1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Do you want to trade Christopher Morrell? Uh No, because 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: I believe there's more there. The results will cup, but 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: that's how I look at those. 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 2: I have to think. 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Welcome into the north Side Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: I'm Sahade Sharma with Patrick Mooney, your Cubs beat writers 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: at the Athletic. We're going to preview the second half 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: of the Cubs. Maybe give some predictions here, Patrick, I 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: have one that I'm I'm I'm ready to unleash that 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: is not surprising that I will get yelled at by 11 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: both you and our friend Jesse Roger. But I'm I'm 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: going with Christopher Morrell having a big second half. Those 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: those expected stats are he is going to live up 14 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: to those expected stats. I'm I'm saying it. And here's 15 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: here's why I'm like, like, this is why I want. 16 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: To do this. 17 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: I stuck with Kyle schwar over and over and over again, 18 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: and then I jumped off the boat at the wrong time. 19 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I. 20 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: Made the mistake of not just sticking with my gut 21 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 1: and and sometimes it doesn't work right. My gut said, 22 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: you know, say, Suzuki was going to have an MVP 23 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: get some MVP votes this year. That doesn't look very likely. 24 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: So you know, I'm I'm sticking with him Kyle Schwarber. 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: If expected stats were a thing when Kyle Schwarber was around, 26 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: I think he would have been like a king of 27 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: them back in you know, like I'm pretty sure like 28 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: that first half in twenty nineteen was like one of 29 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: those things where if I would have been paying attention 30 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: to expected stats, I would have been like, oh, yeah, 31 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: I can see this second half coming. And then and 32 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: then he was a monster for two and a half months, right, 33 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: the final two and a half months of two thousand nineteen, 34 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: and then twenty twenty happened and we know the story 35 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: from there. But yeah, that's why I'm sticking with Christopher 36 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: Morrell because I stuck with Kyle Schwarber and jumped off 37 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: too quickly or not too quickly, but right at the 38 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: wrong time. 39 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: And uh so I'm going with that as. 40 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: As a key reason why I think they're going to 41 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: stick around. I don't I'm not going to predict that 42 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: they make the playoffs. I don't trust that, but I 43 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: think they're going to stick around, and the offense is 44 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: going to be a little bit more consistent. I'm not 45 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: ready to go full bore on the offense again. 46 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 3: But I did score the sixth most runs in baseball. 47 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: Heard, Oh is that true? Okay, that's interesting interesting. Uh yeah, no, 48 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: so that's a I'm jumping right off the bat with 49 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: a Christopher Morrell. 50 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 4: Uh. 51 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe it's also been the All Star breaks has 52 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: cleansed me of the of the of watching him and 53 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: being like, I don't know if this guy, this is 54 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: frustrating groundball double play with the bases loaded, kidding me 55 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: with this guy? Uh so maybe maybe I've just like 56 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: refreshed myself. Uh and and my Maybe maybe he has 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: as well. And he'll take that Sunday to Homer game 58 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: and and and uh and the motivation from Jim Edmonds 59 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: and and no and go with. 60 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 4: Yeah, that was classic because I feel like pretty much 61 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 4: every team has some sort of dumb elaborate home run 62 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 4: celebration team wide. Now, you know, I feel like that's 63 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 4: pretty commonplace now, Like I don't think Morrell has ever 64 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 4: done anything out. 65 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 5: Of the ordinary. 66 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 4: And he's like the friendliest guy ever, Like right go 67 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 4: around the Cubs. 68 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 5: Uh, I would see how he's always like shaking. 69 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 4: Hands with the umpires and going out of his way 70 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 4: to like, you know, point at the opposing dugout and 71 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 4: wave before his first st at bats. So, no, Christopher 72 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 4: Morel is an absolute gentleman. He's a pleasure to be around, 73 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 4: super positive, and like I'm with you, like I if 74 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 4: you look back at what I wrote throughout the offseason, 75 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,119 Speaker 4: like you know, players like this don't just like fall 76 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 4: out of trees, right, Like he's. 77 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 5: Got a lot going for him. 78 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 4: My point was, and I think you started this way 79 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 4: just to troll me and Jesse, is that no one 80 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 4: cares about the expected stats at this point. I don't 81 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 4: care how many, like if that would have been a 82 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 4: home run in twenty seven other stadiums, Like, it is 83 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 4: all about results at this point. And I'm glad you 84 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 4: mentioned say it, because how many home runs has he. 85 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 5: Hit as a Cub? 86 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: I would be guessing. 