The Second Half Of The Phillies Season Starts Now! (PST Episode 625)

We’re at the halfway point in the Major League Baseball season, and the Philadelphia Phillies are currently first in the NL East. What might we see from this team after the break? We talked to Eric Moratelli from Fansided’s ThatBallsOuttaHere.com about the mood of the fan base, needed consistency of the team, and much more. It was a fantastic discussion!
But first, the guys asked some questions about this upcoming Eagles season, and what we’ll be looking at early in training camp and beyond. (Approx. 5:10)
From there, they discussed how the College Football Playoff may be going from a 12-team playoff to a 16-team playoff. But there are some hiccups of course. (Approx. 13:00)
The guys also talked about Joel Embiid’s and Paul George’s health, and how this will impact this upcoming Sixers season. (Approx. 21:00)
Then the guys had a discussion about the Phillies here at the All-Star break, Kyle Schwarber being named the MVP of the All-Star Game, and what newly drafted pitcher Gage Wood may mean to the Phillies organization in the future. (Approx. 28:55)
What the guys threw down on the Table this week was a great, in-depth discussion with Eric Moratelli from That Balls Outta Here about the current state of the Phillies, and what this team will need to do in the coming months to stay atop of the NL East. Do the Phillies have an identity? Will they find reinforcements for the second half of the season? What has the starting rotation meant to this team? All of this and much more this week on the Table! (Approx. 42:25)

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Welcome to the Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show, the longest
running weekly Philly sports podcast show in the world, twelve
years strong. We got a great show coming your way
this week, as we do every week. I'm Jeff Warren.
I'm here, my good buddy, Len Hunsicker, Len Man, how
are you.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
I'm good. No complaints to the no.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Complaints, especially after the Philadelphia Union one tonight they beat
Montreal getting back on track here. I love it. We
don't have it on the agenda, but it just happened.
I wanted to raise it right off the bat here.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, yeah, good to you know, just keep things rolling.
They I was watching for a little bit in the
at the end of the first half and Montreal tied it,
like right before the half. Yeah, and then obviously Philadelphia
came back in the second half of the goal and
got it, got the win.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Got the win absolutely, I tell you, Len. It is summer.
I have been going to some summer cookouts here and there,
and hopefully we're gonna have one with our buddies at
the end of August. Trying to set that up. I
was actually listening to one of the recent New Heights
podcasts with Jason Kelcey and Travis Kelcey every now and again,
I'll put that on. They were actually having a phenomenal

(01:53):
conversation about their favorite type of potato, like really, yes,
whether it was like French fries or whether it was
like they were not fans of baked potatoes. And I
gotta tell you, really, I'm not a fan of baked
potatoes myself. I just think it's too much work for
what the end result is. I mean, I'll eat a
baked potato, but it's.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Too much work. Yeah, I will grant you that it
does take a while to cook, but the end result,
I guess if you're not doing it, it's great. Yes,
the end result, you know, you know, butter and cheese
and sour cream and you know salt. It's amazing.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Usually taste good, Usually will taste good. But man, the
effort to get there, I don't know. In terms of
like summer cookouts, just barbecues and stuff like that. Dude,
I love a good potato salad like I love a
good potato salad, Like a Dutch potato salad is really good.
You know, it's got that mustard in it and stuff.
I dig a good potato salad I don't know, what,

(02:48):
what do you like with the fries? Yeah, I mean,
you can't go wrong, can't go wrong with fries, all right? Anyway,
I just completely I didn't even know we were going
to talk about that. I just completely stolen new height.
It wasn't no, not at all, not at all. But
there is a lot going on in the world of
Phillies sports, folks. We're gonna first dive into some Eagles

(03:09):
talk as training camp and the season is upon us.
We're also gonna be diving into some college football talk too,
and what a potential college football playoff expansion might look like.
Might it happen? We want to give our thoughts on that.
Good to also talk about the Philadelphia seventy six ers,
Joe l Embiid, Paul George, their health and thoughts about

(03:31):
the coming season. And then we're certainly gonna get into
some Phillies and Major League Baseball talk. Home run Derby,
gonna dive into just a little bit, Kyle Schwarber becoming
the first Philly to win the All Star Game MVP
since nineteen sixty four. And yeah, folks, the Major League
Baseball Draft just happened. The Phillies may have just gotten

(03:55):
their picture of the future engage would and what we're
throwing down on the table this week, Eric or Telly
from that ballsad here dot com, He's gonna join us
to really dive into this Phillies team where we're at
here at the halfway point of the season. So that
being said, Len, let's get into this this upcoming Eagles season.
I should say, because you know, while we're st I

(04:15):
think we are still a lot of us are still
hyped after the Super Bowl win and was it. Part
of me feels like, you know what, I don't even
want the season to come because they absolutely murdered the
Kansas City Chiefs. I still have that great feeling throughout
my body. But that being said, there were changes to
this team and there are questions coming into this season,

(04:37):
a number of questions. You know, are there going to
be growing pains with new offensive coordinator Kevin Patulo? You
know when when will Nakobe Dean return and is he
going to return to the type of form we saw
twenty twenty four. Can Zach Bond still be as dominant
as he was last season? Can the defensive line be
as dominant after losing three key players this past off seat,

(05:00):
and so we wanted to kind of dive into I
have no idea, lend what you're thinking about in terms
of your question. I know you don't know what I'm
thinking in terms of my question, But what questions are
we going to be honing in on at the start
of this Eagles season, whether it's even in training camp
or or the preseason as well. So I'm sure you've
been given this some thought, buddy. You know what, what

(05:20):
are your thoughts on you know, that question that you're
going to have for this Eagles team? That's going to
be pretty prevalent for you, whether it's throughout the season
or just even even to start the season.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
I mean mine are kind of more offensively oriented you
and you actually mentioned one of them just now and
in the in the the agenda, and that is, you know,
new offensive coordinator. How does that affect things? You know,
does Sirianni kind of step in with the play calling more?

