August 4, 2025 • 17 mins
This week on TABLE TALK, Jeff sat down with Tim Kelly from OnPattison.com to discuss the recent trades made by the Philadelphia Phillies, what they mean for the team, and how those moves can help int he long run. Plus, we dove into some other pressing Phillies storylines. It was a great discussion!
Topics Tim and Jeff discussed:
- How and why are certain sectors of the Phillies fan base such Debbie Downers about this team who has been successful this season?
- A dive into the Jhoan Duran trade and finally having a closer on the mound.
- What will Harrison Bader give the offense and defense at this point?
- What should we be making of Bryson Stott at this point in his career?
All of this and much more this week on Table Talk!
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Topics Tim and Jeff discussed:
- How and why are certain sectors of the Phillies fan base such Debbie Downers about this team who has been successful this season?
- A dive into the Jhoan Duran trade and finally having a closer on the mound.
- What will Harrison Bader give the offense and defense at this point?
- What should we be making of Bryson Stott at this point in his career?
All of this and much more this week on Table Talk!
SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: youtube.com/@thephiladelphiasportstable
Head over to our website for all of our podcasts and more: philadelphiasportstable.com
Follow us on BlueSky:
Jeff: @jeffwarren.bsky.social
Erik: @brickpollitt.bsky.social
Follow us on Threads:
Jeff: @mrjeffwarren
Erik: @slen1023
The Show: @philadelphiasportstable
Follow us on Twitter/X:
Jeff: @Jeffrey_Warren
Erik: @BrickPollitt
The Show: @PhiladelphiaPST
Follow us on Instagram:
Jeff: @mrjeffwarren
Erik: @slen1023
The Show: @philadelphiasportstable.
Follow Jeff on TikTok: @mrjeffwarren
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/PhiladelphiaSportsTable
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Welcome to Table Talk here at the Philadelphia Sports Table
podcast show, the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show
in the world twelve years strong. Got a great discussion
coming your way on Table Talk this week as we
dive into this Philadelphia Phillies team, what we've been seeing
from them on the field, going to dive into the
trades as well, some new acquisitions and some under the
radar storylines that we should really be focusing on during
(00:54):
the course of this season at this point here in
August to join us from on Pattison dot com. We
love talking to him, our good friend Tim Kelly.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Hey, no, buddy, it's great to be back on with you. Jeff.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Always great to talk to you. I love talking Phillies
with you. I love talking baseball with you and Tim.
Right off the bat, I have to say, I gotta
get your take on this too, because I'm just starting
to get so tired of certain sectors of this Phillies
fan base that are constantly crapping all over this team
and Rob Thompson, even though they've been in first place
(01:27):
in the NL East for the majority of this season,
and Rob Thompson's win percentage by the way as manager
over these past few years is absolutely ridiculous. It's off
the charts. This is a successful baseball team, period. That's
what we want as fans, a successful baseball team to
keep things entertaining, to keep things fun throughout the Major
(01:48):
League baseball season. Here they're one of the top teams
in Major League Baseball? Tim what would you say to
these folks who have been real DeBie downers about this
Phillies team at this point. I don't know if you've
thought about it at all. It's really been on my mind.
What are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, I would say that there are some legitimate concerns
about whether you have enough starter or whether you have
enough relief pitching even with Theron addition, and whether you
have enough bats in the lineup outside of Shorebur Turner, Harper.
Those are all fair criticisms to or questions. Absolutely none
of them to me Fall and Rob Thompson right Fall.
(02:25):
The fact that some pickups in the offseason, like Jordan
Romano and Max Kepler, and even going back to last
trade deadline with Austin Hayes that it didn't work out.
So Rob Thompson, all the Phillies have done since he's
become managers win games, and I can certainly point to
individual decisions that maybe I would have made differently, But
in general, yeah, I don't get the dislike for Rob
(02:49):
Thompson because he's been the most successful manager in Phillies'
history through this amount of games.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah. Absolutely, And even in terms of where the team
is at too. Again, you know, they having won against
Detroit the last game in the series against Detroit put
him first place over the Mets in the NL East too.
