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Speaker 1: What kind of role is Kyle Hendrick's gonna have here,

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Speaker 1: like out of the bullpen. I just don't buy that

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Speaker 1: if you can impact this team there.

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Speaker 2: Welcome into north Side Territory.

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Speaker 1: I'm your host, Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney.

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Speaker 1: We both cover the Cubs for the Athletic and we're

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Speaker 1: here with you in the File Territory Network to talk Cubs.

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Speaker 1: Patrick rough weekend against the Pirates. The Cubs take the

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Speaker 1: first of three against Atlanta, but the big news was

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Speaker 1: given to us in pregame. Kyle Hendricks is out of

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Speaker 1: the rotation for the foreseeable future, at least for this series.

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Speaker 2: We'll see.

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Speaker 1: The goal is to get him back in the rotation.

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Speaker 1: Craig Council is very straightforward about these things. This isn't

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Speaker 1: the end of Kyle Hendrick's career. This isn't He's not

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Speaker 1: being buried, but he is a bullpen arm right now.

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Speaker 1: It's a It's one of those things that I think

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Speaker 1: we all kind of saw coming. I think we all

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Speaker 1: kind of saw that this wasn't working, but it's still

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Speaker 1: a little surreal to kind of accept that, Okay, Kyle

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Speaker 1: Hendricks is in a starting pitcher at the moment, and

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Speaker 1: they're actually going to use him in the bullpen.

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Speaker 3: Yeah.

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Speaker 4: I loved your lead to your story, and we're definitely

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Speaker 4: not going to get in the habit of just reading

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Speaker 4: sentences from the Athletic. But I loved how you sum

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Speaker 4: this up of when naming the most important and impactful

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Speaker 4: pictures in Cubs history, it probably wouldn't take too long

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Speaker 4: to get to Kyle Hendrix. I think that sums everything up,

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Speaker 4: like I would probably put John Lester and Jake Arietta

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Speaker 4: just slightly ahead of him. But right in that conversation

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Speaker 4: you got Greg Maddox and Fergie Jenkins as just Hall

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Speaker 4: of famers, just enormous bulk stats, but they don't have

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Speaker 4: twenty sixteen and obviously they'd done they did a lot

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Speaker 4: of stuff for other teams, and then I don't know,

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Speaker 4: we weren't.

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Speaker 3: Around for Mordecai Brown.

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Speaker 4: We covered, you know, the Cubs for long time, and

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Speaker 4: then you know, certainly I would say below Kyle respectfully,

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Speaker 4: with all due respect. You can say whatever you want

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Speaker 4: after that, but you have the Rick Stuttcliffe's, the carry Woods,

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Speaker 4: the Carlos Sombranos. I think Kyle's, you know, but you

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Speaker 4: can probably you know, count on one hand the pictures

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Speaker 4: you would put in front of Kyle, which is crazy

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Speaker 4: to think about when I think you referred to him

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Speaker 4: as the secondary piece in the riot answer train, and

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Speaker 4: that very much was how the Cubs absorbed him into

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Speaker 4: their system.

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Speaker 1: Yeah it was, was it Christian Villanueva, Yes, yes, he

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Speaker 1: remember that start he had for the Padres, that that

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Speaker 1: one season, that that April I believe, I can't remember

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Speaker 1: what year it was, but it was like, oh no,

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Speaker 1: did the Cubs get rid of this guy too?

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Speaker 4: Crli drag it down, Jed and the Okay, why did

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Speaker 4: you give up this?

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Speaker 3: Well, we got a pretty good third basement.

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Speaker 2: Don't worry. It's funny.

