WEBVTT - What we’re hearing about the Cubs before the All-Star break: Trade deadline thoughts and more 0:00:06.000 --> 0:00:09.560 Welcome into Northside Territory File Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 0:00:09.560 --> 0:00:12.239 Sahadev Charma with my partner Patrick Mudey. We are your 0:00:12.320 --> 0:00:16.479 Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic and Patrick. We 0:00:16.600 --> 0:00:20.320 are just a little over three weeks away from the 0:00:20.360 --> 0:00:25.360 trade deadline. The Cubs are somehow still hanging around in 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:29.520 this I shouldn't say hanging around. They're in a playoff spot. 0:00:29.560 --> 0:00:33.080 They look pretty good at times. They are not a 0:00:33.120 --> 0:00:35.560 perfect team. We know they are a banged up team 0:00:36.240 --> 0:00:39.080 and the pitching, pitching and pitching is what we're going 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:43.680 to be talking about for the next three weeks. I 0:00:43.720 --> 0:00:46.400 don't know how easy it is going to be to 0:00:46.560 --> 0:00:51.680 swing a big deal to dramatically change this rotation. But 0:00:52.440 --> 0:00:57.680 every year, I think you wrote this every year around 0:00:57.680 --> 0:01:01.920 this time, if if the Cubs are in it, Jed 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:04.640 Hoyer is adding to the bullpen or adding in some 0:01:04.800 --> 0:01:09.280 way helping his team, improving this team, primarily the bullpen 0:01:09.360 --> 0:01:12.639 looks like a way that they always try to find 0:01:12.760 --> 0:01:16.080 some way to change things around. If you listen to 0:01:16.120 --> 0:01:20.200 Craig Council talk every spring training, he talks about bullpens 0:01:20.200 --> 0:01:23.280 a lot, and it's the same like four or five 0:01:23.319 --> 0:01:26.560 guys that you're leaning on in April are almost never 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:29.640 the same ones come September. I think that's what we're 0:01:29.640 --> 0:01:31.720 going to be seeing. There's gonna be a lot of 0:01:31.720 --> 0:01:34.120 interchanging parts over the next three weeks, but maybe as 0:01:34.160 --> 0:01:36.080 we get closer to the deadline, we'll finally see some 0:01:36.120 --> 0:01:40.039 of those more significant moves. But that's what we're going 0:01:40.120 --> 0:01:40.360 to be. 0:01:40.280 --> 0:01:43.319 Watching, and that's the. 0:01:42.319 --> 0:01:45.160 Really the topic for the next few weeks. 0:01:47.560 --> 0:01:51.800 Yeah, I wouldn't get fixated on like one name or 0:01:51.840 --> 0:01:55.880 sort of be locked into this idea of the you know, 0:01:56.600 --> 0:02:01.600 playhoff starter who pitches into the eighth inning type of guy. 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:04.840 There aren't many out there. That's not how playoff games 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:08.000 are run. And I think there's when you look at 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:11.720 just the amount of injuries the Cubs have endured, there 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:14.400 are a lot of ways for them to get better, 0:02:14.560 --> 0:02:16.679 and I think they can be creative and I think 0:02:16.720 --> 0:02:21.160 that accentuates one of their strengths that they're they're pitching group, 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:27.639 the buy in that they get a manager who has 0:02:27.680 --> 0:02:31.480 a pretty good feel for these situations and how to 0:02:31.800 --> 0:02:36.240 you know, put guys in positions to succeed. And so 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:39.280 I think if you think about a pitching staff maybe 0:02:40.160 --> 0:02:45.359 one through thirteen, more than can you get a number 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:50.160 one starter? Number one a type starter? Like if you 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:51.880 look at that, we were just going to talk about 0:02:51.880 --> 0:02:54.240 this off the air, like look at the standings, Like 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:57.840 who who's like a guaranteed seller at the end of 0:02:57.840 --> 0:02:58.200 the month. 