1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm Sahade Scharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. A 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: nice weekend for the Cubs after a tough Friday. The 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: offense finally showed up final game of the homestand it 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: wasn't It wasn't a great offensive homestand but Wrigley is 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: once again playing like twenty twenty four Wrigley. I would 8 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: assume that's going to shift as we we we started 9 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: June here, but you know, I assumed that last year. 10 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: So I don't know what's going on. But the difference 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: right now is the Cubs are winning these games more 12 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: often than not. They're grinding out, they're beating bad teams. 13 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: But yesterday they kind of Sunday they kind of avoided disaster, 14 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: would you say with there was some there was some uh, 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: scared Cubs fans and I'm sure scared executives when when yeah, 16 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: the game in the fourth inning? Was it that after 17 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: the fourth inning on Sunday's win. 18 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, So Kyle Tucker actually gets caught stealing for the 19 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: first time this season in the in the first inning, Uh, 20 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: sprains a finger and also his helmet pops off and 21 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 2: flips over and he scrapes his face on the dirt 22 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: has cut across the bridge of his nose. But yeah, 23 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: by the fifth inning, all of a sudden, it's you know, 24 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: this announcement of Vidal Bruhan has entered the game and 25 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: right field it's like, oh, okay, it's like the Cubs 26 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: have a lead, but it's still early. Uh, you know, 27 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: and you're trying to win a series. It's not like 28 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: garbage time where you can rest your starters. Uh, and 29 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: you have the old armbells definitely went off, And yes, 30 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 2: Craig Counsel was optimistic. Kyle Tucker, who I don't know, 31 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: never has really shown any emotion in our limited interactions 32 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: with him, did not seem all that concerned. X rays 33 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: were negative. 34 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: But. 35 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 2: You know, with these injuries, it's gonna take a couple 36 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: of days for the swelling to subside and for Tucker 37 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: to kind of test the hand strength not just in 38 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 2: gripping the bat but also throwing the ball from the outfield. 39 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: It's kind of a you know, delicate area there when 40 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: you when you're dealing with a star baseball player, So 41 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: I think Cubs will see how he presents in DC. 42 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: Monday's off day helps. But look, we know the Cubs 43 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: are always deliberate with stuff like this. They're not gonna 44 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 2: want to shut down and MVP type performer for ten 45 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: days if they don't have to. So we're just gonna 46 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: have to wait and see. So it's certainly not the 47 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: worst case scenario, but not really great news either. 48 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Cubs, this kind of comes at a good 49 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: time in the sense that it comes before an off day. 50 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: That's that's probably the best thing you can say about that, 51 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: I believe. Is it twenty three games in twenty four days? 52 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: Do I have that right that they're about to embark 53 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: on Yeah. 54 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: I think it's also even like twenty six and twenty seven. 55 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 3: Maybe I think that is six and twenty seven, because 56 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 3: Council was asked about that Sunday pregame and acknowledge that, 57 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: you know, they've really pushed their everyday players pretty hard 58 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 3: thus far. 59 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: Now the schedule has just kind of fallen that way, 60 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: and that's kind of the nature of the group that 61 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: they have. But yes, he's already looking for spots to 62 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: rest some of the regulars. So you know, Tucker probably 63 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 2: would have gotten a blow here at some point, But 64 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: this is obviously not the circumstances that they were envisioned 65 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: when they were, you know, formulating those plans. 66 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you don't you'd want to give him 67 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: an off day in the middle of this, right? Well yeah, yeah, 68 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: but at my you know, I guess we wouldn't be 69 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: surprised and it wouldn't be a huge concern if he 70 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: didn't play Tuesday. It could be I'm not saying it 71 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: wouldn't be an issue or it's not a sign of 72 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: bad things. I'm just saying it would make a lot 73 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: of sense for them to give him that day as well. 74 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: They did the same with Kindie and Half checking how 75 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: long he needed to be out? Is this denial thing? 76 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: Is this a Is this a quick couple of days? 77 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: Can he can he get through this? Uh, we'll, we'll, 78 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: We'll have more information on Tuesday. I'm sure as long 79 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: as there's nothing deeper wrong with the finger, even if 80 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: it's a minimum stint, you're avoiding. Disaster is what you 81 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: want to avoid. You don't want him to miss months. 