1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: He does it in a very authentic, genuine way. He 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: is willing to do it. He wants to do it, 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,239 Speaker 1: and real Movetown Harper aren't necessarily willing to do it. 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: Welcome into North Side Territory, Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 2: I'm your host Sahadev Sharma with me as always his 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 2: co host Patrick Mooney, Where your Cubs beat writers for 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: the Athletic. Today we are going to be previewing the 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: Phillies series, The Phillies. Banged Up Phillies come to Town. 9 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 2: They just split four with the Marlins. Patrick and I 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: spent about twenty minutes talking to the Athletics Matt Gelb, 11 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 2: who has been on top of this Phillies resurgence. We 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: touch base on how that happened, how they went from 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 2: kind of a joke to one of the best teams 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: in baseball again, how their pitching has turned around, Bryce Harper, 15 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarber, Cubs fans are very familiar with him. Uh 16 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: and and just you know how impressive this turnaround is 17 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: and what what the Cubs can kind of expect this week. Uh. 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 2: Like I said, they're banged up, so maybe they catch 19 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: them at the right time. But I think, uh, you know, 20 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 2: that's that's clinging to optimism for a team that's really 21 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: been struggling for two months now, so always hoping for 22 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: the turnaround is well, maybe what's some optimists to do. 23 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: But I'm not sure if many Cubs fans are clinging 24 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: to that anymore. Let's let's get to that interview that 25 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 2: Patrick and I did. All right, Patrick, let's get to 26 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: Matt Gil. He covers the Phillies for the Athletic. The 27 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: Cubs have three games against the Phillies the best in 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: the NL. Is it best in MLB or best in 29 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: the NL? I think either way, they're they're damn good, 30 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: and uh that's kind of the opposite of what the 31 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: Cubs are. Uh, Gil, let's just start uh with This 32 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: team was used as an example when Jed Hoyer sold 33 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: off kind of saying he didn't want to turn into 34 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: the Phillies. They were a mess for a long time. 35 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: You covered all majority of that mess, I believe. Can 36 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: you kind of tell us how, you know, give us 37 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: the shortened version, the quick version. We'll get into more details. 38 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 2: But how did they go from kind of a joke 39 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: to the best team in baseball? 40 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: I've covered a lot of it and most of it, 41 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: but you're right, I mean they they were for ten years. 42 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: I mean we're in the desert and they did not 43 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: make the postseason for ten years, which is completely unacceptable 44 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: from you know, a Philadelphia standpoint. I mean that kind 45 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: of market, you should not be the rebuild that goes 46 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: that long. And part of it was, as Jed alluded to, 47 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: is that they held on too long to the previous regime. 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: But you know, really from twenty nineteen when they started 49 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: spending money that was Bryce Harper's first year of the contract, 50 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen to twenty twenty two, I mean, there was 51 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: just a huge acceleration of what they were trying to do, 52 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: and I think they had a lot of different ideas 53 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: and really stuff started to crystallize when they made a 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: change at the top and Dave Dombrowski became the president 55 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: of base operations after the twenty twenty season, so his 56 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: first year was twenty twenty one. And you know, I 57 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,399 Speaker 1: think they've just they've just been better. At first of all, 58 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: they've really hidden free agency, I mean at a rate 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: that is unusual, and they've had their misses. You know, 60 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: Tylan Walker right now, certainly looks like a miss. Nick Castianos, 61 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: you know, probably gonna end up being a miss when 62 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: it's all said and done. He had five has a 63 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: five year, one hundred million dollar deal. He's in year 64 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: three of that. But they've had some, I mean truly 65 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: remarkable hits. I mean, Bryce Harper signed it in twenty nineteen, 66 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, tremendous contract. Zach Wheeler the first, the first 67 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: Zak Wheler deal, which was signed by mac Clentax run 68 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: office one hundred and eighteen million over five years, and 69 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: then they you know, packed down a three year extension 70 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: on top of that. I mean, Zach Wheeler is arguably 71 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: one of, if not the best pitchers in the league 72 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: right now. Amazing hit on that Trey Turner looks like 73 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: a good hit. Kyle Schwarver. You you guys and your 74 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: listeners know really well, was a I think a franchise 75 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: changing the acquisition, simple as that, I mean, which you know, 76 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: I know, uh that so frustrates Cubs fans a lot, 77 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: but uh just did a lot for them both on 78 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: and off the field, and they've really improved their pitching program. 