It's not a perfect baseball season by any stretching. We're
seeing other Major League Baseball teams that are supposed to
be powerhouses, like the Dodgers at times, you know, even
(03:17):
like the Astros. There are teams out there who are
they quote powerhouse teams that are having challenges of their
own too. So sometimes I think Phillies Nation needs to
take a step back. I should say, certain entities within
Phillies Nation needs to take a step back and say, Okay, look,
things could be a lot worse. I mean, I personally
remember twenty fifteen. Twenty sixteen, Yeah, not the greatest time
in the world to be a Phillies fan. I'm like
(03:40):
you said, there are certain challenges this team has, But overall,
I'm pretty happy as a fan about where they are
at right now. The sky is not falling by any
stretched him.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
No, it's not falling. They're going to be in the
playoffs and we'll see what happens there. I think, like,
if you're making me pick who will win the World Series,
the Phillies or the Field, I'd say the field, But
I'd say that almost every year, and this year is
especially wide open one where it's really there is not
like an obvious team that is going to enter the
postseason as the overwhelming favorite to win it all. So
(04:14):
you get into the postseason and people don't like this,
but a lot of it is who gets hot at
the right time. And I think the Phillies have a
one to two in their starting rotation with Wheeler and
Sanchez that's probably the best in baseball the now of
an elite closer, And for as much as the lineup
might be top heavy, you could do worse and having
Shorter and Harper as the two at.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The top exactly exactly. And you know what makes postseason
baseball fun the fact that sometimes you just don't know
what's gonna happen and which teams are gonna get hot,
which teams end up cooling off too. But the Phillies
are gonna be in the mix for sure, and that's
gonna be fantastic. So moving along with the conversation here, Tam,
I want to get into these trades that we just
saw from this past week what they mean for the team.
(04:56):
I mean, I really like both trades, to be honest
with you. And if I had to give the Phillies
a grade after this trade deadline on the new talent
that was acquired, that talent being Johann Duran and Harrison Bader,
I'd actually give him a B plus maybe a minus
tops because they upgraded two areas of this team that
(05:16):
desperately needed it. They got better, in my opinion, and
that's what you're supposed to do a trade deadlines. You
mentioned Austin Hayes last year didn't necessarily work out, didn't
really get better, But I think this year the team
ended up getting better heading into August. Here, let's not
also forget that David Robertson is now on the team
after Dave Dombrowski, you know, wooed him from his home,
(05:38):
his wife and his kids. He's going to be back
in this ball club here. But first let's talk about
the dominance that we have seen from Johann Duran bringing
this team a closer. Finally, we can actually say that
we have a closer on this team that we haven't
been able to say in quite a long time. What
were your thoughts on the trade initially, Tim, you know,
(06:00):
and with what the Phillies organization had to give up
and inevitably what Doran will mean for the future.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, I was. I thought it would take more to
get him, to be honest with you, and that's not
a disant anyone. I think Tay It's gonna be a
really good offensive player. We'll see how he sticks overall
at catcher, but he has a high upside. But he's
eighteen years old, so he's years away from the majors.
And I think mckabel can be a nice like number
four starter for you. You're gonna get six years of
(06:28):
control if you're the Twins. Makes sense that they were
interested in him, but I was shocked that they got
out of that trade without giving up Aiden Miller or
Justin Crawford, one of the bigger They weren't going to
give up Andrew Paynter in any circumstance, I'm convinced, but
without having to give up one of those other big
guys I am a little surprised by so trade wise,
I think they did well there and it kind of
(06:49):
speaks for itself what he's done in these first two
appearances as a Philly. All of a sudden, the ninth
inning is a rap like that's there's probably five guys
in the that you can say that about, and the
Phillies now have one, and it's I mean, the last
one anything like that was Jonathan Papabon. That's a decade ago,
Brad led Joway and Billy Wagner before that, But like
(07:12):
it's been quite some time before you've had that guy
where it's it's a wrap after they come in the game,
and it makes a lot easier, even with other concerns
in terms of getting the ball to him in the
ninth inning, makes a lot easier when you know for
sure who's coming on in the ninth and that nineteen
times out of twenty they're shutting the game down.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Do you think this possibly takes any pressure off of
relievers like a Ryan Kirkering and like Matt Strom as well,
because I do wonder, and you're you're behind the scenes
a lot talking to these guys. You have relationship with
some of the players too, Like I do wonder from
a reliever standpoint, and have with this Phillies organization now
for some time. Due to the uncertainty, like the lack
(07:53):
of actual, like quote roles, if they're if that uncertainty
kind of leads these guys down different rabbit holes in
their brains and how that from a sports psychology standpoint
could affect them in game time. Now there seems to
be more of a because Doran's gonna be the closer.
