1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: Sada Charma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic. Patrick. We are 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: two weeks to opening day. Less than that. When people 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: are listening to this, I feel like we don't have 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: like this. We came into this camp kind of knowing 7 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: twenty four of the twenty six spots on the roster. 8 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: There was a little shake up obviously with Tyler Austin 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: getting hurt, but I think we kind of feel like 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: Michael Confordo just kind of slots into that bench spot, 11 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: veteran guy that they signed. Let's not write him in 12 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: with ink just yet, but close. But there's a bullpen 13 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: spot and then a fight for that final outfielder and 14 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: it's kind of heating up. I guess, you know, I 15 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: think these final two weeks will matter. But there are 16 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: three names too well, I guess one of them just 17 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 1: got sent down. Ryan Ralis, Yeah, that's I'm curious. 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: What do you like? What do you have on the 19 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: pitching side. You usually have a good feel. 20 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 3: For kind of that group, and there are a couple 21 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 3: of names that we had kind of the latest in MESA. 22 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, Ryan Rolinson had a great spring, and I think 23 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: Craig Council, I know Craig Counsel has nothing but good 24 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: things to say about that. They put a lot on 25 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: his plate. Uh, he's learning two new pitches. I think 26 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: they look really good on the side it's been hit 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: or miss when he comes into a game. I think 28 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: a lot of that is just like he knows what's wrong. 29 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: It's like I'm feeling a little off here. He's going 30 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: to continue to work on that. The benefit of the 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: benefit for the team, the drawback for the player of 32 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: having an option is they can send him down. They 33 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: like him. I think he's going to be a part 34 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: of this team at some point this season, assuming he 35 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: stays healthy and continues on the trajectory that he is. 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: But he was sent down today, that's Thursday, along with 37 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: a few other players. But you know, I think he 38 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: was the name that i'd say, like among that group, 39 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: that's a guy that I would keep an eye on, 40 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: see how they're doing in the minors, been the Cubs 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: and someone I wouldn't be shocked if he's one of 42 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: the lefties first called upon. Beyond that, I think it's 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: like there's one spot in the bullpen. I think it's 44 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: between Colin Snyder, who had an amazing twenty twenty four 45 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: with the Seattle Mariners, really rough twenty twenty five injuries 46 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: and just poor performance. It's between him and Corbyn Martin, 47 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: who is a former starter with the Astros No wait, yeah, 48 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: Astros and then Baltimore and really talented. A ton of 49 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: upside here. I think coming into this spring, there were 50 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: a lot of people I wouldn't say with the cubs 51 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: around like fans us like we saw what Brad Keller 52 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: did last year, It's like, who's the next Brad Keller? 53 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: And I think if but we're going to bet on someone, 54 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: They would have said Corbyn Martin kind of has that stuff, 55 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: former starter, it's going to play up, you know, all 56 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: the ingredients there. I would say that early on in 57 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: camp it was fine, but not Brad Keller's out there 58 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: pumping ninety seven and blowing guys away in spring and 59 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: scouts are like, are they going to keep this guy? 60 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: Because if they're not, we want him. It's not quite 61 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: that with Corbyn Martin, but then he went out. He's 62 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: been sitting mostly ninety five. He had a rough outing. Again, 63 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: Like I want to preface all this like it's spring training. 64 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: Can't take too much away from results, but there are 65 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: times when you do, in the sense that there are 66 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: position battles, you kind of have to judge it on 67 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: something With Corbyn Martin, you're like, you wanted to see 68 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: the stuff take up. It hadn't at first. Then we're 69 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: recording on a Thursday. He just went out on a Thursday, 70 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: struck three guys out. It was three up, three down. 71 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: He was touching ninety seven pretty regularly, sitting ninety six. 72 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: So he's already ticking up. And that's what you want 73 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: to see. That's what you want, That's what they were 74 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: hoping for. That probably puts something in their minds. Certainly 75 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: Craig Council, other people, the decision makers. They see that 76 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: that's that's a you know, positive for him. Colin Sider's 77 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: been really good back to ninety five. I think they 78 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: found a simple fix mechanically. I think it's between him 79 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: and Martin for that spot. Here's something that I learned. 80 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: Patrick Martin has an opt out right at the end 81 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: of spring. I don't think Snyder does until later into 82 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: the season. That another thing we talked about options. That 83 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: matters because Craig Council loves depth. He wants as much depth, 84 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: he wants to keep it around. It can sometimes work 85 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: against guys. It can sometimes if Martin continues, you're gonna 86 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: pick the guy that's you know, like, if Martin's just 87 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: not good enough, I think you'd let him opt out. 88 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: That performance I saw today, I think has to stick 89 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: with some of these guys. If he can continue to 90 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: build off that, these next two weeks are going to 91 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: be interesting in it, and we have a real battle 92 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: on our hands here. 93 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean Martin does have a bit of pedigree. 