82 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: Last year he had a mysterious what was it foot ankle. 83 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 1: What Uh it was a shin. It was a shin. 84 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: You're right, and it was. It took them forever to 85 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: diagnose that. You don't want something like that where this 86 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: is minor. He's gonna miss two games. Oh, it's lingering. 87 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: We're gonna put him on an iyel stint. It'll be minimum. Uh. Oh, 88 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: it's not healing the way we wanted to. You don't 89 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: that's what you want to avoid. That's what you know. 90 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: I I don't we have We have no indication that 91 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: that is what will happen. It's just he's such a 92 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: big deal, so important that you just don't want anything 93 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 1: worse happening to a guy like him. You know, putting 94 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: says Suzuki in right field is a great option to have, 95 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 1: calling noises by a stereos up if that's what they 96 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: do to be d H great option to have. You're 97 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: still losing Kyle Tucker. So you just don't want him 98 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: to be gone for any extended period of time because really, 99 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: especially because this, like we just said, twenty six games 100 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: in twenty seven days, you need your best players out there. 101 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: They're going to need a rest during that time, but 102 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: they also need to be out there as much as possible, 103 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: and the schedule gets a little tougher. 104 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. Chandler Rome, our colleague at the Athletic and on 105 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 2: the Foul Territory Network, just wrote about the Astros and 106 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 2: mentioned Tucker's injury last year and that I think, you know, 107 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: reading his story in his coverage overall, you get the 108 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 2: sense that there are questions about how the Astros handle 109 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 2: some of these medical situations. And I know Cubs fans, 110 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: at least kind of going off social media always kind 111 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: of roll their eyes with whatever the Cubs put out there. Yeah, 112 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: I will say that during my time covering the team, 113 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: I have not heard a lot of grumbling about the 114 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: medical staff. You know, I think they're just generally conservative, cautious, deliberate, collaborative, 115 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: whatever word you want to use, Like you don't want 116 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: to rush into any decisions about Kyle Tucker. Clearly his 117 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: season is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, you know, 118 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: kind of what happens here. I think you watched this 119 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: Cubs team play and you're like, all right, this is 120 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 2: different than the past two years when they've gotten hot 121 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 2: for you know, a month, six weeks and looked like 122 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: a really good team. And then collapse. Like he is 123 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: kind of the fail safe here. He is supposed to 124 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: stop that from happening. So if you lose him, particularly 125 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: like you said at the time, with the schedule, it's 126 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: there aren't many easy spots between here and the All 127 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: Star break, and they've built the cushion. They took care 128 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: of business, they did what they had to do. But 129 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: you know, if you remove Tucker for an extended period, 130 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: the team just looks different. And now we're not saying 131 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: that's going to happen, but with any of these medical situations, 132 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: like how does it usually work? Like the player down 133 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: plays it, almost always the team, understandably is never going 134 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 2: to say this could be the worst case scenario, and 135 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 2: oftentimes they just don't know. They just kind of have 136 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 2: the initial preliminary sense of, Okay, this is what happening. 137 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: Is happening. We present the information as best we can 138 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 2: kind of what we know, and then it just takes time, 139 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: you know, to see how this, how the swelling goes down, 140 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,719 Speaker 2: see how he feels then, and kind of, you know, 141 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: I don't know if he'll be further testing or what, 142 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: but he's going to have to test it himself, just 143 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: like see how he feels and make a determination on 144 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,439 Speaker 2: whether or not he can play or when he can 145 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: play again. 146 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, likely we'll get more information Tuesday, and maybe 147 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: maybe not even the final information bit of information that 148 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: we need. But let's look back on that good may 149 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: that the Cubs had right after this break Patrick. 