1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: But it's an absurdly dramatic differences between show. Today is 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: the rest of the one hundred and sixty two game schedule. 3 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: Welcome into North Side Territory, Fouel Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 2: I'm Sahad Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney, were your 5 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic and Patrick, it 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 2: is time for our twenty twenty four year interview show. 7 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: It was a disappointing season ultimately, right, but it's not 8 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: It wasn't short on news or interesting tidbit. I mean, 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: I think the first first thing that we talk about 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: is it didn't happen in twenty twenty four, but it's 11 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: part of this season, this year's story, and that's Craig 12 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 2: Council hired as Cubs manager. You he was a free agent, 13 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: but they stole him manager from one of their biggest rivals, 14 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: the city that often is looked at as like Chicago's 15 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: little you know, Junior Chicago, whatever you want to call him. 16 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: They have, you know, a little little brother complex things 17 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: like that. Yeah, I doubt better than the Cubs for 18 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: multiple years now, and it was viewed as Craig Council 19 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: was a big reason why. I think we saw he 20 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: wasn't the only reason why this season, but that, like 21 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: you know, in our last episode that we talked about 22 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: shocking moments, this higher was the most shocking moment I 23 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 2: think you and I have covered and it will continue 24 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: to be a storyline going forward. Cubs winner loose. 25 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is just very very cubby occurrence to have 26 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: the team finished with eighty three wins under David Ross 27 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: and under Craig Council, and for the Brewers not lose 28 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: counts but trade away Corbyn Burns and not have Brandon 29 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: Woodruff available to pitch and still just boat race the division. 30 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 3: It was truly, Ah, just wild to kind of see 31 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 3: it unfold. 32 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: And you know, i'd ask you, son of what were 33 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: your first impressions of Craig Counsel as a guy to 34 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: deal with on virtually an everyday basis, from you know, 35 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: February until the end of September. 36 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, Council was fascinating to cover, different type of humor, 37 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: different type of You have to kind of feel comfortable 38 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: that he's not fully judging you with everything, right, because 39 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 2: you could very well feel like, oh no, I'm being 40 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: put on the spot here. Or he's a little mean 41 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: or things like that. I think has a very dry 42 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: sense of humor. He doesn't like he'll sometimes ask for 43 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: more from you with your questions, or he'll challenge you 44 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,839 Speaker 2: on your questions, and if you don't have a way 45 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: to fully back it up right away, that's when you're 46 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: gonna start feeling a little embarrassed. H learned that, you know, 47 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: I think we all learned that very early on, Like 48 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: whether we had a way to back up our questions 49 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: or not. He you know, he's not afraid to put 50 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: you on the spot, but he also understands what our 51 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 2: job is. Like I learned that pretty quickly. Like it's 52 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: not like he's anti media or he can't give a 53 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: good answer. I mean, look at the end of the season, 54 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: the ninety you know, we need to be building ninety 55 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: win teams. I think shows us that this guy isn't 56 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: afraid of speaking his mind. Like that's I think the 57 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: biggest thing, and it's not just us. It go around 58 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 2: the clubhouse. He was honest to everyone, and he'd there 59 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: were things sometimes I think he said early on in 60 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: spring training that was like is that going to tick 61 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: that dude off? No, it's because he already told the 62 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: guy like he's told him, and he's like, I'm and like, 63 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: if I've told this guy this, I'm going to share 64 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: it with you. Guys. For the most part right there, 65 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 2: you don't say, but I found that interesting? How about you? 66 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, very similar experiences. I would say. Sometimes Craig helped 67 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: me spit out a question because even I'm like, what 68 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: are you talking about? What are you getting at? Then 69 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: there are other times there's just awkward to try to 70 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: explain your concept while the Marquee camera is going in 71 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: the rigally interview room and it looks like, you know, 72 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: arguing or something, but no, it's actually just like he 73 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 1: wants to know exactly what you're asking, which goes back 74 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: to your point of he and he understands our jobs 75 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: in a very like granular way. The story I'd like 76 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: to write, and I don't know how he could do 77 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: it is like you know, lots of people say, and 78 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: I agree with him that Craig counsels a lot more 79 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: humorous than you would think than the kind of dour 80 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: figure you saw and the Brewers dugout. And yet whenever 81 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: I ask someone for examples for it, it's very hard 82 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: to articulate. So maybe that is something when we're in 83 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: MESA next year we can try and get just a 84 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: couple of different anecdotes like that, because it's hard to 85 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: you know, if he tells us a funny story while 86 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: we're kind of chatting in the dugout, that's obviously like 87 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 1: not you know enough it is something off the wall. 88 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: It's more just you know, you know, that's amazing baseball career. 