94 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 3: You know, he has a second round pick in the 95 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: twenty seventeen draft. He was traded by the Astros to 96 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 3: the Diamondbacks and the Zach Grankie deal, which was kind 97 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 3: of one of those major, like deadline deals that kind 98 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 3: of shook baseball. So there's certainly something to work with, 99 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 3: especially when you are hoping it translated into those shorter 100 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: bursts out of the bullpen. 101 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: I've been. 102 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 3: Listening to a lot of Craig Council sessions from when 103 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 3: my stay in Mesa, just to kind of catch up 104 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: work ahead and preserving depth was just this consistent theme 105 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: of like, when you're thinking about all of these things, 106 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 3: he wants to load as much talent and experience onto 107 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 3: the forty man roster as possible. In that contract stuff matters, 108 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: opt outs matter. As he likes to say, you're setting 109 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 3: the roster for one day. The roster always is changing. 110 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 3: It is a fluid situation on every team in every season, 111 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 3: and so. 112 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: Hearing stuff like that. 113 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 3: And just knowing how they operate and looking at some 114 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 3: of these guys with minor league options, I think it's 115 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 3: gonna be really hard unless you know the other part 116 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 3: of he always stresses too, is that injuries happen. 117 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: Stuff happens. You never know when you show up to 118 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: the park you know what you're gonna see or end. 119 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 3: But as it stands, knock On Woods has been a 120 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: pretty smooth, healthy camp And if that continues, I don't know, 121 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 3: you're closer to it right now. It seems like those 122 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: guys that the options are just going up. Yeah, I mean, 123 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 3: you know, you find one spot for the guy you 124 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: like that to keep and then you kind of play 125 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: it straight. 126 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: That would be my Yeah. 127 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: I think they're really happy with what Ben Brown's done. 128 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: He's added it like they're happy with this sinker. He's 129 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: got a usable change up now. I think they're really 130 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: happy about that and excited about his future. He's got 131 00:07:55,760 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 1: an option. That's like, you know, Javier Asad, we know 132 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: what he can do. He can handle pretty much any 133 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: role that they throw at him. He's got an option 134 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: like that. That's the way I look at it. I 135 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: think that's the way they look at it. You know, 136 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: these guys really forced the issue. I guess you could 137 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: make the argument, but that's that's where it is right now. 138 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: That's the way I see it. The outfield battle between 139 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: Carlson and Chas McCormick, I think that's an interesting one. 140 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: They both have auto outs. From my understanding, at the 141 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: end of spring, it's like Dylan car Like, if you 142 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: want to just look at the numbers, Dylan Carlson's obviously 143 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: having a better spring offensively. Chas McCormick's hit a home 144 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: run today on Thursday, but he's been striking out a 145 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: little bit much in the spring. Dylan Carlson's just hitting. 146 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: He's hitting well. I get different reports on their defensive value. 147 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: I get guys that say they like Carlson better in 148 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: center McCormick. They both don't have great advanced metrics, but 149 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: McCormick has as like better, Some advanced metrics like him 150 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: a little bit more. So, you know, if you're going 151 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: pure defense, that's that's the guy that maybe he has 152 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: an edge. McCormick does, But right now, you know, Dylan 153 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: Carlson's hitting it. We'll see how the next two weeks ago. 154 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe there's something that they're looking at that is 155 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: beyond the pure results here, which I'm sure there are 156 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: there are other things that matter, But right now, if 157 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: you're looking at the results, Dylan Carlson seems to have 158 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: an edge. 159 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, that seems to be another sort of like chalk pick. 160 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 2: That would be my sort of expectation. 161 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 3: But again, this is one of those where like we 162 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 3: talked about this stuff because it's that time. 163 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 2: Of year and decisions have to be made. 164 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 3: But like if you're the Cubs, you know you don't 165 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 3: you're helping Pete starts like one hundred and fifty eight 166 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 3: games in. 167 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 2: Center and comes off the bench. Maybe the other. 