[laughs]

We could ...

I mean, I've, I've, honestly, I've, I've said this for a while.

Like, it, it looks, the, and not just this year, but to, to me and, and talking with other people w- in the organization, saying, "I don't know why we don't have baseball 101 meetings in spring training to teach guys how to play the game the right way." And, and I'm serious with that.

I, I, it's, because it's, it, part, I mean, I don't know.

I, I, I think part of it is it can't be computerized.

You can't, it, it, it's something that has to be talked about, that, that people that have been there, who have experienced it, that, that they can lend some, some, uh, education to, to current players.

Do you think that's part of what's going on?

But, but what do you think of, of having him hitting fourth?

Well, when you have a, a, a, a .382, uh, season average with men in scoring position and a .352 average for your career with men in scoring position, um, the one thing Harper's talked about in the past is having somebody... or not maybe Har- Harp hasn't said it himself, but others have said it, like, we need somebody to protect Harper to hit behind him.

This guy hits lefties at a .315 clip.

He's like a switch hitter.

So it doesn't matter if you're stacking a lefty behind Harper.

He gives him protection.

And, you know, the way Turner's swinging the bat, um, and, and Harper, you know, w- if, when he, he's back on track, which he seems to be getting back there, um, you're gonna have somebody on base and maybe somebody in scoring position.

Uh, what did you see from Painter in that last start that could maybe give us some optimism moving forward with him?

but what do you think of, of having him hitting fourth?

Well, when you have a, a, a, a .382, uh, season average with men in scoring position and a .352 average for your career with men in scoring position, um, the one thing Harper's talked about in the past is having somebody, or not maybe...

Harper, Harper hasn't said it himself, but others have said it, like, "We need somebody to protect Harper to hit behind him." This guy hits lefties at a .315 clip.

He's like a switch hitter, so it doesn't matter if you're stacking a lefty behind Harper.

He gives him protection.

And, you know, the way Turner's swinging the bat, um, and, and Harper, you know, w- if, when he, he's back on track, which he seems to be getting back there, um, you're gonna have somebody on base and maybe somebody in scoring position.

And with this guy coming up and, you know, hitting fourth, I just...

Uh, what did you see from Painter in that last start that could maybe give us some optimism moving forward with him?

do you like what kind of message and do you think it is important that it sends to the rest of the team that the face of the team was willing to go from first base to right field when he hasn't played there in five years all those sorts of things even getting taken out as a defensive replacement in the ninth do you think that has a rest an effect on the rest of the team that if that guy is willing to sacrifice then they should be able they should be willing as well

Yeah, I think if you look at, like, Stott going from gold glove second base, even though he hasn't won the award, he's right there with Horner, it seems like, for the last few years.

But having to change positions and go to third, I think he's got to look at it and go, Bryce is willing to go and play right field where he hasn't played in five years.

I got no problem.

I shouldn't have any problem going to third base.

And I think it's a tough position.

and much tougher than second base, just getting used to it.

What did you see from Painter in that last start that could maybe give us some optimism moving forward with him?

Is it

not thinking ahead of time? It's not thinking ahead of time, or is it...

I don't know.

I'm seriously trying to think since last night of what words, but I can't.

I don't understand it.

I just...

And it's, I mean, it's not like it's something like it's a young kid coming up and hasn't spent any time in the minor leagues and learning baseball the proper way to play.

Yes.

Like you said, I don't believe they're stupid people, but I don't know why it just keeps happening.

But it's, they're not stupid people, but they're making stupid mistakes.

And that's, and it's not like you said, it's not JT alone.

And I said, so we've, we've made a number of blunders.

I, I, I don't know.

Is it not thinking ahead of time? It's not thinking ahead of time, or is it...

I don't know.

Yes.

I don't believe that, like you said, I don't believe they're stupid people, but I don't know why it just keeps happening.

But they're not stupid people, but they're making stupid mistakes.

And it's not, like you said, it's not JT alone.

We've made a number of blunders.

I don't know.

Is it

not thinking ahead of time? It's not thinking ahead of time or is it? I don't know.

Yes.

Is it

not thinking ahead of time? It's not thinking ahead of time? Or is it...

I don't know.

I'm seriously trying to think since last night.

Words, but I can't.

I don't understand it.

I just...

Yes.

