1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: It's not there, and so that's why this month of 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: June I think will be fascinating to see if they 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: can finally get their act together. 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: Welcome into Northside Territory. I'm Sahade Sharma with my co 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 2: host Patrick Mooney, where they're your Cubs beat writers for 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 2: the Athletic. 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 3: This is your Cubs podcast. 8 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 2: We are going to be talking about the reeling Cubs, 9 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: losers of six straight series. Patrick, I said it before 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 2: this weekend, this is where you got to start to 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: make ground. I looked it up before play on Sunday. 12 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 2: Twenty five straight games. They're in the midst of twenty 13 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 2: five straight games against teams that are not five hundred 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: below five hundred, and that started with this series with 15 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 2: the Rets. So it's not like it's over. That stretch 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: has just begun. This is the stretch where you start 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: to make some moves in theory, either you're one of 18 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: the teams those teams in the middle, or you make 19 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: some ground and you push up and you say like, hey, 20 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 2: we're right there with the Brewers. 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean we're sixty games in. 22 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: I think that's a good snapshot. You got a team 23 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: that's under five hundred negative run differential lost six straight series, 24 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: including us all four of your divisional opponents, and as 25 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not a big math guy, but like 26 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 1: to get to ninety wins at this point, they got 27 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: to go sixty one and forty one. 28 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 4: Don't see that happening. 29 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: I think this start has definitely ratcheted up the pressure 30 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: on this team. It's significantly decreased the margin for error, 31 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: and it's led to a lot of, you know, wide. 32 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 4: Ranging questions of like where this team is headed, what 33 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 4: do you got? What do you see coming? 34 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, one question, I see a lot that I hear 35 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: a lot, and and that now people are are starting 36 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: to doubt the move. Is like, what's the point of 37 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: hiring Craig Council if you're going to get the same results? 38 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 3: Right? Here's here's the thing. 39 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 2: I think it's kind of silly to start questioning Craig 40 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: Counsel as a manager. I think it's it's an overreaction. Yes, 41 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: the Brewers are playing very well. I wouldn't suggest that 42 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: that has anything to do with Craig Council leaving. Like 43 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: we've said before on this podcast, I think that has 44 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: to do with they're a well run organization, like the 45 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 2: Cubs need to get to that point where no matter 46 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: who's in charge, no matter who you trade, you have, 47 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,839 Speaker 2: you make the right moves and you're able to kind 48 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: of stay at a high level. But Craig Counsel is 49 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: like he's managing a team that's not playing as well. 50 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 2: Part of what you know. When a lot of last 51 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: year when we'd talk about David Ross, I felt like 52 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: my point kept being like, this is more than David Ross. 53 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: Is David Ross a great manager? 54 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 3: I don't. 55 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: I'm not sure about that, not yet. He was probably 56 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: an average manager, right the big If you want to 57 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: point to some issues from last year, it's probably overworking 58 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: the bullpen. He went pedal to the medal kind of 59 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 2: out of necessity, right, Yeah, they were ten games under 60 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: and he had to like ride his relievers who only 61 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 2: had like four of that he could trust. 62 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 3: It didn't work out. 63 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: They ran out of gas, right, But the team Also, 64 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: if you want to point to issues, right if you 65 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: say like this team should be better, this team should 66 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: be winning more games, and there were underlying numbers like 67 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,839 Speaker 2: base runs, pig daggory and record which is basically run 68 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: differential that said they should have those numbers aren't saying 69 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: that those numbers right now have the Cubs, like you said, 70 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: they're minus twelve and run differential base runs has them. 71 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: They're actually winning them won one more game than expected, 72 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: Like they are better team than they should be with 73 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: the way they're performing now. Now, is that on Craig 74 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: council that they're not performing as well? 75 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 3: I think it's the players. 76 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: I think just like last year when we were when 77 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: when people were complaining, I think majority of this falls 78 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 2: on the players. They're not delivering. They're not performing. Like 79 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 2: I don't know what buttons He's supposed to push to 80 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 2: make this a better team right now? Uh, they they're 81 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: trying all sorts of things, evidenced by calling up David Body, 82 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 2: you know. So it's not like they're he's he's literally 83 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: talking about David Body being a power bat against lefties. 