168 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 3: Obviously, Kevin Alcantara, I don't know if you're hearing anything 169 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 3: about him, but the way that Craig was talking about 170 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 3: when I was there, was just like it was in 171 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 3: the sense of the Cubs expect him to be a 172 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 3: big part of this team when needed, and I think 173 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 3: that would be really interesting too. Of like if he 174 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 3: got that sort of runway. I think the Cubs wouldn't 175 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 3: be like totally disappointed if that happened at some point 176 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 3: this year, just to you know, give him some nice runway, 177 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 3: because he's sort of if he hasn't earned it, they're 178 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 3: gonna have to make a much larger decision, you know, 179 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 3: pretty soon here over the next couple of years. 180 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: This could be his like chance. 181 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: Right, because he's his option is done after this year. 182 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: He's got no more options, I believe. I'm corrected, I believe. So, 183 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: you know, that makes things a lot harder if he 184 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: hasn't had any significant MLB playing time, Suddenly you're like 185 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: really challegent player and he has no option, but we like, 186 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: we're just going to stick him out there and play 187 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: him every day in twenty twenty seven without any runway. 188 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: When you're like in the midst of this window, you've 189 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: signed Alex Bragman, traded for Edward Cabrera, You've got you've 190 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: got a lot of talent on this team, it would 191 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: be an interesting decision. They like him, They obviously like 192 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: this is a guy with upside and you want to 193 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 1: see what he can do on an everyday basis, But 194 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: right now there's not a spot for him obviously, And 195 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I don't think they tell the 196 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: player this that you're going to be starting the season 197 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: in the miners and getting every day playing time. But 198 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: I think that's what it gets back to what we're saying, 199 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: like options given times, and he's got that option, so 200 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: you know, he he's to keep at it and maybe 201 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: force the issue like a lot of these guys. But 202 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: he's someone that I wouldn't you know, I wouldn't overlook, 203 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: and again, someone you keep an eye on in the 204 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: miners when if and when he's sent there. Beyond that, 205 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: it like I think it's fun to talk about this, 206 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: like fans like really pay attention to the results. Here's 207 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: here's someone that I think it could matter with And 208 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: I did ask Greg Counsel about this. We talked about 209 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: this earlier. Patrick Dansby Swanson, a veteran, worked on some things. 210 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: He changed his workout habits. He didn't want to get 211 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: into mechanical stuff, But there are some mechanical things that 212 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: he's adjusted. I think ultimately what he wants is to 213 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: be more athletic in the box. He's an athletic person. 214 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: Lean into that in the box. He didn't feel like 215 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: he was doing that. Changed his workouts, hopes to lean 216 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: into that offensively, made some adjustments. Is he he is 217 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: seeing success in spring training something that makes him stick 218 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: with that. I think that's that's the benefit of having 219 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: success in spring training. It's not that, Oh, look, Dansby, 220 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: Swanson's back to being you know this, you know, plus 221 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: offensive player when he's just been average for the most 222 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: part during his cub's tenure. Look, you make changes. The 223 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: last thing you want to see is failure. Failure, failure, 224 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: had success in the past. What you're going to do 225 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: is go back and say, like, this isn't working. I 226 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: need to get back to it, Like I don't want 227 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: my career to end suddenly where I'm you know, where 228 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: I can't play, where I stink, and like you have 229 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: to make you need to stick to what you the 230 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: changes you made for longer than spring training seeing some success. Look, 231 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: I talked to Dansby about this. Craig council agreed, like yeah, 232 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: for him, it makes sense, like this is where it's valuable, 233 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: gives you a little confidence and belief in what you 234 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: worked on. Okay, maybe this is where it's sticking with Dansby. 235 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 1: Seemed like he was bought in already, but he didn't 236 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: deny it. He's like, yeah, it helps. It's nice to 237 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 1: see and I feel good and it's like, okay, all 238 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: that work is paying off. Uh, he didn't. He wasn't 239 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: suggesting that I'd probably have abandoned it. He seemed like, no, 240 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: I really bought into what I did. I need needed 241 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: to make these changes. So you know, that's that's just 242 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: one avenue where you can say, like, here's here's where 243 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: spring results can mean something. And it's not that like 244 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: staring at the numbers and saying, hey, look at that 245 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: two thousand ops or whatever it is. 246 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: I can't wait till he like strikes out in the 247 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 3: third inning on opening day. I'll just turn out you 248 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 3: had press box And where are these changes? What's going on? 249 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 3: I think every spring there's it seems like there's one 250 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 3: or two hitters that kind of like get that focus, 251 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 3: you know, of whether it's best shape of their life 252 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 3: or you know, contract year or some of the changes, 253 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 3: and you know, it is interesting to see what Dansby 254 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: is trying to accomplish here. Council made it clear like 255 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 3: swing and miss is just going to be part of 256 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 3: his game. I don't think that's ever going to be eliminated. 