(05:51):
You know, how much of a leash does Patulo have?
Is there a lot of you know, new changes that
are going to be happening. Yeah, And then another question
I have is, you know, the Eagles are now known
as like a running team, run first, past second. Obviously,

(06:12):
Saquan had the amazing year that he had. I expect
for this season for defenses to do more of what
the Chiefs did, which is focus like almost sell out
on Saquan and their you know, Jalen Hurts to beat them.
Even though he showed at the highest level he can
do that, I still think teams are going to test him,

(06:32):
especially early in the season. So that'll just be something
to keep an eye on how teams, not not even
so much how the Eagles will respond, because I'm actually
fairly confident in Hurts and the receiving corps, and then
you know, just the whole offense in general, but just
how other teams play the Eagles early and what they
try to do to them from a defensive standpoint.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
I see, And I like where you're coming from with
regard to that particular question. With the offense too, you know,
I mean, we're I know, you're not really on social
too too much anymore, Lehn, especially you know Twitter, which
which which is good for you and your mental health
of course, but the we're getting into silly season right now,

(07:13):
where there are too many lists that are coming out
and there's the.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Every day there's one on ESPN absolutely position.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Groups all that, yes, and where people are.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Just dying for something football related to.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
Exactly exactly and controversial, you know, to get the clicks going,
to get the discussion going to and and yeah, I'm
doing that right now because where people have Jalen Hurts ranked,
whether it's ESPN, whether it's some other you know, radio
outlets here and there, it's just ridiculous. And it's done
to make all of us talk about it, of course,
and to make you know, the Twitter algorithm or Instagram

(07:48):
algorithm a certain way. But I think it's interesting what
you're saying. Yes, from an offensive perspective, you've got a
new offensive coordinator coming in, but what is that balance
going to be between the run game and the passing
attack too? And I think Jalen Hurts is continuing to develop.
He is, and we saw what he did last year
in certain situations, the steps he took. I think if

(08:09):
they put the ball in his hands in terms of
the passing game, I think this team is gonna is
it's gonna flourish again from an offensive perspective. So I
like where you're coming from with that.

Speaker 2 (08:19):
I well, I actually and that's Another reason why I
think that they will test him early is because you
do have a new offensive coordinator. There are gonna be
a few new concepts in you know, early on, those
teams are gonna say, I'll bet the Eagles don't have
all this stuff down just yet. Let's attack him now,
Let's you know, get him out of their comfort zone.

(08:41):
Let's force them to beat us, because we don't know
if they have all their all their cards, you know,
you know, laid out yet. We don't know if they
have all their ducks in a row yet. So yeah,
I definitely think it's gonna happen early on, and it
might take you know, we don't know the preseason. I mean,
the games you really can't take anything from, but you know,
or maybe if you're following the reps in practice every day.

(09:02):
I mean, that might be something to keep an eye
on because maybe it will take a little bit. Who
knows it might. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
Absolutely, Look, one of my biggest questions and concerns heading
into this season from a defensive perspective is safety position.
Been talking about it with various interviews here on the
podcast platform. And then what the pass rush is going
to look like too? Like I mentioned you know, losing
three key players from the defensive line in this past offseason,
certain guys are definitely gonna have to step up. But

(09:28):
I'm going to go in a little bit of a
different direction in terms of a question that I'm going
to have leen And you know, over the years, I
have loved special teams. I always try to bring up
special teams when you know, whether it's postgame shows or
whether we're doing any type of NFL Eagles football type
of analysis. But I'm wondering what kind of Jake Elliott

(09:50):
we are going to see this coming season. If you
remember last year, his regular season was brutal. He had
a seventy seven point eight field goal rate, which was
twenty eighth out of thirty six NFL kickers, and he
made just one of seven attempts from fifty yards or longer.
If you remember, a man it was. It was a tough,
tough regular season for him.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yeah, it wasn't great, and I am.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
The playoffs are different. I think playoffs, I.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
Think every now and again kickers do that. And I
don't think he's the first kicker to ever go through that.
Right where you have one season where when it's done,
you're just like, all right, flush it because that happens
every now and again. If it continues into this year, yeah,
then it's a large story.

Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yes, it absolutely is. And I here's the thing though.
He had such a brutal regular season, but man, when
the playoffs came, he nailed big kicks, whether it was
in the snow against the Rams in the Super Bowl,
he was hitting long field goal after long field goal,
getting it done. And you know, like you said, you know,
we're thinking, you know, he's been one of the most

(10:56):
consistent kickers in the NFL since twenty seventeen. It's like,
is he getting the case of the yips here this year?
He certainly did in twenty twenty four. So I'm really
going to be looking at what Jake Elliott is going
to be doing during the course of training camp, during
the course of the preseason two, and how the early
start of the season is because that we know in
the NFL, and especially a team like the Eagles who

(11:17):
are playing some real tough teams, there's gonna be some
close games and a field goal here or there can
really determine, you know, where you're going to be seated
at the at the end of the season.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
You know.

Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, So all right, you got anything else for Eagles
before we move on here to some college football talk.

Speaker 2 (11:33):
No, I mean you mentioned the whole Nakobe Dean thing.
I'm just wondering if are they as worried about that.
If they if they drafted Jehad Campbell, it was he
drafted pretty much as Nacoby Dean insurance in case, great question,
you know whatever persists. I think I think that was done.
I think that draft pick was made with the purpose. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
If Jahad Campbell, I can't wait to see what he's
going to be doing during the course of the even
during the course of the preseason. Please stay healthy, please?

Speaker 2 (11:58):
All right?

Speaker 1 (11:59):
Well, you know, sticking with football talk here, we wanted
to get into whether or not there is going to
be an expanding college playoff in the future. This past week,
SEC Commissioner Greg Sank he was meeting with some folks
and was asked about this, and he said this past
week that while a sixteen team playoff seems like a

(12:21):
foregone conclusion for the college football Championship, it could easily
remain a twelve team setup if conference commissioners can't really
agree on a structure which is actually the case right now.
The Big Ten wants four automatic bids for itself, but
the SEC and some other conferences seem to prefer the
five to five to eleven model. So we wanted to

(12:44):
give our thoughts on this. And what's really interesting about
this len is at the end of the day, it
all comes down to money here, because the College Football
Playoffs original twelve year contract with ESPN ends after this season,
and a new six year extension struck with the network
last spring actually begins in twenty twenty six with what

(13:05):
was believed to be at that time a new, potentially
expanded playoff. So important to note that during all of this,
the SEC and the Big Ten, they really hold a
lot of the authority and what is going to happen
over this future format, and they have to agree on
a model before anything moves forward. So it really is

(13:28):
up to the SEC and the Big Ten to kind
of work this out as the super conferences within college
football here and look, I love the twelve team format.
I absolutely love it. Sixteen team model I think could
also be very interesting as well, depending on how it
is set up. I think the more teams that you

(13:49):
have in a playoff type of situation, I think the
more fun it could be for US fans. But I mean,
I'm currently liking the twelve twelve team model here. Sixteen,
I don'tnumber fifteen seed, the number sixteen seed probably not
going to be going too too far within that structure,
depending on what that structure is. But I mean, I

(14:10):
love the twelve team model at this point, but I
wouldn't be sad if they went to sixteen. I don't
know what are your thoughts here. I'm fine with twelve
and I'm fine with sixteen. Anything beyond that, I think
you're it's overkill. And I know, you know, the Big
Ten and the SEC are going to want their share
of teams. I'm sure if they had their way, it
would be eight SEC teams and eight Big Tens. I

(14:35):
honestly think those two conferences are eventually looking to push
everybody else out and just have it be those two conferences.
I think that is the long term end game for
SANK and whoever the Big Ten POLITI whoever the Big
Ten commissioner, forget you who it is actually, I can't remember.

