Philadelphia Phillies Mid Season Review Part 1

This is our midseason review of the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies season thus far. In this episode we discuss the rollercoaster start to the Phillies season, everything from a manger change, being one to the worst teams in baseball, to being one of the best teams in baseball in a 3 month span. We dive into specific player struggles, can they turn their season around, before ending part one of the pod with is there moves that can be made to help the current roster.  We packed a lot into this episode, stay tuned for part two. Welcome back to the mound.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:32

What up, everybody? We're back for a special man visit mid-season episode. I'm your co-host, Big D. To my right, Big J A. Talk to my man.

SPEAKER_06 0:44

Yo, what up, everybody?

SPEAKER_04 0:45

Glad to have you here as always. To my man left, Sammy C. What's going on? You know, Sammy. You know, Sammy. You know I love you, right, Sammy. Yep. And her first official appearance on the Mail Visit. She has been remote a couple times. We've talked via text, the email. The homie, Coach Bailey, what is good with you?

SPEAKER_02 1:19

Hey everyone.

SPEAKER_04 1:22

Glad to have you on the mail visit. Uh, you are definitely an official member of the crew. So, guys, a lot has gone on since the first mail visit we did with this season. Um, we got a lot to talk about, so we're gonna jump right into it. Um The Philly started like shit. There's no way to put it. The beginning of the season. Um, they I think they started out 9 and 19, something along those lines. Yes. Um and we all thought, I'm pretty sure we all thought at that point the season was pretty much over, right?

SPEAKER_05 1:59

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 2:00

Yeah. Um boy, how things have changed. Before we talk about the turnaround, we want to talk about that slow start and what happened in that slow start. They fired what some might say was their beloved manager, Rob Thompson. So I want to go around the table and ask you guys what do you think was the reason or the deciding factor for them getting rid of Rob Thompson? Do you think it was the slow start, or do you think it was a combination of slow start and them not getting over the hump the past couple years? Joey, I'm gonna start with you.

SPEAKER_06 2:39

Um, somebody had to be the fall man, uh, you know, to start the year 9-19 for any organization, especially the Phillies, who are supposed to be looked at as a World Series contender with the roster they have. Somebody had to be the fall guy. It was Rob Thompson, and I think it was both slow start and not being able to get over the hump in the last couple years. Uh Rob was a good guy. I don't think that there was any, you know, anybody wished for him to be out of the building. You know, they offered him a position in a different uh role if he wanted it. I didn't know that. They did. You know, there was a lot of respect for Rob, but you know, you can't start like that knowing you're supposed to be a World Series contender with a roster that you have and expect it to be okay. I mean, look what happened with the Mets. The Mets kept their manager and they're in the basement down there, they're stuck. So I think it was a combination of a little bit of everything, but we got Donnie baseball at the helm now, so I'm excited.

SPEAKER_04 3:47

Coach Bells, think Rob Thompson got a fair shake, or you know, do you wish he would have stuck around a little bit longer?

SPEAKER_02 3:56

I mean, I think he had a lot of opportunities to prove himself in the past couple of years in the postseason, and then this year starting off nine and nineteen definitely wasn't helping his case. But I personally think the change was a good thing. I mean, we're winning more consistently now with Donnie at the charge, so I'm I'm all for it as long as we're winning.

SPEAKER_05 4:20

Sammy C. Did you would you say you were a fan of Rob Thompson?

SPEAKER_04 4:28

Um you used to be on the fence with him a little bit.

SPEAKER_07 4:33

I mean, I was on the fence with him. I mean, you made it to the World Series one year with him. Uh you've made it far, I I would say. And just weren't able to get over the hump. And that was the thing that was really pissing me off because I mean we had the teams to do it. Um because I know we were talking about when we made it to the World Series, it reminded us of like the 2008 World Series team. And we had everything there, pretty much. But the thing was is that we still didn't give over get over the hump. So that was the thing that was kind of pissing me off, I guess you could say. But then once I seen Don Manningly was in there, I I just had this gut feeling that something was gonna happen. If even at 9 and 19, you thought that? If no, I'm saying now that Don was in there in the beginning of the season and then they started off the way that they did, I knew Tom Topper wasn't gonna be able to stay after seeing that.

SPEAKER_04 5:40

Yeah, um, I was kind of on the fence about Rob as well. Uh I I I didn't I'm not that big into rah-rah coaches or managers. Um he certainly was not that, at least not that I could see. I'm sure maybe in the dugout or in a clubhouse he might have been.

SPEAKER_06 5:57

It makes Nick Castellanos' comments seem a little more interesting.

SPEAKER_04 6:01

Rehash them.

SPEAKER_06 6:03

Uh, you know, he made comments about, you know, him not being a baseball guy because he didn't play the game at the major league level, et cetera, et cetera. Um, and you know, it tracks. You know, there was times where he just didn't have a pulse for what was going on. Uh, you go back to that World Series run, the nail in the coffin was the home run Alvarado gave up to Jordan Alvarez. Yeah. You brought Alvarado into face Alvarez each game. At some point, Jordan was gonna figure him out. And that was and that was the tipping point, and that's you know, you gotta have a feel for it. You gotta know what's going on. And yeah, it's you know, lefty lefty matchup, but sometimes with a hitter, especially like Jordan Alvarez, it doesn't have necessarily have to be lefty lefty. He's a good hitter, he's gonna hit pitcher right-handed or left-handed. Sometimes you gotta play play your strengths. And it seemed that Topper struggled to do so at times.

SPEAKER_07 7:02

Yeah, and that that was the other thing I was gonna add off of how you said I wasn't a fan of Topper. But the main reason was he never played the game.

SPEAKER_04 7:14

That was the main reason?

SPEAKER_07 7:15

Yeah. You bring Don Manningly in, we all know Don Manningly. He was a very good baseball player. And the thing is, is that like there's managers out there that are really good at their job, but then there's also managers that have played the game before and are really good at their job. And I guess you could say Topper was good at his job, but I'd rather have Don because he's he's played the game. He knows the situations that need to be done in certain innings and certain positions that you're put in.

