President of Citizens Bank Park Dan Fitzpatrick joins the show

Some places take you away.

Some bring you together.

Marathon does both.

Marathon is Florida's family key,

with something for everyone.

You'll find museums and wildlife refuges,

wide open beaches,

miles of warm, clear water,

and the historic seven-mile bridge.

For more about Marathon, visit FLA Keys dot com slash Marathon.

If you are someone you know needs help,

you're not alone.

When things feel overwhelming,

support is closer than you think.

The ERPO Liaison Program connects individuals and families

to trusted behavioral health providers

and vital support services in the community.

Compassion, guidance, resources,

all in one place.

Don't wait to get the help you deserve.

Reach out today at ERPO Liaison Referrals at

co.pg.md.us.

That's ERPO Liaison Referrals at

co.pg.md.us.

ERPO Liaison Program, here for you.

Do you have a dark curiosity?

Heart Starts Pounding,

Horrors, Hauntings, and Mysteries is a weekly podcast hosted by me,

Kalen Moore.

Check out Heart Starts Pounding on the free Odyssey app

or wherever you get your podcasts.

Are you ready here?

Yes.

I don't know this song, so I can't get to it.

That's okay. I just want to know if you're ready for open a day.

It starts with Texas.

You know, you kind of coined that phrase.

It starts with Texas.

It starts with Texas.

415 today.

When the lineup comes out, I'm guessing within an hour,

so we will get that for you.

The Phillies and the Rangers.

Welcome back.

It's the midday show live at Citizens Bank Park Broadcasting

from the Dubor Heart and Lung set of broadcasts.

But Dubor Heart and Lung set of the Delaware Valley's only

Heart Hospital one hour from now.

The afternoon show will join us.

It will cross over for an hour leading into a shortened version

of their show.

They'll take you right up to the game today.

215-592-94-94.

Our Twitter question sponsored by the PI Dental Center.

Your smile is the first thing others see when they meet.

You learn about and schedule your evaluation.

PIDentalCenter.com.

What do you feel more today?

Excited for the season or wake me up in October?

72% excited for the season?

You know what, though?

28% saying wake me up in October.

That feels like a big amount for opening day.

That's disappointing.

If you have a pulse, how are you not excited today

for a baseball team that has world-series aspirations?

I just...

You can have doubt.

You can have...

I mean, I think we all have question marks with certain parts

of the team, right?

You know, the offense, the back of the lineup, the outfield,

even the underbelly of the bullpen.

It could be very good.

We'll see, though.

I believe in Doron and Keller.

Everybody else comes with their own question marks.

Most bullpins and baseball do.

But the team, whether you are way over expectations

or even just around expectations,

the team is supposed to be and projected to be

one of the best teams in all of baseball.

I just don't know how you walk into a season,

but 162 games not feeling excited for a team

that is at least projected to be this good.

Well, that's not how I feel.

But I feel like I can channel the inner Phillies fan

when I answer this.

It's because of the ultimate outcome at the end of the season,

which I don't think is fair, because I think you enjoy the ride.

Because nothing's guaranteed.

I honestly feel like, you know, you should enjoy the ride.

But there's a lot of people who feel like

in order to protect their fillings,

their way to see how the team is hidden

or whatever the other stuff is

and see what it looks like in the post season.

I don't think that's the right way of looking at it.

The way that I think you should look at it

is that this team every year has a chance to go.

And that's something that when you talk about,

say just for example, Colorado fans,

they know every year.

Oh.

That they're not going.

They're dead.

You know what I mean?

They know every year that the best that they can hope for

that they'll have a nice shining young star

that's going to get traded somewhere

and he might be able to win a World Series.

And they'll live, I can't actually do him.

But you're talking about a team that is consistently won

what 87 and 90 games in the last three seasons.

Yeah, it's 87 to 95 in the ish 96.

And always has an opportunity to win one.

I think that's important, man, because that's what I talk about

when you talk about the Eagles and everybody else in the town.

Be relevant.

And I know I see it in a joking matter.

But the Sixers, get in.

You never know it's a little bit different in NBA.

I understand that.

But get in.

See.

And anything is possible.