Speaker 2 (14:55):
H Yeah. So I mean, I'm good with the way
it is now. It's just funny to me. That we're
we fought so hard to get, you know, a playoff
and then four teams. Okay, but it's really not representing everything.
And now within like a year, we're we're we're expanding again, exactly.

(15:15):
It didn't take long. But yeah, I mean, I do
like the idea of sixteen a good round number. Everybody
say it plays the same amount of games. I mean,
I know there is some kind of benefit to being
one of the top four teams and getting to buy,
but I don't know. I like the idea of you know,
you earning your way just like everybody else did, play
the same amount of games, So i'd be I'd be
good with that. I just I just don't want it

(15:37):
to become SEC Fest and Big ten Fest. Me. I
want I want representation. I want the Big twelve to
have a couple of bids, have a couple of bids,
you know, and I want a couple. If you go
to sixteen teams, I would love to, you know, two
teams that aren't in those Power Conference as a minimum
two teams. I mean, I won't get that, but you

(16:00):
know two is the max and that they'll get. But
you know, I don't know. I still I like that
the idea of that representation.

Speaker 1 (16:07):
Yeah, I got to look. The NC Double A has
been pretty messy now for quite some time. I mean,
there's there's a lot of growing pains going on within
this within college football at this point, whether it's the
industry's new revenue sharing concept, the NC Double a's governance
model is going to be undergoing some changes as we

(16:28):
know that. Again, the structure of the bowl games they're
a bit unknown as well, and even the NC doublea's
eligibility standards are under attack in court from players themselves.
There's a lot going on within the world of college
athletics and specifically college football here that you put this
playoff situation into the mess and you've got some people

(16:52):
making really important decisions who they at times are not
the smartest folks.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
In the world.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
Yet we've talked about on this podcast.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
Or there they their their single minded interest Like Greg Sanki,
I don't think he cares about college football. I think
he cares about the SEC, Yes, and I think that's
all he cares about. So you know, and he'll probably
tell you that college that s the SEC is college football. Yeah, sure,
if you asked him, he would say something to that effect.
But yeah, I don't Yeah, there's stupidity there, but there

(17:23):
there are people that I don't know that they're trying
to be honest stewards of the product and the game.
That's just I have a general mistrust of that.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
I absolutely agree with you, and we're still gonna be
talking about it here on this podcast platform in the
months and and probably years to come here, that is,
if you're going to keep doing the show. Len, we
shall see, we shall see exactly. Yes, well, we are

(17:55):
going to be taking a break here, but before that,
feel free to follow us on various social media sites.
We are on the Twitter, slash x, Instagram, Facebook threads.
Eric and I are over on Blue Sky. You can
follow me over there, just search Jeff Warren. For Eric,
you can search Brick poll It. I'm over on TikTok
at mister Jeff Warren. Do some uh uh, do some

(18:17):
sports posts every now and again over there, and some
other content too, if you're in the moon for that
type of stuff. Anyway, you like that one.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
I know, I know someone what a recent follower yours
is into it.

Speaker 1 (18:32):
Over on Twitter. They're probably listening to this right now, because.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
Oh yeah, you'll get something.

Speaker 1 (18:42):
I'm just being monitored constantly. That's right. Well, we are
going to take our first break here, and when we
come back, we are going to be getting into some
Sixers talk and some Phillies talk. We got a ton
of Phillies talk coming your way. Let's take that break now.
We'll be back in just a bit. All right, folks,
we are back again. Len Hunsicker, Jeff Warren here at

(19:03):
the Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show. We're gonna be diving
into the Philadelphia seventy six ers here at the moment.
My gosh, what a mess with some news that just
came out this past week. Len. Nothing says team bonding
like getting knee surgery together. Nothing says like now both
Joe el embiid Paul George, they've both undergone some form

(19:26):
of arthoscopic knee surgery recently. Here, Daryl Morey has refused
to commit to an embide timeline outside of him being
on track for a quote right around training camp. And
my god, with Paul George, I mean the things that
he has been through. I mean his injury out look

(19:48):
just so so very complex. He dealt with a variety
of injuries last season, as we know, missing one game
for an ankle issue, two games was injury management, five
games for a thing problem, eight games for his pair
of knee hyper extensions, ten games for a growing injury
in fifteen games for an adductor problem that eventually ended

(20:10):
his season, and look, he was getting pain management injections
throughout the season. Honestly, I give the guy all the
credit in the world for trying to get out there.
He played seventy four games with the Clippers the prior season,
and you know, just his age where he's at right now. Again,
I think that hyper extended knees did not help him
out at all last season. Who knows he'll ever play

(20:34):
a seventy four games like he did with the Clippers
the prior season to last year. But I think at
the end of the day, the verdict is going to
be We're going to see a lot of young guys.
I think to start this season. It seems to be
where the team is heading right now. It's just the
fact that Joel Embiid has not been doing any sort
of basketball workout according to reports. At this point, Len

(20:59):
doesn't seem doesn't seem to be on track really to
maybe be starting on opening day and what the heck's
gonna happen with Paul George as well, So a lot
of the young guys. I think we're gonna be seeing
right off the bat right to start the season.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah that I mean. I thought that Gershan Yabaseli had
a good year with the Sixers. I mean, I you know,
I'm not saying he was like a franchise changing free
agent or whatever, but given what you don't have upfront
and what let's be honest, you're probably not going to
have upfront this year. Let's be honest, the fact that

(21:36):
they let him go to the Knicks is pretty crazy
to me because I mean, there's not much there upfront.
I think they have the potential to be stacked in
the backcourt. I think, you know, we know what Max
he is, which is great. We saw some really good
flashes from McCain. I think Edgecombe has I think that

(22:00):
was a good pick. I think he's gonna pan out.
And Quinton Grimes came on at the end of last
year and really showed what he could do. So from
a backcourt standpoint, if they resigned Grimes, of course, with
those four guys your set, but they've got if if
embid doesn't play a lot, and George doesn't play a lot.
And to answer your question about the seventy four games,

(22:24):
it ain't gonna happen. Sorry, it's not gonna happen. So
they're just razor thin up front. Yeah, I mean they're
they're gonna be. Uh, they're gonna be, you know, relying
on a lot of young players this year that quite frankly,
I don't think are gonna be ready for prime time. Yeah,

(22:46):
I just it's hard. I don't know. There's actually a really, really,
really good cover story on Joel Embiid today on ESPN
dot com that I read and just going through the
litany stuff, and I maybe it's because he was drafted
by Philadelphia and he's been here his whole career. He
grew up in the city. You know, he had the

(23:08):
thing with his brother tragically dying, all that stuff, and
then the injuries where I mean, yeah, it sucks, and yeah,
he does have this huge contract and you're just like,
how much sympathy going to have? But at the same
time I still do whereas I don't have that investment
in Paul George. He hasn't been here his whole career,

(23:28):
you know, he's been here for five minutes basically, and
he's already heard all the time. Yeah, so you know,
for that, it's harder for me to have any kind
of you know, sympathy there. But I just I'm at
the point now where my expectations for both of them
are zero in terms of, you know, how much time
they're going to spend on the court. I have no

(23:50):
expectations whatsoever. Whatever you get from them if they're on
the court and productive is gravy because I think this
is fully a backcourt team and that's it. Because I
really just don't see anything up front.

