Cy for Wheeler? Soto? Cheeseburgers!

00:00:00
Speaker 1: Hey, this is Bryce Harper and welcome to the Philly Show. Hi, everybody, Welcome to the Philly Show.

00:00:19
Speaker 2: Ruben Tomorrow, Junior, Jim Salisbury, Todd z A lucky. It's Wednesday, September eighteenth, twenty twenty four. As Jim mentioned to me in a text message just moments ago, today.

00:00:31
Speaker 1: Is also National Cheeseburger Day.

00:00:32
Speaker 2: It's not only a Wednesday, it's National cheeseburg which is which is a big deal. So Jim, I'm gonna put you on the spot best local, non chain cheeseburger.

00:00:42
Speaker 1: Can you think of one off the top of your head.

00:00:44
Speaker 3: Just first of all, I want to say, it's like Christmas morning right here.

00:00:47
Speaker 1: You know, somebody mentioned, somebody mentioned the other days.

00:00:51
Speaker 2: Like, man, you guys talk about a lot about food on this show. It's like, well, you know, it's a food slash baseball show.

00:00:56
Speaker 3: Maybe what else is there?

00:00:57
Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly right.

00:00:59
Speaker 3: I mean you and I are based. We know where to find like late nighthole in the wall, food all over the country. And Ruben is you know, he keeps in shape. He doesn't. I don't know what do you eat, Ruben? Vegetables and stuff?

00:01:12
Speaker 4: I try to be eclectic with my you know.

00:01:14
Speaker 3: Food groups ectic.

00:01:16
Speaker 5: So yeah, I say, you know, I try to mix it up a little bit. I'm not perfect, but I try to, you know, right, I.

00:01:22
Speaker 3: Have a lot of favorite cheeseburgers. My current number one in the ap Pole local it is a place called Station tap House. I'm sorry, Station tap Room in Downingtown. Station tap rooms all right in Downingtown. They're smash burger is. Don't even look at the menu, just walk in and order it.

00:01:44
Speaker 2: It's great, fantastic. I'm going Charlie's Hamburgers. It's on McDade Boulevard in Fulsome. That place is awesome. It's been around forever. I mean, the place has been around forever, and that's a different location.

00:01:55
Speaker 1: Fantastic burgers, great shakes. My kids love it. Ruben, you got a cheeseburger then before we move on.

00:02:01
Speaker 3: To I don't need it.

00:02:02
Speaker 4: I don't need a ton of cheeseburgers.

00:02:04
Speaker 5: But I'm here at Yardley Country Club, and the chef here puts together gets their names Kelly, she's really good. Puts together a really great cheeseburger. I don't eat it all that often, but when I do, and like, it's pretty solid. Here at the Alexander's Pub.

00:02:21
Speaker 1: Pretty solid.

00:02:22
Speaker 2: It was Zach Wheeler last night better than solid. He was really good last night. Nineteen if they started the game with nineteen straight fastballs, so you know it was hummon. It really dominated the Brewers and they.

00:02:38
Speaker 1: Get a big win. They get a big win. So the Phillies. So everybody wants to know, like what's the postseason situation.

00:02:44
Speaker 2: If you haven't kept up on it, The Phillies tonight Wednesday night can clinch a postseason berth with a win or a Braves lost. Rob Thompson said, they will acknowledge it somehow. They might do a little champagne toast, maybe have a couple of beers. We're gonna save the big champagne celebration for the NL East clinch if that happens, which they assume it will or they hope it will, so they can clinch a post season birtha night magic number to clinch the division is for that. That could happen as early as tomorrow night. But going back to Wheeler, guys uh Cy Young, Bryce Harper said after the game, that's my Cy Young winner.

00:03:18
Speaker 1: What do you think the chances are? What do you think of his effort.

00:03:21
Speaker 3: I thought his you know, speaking of cheeseburgers, I mean, he had some cheese last night. Man, what a fastball he had, you know. And after a season, basically a season a worth of workload, guys getting stronger. I mean, how that bodes so well for October. I just love this guy. I love his competitiveness, his seriousness, his seriousness about his craft. He just rode that fastball last night and had another great start. It's like great start off to great start off to great start. You know. It's certainly cy young worthy. I don't know if he's going to get it, because Chris Sale is cy young worthy as well, and may be you know, a tick ahead at this point. But gosh, what a season to hang your hat on. And you know I've said this before. He might be the guy that can you know, jump on you know, like Cole Hamil's in two thousand and eight, they jumped on his back. Zach Wheeler might be the guy that can jump on on his back and he can ride them to a really good thing in October. So I don't know if he's gonna win the Cy Young He's gonna be one or two. But what a tremendous season. Again, what a tremendous trade. I'm sorry signing when they acquired him. Boy, they've gotten their money's worse.

