1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: You have to be confident in this. In sports, right, 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: you have to have this I'm unbeatable mentality, especially baseball 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: will wear you down. Welcome into north Side Territory, Foul 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm Sade Sharma with Patrick Mooney. 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: We're your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic and 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: we're talking Cubs post trade deadline. Patrick, we did a 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: quick wrap up last night and now it's a let's 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: do a little bit more of a big picture, more 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: overview of what we can expect going forward, what we 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: need to see going forward, what Jed Hoyer needs to 11 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: see going forward. I think this is the reason to 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: watch games going forward these next two months, is to 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: figure out what they have. What Jed Hoyer can sell 14 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: to Tom Ricketts. He's going to be sitting in front 15 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 1: of us two months from now talking about the off 16 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: season and the season that was, and how he's going 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: to make this team better and not disappoint in twenty 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: twenty five like they did in twenty twenty four. How 19 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,919 Speaker 1: is he going to what does he need to see happen? 20 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: So he has a good sell to Tom Racks to say, 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: invest in me, invest in this team. I think that's 22 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: the question we need to answer and what we'll be 23 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: watching for over the next two months. 24 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, no doubt. And I think there's gonna be a 25 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: lot of ground to cover here. I think I would 26 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 2: start with one just because I'm thinking of him, because 27 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: I'm writing about him, because we talked to him last night. 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: Is Cody Bellinger? Like, is he going to opt in 29 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: for next year? He had that home run last night. 30 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 2: He's still a good, well rounded player, but he hasn't 31 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 2: been a star. He hasn't been as healthy as he 32 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: would have liked to have been so far. 33 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: This season. 34 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: And kind of the contours of this season going into 35 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: it was, you know, the Cubs were not built to sell, 36 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: they were itching to buy, and like neither one of 37 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 2: those things happened. And the assumption was that Cody Bellinger 38 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: would opt out of his contract after this season, and 39 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: that is now a little bit more of a question mark. 40 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: And I think those two things kind of tell you 41 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: a lot of what you need to know about this 42 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: team right now that are just kind of stuck, sort 43 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: of stuck in the middle. 44 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: That home run, I just I just had to bring 45 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: it up because I was watching from home and that 46 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: home run is like a home run and what like 47 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: five ballparks. It's just so that was just like so 48 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: prototypical Cody Bellinger twenty twenty three home run, And I 49 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: mean he needs more of those, right to to opt out, 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: Like that's that's big for him, And I think I 51 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: think that's a good question as far as what's his 52 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: future and what's if he opts in I don't think 53 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: it'd be a disaster because he's a quality player in 54 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: the Cubs are Like people can talk about the money 55 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: all they want. The Cubs can handle that like they 56 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: Like you said it last episode, we need to stop 57 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: worrying about the Cubs money, like just spend, Like I 58 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: don't care that he costs thirty million dollars. Teams like 59 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: the Cubs need to be able to overcome that. If 60 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: he's not worth thirty million dollars, right, I don't I 61 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: don't care. It just doesn't matter. You need to win 62 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: and you need to figure out ways to win. And 63 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: Cody Bellinger can be worth thirty million dollars. So maybe 64 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: opting in would be a good thing for the Cubs. 65 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: If he has a monster season, there's it gives them 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: a lot of options. Right, It would give them a 67 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: lot of options, just like Paradis gives them options of 68 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: how to kind of build a team, and you don't 69 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: need to I think it would be overthinking it to 70 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: to kind of to be to think that they can't 71 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: outspend that that contract. If that makes sense, right, I 72 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: think a big thing that we need to watch, and 73 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: I don't think it should change any thinking going into 74 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: the off season outside of of maybe like the second 75 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: how many catchers you need to get, But it's Miguel 76 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: Amaya's performance, Like I think you need to be aggressive 77 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: in the off season to find a catcher. I just 78 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: I think it's absolutely necessary. It is really hard to 79 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: find a catcher. I don't know how you do it, 80 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: to be honest, Like you can find a veteran probably, 81 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: I don't have the free agent list in front of me. 82 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 2: It is I got it up here. I mean you 83 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: could Danny Jansen. I think you might be a little 84 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 2: bit curious if it's not going to get into a 85 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: range that is very uncomfortable. I'm thinking of the Asmani 86 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: Grondal type type of deal for a guy who's like, 87 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 2: to my understanding, is like a good presence, but not 88 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: necessarily like a top shelf defensive catcher. Right, you've got Carson, 89 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: Kelly James. 