I'm glad you brought the other two sports up

or other sports up because the format of the post season

to me matters on whether or not the regular season matters

or you get really excited.

Like some people have moved the fillies into the Sixers mode.

Not so much the current Sixers, but where we were with them

a couple of years ago.

I can't do that because baseball, the format of the post season,

first of all, they let six teams in now.

That's different than the old days when it was four or whatever it was to.

Six teams get in.

So it's pretty likely the boys will make the playoffs.

And the other thing is the format is, it's a crap shoot.

It's a point.

Yeah, it really is.

And it's about getting out of the right time.

Yes, basketball.

And they're outlier, sure.

But basketball is typically the best chocolate.

It's typically chalk.

Typically chalk, right?

So even if the Sixers had some hope, like, come on, did anyone really

think there would be a team?

Yeah, if you're a play in, I get that, but you're still in it.

Right.

You still have a chance to anything can happen.

But I understood more the Sixers fatigue three, four years ago

because it was like, they're not going to title.

Just like, we know this.

You can't do that with baseball.

You just can't, like if you told me last year, the Blue Jays

were going to take the Dodgers to the brink before the season started

or even halfway through it, it says, come on.

But they did.

The Phillies in 2022, if you told me they'd be up to one on the

Astros, I would have said, come on.

But then they were.

It's the nature of the game.

So I'm excited for opening day, 215-592-90 for life.

You're a call on that.

And win total.

I'm at 91.

He was at 95.

95.

And what was that bowl prediction from you Douglas again?

30.

I like bone.

30 of them.

30 doubles.

30.

30 fingers.

30 home runs.

I like it.

I like it.

Homeers.

Working out.

Get the plan.

You should go back in here.

He's just fine.

He's actually nice.

He's alright.

He just wants to come.

You know what's right here, Joel?

He's over the wall.

He knows what.

When I said it, Tuck looked at me like, are you drunk?

No, Tuck, I'm not drunk.

Tuckers in here with the studio.

The Tuck of Bagwell's in here with his dad's in it.

Bagwell.

No.

Bagquality.

I said Bagwell didn't.

Bagley.

It's a bag.

As I put your Tuck's name, that's a little....

He's Tuck in Bagwell now.

Bagley.

Bagley.

I like Bagwell better though.

All right, I'm looking at let me I got it here. Okay. Philly's opening day line up. I believe it's the exact lineup

We saw in their final spring training game on Monday, Hugh the first Philly's lineup of the

2026 season leading off at shortstop trade turner batting second the designated hitter is kind of swirmer

batting third the first baseman Bryce Harper batting fourth the F for mentioned

30 home run guy according to Hugh Douglas. How many home runs he got to hit one the day. Well that would go like two or one

I'm thinking I'm thinking

Two seems a little lofty for the first game. Yeah, I'm right at the gate. I'm gonna give me one

I'm gonna go I think I'm gonna go ahead put some money on this. Okay, so the cleanup hitter

Hugh's 30 home run prediction guy Alec boom hitting fourth the fifth five place hitter today in the five hole is the

Second baseman Bryce's thought he's my

Bull prediction guy. I think he's gonna start the all-star game right here in Philadelphia the six hitter the new right

Fielder Adolus Garcia batting seventh the left fielder's Brandon Marsh batting eighth the catcher JT Real Muto

batting ninth the center fielder

Justin Crawford so the first lineup for the Phil C is in turn her turner Schwarber Harper

Boom Stott Garcia Marsh Real Muto and Crawford. I was gonna about to ask you

What do you think of boom getting the first crack at cleanup?

But I already know what you think you think it's a home run. I think you got one of the party. Yeah, I think on that one at the

part

I'll tell you man if we get a bone home run today

It's good. You're gonna come in here

I mean, yeah, if we get a 643 double play, though

I'm gonna remind you of your prediction. All right, let's go back to the phone calls here

And then I want to get to the starting rotation here and how great they could be this he's a Jeff in Wilmington is up on WIP

And he's pumped up. What's up Jeff opening day is my favorite day of the year

When Chris called in the morning early. I mean earlier today

I'm from the Middletown area, so I can remember every single opening day in little league all the way up through big league in high school

And I even played junior college, so it's a big deal if you're a player and

I don't know man. I just get excited for it. I'm gonna enjoy every single game this year

I'm not I want to get to October, but I don't I can wait

Yeah, and you know what it is Jeff? I think as the season goes on

What we'll figure out what this team is like their strengths their weaknesses?

