1 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory File Territory Networks Cubs podcast. I'm 2 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Sada'm Charma with my partner Patrick Muoney for Cubs beat 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: writers over at the Athletic Patrick Pete crow Armstrong has 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: an extension. This is something the Cubs have been trying 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: to get done for over a year now. 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: Really they I. 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: Don't think they were trying to work through it last summer, 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: but they certainly talked about it last spring. The price 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: has gone up a COMPCS are no longer Ezekiel Tovar. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: This is more not not quite Jackson Merrill range, not 11 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: really at Corbyn Carroll level, but still a healthy, healthy 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: deal six years, one hundred and fifteen million that starts 13 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty seven, just to you know, eating a 14 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: buying out two free agent years for Pete, no options. 15 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: It seems like one of those deals where you can 16 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: look at it and say, like, this isn't hugely team friendly. 17 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: This isn't like some. 18 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: Huge get by Pete, but each side can kind of 19 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: claim some victories. He it's one of those win win 20 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: situations with some good pr for the Cubs to start 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: the season off. 22 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's hard, it's hard to tell. Like if Pete 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 3: wasn't you know, air quotes PCA, Like, what would they be. 24 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: Doing this? 25 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 3: I don't know, but I think I do think it 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 3: makes sense for both sides. I think if you're in 27 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 3: Pete's position, it's hard to turn down the nine figure 28 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,279 Speaker 3: offer you had already kind of bet on yourself once 29 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 3: those comps. I think Michael Harris was another one that 30 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 3: was more in the seventies range. Yeah, it didn't quite 31 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 3: get Corbyn Carrol, but I think the no options is 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: a big deal for Pete's to become a free agent 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 3: after your age thirty season is pretty nice. And I think, 34 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: you know, the way for Pete was probably kind of 35 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 3: you know, scraping a career together on like ten million 36 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: dollar contracts the year after year after year. I think 37 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 3: that that's kind of been his floor. He's that good 38 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: on defense. Center field is that hard to fill with 39 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 3: capable two way guys. And yes, like it's possible that 40 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 3: something clicks for Pete and his first half performance is 41 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 3: more indicative of the player he's going to be for 42 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 3: his entire career. But also there's a chance that the 43 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 3: offensive cratering that we saw in the second half is 44 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 3: more indicative of his kind of future outlook, and so 45 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 3: I think this is probably a good compromise where neither 46 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 3: side is like sort of spiking the football that it's 47 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 3: just like, all right, this makes a lot of sense. 48 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 3: And also like after doing it last offseason, last spring training, 49 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 3: this spring training again, like I sort of wonder I 50 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 3: don't have like no one's explicitly told me this, but 51 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 3: I'm just curious how many like bites at the Apple 52 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: you have there. You know, there are people who are 53 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 3: putting time and effort into this, and for him to 54 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 3: get that sort of guarantee today is his twenty fourth birthday, 55 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 3: is pretty nice. Now I can just go out and play. 56 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a I mean it is a good feel 57 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: good moment to start the season. The cub's most exciting player, 58 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: most marketable player. You can debate whether he's the best 59 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: player when he is playing at his best. I think 60 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: I think that's the case. He's their best player. But 61 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: you're right what you said there about we still don't 62 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: know what player he is. 63 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: We don't know who he is. That's what that there's 64 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: there's give and take with these types of deals. 65 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: Nobody's neither side is guaranteed to know like what this 66 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: how this works out, and what the player is I 67 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: think the Cubs are betting on. On the Cub side, 68 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: it's you're not this isn't deep into his thirties. Yes, 69 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: you didn't get the options. Obviously you want options when 70 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: you when you try and get this deal. 71 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 2: But to get two. 72 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: Free agent years and it goes through his age thirty season, 73 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: that's like produce. I'm sure the model loved that. Like 74 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: the model was quite happy with, you know, not going 75 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: into thirty four or something like that, like getting into 76 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: his mid thirties at all with any guarantees. It signed 77 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: early enough that it's like one of those pr wins 78 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: for the agency where they can say, like they can 79 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 1: they can give you like here's all the quote unquote 80 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: records or whatever. 81 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 2: That may have been set with this deal. 82 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: You know, like this is the first deal with X, 83 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: Y and Z, and the team gets a player that's 84 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: incredibly exciting and incredibly marketable and just really talented for 85 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: a long time. This is a team built, like its 86 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: backbone is built on defense, and Pete obviously plays that 87 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 1: part of his game. Doesn't slump that he plays elite 88 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: center field defense. At all times offensively, He's I don't 89 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: want to call him a work in progress because we 90 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: saw what he can do, but he's still searching for 91 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: that consistency. 