I'm talking about, right.

00:23:03
Speaker 2: Do you think the Phillies will make any additions to the bench or will they stick with stubs Slash, Marshan, Sosa, Wilson, Clemens, et cetera. That's from Sean S on Facebook.

00:23:14
Speaker 3: What do you think?

00:23:16
Speaker 2: I think they're done. I mean, knowing what their salary situation is or the payroll situation is, I do think that they're done making additions to the bench. Now again, you could maybe get somebody, maybe Mark Canna comes out on a one year deal, in a really super super affordable one year deal. Somebody like a right handed bat off the bench that could maybe give you little bit more production in the outfield. There's another question on here. Somebody actually mentioned Jay Sequela on Blue Skyson. Am I crazy? Would it make any sense to bring back Austin Hayes? You know, so you never crazier things have happened, I suppose. But right now, when you look at the bench, you have stubbs In Marshan as a backup catcher. Marshawn is out of options, so we we've all kind of said that we think he's going to be the backup catcher to open the season. You have Edmundo Sosa who's out of options, and he's you know, he's your infield guy to move around. You have Weston Wilson, who I think they probably need is a right handed bat. They can play left field. He does have options, so you want to have some roster flexibility. And then that last spot. You know you have Cody Clemens, you have Buddy Kennedy, you know you have Cal Stevenson. All three of those guys are out of options, you know, so maybe you know, maybe one of them makes the team. Well one of them would make the team if they don't make any additions. But I tend to think they might just go internally. I think Dave Dombrowski said something similar that they right now they plan to go internal with what they have. But again, like we've just said earlier at the top of the show, you never know what can happen over the next several weeks. Maybe somebody like we'd be friggin nuts not to pay this guy two and a half million dollars to come play for us. I mean, this is a steal and and we're trying to win a World Series and we can get depth.

00:25:03
Speaker 3: How many times have we seen it? You know, you show up in clear Water first week, first couple of days of camp, and some guy walks through the door that you weren't expecting to see on a minor league deal. Who you know, I lingered out there and they bring him in. And what it does is it gives him a platform to show what he can do. Maybe he shows enough to make your team, maybe he pushes the existing guys. But the fact that Western Wilson has options, you know, that makes you think, you know, they could bring in another right and then they signed Kepler, left handed bat. Western Wilson has options. Maybe they do bring in a right handed bat to compete and push people a little bit.

00:25:42
Speaker 2: And you know who I forgot. I forgot to mention Johann Rojas. He has options and he could be the fifth outfielder potentially as well. So I forgot to mention Johann Rojas that will be in play for Ross.

00:25:53
Speaker 3: I think right handed bat is the key.

00:25:55
Speaker 2: Sure, one hundred yeah.

00:25:57
Speaker 4: I agree with that right handed bat to to platoon with Kepler. I do feel like if they're gonna that, they will probably go internally with that decision. But you know, the Mark Cannas of the world are still sitting out there, and I like that like that bad a little bit. He can like nout the lineup and give you some decent bats against the LEFTI or what have you? Quality at bats veteran been around a while, but you know, I think that they really like guys like Cody Clemens and Cody Clements. You know, he deserves it an opportunity to to make this ball club because he makes the team better. I think he's as a quality at bat off the bench he's been, he hasn't really been a liability defensively.

00:26:38
Speaker 1: He can play first for the second he played third not all that well.

00:26:42
Speaker 4: He can play fine at first base, for instance, but not not a super defender.

00:26:47
Speaker 1: But he can hold his hold his own water, and it gives you a quality at bat off the bench.

00:26:52
Speaker 4: I mean, those aren't guys are are not necessarily gonna make or break this team. That's something you probably would address in July, but it is important to have some depth in case people get that and go down.

00:27:05
Speaker 2: Got a lot of lineup questions, and we'll probably really dig into the lineup in a later episode. But just when will they move on from Schwarber batting leadoff? That's from Fred l on Facebook. Would you consider Alec Bohm in the leadoff spot? This is from Tom G eighteen on Blue Sky take some pressure off him to be a power hitter, and this is the lineup he throughout there, Boom, Harper, Turner, Schwarber, Castiano Stott, and then JT. Kepler marsh any thoughts on the lineup, but we've we've kind of touched on this.

