1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory Foul Territory Network's Cubs podcast. 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Charma with my partner Patrick Moody. We are 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. It 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: is day two of the mail Bag. Like I said, 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: last episode, fans delivered gave us plenty to talk about 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: pitching heavy last time, so we will focus more on 7 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: position players and just general questions here. But there was 8 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: a lot, there's a lot to talk about. Let's kick 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: it off right away. I mean, I think this is 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: something we will probably be talking about a bit during 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: spring training. We'll see if it lingers into the season. 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: This stuff usually doesn't. But where do you think the 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: front office stands with extensions? Does the CBA put them 14 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 1: in a holding pattern or would it behoove them to 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: get them done before, not only with young players, but 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: with vets two that's from Dan Price and you know 17 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: name names in there. I to shorten it up, but 18 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: I think we know like the young players would be 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: primarily Pca and Bush. I think maybe you could, you know, 20 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: you could make cases for guys like Kate Horton even 21 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: match like you know, just get super early extension type stuff. Whoever, 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 1: and then there's three big names coming off the books 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: as far as vets with Nico, Ian Happ and Saya Suzuki. 24 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: I'll let you answer start this off. I obviously have thoughts, 25 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: but go ahead, and you've talked to people about some 26 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: of this stuff and you have your own opinions, so 27 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: go for it. Patrick. 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, when you and I will be in Arizona 29 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 2: essentially every day of spring training, just not at the 30 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: same time, and so when we talk about this stuff 31 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: they'll be covering is looking for the player on his 32 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: phone walking in circles Aro on the parking lot, right, 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: That's usually the good tell. They look a little stressed 34 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: out and it's kind of the middle of the day 35 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: and you know in there in their shorts, their sandals 36 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: and a T shirt, just on the horn, walking in circles, 37 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 2: trying to get some brivacy. 38 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: That's usually that can be a tell. 39 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: That's also for kind of the bubble players if they 40 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: just found out their release. 41 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 3: But our eyes will be peeled for that. 42 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: I think the two names will be focusing on, you know, 43 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: these two different buckets that Dan outlined young players obviously, 44 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: Pete Crow, Armstrong the Cubs are beyond their arbitration cases 45 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: this year. That's usually something you know, both sides want 46 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: to get out of the way first. Pete is not 47 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: an arbitration player, but his agency obviously has, you know, 48 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: an arbitration group that they have to go through first. 49 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 2: Same with the Cubs. So I think Pete, I mean, 50 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: this happened last spring. It went all the way over 51 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: to Japan, or my understanding is kind of around the 52 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: start of the Tokyo series. It was kind of when 53 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: they decided, like, hey, let's table these talks. It didn't 54 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 2: really leak out until a couple of weeks later when 55 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 2: we were in LA and I think both sides are 56 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 2: just going to keep at this. I don't know if 57 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: there's anything imminent or it would get done before opening day, 58 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 2: but there's just such a long runway for them to 59 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 2: get this done that I would kind of. 60 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: Be surprised that they didn't. 61 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 2: At some point when a guy is under this many 62 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: years of club control and there's you know, seemingly a 63 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: lot of motivation on both sides to get it done, 64 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: and then veteran players like I think Nico kind of 65 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: stands alone at this point. I think he is the 66 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: guy that you want to invest in early and commit to. 67 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: Nothing against Ian Half, nothing against Seya Suzuki. I just 68 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: think he's a unique player, an exceptional leader, and he's 69 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: he's done the extension with them before. Our expectation is 70 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: he will not get traded in the next two weeks here, 71 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 2: and you know that those are the two names. To me, 72 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 2: I think a Kate Hortner match out. That's kind of 73 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: more of like a theoretical like thought exercise, like those 74 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: are the two guys, Like, Okay, this should be really 75 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: towards the top of your agenda this spring. 