00:04:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think, no question about it. I mean this guy.

00:04:38
Speaker 5: He threw seventy seven percent fastballs. I think it was sixty four percent four seamers and thirteen percent sinkers. Now for eighteen any team to the face a major league team and to be able to throw that many effective fastballs, then you've got a great one of the best path fastballs in the game. His ride and his sink and his ability to place that fastball where he wants is absolutely spectacular. I love the way he goes about it. He's not afraid of anything. There are actual times when I will think about this, but I get a little concerned in a playoff situation where you know, once in a while you want to spin one, you want to get a guy off of basketball, He's going to go after him with his basketball. Hopefully he can locate it obviously to the right spot. But you know this guy is and I said it last night on air, and I'll say it again. If I need to win a baseball game one, he's the guy I want on the mound to win that baseball game. And he's doing it against the best teams. I mean he's dominated. I mean his numbers against the Brewers, the Dodgers, the teams that are leading divisions, they're spectacular.

00:05:59
Speaker 4: I mean he's been great. Now.

00:06:01
Speaker 5: I know Chris Sale has had a great year. And I love Chris Sale. I had him in Boston as a coach. I think he's spectacular, and he's a great competitor, and it's an amazing comeback story. There's no question about it. Alexanthopolis did the hell of a job with that. Imagine where they would be without him. That said, just with the label of consistency that I see, the fact that he eats up more innings than anybody, the fact that he has opponent's average and his opponents on base percentage, all those things wrapped up into the package that he's dealt with the best team in baseball, with the best team in baseball.

00:06:40
Speaker 4: You got to give some credit to that too.

00:06:43
Speaker 5: I think, I honestly think that this guy should win the Cy Young and he was screwed out of it last in twenty twenty one. I think it was twenty twenty one, twenty twenty one when Corbin Burns won it. That was a s show because there's no reasonabhy that guy should not have won it that year.

00:07:03
Speaker 2: Bryce Harper said the same thing last night postgame. He brought that up on prompt. He's like young and he got screwed three years ago, so he deserves it win that. Ruben, you mentioned how goodies begin against these n L postseason contenders. I think in the era against those teams, the guy's fighting for a wild card division Titler one point four something like that.

00:07:20
Speaker 5: Yeah, one point one point yeah, some ridiculous number.

00:07:24
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, And Reese Hoskins after the game last night said, you know, he knew he's like he started the game with nineteen twenty straight fastballs, and when he's thrown it that much, you're just like, oh my gosh, it's such a challenge. When when when he feels he's when you know he's coming at you with the fastball, it just makes you feel even like you're in for a bigger, more difficult night because you're like, Okay, this guy is really good about himself.

00:07:47
Speaker 1: It's going to be a real challenge. And uh, it absolutely was.

00:07:52
Speaker 3: And it's not just a Vlo. There's a lot of big fastballs in the game today. I mean, and Ruben alluded to this, but I mean his ability to ride it up in the zone and his ability to locate it is the separated the difference maker on that fastball. You know, you combine the ability to locate it or ride it right at the letters with that great velo, and man, you got something.

00:08:12
Speaker 5: We did a little breakdown of him last last night, and what was really interesting to see is his overall development in his delivery to put him in place to be able to pinpoint his command the way he does. He used to be way back when over his head, step back over his head, and I like over the head.

00:08:30
Speaker 4: Guys because I think it creates some deception.

00:08:33
Speaker 5: But for him, I think he ended up coming to now to sort of his chest and he keeps his hands in here tighter. He's got a different type of setup as far as his you know, takeaway and things. He's made it much more compact, his suite, his leg swing isn't as high. He's made these subtle adjustments, significant but subtle to be able to command that fastball the way he needs to command it and to be as effective with as he possibly can. I liken him a little bit with his ability to ride the fastball to Kurt Chilling, because Shill had a nice, smooth delivery in that ball exploded into the zone much like Wheelers, and I just love his overall development as a player, as a person, as a pitcher.

