WEBVTT - Our 2026 predictions! 0:00:04.080 --> 0:00:06.520 Hi, this is Kyles forber and welcome to the Philly Show. 0:00:07.600 --> 0:00:13.560 A rubin tomorrow, Junior, Jim Salisbury, Todd's a lucky It's 0:00:13.600 --> 0:00:18.160 the Philly Show. It's Monday, January fifth, twenty twenty six. 0:00:19.200 --> 0:00:20.959 Have you guys recover? I know you guys hit it 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:24.280 hard on New Year's Eve, hard hard, so hard. 0:00:25.640 --> 0:00:30.520 I hit the mattress hard at nine p fifteen, two 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:31.520 o'clock fireworks. 0:00:32.200 --> 0:00:32.600 You did. 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:35.320 Good for you, Good for you, six. 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:37.000 Pm, just like the kids do. 0:00:37.640 --> 0:00:39.120 That's right. 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:40.320 Absolutely. 0:00:40.320 --> 0:00:43.120 I hope everybody's doing well. It is Monday, Like I 0:00:43.120 --> 0:00:46.360 said January fifth, everybody's you know, winter break is over, 0:00:46.400 --> 0:00:49.760 the holiday break is over. We're getting back into Phillies baseball. 0:00:49.800 --> 0:00:51.600 We did do a few shows before the break or 0:00:51.680 --> 0:00:53.880 during the break. We had back to back episodes with 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:57.440 Jimmy Rollins uh and then the other day on New 0:00:57.520 --> 0:01:00.840 Year's Day, we answer a lot of your questions about 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:03.200 the twenty twenty six season. Well, today we're going to 0:01:03.240 --> 0:01:08.600 look ahead and do some predictions, some thoughts, and let's 0:01:08.680 --> 0:01:12.959 get going right away. Let's go with the top. What 0:01:13.120 --> 0:01:14.840 is your top storyline? 0:01:14.880 --> 0:01:15.199 Guys? 0:01:15.800 --> 0:01:22.120 On January fifth, twenty twenty six, on the Philadelphia Phillies. 0:01:22.200 --> 0:01:24.560 I don't know if anybody wants to jump, I could start. 0:01:24.959 --> 0:01:28.360 What do you want to do? I'll start. 0:01:28.840 --> 0:01:33.480 Jo does not resign with the Phillies, and the Phillies 0:01:33.520 --> 0:01:36.680 go with Marshawn, Krantini and Stubbs. 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:40.120 Wow. Wow, what's your top storyline? That is? 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:43.399 That is a big storyline. That is a big story 0:01:43.480 --> 0:01:44.200 There's only. 0:01:44.040 --> 0:01:49.240 One storyline, guys, there's only one storyline. What's this with 0:01:50.120 --> 0:01:54.880 this roster and the pedigrees on this roster, the age 0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:58.880 of the roster, the mammoth payroll, the expectation, the disappointment 0:01:58.920 --> 0:02:02.120 in the last three October. There's only one storyline. Can 0:02:02.160 --> 0:02:04.360 they win the World Series? Do they win the World Series? 0:02:04.360 --> 0:02:07.680 How will October shakeout? That's the only storyline? 0:02:08.400 --> 0:02:10.560 Like it? I like it, Jim, you know what you know? 0:02:10.600 --> 0:02:11.720 It's funny. I went back. 0:02:12.000 --> 0:02:14.720 I went back and I watched last year's twenty twenty 0:02:14.720 --> 0:02:18.720 five predictions, and Jim, you went macro you said the 0:02:18.760 --> 0:02:21.320 same thing last year. You said, there's only one storyline. 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:23.200 Will the Phillies win the World Series? That's all this 0:02:23.360 --> 0:02:23.760 is about. 0:02:25.120 --> 0:02:26.760 Rubin is not consistent. 0:02:28.080 --> 0:02:32.560 But I also I also love I love storylines and 0:02:32.600 --> 0:02:36.239 story there are a million storylines under that, but that's 0:02:36.280 --> 0:02:38.600 the one that matters my friends. 