New Phillies pitcher Brad Keller + New Royals pitcher Matt Strahm

00:00:02
Speaker 1: Now pitching now joining FT for a little combo. It is Brad Keller and he is fresh off signing with the Philadelphia Phillies on a two year contract. Right, great to have you on the show. Thanks for the time and congratulations on the deal. Can you give us a little insight on how it all went down with the Philly recruiting process that apparently didn't involve Philly's favorite Eric Kratz right above you on the screen.

00:00:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. Yeah, no, it was. It was really cool. It was.

00:00:30
Speaker 3: I had good conversations with those guys. Had a Zoom call. I was actually on vacation.

00:00:35
Speaker 2: I was on it. We had a family vacation down in the Keys and it's kind of my agent call.

00:00:40
Speaker 3: He is like, hey, man, like this is kind of picking up some steam, Like are you able to you know, step away for a little.

00:00:45
Speaker 2: Bit and get on the phone. I was like, yeah, sure. So some jumped on the zoom call front office and killed caught him and those guys, and you know, really really liked what.

00:00:53
Speaker 3: They had to say, and you know, some things that were brought up pitching wise that I really enjoyed. And yeah, next you know, I was on a flight headed a Philly to get all my physicals done. So it was great though now it was way more enjoyable process this time than you know, years past.

00:01:08
Speaker 4: How was that process different than other teams calling you know, or did they all just did they all make the same kind of pitch or was there no other pitch in the Phillies just said boom, we're going right into it.

00:01:20
Speaker 5: Yeah.

00:01:20
Speaker 2: No, I think you know, everyone you know that called me kind of had similar pitches. You know, a lot of it.

00:01:25
Speaker 3: You know, kind of made a big adjustments from starting to relieving and you know, made a big you know, bilo jump and some you know, mechanical things that a lot of them were just kind of asking questions on you know, the process that went into that thought process, and you know how I felt like it did throughout the season and so every every you know, organization that I talked to kind of had similar questions and then more of just like a recruiting pitch on you know, where they stood in an organization where there's you know, looking to go and things like that. So they were all really good conversations. But you know, I think one of the biggest things that you know, a true. My decision was just last year I got a good taste of winning, and I really haven't had a you know, taste of winning in most of my career. So after last year, it was like, you know, get the experience of postseason and things like that. It's just, you know, something that I s tried, I want to do every single year, and I feel like the Phillies were a really good opportunity for that.

00:02:18
Speaker 6: Bron what changed for you?

00:02:20
Speaker 7: You were a starter most of your career and then in Chicago last year, I mean you blossomed.

00:02:24
Speaker 6: Into an elite, elite reliever. What change?

00:02:27
Speaker 7: What did you make a difference in your pitch type? Did you change your arsenal? Did you change the delivery? Did you change some grips?

00:02:33
Speaker 6: What changed?

00:02:34
Speaker 7: Because you were awesome for the cuts. As much as it pays me to say.

00:02:36
Speaker 3: That, thank you, you know, I think first and foremost with just you know, getting healthy, coming off for thrascic alegy syndrome, going through that, you know, down that path, doing the surgery, all that fun stuff. Finally feeling healthy, finally feeling one, having a full off season to not have to worry about, you know, health, just going straight into the season, We're focusing on some mechanical things that you know, I felt, I felt was going to be better official, and yeah, I mean I think there was a big change. I honestly, I overhauled basically everything. You know, I kind of I've always been really long armed, so kind of shorten that up.

00:03:10
Speaker 2: Be a little bit more deliberate, kind of using my legs.

00:03:12
Speaker 3: A lot more, you know, as I feel like I'm just like squatting to the mountain now instead of just kind of drifting. And then you know, added a sweep for last year that was really beneficial, really helped me strike out a lot more guys than I have in the past. So a little bit of everything, honestly. So it's a completely overhaul of, you know, everything I've done my own career.

00:03:30
Speaker 4: So when you see a guy, when you see a guy do what you did, all the things you just said, you go to a new team on you know, a nothing contract and get a massive contract the next year, you really prove yourself.

00:03:44
Speaker 6: Does it hurt at all that you've.

00:03:46
Speaker 4: Seen a lot of Cubs or are the Cubs sign a lot of relievers and you're like, wait a minute, you guys had a front row seat to my resurgence and the fact that I helped you guys win and you're like, wait a minute, Like I thought you guys really liked me, and does it put you on another level then of being like, all right, well, the Cubs aren't going to beat the Phillies this.