00:27:37
Speaker 3: We've talked a lot about the lineup on previous episodes. I think one or two episodes ago we really dug in. We talked about the possibility of we all think this is the year that Rob will make a change at leadoff. I mean because he's talked about it. Because Schwarber improved against lefties, maybe you put him in a four or five hole where you can offer protection for Harper, so and you know, could be started leadoff, could be Turner at leadoff. We've talked about Harper as a leadoff man. Rob Thompson's talked about all of the above as a leadoff man at the winter meetings. So I think we're all in agreement that this could be the year. There's going to be some experimentation in spring training, but you know, Schwarber is just simple improvement kind of as a hitter last year. I think gives him some chance to put Schwarber in the middle of the order. And and he's been very specific in mentioning that he would. You know, Rob has about protecting Harper with Schwarmer, so I don't think he talked that way if you're not strongly considering it. As for Boem, I just love his the way he hasn't at bat with runners on base, I'd be a little you know, he's really good with runners on base. I think I'd want him more towards the middle.

00:28:48
Speaker 4: I totally agree with that, Jim, and And really I think it's about the development of Bryson Stott. Brys and Stock can really become the player that he can become. You know, Trey Turner's shown me that he's more of a slasher.

00:28:59
Speaker 1: He's not going to walk.

00:29:01
Speaker 4: You know, he's not running as much as aggressively. Maybe it's because he's running in front of Harper and that's not something that is a distraction or what have you. But that said, I really believe this is the year that you may see a guy like Stott at the top of the lineup. And I think it's really about his development overall. I think he's a perfect candidate for it. He's a pretty good two strike hitter, he sees pitches pretty well, he can foul off pitches, he can stay in the at bats. I think he's matured. I think he's healthy now. He had the elbow issue. Hopefully he's coming into spring training in a healthy mindset. And if that's the case, I think he's sort of the ideal guy to be placed in that position.

00:29:42
Speaker 2: Dan oh on Facebook, who is the closer?

00:29:47
Speaker 1: By committee?

00:29:49
Speaker 2: By committee? Yeah?

00:29:50
Speaker 3: Right, I think Jordan Romano is going to get some looks. But yeah, as I mentioned our previous episode, we did our predictions for twenty twenty four, and we talked a lot about leadoff hitter Rubin, talked a lot about the potential stot being there. We talked a lot about the potential shore we're coming out of there where he might go, the reasons for it. We also talked about closer and one of my off the wall predictions, I just like the ascension of the improvement, say of Orion Kirkering, and I could see him earning some reps in that role. In one of my offbeat predictions, was he going to get twenty two saves this year? So I still think it'll be kind of committee ish. I think he kind of really want to take a look at Romano there. Yeah, but I don't know if there's going to be much holding back O'Ryan Kirkering. I'm just feeling like his time is coming.

00:30:38
Speaker 1: I like that breation.

00:30:39
Speaker 2: That's a solid prediction, man.

00:30:41
Speaker 1: That's a good call.

00:30:42
Speaker 4: I mean, it all depends on Ryan Kirkering's command of his fastball. If he can command, and he's also starting to throw a sinker, so he's moved the baseball.

00:30:53
Speaker 1: To the arm side a little bit.

00:30:55
Speaker 4: If he continues to move that sinker or that runner that two seamer in on right handers to sort of set up that nasty slider he's got. I think that's a really important part of his development, is command of a spastball on the inside part of the plate, arm side to right handers. If he can continue to improve in that area, it makes his slider even more devastating weapon.

00:31:21
Speaker 1: I truly believe that.

00:31:25
Speaker 2: Kind of a big picture question. We'll do a couple more here. This is from Paul Martini on YouTube. Considering the provens the Mets made signing Sodo and the Braves are turning into health, how real. Are the chances of one big injury keeping the Phillies out of the postseason? Do they have enough enough depth?