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:42.760 Right right. So my storyline is is actually should be 0:02:42.800 --> 0:02:45.760 resolved probably the next six seven weeks or so before 0:02:45.760 --> 0:02:49.440 as camp opens, and that is is this it? Are 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:49.960 they done? 0:02:50.320 --> 0:02:50.480 You know? 0:02:50.520 --> 0:02:52.360 Where does it go? For me? That kind of dovetails 0:02:52.400 --> 0:02:54.440 off of what Rubin said, which is, is j T 0:02:54.639 --> 0:02:57.400 riam Muto back or not? We said a couple of 0:02:57.440 --> 0:02:59.320 weeks ago they were at a stalemate, Jim, you said 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:03.600 it was a game of as JT is. JT is 0:03:03.639 --> 0:03:06.840 looking for something. I don't want to say at what 0:03:06.919 --> 0:03:10.000 he was getting aa V the last five years, but 0:03:10.040 --> 0:03:11.880 I think he doesn't want to take too massive of 0:03:11.919 --> 0:03:16.400 a pay cut obviously, which is take the haircut, yeah cut, 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:18.960 but the old buzz cut, which is why he still 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:23.760 remains unsigned. So if JT re signs, what does that 0:03:23.840 --> 0:03:25.840 mean for the rest of the roster in the offseason? 0:03:25.880 --> 0:03:29.280 If JT does not re sign, what does that mean 0:03:29.360 --> 0:03:32.080 for the roster and the rest of the off season. Now, 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:37.640 Our buddy John Hayman on Saturday sent out a tweet 0:03:37.680 --> 0:03:41.400 saying the Phillies are one of the big market teams 0:03:41.440 --> 0:03:46.000 interested in Boba Schett. What the hell does that mean? 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:49.120 Though, haven't we been Haven't we been talking about boba 0:03:49.160 --> 0:03:50.440 Chev for two and a half months. 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:53.600 It's not new news. 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:56.400 People are throwing it out there on x and Twitter 0:03:56.520 --> 0:04:00.200 and all these other things. Yeah, we've been chatting about 0:04:00.200 --> 0:04:01.680 this for about fourteen months. 0:04:01.840 --> 0:04:03.880 I would love it. I would love it. What a fit. 0:04:05.120 --> 0:04:10.360 But you'd have to subtract something in the infield, and 0:04:10.400 --> 0:04:12.840 you'd have to clear money in the infield, and you 0:04:12.920 --> 0:04:14.920 have to clear money. It means JT probably wouldn't come 0:04:14.960 --> 0:04:17.560 back because you'd have to clear some salary. 0:04:18.560 --> 0:04:20.440 But I would love it if it would happen. And 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:21.640 I think they're. 0:04:23.080 --> 0:04:27.960 Serious interested bystanders in that drama that market, and have 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:30.440 been for a while. But there has to be other 0:04:31.720 --> 0:04:35.560 companion moves to free spot and salary. 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:38.120 And there's some people opining about the fact that they 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:42.320 might consider Bobbashett to play second and move Stot the third. 0:04:42.360 --> 0:04:44.479 I've seen some of that out there on social work. 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:45.640 I don't know that that. 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:48.400 I don't know that that's the move. 0:04:48.480 --> 0:04:50.800 I think that that, I mean, it could be, but 0:04:50.880 --> 0:04:53.279 I feel much more comfortable with Stott at second base 0:04:53.360 --> 0:04:56.880 because he's such a good defender, and Bobashett is a 0:04:56.960 --> 0:05:00.359 very good offensive player, He's not a great defensive short stop. 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:03.120 He's not gonna play short. Turner's playing short. 0:05:04.120 --> 0:05:06.200 I mean, I feel a little bit more comfortable with 0:05:06.279 --> 0:05:08.039 him on third base than second base. 0:05:08.080 --> 0:05:10.240 But who knows what might happen. 