1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: I mean, this was a cold blooded business decision. And 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: I'm using air quotes here like the legacy stuff, he 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: simply does not care about. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 2: Welcome into North Side territory, Fowel territories. Cubs Podcast, I'm 5 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 2: Sahadev Sharma with Patrick Mooney, your Cubs beat writers at 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: the Athletic. We are talking all things Cubs here and Patrick, 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: we saw the return of Craig Council to Milwaukee and 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 2: there there was no doubt about it. They were all booze. 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 2: I did not hear any cheering. The Cubs fans that 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: were there were drowned out because it was clear as day. 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 2: It was the intro video that he had when he 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: went when he was introduced and with lineups and went 13 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: to exchange the card, and then again when he went 14 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: to pull out Mark Leider from the game, booze. There 15 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 2: were even some chants of towns sucks, some pretty some 16 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: pretty harsh signs out there. But this is a group 17 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: of fans that have that are holding a grudge, but 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: have also embraced Pat Murphy and a pretty damn good 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: Milwaukee Brewers team. 20 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I had a chance, I along with a small 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: group of reporters in Saint Louis over the weekend, got 22 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: a chance to talk to Counsel about that return, and he, 23 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: like everything that has brought up, seemed pretty unfazed by 24 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: it and like he would answer the questions and he 25 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: was thoughtful and introspective, but there was no sort of 26 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: like ah, I don't know, change in his demeanor. And 27 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 1: I was just curious what it was like, because it's 28 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: one thing to talk about it in Saint Louis knowing 29 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: it's coming up, but kind of walking the Milwaukee clubhouse there, 30 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: as you know, is very close to the dugout. It's 31 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: actually very nice. I think players really like it, but 32 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: it's it's very close. I'm just picturing him in that 33 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: kind of short walkout to the visiting dugout. Once he 34 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: sat down on that side, Well, what was he like? 35 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: What was his demeanor at that point? 36 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: He was the same old counsel in my opinion, he 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 2: you know, he made a quick quip to one of 38 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: the Milwaukee reporters that he knows well, seemed to be 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: in a jokey mood immediately when asked about it, said, 40 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 2: you know, cheer boo. Whatever they want to do, as 41 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: long as they have fun. This is what fans do, 42 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: you know, come have fun at the ballpark. It's a 43 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: day off of work for them, you know, come out 44 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: here and enjoy yourselves. He was not, He did not 45 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 2: seem like he was concerned about that aspect of it. 46 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: He was shown laughing when they were booing, you know, 47 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 2: in the dugout after the game. You know that that 48 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 2: wasn't obviously they just lost five to one, five straight games. 49 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: That wasn't his concern. 50 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: He was. 51 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 2: He kind of joked about it, kind of set repeated 52 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: himself from pregame. He's like that that's what they're going 53 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: to do, whatever they want to do. I'm fine with it. 54 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: Uh he he. It's interesting. He's he's very he doesn't 55 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: seem like a sentimental person. But when I ask that, 56 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: when I asked Pat Murphy about it, Murphy's like, that's 57 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 2: how he is with you guys. He is a sentimental person. 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: He cares a lot. You know, he cares about Milwaukee. 59 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: He's like, I think in you know, twenty years from 60 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: now or however long, he will be looked at fondly 61 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 2: in Milwaukee. But right now, this is competition, and and 62 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 2: and it's a different feeling. And Murphy seems to get 63 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: a Council seems to get it. I think that's I 64 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: think that's true. I agree with Murphy there. You know, 65 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: like you go to a rival, you're going to be 66 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: disliked for a little bit. But after, you know, after 67 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 2: time passes, uh, you know when when you have some 68 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: perspective on things. Uh, My guess is something I looked up. 69 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: Five times he went to the playoffs with the Brewers. 70 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: They've been to the playoffs four times before that in 71 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: their existence. I know the Brewers aren't like the longest 72 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: lasting organization around, but four times. And I mean, as 73 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: someone that watched a lot of Cubs baseball growing up, 74 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: the I guess the Brewers were not always in the 75 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: in the n ELT cetera. But I mean they were. 76 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: They weren't considered a rival until Council showed up. You know, 77 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: I know they had good years before that because the 78 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: c C. Sabbathia years were before Council showed up. That 79 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 2: the year they traded for c C. Sabbathia. Some of 80 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: those years. 