84 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: And I'm kind of taken aback by this, by like this, 85 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: this can't be the difference for this team. This can't 86 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: be what what flips a switch? That has to be 87 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: the Stars playing like stars? And like if you wanted 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: to point to Saturday as like some moment, it almost 89 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: immediately disappears in the second inning yesterday, right yeah. 90 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 4: Yeah. 91 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: Momentum is not a thing really in baseball. It isn't 92 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 2: a game. 93 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 3: I believe. 94 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: I believe within the game, there is momentum. Saturday, they 95 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: swung that momentum, right. It felt like it all went 96 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: towards the Reds when Saya drops that ball and he 97 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: hits the Grand Slam, and you feel like, Okay, they've 98 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 2: swung the momentum in their favor. Right, Yeah, second inning 99 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: on Sunday it felt like a moment Ben Brown loads 100 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: the bas'es, no outs, and it was like a soft hit, 101 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: a hard hit on a good pitch. And then he 102 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: hit a batter that was kind of like, if you 103 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: look at the replay, that dude just stuck his leg 104 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,559 Speaker 2: into the pitch. But yeah, right, he got on bass, 105 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: basses loaded, Jonathan India hits a sac fly, Will Benson 106 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 2: strikes out, and you're thinking one run, bases loaded, no outs, 107 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: that's momentum in cups favor. If Ben Brown gets out 108 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: of this two on TJ. Friedel, clubs are getting out 109 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: of this. And then he leaves a curveball, just hangs 110 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: it in the zone middle middle. Freedol doesn't miss it, 111 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: which the Cubs have missed a lot of those pitches too, 112 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: and it goes from one nothing to four nothing. It 113 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: goes from Ben Brown wriggling out of a jam to 114 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 2: the Reds kind of took advantage of that moment, and 115 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 2: the Cubs just have not done that. They have not 116 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: taken advantage of any moments that they have, any of 117 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: those small mistakes that the other team made outside of 118 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: the first couple weeks of the season. They just have 119 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: not done that. Like their numbers with runners in scoring 120 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: position with two outs, and I'm not saying like you're 121 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: supposed to have be awesome in those situations all throughout 122 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: a season, but they can swing like how how you 123 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: feel about a game, how you feel about a team, 124 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: how you feel about an offense. And the Cubs are 125 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 2: like batting like one ninety something with runners in scoring 126 00:06:55,839 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: position and two outs. Third worst in baseball, I think 127 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 2: the Cardinals and White Socks. The White Socks are just 128 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: like the worst at every Like you put in any 129 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: statue into fans, it's like, who's the worst, it's the 130 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: White Sucks. Well, well, we'll get to the White Sox 131 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: at another and it's soon, like pretty soon. 132 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: In that is a big crossdown preview of just go 133 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: to whatever category and fangrass and see who's twenty and thirtieth, 134 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: and there's good chances that you'll see like the Cubs 135 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: and or White Sox and almost. 136 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 4: Every including you meet me in the parking lots as well. 137 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 2: So I mean, if you can't, like there's so many, 138 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 2: like the runners in scoring position stats are at a 139 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: point where it has to flip, right. It's it's one 140 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: of those things that I'm like, the offense may not 141 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: be good this year, but also like runners in scoring 142 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: position can't just can't be this bad all season long. 143 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm with you on the momentum stuff. 144 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: Of I think that's just a hired kind of concept 145 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: in general of like, hey, this late game comeback that 146 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: I mean, we were talking to Dansby in the Wrigley 147 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: Clubhouse and it was technically Sunday morning. 148 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 4: This was well after midnight. 149 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: They had to you know, and one player was joking like, 150 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: you'll be seeing me in the same clothes, you know, 151 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: for pregame tomorrow, and then another reliever was joking, like 152 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: I think it was stretch was like noon was like 153 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna go just gonna go straight to the bullpen. 154 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: When I show up to the ballpark, I can do 155 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: my stretching throws there, like it was just kind of 156 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: a delirious moment or the like, hey, battling back in 157 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: the ninth to only lose by one or two runs 158 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: instead of three or four runs, Like. 159 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 4: Don't care. 160 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: But I do think there's momentum within seasons, Like I 161 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: think confidence comes and goes. I think there is organizational 162 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: momentum of like if certain things hit, then who knows 163 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: what that will mean for the front office or ownership, 164 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: what they're willing to do moving forward, and especially around 165 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: a team like the Cubs. 166 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 4: Like we've talked about this before. 