00:04:07
Speaker 3: Year, you know, you know, I love my time there that I you know, it credited them to everything this season, you know, like I said, my first taste of postseason, first taste of winning throughout the whole season. So I have no bad letter it will against them at all. I mean, it was probably by far my favorite, you know season of playing baseball. You know, I tell everybody is I had so much fun. The clubhouse was unbelievable, the guys in there, you know, support staff all the way to the coaching staff, for the players. Everything was you know, big league as it gets. So yeah, as far as that, you know, I I loved it over there, and like I have no ill will but just looking forward to the opportunity with the with the Phillies. You know, I've heard a lot of positive things over there as well, and guys that played for both have said it's you know, very very similar situation. Very similar set up over there. So it was it was fun in Chicago. I had a great time as my favorite city. But like I said, looking forward to Philly.

00:05:01
Speaker 6: All right before I had a different question. Can we show that again?

00:05:05
Speaker 7: Can we show that tweet you sent out, because first of all, there's some lies in that tweet.

00:05:09
Speaker 6: Okay, you just.

00:05:09
Speaker 7: Told some lies, but you just you said say Chicago is a great the best city. I agree with that far, but there were some lies in that tweet. Thank you for the electricity Wrigley Field, Thank you for there was a lot you know, beer snakes. You didn't like, look at this.

00:05:22
Speaker 5: Sport energy, What do we like?

00:05:25
Speaker 7: Why do you lie to the people and tell him you know this and that? Like come on now, Brad, like, let's not talk about this.

00:05:32
Speaker 2: No, I mean it was was unbelievable. I mean Wrigley was every single day.

00:05:36
Speaker 3: I mean we play all the day games and everything sold out in me I said it all Summer's like, does no one work on Fridays in Chicago?

00:05:42
Speaker 6: It's have you ever heard have you ever heard Lee Ilia's rant? I know? Okay, So there's a manager for the name. He was a Phillies legend. He's a Phillies legend.

00:05:58
Speaker 7: He said, eighty five percent of the world works, the other fifteen percent come out to day baseball.

00:06:03
Speaker 6: There you have cup.

00:06:04
Speaker 7: Fans some in one quote, right, especially on Friday, right.

00:06:09
Speaker 2: So it's insane. Yeah, it's insane.

00:06:12
Speaker 6: I agree. I agree.

00:06:13
Speaker 7: All right, let's let's get back to the now, the truth. Okay, do you like starting or relieving better? Because you came up and you were a starter first forever and now you've had success as a reliever, which one do you like better?

00:06:25
Speaker 3: You know, That's kind of what I told teams this ausus is like I liked relieving, but I absolutely loved uh you know, or I like starting. I absolutely loved relieving, though, Like there was nothing like the adrenaline spike that they get whenever they you know, the phone rings and you're coming in a tight situation. You're just kind of just clear, clear mind, go out there and just here's my best stuff. Like instead of sometimes you get caught up when you're starting trying to like set pitches up and try to do this, you kind of be a little bit more, you know, a more methodical approach to pitching. I guess first bull finishes here. It is Boom go after him. You know, it was so much fun. And plus I had a lot of good group, a group of guys down there that I leaned heavy on, guys that have been there, done that, pitching the biggest moments, and you know, I asked them tons of questions and they helped me out a ton. So they obviously made it a lot of fun and kept the bullpen light.

00:07:16
Speaker 2: And yeah, I mean, I love relieving. It was so fun.

00:07:22
Speaker 5: Yeah, your stuff played up.

00:07:24
Speaker 2: It was great.

00:07:24
Speaker 1: You know, we watched you all year just shove. Like AJ mentioned, one of the best relievers in baseball this past season. So if I take you back to the later part of your KC days, do you wish that you latched on with a role like this sooner? Did you guys ever talk about this, because I'm sure there was a point in those last few years with KC where you like, my stuff's good, but you just weren't getting the results that you wanted.

00:07:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean we talked about it.

00:07:47
Speaker 3: Actually, I think I got moved to the bullpen the last month of the season in twenty two. I believe that was but yeah, I mean I still felt like I was able to start, and I still felt like I was able to do. And then you know, I still batt on some injuries stuff, and then even twenty three, ultimately the Tos just put me out for the whole season. But you know, I still feel like I'm capable of starting. But like I said, after having a full taste, instead of being on that line that we were kind of teetering on when I was with the with the Royals the last couple of years, there fully going into season fully committing to the bullpen and being like, all right, this is where I am. This where instead of like coming constantly having that you know, doubt in the background, minds like am I still going to start?