76 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: Right with Nico, he's he's kind of looking like he 77 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: has a chance to be one of the best, if 78 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: not the best, free agents next offseason. But you can 79 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think he has 80 00:04:54,760 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: a huge agency. It's a smaller agency. And look, this 81 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: isn't that isn't the be all end all of these things, 82 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: but it can be. It can be a factor where 83 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: the smaller agencies seem a little bit more willing to 84 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 1: take these before you hit free agency extensions, and they're 85 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 1: not they're not always bad deals. Like if it's if 86 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: it's a solid extension, My guess is, and I don't 87 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: want to put words in Eco's mouth because we haven't 88 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: heard him say this, but I think he would be 89 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: willing to listen on something that maybe isn't like huge, 90 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: purely obviously open market deal. He'd be willing to take 91 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: what yeah, yeah, that that's plenty of money. And also 92 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: I'm giving you a little bit of a deal perhaps, 93 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: and we also don't know what it like. And when 94 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: I say that, I'm not saying like this huge discout. 95 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: He's not taking twelve million dollars a year again, right 96 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: or whatever that was. He's gonna he deserves to get 97 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: paid pretty well. He's also not that old, He's not 98 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: he will be. I think this is age twenty nine 99 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: season that he's entering, So you're talking about an extension 100 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: for like, if it's a four year deal age thirty 101 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: to thirty three seasons, that's a solid, solid especially for 102 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: his skill set. I think the CBA is something worth 103 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: talking about here. I don't know how that will impact things, 104 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: if at all the cubs needs matter here. The Cubs 105 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: have so much money coming off the books, where do 106 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: they spend that money? Is at all on extensions for 107 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: young players? I don't think so. And the free agent 108 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: classes the next two free agent classes just don't look 109 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: that appealing at the moment, and usually that gets paired 110 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: down because one or two of those guys ends up 111 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: signing extension. So the Cubs should be proactive here. I 112 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: think they should be thoughtful and aggressive with this. We'll 113 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,679 Speaker 1: see where they are. I think the CBA stuff is stuff. 114 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: I think, you know, we'll have to ask around about 115 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,119 Speaker 1: how does that impact these things. I think it's really 116 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: hard for them to know for sure, but they that's 117 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: their job to kind of figure these things out and 118 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: plan ahead. So yeah, I think I agree with you. 119 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: Those are the two names. Maybe Bush, I just don't know. 120 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: We just haven't heard anything there. 121 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 4: I mean Bush is represented by Scott Boris, and forgot 122 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 4: that typically Scott likes, historically likes to take his clients 123 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 4: to the open market. 124 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 3: Bush is a little older for a guy at his. 125 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: The sort of salary scale stage of his career, like 126 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: he's gonna have to wait to hit free agency because 127 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 2: he's a college guy who I spent a lot of 128 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: time in the Dodger system. But that one would seem 129 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: to be more of a back burner one. 130 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 3: If at all. 131 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think we focus on the two names, and 132 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: I think we'll probably hear something, maybe not like breaking news, 133 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: but we'll probably hear something over the next six weeks, 134 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,119 Speaker 1: six to eight weeks of you know what's going on there? 135 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: All right? From W Kennedy, How does the organization feel 136 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: about by Asteros catching? His bat seems ready but they 137 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: but have they given up on his defense or will 138 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: that be something to wash Daring spring training. I don't 139 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: think they've given up on his defense. If you would 140 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: have asked me a year plus ago, I would say, 141 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: I'd say their confidence in his ability to catch has 142 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: grown since then. I would also say that there's a 143 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: development thing going on here where his bat is ready 144 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: and he right now is clearly can help this team offensively, 145 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: and they believe impact this lineup. So it's a balance. 146 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: I mean, think back to fifteen and sixteen and seventeen 147 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: when the young guys were coming up. They sometimes had 148 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: to sacrifice the development because it's like, well, this guy 149 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: can help us win and we're trying to win World 150 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: Series right now. I think Kyle Schwarber is one of 151 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 1: those guys like they kind of had to sacrifice the 152 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: times development to get them like to just play him 153 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: or you know, it couldn't always send him down for 154 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: three months to work on his swing. Whatever it may be, 155 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: there were moments like that over those years where you 156 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: had to sacrifice development to win. Now, that may be 157 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: it something that we see happen with Biastais, but yes, 158 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: I do think it's something we'll wash during spring. I 159 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 1: do think it's something that they're going to be monitoring. 