89 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: So he's like knows all these characters and has been 90 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: involved in so many big moments. It just doesn't really. 91 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: Come across. 92 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: But he's he's direct, he's detailed, he's organized, so like 93 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: no issues there. 94 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, no good storyteller when when he's off the record too, 95 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,559 Speaker 2: or even on the record. I remember someone Jim Leely 96 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 2: just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yeah yeah, yeah, 97 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 2: any someone asked them about Jim Leland one day, and 98 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: he had great stories both on and off the record. 99 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: It was just just great stuff. I mean, you don't 100 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: see that as often as he used to, I think, 101 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: and and it was just fun to cover. So the 102 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 2: hiring of council, I think did something created dynamic for 103 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: this organization, right, And that's with the pressure on Jed Hoyer. 104 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 2: And guess what. The Cubs didn't deliver this year, like 105 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: you said, same as last year under our twenty twenty 106 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: three under ross eighty three wins. So now who does 107 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: it go to? Doesn't go to Craig Council. He's not 108 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: feeling the heat. Jed Hoyer in company are feeling the heat. 109 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: That's that's what that was a big part of, especially 110 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: with Maine June. Remember we go in that clubhouse after 111 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 2: these losses and everyone is like, it's gonna turn, It's 112 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: gonna turn, and eventually I'll never forget jameson ti On 113 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: in New Milwaukee saying he's like, you know, we've been 114 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 2: talking about how it's going to turn. And it was 115 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: a week, then it turned into a few weeks. Now 116 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: it's been two months, and he was just like, well, like, 117 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: we can't keep talking about it's going to turn, Like 118 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: we got to get it done. You know, they played better, 119 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: They didn't end up ten games under five hundred like 120 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: it was looking like it was going to be, but 121 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: not good enough, and that puts the pressure on Jed Hoyer, 122 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: Carter Hawkins and everyone else in that front office. 123 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it immediately flipped the dynamic. It was 124 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of wild how quickly, you know, the hot seat 125 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: job security questions flared up. And I think part of 126 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: that was an organizational issue of how they framed the 127 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: sell off at twenty twenty one. And you know, you 128 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: had Tom Ricketts on Marquee essentially saying we're going to 129 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: go right back out in the market and spend, and 130 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: you think, oh, maybe they'll just replace those guys with 131 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: free agents and you know, big time free. 132 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 3: Agents and get right back out there. That's not really 133 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: what happened. 134 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: And Jed saying, you know, I don't know what the 135 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: definition of a rebuild is was just an unforced silly 136 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: everybody created this kind of gray area, right, or this 137 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: like murkiness of well, what exactly are the Cubs doing? 138 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: When I think internally they had a pretty clear directive. 139 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 3: In terms of what they wanted to do. 140 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: And I think publicly though, they kind of tried to 141 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: play both sides of it, and you know, just didn't 142 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:41,359 Speaker 1: come out and say certain obvious dynamics within their organization. 143 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: And so, you know, Jed's deliberateness is certainly a strength. 144 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 1: It's why he has three World Series rings. But his cautiousness, 145 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: which also helped you know, the Red Sox and the 146 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: Cubs over the years. I think it really stood out 147 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: this past year. Okay, like you went out and fired 148 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: David Ross and higher Craig Council, but then it sort 149 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: of just stopped there in terms. 150 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 3: Of like the big wow type of. 151 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 4: Moves right right exactly that it was the off season 152 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 4: was like a little underwhelming after after council got to 153 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 4: give him credit for the moves they didn't. 154 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: Make though, right like, they made some good moves. Michael 155 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: Bush was a good acquisition and you know who we're 156 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: going to talk about right now showed him and now 157 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: his breakout season. That is a hell of a signing 158 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: after one year that like first of all, like just 159 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: dealing with him. Guy doesn't speak English and his opening 160 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: press conference it like if you like for me to 161 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 2: understand how difficult that is to do the you know, 162 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: the go Cubs go thing. I try and talk in 163 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 2: Spanish every once in a while some of these players, 164 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 2: and it's really hard and embarrassing, Like that's the biggest thing. 