167 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 1: The highs are exaggerated and the lows are exaggerated as well, 168 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: and it's like impossible to totally wall all. 169 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 4: Of that off. 170 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: And you know, we do see here Craig Council hasn't 171 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: changed and I don't think he's like absolutely at fault 172 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: for everything that's gone on in the Cubs organization that 173 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: preceded his arrival. But it's hard to say like he's 174 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: doing a great job. I mean, you are what your 175 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: record says you are, and we haven't seen some huge 176 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: transformation in this team and now I do think within 177 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: the clubhouse they would say what they're expecting is that 178 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: August September extra energy and stamina to go all the 179 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: way through. I think that sees a pretty conservative manager 180 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: in that regard, and. 181 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 4: That's where you know, I think in the bullpen they're 182 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 4: gonna they. 183 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: Expect to feel that, to not feel run into the 184 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: ground shortly after the trade deadline. 185 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 3: But. 186 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 4: A momentum to like Ben Brown. 187 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: I thought that was a great moment to zoom in 188 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: on for your Takeaways column today in the Athletic wrapping 189 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: up that series of like, obviously you can't get down 190 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: whatever four or five runs early, that's not a winning formula. 191 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: But part of this year is Ben Brown figuring stuff out. 192 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: And like we all know he has the physicality to 193 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: be a major league starter. He's got great stuff. He's 194 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: like a curious, thoughtful guy who wants to get better. 195 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: So he's probably gonna learn a lot from that. You know, 196 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: that was a big moment, did not execute. You would 197 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: hope it's gonna better next. 198 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 4: Time, But like. 199 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: We don't know how long Ben Brown is gonna like 200 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: stay healthier, how long his run will last. And so 201 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: it's like if he's throwing seven innings, Like you gotta 202 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: kind of ride that wave with him, you know, forever 203 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: long it lasts. And like it's hard to just think like, oh, 204 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: Brown's like good, so like let's just passle them in. 205 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 4: For the next five years. That's just not how pitching works. 206 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 4: So you kind of have to take advantage with this stuff. 207 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 4: And that's what I think. 208 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: This past month field like just a massively wasted opportunity 209 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: for the Cups. 210 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're not taking advantage of the good pitching, right, 211 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,719 Speaker 2: There's there's different wasted opportunities. I guess in last year, 212 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: the wasted opportunity was like this team is playing well 213 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: and somehow they're losing games. This wasted opportunity is just 214 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: like wasting a subset of the team's like high level performance. Yeah, 215 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 2: they they're they're starting pitching is performing like a top 216 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: five unit in baseball and and they're not winning enough games. So, 217 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: like you said, you don't know how long that lasts, 218 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 2: especially when you have a guy like Ben Brown is 219 00:11:58,160 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: a big part of it. 220 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 3: Who nothing against Ben Brown. 221 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 2: He's going to wear down at some point, Like I 222 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 2: think he's I don't know what his career high in 223 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 2: innings is, but it's not like significantly above one hundred. 224 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: And he's already at what like sixty he's at he's 225 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 2: at fifty one, and his career high is like like 226 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: a little over one hundred. Like I said, so one 227 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 2: hundred and three, I believe. So that's, you know, that's 228 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: he's coming up close on that. All he's already halfway 229 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 2: there and we're you know, a third of the way 230 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 2: through the season. Now, well we'll see, we'll see what 231 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: type of innings limit he'll be put on. Jordan Wick's 232 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 2: is close to coming back. 233 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 3: I believe they. 234 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: I think he made a start yesterday. Was that yesterday 235 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: Sunday at Triple A, and and it council didn't have 236 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: anything definitive to say there outside of what we'll map 237 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 2: out next steps once he's you know, once that starts 238 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 2: done and he's he comes out of it healthy, assuming 239 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 2: he's healthy. So I mean, maybe that's how they limit 240 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: Ben Brown's innings. But also he's been pretty damn good. 241 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 2: Do you want to take him out of the rotation? 242 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 2: I don't know. I think it like he was pretty 243 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: self aware after that game, like you can't make mistakes 244 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 2: like that on O two It's very funny to see 245 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 2: a guy whose biggest question was like can this guy 246 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 2: throw enough strikes to like he threw too many strikes 247 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: in this one bad start that he's had. He needs 248 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: to throw a chase curveball there, Like that's that's pretty 249 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: you know, it's pretty basic stuff. Right in baseball, you 250 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: get ahead O two, you don't there something middle middle, 251 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 2: which could just speak to command in general. He's not 252 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 2: like some pinpoint command artist. Yeah, I don't know where 253 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 2: like I'm it's starting to get to a point where 254 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 2: even the most optimistic person has to start saying, like 255 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 2: where where is this season going? 