160 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: And I think the response I got from Craig Council 161 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: was essentially, you know, I asked him straight up, are 162 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: you confident in him catching? And you know, I thought 163 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: there was a little pause there, so not a like 164 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: emphatic yes, but it was almost like a yes because 165 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: we have to be because he's on the roster. He's 166 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: going to be one of the twenty six men, and 167 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: he will be our third catcher essentially, and maybe if 168 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 1: it comes to it, the backup catcher, the second catcher. 169 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: We'll see how all those things shake out, if injuries 170 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: pop up, whatever, But I think he's going to catch 171 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: some games this year. I you know, probably get behind 172 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: the plate a couple times, and probably they'll they'll work 173 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: on it in the spring. Maybe he'll get a bunch 174 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: of innings back there. 175 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: If I remember correctly, I believe Council's response to your 176 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 2: question also it involves something like, well, he's not a 177 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 2: better defensive catcher than Miguel and Myles or Carson Kelly. 178 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: So until he crosses that threshold, he's probably not going 179 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 2: to be behind the plate. But Miguel and Mayas had 180 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: an injury prone career, Carson Kelly took on a huge 181 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: work last year. I don't know how realistic it is 182 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: to think that he's going to like match last season's performance. 183 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: So I'm with you, you have to kind of read 184 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 3: between the lines. 185 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 2: With some of this stuff, and that I I noted 186 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 2: a little more optimism about Biasterois is catching and also 187 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: just kind of an acknowledgment that he used his time 188 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 2: well in the majors. 189 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 3: Just some of that exposure. 190 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: Helps in the long run that it's he It's will 191 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: still be an enormous responsibility, But I think they started 192 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 2: to sort of chip away at that. And the bottom 193 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 2: line is what you alluded to, that they absolutely believe 194 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: his bad is ready that they're willing to commit hundreds 195 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 2: of at bats to him as a designated hitter at 196 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: that age and given his limited experiences, kind of tells 197 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 2: you all you need to know. 198 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,839 Speaker 3: Now it's up to him to go out and do it. 199 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think one big question with him is like 200 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: his athleticism behind the plate, his his blocking ability, his 201 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: ability to really move behind the plate. You know, if 202 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,839 Speaker 1: you're throwing a lot of breaking balls, do you trust 203 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: this guy to block those pitches in a big moment 204 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: with a guy on third and a one run game 205 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: or something like that. I think those are the little 206 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: things that you have to like. He can probably be passable, 207 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 1: but is he someone that you like, you don't want 208 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: him costing you runs? Like this is a you know, 209 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: team built on defense and run prevention. So that's that's 210 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: just a major aspect of the game that I think 211 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: is harder for us to like see. Clearly it may 212 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: not show up in a box score, but but there 213 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: are ways a catcher can impact the game and and 214 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: you know, hurt your team that aren't obvious to us. 215 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 3: So relationships with pitchers as well. 216 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's certainly, I think, is the type of guy 217 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: that could get that done in the sense like you 218 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: know he could uh, well, what's the word I'm looking 219 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: for he'll put in the work. He has a work 220 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: ethic to get that done. And I assume he was 221 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: in all the meetings and stuff like that, and that 222 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: goes to what you were talking about. It was a 223 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: good experience for him at the end of the year 224 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: there all right, the Cubs bench players are all right handed. 225 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: Do you think this gives an advantage to someone like 226 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: Dylan Carlson who can switch hit over Chas McCormick or 227 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: Kevin Alcontra for the final spot? So right now, Chas 228 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: McCormick signed to a minor league deal, Dylan Carlson signed 229 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 1: to a minor league deal. Kevin Alcontra on the forty 230 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: man roster, so he's the only one that is on 231 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: the forty man roster. Obviously a highly thought of prospect 232 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: with the Cubs still young, still developing. McCormick Astros guy 233 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: right He came from the Astros, right handed hitter, outfielder 234 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: who has had some really good seasons and crushed some 235 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: lefties over the course of the season, coming off a 236 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: couple of bad seasons. Dylan Carlson, also highly thought of 237 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: with the Cardinals, has been a couple of different orders 238 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: since switch hitter. Yes, and solid defender. I don't know 239 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: where his defense and I'm not sure if