150 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 4: If you're a card collector or you'd like to get 151 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 4: into card collecting, may I suggest Arena Club and slab packs, 152 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 4: which means that you can rip the packs digitally and 153 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 4: of course get the card that you want. It's also 154 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 4: the most trusted name in the game, and I would 155 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 4: rather rip packs these days on my phone than sit 156 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: next to you and have you grabbing one of my 157 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 4: physical packs if I was grabbing one. 158 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 5: Yeah, you don't need me grabbing your packs because last 159 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 5: time you grabbed one it ended up like this card. 160 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 5: So let's not have that. And that's why Arena Club 161 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 5: is great. They send u to you in these fancy 162 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 5: protectors like the Scout Brown cards that we have here, 163 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 5: and they'll come safe. They're already graded poor. You could 164 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 5: do like I do and just leave my cards in 165 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 5: the showroom and never actually see them physically. Yeah, but 166 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 5: they're safe, protected and if I want to sell them. 167 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: I can't buy sell trade. 168 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 4: They offer full transparency, showing every card in the slab 169 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 4: pack with the likelihood of pulling each one, so you 170 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 4: know exactly what's available before you buy. Get twenty percent 171 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 4: off your first slab pack or card purchase by going 172 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 4: to arenaclub dot com, slash foul and use code foul. 173 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: Patrick May was a good month for the Cubs. I 174 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: believe it was eighteen and nine, correct, and they just 175 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: had an eighteen game stretch against pretty bad teams and 176 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: went fourteen and four. I think I said with the 177 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: with the National Series that's coming up, and they look 178 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:54,119 Speaker 1: like a pretty solid team. They have some good players offensively, 179 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: they're not a they're not a pushover. I'll say that. 180 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: We know you would have taken fourteen and seven, so 181 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: they can get swept by the Nationals and you still 182 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: you obviously don't feel good because of the order of 183 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: thinking the way things went. But they're fifteen games over 184 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: five hundred. They've taken care of business against the bad teams. 185 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: They've been winning series. They they're not when they're not 186 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: playing their best baseball or not clicking on all cylinders. 187 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: They still are finding ways to win. That's the sign 188 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: of a good team. That's what you cannot be playing 189 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: elite baseball for one hundred and sixty two games. There 190 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: were stretches this season where they've looked pretty great, and 191 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: there are stretches where they've been winning, and I'm just like, 192 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: they're fine. They look fine, but they're winning games and 193 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 1: that's all that matters. 194 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 2: No doubt. There's a lot to like. I think it's 195 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 2: impressive doing it while Showda and Monaga missed almost the 196 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: entire month, and that Justin Steele is already missing the 197 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 2: rest of the season. Even something like Javier Asade we'll 198 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: get to this in kind of the next segment, but 199 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 2: he would have been a really nice piece to have 200 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: right now. And you know, this division is not a pushover, 201 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: Like it's not. It's not the best division in baseball. 202 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: But when you look at the other teams, I don't 203 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: know how much is sustainable with each individual club, but 204 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: even the Pirates, they got some really good pitchers that 205 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: if you get them on any given series it could 206 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 2: be uncomfortable. And that the Cardinals, I don't know what's 207 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: going on there, haven't seen them much, but like to 208 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 2: not do really anything all off season and to be 209 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: playing like this, yeah some of that old or the 210 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 2: Cardinals Devil Magic, what's back? And yeah, the Brewers, you know, 211 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 2: they always always seem to find a way, and even 212 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 2: like the Reads have a lot of nice pieces, Like 213 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: I would not write them off, like I don't think 214 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: they're a team that's gonna win like multiple playoff rounds, 215 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 2: but definitely kind of a tough out with with talent, 216 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: with a Hall of Fame, a future Hall of Fame manager, 217 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 2: and so you know, the Cubs had to bank wins 218 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 2: during this time because you know, we saw it on Sunday, 219 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 2: just like on any given pitch, on any given play, 220 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 2: there could be just a season altering moment. You don't 221 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: know who it's going to happen to, you don't know 222 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 2: what it's going to be, or you know, kind of 223 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: the full ramifications of it. But really it's crazy to 224 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: think of kind of when you left Japan, you know, 225 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 2: and the Cubs had lost their first two games of 226 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 2: the season and did not look all that good to 227 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 2: be at the beginning of the June. Beginning of June, 228 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 2: the Cubs fifteen games over, did not see it happening 229 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 2: like this fast. 230 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, you touched on a couple of things there, the 231 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 1: resiliency to not really skip a beat losing you know, 232 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: a first justin Steel for the season and then showed 233 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: him and now I got for an extended period of time. 234 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: Those are the types of injuries that sink seasons. And 235 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: they've you know, it's not like they're starting pitching has 236 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: been dominant. But this this week, this homestand the starting 237 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: pitching was really good. The bullpen has turned around, and 238 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: I was shocked by what I found. The other day. 239 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: I was I was gonna write something else, but Craig 240 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: Council talked a lot about the bullpen. I was like, 241 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: there's enough that he said that I think that I 242 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: think it's worth doing a review of the bullpen again. 