1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: But the reality is it's like you said, there's just 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: not this guy that they're like. 3 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's going to impact our club this year. In 4 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 2: the lineup. 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast, I'm 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my co host Patrick Mooney, where your 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers for the Athletic, where we cover the 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: free falling Cubs. 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 2: Just, I mean, I don't know what to say about 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: this offense. 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: Wind blowing out ninety degree Father's Day Day game and 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: they score one run. I'm not sure if they hit 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: a ball like that you thought was even going out, 14 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: maybe Michael Bush had won. It was just that loss, 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: that series loss. This stretch of games against teams that 16 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: are hovering around and below five hundred has just been just, 17 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: you know, not the worst case scenario because they're occasionally 18 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: winning games, but pretty bad situation where we're just where 19 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: it's gone from when is this going to turn around 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: to is this a bad team? And is this offense 21 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: just a below average group this season? 22 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm glad you brought up. One thing that's been 23 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 3: kind of bothering me. Was just all to talk about 24 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 3: like bad luck or like Wisdom's you know ball that 25 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 3: he hit on Friday afternoon, and like how many other 26 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 3: ballparks that would have been a home run? 27 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 4: And that's such one of. 28 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 3: The dumbest things I see in like the baseball discourse, 29 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: Like when a Bears kicker double doinks it no one's like, oh, 30 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 3: that would have been a make in a dome stadium, 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 3: where that would have been like a single doink at 32 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 3: lambeau Field. 33 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 4: It's like it's professional sports. These are maker miss leagues. 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 4: And like Wisdom, you know, hit another ball yesterday sort 35 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 4: of the gap. I think it was the last out 36 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 4: of the game. It was it was well struck. 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: That bushball was I feel like kind of a catch 38 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 3: at the warning track and the momentum carried him into 39 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 3: the wall. 40 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 4: But it wasn't like that was particularly considering. 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 3: The conditions, Like anyone who was outside yesterday at you know, 42 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: literal league games or Father's Day barbecues or you know, 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 3: one of the thirty nine thousand out at Wrigley on Sunday, 44 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 3: I mean it was hot, it was like perfect conditions 45 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 3: to hit, and Jameson Tywne gives up a two run 46 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 3: homer to the Cardinals Number nine hitter in the sixth 47 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 3: inning and it's game over. I mean, this is we're 48 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: like a week out from the halfway point of the season. 49 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 3: Like that's it's not luck, it's kind of you know 50 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 3: what this team is at this point. 51 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, at a certain point, we got to stop talking 52 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: about luck. And I get where you're coming from. I 53 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: do think there's value in like, oh, if someone's consistently 54 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: striking the ball well and not getting good luck, it's like, 55 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: I think they'll turn it around. 56 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: But what happened. 57 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,679 Speaker 4: I'll give you more. I'll give you, but I get 58 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 4: the morel stuff. 59 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 2: And I'd even say this with MOREL. 60 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: I think what's happening now is now he's hit a 61 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: real slump, like a real he's at a point where 62 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: he struggled. So it makes the fact that he didn't 63 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: get any good luck before look even worse. So now 64 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,519 Speaker 1: it's like you need the good luck at some point 65 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: to help even out the real slumps. And now it's 66 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: just like it's just a bad situation and nothing's going right. 67 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 2: And you know that's that's a different discussion. 68 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: But like this, oh, one hundred and eleven mile per hour, Yeah, yeah, 69 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: he hit it into the wind. At the wrong spot 70 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: of the ballpark, like that's the wrong spot to do it, 71 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: and hit it in the right spot to do it 72 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: in this ballpark like it's it. Yeah, baseball is a 73 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: lot of luck. I mean, it took a little luck 74 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: to win the World Series. Nobody's pointing out all those 75 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: things that went the Cubs way and saying, well, actually 76 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: they don't get that real series because this thing went 77 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: their way and this thing went their way. 78 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: No, it's just like you need luck. 79 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: You need luck to go your way sometimes, and when 80 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: it's happening this this long for an extended period of time, 81 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: we need to stop talking about luck and you need 82 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: to make things happen. You need to somehow get runs in, 83 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: you know, like there are little situations that they're not 84 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: coming through. If you can't grind through one run just 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 1: to tie that game up, you're not doing things things right. Yeah, 86 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know, like if we're just 87 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: repeating ourselves here. 88 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 4: But that's why I liked your story on Sunday. It 89 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 4: was a good change of pace. Obviously. 