00:09:18
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's why I think he's the best.

00:09:21
Speaker 1: And we will be right back. We get it.

00:09:24
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00:10:24
Speaker 1: And we are back. Guys. We asked for listener questions. Viewer questions.

00:10:28
Speaker 2: You can watch us on YouTube obviously, if you're in the car whatever, you know how to listen to us.

00:10:33
Speaker 1: Give us a review. It helps. Heather and Bucks. This is on Instagram. Heather and Bucks.

00:10:39
Speaker 2: County PA wants to know who will make the postseason roster and I guess maybe we should look at this. Let's start with this question. Guys, do you carry thirteen pictures or do you carry twelve pictures to give you an extra bench bat. I will say this, if they carry thirteen pictures, that thirteenth pitcher is going to be Colby Allard, Max Lazar. You know, it could be Spencer Turnbull, It could be you know, I wrote down who I can't remember who the fourth guy would be, but the options are and obviously not the greatest. I guess you could say I would go with the extra bench bat give you some more flexibility. I like what Rob Thompson did the other night when he had sent Buddy Kennedy to the plate and then he brought him back, and then he sent Cody Clems the plate when the Brewers changed pitching. It gives you a little bit more options. They have more options on how they use left field in centerfield. With Cal Stevenson can place in center field, you can move Brandon Marshall over from left to center, throw Cody Clems or Wes Wilson out there. So I like the idea in a series of having that extra bench bat, and you know, rather than having a guy that you're probably only going to use if you're getting absolutely blown out and you have Taiwan Walker for that.

00:11:55
Speaker 3: I I've talked to Rob about the twelve and thirteen question before. He likes thirteenth pitchers. But to me, postseason is a different ballgame, and like you said, I agree with you probably only using that guy in a blowout situation. To me, that's just I mean, it sounds simplistic, but that's negative thinking. I would probably go ops for the extra extra bench guy, extra bench batch, just because this bench has been so important to you and been so productive, and you've got some real energy there. I don't know who it would be. Wes Wilson, Cody Clemens, Cal Stevenson. Who the extra guy would be. Stevenson's intriguing you play a little bit of defense. He's a left handed stick. Wes Wilson, productive bat. Cody Clemens left handed bat, has had a lot of big moments for this team. I like the energy and the chemistry those guys bring and the production they've shown when called upon. I don't know how often they'd be called upon in the postseason, but I think as we sit here two weeks to go before maybe they have to start, you know, finalizing those decisions, I would lean toward the extra bench guy and not worry about being blown out and having somebody to go out and suck it up. If I'm getting blown out.

00:13:06
Speaker 5: There's no question it's going to be an extra bench bat. No question in my mind that's exactly what it's going to be. You can market here right now, and if I'm wrong, I'll lose my house again, because every time I bet something, I'll lose my house. Anyway, it's gonna be an extra bench it's gonna Yeah, it's gonna be an extra bench bat. And the question is is it going to be Cal Stevenson. Is it going to be Cody Clemens, Because I think it's going to be one of those left handed bats.

00:13:32
Speaker 4: And I think it just uh and a lot of it and a lot of thought will go into this.

00:13:37
Speaker 5: It will depend on that team that they are playing, if they have a lot of left handers in their bullpen, if they have a lot of right handers in the bullpen.

00:13:45
Speaker 4: It will depend on Western Wilson's in net mix as well.

00:13:49
Speaker 5: And I think it's going to be you know, Rob Thompson thinking through those situations, Okay, I'm gonna pinch it for Johann Rojas in the in a late situation when I need somebody, Okay, can I play marshon center or do I have to have Cal Stevenson be that guy in center field? And I think that they're trying to find out a little bit about Cal Stevenson right now and that's one of the reasons why he's playing a little bit and a little bit more. And I think and this is just me thinking as a GM, as a manager, as you know, I think you have to find.

00:14:22
Speaker 4: Out about this stuff because if you look at it in a vacuum right now, it's Cody Clements.