We know he's going to be the closer. He's gonna
be that guy you were just talking about to really
(08:14):
just get things done in that ninth inning. Like I
wonder if that takes a little bit of pressure off
some of the other relievers to know that, you know what,
there may actually be some possible roles for them. What
are your thoughts on.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That, Well, I think it could do a degree because
they know they're not pitching the ninth inning. At the
same time, like I still think they're gonna go best
matchup between innings six and eight, So I don't know
that it takes a ton off of them, but it
certainly takes something off of Rob Thompson to know that
if you get through seven and eight six, sometimes you
know you have really good starting pitching and you know
(08:47):
you have an elite closer at the back end. So
you got to figure your way how to navigate through
those innings. But the ninth inning is no longer something
that you have to navigate through.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Right right, absolutely? All right, Well, let's move on to
Harrison Bader here. There seems to be a split within
the fan base about the Harrison Bader trade. Personally, I
liked it. He's having a pretty good year offensively, as
many of us know. His defense has also been pretty
damn good too. Again, this is a team I think
that ended up getting better in an area where they
did need to get better, even a little bit better,
(09:19):
I will take it at this point. What were your
thoughts on the Harrison Bader trade here?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Tim, Yeah, I think they got better. Now, whether they
got better enough is a fair question, but I certainly
think they got better. I know he didn't make a
ton of an impact in his first series with the Phillies,
and I would imagine you're gonna see him play a
little bit more as time goes on. But he's always
been a tremendous defender, and he's having a really good
(09:44):
year offensively this year as well. So he gives you
flexibility whether you want to play him in center or
left field. So yeah, I think he's a good pickup. Now,
I would be lying if I said I didn't think
they needed a number four hitter as opposed to like
a number six or seven. But certainly the Phillies are
better with him than they were without him.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Absolutely, I completely agree. Again, folks, we're talking to Tim
Kelly from on Pattison on Pattison dot Com. A lot
of great content over there, Tim. Before we take a
quick break here to pay some bills, why don't you
tell everybody where they can find you on the interwebs
out there if they want to follow you.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, everything on Pattison dot Com and then at Tim
Kelly Sports on all social channels.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
All right, very good, folks. We're gonna take a quick break.
We're gonna be back in just a bit. Talk more
Phillies with you. All right. We are back, and we
got to get into more Phillies talk here, and specifically
we got to get into one particular pitcher who you know,
you go through time watching this Phillies pitching staff and
(10:44):
the starting pitching and you think to yourself, boy, we
have been blessed over the years to have certain pitchers
who have just been so incredible that you don't think
to yourself, wow, could they falter? Every now and again.
I'm talking about Zach Wheeler here and want to dive
into him. As we know tim, he has been having
some challenges as of late. It's something that we're not
(11:05):
used to seeing. Again, I think so many in the
fan base just kind of take for granted that we've
had an arm like him for so long. Here. I
guess it's a general question here, but what is happening
with Zach Wheeler here?
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, I think he's just struggled with his control since
the All Star break, but he's earned the benefit of
the doubt and I have little question that he's going
to get back on the track. Whether he's going to
win the cy Young I would say it's a long
shot that he catches Paul Skins at this point, but
he's going to be right in that mix, most likely
probably with Christopher Sanchez at this point. And yeah, I mean,
(11:40):
I think still going into the postseason, assuming you get there,
which I think they will, you have an excellent one
two with Zach Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez, So it it's
not something I can get too worried about.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, how does a pitcher who is so seasoned, a
pitcher who has been dominant you talk about the control
that he's kind of loss he's trying to find it.