he's been 240 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: banged up over the past couple of years. I know 241 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: McCormick has had a bunch of injuries. Carlson, I think 242 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: just kind of struggled. It didn't like he kind of 243 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: looked like he was about to break out and then 244 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: kind of plateaued and then now he's not. Obviously he's 245 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: been you know, let go a couple of times and 246 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: signed as a minor league free agent. I think my 247 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: quick answer would be yes, it does give Dylan Carlson 248 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: an advantage being a switch hitter. He has had some 249 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: really good seasons. He's still young. I think you want 250 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: Kevin Olkontra and Triple A playing every day. You want to, like, 251 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: there's two reasons for that. Build up his trade value 252 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: and just get him better, Like he needs to be better, 253 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: Like he needs consistency at Triple A, and like he 254 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: shows these flashes of being a star and then he 255 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: should like and then there's like a month where he 256 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: disappears and his strikeouts jumped. There's just a lot of 257 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: stuff you want, Like I think he chases breaking balls 258 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: a lot. He just like you want to see him 259 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: kind of fix some of these things. And whether it's 260 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: he's impacting the team in twenty seven or he's a 261 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: huge trade piece in July, whatever it is, he has 262 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: value to this organization, and I think it's probably more 263 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: so in that way than as a bench player this year. 264 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: Those two other guys I think could help this team 265 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: a lot. Yes, I think I lean towards Dylan Carlson 266 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: having the advantage. 267 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I highly doubt the Cubs would feel great about 268 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: Kevin Alkintara playing once twice a week and maybe facing, 269 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: like you know, the other team's best reliever in those 270 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: some of those moments, I have a feeling, you know, 271 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 2: that final bench spot or a bench spot that may 272 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: go to a player who isn't even signed yet. I 273 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 2: think there's enough time left, there's enough inventory out there 274 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 2: that I don't think it will be limited to only 275 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: those three names. I mean in a vacuum. Yes, I 276 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 2: would say the switch hitter has the advantage, the guy 277 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 2: with the option has a disadvantage. But like you know, 278 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: I was, I went down that Baseball Reference rabbit hole 279 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: with Carlson McCormick the other day, and like they've each 280 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: had like that one really strong season that made you like, 281 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: if the Cubs had gotten this guy those guys three 282 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 2: four years ago, like that would be almost like a 283 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: headline move for the offseason. Now, it's like, I don't know, 284 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: like see how they present in mesa kind of listen 285 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 2: to how Cubs people talk about them, and then kind 286 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 2: of evaluate who's healthy who's not, Like how the roster 287 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 2: takes shape way deeper in March. Like, I think this 288 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 2: is very much it's gonna be sort of a last 289 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 2: minute type of call. I mean there's usually like a 290 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 2: buffer window between opening day and towards the end of 291 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: camp when guys have have the opt outs and teams 292 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: have to make decisions, and you know this is a 293 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 2: group that never makes any decisions until the last possible moment. 294 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: Yeah ude, I mean the bench was really right handed 295 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: last year too, right justin Turner backup catcher Reese McGuire 296 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: was a lefty right? Uh oh no, wait was he? Yes? 297 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: I can't even remember, uh either way, Like I don't, 298 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 1: I don't, like until they got Willie Castro, like there 299 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: wasn't a lot of lefties on the Yeah, yeah, Reese 300 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: McGuire was a lefty, but that he was kind of 301 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: emergency like that. The plan was pretty right handed bench 302 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: wise gauge workman, I think was it started this season 303 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 1: on the bench anyways, Yes, you'd like some balance. I 304 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: think Carlson has an advantage. And you made the point 305 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: I was hoping you would make exactly like, maybe they're 306 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: not done. There's a good chance where there's a name 307 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: we're not that's not on this list that we're talking about. Yeah, 308 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 1: more left handed talk. Tim powers as is their concern 309 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: that comes offense is too right handed, especially against Milwaukee's 310 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: good right handed pitching. PCA chases too much, which leaves 311 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: hap Mo and Bush. I think we're one good left 312 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: handed batch short. Look, I loved Tim. He's in my 313 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: mentions a lot, and he talks about chasing a lot 314 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: like that is a focus of his and he's right 315 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: to focus on that. It's a really important characteristic want 316 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: to you want players that don't chase. But also I 317 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: think he's eliminating PCA is