WEBVTT - Cubs’ playoff roster projection: How the pitching staff will look in October 0:00:06.120 --> 0:00:09.680 Welcome into Northside Territory File Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 0:00:09.720 --> 0:00:12.479 Sahadiv Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 0:00:12.600 --> 0:00:17.960 Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. It is 0:00:17.960 --> 0:00:24.400 not October, but the Cubs have a plethora of pitching suddenly, 0:00:25.400 --> 0:00:28.640 and and I think it's worth talking about, like how 0:00:28.680 --> 0:00:32.720 does this work in the playoffs? And that's kind of 0:00:32.760 --> 0:00:35.720 going to be the focus of this episode, pitching wise, 0:00:36.320 --> 0:00:39.239 how do we all how how do we see this 0:00:39.440 --> 0:00:45.239 working out? They they they have actual depth now. It 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:48.000 is not the depth they thought they would have when 0:00:48.159 --> 0:00:52.160 they broke camp. Uh, it's kind of remarkable that they've 0:00:52.159 --> 0:00:54.800 built this back up in a way. Uh, you know, 0:00:56.320 --> 0:00:59.360 we'll we'll, we'll see how long it lasts. But they 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:03.240 don't have any as far as we know. Kate Horton's 0:01:03.280 --> 0:01:06.120 out for the season right Justin Steele isn't going to 0:01:06.160 --> 0:01:09.720 factor into the rotation discussion, and he's kind of a 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:14.080 wild card, long shot, I would say, to help the 0:01:14.120 --> 0:01:15.800 big league club, this team. 0:01:16.080 --> 0:01:16.640 And then. 0:01:19.200 --> 0:01:22.440 And beyond that, it's it's new guys and and kind 0:01:22.480 --> 0:01:24.840 of who you expected and like some people that you 0:01:24.880 --> 0:01:28.880 didn't expect. I think you know you, I don't know 0:01:28.920 --> 0:01:33.520 who odd starred in Game one. To be honest, I'm 0:01:33.560 --> 0:01:36.520 starting to lean Clay Holmes though, with the way he 0:01:36.560 --> 0:01:39.520 looks and and the game he had like he didn't 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:44.920 It's not like he was perfect on Wednesday, but he's 0:01:45.080 --> 0:01:48.320 he gets so many ground balls. There was was it 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:50.680 Friday the game that you covered that he was kind 0:01:50.680 --> 0:01:51.320 of dominant? 0:01:52.920 --> 0:01:56.160 Yeah, I think he had a perfect game into the sixth. 0:01:55.920 --> 0:02:00.080 Then in Yeah, he clearly shook off the you know, 0:02:00.200 --> 0:02:02.880 the so so first start that he had in the 0:02:03.280 --> 0:02:06.160 Cubs uniform. I think he's looked great and I think 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:10.720 he's exactly what they are looking for. He'd be He's 0:02:10.760 --> 0:02:12.720 the guy right now that I say, yep, he's in 0:02:12.760 --> 0:02:17.880 the rotation, Matthew Boyd, I think you just go. I 0:02:17.919 --> 0:02:20.239 feel comfortable saying he's in the rotation. I know he 0:02:20.280 --> 0:02:24.480 had a stinker on Saturday, and if I'm remembering correctly. 0:02:24.960 --> 0:02:29.800 The Joshua BIA's debut, yeah, yeah, but he'd been so 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:33.520 consistent before that and and then after that, you know, 0:02:33.800 --> 0:02:35.160 kind of let's see what happens. 0:02:35.160 --> 0:02:37.880 But I feel pretty good that Cosman's going to be there. 0:02:38.000 --> 0:02:42.359 I don't think Osman was terrible on there was that 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:44.360 weird it was I forgot about the thumb injury. It 0:02:44.400 --> 0:02:46.720 was it's not an injury. I don't know what that was, 0:02:46.880 --> 0:02:49.919 but it like cramp, but it was weird. I don't 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:51.919 think it's something that you need to be concerned with 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:55.600 long term. But I like how he's looked for the 0:02:55.639 --> 0:02:59.160 most part. He was a little off on Tuesday, but 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:02.560 the splitters nasty and just doesn't get hit very much. 0:03:04.440 --> 0:03:07.280 Yeah, that's something