87 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: I would say, what's three seasons sixty so he's hit 88 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: forty seven as a Cub? 89 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 4: Okay, how many home runs did Kyle Schwarber hit last season? 90 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 2: Forty something? Right? 91 00:04:58,040 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 5: Forty seven? 92 00:04:59,080 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Okay. 93 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 5: I just. 94 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 3: Becomes one of those things where like this is a sprint. 95 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 5: They have to win, and no one. 96 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 4: Really cares like how well thought out any of those 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 4: moves were, you know what I mean, Like it made 98 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 4: set like counsel kind of looked around, like who else 99 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 4: is going to play third base? Like sure there was 100 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 4: some belief in curiosity about morel but it's also like 101 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 4: they didn't have a ton of options, and like, say, 102 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 4: as a fine player, but like he needs to come 103 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 4: up big here. I mean, we need Cody Bellinger to 104 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 4: get healthy and be that slugging presence in the mind 105 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 4: of the lineup that he really just hasn't been thus far. 106 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 4: And Mike Talkman, as we've discussed, had been sort of 107 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 4: similar and that's not really how this roster was imagined. 108 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 4: So I think my prediction will be the Cubs will 109 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 4: finish with eighty three wins again, they won't sell, and 110 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 4: they'll just miss the playoffs. That to me is how 111 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 4: this is lining up. Just a total repeat of last 112 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 4: year and then a kind of out of some sort 113 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 4: of rackoning. 114 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 5: We'll see. 115 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 2: Here's something funny. 116 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: Mike Talkman has a one fifteen way to runs great 117 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: a plus one twenty three ISO, right, So that's about power. 118 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: ISO is about power. 119 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: Cody Bellinger is a one to eight way to runs 120 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: great a plus and a one forty one ISO, so 121 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: slightly more slug yeah. 122 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: But not a ton more. And like they they're kind 123 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: of similar players this year. 124 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: It's very odd, uh, you know, And I guess that's 125 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: not like we shouldn't be shocked. Like Bellinger last year, 126 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 1: there were all the bat at ball numbers, we had 127 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: all the data, we talked about it. You know, it 128 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: was analyzed to death, so you know, and then you 129 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: look at the years before that, and you kind of like, 130 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: this is this shouldn't be a shock to us. There's 131 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: a reason the Cubs and you know, twenty nine other 132 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: teams were hesitant to give him the type of deal 133 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: that a superstar would would deserve. So so I guess 134 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: I guess we shouldn't be shocked, but I'm a little 135 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: surprised at how similar those two players have been this year. 136 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: We can we could debate, certainly could debate about you 137 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: know who, speaking of expected stats, who we would expect 138 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: to have a better second half, or like who has 139 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: a higher ceiling. Sure I get all that, but I'm 140 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: just like, when I look at Mike Talkman stats, I'm 141 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: a little like, why does this guy you know why 142 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: isn't this guy appreciated more sometimes? But he's I don't 143 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: know if this was clear because I wrote he's he'll 144 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: be back after the break. I'm pretty sure we were 145 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: told he'll be back on Friday. I should check my 146 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: tape to be one hundred percent certain, Like I'm ninety 147 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: nine point nine percent sure that's what we were told 148 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: us he's back Friday. Not that there's not like a 149 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: speculator like, oh maybe this maybe that it sounded pretty certain, 150 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: so that, yeah, I think that that is going. I'm 151 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: very curious to see how that plays out. We've touched 152 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: on that already. Uh, Christopher Morrell has to play. They 153 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: need power like, there's no reason to think about changing 154 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: what they do there. I'm I think for me, when 155 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: I look at the second half, and yes, the offense 156 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: is is a is a big question mark? 157 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: Right? Can they be consistent? 158 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: Can can guys like Morel and Dansby Swanson and the 159 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: catcher position, whatever, all the. 160 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: Things we've talked about. 161 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: Can they step up what what we saw for ninety 162 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: plus games out of the pitching staff, the starting pitching staff, 163 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: that was a surprise to me that completely I thought 164 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: they could be average ish maybe a little bit above 165 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: with I expected Tyan to bounce back. I wasn't sure 166 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: how good Steel would be. I wasn't sure. I thought 167 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: showed I had a high ceiling. I wasn't sure about it. 168 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: Steel has solidified himself. For me, Jameson Tayan had a 169 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: brilliant first half. We'll see if he can keep it up. 170 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: I think he's you know, I think he's not the 171 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: guy was last first half. 172 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: He's not. He's probably not this good. Maybe he is. 173 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 1: Maybe some things have been figured out for him and 174 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: he's he's just a steady presence there. I think for me, though, 175 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: showed his second half is what I'm most curious about. 