92 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: I don't know what it's going to be. 93 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna sit here and profess to know or 94 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: predict what type of season he's gonna have, because that's 95 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: really hard to do with him because we saw. 96 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: It's that that first half. 97 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: It's just one of those things where it happened long 98 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: enough where you're like, wow, is this is this who 99 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: he is? Is he really this good? And then it 100 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: came crashing down to earth. It was it was pretty bought. 101 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: You you've seen what he can do. You you've seen 102 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: what he's capable of, and that's that's where you, you know, 103 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: you feel comfortable handing out something north of one hundred 104 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: million like they did, which is probably they were hesitant 105 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: to go in that area last last spring. They were 106 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: they were unwilling to do that last spring. Now that 107 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: they've seen here's here is what it looks like when 108 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: it comes together and he's capable of doing that, you know, 109 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: for months at a time, you feel. 110 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: A little more comfortable with the expenditure. 111 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 3: And you watch Pete. When you see him chucking his 112 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 3: helmet or slamming his bat. You know, I'd imagine there 113 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 3: are some old school types out there who you'll see 114 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 3: a guy with blue hair or blue stars in his hair, Like, 115 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 3: is this the guy we want to give, you know, 116 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 3: a nine figure contract? But that's just those are just 117 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 3: very brief snapshots. And what the Cups have seen for 118 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 3: years is someone who loves baseball, who has a burning 119 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: desire to play every day, who gets excuse me involved 120 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: in like the finer points and details within the game, 121 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 3: Who's made adjustments, who has a routine, who's showing up 122 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: in an empty stadium several hours before first pitch and 123 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 3: going through his hitting routine with some veteran teammates, and 124 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 3: so like all that stuff we've heard about Pete. Yes, 125 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 3: he can be sort of mercurial, and it's not always 126 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 3: you know, the greatest look with some of his outbursts, 127 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 3: But the Cubs making this investment have made it clear 128 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: like how much the person as well. 129 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: Let's take a quick break. 130 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: I want to touch a little bit more on what 131 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: you were just talking about there. All right, everyone, I know, 132 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: if you're like me, you're ready to get out of 133 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: the house as these summer months arrive. I am so 134 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: excited to see John Mullany at Wrigley Field. I'm looking 135 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: forward to taking my kids to a game at Wrigley 136 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: and hopefully knock off another ballpark off our list. We 137 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: try and hit one every summer, which is why I 138 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: want to give the sponsor of today's video, Sea Geek 139 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: a huge shout out. With over thirty five million downloads, 140 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: See Geek is a number one rated ticketing app. MLB 141 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: and WBC are just around the corner. The NBA season 142 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: is in full swing and right now you can get 143 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: World Cup tickets on see Geek. 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Make sure you click 151 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: the link in the description to download the app and 152 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 1: have the code automatically added to your account so you 153 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: can use it later. 154 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: Thank you. Seat Geek. 155 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: Patrick, you talked about Pete kind of you know, his 156 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: reactions to bad moments and the frustrations sometimes boiling over 157 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: on the field seeing him slam a helmet. 158 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: I also don't think. 159 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: They would have given that deal out without knowing him 160 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: as the person right they know, Yes, would they prefer 161 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: that Pete not do that as often as he does? Yeah, 162 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: I think it's something that he wants to reduce, like 163 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: he knows he can control his emotions better. Look, I 164 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: think some people don't care like some of us. Some 165 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: people watching just don't care that that he's doing that. 166 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: I think it can u there. 167 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: There are veterans, there are coaching people on the coaching staff, 168 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: people in the front office that are like, Okay, look 169 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: you can do that at times, but there are moments 170 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: when you just gotta you gotta move on. 171 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 2: And also there's a way to not. 172 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: It can impact your play if you're thinking about these 173 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: things and thinking about your failure beforehand in the previous 174 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: at bat. He doesn't seem like someone that brings it 175 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: out onto the field, but these are just these are 176 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: little things that show maturation that they want him to 177 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: take the step forward. I think they believe he's he's 178 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: hearing that. At least, it's not like he's downplaying those 179 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: things or doesn't understand, like I can get better with this. 180 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: My body language can matter. Sometimes is at the end 181 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: all be all No, But veterans around me have justed, 182 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: you know, keep it be a little. You know about 183 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: these things. Everyone expresses themselves differently. It's not change who 184 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: you are. It's knowing the situation. Hey, we're up seven 185 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: to one and you ground it out. It's different than 186 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: we're down three to two and you missed the game 187 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: tying hit. You know, there are different moments when these 188 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: emotions make sense, and sometimes sometimes taking a step back 189 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,119 Speaker 1: and not you know, reacting in such a way is necessary. 