Hittin' Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast

The Phillies Start the 2026 MLB Season with a 'Complete' Win

·45 min·4 clips

Bryce Harper's opening day struggles lead to a discussion about his bat speed decline and need for a Greg Maddux-like adjustment.

The episode begins with hosts Justin Clu and Liz Roescher noting the Phillies' opening day victory amidst a broader MLB context where six teams had yet to play. They highlight Kyle Schwarber's first-inning home run, his history of opening day homers, and his post-game comment that the Phillies are a 'complete' team, which they debate given offseason criticisms. The analysis shifts to Bryce Harper's poor performance, including two strikeouts, and a deeper discussion about his potential decline in bat speed and need to adjust his approach, comparing it to Greg Maddux. Alec Bohm's three-run home run is noted, but the conversation turns to his lawsuit against his parents for allegedly siphoning his money, raising concerns about its mental impact. Christopher Sanchez's dominant start with 10 strikeouts and zero walks over six innings is praised, with hosts pointing out he was worth 8 WAR in 2025, second only to Aaron Judge, yet underrated by MLB.com. Rookie Justin Crawford's multi-hit debut is highlighted as a positive. The bullpen's struggles, particularly Kyle Backus allowing runs, are discussed, along with John Duran's save and the altered stadium intro due to ads. The episode covers other game notes, like Brandon Marsh's doubles and the new ABS system, with a humorous aside about pitchers challenging calls. It concludes with previews of upcoming games, including Aaron Nola vs. Jacob deGrom and Zach Wheeler's rehab start featuring an 'all you can eat ribs' promotion, ending on a hopeful note for the season.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Hittin' Season: A Philadelphia Phillies podcast