SPEAKER_04 7:49

So Bales, you you literally coach now. And sometimes, uh depending on the sport, the fact that you didn't play or that you do play, sometimes it matters. Sometimes seeing on the outside is more beneficial than someone that is actually in the game. Do you think that do you think that's that big of a deal? The fact that do you see things differently because you coach now and you recently played?

SPEAKER_02 8:18

I mean, I definitely think it gives a new perspective when you've played the game at a certain level and then are then coaching, because you you've been in that position more recent, so you kind of expect what outcomes are gonna happen or where to move a player or where to pitch a player based on past experiences. And it's kind of difficult when you've never played at a certain level, and then you try to coach that said level, but you don't really know what's gonna happen because you've never been in that situation.

SPEAKER_04 8:51

So back to your point, do you think do you think because it's Don Mattingley? Because, all right, there are guys that, you know, I don't know Topper's history, but maybe he flamed out in the minor lot, who knows? But Madeline clearly is an all-star. Do you think that maybe he saw things while looking at players that Rob was doing and said, I would handle that differently because, again, I'm an all-star.

SPEAKER_06 9:22

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 9:23

Think so?

SPEAKER_06 9:24

Yeah, I'm uh Brandon Marsh is the case endpoint. Topper had Marsh platooning. You didn't see his full potential. Mattingley steps in there. Marsh is an everyday player who's third in the league in hits and is batting 323. We'll get to that. That's that's case endpoint right there.

SPEAKER_03 9:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 9:48

Uh Brandon Marsh has been hitting over 300 since June 19th of last year. Wow.

SPEAKER_04 9:54

Yeah, I I get it. Um it's just some like football's a different beast. Like you can sit up in the sky and see things differently than you can when you're on the field. And a lot of those guys ain't never really even played baseball. Like, I mean, play football. They just kind of like know the game. And I think you guys, all three of you are right. I think that it makes a big difference, um, what he's done. I did see, obviously, uh, you were talking about Brandon Marsh, I did see a quote from Brandon Marsh where he was talking about kind of like the difference. And he said that um one of the things that Don said when they when he first took over was, you guys are too fucking quiet in the duck out. Like, if you I'm gonna have you guys back, I need everybody up almost almost some like little league type shit that he was like telling them, like, you know, you guys are supposed to be having fun doing this, and this is like a mausoleum, like you're like dreading coming into here. So uh clearly whatever he said worked, but the fact that he is Donia baseball, clearly, I'm sure they look at him a little differently and like, all right, like you know, if this guy says it, then it must mean something. So talking about that, we're gonna transition to the actual play on the field, which is the turnaround. Since that 9 and 19 start, they're one of the best teams in baseball. Um, I want you all, I want all of you to see if you can pick uh, and it might all be the same thing. What do you equate on the field to the turnaround? Bells, I'll start with you.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

I would say definitely um better at bats at the plate. Like they've had more patience or not trying to hit a home run every pitch.

SPEAKER_04 11:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 11:51

Sam, what do you think?

SPEAKER_07 11:54

Uh I mean I'd probably go the same way, to be honest with you. They're not swinging at baseballs that they were swinging at last year.

SPEAKER_04 12:03

You don't be saying that because Nick Cassianos is not here, are you?

SPEAKER_07 12:06

Well, no, but you look at Turner, you look at Harper, they were just swinging out of their shoes just to swing out of their shoes. They didn't know what was coming.

unknown 12:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 12:15

I mean, you know, yeah. From you know, playing the game, when you take a good approach at bat, it turns around probably 70 or the 30% time, you know, you'll either get a hit, work the count, get a walk. But that's that's what they're doing this year, once that turnaround happened. It's like they're aggressive at the plate, but they're not, like Bail said, swinging for the fences or swinging at any pitch. Like they're trying to work the count. I was watching a game, I think it was last week, to where I think we texted about it, where the pitchers were absolutely horrible, but they weren't swinging because it they kept walking bases loaded. It was like bases load and they kept walking.

SPEAKER_03 13:01

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 13:02

Okay. Like that you could you could see. Like last year, we're at the beginning of the season, they were just they were just swinging. And pitching has definitely helped also, our starters.

SPEAKER_06 13:16

Joe? Yeah, kind of what Sammy ended on right there. Uh there was a stretch where our starting pitching was getting us into the seventh inning every game. Kind of let our bullpen catch their breath and let them go out there and do their job. You know, early on in the year, you were having guys out of the game, fifth inning. There's a lot of strain on your bullpen. Those guys, you know, yeah, they only throw an inning, but it takes a little bit more for them to ramp up. You know, the starting pitchers, you know, you're you're long tossing, you're doing all this stuff, you're putting that extra work in because you, you know, you needed to go deep in the ball games, and you weren't doing that. Um, but I think there was a stretcher starting pitching. I think every starter was getting into the sixth or seventh inning. It just made things a lot easier and better at bats. Um, you know, doing things around the lineup, moving things up and down. Brandon Marsh really is uh to me the glue of the turnaround. Um, I certainly wasn't expecting him to have the year that he's having. Uh no matter where you put him in the lineup, he came up and he produced. And it gets contagious. You know, I've been myself, I've been on a on teams that we struggled to hit, and then once we got it rolling, one through nine, you're hitting a baseball, and then it just it continues, and you enjoy it, and then it doesn't feel like there's a a ton of pressure on you to go out there and produce. You go, all right, well, I'm in the box, let me hit the baseball where it goes, it goes, and we'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_04 14:55

Yeah, it is definitely I mean, success is contagious. So yeah, uh I I get that. Um, but you did mention something um that I want to hit on next, and that is uh the lineup construction. Um First and foremost, before I get into that, uh we're seguing segueing into we we we kind of blew smoke up their ass after the after the Bass Bar. They have turned it around, but as a team, they still have some issues. And so I wanted to discuss some of those issues um in this part of the pod. Um, and that is lineup construction or players. So you mentioned Brandon Marsh being able to kind of be uh the the jack of all trades in any part of the lineup, um, and he has been. Um there's still some issues with parts of the lineup. Guys have been in in and out. Um we don't have him on on the on here, but you know, I don't know what Garcia was doing for the first couple months of the season.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

He was just he was just bad. Like there's no way of putting it. He was abysmal.

unknown 16:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 16:14

All right. I was trying to be kind, but yeah, abysmal.