256 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 3: And is this yes, it's you know you. 257 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 2: This White Sox series is going to tell us a lot, 258 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 2: right Well, we'll preview that to in our next podcast. 259 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 2: But I just think, like you split with the White Sox, 260 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 2: even a split, like it's just unacceptable, and it becomes 261 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: a thing where it's like, what is wrong with this 262 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: team right now? They're not they don't look to be. 263 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: I don't think they're bad. I don't think they're a 264 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 2: bad team. I just don't like, I just don't know, 265 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: like they're just yeah, like the yeah, right now, they're 266 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: not good like things flip, things change. It's you know, 267 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: sixty games into a season. Baseball is a weird sport 268 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 2: where a couple hot months is all you need, maybe 269 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: a really hot stretch. Two years ago, Matt Gealb just 270 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 2: wrote about the two year anniversary of Robbie Thompson taking 271 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: over the Phillies and that team was dead eight games 272 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: under five hundred around this point in the season and 273 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: rattled off, I think like a fifteen and two run, 274 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 2: you know, didn't I think they won like eighty six 275 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 2: eighty seven games that season. 276 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 4: And then you're suggesting the Cubs should change their manager. 277 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 2: Maybe if cal and have Ryan Flaherty the manager. But 278 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: I mean, so so weird, Like baseball is filled with 279 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 2: stuff like that. But you can't, like we were talking 280 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 2: about this last year when they were going through the run. 281 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 3: That can't be the talk year after year. 282 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 2: Well maybe they'll get hot and overcome this bad stretch 283 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 2: of play. You can't constantly be overcoming bad stretch of play. 284 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: Now I'm not saying I'm not saying you can't be 285 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: like have bad stretches and can't be average throughout the season, 286 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: but like this is now a month long stretch of 287 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 2: bad baseball, especially on offense, and at a certain point 288 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 2: you have to just say, like what what. 289 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 3: Is this team? Is this who they are? 290 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm not like I said, I'm going to give it 291 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 2: this these twenty that's like we're now twenty two games. 292 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 3: I'm giving it. 293 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: I want to see what they do in these twenty 294 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 2: two games, like because yes they could, they could absolutely 295 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 2: go fifteen and seven or you know, or better around 296 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: there in these next twenty two and you're like, ah, 297 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: there it is. They're beating up on average or bad teams, 298 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 2: like they should build up their confidence, go on a run, 299 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 2: start competing. But it's here's the reality, Like the Brewis 300 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: are hot right now. But I was looking that they 301 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 2: were seventeen and eight and the Cubs were seventeen and nine, 302 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 2: and that's when the Cubs started to collapse. Seventeen nine 303 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 2: and they started to collapse. The brus are only like 304 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 2: four games over five hundred since that point, so it's 305 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: not like they're on like they're on a nice little 306 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: run now, but they're not on this insane tear since 307 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 2: that point. The Cubs just needed to kind of play 308 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: five hundred ball from that point, and they'd be like 309 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 2: right there with them. 310 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 4: Yeah. 311 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: I mean we talked about Ben Brown earlier because it 312 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: is pertinent and he's like an interesting new player and 313 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: it will be fun to watch or curiosity like how. 314 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 4: They handle it. But he didn't make the opening day roster. 315 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: They've gotten basically like a best case outcome for him 316 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: thus far. Like it goes back to you look at 317 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: the Brewers' best players and like how they're performing. I 318 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: mean don't have a position player like William Contreras, like 319 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: a legit MVP guy who's. 320 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 4: Kind of carrying the team. 321 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: I mean terrang A Damas, I mean Joy Ortiz is 322 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: a guy recently acquired. I mean even Christian Yelich is 323 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: having a really nice, very good season, you know, and 324 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: the Cubs have a former MVP. 325 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 4: Who's been playing well but not like great. 326 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: And it's just the stuff like that where you're like 327 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: that this group has been together for a little bit 328 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: now and they've said continuity helps, and I'm sure that's 329 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: true to a certain extent, and I think each deal 330 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: or transaction has made sense. Like very rarely have the 331 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: Cubs done something you're like, well that was crazy, like 332 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: where did that come from? 333 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 4: But like put together it has not been particularly inspiring. 