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Speaker 1: There's I mean, people are gonna want to reminisce right

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Speaker 1: at some point about Kyle Hendrix. But Jed Hoyer was

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Speaker 1: like he started to and then he was like, you

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Speaker 1: know what, I don't want to talk about him, like

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Speaker 1: it's in the past, like it's not done, and you

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Speaker 1: know what, like there are times this happens a lot,

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Speaker 1: and I know it feels like this is silly to

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Speaker 1: even say, but I wouldn't just rule out that he

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Speaker 1: bounces back. Maybe not for the Cubs, right, but like

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Speaker 1: he could put together quality seasons in the future. I

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Speaker 1: remember David Ortiz in twenty ten saying, this guy's career

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Speaker 1: is done, right, and then he went and got I

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Speaker 1: think he got two more rings after that, right. I

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Speaker 1: remember C C. Sabathia like maybe five years before his

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Speaker 1: career was done. It seemed like he was cooked. There

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Speaker 1: are great players have awful moments, awful stretches as very

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Speaker 1: well could be the end for Kyle Hendrix as far

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Speaker 1: as being a productive player in the Major League, especially

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Speaker 1: as a starter. I just I don't like putting finality

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Speaker 1: on something until it's it's truly done. I don't think

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Speaker 1: it like with Jake Arietta, it kind of felt like, yeah,

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Speaker 1: this this was already leading.

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Speaker 2: Yeah right.

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Speaker 1: It wasn't like he had put together a good season

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Speaker 1: in the very recent past. Right, Does it feel like

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Speaker 1: watching Kyle Hendricks like, I'm not sure how this is

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Speaker 1: gonna work. Sure, absolutely, I'm not gonna deny what our

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Speaker 1: eyes are telling us, right, I just I'm not going

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Speaker 1: to rule out that he has a bounce back or

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Speaker 1: or or performs at a at a relatively high level

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Speaker 1: again sometime in the future.

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Speaker 2: Here.

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Speaker 1: Here's the thing, Patrick, I don't know how you felt

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Speaker 1: after we left that that that pregame presser with with Counsel,

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Speaker 1: But I was like, what kind of role is Kyle

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Speaker 1: Hendricks gonna have here?

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Speaker 2: Like out of the bullpen?

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Speaker 1: I just don't buy that he he can he can

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Speaker 1: impact this team there. And I think maybe I was

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Speaker 1: rushing to judgment there or being too emotional about it, right,

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Speaker 1: because you know, Jed was pretty clear this guy first

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Speaker 1: time through the order like there's some success there. Talking

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Speaker 1: to some people around the team. It didn't seem like

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Speaker 1: he was being buried and he's purely mop up duty.

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Speaker 1: The reality is the bullpen isn't good enough to do that.

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Speaker 1: You can't just say like I have, like Craig Counsel

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Speaker 1: has these six options ahead of Kyle Hendricks. He has

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Speaker 1: to find out what he can do. Because I did

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Speaker 1: look up the numbers. He was dreadful in Texas, right,

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Speaker 1: But even with that first time through the order, it's

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Speaker 1: like a it's just a little worse than league average,

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Speaker 1: like a seven something OPS, right, but first time through

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Speaker 1: after that Texas game is below seven hundred OPS. Good

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Speaker 1: strikeout rate, good walk rate. I don't think he's going

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Speaker 1: to be facing nine hitters. I think Council is going

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Speaker 1: to be looking for him to get sick south maybe

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Speaker 1: uh here and there. He's going to put him up

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Speaker 1: against the you know, six through eight hitter or something

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Speaker 1: like that. Right, He's not going to have them face

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Speaker 1: the heart of the order. He's not going to have

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Speaker 1: them face their best lefties. I mean he's a smart

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Speaker 1: he's a smart manager, and he knows matchups, and he's

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Speaker 1: going to find matchups for him. He's going to find

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Speaker 1: his pocket, right.

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Speaker 4: No, I think, uh, I mean, look what Mark letter

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Speaker 4: Junior's done, right, I mean he was not the starter

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Speaker 4: that Kyle Hendricks was. You know, maybe if everyone was

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Speaker 4: healthy and firing on all cylinders, this would be a

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Speaker 4: much more different conversation.