How I mean, you're a baseball expert, at least in
my opinion, you're a baseball expert. One of the reasons
why I want to have you on the pod. How
does that happen in pitching? How does it happen where
(12:11):
a pitcher is seasoned in such a veteran like Zach Wheeler,
they just start to lose it. Can you kind of
just take us through that and what you know and
talking to pitchers over all these years, how and why
does that happen? Then consequently, how do they get it back?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Well, that's a good question. I don't know that I'm
like the most qualified person to give that. I would say,
he said on Saturday, like, it's just kind of one
of those things that happens throughout the course of the
season and you kind of figure it out. He threw
a complete game late in the first half. You head
off through the All Star break like that can throw
you off your.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Routine a little bit.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So I just I think he will get back on track.
I think that's the important part.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
There's mental stuff that goes on for sure when it
comes to the professional sports world. Do Zach Wheeler's going
through a little bit, But I agree with you. I
think he is going to get back to it sooner
rather than later. There is another gentleman on this team
I wanted to talk about as we're moving along here, Tim,
and that's Bryson Stott. Boy, he's been having some challenges
behind the plate, to say the least, and at this
(13:13):
point as somebody who initially before the season started, I
was looking at him as the comeback player for the
Phillies team this year, that comeback kid. We were talking
about him on our Phillies preseason show about how much
we were looking forward to seeing his growth in his
development this year. At this point, and I'm wondering, if
it's fair, I'm wondering how we should be looking at
(13:36):
Bryson Stott at this point, not only here in twenty
twenty five, but his career as a whole. What are
your thoughts here?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think you should look at him as a platoon
with Edmundo Sosa. That's what he is right now. Sosa
plays against lefties. Stott plays against righty's. Stott fields very well.
He can steal bases, but he just is not hitting
enough to justify anything beyond that. So he hasn't developed
necessarily into the guy that I think many people thought
(14:05):
he could be. It's good to foul off pitches, but sometimes,
like I think one of the things we've realized this
year is like some of those pitches you should just
be putting him play. Yeah, so I think like the
jury's still out on him.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So you think it is jury's still out on him.
We need to really start giving him the benefit of
the I don't know benefit of the doubt is.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
The right phrase, but yeah, maybe that's not the right
way to phrase it. But I would say he's going
to be here the rest of this year, and you
can make a decision in the offseason. I would say
there's not a ton of great second basement around the
sport right now, so I don't know that you're going
to upgrade from him in the offseason, but certainly need
more than you've gotten this season.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I think that's fair to say absolutely. All right, well, buddy,
before I let you go, we always love talking about
under the radar storylines with our Philly sports teams that
we cover here at Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show, And
as we're in the second half of this Philly season here,
I'm wondering your thoughts. You know, again, you cover this
team on a daily basis over it on Pattison dot Com.
(15:03):
You are also you know, you're also in the locker
room with these guys too as well. So what's an
under the radar storyline that's really not getting enough attention
that you think we should be following more As it
pertains to this Phillies team.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
I would say, I'm interested to see what happens when
Alec Bowe comes back. How effective is he They need
another guy in the middle of that order, particularly right
handed guy, So how can he get on a heater
or is he kind of like down the stretch last year?
I think the hand injury ultimately bothered him more than
they let.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
On at the time.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Is he able to come back from this rib injury
and make a big impact, whether you think he should
be like the number four or five hit or he's
gonna be that. So they need a bigger impact from
him than they got in the first half of the season,
and if he's able to do that, then that kind
of raises their ceiling in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And I think based on what al I'm sorry, what
Aaron Nola is going to do the rest of this
season is really going to determine, am I right in
how the playoffs might actually go. Here is because he's
been he has been a key part of this starting
rotation during the course of the postseason, now for how long.
So yeah, I think I think there's a good possibility
(16:15):
that the Phillies postseason it's going to be contingent upon
how Aaron Nola really trans like how he gets back
hopefully to form.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, game one is gonna be Zach Wheeler, Game two
is going to be Christopher Sanchez, and game three I
still think is up for grabs. Certainly if you get
to the situation in the NLCS or World Series where
there's a Game four, it's up for grabs. So, yeah,
how he comes back, and it also just determines how
you feel about him moving forward. So yeah, he's been
the picture of stability until this year. Can he get
(16:45):
back on that track down the stretch. It'll be interesting
to see.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Absolutely will again, folks. Tim Kelly from on Pattison dot
com always enjoy talking to you, buddy. It's great talking
baseball with you all the time. Great talking Phillies with you.