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:02.280 Yeah, it's it's not. It's not a long list. And 0:03:02.280 --> 0:03:03.920 and like some of these teams are going to be 0:03:04.000 --> 0:03:07.760 waiting till the very end, because like the Mets, you'd say, 0:03:08.080 --> 0:03:10.639 just looking at where they are, you'd say, guaranteed seller. 0:03:11.280 --> 0:03:13.480 But they're gonna wait. They're gonna wait till the like 0:03:13.919 --> 0:03:15.840 until they have to make a decision. 0:03:16.160 --> 0:03:16.280 Uh. 0:03:16.680 --> 0:03:19.040 Outside of that, it's like you look at the A. 0:03:19.160 --> 0:03:22.960 Elliotts two teams, it's the Angels and the Royals. The 0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:25.800 rest are kind of in it. And that's insane. There's 0:03:25.880 --> 0:03:28.880 some bad like what we thought were like dreadful teams 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:30.920 and they're right back in at the Red Sox are 0:03:30.919 --> 0:03:33.600 a game and a half out of a playoff spot. 0:03:33.960 --> 0:03:38.120 This is it's a weird year. Uh. The expanded playoffs 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:41.720 have changed the way we look at things, and it's 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:45.480 gotta be a little frustrating for teams that are obvious 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:51.960 buyers because Jid Hoyer can't like fans may be clamoring 0:03:52.000 --> 0:03:55.200 for him to make a move, but you're gonna be 0:03:55.960 --> 0:03:58.240 you know, I know they don't like hearing about, you know, 0:03:58.320 --> 0:04:01.480 sacrificing the future. But you have to think a little 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:05.200 bit about the value that you're giving up and right now. 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:09.040 To make a significant move on what is it July eleventh, 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:12.920 as we record, you have to you'd have to be 0:04:13.120 --> 0:04:18.120 overpaying significantly. The Tigers aren't gonna want to give up 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:20.160 right now, like a team like the Tigers who have 0:04:20.800 --> 0:04:24.800 you know, at least one maybe two significant uh you know, 0:04:24.880 --> 0:04:28.679 trade pieces, potential trade pieces that could alter a team's rotation. 0:04:28.880 --> 0:04:31.960 With Schooble and Casey Mize, they're two and a half 0:04:32.000 --> 0:04:34.520 games out of a playoff spot. These teams that are 0:04:34.560 --> 0:04:38.080 built to win now, that are within shooting distance a 0:04:38.160 --> 0:04:41.840 shouting distance of a of a playoff spot, are are 0:04:41.880 --> 0:04:45.120 not gonna want to sell unless you completely bul them over, 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:47.800 and even then they may not want to. I think 0:04:47.800 --> 0:04:51.719 it's just it's kind of interesting. Uh it's going. It's 0:04:51.880 --> 0:04:56.400 interesting to look at where the teams are, but it's going. 0:04:56.600 --> 0:04:59.840 It just I think it leads to kind of a boring, uh, 0:05:00.520 --> 0:05:05.360 deadline potentially boring. We'll see what happens in a few weeks. 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:07.080 It's not gonna I just don't think it's gonna be 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:08.520 busy for a couple of weeks. Still. 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:14.320 Yeah, we just did a mail bag for the Athletic 0:05:14.680 --> 0:05:22.040 and you know, there were certain questions that just sounded 0:05:22.640 --> 0:05:26.560 really pessimistic about the Cubs and really. 0:05:28.080 --> 0:05:32.039 Doubtful that Jed Hoyer uh is going to do anything. 0:05:32.160 --> 0:05:35.520 And you know, I get that to an extent, like 0:05:35.800 --> 0:05:39.800 we're not out here patting the table like they're they're 0:05:39.800 --> 0:05:44.360 gonna go get Schooble. I would be shocked if Schoobl's 0:05:44.480 --> 0:05:48.400 you know, pitching at Wrigley Field in August just not there. 