81 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: Was he playing for the Brewers at that point? I 82 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: mean he would have been around that time. 83 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I want to say, uh maybe not maybe maybe, 84 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 2: just maybe that was just before he got back. Yeah, 85 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: I think I think that was just before Yeah. I 86 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: can't remember the exact time that he he was there 87 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: as a player, but he was maybe he was there. Yeah, 88 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: listen that like it It felt like that was the story, right, 89 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 2: And it's something that you and I have been hearing 90 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 2: questions about in spring training, right, like Council has been 91 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 2: answering questions about this for a while now. The reality 92 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 2: is the story is the way the team is playing, 93 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: right like this, the Brewers are a good team. Uh, 94 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 2: I think that's clear. They this is a well run organization. 95 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: I think that's that's something that needs to be you know. 96 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: They they need they continue to produce talent. They continue 97 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 2: to find unheralded prospects or whatever it is and develop 98 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: them and maximize their talents. Uh, and they you know it. Yes, 99 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: Craig Council is very likely one of the best managers 100 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: in the game. Right, that doesn't make him magic, right, Like, 101 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: the organization the Brewers have built needs to be commended. 102 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: They're up there. They don't have the postseason's success yet, 103 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 2: so you can't say they're they're up there with Cleveland 104 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: and Tampa Bay who have both made World Series recently, 105 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 2: but I kind of put them in that category. Now 106 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: I'm starting to think, like, Okay, who are these small 107 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: market teams that don't spend that repeatedly win that they 108 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: should be mentioned with Cleveland and Tampa Bay as as 109 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: one of those small market teams that just makes it happen. 110 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: They're not the Dodgers, right, They're not the Yankees, but 111 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: they're they're a damn good organization. And I think, you know, 112 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: when when we talk about Jed Hoyer has always admired 113 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: Craig Council from AFAR. He admires teams like that in general, 114 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: organizations that do that. He admires that, and he wants 115 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 2: that that. There's a reason Carter Hawkins is his second 116 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: in charge. He appreciates teams that can do more with less. 117 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's no doubt that it wasn't just Counsel, right, 118 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: I mean, Doug Melvin hires him and made some moves, 119 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: including the trade that brought in Josh Hater. You have 120 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: David Stearns obviously taking the team, you know, to the 121 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: next step, next level, to the point where you know, 122 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: Steve Cohen wants him to run his you know, multi 123 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: billion dollar toy. And then you know, Matt Arnold's made 124 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: a lot of shrewd moves as well. I mean William Cantreras, 125 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: you know, I think he's gonna be like in that 126 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: MVP range this year. And I forget which one when 127 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: exactly they got William Domas, but that's obviously another like 128 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: everyday piece that they got, obviously drafting and developing Burns 129 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: and Woodruff, which Council clearly played a role in and 130 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: at least drawing them out at the major league level, 131 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: as you know, all star level talents. And so I 132 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: think it is interesting timing here of seeing one how 133 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: Counsel responds just in that environment and getting a little 134 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: more context now that there's a little more distance from 135 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: that decision, of him acknowledging that, you know, the Brewers 136 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: at that moment could not offer him what he wanted. 137 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: This was THEO leaving Boston, This was you know, Joe 138 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: Madden leaving Tampa like it was time in his mind 139 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: for a new challenge. And obviously Pat Murphy knows Counsel 140 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: way better than I do. I read your story and 141 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: I thought that sentimental line did jump out, and I 142 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: think Counsel is like empathetic and thoughtful and progressive and 143 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: is not a robot. But in terms of like the 144 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: sentiment sentimentality of leaving Milwaukee, I think there was very 145 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: very little. I mean, this was a cold hearted, uh, 146 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: cold blooded business decision. And while he loves loved his time, 147 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: there many fond memories, you know, great relationships that he developed. 