0:05:10.320 --> 0:05:12.720 Bobby Dickerson is one of the best in field of 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:15.040 coaches in the game. If they do make that move, 0:05:15.839 --> 0:05:18.720 I think that they'd be comfortable with moving guys around. 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:22.200 But my personal feeling is that I think Bobashett would 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:24.400 stay on the left side of the field, but that 0:05:24.480 --> 0:05:24.760 might be. 0:05:25.200 --> 0:05:27.000 I don't know that he's ever played third I don't 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:29.080 know if he has His arm is not, you know, 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:33.880 a standout arm, and I saw Stop play third base 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:38.920 early in twenty twenty two. Yeah, I mean, Dickerson loves 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:40.040 stopt in the infield. 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:42.280 Remember we had him on in the summertime. He called 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:43.359 him like a Tom Brady. 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:47.839 Yeah. Oh, because he's he's really instinctive. 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:50.840 He can probably play any of those positions. 0:05:50.320 --> 0:05:51.920 And I think he could go over there and you'd 0:05:51.960 --> 0:05:55.240 get a lot out of Bushett at But I mean 0:05:55.440 --> 0:05:58.120 to do a Brishette, there are other moves. You know, 0:05:58.120 --> 0:05:59.800 you're gonna have to clear a spot in the endfield 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:03.320 moving balm, and that third base market hasn't shaken out yet. 0:06:03.520 --> 0:06:06.160 And you're probably you're probably saying goodbye to JT. 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:09.240 Because they're you know. 0:06:09.680 --> 0:06:14.400 This week they have a fifty six fifty seven million 0:06:14.440 --> 0:06:17.000 dollar tax bill due, I mean, and they're gonna be. 0:06:16.920 --> 0:06:21.040 Over the fourth spot again. They're pinched so. 0:06:22.560 --> 0:06:24.960 And and you know, obviously things can change. Maybe John 0:06:25.000 --> 0:06:27.880 Milton had to change her heart over the holidays. He said, 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:32.000 you know what, Dave, go get JT and get me 0:06:32.080 --> 0:06:35.000 Bobaschett and we'll figure it out. Maybe maybe that's happened. 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:38.400 But again, going back to last month when the Phillies 0:06:38.440 --> 0:06:43.760 re signed Kyle Schwarber, my understanding was they were out 0:06:43.960 --> 0:06:49.760 out on Bellinger, Bashett Redman, especially if they got JT. 0:06:49.920 --> 0:06:53.120 So to Jim's point, the only path that I see again, 0:06:53.200 --> 0:06:55.279 unless John Middleton has changed his mind and he said, 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:56.880 go for it, Dave, the hell with it. I'll pay 0:06:56.880 --> 0:07:00.240 a ninety million dollar penalty tax next year, is you 0:07:00.320 --> 0:07:03.480 let JT go, You go cheap on the catching spot 0:07:03.600 --> 0:07:06.240 and then you trade Bam who's gonna make around ten 0:07:06.279 --> 0:07:09.640 million plus in salary. A lot of moving parts. 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:12.000 There though a lot of movie why not just get 0:07:12.080 --> 0:07:13.240 Ranger Swarms as well? 0:07:13.280 --> 0:07:14.840 For that one year pillow contract. 0:07:14.920 --> 0:07:16.800 Let's go out. I mean, if we're gonna go, let's go. 0:07:16.880 --> 0:07:19.400 It's not my money, my. 0:07:19.440 --> 0:07:23.680 Glue, exact, you're gonna go go, exactly right. So I 0:07:23.920 --> 0:07:28.040 would I understand the excitement that that popped up in 0:07:28.080 --> 0:07:30.080 Philly on Saturday when I was like, oh my god, 0:07:30.120 --> 0:07:32.920 the Phillies are interested in Boba Shet. But guess what, 0:07:33.600 --> 0:07:36.960 they're all so interested in Alex Pragman. They would love 0:07:37.000 --> 0:07:40.000 Alex Pragman. Oh, Rubin, You're right, they would love to 0:07:40.040 --> 0:07:42.120 have Ranger Suarez back. They're still interested. 