I

mean, it's not like it's something like it's a young kid coming up and hasn't spent any time in the minor leagues and learning baseball the proper way to play.

It's guys better than guys doing this.

It's not just rookies.

And I just, for the life of me, but, you know, one of the things like I saw JT said was, you know, we can play with you.

We match up with these guys, but we have to be better in the margins, right? Well, that's base running is part of the margins.

I think, I mean, it's, we have to be better at that, but then be better at it.

Yes.

thinking ahead of time? It's not thinking ahead of

time? Or is it...

I don't know.

I'm seriously trying to think since last night.

Words, but I can't.

I don't understand it.

I just...

Yes.

Like, what did you think of Aaron Noah's last start? Is there reason for optimism for him heading into the second half?

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

I mean, the optimism I had after those three innings in that one start you're talking about that he was when he missed, he missed below the knees.

He didn't miss above the knees in his in his last start.

He was down.

I think I think that ball that he hit, they hit out the two run home run was elevated a little bit.

L.A., is Jonathan Bolin your eighth inning guy starting the second half? Or are we kind of going back to the Keller route? Have you been impressed with what Jonathan Bolin's done?

Yeah.

Uh, and not, and not, not taking anything away from anybody else that, that, that played, that, uh, you know, there's only, there's only so many guys can start, and then, uh, the fans voting.

But, um, you know, uh, exactly, to me, like, like Mesoraco, I would love to have seen him pitch in this game.

Um, and it's ...

But c- can you take an extra day? Um, I would certainly think so.

Um, uh, uh, you know, the, the way the, the, the, the game's going and the popularity of it and just, just all the, just the fanfare throughout this whole thing that the week, of, of the All-Star Games, it just, um, y- you wanna see them, and you'd like to, to be able to get them in there.

And I think, you know, adding an extra day or ...

L.A., is Jonathan Boland your eighth inning guy, uh, starting the second half? Or are we, you know, kinda going back to the, the Keller route? Have you been impressed with what Jonathan Boland's done?

What did you think of Wheeler turning the league down and, and not, uh, not joining the team?

I, I got no problem with them doing that.

There you go.

I, I, I don't, um, and I know it's an honor.

I don't know, but cause I've never, it was never an all-star, but, um, I, you know, talking to some guys and talking about it, you know, it's, it is an honor and it's, Um, it's not a, it's a serious game that, uh, I think it's, it's more so than the NBA or I don't know what the NFL is even doing anymore.

Flag football or something.

Yeah.

L.A., is Jonathan Bolin your eighth inning guy starting the second half? Or are we kind of going back to the Keller route? Have you been impressed with what Jonathan Bolin's done?

What did you think of Wheeler turning the league down and, and not, uh, not joining the team?

I, I got no problem with him doing that.

There you go.

I, I, I don't, um, and I know it's an honor.

I don't know, but cause I've never, it was never an all-star, but, um, I, you know, talking to some guys and talking about it, you know, it's, it is an honor and it's, Um, it's not a, it's a serious game that, uh, I think it's, it's more so than the NBA or I don't know what NFL is even doing anymore.

Flag football or something.

Yeah.

L.A., is Jonathan Bolin your eighth inning guy starting the second half? Or are we kind of going back to the Keller route? Have you been impressed with what Jonathan Bolin's done?

Like, what did you think of Aaron Noah's last start? Is there reason for optimism for him heading into the second half?

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

I mean, the optimism I had after those three innings in that one start you're talking about that he was when he missed, he missed below the knees.

He didn't miss above the knees in his in his last start.

He was down.

I think I think that ball that he hit, they hit out the two run home run was elevated a little bit.

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And, and why do you, why do you pick that over the other two?

Um, because I think pitching wins, um, wins championships.

I think, um, you know, good pitching will, will s- will stop good hitting for the most part.

And I, I think we're kind of, I think a, a- I don't know, a, a, a pitcher that with this ball club, I mean, w- good pitching against us, we, it- I won't say it stifled us, but, but we struggled to, to put points on a board against good pitching.

And I think that's, that's not to say that, that, that nobody...

I mean, every- I think everybody struggles against good pitching, and I think that's, that's the, the bottom line.

And, um, I think we've got, we've got good pitching from the rotation for...

Right.