we'll be checking on sort of this 0:03:07.360 --> 0:03:14.239 weekend in Seattle of Gossman's weird left hand cramp his 0:03:14.400 --> 0:03:17.960 non throwing hand. Obviously, if that cramping happens in his 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:21.640 right hand, it's like the alarm bells are going off 0:03:21.919 --> 0:03:27.720 big time. But both he and Council seemed, you know, 0:03:27.760 --> 0:03:31.280 relatively unconcerned about it, and not just in the normal 0:03:32.240 --> 0:03:35.000 Cubs always downplay injuries type of thing, but just like 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:40.400 most teams do. But yeah, i'd with you. Holmes just 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:41.800 seems to be one of those pictures who's kind of 0:03:41.800 --> 0:03:45.480 on the ascent and after you know, having that you know, 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:48.000 kind of freak injury silent him for so long. Like 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:50.480 I think you'll see him continue to develop that rhythm 0:03:50.560 --> 0:03:55.320 and pittruly well given the team he's surrounded with. Now, yeah, 0:03:55.360 --> 0:03:58.800 boy's just been nails, and you know you trusted him 0:04:00.520 --> 0:04:03.040 to start last year's first game. I think there's no 0:04:03.160 --> 0:04:06.160 reason to Maybe he starts game two this time instead, 0:04:06.200 --> 0:04:08.480 but you know, no reason to not, you know, use 0:04:08.560 --> 0:04:12.360 him as for all of this. We're using air quote 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:15.360 starters right of, like maybe they'll throw three and two 0:04:15.400 --> 0:04:18.640 thirds to four and one third innings and you know, 0:04:18.760 --> 0:04:21.400 sort of do their job, but you're gonna need length 0:04:21.520 --> 0:04:25.480 at some point. And the way it plays now, if 0:04:25.480 --> 0:04:27.520 the Cubs want to win a World Series, they're probably 0:04:27.560 --> 0:04:29.640 gonna have to win four playoff rounds and that's where 0:04:29.680 --> 0:04:34.359 Shoda is going to really come into play. That you know, 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:37.960 we didn't even get really get to this because so 0:04:38.040 --> 0:04:40.640 much other stuff happened. But you know, I think Council 0:04:40.720 --> 0:04:43.320 described show does outing against the White Sox as you know, 0:04:43.640 --> 0:04:46.800 one of, if not the best outings he's seen from him. 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:49.680 Like that's how dialed in he was, and that's what 0:04:49.720 --> 0:04:53.800 showed has been for most of this year. I think 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:59.280 until he goes out and performs well in a playoff game, 0:04:59.400 --> 0:05:03.440 I think people are still going to understandably reference how 0:05:03.520 --> 0:05:07.080 last season ended in Milwaukee. But I also think, like 0:05:08.880 --> 0:05:14.360 if show DOA's You're four starter, play like, that's really good, 0:05:14.760 --> 0:05:17.159 and you know, I wouldn't be surprised if Shoda was 0:05:17.200 --> 0:05:19.960 just awesome in the playoffs. I think his he has 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:22.880 been so good over the course of his time in Chicago, 0:05:24.120 --> 0:05:26.520 but I think the home runs and like I said, 0:05:26.520 --> 0:05:29.679 that sort of blip in Milwaukee I think have taken 0:05:29.680 --> 0:05:36.320 on an outside sort of spot and how we remember 0:05:36.800 --> 0:05:42.000 his performance. I think it's a little unfair at times, 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:43.600 like when he gives up the home run, people, oh, 0:05:43.600 --> 0:05:45.520 I see you see, Like, no, he's been It's been 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:48.280 really good. He's one of the better pitchers in the 0:05:48.320 --> 0:05:51.720 Major since he's come over here. And so I think 0:05:51.720 --> 0:05:56.240 that'd be a fun part of these last several weeks 0:05:56.240 --> 0:06:01.560 here of annoying council with questions about play off rotations 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:06.960 and things like that, and seeing the eye rolls and 0:06:07.040 --> 0:06:09.159 