148 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: You know, the other stuff like amusing air quotes here, 149 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: like the legacy stuff he simply does not care about. 150 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: But he's like, that doesn't do anything for me. The 151 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: idea of having his jersey retired or a statue outside, 152 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: like that's just not really how he's wired. And so 153 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: I think we're seeing that part of his personality here, 154 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: and also like how is he going to handle this? 155 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: And we haven't seen him lose his mind yet. I 156 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: think in April you saw some of his creativity and 157 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: resourcefulness of getting them through, helping them get through a 158 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: lot of injuries, and we're seeing it now where you 159 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: have the offense disappearing, still getting goods, starting pitching. But 160 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: you know, it says a lot about counsel to say, hey, 161 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: showed in Anaga is off to the greatest start in 162 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: Major league history, arguably let's let's put them on ice 163 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 1: for ten days. Yeah, that's that's revealing. And then part 164 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: of it is what does he have to work with? 165 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of Cubs fans I've seen 166 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: on social media something will you make observations about in 167 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: the clubhouse is that there are a lot of issues 168 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: that are still lingering from when David Ross is managing 169 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: the team, and that this is not just a you know, 170 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: management kind of pushing buttons issue. It could be a 171 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: talent roster construction conversation as well. And it'll be on 172 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: counsel to figure that out here and get them out 173 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: of this run. 174 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's there's a lot of angst among Cubs fans 175 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 2: on social media, and and rightfully so, I'm not saying, uh, 176 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 2: fans need to be patient or anything like that, that 177 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 2: that's the team's job and probably our job as like 178 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: trying to convey their messages and understand how how this 179 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 2: all works. And and frankly, being a you know, watching 180 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 2: baseball year round for many many years, we we can't 181 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 2: react like fans. I'm not, but fans are absolutely should 182 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: should feel how they want to feel. What I struggle 183 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: with is this idea that the Cubs offense was always bad, 184 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 2: that that last year was actually actually they were bad 185 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: last year. Your stats don't mean anything. They were a 186 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: bad offense. I don't know what that means. Like some 187 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 2: people say they blew people out and that changed how 188 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 2: how the numbers looked. That that's not really true. They 189 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 2: were pretty consistent, Like there were some blowouts, sure, but 190 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: they were a four or five, six, seven run offense, 191 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 2: like very consistently. This was not that twenty what eighteen 192 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: type type team where the offense was completely boom or 193 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 2: bust and built upon far too similar types of players. Right, 194 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: this is a more diverse lineup. It's just not producing. 195 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 2: It's not like and and you can make the argument 196 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: that maybe last year was a blip. I'll listen to 197 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: that argument. I just don't want to hear that last 198 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 2: year was bad actually on offense. If it was a blip, 199 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 2: if it was two great months of Saye Suzuki that 200 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: he can't replicate, if it was if it was Cody Bellinger, 201 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 2: you know, finding the magic once again, but he's just 202 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: not that player anymore. Whatever it is. I'll listen to 203 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: those arguments, and it could be true. I'm not gonna 204 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 2: jump off just just because it's been a bad month, Like, 205 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 2: I have to stick with what I said, right, and 206 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: I said, I believe this is going to be a 207 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 2: very strong offense. They need to change quickly otherwise I'm 208 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: gonna have to reevaluate my my opinion on that. But 209 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 2: I'm not ready to completely write it off. I will 210 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 2: say that there's some watching the Brewers. Man, It's it's 211 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: fascinating how they've been put together, because nobody would say, like, 212 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: look at like when those moves are made, those are 213 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 2: the same types of moves Jed's trying to pull off, 214 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 2: you know. And now if you want to criticize their 215 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: ability to evaluate the talent, okay, maybe we have that 216 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: discussion as the months go on. Right, But like nobody 217 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: was saying, like, look at the Brewers bring in William 218 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: Contrera's future superstar, right, like, oh, that was an interesting move, 219 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 2: and it's like, oh, that's a nice move and almost yeah, no, 220 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 2: not quite, Yeah, they developed him properly. Listen, fans ran 221 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 2: like every single time Trevor McGill stepped on the mound 222 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 2: with the Cubs, all I got was people yelling, why 223 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: is it? Why are they even giving this guy a chance. Okay, 224 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 2: I know there were people with the Cubs who really 225 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 2: thought he had a bright future. Okay, it didn't work 226 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: with the Cubs, but this is the reality of relievers. 