Come back join us down the road. I'd love to
have you back on my friend.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
All right, thanks, chef.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's gonna do it for us here on Table Talk
this week. Please share our podcast with your friends and
family members who are Philly sports fans or sports fans
in general. We thank you our listeners for being part
of this online community with us and within this space.
Please make sure to check out our website Philadelphiasportstable dot
com for all of our podcasts, and follow us on
(17:26):
our social sites over on Twitter at Philadelphia pst, threads
at Philadelphia Sports Table, and over on Instagram as well.
Take care and we'll catch you next time.
Welcome to Table Talk here at the Philadelphia Sports Table
podcast show, the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show
in the world twelve years strong. Got a great discussion
coming your way on Table Talk this week as we
dive into this Philadelphia Phillies team, what we've been seeing
from them on the field, going to dive into the
trades as well, some new acquisitions and some under the
radar storylines that we should really be focusing on during
(00:54):
the course of this season at this point here in
August to join us from on Pattison dot com. We
love talking to him, our good friend Tim Kelly.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Hey, no, buddy, it's great to be back on with you. Jeff.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Always great to talk to you. I love talking Phillies
with you. I love talking baseball with you and Tim.
Right off the bat, I have to say, I gotta
get your take on this too, because I'm just starting
to get so tired of certain sectors of this Phillies
fan base that are constantly crapping all over this team
and Rob Thompson, even though they've been in first place
(01:27):
in the NL East for the majority of this season,
and Rob Thompson's win percentage by the way as manager
over these past few years is absolutely ridiculous. It's off
the charts. This is a successful baseball team, period. That's
what we want as fans, a successful baseball team to
keep things entertaining, to keep things fun throughout the Major
(01:48):
League baseball season. Here they're one of the top teams
in Major League Baseball? Tim what would you say to
these folks who have been real DeBie downers about this
Phillies team at this point. I don't know if you've
thought about it at all. It's really been on my mind.
What are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, I would say that there are some legitimate concerns
about whether you have enough starter or whether you have
enough relief pitching even with Theron addition, and whether you
have enough bats in the lineup outside of Shorebur Turner, Harper.
Those are all fair criticisms to or questions. Absolutely none
of them to me Fall and Rob Thompson right Fall.
(02:25):
The fact that some pickups in the offseason, like Jordan
Romano and Max Kepler, and even going back to last
trade deadline with Austin Hayes that it didn't work out.
So Rob Thompson, all the Phillies have done since he's
become managers win games, and I can certainly point to
individual decisions that maybe I would have made differently, But
in general, yeah, I don't get the dislike for Rob
(02:49):
Thompson because he's been the most successful manager in Phillies'
history through this amount of games.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah. Absolutely, And even in terms of where the team
is at too. Again, you know, they having won against
Detroit the last game in the series against Detroit put
him first place over the Mets in the NL East too.
It's not a perfect baseball season by any stretching. We're
seeing other Major League Baseball teams that are supposed to
be powerhouses, like the Dodgers at times, you know, even
(03:17):
like the Astros. There are teams out there who are
they quote powerhouse teams that are having challenges of their
own too. So sometimes I think Phillies Nation needs to
take a step back. I should say, certain entities within
Phillies Nation needs to take a step back and say, Okay, look,
things could be a lot worse. I mean, I personally
remember twenty fifteen. Twenty sixteen, Yeah, not the greatest time
in the world to be a Phillies fan. I'm like
(03:40):
you said, there are certain challenges this team has, But overall,
I'm pretty happy as a fan about where they are
at right now. The sky is not falling by any
stretched him.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
No, it's not falling. They're going to be in the
playoffs and we'll see what happens there. I think, like,
if you're making me pick who will win the World Series,
the Phillies or the Field, I'd say the field, But
I'd say that almost every year, and this year is
especially wide open one where it's really there is not
like an obvious team that is going to enter the
postseason as the overwhelming favorite to win it all. So
(04:14):
you get into the postseason and people don't like this,
but a lot of it is who gets hot at
the right time. And I think the Phillies have a
one to two in their starting rotation with Wheeler and
Sanchez that's probably the best in baseball the now of
an elite closer, And for as much as the lineup
might be top heavy, you could do worse and having
Shorter and Harper as the two at.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The top exactly exactly. And you know what makes postseason
baseball fun the fact that sometimes you just don't know
what's gonna happen and which teams are gonna get hot,
which teams end up cooling off too. But the Phillies
are gonna be in the mix for sure, and that's
gonna be fantastic. So moving along with the conversation here, Tam,
I want to get into these trades that we just
saw from this past week what they mean for the team.
