February 27, 2025 • 37 mins
The Phillies are back, which means Luke & I: On the Phillies is back. Luke Arcaini and Sean Barnard dive into all things Spring Training, Bryce Harper's injury, and the outlook on the team in 2025.
Luke & I: On the Phillies is brought to you by FOX Sports The Gambler and sponsored by FOCO: for all of your bobblehead, merchandise, and accessory needs across all Philly sports. Follow @ArcainiLuke on Twitter and use the link in the bio to purchase your goods from FOCO now!
Luke & I: On the Phillies is brought to you by FOX Sports The Gambler and sponsored by FOCO: for all of your bobblehead, merchandise, and accessory needs across all Philly sports. Follow @ArcainiLuke on Twitter and use the link in the bio to purchase your goods from FOCO now!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you can wager on it, we're talking about it.
It's The Gambler, the Fox Sports Radio The Gambler. Fox
Sports Radio in Philly is The Gambler, The Gambling, Philly's
home for all things sports gambling.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Breaking ball popped up, shadow right, Chica going off, Castiano's
coming on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
This is Luke and I on the Phillies, brought to
you by Fox Sports The Gambler.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It has been four months since the last time we
talked on this.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Podcast title was It's Over on October tenth, twenty twenty four.
That was a bit of a rough week, I would
say for Phillies fans, but we are back. Luke and
I on the Phillies has returned for the twenty and
twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I am Luke Arcaney.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
As always, this episode is brought to you by Foco
for all of your bobblehead and all of your needs
in all Phillies sports. Make sure you visit Foco the
like as in my Twitter bio on all social media's.
I am here tonight with Sean Bernard, my host on
Phillies Digest as well, sort of along with Fox Sports
The Gambler. Sean, it's been four months The last time
(01:38):
I would say this podcast at least has talked about
the Phillies is one we got basically.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Embarrassed by the Mets.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
But I think over the last four months the vibes
have changed a little bit. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Spring baseball is back, the Phillies are back. How are
you feeling?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Yeah, I'm honored to be, you know, kicking things off
right or along with you again so here.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
So appreciate you having me on, ready to chot.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
And I think we got the proper sort of you know,
recovery time from this Philly season. I was ready to
burn this city at the stake, fight for everyone in
this locker room be so mad about that exit. It
was a quieter offseason then I think I expected, and
a lot of people expected. But the bottom line is
we've had our healing period.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
I'm ready to buy back into this Phillies team and
excited to dive and do it all.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I am ready to go all in again and hopefully
not be upset at the end. I know there's a
lot of talk right now, obviously around the league. I
think we all know there's one big sort of big
guy on the hill and the Dodgers, and then it's
sort of everyone else in the end.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Now.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I heard another sort of podcast talking about this earlier.
It's it's really just like this National League is loaded
this year, and if you look at sort of the
American League compared to the National League, it's it's almost
night and day. The Phillies are in like a war
zone sort of the National League, but really just the
NL East in general. Obviously you have the Phillies, the Braves,
the Nets, but it's it's pretty much going to be
(03:00):
war zone, I would say for twenty twenty five. But
I think the Phillies are built for it, and I
think a lot of people do as well. Even though
I think maybe it wasn't the off season I think
we sort of hope for, but I think there's definitely
a lot to be ready for so far this season.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Yeah, and I do think we're seeing a bit of
the bigger plan here that this wasn't the off season
to get sexy, make these splashy signings, as much as
I was hoping that would be the case.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
That it does feel like this is a.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Bit of ride out what we got for this year,
and then you really evaluate when you got a little
more flexibility, more contracts coming off the books and a
little more that you can kind of do. They're pretty
landlocked and a lot of spots when looking around at
positions where can you actually upgrade at. I know we've
had plenty of the Alec bohm conversations, but use that
as the specific example.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
Alec Bohma is in a bum of a baseball player.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
You have to get better if you're going to try
and upgrade, and it's really hard to do that when
looking around at the available options. So looking around the league,
obviously the Mets making headlines adding Wan Soto and that
being a huge factor the biggest story of this MMB
off season, and a team like the Braves that is
obviously due for a bounce back with all the health
ish us and injuries that they had last year. But
really when talking about this Phillies team, it's all internal.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Man.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
We know what this team is capable of. We've seen
the dominant stretches that they have. It's about getting one
of those at the right time. And if they can
do that, they are absolutely World Series contenders.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Absolutely, And I think I heard it Sarred an article
the other day for Crossing broad from my weekly mailbag,
and one of the questions was what is the hole
in the Phillies team? And I sat there for about
five to ten minutes to think about it, and the
first answer I came up with was the hole in
this team is the players that have been here for
(04:36):
the last two to three years. I don't think there's
some crazy big hole in this offense. I think it's
the matter of the guys that have been here playing
like the guys we know, the guys like Trey Turner,
the guys like Nick Cascianos, the guys like Brandon marsh,
Bryce and Stott Alec Boom.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
These regular seasons, they're great.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
And I mean, yeah, the Phillies had the best seventy
games stretch year in the history of their franchise for
the first four months. But you know, none of it
matters if it doesn't happen in October. So you know,
like it's it's really the matter of in twenty twenty five,
what do you get in October? Because you know, this
team obviously has to make the playoffs, that's obviously the
(05:16):
first goal. But October baseball matters more than July baseball.
It matters more than August baseball. Like realistically, once you
get in the playoffs, those one hundred and sixty two
games and those twenty five spring training games, they don't
they don't mean anything. And it's it's October baseball, and
and and that's truly all that matters. So I think
(05:39):
this year, I think they're sort of going into this
season mad. I think they're going into this year pissed off.
Not a single guy on that team enjoyed.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
How they lost last year.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
They don't ever sort of enjoy losing, but I don't
think they liked sort of how that season ended last
year that have the bad taste in their mouth.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
I mean, as it should.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
They got ran off the field by a division rival
who simply wasn't better than them, and and yeah, the
Mets beat them in a five game series, but if
you ask anybody around the league, not a lot of
people are gonna say that that Mets team was better
than the Phillies team. Phillies were a better team, they
just got ran off the field. So I think going
(06:24):
into this year, I think they're as hungry as ever.
I think the lineup's there. I think the starting irritation
is gross, and I think they have a chance to
do something special this year.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Yeah, And I mean, like baseball is such a unique
sport in regard to all of that, as far as
getting your hot streak at the right time, peaking when
it is the moment matters most, and that is the
biggest key. And for this Phillies team specifically, like they
have to have a hard look at themselves in the
mirror because that was an embarrassing series. They simply should
be a better baseball team than the product that was
put on the field in that playoff series there. And
when thinking about like this era of Phillies baseball, opportunity
(06:58):
is not a lengthy visitor. Man, the window closes quickly,
and it's tough not to sit here and be concerned
that their best chances are in the rear view. Now
I don't feel that way entirely, but it is also
like you got to look around and think about the
opportunities that you've missed out on to this point and
really dig in to make sure that does not happen again.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Now. I know we're still in kind of.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
The positive vibe section of this podcast, but you did
hit on Trey Turner there, and I did want to
dig in on that a little bit like if this
team is actually going to produce as designed, they got
to get a better version of Trey Turner. Man. And
I understand last year was better than the first season,
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
The bar is pretty low for that.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
But Trey Turner was signed with the expectation that this
dude can be a co star to Bryce Harper, a
guy that is viewed as a fringe MVP candidate, one
of the best players in baseball. That dude has yet
to arrive still in Philadelphia to this point. And while
again Turner was better last year, I'm not here to
fully rag on him.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
When you talk about what is the hole on the Phillies.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
You gotta get the real deal protection for Bryce Harper,
and you gotta guys gotta get guys that are producing
at the caliber that their contract commands. For Turner, That's
really what I have my eyes on this year, and
I do think he needs to take that next step
if this team is going to take full form.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I completely agree. I think when you look.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
At you know, the big teams across the league, right
you look at the Dodgers, they it's obvious the top
is O Tommy. But then you have guys. You have
Mookie Betts, you have Freddie Freeman. You look at the
Mets last year they had Lindor, but they have Alonzo,
they have Vientos. You look at these big Yankees teams
from last year. You have Judge, you have Soto. You
(08:28):
can't win a World Series with with one guy playing
like a star, right, it has to be the three
hundred million dollar trade turner. It has to be the
one hundred million dollars in castianos. The best play probably
other than Harper Castianos homers last year versus the Mets
(08:48):
was the first at bat of the series for the Phillies,
the Leadolf Schwerber home run, and then you get shut
out for seven innings.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Like it. It has to be all the way through.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
You need a big year from Bryce and Scott, You
need Marsh to be able to play every day. You
need big additions from Max Kepler, Jordan Romano, Jesus Sozarto.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You need full contribution.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Because I think that's what you saw sort of back
in twenty twenty two, right, Like if you look back
at that Phillies team, Yes, Harper was standing on his
head for two months straight, but playoff, Schwarber.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Was going nuts.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Reese Hoskins had six home runs in the playoffs, Nick
Castianos fall he didn't have a great sort of postseason
that year, he was still impactful. Right, these these guys
in the lineup there, it's it's it's not just one guy.