79 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: That's been that's been under the hood, I mean, has 80 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: been a huge thing. They hired Killed Cotham as their 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: pitching coach, a former Big league pitcher who's got, you know, 82 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: advanced history of advanced thinking, and he was one of 83 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: the early adopters of drive Line, but has really done 84 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: a great job of finding the middle ground when it 85 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: comes to his pictures. And they have Brian Kaplan who's 86 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: the assistant pitching coach and has really helped them from 87 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: a biomechanics standpoint. And I think what they do really 88 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: well is they they have found a great mix of 89 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: new ideas with old school thinking. And we don't typically 90 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: think of Dave Dombrowski as a new school guy at all, 91 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: but I think I give him credit and that he 92 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: is very good at figuring out who he should trust 93 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: and who he should listen to. And he has done 94 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: a great job since he took over a weeding out 95 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: maybe the more fraudulent voices in the organization and elevating 96 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: elevating the guys who know what they're doing and know 97 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: what they're talking about and know how to connect with players, 98 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: and that has become a huge thing they've taken. They've 99 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: really taken some pictures and made them better. Christopher Sanchez 100 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: is the prime example. And I think the Braves will 101 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: see I mean some of the Braves the Cubs. Those 102 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: are going to the Braves after this, and that's all 103 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about. But the Cubs, we'll see the Cubs. 104 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: We'll see Christopher Sanchez on on July fourth, on Thursday, 105 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: he starts thirsty afternoon. A remarkable ascension for him. You know, 106 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: they've just they've gotten guys big stuff and no command, 107 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: and they've gotten him in the zone. Jose Alvarado is 108 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: really the poster boy for that. They They've got guys 109 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: on minor league deals and gotten him into strikes and 110 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: have made them lading believers like Jeff Hoffman, a huge 111 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: win for them. They've just gotten guys better. They've improved 112 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: their development at the major league level immensely. And this 113 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: was something that they were not known for. They would 114 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: bring up young players either too early or too late, 115 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: and they were they would become stagnant at the major 116 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: league level. They would not continue to develop in the majors. 117 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: And you guys know this, I mean development has really 118 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: seeped into the big league level now because guys are 119 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: coming up as unfinished products, very talented, but unfinished and 120 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: the teams that can figure out how to continue to 121 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: win and develop these young players at the same time 122 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,160 Speaker 1: are really finding it, you know, finding success, and the 123 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: Phillies have I think, done a great job doing that. 124 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 1: That's a long answer. 125 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, No, I mean that's the perfect overview, because 126 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 3: I think Cubs fans, on one hand, heard what's I 127 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 3: was mentioning that metaphor of I think it was the U. 128 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 3: Darvis trade where Jed was like, there are teams like 129 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 3: the Phillies, Giants and Tigers who saw that cliff coming 130 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 3: and ran straight over it. 131 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,679 Speaker 2: And I don't know, he's not wrong. 132 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: I mean he's right. I mean they made mistakes in 133 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: twenty twelve and twenty thirteen. 134 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: Oh for sure. 135 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 3: It's just as you know, it's weird for like executives 136 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: to call out other teams that specifically, like in a 137 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: negative way. I was kind of taking it back even 138 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 3: though he was right. And like you said, Matt, it 139 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 3: seems like Kyle Schwarber was one of the guys who 140 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: kind of lifted this franchise up. You had this awesome 141 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 3: story in the Athletic, the essence of Kyle Schwarber. I 142 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 3: think there are lasts of great stuff in it, But 143 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: I think you really captured Schwarber's schwarberness. 144 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: With that story of alex Cora. 145 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 3: Schwarber showing up with the Red Sox in the pregame meeting, 146 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 3: interrupts and just goes bro, this guy stinks, let's go 147 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 3: kick Talking about that at starting feature, you absolutely nailed 148 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 3: it the Forber experience. Could you explain for our people 149 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 3: in Chicago who still can't believe the Cubs let him 150 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: go for nothing over you know, COVID imposed budget restrictions, 151 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: like what has he meant in Philadelphia? 152 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: He's just given them. He's just changed, helped change the 153 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: culture of this franchise. And because for years and years 154 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: the Phillies were an organization that that found ways to fail, 155 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: They found ways to lose, especially in September. You know, 156 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: the big thing here was that for September, after September 157 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen, twenty twenty twenty one, the 158 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: Phillies just always would crumble in September. They would find 159 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: ways to lose. And Schober not only has been productive 160 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: on the field, he really has. I mean, he's he's 161 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 1: on the aisle now. Obviously the Cubs are going to 162 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: miss him this week, a little bit of a growing strain. 