side eyes will get It'll be it'll be fun. 0:06:09.520 --> 0:06:14.200 Yeah, And you can be super aggressive with Shoda if 0:06:14.279 --> 0:06:18.719 you Yeah, if you feel like it, you know, two 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:21.680 and a half times through is too much, or if 0:06:22.000 --> 0:06:24.080 you don't want him seeing a lineup a third time, 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:26.120 you can be you can be aggressive with any of 0:06:26.120 --> 0:06:28.880 these guys. I think that's the value of having Javier Asad. 0:06:30.040 --> 0:06:35.680 He is not like I. I just think Javier Asad is. I. 0:06:35.680 --> 0:06:38.760 I tend to undervalue him because he doesn't strike guys out. 0:06:39.040 --> 0:06:42.480 When you don't strike guys out, I get a little concerned. Uh, 0:06:42.920 --> 0:06:45.279 he's done it long enough now though, where I just 0:06:45.360 --> 0:06:47.880 kind of have to say, like, he's a really good 0:06:47.920 --> 0:06:51.279 picture that this is who Javier Asad is. He's gonna 0:06:51.279 --> 0:06:54.040 have a stinker of an outing, but the next ten 0:06:54.200 --> 0:06:58.240 are going to be great. Uh. And then and I 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:00.680 don't know how he does it with so few strikeouts 0:07:00.720 --> 0:07:03.279 and not like a huge ground ball rate, but he does. 0:07:03.360 --> 0:07:06.560 He misses barrels enough, he gets out of bad situations 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:11.160 really well. And what I love about him is I've 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:16.000 not even seen a hint of complaining about his role. 0:07:16.080 --> 0:07:19.480 He gets jerked around four years. This isn't one season 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:22.640 that it has been his entire career in a Cubs 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.600 uniform where he's a starter, he's a reliever, he gets 0:07:25.600 --> 0:07:29.320 sent down to the miners, and he does it all 0:07:29.360 --> 0:07:32.240 with a smile on his face, never complains, and goes 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:37.360 out there and performs really important piece to this team. 0:07:38.080 --> 0:07:41.680 I'm curious to see what they do when you get 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:47.160 to Seattle and what they decide to do for Palencia's activation. 0:07:47.480 --> 0:07:51.280 But I think you need to, like, you know, Javier 0:07:51.360 --> 0:07:52.720 Sad is an important piece. 0:07:52.520 --> 0:07:53.200 To this team. 0:07:53.360 --> 0:07:55.560 One guy that's I don't think we need to even 0:07:55.600 --> 0:08:00.480 talk about as far as starting is Edward Cabrera. Council 0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:02.920 made it pretty clear like what his future role is 0:08:02.960 --> 0:08:04.720 for twenty twenty six for this team. 0:08:07.000 --> 0:08:12.480 Yeah, it's very much TBD with Edward Cabrera. Will see 0:08:12.960 --> 0:08:18.160 how this blister issue resolves itself. Part of that Council 0:08:18.240 --> 0:08:24.000 said would be using him in shorter bursts. I'm still 0:08:24.000 --> 0:08:27.920 not sold on the idea of him being trusted in 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:32.120 those high leveraged situations out of the bullpen. And if 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:34.480 you're not, then is there a spot for you on 0:08:34.520 --> 0:08:40.000 a playoff roster considering how short some of these stints 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:42.200 will be for the starting pitchers and how many guys 0:08:42.240 --> 0:08:44.559 you're gonna have to use, and how when it's all 0:08:44.600 --> 0:08:49.120 hands on deck like that, if you're not sure about Cabrera, 0:08:49.720 --> 0:08:54.079 to me, that's kind of an easy omission from your 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:58.240 playoff roster. But if he gets healthy, if he gets 0:08:58.280 --> 0:09:01.040 in a groove. I mean, stranger things have happened. I mean, 0:09:01.080 --> 0:09:05.360 he's really he is talented. He was a really good 0:09:05.360 --> 0:09:09.880 pitcher for long stretches for the Marlins. I just the 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:13.240 