being valuable against against right 318 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: handed pitchers, and I don't think you could do that 319 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: if I if I'm going I look this up earlier, 320 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: PC I wanted to say had like a one twenty 321 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: five way to runs great a plus against righty's. He 322 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: crushed righty's. He chases, and that's part of his game. 323 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: Chasing doesn't eliminate you from being a good player. If 324 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: your entire team chases, it's a concern. You don't want 325 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: your entire team to chase. There are good teams who 326 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: have pretty high chase rate rates. Actually, you know it 327 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: can work. I don't think that's what the Cubs want. 328 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: Talk to Dustin Kelly and he'll tell you. You know, 329 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: you want to be aggressive in the zone, really focus 330 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: on your pitch. That's kind of like what they preached. 331 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: They don't want to chase. Pah when he stopped chasing 332 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: was like in August, like July and August. He's stunk, 333 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: like he wasn't getting results. He's just kind of like 334 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:48,719 Speaker 1: an outlier. So I wouldn't eliminate him. And then when 335 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: you don't eliminate him, or if you do, because then 336 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: you're eliminating him. Last year too, This is the same 337 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: number of lefties they had in last year's starting lineup, 338 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: just replacing Tucker with replacing Biasterios with Tucker. Obviously, Tucker 339 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: is expected to be much better than by a Saros 340 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: next year. That's just the reality. Could buy a Saro's 341 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: put up like a one thirty one forty way to 342 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: run screat a plus. Yeah. Maybe maybe he's just a 343 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: stud offensive player. I don't think anybody would be that 344 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: surprised by that, because that's his potential Offensively. I'd be 345 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: a little surprised if he did his rookie year or 346 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: his first full year. But he's certainly like a really 347 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: good uh has a high offensive upset. I am not 348 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: concerned about this. I am not concerned about them being 349 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: too right handed. I think it's a very balanced lineup. 350 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: I think the concern last year was there was it 351 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: they were one righty short. They they've added Bregman and 352 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: now they have Shaw on the bench. What we talked 353 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: about before about the bench, you'd like to have someone 354 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: like Dylan Carson or a lefty on the bench. But 355 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: they I think it's a really balanced lineup. 356 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 5: Uh. 357 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:05,479 Speaker 1: They hit righty's. Yeah, they hit righty's last year. They 358 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: crushed lefties I want to say, in the first month 359 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 1: and then fell off. And that's because why am I 360 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 1: blanking on their catcher's name? Oh my god, Carson, Kelly, Carson, 361 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: Kelly Geez Carson Kelly was Babe Ruth in the first month, 362 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: so that Barry Bonds whatever you want to call him, 363 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: He was a stud in that first month, and Ian 364 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: Happ had a really like guys struggled after that. I 365 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: don't think this is a concern and I and and 366 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: I love you, Tim. You just gotta you can't just say, 367 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: like if a guy chases, you eliminate him. There are outliers. 368 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: There are different ways to succeed in this game. I 369 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: agree that chasing is it like if a guy doesn't 370 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: chase and really minimizes his zones and focuses on that 371 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 1: stuff and can like hone in on what he's trying 372 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 1: to do, you can become like a superstar in certain 373 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: ways by doing that. But also like PCA is a 374 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: rare bird and you just kind of have to accept 375 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: his flaws and see if he can thrive. 376 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 2: I think that the chase is part of why he 377 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 2: does so much damage, and that's what modern offenses look for. 378 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 2: And I know that, like this is our job to 379 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 2: explain it to fans. I think we've we've tried in 380 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: our articles for The Athletic and talking here on this podcast, 381 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: But like the Piko Armstrong. You see slamming helmets and 382 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 2: you know, wearing that frustration all over his face is 383 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 2: not necessarily the guy that the Cubs get when the 384 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 2: stadium's empty. And so whether it's like four hours before 385 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 2: first pitch and they're doing their quiet batting practice with 386 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 2: a small group off the whatever pitching machine, and then 387 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 2: a pitcher comes in, Like hearing how teammates talk about him. 388 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 2: In terms of his preparation, I think it's reasonable to 389 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 2: expect him to make some improvements and or to at 390 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 2: least put an honest daily effort into that pursuit. And 391 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 2: this guy is still super young, extremely raw. I think 392 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 2: you don't want to take away, you know, what's made 393 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: him so dynamic. But there's definitely another level of refinement 394 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 2: that I think everyone will be chasing here this year. 395 