163 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: He should be back next week. But he's got like 164 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 1: a three seventy five on base percent right now. I 165 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: think he's top ten and maybe eighth in the National 166 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: League on base percent. He is batting lead off for 167 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: the Phillies. He's bad to lead off now for the 168 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: better part of two years. And he just has this 169 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: way about him that he has. I've said this numerous times. 170 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: Like they say that JT. Real Muto is the backbone 171 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: of the team, and he is. He's the catcher, you know. 172 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: They'll say that Bryce Harper is sort of the heart 173 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: of the team. You know, he's you know, lead by example, he's, 174 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: you know, the star of stars. But really, I think 175 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: that Kyle Schuber is just like he has become the 176 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: soul of this franchise. I mean, because he has such 177 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 1: a way of connecting people and making people feel comfortable, 178 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: making them feel confident, and he does it in a 179 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: way that's not forced. He does it in a very authentic, 180 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: genuine way. He is willing to do it. He wants 181 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: to do it, and real Newton and Harper aren't necessarily 182 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: willing to do it, you know, they are willing, they 183 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: want to lead by example. Kyle Schuber is happy to 184 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: lead both on the field and off the field in 185 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: the clubhouse. And I think what's really worked is that 186 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: he and Rob Thompson, the manager, are very similar in 187 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: their ways, their mannerisms, and Schwarber has become essentially an 188 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: extension of Thompson in the clubhouse, and that has allow 189 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: Thompson to be hands off, to let these guys kind 190 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: of do the things because he knows that Schwarber will 191 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: make sure that they're not messing around. And I mean 192 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: it's it's Olex Cora, you know, knows Dave Dombrowski really 193 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: well from their time in Boston, and Cora said that 194 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: he called Shober or he called Dombrowski after they signed 195 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: Schwarbur and said, look like this is going this is 196 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: going to change your franchise. And Dombrowski had done a 197 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: lot of research on He's like, yeah, okay, I mean 198 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: like he thought he was signing a good player and 199 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: a player that would help in the clubous. And I 200 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: think they've been blown away by his effect. Really. 201 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: It's it's fascinating to me because it's not like the 202 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 2: Cubs didn't see that, like they saw that, and that's 203 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 2: part of the reason why they drafted him. But he 204 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,719 Speaker 2: struggled so much at different points that I don't think 205 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 2: he could fully embrace that aspect. When when you're working 206 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 2: on yourself, it's really hard to kind of like go 207 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: around the clubhouse and be that guy that's like, hey, 208 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: you know, you know, chin up and all that stuff 209 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 2: or whatever. However, he does it in his own unique way. Now, 210 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: he got really hot at the end of twenty nineteen 211 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 2: and you could see it coming out a little bit more. 212 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 2: But I think twenty twenty just killed any chance of 213 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: him sticking around. It's too bad because they saw it 214 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: and he just didn't. They didn't embrace it. And I 215 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: think Jed probably would admit, you know, he'd prefer to 216 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 2: have him around right now. I mean, the guys through 217 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: the ledge and power from the left side and that 218 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 2: they like, it's a lot of what they need. 219 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's not the perfect player. I mean, like 220 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: he's led the league in strikeouts each of the last 221 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: two years. He'd added one ninety seven last year. You know, 222 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: he still was at one hundred and twenty ops. Bus 223 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: he's like, you know, twenty percent Betanly garage. But I 224 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:07,959 Speaker 1: think just a lot of what you what you mentioned it, 225 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: you know, tough for him to be that guy when 226 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: he's struggling. He I think he's reached a point in 227 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: his career where he is able to separate those two things. 228 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: And that is really hard to do. I mean, very 229 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: few guys can do that. It's hard for a guy 230 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: to be have to have personal struggles yet to put 231 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: his team ahead of that. And Kyle has done that 232 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: really well. And I think that in turn has enabled 233 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: other guys to do the same thing. 234 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: And I mean you could probably say that about Hector 235 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 2: Narris with the Cubs and the bullpen, but and you 236 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: you covered Nars. You know what a great guy he is. 237 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: He's struggling with the Cubs and it's not a shock. 238 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: You know that. It's part of who he is. You know, 239 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 2: he is going to put men on base and then 240 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 2: wriggle out of those jams. He's not wriggling out of enough. 