Who's having a good year? Who's not and we'll kind of start projected like that's it's that it's one of those things

You start projecting what October could be and what they need like that's just a natural flow of the season

But we'll get there that that comes in time today is opening day and I agree with you

It's just there's something different when you wake up on opening day

And Kyle can give Chris my number. I'll be in Middletown on Saturday, so I'd like to meet up with him

But here's my prediction 97 wins and an appearance in the world series

But here's my bold prediction. I see two of the Philly's pictures flirting with 20 wins with Naruto and fan shows

Some places take you away

Some bring you together

Marathon does both

Marathon is Florida's family key with something for everyone

You'll find museums and wildlife refuges

Wide open beaches

Miles of warm clear water

And the historic seven mile bridge

For more about marathon visit flak.com slash marathon

If you are someone you know needs help you're not alone when things feel overwhelming

Support is closer than you think the ERPO liaison program connects individuals and families to trusted behavioral health providers and vital support services in the community

Compassion guidance resources all in one place. Don't wait to get the help you deserve reach out today at ERPO

liaison referrals at

pg.md.us

That's ERPO liaison referrals at

pg.md.us

ERPO liaison program here for you

Hey, this is John Rothstein the host of inside college basketball now part of the CBS sports podcast network reminding you that our show is going

ramp up over the next two months

That's because we're counting down the selection Sunday and March madness

We will be coming to you each and every week with multiple episodes

Each drink exclusive interviews with the biggest and best names in the sport

It's the all you can eat buffet for college basketball junkies everywhere

Follow and listen inside college basketball now in the free audacity app or wherever you get your podcast

Well, you know what that is pretty bold it's bold because there's just not many pictures anymore

They just get that many wins. It's just the nature of the way they handle bullpins now and all that

But Jeff if there is a team that we could do it the Phillies typically

Let their starters go deeper than most teams. It's like if they're they're pretty old school now

Like they'll let them go six or seven if they're pitching well

So it wouldn't surprise me if if we get a 20 game winner

I mean, it's kind of rare now. I mean, even the best pictures like you know

They went 10 11 12 just because they don't pitch that many innings

It wouldn't shock me if a Philly pitcher did it

This was our Harper's team too. It's still his team

Sure, we might be the main guy as far as it in the home runs

But this was Harper's team and he's got to prove it this year. I think you know all right Jeff good phone call man

We appreciate it there

A pair of 20 game winners you that's a big prediction. That doesn't happen much. That means there's

Some some some hell of a pitch well. It is. Let's talk about this pitching staff. All right, so

We know it's a strength of the team and I think there's a

A sense you that it could be not just a good rotation not just a very good rotation, but I truly

Great rotation Larry Anderson talk into the afternoon show about the starting pitching and why he's so high on the team because of those five guys

Barring major injury to our to our rotation our pitching staff

I still think we've got a good shot at any year we've had I really do

I mean when you look at Sanchez

Luzardo, you know, barring the hiccup he's you know, I think he was still in the top 10 and say young last year

Seven I believe yep, seven. That's what I thought um, so you know Sanchez him wheeler comes back

I mean, I I seriously think wheeler is gonna be back sooner than than people were thinking yep

And I you know other than the Phillies just want to be very cautious with them very and understandably so

But you know, I really the way what I've seen I think he

They could have pushed him if they wanted to and if he wanted to

They could have pushed him a little bit and had him ready for the start of the season

I really I really believe that I don't think they should have right

But I mean that's that's how good when I saw him throwing on the side and that was three weeks ago

Uh, I remembered look and I might have said this to you guys then I looked at Francia. I'm like

Didn't you just have surgery in the fall? Yeah, um, you know, but that's how good he looked

Well the emergence of wheeler quicker than we thought changes the the the outlook on the rotation