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's a level that PCA can reach, and we'll 396 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: see if that development can take place. I'm curious, all right, 397 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: it's a general question here, how good is this team 398 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: on paper? I know the projections are sort of all 399 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: over the place, with anything from eighty six to ninety 400 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: nine wins. I'm not sure if I've seen projections for that. 401 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: I think they could win ninety two. Yeah, that's that. 402 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: That was where they were at last year, right, So 403 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: what about you guys, Dan Northrop, look, I like this 404 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: question because it just gives us a chance to gotta 405 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: give a general overview of their potential. I said it 406 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: when they signed Bregman, and I think they made a statement. 407 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: I think they're going to continue to look to get better. 408 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: I expect them to improve at the trade deadline. I 409 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: think this team, you know, wins about ninety five ish 410 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: games and competes for the World Series. You know, obviously 411 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: the Dodgers are the favorites to win the World Series, 412 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: and we'll see if that changes in the next few years. 413 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: But that's kind of how we have to enter the season. 414 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: I think. I don't think they're unbeatable. I don't think, 415 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: you know, the Blue Jays were one, you know, pitch 416 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: away really from from winning the World Series would be 417 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: having a very different conversation about this. And you know, 418 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: these things can come down to this, all these things, 419 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: and that's why the Dodgers are so good is because 420 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: it comes down to the smallest thing and even and 421 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,959 Speaker 1: they have so many advantages, right, they have the margin 422 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: for air, they have so much so a bad season 423 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: for them is is ninety two wins, and then they 424 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: can still make the playoffs and be healthy and crush 425 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: and dominate like they've They've built a lot of room 426 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 1: for air. The Cubs aren't that deep, that good, but 427 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 1: they are really good. And I think I think they're 428 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: a ninety five ish win team. And the reason I 429 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: say that is because I think they're they're probably true talent, 430 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: like ninety two. I don't know, like I don't know 431 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: what their projection systems say, but maybe ninety two ish, 432 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: maybe ninety But I think there. I think there's going 433 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: to be some pop, like a guy like I like 434 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: Biasteros this year. I like Edward Cabrera this year. I 435 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 1: think Caate Horton takes it to another level. Health is 436 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: going to be the biggest thing for me with pitching. 437 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: How healthy are they? I'm assuming health with all this stuff. 438 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: When I say this, I just think they're going to 439 00:25:58,040 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: be a really good team. And I think the offense 440 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 1: is going to be fine, like above average. It probably 441 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: won't look like the team that we saw in the 442 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: first half last year, but maybe they'll be more consistent 443 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: and just you know, very steady offense. And I think 444 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,440 Speaker 1: they have potential to pop. Like I said, I like 445 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 1: Bias Saros. 446 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I definitely don't see like ninety nine wins on paper. Yeah, 447 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 2: you know, looking back on last year, it was kind 448 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 2: of weird how they never like truly got hot all 449 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 2: the time I had. I can't remember their longest winning streak, 450 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 2: but I feel like they did that thing where they 451 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 2: would like avoid getting swept repeatedly and avoided the really 452 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 2: long skin, which is a big part of surviving in 453 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 2: the one hundred sixty two game schedule. You know, I 454 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 2: see them in that you know, eighty seven to ninety 455 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 2: three win band. I think I don't see the bottom 456 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 2: falling out. That's just not really. I think they're deep 457 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 2: enough in the rotation, still expecting more additions here between 458 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: now and when you're in Mesa. In Mesa, Sahadev, And 459 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: don't think the division is that great. The National League 460 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 2: does not look as intimidating as it did. I want 461 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 2: to say the past couple of years when you had 462 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 2: where it seemed like all these talented players were going 463 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 2: from the American League to the National League. 464 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 3: I think that's not quite as pronounced right now. 465 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 2: And I'm with you on the trade deadline, like this 466 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 2: is the year where no one's going to want to 467 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 2: hear about twenty thirty two. Like if they are in it, 468 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 2: they have to like make serious upgrades and really kind 469 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 2: of go for it. I know, I don't think anyone 470 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 2: thinks they're as good as the Dodgers, but I don't 471 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: really look at it that way. They're not in their division. 472 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 2: They may not even have to face them in the playoffs. 