334 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: I mean we were talking about this in the press 335 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: box on Saturday night of like when that ball went 336 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: up to sayah, like part of me felt like he 337 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 1: could drop that. You know, I'm not like saying like, oh, 338 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: I called it, but like the way he just hung 339 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: up there, the way he's played that night in Atlanta, 340 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: Like I wasn't totally stunned, And it's just like stuff 341 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: like that, as like, yeah, he hit the Grand Slam 342 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: to kind of you know, even out his plus minus 343 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:55,479 Speaker 1: on that. 344 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 3: But like. 345 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: Then Justin Steele really like laboring, like all those extra 346 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: pitches and like more stress instead of like a game 347 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:08,719 Speaker 1: where you know, we're going alternate universe stuff. But like 348 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: what if they get that four on lead early and 349 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: Justin Steel cruises and then you're like Bullpen is uh, 350 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: you know organized for the next day. Like all like 351 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,159 Speaker 1: all that stuff adds up and these that the Cubs 352 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: have not been doing, Like it's setting up kind of 353 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: like last year event them having to expend so much 354 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: to get back above five hundred and give themselves some 355 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: breathing room, and then you look up and there's still 356 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: what like two months, six weeks, a month left. 357 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 4: In the season and like how much do you have 358 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 4: left in the tech? 359 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 3: Right? 360 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 2: You don't want to fall any further back than you 361 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: are right now. Right now is you've reached this point 362 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 2: where it's like okay, like there's no more waiting, there's 363 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 2: no more like let's see what they can do. 364 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 3: It's like that they have to it has to start, right. 365 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 4: Man, seven and a half back already, right. 366 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,199 Speaker 2: You're talking about you're you're starting to think about, like 367 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 2: what's the wildcard situation? Which that the reality is, it's 368 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 2: it's very doable because there's like three good teams in 369 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 2: then l with Philly, l A And and Milwaukee and 370 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 2: I think that's right, and then and then the rest 371 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 2: like yes, Atlanta, So there's four good teams and Atlanta 372 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 2: is playing well, but they're without their superstar, right Audres 373 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 2: are only two over. It's I mean, give me a 374 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: break here. The Cardinals are in the final wildcard spot, 375 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: like so you know these things can turn the Cardinals 376 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 2: where everyone said they were dead a. 377 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 3: Few weeks ago. So like it. 378 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 2: So baseball is just sometimes a little stupid. But the 379 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 2: way like it doesn't make sense. But but that's that's 380 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: what we get for analyzing a game, uh you know weekly, daily, 381 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 2: when it's when it's spread out over six months, right, 382 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 2: it's like these weird things happen and and sometimes it 383 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 2: doesn't make much sense. But like I said, it needs 384 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 2: to turn. This isn't. This isn't. 385 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 3: This has gone on long. 386 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 2: Enough to the point where you have to say, like, 387 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: we need to see some some real action and something 388 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 2: happen with the team to make you feel like, okay, 389 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 2: where this is? This is the guy you can trust 390 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 2: to kind of turn things. I was looking at good offenses, right, 391 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 2: and we've talked about this a lot, Patrick about the 392 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 2: lack of a of a superstar, and that the offense 393 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 2: is starting to show some signs right like where you're like, okay, 394 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: that okay. The players that you that are kind of 395 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 2: built around are playing decently well, right, Like say Suzuki's 396 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 2: starting to hit. Cody Bellinger had a nice three hit game. 397 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 2: Ian Happ has been a little inconsistent, but he's hitting. 398 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 2: Uh So you have these producers, these guys that should 399 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 2: be good enough to like be on winning teams, right, 400 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 2: But where's the guy that you like? I really think 401 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 2: some of these these two out situations, these runners in 402 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: scoring position you have, you have a Wan Soto in there, 403 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 2: you have a I mean, like just go to whatever 404 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 2: offense you want to go to the Houston Astros and 405 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 2: Kyle Tucker right, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, whoever on the Dodgers, 406 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,959 Speaker 2: William Contreros, Christian Yalich right, Donner Henderson on Baltimore, Bryce Harper, 407 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 2: like those type of players, right that you have one, 408 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 2: just one of those, and you surround them with guys 409 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,719 Speaker 2: that the Cubs already have that are like one twenty one, 410 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 2: twenty five. Maybe they have a good season, it's one 411 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 2: thirty five, one forty way to runs great at plus 412 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 2: and now you're talking about a different team. It's just 413 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 2: hard to find those guys, right, either either your aggressive 414 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 2: and the trademarket and free agency, or. 415 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 3: You develop one. 416 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 2: Jed seems to be going the route of like wanting 417 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 2: to develop one. It hasn't happened, Like could it be? 418 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 2: Like I felt like, say, I could have been that 419 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 2: guy coming into the season. That injury really derailed any 420 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: chance of it. He still could be. He still could 421 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 2: end the season with like a one forty five Wight arndscreer. 