(04:56):
I mean, I really like both trades, to be honest
with you. And if I had to give the Phillies
a grade after this trade deadline on the new talent
that was acquired, that talent being Johann Duran and Harrison Bader,
I'd actually give him a B plus maybe a minus
tops because they upgraded two areas of this team that
(05:16):
desperately needed it. They got better, in my opinion, and
that's what you're supposed to do a trade deadlines. You
mentioned Austin Hayes last year didn't necessarily work out, didn't
really get better, But I think this year the team
ended up getting better heading into August. Here, let's not
also forget that David Robertson is now on the team
after Dave Dombrowski, you know, wooed him from his home,
(05:38):
his wife and his kids. He's going to be back
in this ball club here. But first let's talk about
the dominance that we have seen from Johann Duran bringing
this team a closer. Finally, we can actually say that
we have a closer on this team that we haven't
been able to say in quite a long time. What
were your thoughts on the trade initially, Tim, you know,
(06:00):
and with what the Phillies organization had to give up
and inevitably what Doran will mean for the future.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, I was. I thought it would take more to
get him, to be honest with you, and that's not
a disant anyone. I think Tay It's gonna be a
really good offensive player. We'll see how he sticks overall
at catcher, but he has a high upside. But he's
eighteen years old, so he's years away from the majors.
And I think mckabel can be a nice like number
four starter for you. You're gonna get six years of
(06:28):
control if you're the Twins. Makes sense that they were
interested in him, but I was shocked that they got
out of that trade without giving up Aiden Miller or
Justin Crawford, one of the bigger They weren't going to
give up Andrew Paynter in any circumstance, I'm convinced, but
without having to give up one of those other big
guys I am a little surprised by so trade wise,
I think they did well there and it kind of
(06:49):
speaks for itself what he's done in these first two
appearances as a Philly. All of a sudden, the ninth
inning is a rap like that's there's probably five guys
in the that you can say that about, and the
Phillies now have one, and it's I mean, the last
one anything like that was Jonathan Papabon. That's a decade ago,
Brad led Joway and Billy Wagner before that, But like
(07:12):
it's been quite some time before you've had that guy
where it's it's a wrap after they come in the game,
and it makes a lot easier, even with other concerns
in terms of getting the ball to him in the
ninth inning, makes a lot easier when you know for
sure who's coming on in the ninth and that nineteen
times out of twenty they're shutting the game down.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Do you think this possibly takes any pressure off of
relievers like a Ryan Kirkering and like Matt Strom as well,
because I do wonder, and you're you're behind the scenes
a lot talking to these guys. You have relationship with
some of the players too, Like I do wonder from
a reliever standpoint, and have with this Phillies organization now
for some time. Due to the uncertainty, like the lack
(07:53):
of actual, like quote roles, if they're if that uncertainty
kind of leads these guys down different rabbit holes in
their brains and how that from a sports psychology standpoint
could affect them in game time. Now there seems to
be more of a because Doran's gonna be the closer.