SPEAKER_06 16:17

You know, it sucks. He started to turn around and he blew out his bicep. Blow out his bicep, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:21

So if you look at the lineup as it currently constructed, I don't have it up right now.

SPEAKER_06 16:29

I can kind of go off the dome with it. That's why we got him on here. Depending on who's, you know, who they're facing. Right. Um, if it's a right-handed Well, before I even get into that, well no, I'll I'll do it. I'll go off of today's lineup.

SPEAKER_04 16:43

Yeah. Go off today's lineup.

SPEAKER_06 16:45

It was Turner, Schwarber, Harper. Then I believe it was Marsh.

SPEAKER_05 16:58

Then Marsh back? Fourth. Fourth?

SPEAKER_06 17:01

Yes. Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, Boom, Stott, Rincones, Crawford, and Marchon. JT got the day off, four-game set, mid-game, midday game. That's that, you know, every once in a while JT gets off. We know that. So he said it was 110 today. Um, but that's kind of what it's been the past couple weeks, depending on who they're facing. If they're facing left-handed pitcher, Bohm and Marsh switch, they're facing a right-handed pitcher, Marsh is in that four hole, and you go three lefties in a row.

SPEAKER_04 17:39

So is there uh, I'll get back to you. Bells, you heard the lineup. Is there anybody in that lineup that one of the guys we're gonna talk about in a second, but is there anybody in that lineup, let's say from five to nine, that you'd switch? Not arm or pitcher arm dependent, just production wise. Any of those guys would you move around?

SPEAKER_05 18:14

Oh god.

SPEAKER_04 18:15

Um I don't think God is one of the players. No, I know.

SPEAKER_02 18:20

Um I would say probably b Boom because I know we're gonna touch on it in a second. Turner's just not as consistent as I think he should be. I wouldn't mind a little switch there. Move Boom up a little.

SPEAKER_05 18:44

Move Bohm up a little.

SPEAKER_04 18:45

Where's Turner back? He's Bretton what? I'll argue that. Good. That's why we got it. I got somebody I'd bring up. Now this person could be on the bench.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Uh I just want someone besides Turner before he decides to start playing like he can be.

SPEAKER_07 19:00

But I'll argue that. I think Crawford.

SPEAKER_04 19:02

You think you would do what with Crawford?

SPEAKER_07 19:04

Slop Crawford and Turner.

SPEAKER_04 19:08

Really? Yeah. So you think you think Crawford is just a leadoff guy?

SPEAKER_07 19:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 19:18

I ain't gonna lie, I do too.

SPEAKER_07 19:19

But we've been saying it before when he was called up, but then we had to see what he was gonna do. And I mean, he's proven himself that he can hit a baseball and just get on base, and that's what you need from a leadoff guy.

SPEAKER_04 19:32

So let me ask you a question. Since you since you I mean you all played, but since I'm talking to you. Did it matter where you hit at in the lineup? To me?

SPEAKER_07 19:42

No. It didn't matter to me.

SPEAKER_04 19:43

Did it matter to you?

SPEAKER_07 19:44

No.

SPEAKER_04 19:45

Have you guys played with anybody that was really dependent on that? I'm gonna add off to that real quick.

SPEAKER_06 19:52

I had preferred I had preferred preference of where I was in the lineup. I I preferred to bat third, but I often ended up as the cleanup guy. And it made sense. I had a lot of home runs in my time playing ball. Um but I always preferred batting third. What about you, Bells?

SPEAKER_02 20:14

I didn't really care, but as someone who was more of a power hitter, I typically like to be around the three-hole to the six-hole.

SPEAKER_04 20:25

So you wanted to amend your stem it?

SPEAKER_07 20:27

I mean Yeah, because it was like different years. Like if we're just talking all high school, beginning of high school, I was fast as hell. So I I mean, I'd either I'd be fine batting nine if I had to to flip the lineup around. But when it came to my senior year, they had me uh four-hole. Don't ask me why, but they had me four-hole and I didn't like it.

SPEAKER_04 20:51

So I mean, it was the stuff you were taking from Mexico. We didn't know what it was.

SPEAKER_07 20:57

Can't put my business out there, but I but I digress. Go ahead, Sam. Uh probably two or three, to be honest with you. Yeah? Yeah. Because you you wouldn't see much off speed, like for a two-hitter. And then once you got to that four or five, that's when you see all the junk. And I I ain't like that.

SPEAKER_04 21:19

I just wonder if someone at that level, because I'm pretty sure uh Crawford at every level, he probably was a leadoff hitter.

SPEAKER_07 21:28

I I would have to assume so.

SPEAKER_04 21:30

Probably, I would think, right? And then you get to the bigs, you're not obviously you're a rook. You you gotta do what you gotta do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 21:37

But I I'm pretty sure there are guys and I think if he starts on any other team, I think he would be a leadoff batter, though. I think it's because of this team, the team that he's on. I think. Because you have Trey Turner as a veteran, he's always pretty much led off. It's like that's why Crawford's not leading off. Because Turner's there. I just wonder.

SPEAKER_04 22:00

At that level, if it matters to professionals at that level. Think so, Jimmy?

SPEAKER_06 22:05

Yes. And we saw it was we saw last month Turner bat in the two-hole because he struggled to get on base.

SPEAKER_04 22:15

Was he knowing anybody? Was he hitting now, Turner?

SPEAKER_06 22:18

He is batting.

SPEAKER_04 22:20

So he's batting in the two-hole.

SPEAKER_06 22:22

He was batting in the two-hole for the last month. He just recently went back up into the one-hole a couple weeks ago. On the year, he's batting 239. Him, he started to turn it around over the last two weeks.