243 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: And then so I wanted to look at the numbers. 244 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, theyved pitching well. Number one ERA since April nineteen. 245 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: I believe April eighteenth was that crazy game against the Diamondbacks, 246 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: and then since then, since then, and that cludes I 247 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: believe the e r A this was before yesterday's game 248 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: was at two forty four e r A. And then 249 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: that includes that Ryan Presley blow up, which was you know, 250 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: no outs in eight runs. That's so they're really figured 251 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: things out with that bullpen. You have to give them credit, 252 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: you know. Craig Counsel was talking about the other day. 253 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: I think it was one of your questions. Perhaps he 254 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: talked about, you know, you get a lot of credit 255 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: to the kind of the pitching infrastructure. They've done a 256 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: good job. I don't know if if the Cubs get 257 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: a lot of credit for that around the league, I 258 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: don't believe. You know, they're they're well known for that, 259 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: but there was a little gap there for a couple 260 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: of years. But they do a good job of finding relievers. 261 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: Brad Keller, Uh, the development of Palencia just there's a 262 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: lot of little things that you have to like. And 263 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: in May, if you want, when was was no he 264 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: was he was sent down in April. Matt Trow was 265 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: said down in April, but he comes back in May. Yes, yes, 266 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: he's like a completely different player. There's we criticized the 267 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: Cubs with the for different things, for different reasons. Things 268 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: that they've done over the years. I feel like they've 269 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: made some strides here in different ways. You see with 270 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: last year Miguel Amayah making reil strides developmentally, Pete Crow, 271 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: Armstrong making rail changes, making real strides, and now Matt 272 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: Shaw like they were real changes. It's like this isn't 273 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: just like go down and get hot. The specific things 274 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: that this guy is working on comes back and those 275 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: changes work. That is, to me is the sign of 276 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: at least an improving organization. Something is going right. They're 277 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: doing things well in some fashion. You have to give 278 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: them some credit. There. 279 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: We went more than sixteen minutes without mentioning Pete Crow Armstrong, 280 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: which is amazing. But yeah, there's some like there is, 281 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 2: I guess within any baseball season, just so much stuff 282 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: happens all the time. You know, as Craig Counsel would say, 283 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 2: there are just so many results thrown in your face 284 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 2: and how you handle it, and like, yeah, this this month, 285 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: you know, we could look back as kind of you know, 286 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,199 Speaker 2: the turning point for Peak or Armstrong. I guess it 287 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 2: technically happened in you know, late April when they were 288 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 2: mid to late April, when they were on the West coast. 289 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 2: But you know, even within that road trip and I 290 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 2: know we're going back to April here, but you had 291 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 2: Peak or Armstrong hitting those two home runs at Dodger stadium, 292 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: blowing a kiss to his parents behind home plate, digging 293 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 2: his way out of that slump. They go to San Diego, 294 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 2: Matt Shaw is sent out back to Iowa, and Cubs say, 295 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 2: you know, we envisioned Mattshaw as our everyday third basement. 296 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 2: He'll be back soon. That's that's usually what they say, 297 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: unless a player does something so egregious that they're trying 298 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 2: to said a message. Oh yeah, we expect Mattchaw. This 299 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: will be good for HI, you know, and look at 300 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 2: all these other players we sent out who had successful careers, 301 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 2: but you never know. And to your point, which I 302 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: think is spot on, that there are a lot of 303 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: good things happening organizationally. That is, you know, decisions that 304 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 2: were made a long time ago are kind of coming 305 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: to fruition here. And that's why you see the energy 306 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 2: restored at Wrigley Field, these these huge crowds, this sort 307 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 2: of sense that the Cubs are not really out of 308 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: any game, that the comebacks could strike the I mean, 309 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: just saying two months of the season, how many sort 310 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 2: of like instant classic games we've had or just like 311 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 2: last minute rewrites we've had to do because of the 312 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 2: team's resiliency that you mentioned. 