way this season has gone, like crossing your fingers that 0:09:13.280 --> 0:09:14.840 he's going to figure it out at the most important 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:16.720 time of the year. I tend to doubt that. 0:09:17.200 --> 0:09:20.440 Yeah, he's got He'll have a month or so to 0:09:20.520 --> 0:09:22.600 figure it out and show that he can handle this 0:09:22.840 --> 0:09:27.800 new role that they're going to lead him into. He's 0:09:27.800 --> 0:09:30.240 got to show it. There's you know, he's got to 0:09:30.280 --> 0:09:33.000 prove it over the month and if he does, good 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:35.840 for him. If he doesn't, this is what we're talking about. 0:09:35.840 --> 0:09:38.520 The Cubs have options. Let's take quick break. There's one 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:41.920 starter that we didn't even mention that has been just 0:09:41.960 --> 0:09:44.840 a huge piece of the puzzle to get them to 0:09:44.880 --> 0:09:45.679 this point. 0:09:46.840 --> 0:09:50.000 See Gek is the official ticket marketplace for Major League Baseball, 0:09:50.040 --> 0:09:51.959 and anytime you want to go to a game, you 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:53.680 should go to Sea Geek. I used to call the 0:09:53.760 --> 0:09:55.720 director of team travel, I used to call the traveling 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:58.400 secretary whatever they want to be called KP to try 0:09:58.440 --> 0:10:01.040 to get a seat. But on SEAK, I can pick 0:10:01.080 --> 0:10:03.040 my own seat and I can pick where I want 0:10:03.040 --> 0:10:04.880 to sit instead of being told where to sit. 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:09.080 Yeah, it's a great option. And summer is coming to 0:10:09.120 --> 0:10:10.160 an end here soon. 0:10:10.880 --> 0:10:14.760 I'm going out and finding all the day games possible, 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:17.600 all the warm weather cities so I could stay in 0:10:17.600 --> 0:10:21.280 this tank top. I can watch very competitive baseball as 0:10:21.320 --> 0:10:24.240 the calendar turns into fall. I want to make sure 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:27.160 that I get the most out of this tank top 0:10:27.480 --> 0:10:29.920 and warm weather and Sea Geek is where I would 0:10:29.960 --> 0:10:30.800 go and get my seats. 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:33.720 You can use code Territory ten for ten percent off 0:10:33.720 --> 0:10:36.600 your next set of MLB tickets at SEK. That's ten 0:10:36.640 --> 0:10:40.200 percent off MLB tickets with promo code Territory ten. Make 0:10:40.240 --> 0:10:42.439 sure you click the link in the description to download 0:10:42.480 --> 0:10:44.640 the app and have the code automatically added to your 0:10:44.640 --> 0:10:46.199 account so you can use it later. 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:53.760 All right, Patrick, David Peterson has been I can't believe 0:10:53.800 --> 0:10:56.800 I'm saying this about someone with a five twenty nine era. 0:10:59.120 --> 0:11:02.599 Did he give up it? Ten runs against the Cardinals? 0:11:02.640 --> 0:11:04.040 Was at twelve? Like it was a lot? 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:09.240 It was just like ten runs on July third, Right, 0:11:09.640 --> 0:11:11.360 it's seventeen to one loss. 0:11:11.559 --> 0:11:17.720 Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a disastrous outing. He has been 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:23.199 really good and really consistent, and honestly, I trust him 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:26.800 as much as anyone right now in this rotation when 0:11:26.800 --> 0:11:29.640 he's out there, just because he he looks very calm 0:11:29.640 --> 0:11:32.319 and collected out there and he's got this elite defense 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:36.560 behind him. Before we go any further, let's make this 0:11:36.640 --> 0:11:47.840 our Fox one segment. So David Peterson will be on 0:11:47.880 --> 0:11:51.320 the mound Saturday. That's not what I want to show. 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:56.640 Sorry about that. He'll be on the mound Saturday, and 0:11:57.679 --> 0:12:01.480 on Fox it's a national game against the Mariners in Seattle. 