165 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 2: Like sometimes I'm just like, oh, I feel like such 166 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 2: an idiot, Like these guys are gonna think I'm a moron, 167 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 2: but you realize you like you listen to show to 168 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: do that, and all you can think is like, hey, 169 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: great job, Like we know how difficult that is. That's 170 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 2: incredibly difficult, and you did that in front of cameras, 171 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: introducing yourself to a whole new country and organization. Very cool, 172 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 2: very like great way to start his Coby career. And 173 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 2: the performance I mean remember daily, like after every start 174 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 2: or we're like is this gonna keep happening? Like I 175 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: was that Mets series in New York when he like 176 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: we were surrounding him and there were New York media 177 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: because they were so impressed. There were so many people 178 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: there to come talk to him, and he had great 179 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 2: lines he talked about like what did you know about 180 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 2: New York? Was like I saw it in Spider Man, 181 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 2: Like that's that's funny, Like that's he has a great 182 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: sense of humor and he was great, great picture one 183 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 2: of the you know, in a in a disappointing season, 184 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 2: a huge bright spot for the Cubs. 185 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt. 186 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: I mean just I know you're a big you know, 187 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: Illinois hoopsky college sports fan. 188 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 3: What do people talk about like winning the press conference? 189 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 2: Right and usually that's like. 190 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: A bad sign. 191 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: Like his first moment was this unbelievable introduction to the 192 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: city in it just came this callback moment for everything 193 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: he did throughout the year. I mean the comparisons to 194 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: Fernando Vealezuela, I mean Cy Young Award, I mean Jake 195 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: Arieta's Cy Young Award campaign, like it was kind of 196 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: in that stratosphere. I mean a guy who totally like 197 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: put the Cubs on his back and like kept them 198 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: afloat for months. I mean off the time I had 199 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: I can't remember their record in his Star arts and 200 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: the record the rest of the season, but it's an 201 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: absurdly dramatic differences between show today's and the rest of 202 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: the one hundred. 203 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 3: And sixty two game schedule. And so I guess now'll 204 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 3: be how can he top it? Can he match it? 205 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 3: You know what? Will you know? His legacy sort of 206 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: be as you know, the. 207 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: Cubs are trying to be a player in the Roki 208 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: Sazaki sweepstakes and be that destination for other Japanese players 209 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: on the horizon. But yeah, I mean, realistically, he smashed 210 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: every best case expectation for his first year on the 211 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: North Side. 212 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: And he showed personality on the mound too. Well, yeah 213 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 2: that fun to watch, Like, yeah, fun to watch little 214 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 2: little like when he didn't get a call. It wasn't 215 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 2: fully calling out the hump, but it like little like 216 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: motions and movements that kind of you know, are enjoyable 217 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 2: to watch. Council, we talk about how smart he is 218 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 2: on the field, just little things like when to take, 219 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: when to run to first, went to, like direct, directing defenders, 220 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: things like that, Like just like a smart guy, fun guy, 221 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: fun to watch, great player, like a great story. Like 222 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 2: thankfully we had that to cover otherwise whoop, it would 223 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: have been a tough season one other at least in 224 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: the second half. Really positive story. Peteker Armstrong. He was 225 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 2: one of the rare bright spots and I remember thinking, oof, 226 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 2: this is a mess when he came up talking to him, 227 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 2: and this guy, you know, he has a lot going 228 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 2: on in his head, like because he has high expectations 229 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,479 Speaker 2: for himself and he wants to succeed and he's succeeded 230 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 2: a lot in life. It you could tell he was 231 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: overthinking things and pressing and trying to do too much. 232 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: Talking to the coaches, talking to Greig Counsel, they all 233 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: nobody was hiding that he wanted to live up to 234 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: the hype. There was a point where we came into 235 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: the season and we probably we probably over like talk 236 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 2: too much about the high fastball, because you know what 237 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: killed him, it was the slider in and I at 238 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: a certain point I remember turning to Journey to a 239 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: reporter and saying, like, is he gonna just stop swinging 240 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 2: at that pitch? Because if it's like the opposition knows 241 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: throw a slider down and in and he's swinging, it's 242 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: an easy out. This has gotten hard to watch. Something clicked, 243 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: you know, something clicked in Kansas City, he got that 244 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 2: leg kick and looked and it was like one eighties 245 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: different player, and when he is succeeding it just talked 246 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: about how fun it is to watch showed him Naga. 247 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if we've seen any anyone as fun 248 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: to watch since Sabi Erbaya's at his peak, Like that 249 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: was some of the most fun I've had watching and 250 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: covering a baseball player. The things he can do on 251 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: the field when he's right are freakish and it's fun. 252 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 2: It's fun to watch. 