00:14:27
Speaker 5: Cody Clements has to be a left handed bat because he's a better left handed bat. But they got to think about the situations that are going to be created and what teams and you know, all the scenarios, and that's the decision making is I love I missed those those meetings because we had those meetings for five straight years trying to decide, you know, how the matchups are going to work, and how Charlie Mannon was going to use those guys and it's a it's a really cool thing to see, but it's going to be an extra bench bat. Cayl Stevenson, Cody Clemens, Western Wilson in the mix. I got to believe that at the end of the day, Cody Clemens is my guy.

00:15:05
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:15:05
Speaker 2: I mean, Cody's at bats have been so good, they seem to be so consistently high quality.

00:15:10
Speaker 1: It would make a lot of sense.

00:15:11
Speaker 2: Austin Hayes took a big step forward yesterday and his recovery.

00:15:15
Speaker 1: He's been out with a kidney infection. Rob basically said he woke up yesterday.

00:15:19
Speaker 2: Feeling amazing, and you know they think he could possibly get into a rehab game before the end of the weekend.

00:15:25
Speaker 1: This is the last weekend with for Lee High Valley, so if he.

00:15:28
Speaker 2: Comes back, it would basically leave two bench jobs if we're talking about Stevenson, Clemens, and Wilson.

00:15:34
Speaker 1: Two bench jobs for those three guys.

00:15:35
Speaker 2: Buddy Kennedy, I guess is in there, but they optioned him out to Triple A yesterday freed Mundo Sosa. So really two bench jobs for two bench guys for three Two of those bench spots for Stevens and Clemens and Wilson of Austin Hayes returns. If Hayes is not able to play, then Stevenson, Clemens, and Wilson probably I'll I'll all make the bench.

00:16:01
Speaker 1: Let's see t Montgomery. We got Actually, we gotta have several questions the past few weeks.

00:16:05
Speaker 2: People want to know what our favorite Phillies jersey is of all time, favorite Phillies uniform is of all time.

00:16:10
Speaker 1: I'm saying powder blues. I love the powder blues.

00:16:15
Speaker 3: I love the classic home white pinstriped with red shoes and a red belt. Uh and I love the two splashes of blue on the stars. I'm a I'm you know, give me the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees and Dodgers. I like a traditional home white and a road gray. And I love the Phillies home whites with the pinstripes and the two blue splashes.

00:16:40
Speaker 4: So I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do a serious cop out.

00:16:43
Speaker 5: I love what the home uniform that Jim talked about, and I love the way uniform that that Zoe talked about.

00:16:51
Speaker 4: Those are my two favorite.

00:16:52
Speaker 5: I mean, there's that, there's you know, there's cream, there's all types of different colors. I will say unequivocally, the home uniform is just so pure in pristine.

00:17:01
Speaker 4: I love putting it on. For the first time.

00:17:03
Speaker 5: I'm not sure if they had the stars on it when they switched over in ninety two. That was the first time they went back do that. I think it had the stars on it. That's, you know, near and dear to my heart because that's the first Billies uniform I've wore and the first time I made a major league team out of spring training, and uh, and I just love the powder Blues, man, They're so sweet take.

00:17:28
Speaker 1: Them JPP on Instagram.

00:17:32
Speaker 2: And I can just answer this real quickly if you guys have anything to add pel free. Why didn't Mick Abel get a call up? And I guess I will say this. He finished his season yesterday, gave up eight runs and two and thirty innings, finished the season with a six point four to six e r A.

00:17:46
Speaker 1: And there you have it in there and there you have it. I mean, you know, I don't know were.

00:17:50
Speaker 4: Ready to be in the big leagues. Man, it's as simple as that.

00:17:52
Speaker 1: Not n Yeah, he.

00:17:54
Speaker 3: Didn't earn it. You got to earn it. Man. This is a you know, achievement business. And he it's a big concern the way he has fun his wheels. This is you know, he was what he's picked in twenty twenty. You should be knocking at the door now when he just you know, he walked over six batters per nine innings. I mean it's too much.

00:18:12
Speaker 4: Yeah, you have to be ready to pitch in the big leagues.

00:18:16
Speaker 5: All this bs, I will say bullshit about guys just getting thrown into the big leagues because you know they.

00:18:22
Speaker 4: Just played at a level. You have to master that. You should be able to master that.

00:18:28
Speaker 5: Level, you'd be able to master double A and master triple A and be able to be prepared to pitch in the big leagues. That's the type of player that you don't bring to the big leagues as a spot starter. You bring him to the big leagues because he's got a future and you got to let him develop and become the player he needs to be. Same reason why we took a lot of time with Nola, not a lot, but enough time because he needs to be ready to go. And he's kind of a guy that you hope when you bring him he stays and that it's.