0:12:01.520 --> 0:12:06.520 I believe it's six fifteen Central time, four fifteen local 0:12:06.600 --> 0:12:11.079 time as far as specific right in Seattle, So Cubs 0:12:11.080 --> 0:12:13.920 fans can check that out. On Fox one, Peterson will 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:16.520 be on the mound. Look, this is not a good 0:12:16.520 --> 0:12:21.240 offense that he's going to be facing. It's they like, like, 0:12:21.320 --> 0:12:23.360 we don't need to go too far into this. But 0:12:23.440 --> 0:12:27.080 one of the weirdest about like post MVP seasons I've 0:12:27.080 --> 0:12:30.360 ever seen with cal Raley, did he win MVP? He 0:12:30.440 --> 0:12:33.800 won MVP, right, or did Judge win MVP? This is 0:12:33.880 --> 0:12:37.400 my brain is I don't watch enough at al baseball 0:12:40.480 --> 0:12:43.280 either way, One of the weirdest like he had a 0:12:43.480 --> 0:12:46.520 historic season. If not an MVP season, was it MVP? 0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:50.560 He finished second judge one, Okay, I had to double 0:12:50.640 --> 0:12:55.040 check that weird season out in Seattle. I thought they 0:12:55.040 --> 0:12:58.160 were gonna have a great year. They have not struggled. 0:12:58.440 --> 0:13:03.240 This offense has like one or two bats that are fearsome, 0:13:04.040 --> 0:13:09.640 and if even fearsome is the right word. So David 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:11.840 Peterson can go out on the mountain and feel confident. 0:13:11.920 --> 0:13:14.240 But I think he can go out on the mountain 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:17.440 feel confident because of who's behind him now as well. 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:20.000 And he's just he's looked great. It's kind of like 0:13:20.080 --> 0:13:22.600 Clay Holmes, but a little bit different. I think they 0:13:22.600 --> 0:13:24.400 were a lot more confident in what they were getting 0:13:24.440 --> 0:13:25.120 in Clay Homes. 0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:27.920 And you know, I. 0:13:28.120 --> 0:13:32.280 Wouldn't pick David Peterson to make a playoff start. I 0:13:32.320 --> 0:13:35.439 think I don't think he'd be an awful option, but 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:37.800 I don't. I think they're so deep now that they 0:13:37.840 --> 0:13:41.240 don't have to rely on him. And I kind of 0:13:41.360 --> 0:13:43.080 liked that he came out of the bullpen. It was 0:13:43.080 --> 0:13:45.360 a blowout, right, It wasn't a close game when he 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:46.760 came out of the bullpen, but he came out of 0:13:46.760 --> 0:13:50.640 the bullpen. The other day wasn't or my misremembering my days, 0:13:50.640 --> 0:13:53.360 whatever day it may have been Sunday. Was it Sunday 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:55.560 or was it Monday? Who? 0:13:55.600 --> 0:14:00.920 No, this is the tenanding went over the White Sox. Okay, 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:05.960 so it was four out, four outs over the eighth 0:14:06.040 --> 0:14:09.920 and ninth innings. I guess what you're thinking is, I 0:14:10.000 --> 0:14:15.360 believe the Cubs were trailing at that point, So it 0:14:15.440 --> 0:14:17.520 was more kind of it wasn't like he was coming 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:19.280 in to close out the game. It was more of 0:14:19.400 --> 0:14:23.360 like just keeping it close, to put things in position 0:14:23.520 --> 0:14:26.080 for Pete to have that U toe walk off. Yeah. 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:28.440 So I mean that's still big innings and he and 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:31.640 he kept it where it was. He's able to handle 0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:34.320 that moment, he's able to come out of the bullpen. 