1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Constantly hoping for guys to outperform projections, and that being 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: the path, it just instantly brings hollow to fans. Welcome 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: into North Side Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney, where your Cubs 5 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. We had our 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: yearly end of season presser with the President of Baseball 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: Operations Jed Hoyer. I'm one of those people that I've 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: learned over the years to not take too much away 9 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: from these, like we can come away with one conclusion 10 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: and the off season goes in a completely different direction. 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,959 Speaker 1: This one definitely, I don't want to grade the press conference. 12 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: I'm much more interested in what Jed in the front 13 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: office do this winter. But it was hard to not 14 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: come away from that presser and feel a little uninspired. 15 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: I guess I feel like, what is where is this 16 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: franchise headed? What is the direction? And why is there 17 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: no sense of urgency at least outwardly with words. Maybe 18 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: actions will tell us differently, and that's what I think 19 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: fans should hope for. But I didn't come away from 20 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:30,839 Speaker 1: that seeing like time to like enough of this nonsense 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 1: of being a middling team. It's time to go out 22 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: and become a power in the n L. 23 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there's a lot of factors that I think 24 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 2: we can outline as we get into this episode. 25 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: But no, there was no like this is unacceptable. 26 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 2: There was no like pounding the table of we're going 27 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: to make bigger changes, We're going to take bigger swings 28 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: this offseason. If anything, it was doubling down on this 29 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: idea of sustainability and making stacking good long term decisions 30 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: one on top of the other, which is basically what 31 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 2: Jed said when he took the job, or I think 32 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: that exact phrase was used when they let go of 33 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarber because of budget cuts. 34 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 3: And look that that's a big part of this. 35 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: You Jed's the one who's up there, and ultimately the 36 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: baseball operation is his responsibility. But this is an ownership thing. 37 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 2: This is a business side thing. Like the Cubs have 38 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: made it clear they're not going to spend like the 39 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 2: Dodgers or the Yankees, and they will say that money 40 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: doesn't sold everything. Free agency isn't always the fix, but 41 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: it's a huge opportunity that feels like the Cubs have 42 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: sort of, you know, moved off to the side that 43 00:02:54,080 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: they are very comfortable and confident in their systems and 44 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: there you know, the cleanness of their financial books and 45 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: the projectability of their farm system, all sorts of stuff 46 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: that could well be true. There is a solid foundation there, 47 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 2: but coming off of back to back eighty three win seasons, 48 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: seven years since the franchise's last playoff win, it starts 49 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: to ring. 50 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: Hollow, right, you know there, like there are some things 51 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: that I think it's very easy to go too negative, right, Like, 52 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: there were some questions I asked near the end of 53 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: the presser. It got taken in a direction of superstar. Right. 54 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: I never asked Jed about getting a superstar. I asked 55 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: about that May and June, you know, slump of the 56 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: offense or where it was non existent. When we talked 57 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: to Jed over this course of the season. He's brought 58 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: up how Ballinger's performance in twenty twenty three kept them 59 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: from having any big offensive slump when he was on 60 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: the field, when he was in the lineup, kept that 61 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: offense from slumping because he played at a higher level. 62 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: I wasn't saying go out and get a superstar. I 63 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: was asking, do you have that guy in the roster, 64 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: do you believe you have that guy in the roster, 65 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: or do you need to find someone that you know 66 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: helps make sure the lineup doesn't have these deep slumps. 67 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 1: And he took it to the superstar, which he I 68 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: think is fair because he knows like that's one aspect 69 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: of it. And then he started talking about outperforming projections, 70 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: and people freak out about this because listen, you need that, 71 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: you absolutely need outperforming projections to succeed. Jackson Merrill outperformed 72 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: projections this year for the San Diego Padres and there 73 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: they won ninety three games this year. But they also 74 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: had two superstars who oh I think, I don't know 75 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: if they performed a superstar level, and Manny Machado and 76 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: Fernando Tutis, but those guys probably equal to their projections. 