Speaker 1 (24:02):
And I think what we need to do as the
as the you know, I mean, we've got the Summer League,
you know, which we were you know, just watching some
of the games. You know, I think that excitement around
the younger players, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain vj Edgecomb, you know,
having him out there, that type of excitement for the future,

(24:22):
I think is what we really need to hang our
hats on here. You know. It may not be what
we you know, trusted the process for, but I think
having a roster with a group of young guys who
care really could be a bit of a bit of
a pleasant change in a way, and I think that's
something we can look forward to.

Speaker 2 (24:42):
Yeah. Yeah, and I think that MB does care about
how I think he does too, Yeah, you know, but
but I just I don't think it Like the article
I was talking about basically talked about him as a
semi truck with the agility of a Ferrari, just with

(25:03):
the fluidity and stuff like that right in that package.
And it's true. But the downside of that is just
the force and the power that comes with those movements
for a body that big, it's just it's not destined
to hold together. Yeah, And that's just, you know, it's
it's the unfortunate, sad truth that you know that we've

(25:25):
been seeing for years now.

Speaker 1 (25:26):
Absolutely, And let's I like what you said Land about
the fact that you know, he was drafted here, He's
been here for how long, he's been a part of
this city, He's been a part of the sports culture
of this city for so long. Arguably the greatest athlete
in the city at one point. Hell, two years ago,
he was the MVP of the league. Just two years ago.

(25:49):
It's not like it was some sort of awful stint.
And I'm not saying by any stretch of the imagination
that his career is over, but it's going to be
a different career moving forward.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
Now.

Speaker 1 (25:57):
The fans need to realize that, and I also need
to realize that he put it on his shoulders for
many years. He put it on his own shoulders. But
in this game you can't just put it on one
guy's shoulders for that many years and expect a championship.
He was able to get them as far as he
got them, you.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
Know, and it sucks. But it does almost feel like
any conversation about his career at this point. I mean,
and I don't think it's just us doing it. I
think anybody that talks about Joel embiid do it tends
to sound like more of the past, tense, like almost
a post mortem on what could have been, And that

(26:37):
just seems to be I think that's how the conversation
is about his career, even though it's still ongoing. I
think that's how those conversations are going to continue to go. Unfortunately.

Speaker 1 (26:46):
Yeah, absolutely, all right, Well that's it for our sixers
talk here. Let's get into some Phillies talk to close
us out here before len I let you go and
before we get to our guest this week, gonna dive
into the All Star Game, some Major League Baseball talk

(27:06):
here talk about the Phillies draft as well. I thought
it was really funny here. I'm looking it if you
see me on YouTube here, I'm like looking over at
my phone because I have to read a text message
from our good buddy Eric, who was on this podcast
as well, with regard to the home run Derby, because
I mean, did you watch the home run Derby win?

Speaker 2 (27:28):
No? I was working nights this week and that was
the last night I was working, so you have to
see any of it.

Speaker 1 (27:33):
I'm sure you saw Eric's text to all of us
guys where he said they're not showing the home runs
during the home run derby split screen with a shot
behind the pitcher and the kids in the outfield catching
the balls. ESPN is complete trash and I swear to
god they try to take the production level to another level,

(27:56):
but in the essence of trying to do that, it
takes away from the actual home runs themselves. Like they've
got all this crap going on. They've got camera angles here,
camera angles there. It completely is taken away from what
the home run Derby actually is, and like it was
just it was this home run Derby was actually really disappointing.

(28:19):
Just did not have the same type of juice that
it had in the past. And I think it's because
they were overproducing it. You know. Gosh, man, there are
times Major League Baseball can get things right. And guess
what they did get things right with the All Star Game,
I think, in my opinion, when they let the players
wear their team jerseys, like I actually.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
Liked, Yeah, I actually liked Yes than the And I
know why those jerseys are made, the ones that they had.
It's all about selling, yep. I get that.

Speaker 1 (28:48):
But the home run derby kind of stunked this year.
It just didn't have the juice. Man.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
Well, you know, and and you know, I yeah, maybe
some of it's on Major League Baseball, but honestly, I
think a lot of it is ESPN at this point.
And I even like I was I saw an article
on like during the playoffs where like the the some
of the people like Steven A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins

(29:13):
were kind of making the broadcast more about themselves and
about the finals and the game. And that's like, that's
just what I've gotten from ESPN over the past few years.
It's like it's not about sports anymore. It's about personalities.
It's it's a it's a clown show that that whole network.
I mean, just show the friggin games, man, and just

(29:34):
show the events and stop stop. You don't have to
if it's that good, if people are going to watch it,
and if it's that compelling, you don't have to jazz
it up. Absolutely, just stop overproducing everything. And man, there's
times when I really wish that there would be another,
you know, sports, super major sport it would just come

(29:56):
in and just blow ESPN out of the water, because
it's just it's too much. They had the Sports Center
anchors who became stars in like the nineties and two thousands,
and they got drunk off that I think, and they
everything had to be about personalities. Yep.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
Absolutely. It's interesting how Eric and I recently were doing
a bit here on the show about our love hate
relationship with a sports personality, and I actually said Steven A. Smith,
because I have for years enjoyed his radio show that
he was doing, Like I genuinely enjoyed his radio show
where he's just talking behind the mic and he's not

(30:36):
doing like what he did during the NBA Draft where
he's just yelling all over the place and it's like,
come down, you don't need to do it. You don't
need to take that personality that you're talking about and
just like put it right out there in front of
everybody all the time when the camera is on you.
But if the microphone is here, you know he's able
to able to just produce some great, great content anyway.

Speaker 2 (30:58):
It's but literally the only thing Steven A. Smith does
that I like, and I don't get even get to
see it anymore because I'm not on Twitter anymore, is
after every Cowboys loss, I would go to his Twitter
account and just and because it was always funny. He
was always entertaining, and then just laugh after yeah, and
then the day after whenever the Cowboys would have their

(31:18):
inevitable playoff loss the next day, that's the only time
I would ever watch that first take show, yes, is
when that would happen, because he'd come out in the
cowboy hat and and that was That's always funny to me. Yeah,
outside of that, I can't I can't do it with him.

Speaker 1 (31:34):
Yes, I hear you, I hear you. But look, there
were you know, you know, there were some good things
about the All Star Game, which we'll get to in
a second, but I wanted to note. I wanted to note.
We got some listener feedback from one of our longtime listeners, April.
Shout out to our friend April from down South, who
emailed us and mentioned how we forgot to mention last

(31:55):
week when we were talking about the Phillies who made
the All Star Game, Zach Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber learn we
forgot to mention the Phillies bat boy at Adam Kragnail.
We forgot to mention him. He went to the All
Star Game too, that. I mean, it's important, super cool
for him.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
Yeah, I mean, you know how many people you know
get to have that experience. So that's freaking awesome.