176 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: It's good. 177 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: We got a we we had some hot days, we 178 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: had some humid days, right like he there were ups 179 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: and downs at point. 180 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 4: Uh. 181 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 2: Obviously you look at the overall numbers and they're impressive. 182 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: So we've we've. 183 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: Both talked to plenty of people behind this scenes, both 184 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: with the Cubs and all around baseball who were scouting 185 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: this guy. I think there are still some questions as 186 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 1: to how he's going to handle lineups and uh, if 187 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: the if the fastball isn't as effective. 188 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 2: If it's not moving like he needs it to. 189 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: How does he get through lineups without a lot of damage. 190 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 2: Nobody that I. 191 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: Talked to was like, the wheels are going to completely 192 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: fall off, right, nobody, you know. I guess that's always 193 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: on the table, but I don't. I didn't get anybody 194 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: like like people seem to think like this guy can pitch, okay, 195 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: like he can pick. I'm not sure if he's sucked 196 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: three er the rest of the way, but but he 197 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: may run into some speed bumps, which he already has, right. 198 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: I like that he's bounced back, but. 199 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: I think that's who I'll be watching as far as Okay, Like, yeah, 200 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: you proved a lot to me, It proved a lot 201 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: to everyone, right. Council kind of said, like he's got 202 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 1: nothing left to prove, right to him, Right, he trusts him. 203 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: But I I still want to see these final two 204 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: and a half months how good he can be. 205 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 3: He's thrown ninety seven innings thus far. 206 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 4: And if you go back to the prior trip to 207 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 4: Saint Louis, which I believe was mol Marle Day weekend 208 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 4: and there was a rainout and they just pushed showed 209 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 4: it back several days. So he essentially got a week off, 210 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 4: and at that point, Council said, you know, he's trending 211 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 4: towards one hundred and seventy ish innings, which would not 212 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 4: be like out of the norm from what he had 213 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 4: thrown in Japan, but obviously, like there's different stresses and 214 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 4: pressure points here, and it's been amazing to watch. I 215 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 4: think it was cool to see him in the All 216 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 4: Star Game. I think he's on the cover of you know, 217 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 4: Chicago magazine, their their Best of issue. 218 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 3: Just has been really refreshing to see him perform and 219 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 3: just his attitude and his curiosity all that stuff. 220 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 4: But Cubs are still four games under hitting with hitting 221 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 4: on best case snaries. With him and Michael Bush, they 222 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 4: are two primary guys that they brought in. And you know, 223 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 4: as I was thinking about this episode, man, I was like, like, 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 4: what has to happen for the Cubs to make the playoffs? 225 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 4: And I'm like, all of it has to happen, you. 226 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 5: Know what I mean. 227 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 4: It's just like it's not like you can isolate one 228 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 4: or two things, because the Cubs have had stretches of 229 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 4: just like greatness throughout this first half. And I was 230 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 4: kind of laughing when I saw the graphic during the 231 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 4: All Star Game. 232 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 5: I think Fox said this is like the first time. 233 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 4: Twelve teams are within three and a half games of 234 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 4: a playoff spot at the All Star break, and it's like, 235 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 4: guess where the Cubs are number twelve? 236 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 5: Like they got a ton of. 237 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 4: Work to do, and it's like, is this gonna be 238 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 4: one of those second halfs where like, all right, the 239 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 4: offense picks up, it's a nice time to hit at Wrigley, 240 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 4: but then like the bullpen blows it late, or is 241 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 4: there gonna be you know, when we go back to 242 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 4: Wrigley Field this weekend, they're gonna be some of those updates. 243 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 4: Oh you know, we didn't mention this before the break, 244 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 4: but you know, players X, Y, and Z are dealing 245 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 4: with the following issues, you know what I mean, just 246 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 4: like as it stacks up, and I do think they 247 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 4: have the depth to a stand some of this stuff, 248 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 4: and talking to players. 249 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 5: I think there's a feeling like this is a. 250 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 4: Better roster than last year, but they're just not playing 251 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 4: any better. And that is really like the root of 252 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 4: the frustration. I think that gives you, you know, some 253 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 4: optimism if your Cups fan, but it's also just like 254 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 4: it's almost one hundred games in here, and they have 255 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 4: a losing record, and a lot of the stuff that 256 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 4: has popped up as issues were not exactly surprises going 257 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 4: into the season, right, Yeah. 258 00:13:59,480 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 5: I mean. 259 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: Absolutely, nobody should be shocked that the bullpen is rocky, right, 260 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: nobody should be very surprised that Christopher Morell's defense hasn't solidified, 261 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: and you know, he's not like a plus defender a third. 