0:05:49.160 --> 0:05:49.240 MO. 0:05:50.600 --> 0:05:52.800 The the distance between them and. 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:55.960 The Brewers and a first round by I think it's 0:05:56.000 --> 0:06:01.960 just too too far. No knowing how they operate, and 0:06:01.960 --> 0:06:04.720 I think they're realistic here of Like to think that 0:06:04.760 --> 0:06:07.320 they're going to make up like four to five games 0:06:07.360 --> 0:06:10.200 on the Brewers over the next three weeks is just 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:15.400 not realistic. I think they play the Brewers maybe like 0:06:16.000 --> 0:06:22.560 seven times late August, early September. It's kind of that 0:06:22.640 --> 0:06:24.919 Labor Day window they've got, you know, two series in 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:30.080 a short timeframe. Just given that, you can't expect the 0:06:30.120 --> 0:06:34.040 Brewers to just like fade and you know, with everything 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:37.560 that comes to dealing with you know, expecting them to 0:06:37.760 --> 0:06:40.240 rip off another ten game winning streak is not realistic. 0:06:40.279 --> 0:06:46.800 But like getting relievers who you trust to pitch in 0:06:46.920 --> 0:06:52.599 playoff games is not unreasonable. Getting you know, a competent 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:56.360 major league starter who can help you get to October, 0:06:56.400 --> 0:06:58.640 I don't think that's realistic. I think they have to 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:02.800 do some shopping for the future here. This is one 0:07:02.800 --> 0:07:08.160 of the few times when teams are actually like willing 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:15.880 and motivated to really seriously discuss players and make big moves. 0:07:17.080 --> 0:07:20.800 So we get baseball is such a region sport. You 0:07:20.840 --> 0:07:23.880 follow your team, We cover one team and some other 0:07:23.920 --> 0:07:28.560 stuff around it, And so I think sometimes your frustrations 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:33.080 with the team you follow are not really unique. That 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:36.640 there are probably twenty nine other front offices out there 0:07:36.720 --> 0:07:39.680 or fan bases out there wondering why you do something. 0:07:40.800 --> 0:07:44.400 This is just how baball in twenty twenty six works. 0:07:45.000 --> 0:07:48.440 Yeah, I was actually a little surprised at how pessimistic 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:51.920 some of the questions were, just regarding the team in general, 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.880 Like some of the questions. It's like the team is 0:07:55.040 --> 0:07:58.160 playing pretty well all things considered, Like I did not 0:07:58.320 --> 0:08:02.520 like people get very frustrated with with the bullpen. It's 0:08:02.560 --> 0:08:05.480 like the bullpen is how is this bullpen even like 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:10.640 getting outs at times? Like guys are either overused or 0:08:10.680 --> 0:08:15.320 really shouldn't be on a team that's contending for the 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:18.520 playoffs like these are Like these are a bunch of 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:20.960 guys that have been defaid and they're not going to 0:08:21.000 --> 0:08:24.920 be perfect. Some of these guys have done well all 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:28.080 things considered, but they need to add to that area 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:33.400 for sure. Whether whether that means like guys getting healthy 0:08:33.480 --> 0:08:36.720 and coming back and helping the team in the bullpen, 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:40.800 or or adding at the deadline. I think that's that's 0:08:40.960 --> 0:08:45.800 just absolutely a must. And they may not be the 0:08:45.800 --> 0:08:48.760 most exciting names right a role as Chapman may not 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:50.760 be added to this bullpen, but that doesn't mean that 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:54.880 you can't suddenly build a really solid to strong bullpen 0:08:55.559 --> 0:08:59.640 without getting that no doubt stud reliever. Yes, I think 0:08:59.640 --> 0:09:01.840 it would be nice to get like a nice stud 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:04.920 in that bullpen. I'm not sure if that's going to happen. 