313 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: Patrick, There's one concern that I have for this team, 314 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: and I think it's I think it kind of focuses 315 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: everything that when it comes to July and the trade deadline, 316 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: I think this is the focus. Let's talk about that. 317 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: Right after a quick break. 318 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 4: The weather is warming up, and with that being said, 319 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 4: you need to check out what Rowback is bringing to 320 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 4: the table. If you're a golfer especially and you're looking 321 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 4: for golf shirts that just have the perfect style and 322 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 4: also are soft. They're lightweight and perfect for the summertime, 323 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 4: Rowback is the spot. Of course, FT's hooking you up 324 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 4: with a code for twenty percent off at rowback dot com. 325 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 4: That's f O U L on R H O B 326 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 4: A c K dot com for twenty percent off all shorts, hoodies, 327 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 4: polos and more. 328 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: All right, Patrick, that that one issue that I'm talking 329 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: about is the starting rotation. I was thinking about this 330 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: over the weekend and we've talked a lot about the bullpen, 331 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: and you know every team gets bullpen arms. At the deadline, 332 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 1: You're you're always looking for help, whether whatever it may be. 333 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: I think I think a veteran at the back would 334 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: be you swold for them, especially a bat misser. Although 335 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: Brian Presley looked great on Sunday, no clue that is 336 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: the Brian Presley we see see going forward. If it is, 337 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: then this bullpen is really good. But I think it's 338 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: number one with the bullet is starting rotation. You have 339 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: to upgrade the starting rotation, whether it's getting a trusted 340 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: number three, whether it's getting an ace, whatever it is. 341 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: There there are little things that are happening that you know. 342 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: I think it was we can talk about what happened 343 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: with Ben Brown. I think when when we got that 344 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:43,479 Speaker 1: text early Friday morning, we usually get a heads up 345 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: on the rotation. I was. I was a little surprised. 346 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: I was like, how come we don't it so, yeah, yeah, 347 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: we don't know who's starting today. Uh, And we got 348 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: we got the rotation Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Saturday was TBD. 349 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 1: That was Ben Brown spot and that was I mean, 350 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: it made sense. He's really he'd really struggled two outings, 351 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: just not giving his team a chance. I believe it 352 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: was like out before the fourth inning ended in both 353 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: in both games, and just not not acceptable type outings. 354 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: And then he goes out there for an opener, Drew Promerence, 355 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: you're just talking about the bullpen revelation for this team 356 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: just unbelievably good. Uh goes the first inning and then 357 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: Ben Brown looks dominant that that's the best I've seen 358 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: Ben Brown. I believe it was nine strikeouts, one walk 359 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: over six innings. You do that here, Yeah, then we're 360 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: not We're not as concerned about the rotation if he's 361 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: gonna do that regularly. But that was that was impressive. 362 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: And it also I also just appreciate and fans say 363 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: this a lot, and sometimes I like, just don't just 364 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: try something different, just do something differently. Now, that doesn't 365 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: mean get rid of Ben Brown. That doesn't mean you 366 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: have to. Maybe it's changing up the routine. Maybe it's 367 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 1: changing up the mindset because something wasn't working for him 368 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: in the first inning and this this worked for him. 369 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if they do it for good. We 370 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: got another TVD that's Colin ray Spot who's had two 371 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: rough outings. That's that I think is a different scenario. 372 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: It may not always make sense to go with the opener, 373 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: but in this situation, it worked flawlessly. It was it 374 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: looked like a stroke of genius. Rightly. 