77 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: And then Jackson Merrill outperformed. They also traded for Dylan Cees. Uh, 78 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: you know, he did trade away a superstar, but they 79 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: got an impactful pitcher who dominated yesterday and Michael King 80 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: and and and others. They were able to trade for 81 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: Dylan ces because of that trade. Uh, I think you 82 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: do need to outperform projections. Shoho Tani also outperform projections. 83 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: Uh so superstars can do that as well. Wan Soto 84 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: outperformed projections. So like there are there. It's it's fine 85 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: to say that. I get that. You do need that. 86 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: You know he's going to need that. But there are 87 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: gonna be players that underperform projections too, So how do 88 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: you balance this all out? You need some certainty, right 89 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: You want to find players that give you some certainty. 90 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: Here is the baseline. So if if you get a 91 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: guy where the base line is is like you know 92 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: you're getting four wins out of him, that's that's fine, 93 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: but you want him to be a better player, right 94 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 1: Like I just I think like constantly hoping for guys 95 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: to outperform projections and and that being the path doesn't 96 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: isn't going to inspire fans, right And and I think 97 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: that's that's kind of when when that's the message, it, uh, 98 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: it just instantly rings hollow to fans. It's important, and 99 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: I think sometimes it's misread or misheard, but it it 100 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: It can't be the message you're sending and expect positivity 101 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: and people to be like, oh yeah, I get that, 102 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: that makes sense. I'm good with that, you know, it's 103 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: just not it's not going to be a winning message. 104 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 2: And in these settings rarely is there like definitive. 105 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: Stuff. 106 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: There use a couple injury updates, maybe some personnel coaching 107 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 2: changes updates, things of that nature. I don't think this 108 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: format really favors Jed basically an infomercial for Marquee Sports Network, 109 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: like kind of this one man show with pr people 110 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: giving us microphones. I think Jed's passion and awareness and 111 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: you know knowledge shines through better in other settings where 112 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: he can just kind of riff and not be sitting 113 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: on you know, the podium in a sport code. But 114 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: like that this is that's part. 115 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 3: Of his job, like communicating defense. 116 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: He stressed that, you know, it's the first day of October, 117 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: so they don't have fully formed off season plans. They 118 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: have not finalized the budgeting process, so like things can change, 119 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,239 Speaker 2: Like you're not judged on like the press conference. 120 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 3: But it is an opportunity. 121 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: It is reflective of like the organizations, like values and 122 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 2: priorities and expectations, and there was not a whole lot 123 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: of like we have to win the World Series next year. 124 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 2: There was not the standards, the expectations, honestly feels like 125 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: they've slipped or receded a bit from when Jed first 126 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 2: got here with THEO and it was nineteen oh eight 127 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: and there was this subsession about winning the World Series 128 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: and look, this process over time could still really work out. 129 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 2: Like he's right in that they have seven top hundred 130 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 2: prospects and there aren't like bad contracts on the books, 131 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: and they will have flexibility no matter where that budget 132 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: number comes in. They'll be able to pivot and they'll 133 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: be able to bring in more good players. 134 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: It's just. 135 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 2: The cubs from the top throughout the front office, even 136 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: in the clubhouse. You just get this sense of kind 137 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 2: of like, well, our process is good, so like we're 138 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: going to be good, and it just the product has 139 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 2: not been good enough for quite some times. And that 140 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: I think is going to be the real fascinating dynamic 141 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 2: here as we head into the winter and ultimately when 142 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 2: we return to Rigley Field next year, of like they 143 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 2: have to produce next year or else. 144 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's a couple of things you said. You talked 145 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: about Jed's passion, and I enjoy talking baseball with Jed. 146 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: It comes his desire to win often comes across like 147 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: pretty clearly, right, like when you talk to him, whether 148 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: it's just you know, on the dirt before game one 149 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: on one or in a group setting in the dugout right, 150 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: I thought that what happened on Tuesday was kind of unemotional, dispassionate. 