1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic. Patrick, it 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: is opening day at Wrigley, the home opener. Uh, this 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: is their fourth opener of the season for them. Choked 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: with Greig Council. If he's uh, if he's ready for 7 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: all these openers. Uh, it's a it's a lot for everyone. Uh, 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: but but they're they're finally home Wriglely. Uh, the Wrigley opener. 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: Will see that the weather isn't the best, But you 10 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: know that's I think, I think we're all kind of 11 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: used to that. Up at the Athletic today is everyone's 12 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: favorite topic. We are we are jumping right into the budget. Uh. 13 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: It's it's a topic because uh, I mean it has 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: to be right. The Cubs have the third highest revenue 15 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: and their payroll is depending on what you look at it, 16 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: it's in the twelve thirteen, fourteen area. That gap is 17 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: eye opening. You know, it's hard to look at those 18 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 1: numbers and not you know, kind of side eye at 19 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: or tilt your head and wonder what's going on here? 20 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 1: And it's not. I think it's important to know that 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: this isn't something that you and I are the only 22 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: ones focused on. It's something that people around the league 23 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: talk about. You know, this is howity that the Cubs 24 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: are should be. Are they the Dodgers? Are the Yankees? 25 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: No they're not. But why are they behind? Why are 26 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: they so far behind? Why are they not in the 27 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: top five or six? That I think is the question 28 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: we hear and have been hearing for a while now 29 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: and continue to hear. Thought. I think we, at least 30 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: I did. I got some people saying, oh, here, here 31 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: the Cubs go when they got Kyle Tucker, and then 32 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: where were the finishing pieces? Where were the Where was 33 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: the Alex Bregman move right like that was supposed to 34 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: be the next one or something like that, a big 35 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: picture something. 36 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: Or hiring Craig Counsel. Hire Craig Counsel. Surely you're going 37 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: to give him all these you know, shining new toys 38 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: that they couldn't afford in Milwaukee. I guess let's start 39 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: with because part of this story was, in addition to 40 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: all the people we've talked to, and this includes sort 41 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: of like, you know, conversations, ongoing conversations for years, right 42 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: of sort of how this thing was built up leading 43 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: to twenty sixteen, how it was taken down kind of 44 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 2: during COVID H and the twenty one deadline, and then 45 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: how it was kind of gradually built back up. So 46 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: the array of people were talking to like players, coaches, scouts, 47 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: executive agents and not just you know, Cubs personnel. This 48 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: is a league wide thing of like, if you're an agent, 49 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: you want the Cubs involved, right, if you're a big 50 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 2: name free agent, you want the Cubs involved, and you're 51 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: probably pretty curious. You know, Chicago cells itself. Cubs sell themselves. 52 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: That's what the Cubs always like to say. So for 53 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 2: the central thrust of the story was what you mentioned, 54 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: this disparity between revenues and what we know about payroll, right, 55 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: because there are some estimates I think just suddenly came 56 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: out today USA today had the Cubs at ninth in payroll, 57 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: but still not the band that you would expect them 58 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: to be in. In the interests of fairness, we also 59 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: talk to people on the Cub's business side, you know, 60 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: affiliated with ownership, you know, people who convey that point 61 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 2: of view as well. They would say the overall baseball 62 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 2: spend is higher. That payroll does not account for all 63 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 2: the investments they've made, including a certain manager from Milwaukee. 64 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: They said last year they were fifth. We don't there's 65 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: no publicly available data to track that. They say that 66 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: there is the possibility that that payroll number we see 67 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: could go higher via the trade deadline. They don't know 68 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 2: what's out there. If the team takes care of business, 69 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: the business side will be there, and we have seen 70 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 2: that in the past, right, Castianos, that was a Tom 71 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: Ricketts giving a thumbs up, like this team needs something. 72 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: Craig Kimber was added under sort of different circumstances, but 73 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: like they have a roughly twenty plus almost thirty million, 74 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 2: I think before they get to the CBT. 75 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: Right, so there is like. 76 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 2: An opportunity there where it could go higher. 