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Speaker 3: But they're not.

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Speaker 4: I mean, Porter Hodge, you know, it has a lot

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Speaker 4: of potential, but Council was pretty clear of like, this

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Speaker 4: is fast for him.

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Speaker 3: He needs innings, and by innings.

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Speaker 4: E thinks it certainly sounded like he thinks he needs

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Speaker 4: innings at a like not. I don't think he hasn't

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Speaker 4: pitched yet out of the cubs of bullpen.

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Speaker 2: Right.

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Speaker 3: So the other part too, is like Charlie Morton on

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Speaker 3: the mound for the Braves last night, Like that was.

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Speaker 4: A guy not that long ago that Kyle could look

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Speaker 4: at of like, oh he.

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Speaker 3: Had this rolling one year deal with the Braves, Like

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Speaker 3: he kind of reinvented himself.

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Speaker 4: He just kept kept going. You know, the younger pitchers

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Speaker 4: love having him around. He's reliable, big game experience, and

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Speaker 4: you know there's probably a conversation for down the road

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Speaker 4: of like, you know, would a different set of eyes,

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Speaker 4: you know, help Kyle, Like would just a kind of

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Speaker 4: a reboot somewhere else, kind of like how I remember

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Speaker 4: asking him this a couple of years ago, like how

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Speaker 4: Cole Hamill's came to the Cubs and you know kind

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Speaker 4: of just found this second life and kind of caught

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Speaker 4: caught fire for a couple of months there.

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Speaker 3: But for now.

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Speaker 4: I was surprised too when we were talking to the

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Speaker 4: dug out last night. You had done some reporting, and

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Speaker 4: you know, I think once we get that initial burst

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Speaker 4: of news, it's like, oh man, he's buried, he's mop

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Speaker 4: up duty, and it's like a countdown until he's done.

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Speaker 4: But you look at the other names in that bullpen,

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Speaker 4: like how many of them are you gonna trust? In

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Speaker 4: big moments against good hitters. There's a lot more doubt

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Speaker 4: now around Kyle Hendricks, but he's certainly proven it for

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Speaker 4: a really long time.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, this bullpen is is an issue, right,

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Speaker 1: it's not. There's just so little you can point to

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Speaker 1: at the moment and say this guy is really trustworthy.

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Speaker 1: So there's almost no reason not to give Kyle Hendricks

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Speaker 1: a shot and see what he can do. I understand

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Speaker 1: the hesitancy of some fans. It's not your prototypical bullpen arm.

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Speaker 1: He's been a starter throughout his career outside of one

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Speaker 1: relief appearance right before the All Star Break in twenty sixteen.

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Speaker 1: And then I think he came out of the bullpen

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Speaker 1: at some point in a playoff game, maybe the Wildcard

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Speaker 1: game against the Rock. That sounds about right, Okay, And

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Speaker 1: that's it. And but you know what, I think, I

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Speaker 1: think he can handle it. I don't think there's any

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Speaker 1: doubt in my mind mentally and physically he can handle it,

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Speaker 1: like he can prepare for it properly. We'll see how

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Speaker 1: often he can be used. You don't You don't want

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Speaker 1: your bullpen with too many guys that can't be used

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Speaker 1: that often, right, Like if you have if you have

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Speaker 1: multiple pitchers in there that are down, that that are

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Speaker 1: down for like three or four days after they're used,

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Speaker 1: that's gonna be a problem. You can barely do it

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Speaker 1: with one, right. Yeah, And we saw where we're recording

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Speaker 1: this on a what day, Saday, Wednesday?

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Speaker 2: This morning? Tuesday night.

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Speaker 1: They you know, Javier assad only went four and two

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Speaker 1: thirds innings. It was a ten inning game. Council had

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Speaker 1: to use I believe five relievers. They pitched great. You know,

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Speaker 1: the bullpen is the reason the Cubs won that game probably, right.