He would could be truly a great rotation and it has been

Up there in recent years. It's not like this is coming out of nowhere

But we're reaching a point now where it's it's it's funny how fast it flipped like three years ago two years ago

The rotation was Wheeler

Nolla right and then it was okay the emergence of will pain or arrive soon

It was the emergence of of Christopher Sanchez. Sanchez what's happened in the last year or so and it's happened fast

It feels to me like Sanchez and maybe Luzardo will see how if he can be consistently excellent

They've kind of ascended to the top while you still have Wheeler who's coming off the surgery

So we'll see how he is and then Nolla's kind of fall back

It's like those top two have given way to this new

young pair of guys like

It happened faster than I thought but we could be looking at rotation where Sanchez and Luzardo are their best every turn through

And if Wheeler could be what he has been it's the best top three in baseball

You know what and you know, it's funny. I was just thinking this about air Nolla like in the past since I've been here

He's had some some rocky stars, but he's always settled down. So how

I guess the question I have is is how much are we willing to deal with that?

You know because he he had a pretty good showing it when he was playing in the world baseball classic

But he has a propensity to go back to that that old norms

So how much how how comfortable are we with him getting off to like a rocky start?

Well, I'll say this way. I think no my by accident

He's going to be better than last year right because last year he was bad. Yeah, it wasn't just like he was poor by any standard

Not just a down arinol year

You if he's what he was two years ago

You'll take that good with that because because he to me he's not as important as he used to be

He's the 4th starter now. He now he's a he's a very expensive and famous 4th starter

He's one of the best in Philly's history, but he's the 4th starter now

So so basically what we're looking at will are coming back being what he was which he looks pretty good. Yeah

Uh

How much are we how much are you expecting from Painter?

Like to stay in the fifth like is there any anywhere in any any world that you see him potentially

Moving up in the starting rotation. Yeah, I mean good

I mean once in a while you get a guy that has that surgery and then like the second year

They are they started to pop a little bit. Yeah, it's like they're not themselves the first year so I

I still think there's a chance

He is what he was supposed to be because it feels like that is cool, right?

Like the way people talked about him three years ago to the way they talk about him now

It is changed people don't talk about him as much as the best prospect in baseball the best armor in baseball

But I it wouldn't shock me if that kind of conversation comes back if he performs, but I look at him

Can he be a 4th 5th starter to like I don't need no and painter to be great

But what you said about Wheeler feels like the linchpin this if Wheeler is himself

Then I think no and painter can just kind of ease into things

Yeah, you have three guys you're like wow, but you're looking at that are that are clutch

Yeah, but it could be a truly great rotation. I mean I think so and I think I think for me the way that Wheeler

We had a chance to talk to him the way that he basically approached his rehab and everything

Yeah, I'm I'm not gonna pressure pressure myself. I'm just gonna let it come to me

It sounds like he's in a good spot. He's in a good space right now

I have one concern about the starting rotation what's that and and it's really it's a double whammy

But it's one thing the concern I have he was is health and depth

They're not very deep in the starting rotate like they have Taiwan right and Taiwan is

That's a good six starter to have right because he'd go in the bullpen if he didn't too

He said it's a million games like he's fine as a six starter

But you look at one of the reasons why I think the mess are gonna be in this thing is they have like nine guys

That could start games. We don't really have that. They got a deep roster. Yeah, right

They can withstand if one of the starters goes down a month or two

Yeah, we can't we're not in that that safe space. We're not especially like we know the starting pitch

It's gonna have to carry them. I look at it as if you tell me right now

That Sanchez

Luzardo Wheeler

Give us close to 100 starts combined like the three of them all pitch 30-ish

90 to 100 I feel great, but if we have some injuries

I remember last year we brought Mick Abel up and he helped out

We don't have that like guy a triple A that's just ready to come up and pitch

So if I have one if there's one thing that holds them back from being a truly great rotation

It's if these guys missed some time

Nolan missed time last year, although they were kind of freaky injuries

Painters coming off, you know never being a big league or so we see his body old. Yeah, yeah

He had an up and tumultuous time down there and Wheeler's coming off the surgery. Yeah