253 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: I mean, absolute havoc is what he can cause out there. 254 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 3: And I do think PCA kind of symbolizes a lot 255 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: of things going on with this team. 256 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: One it's called back to the twenty twenty one trade deadline, 257 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: trade and a hobby. 258 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 3: It's like, Okay, they. 259 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: Needed like guys to start showing up from that trade deadline, 260 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: and he did in a big way. I think you've 261 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: read about this a lots of hot I have of 262 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: how they worked with him and kind of the routine 263 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: he developed, and he obviously deserves the credit for that, 264 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: but it comes largely keeping a coaching staff intact. I 265 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: think is a recognition of kind of the development developmental 266 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: environment they've created, which is big. 267 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 3: And then just the like. 268 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: When you walk into the room of like okay, who's 269 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: the headliner not And you know PCA is certainly that 270 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: like a guy who can go viral. And also have 271 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: to give him credit for being a very like thoughtful, 272 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: expressive person, like someone who's super young and who's had 273 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: a lot thrown at him. He handled himself extremely well. 274 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: We'll give you a good a good quote. Also just 275 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: kind of carries himself, i'd say, in a different way 276 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: this past year of just kind of a little more 277 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: a little calmer, very observant, you know, seeing what Nico 278 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: hap Dansby all those guys are are doing. So again, 279 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: see what see if he can top it and continue 280 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: on this ascent next year. But one of the rare 281 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: like kind of I don't know, bursts of energy around 282 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: a team that was just so professional and kind of 283 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: a little boring. 284 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I don't think you're going too far 285 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 2: by saying that at all, Like that's just I mean, 286 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 2: I don't think some of them would disagree. They're not 287 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 2: looking he's yeah, yeah, but he is an outlier in 288 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 2: that group. He also had tremendous respect for that group. 289 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: Like I think they helped him a lot, like he 290 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 2: like you said, like he watched them and I appreciate that, 291 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,400 Speaker 2: Like you know, learn from those veterans, see their hard work, 292 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 2: see that they go through struggles too, and they pushed 293 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 2: through and the work that they put in and it's 294 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 2: like it's okay, don't let it get you down. Uh, 295 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 2: it's okay to sometimes take it hard, but got to 296 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 2: move on. You got to push through, continue to work. 297 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 2: You're talented enough to figure these things out. I'm very 298 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 2: curious to see how good he can be offensively, Like 299 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 2: if he's if he'sad last two months, then we're talking 300 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: about a very special talent. I don't I don't. I 301 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 2: think putting that on him is too much. That's unfair. Yeah, 302 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 2: but if you can have but if he can have 303 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 2: stretches like that, two month stretches here and there, and 304 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 2: he can put up even average offensive numbers, you have 305 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 2: a very valuable player. Like that's that's that's the reality. 306 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 2: So make that the floor and then reach for hire 307 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 2: and we'll see where it goes. Patrick. The final story 308 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 2: is the story we've been talking about for the past 309 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 2: two weeks now, and it is. Yeah, it is the 310 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 2: biggest story for the Cubs, I think since the Creig 311 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 2: Council hiring. And and so it's fitting that we start 312 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: with Greig Council and we we're gonna wrap the show 313 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 2: up with the Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker. Like this is 314 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 2: the biggest move player move that Jed Hoyer has made 315 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: in charge of the Cubs acquisition that he's made. Like 316 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 2: think about it, Like we wrote about this, but his 317 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: his Cub's career as team president started with the trade 318 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 2: with releasing Kyle Schwarber, trading you Darvish six months later, 319 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 2: he's trading the key the most loved players of this generation. 320 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 2: How could he like? Very hard to rebound from that, 321 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 2: Like almost instantly, he was beyond the eight ball as 322 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,719 Speaker 2: far as fan reaction. Fans aren't going to like that, 323 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: no matter what it's like, no matter if it's the 324 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 2: right moves or not. It's really hard to win over 325 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 2: fans when you do that. So finally, there's some positive 326 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 2: things that you can point to, a big move that 327 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 2: you know you can you can complain about the price 328 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 2: if you're if that's what you're focusing on, I'm you know, hey, 329 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 2: let's watch some fun baseball, is what I'd say, and 330 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 2: maybe they'll win some games, more than eighty three games 331 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: this year because Kyle Tucker is a difference maker. He's 332 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: a superstar. He's that type of guy that changes the 333 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: dynamic of a lineup, and for Jed Hoyer to make 334 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 2: this bold move should be a good sign for Cubs fans. 335 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, I. 336 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: Guess there's always a little risk with everything, but this 337 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: guy seems pretty close to a sure thing. I mean, 338 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: really good all around skills, like an easy fit into 339 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: this lineup, someone who will certainly be motivated to play 340 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: well next. 341 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 3: Year and you know, go see what he can get. 342 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: But I liked I know we both did some reporting 343 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 1: on this, but just the idea of like it took 344 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: years for the Cubs to kind of get to this point, 345 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 1: and how all these little moments and you know, behind 346 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: the scenes people helped push this forward. 