0:09:06.160 --> 0:09:10.440 Your point about adding for the future, I think is 0:09:10.480 --> 0:09:13.960 an interesting one. Can they be more aggressive in that regard. 0:09:14.080 --> 0:09:17.599 I don't think it makes sense to be very aggressive 0:09:17.640 --> 0:09:20.920 to go get a rental starter for the reasons we've 0:09:21.000 --> 0:09:24.200 talked about they are unless they ye make up a 0:09:24.200 --> 0:09:27.920 ton of ground here and suddenly the odds of winning 0:09:27.960 --> 0:09:30.440 and getting that winning the division or getting that buy 0:09:31.480 --> 0:09:36.200 shoot up. I don't expect that to be the path taken. 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:40.600 It makes more sense if that guy's available. One thing 0:09:40.640 --> 0:09:42.600 before we take a break that I just want to mention, 0:09:42.720 --> 0:09:48.640 like this, this farm system was probably bottom ten entering 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:51.000 the season. They've had a good year. Have they had 0:09:51.040 --> 0:09:53.880 a great year. I wouldn't say that, but they've had 0:09:53.920 --> 0:09:56.920 a good year, especially with the bats, and I think 0:09:56.960 --> 0:10:01.480 there's a lot of potential. You know, a lot of 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.600 guys have kind of shot up the rankings. Obviously, Hartshorn 0:10:04.640 --> 0:10:07.200 has been huge, Owen Ayers has been really big. Pedro 0:10:07.320 --> 0:10:10.560 Ramirez who's at the major league level. Now, there's a 0:10:10.600 --> 0:10:12.599 few guys at that Triple A major league level that 0:10:12.640 --> 0:10:15.160 are interesting. We had a question about that. Would they 0:10:15.200 --> 0:10:19.400 move any of al Contra, Pedro, Ramirez, Biasteros or Shaw. 0:10:20.200 --> 0:10:22.280 You know, I think al Contra is the most likely 0:10:22.320 --> 0:10:25.080 of that group, but they're all valuable in a sense, 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:30.880 some very valuable, and then you have the younger prospects, 0:10:30.880 --> 0:10:33.439 the guys that haven't hit the big leagues that are intriguing. 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:36.240 I think there's enough there to make big moves or 0:10:36.240 --> 0:10:40.320 small moves and help this team significantly at the deadline. 0:10:40.840 --> 0:10:44.920 I guess we'll see how if, like the the one 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:48.000 move that could completely change things would be that guy 0:10:48.040 --> 0:10:52.120 that that starting pitcher that is around beyond twenty twenty six. 0:10:52.600 --> 0:10:54.560 I don't know if that move gets made. Those moves 0:10:54.600 --> 0:10:57.400 are really hard to make, but you're right that teams 0:10:57.559 --> 0:11:01.760 do get motivated. And if Jed says, hey, I can 0:11:02.040 --> 0:11:03.720 give up a little bit more than I'd love to, 0:11:03.880 --> 0:11:05.800 but I'm getting a guy that can help us win 0:11:06.640 --> 0:11:09.959 these next two months and in twenty seven, maybe it's 0:11:10.000 --> 0:11:14.520 worth it. Well, not exactly sure how the lockout affects everything, 0:11:14.559 --> 0:11:17.040 but we'll see. We'll see what type of move they 0:11:17.040 --> 0:11:20.880 can make. Let's take a quick break and maybe talk 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:25.520 about potential return or what a guy can help, whether 0:11:25.559 --> 0:11:28.800 someone can help this team. Justin Steele, it is in 0:11:28.840 --> 0:11:29.959 the latest news on him. 0:11:30.800 --> 0:11:32.640 It's summertime. You know what we do at FT, We 0:11:32.720 --> 0:11:35.199 look for hacks. How can we feel like we can 0:11:35.200 --> 0:11:39.040 do it all outside with something that's breathable, something that 0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:42.559 feels premium. Fabletics hooks us up. I've got the cloud 0:11:42.640 --> 0:11:45.320 jersey t It is super soft crats, but it works 0:11:45.320 --> 0:11:47.880 at the gym, it works when I'm on the show, 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.400 it works when I'm going to meetings. It is the 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:52.200 true super utility player. 