00:00Because the M.O. for the past couple days has been, let's take an early lead and then we'll blow
00:03it late.
00:04They went to extra innings and finally knocked off the Atlanta Braves yet they're seemingly never going to win another
00:09game in Major League Baseball, Craig,
00:10despite a roster loaded with starting pitching, a really good bullpen, and a lineup there that has MVPs and power
00:17strokes all over the place, seemingly can't get out of their own way.
00:20So, Craig, let's also double down on this.
00:22Alex Cora was removed.
00:23We opened the show talking about managers that might be able to be moved early in the season.
00:27And Rob Thompson in Philadelphia, as we call him, Topper, he's getting a lot of heat here early.
00:33He is.
00:33I do think the Phillies will turn it around.
00:36I can't see this continuing all season very similar to the Mets.
00:39And the Mets have this easy schedule coming up, too.
00:42And as you see, they'll take advantage of that, you know, to a degree.
00:45But it was funny this week.
00:47They didn't fire a manager.
00:48But, Donnie, they did fire a player, Philadelphia, right?
00:50Like they told Tyjuan Walker, it's time to go.
00:54I mean, he hasn't really done much.
00:56And obviously, they're going to pay him the rest of the season.
00:58So, you know, it's a little subtle moves.
01:00It's a big move, obviously, financially.
01:01But it's a little subtle move like that.
01:03It's kind of like a kick in the you-know-what to the team to say, hey, look, if you
01:06don't perform, maybe we'll cut somebody else.
01:09I have to believe Christopher Sanchez, who had a tough start this season, or this past week, he'll be fine.
01:15I do think the Phillies will get it going.
01:17But as we saw last year with Atlanta, what does get it going mean, Donnie?
01:22You know, like, can this team play over 500 ball?
01:28And how long will it take?
01:30Like, if they play seven games over 500 ball, that only puts them at 500 for the season, Donnie.
01:35That's not good enough.
01:36So it does feel like they've buried themselves to a degree.
01:41But I don't think it is over for them.
01:43Too talented, as you mentioned.
01:44Getting Wheeler back this weekend, also a good sign.
01:47Yeah, Wheeler pitched in the game yesterday.
01:49They did pick up the victory.
01:50But you're like, like, Christopher Sanchez has struggled as of late.
01:52His ERA's still under a three.
01:54He gave him a lot of money.
01:54You didn't have to give him the money.
01:55But you know what?
01:56We're going to do the right thing.
01:57We got you real cheap.
01:58Looks like you're going to be the ace of our staff.
01:59Let's extend you give a little bit more money.
02:01Good on the Phillies for doing that.
02:02We'll see if it pays back.
02:03But then you go out and say, okay, you don't really need Ranger Suarez because we got Luzardo.
02:07We're going to give him a monster deal.
02:10Kevin ERA to start this Major League Baseball season.
02:13And also some of the things behind the scenes that you look at.
02:16Like JT Riomuto, you saw him down from Miami for a couple years.
02:19One of the best defensive catchers.
02:20And his bat was really good.
02:22Bat's starting to fade.
02:23But there is still something to handling a pitching staff.
02:25He's down for a couple weeks with an injury here.
02:27Johan Duran, who was one of the best closers in Major League Baseball.
02:30Guys wasn't even pitching in games, Craig.
02:32And he got hurt.
02:33So the expectations after the Phillies are, okay, he got the win yesterday.
02:36Where do we go from here?
02:37But the one thing you need to lean on is Harper's doing very well to start the season.
02:41Schwarber got a mega deal.
02:42He had the powers there, but 192.
02:44You look at the line of Alec Boehm, who's having so many issues, Craig.
02:47Off the field as well.
02:49149 on this season.
02:50Bryson Stott, they call him the daycare kids here.
02:53244.
02:53The players that they needed to step up early have not stepped up in the pitching staff,
02:57which you thought, Craig, could get you through.
02:59Not very good to start.
03:00Yeah.
03:01And they do still have a ton of talent.
03:04You make a really good point about JT being hurt at this point, really being a veteran
03:09presence on that team.
03:11And certainly he'll be around.
03:12It's just not being able to play.
03:14Injuries have caught up as well.
03:16I see the Phillies as a 500 team right now.
03:18I think that's probably their destination at the end of the season, which means they're
03:22going to play fantastic baseball from here on out.
03:25But just such a difficult start for them.
03:29And I don't know what will happen with Rob Thompson.
03:33My guess is that a 500 finish will not be good enough for him.
03:37And certainly it was not good enough for Joe Girardi when he was there too.
03:40But bigger questions are going to have to be asked and somewhat rebuilding this roster.
03:44But Donnie, you can't get on a team like this in the National League, batters 6, 7, 8,
03:50and 9 giving you nothing.
03:51And that's kind of been the story for them all year.
03:53That's a major problem.
03:53Exactly.
03:54Yeah, but it's either they hit a two-run home run or nobody scores.
03:57Like the fact that they can't say walk two singles and score a run, it's not happening.
04:01Let me ask you this question too, Craig.
04:02For the remaining parts of the season, would it be more likely that Rob Thompson is relieved
04:07or do you still think he's going to be here for the remaining parts of the season as well?
04:10Regardless of what happens, good wins or bad wins, what do you think?
04:14If they're cruising around this record five, six games under 500, he's not going to make it
04:18through the year.
04:18No, I think if they're 500 or better and somehow climb out of it, I think he does.
04:22But no, the Phillies cannot be sitting on Memorial Day five games under 500.
04:28Can't happen.
04:28And let me tell you something.
04:30Being a Philadelphia Phillies fan, that place has already sold a lot of tickets before the
04:34season started for this season in anticipation of a good run here.
04:37If they are in the months, Craig, of July and August not playing good baseball, these players
04:42will wish they weren't playing in Philadelphia.
04:43It will be a hellacious season, but there is time to turn around here.
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