90 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: Uh, none of these first. 91 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, as it is, Yeah, Thomas Nido, nar Baiaz, I mean. 92 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: This is not yeah. This is what they have a 93 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: lot of what they have. It doesn't change much. Danny 94 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: Jansen's interesting could probably be league average. Uh. But but 95 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: I think you need to watch for what Miguel Amaya 96 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: does and and you know, are these changes legit at 97 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: the place. How is he handling the pitching staff, how 98 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: is he handling just catching in general, all the soft factors, 99 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: all those things matter because whether he's the starter or 100 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: the backup next year, you need to know what what 101 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: he can do and and how how aggressively you need 102 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: to pursue catch catching as a position as a whole. 103 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: I think it. You know, it's possible he goes into 104 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: next season as a starter, just because it's so hard 105 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 1: to get catching. I think they'd prefer to find a 106 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,239 Speaker 1: legit starter. I don't know where that guy comes from, 107 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: That's the question, right. Uh, Like who's giving up a 108 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: young catcher? Uh? Like who who's who's trading that guy? Uh? 109 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: The Cubs have a really strong system is there a 110 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: team with a starting catcher that has the top catching 111 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: prospect as well? Uh, something like that. Do that that's 112 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: that's willing to kind of that that's heading towards a 113 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: re build or willing to go in that direction. Things 114 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: like that are what they're going to have to look 115 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: for it because it may take like a Michael Bush 116 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: situation to address this need because I don't know how 117 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: you fix it, but it needs to be It needs 118 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: to be addressed. But it also I think is important 119 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: over the next two week two months to see what 120 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: what Miguel Amaya is doing and how he performs. 121 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: No doubt, I think that's that in the star hitters 122 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: probably you know, right at the top of the list 123 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: here dabs from the Rockies name that have been mentioned. 124 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: When it looks like cups are buyers, is another guy 125 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: in that mix. Maybe, like you said, do some sort 126 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: of timeshare and raise the floor a little bit, But 127 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: like you said, nothing that really moves the needle. I 128 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: know you're always curious about pitching. I just pulled up 129 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: here the lengthy Cubs on injured list section of the 130 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 2: game notes. Not sure who we're going to see back. 131 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm not sure how much you can bank on, like 132 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 2: anything that you really see once a team is sort 133 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: of out of it and playing out the string to 134 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: an extent. 135 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: But like. 136 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: Albert Auzala was supposed to get a second opinion yesterday 137 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: in Chicago, we had not received word yet, but it 138 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: was described as a significant setback and I'm not really 139 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 2: expecting him back this year. That's just my gut feel 140 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 2: or just kind of you know, institutional read on how 141 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 2: these things usually go for injured pitchers in August. But 142 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: is Jordan Wicks a guy you can count on? What's 143 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: up with Ben Brown? Can anyone take an opportunity and 144 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 2: run with it the way that Justin Steel did after 145 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: the twenty one deadline? You mentioned Javier Asad last night 146 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 2: or a previous show of guy who sort of looks 147 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: like he's wearing down, and that I think is gonna 148 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,719 Speaker 2: be interesting because the Cubs are very good at kind 149 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 2: of talking up their pitching and their depth and kind 150 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: of popping guys onto the radar, But how many are 151 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: gonna stick the way that to his credit, Mark Lighter 152 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 2: Junior did for years. He was just kind of a 153 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 2: guy off the scrap heap who really made himself into 154 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: a guy that the Yankees wanted in a World Series 155 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: or bust year, Like who who is going to emerge 156 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 2: from this? As the Cubs manage the innings over the 157 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: last two months. 