0:07:42.520 --> 0:07:45.760 There is things we all want, a lot of things. 0:07:45.840 --> 0:07:49.040 I want eight billion dollars exactly right. 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:52.960 But I would lower expect I would. I would personally 0:07:53.000 --> 0:07:55.680 lower expectations. That would be I would be very surprised 0:07:55.720 --> 0:07:58.480 if we saw Bobachett in the Phillies lineup on opening day. 0:07:59.160 --> 0:08:01.920 I'd be surprised and shocked, and I would probably pretty 0:08:01.960 --> 0:08:02.840 be pretty pleased. 0:08:03.320 --> 0:08:04.559 But I don't think it's gonna happen. 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:06.720 Yeah, it would be a lot of fun to have 0:08:06.760 --> 0:08:08.480 Bobachett in the lineup. We all love him for a 0:08:08.520 --> 0:08:12.480 lot of different reasons. Just an absolutely super talented player. 0:08:12.520 --> 0:08:16.160 All right, So those are our top storylines going into 0:08:16.200 --> 0:08:17.080 twenty twenty six. 0:08:17.400 --> 0:08:18.119 Fill in the blank. 0:08:18.160 --> 0:08:22.480 Filling the blank, guys, I'm sorry, j t Real Mudo 0:08:24.080 --> 0:08:26.920 is dot dom Well. 0:08:26.880 --> 0:08:30.720 Ruben already said he is not is Uh you said 0:08:30.720 --> 0:08:33.200 your your bold prediction. Yeah, yeah, you did say. Yeah. 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:36.360 I think he's coming I think he just go giant. 0:08:36.640 --> 0:08:39.800 I think he's coming back a three year deal. I'm 0:08:39.800 --> 0:08:41.280 gonna I'm gonna say. 0:08:41.080 --> 0:08:42.600 That, Jimmy, Jim. 0:08:42.640 --> 0:08:47.200 You said that last week, So you, Jim, I'm saying. 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:49.000 I'm saying he's not gonna get resigned. 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:52.840 Okay, Toddy, I think he's coming back. I think Jat's 0:08:52.880 --> 0:08:55.480 gonna come back. I think the Phillies won and back. 0:08:55.520 --> 0:08:56.920 I don't think he wants to go anywhere else, and 0:08:56.920 --> 0:08:58.440 I don't think he's gonna get the money that he 0:08:58.480 --> 0:09:02.920 wants from anybody else unless somebody just goes again. Screw it. 0:09:03.400 --> 0:09:05.839 We need a catcher. We haven't done much this offseason. 0:09:05.880 --> 0:09:08.120 Let's just overpay it for him, and you know we'll 0:09:08.120 --> 0:09:09.640 have a stud in the clubhouse. 0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:10.719 And you know, a. 0:09:10.679 --> 0:09:12.840 Guy that the pitching staff loves so hear me wrong. 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:15.080 I want him back, right right right? 0:09:15.400 --> 0:09:17.640 No, we know, we know I want. 0:09:17.400 --> 0:09:18.080 The man back. 0:09:18.440 --> 0:09:20.439 I just don't know that he's going to sign back. 0:09:20.440 --> 0:09:22.880 I'm gonna gold bold and say no. 0:09:24.280 --> 0:09:26.360 All right, okay, so here we go. 0:09:26.679 --> 0:09:27.680 Let's real quick. 0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:29.720 If you're watching us on YouTube, don't forget to hit 0:09:29.720 --> 0:09:32.120 the subscribe button. We appreciate your sport for the show, 0:09:32.559 --> 0:09:34.360 and you can always pick up any gear for the 0:09:34.400 --> 0:09:38.400 show at the Phillies show Shop dot com. All right, 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:42.720 what are you guys most curious to see in twenty 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:45.320 twenty six? I want to go back it is. It 0:09:45.360 --> 0:09:46.920 was kind of fun to go back and watch. I 0:09:46.960 --> 0:09:51.120 watched last year's episode. Rubin, you said you were most 0:09:51.200 --> 0:09:54.560 curious to see if Alec Bom can bounce back from 0:09:54.640 --> 0:09:59.960 the NLDS benching all the trade talks. Jim, you said 0:10:00.040 --> 0:10:03.320 you were most curious to see Aiden Miller's development in 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:06.319 twenty twenty five. And I was most curious to see 0:10:06.320 --> 0:10:09.560 if Max Kepler could bounce back from a bunch of 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:13.040 injury plague seasons and and you know, down production from 0:10:13.080 --> 0:10:15.319 Minnesota Twins. So that's what we said last year. 