262 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: I think I think they're like catcherably solid, Like we 263 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: shouldn't we shouldn't be surprised by that that was a 264 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: thirty six, thirty seven year old Yon Gomes and. 265 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 4: We're kind of lulled into a false sense of security 266 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 4: with that, right, Okay, this is post Wilson, but yeah, 267 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 4: it's been among the worst in baseball. 268 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: Right, I'm not going to I'm not going to get 269 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: carried away with whatever eight at bats. 270 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 2: For Miguelmaya or whatever it was. 271 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: But you know, I think fans, I'm not saying, I'm 272 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: just saying, I think the optimist fan can can look 273 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: at that and hope that that was something that they 274 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: figured out, Right, it was post whatever they worked on. 275 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: You'd like to think that that that's real I don't know. 276 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 2: I like, it's eight at bats. 277 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna get I'm not doing any analysis on 278 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: that right now. I need to see a lot more. 279 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: But that's a major I think that is Like, I 280 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: think there's two things. There's one thing that we've been 281 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: talking about for years, and that's finding a superstar, right Like, 282 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: I think the next thing maybe on our list is 283 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: find a catcher, find an everyday catcher. 284 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe it's Miguel Amaya. 285 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: But you cannot assume that. You cannot assume that, no, 286 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: unless he has two and a half brilliant months and 287 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: you're and you're sure, like, Okay, he just took that step. 288 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: He needed the work and he got it, and he 289 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: and he needed a half season to adjust to what 290 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: it's like to be an everyday catcher. But unless he 291 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: does that in the final two and a half months, 292 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: I don't know how you go into twenty twenty five 293 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: like he's our starting catcher, you chance, right? 294 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? You just like that's that'd be really tough to swallow. 295 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: I think it. 296 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: The other aspect that I'm really fascinated to watch is 297 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: the bullpen with regards to youth and the trade deadline 298 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: and I know we've touched on this, but I think, 299 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: like you look at the numbers since June first, it's 300 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: a better unit, like results wise, right, it's a better unit. 301 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: And this is not like I can't express this enough. 302 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: This is not unusual. It's how bullpens work. Bullpens are volatile. 303 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: They change on the fly, especially if you're adding younger players, 304 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: especially if guys are getting healthy. I don't like I 305 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: should go look at the numbers, but I don't think 306 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: Arizona's bullpen was very good in the first like four 307 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: months of the season. They called up a bunch of guys. 308 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: At the end, they got Ryan Tom's and I believe 309 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: who was a DFA maybe a small trade with last year, 310 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: like sorry, yeah, yeah, And there was there was Sal 311 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: Frank who came up. 312 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: There was another guy, Grink, not Ginkle, Grink Zach Green Yeah. 313 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 2: Uh Ginkle was the other dude. Uh and and. 314 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: He like you know these guys that know, nobody knows 315 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 1: random relievers that are called up right, nobody, nobody, nobody 316 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: outside of hardcore prospect nerds and like uh us media 317 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: people know who Hunter Biggie is, right or like that. 318 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 2: That's just the reality. 319 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: Of the situation, but he could impact this team in 320 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: the final two months, So like how they reshape it 321 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: and and I don't think it's going to be like 322 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: dramatic unless they go on a little winning streak, maybe 323 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: they get a bigger arm, but I think like they 324 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: can there's a way to make it, maybe not a rngth, 325 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: but maybe not an obvious weakness, just by getting healthy 326 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: and having a little bit of a youth movement there. 327 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm curiously we were talking about this off air, 328 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 4: like how does the schedule look to you? So how 329 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 4: obviously there's a they gotta have a good homestand Diamondbacks 330 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 4: Brewers going to KC. 331 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 5: You'll be there, that's a wild card hopeful, and. 332 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 3: Then basically one game in Cincinnati before the deadline. 333 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 5: Deadline is the thirtieth. 334 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 4: But that's a seven to ten first pitch in Cincinnati, 335 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 4: so that would be beyond the deadline. 336 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 2: Like what. 337 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 4: Where does the rest of the way it look like? 338 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 4: Like what is kind of that path of getting to October? 