190 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 3: That that is one side of them. I think it's 191 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 3: also import I didn't maybe lead with this, but he's 192 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 3: also like exceptional around fans signing autographs. I think understanding 193 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 3: he already understood his responsibilities as a face of the franchise, 194 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 3: So I don't think signing this contract really changes that. 195 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:12,479 Speaker 3: He can be exceptionally insightful and thoughtful during his interviews 196 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 3: with us. You know, for someone who's very young, he 197 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,599 Speaker 3: can also come across as mature beyond his years, and 198 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 3: I think a lot has been thrown at him and 199 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 3: he's handled it with a lot of grace by and large, 200 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 3: and so you know that probably doesn't go into the model, 201 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 3: but it's still human beings who have to make these 202 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 3: decisions and sign off on the contracts and you know, 203 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 3: kind of ask for recommendations on you know, what should 204 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 3: be done, and you know, he's really an ideal player 205 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 3: to build around at this point. I think the Chicago 206 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: connection is pretty real too. I know, sometimes we roll 207 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: our eyes like it's gonna be an Opening Day. It's 208 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 3: all these softball questions about coming back to Wrigley and 209 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 3: players gonna say how great it is. But like Wrigley 210 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 3: is a great place. I mean that's just been kind 211 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 3: of proven over time. And I think the fact that 212 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: Pete's dad was from Chicago, I mean sort of the 213 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 3: peak of Armstrong wears Waldo off season in Chicago and 214 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 3: like popping up at like Butch McGuire's or the Bears 215 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 3: game or the United Center. Like, I think people respond 216 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 3: to that, and he's going to get a lot of 217 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 3: latitude in that regard, and he'll still be too that 218 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 3: guy who gets boot on the Road. I think, you know, 219 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: opposing fans. I'm picturing Dodger Stadium. Yeah, Cubs go there 220 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 3: in April, like he's going to be like that lightning rod. 221 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: And that is you know what the Cubs had sort 222 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: of missed during that we wouldn't call a rebuild. That 223 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 3: the Cubs became a little boring. They lacked an identity 224 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 3: and like Pete puts them in the conversation in a 225 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 3: way that very few other players on the planet could. 226 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't remember if I mentioned this on the show, 227 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: but I went on Dodgers Territory about two weeks ago 228 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: and was asked about Pete's comments and and that like 229 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: that response got clipped and put online. Dodgers fans don't 230 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: like him. I can tell you from their responses. They 231 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: don't want any excuses for why he said that. 232 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: They just don't like them anymore. They're done with them. 233 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: They they have issues with Pete, and I think Pete 234 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: is going to be a polarizing player. I think Brewers 235 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: fans aren't going to like him, you know, Cardinals fans 236 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: certainly won't, and even White Sox fans I think are 237 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: annoyed by him. 238 00:14:58,560 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: And that's fine. 239 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: You need, you need put you know, illicit emotion from 240 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: the opposition, And and Pete is going to be that 241 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: type of player. He's going to get booed a lot 242 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: by the opposition as long as he's performing for the Cubs. 243 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: Cubs fans should love that, like good if your guys 244 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: getting booed, you know, you know they don't boo nobody's 245 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: Isn't that the saying? Uh so, Uh, He's going to 246 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: get a lot of heckling. I don't think it bothers Pete. 247 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: I'm not sure. I guess we'll see. Is he the 248 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: kind that kind of embraces that and embraces the. 249 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 2: Idea of being a villain. 250 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: We're going We're going to find out, because I think 251 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: that first trip to l A. You're absolutely right, he 252 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,479 Speaker 1: is going to get booed. It's his you know, hometown 253 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: kind of and and he he will certainly be booed 254 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: after after the things he said in that in that 255 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: Chicago magazine article, Patrick, I was I was wondering, Uh, 256 00:15:57,720 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: hold on one second, let me just see where we are. 257 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: You know, let's let's take one question for you since 258 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: we haven't this is our first show since the WBC 259 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: wrapped I believe. 