00:08:27
Speaker 2: Or and what could I start? You know, it was just fully committed to the bullpen.

00:08:29
Speaker 3: I think that was just so much better mentally to go out there and know, you know, this is where I am, this is my position. Let's you know, let's just go do it. So yeah, I mean we talked about it a little bit. Like I said, I spent that one month, but I didn't really do too well, I don't think. But I did my beginning of my career when I when I you know, made the team in twenty eighteen, My first two months were in the bullpen, and that was at a time where I thought the bullpen was my avenue to.

00:08:53
Speaker 2: The big leagues.

00:08:53
Speaker 3: And I threw really well doing that, and so I feel like once I was like committed to it, and kind of that's how I felt this, you're just like fully committed a bull fan. I feel like I was able to kind of just stay in that mentality, stay in that mode of just like getting ready every day, go out there and do your job.

00:09:10
Speaker 4: How did you like your time in Kansas City? Because sometimes everyone's like, well, that's the team you got first, got called up with, you must love them. How did you like your time when you were there?

00:09:20
Speaker 3: I mean, I really enjoyed it. You know, they gave me the opportunity they you know, rule five pick. They gave me a chance to to, you know, give my first dast to the big leagues, and you know, they got a couple opening day starts. There, got a lot of starts on under my belt there. I really enjoyed it. The city was great, the fans, they were great. The only thing that I didn't love was that we weren't really winning, and it just kind of felt like a lot of turnover. While I was there, we had you know, three managers, a couple of gms to two different owners. So it's like a lot of turnover during my time there. But the group of guys in the clubhouse are some of my best friends to this day. Still talk to them all and even in fancy football on the whole nine.

00:09:59
Speaker 2: So I really enjoyed my time there. I liked it a lot.

00:10:02
Speaker 3: And like I said, they you know, my first steps to the big leagues, and you know, after going to a couple of different organizations, you really see the difference from there to to other places.

00:10:12
Speaker 2: And you know from my friends they are still there.

00:10:16
Speaker 3: You know, they said a lot of a lot has changed from there from my time left now.

00:10:20
Speaker 2: So yeah, I mean I liked it.

00:10:22
Speaker 3: I can't say it was great, especially you know, first first get in the big leagues where you know you're gonna fail a lot. It was like a it was a perfect little, perfect spot to be all.

00:10:30
Speaker 7: Right, do you have your walkout music ready? Because you've you've seen durand in Philly right with the Durantelo's and they got they do the whole thing and they get the light show. Do you have a walkout Plan because his is hard top. So when you first time you run out of the bullpen at the bank, are they going to have some Florida Gator music playing when you break up through the bullpen or what?

00:10:52
Speaker 2: No?

00:10:53
Speaker 3: No, no, no, I mean I I have no idea, but Durand is by far the coolest entrance I've ever seen. I've watched it for a while back when he was at the Plans and then watch it, you know, this year a couple of times. Just there's nothing beating that. That's just one of the most electric things I've ever seen. It'd be cool to, you know, maybe get a maybe get a video one day. I think I had one towards the end of the season last year with the Cubs in the postseason. My parents filmed it one time. It's the only reason I know. But now it's, uh, that'd be cool. As of right now, I have nothing, nothing that I'm just perfect.

00:11:25
Speaker 7: You know why, because I say this all the time. The setup guys they don't get an entrance. Only the closer gets it. That was the perfect answer. Yes, thank you, thank you for saying that. Because the people on the show, Kratz and Scott Oh, we could, we should give the fifth inning, long guy.

00:11:40
Speaker 6: Entrance, like, no, it's the closer, it's the ninth inning. No, no, no, no no.

00:11:44
Speaker 7: So before we let you go, I have to ask you this. I know you're from Georgia. You tweet a lot about the Georgia Bulldogs. I'm sorry, Ole miss all the way. Okay, sorry, I'm a Florida face.

00:11:53
Speaker 6: You know, nice, nice job, Kirby with your bowl cut.

00:11:56
Speaker 7: But it's Kirby Smart going to leave for the Atlanta Falcons, because that is the rumor. And when he does, well, you Georgia fans ever, stop crying.