00:31:45
Speaker 3: It's a big fear. It depends who that injury hits on, and you don't even want to talk about it. They've shown great resilience the last few years. They've lost Reel Mudo for a stretch, They've lost Harper for a stretch. They've played over those injuries.

00:31:58
Speaker 1: They lost a Turner for a long time time last week year, for.

00:32:01
Speaker 3: A long time last year. I'm a believer that in resilience and the next man up. Those are all nice things, but there are limits you can't There's certain players you cannot lose. They do have depth in the rotation, but they don't have you know, one hundred number ones, So it's about who you lose. They need to stay healthy.

00:32:21
Speaker 2: Right, you know? Big picture wise, though, where did the Phillies rank with the Mets and the Braves? You know, everybody looks at one so to go in the Mets. Everybody talks about the Braves getting healthy, but they also lost Max Freed that you know, Charlie Morton just signed with the Orioles. You're looking at that rotation right now doesn't look quite as formidable. You know, the Mets rotation. You look at the Mets rotation and yeah, they handled the Phillies last year in the postseason.

00:32:46
Speaker 1: But I like the.

00:32:48
Speaker 2: Phillies of rotation a heck of a lot more than I like the Mets rotation, and that's you can't discount that. Yes, they got one, So he is unbelievable. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame probably unless something crazy happens. But I know the Phillies on paper, I think go into the season as Nly's favorites. You know, if you're a Mets fan. Of course, if you're a Mets fan, of course you're saying, we just handled the Phillies in the postseason easily, we're going to win the division. I get that. But on paper, if you pulled most personnel people across Major League Baseball, say who's going to win the Nleast? If you had to put one hundred dollars on the line, they I think most people would say the Philadelphia Phillies are going to win the Nleast.

00:33:27
Speaker 4: Yeah, I would think I would agree with that because I think of their rotation now and all, it kind of depends for me. The Atlanta Braves as far as their health, is it Whoon you're going to be back? Is Strider going to be back? Strider is a huge one for them. They had the one kid that came up to the big leagues, the right hander. I can't remember the bat right now. Yeah, I mean he was really impressive. I mean, this is this kid's got a chance to be at least a middle of rotation type guy. But I still, on paper, I really like the Phillies compared to the Atlanta Braves and the Mets. I think that the Mets obviously have improved with Soto, but they still need some protection in the lineup for Soto. And I don't you know, they're they've brought Manaya back. But hey, listen, their rotation is very it's it's decent, but it's not great. They don't have a top of the rotation guy. It's why you see so many rumors out there about them trying to get that that number one or number two. And you know, don't sleep on alex Anthopolis man looking for another quality piece at the top of that rotation, especially depending on what Stryder's situation.

00:34:35
Speaker 1: As far as coming back.

00:34:36
Speaker 3: I would pick the Phillies to win the division right now, but you know, I also have They were a five hundred team from June eleventh, yeah, through the final out when they were eliminated from the postseason. In city field, they're like fifty one and fifty one, And I think the difference there is is obviously consistency. I'd like to see a little more pedal to the metal throughout the sea. I know you can't floor it every day, but it's baseball. There's there's there is some pace involved, but there needs to be more consistency in getting the job done throughout the length of the season. And I really think more consistency from from Turner on both sides of the ball, improvement from stot it's really going to help your lineup. It's really going to help you line up. And if you get those things, I think you will see that you have the potential to see that six month consistency that they lacked last year. I mean, they banked all those wins early and and kind of that was, you know, what what got them into the postseason. I'd rather see real consistent six month performance and if they get that from the lineup and obviously stay healthy in the rotation bullpen. I think they can take that personnel, which I think is still probably you know, top to bottom, the best in the division and cash it into a division title. But you gotta perform, You gotta play good at the right time.

00:36:06
Speaker 1: Listen. I think about pitching all the time.