SPEAKER_03 22:37

He did, but man, I didn't know it was that low.

SPEAKER_06 22:39

It was lower. It was lower.

SPEAKER_07 22:41

Crawford's batting 253.

SPEAKER_06 22:44

But Crawford also was struggling into the last couple of weeks. So they're both starting to turn it around. But the proof was in the lineup. You had Schwarber at number one and Schwarber was struggling. For whatever reason, you flipped them back and Schwarber went on a tear. Yeah, but I think it I think it does matter.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

Crawford ain't making $300 million.

SPEAKER_06 23:10

No.

SPEAKER_07 23:11

To do one job.

SPEAKER_06 23:12

And, you know, Trey, I think Trey's starting to figure it out.

SPEAKER_04 23:17

Um, we ain't doing that whole ovation thing again. I don't fuck all that.

SPEAKER_06 23:22

I think there's something to be said with his with his stance and his swing, and I think they're they're figuring it out and they're and they're messing with certain things. Uh his he's homeworked, he had homework three games in a row. Um the one homer off of Paul Skeens, he didn't even have his leg kick. So they're messing with they're messing with something, depending on what kind of pitching he's facing, something like that. They're messing with his stance, maybe faster pitching. Getting his hands through the zone better. Um and I like Trey Turner's swing. When Trey Turner's swing is going, he has a natural swing that puts back spin on the ball, that makes the ball carry. Um it's pretty.

SPEAKER_04 24:04

A little long sometimes, but it's pretty.

SPEAKER_06 24:07

But when he's on, that's when he's at his best. I mean, you know, he won the batting title last year. Um we were kind of expecting how he did that. Kind of expecting him to continue, but I think he's on the right track, and hopefully he's just continues to stay out.

SPEAKER_04 24:22

So we talked about line of construction on players, and we kind of know if you if you could name four guys in the lineup that are dependable, we know one, which is Marsh. If you could name three other guys other than him that are dependable in the lineup, who would they be? May as well start with you. Because you you wanted to be on the pile, so that's that's the reason why you gotta answer the question.

SPEAKER_05 24:57

Um I'll give you a minute.

SPEAKER_04 24:58

Sandy, yeah, three guys that are dependable in the lineup. Not including Marsh. Not including Marsh. You need you need you need at least I I I say you need four five, but we'll go go with four. Give me three other guys besides Marsh that are dependable. Like, I know what I'm gonna get with this guy.

SPEAKER_05 25:19

I'll put Schwarber. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 25:22

There might be different answers for everyone.

SPEAKER_07 25:24

Harper now.

SPEAKER_04 25:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 25:26

Um we'll go with I gotta give to probably Stott, to be honest with you. Yeah? Stott's one of them. He's he's hitting pretty well right now.

SPEAKER_04 25:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 25:42

Than what he did start the season with.

SPEAKER_04 25:45

Joey? I need four guys, well, three guys outside of Schwarber, Harper, Crawford.

SPEAKER_07 25:52

Yeah, it was between Stott and Crawford for me.

SPEAKER_06 25:55

It's it's weird, but it's your left-handed batters right now. Um, you know, like it's there's nothing to be said about Marsh. You know, he's having a fantastic year. Schwarber, you know where you're getting with Schwarber. He's gonna have he's at the very least, he's having a good at bat. Harper's having an amazing season. And Justin Crawford, you know he's gonna put the bat on the ball. It might, you know, I think I'd like to see him hit a little bit more power-wise, but I'll never see that. Um what's he have one home run on his team? Two, two. But that's just his swing. Um, he, you know, he likes to flip it over to third base. Yeah, he's more of a like a line drive kind of guy.

SPEAKER_04 26:40

I mean, okay with that.

SPEAKER_06 26:42

Yeah, I mean, just improve his ground ball rate, but you know he's gonna put the bat on the ball.

unknown 26:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:49

Bell's back to you. Three of the guys besides Marsh.

SPEAKER_02 26:54

I mean, like they both have said, you know what you're getting with Schwarber. Um, so definitely him. Harper now, because he's starting to get back in his groove. And then I'm probably gonna have to agree with Joey with Crawford because you also have his speed where he can get a lot of infield hits that other players really can't.

SPEAKER_04 27:17

Good point. Bingo. That's what I was thinking too. He uh he does I mean, he's a rook, so all he is is hustle. And you know at that part of the lineup, you kind of need that. Um I guess I would like to see him score more runs, but that's dependent on the people that are behind him. So and that person was Trey Turner. So maybe now, since Trey's kind of like turned it around somewhat, maybe that'll happen. But yeah, I agree. I I I think all five of those guys that you mentioned would be dependable.

SPEAKER_05 28:02

Um I'm not sure that's enough to win.

SPEAKER_04 28:08

You kind of need you know, one or two more. It just so happens that the other day I was watching a game and for some reason I had not paid attention to uh JT Riemuto's batting average.

SPEAKER_05 28:27

Pretty pretty rough. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:30

Um I like I like my guy, but uh he's chasing a lot.

SPEAKER_06 28:38

I don't, you know. Chasing a lot and he's late on the fastball. Which you can't, you know. If there's one pitch you gotta hit, if you ain't gonna see it often, it's the fastball.

SPEAKER_04 28:49

So we'll go around the table. We gotta pick another guy to help them. The guy that is going to circumvent when one of those other guys, four slash five guys, aren't hitting.

SPEAKER_06 29:04

We're talking current roster, or are you gonna get in a piece?

SPEAKER_04 29:07

I'm talking current roster. We can't talk about hypotheticals yet, because we will be talking about some hypotheticals. But we can't talk about hypotheticals yet. So, out of those guys that are currently in the lineup, again, could be could be a bench guy, could be guy that's currently in the lineup. Who do they need to step up currently that can help?

SPEAKER_06 29:29

I kind of like this recently acquired guy. Uh his name is Derek Hill.

SPEAKER_04 29:36

Amazing guy. Um nothing about him other than he spells his name the right way.

SPEAKER_06 29:44

But uh yeah. Firmer, former first round pick, you know, just struggled to stick somewhere. Um, but he's come here and he's kind of got some juice to him.