And I think that's that's what it needs to be
for the Phillies this year. It can't just be the
Bryce show because eventually it's it's gonna continue to be
(09:46):
the Bryce Show. They're gonna continue to lose, and then
you're gonna blink and Zach Wheeler is gonna be thirty eight,
and Harper's gonna be thirty five, and Nick Castianos is
gonna be sort of out of his.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Deal, and after are you sort of done this year?
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Schreber's contracts up, JT's contracts up, Rangers contracts up, like these,
these are the years where you have to capitalize. And
I don't want to harp too much back on the
last few years. So I do want to start getting
into spring because Sean, I'm gonna tell you this, I
am a I am a psychopath for spring training baseball.
(10:22):
And I realized that today I was sitting there watching,
and I feel like this is the times where people
will tune out sort of, when you're getting into the
seventh and the eighth inning and and the guys with
no names on their jerseys are a sort of running
out onto the field, And this is where I was
starting to get more excited. And and that's where I
was like, I may have an issue when the guys
(10:43):
that have no names on their jerseys are running onto
the field in the eighth inning. I have like an
unhealthy obsession with spring baseball. I'll say this, I love
me some Gabriel Ronkoniz Junior. That dude is mashing the
crap out.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Of the ball right now. But what are your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
On you know, just like spring training in general, cause
it's hard, like you can't take too much out of it, Like, yeah,
I've seen Mickey Moniac hit five home runs for the
Phillies in spring training. I've seen Scott Kingery go out
and hit six hundred, Like how much do you think,
Like how much do you really take out of spring
training at this point?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, I won't act like I've been living and dying
on every pitch of spring training the way you are.
Speaker 6 (11:25):
But I'm grateful that you are.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I think that's awesome there, and it is cool to
get kind of a look at these guys that we
otherwise wouldn't right, Like, obviously we know what the standard is,
the expectation for the Bryce Harper's, the Nick Casianos, but
you kind of get a peek at some of these
guys who are earning their opportunities. The pitching staff in
particular is what I have my eyes on in spring
training and really moving forward.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
It's kind of cool. I wouldn't even call them battles.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
I guess that last bench spot is the only place
that I would probably throw in that battle conversation, and
obviously that was magnified due to Weston Wilson picking up
an injury. Do feel really bad for Weston, by the way,
I think he had the inside track for winning that
pretty unfortunate at this state and stage of his career
that he kind of doesn't have that clear path. But
that's probably the only position I would consider like a
full battle in this The bullpen, I guess is figuring
(12:06):
itself out as well. But I guess for me personally
for spring training, I just think it's a cool opportunity
to get a guy get a look at these guys
with their like suedo major league opportunity here that they
do have an opportunity to show what they can do.
And for these names like you don't get that type
of chance too often in front of Rob Thompson with
the main squad here. So I do think it's the
lower names that should be taken spring training as serious
(12:27):
as they are.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Absolutely, and I will say there was a bit of
a scare today in spring training.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I think I think.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Everyone probably saw it by now. I will say this
is an unbelievable picture. I did not see who it
was from. I do apologize, but.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
This happened today in spring training.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
This is I will say this, This is a absolutely
wild picture for somebody to capture. That just absolute shout
out to whoever got this picture, because that is just
absolutely insane. But Bryce Harper did get hit by a
Luckily it did not get him in the face. I
know the picture looks like it, but they did say
it's a tricep injury. They said no X rays will
(13:08):
be needed. It seems like it hit him sort of
like top tricep like back.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Of the shoulder type of thing. They did say this.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Uh so once he got hit, said he left the game,
and he actually drove himself back to Clearwater, so he
he was up and out of there the second he
got out of the game. I mean, Sean, I I
don't think I spoke for probably ten minutes after he
got hit today. I was getting like flashbacks to like
the Blake Snell pitch back in June a few years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
What like that was? That was scary?
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Man? That was Yeah, it absolutely was.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
And I'll say I'm still hold my breath a little
bit until we get a full update from the Phillies
get the status. But all signs do seem fairly positive.
This isn't anything significant when you watched that pitch there
getting triceeps as the report is a pretty favorable outcome.
I would say that based on the options on the table.
So it has been pretty training or I guess concerning
is a better way to put it. You never want
to see that kind of stuff in spring training and
(14:04):
just like get Bryce out of there. I'm glad he
walked right out of the game, went right back to
Clearwater and is focused on getting healthy, staying fine, whatever
the case may be. But yeah, I don't need to
see Bryce Harper and anymore spring training ball after that.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Yeah, this is where I fall back on my take
of I need to see the stars maybe once a week.
It's the same thing as as football sort of training camp.
I need five snaps for Jalen Hurts, five snaps like
I this whole preseason, like the entire goal of the
(14:37):
preseason is for nobody get hurt. And I've seen Rehys
Hoskins rip his ACL in spring training. Like, I don't
need any more Bryce action until maybe the last three
games of the spring.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
I can't imagine that's going to happen. They did say so.
I don't believe it'll play tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I don't think at all. Yeah, I don't think any
of the starters are playing tomorrow. But I don't I
don't need I don't need any more Bryce, I would say,
at least for for the next week.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Yeah, no, I'm gonna I'm in full agreement there. I seriously,
if they want to shut him down for spring training,
that is fine, my met. You know who Bryce Harper is.
And again I do want to wait for the full
announcement from the Phillies. Again, all positive signs from what
we're hearing what Rob Thompson said everything like that, but
you never want to see something like that. That certainly
was a whole gebreath moment, and uh, hopefully we just
keep cruising from here.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Absolutely, I do want to get into the lineup because
that that is a that is a sort of area
right now where I think a lot of people are
talking about. I think the big debate right now is
is sort of is Schwarber out of the leadoff? Do
you put Trey there? And I will say this, I
am i am pro moving Trey to the leadoff. I've
(15:50):
i've i've I've always been extremely pro Schwarber leadoff. But
I think it's time for a change. And I think
if if you can put Trey in the leadoff spot,
if that helps him, I think I'm a full go
for that. But what I don't love about this, and
(16:10):
and this isn't saying that this is going to be
the lineup for the regular season, is if you're gonna
put Trey one, I don't understand why you would put
Bryce three.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Still.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
I think this is where you move Schwarber back to four,
and then you move Bryce up to two and you
put Bowm in the three. I think the whole reason
why they want to change the leadoff I think they
want to change the leadoff more for protection behind Bryce
rather than who's actually hitting in the leadoff spot. And
(16:45):
I think if you put Schwarber ahead of Bryce, I
think you're in the same situation you were last year.
Like there's no difference of who's hitting cleanup because right
now today's lineup was Trey, Schwarber, Harper, Boom right, but
James in the four he was in the four last playoffs,
So nothing's changing there. The only thing you're changing is
(17:05):
the top two. So I am very pro trying the one.
But with that, I think it needs to go Trey Harper,
Bohem Schwarber because I think the whole reason of this
is to have the protection behind Bryce.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
Yeah, and the other part to keep in mind is
that you're stacking lefties if you're trying to do like
Heartbur and Schwarber back to back there, which I honestly
I think people overthink that a lot. The left handeder
versus left hand or you know, you can bring a
lefty out of the bullpen. The bottom line is that
you still have to go after Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber,
So good luck to you if that's the case. There
is kind of how I feel. So if you think
that's the best combo, then roll with it. But I
(17:41):
do agree with your overall sentiment here. I have subscribed
to the Kyle Schwarber at lead off theory since the
Phillies have gone about this experiment here that I agree
with Rob Thompson's outlook that there's no better way to
start a game than up one. Nothing there, but there's
also something to trying to maximize this roster in a
different way, and it does feel like it's kind of
time for a shakeup there. We obviously know turn has
plenty of experience as a leadoff hitter and he's certainly
(18:03):
cut more from that, like you know, traditional leadoff mold there.