90 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 3: The story that I really want to see from you 91 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 3: is like the changing wind patterns at Ridley Field and 92 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 3: the Macro analysis of global warming and why do the 93 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 3: Cubs need a dome or something like that. But failing 94 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 3: that larger enterprise story, I enjoyed your six names to 95 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 3: watch in the Cubs minor league system who could help 96 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 3: this year? 97 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 4: Like I said, it was a good change of pace. 98 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 3: I thought it was appropriately balanced because there was no 99 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 3: saviors and there are some interesting pitching names. 100 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 4: But I want to start. 101 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 3: With the offense, because that is what's struggling, and that 102 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 3: is what in the last Cubs window they were very 103 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: good at bringing in all of a sudden, you know, 104 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: a chore ber, a hat. Obviously Chris Bryant after working 105 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 3: on his defense in Iowa. 106 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 4: There's probably one or two others that. 107 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: I'm forgetting, but they had this kind of assembly line rolling. 108 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 3: And you know Ian Happ, you know, as a rookie 109 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 3: hitting twenty four home runs. 110 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 4: Or whatever it was. 111 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 3: I don't I didn't read your piece and think, oh, yeah, 112 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 3: like he's the guy. But I also didn't get the 113 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 3: sense that they're ruling out any of those possibilities. 114 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: Yet, right, No, No, I mean well, like some people 115 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: asked why I know Alexander Canario, the reason is is 116 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: I put a little I didn't include him, and I 117 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: put a little caveat on there the guys that we 118 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: haven't seen in the this season. Uh so that that 119 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: allowed me to sneak in Ethan Roberts and keep that scenario. 120 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: Uh yeah, And frankly like Canario, I get it, like 121 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: people people like him and he gets on tears. But 122 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: he's very similar to Nelson Velasquez, who I guess you know, 123 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: he's a who's a below average hitter with a ton 124 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: of power. 125 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: Uh. 126 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: Those those guys, you know, can help when they're hot. 127 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: But the Cubs need more than just like a hot 128 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: bat to help them right now. Uh, they need someone 129 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: they can insert into the lineup or like this very 130 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: specific matchup bass that will play semi regularly. I think 131 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: one guy that you could look at in that situation 132 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: is Owen Casey. And my my concern coming into the 133 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: season with Owen Casey was the swing and miss and 134 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: and just like the fact that Okay, if he's gonna 135 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: swing and miss, like we need to see the in 136 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: game power, like it has to be there much more 137 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: consistently than it's been. And like we the the swing 138 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: and thisss is there, It's not going away. 139 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: It's who he is. That's that's fine. 140 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: There's a you know, this isn't like a forty percent 141 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: strikeout rate. It's actually, you know, it's like it's high. 142 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: It's like in the twenty upper twenties. But he's he's 143 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: starting to hit for power, and the power is coming. 144 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: It's not it's not this crazy power for the overall season. 145 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: But if you look at this month, he's slugging. He's 146 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: really crushing the ball, and he's always had these crazy 147 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: exit velocities. I think the concern there for the Cubs 148 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: is player development. They like what they're not going to 149 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: just stick them in the lineup. I know fans, I know, 150 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: I get it. I get fans just to like, just 151 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: put him in the lineup every day, Just let him play. 152 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: He can play over whoever is struggling Ian half, you know, 153 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, sit just sit him at DH, put him 154 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: at DH, and let him hit every day. I don't 155 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: think that would be their exact plan. I think that 156 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: he'd be like a lefty slugger off the bench matchup base, 157 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: which is a lot of matchups that he'd get to 158 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: play in. But still, like I think they believe that 159 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: would stunt his development. They also believe that he has 160 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: like real talent to play the outfield, like they they 161 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: think it's a little underrated there. Uh, and they don't 162 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: want to rush him there because they think just playing 163 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: time is what gets him to another level. Defensively, I 164 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: think he's just like slightly below average now, which is 165 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: better than he was. He was like the assumption was 166 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: this guy's going to play first base DH and like 167 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: he said it, and he's a very confident guy. I'm 168 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: not sure how much you talked to him in spring training, 169 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: but little bit. Yeah, Yeah, he's very confident. He said 170 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: some things to me that I was like, Oh, you're 171 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: gonna be fun. 172 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 3: Isn't he the one at Cubs convention maybe the prior 173 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 3: year that said they're doing like their whole prospect panel. 