00:18:59
Speaker 3: A sign if it can setback for the organization. You know, number one first round pick, you got to hit on them. Yeah, right hander, starting pitcher. He hasn't progressed them. And I'm not saying it's over yet because I know all pitchers take different times and some take more time than others. And I still hope it happens for him because it's so important. Starting pitching is so important. Not hitting on any number one pick is really important. But you know, right now, it's uh, it's to me set back for the organization because helping your own pitch, you're bringing your own pitching is so important.

00:19:33
Speaker 5: Cute and let me just say this, Carlos Carrasco. You got guys like Gavin Floyd. You have guys that hate some time to get there.

00:19:42
Speaker 4: And to get it done. Michael Kopek.

00:19:44
Speaker 5: Michael Kopek, you know, was supposed to be the greatest pitcher of all time coming out of college with the greatest arm. Well now he's pitching in a bullpen and doing really, really well.

00:19:53
Speaker 4: But it takes time. It takes time.

00:19:56
Speaker 5: It's and this is not football or basketball. Guys have to take time to develop and to find their own way.

00:20:03
Speaker 3: Still troubling though we haven't seen more progress.

00:20:05
Speaker 5: No, I agree, I agree, but listen again, it's it was a high school draft, right, Abel was a high school draft. He's got a long leverage guy. He's probably bodies still changing and growing. There's all types of stuff that's going on as far as his mechanics and stuff. You got to give him some time. You got to be patient. People aren't patient.

00:20:23
Speaker 4: I get it. Hang with him. He's got great stuff.

00:20:27
Speaker 3: And I'm always on the side of patient. So we've talked about it takes time. I've used Gavin Floyd as an example. Before. I'm certainly not giving up on this kid. I just would like to have seen a little more. I'd like to see the needle pointing a little closer to Philadelphia, and it just hasn't. So I still hope it all happens for this kid, because I still think he's an important piece great stuff.

00:20:49
Speaker 2: Oh Marlin Santana on X are we going after Juan Soto? In twenty twenty five, Bob Nightingale said the Phillies could be in the mix this offseason and could be one of five teams taking a run at them.

00:21:02
Speaker 1: I think if the Phillies do.

00:21:03
Speaker 2: Take a run at one, so toa it'll be a you know, throw a number out there, we know it's not going to win type of situation.

00:21:13
Speaker 1: What do you guys think?

00:21:14
Speaker 3: I think you you know, you find out what the market is. You have the conversation just so you can stay informed and maybe drive the price up on some of your competitors and kind of know what people are up to. But I you know that thing is probably going north. With five hundred million and with two three hundred million players already, one signed for seven more years, one signed for nine more years, and your payroll and you're you know, you're creeping up on that second and third luxury tax I just don't see it being a fit. And I think you'll be connected to them all winter because the Phillies are a deep pocketed team. They've signed big contracts before, they have a good relationship with Scott Boris. And it be who's you know, the Soto side to attach the Phillies to them because they're a team that has spent spent money. I I would eat my shoe if he's clee Water in March or February.

00:22:07
Speaker 1: So then you'll get another bet.

00:22:09
Speaker 4: Let me let me just say this.

00:22:11
Speaker 5: I wouldn't put past Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton that said I know that they're leveraged.

00:22:18
Speaker 4: I mean, listen, they're they're.

00:22:19
Speaker 5: Well above You know, Philadelphia is a big market, There's no question about it. It's not nearly as big a market as LA and in New York. And that's true. The ability to drive revenue in Philadelphia is different in Philadelphia than it is in New York in LA. It's just different. And you know, again it would be it would behoove them to kick the tires just because of his his age. What they think his age is and the fact that you know, at least at some point, those stars are going to get older and older, the ones that have already signed, the Turners there, they're gonna be in there late mid to late thirties here quickly.

00:23:03
Speaker 4: And this kid's still pretty young.

00:23:06
Speaker 5: It's not the worst guy to think about as far as signing, But I doubt it's gonna happened.

00:23:12
Speaker 4: But they'll I don't think it's gonna happen. But it's something that.