473 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 3: Like if the Dodgers get caught in a short series. 474 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,880 Speaker 2: I know they seem invincible now, but that's not really 475 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 2: how it always plays out. So what I wrote the 476 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:23,199 Speaker 2: other day, I think has to be the goal of, 477 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 2: like when your division secure that first round, by augment 478 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 2: the team in a major way at the trade deadline. 479 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 2: Not just the little kind of incremental stuff, but get 480 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: a difference maker, like the skill sets that play in October. 481 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: Maybe that's a high leverage reliever or just a flat 482 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: out closer. Maybe they do need another start, Maybe they 483 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 2: don't get that starting pitcher that they really want during 484 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 2: this kind of last stage of the offseason. 485 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 3: They have to go to it. 486 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 2: Then maybe bia Steros flops or Bragman gets hurt and 487 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: they have to go do something else. 488 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 3: But like, I think this team on paper is not 489 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 3: close to done yet. 490 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and if that's the case, there's always you know, 491 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: then we change the projection and we see, like it's 492 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: it'll be interesting to see how deep they want to 493 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: get this is started. I was thinking about this, and 494 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: it feels very much and we've talked about this on 495 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: the podcast. It's starting to feel very much like the 496 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: theo Epstein obsession with depth before twenty sixteen, where he 497 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: was like almost like paranoid about what could go wrong 498 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: and like we have to, you know, plan for everything, 499 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: and then sure enough, two days into the season or 500 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: however many days it was four days into the season, 501 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: something major did go wrong and they were able to 502 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: cover for it and still be the best team in 503 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: baseball pretty much all season long. Last question here that 504 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: we'll wrap up with from the Lizard King, what are 505 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: both of your favorite all time interviews? Look, I feel 506 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: like we've covered a lot of like fun people that 507 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: are able to talk and uh, you know, get really 508 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: in depth on stuff. And I love talking to pictures. 509 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 1: I mean, current team. There's a lot of guys I 510 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: like talking to Nico Dansby, u Pca Happ, jameson ty 511 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: Own like that. There's some good talkers in that room 512 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: that will give you, like I like digging in on stuff, 513 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: and Nico's really good with that. Phaps really good with that. 514 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: Tyne's really good with that. Over the years, it's been like, 515 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: here's one off the wall. Is Scott E f Ross 516 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: just like a really nice dude who would get into 517 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: the weeds with it. With me, I kind of liked 518 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: Lackey and his sneering answers, like he was almost mean 519 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: to us all the time, and I don't know, I 520 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:47,719 Speaker 1: kind of liked him into it. He was mean to us. 521 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: Ben ZEBs was great. Kyle Hendricks, of course. I think 522 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: for me it is John Lester. It was almost like 523 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: he didn't want to talk to you at first, or 524 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: we would act that way and then and you'd just 525 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: be talking to him for thirty minutes and be looking 526 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: around like John, like I got to talk to other people. 527 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: I thought you had two minutes to talk. He was 528 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: the one that like he would tell me things about 529 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: what's going on with other players and would lead me 530 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: to get like great stories. Like one of my favorite 531 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: stories that I wrote was about Kyle Hendricks kind of 532 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: breaking out and figuring out how he could be a 533 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: take his game to another level in twenty sixteen. And 534 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: I got that because of a conversation with John Lester 535 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: where we were just shooting the shit and trying to 536 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: figure out, like how good is this cub's defense versus 537 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: how good is this starting pitching, and Lester like was like, 538 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 1: I know you, this defense is awesome, but we're awesome too, 539 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: like basically telling me like how good they are and 540 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: like how they helped the defense by missing barrels and 541 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: things like that, and then pointing to Kyle Hendricks and 542 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: told me some things that I wasn't aware of at 543 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: the time about the changes he's made, and it led 544 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: me to a really fun story that I like, I 545 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: just love that and these and it's all the more 546 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: reason why it's like, spend your time just chatting with 547 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: these guys. You don't always have to be recording, you 548 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,239 Speaker 1: don't always have to be you know, it doesn't have 549 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: to be about the idea you came into the clubhouse with. 550 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: Maybe you'll discover something just chatting with them. And that's 551 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: kind of how that happened. And Lester was great at 552 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: that because sometimes you go up to him with an 553 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: idea and it would veer off into so many other things. 