0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:38.400 Just another aspect of like, hey, I think council kind 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:43.560 of said this. I can't remember even what my question was. Oh, 0:14:43.560 --> 0:14:46.840 I was just talking about Asad and like how valuable did. 0:14:46.720 --> 0:14:48.960 You ask him won the al MVP last Yeah? 0:14:49.000 --> 0:14:52.880 Yeah, yeah, I asked him. I basically was talking about 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:55.240 Asad and how valuable he's been and how willing he 0:14:55.400 --> 0:14:58.920 oh yeah, yeah world, And he and council said like 0:14:59.760 --> 0:15:02.680 this is this is how it works now like there's 0:15:02.680 --> 0:15:06.320 no cookie cutter plan there. You can't do that anymore. 0:15:06.360 --> 0:15:08.560 You have to be willing to adjust. You have to 0:15:08.560 --> 0:15:11.120 be able to use these guys in any situation. That's 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:14.960 what good teams do. Uh, Peterson looks like he's willing 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:17.800 to fill that role. I give him a lot of credit. Uh, 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:21.480 you know, he's not complaining about I don't think he 0:15:21.520 --> 0:15:23.200 was thrilled to go to the bullpen in New York. 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:27.720 But he seems to you know, winning, you know, tears 0:15:27.760 --> 0:15:30.840 all for these guys. And and he's on a really deep, 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:34.280 talented team. He'll go, he'll do whatever, fill whatever role 0:15:34.360 --> 0:15:37.520 is needed. Uh, he's back in the rotation. He'll be 0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:39.880 pitching in Seattle. And and I just think it, you 0:15:39.880 --> 0:15:44.400 know this is this is a credit to the Cubs 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:48.480 for understanding, like how how they could you know this? 0:15:48.920 --> 0:15:50.640 Don't look at the e R. This guy's going to 0:15:50.720 --> 0:15:53.040 be good with us type thing. And and you know, 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:56.840 credit to him for not like, you know, mentally crumbling 0:15:57.000 --> 0:15:57.520 because of. 0:15:57.480 --> 0:16:01.240 That e R. Yeah, I think. I mean Peterson, I believe, 0:16:01.320 --> 0:16:06.280 made six starts before the trade deadline for the Cubs. 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:10.840 And you know this obviously is in a Mariner's podcast. 0:16:10.960 --> 0:16:14.400 But it was a really exciting team that has some 0:16:14.840 --> 0:16:20.160 you know, awesome individual talent and you know, really kind 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:28.280 of rich pitching, you know history, and it hasn't clicked. 0:16:28.600 --> 0:16:30.720 And I just think by comparison, you look at the 0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:35.640 Cubs like they've they've built a really coherent, complete, dynamic, 0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:40.400 well rounded roster, and they've been able to figure things 0:16:40.560 --> 0:16:45.000 out even though definitely not a cookie cutter season. Things 0:16:45.000 --> 0:16:47.040 have not gone according to plan, and it there's still 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:50.600 going to be in a really strong position no matter 0:16:50.640 --> 0:16:53.280 what happens this weekend in Seattle. 0:16:55.440 --> 0:16:57.800 I think that goes to show. Like you mentioned the 0:16:57.840 --> 0:17:02.000 Mariners being disappoint like where David Peterson came from, they 0:17:02.000 --> 0:17:03.920 were disappointing, and I think you have to give the 0:17:03.960 --> 0:17:07.719 Cubs credit for I think we complain about it, and 0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:11.560 fans rightly complain about it, like sometimes these rebuils feel 0:17:11.680 --> 0:17:15.280 too slow, try and speed it up. The Cubs were 0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:19.359 methodical in their process because they identified what they wanted. 0:17:19.520 --> 0:17:25.640 They wanted defense, complete players, all around players. They've filled 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:29.919 their team with those types. They didn't spend big on 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:34.159 bat missing pitchers because it costs a lot of money. 