SPEAKER_04 29:56

Um seems excited. He really seems excited, man.

SPEAKER_06 30:01

Hey, I mean, when you come into a team and they're starting to turn around and you know they can have a chance to be serious contenders, it's gotta make you feel good. I agree. Um, but I like to see him. I know that they've been platooning him with Rincones, and Rincones, who was a really decent, well, not really decent, really good hitter at triple A level, just struggled injuries. He's struggling to find it. I would I would give Derek Hill a string of a week and and see where it goes. Kind of like the Marsh thing. You play him no matter who's pitching and see what he can do. Gotcha. Sammy, any of those guys?

SPEAKER_07 30:43

They said Derek Hill, you like him, too?

unknown 30:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 30:46

Every time, every time he does something, I'm always texting the group to who's this guy. Who's this guy?

SPEAKER_06 30:51

Yeah. Or they got uh, I mean, we if we stay on our own system, they got that Felix Reyes cat that was up for a little while. Or they have Brian Delacruz, who used to be a for was a former MOB player. They got him on the minor league roster, who's also having a really good year down in AAA.

SPEAKER_05 31:15

Okay. Bells, you got anybody?

SPEAKER_02 31:18

I'm just I'm going with both of them too. Yeah? I mean, like the two games, the one guy I'm surprised, but go ahead. The one game against the Mets when he made that big time robbery off Soto, and then his ninth inning pinch hit to tie it.

SPEAKER_07 31:36

Home run. Yes, the Nationals.

SPEAKER_04 31:38

Yeah, that was a field really excited. And I get it. I would too. Ninth inning two.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

I get it. No, but those two plays really, I was like, okay, like we we picked up like a good guy like a good player. Like, I think he could help if he gets like obviously more opportunities.

SPEAKER_07 31:57

What are you gonna say, Sosa?

SPEAKER_04 32:00

I mean, I love it, Mundo, man. Everyone says he's not an everyday player.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

There's a reason why he don't play every day, you know, because he's not an everyday player.

SPEAKER_06 32:11

But you still put him up in. He's gonna give you his. You can see it sometimes, though. He where he does scuffle, but yeah, I totally forgot about him. I'm not even gonna lie. Yeah. Bless my dudes, man. But also, where do you put him? Because he's not the greatest outfielder.

SPEAKER_05 32:28

No.

SPEAKER_04 32:28

No, but he's a good infielder, though. Sure.

SPEAKER_06 32:30

So where do you put him?

SPEAKER_04 32:31

Honestly, you're better infielder than turn. Turner's improved. He's improved, bro. But perfect example. Game last night. Ball hit to him, takes two steps back, doesn't even charge the ball, dude runs down to first base, safe. What happens? Wheelers. Knight keeps getting longer and longer, gets knocked out the game, and it was because of that. So between that and the pretty backhand shit, I know what Turner is. Don't get me wrong. I know he's good. I'm not saying that Emona Sosa is better than him, but and he can't take his spot.

SPEAKER_07 33:12

You know what really pissed me off about Turner? The way he throws the ball to first base.

SPEAKER_04 33:16

How's he throw the ball to first base?

SPEAKER_07 33:18

It's just like his motion. Yeah. It looks like football.

SPEAKER_06 33:22

But it's like it just seems He's never known for having a strong arm. I know. Never known for the first time. But it's just like it's like Same thing with Bone, who's been playing his ass off at third base. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:31

Bro, thank God he'd been doing that because Mike Schmidt over there at third base.

SPEAKER_07 33:39

What was it?

SPEAKER_06 33:40

The last night I read the dive play. Yeah, yeah. Hit or miss at the plate, but it's a shame too, because this all-star voting shit. Keep it away from the fans. It's a scam. It's names. There's no reason that Max Muncie should be blowing boom out of the water in the all-star votes at the time.

SPEAKER_04 33:58

Damn, why you ain't tell me we were going to talk about Max Muncie? I'd have had my Max Muncie drop ready for your pop. Max Muncey. Max Muncey. Scared of Max Muncey. Ain't nobody scared of Max Muncie. Well, yeah, yeah. I most certainly agree. Moving on to another problem that we have. This section is called Fixable. And we kind of skipped over Trey Turner because we talked about him and he has been doing better. This next guy. Yeah, we only had four hits today.

SPEAKER_06 34:32

He had one of them.

SPEAKER_04 34:33

Yeah. So I'm just going to open the floor on this one. I'm going to start with Bales on this one because she's been kind of in the in the text and the chats we had even last year. You were you were like very not so kind to Mr. Aranola. So do you think Ari Nola is fixable?

SPEAKER_02 34:56

No.

SPEAKER_04 34:57

No?

SPEAKER_02 34:58

No. I mean, I've been saying it. He's just not playing how we like know him to play. Like him in the postseason, like he wasn't very good last year, but then in the postseason, he would ramp it up to how we know he can pitch. And it just seems like he just keeps going further and further, rolling down the hill. And I mean, he's he gave up seven runs against Pittsburgh. Um, and then has allowed multiple home runs in four consecutive starts. I think there needs to be a switch with him. I I everyone knows I don't like Aaron Nola.

SPEAKER_04 35:31

You made it sound worse than I even thought it was.

SPEAKER_07 35:33

It's bad.

SPEAKER_02 35:34

Everyone knows I don't like Aaron Nola. I want him gone.

SPEAKER_07 35:36

I'm right there with you. Right there with you. I wish we had Ranger Schwarez. Yep. I wish we extended Ranger. I just had this conversation. I wish we extended Ranger Suarez and said Bye-Bahnola. I'm I'm I'm glad you brought that up. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 35:51

I'm gonna play a soundbite from Ruben Amaro from today. He was on a podcast and he mentioned something along those lines.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

So go get Ranger Suarez problems solved. I don't know if he has any no-trade stuff on there, but it would take Andrew Painter, and I would do it. I probably would do it too. I mean, he's had a very nice year with the Red Sox. I would do it. He solves so many issues. If you want to put him or Lazardo in the bullpen, if you don't need that four starter in the playoffs, either way. When all those guys are signed, it gives you that depth that you need. I don't know if they have the money to do it.