227 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: Sometimes it clicks. Brian Hudson was in the Cubs organization 228 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: had major walk issues. Somehow has like a six percent 229 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 2: walk rate and a thirty percent strike out rate with 230 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: the Brewers. Okay, Germi a Strade is not with the Brewers. 231 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 2: He's in San Diego. I don't know about you, but 232 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 2: every single time he stepped on the mound last year, 233 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, this is not going well because 234 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: all he was doing was throwing a fastball. All of 235 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: a sudden, now he has a new pitch, and he's 236 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: a very and he's a viable reliever. He's a damn 237 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: good relievers. It's two months of a reliever. So I 238 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: don't want to go overboard on any of these guys. 239 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 2: Mcgil looks legit, though. My point is like, sometimes there's like, 240 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: especially with bullpen arms, there's a lot of randomness here. 241 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: But these smaller moves Williadamas, William Contreras, you know, the 242 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 2: guys that are young and developing the trade that got 243 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 2: them DL Hall and Joey Ortiz. Dale Hall's hurt right now, 244 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 2: but Joey Ortiz is a quality bat. They were patient. 245 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: Bryce Terrang looked pretty bad on offense last year. He's 246 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 2: a good ballplayer, right, a great defender. Yeah, and he's 247 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 2: and he's a and he's a good ballplayer. So sometimes 248 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 2: that patience pays off too. So I know Michael Bush 249 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: looks terrible right now, I'm not denying that. And maybe 250 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: he needs like he has been sitting more often. But 251 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna say, like, oh the Cubs bleue that 252 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: trade just yet. You know that, Like, let's let's see 253 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: what he can do, how he can adjust. Patience is 254 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 2: valuable for some of these guys. Uh, everyone wanted Ian 255 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 2: Half sent away, and he's the only guy hitting right now. 256 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: Not it's been a week, but still he's the only 257 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: guy that looks competent at the plate. It's it's rough 258 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 2: to watch this offense. So it's it feels like there's 259 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 2: one or two bright spots, uh, every now and then. 260 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, the thing is just that, Like what were some 261 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: of the concerns heading into this season, Like was it 262 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: is this a team built to try and win eighty 263 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: four games? And elbow the Diamondbacks out for the last 264 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: wildcard spot. It was certainly more that than a team 265 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: built to contend against the Dodgers. And so when you 266 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: have some of these things happen, it just brings back 267 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: the criticism of like where is the And I know 268 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: there are only a few guys like this out there, 269 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: but Wan Soto got traded this year and Shoeo Tani 270 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: signed the only place he probably would have signed. But 271 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: it just goes back to that, like who can carry 272 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: this offense? Like when things aren't quite going well, I 273 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: think it's clear that their defense was overrated. Hey it's 274 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: you know, like this was not all on Nick Madrigal, 275 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: but you got to make that play. That's like a 276 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: double play ball, and that's the type of plays that 277 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: winning teams make. And I went back to like the 278 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: Mike Talkman game last year, and it wasn't just that 279 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: catch because talking to himself, the first thing he brought 280 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: up with is Dansby and Eco turned that double play 281 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: to set up for me. Earlier in that game, Dansby 282 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: was making these really slick, slick plays to save runs, 283 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: like kind of the scoop throw Cubs escape, like the 284 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: Cubs have to function at that level to be that 285 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 1: playoff team, and they're simply not doing it. Yeah, and 286 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: so when you have lots of good players or like 287 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: two way players who aren't maybe spectacular in either area, injuries, 288 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: guys struggling, just kind of the nature of baseball. Like, 289 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: I totally get it if my fans are just like 290 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: this is this feels like these the same same movie 291 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: as last year. And now. I think in general, if 292 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: he's out, you have a lot of things going in 293 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: your favor. If if you're the Cubs, in terms of 294 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: one council's presence, his steadiness, the fact that he's not 295 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: looking over his shoulder, none of the players are wondering, 296 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: like what's gonna happen here, You're gonna have a front 297 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: office that it's gonna need to make bigger moves at 298 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. They always do make moves. And I 299 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: think there is a lot to be gained if you're 300 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: looking at roster spots, say twenty to twenty six on 301 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: this roster, you could do a lot better in several 302 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 1: different areas of just like get it back up towards 303 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: maybe a major league average standard. I think that could help. 304 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,719 Speaker 1: But also just go get some impact, whether it's a 305 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: Pete Alonso, whether it's gonna be but there's definitely gonna 306 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: be some bullpen help. We're gonna assume that the rotations 307 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: probably can be relatively okay, we'll see what happens, but 308 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: you're gonna have a front office in an ownership group 309 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: that's gonna be extremely motivated to make it to October. 310 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: And then the schedule too, Like if it's hard in 311 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: the front end, it's going to be a lot easier 312 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: on the back end. And I think there's just something too, 313 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: particularly in the expanded playoff field, of just like sticking 314 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: with it and not giving up can really as low 315 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: a bar as that is, can really help you out 316 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: in the long run. So like the long form aspect 317 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: of the season for the Cubs, like everything's trending in 318 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 1: the right direction in that big picture sense, but it 319 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: is just like hilarious that you know they're low point 320 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: five game losing streak happens right when council returns and 321 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: the Brewers are just red hot with like this you know, 322 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: new slash old manager who is Counsel's mentor and trading 323 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: away burns and still just leading the division. It's made 324 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: a great, great storyline. 325 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 2: So you touched on a few things that I've heard 326 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 2: fans say, and I agree with something I said before. 327 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 2: I want to make it clear, like Jed looks at 328 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 2: these teams like the Brewers and is fond of the 329 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 2: way they build things. They're the Chicago Cubs, though, like 330 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 2: they should act like the Dodgers and the Yankees, Right, 331 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 2: So I get fans angst when you talk about you know, 332 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 2: I get Otani just wasn't going to come to the 333 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 2: Chicago Cubs, but not a real pursuit of Otani, not 334 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 2: a real pursuit of Sodo. Those are the two names, 335 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 2: right that stand out when you talk about just superstar 336 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 2: in the middle of the lineup, that this team is 337 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 2: lacking outside of that, When people bring up like they 338 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: should have done more, I'm not sure I agree as 339 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: far as the offense goes, they should have done more 340 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 2: for the bullpen. They should maybe for depth pieces, But like, 341 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: does JD Martinez change street stretch? Right now? Does y 342 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 2: s get like he I'm not saying JD like JD 343 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 2: Martinez twenty eighteen, probably does current day JD Martinez just like, yeah, 344 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: he's a good player. And it'd be nice to have 345 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 2: a deeper lineup and someone that you can trust will produce. 346 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 2: But you know, like I wrote during the off season, like, yes, 347 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: is Michael Bush a risk. Sure, it's a risk, but 348 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 2: he's also an upside play, very talented offensive player that 349 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 2: scouts love across the league, not just with the Cups 350 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 2: Reese Hoskins more established, but also was a risk right 351 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 2: coming off a major injury in his thirties, already injured again, right, 352 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 2: And like that's not to say like he that's a 353 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 2: bad signing. It's like they all come with risks, different 354 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,400 Speaker 2: type of risks. It's not You're not getting Juan Soto 355 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: with these guys, so you need to so you need 356 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 2: a little you need a little good luck with it too. 357 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 2: The Cubs added Jock Peterson and and he wasn't a superstar. 358 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 2: Now he's with Where's the Diamondbacks And he's playing like 359 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 2: a stud right in like playing against the right matchups. 