339 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: I mean they have the according to Tankathon by like 340 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: you know, winning percentage of their opponents, it's the twentieth 341 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: easiest or you know, twentieth hardest schedule so what what 342 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,959 Speaker 1: is that eleventh easiest? And it's but they're tied with 343 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: like the Mets and Yankees, not far behind teams like Detroit, 344 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: Baltimore and Atlanta. So like teams that they're chasing also 345 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: have easier schedules. Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, they're all 346 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: ahead of them in the in the in the wildcard standings, 347 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: right the Mets are ahead of them. It looks I mean, 348 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: it's certainly doable. Like you look at the tough teams. 349 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: It's like three against the Phillies, three against the Yankees, 350 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: three against the Dodgers. So nothing like seven or six 351 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: games against these guys. They only have three left with 352 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: the Brewers. It's really weird to think about that. You know, 353 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: they have the Marlins, they have the White Sox, they 354 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 1: have the A's, they have the Rockies. I mean, you 355 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: have those four teams on your schedule, Socks, Marlins, Rockies, A's, 356 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: host trade deadline. That's that's big, right, Like that's the 357 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: type of thing where you can rattle off a bunch 358 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 1: of easy wins and hopefully save your bullpen and things 359 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: like that. Those are the types of things help you 360 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: help you, like get gain ground easily. I will say this. 361 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: I'm looking at this. It shows like toughest opponents, easiest opponents. 362 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 2: The Cubs show up. 363 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: In a lot of other team's easiest opponents. 364 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 2: So and I wrote this. 365 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: I wrote this at the beginning of June when they 366 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: had that stretch, like either they become the team, like 367 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: either they clean up against these teams, or they become 368 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: the team other teams want to face. Right, I don't 369 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: think they're they They were there for a brief moment, right, 370 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: they were the team other team wanted to face when 371 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: when they were just couldn't buy a win. After this week, 372 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,479 Speaker 1: they're probably feeling themselves and feeling good. Like like, I 373 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: know we talked about this briefly, like is this does 374 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: this hurt momentum or whatever? Quote unquote, or you know, 375 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: the break. I think it's good for everyone. Like these 376 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: these guys play. These guys play and grind. Guys like 377 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: Dansby Swanson and Ian happ get very little time off, 378 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: you know, Nico Horner, like most of these guys just 379 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: are playing every day. Like I think Morell had a 380 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 1: day off for the like he's had two days off 381 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: in the first half. Granted, granted, he's a DH for 382 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 1: the most part. Like a lot of that is DH, 383 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: but still like that's you know, these guys don't take 384 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: and like and and Council is one of the better 385 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: ones about this, right, He's really good with that. And 386 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,719 Speaker 1: I think we're going to see some of this, and 387 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: I think we didn't really talk about this. Saturday's game 388 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: is the loss. Saturday's loss, the tough loss, not the 389 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,479 Speaker 1: blowout loss to the Cardinals is a good example of 390 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: him showing how he's going to He may be willing 391 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: to lose a game quote unquote. Again, I'm not saying 392 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: he wanted to lose that game, but he's willing to 393 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: take a loss if it means saving a guy for 394 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: August and September. 395 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 2: I think Mark. 396 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: Leider threw like thirteen pitches in that Tyson Miller had 397 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: like ten. 398 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: He could have gone. 399 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: He could have had pushed both of them or one 400 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: of them, right, instead of having pushing Port Hodge. Well, 401 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: Porter Hodge hasn't pitched as much. He's not worried about 402 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: writing him right now. He needs to be careful with 403 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: Tyson Miller. He's used him a lot. He needs to 404 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: be careful with Mark Lighter we saw what happened, what's 405 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: happened already this season, a Mark letter, and what happened 406 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: last season. He understands those things, and he's willing to say, like, well, 407 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: I've got to push Porter Hodge today. That's what i 408 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: gotta do because in August and September I need to 409 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: make sure Mark Lighter's arm is embarking again. 410 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 2: This is you. 411 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: You can complain about that loss and how he used 412 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: his guys if you want to, but this is how 413 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: you keep a bullpen healthy. 414 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 2: This is how you keep guys ready for later in 415 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 2: the season. 416 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 4: And Pittrick appreciate that of like, instead if your win 417 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 4: probability is say, like whatever, eighteen percent or lower, of 418 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,920 Speaker 4: just like chasing that you know, improbable win versus trying 419 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 4: to set things up for the rest of the series, 420 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 4: the next homestand the rest of the month, the entire. 421 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 3: Second half, Like that is supposed to be the council difference. 422 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 4: And you know, I think we both appreciate interacting with counsel. 