174 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 3: I said, He's like, well, you know, we all expect 175 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 3: to make to the Hall of Fame. It was something 176 00:08:59,679 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 3: like that. 177 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 2: I'm pretty sure that. 178 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: Afternoon panel or something like that, and it was like, 179 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: you know, a question, but it was it was good. 180 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 3: It was you know, I did not use it, and 181 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 3: I hope I remember correctly but certainly portrayed. 182 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: I remember something like that now that I think about it. 183 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: I mean, the other guy is Matt Shaw, right, And 184 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: and what I find about Matt Shaw after talking to 185 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: some people both within and outside the organization, is people 186 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: are starting to like the development at third base. The 187 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: the swing is finally getting kind of picked apart. And 188 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: I don't know, like it's not like this dramatic like 189 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: we have like the Cubs have to completely change his swing. 190 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: But he does have an unorthodox swing. Uh and and 191 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: there's been a lot that that was something that when 192 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 1: he was drafted was like, you know, it works, so 193 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: don't overthink it. I think there's a little bit more 194 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: swing and missed there lately. But I I mean, if 195 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: I go look at the numbers, my guess is that 196 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: it's not like eye popping in the least bit, not 197 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: like not even close to even like Casey levels. It's 198 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: just okay, so it's just twenty percent. Here's here's the 199 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: positive development, and that's he's more than doubled. It's three 200 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: times actually now that I look at three times his 201 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: walk ring from from last season. It just completely changed 202 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: what he's swinging at that is going to lead to 203 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: better things that there's like the ultimately when you have 204 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 1: these contact oriented bats, guys get concerned that as they 205 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 1: move up the wrung, they they know they can hit 206 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: any like. 207 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 2: Make contact with any pitch. 208 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: It's kind of like the Alfa del Morro, Yeah, eko, 209 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: but like bigger like to what like caused him to 210 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: like kind of not establish himself as an everyday player. 211 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: Was el Mora never like he couldn't not swing at 212 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: those pitches, and it led to low walk rates and 213 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: weak contact usually on the ground. You worry about that 214 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: with any type of player that's coming up through the miners. 215 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: He's he's made that adjustment and it's pretty impressive. Uh, 216 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 1: they're still a little bit of like they want to 217 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: see they want to kind of tweak this wing, is 218 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: my understanding, not dramatically, but just find ways to make 219 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: sure he's making more contact. I mean, now that I 220 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 1: start talking about it, I do want to reach out 221 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: to a couple other people and get their thoughts on it. 222 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 3: Uh. 223 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: But but in general, it sounds like, uh, they're they're 224 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: really excited about the upside. 225 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: They believe more is there. 226 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: And after that, the consensus that I got is like 227 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: they couldn't believe this guy's a year out from a 228 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: year ago. This guy was in college. Uh, they're really 229 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: impressed with the development. Outside shot of getting up here 230 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: by the end of the year. Still some work they 231 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: want to do. 232 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 2: Uh. Those are the two bats that. 233 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: That I was kind of the that were brought up 234 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: to me as as could come up. But the reality is, 235 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: it's like you said, there's just not this guy that 236 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: they're like, yeah, he's gonna impact our club this year. 237 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: In the lineup there's no position player. I mean, I 238 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 1: didn't ask about him because the development is so critical 239 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: and I'd be very surprised if they rush him up 240 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: this year. But Moys's Biasteris just got moved up to 241 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: Triple A. He's twenty years old. He, like fans are 242 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: gonna look at like ops or batting average in the 243 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: Southern League Double A. Matt Shaw's numbers don't look great. 