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Speaker 1: I mean the sod Battle didn't have his best stuff,

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Speaker 1: Battled kept them in it, and then the bullpen shut

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Speaker 1: down a Braves offense that I guess isn't as good

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Speaker 1: as we all expected to be so far this season. So,

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Speaker 1: you know, a brief moment, some brief moments here of

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Speaker 1: like okay, what do they have with the bullpen, right?

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Speaker 1: And and what can they do with Kyle Hendrix to

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Speaker 1: help them maybe maybe not solidified, but at least fortify

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Speaker 1: for a little bit this group.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think we could probably segue into the

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Speaker 4: Craig Council method here of you know, you hear things

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Speaker 4: at the introductory press conference when everything is amazing, and

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Speaker 4: then it's spring training in Arizona.

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Speaker 3: It's super relaxed.

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Speaker 4: Like you know, nowhere else you'd rather be that time

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Speaker 4: of year, and then the season starts and like, what

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Speaker 4: like half your pitching staff is on the injured list

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Speaker 4: whatever was it? Sixteen players I think, including position guys

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Speaker 4: since the start of the year, And okay, now we

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Speaker 4: find out a little more about like how Craig Council thinks.

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Speaker 4: And it's like one thing to say in Mesa, like

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Speaker 4: we pieced together twenty seven outs, and then you actually

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Speaker 4: see them do it game after game and you're like, okay,

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Speaker 4: and you were on this from the start. This idea

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Speaker 4: of like Council has a lot of credibility because it

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Speaker 4: worked in Milwaukee. And I don't know if whatever, ten

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Speaker 4: years ago, as a rookie manager, he could come into

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Speaker 4: Wrigley Field and done it this way. I mean, he's

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Speaker 4: certainly an accomplished manager, a smart guy, very good communicator.

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Speaker 3: Maybe it would have worked.

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Speaker 4: But at this moment he has just a ton of

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Speaker 4: credibility and if you ask players at Ben Brown, Haydden, Wiznsky,

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Speaker 4: We've written about this on the athletic. They're like, this

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Speaker 4: guy's won a lot of games, Like so you listen

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Speaker 4: to him, like he tells you where to go, and

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Speaker 4: you go there. And that is a big part of

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Speaker 4: this year with Kyle Hendrix of like we don't know

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Speaker 4: if it's gonna work, if if Kyle's gonna be able

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Speaker 4: to execute in those moments, but Council is going to

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Speaker 4: find those pockets, as you say, to see if if

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Speaker 4: he can make this work. And this really is a

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Speaker 4: day to day thing, and this trend has been building

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Speaker 4: for a long time. But I think any traditional baseball fan,

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Speaker 4: you know, we've had a lot of stories about this

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Speaker 4: sun the athletic, like the traditional starting pitcher matchup and

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Speaker 4: how that's kind of fading away a little bit, and

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Speaker 4: then the Areata Lester Hendricks Lackey Championship era. Then bring

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Speaker 4: in Cole Hammils and you darvish like that's kind of

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Speaker 4: how our brains are wired. But you know, counsel and

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Speaker 4: those coaches who show up, you know, hours and hours

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Speaker 4: before first pitch studying video getting their plans together. It

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Speaker 4: is very much in the moment and they have their

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Speaker 4: plan A. They hope to get a good start with

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Speaker 4: Shoda it's been awesome. Asad's been very very good. Tywne's

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Speaker 4: been very good as well. And then it's a lot

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Speaker 4: of kind of okay, well what is the other team doing?

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Speaker 4: What do we got tonight? And then it's kind of

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Speaker 4: improvising off there, and so that is something that we

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Speaker 4: just have to get used to.

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Speaker 3: Like, they're not gonna have the pitching probables.

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Speaker 4: They're probably gonna have some TBAs or tbds like regularly,

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Speaker 4: and maybe maybe things get healthy and things things sort out,

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Speaker 4: but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

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Speaker 2: Yeah.