360 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 2: So maybe, yeah, No, I mean, like there are. 361 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: You know, I think in general I agree with you. 362 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 2: But yeah, those are solid players. But I don't think 363 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: it changes what the problems are right now. And and 364 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 2: when it comes to the trade, deadline, they do need 365 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 2: to be bold, and I I kind of I see 366 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: what you're saying with Pete Alnso I think they need 367 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 2: to be a little bit bolder and find someone that's 368 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,479 Speaker 2: around for next year too, because they're likely, I mean, 369 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 2: unless Cody Bouinger falls off a cliff, they're likely going 370 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: to lose him, right, Like, I I like, Jed just 371 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: doesn't going to spend the money on him, Like, and 372 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: Juan Soto is probably pricing himself out of Jed's market, 373 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: Like that's unfortunate. Like, I don't I don't want to 374 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 2: assume that Jed will never go after the top player 375 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: on the market and and spend crazy money. Maybe he'll 376 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 2: be at a point where the pressure is on and 377 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: he kind of has to. But I like, and and 378 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 2: I haven't heard this yet, but like it just what 379 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 2: we've experienced, what we've observed and in our conversation with 380 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 2: Jed over the past decade plus. That's just kind of 381 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: my expectations, right, Juan Soto's gonna price himself out, So 382 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 2: I would like to see Jed Hoyer be aggressive at 383 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 2: the deadline and add a player that's around beyond twenty 384 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 2: twenty four because I think that makes sense for this team. 385 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: You need unless he's hell bent on believing that Owen 386 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 2: Casey's the next, you know, stud in the middle of 387 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: the lineup. I just think these things are so risky 388 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 2: to do this and completely to always bet on the 389 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 2: cheaper player. You're behaving. As much as I praised Cleveland 390 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 2: and Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, stop behaving like them. Behave 391 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 2: like them in certain ways. Don't don't do it in 392 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 2: the spending way. That's how you really are the example, right, 393 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 2: they know how to do it. One other thing, I 394 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 2: think we should mention at least some of the positive 395 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: right Justin Steele looked great yesterday against one of the 396 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 2: best offenses in baseball. He was a stud. I think 397 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 2: that is a big sign, a good sign you would 398 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 2: have to hope and believe eventually. The offense isn't the 399 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 2: worst offense in baseball. It's been the worst offense in 400 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: baseball for almost a month now, worse than the White Sox. 401 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 2: I have this up. It's they have a seventy eight 402 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 2: way to runs great a plus since April twenty seventh. 403 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 2: I keep going back to April twenty seventh for people 404 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: that don't know what that. That's the day after that's 405 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: the second game of the Boston series. I still think 406 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 2: that Friday game against Boston was one of their best 407 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 2: offensive performances of the year. That's Saturday. Since they've just that, 408 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: that's the first time they got shut out, and they've 409 00:24:55,760 --> 00:25:00,360 Speaker 2: been shut out I think five times since. Like, they've 410 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 2: been a terrible offense since then. The White Sock they're 411 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 2: behind Cincinnati, the White Sox, Colorado just abysmal, unacceptable. We'll 412 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 2: use whatever word you want. They don't. They're not doing 413 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 2: anything well outside of taking their walks. That's it. That's 414 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: all they're doing well. And if you can't hit those 415 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 2: walks don't matter. They're not hitting for power. They're striking 416 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 2: out too much. Nothing, nothing's going right. It's bad. It's 417 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 2: bad offensive baseball. It's not bad luck, not enough of it. 418 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 2: I've been harping on Christopher Morrell and bad luck. Yesterday 419 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: was a bad game. Monday was just a bad game 420 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 2: for him, Like just bad, like not hitting hittable pitches, 421 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 2: taking good pitches, swinging at bad pitches. That was the 422 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,919 Speaker 2: old Christopher Morrell. And then you start to worry, like, uh, oh, 423 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 2: you hope that was just one bad game, right, You 424 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 2: hope it was one bad game and not a trend 425 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 2: of him like trying to press it make things happen, 426 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 2: try and do too much. Yeah, but again justin Steel 427 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:08,679 Speaker 2: looked great and you got to take that and hope, like, 428 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 2: do you have this one two punch at this front 429 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 2: of the rotation that you know, if the offense figures 430 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,479 Speaker 2: it out, okay, and you can I get it, Like, 431 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 2: you don't want to aim for eighty four. You want 432 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 2: to aim for ninety plus wins. But if you get 433 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: in and you have a one to two punch like 434 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 2: that and the offense is hot at the right time, 435 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 2: because we know the offense has the talent, has some 436 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: talent to get hot, then it all works out. Right. 