0:11:53.520 --> 0:11:56.520 Same here. Difference is I got the nice stripe across, 0:11:56.520 --> 0:12:01.199 so you can have style and also I have versatility 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:03.679 because you know what, I'm gonna go to the gym 0:12:03.720 --> 0:12:05.760 probably in the same stuff that I'm gonna have my 0:12:05.840 --> 0:12:08.079 meetings in and the same stuff that I'm gonna go 0:12:08.120 --> 0:12:10.160 out and have breakfast in. So you know what. This 0:12:10.200 --> 0:12:11.800 is where Fabletics. 0:12:11.200 --> 0:12:12.200 Got me and Kratz. 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:14.960 Everyone can shop now at fabletics dot com slash foul 0:12:15.000 --> 0:12:17.600 to get seventy to eighty percent off everything when you 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:19.880 sign up as a new VIP. Take a quick style 0:12:20.000 --> 0:12:22.400 quiz and be sure to select foul when prompted to 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:24.760 unlock this offer. This is a limited time offer, so 0:12:24.840 --> 0:12:28.160 don't wait again. That's fabletics dot Com slash foul for 0:12:28.240 --> 0:12:30.760 seventy to eighty percent off everything as a new VIP. 0:12:35.640 --> 0:12:37.640 Well, I got to pay attention to where I'm putting 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:41.679 things in there when I'm when I'm playing commercials a 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:44.120 little bit better there. But you guys love that open 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:47.920 so much. I figured I've played for you again. Uh, 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:52.400 justin Steele, we've talked a lot about this, Patrick, but 0:12:52.440 --> 0:12:56.040 there was another update. Uh, and basically a lot of 0:12:56.040 --> 0:12:58.760 what we've been saying for ever since he had that 0:12:58.880 --> 0:13:01.400 setback and then took so long for him to start 0:13:01.400 --> 0:13:04.680 throwing again. How does he get built back up to 0:13:04.720 --> 0:13:09.000 be a starter? Was just like this flashing red sign 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:11.160 for both of us, like, how is this possible? How 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:14.000 is this going to happen? We had Jed Hoyer basically 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:18.320 say it's not realistic. That was what three weeks ago now, 0:13:18.360 --> 0:13:22.280 two weeks ago now and Craig Council has set it 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:26.240 again and maybe for emphasis, maybe who knows for what 0:13:26.720 --> 0:13:29.840 reason they're saying this, but it's become clear like how 0:13:29.880 --> 0:13:33.680 does this guy build up to be a starter? Tell 0:13:33.760 --> 0:13:36.720 us that you were there to tell me what would 0:13:36.920 --> 0:13:41.679 council exactly what he was saying and what you're hearing 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:43.000 from the road there. 0:13:45.040 --> 0:13:47.680 Yeah, I think this will probably be a pretty quick segment, 0:13:47.920 --> 0:13:51.680 quick segment, and I think there is some you know, 0:13:52.840 --> 0:13:56.240 do you check the comments occasionally on our stories and 0:13:56.400 --> 0:13:57.960 you know, I just wrote a quick news reefin. 