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:17.200 And basically nothing, none of those happened. 0:10:17.880 --> 0:10:23.160 None he bom did Okay? Aiden Miller finished well? 0:10:23.480 --> 0:10:24.760 And what was yours? 0:10:24.800 --> 0:10:27.920 Todd again that Max Kepler didn't really do a whole 0:10:27.920 --> 0:10:30.400 lot that that I was curious though, I was curious 0:10:30.440 --> 0:10:30.839 to see you. 0:10:30.920 --> 0:10:34.400 We're curious, we were curious to see it. 0:10:34.559 --> 0:10:36.719 Well, okay, guys, who's who wants to jump in here 0:10:36.760 --> 0:10:38.840 with most curious? What are you most curious to see? 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:39.960 James? 0:10:40.679 --> 0:10:43.040 Well, I actually have several of them, and one of 0:10:43.080 --> 0:10:45.200 them is how close is Aidan Miller at the end 0:10:45.200 --> 0:10:45.600 of the year. 0:10:47.080 --> 0:10:53.199 I'm consistent on that. I love it. Hey, we're all them? Okay, Okay, 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:54.400 then you know what? 0:10:54.520 --> 0:10:57.000 Then I'm most curious to see how Bryce Harper bounces 0:10:57.040 --> 0:10:58.880 back and what he's wearing under his UNI Is he 0:10:58.920 --> 0:11:00.840 wearing an elite shirt and not elite shirt? 0:11:01.280 --> 0:11:03.000 Nice? What about you? Todd? 0:11:03.400 --> 0:11:05.560 I actually I did write this down. I wrote down 0:11:05.640 --> 0:11:08.880 what's Bryce Harper's mindset, what's his attitude, what's his what 0:11:08.920 --> 0:11:11.720 does he look like coming into spring training? And of 0:11:11.760 --> 0:11:13.720 course how he performs this season. There's a lot of 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:16.320 eyeballs on him. He put even more eyeballs on him 0:11:16.360 --> 0:11:20.000 by acknowledging the elite comment not elite comment from Dave 0:11:20.040 --> 0:11:23.200 Debrowski and tell you what, if Bryce Harper's motivated and 0:11:23.200 --> 0:11:26.640 he's healthy, Oh, it could be a fun, fun year 0:11:26.640 --> 0:11:27.720 for that Phillies lineup. 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:28.680 Yeah. 0:11:28.679 --> 0:11:32.800 I got great points about about Bryce, no question about it. 0:11:33.040 --> 0:11:34.680 I'm curious about that as well. 0:11:35.559 --> 0:11:39.360 I have to say that I'm super curious about pitching, 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:42.439 and I'm curious about Andrew Andrew Painter. 0:11:42.800 --> 0:11:43.640 What kind of. 0:11:43.520 --> 0:11:46.520 Production does he have when he pitches in the big 0:11:46.600 --> 0:11:48.240 leagues at some point this year? 0:11:49.120 --> 0:11:51.520 What kind of major league pitcher. 0:11:51.920 --> 0:11:54.200 Is he going to be in twenty twenty six, and 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:55.360 how productive can he be? 0:11:56.679 --> 0:11:56.920 Great? 0:11:56.960 --> 0:11:59.920 Good, one's great one, A lot of honorable men. 0:12:00.280 --> 0:12:02.800 To Orion, I want to see what they get out 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:04.600 of a dollars Carcie. I want to see kind of 0:12:04.640 --> 0:12:06.880 like how he can figures that lineup, because if he 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:10.439 puts Schwarber behind Harper because they need some protection beyond Harper, 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:13.600 who's going to protect Schwarber a little bit? 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:17.640 So there's so much that I'm very, very eager to see. 0:12:18.400 --> 0:12:18.880 I love it. 