158 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and these injuries have lingered too. I mean, each 159 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: one of them has been like, we're not that concerned 160 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: outside of Lighter, outside of Lighter who they said they 161 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 1: weren't concerned, and they were right. Every single one has 162 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: been worse than expected. Yan Ti Almonte was supposed to 163 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: be a minimum stay turns into surgery. Hayden Wisnewsky is delayed. 164 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: I don't think it's serious yet, but it's not a 165 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: minimum stay. Wish al Zai well AlSi yeah, that was 166 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: that that became more serious. 167 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: Ben Brown. So we got good good news on this. 168 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: Right right, right, and here we are still like what 169 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: it's like Bullpens right as he faced live hitters. Is 170 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: he like none of that stuff has happened. It's it's 171 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: it's taking it's taking a lot longer for these guys 172 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: to come back. And I understand you don't. I'm not 173 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: saying they should be rushing them. I'm just saying these 174 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: injuries are keeping us from getting information keeping more importantly, 175 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: Jed Hoyer from getting information that is really important for 176 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: him to be able to do his job in the winter. 177 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: He needs nearly a full two months to see what 178 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: these guys are there. They're not going to be back 179 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: until earliest mid August. I think both of them, if 180 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: it'll say on when they're eligible to return, right, I 181 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: think both of them, like Wix and Brown, are like 182 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: mid August. So this is this is a problem for 183 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: them where where they need they need more information from 184 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: these guys and and to have some sort of idea 185 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: of what they can be. And even then, we saw 186 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: it with Steel in twenty twenty two, right, that's when 187 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: they put them in the rotation. It took them a 188 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: month and a half to become a decent starter. I 189 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: remember there was talk of like this, should he be 190 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: removed from the rotation? And and obviously they they stuck 191 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: with them. I mean, that was a perfect season to 192 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: to kind of do that. Do you have that kind 193 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: of patience anymore? Can you afford to have that type 194 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: of patience? So it's it's really not no. 195 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 2: Shot. 196 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, So so they gotta they gotta see what 197 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: they have with these guys over the next two months. 198 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I think some young guys, I'm 199 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: very curious, like with the with the with the prospects, 200 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: who they're going to be aggressive with, who they who 201 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: they actually call up, if anyone, And and the three 202 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: names that I'm going to go back to are So 203 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: Canario are our buddy, Jesse Rodgers. Uh, he's not going 204 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: to get his Canario wish. I think he reported Canario 205 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: was out six weeks with his hamstring injury. Uh, so 206 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: that's that's a problem there. H Owen, Casey, Moyses, Bia Steros, 207 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: and Matt Shaw. Matt Shaw's destroying Double A. I would 208 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 1: think that Triple A is is close, right, Yeah, I don't. 209 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if that means the big leagues is 210 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: in his future in September because right the season, the 211 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 1: Triple A season is longer now and it goes deeper 212 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: into September than it used to and as well, right right, 213 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: I mean, if they if they think it's worthwhile to 214 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 1: get him up and get some time, then then they 215 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: do that. But I think he's the longest shot of 216 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: that three Moises bid the stairs has like a league 217 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: average ops at Triple A right now. He got off 218 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: really hot he's cool down. Uh. And this is what happens. 219 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: This is the point of not just like a hot 220 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: two week stretch saying call the guy up. And I 221 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: know everybody wants to do that, but like he's going 222 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: to he needs to get back to hitting the ball 223 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: hard and and and get that ops back up. And 224 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 1: I'm not this isn't me voicing concern about him. It's 225 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 1: just like he hit a tiny rut and now he's 226 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: league average instead of destroying the league, Owen case He's 227 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: done that. He's he's gone through the tiny ruts. He's gone. 228 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 1: He's he's hit uh. He's been in Triple A all 229 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: season and and he's hit like uh lottwle points and 230 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: and he's worked through them. And I think if there's 231 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: any one of that three, I think it'd be interesting 232 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: to see Owen Casey up in the big leagues. It's 233 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 1: some point this season his numbers aren't completely destroying Triple A. Uh. 234 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: But but they've they've consistently pushed him throughout his time 235 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: with the Cubs. They've been aggressive with assignments. They have 236 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: trusted that he can handle failure and pushed through it 237 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: mentally and and make the adjustments they've done that. I'm 238 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: sure you talked to the kid in spring training. I 239 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: did as well. Very confident in himself, carries himself with 240 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: a high like he has very high expectations, and he 241 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: carries himself in a way that I can do this. 242 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: I remember I asked him. He's like, is there any 243 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: one hitting coach that you that did point two that 244 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: that's helped you a lot? He's like, they're all great, 245 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: They're they're all really good. He's like, but but everything 246 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: I've accomplished, it's me and and and I love that. 247 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: And yeah, I mean it's not it's he's not ripping 248 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: the hitting coaches. They they guide him, they give him advice, 249 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: but he's putting in the work. He's doing it all. 250 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: And that's how the mentality you have to have, like 251 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: I I can do this, this is me. This is 252 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: this is how I get here. And that's fine, Like, yeah, 253 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: you have help along the way, but but this is 254 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: you have to be confident in this. In sports, right, 255 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: you have to have this. Uh I'm unbeatable mentality. Uh 256 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: otherwise this game, especially baseball, will wear you down. I 257 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: I'd like to see him at some point. I think 258 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: you I think of those three that I mentioned of 259 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: the position players of the quote unquote impactful prospects. Uh 260 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: you know, I'm sure there's depth pieces that are that 261 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: are worth a look, that could help the bench or 262 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: something like that. I think that's the guy you have 263 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: to look at, a lefty power bat. You know, that's 264 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: that's interesting on its own. Uh so, oh, in case 265 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: he has elite exit velocities things like that, if you 266 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: want to nerd out on that stuff. Uh, but it's 267 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: a he's an intriguing He's an intriguing player that could 268 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: give some answer for next year, have some impact. I mean, 269 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: what if he's a thirty homer rookie next year? You 270 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: take that right, And I don't think that's crazy when 271 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: you have that type of power, or if he has fifty, 272 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: it's but that's a type of surprise they need. 273 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: Right Cubs prospects home runs next season. The expectations that 274 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: await young Owen. 275 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, now I've put two high expectations. I'm not sure 276 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: if he's even had twenty in the minors. Jeez, that 277 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: was unfair. Uh So, yeah, no, that though, I'm curious 278 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: about the prospect he's a he had twenty two last 279 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: year at double A. So so uh, putting putting putting 280 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: thirty thirty on him for his rookie season in the 281 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: big leagues is probably a little unfair. 282 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 2: Well, I don't see him on the forty man, but 283 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: i'd imagine he may have to be added this offseason. 284 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure. I'm ninety nine percent sure. 285 00:16:58,280 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 2: But I mean, either way, you're hitting like that, a 286 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 2: triple like it. It's not as if the Cubs offense 287 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 2: is firing on all cylinders to such an extent that 288 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 2: there's absolutely no room for anyone else to make their 289 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 2: way in there. And yeah, I do think I think 290 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: that's good context on Moises and Shaw. Hard to see 291 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 2: them like forcing guys onto forty man at this point. 292 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 2: I think that's been I think one of the underwhelming 293 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: parts of this year, to be honest, Like for as, 294 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 2: I mean, you SHOWEDA and Michael Bush are two of 295 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 2: the best rookies in the National League, no doubt that's 296 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 2: super important. But in terms of like other kind of 297 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,959 Speaker 2: young guys coming up, like nothing that really kind of 298 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: blew us away this year. And we'll see what changes 299 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 2: over the final two months. And you know, I I 300 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 2: want to see. I'm curious how Craig Counsel kind of 301 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 2: takes in these last two months, Like what are we 302 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 2: gonna learn about him during this He hasn't really changed 303 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: all that much. But our buddy Jesse Rodgers when he 304 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 2: was on while you were on vacation recently sat but 305 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 2: he had a good way of putting. He said he 306 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 2: felt that Council has been in kind of observation mode 307 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 2: as kind of a to get everything in not overreact. 308 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 2: And you know, we we're just talking about injuries. I 309 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 2: think that is part of a larger conversation of like 310 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 2: baseball operations and what Craig Council wants done here. I'm 311 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: not blaming trainers, I'm not blaming coaches, but like when 312 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 2: a team has underperformed to this degree, I think almost 313 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: everything is on the table, right. I mean, it's been 314 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 2: such a weird confluence of events. I was talking to 315 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 2: a long time baseball official recently who said, you know, 316 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 2: in his experience, like the one truism was well, if 317 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: you've got a good rotation, you've got a chance. 