00:23:16
Speaker 3: The Philly they have an obligation to their fans to be in on every big star. I just don't see it happening.

00:23:21
Speaker 4: Correct.

00:23:22
Speaker 3: And for a couple of another reason, he's had this monster year with the New York Yankees, the most storied franchise in sports. How do they let him get away?

00:23:33
Speaker 4: They will not, and if they do, then Brian Cashman should be fired. Yeah, it's as simple as that. Brian Cashman and Stein Benner should be fired. They should both go away. Yeah.

00:23:44
Speaker 1: Yeah, they strong words from Ruby THO.

00:23:46
Speaker 5: That's because they can't the man's heat of the player. They have to keep him. That's I mean, it's for the same reason they had to keep Judge Judge heply ridiculous. They're they're the most prolific three four.

00:23:59
Speaker 4: Punch or two repunch, whatever you want to call it, in the history of the game in New York. It's not happening.

00:24:06
Speaker 3: I don't see them letting them get away. But you know, if let's say the San Francisco Giants, who you know, have had a history of having star players, really haven't had one in a while, and they're they're sort of desperate to be relevant again, what happens if they do something silly and crazy and you know, check book wise. I mean, I think the Yankees are going to be right on them and make a big play. I'm just surprised to hear you think they should be fired if they don't get them.

00:24:29
Speaker 4: Bill been fired.

00:24:30
Speaker 5: Everybody else can be fired Bill Brown, everybody hired to get fired Bill Brown.

00:24:38
Speaker 2: On X We had a couple other questions along this vein. Are you guys confident comfortable with the offense heading into the playoffs?

00:24:47
Speaker 1: Still not seeing the consistency?

00:24:50
Speaker 2: That's I mean, that's the big That's the one thing people ask me, like, you know, how do the Phillies not win the World Series? Well, and they could go cold again, like they did in the NLCS. Offensively, Yeah, so I think this cham oh you know, yeah, I thought you were gonna go.

00:25:06
Speaker 3: No, it's swinging miss and leaving a bunch of men in scoring position and going cold would run us. The scoring position is unfortunately in their DNA, chasing stuff off the off the play, trying to hit eighteen run home runs, doing too much and getting in a bad way offensively. It's something that can happen to this team. We saw it happened that at stages this regular season. We saw it happened unfortunately last postseason. It can rear its head. But you know, when they're on, they're dynamic, and they got to hit home runs to be successful. We've seen it here lately. So do I think they can put together another good month of offense. Absolutely? Do I think they can go cold for a couple of games and end up, you know, going home. Absolutely. You just hope it's more of the good stuff.

00:25:54
Speaker 5: So you hope that yesterday was sort of a Microcosmohe I think it can be and can happen, and you hope that it works works out for the Phillies.

00:26:01
Speaker 4: They struck out sixteen times sixteen and.

00:26:05
Speaker 5: They've struck out sixteen or more four times this year, and they've won all four games.

00:26:10
Speaker 4: And the reason why they won all four games because they hit some home runs.

00:26:13
Speaker 5: And so yes, it can happen, but you'd like to see a little bit more contact. That's why Juan Soto becomes a very interesting fellow.

00:26:25
Speaker 3: Now he's a Philly.

00:26:29
Speaker 4: The other guys won't get fired.

00:26:30
Speaker 1: We're just having fun. How about this guy? This is quite the honor Winston Churchill on X the Winston Churchill I'm sure now back from the grave. Are you guys concerned for Ranger Suarez in the postseason?

00:26:44
Speaker 4: Yes?

00:26:44
Speaker 3: Do you answer that?

00:26:46
Speaker 4: Well?

00:26:47
Speaker 1: I am.

00:26:48
Speaker 2: I don't feel confident with Ranger sware is right now going into the postseason. He has two more starts, he has not had the command that he's had his fastball. Isn't there doesn't seem to be the same type of guy. I asked Rob Thompson the other uh, two nights ago. Is he is he in shape? Is does he have his lower body?

00:27:09
Speaker 1: You know?

00:27:09
Speaker 2: Is there something going on there? And he swears that he's in shape. Ranger Suarez says, is he in shape?

00:27:14
Speaker 3: Now?