437 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 2: Then you forget about all these things and you hope 438 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 2: they build upon that. But there are clear issues right 439 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 2: now that we just can't gloss over. 440 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: Well. The companer basically had a break even point about 441 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 1: a third of the way through the season. The Memorial 442 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: Day is usually kind of a mile marker on the 443 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: long season, and I think it was. April was a 444 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: very good month, overcoming a lot of adverse the banking wins, 445 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: and then May was squandering pretty much all of that 446 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 1: momentum and kind of goodwill and seeing some of the 447 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: excitement dissipate, some of the frustrations mounting. We will have 448 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: you know, obviously June and July will be these really 449 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: important time to one identify what they need at the deadline. 450 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: I think I have a really hard time seeing this 451 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,479 Speaker 1: team selling in this division, given the pressure on the 452 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: front office and the business side to keep going. So 453 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: that's actually I think a great thing for their you know, 454 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: long term prospects this season. Like, I think there's almost 455 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: no chance of them just giving up. They don't have 456 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: a ton to deal anyway. So like you probably need 457 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 1: another catcher, I mean, no matter what, you need some depth. 458 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: But offensively it just simply isn't there right now. You 459 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: get a nice played inning reliever, whether or not it's 460 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 1: a traditional closer or not, you know, just another weapon 461 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 1: that council can use in the later innings. And then 462 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: definitely at least one hitter. We'll see, can you Michael Bush? 463 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: I think I wrote you know he's the finally have 464 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 1: a replacement for Anthony Rizzo. You know, that was after 465 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: he hit like five home runs in a row. I 466 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: think that might be the exact point he started to 467 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: tail off after that. You know, you would think that 468 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: Christopher Morel's, you know, the swing decisions he's making, his 469 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: bat speed, his hard contact should result in better numbers. 470 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: But it's not there. And I think you were on 471 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 1: it side of like, okay, how much more of this 472 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: can you take before he does just totally get out 473 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: of an approach that the Cups keep heading him on 474 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: the back for you know, great at that way to 475 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: work a walk, you know, and you've seen it, especially 476 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: in those later innings. Like he he does give you 477 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: a good at bad. He does know what he's doing 478 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: and what he should be. He's shown tremendous improvements. When 479 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: you look up at the scoreboard, the numbers are not 480 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: very good, right, and it just comes down to your 481 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: best players playing like your best players. And Cody Bellinger 482 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: probably been outside of Mike talkman, you know, maybe the 483 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: team's best hitter, most productive hitter. You know, a solidly 484 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: you know, league average, slightly above hitter, but not the 485 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: MVP type guy we saw last summer. Ian happ goes 486 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: through these streaks. He's it's picking up a little bit recently, 487 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: still not where it needs to be Uh, say a 488 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: Smazuki is going to be caught in that in between 489 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: zone again or for how long? This is someone who 490 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: carried the team for a stretch last year and so 491 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: and Dansby too. I mean he has not been the 492 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: player that the Cubs expected for most of this year. 493 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: So like those are you know, big money players, big 494 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: ticket items that the team you know, targeted of like 495 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: how they're going to build this back up again? And 496 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 1: like I don't know, there aren't many teams that have 497 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: workarounds to like, you know, your five or six best 498 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: hitters not producing the way they're supposed to. There just 499 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: aren't you know, they already run out of pitchers in 500 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 1: Iowa to bring up, like there's not much help coming 501 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 1: outside of whenever, you know, they think Kate Horton is ready, 502 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: which doesn't sound like soon. And then on the hitting side, 503 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: like these are their best guys, they got to the 504 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: either producer they won't. 505 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's I mean, I don't know if there's signs 506 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 2: of anything going right for these guys. I will say 507 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 2: with sayah, I'm glad I haven't seen any of those 508 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 2: half swings in the past few games. Uh that that's 509 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 2: a little. That's I know that's not like heartening fans, 510 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:20,239 Speaker 2: but it's just like it's a little. It's a it's 511 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 2: something that, Okay, I at least he's not like just 512 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: that dreadful July moment where he wasn't even hitting anything. 