244 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: He's well above average in that league. That league is 245 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: a mess offensively. Moys's Biastais is having an insane year 246 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: as a twenty year old double A catcher. 247 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 2: Just absolutely why is that league? 248 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 4: I feel like you've heard that before. 249 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: It like, no, no, there isn't. 250 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 2: I asked around. 251 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: I asked some scouts, like is there something they're trying 252 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: that's leading to this, And they just said that they 253 00:12:58,920 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: don't have a reason. 254 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 2: It's just down like it may just be like that. 255 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: There's nothing that at least unless I'm missed, unless I'm 256 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: misremembering my conversations, there's no specific reason. There's no TACKI 257 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: ball this year. It's none of that stuff. So I'm 258 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: not sure exactly what's going on. But the Southern league's 259 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: a mess. As far as offense, it's really down. Uh, 260 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: maybe it's just more baseball stuff, like because there's all this, 261 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: all these rumors about the baseball right now. Right offense 262 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: in the big leagues is down too. I just don't 263 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: want I want to mention by Stairs because he was 264 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: promoted to Triple A. But I don't think like I 265 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: think the catcher development there is a major kurdle to 266 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: try and rush him. He's not close to ready there. 267 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: He has a lot of work to do, whether he 268 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: can stick there or not. I don't know if the 269 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: I'd be surprised if they suddenly changed their minds on 270 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: how they want to h proceed with him. But he's 271 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,599 Speaker 1: twenty years old and a Triple A now, like I 272 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: think we you know, we we'll have to dig in 273 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: more on him, because he's obviously a very intriguing prospect. 274 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: Outside of that, man offense isn't coming. It's the guys. 275 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: It's the guys that they have, right, we keep talking 276 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: about it. I'm intrigued by these relievers, though, I don't 277 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: know if they're going to change that. I thought you 278 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: were there Sunday yesterday. I thought council talking about like 279 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: seeing it essentially said something about a light at the 280 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: end of the tunnel for the bullpen. 281 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: I thought that was interesting. 282 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think Ethan Roberts could be part of that 283 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 3: bucket as well. 284 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 4: You have Yency Almonte. 285 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 3: Going out on a minor league rehab signment this week, 286 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 3: or at least he is scheduled to around the All 287 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: Star break. The Cubs expect to activate Julian Merriweather. 288 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 4: Ebert Alzalai is still more uncertain. 289 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be like, you know, putting his name on 290 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 3: any sort of depth chart at the moment, but they signed. 291 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 4: Drawing a blank here. Horey Lobez yes from the Mets, 292 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 4: so like he was going to go. He was schedules 293 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 4: to go to Arizona first. 294 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 3: He's had some very good stretches as a major league 295 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 3: believer and was pitching well with the Mets. He just, 296 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 3: you know, kind of had a melt down there and 297 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 3: lost his job. But Ethan Roberts being added to the 298 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 3: forty man, I think our expectation would be probably be 299 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 3: up to Wrigley Field sooner rather than later. And I 300 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 3: think when you take all those things together, I think 301 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 3: you could see what Council's saying. 302 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 4: I think he also said in the same breath, like 303 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 4: we've had. 304 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 3: A lot of injuries and so that like, I'm sure 305 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 3: he would have liked to have had Ben Brown somewhere 306 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 3: in this mix, or like to be able to just 307 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 3: pencil in Jordan Wick's every fifth day. That is not 308 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: happening anytime soon. So it's never going to be totally. 309 00:15:58,600 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 4: Look totally clean. 310 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 3: But I think Counsel I'll say, is say that this 311 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: bullpen was not a strength of the team heading into 312 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 3: the year, and it has lost a lot of talent, 313 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 3: and the more they can get back Tyson Miller has 314 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 3: been a very pleasant surprise. I asked, you know, whether 315 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 3: consider Miller at closer and I got kind of a 316 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: convoluted answer, or we both we weren't we kind of 317 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 3: got our wires crossed. But I think the translation I 318 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 3: got was, well, then who's going to pitch in the 319 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 3: seventh or eighth inning? I think that is his concern. Yeah, 320 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: we need out getters, We need to get twenty seven outs, 321 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 3: So what does it matter if he gets the twenty 322 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 3: first or twenty second or twenty third out or twenty 323 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 3: fourth out. 324 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 4: Whatever it was. 325 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 3: So that to me sound like, Okay, probably not going 326 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 3: to just make him your closer, but certainly they trust 327 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 3: him in really high leverage situations. I also think too, 328 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 3: like they may need him for multiple innings at certain points. 