0:13:58.080 --> 0:14:00.440 I was like, is this old news? And it's like, no, 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:02.680 Well this was. 0:14:03.480 --> 0:14:07.520 You know, the I think the firmest, most clear declaration 0:14:07.720 --> 0:14:10.680 of how the Cubs are viewing this situation. And the 0:14:10.800 --> 0:14:15.240 reason it was news was this past week Justin Steele 0:14:15.320 --> 0:14:19.560 visited with doctor Keith Meister, who had performed last year's 0:14:19.680 --> 0:14:24.280 season ending surgery and had diagnosed the flexer strain in 0:14:24.560 --> 0:14:32.640 late April, and so Steel was cleared to resume throwing 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:38.880 off a mound the first week of August. And that 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:42.160 to me sounded slower because we've been kind of asking 0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:45.880 around about this. I mean, you were in New York when, 0:14:46.720 --> 0:14:50.960 you know, I think Jed made those comments. But Steele 0:14:51.040 --> 0:14:57.400 had resumed some form of a throwing program at that point. 0:14:57.840 --> 0:15:02.840 And you know, again it comes with dispute my interpretation 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:07.120 that that sounds a little like slower than an anticipated 0:15:07.440 --> 0:15:09.640 in terms of a first week of August. 0:15:09.800 --> 0:15:11.840 But Counsel's point was, look. 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:20.240 In that you know examination, you know, nothing bad popped up. 0:15:20.320 --> 0:15:21.240 There was no like. 0:15:23.160 --> 0:15:29.760 Sort of new or negative development. According to Council but 0:15:29.880 --> 0:15:33.040 there was this go ahead to begin throwing off the 0:15:33.080 --> 0:15:37.200 mound the first week of August, which is a good 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:42.520 development for Justin Steele, who obviously has dealt with a 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:49.040 really long road back to get really just back on 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:53.479 the radar, and that's you know, obviously frustrating. 0:15:54.520 --> 0:15:58.080 It's been slower than anyone would have hoped. 0:15:58.160 --> 0:16:02.520 But that when I ask counsels like that doesn't leave 0:16:02.560 --> 0:16:04.520 a lot of time to build back up. 0:16:04.560 --> 0:16:06.240 And he's like, yeah, we've been clear on. 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:09.640 That, you know, And he's like, it's it's not realistic 0:16:09.720 --> 0:16:12.440 to think that he's gonna build back up as a starter, and. 0:16:12.480 --> 0:16:17.480 So you know, what is that mean? We don't know, 0:16:17.680 --> 0:16:18.560 he's got to start. 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:21.760 You know, we're still you know, got the All Star 0:16:21.840 --> 0:16:24.760 break and then a couple more weeks before he's throwing 0:16:24.800 --> 0:16:29.200 off a mound. But obviously Justin Steele is a very 0:16:29.200 --> 0:16:34.000 good competitor. He broke in as a left handed reliever 0:16:34.160 --> 0:16:36.760 and did well in that role, and to his credit, 0:16:37.560 --> 0:16:40.280 you know, pushed for this starting opportunity and really. 0:16:40.040 --> 0:16:41.840 Took advantage of it. 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.960 I think with all this stuff, you know, you have 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:49.800 to think about the future as well, Like there's assuming 0:16:49.840 --> 0:16:52.400 the lockout doesn't last forever. There will be some form 0:16:52.680 --> 0:16:55.640 version of a season next year that you know. Justin 0:16:55.640 --> 0:16:59.600 Steele obviously wants to pitch for a long time, so 0:16:59.600 --> 0:17:04.000 it's kind of balancing that caution and also that sense 0:17:04.040 --> 0:17:07.399 of competitiveness that he wants to be out there. So 0:17:08.359 --> 0:17:12.240 I guess, you know, you can't think too far ahead 0:17:12.760 --> 0:17:18.159 with this stuff. But my takeaway from Baltimore was, you 0:17:18.240 --> 0:17:20.959 may there's a scenario in which, you know, he becomes 0:17:21.000 --> 0:17:26.400 an interesting pitcher who could become part of the equation. 0:17:28.640 --> 0:17:30.880 I don't like putting dates on it, but obviously first 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:34.040 week of August you're looking at you know several you know, 0:17:34.200 --> 0:17:35.359 more weeks from that. 0:17:36.960 --> 0:17:38.560 Because of how they progress. 