SPEAKER_04 36:26

So I'm gonna go around the table and ask, since you brought it up. Would you do it? Yeah. You do it? You're gonna have to give up Andrew Painter to do it. You do it? I think I already know your answer.

SPEAKER_02 36:41

I would do it. You do it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 36:42

Joey? Joey over there thinking. Smoke coming out his ears.

SPEAKER_06 36:46

I see it. Here's my problem. Would I do it? Yes.

SPEAKER_07 36:49

Oh, sure. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 36:51

You make this trade, somebody in the front office needs to be fired. Because the same people in the front office made the mistake of paying Aaron Ola instead of Ranger Suarez. Amen to that. Now you've given up an asset that you didn't need to give up when you had the guy in house. And that's what you look like a stone cold dumbass in the front office. Because now you've given up yet another top prospect who hasn't worked out so far this year for a guy that you had in house that you could have just paid the money to. See? See what happens? You just piss J.A.

SPEAKER_07 37:27

off. You see him?

SPEAKER_06 37:28

Now, you're absolutely right. When about Aaron Nola, like fucking, you go back to the last podcast we talked about the Phillies. I said, even year Nola, he's gonna have a great year. No, bro, is just bad.

SPEAKER_03 37:38

He just bad, right?

SPEAKER_06 37:39

Yeah. I don't I don't know what it is.

SPEAKER_07 37:41

He's just bad. He's given up 17 home runs. I think it's more now, but you have to you got it. Last week when I checked, it was 17.

SPEAKER_06 37:49

You have to unload it. I don't know how you can. You have to. You're gonna have to eat some of that contract, and it's gonna fucking suck, especially with the lockout coming, because I still think there's a lockout gonna come.

SPEAKER_04 38:02

But there's most certainly a lockout coming.

SPEAKER_06 38:04

I don't think I don't think they're gonna come to an agreement. Um you have to go get a starter and you have to unload Nola's contract. Uh, first team I'm calling is the Tigers. Obviously, school bowl is the number one option. Even if it isn't School Bowl, I'm looking at a Casey Myers who's on an expiring contract. He's been throwing well this year. Anything right now. Well, I wouldn't say anything. I could go I go get Joe Kelly from the Twins. But you gotta you gotta find a team who'd be willing to eat some of that contract, who'd be okay with an Aaronola. And I don't think there's many. There ain't many. You there might be some teams out there who are tanking, like Sammy said, the twins. Um but you gotta add bucks into that that's but you you you gotta you gotta yeah, and you're gonna have to give up an awful lot. Yeah, dude. You're gonna have to give up a uh a prospect. Um I don't know if we want to wait, but I can get into my whole the whole free agency thing. Or if you want to wait, that's fine. We'll wait.

SPEAKER_07 39:06

Um so to answer your question, no affixable? No. Yeah. That's it. I mean you I don't I don't I don't We had high hopes too. I mean, he pitched great in the fucking Well, even he looked good.

SPEAKER_06 39:20

Yeah. And then the wheels just exploded.

SPEAKER_05 39:24

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 39:25

I don't know if he he's leaving the curveball. It's hanging. It's hanging. And and they're putting coats on it. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:36

But like he was all good a week ago.

SPEAKER_06 39:38

You got a fun, you got a five-run lead. There's no reason to be perfect. Pitch the contact, throw the sinker, throw the two seam. I mean, Christopher Sanchez does this with a three-pitch mix. Maybe that's what Nola needs to get rid of that curveball.

SPEAKER_03 39:56

Oh, what Nola need, man.

SPEAKER_04 39:57

I literally was watching the game the other night. I'm like, oh yeah, five-nothing. I switched to the World Cup. Halftime of the World Cup. I look back, it's 5'5. I was like, what the fuck happened?

SPEAKER_06 40:05

Yeah, I got in the shower. I'm like, oh, 5-0, we good. Good. Get out in the showers. I said, what the fuck happened?

SPEAKER_04 40:13

Aaronola, that's what happened. Yeah, uh, you know, we're going around the whore on this one. I don't think it's fixable. I I I tried to give him the grace last year, but like, ah, you know, he'll figure it out, he'll come around. But I I do want to touch on something that you said about the Ranger Swarez thing. So, do you think they cut off their nose despite their face? Because now you said that they could have signed Ranger instead of Aranola, right? But they had Ranger in-house last year, right? Do you think, because of what happened with Bobochette, that I don't know the timeline of when who left when or where. Did Ranger leave first before Bobachet? He left first, right? Yeah. So they let Ranger walk because they were trying to sign Bobochette.

SPEAKER_06 41:04

They had their eggs in the basket of Bobachet.

SPEAKER_04 41:06

Right. They come up the nose and spike their face. So, yes, on two fronts, they the people up there should be fired because of that. Because they prioritized something that they didn't know about over something that they saw every day. That's my problem. You you saw Ranger every day. You know he was one of my favorite players because Ranger was going to get you six or seven. He might give up two or three, but that's about it. Mr. Calm Cool Collective. I'm telling you, I don't care if it was week one in April or the NLCS. You got the same Ranger. Only time he fucked up was when his family came here, and I blame his wife and his kids for that, that whole week when that shit happened.

SPEAKER_06 41:51

But other than that, and it sucks too, because Ranger, he dealt with health issues. You know, every year is uh getting tired or his back.

SPEAKER_04 42:04

But but he never missed a lot of time.

SPEAKER_06 42:06

No, but it was untimely. It was bad timing. Yeah, I'll give you that. But you that's where you put in your contract. Like, hey man, I to me, honestly, I think the easiest fix for Ranger Suarez to alleviate his back issues, yo bro, you gotta lose 15 pounds.

SPEAKER_05 42:29

Yeah. You drop 15 pounds, I bet you you feel a whole lot better. 15, 20 pounds.