241 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: I'm curious. I mean, the Phillies, their bullpen was like 242 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: the butt of jokes for years. Is this is this 243 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: idea identifying under the radar guys as this being aggressive 244 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: and spending how did like this shifted quickly and that 245 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 2: that happens with bullpens. It's not unusual to see that. 246 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 2: But how how did this shift and was it a 247 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 2: philosophical change or just the randomness of bullpens. 248 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: It was a philosophical, philosophical shift. It was very clear 249 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: what they did. They chased velossity, I mean for that 250 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: bullpen in twenty twenty and it was the worst bullpen 251 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: I'll ever see, I think data you know. It was 252 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: a sixty game season, but they had like a seven 253 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: something ra and they failed in every imaginable way. They 254 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 1: made trades to try to bring guys in. 255 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 2: Uh. 256 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: It was really bad. And one of the first things 257 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: Dave Dombrowski did upon taking over in twenty twenty one 258 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: was Chase Filossi. The first guy he acquired in trade 259 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: was Jose Alvarado, and at the time he was known 260 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: as this guy who had no idea where it was going. 261 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: Great stuff, just no idea where it's going. And they 262 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: have since targeted that kind of time, that kind of guy. 263 00:13:58,280 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: They have a type, I mean, they really have it. 264 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: It's like they've gone after guys like Alvarado because they 265 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: believe that they have a program to get those guys 266 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: in the zone more. And it's not perfect. I mean 267 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: they've they've had some misses there, but they've done a 268 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: really good job of just raising the bar in terms 269 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: of stuff in the bullpen. And I mean it really is. 270 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: It's crazy. I mean that that bullpen in twenty twenty, 271 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: they just they did not throw hard. And I think 272 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: that Dombrowski when he first took over, it was like 273 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: was just sort of stunned at how the Phillies had 274 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: gone about building a bullpen. And I mean it is 275 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: night and day, it really is, because right now the 276 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: Phillies they don't have a set closer. They haven't had 277 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: a set closer since Rob Thompson really took over, and 278 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: they Craig Kimber was that guy at times last year. 279 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: But Rob Thompson's done a good job of mixing and 280 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: matching and they have, you know, four different guys right now. 281 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: They trust the back there. They have jose Alrado, they 282 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: have Matt Strum, they have Oriyan Kirker and the rookie, 283 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: and they have Jeff Hoffman. And I'm just bringing this 284 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: up now so I can illustrate this. In twenty twenty, 285 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: the Phillies relievers. Their average fastball is ninety three point 286 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: one and in two years time, just in twenty twenty two, 287 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: it went up to ninety five point six and this 288 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: year it's ninety six average. And you know, velosity is 289 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: not everything. We know that, but velocity in the bullpen, 290 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: that's a lot that counts for a lot. 291 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 3: Remember a couple of years ago, Matt, the Phillies needs 292 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: some bullpen help. They acquired David Robertson. The three of 293 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 3: us were in contact a lot at that time. Can 294 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 3: you explain kind of how Ben Brown was viewed in 295 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 3: the Philly system. And my understanding from your explanation was 296 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 3: that the Phillies sort of kind of walled off a 297 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 3: couple of other pitching prospects who were really highly regarded, 298 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 3: maybe had a better pedigree, And just how did that 299 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 3: process go? 300 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: And also like what how does kind. 301 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 3: Of Dombrowski view these guys, because obviously he has this reputation. 302 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 3: I love seeing him at like the GM meetings because 303 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: he's like the only one with white hair and not 304 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 3: wearing all like lu Lu Lennon and like you know, 305 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 3: cool sneakers, Like he's just such an outlier, Like what 306 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 3: did he think of kind of Ben Brown and that 307 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 3: transaction what you have to do to get to October. 308 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: I mean, Dave is still into Davis into what was 309 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: Lulam before lu Leman, and that's Tommy Hillfinger. He's still 310 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: wears a lot of Tommy Hilfinger. So I feel like 311 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: that was the style in the late nineties for most 312 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: of the years. But Ben Brown, a guy that they liked, 313 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: had a lot of injuries, was had you know, was 314 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: really essentially like what we'd call like a pop up 315 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: prospect in twenty twenty two. I mean, a guy who 316 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: finally put it all together, you know, had some helium, 317 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: attracted a lot of interests, you know, big strikeout rate, 318 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: big time stuff. I think there were some questions within 319 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: your organization about like his future role. You know, is 320 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: he a big league starter or is he a bigger leaguer. 