77 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: I was thinking about that, Patrick. There's no way to 78 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: make that up though. You're not spending thirty million at 79 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: the deadline or twenty five or twenty because it's not 80 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: for the full season. It's two months of the salary, 81 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: so that means you'd be adding, say it's twenty let's 82 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: go on the low end and say it's twenty that 83 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,239 Speaker 1: still would be sixty million in salary for a full year, 84 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: right because you're getting about two months so to you know, 85 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: a third of their contract that doesn't happen, you know, 86 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: like Wan Soto is not being traded here, Shoheyo Tani 87 00:05:56,120 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: is not being traded. So it's a I get it. 88 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: I get that concept, and you do like it has 89 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: been something we've talked about over the years, right, like 90 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: you always want to leave, as they say, like a 91 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: little powder dry, but not twenty twenty five million. That's 92 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: not like that's that's going to be hard to make 93 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: up that groud. 94 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: No, we are. The idea behind the story was that 95 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 2: it's really hard to get some of this information, almost 96 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: impossible on some of it. There is a lot out 97 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 2: there that we are trying to piece together so that 98 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: fans can make up their own minds. They probably already have. 99 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: There was a graphic out there. You actually sent it 100 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: to me. I had seen it. It was our got 101 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: or I don't know who brook Skate is, but brook Gates. 102 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 2: Brook Skate put together this chart that outlined comparison of 103 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: revenue to payroll that really struck a nerve within the 104 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: Cubs organization. That was something that they wanted to address. 105 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: We can't see their books, but part of the reason 106 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: that they just felt that not having aligned for expenses 107 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: was totally misleading, like, oh, here's your revenue, here's your PA, 108 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: which I think anyone who's walked into Wrigley Field can 109 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: get a sense of what a massive operation it is 110 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: when they own the ballpark. It's not fortunately, it's not 111 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: a municipality paying for it. There's one of those that 112 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: the White Sox play in, but capital expendituters operating expenses 113 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: a huge payout in terms of revenue sharing. This is 114 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: not us trying to make excuses for it. This is 115 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 2: just trying to give our listeners and our readers a 116 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: sense of where they're coming from on this. And I 117 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: think you know, one thing that's stood out too is 118 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: like the arms race in the National League, in their eyes, 119 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: is kind of out of control and they're just at 120 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: this moment stuck in the wrong league. If you're looking 121 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 2: for an easy path to October and into the World Series. 122 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: That's all of these organizations and ownerships groups that have 123 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: started behaving differently basically since that post twenty sixteen window, 124 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: like they're all seemingly consolidated in the National League, right. 125 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: I want to touch on that because there's some important 126 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: things all about the National League and their division. Let's 127 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: take a quick break before we get to that. 128 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 3: FT FAM shout out to Homage. Make sure you check 129 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 3: out the website and also use our code if you 130 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: want a little twenty percent off if you're a first 131 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 3: time shopper. There are so many Major League looks in 132 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: so many different ways that you can find on T shirts. 133 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 3: There's all kinds of pants. The starter jackets are fire 134 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 3: this year, new and more improved, and just every team 135 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 3: you're looking for krat they've got it for you. 136 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm gonna hit on the Phillies because they 137 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 2: got the old old school the back in the day 138 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: before I was born, my dad's old school pee. But 139 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 2: then the starter jacket with the maroon Phillies p on it. 140 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 2: Oh baby, get that john because you can wear it 141 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: all year when it's cold and in the spring when 142 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 2: it's warming up. 143 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, go for it. Heavier higher quality fill to take 144 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 3: you from spring training all the way to the playoffs. 145 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 3: We've got them. Check out the website again, Homage dot Com. 146 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: I love their grateful dead Baseball line as well, and 147 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 3: use the code foul territory for twenty percent off if 148 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 3: you are a first time shopper. Get after at FTFM. Patrick. 149 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: Get's easy. I think to look at the division, right 150 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: and and say, well, the Cubs outspend all those teams 151 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: by quite a bit, right, And and I think it's 152 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: also fair to point out that they outspend them, and 153 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: they haven't won the division in a full season and 154 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: quite a while. Right, it's been since twenty seventeen since 155 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: they won the division, right, and eighteen since they made 156 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and that was they lost the division on 157 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: that basically that that was a great run by the Brewers. 