151 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: It was not the Hohoyer that we've seen in better, 152 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: you know, circumstances. I didn't. I thought that was part 153 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: of why it felt so negative, that that normal Jed wasn't. 154 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: I didn't feel it. Maybe it was maybe it was 155 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: just you know whatever, the dreary fall day. I don't know, 156 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: but I didn't feel that. You talked about also the money, right, 157 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: like Tom Rickins has talked about how you know, money 158 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: is in everything when it comes to winning, but I 159 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: just don't like that doesn't mean it doesn't help, you know, 160 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean you can't do both. Like the Padres 161 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: have a lot have homegrown talent and have spent big. 162 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: The Dodger can say the same. The Mets are heading 163 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: in that direction where you know they're starting to develop 164 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: talent and they have big money players. It's I'm sure 165 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: I'm missing teams, but like just just going off the 166 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: Cleveland Way or the Milwaukee way. It's not like that's 167 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: what makes Andrew Friedman so special, right, Like what he's 168 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: done is he he's taken the Tampa Bay Way and 169 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: not just that said like we're going to be super 170 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: efficient in LA and lean and mean and you know, 171 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: look at how flexible we are. He took everything that 172 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 1: was good about them and then became a financial behemence 173 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: behind it. And that's not what the Cubs are doing. 174 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: The Cubs are like going back to this you know, 175 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen ish Houston Astros model of trying to build. 176 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: And that's fine, but guess what that Bastards were the 177 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: only team doing it back then. Now there's eight other 178 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: teams trying to do that. But you're not unique. You 179 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: better stand out, you better be better than everyone. And 180 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 1: they haven't yet proven that to us, that they're better 181 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: than everyone and doing these things. So you can take 182 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: an idea that that's effective, But where's the cutting edge stuff? 183 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: Where is the like, where is the you know, ingenuity, innovation. 184 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: I haven't heard it yet, you know, and I think 185 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: or seen it yet, and it has to come in results, right, 186 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: And there's a lot to be positive about. I want. 187 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: I think that's important. This is not a seventy win team. 188 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: This is a team that took a step forward in 189 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,719 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three. Did not when it came to the 190 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: wins and losses, but I think they took a step 191 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: forward with some talent. Right the farm system is solid. 192 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: If there's not an elite talent, I think there's a 193 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: lot of really top talent, And there's plenty of talent 194 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: on this major league roster, like really good players, arguably 195 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 1: great players. Nobody's elite, so you know, we know what's missing. 196 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it's impossible to get better, and they 197 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: certainly can go about it in a very methodical, you 198 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: know fashion, and get better like this, This could very 199 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: well work. We may not like it. We may not 200 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: enjoy hearing what we're hearing. And that's why I say, like, 201 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: don't I don't want to get too carried away with 202 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: a press conference if they go out there and hey, 203 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: they don't. We're not expecting big money spending right at 204 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: the very top with Soto and Corbin Burns that we 205 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: can touch on the Cody Bellinger decision, which I think 206 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: just the way Jed talked, I didn't get the sense 207 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: that he was like Cody Bellinger is coming back. Right. 208 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: He kept talking about all the options he's going to have, 209 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: like three or four times. Right. I got the sense 210 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: that he feels he it makes sense for him to 211 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: opt out. They're gonna have like nearly one hundred million 212 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: dollars if they even if payroll is flat mm hm, 213 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: they should have around one hundred million dollars to spend 214 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: this off season. They're gonna have money to spend. They're 215 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: going to add talent, they're gonna make moves. So I 216 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: don't want to come away from this saying like, oh God, 217 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: they're in such a dire position, and that was such 218 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: an awful presser. It may not matter the pressor just 219 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: maybe the thing that we like, you know what, it 220 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: didn't have. It didn't really have a quote that we're 221 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: going to take away and bring back like those THEO 222 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: years or the like a broken offense or reckoning, like 223 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: none of that stuff is was there. If you want 224 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: to complain about you know, projections and and things like 225 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: that are out performing projections, feel free to do that. 226 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: I think it's a it's a valid point that he's making. 227 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: It just uh, when you're in the situation that you're in, 228 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: it it distracts, I think, and it and it leads 229 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: to easy criticism. I think that's the biggest problem with 230 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: saying that, more than the actual substance of his point. 