And it is kind of interesting looking across baseball right now,
like the different strategies are theories, Like obviously the Dodgers
are a clear one with Otani that they just want
their best hitter to get to the plate and get
as many cracks at it as possible. And there's still
guys that exist that are more of those traditional leadoffs.
So you are kind of middling ground with Trey Turner,
(18:24):
that he certainly has some power capabilities as well, that
he is a guy that in theory is one of
the best hitters on this Phillies roster. But I do
agree like the overall premise should be what is the
best route for getting Bryce Harper the best opportunities at
the plate, And I don't think that would be, you know,
in the way that you're the way that things are
currently filling out.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Yeah, I just think it's pretty meaningless.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
And once again, this isn't like the set opening day
lineup what they did today. But I think today's lineup
was just like a meaningless switch compared to last year. Like,
I just don't I don't see the reason of just
switching the top two. I think sort of once again,
the whole reason that they're gonna switch that is because
you want more protection behind Bryce because last year you
(19:06):
got into the playoffs, Harper was on a tear so
as he always is in the playoffs specifically, and then
you went Harper three, Alec boone four, who got benched
in a game to Nick Cassianis who actually had a
very good playoffs last year, but it really didn't matter
because he was two spots behind him at that point,
(19:28):
like I.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
An't two playoffs ago.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
It was when Cassi was basically non existent or they
basically refused to pitch the Bryce.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Exactly, and they had Boam.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
I believe twenty three they had Bom in the six
because they had JT Up. I think they went yeah,
because twenty three they went Shorever Trey, Bryce, Casty, JT
Boom because Boem wasn't like last year's Boom yet and
they had JT.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It's just it's it's meaningless to me.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
And I think if you're going to change the lineup,
I think you need to change it. I think it
needs to be Tray one, Harper two, Boom three, SCHOREB four.
I'm I'm also like, I'm also like sneakily thinking like
is this a Bryce thing? Like is this the situation
where Bryce is like and listen, Harper is all Philly,
(20:23):
I'll die for Philly. I want to win a world series.
But is this turning into a situation where Harper like,
deep down like wants to stay in the three Because
I can't imagine that this lineup got changed from Rob
Thompson and and he didn't even bring it up to
the guys like there's there's definitely some conversations there and I.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Don't know, I'm I don't want to like assume.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Much, but it seems a bit to me like it
seems like Harper kind of wants to stay in the three.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Yeah, that's kind of my read on it as well.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
And I know he had the quote floating out there
basically like anti leadoff hitter like.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Lead off, which I'm cool with.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
That's why, because I my big thing about the Bryce
leadoff is if you don't like Schwarber there, you shouldn't
like Bryce there.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And yes, Harper hits for a higher average, so I
guess you could bring a basically meaningless stat in baseball
at this point in the account. But I don't think
if you don't like Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff, then
you shouldn't like Bryce in the leadoff. I think deep
down everybody knows it should be Trey And I was
(21:34):
very once again pro Swarber leadoff forever, because I mean,
the second he gets up to the plate, he's an
immediate threat to go up on nothing. It's it's it's
one of the biggest hacks in base Schwarber hitting lead
off the last what three years is like one of
the biggest like hacks that we had in baseball, Like
the amount of leadoff homers this see's hit over the years.
But it's just I'm like, I just feel like there's
(21:57):
something deep down that Harper really wants.
Speaker 6 (21:59):
To stay three. Yeah, it does feel that way.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
And by the way, if you were going to raise
me the Bryce Harper batting average, I was gonna shove
walks right back in your face.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
For the Kyle Shober debate.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That exactly good.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I do agree with that sentimental as well there.
And by the way, for Bryce Harper, like he for
sure is this like I'll do whatever the team needs
on mister Philadelphia type of thing. It does feel like
that's a missing piece of the puzzle, Like something doesn't
quite add up in this entire equation. So I have
to imagine Rob Thompson, like in general, everything we've heard
has been nothing but positive from the players, that there
(22:30):
has to be at least some fluid conversations there that
would be interesting if that is the sticking point. I
would love to hear like somebody dig in on that
specific question.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, I don't know, but it's I just think once again,
and to sort of finish this off, I think if
you're going into opening day and if you want to
switch it up, I think it just seems it seems
meaningless to me to change it if you're not.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Going to truly change it. So I think you're on
the same page.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
But Trey one, Harper two, and then Alec Bohm three
and shore Or four, that's sort of where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Are you any different with Boem? I know you're a
little iffy.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
Yeah, there's a part of me that wanted to makes
the push for Casianos getting moved up to the three spot. Potentially,
I still think it probably makes more sense for Bowe
to be the guy. But then again, we got to
see what version of Alock Bohum shows up on this
Phillies team. It was a night and day version of
what we saw for the first half of the year,
which if you get that that dude should be locked
into the three spot.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I have no problem with that whatsoever.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
If you get the second half and then we're starting
to talk about not having the protection for Bryce Harper
in that exact spot, then we're doing all this moving
and shaking to have the exact same issue in front
of us here. So I guess for Boom, I'm pretty
much like bookmark this and let's see exactly what he
looks like. I have no problem with penciling him in
as to start off in the three spot there.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
I do want to get into sort of this this
last bench spot because we kind of finally gotta.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I don't really think there was much of a competition.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I think we can kind of say there was a
few guys that were sort of in the running, but
from what everyone's heard, that was that was West and
Wilson's job to lose, specifically because he's a right hand bat.
I mean, he can play second, he can play I
mean he can play basically everywhere in the infield.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
He can play the left field, right field.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
He was like he was the perfect guy for that
spot realistically, but obviously now with the oblique injury out
six weeks, probably won't be ready till the beginning ish
week of April.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
So now that leads the question of where do you go.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Do you go to Buddy Kennedy, who has never played
an inning of outfield in his major league career? Do
you go to Cody Clemens. Do you go to Cal Stevenson,
who are both left handed bats? Is it an is
it a guy like an Oscar Mercano to hold a
spot for two weeks until Weston's ready? Or is it
(24:53):
sort of the Maybe they look outside the organization. There
was a report the other day that maybe they're going
to look for some guys after team start to make cuts.
I'll tell you this, I've been campaigning for Adam Duvallff
in the last two years. He had a really horrible
twenty twenty four. But he's a year removed from like
an fifty oh ps.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
I don't know what they do.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I I would say right now, I think they lead Kennedy.
I will say this, Rien Kones Junior is making it
hard for him not to be in the running. I
don't think he's ready yet. Unfortunately, I still think he
needs a little more time. But I mean I would
love to see the kid up there. I mean, hey,
maybe like maybe they give him a shot, Like maybe
(25:36):
they see first two weeks of the season he plays
once or twice a week. The good thing is it's
not like it's it's some sort of starting role, Like
it's not like it's it's your starting left field position, right,
So I mean, what are your thoughts there, I mean,
it's it seems it would it's it's probably between Buddy
Kennedy and Clemens, but I it seems like they're gonna
(25:58):
lean to a right handed bat for Kennedy.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Yeah, it's a bummer because, like I do think West
and Wilson would be pretty perfect for this role and
will be once he gets healthy again and again on
an individual standpoint, like I do think he kind of
has earned the chance and fills the position of need
can do everything this team needs. The dude hit for
the cycle last year for this Philly team, Like I like.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Wes Wilson's cycle game.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Yeah, we'll never forget. We'll have that in the memory
log forever there. But as far as the situation in front,
I do lean towards Clements just because I think, like
I have a little bit more confident in the picture
of who exactly he is as a baseball player. He's
a guy that's been itching for it. Also, a fun
fact is Cody and Roger Clemens have the combined most
strikeouts of any father son duo and MLB history, So
make sure you remember that one there, So I lean
(26:40):
Clements just from the stance of I'm a little bit
more confident in what they're specifically getting with him. He
has had some pretty big moments where you know, he's
stepped up in opportunities when he's given the chance.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
So I lean Clemens.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
But overall, like I do think we're discussing a point
or debating a point here that really is probably gonna
be like a handful of at bat's top so we
actually see this guy.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, it's probably about like four at bats a week. Yeah, yeah,
But I.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
I will say this, I think I think the injury
further proves that Johann Rojas is now even more of
a lock to make the roster. I think he was
gonna make it either way. The only tough part for
Rojas is that the Phillies have the flexibility because he
does have the option still. But I mean, at this point,
(27:29):
I'd be shocked because if you go in the opening
day with Max Kepler, Brandon marsh, Nick Castianos and then
you have Johann Rojas, say you don't have Rojas, you
would have Buddy Kennedy, who has never played an inning
of outfield in the majors. You have a Mundo Sosa
who they're trying to turn into like half an outfielder.