SPEAKER_06 42:41

I mean, yeah, I can see that. Do you want 150 million for us for the next six years? I need this to happen. As long as you don't do it, Alvarado did it.

SPEAKER_04 42:53

Take that shit.

SPEAKER_06 42:54

Yeah. But still, like I don't know. You go out and get Ranger Swords, depending on what you have to give up. You look very suspect.

SPEAKER_04 43:04

You do look suspect, I'll give you that.

SPEAKER_06 43:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 43:06

I'll give you that. Um stay on the on the mound, so to speak. Um what I think is uh the the biggest problem right now, because other than two and a half guys, we really can't get anybody to go past five or six innings. And that is uh the bridge to Johan Duran. Um it is a complete circus anytime six, seven, outside of the occasional Alvarado's great and Kirk Ring. If it ain't them two, I I don't know what's going on out there. And they can't pitch all the time.

SPEAKER_06 43:47

No. So definitely some question marks there.

SPEAKER_04 43:51

I don't even know what they got out there, but is that fixable?

SPEAKER_06 43:54

Yeah. Um, Brad Keller's hurt at the moment. So you're missing. I didn't know. I forgot about that. Brad Brad Keller's hurts at the moment, so you're kind of missing a big piece there, your setup guy. That's your eighth inning guy. Supposed to be. Um you know, he scuffled a little bit. Um would, you know, walk uh uh more batters than you would like him to. But once he's back, you kinda you know that's your eighth inning guy uh or seventh inning guy, depending on what the lineup looks like. And they got this kid, Jonathan Bolin, who's been doing pretty well. He's got some good stuff. He throws heat, don't he? Needs to get you know is that what it is?

SPEAKER_04 44:34

Got those pretty hard? I think he was tall duty. Tall duty, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 44:37

He's done like a haunted. So, you know, once you get Keller back, you can kind of change everything around. Um you know, you drop back house and sugar down into your middle relief where they belong instead of all right, now this is what we got, so we've got to use them in a high-lever situation. Um, I do think the bullpen's fixable. I also do think they might need to go get a piece.

SPEAKER_04 45:07

We're gonna touch on that. So I'll ask you two as well. Um Joey says this is fixable. Um I'm gonna ask a different question.

SPEAKER_05 45:21

Because I don't think they can do it anything with Aranola. No.

SPEAKER_04 45:26

So in any scenario, would you consider moving him to the pen? Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_05 45:34

No.

SPEAKER_04 45:36

Really out on Aaronola. He's gonna give up a home run. Correct. But he could pitch three innings.

SPEAKER_07 45:40

Okay. And he pitches three innings. He'd probably give up three home runs.

SPEAKER_02 45:47

Very possible.

SPEAKER_07 45:48

And expensive.

SPEAKER_02 45:49

You wouldn't do it either?

SPEAKER_07 45:50

Hell no. See, my thing is that say our starter's stuck in a jam or whatever, or the middle relief pitcher is stuck in a jam. And you're taking putting Nolan in the game with runners on first and second. I don't like it. I just don't have the confidence in him anymore. That'd be the reason why. I don't have the confidence. The way he's pitching as a starter, I don't see it getting any better as a relief pitcher. But the good thing is, I mean, like you said, you do get you can get three innings out of him. But then you fight with the problem going back to if you put Nolan in the bullpen, who's gonna be your starter? Because Painter's already down. So we're already down to a five-man rotation when we started with six.

SPEAKER_05 46:41

So Okay. We'll we'll table that for now.

SPEAKER_04 46:48

Okay. And although I do agree. Um, we'll table that for for now and move to our next question. Um Do you make a move? And if so, you can make one. What kind of move do you make? Do you bring in uh right or left-handed bat? Do you bring in a middle reliever? Do you bring in a starter? What what kind of move do you make? Bells, I'm gonna start with you. You can make one move to help this team out. What is the move that you make?

SPEAKER_02 47:25

The one I'll probably say as of right now, probably high leverage reliever, another bullpen arm.

SPEAKER_05 47:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 47:39

Like like Joey said, Keller's down. We're kind of trying to figure out who works, and it's not really working unless it's Kirkring or Alvarado or obviously Duran. But we need more help, I think, while Keller's down to bridge the gap to Duran.

SPEAKER_05 47:59

Joey, you can make one move. Uh, I'll go get a right-handed bat.

SPEAKER_04 48:08

Um I know you got somebody in mind, so I got a couple somebodies. Alright, well, just so happens we're on a podcast, so if you want to share it.

SPEAKER_06 48:16

Um my number one, and this is not what poo people think I'm gonna say, is Byron Buxton.

SPEAKER_04 48:24

Well, that's what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_06 48:26

Uh well, a lot of people are on the Mike Trout train to um bring, you know, bring Mike back to Philly, whatever. While I would I would take it, he's gonna be able to do that. I would take it too, but um that train should have been here a while ago. Yes. But no, the the It's like a neutrality transit but at this point. The push needs to be for Buxton. He solidifies not only your defense, but he's the right-handed bat and he's a power bat that you've been needing in this lineup. You know, we've been relying on Bohm to protect Harper, and he's just while he's a serviceable hitter, he's not the power bat that we were expecting to have, you know, out of a frame like Alec Bohm. Um that's my move. It's tough because I also kind of agree with Bailey. Um there's one phone call I make, it's to the Boston Red Sox and check in on the Roldus Chapman, who's on a one-year deal. But uh, yeah, if I had to choose what one m uh move to make, it's to go get a right-handed bat.

SPEAKER_04 49:42

Sammy, you can make one move. What are you making?

SPEAKER_07 49:47

Byron Buxton.

SPEAKER_04 49:48

Byron Buxton?

SPEAKER_05 49:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 49:50

Yeah. I mean that Joey explained it. Losing Adoles Garcia. It hurts because he was on, you know, the come up, it seemed like.

SPEAKER_04 50:03

Can you look up to see what Buxton's years in contract are? Go ahead.