231 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 232 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: I just think he had like forty five minutes to 233 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: kind of explain that, or take things in different directions 234 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 2: and really articulate a vision and instill a sense of urgency, 235 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: and he didn't. And I think part of the issue 236 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: with this regime thus far has been that kind of 237 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: a certain lack of feel of like, you know, this 238 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 2: is not a rebuild, and then like we're heading into 239 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 2: year five of this and they haven't had a playoff 240 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: game yet, and you. 241 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 3: Know, I've been. 242 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 2: I watched the other night on HBO there's like documentary 243 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: on the making of the Sopranos, and they had this 244 00:15:58,720 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: you know, oh yeah. 245 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 3: Moment from have you seen it yet? 246 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: I started it, but I need to be in a 247 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: mood to get into it. 248 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 3: It was it was pretty it was pretty good. 249 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 2: But they had this great scene from one of the 250 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: actual episodes of Tony Soprano, you know, getting pissed off 251 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 2: at dinner table being like, remember when is the lowest 252 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: form of conversation, And so I tried not to constantly 253 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: go back to like feel or twenty sixteen, but like 254 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 2: it's it's useful in part because Jed was there and 255 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 2: because like you need some sort of anchor to remember 256 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: like where the team was and where they've sort of drifted, 257 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 2: and like how the game has changed, right, And like 258 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 2: you look at the National League now, the Cubs have 259 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: been surpassed in just a lot of different ways, and 260 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 2: there are teams that are coming, like the Mets right 261 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: of Like you take David Stearns. 262 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 3: What he was doing Milwaukee was Steve Cohen's money. They 263 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: weren't even really trying hard this year, right, and. 264 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,959 Speaker 2: The playoffs, and now that is the standard that they 265 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 2: are openly talking about the playoffs every single year. It's 266 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 2: gonna be hard to top that. Like the Phillies figured 267 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 2: it out in part because Dave Dombrowski came in and 268 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 2: operated with more urgency, like he does not care about 269 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 2: long term sustainability. 270 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: And they've had a really long run thus far. 271 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 2: And I don't think the Phillies are just gonna like 272 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 2: go away after this October in part because their owner 273 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 2: had just turbo charged their payroll. 274 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 3: The Padres. 275 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 2: You know, our total outlier, but they've just done a 276 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 2: lot of things to like make themselves relevant, and then 277 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 2: aj Prellar, to his credit, adjusted on the fly and 278 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 2: like rearranged everything, and it took this year a lot 279 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 2: more than eighty four wins. I mean, the Diamondbacks won 280 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: on eighty nine with the seventh best team in the 281 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 2: National League and the Cubs at eight or you know, 282 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: six games behind them, and they lost their you know, 283 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 2: they would not have won a tiebreaker against them if 284 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 2: it came down to it. So I just think the 285 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 2: Cubs have to adapt, and they're certainly making changes behind 286 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 2: the scenes. But I don't know, I wasn't I don't 287 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: know what I was expecting from Jed. I don't know 288 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 2: if they need to like make it turn it into 289 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 2: this like full confessional and like, you know whatever. 290 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 3: But there was not a whole lot. 291 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 2: Of like like, wow, we need to get way better, 292 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 2: we need to change things, like this is this is unacceptable. 293 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 3: That's not what I heard. 294 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: And maybe there's more self reflection behind the scenes, maybe 295 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 2: there's more accountability that will happen during the offseason, but 296 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 2: it just seemed like kind of tent and extremely confident 297 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: that things are going to turn when I don't know 298 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: if there's been enough evidence that that is going to 299 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 2: happen yet it could, no doubt to your point, but 300 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 2: the benefit of the doubt I think is shrinking. 