158 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: In September, Cubs won ninety five games. That was good. 159 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: That was a good Cubs team, Like we I don't 160 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: want to discount that team. And then since then it's 161 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 1: it's been, you know, not much twenty twenty. You can 162 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: give them that division win. I'm not gonna complain about it, 163 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: but it's you know, that's a sixty game season. Who 164 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: knows what would have happened if they played one hundred 165 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: more games. I think that's a fair criticism of Jed Hoyer, Right, 166 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: And and and Cubs for an office, small operations in general, right, 167 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: But I think you also have to, like, I think 168 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: it's also unfair to say that's their only competition. The 169 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: goal can't just be to win the division. You're competing 170 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: against you you said this, You're competing against teams that 171 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: are spending in another stratosphere. And it's it is a 172 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: level that the Cubs are not competing against. And I 173 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: get it. Being competing with the Dodgers and the Mets 174 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 1: and the Phillies right now financially is a little it's 175 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: it's tough to swallow for some of these owners. I'm 176 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: not again, I don't want to make excuses for them, 177 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: but if you want to, if you want to say, okay, like, 178 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: let let those teams be. Why are the Diamondbacks spending 179 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: more money than the Cubs, you know why? Like Atlanta Braves, 180 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: Houston Astros. I know Houston's in the AL. I'm just 181 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: naming some teams that are ahead of them. Listen, some 182 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: of these teams are cutting and not spending as much 183 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: as they were maybe last year or two years ago. 184 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 1: Here's the thing. The Cups haven't been there since twenty twenty. 185 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: Like they haven't been there. They've been cutting, cutting, cutting 186 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: since then. So it's one thing to cut and reset 187 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: every now and then and take a step back, but 188 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: to not go back up there. I just don't like, 189 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: we can't say. I thought the executive in our piece 190 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: made a good point right like there it's a little 191 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: jarring to see where they are. But essentially I thought 192 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: what I took away from those quotes was, this is 193 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: a rival executive, to be clear. If I didn't if 194 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: I didn't make that clear, essentially saying, you know, were 195 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: that they've been in on guys, they haven't gotten that deal. 196 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 1: We knew what they were doing when they sold off 197 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one. They announced what they were doing, 198 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 1: but you kind of expected them to start spending at 199 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: some point. And I think Kyle Tucker is the test case, right, 200 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: this is where the focus goes what happens with Kyle 201 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: Tucker And when you start like those cries for him 202 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: signing aren't gonna stop anytime soon. The way he's playing, 203 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: the way fans have all it's been nine games and fans, 204 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: fans have forgotten what it's like to watch a player 205 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: like that, Like this is the way he started the season. 206 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: Is the way Chris Bryant played in twenty sixteen, right, 207 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: like a superstar level performance that you consider for an 208 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: MVP like he that's a type of player. Is we 209 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: knew this, but I think sometimes when you see it 210 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: every day, it's different. Right, It's a It's a reminder 211 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: of the type of talent that elevates a team and 212 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: a group. I agree with that that statement that this 213 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: is kind of the test case. Are are you in this? 214 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: Are you a big market team that can flex your 215 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: financial might? I haven't seen it for a long time. 216 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: I have not seen that for years. 217 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: No, I mean, and I do wonder if some of 218 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 2: this conversation would be a little different if they had 219 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 2: signed Tanner Scott and then maybe done that would have 220 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:17,319 Speaker 2: opened up some other moves. Obviously, if Alex Bregman had 221 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: picked the Cubs, it's not this isn't the story like 222 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 2: that would have been the guy. You can go back 223 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 2: the previous spring training of Matt Chapman with a deal 224 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: that you know was not at the time a six figure, sorry, 225 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: a six year, nine figure type of commitment. It was 226 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: a really short to medium term deal depending on how 227 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: the he performed and the opt out decisions or not. 228 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 2: And I mean he's a guy who had a seven 229 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 2: I think it was a seven point point one war 230 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 2: season per Baseball Reference. And the Cubs use seven different 231 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 2: third basemen last