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Speaker 1: I mean, I can't remember which GM meetings it was,

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Speaker 1: but I distinctly remember talking to Jed. It could have

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Speaker 1: been twenty eighteen, and you know, it was another playoff

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Speaker 1: run where pitchers had been used in a unique fashion

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Speaker 1: and the opener was becoming more more in vogue and

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Speaker 1: pitching like, the pitching was just really changing. And we

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Speaker 1: asked him about it, and it was basically like, I

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Speaker 1: don't see us really going I think regular season. You

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Speaker 1: still need starters, you need them to eat innings. Talk

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Speaker 1: to Jed, now, that's not how he talks about it.

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Speaker 3: No, No, you're right, you're right.

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Speaker 1: You got to figure out a way to just get

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Speaker 1: through every game and get through the season and put

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Speaker 1: it doesn't need to be five to seven starters. Obviously

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Speaker 1: it's not going to be five, but you know it

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Speaker 1: doesn't need to be seven or eight starters.

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Speaker 2: Get that put together, all those innings. It's just how many.

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Speaker 1: Pitchers can you can you accumulate over the course of

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Speaker 1: the season that can.

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Speaker 2: Get you through these things.

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Speaker 1: And I have to remind myself, you know, this is

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Speaker 1: I should have said this at the getting This is

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Speaker 1: a new podcast, right, make sure to subscribe and review

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Speaker 1: and and do all that good stuff at your wherever

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Speaker 1: you get your podcast from. But I feel like I've

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Speaker 1: said this a lot, but we haven't had the podcast,

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Speaker 1: so I haven't been saying it under but yet, like.

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Speaker 4: The press boss, your smuttering morning.

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Speaker 1: Uh, we we have to just throw out what we expect,

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Speaker 1: what we think should happen, what we cannot, like describe

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Speaker 1: our previous thoughts about pitching anymore. Craig Council is just

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Speaker 1: like you ask him questions like who what do you

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Speaker 1: what do you think about? Who are you going with

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Speaker 1: on this day? Like who you leaning towards, who's available,

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Speaker 1: who is available to him, right, Like if you would

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Speaker 1: have asked him in pregame yesterday, who are you leaning

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Speaker 1: towards for starting Thursday or beyond before Wix comes back?

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Speaker 1: Like who's filling Hendrix's spot in the rotation? He doesn't have.

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Speaker 1: I don't think he has an answer definitively. It's like

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Speaker 1: who am I using? Who am I using in these

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Speaker 1: next few days?

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Speaker 2: Right?

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Speaker 1: And and yesterday Tuesday he used with Nesky. Right, let's

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Speaker 1: see what happens Wednesday night. But if Ben Brown isn't

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Speaker 1: used tonight, I'd assume, you know, I think it's safe

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Speaker 1: to think that at least he's getting a few innings.

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Speaker 1: Maybe he maybe they go with an opener and then

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Speaker 1: switch to Ben Brown whatever, Right, But don't like starters, relievers,

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Speaker 1: set up men, closers like I think he even said

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Speaker 1: he like at one point when when al Zalai was

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Speaker 1: kind of removed from the closer's role.

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Speaker 2: Right, Uh, He's like.

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Speaker 1: Closer isn't a position, Like it's just pitcher. He's like,

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Speaker 1: I just need yeah out get it right? So, I

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Speaker 1: mean it's annoying at times. Right, It's like, man, I

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Speaker 1: just want to answer to my question.

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Speaker 2: Like he's not the closer anymore? Do you need a closer?

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Speaker 1: No, he doesn't. He needs someone to get him through

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Speaker 1: his innings and get out. However, he's going to put

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Speaker 1: that together. Like you said, he's earned the trust Ben Brown, literally,

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Speaker 1: like you wrote, study guys like Brandon Woodwrff and Corbyn

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Speaker 1: Burns how they were used. Wiznsky trusts him, the veterans

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Speaker 1: trust him.