260 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: No it's not. 261 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: But it's the first first show since Pete's been back. 262 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: I think I don't think i've heard from you. I'm 263 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: curious what he gained from that experience and anything you 264 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: may have gleaned during the final week there in camp. 265 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: Let's take one quick break and we'll talk about that. 266 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 4: Hey, it might be time to have a heart to 267 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 4: heart with your phone and be like, I love you, 268 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 4: but you cost too much. 269 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not paying this much anymore. 270 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 3: That's it. I mean, why would I go more than 271 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 3: fifteen dollars a month. 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Was that just another experience for him 294 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: to take it all in and see what he could 295 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: learn from people who have been around the game longer 296 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: than him. 297 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a great question. I'm glad you brought that up. 298 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: If I start from the top here, Pete, I would 299 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 3: say the day he was back in camp and reporters 300 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:37,479 Speaker 3: approached him, he seemed a little cranky or disconnected or 301 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 3: just kind of Now we knew they were working on 302 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 3: some of the contract stuff, So I don't know if 303 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 3: it was that or just as he said, he's like 304 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 3: every day I was just so focused on winning the 305 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 3: w the next WBC game that it was just kind 306 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 3: of weird to kind of be in that high pressure, 307 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 3: condensed environment and then to kind of come back for 308 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 3: like stretch of spring training was just a little disorienting. 309 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 3: There's also, like, you know, one hundred degrees in Arizona. 310 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 3: It was not the most like you know, glamorous, uh 311 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 3: locale to return to. And so we're at his locker 312 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 3: and it was this was just hilarious. Uh. He's he 313 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 3: was asked this sort of you know, softballish question of like, hey, 314 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 3: what was it like seeing your teammate Daniel Palenci get 315 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 3: that last out? And he was like, we lost. You know, 316 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 3: he said something on us, it had nothing to do 317 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: with Danny. And as he's like standing there, he sees 318 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 3: Daniel palency a walk into the clubhouse with a gold 319 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 3: medal around his neck, a backwards Venezuela hat and his 320 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 3: Venezuela jersey. You just Repete's like what timing and then 321 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 3: you see Poalency just give him like a double point 322 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 3: like that, and Pete gave him a a middle finger salute. 323 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 3: But he did in a way that did not appear 324 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 3: on the camera, which makes it like Pete always kind 325 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 3: of has this great sense of the geometry or the 326 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 3: dimensions of the situation. And then Pete said, I do 327 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 3: this ten out of ten times. When I asked about 328 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty eight Olympics back home in LA he said, absolutely, 329 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 3: I'm there. If I'm asked, you know, sign me up. 330 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 3: That was essentially his response once again, Pete's unpredictability, why 331 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,360 Speaker 3: we always write about Pete, why he is so interesting. 332 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: One of his main takeaways was that. 333 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 3: Like American fans could take a lot away from these 334 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 3: international crowds, their passion, their energy, and that's like a 335 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 3: whole another conversation. I think that's why, you know, didn't 336 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 3: really make that the headline. I use a quote, but 337 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 3: didn't make it the headline because there's just a lot 338 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 3: there and to kind of unpack that answer realistic in 339 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: that moment. And then I had asked Matthew Boyd just 340 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 3: his impressions of Pete and during that experience, and he 341 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 3: said he heard Pete asking a lot of questions and 342 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 3: he just kind of noticed him gravitating towards Bregman, towards 343 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 3: Aaron Judge, interacting with Paul Goldschmidt, you know, a seven 344 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 3: time All Star that you know, he felt Pete was 345 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 3: really soaking up the entire experience. And you know, I 346 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 3: didn't write this, but I was kind of in case 347 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 3: they won the gold medal. I was going to kind 348 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 3: of you know, lay something out and in more specific 349 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 3: to the Team USA experience. But it really struck me 350 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 3: of you know, at this time last year, even Ryan 351 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 3: Flaherty acknowledged this to come as bench coach. They're sitting 352 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 3: there kind of like, is this going to work? Like 353 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 3: they know he could play defense, but is he like 354 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 3: going to be they're nine hitter and really trying to 355 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 3: ring out of offense production to where now he was 356 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 3: you know, maybe not the everyday starting center fielder, but 357 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 3: he was sort of like a you know, a co 358 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 3: starter at least in center field for Team USA. You know, 359 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: on paper, you know, maybe the most talented team ever 360 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 3: assembled in American baseball history, and you know, they didn't 361 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 3: quite live up to that billing. But to have him 362 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 3: there on Team USA, not just as a defensive replacement 363 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 3: and not as kind of like a roster filler guy, 364 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 3: but as you know, someone who you could see starting 365 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 3: in center at Dodger Stadium for the twenty twenty eight Olympics. 