(27:52):
You basically not have an outfielder on your bench. So
it seems like to me that Rojas is a lock.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
But it did.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
I don't want to like this whole in Mundo Sosa
playing outfield thing.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I can't tell if I like it.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
I'll say this, I think ed Mundo should like it
because I think it it opens up more opportunities for him.
But it does seem like he's he's taking it better
than he did a few years ago. I do remember
going into twenty twenty three because he got here halfway
through twenty two. They tried it in the off season
(28:28):
two years ago and it was really bad.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
It did. It did not work at all. He was
just not picking up It seems like he's picking it
up a lot better. Now.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
What would your first thought be if you saw an
if you saw a lineup in April with at Mundo
Sosa out in left field.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Yeah, I mean so, so it was very good for
this team last year. He's straight up out playing Bryson
Stott for stretches of the season there. So I think
he individually should look at this as a sign of
belief from the Phillies organization that they're trying to get
creative and find way to get him in the lineup
and on the field a lot more often. So I
think he should be viewing this really positive. Here, it's
always weird to me the guys that can, you know,
(29:07):
pick up a new position like that, and some guys
that it just kind of doesn't click in the same way.
I feel like a spot like outfield for a guy
like in Mundo Sosa who has such clear, like you know,
high hand eye coordination, and it's just a good baseball player,
like it shouldn't be that difficult that he should be
able to find a way to get it to click here.
But at the same time, that is a big change
after presumably not playing outfield in a long time, if
(29:28):
ever for Sosa specifically here, so I get kind of
the pushback or the belief that this is my position,
this is what I'm good at. But I do think
you should look at it as a vote of confidence
from the organization that they're trying to get him on
the field in the lineup much more. I don't know
if I'm all in the experiment working, But I do
like where their head's at and kind of in that
same mold of West and Wilson that you can plug
and play him wherever, just creates more flexibility there. So
(29:49):
there's no harm in trying. In my eyes, let's see
how it shapes out. But I wouldn't mind it if
Sosa turns into like a full utility guy.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Exactly. I am waiting for the lineup card one day.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
If it's it's gonna be Edmundo Sosen left and Rojas
and center, and people are gonna go absolutely bizarre about
a baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Game in April.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Once again, this is Luke and I on the Phillies,
brought to you by Folco. I do want to get
to this.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
I need one sort of hot take from you to
end the episode. I have one sitting in the holster
that I am ready that I am ready to drop.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
I think we're gonna see Gabriel rin koniz by may Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
I think this kid's legit.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
I think the last two years we've heard of Ada Miller,
Andrew Painter justin Crawford and rightfully so I think those are,
you know, the three big prospects in this organization. They
should be getting all the love that they do get,
and they should probably be getting more.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Something about this kid.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
I'm getting a weird I'm getting a weird vibe around
this kid.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
He's he's got the swing, he's got the he's.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
He's got the hair to play outfield. This kid's got everything.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
I think his best shot I think would be an
unfortunate injury to somebody on the team. I don't think
he's gonna get an immediate call up. But what I
do think could happen is if you get through, say
a month of the season, and you're not getting a
(31:27):
ton of Rojas sort of bat, I think that could
be a chance where they look at Rincononice and I
think it depends, you know, sort of Halle starts off
the year. I'm assuming we'll be in Triple A, but
I don't know. I think we're gonna see this kid
at the bank this summer.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
All right. I like it.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
I like the belief there, love that that's coming out.
I'll drop my hot take, which is sort of in
the same ballpark here. I think Johann Rojas wins the
everyday starting center spot by the end of the season here,
I think Rojas takes a little bit of a leap
with his bat. They don't need that much from him.
He just has to be able to put the ball
play bunt a little bit. Had those moments where you're
just not, you know, a cone at the plate, which
(32:04):
we've seen from him at time for sure, So obviously
they've sort of strayed away from it. I'm just reading
like the tea leaves here, feels like the organizational belief
in Rojas has sort of, I guess, decreased a little bit,
like it doesn't feel like he's as cemented a part
of their plans as I once felt was the case there.
But I do believe you can't teach that level of
defense that he produces at the way the amount of
(32:24):
ground that he covers out there, and if he can
just be a little bit competent at the plate, I
think there's something there. So I've been a Rojas believer.
We're still waiting on things, and he still is a
ways to go, there's no doubt about it. But I
think he's doing all the right things, has put in
the work this offseason, and we'll see how things ultimately
shape out. So I'm a believer in Rojas. I think
he can win this every day starting center center field spot.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Listen, I love it. I think he has the chance.
I don't think I think.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
There's a if there's a year for him to sort
of take it.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
I think it's this one because I think you don't
exactly know what you're gonna get from Kepler. I'm I'm
I think I'm more high on Kepler than other people.
I think this is a chance for him to sort
of get into a new role in a new team,
in a new city, and I think show the pop
that he's had for his whole career. But this isn't
by any means a great outfield. And if if Rojas
(33:16):
can hit two fifty, would you take two fifty with
twenty five stolen bases?
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Yes, you can sign me up for that exactly.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
And because this is also where I'm at too, and
this is sort of the last point and then we're
gonna get out of here.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
But I.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
There is so many people around the league that value
the center field position way more than they need to.
I would love for everybody that's listening, or for everybody
that's a Johann Rojas hater or they don't like Brandon Marsh.
I would love for you to go look up the
average batting average of the center fielder across Major League
base It's about two fifteen. I think it's around two
(34:02):
fifteen to twenty. Centerfield is not a hitting position. It never
really like has been.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
It isn't. It isn't.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
But if you have one hundred million dollar right fielder
and a guy that you signed to play left field
that has some serious pop, and you have a three
hundred and fifty million dollar first baseman and a three
hundred million dollars shortstop and one hundred million dollar DH
and one hundred and twenty million dollar catcher, you don't need,
you know, fifteen home runs and a two ninety average
(34:34):
out of your center fielder. So I think I think
Rojas has the chance.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
I love that take. I think he could get there.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I don't think he's there yet, but I think he
definitely has the chance to get there eventually throughout this year.
Speaker 6 (34:47):
Yeah, and I hope it's the case.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean, the best thing for this Phillies team is
for him to take that next step at the play
be capable.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Just again, because he's an he's an unbelievable defender.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
Dude, Yeah, one hundred and that's kind of my My
point as well, is like you're not gonna win or
lose the World Series based on what Johann Rojas hits
at the player. It's about the other guys to deliver
it in that spot here, and Casianos, to be honest,
I think deserves more credit than he gets for how
much how far he's come defensively here that I can't believe.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Like a single er last year, what error granted?
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Neither did the statute.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Yeah, make sure you don't go look at the uh
the outs above average because that that's down the drain.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
Uh, but uh, zero errors last year. He's uh, he's
an interesting defender.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
That was always the funniest part about Casianus too, is
because like he plays one hundred and sixty two games
and he makes zero arts, but he's really not that
good of a defender, like he is, but like watching
him get to a ball in the gap is like
is like getting my teeth pulled. Like the dude, the
(35:54):
dude lets every ball it's a right center get in
the gap.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
But hey, zero errors last year.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
That's why I'm throwing hype on the Johann Rojas right
now that you can kind of combat that there, But yeah,
I mean as far as Castie honest on note that
I didn't see any of these statues anywhere committing error
last year, so it might not be the most telling statistic,
But I have the point of being here that I
do think there's opportunity for Rojas if he can earn
the chance and just take a little bit of his
strive forward.
Speaker 6 (36:20):
I feel like it makes sense and I was encouraged. Again.
Speaker 5 (36:22):
I get I'm not going to dive too deep in
what he did down to the Dominican Republic this offseason,
but the point is he's putting in the work and trying,
and I'm willing to give a guy a little bit
of a chance here.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
So I think he's a winning baseball player.
Speaker 5 (36:32):
I think he showed some real flashes and I would
like to see him take that next up.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
I love it well, Sean, Thank you for joining me.
This has been Luke and I on the Phillies. You
can follow Sean at San Sewan Underscore Bernard one on Twitter.