00:12:06
Speaker 2: No, he's not leaving. He's forever solidified in Georgia history.

00:12:12
Speaker 3: I mean he played there, he coached there, national champion there, coaching wise, back to back. I mean, he's got it made there. I mean it's it would be it would put the stay of Georgia in to a full panic if he left, because University of Georgia. I don't mean this by any disrespect to Falcons fans, but University of Georgia football runs Georgia right like Saturdays, Like that's what that's the thing.

00:12:37
Speaker 2: Everyone does.

00:12:38
Speaker 3: Everyone has plans for you know, based around Georgia football games.

00:12:41
Speaker 2: No one really plans around the Falcon games.

00:12:44
Speaker 3: It's like, oh, the Falcons are on and that Again this is not no disrespect to them, but it's just like Saturdays SEC football, Like that's that's the mecca for Saturdays, you know, or for football if you will.

00:12:55
Speaker 2: But yeah, no, if he leaves the state of Georgia, my burn up in flames.

00:13:03
Speaker 7: The scale pan and I'm gonna call Arthur Boy. I think I'm gonna call Arthur Boy. I'll contribute five bucks and get him out of there.

00:13:10
Speaker 5: I want to see this.

00:13:13
Speaker 2: Spoken like a true Florida fan right there.

00:13:16
Speaker 1: Absolutely, I got one for on everyone's favorite team, Team USA. Did you get a call for the World Baseball Classic? And if not, you should get a call, and would you say, yes, I have.

00:13:28
Speaker 2: Got a call.

00:13:29
Speaker 3: We talked, you know, early on, but I haven't heard back. It was kind of right around the time that I was, you know, signing with the Phillies, and so I don't know. I think it would be really cool. It would be uh tough, just because it's my first ring training with the Phillies and and it would be a situation where I, you know, I would want to you know, be here for the team that you know, I would be playing with for the next two years. But definitely obviously a huge honor to you know, represent America and and go play in the Little baseball obviously a dream for a lot of guys. So yeah, yeah, I mean I think it would be a tough decision. I mean, I definitely, like I said, wouldn't be honored. But it's kind of tough because you know, I'm hoping to pitch really long so the Phillies and into October this year, and so yeah.

00:14:12
Speaker 2: It's I did get a phone call though, so I appreciate that.

00:14:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, and some of your teammates won't be in spring training for long, Bryce Schwarber, maybe some others too, so we'll find out. But they still have to fill out, like hath their bullpen.

00:14:27
Speaker 5: I'm looking at the rosters, so you.

00:14:28
Speaker 1: Might get another call, but good to know, right it might happen, So keep us posted if it does happen, we'd be excited to see you there. Otherwise we'll see you at spring training.

00:14:37
Speaker 2: Uh in Florida. Sweep Do you golf?

00:14:44
Speaker 5: Oh?

00:14:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, a lot?

00:14:46
Speaker 6: Philly love Philly area, Philly, New Jersey area.

00:14:49
Speaker 4: Maybe one of the most underrated golf destinations in the United States. Obviously, Florida has a thousand courses. But yeah, unbelievable golf right around my corner.

00:14:59
Speaker 3: Yeah, yuh oh perfect, Yeah, I need uh, I need all the hookups for all the golf around here.

00:15:05
Speaker 4: I got your guy for you.

00:15:09
Speaker 6: Pay. That's the best part.

00:15:11
Speaker 1: First round, rat, thanks for joining us. Appreciate it, man, enjoy the rest of the off season.

00:15:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you guys for having me. I appreciate it.

00:15:20
Speaker 1: We've got our next guest joining us right now. Matt Strump is ready to go back on the show. Here we go, Matt.

00:15:27
Speaker 6: Great to have you back on.

00:15:28
Speaker 5: Man.

00:15:28
Speaker 6: How you doing.

00:15:29
Speaker 1: Been an interesting off season for you and you end up back in a familiar spot.

00:15:35
Speaker 5: Yeah, yep, that's that's the business of baseball.

00:15:40
Speaker 6: Yeah, thanks, training already, Yeah, where you're going, dude?

00:15:45
Speaker 5: What was that?

00:15:46
Speaker 6: Sorry? Are you driving the spring training? Already?

00:15:51
Speaker 8: Just got done working out, but I'm already down here in Arizona's already.

00:15:56
Speaker 6: There you go.