Speaker 1 (32:17):
It's awesome. We forgot to mention. It's sorry about that, April.
We got. I got seriously, I got the email. I
was like, whoa, man, I gotta I gotta make sure
I put this on the agenda here.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
Holy key, I wonder how one gets voted in for that.

Speaker 1 (32:28):
I know, yeah, like I just I would.

Speaker 2 (32:31):
Always assume it would just be whoever the home park is, right,
I'd just assume it'll be the Braves bat Boys just
because it was in you know, what is the Truest
Park or whatever their theme is called. Yeah, I would
just assume it's the Home bat Boys. But you know, hey,
good for him.

Speaker 1 (32:46):
How cool was it that Kyle Schwarber end of the game,
how he ended the game the first Philly also to
win the All Star Game MVP since nineteen sixty four.
I feel like in that moment, I feel like, in
that moment, they should have just been typing up drafting
the contract extension for you know, like, yeah, they're gonna

(33:07):
need it. They're gonna need it for sure.

Speaker 2 (33:11):
It's funny because and I don't mean this as a
dig at Bryce Harper because he has I think he
has earned his contract, yes, But I feel like everything
Schwarber is doing this year is just what we were
kind of banking on Harper to do. I think from
a player standpoint, I think I know that they don't

(33:32):
really outside of the Yankees, they don't do a captaincy
in baseball. But I think if I if the Phillies
were going for to vote for a captain, and if
I had saying it, it would be Kyle Schwarber. I
think he's a level headed dude. I think, you know,
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
I just like him.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
You know, obviously, you know the All Star Game was great,
but even beyond that, I mean, I you know, he's
even turned a cool I think just as far as
the hitting, you know, he's not you know, hitting two
ten anymore, you know, and it's always either a strikeout
or a home run or a walk. I mean, it
just feels like you're getting more from him. And I
just think he's having a great year.

Speaker 1 (34:13):
He's hitting singles this year. Yeah, it's amazing.

Speaker 2 (34:16):
Who knew he could do that?

Speaker 1 (34:17):
Amazing what small ball can do for a guy here
and there. So well, look, I you know, before I
let you go, Len too, you know, I know you
love the Major League Baseball Draft. You really do sit
and watch it. I saw I was watching some of
it as well, But I wanted to talk about how
the Phillies drafted right hand pitcher gauge Wood number twenty six. Overall,

(34:41):
he could very well be the future of the Phillies
starting rotation, and who knows, we could see him maybe
sooner rather than later, you know.

Speaker 2 (34:49):
Just I was gonna say, yeah, he might be the
future of the bullpen sooner than people think, because you know,
he has you know, really good fastball, real a good
curve ball. But that's it for right now. You know,
he has a change up, which I know he's he's
working on, but you know, for right now, those two pitches,
and with a starter you want like three or more

(35:11):
pitches generally, so, but a guy with an electric arm
and a two pitch mix that's coming out of college
but just pitched at the highest level. He threw a
perfect game during the College World Series playoffs. Yeah, so
it'll I don't think he'll be like the stage will
be too big for him. Put it that way. Yeah.
So yeah, I think he's a guy that if he

(35:33):
comes in and he moves through the system. I think
that with the trouble that they've had with that bullpen,
unless they make our number of bullpen acquisitions at the
trade deadline, Yeah, if he is is doing well and
seemingly moving up the ladder, why not why not give
him a taste see what he can do, you know,

(35:55):
and you know, yeah, long term, I do want them
to develop him as a starter, but for this year,
if he can help, I mean, they're in win now mode,
So why not try to win now? He can help you.
Then you got to look at doing it.

Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah, I was amazed at where the at how many
pitchers the Phillies took.

Speaker 2 (36:17):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was they went heavy, dude.

Speaker 1 (36:20):
It wasn't until round nine where they actually picked another
position outside of the pitcher position. The first eight picks,
I think we're all pictures. I couldn't believe it.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
Yeah, I mean they they I guess they saw it
as in need. And then you know, everybody around baseball
says the same thing, you can ever have too much pitching,
So you know, I guess that they. You know, they
didn't quite do what the Angels did a few years ago,
which is all thirty rounds they took a picture, yeah,
which is hilarious to me. But but they they came

(36:53):
pretty damn close. Yeah. I don't I don't mind the strategy.
I really don't. I mean, yeah, you need bats, but
you know, pitching's just so hard to come by. Good pitching,
and if you can draft it and develop it, I mean,
it helps so much.

Speaker 1 (37:08):
I haven't been able to dive too too much into
some of these these guys that were drafted, but I've
heard a little bit about the second round pick was
number sixty three overall, cad Obermuller from from Iowa. Yeah, yeah,
I mean, look, I mean five and three three point
zero two eer a, one hundred and seventeen strikeouts, you

(37:31):
know during his recent season, not too too bad. He's
listed at six foot one hundred and seventy pounds. Originally
a nineteenth round pick by the Texas Rangers a year ago,
but instead of signing, elected to return for another collegiate season.
So you know, I've been hearing some good things about
him as well. He does have some below average control,

(37:53):
might ultimately push him to the you know, to the
bullpen at some point down the road. But still, I
mean hearing some hearing some good stuff from him.

Speaker 2 (38:02):
Yeah, And look, that's why you have your your system.
You get these guys in you and you work with
them and you tinker, and you know, if you can
fix that control issue, then you know, maybe you have something.
Yeah that's you know. So we'll see what they end
up doing here. But yeah, I I'm good with what
they did for sure.

Speaker 1 (38:20):
Same here. Well, we got the second half of the
season that's gonna be starting here at Lanna. I know
they're gonna be I think they start off with the
Angels and then the good the Red Sox Yankees. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (38:30):
Yeah, it's gonna be tight the whole way through. I mean,
I work with a guy that's a Mets fan, and
we both were we're talking and was like, I don't
think this game is gonna be won by more than
this this division, rather is gonna be won by more
than three games. I think it's gonna be tight, neck
and neck all the way down to the end. So
it'll it'll be a very fun watch.

Speaker 1 (38:49):
It's gonna be a fun watch. It's gonna be interesting
for sure. We're gonna continue following what happens with this
Phillies team here at the PSD Podcast show. Buddy, do
you have anything else before I let you go and
before we get to our interview this week?

Speaker 2 (39:01):
No, I did a bunch of yard work today, so
I'm ready for bed.

Speaker 1 (39:04):
You're ready to shaw boy? He's ready for bedtime? Yes,
here on this Wednesday night, Len, I'll let you go here, buddy, Folks,
we got more Phillies talk coming your way when we
get back from our break. We're gonna take that break
now we'll catch you in a bit.