321 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: I think they thought he was a big leaguer for sure. 322 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: I think there was some new organization who were kind 323 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: of upset that they traded him away. I mean just 324 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: because of the frame. You know, he's a big guy, 325 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: and it's like, Okay, this guy's got a starter's mentality, 326 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: he's got a starter's body, you know, can we get 327 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: him to a place where he's durable enough to be 328 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: a starter and has the arsenal to be a starter. 329 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: And I think there were so many organizations thought, yeah, 330 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: we could, We could have done that with more time. 331 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: Maybe would have rather trade somebody else, but yeah, I 332 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: mean I think he was in kind of that bucket 333 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: of prospects. They're like, okay, we're willing to make a 334 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: move here to make the team better. He was not 335 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: one of their top guys. He's probably in the you know, 336 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: you know, back end of the top ten, I guess 337 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: at the time for them, probably and really had risen 338 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: into the top ten that summer because of what he 339 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: had done in twenty twenty two. So you know in 340 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: the end as a trade that they would do it again, 341 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: I don't know, probably, probably yes, because David Robertson did 342 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: help them get to a World Series. He got to 343 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: save in the World Series, he got most insane says 344 00:17:58,200 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: that I ever seen in Game one of that World 345 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: Series in Houston, and you know, it was it was 346 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: a pretty big price to pay, and it's probably you know, 347 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: I mean, Debraski has been remarkably restrained in trading prospects, 348 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,239 Speaker 1: and I know everyone's like, oh, Dave Dembraski's just going 349 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: to come in and tearror Harver farm system. And so far, 350 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: the best guys he's traded are Ben Brown and then 351 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: Logan o'hoppy, the catcher for the Angels, But they traded 352 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: o'happy straight up for Brandon Marsh, who you know, was 353 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: a also a young, controllable player who just had a 354 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: better positional fit o Hoppy as a catcher and he 355 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: wasn't going to crack with real Muto under contract and 356 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: you know, still at the top of this game, so 357 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: they trade him for a better positional fit and Marsh, 358 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: you know, has been a contributor for them for the 359 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: last three years now. So those are the best guys 360 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: he's traded, though. I mean, he really has shown restraints 361 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: and trading prospects, and I expect him to do it 362 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: again this deadline because because of where they're out in 363 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: the standings, because of the way the market is shaping up, 364 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: I don't know what kind of like impact type talent, 365 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,239 Speaker 1: especially on the hitting side, is going to be out there. 366 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 1: Is Cody Blunder, you know, Cody Dolander is kind of 367 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: gonna be an interesting trade case. Have you guys just 368 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: gots that yet? 369 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 2: Yeah? That that that will be that will be a 370 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: topic over this angel. Yeah. 371 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's tough because because of those player options, like 372 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: he's if another team is looking at it, it's like, Okay, 373 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: am I trading? Am I giving up a prospect package 374 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: commencer with a two month rental? Or am I giving 375 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: up a package for a guy who's also going to 376 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: be on my team next year for twenty seven million 377 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: because he's got this player option. I don't know, that's 378 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: a I don't know, like that's a I don't even 379 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: know how you answer that. 380 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and he's not he's not hitting for power, so 381 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 2: you know, maybe the Yankees say, like, well he can, 382 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 2: he can just put it over the short porch here 383 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: and right and hit from our power. But watching him 384 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 2: the past month, it's it's been it's been a little jarring. Uh, 385 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 2: he's gonna have to face some mercado. Is that is 386 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: that they're facing on on Tuesday? And then and obviously 387 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 2: Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez. I'm curious about mercado and and 388 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 2: like explain the the Sanchez trade looked like another steal 389 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 2: for the Rays. At one point, right because they I 390 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 2: can't remember who they got, but one of their many 391 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 2: pop up prospects that just like shot up and became 392 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 2: like a top, you know, fifty prospect. But I don't 393 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: think it's looked at as a steal anymore. Just tell 394 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: me what they're facing on Tuesday and on July fourth, 395 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: So I'll start with Tuesday. 