329 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: You know, this is a puzzle saha council. 330 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 3: He tells us it's solving for wins and solving puzzles 331 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 3: and things like that. So, yeah, rambling about a bullpen 332 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 3: that just basically has no margin for ericaus the offense can. 333 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I mean there's there are some Yeah, I 334 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: can kind of see just looking at the bullpen, just 335 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: looking at the names. 336 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 2: What what council is talking about? You have Tyson Miller. 337 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 2: I get it. 338 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 1: Hector Norris is a roller coaster, but he's a veteran 339 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: who's trusted to get out of. 340 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 2: Those situations, even if he puts himself in them. 341 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: Uh, you will have to watch him constantly right the 342 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: rest of the way, see see which direction he's headed. 343 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 3: Uh. 344 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 2: But but I think, like, how about Drew Smiley. 345 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: Quietly lowering his e R becoming a really key part 346 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: of keeping them in games lately? Uh? We could we 347 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: could be talking about a bunch of blowouts if it 348 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: weren't for him of late. I think I think there 349 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: are things when when you talk about getting back on 350 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: Monte and Julian Merriweather, that's going to change things. That's 351 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: that's going to make you feel a little bit better 352 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 1: about the bullpen. Yes, I know they have to score runs. 353 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: I know that none of this all. We can talk 354 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: about everything else all we want. Unless they're hitting home runs, 355 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: hitting it into the gaps and scoring a ton of runs, 356 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: it becomes moot. But but I think fixing the bullpen 357 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: isn't as it's not as much of a disaster as 358 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: it originally felt. I also feel like someone like Drew 359 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: Smiley is it's important to notice him and point it 360 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: out and remind everyone like, yeah, I get it. People, 361 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: these veterans struggle, you know, they like or pictures relievers 362 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: in general struggle that they have moments where they look 363 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: really rough, where it looks like, is this guy gonna 364 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: help this team at all? And I'm pretty sure Drew 365 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: Smiley had a few of those moments early on this 366 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: season where we're like, is this just done for him? 367 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: Like is this is it over? And he can't help 368 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: this team? Well, he got healthy and he's helping the team. 369 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 1: He's he's a valuable bullpen piece right now, and that's 370 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: all you can kind of ask for in the role 371 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: that he's been given. 372 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 2: I don't like Ethan Roberts. I don't want fans like. 373 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: He's an incredibly nice guy, very good with the media 374 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: and fans. 375 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 2: Uh. 376 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: He's well known among the fan base because of that, 377 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: and he's got a nasty sweeper. I would I would 378 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: just caution that this guy's like some cure all for 379 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: the bullpen in any way. I think he's going to 380 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: be at the end of the bullpen with Colton Brewer. 381 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: He's gonna fill a role like Porter Hodge did and 382 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: and if he can and if he can get some 383 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,200 Speaker 1: outs like Porter dot Hodge did initially, uh, then he can. 384 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: He'll continue to be used. Right like that's all, Like, 385 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: I mean. 386 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 2: Council told. What council said is true. We need out getters. 387 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: So if he's getting out, hey, maybe maybe he opens 388 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: some eyes and he gets some gets some chances. But 389 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: I worry about the walks. He's not in the zone 390 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: very often. 391 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 2: Uh. 392 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: It's a low nineties fastball that plays up because of 393 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: like like a funky arm action. But it's a sweeper 394 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: and he's gonna have to face mostly righties, like if 395 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: he faces lefties. I don't think he really has a 396 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: pitch that he can he feels comfortable, uh, getting getting 397 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: them out with. 398 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 2: This isn't Tyson. 399 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: Miller, who's a former starter and the Cubs kind of 400 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: tweaked his like, you know, told him to use different pitches, 401 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: and now he's effective against both guys. Right, He's he 402 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: was looked at when they acquired him. It was like, 403 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: this guy's just a righty out getter. He's impressed and 404 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: he's and he's done much better than expected, especially the 405 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: way he was acquired. 