366 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 3: It's really kind of a breathtaking transformation for Pete. 367 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: Yeah you talk about a year ago. Yeah, absolutely. I 368 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: did a piece about him and asked multiple players about it, 369 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: and while they agreed with the premise like this, if 370 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: the offense shows up, yeah, you're right, like that's MVP 371 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: ceiling like someone I can't remember it was probably Ian 372 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: Half like said like just calculate the war or something 373 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: like that, like like already you know, like he's he's great, 374 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: but if the if the offense shows up, like that's 375 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: that's otherworldly. I specifically remember Dansby, and this was kind 376 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: of a theme among those players, like we kind of 377 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: just tell Pete, don't worry about the offense, like you 378 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: are incredibly valuable to us even without that. So that's 379 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: how they looked at it going into last season. He 380 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 1: is a really important player for us even if he 381 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: just is okay on the offense and or repeats what 382 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: he did the year before, which was slightly below average 383 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: if I'm remembering correctly. So there now we're in a 384 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: place where the expectations have been lifted, and you're talking 385 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 1: about the Olympics in twenty twenty eight and this guy 386 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: being like the face of you know, one of the 387 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: faces of Team USA. 388 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 2: He was one of the. 389 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: Hotter hitters for Team USA. Yeah, coming into that WBC finals. 390 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: The Cubs have been lacking this type of star power 391 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: since the selloff of twenty twenty one. Even before then, 392 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: those guys, the shine had kind of worn off on 393 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: a lot of those guys, right, like they they're beloved 394 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: in the city of Chicago, but were they faces of 395 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: MLB any longer, Like Chris Bryant, Obviously that had stopped happening. 396 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: Hobby Baia's kind of like they wasn't as big of 397 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: a star as he was probably in seventeen eighteen nineteen ish, 398 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: Like those years were kind of like Hobby's peak. Chris 399 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: Bryant was sixteen seventeen eighteen, you know, like Rizzo was 400 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: more steady, but like had by that point was not 401 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: like thought of as like the best first basement in 402 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,959 Speaker 1: baseball like he was during the peak years. It had 403 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: been a while since they had like this star face 404 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: of MLB, someone that MLB would put on their cubbles 405 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: or or when a game was you know, a national 406 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: game with the Cubs was on, like who is the face? 407 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: Who are they picking? It's been a little while now 408 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: it's you don't have a lot of debate anymore. It's 409 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,959 Speaker 1: you know, throw peaker arms trung his face up there. 410 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: We're gonna get some viewers. I think that matters. You know, 411 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: it's not the most important thing. Winning is what matters 412 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: the most. But like, these things are important, and you want, 413 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: like one of your biggest franchises, like the Cubs, to 414 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: have like a guy like that, Like the Yankees have 415 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge that matters. The Dodgers obviously have Shoheo Tani. 416 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: The Cubs need someone and and Pete's that guy, and 417 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: now he's around for a while. It's it's just a 418 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 1: it's a good story to start the season off. You know, 419 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: obviously there are bigger tasks at hand, but this is 420 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: one thing checked off the list that I think the 421 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: Cubs wanted to get done. 422 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: Pete wanted to get done. 423 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: You said it earlier in the episode, like just needed 424 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: to like you had this window. Not sure if we 425 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: got past this opening day and this didn't get done, 426 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: like was had had a pass? 427 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 2: Had the moment passed? 428 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,719 Speaker 1: Have you tried now twice and is it it's just 429 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: not going to work or or it's going to have 430 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: to be something where it's a you know, both sides 431 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: wait until like he's much closer to RB or free 432 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 1: agency and it's you know, the prices changed dramatically by 433 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: that point, so it it's a it's a nice way 434 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: to start the season off. Now it's about you know, 435 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: going out there and playing. What type of player is 436 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: Pete going to be? Can he develop that consistency? Do 437 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: we see that first half player more often? And then 438 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: how good is this comes team? Like those those are 439 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: the things we're facing, and you know, we you know, 440 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: in the future episodes we can discuss, like we'll get 441 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: what I'm sure Jed will be asked, but like, is 442 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: can they get something done with Nico Horner? 443 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 2: Is it? Or is that done now? Because opening day 444 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 2: is twenty. 445 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: Four hours away, all these things us to we can 446 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: touch touch on it now, I mean in future episodes 447 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: and in the coming weeks and over the course of 448 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: this season. But yep, I think that's it for this episode. 449 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening to everyone. Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, 450 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: subscribe to the YouTube channel, and subscribe to the athletic 451 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: where Patrick and I are on top of all things Cubs. 452 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:17,679 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to everyone. 453 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 2: Take care,