423 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 4: I think he's a really like interesting guy that does 424 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 4: that does not really come across during those taped TV 425 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 4: Marquee shows. 426 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 3: That the briefings have become but like. 427 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 5: You know, he has this air of authority. 428 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 4: I think you've gotten a good observation from Nico of 429 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 4: like he just has this like focused consistency. 430 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 3: Like day to day that like he is all about 431 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 3: that game. 432 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 4: Like yeah, he used to wear khakis and work in 433 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,239 Speaker 4: the front office, but he is very much like in 434 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 4: the moment, hyper focused on like what's right in front 435 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 4: of him. And it's really interesting to hear just how 436 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 4: direct and simple he communicates. But like, I don't know, 437 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 4: we all thought the Cubs would be better in one 438 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 4: run games than fourteen and twenty, right, And you know 439 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 4: you mentioned our buddy Jesse Rodgers, And this is one 440 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 4: of the quotes that we've referenced that you know, Jed 441 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 4: said upon hiring counsel when we were all at the 442 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,119 Speaker 4: GM meetings last November, And this is quote from hoere 443 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 4: My thought on Craig, as I've always watched him against us, 444 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 4: was the bum Phillips quote about there Brian where he 445 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 4: says he'd take his and beat yours, and take yours 446 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 4: and beat his. That's kind of how it felt sometimes 447 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 4: Washington watching him. He was just getting the most out 448 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 4: of his teams over and over and over that's completely true. 449 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 4: I mean we saw that in Milwaukee. I mean it 450 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 4: frustrated Jed's no end. I don't think anyone watching this 451 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 4: team is like, wow, man, the Cubs are just like, 452 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 4: you know, so fundamentally sound and like, oh man, the Cubs. 453 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 4: They always seemed to like, you know, push the right 454 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 4: matchup and then oh man, look at them like escaping 455 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 4: with yet another win. It's been kind of the opposite 456 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 4: of that. Yeah, Like, I don't think that's all on counsel. 457 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 4: I think council the consensus opinion. Great hire like a 458 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 4: guy most teams, if you were starting like a franchise tomorrow, 459 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 4: like he'd be on that short list of managers of 460 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 4: like home run dream hires. There are things far beyond 461 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 4: his control. There are issues that have been like years 462 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:37,719 Speaker 4: in the making. But this is what you sign up 463 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 4: for when you come to manage the Chicago Cubs, leave 464 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 4: your hometown team, get the biggest contract for a manager ever. 465 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, and your old team is lapping the division again. 466 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 4: So like I'm really curious to see, like how how 467 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 4: he kind of goes about this, like it's always up 468 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 4: to the players, And he would say that as well, 469 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 4: like he's not a to his credit, he's not like. 470 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 5: A me me me guy. 471 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 4: You know, he's not like, oh I think this, Like 472 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 4: he's very much about the players. He played a really 473 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 4: long time and that goes a long way in the clubhouse. 474 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 5: But like kind of you are what your record says. 475 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: You are, right, Yeah, you can't run from that, you can't. 476 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: You know it, just like last year and I believe 477 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: in all those things. I believed last year that they 478 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 1: were a better team than their record was at this 479 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: point in the season, right, like because the metrics said that. 480 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 1: It just but it doesn't matter. It's just like what 481 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: you were talking about the expected stats, Like, yes, I 482 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: believe Christopher Morrell is doing things well process wise. 483 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 2: Ultimately all that matter are the results. Like we have 484 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 2: to accept that. 485 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: Like you can say, like there's when you analyze this stuff, 486 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 1: when you look at it, it's like what are you 487 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: trying to break down? When you talk about that stuff, 488 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: It's like, well, do you want to trade Christopher Morrell? No, 489 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,360 Speaker 1: because I leave there's more there. The results will come that. 490 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: That's that's why I look at those types of That's 491 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:06,959 Speaker 1: how I look at those types of things. The advanced 492 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 1: stats don't say this is a better team than there 493 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: they are maybe a win winn or two maybe like 494 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: maybe maybe they should be like five hundred or something 495 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 1: like that. But I I agree, like, is it is 496 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: it on Craig Council? 497 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 2: I don't think so. 498 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: Has Craig Counsel been a difference maker yet, like it 499 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,959 Speaker 1: would be grade this in a plus season for him? 500 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 2: Not yet? No. 501 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: And this is not saying like he's a problem or 502 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: he's holding them back in any way. It's just there 503 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: were things that people look at that they thought a 504 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: manager had made a big difference in. I'm not sure 505 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 1: that they're there yet, and that that could be it 506 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 1: takes a little while for him to implement the things 507 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: he wants to. Maybe he doesn't have the type of 508 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: players that he fully wants all across the board. There 509 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: there are things I'm sure that he's going to adjust. 