0:17:38.840 --> 0:17:43.560 You know, when you're talking about bullpens, live vps, you know, 0:17:43.720 --> 0:17:47.679 presumably a minor league rehab outing because he has not 0:17:48.000 --> 0:17:51.960 pitched in a major league game since April twenty twenty five. 0:17:52.240 --> 0:17:56.919 So you know, whether it's this kind of goes back 0:17:56.920 --> 0:17:59.320 to our previous segment of the trade deadline. It's like 0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:03.720 you can't really count on like Edward Cobert to come 0:18:03.760 --> 0:18:05.919 back and be that top of the line starter you 0:18:05.960 --> 0:18:10.120 were hoping for. You Ben Brown's gonna need a lot 0:18:10.160 --> 0:18:15.119 of time. Steele is a question mark. You know, Daniel 0:18:15.119 --> 0:18:18.359 Poalenci is on a you know, should be more of 0:18:18.400 --> 0:18:21.000 a I believe it's thrown off a mound after the 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:25.000 All Star break or at least, you know, going forward 0:18:25.040 --> 0:18:27.359 with his throwing progression. But they have a lot of 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:29.000 interesting names, and not all of them are going to 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:31.119 come back and be healthy and perform at you know, 0:18:31.359 --> 0:18:35.640 one hundred percentile outcomes. But I think as you're going 0:18:35.640 --> 0:18:38.200 about the trade down on you add a couple of 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:40.600 interesting arms, and then you have this whole group of 0:18:41.320 --> 0:18:45.760 really talented pitchers, and if a couple of them land 0:18:45.800 --> 0:18:48.440 on your playoff roster, I think you feel a lot 0:18:48.480 --> 0:18:49.359 better about things. 0:18:49.880 --> 0:18:54.439 Yeah, I think you mentioned the three names Poalencia, Brown 0:18:54.840 --> 0:18:59.080 and Steel. Obviously we know what role Poalencia has, but 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:02.800 you and Brown, I don't know what role they're going 0:19:02.800 --> 0:19:05.679 to hold. I mean, Stele, it sounds like best the 0:19:05.760 --> 0:19:10.040 case scenario is multi inning reliever that's still valuable, that 0:19:10.080 --> 0:19:12.960 can still help. It's not the ideal situation and it's 0:19:12.960 --> 0:19:17.040 not what people wanted back in March, but it can 0:19:17.080 --> 0:19:18.920 still help the team. And right now they just need 0:19:19.000 --> 0:19:23.040 healthy arms, healthy and effective arms. If he can be 0:19:23.160 --> 0:19:27.199 that for them. They'll take that. Obviously it's not the 0:19:27.200 --> 0:19:32.480 ideal scenario, but you'll take that. We'll see what Brown 0:19:32.560 --> 0:19:34.960 can be. We just don't have a timeline on him, 0:19:34.960 --> 0:19:37.120 so it's hard to say like he can come back 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:39.760 as a starter or he's going to be an effective reliever. 0:19:39.880 --> 0:19:44.400 I just I don't feel comfortable with any declaration there 0:19:44.480 --> 0:19:48.360 until I know when he's throwing again with some urgency. 0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:52.720 But that's not there yet. And Poalencia, you know he'll 0:19:52.760 --> 0:19:57.280 be back eventually, it sounds like, and we know what 0:19:57.359 --> 0:20:00.440 he can do when he's healthy and feeling good out there, 0:20:00.560 --> 0:20:05.400 so he's an impactful bullpen arm. We know that when 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:08.040 he's right. All right, let's take a quick break and 0:20:08.200 --> 0:20:10.080 come back and wrap this up. 0:20:12.720 --> 0:20:16.200 This episode is brought to you by FanDuel Baseball Fans. 0:20:16.240 --> 0:20:19.159 The MLB season is in full swing and FanDuel is 0:20:19.160 --> 0:20:22.080 giving you a chance to call your shot with daily dingers. 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:25.680 Joining the action is easy. 