301 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, I think it just comes back to when 302 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: like we keep saying it could, and I think we're 303 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: on the same page, right, We're on the same page like, yeah, 304 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: it could get better, and you know, maybe it goes 305 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:35,719 Speaker 1: down to eighty wins like just right, Like what fans 306 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: want is a little more certainty, but just a little 307 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 1: bit more like you're and I've said this, I don't 308 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: know the past four weeks. Now get to a level 309 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: where and Jed said it, he knows what the goal is. 310 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: There's just doesn't seem to be a full desire to 311 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,239 Speaker 1: get there this off season of project to win like 312 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: eighty eight eight plus games. You get there this offseason 313 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: and all all is forgiven, nobody's gonna complain. You build 314 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: that team and you and you continue to project in 315 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: the eighty eight dish range. He's right, it's really hard 316 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: to build a ninety plus win projection team. Yeah, projections 317 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: don't are harsh man, They're gonna they're not. It's really 318 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: hard to build a ninety plus win projection team. It 319 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: just is now, if you can get it to eighty 320 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: eight dish this offseason, you're gonna be in that range 321 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: of eighty eight to ninety two if you build it right. So, 322 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: I mean there were I think there just wasn't a 323 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: I think ultimately it comes down to there. There wasn't 324 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: a strong statement of we're going to get better this 325 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: offseason and we have a plan like this is unacceptable 326 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 1: to be a team that wins eighty three games and 327 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: frankly was projected to win in the same area, like 328 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: we we can't. We have to do better, right And 329 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 1: he may have said it in some ways, but it 330 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: wasn't forceful and strong enough for the feelings around this 331 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: team right now. Like when you haven't been to the 332 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: playoffs in a full season in six years? Now, is 333 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: that right? Yeah? Six years in a full season. Listen. 334 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: I think it is a big deal to get to 335 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: this point. I know people are saying that he's had 336 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: so much time. When you lose as much talent as 337 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: they did in twenty twenty one, and yes, it was 338 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: a choice, but they weren't resigning those guys and it 339 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: wouln't have made sense to resign those guys. When you 340 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: lose that much talent and you're in this situation that 341 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: you're in, it takes a little while, so that's fine. 342 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: But now we're past that point now of like you 343 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: know that they've had the time. Now now gets to 344 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 1: the point that it's time to meet expectations, you know 345 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: what I mean A couple other things if you did, 346 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: if people haven't read that, like Kylie McDaniel piece on 347 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: the Mets, I would recommend that because you just touched 348 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: on it. Like they weren't supposed to be that good 349 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: this year. This is kind of supposed to be the 350 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: step back with David Stearns with what we've seen and 351 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: Steve Cohen with the money that he has, like hair 352 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: set up really nicely and they had a really good 353 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: season in the farm system. It almost feels like they're 354 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: a little ahead of schedule. And like when you see 355 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: stuff like that and an executive have the impact that 356 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: he's had, like Stearns has had Milwaukee and could have 357 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: in New York, you're you're right, they're set up to 358 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: be a behemoth. I also think uh Saint Louis is 359 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: going to take a step back right that they've made 360 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: that pretty clear that that next year is a step back. 361 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: This is this should be an opportunity, you would think 362 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 1: for the Cubs. Okay, the rail competition is is Milwaukee. Yeah, 363 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have young talent. Sure, but that's 364 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: the difference. Use the money to make sure that you 365 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: have young talent, end power with like and talent like 366 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: big money talent. Right it used this as an opportunity. 367 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: I don't think the Cardinals are going to be down 368 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: for that long. I would warn the fans that are 369 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: that are celebrating this, go look at the system that 370 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: he'm Bloom built in Boston, Like that system is awesome. 371 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: Now you think it's not Breslo that did that in 372 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: the season, those guys I'm Bloom did a really good job. 373 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: I think he got We may learn over the next 374 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,119 Speaker 1: half decades. Oh, this guy got let go unfairly like 375 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: he shouldn't have been let go. He knows what he's doing. 376 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,640 Speaker 1: I hear a lot of good things about him as 377 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: a as a leader. So I'm very curious to see 378 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: how things go in Saint Louis because if they may 379 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: not be down for that long, if he's really given 380 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: full control and allowed to do things how he sees best. 381 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: That that could they could be bouncing back sooner than 382 00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: than some fans expect. So yeah, I wouldn't. Just like, 383 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: you've got to take advantage of these moments when when 384 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: good organizations are down and they're in your division, you 385 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: got to try and pounce and make sure you're, you know, 386 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: take a step up. I think the Cubs need to 387 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: act to make sure they don't miss out on an 388 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: opportunity here to have a nice window of success. 