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:20.360 Of course. 0:12:20.400 --> 0:12:22.319 Then the big one I'm going to see is can 0:12:22.320 --> 0:12:23.319 they win in October? 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:25.679 That's right, That's right. 0:12:25.840 --> 0:12:30.000 It all comes back to that Fellas. Absolutely, you gotta 0:12:30.000 --> 0:12:31.600 win the world. You gotta win the big one, gotta 0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:37.360 win the big Okay, biggest fear last year, last January. 0:12:37.600 --> 0:12:41.280 My biggest fear, it's kind of an easy one. Zach 0:12:41.320 --> 0:12:45.840 Wheeler gets hurt, Aaron Nola gets hurt, stumbles, and actually 0:12:45.840 --> 0:12:48.439 both of those things ended up coming true, and Noah 0:12:48.440 --> 0:12:50.720 had the worst year of his career. Zach Wheeler got hurt. 0:12:50.800 --> 0:12:55.080 Jim said, big picture, even bigger picture, health. Biggest fear 0:12:55.120 --> 0:12:57.960 is health. His biggest fear was health. And then Ruben, 0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:00.480 you had a kind of touch done it in your 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:03.600 last answer used to your biggest fear was do the 0:13:03.640 --> 0:13:07.400 Phillies panic at some point and speed up Andrew Painter's 0:13:07.480 --> 0:13:10.040 timeline and rush them to the big leagues earlier? And 0:13:10.080 --> 0:13:12.640 it is ready. It turns out they were like, they 0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:13.559 didn't rush him at all. 0:13:13.640 --> 0:13:15.160 They didn't they didn't rush him at all. 0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:17.080 They didn't they did not rush him at all. So 0:13:17.160 --> 0:13:18.600 he was not ready. He didn't really let. 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:20.640 Him earn and he did not earn his promotion. 0:13:21.040 --> 0:13:24.120 Correct. Correct, So biggest fear for you guys, does anybody 0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:25.720 want to get rolling on that one? 0:13:26.040 --> 0:13:28.920 I'll start it and I'll start with the pitching again. 0:13:29.120 --> 0:13:31.800 My biggest fear is Zach Wheeler not being able to 0:13:31.840 --> 0:13:35.360 bounce back. And even if he's I'd be happy if 0:13:35.400 --> 0:13:36.400 he's eighty five. 0:13:36.200 --> 0:13:38.680 Percent of what Zach Wheeler is. I'll take that. 0:13:39.320 --> 0:13:42.160 But my biggest fear is he's only fifty percent of 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:45.880 what Zach Wheeler is and or less, and I do 0:13:45.960 --> 0:13:46.959 fear that greatly. 0:13:47.440 --> 0:13:50.160 I don't know that that's necessarily the case. I'm hopeful 0:13:50.160 --> 0:13:51.679 that he bounces back. 0:13:51.760 --> 0:13:54.160 I love everything about the pictures, one of the best, 0:13:54.440 --> 0:13:56.960 I think, one of the best pictures starting pitchers they've 0:13:57.000 --> 0:13:57.600 ever had. 0:13:58.000 --> 0:14:01.720 And I really believe that, you know that he can. 0:14:02.120 --> 0:14:04.560 I'm hopeful that he can, but I'm really scared if 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:05.239 he can't. 0:14:06.240 --> 0:14:08.720 I agree, I agree, I mean I put that down 0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:11.960 as well. My biggest fear is that Wheeler does not 0:14:12.080 --> 0:14:15.679 bounce back as expected, and Aaron Nola kind of continues 0:14:15.720 --> 0:14:18.839 that slide of you know he had any array of 0:14:18.840 --> 0:14:21.480 what was at over six last season. I mean, God, 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:25.000 can you imagine if that's he can't bounce back, that 0:14:25.000 --> 0:14:27.000 that would just be terrible. Now, the one reason I'm 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:31.240 optimistic about Wheeler is that he had a similar surgery 0:14:31.320 --> 0:14:33.360 to Merrill Kelly, who bounced back and had some