422 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 2: Plus we've seen him get insanely hot. It's not like 423 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 2: he's having a bad offensive season overall. It's just it'd 424 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 2: be real nice for this team to have that guy 425 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: to kind of stabilize things when when it feels like 426 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 2: it's getting out of hand and it's like, oh, wait, 427 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 2: we still have this guy and he's going to go 428 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 2: off in a game. Oh he's going to come through. 429 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 2: He's up with two outs and a man on third, 430 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 2: He's going to drive that guy in. He'll find a 431 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 2: way to get that hit. 432 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 4: I was saying the exact same thing. It felt like 433 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 4: on my Twitter timeline. 434 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: There's just a lot of Soto and Judge out in 435 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: staff Cisco this weekend, just seeing a lot of like awesome. 436 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 4: His highlights. And a friend of mine asked. 437 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: Me yesterday, like, who's the best offensive player on the Cubs, 438 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: And I paused because it was sort of like a 439 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: trick question. He was genuinely curious, and I said, well, 440 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: maybe Mike Talkman has been for a long stretch. 441 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 3: Of this season. 442 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: I think you would, you know, talking to Ian Happen 443 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: earlier in the year, I think he might say that 444 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: saying is probably the most like talented hitter, And I 445 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,120 Speaker 1: think there are people within the Cubs organization who kind of, 446 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: you know, have looked at Saya as having all the 447 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: attributes of that hitter you described Sada, but that has 448 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 1: not translated on a consistent, consistent, impactful basis. 449 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 4: We've talked about Christopher Morels maybe being that guy someday. 450 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: But his actual statistics have not borne out what we 451 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: see and some of the other data points and just 452 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: his physical traits that you think, oh, like, this is 453 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: what a really talented middle of the order hitter could be. 454 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 4: He hasn't quite been that. He's been okay, but not 455 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 4: like wow. 456 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: And then Bellinger has been that guy in the past, 457 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 1: but I don't know if he's ever gonna be that 458 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: guy again. And he's he's versatile, he's valuable, a really 459 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: good nice fit on this team. But like, I'm pretty 460 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,919 Speaker 1: sure he's making more money this year than Bryce Harper, right, 461 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: I mean, and like, like that's kind of the strategphy 462 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: that he's getting paid. 463 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 4: On on an annual basis. And it's a good. 464 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 1: Player, but not like a wow performance yet. Maybe he 465 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: gets hot and then you know, Dansby got paid for 466 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: his defense in the position he is in. I still 467 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: think he'll be you know, fine in the long run. 468 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: He hasn't been like great offensively, but I still saw 469 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: enough last year. You know, I get why they did that. 470 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: If I was a. 471 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 4: GM, I'd like having him up the middle. It's same 472 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 4: with same with Nico. 473 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: I think, a really impactful player on a good team, 474 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 1: but again, like someone who might make an All Star 475 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: team in his career, not like a perennial like MVP 476 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,640 Speaker 1: vote getter. And then we're just going up and down 477 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 1: the lineup around a diamond. I mean the Cubs catching situation. 478 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna be writing about that soon, or 479 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: maybe you did write about it and then Willie Harrison 480 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: Nick Magical ruined your Friday afternoon. But like the catching 481 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: situation has not is one of the worst in baseball. 482 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 4: And that's like Jan Gums has. 483 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: Been very good throughout his career and Miguel may I 484 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: could have a very long career, but at this moment 485 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: we talk about momentum, it's not there. 486 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 4: And so that's why this. 487 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 1: Month of June I think will be fascinating to see 488 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: if they can finally get their act together. 489 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 2: Uh, you want to you want to hear something good. 490 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: You want to hear something that they did well. I 491 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 2: don't have the exact numbers, but just anecdotally watching the games, 492 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 2: they controlled the Reds running game. Yeah, that's right, Like 493 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 2: they they had like at least they had two pickoffs yesterday. 494 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 2: I think there were more. I think there were others 495 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 2: in the over the weekend. 