year to start games, and all seven 232 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: are gone from the organization. So it's just a I 233 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 2: think we all I think most people can understand, like, hey, 234 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 2: a fifteen year contract for a player, even when he's 235 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: probably going for the Hall of Fame, is a little crazy, right, 236 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 2: Like you have to be a little if you want 237 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: to what's the Andrew Freedom quote, If you want to 238 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: be rational on every free agent, you're never gonna sign 239 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 2: for your third fevorite free something like that. 240 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, something like that. 241 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 2: And like, you know, the perception that Steve Cohen is 242 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 2: essentially doesn't care how much money he loses on an 243 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: annual basis with the team is something that is almost 244 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 2: impossible for another team to compete with, right, Like if 245 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 2: he's just viewing it as this is my passion, and 246 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 2: if this is a vehicle for something much larger, whether 247 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 2: it's a you know, a real estate development thing or 248 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 2: the appreciation or like he can just write that off, 249 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 2: Like that's hard to compete with. And the Dodgers have 250 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 2: this amazing TV deal and they've built this ideal environment 251 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 2: that is hard to compete with. But after that, it's 252 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 2: kind of like, what's going on? Why? You know, why 253 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 2: is this team that really heralded itself as this you know, 254 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: business baseball behemoth when the renovations were underway, and you 255 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: know the team was going to the World Series, Like 256 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 2: what happened? And I think a lot of it is 257 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 2: how these other teams adapted or changed hands. Steve calling 258 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: the biggest example. Everyone knows the Dodgers, but it's even 259 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: you know John Middleton, you know, who comes from a 260 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: family that had a big tobacco business, uh and that 261 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 2: they had sold and he's taken on more investors in 262 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: the Phillies in part you know that money probably helps 263 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 2: the payroll, right. And Peter Seidler before his death was 264 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: just didn't didn't care. He wanted to do something special 265 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 2: for his city and really just totally reimagined that franchise. 266 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 2: You have the Braves building the battery in Atlanta that 267 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 2: has self turned. You know, that's a Wrigleyville idea that 268 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 2: they just put when you've been there, right that like 269 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: just put it out in the suburbs right by a 270 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: highway and let the people come to you. Uh. You know, 271 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 2: the Diamondbacks are just a well run team that does 272 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: do kind of Corbyn burns deals uh out of nowhere. 273 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 2: So you know those are as much as uh as 274 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 2: underwhelming as the Central is. Like that's not the endgame 275 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: or it shouldn't be. 276 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: Right the center. The the reason this is an issue, right, 277 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: like it's it's more than just where they sit right, 278 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: Like they're too low right on that list when we 279 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: look at their team payroll, but you want to look 280 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: at what when you talk about their division and say, well, 281 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: they're outspending everyone, they need to really hammer that home. 282 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: They need to use that money like as huge leverage 283 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: because they don't have the advantages and that that's their 284 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: advantage finances, right. The CBA is built to force them 285 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: to use that as their biggest advantage and they're not 286 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: fully leveraging that because when I when I say that, 287 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: what I mean is all these other teams in the 288 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: Cub's division they get extra draft picks right when they 289 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: sign If they decide to sign a big name free agent, 290 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: they lose lesser draft picks than the Cubs would. The 291 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: Cubs don't get these these extra draft picks that that 292 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: the Cardinals and the Pirates and and the Brewers and 293 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: the Reds get like they get draft picks every year 294 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: because they're small market, not not for losing, not just 295 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 1: for losing free agents, which they get better draft picks 296 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: than the Cubs would for losing free agents. They they 297 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: get it just because they're small market. Like it's this 298 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: is it seems small to the fans. This is huge 299 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: for building a farm system for really like front offices 300 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: look at this stuff as gold, right, Like like I 301 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: we don't. We don't have their internal numbers. But my 302 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: guess is the valuation of those are quite high. Right, 303 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 1: those draft picks. 304 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 2: You can trade them too, right, or some of them. 305 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: There's some of those picks that you can trade. I'd 306 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: have to look at the CBA to remember exactly which ones. 307 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: But I think you're I think you're right. I think 308 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: it is those, So I mean, that's it's even more valuable. 