396 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: Michael Mercado, another guy's they another guy they traded for 397 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: from the Rays. And it's usually not good business to 398 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: do trades again and again with the Rays, but Philly's 399 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 1: actually hired. It's funny. I mean, Philly has hired one 400 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: of the Rays quants to be an assistant GM. He's 401 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: super young, and Dobrowski basically hired him to run their 402 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 1: R and D, to run their analytics, and was like, 403 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: here you go. And they gave an AGM title to 404 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: get him away from the Rays because he was not 405 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: He wasn't even a I don't think he was even 406 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: a director with the Rays, and so he he has 407 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: helped him on the margins. I think his name is 408 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: Annie Colombi and he has targets and Rays guys, and 409 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: so this guy, Michael Mercatta was one they got him 410 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: in a trade in the offseason. Is again one of 411 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: those classic rays. We have too many guys put on 412 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: our forty man roster. We don't have space for everybody. 413 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: What do you want to give us? And some Mercado 414 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: was a guy that had been moved to the bullpen. 415 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: Really tall, looks the part, throws hard. Phillies decided to 416 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: make him a starter again in Triple A. They liked 417 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: the arsenal that he made some changes to his body, 418 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: complete unknown that definitely did not throw enough strikes in 419 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: Triple A. This year is an interesting arm. I don't 420 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: think they have very many expectations armed. He's in the 421 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: rotation now because both Taiwan Walker and Spencer Turnbull are hurt. 422 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: And so this is the first time that Phillies have 423 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 1: to really dip into their rotation depth. This is gonna 424 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: be Mercado's first major league start. They used six pitchers, 425 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: six stars. I mean for the first you know, three 426 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: months of the season. They were relatively lucky health wise, 427 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: and some Marcado is gonna get a shot and I 428 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: think complete on the total good stuff. Not sure have 429 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: to thrown up strikes and we'll say, what a great 430 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: test to be doing at regular field for your for 431 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: your starting debut, and then on Thursday. 432 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,360 Speaker 2: It's just off Land with this offense. 433 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: So hey, offensive is rough everywhere right now the way 434 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: till you see this Phillies line up the thing I 435 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: tried out, you know, without Harper forbarn Real Mouto this week. 436 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: It's quite the thing. But uh on Thursday, Christopher Sanchez, 437 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: I I don't want to like, I don't want to 438 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: hype this up too much. I mean, like I've never 439 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: I don't cannot remember a transformation quite like the one 440 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: that Christopher Sanchez has made. And he was a guy 441 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: you're right side of. They got him in a trade, 442 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: a small trade between the twenty nineteen and twenty twenty 443 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: seasons for Curtis Mead, who is this like complex infielder. 444 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: He's Australian, not really a prospect at the time, and 445 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: then went to the Rails system and blew up and 446 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: became a top one hundred and top fifty prospect, has 447 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: been in the major leagues, has not been great in 448 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: the majors, and they they got this guy, Christopher Sanchez 449 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: in retur He was a hard throwing lefty, had literally 450 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 1: no idea where's going. People will now remember his first 451 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: bullpen session in spring training with the Phillies in twenty twenty. 452 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 1: They remember very finally now is that like they almost 453 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,959 Speaker 1: ran out of balls because like he in a bullpen 454 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: session and threw so many balls in dirt or thrown 455 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: so many balls at the backstop that they had to 456 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: get more balls for him. And it's like, what in 457 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 1: the world is this guy, like, you know, really thin, 458 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: not in command, command of his body, not command of 459 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: his pitches. Then and for the better part of a 460 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: year now, this guy's been one of the best starters 461 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: in the sport. It's just amazing. I mean, they dialed 462 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: him back, they asked him to add strength. It all 463 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: starts at the body. I mean he put on I 464 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: believe now the number from two winters ago to now 465 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 1: he's added twenty six pounds and not all of his muscle, 466 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,719 Speaker 1: but you know some of it is. And being in 467 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: control of his body has helped him be in control 468 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: of the strike zone. He can repeat his delivery. Now, 469 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: he can throw more quality pitches. And he's developed this 470 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: job which is one of the best off speed pitches 471 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: in baseball. Now the numbers against it are ridiculous, and 472 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: the Phillies have now since rewarded him with a contract. 