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Speaker 2: We haven't.

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Speaker 1: Again, I feel like I've said this a bunch, but

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Speaker 1: six days, like a normal rest is four days rest.

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Speaker 1: That's not normal for Craig Counsel. It's five days rest.

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Speaker 1: Like he wants to get his starters more rest. That's

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Speaker 1: something that we need to continue to keep an eye on,

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Speaker 1: like just how he used it. I mean, it's all

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Speaker 1: gone to hell since the start of the season as

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Speaker 1: far as expecting anything traditional anyways, Right, it's just not

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Speaker 1: possible with the way things are, but even more so

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Speaker 1: with Counsel there.

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Speaker 2: And you know, I don't know how much.

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Speaker 1: Like I would in an alternate universe, I'd love to

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Speaker 1: see how another manager handles all this, right, Like I

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Speaker 1: it's like, how how much of an impact is he

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Speaker 1: having right now? How creative is he being? Like I'd

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Speaker 1: need to sit back and really look look at things.

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Speaker 1: But it does feel like at least there's a comfort

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Speaker 1: level with the players, feel a sense of comfort with

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Speaker 1: how he does things. You know, they may not agree

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Speaker 1: with every decision and not every move works out, you know,

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Speaker 1: like he pulled ti On at ninety two pitches on

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Speaker 1: Sunday and that led to.

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Speaker 2: A weird situation where you.

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Speaker 1: Know that one could argue that Tyon hadn't given up

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Speaker 1: a ton of hard contact to get him into that situation.

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Speaker 1: Another could argue that the wind probably saved him a

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Speaker 1: few runs. Right, But so so there's always there's always

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Speaker 1: going to be questions when the results don't line up.

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Speaker 1: But still I think it's it's been fascinating to fall

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Speaker 1: and watch and have him like he just doesn't have

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Speaker 1: Like I keep wondering, what's he gonna do here because

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Speaker 1: he just doesn't have enough.

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Speaker 2: But I will.

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Speaker 1: I've said this before the show to Patrick, but I

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Speaker 1: think we should give some props to Tyson Miller. This

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Speaker 1: was an afterthought of an acquisition. He's you can tell

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Speaker 1: by watching him that he's a tough at bat for Righty's.

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Speaker 2: He's faced a few lefties.

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Speaker 1: Here's what I love because the most irritating thing to

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Speaker 1: see watching a bullpen arm is seeing them walk guys.

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Speaker 1: I don't think he's walked a batter since joining the Cubs.

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Speaker 1: This is I've guaranteed jinxt him by bringing this up,

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Speaker 1: and he'll walk a guy's next outing. But he hasn't

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Speaker 1: allowed to run, hasn't walked about her looks like a

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Speaker 1: you know, at minimum, a guy that can get you out.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think you know, he was drafted in

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Speaker 4: twenty sixteen when the Cubs did not have have their

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Speaker 4: highest picks because of the free agents they signed. But

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Speaker 4: for a fourth round guy like he, he was kind

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Speaker 4: of circled and it was this idea of like, I

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Speaker 4: believe this California Baptist, which at the time was a

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Speaker 4: Division two program, and you.

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Speaker 3: Look at his his size.

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Speaker 4: And his skills, and there was some projection involved there,

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Speaker 4: and you know, at that time, it was all about

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Speaker 4: you know, we're thinking of like the core air quotes

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Speaker 4: and like, you know, who who can they build around,

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Speaker 4: who who can supplement and sometimes you just need a dude,

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Speaker 4: like a good three weeks right, and like can you

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Speaker 4: kind of find that hot streak and put him in

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Speaker 4: the right spots and just kind of get through whatever

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Speaker 4: you have to get through. And certainly he is taking

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Speaker 4: advantage of this opportunity. You know, I think you see it.