309 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: Where's that's another piece of leverage that the Cubs just 310 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: don't have. Listen, the Cubs, I think there had been 311 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: some debate about this because the Cubs had been losing 312 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: for all those years from like twenty one to whatever 313 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: twenty three. The Cubs are a destination. They have a 314 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: lot of things that the players want. Prime among them 315 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: is the city of Chicago. Like people want to come here, 316 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: like talk to players. They'll they'll offense that we do 317 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: that anonymous poll every year and and the when we've 318 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: done it in the past, one of them like, what's 319 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: the city you love to go to on a road trip? Right, 320 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: Obviously we don't get these answers. I'm talking about all 321 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: the other beat writers. Chicago's often way up there. It's 322 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: New York and Chicago. That's where people want to go. 323 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: People love Chicago. People like coming here in the summer. 324 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: They want to play it Wrigley. Uh. I know fans 325 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: get frustrated with the losses, but it is a destination 326 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: and that they that they they'll ask Cubs players like, hey, 327 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: throw throw my name out there to your to your 328 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: front office. Hey, what's it like there? Hey, I want 329 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 1: to come play for the Cubs. And they're not in 330 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: on these guys. I mean to enter an off season 331 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: when you know you need like you when they told 332 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: us that that pitching was their number one need right 333 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 1: going into the offseason and and not even in on 334 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: Corbyn Burns and Max Freed that that says a lot, right, 335 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 1: that can't be the way they operate, and I think 336 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: that when you know it, when you look at them 337 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,239 Speaker 1: out spending the rest of the division, it's I I 338 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 1: agree that. I mean, that's just a fact they are. 339 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: But it has to be at a higher level. It 340 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,360 Speaker 1: has to again, not the Dodgers. I'm not saying that. 341 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: I think fans would love that and deserve that. That's 342 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: not that's not going to happen. But why are the 343 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 1: Diamondbacks in on corporn Burns and the Cubs can't be? Why? Why? Why? 344 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: Why are things like that happening? 345 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 2: Uh? 346 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: Is it's just jarring to see. 347 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: Well, look, at least you won't have to ask those 348 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: type of questions when the game goes through an absurdly 349 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: long workstoppage. Sixth season right now, all valid points, I 350 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 2: think at this point, I forget which coach said it, 351 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 2: though we have more than enough to win with. I 352 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 2: feel like that's one of those sort of like meme 353 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 2: meme type quotes and Cubs due they should win this division. 354 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 2: It will. This is Jed Hoyer's hand picked roster. I 355 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 2: mean every player who's come through the door, he's been 356 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: a part of the organization. There can I mean, there 357 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 2: can't be anyone still playing who's there in twenty eleven. 358 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: Uh but still around? 359 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, we got what I mean showda you know 360 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 2: was they're fine? And if he stays healthy and pitches 361 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: like an All star again, that's good sign. Look, Sayah 362 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,719 Speaker 2: needs to be He doesn't have to be the man 363 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 2: because Kyle Tucker's here, but he's got to have his 364 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 2: best season the one that he's shown flashes up and 365 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 2: hasn't put together yet. Dansby Swanson, almost the biggest contract 366 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 2: in franchise history, has to have a great year on 367 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 2: both sides of the ball, not just on defense. I 368 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: mean they've talked up this farm system all right. Is 369 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 2: PCA gonna be on kind of more of a Jackson 370 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,880 Speaker 2: male trajectory or is he gonna kind of just fall 371 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 2: a little flat this year? Matt Shaw obviously had a 372 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: lot on his shoulders. Can they make keep making moves 373 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: to get better? I think with the padres in town 374 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 2: is a good reminder of what a j preller has done. 375 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 2: Like it doesn't always it's not very conventional, it's not 376 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 2: kind of by the front office handbook that they seem 377 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 2: to hand out from the MLB headquarters in New York. 378 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: But he made early trade trades outside of the trading 379 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: traditional trading cycle to to get that team better last year. 380 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 2: And he kept making moves. I mean that's on Jed 381 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 2: and Carter Hawkins and uh yeah, great counsel Like I'm 382 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 2: every time like a the bullpen blows a game, like you, 383 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 2: it can't be this knee jerk. Well, like your council 384 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 2: doesn't know what he's doing. But over the course of 385 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 2: this year, we have to see the impact, right, And 386 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 2: that's right Matt Shaw and others being great kind of 387 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: Ben Brown finding his identity the next maintaining Porter Hodge 388 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 2: and finding the next Porter Hodge. That kind of September strength. 