257 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 3: It's always been a part of it. And I think 258 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 3: what Council says got a little bit high and which 259 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 3: for counsel to say that means it was very much 260 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: on their radar, and you know, seeing him the bottom 261 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 3: of the lineup, it's kind of odd, but it's also 262 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 3: a sign of like this is like that's what legit 263 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 3: teams have, right, I mean, you want to make the 264 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 3: opposing staff defense O they're dugout all the coaches and 265 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 3: analysts over there, make them really work every single inning. 266 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 2: And like if Dansby's hitting eight or ninth. 267 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 3: And hitting like twenty five homers while playing gold glove defense, 268 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 3: like that's a that's a great player on a great team. 269 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm I'm anxious to see what he does because 270 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always interested when guys make changes, like 271 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: how much do these work? And Council did did kind 272 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: of say what you said there about you know that 273 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: first for four in the regular season, and you're like, 274 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: none of this worked, Like you know, that's that's what 275 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: the reaction is going to be. Yeah, So so we 276 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: can't we can't jump to conclusions. Look, here's here's something else. 277 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: Dansby Swanson stunk his first spring spring training and then 278 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: went I think started seven for eight that season. Uh, 279 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker stunked and then had an MVP first half. 280 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: So none of it, Like, I don't want to like, 281 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: there are guys that have had great springs. I want 282 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: to say Milton Bradley. I know, I'm going back in 283 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: the way back machine here. I think he had an 284 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: awesome spring and then we all know how that kind 285 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: of unraveled here in Chicago. So uh, it's just like, 286 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: you don't, you don't. I don't want to take too 287 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 1: much away from it, but there's sometimes there's something of 288 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: value in these moments and during this time. And I 289 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 1: think confidence is one thing, Pitcher stuff is another thing. 290 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: They're always working on things, they're always trying to get 291 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: through the day for you know, the results aren't always 292 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: the most important thing. So I again not going to 293 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: take much from it, but it's worth, it's worth kind 294 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: of touching on and seeing where they go with it. 295 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 3: I was curious too, I know you mentioned these are 296 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 3: kind of tying together the previous two segments when we 297 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 3: talk about a guy who goes to Iowa and is 298 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 3: kind of stored away for depth and then all of 299 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 3: a sudden you have to like break the glass in 300 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 3: case of emergency. And also this idea of do results matter? 301 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: And so long wind up for Kate Horton as someone 302 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 3: who it's unbelievable how we had these training wheels on 303 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,479 Speaker 3: last spring training and it's coming off an injury plague season, 304 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 3: had a lot of questions about his durability and viability 305 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 3: as a major league pitcher and now he's in spring 306 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 3: training on him in terms of, you know, earning a 307 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 3: spot and the rotation got roughed up the other day, 308 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: but had some very like insightful quotes talking to you 309 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 3: guys afterwards. 310 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 2: What do you got on Kate Horton. 311 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's very much about the process now. He doesn't 312 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: like his results matter in the sense like there maybe 313 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: you can take away something, maybe there's something to learn 314 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 1: about it. Oh, is my process right here? Do I 315 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: need to adjust the process? But he was not in 316 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: the least bit frustrated. He admitted, like a year ago, 317 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: he would have been freaking out about like results like that, 318 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: even in spring. You would have overthought it. It would 319 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: have been hard on himself. But he's learning from it. 320 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 1: He's trying to take lessons from it. What was his 321 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: goal in that in that outing? He wanted to land 322 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: his breaking ball and be able to command his breaking balls. 323 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: He's got a slider in a curveball. Why did the 324 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: first like the three run homer that he allowed, bloop, 325 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: single bloop, single three run shot to a good player happens, 326 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, Like he's not going to say, like, that's 327 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: a solo home run. If you know the bloops go 328 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: his way sometimes they don't, he's gonna understand, like, that's 329 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: that's bad luck, that's baseball. My process was right. I 330 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: did the right things. Outside of the home run that 331 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: he gave up. He gave up another home run, fell 332 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: behind three to one because he couldn't land the breaking ball. 333 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: So what is the opponent doing when it's a full count? 334 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,919 Speaker 1: He's like, I'm sitting fastball, and he did and he 335 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 1: hit a home run. So these are like little lessons 336 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: for KD Horton, it's like he knows these things. But 337 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: it's like, Okay, that's why I gotta land the curveball. 