SPEAKER_07 50:07

But um, I mean, you're talking about an outstanding player in the in the field. He can hit, splits up the lefties that we have. And I mean, no offense to Derek Hill and you know, uh what's the other dude's name? Raconas. Yeah, Raconas. You know, Raconas, it doesn't seem like he's ready. He hasn't found it yet. Uh I love his swing. He's a beautiful swing, but he just hasn't he hasn't found it yet. And if you want to make a run, you're gonna have to add another bet to this. But I mean I do agree with Bailey, too. It's like it's because I don't think you're making two moves, but you're only making one.

SPEAKER_06 50:57

And once the bullpen gets healthy, I I feel like it all depends. It all depends on if if uh Dombrowski is feeling the the heat. Uh, you know, it's it seemed like he's been content that his job is safe, but you know, you got guys who are 33 now. You know, you're starting to exit your prime. Not necessarily out of your prime, but it you're getting close. Um it's it's winner go home, you know. And even John Middleton, he said he wants his fucking trophy back. What are you gonna do to show it? Because you haven't done much since you've said that.

SPEAKER_04 51:39

Damn good question. Damn good question.

SPEAKER_06 51:44

Oh, by the way, Byron Buxton is in the middle of a seven-year, $100 million contract that it runs through the 2028 season. That's doable. The question is, do the twins move on from him?

SPEAKER_07 52:00

I know this is kind of crazy. I said Byron Buxton, but there would be one other guy that I would go after. Who that? I think he's he's a lefty, though. But it'd be Riley Green. From Detroit?

SPEAKER_06 52:14

Detroit? Yeah. He's a good player too.

SPEAKER_07 52:16

He's a good outfielder. And his bat, he's he's doing pretty well this year. Bat in 285. Leads the Tigers in an average, has like 13 home runs. So I just I've always liked Riley Green. He's a good player, but Detroit's down there also. Yeah. So it's like I would aim after the guys that's very doable. The the teams that are like not gonna make it pretty much. Like they're in where the Mets are at. You like you can't see him moving from fourth place, fifth place, and moving up.

SPEAKER_06 52:59

He's under contract.

SPEAKER_07 53:00

Well, you also gotta look at the contract, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 53:01

He's under contract until 2028. He's in arbitration still. So it might take a little bit more to get him.

SPEAKER_04 53:08

But last question before we move on, and I'm gonna ask you because I'm pretty sure you might know.

SPEAKER_05 53:15

What is it or what would it take to get uh school? Um it would it would take it would take some talent. It would probably take a painter, another top prospect, and probably an MLB player or MLB ready player.

SPEAKER_06 53:51

Um I don't want to give up, I don't Gage Wood, but he might be the name that doesn't matter. He's climbing up our ranks pretty fast. He's he's he's been pitching pretty well.

SPEAKER_04 54:04

I think he's in the futures game, I think.

SPEAKER_06 54:06

Yes, he is. Name and another pitcher.

SPEAKER_07 54:08

Yeah, the um I seen that last night. What does his name?

SPEAKER_06 54:11

Um Don't even don't ask, don't get me to lie. I don't know. I don't know it, nor do I know how to pronounce it. But he looks pretty much.

SPEAKER_01 54:18

You want to give it a shot?

SPEAKER_06 54:19

I don't even know what it is. Okay, all right. I've seen it last night. But to get it, I'll be back with that. That boy's tough. That boy Sammy's a professional. But it's tough. I mean, Scoobyl struggled after coming back after he got his after he get hit after he got his arm cleaned up. Um but his last start, I think he went six innings and struck out nine. So I think he's starting to find it again. Um, you know, he's gotta get paid. And this is this whole lockout thing that's looming, it's gonna be tough. Because they're not sure what the money's gonna look like. But it it uh to me, it'll take probably two prospects in an MLB player. But if you're asking me, if you're telling me you can guarantee He's gonna be a rental. If he's if he's a rental, I'm not doing that. Right. But if you're telling me you can guarantee a school bull extension, I'd do it. I'd give up Painter, I'd give up Gagewood, and I would see if they would take Aaronola.

SPEAKER_04 55:26

You know, that's the thing that I hate about baseball. When you trade for a guy of that caliber in most other sports, that shit has already worked out. Them baseball dudes ain't doing that. They're like, No, I just want to wait until the problem to see what kind of money I'm doing.

SPEAKER_06 55:38

The problem is there's there's one guy who represents damn near half the league, and it always seems to be the biggest stars in the sport. There's a reason why, because he gets them the most money. Fucking Scott Boris. Scott Boris. He is a pain in my side, to say the least.

SPEAKER_04 55:54

Not if he was one of these dudes' daddies, he wouldn't be.

SPEAKER_06 56:03

I'm definitely checking in on Therese Kubal, if I'm the Phillies. That's immense, that's immense you're one through four. And you mean to tell me in a five-game series you gotta face Christopher Sanchez, Zach Wheeler, and Therese Kubal?

SPEAKER_04 56:24

Good luck. Before we go on, great, that was a great job, by the way. Before we go on, last question I asked before we move on. Phil's are in the let's say they they make the wild card or whatever, like that. They do hold the wild card spot right now. Fuck it, we're not even gonna say they make the wild card. Say they they make the first round of the playoffs.

SPEAKER_05 56:48

Is Nola a four-starter in the first round of the playoffs? No.

SPEAKER_04 56:58

You wouldn't you sorry is Nola a four-starter in the first you wouldn't need him in the first round of the playoffs.

SPEAKER_06 57:05

Second round you need him, right? Second, yeah. Championship series is where you where you wouldn't look at your four-starter.

SPEAKER_05 57:13

Is Nola a starter in the championship series of the playoffs? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 57:26

I mean, I guess he'd kind of have to be.

SPEAKER_06 57:30

Unless something changes, right?

SPEAKER_02 57:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 57:32

By default, yes. But it is with a very short leash.

SPEAKER_05 57:37

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04 57:40

Big problem. Well, that is it for part one of this two-part edition of the Mal Visit mid-season review. Told you we had so much to cover. Uh, we'll be back in a couple of days with uh part two. Uh hope you enjoyed this one. Uh see you soon.