Speaker 2 (39:21):
And now on the table.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
All right, we are back to get into some more
Philadelphia Phillies talk with our guest this week, coming to
us from that balls at here dot com. He's one
of the contributors over there, our good friend Eric Moritelli.

Speaker 3 (39:36):
How you doing, Buddy, I'm good, Jeff, I'm good.

Speaker 2 (39:39):
How are you?

Speaker 1 (39:40):
I'm doing all right? Man? Like, Look, we got to
dive into first and foremost what I wanted to get
your thoughts on, because like, there's just so much complaining
going on with in Phillies Nation about where this team
is at, what they're doing, what they're not doing. And yes,
during certain moments of this season, yes we have been
frustrated now and again as fans. But as of us

(40:02):
recording this here on July sixteenth, as they're in the
middle of this All Star break here, this team is
in first place in the NL East. Look, they didn't
have Bryce Harper for a month. Eric Aaron Nola has
been out since May, and yes, he really wasn't having
all that great of a season, but still they also
lost Jose Alvarado to a suspension in May. The offense

(40:23):
is eighteenth in home runs nothing to write home about.
And again they're still in first place in this division. Here,
I want to really dive into I mean, it's not
as bad as some folks are making it out to
be at this point. Am I Am I correct in
thinking that here?

Speaker 3 (40:40):
Yeah, you're absolutely correct. I will say this.

Speaker 4 (40:43):
People have every right to be frustrated with this with
the squad because of what we've seen the last three seasons,
right right, It's like twenty twenty two is like the pinnacle,
and then since that it's been you know, there's reasons
for doubt. However, a lot it, I think is also
just because of the fact that we saw what they

(41:03):
can do and it's not happening. That's called that's giving
a lot of pause for some people. But yeah, the
fact that they're sitting atop the NL East right now
and not playing their best baseball really at all, and
missing Bryce Harper for about a month, missing Aaron Dola
for what are we going on almost two months?

Speaker 1 (41:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (41:22):
Yeah, and and Alvarado until August and then even even
then we get him back assuming they're in the postseason,
he's not, he's not eligible to pitch. So missing three
key guys at different points is obviously going to be
a drag on the team, but there are there. I
would still say there are concerns, uh, but I don't
think it's as doom and gloomy as maybe what you

(41:46):
might see on on Twitter or some other social media sites.
So they're in a good spot, but I think there's
got to be a little bit more maybe consistency going
to in that second half.

Speaker 1 (41:57):
Absolutely, we're gon we're gonna get into that in a
little bit. But man, like you said, on social it
just drives me crazy when I see tweets or posts
or whatever it is that say, man, this team stinks.
It's like, would you stop it? Folks? Stop it there
at first place in the Laea straight here. It's crazy.

Speaker 3 (42:16):
The fire Rob Thompson tweets are the ones that get me.

Speaker 1 (42:18):
Dude, Yes, man, you know what. I got into it
a little while ago with somebody, I mean it was
a few months ago, i should say, with somebody and
they're like, this guy absolutely stinks. And I'm like, there
hasn't been a more successful manager for this Phillies team
and like just about forever and at least in recent memory.
And it's like he's like, well, of course when you

(42:40):
have all this talent, they're gonna do well. It's like,
what are you talking about here? It drives me crazy?

Speaker 3 (42:45):
Eric, Absolutely all right.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yes, absolutely, all right. Well moving on here, you know,
and talking about that consistency here and how this team
really can improve in that regard here. It seems as though,
you know, some reinforcements and improvements should be coming to
this team again getting Aaron Nola back. We don't know
what kind of Aaron Nola we're going to be getting.
But the trade deadline is also right around the corner too.

(43:10):
I wonder, how do you think this team can improve
in terms of their consistency with some of the potential
reinforcements that are hopefully gonna get this team to another
level and improve overall, Whether they're bringing some guys up
from Lehigh Valley. I mean, the talk about Justin Crawford
coming up is definitely a possibility at some point, maybe
they acquire new talent. How can this team improve in

(43:33):
terms of their consistency with some of the potential reinforcements
coming our way here?

Speaker 4 (43:38):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think I'm telling anything that
people don't know, but the two big things right are
obviously bullpen help, and there's got to be one more
bat just to make this line up a little bit
more consistent, and particularly an outfield bat. Just from what
we've seen from the Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh has been fined,
but you're really getting nothing from Kepler. Rojas hasn't really

(43:59):
seen the field much, so it seems like you're you're
they're gonna they're at least one outfield bat. Short Justin
Crawford is an interesting option, right because one, he's not
on the forty man yet, so they'd have to make
a move that's doable, right, they can figure something out there.
Second thing is is it's very it's he's not proven, right,
so we don't actually know what's gonna happen. If he

(44:20):
does get that call up. Could he be the guy
that pushes them ahead a little bit? It's it's unlikely this.
You know that at this point. So I really think
that this season the best place to go is there's
got to be something out there at the trade deadline.
A name that has been thrown around a little bit
is is Stephen Kwan from Cleveland. He's kind of like

(44:42):
that the type of guy that this lineup would really need.
Low strikeout rate, gets on base, has some speed, He
would really compliment well, and you could really put him
at the top of the order or the bottom of
the order and kind of then set the table for
some of the top of the lineup guys. So he
would be a really interesting, interesting choice the rest of
Lehigh Valley, you know, the guys on the forty man

(45:04):
or West and Wilson and I think Cal Stevenson, I
think Buddy Kennedy left. So you're those are depth pieces
if someone's hurt, right, so kind of throw that out
the window. So I really think your best option here
is to get a guy like Stephen Kuwan and then
there absolutely has to be a move in the bullpen.
You got you know, I've seen this trade package kind

(45:27):
of thrown out there. Get Stephen Quan and throwing Emmanuel
class A. With that all done in one deal, obviously
the prospect all you're gonna have to give up is
going to be considerable. But at this point the front
office has to weigh how far are.

Speaker 3 (45:42):
We willing to go?

Speaker 4 (45:43):
How much of the future are we willing to mortgage
to get to this point? We have an agent core right,
We're got sho you know, becoming a free agent, real
Muta becoming a free agent. Other guys just aging. So
it's how much do you push to get it right
now between this year and and potentially next year before
we start seeing a bigger shift in the roster.

Speaker 1 (46:02):
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see where this front
office decides to go in the very near future here,
And you know, it really brings me to the next
topic too, Eric, that all really good teams and professional
sports have an identity, you know, and many tend to
have an identity for a significant period of time. Sometimes
it takes teams longer to find that identity than others.

(46:25):
And what I mean, like teams that are successful within
whatever professional sport that they are playing. Does this Phillies
team have a particular identity at this point in twenty
twenty five that you have seen that you can really
hone in on. And if so, what do you think
that identity is? And if you don't think they have
an identity, you know, what could that identity become? Or

(46:46):
are we on the cusp of some sort of Phillies
identity here in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (46:51):
That's a really good question, Jeff.