496 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 3: So there's that. Uh. They also get only Dayla Cruz 497 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 3: off the bases, which helps when you want to control 498 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 3: the running game. 499 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:40,719 Speaker 2: Yes, but yeah, I mean, I guess I'm grasping its 500 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 2: straws when I say that, and I'm I'm kind of, 501 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 2: you know, tongue firmly in cheek when I say that, 502 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 2: because I came into the weekend. Yes, I was ready 503 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,160 Speaker 2: to write about the catchers and and how bad they've been. 504 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 2: Pretty much everything that you can measure right there. There 505 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 2: are certainly intangibles and when you go around that room 506 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: and talk to the pictures, even off the record, I 507 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 2: don't hear any grumbling, and that's not always been the case. Yeah, 508 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 2: So you can take that for what it is. But 509 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 2: numbers wise, what we can, what you know, what we 510 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 2: have access to that they're not great, And yeah, I 511 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 2: still plan on writing about that. One of the things 512 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 2: Council said when I asked him about it, was like 513 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 2: we about the ability to control the running game. Was 514 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 2: we have to help them, And I think that, you know, 515 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 2: he showed me what that meant over the next three 516 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:37,479 Speaker 2: games by throwing over there a lot at first and 517 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 2: getting a lot of pickoffs. And I think one of 518 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 2: the pickoffs was Drew Smiley. 519 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 3: I want to. 520 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 2: Say, I believe it was. Yeah, Drew Smiley pitched yesterday 521 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 2: on Sunday. I believe it was the third pickoff. He 522 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 2: went there a third time and got the guy. So 523 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: you know that they were being aggressive with that. So yeah, 524 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: it's just. 525 00:28:57,920 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 3: One little, one little thing. 526 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 2: That's I think that's good coaching, that's good managing. That's 527 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 2: that's noticing an issue with your team and saying, how 528 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 2: do we correct this? Well, we can't make the catchers, 529 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 2: you know, we can't immediately fix the catchers, right like whatever. 530 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 2: Whatever Miguel Amaya needs to work on with his transfer 531 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 2: and things like that to get the ball down a 532 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 2: second that can be worked on over time. This is 533 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 2: a guy that had Tommy John surgery what three years 534 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 2: ago now, something like that. Maybe he's not like I'm 535 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 2: just trying to think through this, and and so they 536 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 2: found a way to control a team that you know 537 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 2: is a menace on the base bats because it was 538 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 2: certainly I felt like cost them some runs in Milwaukee 539 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 2: and has even prior to that. So, uh, that that's, 540 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 2: you know, a small little thing where you say, like, oh, 541 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 2: they addressed that issue. Now, how what's what's the magic 542 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: he can pull to address the runners in scoring position? 543 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 3: I don't know. 544 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 2: Uh, he was he was pretty he was pretty clear 545 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 2: that it will turn. There was no he didn't mince words. 546 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 2: He said, I'm telling you we will hit withcore runners 547 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 2: in scoring position at some point this season. And you 548 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 2: know what, I agree with him because this happens almost 549 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 2: every year to almost every team where they hit a lull. 550 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 2: The question is it's not about runners in scoring position, 551 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: it's about all situations. 552 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 3: Are they a good enough offense? 553 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,479 Speaker 1: Yeah? I think with Counsel, I think we've both kind 554 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 1: of heard this, and he's someone who's hyper aware of 555 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: like you know, pitchers times to the plate in the 556 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: minor leagues, like a supremely prepared manager, and there are. 557 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 4: Obvious areas where the Cubs can improve. I think it's 558 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 4: just been. 559 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: Confusing or surprising as to how poorly the Cubs have 560 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: performed on those little things, Like it's not a particularly 561 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: like great base running team, the defensive breakdowns, and it's 562 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: like when you build this team around certain principles without 563 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,080 Speaker 1: a ton of margin for error, and like you don't 564 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: do the little things well, you don't like bank enough 565 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: wins early. 566 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 4: It's going to be a really stressful back half of 567 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 4: the season. 568 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: And I still think all of their goals are still 569 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: in front of them. It's a lot harder path now 570 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: to get to the playoffs, but it's not like totally 571 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: impossible or unreasonable to think that it can happen, and frankly, 572 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: like it should happen at this point in the rebound rebuild, 573 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: with the resources that have been put into this team, 574 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: the highers that have been made, the deals that have 575 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 1: been struck, Like, there are a lot of things that 576 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: have made sense on paper as they've gone through this 577 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 1: kind of a to B two see rebuild. But it's 578 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 1: just not there yet. And they've got, you know, I 579 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: wrote the other day, basically two months to get their 580 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: act together before the trade deadline, and then you know 581 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 1: it'll be time for some reinforcements that you know, they 582 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: got to prove that. 583 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 4: They deserve that. 584 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: I don't foresee this probably another episode, don't even start 585 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: it now, but don't foresee a scenario which they're selling. 