510 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: I mean, this off and well, we're not going to 511 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: talk about this now, but I'm sure there are things 512 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: that we can we'll dive into as far as weeks 513 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,719 Speaker 1: at least we can call them tweaks, maybe bigger changes. 514 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: I don't know, there are things he's going to want 515 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 1: to do. Right, He's had a year or he will 516 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 1: have had a year to really see how this organization 517 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: is run. And it's not like he's short on opinions 518 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: or thoughts. 519 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:24,400 Speaker 2: Uh. 520 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: He's not afraid to share his point of view. He's 521 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: also not afraid to hear opposing point of opposing points 522 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: of view. I've talked to plenty of people in the 523 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: front office here, like when he'll come at you, he'll 524 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: he'll he'll come at you and your observation. 525 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 2: And he's done this with me. 526 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: Like he'll sometimes say like, well, that's obvious, and I'm like, yes, 527 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: but and I'll and I'll and I'll explain like why, 528 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: like it's a little more than obvious. 529 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 2: It's not just obvious. 530 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: Yes, that observation is obvious, but X y Z, and 531 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: I'll explain the thinking. He's like, okay, that's an interest. 532 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: Like he's what he's doing is he's pushing you. He's 533 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: like he's trying to get more out of you. He's like, 534 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: don't just give me the surface level, tell me what's 535 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: going on. If you have a point, you know, if 536 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: you have a point, let's get to it. And he's 537 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: very he's very good about that. He'll challenge you and 538 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: he expects more out of the people around him. I 539 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: think that's going to make the team. I think that's 540 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: going to make the organization better in the long run. 541 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: We haven't seen the full results yet, so yeah, it's 542 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: impossible to say like he's been this difference making impact 543 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: higher just yet, but I do believe there's more there 544 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: to come. That's I think you've nailed another big observation 545 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: for the second half. The impact great Council has on 546 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: this team. It'll be hard to measure, and maybe, like 547 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: maybe it's something that we'll understand more in the off 548 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: season a year from now, whatever it is, things will 549 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 1: come out right and we'll understand things better. But that's 550 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: I think that's a maybe one of the bigger, uh, 551 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: you know, storylines going forward. 552 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, and I. 553 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 4: Wrote in the Athletic of like, you know, this is 554 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 4: about the hand picked players that the front office chose 555 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 4: and assembled for this year. 556 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 5: I'm not. 557 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 4: You know, a lot of the answers wells come from within, 558 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 4: And I don't mean bringing up some guy from Triple 559 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 4: A or like, you know, anointing Hunter Biggie. 560 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 5: As a closer. 561 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 4: But I do think it'd be interesting to see, like, 562 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 4: like who steps up here, right, Like this is really 563 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 4: a time where like organizations are put to the test, 564 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 4: and like you kind of can't. 565 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 5: Talk around it anymore. 566 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 4: As the the runway for the season just gets shorter 567 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 4: and shorter and shorter. 568 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 5: It's like either your winning or you're not. 569 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 4: Like your young talent is either kind of rising to 570 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 4: the top or it's sort of getting exposed. And like 571 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 4: these players too, are like at a point I'm talking 572 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 4: about like the nucleus of core players are in which 573 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 4: should be like prime age seasons, right, I mean, these 574 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:12,000 Speaker 4: guys have had a lot of experience. Uh you know, 575 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 4: no one's like thirty seven years old. Like they're in 576 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 4: that sort of sweet spots of their career and it 577 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 4: will be kind of fascinating to see how they performed, 578 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 4: particularly after last September. 579 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 5: You know, like I don't know how much that matters, 580 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 5: but like. 581 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 4: That team was very good on defense up until the 582 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 4: like most important part of the season, you know what 583 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 4: I mean, Like they were and I'm not just talking 584 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 4: about to say a fly ball, like that's just a 585 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 4: thing now, but like even Dan's by it was. 586 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 5: Just like, yeah, the team just plays for crisp. 587 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 4: Those last three weeks of September, and so like, you know, 588 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 4: I think, you know, the Cups can come out here 589 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 4: if you win two series against the Diamondbacks and Brewers, 590 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 4: particularly after a very good road trip through Baltimore and 591 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 4: Saint Louis, Like there it is, like there's your momentum. 