We know he's going to be the closer. He's gonna
be that guy you were just talking about to really
(08:14):
just get things done in that ninth inning. Like I
wonder if that takes a little bit of pressure off
some of the other relievers to know that, you know what,
there may actually be some possible roles for them. What
are your thoughts on.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That, Well, I think it could do a degree because
they know they're not pitching the ninth inning. At the
same time, like I still think they're gonna go best
matchup between innings six and eight, So I don't know
that it takes a ton off of them, but it
certainly takes something off of Rob Thompson to know that
if you get through seven and eight six, sometimes you
know you have really good starting pitching and you know
(08:47):
you have an elite closer at the back end. So
you got to figure your way how to navigate through
those innings. But the ninth inning is no longer something
that you have to navigate through.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Right right, absolutely? All right, Well, let's move on to
Harrison Bader here. There seems to be a split within
the fan base about the Harrison Bader trade. Personally, I
liked it. He's having a pretty good year offensively, as
many of us know. His defense has also been pretty
damn good too. Again, this is a team I think
that ended up getting better in an area where they
did need to get better, even a little bit better,
(09:19):
I will take it at this point. What were your
thoughts on the Harrison Bader trade here?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Tim, Yeah, I think they got better. Now, whether they
got better enough is a fair question, but I certainly
think they got better. I know he didn't make a
ton of an impact in his first series with the Phillies,
and I would imagine you're gonna see him play a
little bit more as time goes on. But he's always
been a tremendous defender, and he's having a really good
(09:44):
year offensively this year as well. So he gives you
flexibility whether you want to play him in center or
left field. So yeah, I think he's a good pickup. Now,
I would be lying if I said I didn't think
they needed a number four hitter as opposed to like
a number six or seven. But certainly the Phillies are
better with him than they were without him.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Absolutely, I completely agree. Again, folks, we're talking to Tim
Kelly from on Pattison on Pattison dot Com. A lot
of great content over there, Tim. Before we take a
quick break here to pay some bills, why don't you
tell everybody where they can find you on the interwebs
out there if they want to follow you.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, everything on Pattison dot Com and then at Tim
Kelly Sports on all social channels.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
All right, very good, folks. We're gonna take a quick break.
We're gonna be back in just a bit. Talk more
Phillies with you. All right. We are back, and we
got to get into more Phillies talk here, and specifically
we got to get into one particular pitcher who you know,
you go through time watching this Phillies pitching staff and
(10:44):
the starting pitching and you think to yourself, boy, we
have been blessed over the years to have certain pitchers
who have just been so incredible that you don't think
to yourself, wow, could they falter? Every now and again.
I'm talking about Zach Wheeler here and want to dive
into him. As we know tim, he has been having
some challenges as of late. It's something that we're not
(11:05):
used to seeing. Again, I think so many in the
fan base just kind of take for granted that we've
had an arm like him for so long. Here. I
guess it's a general question here, but what is happening
with Zach Wheeler here?
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, I think he's just struggled with his control since
the All Star break, but he's earned the benefit of
the doubt and I have little question that he's going
to get back on the track. Whether he's going to
win the cy Young I would say it's a long
shot that he catches Paul Skins at this point, but
he's going to be right in that mix, most likely
probably with Christopher Sanchez at this point. And yeah, I mean,
(11:40):
I think still going into the postseason, assuming you get there,
which I think they will, you have an excellent one
two with Zach Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez, So it it's
not something I can get too worried about.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, how does a pitcher who is so seasoned, a
pitcher who has been dominant you talk about the control
that he's kind of loss he's trying to find it.
How I mean, you're a baseball expert, at least in
my opinion, you're a baseball expert. One of the reasons
why I want to have you on the pod. How
does that happen in pitching? How does it happen where
(12:11):
a pitcher is seasoned in such a veteran like Zach Wheeler,
they just start to lose it. Can you kind of
just take us through that and what you know and
talking to pitchers over all these years, how and why
does that happen? Then consequently, how do they get it back?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Well, that's a good question. I don't know that I'm
like the most qualified person to give that. I would say,
he said on Saturday, like, it's just kind of one
of those things that happens throughout the course of the
season and you kind of figure it out. He threw
a complete game late in the first half. You head
off through the All Star break like that can throw
you off your.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Routine a little bit.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So I just I think he will get back on track.