00:15:56
Speaker 1: Okay, So what have you talked to Kansas City about, you know, since you found out the news? Like who makes the phone call? Give us the play by play of how that goes down?

00:16:06
Speaker 5: Oh?

00:16:06
Speaker 8: Jj uh Dave called me first to let me know I've been traded, and then I got a call from J and uh, he basically said, welcome home, and I said, I couldn't be more excited.

00:16:19
Speaker 5: To be home. So it's, uh, it feels like a movie. You know.

00:16:23
Speaker 8: That's who drafted me, who brought me up. And I kind of gave JJ a little hard time. I said, you guys ran such a great organization that received the butt heads everywhere I went, So it was it's good to be back.

00:16:37
Speaker 7: Are you driving as you do this interview? Are you hopefully there's someone else driving?

00:16:42
Speaker 1: Nah?

00:16:43
Speaker 5: If Yeah, my brother drives me everywhere.

00:16:45
Speaker 2: So.

00:16:47
Speaker 7: Because he's good because I do a lot of crazy things, but I've never done an interview while driving, at least pull over.

00:16:53
Speaker 2: Well you've done that, but you do that the phone.

00:16:55
Speaker 7: Yeah, on the phone, totally on the phone, not like actually on video driving and trying to look at the camera and trying to drive, especially on if you're on Itan out there in Phoenix, there's a good chance you might get pulled over, watched out for the cameras, the speed cameras and all that junk where they'll send the picture to your house.

00:17:11
Speaker 8: Yeah, I don't think they pull people over out here. I think it's just I recommendation how fast to go.

00:17:18
Speaker 6: No, not true.

00:17:19
Speaker 7: I got pulled over full uniform in spring training one year. And I got a ticket in full uniform on my way to the Reds from Goodyear from fun deal. Yeah, yeah, full uniform. Side of the road guy gives me a ticket and he goes, where are you going. I'm like, I'm going to the baseball game. And he's like, is that why you're dressed in uniform? And I said, well, no, officer, I just thought i'd wear this today because doesn't it.

00:17:40
Speaker 6: Look good on me?

00:17:41
Speaker 7: Like yes, in person that I'm a player going to the game. So anyways, but I decreate. How excited are you? I mean, I know you loved your time in Philly. Philly, you guys had a great run there. But now you're going to a team in Kansas City that's kind of on the up and they have great younger players.

00:17:56
Speaker 6: How excited are you to be a leader in this bullpen for the Royals?

00:18:01
Speaker 5: Yeah?

00:18:01
Speaker 8: I mean I I I'm so excited to be back. And just I mean, the biggest, the biggest thing for me right now in my career is I want to win, and uh, you know, I think I think this is a young team with a lot of talent, and I mean last year didn't and how they wanted it to.

00:18:19
Speaker 5: Obviously very disappointed.

00:18:20
Speaker 8: But when you mix that with some young guys that that can that could turn into a dangerous recipe, and you know, anything can happen, and I'm I'm excited to see what what Kansas City can do.

00:18:33
Speaker 4: You said you I thought you said at the end when you're talking about the conversation with JJ Piccolo, he said, I've butted heads everywhere I've went.

00:18:42
Speaker 6: What do you mean you butted heads? What do you mean like that?

00:18:45
Speaker 4: Is that that?

00:18:47
Speaker 5: Yeah?

00:18:48
Speaker 8: I mean, I'll just say Kansas City Royals do an unbelievable job of not only producing major league athletes, but they produced men like that is something I was brought up with Kansas City and Date Moore. His whole thing was, we're gonna have good ball players, but we're gonna first make sure you guys are good men. And uh, you know, Kansas City kind of just has in my opinion, they do they do it the right way.

00:19:12
Speaker 5: You know.

00:19:13
Speaker 8: Ten thirty ground balls mean Russy Coots was hitting that funk go at ten thirty It wasn't ten thirty five because we're waiting on Hosper. Osper was there five minutes early, so you know, it's uh, it's I am a very routine human being. I love structure, and structure doesn't work unless there's discipline or someone enforcing the structure.

00:19:38
Speaker 7: All right, So now let's go to the team you just left. How do you feel like your time went in Philly? And were you happy? I mean, they obviously traded you away, which happens to all of us.

00:19:50
Speaker 6: We get traded, we get moved. Is there anything maybe you wish different happenings?

00:19:54
Speaker 7: I mean, I know, besides winning a World Series, But how do you how do you sew up your time in Philadelphia as a Philly.