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Speaker 4: It's like, Okay, it was a trade, but he was

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Speaker 4: also defaide. But I mean your understanding, right, is that,

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Speaker 4: like there were some intrigued teams given the state of

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Speaker 4: kitching across the baseball.

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Speaker 1: Industry, right, Yeah, from I talked to some people around

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Speaker 1: the league and they definitely this wasn't like someone that

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Speaker 1: like was. If he there would have been numerous teams.

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Speaker 1: Numerous teams tried to trade for him, and plenty of

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Speaker 1: others were hoping he'd clear. And the person I talked

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Speaker 1: to said, there was never a chance that he's like

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Speaker 1: those teams misread the market. If they actually thought he

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Speaker 1: was going to clear, you had to trade for him.

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Speaker 1: And Jake Slaughter is not like some impact prospect, but

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Speaker 1: he's not a non prospect either, So so the Cubs

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Speaker 1: had to give up something of value in a sense.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think.

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Speaker 4: At this point, you know, if they have a few

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Speaker 4: ideas in the bullpen and if they can stabilize a

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Speaker 4: little bit, like this is gonna come back to the offense.

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Speaker 4: Right of like not you asking your bullpen to keep

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Speaker 4: winning close games and playing these high leverage laid in

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Speaker 4: in games like hit a three run homer once in.

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Speaker 3: A while, right, And I think.

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Speaker 4: The offense has become a topic of conversation.

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Speaker 3: And I thought it was interesting how.

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Speaker 4: Jed Hoyer, the president of Baseball Operations, said something like,

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Speaker 4: you know, if you look at our run scored, they're

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Speaker 4: actually higher than the Braves.

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Speaker 3: And no one is worried about the Braves offense. And

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Speaker 3: now both of.

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Speaker 4: Them are sort of middle of the pack now, but

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Speaker 4: the Cubs have scored more runs than the Braves. It's

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Speaker 4: just kind of the way they've gotten there has not

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Speaker 4: been like particularly reassuring at this point. But now that

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Speaker 4: you have Nico Horner and Dansby Swanson back in the lineup,

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Speaker 4: Seya Suzuki and Cody Bell, you're both healthy, it's gonna

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Speaker 4: come down to these guys, right, Like this has not

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Speaker 4: become a podcast about like the last guy on the bench,

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Speaker 4: and like why is he still like stars have to

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Speaker 4: be stars and we're not quite sure yet.

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Speaker 2: You know.

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Speaker 4: Eric Kratz, when we were on val Territory the other day,

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Speaker 4: was asking about, you know.

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Speaker 3: The thump in the middle of the lineup the pop

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Speaker 3: and he's like, and I don't want to hear Christopher Moreau.

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Speaker 4: And he made this like voice, like where Christopher Morrell apologists.

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Speaker 4: But that's how the Cubs look at it, right, Like

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Speaker 4: he does have that star potential, and they need Bellinger

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Speaker 4: has been playing pretty well.

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Speaker 3: They need Suzuki to get rolling.

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Speaker 4: They need Ian Hap to be closer to the player

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Speaker 4: they've expected, even out some of these you know, ups

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Speaker 4: and downs.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I will say it was nice.

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Speaker 1: To see Ian Hap have quality contact Tuesday night. I

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Speaker 1: feel like I've been seeing that a little little bit more.

438
00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:06,000
Speaker 1: The results need to come more consistently. Obviously, I'm not

439
00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,159
Speaker 1: worried about Christopher Morrell unless he mentally gets out of

440
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,240
Speaker 1: his game and starts chasing pitches and striking out a ton.

441
00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:14,840
Speaker 2: As long as he.

442
00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,000
Speaker 1: Sticks to what he's doing as the weather turns it

443
00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:22,720
Speaker 1: like like it was last night, he's going, I really think.