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Restrictions apply, 0:21:02.359 --> 0:21:05.879 including any token expiration and max wager amount. See terms 0:21:05.880 --> 0:21:09.560 at sportsbook dot FanDuel dot com. Gambling problem caller tax 0:21:09.600 --> 0:21:10.600 one eight hundred gambler. 0:21:12.880 --> 0:21:16.520 We've we've talked a lot about pek Er Armstrong. I 0:21:16.840 --> 0:21:19.920 don't think there's been a shortage of Peaker Armstrong segments. 0:21:19.960 --> 0:21:26.320 But he just continues to, you know, excel in and 0:21:26.400 --> 0:21:30.320 do things that we just haven't seen before, or you know, 0:21:30.440 --> 0:21:35.399 perform in a way that demands attention. I think it 0:21:35.480 --> 0:21:39.680 was Wednesday ninth he had, you know, another big performance 0:21:39.800 --> 0:21:46.040 to homer game. He's he's now you know, the Sho 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:50.200 Heo Tani injury suddenly opens up a pathway for him 0:21:50.800 --> 0:21:56.879 to be become an MVP favorite. Ah, he's one of 0:21:56.880 --> 0:22:01.680 the It's interesting because people still don't there's still pockets 0:22:01.720 --> 0:22:04.880 of people that still don't see him as a great player, 0:22:05.520 --> 0:22:10.240 or that he's just too streaky to be great. I 0:22:10.240 --> 0:22:12.560 don't know. I think he's figured something out. We talked 0:22:12.600 --> 0:22:15.280 about this. I think it was last episode with the Walks. 0:22:16.760 --> 0:22:19.840 I think that added to his bag of tricks, kind 0:22:19.840 --> 0:22:24.240 of makes him this this very special talent that like 0:22:24.280 --> 0:22:28.480 it's all kind of come together and we're seeing this 0:22:28.560 --> 0:22:31.040 is what it looks like when in a you know, 0:22:31.080 --> 0:22:35.879 an elite talent reaches their ceiling. I think that's what 0:22:35.880 --> 0:22:36.960 we're watching right now. 0:22:39.160 --> 0:22:42.080 Yeah, I think it's important to sometimes take a step 0:22:42.119 --> 0:22:45.280 back because like Pete has so many highlights, and there's 0:22:45.320 --> 0:22:49.440 been so much stuff kind of going around Pete this 0:22:49.520 --> 0:22:52.960 year that sometimes you lose sight of it. But you know, 0:22:53.000 --> 0:22:57.560 he's Nation League Player of the Month, and you know 0:22:57.640 --> 0:23:02.360 the five or six categories, those numbers he put up, 0:23:03.200 --> 0:23:06.120 you know, we're on par with what. 0:23:06.520 --> 0:23:08.200 Lou gerrig and Babe Ruth. 0:23:10.960 --> 0:23:13.840 Only three three dudes who have done it ever in 0:23:13.920 --> 0:23:14.919 Major League history. 0:23:14.960 --> 0:23:18.600 And then you know, if Pete had nineteen. 0:23:18.200 --> 0:23:21.520 Home runs and nineteen stolen bases at the break instead 0:23:21.560 --> 0:23:23.840 of whatever it is now twenty one and twenty three. 0:23:24.000 --> 0:23:25.680 You know, I don't think that will make a huge difference, 0:23:25.720 --> 0:23:30.080 but the round numbers of cubs with multiple twenty twenty 0:23:30.119 --> 0:23:35.560 seasons Pete, Ryan Sandberg, and Sammy Sosa, and that kind 0:23:35.560 --> 0:23:38.080 of jumped out to me. Not only was he the 0:23:38.119 --> 0:23:42.679 fastest player to twenty twenty this year, you know, to 0:23:42.840 --> 0:23:50.960 have years like that when you're this young, it's it's 0:23:51.040 --> 0:23:51.960 kind of mind boggling. 0:23:52.400 --> 0:23:56.320 Mind boggling. And we've seen the evolution of Pete. 0:23:56.400 --> 0:24:00.399 Council on Friday in Cincinnati kind of reiterated what what 0:24:00.520 --> 0:24:03.040 you've written, Sadev. What you know, we've all kind of 0:24:03.080 --> 0:24:07.280 seen that this idea that this is the best version 0:24:07.320 --> 0:24:13.200 of Pete, but it's a more sustainable version, meaning he's 0:24:13.600 --> 0:24:17.959 going to slump inevitably. You know, there are nights when 0:24:17.960 --> 0:24:20.400 you're gonna face a Hunter Green and and not look great, 0:24:20.440 --> 0:24:25.199 and you're you're going to be be frustrated. You know, 0:24:25.280 --> 0:24:29.640 he he didn't have a great second half last year, 0:24:29.760 --> 0:24:34.000 but that his ability to uh stick to a plan, 0:24:36.160 --> 0:24:43.600