Do you think Bryce Harper is underappreciated in Philadelphia?

Um, I, I, that's a tough question.

I don't know.

I honestly, it's, That's more of a question for the fan base, I guess.

I mean, I guess I'm a fan, but...

Well, I am a fan.

But I don't know.

And why do you pick that over the other two?

And why do you pick that over the other two?

Because I think pitching wins championships, I think.

Good pitching will stop good hitting for the most part.

I think we're kind of a pitcher of that with this ball club.

Good pitching against us, I won't say it stifles us, but we struggle to put points on a board against good pitching.

And I think that's, that's not to say that, that, that nobody, I mean, everybody, I think everybody struggles against good pitching.

And I think that's, that's the bottom line.

Hmm.

Do you think Bryce Harper is underappreciated in Philadelphia?

That's a tough question.

I don't know.

Honestly, it's...

That's more of a question for the fan base, I guess.

I mean, I guess I'm a fan, but...

Well, I am a fan.

And why do you pick that over the other two?

Do you think Bryce Harper is underappreciated in Philadelphia?

Um, I, I, that's a tough question.

I don't know.

I honestly, it's, that's more of a question for the fan base, I guess.

I mean, I guess I'm a fan, but well, I am a fan, but, um, I don't know, I mean, if you follow it enough, just what he's doing now, you've got to appreciate him.

I mean, I do think people do.

Sometimes I think his numbers aren't, you know, they're not Schwarber-like with the home runs, and I think that's gotten Schwarber, you know, a lot of attention, a lot of publicity, a lot of likes, I guess, if you will, from fans.

two?

What did, what did, what did you see from Kirkering there? Because he had been on a real good roll for the last couple of months.

Um, I, sometimes it just comes down to, is there somebody behind me, you know, to, to help, to relax you a little bit.

Like, It goes back to me, the situation, the setup guy or a closer, you know, that there's more pressure on a closer because there's nobody behind him.

On a setup guy, generally, you should be able to be more relaxed.

You've got that closer behind you.

But if nobody's warming up and you notice that, you're like, oh, it's on me.

Right.

factor to him, for sure, 100%.

For the Love.

Um, sometimes it just comes down to, is there somebody behind me, you know, to help to relax you a little bit.

It goes back to me, the situation, the setup guy or a closer.

You know, there's more pressure on a closer because there's nobody behind him.

On a setup guy, generally, you should be able to be more relaxed.

You've got that closer behind you.

But if nobody's warming up and you notice that, you're like, oh, it's on me.

factor to him, for sure, 100%.

It makes the ball, essentially, it increases the velocity of the ball by releasing it closer.

And I think that gives you a better chance to have a swing and miss.

I mean, I don't know.

To me, that's just common sense.

And I mean...

A lot of the stuff I think about, that I see, it's not just me.

It's like stuff that I learned.

That's why.

It makes the ball, essentially, it increases the velocity of the ball by releasing it closer.

And I think that gives you a better chance to have a swing and miss than I mean, I don't know.

To me, that's just common sense.

And I mean, a lot of the stuff I think about, that I see, it's not just me.

It's like stuff that I learned, something that I watched from other pitchers, from Hall of Fame guys, the stuff you learn.

A drill that I talked about yesterday on the air is about standing on the back of the mound and having a catcher move up 15 feet in front of the plate, 10 feet in front of the plate, and get down in his crouch, and you throw from the back of the mound where you land on the uphill side of the mound.

And if your body's out in front of your arm a little bit, which generally happens when you're elevating your pitches, your body's out in front too quick, you'll fall over.

That's why.

It makes the ball, essentially, it increases the velocity of the ball by releasing it closer.

And I think that gives you a better chance to have a swing and miss than I mean, I don't know.

To me, that's just common sense.

And I mean, a lot of the stuff I think about, that I see, it's not just me.

It's like stuff that I learned, some of it I watched from other pitchers, from Hall of Fame guys, the stuff you learn.

A drill that I talked about yesterday on the air is about standing on the back of the mound and having a catcher move up 15 feet in front of the plate, 10 feet in front of the plate, and get down in his crouch, and you throw from the back of the mound where you land on the uphill side of the mound.

And if your body's out in front of your arm a little bit, which generally happens when you're elevating your pitches, your body's out in front too quick, you'll fall over.

That's why.