We are four months out from our last podcast, but
we are back. Myself and Shawn are sort of uploading
every day on YouTube for Phillies Digest. We're pumping out
(36:57):
videos over there, We're all over Twitter, everything that you
need for the Gambler as well. Once again, this has
been Luke and I on the Phillies, brought to you
by Foco. I am Luke Arcaney and we'll see you
next time.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Peace,
If you can wager on it, we're talking about it.
It's The Gambler, the Fox Sports Radio The Gambler. Fox
Sports Radio in Philly is The Gambler, The Gambling, Philly's
home for all things sports gambling.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Breaking ball popped up, shadow right, Chica going off, Castiano's
coming on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
This is Luke and I on the Phillies, brought to
you by Fox Sports The Gambler.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It has been four months since the last time we
talked on this.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Podcast title was It's Over on October tenth, twenty twenty four.
That was a bit of a rough week, I would
say for Phillies fans, but we are back. Luke and
I on the Phillies has returned for the twenty and
twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I am Luke Arcaney.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
As always, this episode is brought to you by Foco
for all of your bobblehead and all of your needs
in all Phillies sports. Make sure you visit Foco the
like as in my Twitter bio on all social media's.
I am here tonight with Sean Bernard, my host on
Phillies Digest as well, sort of along with Fox Sports
The Gambler. Sean, it's been four months The last time
(01:38):
I would say this podcast at least has talked about
the Phillies is one we got basically.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Embarrassed by the Mets.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
But I think over the last four months the vibes
have changed a little bit. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Spring baseball is back, the Phillies are back. How are
you feeling?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Yeah, I'm honored to be, you know, kicking things off
right or along with you again so here.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
So appreciate you having me on, ready to chot.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
And I think we got the proper sort of you know,
recovery time from this Philly season. I was ready to
burn this city at the stake, fight for everyone in
this locker room be so mad about that exit. It
was a quieter offseason then I think I expected, and
a lot of people expected. But the bottom line is
we've had our healing period.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
I'm ready to buy back into this Phillies team and
excited to dive and do it all.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I am ready to go all in again and hopefully
not be upset at the end. I know there's a
lot of talk right now, obviously around the league. I
think we all know there's one big sort of big
guy on the hill and the Dodgers, and then it's
sort of everyone else in the end.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Now.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I heard another sort of podcast talking about this earlier.
It's it's really just like this National League is loaded
this year, and if you look at sort of the
American League compared to the National League, it's it's almost
night and day. The Phillies are in like a war
zone sort of the National League, but really just the
NL East in general. Obviously you have the Phillies, the Braves,
the Nets, but it's it's pretty much going to be
(03:00):
war zone, I would say for twenty twenty five. But
I think the Phillies are built for it, and I
think a lot of people do as well. Even though
I think maybe it wasn't the off season I think
we sort of hope for, but I think there's definitely
a lot to be ready for so far this season.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Yeah, and I do think we're seeing a bit of
the bigger plan here that this wasn't the off season
to get sexy, make these splashy signings, as much as
I was hoping that would be the case.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
That it does feel like this is a.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Bit of ride out what we got for this year,
and then you really evaluate when you got a little
more flexibility, more contracts coming off the books and a
little more that you can kind of do. They're pretty
landlocked and a lot of spots when looking around at
positions where can you actually upgrade at. I know we've
had plenty of the Alec bohm conversations, but use that
as the specific example.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
Alec Bohma is in a bum of a baseball player.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
You have to get better if you're going to try
and upgrade, and it's really hard to do that when
looking around at the available options. So looking around the league,
obviously the Mets making headlines adding Wan Soto and that
being a huge factor the biggest story of this MMB
off season, and a team like the Braves that is
obviously due for a bounce back with all the health
ish us and injuries that they had last year. But
really when talking about this Phillies team, it's all internal.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Man.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
We know what this team is capable of. We've seen
the dominant stretches that they have. It's about getting one
of those at the right time. And if they can
do that, they are absolutely World Series contenders.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Absolutely, And I think I heard it Sarred an article
the other day for Crossing broad from my weekly mailbag,
and one of the questions was what is the hole
in the Phillies team? And I sat there for about
five to ten minutes to think about it, and the
first answer I came up with was the hole in
this team is the players that have been here for
(04:36):
the last two to three years. I don't think there's
some crazy big hole in this offense. I think it's
the matter of the guys that have been here playing
like the guys we know, the guys like Trey Turner,
the guys like Nick Cascianos, the guys like Brandon marsh,
Bryce and Stott Alec Boom.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
These regular seasons, they're great.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
And I mean, yeah, the Phillies had the best seventy
games stretch year in the history of their franchise for
the first four months. But you know, none of it
matters if it doesn't happen in October. So you know,
like it's it's really the matter of in twenty twenty five,
what do you get in October? Because you know, this
team obviously has to make the playoffs, that's obviously the
(05:16):
first goal. But October baseball matters more than July baseball.
It matters more than August baseball. Like realistically, once you
get in the playoffs, those one hundred and sixty two
games and those twenty five spring training games, they don't
they don't mean anything. And it's it's October baseball, and
and and that's truly all that matters. So I think
(05:39):
this year, I think they're sort of going into this
season mad. I think they're going into this year pissed off.
Not a single guy on that team enjoyed.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
How they lost last year.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
They don't ever sort of enjoy losing, but I don't
think they liked sort of how that season ended last
year that have the bad taste in their mouth.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
I mean, as it should.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
They got ran off the field by a division rival
who simply wasn't better than them, and and yeah, the
Mets beat them in a five game series, but if
you ask anybody around the league, not a lot of
people are gonna say that that Mets team was better
than the Phillies team. Phillies were a better team, they
just got ran off the field. So I think going
(06:24):
into this year, I think they're as hungry as ever.
I think the lineup's there. I think the starting irritation
is gross, and I think they have a chance to
do something special this year.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Yeah, And I mean, like baseball is such a unique
sport in regard to all of that, as far as
getting your hot streak at the right time, peaking when
it is the moment matters most, and that is the
biggest key. And for this Phillies team specifically, like they
have to have a hard look at themselves in the
mirror because that was an embarrassing series. They simply should
be a better baseball team than the product that was
put on the field in that playoff series there. And
when thinking about like this era of Phillies baseball, opportunity
(06:58):
is not a lengthy visitor. Man, the window closes quickly,
and it's tough not to sit here and be concerned
that their best chances are in the rear view. Now
I don't feel that way entirely, but it is also
like you got to look around and think about the
opportunities that you've missed out on to this point and
really dig in to make sure that does not happen again.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
Now. I know we're still in kind of.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
The positive vibe section of this podcast, but you did
hit on Trey Turner there, and I did want to
dig in on that a little bit like if this
team is actually going to produce as designed, they got
to get a better version of Trey Turner. Man. And
I understand last year was better than the first season,
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
The bar is pretty low for that.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
But Trey Turner was signed with the expectation that this
dude can be a co star to Bryce Harper, a
guy that is viewed as a fringe MVP candidate, one
of the best players in baseball. That dude has yet
to arrive still in Philadelphia to this point. And while
again Turner was better last year, I'm not here to
fully rag on him.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
When you talk about what is the hole on the Phillies.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
You gotta get the real deal protection for Bryce Harper,
and you gotta guys gotta get guys that are producing
at the caliber that their contract commands. For Turner, That's
really what I have my eyes on this year, and
I do think he needs to take that next step
if this team is going to take full form.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I completely agree. I think when you look.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
At you know, the big teams across the league, right
you look at the Dodgers, they it's obvious the top
is O Tommy. But then you have guys. You have
Mookie Betts, you have Freddie Freeman. You look at the
Mets last year they had Lindor, but they have Alonzo,
they have Vientos. You look at these big Yankees teams
from last year. You have Judge, you have Soto. You
(08:28):
can't win a World Series with with one guy playing
like a star, right, it has to be the three
hundred million dollar trade turner. It has to be the
one hundred million dollars in castianos. The best play probably
other than Harper Castianos homers last year versus the Mets
(08:48):
was the first at bat of the series for the Phillies,
the Leadolf Schwerber home run, and then you get shut
out for seven innings.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Like it. It has to be all the way through.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
You need a big year from Bryce and Scott, You
need Marsh to be able to play every day. You
need big additions from Max Kepler, Jordan Romano, Jesus Sozarto.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You need full contribution.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Because I think that's what you saw sort of back
in twenty twenty two, right, Like if you look back
at that Phillies team, Yes, Harper was standing on his
head for two months straight, but playoff, Schwarber.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Was going nuts.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Reese Hoskins had six home runs in the playoffs, Nick
Castianos fall he didn't have a great sort of postseason
that year, he was still impactful. Right, these these guys
in the lineup there, it's it's it's not just one guy.