Speaker 4 (46:53):
In years past, right, like twenty twenty two and even
going back to like the seven eight teams, it was
kind of like the identity was, you know, not going
down without a fight. It's they were in it almost
every single game. Every single night you're watching. They could
go down eleven to three in the fourth inning, and
it's like, might be worth say in tune because you

(47:13):
never know what kind of big inning could come up.
There's they've shown glimpses of that earlier in the season,
but lately I really think this team does lack an identity.
They it's like, Okay, we'll pitch well and then maybe
hit every three or four days like it's there, and
then the offense is just by the sixth inning if
they're down three or four runs. I don't know about you,

(47:35):
but I'm kind of sitting here, like, what part of
the lineup are we actually going to get something from here?
Unless two guys get on base and Schwarmer hits a
three run shot, where are we getting this this production from?
Because they're not really hitting home runs. Yea, they are
scoring a little bit on the small ball, but the
problem is they're not hitting with runners at scoring position.
So the identity I think needs to go back to
being like kind of that gritty team that that can

(47:57):
that can work out a win and get runs across
the plate. Pitching's not the issue right now. To me,
the scariest thing about this team is the lineup and
score and runs for these starters who are giving you
a quality start almost every single time they take them out.
So yep, to me, I think the identity has to
be more like, get gritty, be more consistent at the plate,

(48:19):
and do whatever it takes to score a run.

Speaker 1 (48:21):
I feel like the majority of hitters on this team
are not only in their own heads every now and again,
but the team is feeling a pressure because they see
the window, They know the window, they understand where that
window is, that window of opportunity for success. And I
get this feeling. It's a vibe that I personally have
Eric that they're not meeting the moment because of the pressure.

(48:44):
And I don't know if you're feeling that as well.
And I don't know how these guys from a sports
psychology perspective get out of this actually, aside from having
more consistency that you know we were just talking about.
I don't know, are you getting that vibe.

Speaker 3 (48:57):
At all, yeah, I could totally see.

Speaker 4 (49:00):
I think, you know, especially the market that these guys
are playing in, right, it's a market that has really
lofty expectations, especially with what what the area has seen
over the last couple of years, if you alluded to
earlier in the show. It's so, I think they're definitely
putting some some pressure there, and I think you're right.
It's one of those things where you the only way
to get out of it is kind of get out

(49:21):
of your own head, which is obviously you know, we're
sitting here behind a computer, easier easier said than done.
But these guys have We've seen it. They have talent, right,
Bryce can hit, Tray can hit, Kyle Schuber could hit.
Casianos is going to be you know, he's going to
be streaky, but he's shown glimpses. But it's just now
putting that all together because they they actually have done

(49:42):
what what a lot of people have wanted them to
do this season. They've cut back on with rates and
they've cut back on strikeouts, and I think they're actually
so you know, maybe not everyone on the on the team,
but a lot of these guys are actually seeing more
pitches at that I think too, So they're actually doing
what we want. But is it at the sacrifice of
just letting these guys go out and not think about
anything when they go up and hit right.

Speaker 3 (50:03):
Maybe maybe that's the way to go, because it.

Speaker 4 (50:05):
Is you know, the power numbers are down, the run
numbers are down, so who knows, who knows, But you know,
I think you're right. I think they are pressing a
little bit because they know where they're at with everything
and they just have to get back to doing what
these guys can do.

Speaker 1 (50:21):
Absolutely. Yeah, Well, look, you mentioned the starting rotation and
just how they have actually been the most consistent during
the course of this year. I mean, your starting pitchers
are really providing that consistency for this team. And I
feel like we have really been spoiled with this starting
rotation over the past several years. I think some Phillies

(50:42):
fans forget how terrible things were on the mound, say
ten years ago or so. Eric, let's go back to
twenty fifteen. Guys like Sean O'Sullivan, Jerome Williams, David Buchanan,
just to name a few. We're out there on the
mound and you'd be sitting there like sweating Oh my gosh,
what is going to happen here in terms of these
guys pitching. This starting rotation, though, however, has been so solid,

(51:06):
and I think the Phillies know that they need to
keep this going. I think Dave Dombrowski in the front
office know that this is a part of the recipe
for success, you know. And they drafted just a short
time ago here, drafted a right handed pitcher and Gage
would twenty sixth overall in the draft here this past week.
What are your thoughts on what the starting rotation has

(51:28):
really meant to this team an organization, and what it's
going to continue to mean to them in the future.

Speaker 3 (51:36):
I think you're absolutely right.

Speaker 4 (51:37):
I mean, you look at the contrast between what we're
looking at even the last couple of years, right, probably
going back to like twenty twenty three or so, how
this starting rotation has kind of transformed into what it
is today as everything to this team. If the starting
rotation was half as good, there's a chance this team
is five or six games out out of first Yeah.
I mean, they're keeping this offense and open afloat. Yeah,

(52:03):
you know, Zach Wheeler is having another stellar season. Christopher
Sanchez kind of keeps taking that next step. Ranger Suarez
is showing that he's healthy as of right now, and
you know, they're doing this missing Aaron Nola, and like
you said earlier, he wasn't even he was off in
the beginning at the beginning of the season. So they're
really getting the contributions that they need to from a

(52:25):
lot of these guys. And the starting pitching is just
everything they always say, you know, pitching is what wins
wins championships. And I think they're in such a good
spot now for the future too. You know, I know
Andrew Paynter has has not lived up to the hype
necessarily right now in tripa A, but I think it's
also really important. Remember the guy's twenty two years old
coming off of Tommy John surgery, and he's never pitched

(52:45):
at a level higher than Double A before in his
professional career. So seeing some of the struggle actually, I
think is almost a blessing in disguise. Right, Let him
get it out of the way now, let him how
to let him learn how to deal with adversity before
throwing them in and just calling up for the sake
of calling him up, so fans can go see him.
You know, Mick Abel had a couple of good starts,

(53:06):
but again it's his first time in the major leagues.
He's also very young, so let him figure it out.
So your future is really good there, gauge Wood drafting
this college pitcher, you know, potentially could even really I
saw some people talking he could even potentially be a
bullpen piece down the stretch this season. But their plan
I think for him is to transition to keep him

(53:28):
as a starter. But you're and being out of college,
he's going to be able to make an impact sooner
rather than later. I mean this the rotation I think now,
barring any any trading of these pieces, is really set
for the considerable future here.

Speaker 1 (53:43):
Yeah, absolutely, it really I think goes to show that
the front office has a vision here for what the
Phillies should and could be at some point down the road.
Here and again, folks, we're talking to Eric Moretelly from
that balls at here dot com. Buddy, let everybody tell
tell you, tell everybody, I should say where they can
find you on the socials out there and where they

(54:05):
can find your work as well.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (54:07):
So, my my main social that I use is Twitter
x and uh my what's my my username handles?

Speaker 3 (54:15):
Yeah, handle, there you go.