389 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: That going back to that twenty eighteen when they chased 390 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 2: on the Cubs, Like Cubs team has to keep getting 391 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 2: better and that falls on the manager. So it's you know, 392 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 2: the Cubs for a team that like didn't doesn't always 393 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 2: make the huge splash and isn't like, you know, a 394 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:44,360 Speaker 2: villain to the rest of the league. There's like just 395 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 2: so much to unpack here, like so many levels of 396 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 2: the organization. It's going to be it is not going 397 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 2: to be boring. 398 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and uh, to kind of end on a positive note. 399 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: It's where we're nine games in. I think they look good. 400 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: I like, you know that they've had a weird start 401 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: to the year. It is a tough it is a 402 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: tough league. Like like we've said, they're they're gonna be 403 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: challenged against an undefeated Padres team. They missedill and ceased 404 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: though that's a that's a nice break for them. I 405 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: don't know. I I I have optimism for this group 406 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: because I think there's talent there and I do think 407 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 1: they're the best talent wise on paper, the best team 408 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: in the NL Central. Uh. If they get some of 409 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: these surprises, like like like we talked about, like you know, 410 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: like Jed loves to say that outperform uh projections, If 411 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,360 Speaker 1: they get some of those, you know, maybe they move 412 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: into that upper echelon of teams. It seems like the 413 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: Dodgers are in another stratosphere that they they they were 414 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: looking terrible the other night and and still win a 415 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: game because they just have too much talent. Uh. It's 416 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: it almost feels unfair at times. It's the first time 417 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: in a while that I've watched the team and said, 418 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: is it can you make like the perfect baseball team? Again, 419 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: We're too early in the season to know for sure, 420 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: but they look really really talented. I mean they are, 421 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: But I do want to end on that positive note. 422 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: I think I think Jed Hoyer has built a good 423 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: team here. Is it a great team? Could it be better? Yes? 424 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: I do think it could be better. It's not quite great. 425 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: I think they they have a chance to be really 426 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 1: good because they have youth, and you never know with 427 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: youth where like if the if the youth performs and 428 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: if multiple of those players perform. Now you're talking about 429 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: a really really good team, right, But I like this group. 430 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: I think it's it's early on. I've seen some things 431 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 1: that that give me some optimism. Uh even even with 432 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: the hiccups from the bullpen and some of the starting pitching, 433 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: the offense just looks looks like it could be good. 434 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: It's nine games. Well, there's a lot of baseball to 435 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: be played, so it could be way off on there 436 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: and they could win eighty three games. Again. Uh yeah, Patrick, 437 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: I I don't want I don't want the this with 438 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: with the home opener about to start. I don't want 439 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: to crap on on the Cubs fans optimism, uh, like 440 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: the spending matters and and that and what we talked 441 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 1: about does is relevant. Uh, but you know, I think 442 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: there's there's reason for optimism for the twenty twenty five season, 443 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:26,360 Speaker 1: and hope Cups fans embrace that and and get through 444 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: the rain or whatever we're gonna be sitting. 445 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 2: You'll have you'll have like office hours at g Man 446 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:37,359 Speaker 2: Tavn or something. If you want to kill everyone's optimism. 447 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: Sure we can do office hours that g Man cheez. Uh, 448 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: that's off the clock for sure. Yeah, all right, everyone, 449 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: enjoy opening, uh the home opener. Hopefully many of you 450 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 1: are getting out to regular field this weekend. Hopefully the 451 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: sun peaks out and we get three games in and 452 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: and the weather turns soon enough. Thanks so much for 453 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: listen to everyone. This is North Side Territory. Make sure 454 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: to subscribe to the YouTube channel Rate and Review on 455 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: all different platforms. Make sure to subscribe to The Athletic, 456 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: where Patrick and I are on top of all things Cubs, 457 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: and you can read that column there on the New 458 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: York Times. Thanks so much for listening to everyone. Take 459 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: care