586 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: Our colleague Jim Boden has them firmly on the list 587 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 1: of buyers. 588 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 4: That just came out. I would totally agree with that assessment, 589 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 4: and I think that. 590 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: Will be revealing to go ultimately payroll wise, who they 591 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: give up, what they target. 592 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 4: And I guess if we're leaving on positive thoughts, it. 593 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: Would be like what Jim Boden mentioned of if they 594 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: stay healthy, it comes out of the starting pitchers that 595 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 1: you feel pretty good about in a short playoff series, 596 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: have the pitching to keep them competitive on a nightly basis. 597 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 4: It's just like everything else has to get better. 598 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,600 Speaker 2: Fast, right, And I think what you said there about 599 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 2: them not selling is important to like reinforce with the 600 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 2: fan base who thinks like that they should just sell. Like, 601 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 2: first of all, they're half game out of a playoff 602 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 2: spot right now. Second of all, you have to always 603 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 2: weigh what pieces you have to sell and where you 604 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 2: are in your contention cycle, where you think you are right. 605 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 2: This is a season where they think they're entering their 606 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 2: contention cycle. Do they see themselves as a ninety five 607 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 2: hundred win team. No, but they see themselves as a 608 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 2: playoff team. So they're not going to like just like 609 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 2: and I'm not saying they're going to win the World Series, 610 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 2: but just like the twenty twenty one Braves who weren't 611 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 2: in the thick of things, and Thopolis looked at and said, 612 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 2: this is where my team is. We're in our cycle. 613 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 2: So I'm going to make some small moves to see 614 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 2: if I can help the team. That worked out perfectly, right, 615 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 2: But this is a situation where maybe Jed's like, I'm 616 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,120 Speaker 2: going to make some tweaks to the roster to see 617 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 2: what I can do to improve the team, or maybe 618 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 2: they get hot and he can, you know, go be 619 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 2: a little bit more aggressive. 620 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 3: We'll see. 621 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 2: Like I had this team at ninety to nine two 622 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 2: wins because of the trade deadline, because I thought they'd 623 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 2: be like five six games over five hundred or whatever 624 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 2: around the trade deadline and they'd make a big enough 625 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 2: move to be like, oh, now they're really good. Now 626 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 2: they're gonna have a hot final two months and get 627 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:16,319 Speaker 2: to ninety two wins. That's kind of how I saw it, 628 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 2: so I need so for my prediction to come true, 629 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 2: I needed them to be a decent team, not a 630 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 2: great team before the trade deadlines and get you know, 631 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,480 Speaker 2: hot in this final few months, which is a characteristic 632 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 2: of a Council team in general. Right, and if he 633 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,880 Speaker 2: has the right trade deadline, maybe that happens. But I 634 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 2: think you said it early on, like ninety wins is 635 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 2: going to be pretty damn hard with where they are 636 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 2: right now. But two games against the White Sox, I 637 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 2: believe we're We're planning to have a guest. 638 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 3: Patrick for that. 639 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 2: And we'll preview a team that's just you want to 640 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,360 Speaker 2: you think you're you're struggling to watch the Cubs. The 641 00:34:56,360 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 2: White Socks are just dreadful in every aspect of the game. 642 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 2: They're a little bit entertaining with Tommy fam though. I'm 643 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,840 Speaker 2: not sure how much of that you saw online yesterday, Patrick, but. 644 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 4: That was great. 645 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: That is kind of what my hope for this Cup 646 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: Socks series is that we get some of that drama, 647 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: some of the old Tub Socks mojo that it's really 648 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,320 Speaker 1: harder to summon up these days. 649 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,360 Speaker 4: I think the game has changed, the personalities. 650 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:30,280 Speaker 1: Have changed a little bit, but I don't know putting 651 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 1: those two teams together, particularly in like. 652 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 4: Like the shorter like two game window like stuff. 653 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:41,879 Speaker 1: Stuff can happen, and I'm curious to see like what 654 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: it is. I won't make any predictions yet. We'll get 655 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:50,839 Speaker 1: into that tomorrow. But it's usually a good time cup 656 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:52,240 Speaker 1: socks night games at Wrigley. 657 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 4: Something will happen. I think you can book that. 658 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, Chris Flexen on Tuesday. Eric Fetti, so one of 659 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 2: their better pictures on West. They don't miss the the 660 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,880 Speaker 2: two good pictures that the two really good pictures that 661 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 2: the White Sex have and Fetti and Crochet. They miss Crochet, 662 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 2: but they get Fetti. We'll see if they kid the 663 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 2: offense can find a way to get going against the 664 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:21,400 Speaker 2: subpar opponent. Thank you guys for listening. This is Northside Territory. 665 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 2: Make sure to rate, review, subscribe all that good stuff. 666 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: Make sure to read Nan and Patrick's work at the Athletic. 667 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening. 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