592 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 4: I think you can feel pretty good about letting this 593 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 4: team sort of run its course. But man, if they 594 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 4: get like swept by the Diamondbacks, you know, all of 595 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 4: a sudden things look totally different, and you know, I 596 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 4: don't think this is going to happen, but I mentioned 597 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 4: the possibility too, Like if they sweep the Brewers. The 598 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 4: Brewers have not looked that good recently. I mean they 599 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 4: always look good against the Cubs, it seems like, but 600 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 4: like they got off to such a hot start. They've 601 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 4: kind of come back a little bit here, so like 602 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 4: they don't quite control their destiny. But they have a 603 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 4: great opportunity here to make it a meaningful second half, 604 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 4: or they could waste it away. I don't really have 605 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 4: a great feel about this team. Almost one hundred games 606 00:32:58,080 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 4: in and we watched. 607 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 5: It all the time. Our job as a thing met 608 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 5: all the time. 609 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 4: Don't have a super great gut feeld either way, either 610 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,479 Speaker 4: you sound like a hater or you sound like this 611 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 4: blind optimist thinking like oh yes, And I think internally 612 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 4: that's kind of the way they look at it too, 613 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 4: And they're pretty dispassionate. 614 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 5: They're there every day, Like I think they're just kind 615 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 5: of waiting to see how this goes. 616 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 2: Right, and they've been waiting for things to turn for 617 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 2: a while. 618 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it didn't, and then it finally did the 619 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,120 Speaker 1: last week before the break. 620 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 2: So I completely agree with that sentiment. 621 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: Like, I don't know, I like I usually sometimes I 622 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: have like gut feels or feel strongly about something I 623 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: don't I like, the two months of this lost offense. 624 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 2: It was over two months of just no offense, and just. 625 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: You know, when the offense did show up, the bullpen 626 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: was terrible, Like just all that stuff happening, suspect defense 627 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,960 Speaker 1: at times, all that stuff happening really made me question 628 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 1: what I was watching and how good the team was. 629 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 2: I you know, I do. 630 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: Believe that, Like I kind of agree with your eighty 631 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: three wins and just short of the playoffs. 632 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, but I don't. I also don't think. 633 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: Like I'm not ruling out a playoff run in a 634 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: really good second half or a complete collapse and just 635 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: like they get disinterested in September and things fall apart. 636 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 2: Who knows, who knows what happens. It's so hard to 637 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:27,759 Speaker 2: read this team. 638 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 1: It's it's been a very odd three and a half 639 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: months to cover, but we will continue doing that. I'm 640 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: very I don't know what the pitching lineup is for Arizona. 641 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 2: They who they have. 642 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,439 Speaker 1: I'm assuming they're having Gallon come out, but maybe maybe 643 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: they don't. It's not on the probables on MLB dot 644 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,399 Speaker 1: com yet, but that just means it's not official. So 645 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:54,359 Speaker 1: someone like someone like Steve Gilbert or Nick Pacorr may 646 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: have tweeted it out and we just missed it. But 647 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 1: I expect that's going to be, you know, like the Cubs, Oh, 648 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: Arizona some revenge, right like they they they're the ones 649 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: that essentially knocked them out of the playoffs last year. 650 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:11,560 Speaker 1: I think, what was it five and one in September 651 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 1: Arizona went six and one. Okay, there was a four 652 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,399 Speaker 1: game setting there, so yeah, so they own. We'll see 653 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 1: if they can exact revenge and kind of get the 654 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: second half started right for them. 655 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 2: Again, no feel for it, but. 656 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 1: We'll be here, We'll be back. I'm going to be 657 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: out of town. I'm not sure when I'll be back. 658 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: Patrick and I will figure that out on our own, 659 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:35,879 Speaker 1: but Patrick. 660 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,440 Speaker 2: Will be back next week. Thanks so much for listening. 661 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 1: Make sure to rate, review, subscribe to North Side Territory 662 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: on your podcast medium of choice. Make sure to subscribe 663 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 1: to The Athletic and read our work. We will be 664 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: on top of the Cubs. I will be. You'll hear 665 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,960 Speaker 1: from me again when when the Cubs head to Kansas City. 666 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 2: Looking forward to that. 667 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:00,800 Speaker 1: It's been it's been a while since I've been Kansas City, 668 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 1: so looking forward to that. 669 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 2: And yeah, thanks for listening to everyone. Packard Scott he covered. 670 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,840 Speaker 1: For the next week on this big home stamp to 671 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:08,879 Speaker 1: open up the second half. 672 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. Take care,