318 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: Right. 319 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 2: I mean that's kind of like a fundamental thing that 320 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 2: has not come true this year at all. And to 321 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: see this team in last place on the last day 322 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: of July with some awesome pitchers, some some pretty good 323 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 2: depth is kind of mind boggling. And that's why I 324 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: think we'll be kind of covering a lot of these 325 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 2: Like you know, what's the internal shuffling or shake up 326 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 2: going to be. That's something that I don't think we're 327 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 2: going to get, you know, in August, but I do 328 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: think that's something that's going to have to be on 329 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 2: our radar here very soon. Yeah. 330 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:55,959 Speaker 1: No, I agree with Jesse on the observation mode that comment. 331 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: I think that's I think that's accurate. Like I think 332 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: he is taking a lot in and and I think 333 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: that's important. Now. I think some things have changed the 334 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: way baseball is allows. Uh. Front offices don't like when 335 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: someone leaves for another org. They don't like people being 336 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: taken from their org. It's like one guy can come 337 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: and that's it. Yeh. And it used to be like 338 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: you have a year, uh and then and then you 339 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: can maybe take more guys. Now it's longer, like I'm 340 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,959 Speaker 1: pretty sure like uh like there was some agreement that 341 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: Carter Hawkins couldn't pull guys from the Guardians for multiple years. Uh, 342 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: there's like it. I'm pretty sure something is similar with 343 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: Milwaukee in council. I don't think he can unless it's 344 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:48,360 Speaker 1: a very clear upgrade, like very clear promotion, things like that. 345 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: It's hard to get guys to come from the previous 346 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: organization there. There's a lot of it's just like I'm 347 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: not sure if it's formal or as much as just 348 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: like really frowned upon and and it'll call issues, but 349 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: it's hard to pry guys away nowadays. It's not how 350 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: it used to be unless they're just like, yeah, take 351 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: whoever you want, right. 352 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 2: Well, I think the difference might have been I'm sure 353 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 2: Carter has a condition for interviewing for a clear promotion. 354 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:16,719 Speaker 2: Maybe there were some sort of thing, but counsel as 355 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 2: a free agent. I think it was more Milwaukee was 356 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 2: really chapped at how that all went. They seemed to 357 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: make an effort to snap up all those coaches and 358 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: make sure they were there for the press conference when 359 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: Pat Murphy was elevated. So I think I think you're right, 360 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 2: But I am curious to see what happens there because 361 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 2: this is largely not Greig's coaching staff, and I think 362 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 2: there are lots of talent on that staff who've done 363 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 2: good things, and you can make the case for a 364 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 2: lot of retentions, but for the most part, you had 365 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 2: a coaching staff that was signed up to work with 366 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 2: David Ross this year. Like for the most part, it's 367 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 2: kind of like an end of October contract cycle. Like 368 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 2: there are guys it was supposed to be David Ross's 369 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 2: half right, right, right, He's fired a couple of days later, 370 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 2: and then Council's kind of coming in. He got one 371 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 2: or two guys in that are you know, his sort 372 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 2: of hires, and they had made some changes before the 373 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 2: Ross council switch went down. But yeah, like, how how 374 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 2: is counsel going to make his mark on this team? 375 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: Because yeah, any so there's a so I think, like 376 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: I think how to be's safe, right, pitching has been 377 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,199 Speaker 1: good and and he's highly respected liked by players, And 378 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 1: I think I don't want to make assumptions, right because 379 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: like these other types of things, But but that seems 380 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: like someone that's safe Council has often goes out of 381 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: his way to praise Ryan Flaherty. This is a new relationship. 382 00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: This is a guy that he wasn't with uh previous 383 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: uh and now and now is honest staff and and 384 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: I think Flaherty it has had a positive impact in 385 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: certain ways. But also we just don't know, uh what 386 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: his future holds because he wants to be a manager, 387 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: Like I think that's obvious, So who knows if he 388 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: moves on, I think pretty much everything else, it's just like, 389 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm not going to make any assumptions. 