00:20:03
Speaker 8: I mean, the best way to put it is it was the best three years of my career. You know it was again, I love this game. Yeah, money is awesome, don't get me wrong, but winning is better. Like I love winning, And that's the most winning I've done in my career is in Philly. And it was fun to do it in front of a packed house every night, whether it be June Tuesday, in June or the playoffs in October. You know, it was an exciting place to show up and work every day. But yeah, I mean obviously fell short of the goal. And again, it's business. You can't control it. Now I'm gonna go try to win one in Kansasity.

00:20:45
Speaker 4: Talking about Philly again, Matt Gelb and other writers wrote about how maybe you and Costianos had some butting aheads with players or front office. How is that? How do you take that and how is that perceived from a player's standpoint when you're like, Wow, I really truly want what you just said, win and go out there and men being men?

00:21:12
Speaker 8: Yeah, well, first of all, I would like I mean, I don't I'm unaware of any player I've ever bought it ahead with there.

00:21:20
Speaker 5: I mean, that's all.

00:21:22
Speaker 8: I'm a middle reliever. I'm not going to be a Hall of Famer. But the one thing I control is being a good teammate. And I don't think there's one guy in there that would say a bad thing about me. But uh, you know, it's everything's business, and I'll call a spade a spade, and in this business those guys usually are like But at least I know I have my job because I'm the guy for the job.

00:21:50
Speaker 6: There you go, Okay, I respect that. Listen.

00:21:54
Speaker 7: We all know, especially for me, we know how the media can spin things and make things out of nothing.

00:22:01
Speaker 6: So listen, I respect exactly what you just said. And listen. The only people that truly know you are the people inside your clubhouse.

00:22:07
Speaker 7: And other than that, you know, people outside can say, oh, this, and now we think this, we think that. Would they ain't in there every day, and they ain't in there grinding with you every day, and they don't know what you're about, then who cares.

00:22:18
Speaker 6: What they say? That's kind of the way I look at them.

00:22:20
Speaker 5: So yep, exactly.

00:22:24
Speaker 1: Hey, Matt, do you feel like, you know, like, what was it like at the end just now with Philly in the playoffs? Obviously you guys fell to a Dodgers team that was really damn good. So was it disappointing knowing that you had, you know, such a talented roster and all of that, and obviously they're gonna try and run it back again. But it did feel like, you know, the window does close eventually when you have a number of superstars like that.

00:22:48
Speaker 5: Yeah, no doubt.

00:22:50
Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean last year, honestly, all three years they had felt the same, like you just were so talented.

00:22:58
Speaker 5: We came up short. We didn't do the end goal.

00:23:00
Speaker 4: Uh.

00:23:01
Speaker 8: I still think the one that hurts me the most still is the NLCS against the Diamondbacks. That was just I mean, I still have a sour taste in my mouth about that one.

00:23:10
Speaker 5: So uh yeah, I don't. I mean, losing sucks.

00:23:15
Speaker 8: Winning's good and if there's only one that gets to win at the end.

00:23:18
Speaker 4: So all right, Scott Broun, We're not gonna show him because it's just gonna be me and you on the screen. He's got huge biceps, so don't be intimidated by him. But he called the Phillies a regular season team. Is there any credence to that? Is there anything you're on that team? I try, we try to explain to Scott. Look, you go out, you play the game. Yes, the results in the postseason doom hatter. But is there such a thing as a regular season team? And where the Phillies a regular season team?

00:23:50
Speaker 5: I don't.

00:23:51
Speaker 8: I mean, we all know playoff baseball like it you run into a rocket. They could have been the I mean that was the Phillies in twenty two. They were the worst worst team in the playoffs and next thing you know, they're a Game seven of the World Series. It's like, so the playoffs, the playoffs is an animal you can't control.

00:24:13
Speaker 5: So I mean can't.

00:24:15
Speaker 8: We're all regular season teams, like, all thirty of them.

00:24:21
Speaker 7: People don't understand how hard it is just to make the postseasons. So let's also not let's not forget about that. How hard just to make the postseason in baseball, it's a lot harder than any other sports, So let's not forget about that. And then you're facing the best and then you're facing the best pitchers, the best teams, and there's no let there's no game off. Right, So it's it's very hard to win a World Series. It's extremely hard to win a World Series, no matter how good your team is. Right, So that that's why, you know whatever, don't just don't listen to Scott Scott, just ignore.