00:36:08
Speaker 4: When you think about how how inconsistent they were at the second half. I mean think about where Ranger Suarez was first half versus second half. I mean totally different guy. One he wasn't healthy, two wasn't pitching the same. And so I think that the health of the rotation is so important, and that's why Lozardo becomes such an important piece of the puzzle because if a guy like that goes down, if Chris Sanchez, or if Suarez goes down, or even you know, god forbid Wheeler or Nola, they.

00:36:36
Speaker 1: Have some more depth there.

00:36:37
Speaker 4: They don't have to necessarily rely on a guy like Taiwan Walker to step in and try to eat up at real innings when when they don't, when they can have.

00:36:45
Speaker 1: A they have a guy like Bizardo.

00:36:46
Speaker 2: There Susan V on Facebook, what's your favorite baseball movie?

00:36:55
Speaker 3: Favorite baseball movie I like, like I like Eight Man Out. I've always liked a good one. When that comes on, I kind of watched that. I like that. I mean, I'm not really big on Bull Durham because, like, you know, pitching in a garter that's just nice.

00:37:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, that wrankles you, Jim, Yes, you probably would, gas right.

00:37:26
Speaker 3: Kevin.

00:37:26
Speaker 1: Kevin Costner has made a lot of great movies.

00:37:29
Speaker 4: The best baseball movie I think that he's made now. I know, Field of Dreams is people people are in. I love for the Love of the Game, man, I love that movie. For the Love of the Game. There's a lot of realism about, you know, somebody winding down in their career and dealing with all the personal stuff that has happened over his career. I think that's a really cool one that resonated with me for some reason.

00:37:52
Speaker 3: I actually liked the story. You know, I don't agree with everything in Moneyball. They really don't talk about they had three great pitchers. But I mean I like the story in Moneyball. What's the jon Jonah Hill?

00:38:06
Speaker 2: Jonah Hill, I think.

00:38:08
Speaker 3: His performance is really good. Yeah, but I like the story of Moneyball. I find myself watching that. I think they stretched them some things here and there.

00:38:16
Speaker 2: But right like what like when Billy Bean walks walks into the Cleveland Indians front office, walks walks into Mark Shapparel's office, it goes, let's make it trade. I'm like, has that ever happened? At name million years?

00:38:29
Speaker 3: I don't mean and asked Dombroski were in that movie? He said, I want you to fill my my soda machine for two years. Never that like that sounds like crazy, Yeah, don't have soda and big really freaking about soda.

00:38:43
Speaker 1: So here's my take on that movie. I think it was an entertaining movie.

00:38:47
Speaker 4: I think a lot of the things that and the reasons why the A's were so good was not because of you know, Hadiberg. It was because they had three cy Young Award candidates and two nl m B candidates in Tahada and Chavis, and they had a great closure that year. And so I mean it, that's the thing that disappoints me the most. And in a lot of ways, I think it's took baseball backwards because I think the analytics piece of the game took over to the extent where where now they're making rules to try to get the game back to where.

00:39:21
Speaker 1: It used to be. That's my take on it. In you know, in fifteen seconds.

00:39:26
Speaker 2: Definitely some liberties with the facts of everything, but that's that's a movie, right Like you guys, ever seen sixty two with the Roger Morris movie was on HBO? I think, ye, yep, And I always cringe when I watched that movie because they make the reporters, I mean, I guess players might disagree with this, but they make the reporters sound like the biggest bunch of a holes ever. Was like, Roger Morris, why do you suck so much? You know, the worst human being on the face of the air. They all talk like, you know, just just absolutely being horrifically brutal to Roger Morris. I'm sure there were some kind questions asked about the record along the way, but it was like so over the top, you know, I'm going that's yeah, exactly exactly.

00:40:13
Speaker 3: Did Jackie Robinson movie was good? Forty two?

00:40:16
Speaker 1: Yeah?

00:40:16
Speaker 3: Really good?

00:40:16
Speaker 1: Good? Really was. There's some great ones out there, there's no question about Yeah.