338 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: That's why I have That's what he was working and 339 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: like he's gonna hammer that home to himself. It's like okay, 340 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: and the he started to land it, and later at bats, 341 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:08,959 Speaker 1: I think he got the guy, the guy that hit 342 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: the home run. I can't remember even who hit these 343 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: home runs, but you know the guy that hit the 344 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: home run the first time around. He got him on 345 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: a curve ball because he set him up with the 346 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: curveball before he landed it. And you know, these these 347 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: little things, it's how you learn, it's how you get better. 348 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: Kate Horton, I think I've really been hammering this home. 349 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: Greig Council's been very clear like he don't expect to 350 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: step forward from Kate Horton just yet, because you know, 351 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: like what he did last year was at fifty innings 352 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: to that that's a cy young season. But I do 353 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: think I've been really high on his The way he 354 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: carries himself. I think we all see that like he 355 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: carries himself in this manner that I like, it seems 356 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: like a veteran. It's impressive, and I think like little 357 00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: things like that when he talks about the game in 358 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,959 Speaker 1: that man, it's like you're not a rookie. He's not 359 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: a rookie anymore. But it doesn't, you know, like it 360 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: just doesn't. The way he talks about the game, it's 361 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: like this guy seems like he's really figured some things 362 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: out mentally, and that's you know, if not, if not 363 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: more than half the battle, you know, it's a it's 364 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: a big part of this game. 365 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, you know, one of the best parts 366 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 3: of our job is like being able to read in 367 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 3: between the lines and whether it's talking about Kevin Aquatara, 368 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 3: like the way it comes people talk about him like 369 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 3: they seem like curious and optimistic and intrigued. And with 370 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 3: Kate Horton, you can just listen to him talk and 371 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 3: you can you get a feel for how he processes 372 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 3: the game. And then there are other pictures who kind 373 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 3: of stand in front of their locker and they either 374 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 3: kind of ramble or this we're talking about the course 375 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 3: of our career. We're not talking about any one particular 376 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 3: current pitcher, but you can sometimes see the wheels like 377 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 3: you're going to a little too fast, or they're not accountable, 378 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 3: or they're you know, blaming you know this and that, 379 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 3: and you can kind of or subtly sort of like 380 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 3: pointing the finger in different directions, and you know, it's 381 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 3: not that hard to make the leap, being like, well, 382 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 3: is this guy gonna be able to figure it out? 383 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 3: Or can he like post up every fifth or sixth 384 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 3: day and handle that responsibility? And you know, clearly Kate 385 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 3: Horton has I still think it's going to be you know, 386 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 3: issuing to see how they manage his workload, Like can 387 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 3: he bounce back and put together like a bigger season. 388 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 2: I get what Craig's saying. 389 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 3: I think it would be ridiculous to yeah, expect him to 390 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: be saying, but can he throw fifty more innings? Like 391 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 3: I think that's what was Craig's kind of like, can 392 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: you do that in like a three five year whatever? 393 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 2: You you know, yeah, you know, thirteen wins or whatever. 394 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 2: I know wins are on sid but just like, can 395 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 2: you just do do more, do a little bit more 396 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: kind of a reasonable clip, just more, uh, you know, 397 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 2: bulk bulk. 398 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,360 Speaker 1: It's not results, They're gonna be hard to top. Yeah, 399 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: Otherwise exactly, but like add some you know, maybe up 400 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,159 Speaker 1: the strikeout rate a little bit. How often can you 401 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: go ninety pitches? You know, like he wasn't doing that? 402 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: How does he handle that? 403 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: Like these types of things deeper into games, more innings 404 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: on the season, like these are these are the things 405 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: that you have to watch and like we're going like 406 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: he's not going to be throwing ninety pitches, probably in April. 407 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 1: I don't know when he will, but there's gonna be 408 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: some point in this upcoming season where he's going to 409 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: be throwing ninety pitches and expected to do it, maybe 410 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: multiple games in a row. How does he handle that? 411 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: How does he bounce back after a start like that? 412 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: We'll see, We'll see. These are the questions he has 413 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: to answer. I think he's past the first test with 414 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: flying colors as far as you know, a young pitcher goes, 415 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 1: and now he's got more to handle. Obviously, that's just 416 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: how it is. You know what's next. It's always a 417 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: question for these guys. So we'll see. That's it for 418 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 1: the Rord Side territory. We will be back next week. 419 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: Patrick and I are switching spots again. You're going to 420 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 1: be out here in Arizona, Patrick enjoying the one hundred 421 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: plus degree heat while I suffered through a snowstorm in 422 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: the Midwest. Thanks yeah, thanks so much for listening to everyone. 423 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the YouTube channel, 424 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: and subscribe to The Athletic or Patrick and Iron top 425 00:24:32,440 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: of all things cups. Thanks everyone, take care and I'm d