And I think that's that's what it needs to be
for the Phillies this year. It can't just be the
Bryce show because eventually it's it's gonna continue to be
(09:46):
the Bryce Show. They're gonna continue to lose, and then
you're gonna blink and Zach Wheeler is gonna be thirty eight,
and Harper's gonna be thirty five, and Nick Castianos is
gonna be sort of out of his.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Deal, and after are you sort of done this year?
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Schreber's contracts up, JT's contracts up, Rangers contracts up, like these,
these are the years where you have to capitalize. And
I don't want to harp too much back on the
last few years. So I do want to start getting
into spring because Sean, I'm gonna tell you this, I
am a I am a psychopath for spring training baseball.
(10:22):
And I realized that today I was sitting there watching,
and I feel like this is the times where people
will tune out sort of, when you're getting into the
seventh and the eighth inning and and the guys with
no names on their jerseys are a sort of running
out onto the field, And this is where I was
starting to get more excited. And and that's where I
was like, I may have an issue when the guys
(10:43):
that have no names on their jerseys are running onto
the field in the eighth inning. I have like an
unhealthy obsession with spring baseball. I'll say this, I love
me some Gabriel Ronkoniz Junior. That dude is mashing the
crap out.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Of the ball right now. But what are your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
On you know, just like spring training in general, cause
it's hard, like you can't take too much out of it, Like, yeah,
I've seen Mickey Moniac hit five home runs for the
Phillies in spring training. I've seen Scott Kingery go out
and hit six hundred, Like how much do you think,
Like how much do you really take out of spring
training at this point?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, I won't act like I've been living and dying
on every pitch of spring training the way you are.
Speaker 6 (11:25):
But I'm grateful that you are.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I think that's awesome there, and it is cool to
get kind of a look at these guys that we
otherwise wouldn't right, Like, obviously we know what the standard is,
the expectation for the Bryce Harper's, the Nick Casianos, but
you kind of get a peek at some of these
guys who are earning their opportunities. The pitching staff in
particular is what I have my eyes on in spring
training and really moving forward.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
It's kind of cool. I wouldn't even call them battles.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
I guess that last bench spot is the only place
that I would probably throw in that battle conversation, and
obviously that was magnified due to Weston Wilson picking up
an injury. Do feel really bad for Weston, by the way,
I think he had the inside track for winning that
pretty unfortunate at this state and stage of his career
that he kind of doesn't have that clear path. But
that's probably the only position I would consider like a
full battle in this The bullpen, I guess is figuring
(12:06):
itself out as well. But I guess for me personally
for spring training, I just think it's a cool opportunity
to get a guy get a look at these guys
with their like suedo major league opportunity here that they
do have an opportunity to show what they can do.
And for these names like you don't get that type
of chance too often in front of Rob Thompson with
the main squad here. So I do think it's the
lower names that should be taken spring training as serious
(12:27):
as they are.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Absolutely, and I will say there was a bit of
a scare today in spring training.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I think I think.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Everyone probably saw it by now. I will say this
is an unbelievable picture. I did not see who it
was from. I do apologize, but.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
This happened today in spring training.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
This is I will say this, This is a absolutely
wild picture for somebody to capture. That just absolute shout
out to whoever got this picture, because that is just
absolutely insane. But Bryce Harper did get hit by a
Luckily it did not get him in the face. I
know the picture looks like it, but they did say
it's a tricep injury. They said no X rays will
(13:08):
be needed. It seems like it hit him sort of
like top tricep like back.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Of the shoulder type of thing. They did say this.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Uh so once he got hit, said he left the game,
and he actually drove himself back to Clearwater, so he
he was up and out of there the second he
got out of the game. I mean, Sean, I I
don't think I spoke for probably ten minutes after he
got hit today. I was getting like flashbacks to like
the Blake Snell pitch back in June a few years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
What like that was? That was scary?
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Man? That was Yeah, it absolutely was.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
And I'll say I'm still hold my breath a little
bit until we get a full update from the Phillies
get the status. But all signs do seem fairly positive.
This isn't anything significant when you watched that pitch there
getting triceeps as the report is a pretty favorable outcome.
I would say that based on the options on the table.
So it has been pretty training or I guess concerning
is a better way to put it. You never want
to see that kind of stuff in spring training and
(14:04):
just like get Bryce out of there. I'm glad he
walked right out of the game, went right back to
Clearwater and is focused on getting healthy, staying fine, whatever
the case may be. But yeah, I don't need to
see Bryce Harper and anymore spring training ball after that.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Yeah, this is where I fall back on my take
of I need to see the stars maybe once a week.
It's the same thing as as football sort of training camp.
I need five snaps for Jalen Hurts, five snaps like
I this whole preseason, like the entire goal of the
(14:37):
preseason is for nobody get hurt. And I've seen Rehys
Hoskins rip his ACL in spring training. Like, I don't
need any more Bryce action until maybe the last three
games of the spring.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
I can't imagine that's going to happen. They did say so.
I don't believe it'll play tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I don't think at all. Yeah, I don't think any
of the starters are playing tomorrow. But I don't I
don't need I don't need any more Bryce, I would say,
at least for for the next week.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Yeah, no, I'm gonna I'm in full agreement there. I seriously,
if they want to shut him down for spring training,
that is fine, my met. You know who Bryce Harper is.
And again I do want to wait for the full
announcement from the Phillies. Again, all positive signs from what
we're hearing what Rob Thompson said everything like that, but
you never want to see something like that. That certainly
was a whole gebreath moment, and uh, hopefully we just
keep cruising from here.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Absolutely, I do want to get into the lineup because
that that is a that is a sort of area
right now where I think a lot of people are
talking about. I think the big debate right now is
is sort of is Schwarber out of the leadoff? Do
you put Trey there? And I will say this, I
am i am pro moving Trey to the leadoff. I've
(15:50):
i've i've I've always been extremely pro Schwarber leadoff. But
I think it's time for a change. And I think
if if you can put Trey in the leadoff spot,
if that helps him, I think I'm a full go
for that. But what I don't love about this, and
(16:10):
and this isn't saying that this is going to be
the lineup for the regular season, is if you're gonna
put Trey one, I don't understand why you would put
Bryce three.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Still.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
I think this is where you move Schwarber back to four,
and then you move Bryce up to two and you
put Bowm in the three. I think the whole reason
why they want to change the leadoff I think they
want to change the leadoff more for protection behind Bryce
rather than who's actually hitting in the leadoff spot. And
(16:45):
I think if you put Schwarber ahead of Bryce, I
think you're in the same situation you were last year.
Like there's no difference of who's hitting cleanup because right
now today's lineup was Trey, Schwarber, Harper, Boom right, but
James in the four he was in the four last playoffs,
So nothing's changing there. The only thing you're changing is
(17:05):
the top two. So I am very pro trying the one.
But with that, I think it needs to go Trey Harper,
Bohem Schwarber because I think the whole reason of this
is to have the protection behind Bryce.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
Yeah, and the other part to keep in mind is
that you're stacking lefties if you're trying to do like
Heartbur and Schwarber back to back there, which I honestly
I think people overthink that a lot. The left handeder
versus left hand or you know, you can bring a
lefty out of the bullpen. The bottom line is that
you still have to go after Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber,
So good luck to you if that's the case. There
is kind of how I feel. So if you think
that's the best combo, then roll with it. But I
(17:41):
do agree with your overall sentiment here. I have subscribed
to the Kyle Schwarber at lead off theory since the
Phillies have gone about this experiment here that I agree
with Rob Thompson's outlook that there's no better way to
start a game than up one. Nothing there, but there's
also something to trying to maximize this roster in a
different way, and it does feel like it's kind of
time for a shakeup there. We obviously know turn has
plenty of experience as a leadoff hitter and he's certainly
(18:03):
cut more from that, like you know, traditional leadoff mold there.
And it is kind of interesting looking across baseball right now,
like the different strategies are theories, Like obviously the Dodgers
are a clear one with Otani that they just want
their best hitter to get to the plate and get
as many cracks at it as possible. And there's still
guys that exist that are more of those traditional leadoffs.