406 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 2: I mean, I just said it. Issue is walks. 407 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: Right, three more names, Zachly Hunter, Biggie, Michael Arias you 408 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: go look at their numbers. The issues are walks These 409 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 1: guys all have stuff. These guys all impressed in different ways. 410 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: Zachle doesn't have like huge stuff, but he like gets 411 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: good gets good extension, so his fastball plays up a 412 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: bit and and it's also a little bit of a cutter. 413 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: He's a solid. He's a guy that I was told 414 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: to watch years ago. And he's quickly like a sixteenth 415 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: rounder I want to say, yeah, sixteenth rounder in the 416 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one draft, biggie injuries, Like I want to 417 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: say he was drafted by the previous regime, like when 418 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: McLoud and Dorry were running drafts and he kept getting hurt. 419 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: But big spike and stuff and just nasty like nasty stuff. Again, 420 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: if you can be around the zone more, this is 421 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: this is the type of guy that has the arsenal 422 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: to be a really good reliever, but he just has 423 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: to stay healthy, has to not walk guys. 424 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 4: I mean great reliever name, I mean yeah, yeah, like 425 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 4: go from there. 426 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 3: I did think there are two names use We've talked 427 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 3: a lot about kind of prospects and trade deadline and 428 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,959 Speaker 3: kind of the larger picture here. I thought it was 429 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 3: interesting that the corresponding roster moved to Ethan Roberts was 430 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 3: dfang Jose Quass, who was kind of the primary bullpen 431 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 3: ad at last year's trade deadline clearly did not work 432 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 3: out as well as the Cups had hoped. He had 433 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 3: his moments. I know he was had kind of a 434 00:21:59,040 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 3: rubber arm. 435 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 4: A dude available, accountable, but just didn't quite have it. 436 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 3: Now, having said that, Nelson Velaskaz has not performed that 437 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:14,719 Speaker 3: great for the Royals, I mean he's got I think 438 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 3: he's like a negative war player at this moment. I 439 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 3: think both guys were probably what each organization thought, you know, 440 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 3: like maybe you catch lightning in a bottle. 441 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:26,880 Speaker 4: Like that's all part of it. 442 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 3: Another name that I saw my timeline was DJ Hurs, 443 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 3: left handed pitcher who raided in the Jamer Candeleio deal. 444 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 4: Now you have to make these trades, you have to 445 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 4: like move your inventory. 446 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,400 Speaker 3: Like it's not like DJ Hurs would be like starting 447 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 3: ahead of Shoda in Monaga, but it I just thought 448 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 3: it was interesting that some of these names pop right 449 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 3: as like we're ramping up again for the trade deadline, 450 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 3: and now DJ Hurs. It was one start against the 451 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 3: bad Marlins team, but six shutout innings thir team strikeouts, 452 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 3: no walks. Now, I don't think he's going to, you know, 453 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 3: go the rest of. 454 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 4: His career without issuing a walk. Kind of that was 455 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 4: an issue. 456 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 3: But you know, an athletic lefty who kind of throws 457 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 3: from a funky angle, who could have played football at UNC, Like, 458 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 3: there's lots like there, and like we're not saying this 459 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 3: like tiss the Cubs or like second guess. 460 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 4: It, like this is is what he's supposed to do. 461 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 3: When you're a big market team and playoff spies within sight, 462 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 3: like the issues, you always have to keep regenerating that 463 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 3: supply of prospects. But it will be interesting to see 464 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 3: how some of these guys panned out. And you know 465 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 3: how aggressive Jed is willing to be at this year's 466 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 3: trade deadline. I think we're going to get into it 467 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 3: later this week of do you use this trade deadline 468 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 3: to plan ahead and get some of the star power 469 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 3: that is clearly here. But that is a whole other episode, 470 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 3: a very long discussion. But again, sind Of, I really 471 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 3: enjoyed your piece as a kind of as a refresher 472 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 3: of like, Okay, there still is a lot of time 473 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:15,919 Speaker 3: left in this season. 474 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 4: They comes do have some buttons left to press here. 475 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 4: Let's see if they get him right. 476 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, I've seen a lot of talk 477 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: about the coast straight lately too, and like it's it's 478 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: a wash there. Yeah, you know, costs great, dude didn't 479 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: turn into what they thought he may. Like, you know, 480 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if he has a chance of coming 481 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: back clearing waivers and coming back and and and being 482 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,719 Speaker 1: just off the forty man and hopefully fixing whatever is 483 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: going on with him. But yeah, they tried to trade 484 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: for a reliever that they thought could get guys out 485 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: and it didn't work out. Nelson Vilaskis is just not 486 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: that good of a player this year, Like I know, 487 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: fans think, like I'm not sure what fans are are 488 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: looking at, but he's like well below average offensively, has 489 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: one extra base hit this month, and can't play defense. 