00:24:48
Speaker 1: He's got nothing to do with Matt Strom. I'm just saying that the Phillies offense was dynamic in the in the regular season, and they obviously you're not going to score as much in the playoffs, but they some of the the superstar set at themselves, some of them on the Phillies. So Matt I did two hours on a talk show every day. You know, you've done media and all of that. I'm like, Hey, the guys themselves, Schwarber and others would say themselves, hey, we.

00:25:11
Speaker 6: Got to do more.

00:25:12
Speaker 1: They said it every year after those losses.

00:25:16
Speaker 5: Yeah, but I mean the media set, it was a picture's full, you know.

00:25:21
Speaker 6: That media not me, not me.

00:25:24
Speaker 7: He'd come back, great, comeback. All right, let's move on. Let's move on from the Phillies. You're no longer a Philly. You had a great time in Philly, cool all that stuff. You haven't had to cut your hair in Kansas City. You clearly grown your beard out, which is also awesome. But you're a big card collector. How many autographs are you gonna ask Bobby Witz Junior for as soon as you walk it? Are you just gonna walk in with like a stack of cards like this and say, Bobby teammate, dues, dude, just start signing.

00:25:49
Speaker 8: Bro Well, so I know Bobby is a big card collector himself too, and I in the owner of one of his rarest rookie audit drafts. So there's gonna be a stack of cards he'll have to sign if he's thinking he's gonna get that in the trade.

00:26:06
Speaker 5: So so we'll see.

00:26:08
Speaker 4: Oh I like that because that that brings me to my question. Is there like a hierarchy in the card land? When you look at a guy like Bobby Witting you and everybody knows what his contract is, it's it's big nine figures and you both are card efficionados.

00:26:25
Speaker 6: Do you look at him?

00:26:26
Speaker 2: Go?

00:26:26
Speaker 4: Man, bro If I had that kind of money, I'd be buying all the kinds of stuff like I don't have the coolest stuff, Like is there that in the card in the card land?

00:26:36
Speaker 5: I'm sure there is. For some me.

00:26:38
Speaker 8: As a card collector, I'm a huge I call myself a pack rat.

00:26:41
Speaker 5: I enjoy the chase.

00:26:43
Speaker 8: I mean like some guys enjoy scratch off lottery tickets and just the adrenaline Russ's scratching. I like opening packs and whatever I open is what I collect.

00:26:53
Speaker 5: I'm not. I'm not like a guy that is like, oh, I need the.

00:26:56
Speaker 8: Rookie Michael Jordan card, so I'm gonna go buy it a PSA ten. I might find a pack of eighty six and open it up and see if I can hit his rookie card, but I'm more of a pack rat. I enjoy it, enjoy the chase. But there's definitely some people that are like, yeah, oh, if I had your money, I'd buy a whole case of cards. And it's like, well, it's financially not smart. It's like the way I collect. Yeah, the way I collect is shoot myself in the foot for sure, Like I'm not making money on what I spend, but it's uh, it's just a fun little adrenaline rush for me.

00:27:34
Speaker 5: I guess I don't gamble.

00:27:35
Speaker 6: I don't.

00:27:36
Speaker 5: I don't do do that. That is my gambling baseball cards.

00:27:41
Speaker 7: I just say most some people would say that's gambling. So then that leads me to the next thing. Do you like where card collecting has gone? Because it used to be you can buy a pack for fifty cents or quarter and you get the little piece of bad bubble gum that tasted for about three choos and then you had to throw it out because you can break your teeth off, right, But now it's thirty bucks for pack or three hundred bucks for a box or wherever it is.

00:28:03
Speaker 6: Are you okay with that?

00:28:06
Speaker 8: It's it's getting crazy. I mean when I first got back into it in like twenty eighteen, you could buy a box of tops chrome for one hundred and twenty nine bucks, and now I think they're two fifty. So it's it's getting expensive becoming a I don't know, it's like golf, a rich man's sport, I guess, but it's uh, yeah, I'm not I wouldn't say. The traditionalist in me would say, no, I'm not a fan in the direction it's going.

00:28:39
Speaker 1: Hey, I'm gonna do my my classic question. I've been asking dudes, especially from the US, have you gotten a phone call about Team USA? Because you should get one. They only have a few relievers right now.

00:28:52
Speaker 5: I haven't.