00:27:15
Speaker 2: The one thing the Ranger swore is his credit is that. You know, Rob also mentioned again I think he's just trying to like deflect some criticism on Ranger swars. He said, well, you know, this is kind of still part of his rehabit signment. It's five starts into his rehabit signment. Ranger Sware said, I am not going to this. I do not feel this is a rehab assignment. I don't I didn't go on a rehabit signment because I don't feel like I needed one. But uh, I don't feel great about Ranger Suarez right now in his ability to pitch in a big game because he hasn't really shown it so far.

00:27:45
Speaker 1: He just does not look like himself.

00:27:47
Speaker 2: And I'm not even comparing him to the first half of the season when he was otherworldly and era under two. He doesn't look like the guy that he was the past two years when he was in the postseason and he was kind of like this. You know, Tom Cool collected gives you five five plus innings of just great baseball.

00:28:04
Speaker 1: I just don't see it. He can get back, he can get it back. He's got too much.

00:28:12
Speaker 5: He does not have his legs underneath him. Okay, he doesn't have his sea legs. It's clear that he runs out of gas very quickly. I would throw him in unless something drastically changes in the next two starts.

00:28:23
Speaker 4: He's got I think he's got two stars left.

00:28:25
Speaker 5: Yeah, I would not have him be in the rotation, and I would put him in the bullpen and hope that he can get guys out.

00:28:33
Speaker 4: I know that he has the gumption to do it.

00:28:35
Speaker 5: I know I don't have any problem giving him the baseball, but I'm giving him the baseball and short spurts because he's not. It's not even a question as to who's a better picture right now here Sanchez. That's a no brainer. Sanchez is clearly way ahead of him. I think Ranger. I don't think that he is in the physical condition. It is necessary for him to be as effective as he was. If you looked at him and took pictures of him and looked at his body content and how it was coming out of spring training and he had finally had a full spring training.

00:29:10
Speaker 4: We talked about this a lot.

00:29:11
Speaker 5: Where he was able to get his pitch count up, get his legs underneath him, get his body in shape.

00:29:17
Speaker 4: He was a different picture. Best picture in baseball. Thank you.

00:29:22
Speaker 5: Now after coming back with the back, after the back issues, he's I don't think he's in the same spot physically that he was that he was then. And it is fairly obvious to me with the arm speed and his endurability and his longevity right now that he's just not the same guy.

00:29:42
Speaker 4: And that's a concern.

00:29:43
Speaker 5: So put him in a bullpen, let him to throw two or three innings, piggyback with whomever. Somebody blows up, Nola blows up, has a blow up inning, you got to throw him in there. Just stop the flow. If Sanchez has a blow up inning, throw him in there, stop the flow, whatever the case may be, and him do his thing.

00:30:01
Speaker 3: He wouldn't be in my top three, you know, going into the postseason. If you need him. It wouldn't surprise me if he got to start in the postseason, if you pitched, well, he's kind of wacky, you know. Sometimes you know it could come out of nowhere. But what we're seeing right now is a concern. It's kind of a mystery. They say is healthy. We've talked about it before. It doesn't look to be in great shape. And this this uh, you know, the injury slash ineffectiveness slash slump he's been in the second half is I mean, I guess you know, it's almost you could say, life changing for him, because if he had extended that first two and a half three good months throughout the full season, you know, they're probably looking at trying to lock him up this offseason. And now I think they're gonna have They're gonna take a wait and see approach there.

00:30:45
Speaker 4: So now they keep that money for Soto. I mean, I.

00:30:53
Speaker 5: Totally agree with you, and I I love the guy because I love when he's on the mount and I love his demeanor and I love the fact that he is who he is when he pitches.

00:31:06
Speaker 4: But I don't see the same guy right now.

00:31:10
Speaker 2: We're gonna splice up Ruben basically saying the Phi lads are getting once.

00:31:13
Speaker 1: So put that out there. It's like, oh my god.

00:31:16
Speaker 3: And then when the Yankees have that press conference, we're gonna play them over and over.

00:31:23
Speaker 2: So jim wanted me to ask this question. I was not gonna ask it myself. How Katz wants to know what other voices can I do? He says, my Christopher walking in British accent are pretty good.

00:31:35
Speaker 1: Jimmy No, I don't like doing accents on the spot. Do you have any that you want me to do? You know, I don't know what he's got.

00:31:42
Speaker 4: He's got, He's got the whole plethora of them.

00:31:44
Speaker 3: All right, give me give me a little Charlie man anual.