pretty 0:14:33.440 --> 0:14:35.920 nice years with the Diamondbacks and Brad Keller, who they 0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:40.680 just signed from the Royals. He had thoracic outlets in 0:14:40.800 --> 0:14:46.080 him surgery, the vascular kind, and he said when he 0:14:46.200 --> 0:14:48.920 talked to us a couple of weeks ago on Zoom, 0:14:49.360 --> 0:14:51.400 he said he started he felt like about one hundred 0:14:51.400 --> 0:14:55.160 percent by about the All Star break. So you know, 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:58.400 I don't know when they win, Zach might rejoin the rotation. 0:14:58.600 --> 0:15:01.400 But tell you what, if he kind of feels his 0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:03.200 way around the first half and then by the All 0:15:03.240 --> 0:15:05.680 Star break, he's Zach Wheeler of old, that would be 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.920 that would be huge. I don't think anybody would complain 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:13.640 about that. If Zach is thrown like Zach mid July 0:15:13.760 --> 0:15:16.360 through the end of the season and hopefully the Phillies 0:15:16.360 --> 0:15:17.720 hope until deep October. 0:15:19.360 --> 0:15:22.080 I'm in lockstep with you, guys. I mean health up 0:15:22.120 --> 0:15:24.760 and down the roster. It's an it's an older team, 0:15:24.800 --> 0:15:28.480 it's an aging team. We've seen it before. Older players 0:15:28.680 --> 0:15:32.360 more susceptible to injury. The older core of this team 0:15:32.440 --> 0:15:34.720 is very, very important. You lose one or two members, 0:15:34.800 --> 0:15:37.520 you're a much different team. And then you know zeroing in, 0:15:38.600 --> 0:15:41.360 you know, within that concern in the middle of the rotation, 0:15:41.920 --> 0:15:47.520 the iron of the rotation wheeler Nola, guys who've carried, 0:15:47.720 --> 0:15:50.120 you know, very very heavy loads for years. 0:15:51.400 --> 0:15:55.640 One coming back off surgery. One showed honestly serious signs 0:15:55.640 --> 0:16:00.200 of decline last year. So where are those guys is 0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:00.600 going to be? 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:04.320 That's my big fear that we would see a downturn 0:16:04.360 --> 0:16:08.200 in the rotation, serious injuries somewhere that's going to affect the. 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:10.760 Team as a whole. 0:16:11.040 --> 0:16:13.000 Hey, Todd, I wanted to circle back a little bit 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:17.640 on one of my curiosities also is how Justin Crawford 0:16:17.720 --> 0:16:20.440 will react to being an everyday player in center field. 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:22.000 I think that's a. 0:16:21.920 --> 0:16:26.680 Big one too, because I'm not as concerned really about 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:27.960 the offensive piece. 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:31.240 I'm sort of concerned that he can really. 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:35.360 Solidify the defensive side because he has to at least 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:38.840 do that to contribute to the team. And he can't 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:41.480 do that, then you might as well just go ahead 0:16:41.520 --> 0:16:44.640 and throw Johann Rojas out there in center field and 0:16:44.720 --> 0:16:47.560 let him roam around. If you're feeling like he can't 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:51.800 do it defensively, then my concern is then you better 0:16:51.840 --> 0:16:54.520 shore up that defense with somebody who can really play center. Field, 0:16:54.560 --> 0:16:56.600 and Johan Rojas can do that. I know, we haven't 0:16:56.640 --> 0:16:59.640 talked about him much at all over the course of 0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:02.720 the last few months, but it's so important for Justin 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:06.200 Crawford at the very least to be able to perform 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:08.880 at the defensive side of the ball, even though we 0:17:08.960 --> 0:17:14.040 all have some concerns about the offensive collective from the outfield. 