490 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: He's a negative war player. 491 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 4: So he went off in that forty game stretch. 492 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, last great, great stretch last year. 493 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, he was on a heater and he can crush 494 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: the ball and when he's locked in, it's kind of 495 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: like Canario. You can ride the heater, try and ride it, 496 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: but it's hard. It's hard sometimes. I mean Kansas City 497 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: was a losing team last year and couldn't and just 498 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: let him play, right, They just let him play And 499 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: then I think they tried that to start the year 500 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: and he was in a cold stretch, like he didn't 501 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: hit enough, and like once he hit the cold stretch 502 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: and they're playing well, they're they're a competing team. They 503 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: can't they can't give him that long leash. So it's 504 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 1: a it's a tough player too. You have to have 505 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: a ton of playing time to let him work and 506 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: see like can he rarely get locked in and make 507 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: those ups and downs not so extreme? 508 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? So I mean these things are gonna. 509 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 4: Have It's interesting. 510 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 3: That's the challenge of what the Cubs are going to 511 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 3: be going through now, Like yeah, okay, do you want 512 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 3: to give Owen Casey six hundred bats in the majors? 513 00:25:59,400 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? 514 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 3: And figured out like does that mean you have to 515 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 3: dump a corner Ralphil? Or like does that mean Morel's 516 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 3: not your DH or like where Like it's like, this 517 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 3: is I think part of what the stuck feeling around 518 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 3: the Cubs or some of the frustration internally externally it's like, yeah, 519 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 3: you got some nice players, but like, how are you 520 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 3: gonna figure out what you have and here you're gonna 521 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 3: have to displace to do that. And it's not like 522 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 3: this nucleus has blown you away to. 523 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 4: Where like, oh, we have to keep going. It's it's 524 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 4: gonna be fascinating to. 525 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 1: Watch and and I mean, I'm not sure if we've 526 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: said this on the podcast, but you know, like you 527 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: you do ride through some of the growing pains, right 528 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: and it pays off in the end. And Council said 529 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: it Friday. I believe he said the Cardinals did it 530 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: last year with Mason Wynn and it's paying off. The 531 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 1: Brewers did it last year with Bryce rang and it's 532 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: paying off. The Cubs are doing it right now kind 533 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: of with Pete grow Armstrong. M We'll see if that 534 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: pays off. Because I had a young reporter come and 535 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: ask me what I thought about him, and I said, yeah, 536 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: I like Pete grow arms Strong offensively. I think there's 537 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: major issues right now, but I you know, I don't. 538 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 2: I wouldn't. 539 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't assume this is who he is going forward. 540 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: He has some things he needs to figure out. I'd 541 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: like to see him walk more because he's such a 542 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: threat on the basis I mean, yeah, he almost he 543 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: almost tied that game up yesterday just by being a 544 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 1: pinch runner. 545 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 2: Was that yesterday? Whatever day that was when when he. 546 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 3: Oh, it's all kind of blending together. But I know 547 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 3: what you're talking about. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. 548 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: So anyways, like he needs to he needs to tweak 549 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: some things and learn and and go through these growing 550 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: paints because triple A is kind of pointless for him 551 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: at the moment, but like it, there's value in going 552 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: through the growing pains, even if it may mean that 553 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: the Cubs are losing games because they don't have an 554 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: offensive producer there, But like they have to figure some 555 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: of these things out, like these get this is part 556 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: of player development. I think Cubs fans sometimes think it's 557 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: all very simple and quick and Chris Bryant comes up 558 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: and wins Rookie of the Year and looks like a superstar, 559 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: and that's how it goes for the really talented rookies 560 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:22,159 Speaker 1: or prospects. It's not always how it goes. So you 561 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: have to kind of suck it up sometimes and say, 562 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: like this is you have to be patient. 