389 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 2: And that's why I don't quite get being worried about 390 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: what a contract might look like in twenty twenty nine, 391 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 2: you know, or like trading away a young player from 392 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 2: like a pretty good farm system who like might figure 393 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 2: it out four or five years from now, like did 394 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 2: the Cubs. Did eBoy really haunt the Cubs? Like Dylante's 395 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 2: certainly outperformed what they thought, like he had a best 396 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 2: case kind of scenario, and he's a really good pitcher 397 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 2: they obviously. 398 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 3: Could have used. 399 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 2: But they needed someone to pitch in the NLCS in 400 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, and that's what Jose Kintana did, and he 401 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 2: contributed to a ninety five win team. 402 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 1: The year after. 403 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 2: It's just kind of like, I don't know that all 404 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 2: seven of those guys in the top one hundred are 405 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 2: going to become like difference makers. 406 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 3: And when is that going to happen? Is that like 407 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 3: twenty twenty eight. 408 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 2: Maybe by the time they figured out, like how much 409 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: patience and runway are you going to give these guys? 410 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 2: You did it for PCA, and it certainly worked out, 411 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 2: and he looks like a really nice player, maybe one 412 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 2: of those guys who could have that five war six 413 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 2: war season. Obviously the defensive counting stats will help in 414 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: that regard with him. 415 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: But like. 416 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 2: I'm with you on the Cardinals, I don't think you 417 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,239 Speaker 2: can like say, oh, they're gonna be down for a 418 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: long time. The Braves with all those long term extensions 419 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 2: they did, they're going to be a playoff factor for 420 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 2: a long time. Certain Mets and Phillies a great rivalry. 421 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 2: The Nationals are building back up. Maybe the Reds or 422 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 2: Pirates have one of those years where they beat projections 423 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 2: all of a sudden and the Cubs are kind of scrambling, 424 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 2: and like again, remember when the Cubs were comparing themselves 425 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: to like the Belichick Brady Patriots, or like the Steph 426 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 2: Curry Steve Kirk Warriors, like that was the standard back then, 427 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 2: and now it's kind of like. 428 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 3: Hey, look what the Diamondbacks did last year with eighty 429 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 3: four wins. 430 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 2: Like it's it's jarring when you think about it that way. 431 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I think that's a good way to frame it. 432 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: Actually it is jarring like it and it feels like 433 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: lowering the standard. 434 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 3: Uh. 435 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 1: And and that's that's, you know, not not what fans want, certainly. 436 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: So it was, Yeah, it was. It was one of 437 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: those I guess it just doesn't inspire confidence right now. 438 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: But again I would I would preach patience to the fans. 439 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: Let's see what they do in November and December. That's 440 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: gonna be most important. Uh. I think there are a 441 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: lot of ways for them to get better. Uh, this 442 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: isn't this isn't a disaster. Uh, this isn't like a mess. 443 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: You said, you said that they have all the right 444 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: things in place, like, yeah, in place for sure. I 445 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: think with the system in particular, it is really time 446 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: for them, like they need to nail their internal you 447 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: know analysis, like they're like they're internal projections of these players. 448 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: Better be right and then and then get moved the 449 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: ones that they see fit and and hold on to 450 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: the ones that they think are going to outperform that 451 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: they can coach up. Because some of this is not 452 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: just projections, right, some of them like, it's okay, here 453 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: are the projections. We think player X is going to 454 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: outperform projections because he works so well with the coaches. 