0:17:14.720 --> 0:17:18.200 Great point, yeah, I mean, you know, pitching defense. Everybody's 0:17:18.280 --> 0:17:20.280 really concerned about the offense of this team. I guess 0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:23.880 because Garcia has been down the past couple of years. 0:17:23.880 --> 0:17:25.480 And I get it. You know, we don't know Crawford. 0:17:25.520 --> 0:17:27.280 You know, guys at ESPN the other day said this 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:30.000 might be the worst outfield of Major League Baseball. So 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:32.480 I get all that. But they can hang in there. 0:17:32.480 --> 0:17:34.440 If they can get some good starting pitching and play 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:38.120 some good defense. They you guys know it. They can 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:39.840 hang in there and they can win a bunch of 0:17:39.920 --> 0:17:42.520 games with just with a really good starting pitching staff 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:43.720 and some good defense. 0:17:43.760 --> 0:17:44.840 So okay. 0:17:45.000 --> 0:17:48.480 Bold prediction, bold prediction, bold prediction for me. You guys 0:17:48.480 --> 0:17:50.280 can define it however you want it. For bold prediction. 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:54.800 May is it's a bold prediction, it's not. Bryce Harper 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:57.560 is going to win finish top three for n L MVP. 0:17:57.760 --> 0:17:59.480 That to me is not a bold prediction. That's a 0:17:59.600 --> 0:18:03.159 very a that's a safe, not gutsy opinion. And we 0:18:03.200 --> 0:18:05.639 are We're going to be bold. It's Gabe be bold, 0:18:06.000 --> 0:18:10.119 because Gabe Kapler said, be bold, be bold value at 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:13.560 the margins, be bold value at the margins. Okay, last 0:18:13.600 --> 0:18:16.600 year bold prediction. Rubin and I again we were on 0:18:16.640 --> 0:18:20.440 the same at the same wavelength working uh. Rubin said 0:18:20.480 --> 0:18:23.200 he thinks that Bryson Scott will challenge for a NL 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:26.880 batting title. I said Bryson Scott would make the NL 0:18:26.920 --> 0:18:30.120 All Star team. We both felish fourth fell short there, 0:18:30.160 --> 0:18:31.639 but he had a real nice second. 0:18:31.400 --> 0:18:34.360 Half, unbelievable second half, and people don't remember. 0:18:34.080 --> 0:18:37.680 That unbelievable second half. So maybe this is maybe we're late, 0:18:37.720 --> 0:18:38.679 a year late, Ruben. 0:18:39.240 --> 0:18:40.840 I hope so, I hope so for him and for 0:18:40.880 --> 0:18:41.840 the Phillies. 0:18:41.640 --> 0:18:44.000 That would be Truman. That would be absolutely tremendous. That 0:18:44.040 --> 0:18:46.040 would go a long way. And Jim, your bold prediction, 0:18:46.440 --> 0:18:49.479 very bold. You said a Ryan Kirkering would get twenty 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:52.240 to twenty two saves. 0:18:51.840 --> 0:18:53.280 And totally nailed that one. 0:18:54.280 --> 0:18:54.880 But it was. 0:18:54.840 --> 0:18:57.240 Bold, It was bold. 0:18:58.280 --> 0:19:00.720 I remember I mentioned on the show last year that 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:03.560 in twenty nineteen for MLB dot Com we do bold predictions. 0:19:03.600 --> 0:19:05.800 I said Nick Povetta would make the NL All Star Team. 0:19:06.520 --> 0:19:09.639 Didn't happen, but he turned into making a having a 0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:10.840 very nice little career. 0:19:11.520 --> 0:19:14.359 But then we we we we did our predictions around 0:19:14.400 --> 0:19:16.840