390 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 1: The offense has been bad enough that we have to 391 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: wonder what happens on the coaching staff because just it's 392 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: just the reality of baseball. Do I think it's fair. 393 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: Do I think it's the right move? I don't know. Yeah, 394 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: just like it's just it's it's not it's not always fair. 395 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 1: That's just the way the way it is. As far 396 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: as I think it's important to take in what council 397 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: has to say. We've talked a lot about Milwaukee and 398 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: that organization. It is a good, strong, well run organization. 399 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: He has been a part of it for over a decade. 400 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: He has seen how things work. It is really important 401 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: if he sees things that maybe they're not awful, but 402 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: he's like, I think this can be run better. I think, 403 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: you know, here are the types of moves I think 404 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: we can make Here are the types of changes and 405 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: player development and and you know, strength and conditioning, with 406 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: the training staff, with the coaching staff, whatever whatever it 407 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: may be. These are the places that he has expertise in. 408 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: These are the places he's observed, these, these are the 409 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: areas that he has uh, you know, experience with with 410 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: a successful organization. Why would you not take his opinion 411 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: and and weigh heavily, Like there are a few organizations 412 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: that stand out in baseball that aren't doing it just 413 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: purely with money, and Milwaukee is one of them, right, 414 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: so you have to respect it. You have to listen 415 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: to him. There's a reason you didn't. Didn't he say, like, 416 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 1: don't hire me if you just don't, you know, don't 417 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: need to to run a bullpen. So there's more here. 418 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: He has more to give to this organization. I think. 419 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 1: I think that's a that's spot on. I think this 420 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: one is huge, and I think I'm seeing signs of 421 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: better things. Offensively, results aren't fully there, but I feel 422 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: like Pete grow Armstrong is looking a little calmer at 423 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: the plate. He's hitting the ball harder more often, not 424 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: swinging like it's it's only been like a week of that. 425 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: But but but it just looks so much better because 426 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: there was a point in time with a week ago 427 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: where where I was like, come on, you have to 428 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: settle down at the plate. You cannot try and swing 429 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: for the fences. You cannot swing at every pitch. It's 430 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: a little calmer, it's a it seems like he's like, 431 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: hopefully these next two months we get it. He doesn't 432 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: have to rip the cover off the ball. If he 433 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: is a league average hitter with that defense, that is 434 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: a special player. That is a player that's going to 435 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: help you win a lot of games. So I want 436 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: to see comrace bats. I want to see the line drives. Yesterday. 437 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: I want to say, like, uh, hard ground ball up 438 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: the middle and Ellie Daala Cruz was there, right, Pete. 439 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: Pete probably wanted to hit on that one. A few 440 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: hard line drives. There was one that I was kind 441 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 1: of writing at the time and half paying attention, and 442 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: I saw Boog's voice kind of elevated, and I thought 443 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:28,919 Speaker 1: I thought he had hit a home run, but but 444 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 1: it was just driven uh to the to the warning track. 445 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: But uh, but but yeah, I want to see I 446 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: want to see more of that, just how many stadiums 447 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: would that have been we got. I think that's zero. 448 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: That was zero if it's not a home run in 449 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: Cincinnati or probably not getting in many other places. I 450 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: just think it's so important to see quality at bats 451 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: from him. I don't even need to see elite results. 452 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: I'd like to see some results, but I don't need 453 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: him to like be fifty points above league average. I 454 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 1: need I need a quality at bats, not swinging out 455 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: of his shoes, not chasing every slider down and in. 456 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: I actually think he's been better against when it comes 457 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: to chasing the fastball up. But that's those sliders, my lord, 458 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: he's got, Like just if he can lay off those 459 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: and start swinging at strikes and putting them in play hard, 460 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: I think that's a step forward, and that makes you 461 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: feel better about next season. With regards to Peter Armstrong. 