554 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: And I just really like talking talking to him and 555 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: getting ideas for other things. 556 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would echo everything you just said, or I 557 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 2: would second that pretty much every name you mentioned there, 558 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 2: I guess sticking on twenty sixteen, it was certainly a 559 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 2: privileged to cover two Hall of Fame caliber leaders in 560 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 2: Joe Madden and theo Epstein. THEOG in particular always kept 561 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 2: you on your toes. You really had to be prepared. 562 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 2: He would throw stuff back at you, kept you on 563 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 2: yours in that clubhouse. Obviously, Miguel Montero is an all 564 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: times is great guy like and I mean Wilson, contrast 565 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 2: too with the unpredictability. You never knew what you would get. 566 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 2: And then I would wrap it up with two names 567 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 2: who've been sort of in the news lately, like I 568 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 2: always appreciated Chris Bryant's honesty and his someone who was 569 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 2: on top of the baseball world, was extremely humble and 570 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 2: respectful and polite and funny. And then seeing the news 571 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 2: that Anthony Rizzo is reportedly joining NBC Sports, I wouldn't 572 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 2: say he was my favorite interview of all time. 573 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 3: He was just one of. 574 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 2: Those like and this is not ripping riz because he's obviously, 575 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 2: you know, an enormous figure. It's he was more just 576 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 2: an unpredictable interview you never know, like he was just 577 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 2: like we got to know him so well, spend so 578 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 2: much time around him that sometimes he'd be tired or cranky. 579 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 2: Sometimes he'd be super chatty. Sometimes he would purposely, it 580 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,879 Speaker 2: seemingly purposely say things just to be productive. And when 581 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,800 Speaker 2: you put all that together, it is great. I think 582 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 2: Rizzo could be really good in studio if he wants 583 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 2: to be. I think he you know, he still has 584 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 2: relationships in the game which matter. 585 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 3: I M clear he's tight with Aaron Judge. He'll be 586 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 3: around the Cubs. 587 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:36,720 Speaker 2: He has this kind of like amazing personal brand where 588 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:40,399 Speaker 2: people in Chicago love him, people in New York respect him. 589 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 2: He's been in two huge markets. He came up with 590 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,240 Speaker 2: the Red Sox. Like he has a lot of knowledge. 591 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,240 Speaker 2: He has a goofy side to him. 592 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:51,719 Speaker 3: He when he. 593 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 2: Wants to, he can really dish it too, like get 594 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 2: inside the game and kind of like you know, poke 595 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 2: people just into terms of you know, whether it's inside 596 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 2: jokes or kind of knowing what's going on in the clubhouse. 597 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 2: So I think he has a long way of saying 598 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 2: I think he has like enormous potential as a broadcaster 599 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 2: if that's what he really really wants to do and 600 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:17,840 Speaker 2: sort of, you know, commit to it and really share 601 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 2: the full breath of his experience. 602 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, those are all great names, and I wasn't. I 603 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: was only thinking players, but that's a good call on 604 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:30,319 Speaker 1: both Madden and and Theo. Miguel Montero was a big 605 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:34,640 Speaker 1: one that you mentioned. I almost forgot about him, Jake Arietta, Oh, yeah, 606 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:38,719 Speaker 1: I forgot. David Ross was was always great. I thought 607 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: he was better as a player than as a manager 608 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 1: with what he'd give us. But you know, we had 609 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 1: great relationships with these guys, so it was there's probably 610 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 1: there's probably like a handful. There's probably there's so many 611 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:54,799 Speaker 1: I'm gonna miss over the years. I feel like we've 612 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 1: been pretty lucky with these with some of these players 613 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: giving us really good info and and mostly very kind people. 614 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 1: I don't have like memories of like, oh man, that 615 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: guy made my life miserable. 616 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,440 Speaker 2: For the most part, all the people we described, you know, 617 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 2: understood our jobs and where we were coming from and 618 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 2: recognized part of their responsibilities was you're dealing with us 619 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 2: and communicating with fans, and that is always appreciated. 620 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: Yep, absolutely all right, well, thanks so much for all 621 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:33,600 Speaker 1: the questions. Everyone, make sure to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe 622 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 1: to the YouTube channel, and subscribe to The Athletic, where 623 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: Patrick cana are on top of all things Cubs. We'll 624 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:40,840 Speaker 1: be back next week with more episodes of North Side Territory. 625 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:41,760 Speaker 1: Thanks so much everyone. 626 00:36:42,080 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 5: Take don't you know I do? Do they do? Lord