So you are kind of middling ground with Trey Turner,
(18:24):
that he certainly has some power capabilities as well, that
he is a guy that in theory is one of
the best hitters on this Phillies roster. But I do
agree like the overall premise should be what is the
best route for getting Bryce Harper the best opportunities at
the plate, And I don't think that would be, you know,
in the way that you're the way that things are
currently filling out.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Yeah, I just think it's pretty meaningless.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
And once again, this isn't like the set opening day
lineup what they did today. But I think today's lineup
was just like a meaningless switch compared to last year. Like,
I just don't I don't see the reason of just
switching the top two. I think sort of once again,
the whole reason that they're gonna switch that is because
you want more protection behind Bryce because last year you
(19:06):
got into the playoffs, Harper was on a tear so
as he always is in the playoffs specifically, and then
you went Harper three, Alec boone four, who got benched
in a game to Nick Cassianis who actually had a
very good playoffs last year, but it really didn't matter
because he was two spots behind him at that point,
(19:28):
like I.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
An't two playoffs ago.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
It was when Cassi was basically non existent or they
basically refused to pitch the Bryce.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Exactly, and they had Boam.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
I believe twenty three they had Bom in the six
because they had JT Up. I think they went yeah,
because twenty three they went Shorever Trey, Bryce, Casty, JT
Boom because Boem wasn't like last year's Boom yet and
they had JT.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It's just it's it's meaningless to me.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
And I think if you're going to change the lineup,
I think you need to change it. I think it
needs to be Tray one, Harper two, Boom three, SCHOREB four.
I'm I'm also like, I'm also like sneakily thinking like
is this a Bryce thing? Like is this the situation
where Bryce is like and listen, Harper is all Philly,
(20:23):
I'll die for Philly. I want to win a world series.
But is this turning into a situation where Harper like,
deep down like wants to stay in the three Because
I can't imagine that this lineup got changed from Rob
Thompson and and he didn't even bring it up to
the guys like there's there's definitely some conversations there and I.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Don't know, I'm I don't want to like assume.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Much, but it seems a bit to me like it
seems like Harper kind of wants to stay in the three.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Yeah, that's kind of my read on it as well.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
And I know he had the quote floating out there
basically like anti leadoff hitter like.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Lead off, which I'm cool with.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
That's why, because I my big thing about the Bryce
leadoff is if you don't like Schwarber there, you shouldn't
like Bryce there.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And yes, Harper hits for a higher average, so I
guess you could bring a basically meaningless stat in baseball
at this point in the account. But I don't think
if you don't like Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff, then
you shouldn't like Bryce in the leadoff. I think deep
down everybody knows it should be Trey And I was
(21:34):
very once again pro Swarber leadoff forever, because I mean,
the second he gets up to the plate, he's an
immediate threat to go up on nothing. It's it's it's
one of the biggest hacks in base Schwarber hitting lead
off the last what three years is like one of
the biggest like hacks that we had in baseball, Like
the amount of leadoff homers this see's hit over the years.
But it's just I'm like, I just feel like there's
(21:57):
something deep down that Harper really wants.
Speaker 6 (21:59):
To stay three. Yeah, it does feel that way.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
And by the way, if you were going to raise
me the Bryce Harper batting average, I was gonna shove
walks right back in your face.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
For the Kyle Shober debate.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That exactly good.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I do agree with that sentimental as well there.
And by the way, for Bryce Harper, like he for
sure is this like I'll do whatever the team needs
on mister Philadelphia type of thing. It does feel like
that's a missing piece of the puzzle, Like something doesn't
quite add up in this entire equation. So I have
to imagine Rob Thompson, like in general, everything we've heard
has been nothing but positive from the players, that there
(22:30):
has to be at least some fluid conversations there that
would be interesting if that is the sticking point. I
would love to hear like somebody dig in on that
specific question.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, I don't know, but it's I just think once again,
and to sort of finish this off, I think if
you're going into opening day and if you want to
switch it up, I think it just seems it seems
meaningless to me to change it if you're not.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Going to truly change it. So I think you're on
the same page.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
But Trey one, Harper two, and then Alec Bohm three
and shore Or four, that's sort of where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Are you any different with Boem? I know you're a
little iffy.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
Yeah, there's a part of me that wanted to makes
the push for Casianos getting moved up to the three spot. Potentially,
I still think it probably makes more sense for Bowe
to be the guy. But then again, we got to
see what version of Alock Bohum shows up on this
Phillies team. It was a night and day version of
what we saw for the first half of the year,
which if you get that that dude should be locked
into the three spot.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I have no problem with that whatsoever.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
If you get the second half and then we're starting
to talk about not having the protection for Bryce Harper
in that exact spot, then we're doing all this moving
and shaking to have the exact same issue in front
of us here. So I guess for Boom, I'm pretty
much like bookmark this and let's see exactly what he
looks like. I have no problem with penciling him in
as to start off in the three spot there.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
I do want to get into sort of this this
last bench spot because we kind of finally gotta.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I don't really think there was much of a competition.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I think we can kind of say there was a
few guys that were sort of in the running, but
from what everyone's heard, that was that was West and
Wilson's job to lose, specifically because he's a right hand bat.
I mean, he can play second, he can play I
mean he can play basically everywhere in the infield.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
He can play the left field, right field.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
He was like he was the perfect guy for that
spot realistically, but obviously now with the oblique injury out
six weeks, probably won't be ready till the beginning ish
week of April.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
So now that leads the question of where do you go.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Do you go to Buddy Kennedy, who has never played
an inning of outfield in his major league career? Do
you go to Cody Clemens. Do you go to Cal Stevenson,
who are both left handed bats? Is it an is
it a guy like an Oscar Mercano to hold a
spot for two weeks until Weston's ready? Or is it
(24:53):
sort of the Maybe they look outside the organization. There
was a report the other day that maybe they're going
to look for some guys after team start to make cuts.
I'll tell you this, I've been campaigning for Adam Duvallff
in the last two years. He had a really horrible
twenty twenty four. But he's a year removed from like
an fifty oh ps.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
I don't know what they do.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I I would say right now, I think they lead Kennedy.
I will say this, Rien Kones Junior is making it
hard for him not to be in the running. I
don't think he's ready yet. Unfortunately, I still think he
needs a little more time. But I mean I would
love to see the kid up there. I mean, hey,
maybe like maybe they give him a shot, Like maybe
(25:36):
they see first two weeks of the season he plays
once or twice a week. The good thing is it's
not like it's it's some sort of starting role, Like
it's not like it's it's your starting left field position, right,
So I mean, what are your thoughts there, I mean,
it's it seems it would it's it's probably between Buddy
Kennedy and Clemens, but I it seems like they're gonna
(25:58):
lean to a right handed bat for Kennedy.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Yeah, it's a bummer because, like I do think West
and Wilson would be pretty perfect for this role and
will be once he gets healthy again and again on
an individual standpoint, like I do think he kind of
has earned the chance and fills the position of need
can do everything this team needs. The dude hit for
the cycle last year for this Philly team, Like I like.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Wes Wilson's cycle game.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Yeah, we'll never forget. We'll have that in the memory
log forever there. But as far as the situation in front,
I do lean towards Clements just because I think, like
I have a little bit more confident in the picture
of who exactly he is as a baseball player. He's
a guy that's been itching for it. Also, a fun
fact is Cody and Roger Clemens have the combined most
strikeouts of any father son duo and MLB history, So
make sure you remember that one there, So I lean
(26:40):
Clements just from the stance of I'm a little bit
more confident in what they're specifically getting with him. He
has had some pretty big moments where you know, he's
stepped up in opportunities when he's given the chance.
Speaker 6 (26:49):
So I lean Clemens.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
But overall, like I do think we're discussing a point
or debating a point here that really is probably gonna
be like a handful of at bat's top so we
actually see this guy.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, it's probably about like four at bats a week. Yeah, yeah,
But I.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
I will say this, I think I think the injury
further proves that Johann Rojas is now even more of
a lock to make the roster. I think he was
gonna make it either way. The only tough part for
Rojas is that the Phillies have the flexibility because he
does have the option still. But I mean, at this point,
(27:29):
I'd be shocked because if you go in the opening
day with Max Kepler, Brandon marsh, Nick Castianos and then
you have Johann Rojas, say you don't have Rojas, you
would have Buddy Kennedy, who has never played an inning
of outfield in the majors. You have a Mundo Sosa
who they're trying to turn into like half an outfielder.