I think that's the important part.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
There's mental stuff that goes on for sure when it
comes to the professional sports world. Do Zach Wheeler's going
through a little bit, But I agree with you. I
think he is going to get back to it sooner
rather than later. There is another gentleman on this team
I wanted to talk about as we're moving along here, Tim,
and that's Bryson Stott. Boy, he's been having some challenges
behind the plate, to say the least, and at this
(13:13):
point as somebody who initially before the season started, I
was looking at him as the comeback player for the
Phillies team this year, that comeback kid. We were talking
about him on our Phillies preseason show about how much
we were looking forward to seeing his growth in his
development this year. At this point, and I'm wondering, if
it's fair, I'm wondering how we should be looking at
(13:36):
Bryson Stott at this point, not only here in twenty
twenty five, but his career as a whole. What are
your thoughts here?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think you should look at him as a platoon
with Edmundo Sosa. That's what he is right now. Sosa
plays against lefties. Stott plays against righty's. Stott fields very well.
He can steal bases, but he just is not hitting
enough to justify anything beyond that. So he hasn't developed
necessarily into the guy that I think many people thought
(14:05):
he could be. It's good to foul off pitches, but sometimes,
like I think one of the things we've realized this
year is like some of those pitches you should just
be putting him play. Yeah, so I think like the
jury's still out on him.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So you think it is jury's still out on him.
We need to really start giving him the benefit of
the I don't know benefit of the doubt is.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
The right phrase, but yeah, maybe that's not the right
way to phrase it. But I would say he's going
to be here the rest of this year, and you
can make a decision in the offseason. I would say
there's not a ton of great second basement around the
sport right now, so I don't know that you're going
to upgrade from him in the offseason, but certainly need
more than you've gotten this season.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I think that's fair to say absolutely. All right, well, buddy,
before I let you go, we always love talking about
under the radar storylines with our Philly sports teams that
we cover here at Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show, And
as we're in the second half of this Philly season here,
I'm wondering your thoughts. You know, again, you cover this
team on a daily basis over it on Pattison dot Com.
(15:03):
You are also you know, you're also in the locker
room with these guys too as well. So what's an
under the radar storyline that's really not getting enough attention
that you think we should be following more As it
pertains to this Phillies team.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
I would say, I'm interested to see what happens when
Alec Bowe comes back. How effective is he They need
another guy in the middle of that order, particularly right
handed guy, So how can he get on a heater
or is he kind of like down the stretch last year?
I think the hand injury ultimately bothered him more than
they let.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
On at the time.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Is he able to come back from this rib injury
and make a big impact, whether you think he should
be like the number four or five hit or he's
gonna be that. So they need a bigger impact from
him than they got in the first half of the season,
and if he's able to do that, then that kind
of raises their ceiling in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And I think based on what al I'm sorry, what
Aaron Nola is going to do the rest of this
season is really going to determine, am I right in
how the playoffs might actually go. Here is because he's
been he has been a key part of this starting
rotation during the course of the postseason, now for how long.
So yeah, I think I think there's a good possibility
(16:15):
that the Phillies postseason it's going to be contingent upon
how Aaron Nola really trans like how he gets back
hopefully to form.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, game one is gonna be Zach Wheeler, Game two
is going to be Christopher Sanchez, and game three I
still think is up for grabs. Certainly if you get
to the situation in the NLCS or World Series where
there's a Game four, it's up for grabs. So, yeah,
how he comes back, and it also just determines how
you feel about him moving forward. So yeah, he's been
the picture of stability until this year. Can he get
(16:45):
back on that track down the stretch. It'll be interesting
to see.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Absolutely will again, folks. Tim Kelly from on Pattison dot
com always enjoy talking to you, buddy. It's great talking
baseball with you all the time. Great talking Phillies with you.
Come back join us down the road. I'd love to
have you back on my friend.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
All right, thanks, chef.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's gonna do it for us here on Table Talk
this week. Please share our podcast with your friends and
family members who are Philly sports fans or sports fans
in general. We thank you our listeners for being part
of this online community with us and within this space.
Please make sure to check out our website Philadelphiasportstable dot
com for all of our podcasts, and follow us on
(17:26):
our social sites over on Twitter at Philadelphia pst, threads
at Philadelphia Sports Table, and over on Instagram as well.
Take care and we'll catch you next time.
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