473 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 1: He's under club control for four more years after this year, 474 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: but he signed a contract for twenty two and a 475 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: half millen which bought out those arbitration years, and then 476 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 1: also has two team options tacked on at the end, 477 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: which would be his first two foe agent years. And 478 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,679 Speaker 1: if he keeps pitching like this, it's going to be 479 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: a massive bargain for the Phillies. But it also, you know, 480 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 1: guarantees him some money. This guy, this is a guy 481 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: who was in Triple A thirteen months ago and really 482 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: not even sure what his place in the organization was. 483 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: So good for him for getting some guaranteed money, and 484 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,679 Speaker 1: good for the Phillies for you know, truly having an 485 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: amazing development story. Now they dialed him back. He was 486 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: starting ninety three to ninety four last year just to 487 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: try to get him the strike zone. Now he's starting 488 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: ninety six and ninety seven again, and he's throwing strikes 489 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 1: and I mean he he's like he's their number four 490 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: starter right now, and honestly, like he Rob Thompson said 491 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: this and maybe hyperbolic, and he's like he would be 492 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: number one for some teams right now, and he probably 493 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 1: probably would. He probably would, Uh, Matt one concept before 494 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: we go. 495 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 3: I wanted to get your thoughts on you've gotten this 496 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 3: long without talking that much about Bryce Harper. He's someone 497 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 3: that cups fans will always feel like as the one 498 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 3: who got away, Like you explain one why ownership's stupid, 499 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 3: money and direction matters, and how has Bryce evolved from 500 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 3: someone who, fair or not, was sort of perceived as 501 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 3: a little bit of a punk and now is this 502 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 3: sort of like elder statesman in the. 503 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: Game crazy right? I mean, I think he's only still 504 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: thirty one years old, but it feels like he's been 505 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: around for twenty years. I think fatherhood has changed him 506 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: a lot. He has three kids now. I think being 507 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,400 Speaker 1: in it being getting out of DC, where he had 508 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: this sort of label as always as the kid, you know, 509 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: as the son of the punk. Like you said, Patrick, 510 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,400 Speaker 1: I think getting out of there really helped him kind 511 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: of mature into the next phase of his career. I 512 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: see a guy who is very motivated by personal success, obviously, 513 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: like he wants to win MVPs, he wants to do 514 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 1: everything he can. But I see a guy who is 515 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: more team oriented now and he's in a place where 516 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: he doesn't have to be the leader. And I think 517 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: in DC, because of how he came up and all 518 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: the expectations put on him there, people looked to him 519 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: to be a leader, and I don't think that's his style. 520 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: And that's okay. I mean, he leads by example, he 521 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: doesn't necessarily lead by his words in the clubhouse, and 522 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: so he's in a place where he feels like he 523 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: can do his thing and he's everyone laughs at it 524 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: because he's such a good pandura, but like he legitimately 525 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,479 Speaker 1: loves it in Philadelphia and like love the culture and 526 00:26:52,720 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 1: was like totally leaned into this psycho fan base and 527 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: he's he's very good at making the fans happy. 528 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 3: And like listening to sports radio and stuff like quoting it. 529 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 3: I love whenever you read about that. 530 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's he's an exceptional panda and he 531 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: and he jokes about it because it's like, you know, 532 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: he's like, I know how people feel about me, but 533 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: he can kind of see, you know, He's like, but 534 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: a lot of this is real, and I actually believe him, 535 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:29,239 Speaker 1: Like I believe that he is just like he's a 536 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 1: big sports fan, and like he I think he loves 537 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: being in a market where people live and die with 538 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: their sports, and he is I always say this, and 539 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: I think it's it's it's probably over the top, but 540 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: like whenever they are at home, and even if it's 541 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: not a big game, but especially in big games, time 542 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 1: stops when Bryce Harper comes to the plate because no 543 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 1: matter what you were doing, you were going to stop 544 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 1: and watch, like him at back because something amazing might happen. 545 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 1: And in a sport where there's nine guys in the 546 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: lineup and you're successful if you're good three out of 547 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: ten times, like it's amazing that this expectations on this 548 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: guy and the attention on this guy that he has 549 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: not only fulfilled it but almost exceeded it. And the 550 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: one thing that is missing Graham as a world series 551 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: right and he's not won a World Series yet, And 552 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: I do believe that that is that is his pure 553 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,439 Speaker 1: motivation at this point is to win a World Series. 554 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: And personally, I mean on a personal level, he's he's 555 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: contributing as much as he can. I mean, I think 556 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: before the injury, you know, on an MVP track, probably 557 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: still even if he just misses ten days or two weeks, 558 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: which is all he might miss. Still on an MVP track, 559 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: he won Player of the Month of National League in May. 560 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: He might win it again in June despite not playing 561 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: for the last few games. So the guy has really 562 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: lived up to the contract. He volunteered to play a 563 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: new position, and he you know, very well might win 564 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: a gold Glove at first base. Is here, He's he's 565 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: been tremendous at first base. So fans love him and 566 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: and and I think that the love as a mutual 567 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: and that's rare that we see that kind of connection. 