347 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 3: Whether it was. 348 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: You know, the deals that led up to this and 349 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: you know, finding a Christopher Morrell or whatever it was, 350 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: like you kind of drafting Cam Smith. Like, there's a 351 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: lot of it's interesting to pull back and see all 352 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: the things that went into this. 353 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 2: It's a sign of a healthy organization, which I think 354 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: sometimes both of us fall into this trap. Fans certainly 355 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 2: fall into this trap. Everyone does that's not inside the org. 356 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 2: Even sometimes inside the ORG. Shoot, Like it's very easy 357 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 2: to look what's happening at the major league field and 358 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 2: say this is a disaster, right, this is not going well, 359 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 2: this is really bad. Look they need to win. Like 360 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna blow them up and say like, hey, 361 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 2: what a great job. They're an amazing organization. They're not 362 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,360 Speaker 2: there yet, but that is a good sign they're doing there. 363 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,479 Speaker 2: There there are some things that make me say, okay, 364 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 2: you have my attention. I'm interested in what you're doing. 365 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 2: Continue on that path, and you know what, win at 366 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 2: the major league level, because that's the bottom line, right, 367 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: that's all where Like at the end of the day, 368 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: if they're not winning at the major league level, they 369 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 2: their jobs. It's going to cost them their jobs, right. 370 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 2: But this is a this is a sign that I 371 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: think when you are able to acquire a guy like 372 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 2: Kyle Tucker and you didn't destroy your major league roster 373 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: or your minor league system by doing it and look 374 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 2: like frankly a better team. Ah, that's that's a good 375 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 2: sign for your organization and and it's what we need 376 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 2: to see more of going forward. Like we wrote, you know, 377 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 2: find the next camp Smith and then you know what, 378 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 2: do more this offseason. And that's you know, that's what 379 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 2: we're going to be talking about over the next what 380 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,959 Speaker 2: is it a month, month and a half before we 381 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 2: cheeze Patrick, it's coming close a month and a half 382 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 2: from now, we will be heading to Arizona. So you 383 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 2: know that that's that's the storyline for the next six weeks. 384 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 2: Let's figure out how they get better? What what more 385 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 2: are they going to do? What are what's what's the 386 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five Year in review going to look like 387 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 2: hopefully it's it's not it's not We're not talking about 388 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 2: eighty three weeks. 389 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 3: That would be so cub though. That would be so 390 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 3: cub though, I really. 391 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 2: Don't want to talk about it, Patrick. 392 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: Uh, gotta be like wins or ninety losses, like just 393 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: some sort of like, you. 394 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,919 Speaker 2: Know, let's make sure you you mean, Jesse aren't making 395 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 2: Kane kun plans for October fourth, or at least we 396 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 2: can't do that in August, you know. 397 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 1: Yes, it's always We'll definitely get our buddy Jesse Rogers 398 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 1: on to break it down in that case. But yeah, 399 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 1: it'll be I don't know, I'm appreciative, and I know 400 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: you are as well. Of like, I don't know, the 401 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: cups are good, the cups are bad, Like who cares? 402 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: Like they're always you know, entertaining. Yeah, there's always so 403 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: much to write about. A lot of it's you know. 404 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 3: Barely baseball ad Jason. 405 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: And it's a privilege to you know, work in a 406 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: city like this on platforms like this, so very very 407 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: grateful as we had into twenty twenty five. 408 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely, that's a great way to wrap it up. 409 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 2: And I agree. Thank you for listening, Like truly, you 410 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,959 Speaker 2: guys have made sure that this podcast is like started 411 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 2: off small and we're growing quickly and we truly appreciate it. 412 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: We hope for big things in twenty twenty five. Keep subscribing, like, 413 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 2: tell your friends, you know, tweet it out, do whatever 414 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 2: you can, like, we're really happy to have you listening. 415 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 2: Make sure to subscribe, rate and review, subscribe to the 416 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: YouTube page, subscribe to the Athletic Patrick and I will 417 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 2: be on top of all of this. Thanks so much 418 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 2: for listening. Everyone, Have a happy new year.