00:28:54
Speaker 1: Okay, Well, if you do get a phone call, are you in.

00:29:01
Speaker 5: I mean it's USA, who wouldn't be.

00:29:04
Speaker 6: Yeah, that's why I figure.

00:29:05
Speaker 1: I mean they've they've got a lot of the position players obviously, you know a lot of that's figured out, and even actually for the first time, you're seeing some you know more number one number two starters join the fold here.

00:29:17
Speaker 6: So what do you think about that?

00:29:19
Speaker 1: Do you think there's any reason for the change there? I know it's been like a hotly debated topic for the past probably decade at this point, like how does Team USA get their starters that are, you know, superstars onto the roster.

00:29:35
Speaker 8: I mean, I think the reason I think it goes back to AJSA and how hard it is to make the playoffs and we see these the atmosphere of the WBC, and we've seen what the playoffs have been the last few years, and I think guys are hungry for that adrenaline rush and that that atmosphere. So I think it's uh, I think that's what's kind of taking them out of the woodworks here to I don't know, kind of turned the cheek to the owners.

00:30:02
Speaker 5: I'm sure the owners aren't happy when.

00:30:03
Speaker 8: We're playing this, but it's uh, it's an experience of a lifetime.

00:30:08
Speaker 6: If you ask me, agreed, agreed all right?

00:30:11
Speaker 7: On your hat you can't really see it. It says lank archery, which is I'm assuming what lancaster archery?

00:30:16
Speaker 6: Right? Is that what it is? Sir?

00:30:18
Speaker 7: Yes, sir, so on your Instagram, I saw where you got a special bow mate. Can can I bow hunt? Can I get a lank archery like they made? Do I have to play for the Phillies? Maybe because I know they made a special one for j T. They made one for Schwarves, they made one made you.

00:30:33
Speaker 8: They made one for roup out in sand fran And then uh is it Bubba Chandler in Pittsburgh. Yeah, MoMA Chandlersburgh.

00:30:44
Speaker 6: So no, no, I want to.

00:30:47
Speaker 7: I want to try and find his rookie card. You what you might want to try and find Bubba Chandler's rookie card. It could be worth something and that.

00:30:56
Speaker 8: Yeah, I got a bunch of and yet, so we'll rip through them. But but no, I'll hit up my Lancaster guys and I'll send him your number.

00:31:06
Speaker 5: I'm sure he'll reach out get you in one.

00:31:09
Speaker 7: That'd be awesome. Yeah, that's true. That's looking at me like, what the hell are you talking about?

00:31:13
Speaker 2: But I'll go bow hunting with you.

00:31:15
Speaker 6: You'll go bow hunting? Yeah, dude, come on, no chance, I'll go. No chance?

00:31:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm an Orlando guy.

00:31:21
Speaker 6: We don't really go that. Yeah, exactly.

00:31:25
Speaker 7: So my son, my son went to college, right, and now he's back home and now he's all into hunting. I could never get him to go with me. So now he's like, Dad, I want to. I want to learn how to shoot a bow. He's like, is it hard, and I'm like, it's really not hard. You just got to practice. He's like, well, can you get me a bow? And I'm like, no, you have to go and get measured and you have to do all these things. You have to measure your draw they have to get your arrows, the right link, all this and he's like, oh, that seems like a lot of work, and I'm like, oh, it's not.

00:31:49
Speaker 6: You just have to find like an hour to go to.

00:31:51
Speaker 7: Somewhere and did all do all the specifics and then once you get it, you can make the bow however you want, the arrows, everything. And it's kind of cool because you get to you get to you know, access rise all this cool stuff.

00:32:01
Speaker 6: So you'd love it. I would.

00:32:04
Speaker 5: Yeah.

00:32:05
Speaker 1: I mean I've only been an animal kingdom lately, Matt, so I gotta get out more.

00:32:10
Speaker 5: Yeah, you need to get out and see something. But no, bow hunt's fun.

00:32:14
Speaker 8: They actually just took me out to Texas and we went on a white tail hunt and it was as a blast.

00:32:20
Speaker 1: I love it all right, Well, aj, I mean you know who to call?

00:32:23
Speaker 6: I do there you go? Well, Matt, good catching up dude. Thanks for the time.

00:32:27
Speaker 1: Appreciate you, and we'll be out in Arizona so we'll see in spring training.

00:32:31
Speaker 5: Appreciate you, guys,