You until we see him fully back. We don't know so

I'm with LA on this the health is the question

If they are healthy and you tell me those guys

All pitch most of the year

I'd be shocked if they're not one of the three or four best rotations. I can see that definitely. I'm with you on that

Yeah, they could it could be one of the best we've seen around here

Really really ever which which is saying a lot because it was about some great rotations

All right, we're getting set to be joined by guy you hear with us every opening day. It's just a tradition

It's an opening day tradition

Just like the baseball Dan Fitzpatrick the president of citizens bank joining us Dan. Good morning

Good morning. Great great great great to be with you and gelham. I'm listening all the time

I never call, but this is nice to do it in person

That's right. Yeah, so what's the feeling?

Do you still get the goosebumps on opening day? Absolutely opening day is special

It's such a you know that it's the festival of the city everybody comes together

Everybody leaves work early. You come to the ballpark

And so for all of us citizens is just exactly and citizens bank park is a special place and I and always a

Particularly electric on opening day. Yeah, tell us about you know once again

Another year of the partnership and and the stadium continues to evolve here

Was in the new era team store the new new era team store. It looks great

The Hall of Fame club. It's it's a park that is now this will be what you're 23

23rd year of the park and I never

Every year I come in I never feel like the park is in its 20s

It still feels to me like a newer park, but but still with that vibe that it felt like in the beginning

Absolutely, Johnny. It's the oldest stadium in the national league east wow

But the nicest stadium in the national league. I agree with that. Yeah, I've never been a Miami, but the other ones I think it's just it's an intimate setting

That's great for the player great for the home team right puts a lot of pressure on the visitors and

And again, it's also the the amenities for family friendly thing

You know the yard the wiffle ball park down the hall added some new playgrounds

You got to make sure it's family friendly, but also electric when the ball when the game starts

No question about it

Damn fits Patrick president instead of suspect with us as he joins us every opening day

To get ready for the season. We got some beautiful weather and we got big expectations

Dan what you're feeling on the team this year as

Boy, it's it's like they keep knocking on the door and they keep you know getting to a point where we feel like

This could be the year it hasn't happened yet

And they bring a lot of guys back, but also some new young players incorporated it

I love the new players, you know, just come come

I love Crawford

Going right in that starting line up in center field. I think that's an awesome ad and think about this

So I think the pitching is as good as last year as and the bullpen's better

So I think I think we're in great shape and I think about you know that donger series

Meadows nip and tuck we didn't have wheeler, you know, you're kind of spotted in one game without wheeler

If we get wheeler healthy back in May

It's it's gonna be a great year and then you know, we're gonna turn it up in October again right October will be

Really tough on the opponent again. No question. Do you have any bow predictions because we like to do a little bow

Yeah, one of mine was I said Alec bomb is gonna hit like 30 home runs

Is she blew away with that one? Yeah, when he said 30. I was like whoa

I'll go with 95 RBI's, but maybe not okay homeers okay two years ago

He had the big RBI year which we need and and you know again, you know

Bryson needs some protect that the lineup's gonna be really interesting how how topper you know lines it up here because uh, you know

You've got to make sure the

Harper gets the pitches. Yeah, of course here and the other thing that I find interesting within this run

We're having here is we have a real villain now like the Dodgers

I respect the hell of them. They're a great team. They're I mean obviously back-to-back world series champs

But as I kind of look forward I I kind of like that everyone is ready pagan them to win the world series again

I like that there they're the they're the bad guy and I you think back to last October Dan those games here were so tight

Absolutely the fillies never seem to fear them the Dodgers got the best they won credit to them

But if they face off it feels like the fillers are one of those things that like we think we can beat you

I like the number yeah, oh absolutely the Dodgers think they're the best team 700 million dollars can buy yeah

But we have an ownership and John Middleton that's passionately committed to winning

So we have a great team as well and I think the left-handed pictures. We have control Otoni

Wheeler controls Otoni. I mean that's the thing we we neutralize him better than any team baseball

Why we match up well and that's the thing we've won the season series the last two years. There's no reason again

You know you can look at a an umpire call in one play and it's just that one or two plays here there if we can reverse that

You know, it's it's different and hey the reality is we played the world series in the first round and playoffs last year

It felt that way very short. Yeah, I felt when that series started

I was like the winner of this is going to win the whole thing and then it played out that way

So you mentioned the call here call there the ABS system that is new what's your thought on it?