568 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 2: I love the pandering aspect. If if the Cubs had 569 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: a superstar wearing a Caleb Williams jersey into the ballpark, 570 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 2: that that guy would be embraced immediately. We have dance 571 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 2: by Swanson complaining about the Falcons drafting Michael Phoenix Jr. Instead. Uh, 572 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: but Dansby is a great guy too. 573 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: But you know, Bryce is oldest has become a huge 574 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: Wires fan, and so like, you know, I mean, it's 575 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: it's and like that's real. I mean, like Bryce is 576 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: a Golden Knights fan because he's from Vegas, and that's 577 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: like the team that he has adopted because he believes 578 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: that they're the only true Vegas team, uh because they 579 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: were expansion franchise and there's a lot of thoughts on this. 580 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: He doesn't think the A's are gonna work in Vegas, 581 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: but uh yeah, his son has become a huge Fires fan, 582 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: and it's just it's it's neat to see because you're right, Patrick, 583 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: I mean, he's his Just the view of Bryce now 584 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: is very different and people see him like get tossed 585 00:29:58,360 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: and like, oh there he is again, Like you know, 586 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: just kind of like remember when he would get thrown out, 587 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: you know, ten times a year when he was young. 588 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: But it's like, actually, like he's shown more restraint and 589 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: his reputation has changed. I mean he just yeah, it 590 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: is it is quite the growth, and I think a 591 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: lot of it does have to do with being a 592 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: dad and guys can relate to that. 593 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely. It's a it's a little bit of a bummer 594 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: that the like some of the most fun guys aren't 595 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 2: gonna be there for this series. But I'm still looking 596 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 2: forward to the Phillies coming into town. I just like, 597 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 2: even with all those guys heard, I just don't see 598 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: how the Cubs. The Cubs are in such a funk. 599 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 2: This just feels like the moment where they start to 600 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 2: get like, okay, this is the end. Like they have 601 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 2: to play the Phillies, they play the Orioles, they sandwich 602 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: the Angels in between there. If they lose that series, 603 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 2: then we can really just like say, like all right, 604 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 2: focus on the trade deadline. And I think that's kind 605 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 2: of what these steps two weeks are gonna be. That's 606 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 2: I'll tell you. 607 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: Phillies fans would say that the Cubs are catching the 608 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: Phillies at a good time, and h it is, it is. 609 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: It is not a good lineup right now. It's rougham 610 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: and they had they just over the weekend against the Marlins. 611 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: They split four games and they left you know, a 612 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: million guys on base. They were you know, like three 613 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: for thirty something with runners and scoring position. It was 614 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: not great. But the Phillies are team that's built on 615 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 1: pitching and defense and that is something that they do well. 616 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: Though of course, they made five errors in some of 617 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: these games, so we'll say. 618 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 2: Well, well maybe maybe they'll maybe the Cubs can come 619 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: to life. We'll see, we'll see. I'm not I'm not 620 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 2: betting on it. Thanks so much for the time, Gil 621 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 2: but and hang. 622 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 1: Excited looking forward to it. 623 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 2: Man, take it easy, Take it easy, Gelp. Thanks so 624 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 2: much to Matt Gelp for joining us. That was a 625 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 2: great interview, and thanks to all of you for listening. 626 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 2: This is north Side Territory. Uh please rate, review, subscribe, 627 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 2: do all that good stuff for the podcast. We really 628 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 2: appreciate you listening. We've been getting great feedback. Your interaction 629 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 2: helps make this show go. We appreciate that. Make sure 630 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 2: to read my and Patrick's work at the Athletic. We 631 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 2: got you covered with the Cubs. Read Gelb's work if 632 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 2: you if you're interested in the Phillies. That awesome Kyle 633 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 2: Schwarber story. I can't recommend it enough. And Gelb in 634 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 2: general is just a standout beat writer. His work is 635 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 2: the type of stuff that people in the business will 636 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 2: read to get ideas on how to better themselves. It's 637 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 2: a he's just he's one of the best there is 638 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 2: and it's really I know I read his work to 639 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 2: get ideas and how to attack my beat and and 640 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 2: most of the good ones I know bring up Gelb. 641 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 2: So thanks to him again for joining us. Thanks to 642 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 2: you for listening. We'll be back at it soon. Take 643 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 2: care