462 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we had I think pre show we had 463 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 2: talked about building towards this that. I think obviously Jed 464 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 2: Hoyer is going to be a huge focus, even more 465 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 2: than he normally is. And it's hard to gauge the 466 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 2: things off of zoom, but he seemed pretty relaxed and 467 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 2: calm and not at all defensive I think the Paradeus 468 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 2: trade helps in that regard. If you remember from twenty one, 469 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 2: just how like frazzled he was. I think our buddy 470 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 2: Paul Sullivan abscribed him looking like like as a hostage 471 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 2: video or something like that. Coule days and had very 472 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 2: little sleep, Like he seemed pretty relaxed less and rested 473 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 2: relatively speaking here and look, the team is not good. 474 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 2: It's the team he assembled, So certainly he's gonna be 475 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 2: feeling a lot of heat even internally. Like, as we've 476 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 2: said before, the Cubs don't spend to the nth degree, 477 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 2: and we both think they could do more in that regard, 478 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 2: but this has been a sufficient role to go win 479 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 2: a division, this division, at least certainly when you look 480 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 2: at what other teams are doing across the league, and 481 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,959 Speaker 2: I think it's an issue when you see like certain 482 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 2: teams kind of coming on, like you know, David Stearns 483 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 2: came in and you know, signed a couple like short 484 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 2: term guys and like kind of helped get the Mets 485 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 2: back in it when they were looking like they were 486 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 2: sellers early on. You see kind of how the pubs 487 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 2: are drifting towards that Giants territory where it's kind of 488 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 2: like just in the middle with like pieces and kind 489 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 2: of stuck, not very dynamic, but not bottoming out like 490 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 2: it's in and where there's a lot of heat on 491 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 2: that group in San Francisco. And so maybe I am 492 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 2: too close to this. I feel like the circumstances in 493 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: which Jed took over this job, I think we're extremely difficult. 494 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 2: It looks really bad and when Pete Crow is kind 495 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: of the only guy from that twenty one selloff on 496 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 2: our radar screens right now. And like we said, maybe 497 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 2: Al Kantara changes that over time, but like the way 498 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 2: this team is built, the way it's shown out this 499 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 2: year just does not look good. There's not a whole 500 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 2: lot of like faith and trust right now, just from 501 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 2: our interactions or you know, on social media, the comment section, 502 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 2: just people coming up to us during our everyday life. 503 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 2: Like the Cubs are not the same thing that they were, 504 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 2: you know, just yeah, the buzz, the energy. They still 505 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 2: get forty thousand at Wrigley and it's a great place 506 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 2: to spend an afternoon and like them, not terrible, but 507 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 2: in terms of like like oh wow, you got to 508 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 2: see this Cubs player, Like oh did you see this 509 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 2: last night in the Cubs game, or oh, man, I 510 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 2: can't wait until this matchup whatever, Like there hasn't been 511 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 2: nearly enough of that, and that this has gone on 512 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 2: long enough that it's gonna make it's gonna force Jet 513 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 2: out of his comfort zone. I would imagine. 514 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, I mean, I think it's undeniable. I think 515 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: we've brought it up in multiple podcasts. This is he's 516 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: on the hot seat. I don't think we have to, 517 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,719 Speaker 1: you know, tiptoe around that. There's a reason he's been 518 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: asked those questions. He I understand his answer. He can't. 519 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 1: He can't make moves with that in mind. I'm more 520 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: curious if he he agrees that he's on the hot seat. Uh, 521 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: you don't. You don't make moves with that in mind. 522 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: I get that, but you do need to have the 523 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: idea of I mean, he said it. There's a reason 524 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: he's trying to win for twenty twenty five. He's not 525 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: trying to build a deep farm system anymore. He has 526 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: that it's time to win, so he has to he 527 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: has to be thinking about twenty twenty five. There's no 528 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: long term plan unless you win now. Because yeah, that's 529 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: plan if you're not winning now. I do think that. 530 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: You know, he gets credit in my eyes for the 531 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: Paradis trade in that. I think we both agreed. We 532 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: just didn't see that type of creativity needed for that. 533 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,240 Speaker 1: We weren't expecting him to pull off a creative move 534 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: like that. I think that's more of that is what's needed. 535 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: It needs to happen. I think he's well aware of that. 536 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: I think he was aggressive to try and do more 537 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: of that this deadline. He couldn't pull off more, but 538 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: I think he had. He had he wanted more young 539 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: talent that could help the team. Now that has shown 540 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 1: they could help teams, right, he's looking for that. I 541 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: think that's going to be his focus this winter. We 542 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: will see how much money they spend. I do think 543 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: these next two months are going to dictate some of that. Unfortunately, 544 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 1: it can help, Yeah, I think yeah. I just I 545 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: think it's a bad way to go about business as 546 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 1: far as ownership goes, Like, well, we