So I I was anti all this new technology baseball kind of like the old rhythm of the game

But the more you see it the more you kind of kind of come around to it

What do you think of it? Are you excited to watch it and for me the strategy is going to be the most interesting

Not so much the oh he's right. He's wrong. They changed the call when teams challenge a call

Yeah, that's going to be the big thing

I'm all for it because I think too too many big moments happened on bad calls and

Where I sit there it was the interesting and we sit right behind home plate

We also have the TV monitor so we get the box

So I do remind the umpires when they when it's egregious right not on the edges edges are okay

But but we've been some there's been some really bad calls that have changed games and again

Been going on for a hundred years in baseball so I like the tradition as well

But I do think it's time given what's happening in the NFL

NBA get that precision

Yeah, let's have precision and make sure we get calls right and but you to your point out

It's going to be the strategy when you use it

Yeah, and your point on the technology that that really if we as fans can see it's wrong

They can't ignore it, right? So they had to kind of catch up with us because we're seeing it

You know a million angles every single time Dan you mentioned the left-handed pitchers

We're gonna see Christopher Sanchez today

You know the feelings have been built an interesting way with a lot of stars that they imported whether it be a trade with JT or some big signings

But to be a great team you also need to develop players and that trade they made for Sanchez hard-thrower from Tampa Bay

It took him years right to to figure it out and when he first got here

I was like all right

Yeah, I mean I see something but I would have never guessed that he could become what he's become

They just reward him a new contract

What a great of all the stories that they've developed this story

They have developed another homegrown ace. Oh, it's amazing because I mean

He was throwing a hundred at but wasn't a pitcher. Yes, and they said no

You have to become a pitcher and you know, he still goes to 98 when he wants to and needs to

But that change up is just almost unhittable

When the best pitcher you're back to you know having a coal hammer

Probably better a better version called could be he's really he's really great

As great as coal hammer and that's saying a lot because coal is a borderline hall family absolutely that but that's how good with we all think Sanchez is

Hey, he's incredible. He's gonna pitch today Dan. We appreciate you hopping on as always another great season here at Citizens Bank Park

And let's plan to do this again next opening day now. We appreciate all you guys do keeping us

Yeah, entertained and informed on sports and Philadelphia. So thanks so much guys

Appreciate it be a part of it Dan fits back to his past week the president of citizens bank

All right, 215-592-94-90 where we got a lot to do rest of the show

I could spike you're gonna jump on here with us at one o'clock your calls coming up win total

I'm at 91 use at 95 bull predictions. He was going 30 home run 30 on them for Alec poem

I got prices stopped starting the all-star game here in so in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park excitement level opening day

And come to the side cows gonna throw some overunders at us as well by sell predictions for the fillies next

Right here live at Citizens Bank Park on the midday show sports radio 94 WIP

Some places take you away

Some bring you together

Marathon does both

Marathon is Florida's family key with something for everyone

You'll find museums and wildlife refuges

Wide open beaches

Miles of warm clear water and the historic seven mile bridge

For more about marathon visit flak.com slash marathon

If you or someone you know needs help you're not alone when things feel overwhelming

Support is closer than you think the ERPO liaison program connects individuals and families to trusted behavioral health providers

And vital support services in the community compassion guidance resources all in one place

Don't wait to get the help you deserve reach out today at ERPO liaison referrals at

pg.md.us

That's ERPO liaison referrals at

pg.md.us

ERPO liaison program here for you hey everyone

I'm Josh Radner and I am so excited to tell you about how we made your mother a rewatch podcast looking back at how I met your mother

And I'm here with Craig Thomas who co-created the show along with Carter Bayes. Hi Craig. Hey Josh

Somehow it has been 20 years since the show premiered. That's seem I'm gonna check the math on that 10 years

Since it went off the air and we thought that made this a perfect time to look back

See what that how we did and why the show still seems to resonate with fans around the world today

Follow and listen to how we made your mother wherever you get your podcasts