455 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: We know how hard he works, we know how well 456 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: he takes care of his body. We know he's the 457 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 1: one that shows up early and stays late and has 458 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: this makeup Like that's what they really need to know, right, 459 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: And that's the type of stuff that sets you apart 460 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: as an organization. The cost communication between departments that makes 461 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: sure like hey, I'm working with this guy all the time, 462 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: you know whatever, a hitting coordinator working with match all 463 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: the time and letting player development know, hey, this is 464 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: what's going on with this guy. He gets it. He's 465 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: putting in the work, he's taking steps like he's going 466 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: to be a star. Right. Like that type of stuff 467 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: you need, you need to be super in tune with 468 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: and make sure that the guy that isn't doing the 469 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 1: extra work or the guy that is, like you know, 470 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: he likes to take a day off here and there 471 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: and things like that. Okay, well he performs on the field, 472 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: so we got these nice minor league numbers, let's move them. Yeah, 473 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: you know that type of stuff. And I think that's 474 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 1: why we'll like, we haven't seen enough of that yet, 475 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: so you know, we'll see if they if this is 476 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 1: the off season where they start moving guys, i'd be 477 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: surprised if there isn't a big trade. Yeah, So I guess, well, 478 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: we should forget about this pressor in a couple of weeks, Right, 479 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 1: it should not be something that is relevant if they 480 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: have if they're doing the right things, this pressor should 481 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: not be relevant to the discussion by the time we 482 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: hit free agency. If we're still talking about like remember 483 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: that presser, Wow, that really did foreshadow a boring off 484 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,239 Speaker 1: season where they just didn't do anything, then you know, 485 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: then it was a problem. But I agree with everything 486 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: you're saying as far as in general, fans didn't hear 487 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: what they probably wanted to hear, But like, ultimately it's 488 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: the off season that matters. 489 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think this is one where we're going 490 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 2: to be, like you said, some of those THEO quotes 491 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 2: or even the general feeling walking out of there. It's 492 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 2: not something that at least in when I sit down 493 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 2: and write this offseason, I don't think it's gonna be 494 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 2: like pinning that back on Jed or constantly doing the callbacks. 495 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 3: To me, it was more of. 496 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 2: Just kind of the the culmination of the last several years, 497 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 2: and also like it was genuine curiosity of like how 498 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 2: is Jed going to answer some of these questions? And 499 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 2: you had a great back and forth with him, back 500 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 2: and forth implies is more like he It was just 501 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 2: more like genuine curiosity of like how are you build 502 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 2: these projection systems? And when I asked him, is this 503 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 2: the time to kind of maybe be a little more 504 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 2: aggressive and get outside your comfort zone? And like those 505 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 2: answers are revealing and that's his chance to explain, and 506 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 2: that's why we ran his quotes. Like this is not 507 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 2: really like columnizing or editorial. I'd say, just like we 508 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 2: asked the question. You know, it's forty five minutes. You 509 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: pick out what you think was most interesting and what 510 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 2: was most relevant at this particular time and kind of 511 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 2: lives on on the athletic for the. 512 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,959 Speaker 3: For the moment, we'll see what they do. 513 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 2: Totally, it's totally within their capabilities of uh changing this 514 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 2: narrative and giving fans and media something different to talk about. 515 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 2: Just gonna have to wait until, you know, after the 516 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 2: World Series and the free agent market opens and trades 517 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 2: start happening again. 518 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll see. We'll see what happens over the next month. 519 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: I'm sure as the playoffs go on, different narratives will 520 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 1: arise as well as they always do in the playoffs. Right, 521 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: it's like, well, this is how you build a team now, right, 522 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: like we always seem and it's like that's that's the 523 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: way to do it. But you know, we we know 524 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: ultimately there's more than there's so many different ways to 525 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: find success. Uh, yeah, we'll we'll be back at it. 526 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 1: I think we're down to two podcasts a week in 527 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: the in the post or app now that the season 528 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: has wrapped up. So we'll be back at it for 529 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: you guys next week. We'll be coming at you twice 530 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: a week. You're an off season, definitely, when there's big news, 531 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: we'll we'll we'll be right here recording for you guys. 532 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,479 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening. This is Northside Territory. Make 533 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: sure to rate, review and subscribe. Subscribe to the YouTube 534 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: channel and subscribe to The Athletic, where Patrick and I 535 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: will be on top of this likely to be hecticed 536 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: off season. We'll see, uh, we'll see if it's the 537 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: disappointment or not, but we'll be on top of it 538 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: for all of you guys. Thanks for listening to take care,