563 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 2: This is what it's going to be. 564 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: Right now, it's a mess because of everything else that's 565 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: going on, Like I remember wasn't it last year or 566 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: in the off season where Jed basically said, yeah, we'd 567 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: love it. Like in the ideal situation is everyone's performing 568 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: and there's no pressure on Pete grow arms Strong. 569 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 2: He's our eighth hitter. 570 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and just like you know, he can hit whatever 571 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: he's hitting, but the rest of the group is performing. 572 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: I mean, he's just they're just kind of letting him 573 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: be that eighth hitner and hit whatever he's hitting. And 574 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: also no one's performing, so well, you have a little 575 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: bit more of a microscope out and struggles. 576 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 4: Progress is not linears just right now. 577 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:09,239 Speaker 2: I definitely did not sear you say. 578 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 3: You say that a million times the last decade plus. 579 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I mean if Cubs fans can cling to that, 580 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: because if progress isn't linear, you have to hope that 581 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: this extreme nearly two month downswing of performance is just 582 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: part of a great year as they swing back up 583 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 1: and and. 584 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 2: And and make a run for it. You can look 585 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 2: at the Mets as something positive. 586 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: The Mets were a week ago and and now they're 587 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: on a five game winning streak. I mean the Cubs 588 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: have to face them in in three days, so maybe 589 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: that's not a positive what I'm just saying, like the 590 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 1: most dead teams can can come alive. 591 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 2: You just don't want to keep falling further and further back. 592 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: I think like every single time we talked to fans, 593 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: now it's like another game under five hundred. I think 594 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: it was three before and now it's four. You know, 595 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 1: it just slowly is like this low march. It happened 596 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: much quicker, I believe last year where it went from 597 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: like hey they're offering around five hundred. Oh they're ten 598 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: games under. 599 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 2: How did that happen? 600 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 4: Yeah? 601 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: This is like slow but like painful and just my god, 602 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: how did it? How did it get here? And we 603 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: will dig into that more, I think. I think hopefully 604 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: we'll we'll have Jed Hoyer to talk to at at 605 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: Wrigley in the coming days, get some more of his 606 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: thoughts on you know, it seems like we get a week, 607 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, every two weeks we're getting updates from him, 608 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: like what's wrong here? So at least he's there to 609 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: answer the questions. I'm not sure if he has actual 610 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: answers as to what's wrong, but uh, you know, not 611 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like anyone does at the moment. But Patrick 612 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: will will have. We'll have at least one guest this week. 613 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: We have some fun stuff to talk about. Like you said, 614 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: trade deadline talk, how do they improve? Uh, someone that 615 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: you know knows great council, maybe some Ryan Samdberg talk. 616 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 2: Well, we'll see where we go this week. 617 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: But it is, you know, three against San Francisco, three 618 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: against the Mets, like I said, I think that's then, 619 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: and then four at San Francisco. Yes, so we got 620 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: ten more games in this stretch of twenty five. I'm 621 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: not gonna go do the math right now, but they're 622 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: like three games under I want to say in the 623 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: first fifteen like something like that that I said, like 624 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: a stretch of twenty five games where this is where 625 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 1: you make your hay. 626 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 2: So basically you want them to go ten and oh 627 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 2: for the next ten to feel good about this stretch. Oh, 628 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 2: they get some damage. 629 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 1: I don't think that's happening, but the turnaround can happen 630 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: at any point or it could just not happen. So 631 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: we'll leave you. 632 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 2: With that positivity there. 633 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: This is North Side Territory or Cubs Podcast on the 634 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: File Territory Network. We're said of Charman and Patrick Mooney, 635 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: Cubs Beat writers for The Athletic. Make sure to read 636 00:31:56,440 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: our work over there at the Athletic. Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, 637 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: do all that good stuff you do with podcasts. I 638 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 1: think we're on YouTube too, not visually, but you can 639 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: hear us on YouTube if that's how you listen to 640 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,479 Speaker 1: your podcasts, so make sure to do that. 641 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 2: Subscribe on there. We appreciate you all of you for listening. 642 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: Hopefully we have some better come stuff to talk about 643 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 1: in the near future, but. 644 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 2: For now, it's just this. This is what you're stuck with. 645 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 2: I apologize, thanks for listening. I'll take care