Speaker 4 (54:16):
That's I don't know all these words, uh at Eric
Underscore Moritelli and that's I'll usually repost everything, but that
balls out of here. Dot com is also a place
so you can find it. This has been a nice
busy week with draft, All Star prospects stuff, so it's
a lot of stuff coming out.

Speaker 1 (54:33):
The look, Lenn and I were talking about it before
you jumped on it, like it was a decent All
Star game too that we saw I couldn't believe and
yes we might be a little biased because of what
Kyle Schwarber.

Speaker 4 (54:45):
Gimmicky, but even before that I thought it was a
close It was. It was a close game both there's
there's you know, really good players in it, and it's
it's hilarious because I saw a lot of discourse on
Twitter about about this swing off last night as it
was half and you know, it's obviously one of the
things you could never actually have a game that matters
be decided by this, but for an All Star game,

(55:06):
that was like a perfect way to end that. Why
risking injury us up to a pitcher, Why just do
it that way? It was gimmicky, but it was fun.

Speaker 3 (55:13):
It was great.

Speaker 1 (55:14):
Absolutely. Well, let's get into as we're moving along with
the discussion here the Phillies bullpen here, I the bullpen
has just been so up and down all season, such
inconsistency there. And yes, as we said earlier, there are
certain frustrating aspects of this team. We shouldn't lose our
minds necessarily. Philly is probably looking to bring in a

(55:34):
bullpen piece before the trade deadline. But what do you
see happening with certain talent in the bullpen? Eric That
gives you hope, and that also gives you some pause
as well.

Speaker 4 (55:47):
So I think the biggest thing that gives me pause,
I'll start with the bad obviously. I think you know
this wouldn't be surprised anyone. The Jordan Romano signing is
not going as planned. Oh yes, you supposed to be
one of your You're you're laid in in guys, and
because of that, everyone else is kind of nowt bumped
to another another role and you don't Losing Alvarado obviously

(56:10):
is a big kick there too, But now you're relying
on on Kirkering, who's still relatively young. Let's remember to
kind of be your your your your closer, if you
could really give the Phillies a true closer, and he's
one of those, He's he's still a little inconsistent, right
he was. He had a really good start. Last couple
of games have been a little shaky. Matt Strom's actually

(56:33):
been really good his last uh, I would say, last
two weeks or so, and his last like fifteen innings.
I think he's only giving up like four earned runs
and he's getting some strikeouts. The problem, I think is
lack of of depth. Beyond that, you have guys like
maxwell's Ar, who's actually been pitching okay, but do you
really want to see.

Speaker 3 (56:49):
Him in the eighth or ninth inning? No, I don't.

Speaker 4 (56:52):
Daniel Robert has actually been pitching really well in the
four innings he's he's only give up one on a
run and has eight strikeouts. But again, do not want
to see him closing out a game. So you're kind
of at a point where the biggest issue here is
that your options are so limited. The other day when
when Kirkering wasn't available because he pitched to night before,
it's like, okay, well, who who can we throw out there?

(57:14):
It's it's some mixture of those guys. Joe Ross Tanner
Banks has been serviceable, but again not a guy I
really see in the and he's been good.

Speaker 3 (57:22):
I have nothing bad, nothing bad to say.

Speaker 4 (57:24):
About what he's doing in his role, but I don't
want to see him elevated a role. And that's the
problem that they're seeing with his bullpen. People are pitching
in roles that they're not really equipped to pitch in.
Uh Straum, I think is really the only guy who
has pitched these high leverage situations consistently before with this team.
So seeing him in the eighth and ninth inning, I'm
totally fine with Kirkering. Is My confidence is pretty good

(57:45):
with Kirkering.

Speaker 2 (57:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (57:46):
Yeah, So this is not a knock on him at all.
But again, it's just he's still he's still young, He's
still I think needs to throw the fastball a little
bit more because I think he's way too reliant on
on the on the sweeper and he doesn't have the
feel for that.

Speaker 3 (58:01):
He's just kind of he just kind of looks lost
out there.

Speaker 4 (58:04):
But you know, it's so I think adding a piece
will be huge getting Alvarado back at least for most
of August and September will be nice. And you know,
it's again, as we kind of said, it's not necessarily
out of the question to see some of these guys
they just drafted. So gage Wood is the primary one.
But there's another guy gave Craig, who they drafted in
the fifth round, who is twenty four already. He was

(58:27):
red shirted a season in college, but he's been compared
to Kirkering with his slider and listening to Brian Barber
talk the other day after the draft, they rate his
slider as one that could play in the majors right now.
So if they're really in a pickle and they can't
figure something out, they do maybe. And again, do we
want to rely on a guy who's making his day

(58:49):
it was gonna have like two weeks of major league experience,
right closing out or pitching in beginnings? Probably not, but
there are some options there. Biggest thing, though, get someone
of the deadline.

Speaker 1 (58:59):
Absolutely absolutely all right, Well, buddy, before I let you go,
I wanted to dive into just from an overall perspective,
as we're gonna be coming out of the All Star
break here at a lot of those negative Nellies are
going to be out in force when this team returns
to action, when they return to the field in these
upcoming series against the Angels, the Red Sox, and the Yankees. Here,

(59:22):
what do you think this Phillies team needs to do
during the second half of the season to really show
the Major League Baseball world that they are one of
the top contenders in baseball? Do you have any thoughts
here on this?

Speaker 4 (59:35):
Yeah, I think they need to score runs consistently. They
can't go out there and do what it seems like
every team has done since you know, at least since
I was born anyway, where if they go out and
score ten runs, the next three days they score combined
like three, right, So they need to just start scoring
runs consistently. And I think it's just like we talked

(59:57):
about earlier when we were talking about the offense. I
really think that's where this mostly lies. Obviously, the bullpen.
I think that's an easier issue to address. The lineup
is the harder issue to address because you have so
many guys under contract or under pig contracts, and you
can't just keep bringing on a superstar. So if you
can't go out and trade for another superstar, right, Yeah,

(01:00:18):
So these guys, what we need to see is consistent
at bats and a big boost in average with runners
in scoring position. That would make me and I'm sure
a lot of the people are.

Speaker 1 (01:00:31):
Carry make me happy, Buddy, would make me happy watching
this team. And again, folks, this twenty twenty five Philly
season hasn't been all terrible. Can they be better in
certain areas? Absolutely, And it's going to be interesting to
keep focusing on this team what they're doing before the
trade deadline and beyond as we are hopefully looking towards
the postseason. And Eric, it was great talking to you man,

(01:00:53):
Always great having you on the show. Please come back
join us, We'll get into some more Phillies talk. I'd
love to have you back on the show, my friend.

Speaker 3 (01:01:00):
Absolutely, Jeff, I was have a good time talking with you.

Speaker 1 (01:01:03):
And that's going to do it for us this week.
Make sure to share the Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show
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(01:01:26):
and ultimately we appreciate you. Take care and have a
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