375 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think you know, Craig Counsel always looks 376 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: at this stuff as as a puzzle, right of whether 377 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: it's solving for wins or you know, the outgetter label 378 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: he puts on all of those guys. How connected each 379 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 2: part of the pitching staff is, h You're right at 380 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: the moment, I think the Cubs do feel pretty good 381 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 2: about their bullpen depth. You know, that doesn't mean they 382 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 2: won't go out and and add and try to improve 383 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: that area of the club. But you know, showed him 384 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 2: anaga this week. It is he was scheduled to leave 385 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: for Arizona on Sunday and then kind of begin the 386 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 2: progression this week of a live VP, uh some sort 387 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,120 Speaker 2: of I don't know if it be a simulated game 388 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 2: or what. I don't even know if they're playing in 389 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 2: the in Arizona at this moment, but obviously they're gonna 390 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 2: start okay. So he's gonna have multiple rehab outings and 391 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: counsels that it doesn't really matter where as much as 392 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 2: he just kind of gets that under his belt and 393 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 2: you know, has enough days on the calendar to feel 394 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 2: good enough that he is able to go out there 395 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 2: and be himself. But you know, even if Shoda comes 396 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 2: back later in June and everything's fine, there's a lot 397 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 2: of question marks. And as good as Matthew Boyd has been, 398 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,439 Speaker 2: he has not had a full, healthy major league season 399 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 2: since only nineteen. I think obviously there's gonna be some regression. 400 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 2: With Colin Ray, he's been, he'd been really good. I 401 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: think he'll still be a valuable piece of the team. 402 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 2: It's just, you know, he was kind of lights out 403 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 2: there for a while. Jameson Tyne, it's just kind of 404 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 2: the guy that's taken for granted, just a absolute, you know, 405 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 2: class act leader in the clubhouse. And I think he 406 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 2: has maybe nine quality starts in twelve outings something like that, 407 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: but has really been kind of an anchor for this group. 408 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 2: I think we both really like Kate Horton's potential, and 409 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 2: you know, he's really, you know, kind of essential piece 410 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 2: to the club at the moment. But not a lot 411 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:52,959 Speaker 2: of experience there in professional or even college baseball. So 412 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 2: you're you're not you're not quite sure. As much as 413 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: we said there's no innings cap this year, there's also 414 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 2: not really a lot of you know, not much of 415 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 2: a template to know, like you know, how he should 416 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 2: feel or how he's going to get through all this. 417 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 2: So you know they're every contending team is always looking 418 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,920 Speaker 2: for more pitching. Jed Hoyer particular, is someone who obsesses 419 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 2: about this stuff and is constantly worried about these issues. 420 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 2: So you know they're going to go go get one starter. 421 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 2: I think that's just like there's I don't think there's 422 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 2: any way around that. 423 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, getting showed in Managa back is huge. Whenever 424 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: he comes back that it's just they really need that 425 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: his presence and you know, top tier type starting pitching, 426 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: caliber pitcher. You mentioned jameson time a year ago. This 427 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: time we were talking about it, if they're going to 428 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: trade him. I'm just trying to imagine him not being 429 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: on this team and how rough it would be. Yes, 430 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: you'd you'd you'd have added probably one more starter then, 431 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: but for the money he's making and what he's producing, 432 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: like you'd have you'd have had, maybe they'd have had 433 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: to be more aggressive in the trade market. I don't know. 434 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: I don't know how the off season goes, but if 435 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: you don't have Jamison ty Own, this is a mess 436 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: right now, and it just goes to show that it's 437 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: not a fungible spot. It is not easy. There there's 438 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: a huge difference between picking up a non roster invite 439 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: relievers and turning them into really quality relievers and doing 440 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: that for a starter. It is just almost impossible to find. 441 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: Starting hitching so hard. Uh, there's that all teams want 442 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: to go in with like eight nine viable starters because 443 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 1: they know they're going to need them. And that's what's 444 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: kind of what's happened this year for the Cubs already. 445 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: And we're just in the beginning of June. So when 446 00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:00,199 Speaker 1: when you talk about trading veteran starters, guys that if 447 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,679 Speaker 1: you you know that are under contract, you have to 448 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 1: really think about that. So, I mean, they got lucky 449 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: that they didn't trade Janis and ty On because he's 450 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: he is such a steady presence. He goes out there, 451 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: gives them six seven innings regularly, quality starts. Uh. He's 452 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: really been a stable presence and he and he's a 453 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: good dude off the off the field for that team. Uh, 454 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: he's a guys like Ben Brown lean on someone like 455 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: that and and talk through things with him when they're 456 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: when they're you know it. So there's a mental toll 457 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: of the game. But and Brown talked a little bit 458 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: about the mental skills side of it and and how 459 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: he really worked on that, Uh, in between starts and 460 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: trying to get his mind right. This isn't easy for 461 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: these guys, and uh, it's important to have people like 462 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: James and ty On on your team. Uh. But yeah, 463 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: there's they're not done there. They have to I don't 464 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:55,959 Speaker 1: know if you're gonna find it, you know, in the 465 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: next two weeks month. I don't know if you're going 466 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: to find someone that's that that you'd want starting over 467 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: Ben Brown or Kate Horton or Colin Ray. That's really 468 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: hard to find. They do need to figure out a 469 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: way to get more depth. Jordan Wicks just went down 470 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: with I believe a hamstring. I don't know what they're 471 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: starting pitching depth is right now. It's very thin, so 472 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: that is a concern. You just want depth now, just 473 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: to feel a little bit safe that if something happens, 474 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: and then beyond that you're going to need They're going 475 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: to have to be aggressive. I can't imagine that Jed 476 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: Hoyer isn't very like maybe the most aggressive we've seen 477 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: him be at a deadline. Him in charge because I mean, 478 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: there haven't been many buying opportunities for him. Obviously twenty 479 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 1: one is probably the most aggressive he's been as far 480 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: as selling. But this is he's going to have. Like 481 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: there's I don't think either of us have any doubt 482 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: in our mind that this is going to be the 483 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: focus for them and that it will get done. It's 484 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: just a level of starting pitching that they get and 485 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: how what type of like how big? Like how big 486 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: is he going to go? Is he going to give 487 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: up a ton of prospects to get someone that kind 488 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: of changes things for their for this year? And when 489 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: you consider, you know, to bring this full circle hole 490 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: Tucker is a pre agent at the end of the year. 491 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: You want to maximize this team. This offense is too 492 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: good to not to not want to maximize it. It's 493 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: a really talented, complete offense. Uh, go get that starting pitching. 494 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: That's that's That's just how I feel like. I don't 495 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: think there's it needs to be thought about too much 496 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: or you don't want to overthink this, no doubt. 497 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 2: I think you're watching to see which clubs fall out 498 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 2: of and you can look at the AL East either 499 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: the NL West, Like uh, I think we can safely 500 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 2: x out the NL Central and the White Sox. And 501 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 2: I don't know the Rockies have any starting pitchers. Uh, 502 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 2: you know, obviously the Marlins, our team that the Cubs 503 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 2: have had a ongoing dialogue with for a while. At 504 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 2: the moment, you know, I'm told the Cubs aren't monitoring 505 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 2: these minor league pitchers who have opt out clauses. In June, 506 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 2: something could pop there. In terms of the bullpen, you know, 507 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: Jorge Lopez was defaded by the Nationals. He's a guy 508 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: who came to the Cubs last year and had a 509 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 2: really nice run. The assumption is he will clear waivers. 510 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 2: He's not a guy that the Cubs would hand a 511 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 2: major league deal in the spot in the bullpen. That's 512 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 2: how good they feel about their depth at Triple A Iowa. 513 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 2: But those are the types of interim moves you can 514 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 2: make before the sellers and buyers and opportunistic movers are 515 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 2: fully defined. I mean, there's still we're gonna be talking 516 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 2: of this for a while. There's still almost two full 517 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: months until the final buzzer is going to sound, So 518 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 2: a lot of teams will shake out one way or 519 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 2: the other. But you know, until then, they're going to 520 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 2: keep you know, making the the Chris Flex and Drew 521 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 2: Pomeranz types moves to just get the club a little 522 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 2: better and you know, buy a couple of smaller insurance policies. 523 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: Patrick gets it. It's going to be a tough week, 524 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: tough road trip for this team. They're going to start 525 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: three in DC and then it just gets harder from 526 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 1: there Detroit than Philly. This will not be an easy trip. 527 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: We'll see how they come through it. We'll have two 528 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 1: more episodes this week and be back at it next 529 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 1: week as well when they're in Philly. Thanks so much 530 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: for listening to everyone. This is Northside Territory. Make sure 531 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and 532 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: subscribe to The Athletic where Patrick Canay are on top 533 00:31:48,120 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: of all things Cubs. Thanks everyone, Dy