(27:52):
You basically not have an outfielder on your bench. So
it seems like to me that Rojas is a lock.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
But it did.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
I don't want to like this whole in Mundo Sosa
playing outfield thing.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I can't tell if I like it.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
I'll say this, I think ed Mundo should like it
because I think it it opens up more opportunities for him.
But it does seem like he's he's taking it better
than he did a few years ago. I do remember
going into twenty twenty three because he got here halfway
through twenty two. They tried it in the off season
(28:28):
two years ago and it was really bad.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
It did. It did not work at all. He was
just not picking up It seems like he's picking it
up a lot better. Now.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
What would your first thought be if you saw an
if you saw a lineup in April with at Mundo
Sosa out in left field.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Yeah, I mean so, so it was very good for
this team last year. He's straight up out playing Bryson
Stott for stretches of the season there. So I think
he individually should look at this as a sign of
belief from the Phillies organization that they're trying to get
creative and find way to get him in the lineup
and on the field a lot more often. So I
think he should be viewing this really positive. Here, it's
always weird to me the guys that can, you know,
(29:07):
pick up a new position like that, and some guys
that it just kind of doesn't click in the same way.
I feel like a spot like outfield for a guy
like in Mundo Sosa who has such clear, like you know,
high hand eye coordination, and it's just a good baseball player,
like it shouldn't be that difficult that he should be
able to find a way to get it to click here.
But at the same time, that is a big change
after presumably not playing outfield in a long time, if
(29:28):
ever for Sosa specifically here, so I get kind of
the pushback or the belief that this is my position,
this is what I'm good at. But I do think
you should look at it as a vote of confidence
from the organization that they're trying to get him on
the field in the lineup much more. I don't know
if I'm all in the experiment working, But I do
like where their head's at and kind of in that
same mold of West and Wilson that you can plug
and play him wherever, just creates more flexibility there. So
(29:49):
there's no harm in trying. In my eyes, let's see
how it shapes out. But I wouldn't mind it if
Sosa turns into like a full utility guy.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Exactly. I am waiting for the lineup card one day.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
If it's it's gonna be Edmundo Sosen left and Rojas
and center, and people are gonna go absolutely bizarre about
a baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Game in April.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Once again, this is Luke and I on the Phillies,
brought to you by Folco. I do want to get
to this.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
I need one sort of hot take from you to
end the episode. I have one sitting in the holster
that I am ready that I am ready to drop.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
I think we're gonna see Gabriel rin koniz by may Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
I think this kid's legit.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
I think the last two years we've heard of Ada Miller,
Andrew Painter justin Crawford and rightfully so I think those are,
you know, the three big prospects in this organization. They
should be getting all the love that they do get,
and they should probably be getting more.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Something about this kid.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
I'm getting a weird I'm getting a weird vibe around
this kid.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
He's he's got the swing, he's got the he's.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
He's got the hair to play outfield. This kid's got everything.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
I think his best shot I think would be an
unfortunate injury to somebody on the team. I don't think
he's gonna get an immediate call up. But what I
do think could happen is if you get through, say
a month of the season, and you're not getting a
(31:27):
ton of Rojas sort of bat, I think that could
be a chance where they look at Rincononice and I
think it depends, you know, sort of Halle starts off
the year. I'm assuming we'll be in Triple A, but
I don't know. I think we're gonna see this kid
at the bank this summer.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
All right. I like it.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
I like the belief there, love that that's coming out.
I'll drop my hot take, which is sort of in
the same ballpark here. I think Johann Rojas wins the
everyday starting center spot by the end of the season here,
I think Rojas takes a little bit of a leap
with his bat. They don't need that much from him.
He just has to be able to put the ball
play bunt a little bit. Had those moments where you're
just not, you know, a cone at the plate, which
(32:04):
we've seen from him at time for sure, So obviously
they've sort of strayed away from it. I'm just reading
like the tea leaves here, feels like the organizational belief
in Rojas has sort of, I guess, decreased a little bit,
like it doesn't feel like he's as cemented a part
of their plans as I once felt was the case there.
But I do believe you can't teach that level of
defense that he produces at the way the amount of
(32:24):
ground that he covers out there, and if he can
just be a little bit competent at the plate, I
think there's something there. So I've been a Rojas believer.
We're still waiting on things, and he still is a
ways to go, there's no doubt about it. But I
think he's doing all the right things, has put in
the work this offseason, and we'll see how things ultimately
shape out. So I'm a believer in Rojas. I think
he can win this every day starting center center field spot.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Listen, I love it. I think he has the chance.
I don't think I think.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
There's a if there's a year for him to sort
of take it.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
I think it's this one because I think you don't
exactly know what you're gonna get from Kepler. I'm I'm
I think I'm more high on Kepler than other people.
I think this is a chance for him to sort
of get into a new role in a new team,
in a new city, and I think show the pop
that he's had for his whole career. But this isn't
by any means a great outfield. And if if Rojas
(33:16):
can hit two fifty, would you take two fifty with
twenty five stolen bases?
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Yes, you can sign me up for that exactly.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
And because this is also where I'm at too, and
this is sort of the last point and then we're
gonna get out of here.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
But I.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
There is so many people around the league that value
the center field position way more than they need to.
I would love for everybody that's listening, or for everybody
that's a Johann Rojas hater or they don't like Brandon Marsh.
I would love for you to go look up the
average batting average of the center fielder across Major League
base It's about two fifteen. I think it's around two
(34:02):
fifteen to twenty. Centerfield is not a hitting position. It never
really like has been.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
It isn't. It isn't.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
But if you have one hundred million dollar right fielder
and a guy that you signed to play left field
that has some serious pop, and you have a three
hundred and fifty million dollar first baseman and a three
hundred million dollars shortstop and one hundred million dollar DH
and one hundred and twenty million dollar catcher, you don't need,
you know, fifteen home runs and a two ninety average
(34:34):
out of your center fielder. So I think I think
Rojas has the chance.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
I love that take. I think he could get there.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I don't think he's there yet, but I think he
definitely has the chance to get there eventually throughout this year.
Speaker 6 (34:47):
Yeah, and I hope it's the case.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean, the best thing for this Phillies team is
for him to take that next step at the play
be capable.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Just again, because he's an he's an unbelievable defender.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
Dude, Yeah, one hundred and that's kind of my My
point as well, is like you're not gonna win or
lose the World Series based on what Johann Rojas hits
at the player. It's about the other guys to deliver
it in that spot here, and Casianos, to be honest,
I think deserves more credit than he gets for how
much how far he's come defensively here that I can't believe.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Like a single er last year, what error granted?
Speaker 6 (35:18):
Neither did the statute.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Yeah, make sure you don't go look at the uh
the outs above average because that that's down the drain.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
Uh, but uh, zero errors last year. He's uh, he's
an interesting defender.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
That was always the funniest part about Casianus too, is
because like he plays one hundred and sixty two games
and he makes zero arts, but he's really not that
good of a defender, like he is, but like watching
him get to a ball in the gap is like
is like getting my teeth pulled. Like the dude, the
(35:54):
dude lets every ball it's a right center get in
the gap.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
But hey, zero errors last year.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
That's why I'm throwing hype on the Johann Rojas right
now that you can kind of combat that there, But yeah,
I mean as far as Castie honest on note that
I didn't see any of these statues anywhere committing error
last year, so it might not be the most telling statistic,
But I have the point of being here that I
do think there's opportunity for Rojas if he can earn
the chance and just take a little bit of his
strive forward.
Speaker 6 (36:20):
I feel like it makes sense and I was encouraged. Again.
Speaker 5 (36:22):
I get I'm not going to dive too deep in
what he did down to the Dominican Republic this offseason,
but the point is he's putting in the work and trying,
and I'm willing to give a guy a little bit
of a chance here.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
So I think he's a winning baseball player.
Speaker 5 (36:32):
I think he showed some real flashes and I would
like to see him take that next up.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
I love it well, Sean, Thank you for joining me.
This has been Luke and I on the Phillies. You
can follow Sean at San Sewan Underscore Bernard one on Twitter.
We are four months out from our last podcast, but
we are back. Myself and Shawn are sort of uploading
every day on YouTube for Phillies Digest. We're pumping out
(36:57):
videos over there, We're all over Twitter, everything that you
need for the Gambler as well. Once again, this has
been Luke and I on the Phillies, brought to you
by Foco. I am Luke Arcaney and we'll see you
next time.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Peace,
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