0:17:34.000 --> 0:17:36.199 They wanted Dylan cees. They weren't going to pay two 0:17:36.280 --> 0:17:40.720 hundred and fifteen or whatever it ended up being. You 0:17:40.720 --> 0:17:45.240 can criticize them for that, and we have, but because 0:17:45.280 --> 0:17:47.920 they were methodical with how they built things and sought 0:17:47.960 --> 0:17:50.760 out really good defenders and didn't settle for like, well, 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:54.080 we have to spend money, let's get this guy. I 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:56.199 know he doesn't fit our system, and I think the 0:17:56.240 --> 0:17:58.119 Mets kind of did that. I think the Mets just 0:17:58.160 --> 0:18:01.240 were like, we have to get better play. He doesn't 0:18:01.240 --> 0:18:04.600 fit what we're doing, but we're gonna spend on these guys. Uh. 0:18:05.840 --> 0:18:08.480 Cubs did not do that. It can be frustrating at times, 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:11.720 but it worked like what they were looking for. It 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:15.720 was the right call to build this defense, especially because 0:18:15.800 --> 0:18:19.040 now someone like David Peterson doesn't work in New York. 0:18:19.440 --> 0:18:22.359 Like a few bad games, that crushes your confidence. You 0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:24.800 have to change the way you're pitching, and that doesn't 0:18:24.800 --> 0:18:28.200 work for you. Clay Holmes is better with the Cubs, 0:18:28.280 --> 0:18:30.679 David Peterson's better with the Cubs. A lot of pitchers 0:18:30.720 --> 0:18:32.439 are better with the Cubs because of the way this 0:18:32.520 --> 0:18:36.520 team is built. Give them a ton of credit for that. Like, 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:42.200 I just cannot emphasize that enough. All right, Fox one 0:18:42.880 --> 0:18:46.040 MLB on Fox is streaming on Fox one. The Race 0:18:46.080 --> 0:18:49.440 to October starts now, and we have your front row 0:18:49.520 --> 0:18:52.560 seat to the wildest walk offs, lights out pitching, and 0:18:52.640 --> 0:18:56.520 clutch plays all season long. Follow every can't miss matchup 0:18:56.600 --> 0:18:59.639 as teams battle for a spot in the postseason. Then 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:02.320 stream the twenty twenty six World Series live on Fox 0:19:02.359 --> 0:19:05.360 One at home or on the go live or on demand. 0:19:05.680 --> 0:19:17.320 Never missed a moment stream now, Oh right, Patrick, Let's 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:22.280 talk a little bit about playoff bullpen. I think this 0:19:22.440 --> 0:19:24.600 is interesting. I don't know what this is going to 0:19:24.680 --> 0:19:30.960 look like. To be honest, Ryan Zephyr John doesn't look 0:19:31.640 --> 0:19:34.240 like he's fully locked it in. I'm not gonna say 0:19:34.240 --> 0:19:37.120 he's bad or anything like that. He's been hit hard 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:41.240 at times. He doesn't look as dominant as I think 0:19:41.240 --> 0:19:44.959 the Cubs were hoping. That can change quickly. You know, 0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:47.840 his slider is nasty. You watch that like, it's very 0:19:47.920 --> 0:19:52.840 clear what they saw and what they like. Daniel Plincia, 0:19:52.840 --> 0:19:55.520 we just don't know yet. He'll get in the game 0:19:55.560 --> 0:19:58.640 probably this weekend. We'll see how that looks. He's got 0:19:58.680 --> 0:20:00.960 a month and a half to figure things out. Those 0:20:00.960 --> 0:20:04.040 are your stuff, guys, right, those are the two guys 0:20:04.080 --> 0:20:07.520 that you look at and say, there's this stuff, they're nasty. 