513 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 2: He looked confused and like he didn't belong in the 514 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 2: major leagues. That's not happening. Dansby's not striking out as 515 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 2: much now that his knees healthy. Uh, he needs to 516 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:43,160 Speaker 2: hit though he's not hitting at all, and there's I mean, 517 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 2: you're right, there's just too many guys. How are you 518 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 2: supposed to overcome that? It's not it's not realistic. There's 519 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 2: no power. They have two home runs during this losing streak, 520 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 2: if over the last week, essentially they have two home 521 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: runs a both the Ian half. So none of this works. 522 00:31:57,960 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 2: It just doesn't work. You're you're not gonna win games 523 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 2: like that. So it has to turn. Uh, it's more 524 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 2: than it's more than you know, one or two people 525 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 2: to point the finger at, and it's a lot needs 526 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 2: to change. I still think it. You know, I wouldn't 527 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 2: abandon ship the fact that they're five hundred. That what 528 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 2: we've been watching five hundred fields like a miracle. But 529 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: I mean they do have great starting pitching. And when 530 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 2: you have great starting pitching, like things can happen. Good 531 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 2: things can happen, right like you make you can make 532 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 2: good things happen. With that you have, you're always in 533 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 2: every game, and and you get a couple guys hot 534 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 2: and things changed, and the tenor of everything changes, and 535 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 2: you have a manager that's very even keeled and isn't 536 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 2: going to overreact. He I talked to some players and 537 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 2: they all agreed. I don't notice any difference. And I 538 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 2: mean that in a good way, like he's you know, 539 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 2: he's he's keeping things steady, and we don't need someone 540 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 2: that's panicking or trying to change everything all at once 541 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 2: and and overreact because I know fans want to see 542 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: Luis Vasquez, get it, that's but guess what, Like that's 543 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 2: not fixing the problem. Look, I get it, you just 544 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 2: want something different. Those they don't have the magic formula 545 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 2: on the bench. That's not what's happening. That's not how 546 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 2: this suddenly turns. Yeah, that like, well, there's more to 547 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 2: dive into over the next few days and weeks. I'm 548 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 2: very curious to see how Jed Hoyer reacts to all 549 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 2: of this. We'll see if he speaks in in Milwaukee. 550 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 2: But it's it's a it's a down moment right now 551 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 2: for the Cubs, and I understand and and uh embrace 552 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 2: the frustration of the fans because I think it is 553 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 2: it's very fair to be ticked off right now when 554 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: when they built up a solid start to the season 555 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 2: and now it's kind of crumbling. Uh, and you're wondering 556 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 2: whether this team is where they're headed. Uh. This is 557 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 2: North Side Territory, your Cubs podcast at Poul Territory. I'm 558 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 2: Sahadev Sharma and Patrick and that's Patrick Mooney. Make sure 559 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 2: you read our work at The Athletic subscribe rate and 560 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 2: a review to the podcast. Thanks so much for listening. 561 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 2: We appreciate all of you. Patrick, did you want to 562 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 2: say one last thing or it just looked like you 563 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 2: wanted to say one last thing? 564 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: They sorry, wegat we got two more shows the rest 565 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 1: of the week. I would just say that we have 566 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: two more shows this week, the Cubs have three more 567 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: games against the first place team in the division. That 568 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:37,200 Speaker 1: our conversation could sound very different after a show today 569 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: and by the end of this four game series, it 570 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: could always get a lot worse. But in listening to Council, 571 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 1: he has very much been you know, you show up, 572 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 1: you do the same things. You have a game to 573 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: win today. So the Cubs have three more against the 574 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,239 Speaker 1: Brewers here and that we've seen how quickly teams can 575 00:34:58,320 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 1: change this season. 576 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:03,799 Speaker 2: All right, thanks for listening. Take care. We appreciate all 577 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 2: of you. Until tomorrow. I think soon enough we'll be back. 578 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 2: Take care, m m m hm.