only won seventy 547 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: five games. I'm not spending a ton of money to 548 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: make us an eighty win team. If we win eighty 549 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: two games, I'll spend more money to make us an 550 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 1: eighty eight win team. I don't like that thinking. I 551 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: think you need to get your payroll to a certain 552 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: level at all times and then and then you need 553 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: to be aggressive when when moments call for it and 554 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 1: when opportunities arise. You can't just say like, well this 555 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: is this is like what's the point then when you're 556 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: selling your fans short? And I just don't it doesn't 557 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 1: make sense because the argument coming off two thousand eighteen 558 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, the argument coming off twenty eighteen is we 559 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 1: won ninety five games, why do I need to spend money? 560 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: So what is it? You know? Like either way, so 561 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 1: you don't spend money when you lose games, you don't 562 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,759 Speaker 1: spend money when you win too many games, Like what's 563 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: the sweet spot to spend money only when you win 564 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,839 Speaker 1: eighty three games? And they didn't even spend that much 565 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 1: money this past offseason. So I hope that's not how 566 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: it plays out, because that would be unfortunate for the 567 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 1: fan base. But it's obvious that that's a big storyline 568 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: over the next two months, and it'll likely be over 569 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 1: the over the winter. Because I don't think when I 570 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: say he's on the hot seat, I don't think he's 571 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: getting fired after this season. It would be weird to 572 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: allow him to trade someone like Christopher Morrell to go 573 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: out and acquire esopparatus and then fire. I mean maybe 574 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:08,960 Speaker 1: maybe it still happens. Maybe, but I just don't it 575 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: just like. 576 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,479 Speaker 2: He's done largely what ownership wants. Not it hasn't checked 577 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:17,319 Speaker 2: every single box, but in terms of the plan that 578 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 2: was agreed to, like this is sort of what they want. 579 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,480 Speaker 2: It hasn't come to fruition. 580 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: This season. 581 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 2: But when you talk about creative, the Michael Bush trade 582 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:32,319 Speaker 2: is another good example of like you can stack up 583 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 2: a couple more like that and tighten up some areas. 584 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:43,760 Speaker 2: And I don't know, I think after the trade deadline, 585 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 2: my brain is kind of like turning off and kind 586 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:49,600 Speaker 2: of conjuring up all these different scenarios. 587 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 1: I don't know. 588 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:52,880 Speaker 2: It makes me think of what THEO said, like, you know, 589 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,359 Speaker 2: we just need to be right, like to win. Like 590 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 2: that is just sometimes that is kind of a very 591 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 2: counsel like view of just trying to put things in 592 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 2: the most like simple terms, And I think it very 593 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 2: much relates to this situation here. 594 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: YEP. I totally agree more creativity and and be right 595 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 1: with those decisions. That's that's Jed's task going forward. He 596 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:22,719 Speaker 1: has two months to evaluate this team. I think it 597 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,160 Speaker 1: may give him some answers, but I don't think it's 598 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,399 Speaker 1: going to drastically change a lot of what he needs 599 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 1: to do. He knows what he needs to do. He 600 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: just needs a little more information to feel comfortable in 601 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:36,320 Speaker 1: some areas. Otherwise he has He has a daunting task 602 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: because he has to. There's no more patients. Patients ran 603 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 1: out for fans a while ago. But for the people 604 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,839 Speaker 1: that are making the decisions, I think they're they're they're 605 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 1: ready to They're like, you know, it's time to put 606 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: up or shut up. Uh, and it's time to deliver wins. Uh. 607 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,399 Speaker 1: This is a team that, you know, one of the 608 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: most money making franchises in sports, that they need to 609 00:36:57,280 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 1: start winning games. They can't, It can't be. What is 610 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,799 Speaker 1: it now? We're running on five years two thousand and eight, 611 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 1: six years since a full season with playoffs and since 612 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen since a playoff win. Yeah. Not that doesn't work. 613 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: That that's not acceptable. So they gotta they gotta get 614 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,399 Speaker 1: back on track and figure things out. That's the task 615 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: at hand, all right, that's North side territory. Thanks for 616 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,920 Speaker 1: listening to everyone. Make sure too great reviews, subscribe to 617 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: this podcast, and make sure to subscribe to The Athletic, 618 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 1: where Patrick and I will be covering the Cups and 619 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 1: on top of all those topics for you for the 620 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 1: final two months of the season and obviously a critical offseason. 621 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,280 Speaker 1: Yet again, thanks so much for listening. Take care everyone,