0:20:09.359 --> 0:20:13.920 Can they lock it in before October? The guy that 0:20:14.080 --> 0:20:16.840 I like, I still can't believe it's been this good 0:20:17.600 --> 0:20:22.600 Jacob Webb, like and I think I think you've said it, 0:20:22.680 --> 0:20:27.560 but like we just like Jed Hoyer gets to like 0:20:27.680 --> 0:20:30.040 kind of you know, do that I told you so 0:20:30.359 --> 0:20:34.160 when when we talk about building a bullpen. Because it's 0:20:34.240 --> 0:20:36.520 not about spending money and it's not just the Cubs, 0:20:36.520 --> 0:20:41.080 go look at every big money free agent this this uh, 0:20:41.480 --> 0:20:43.960 this year, this past winter. As far as relievers go, 0:20:44.119 --> 0:20:46.359 I'm not sure if there was, If there's a success story, 0:20:46.400 --> 0:20:52.440 either they're hurt, they're bad, or both. There just hasn't 0:20:52.480 --> 0:20:56.919 been someone that got like over ten million per that 0:20:57.400 --> 0:21:00.600 has been worth it. I'm probably I'm sure there's one 0:21:00.720 --> 0:21:05.439 or two, but like out of like fifteen guys like that, 0:21:05.480 --> 0:21:08.280 it's just not a good hit rate. And Jacob Webb 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:10.720 was a one and a half million dollar one year deal, 0:21:10.880 --> 0:21:14.320 like and they hit like a huge hit and he's 0:21:14.640 --> 0:21:17.560 where would they be without Jacob Webb? Is nasty change 0:21:17.640 --> 0:21:20.720 up that he was just spamming White Sox hitters with 0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:22.639 I think the other day, just like kept throwing the 0:21:22.760 --> 0:21:24.880 change up and I'm like, is he gonna throw anything else? 0:21:24.960 --> 0:21:26.760 I guess he doesn't need to because he'll just get 0:21:26.800 --> 0:21:29.879 through this inning without any other pitch. I think he 0:21:29.960 --> 0:21:31.719 threw a couple of fastballs in there, but that was 0:21:31.800 --> 0:21:34.920 it was another impressive outing and he just continues to dominate. 0:21:37.040 --> 0:21:41.199 Yeah, I was just like, I remember Robert Suarez was 0:21:41.480 --> 0:21:43.800 good for the braise, but he's on the injured list. 0:21:43.920 --> 0:21:47.040 All yeah, that was kind of I mean, Edwin Diaz, 0:21:47.200 --> 0:21:49.720 Devin Williams. I asked, Luke Weaver's done good job, but 0:21:49.920 --> 0:21:53.320 Bred Brad Keller, these names we all know because the 0:21:53.320 --> 0:21:56.399 Cubs are kind of on all of these guys, And 0:21:56.440 --> 0:22:01.040 I'm with you. I think, you know, I think Polentsia 0:22:01.359 --> 0:22:03.760 will figure it out. Like his stuff is just so 0:22:03.880 --> 0:22:07.280 good as long as he's like if he's on the bubble, 0:22:08.160 --> 0:22:10.639 he's in. To me, that's how good his stuff is 0:22:10.640 --> 0:22:17.879 and how good he was last October. Obviously, webs as well. 0:22:19.680 --> 0:22:23.680 I'm optimistic about Ben Brown. I think that the nature 0:22:23.680 --> 0:22:26.919 of the neck injury, I think, and the fact that 0:22:26.960 --> 0:22:32.120 he's done so many different roles within this particular season, 0:22:33.000 --> 0:22:35.600 I think he's on it. I think we include from 0:22:35.680 --> 0:22:40.600 kind of the other end, a sad and David Peterson 0:22:41.000 --> 0:22:43.960 as kind of your multi ending guys. And that was 0:22:44.000 --> 0:22:47.800 part of the logic of going so big at the 0:22:47.840 --> 0:22:51.680 deadline in terms of adding starters. They liked that effect 0:22:51.720 --> 0:22:54.879 of bumping guys into kind of the middle innings or 0:22:54.960 --> 0:23:00.320 multi inning roles. Really curious about Shelby Miller's a while card, 0:23:00.320 --> 0:23:03.960 and we've talked about him before, but when he's right, 0:23:04.040 --> 0:23:08.320 he's really really good. And if he's able to show 0:23:08.600 --> 0:23:12.040 that his arm is resilient enough to work back to 0:23:12.160 --> 0:23:16.680 back and kind of carry that load, I think he's 0:23:16.680 --> 0:23:20.840 gonna make a really compelling case. Because, as you know, 0:23:20.880 --> 0:23:22.760 this is why they always talk about the bullpen guys 0:23:22.760 --> 0:23:27.200 of like can you capture lightning in a bottle? And 0:23:27.320 --> 0:23:31.359 like we'll see how you know, the Ryan Rollinson's and 0:23:31.400 --> 0:23:35.640 Trent Thornton sort of Hoby Milner once he gets back, 0:23:35.720 --> 0:23:38.800 Like like, who are these guys gonna be by the 0:23:38.880 --> 0:23:47.080 time you're setting this playoff roster? Like bullpens are ever evolving, 0:23:47.600 --> 0:23:50.359 and so I think there are there's definitely gonna be 0:23:50.400 --> 0:23:53.119 spots up for grabs like they are in compete mode 0:23:53.200 --> 0:23:57.200 right now. It's nice to have this many internal options. 0:23:58.840 --> 0:24:03.399 I'm probably forgetting someone. I guess we're soon, you know. 0:24:03.680 --> 0:24:08.800