00:40:21
Speaker 2: Of course, for me, if anybody's been following me on Twitter over the years, uh, for me, it's major league because I was an extra in Major League. They filmed that in Milwaukee at Old County Stadium where the Brewers used to play, and my dad took me and my brother down there once for an overnight shooting, like a late night shooting. We were extras in the stands. And then one other time my dad took me down because you know, we're living in Milwaukee, man, Hollywood ain't rolling through Milwaukee very often. So it was a big deal when I was a kid, and that movie to me always hit some plus yeah Bob youuker, and there were some of the all time greatest lines of any baseball movie.

00:40:58
Speaker 3: I knew that.

00:41:00
Speaker 2: You don't know I was an extra in that movie.

00:41:02
Speaker 1: I didn't know that Todd It's new.

00:41:05
Speaker 2: Yeah.

00:41:05
Speaker 3: Yeah.

00:41:05
Speaker 2: So the scene where the manager tells Charlie Sheen he is not going to start in the big game against the Yankees, the bus rolls in and then the camera pans down as the bus rolls in, and there's this kid with huge glasses. You can barely see it, but I'm holding this huge sign that says Indian fever. And I'm holding the sign that says Indian fever. And when I we took my family went to go see the movie, like when it came out and I lost it in the movie there. I'm like, damn, I'm on the screen for like one one thousand. Before you can say two one thousand, I'm off the screen. But I saw myself because I knew what part of the movie I was in. So for me, yeah, for me, Yeah, for me, it's major league. Yeah yeah.

00:41:48
Speaker 3: The one time, I also liked The Natural lot.

00:41:52
Speaker 1: Yeah.

00:41:52
Speaker 3: Natural, that's a great movie. And so Wilford Brimley is the manager and he's got that voice. Yeah come on. But one time, I'm in the Denver Airport, right and I'm at the baggage carousel waiting for my bag to come around, and I hear this voice behind me, and I'm like, oh my god, I know that voice. And this guy is he is ticked to the high heavens. He is, you know, he's kind of griping about something. I think there's some cussing going on. He's pissed, and I'm like, that sounds like Wilford Brimley. So I turn around and it's Wilford Brimley looking like maybe he's with his daughter or something, and he's he is, you know, spitting vinegar. He's upset about something. With the airline. But there's Wilford Brimley right behind me. There's the manager what do they call him, Pop Pop? Yeah, you know, the Natural and he's unhappy with the Denver Airport though. That's fine.

00:42:53
Speaker 2: Watch when I watched that movie as a kid, I thought he was like in his seventies, but he was like forty eight when he filmed that movie. You know, it's just funny looking on how people you know over time, You're like, he looks like he's in gim and now he's like in his late forties filmed when we filmed The Natural. So that's some good stuff. We had a lot more. Unfortunately we couldn't get to everything, but I will be back later this week.

00:43:14
Speaker 3: From getting to have another episode later this week and.

00:43:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, let us Yeah, maybe we can get to get to a few more lot of a lot of great questions. So we really do appreciate everybody that sends us questions. We appreciate everybody for listening.

00:43:25
Speaker 1: Uh.

00:43:26
Speaker 2: If you like The Philly Show, you can always get some swag The Philly Show t shirt available at the phillieshow dot com. Jim and I are sporting that today.

00:43:34
Speaker 3: Uh.

00:43:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, enjoy the snow Day.

00:43:37
Speaker 4: Everybody, well one month, one month pictures and catchers.

00:43:41
Speaker 1: Man, it's getting caught.

00:43:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's getting really really close. Eagles Eagle super Bowl run perhaps, Uh until then before the the myths start to popping, right.

00:43:52
Speaker 3: Jim, right mits of popping. Smell your Lada, boys night, Jim.

00:43:57
Speaker 2: The Philly Show is brought to you by the Foul Territory Network. Subscribe to The Phillies Show on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. If you like us, give us a review, Follow us on Instagram, TikTok x, Facebook, and threads. Find Rubens analysis before, during, and after Phillies games on NBC Sports Philadelphia, on the Sports Radio ninety four, WIP Morning Show, and MLB Network. Find Jim at all phl y dot com. Find me at MLB dot com, the Philliesbnewsletter, and MLB Network