00:31:48
Speaker 1: But big gym over there, Ruben. We're gonna play some golf later. Hey, Ruben, Ruben, how you doing? How you doing?

00:31:57
Speaker 2: I saw Charlie, saw him the other day in the press box, always like ask him, were looking for Charlie basse hits, because that's what he would always say to you when you'd see you, like kind of mandering through the clubhouse or meandering.

00:32:08
Speaker 4: Were looking Jim a base hits.

00:32:12
Speaker 1: Charlie also says some other things that we can't. You know, he's very cold.

00:32:16
Speaker 4: Let's preg Yeah.

00:32:19
Speaker 3: All right, give me the Phillies tonight are going to board the old clickety clock train from Milwaukee to New York in search of the first division title since twenty eleven. How would old time newsman, old time newsreel kind of narrate where the Phillies are.

00:32:34
Speaker 1: Headed the fighting Phills.

00:32:36
Speaker 9: Last night Milwaukee the brew City clinch their first post. The clinch the postseason birth. Now they're getting on the amtrak going to the Big Apple, New York City. Well, they will try to beat the New York Metropolitans on Thursday night and clinch their first division title since two thousand and eleven.

00:32:55
Speaker 2: I will break these out every once in a while just to be goofy and fun.

00:32:59
Speaker 3: All right, give me a little, give me a little something else. Yeah, give me a little JFK ordering some maybe, Yeah, I want to hear that. That's what I'm shower.

00:33:08
Speaker 1: I usually break out my JFK for Jim because you know he's from Rhode Island up there, you know, the New England area.

00:33:15
Speaker 4: Jim.

00:33:16
Speaker 2: Jim loves going up to New England in the summer time and getting his lobster rolls.

00:33:23
Speaker 1: We love, we love Jim. Jim loves going up there. He's got some family still up in the New England area.

00:33:28
Speaker 4: Era era.

00:33:33
Speaker 3: All right, my last one, my last one, because I know Ruben. I know Ruben needs to go.

00:33:39
Speaker 1: Uh, we gotta go.

00:33:41
Speaker 3: His drive into the into the woods. Correct, give me a little uh, give me a little. Matt Gelb interviewing Rubens.

00:33:51
Speaker 4: Mat Del.

00:33:53
Speaker 3: I don't even know what to do about Matt gil Uh, I can make it short.

00:33:59
Speaker 1: Well, how did would Matt Gelb interview? Ruben? I do I do do a quality Yeah, you know it's me Matt Gilb.

00:34:08
Speaker 2: You know because he Matt kind of like when he kind of like is very soft spoken sometimes when he's doing it very.

00:34:13
Speaker 1: Very and he gets very curious. Do a little head head bob when he talks. Guy, I gotta sit next to this guy tonight at the gonna kill me. I love Matt Gelb. I love Matt Gelb.

00:34:24
Speaker 4: Well give me some Galb. I need to hear some good.

00:34:26
Speaker 9: Like so Ruben, like, you know, I don't even know what this I don't even know what this said.

00:34:36
Speaker 3: That was pretty good. That was all right.

00:34:38
Speaker 1: We'll go with.

00:34:39
Speaker 4: The first three.

00:34:39
Speaker 1: The last one will we'll say, need some work all right? O.

00:34:45
Speaker 3: Hey, Ruben, good luck on the golf course today. Will smell you later.

00:34:48
Speaker 4: Smell you guys.

00:34:55
Speaker 1: This is the Philly Show.

00:34:56
Speaker 10: If you haven't already, please subscribe to The Philly Show where ever you get your podcasts.

00:35:01
Speaker 1: You can also watch us on.

00:35:03
Speaker 10: Our YouTube channel. If you like what we do, give us a review, Tell a friend, Catch Rubenjim and Me on Phillies Nation TV, presented by Valley Forge Tourism. New episodes air an hour.

00:35:13
Speaker 1: Before every Saturday.

00:35:14
Speaker 10: Phillies game on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Replays air throughout the week and on Philliesnation dot com. Get more of Reuben's analysis during before and after Phillies games on NBC Sports Philadelphia, on the Sports Radio ninety four WIP Morning Show, and MLB Network Rejim at the Allcity Network at allphl y dot com. Find more of me at MLB dot com, the philliesb Newsletter, and occasionally on MLB Network