444
00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,639
Speaker 1: And I was not on the Christopher Morrell train, Okay,

445
00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:29,080
Speaker 1: I was not, so this this start has has really

446
00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,520
Speaker 1: changed the way I view him. Because he's not striking

447
00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,960
Speaker 1: out and he's walking a ton. I think he's going

448
00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,119
Speaker 1: to have a monster summer, Like he's going to have

449
00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,439
Speaker 1: a stretch here for like two months where it just

450
00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,440
Speaker 1: is like, oh, is this guy a star? And we're

451
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,440
Speaker 1: going to start wondering that type of stuff off a

452
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,640
Speaker 1: like is this guy like one of the you know,

453
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,840
Speaker 1: top fifteen bats in the game type stuff like he's

454
00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,600
Speaker 1: he can impact the baseball and now that he's putting

455
00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:57,080
Speaker 1: it in play so often, Uh, it's it's different. It's

456
00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,400
Speaker 1: there's something to be excited there. Happy, Yes, he needs

457
00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:00,960
Speaker 1: to be better.

458
00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:02,080
Speaker 2: So I didn't. I didn't.

459
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,760
Speaker 1: I haven't liked Suzuki's at past maybe the past two

460
00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:08,239
Speaker 1: three games basically since Skeens. He had some bad at

461
00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:14,639
Speaker 1: bats against Skiings. Wait did he play against Skeens. That

462
00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:16,639
Speaker 1: may have been the day he sat. It was the

463
00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,320
Speaker 1: first game against Skiens that I didn't like his hit bats,

464
00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:24,000
Speaker 1: I think, if I'm remembering correct, you don't like, say, okay,

465
00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,639
Speaker 1: he he had like he's having those half swings again

466
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,560
Speaker 1: that kind of increached us out last summer.

467
00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,119
Speaker 2: But but he you know, I don't, I'm not.

468
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,720
Speaker 1: He's he's not in his head anymore, at least from

469
00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,280
Speaker 1: what we understand. So so hopefully it doesn't linger any

470
00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,280
Speaker 1: and he gets back to being who we know he

471
00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,800
Speaker 1: can be. Uh, they obviously need a lot more on offense.

472
00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,480
Speaker 1: They they need to produce. Well, here's the reality there.

473
00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,600
Speaker 1: They have their fifteenth in runs scored, right, their average

474
00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,719
Speaker 1: offense by way to runs great at plus they're at

475
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:02,800
Speaker 1: ninety nine. You know, that's basically average a good two games,

476
00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,919
Speaker 1: and they're a top ten scoring offense. You know, like

477
00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,199
Speaker 1: they they have a few good games, they put up

478
00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,600
Speaker 1: some numbers. It's it's really hard to judge a team

479
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,800
Speaker 1: at this point, Like we're gonna be looking at this

480
00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,800
Speaker 1: and it's gonna vacillate back and forth. They have a

481
00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,560
Speaker 1: hot week, they face some week pitching. They have faced

482
00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,720
Speaker 1: some really tough pitching. I know, it's not it's not

483
00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,600
Speaker 1: the only excuse. You can't just use that as an excuse,

484
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,720
Speaker 1: because you have to face good pitching in the playoffs,

485
00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,040
Speaker 1: so you know you have to hit good pitching at

486
00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,320
Speaker 1: some point. But all these guys are in a rut.

487
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:38,000
Speaker 1: I am not too concerned about the offense. I will

488
00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,520
Speaker 1: say that I'm a little like I need to see

489
00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:45,680
Speaker 1: Ian Hap put together consistent, really strong at bats over

490
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:46,560
Speaker 1: and over again.

491
00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:47,280
Speaker 2: You know what I mean.

492
00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:55,080
Speaker 1: You can't be once or twice here and there. But yeah,

493
00:26:55,800 --> 00:27:00,240
Speaker 1: I'm not. I think the offense could turn a corner soon.

494
00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,520
Speaker 1: You just like, especially if they have a I don't

495
00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:06,720
Speaker 1: think they have a run of really tough pitching here,

496
00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,359
Speaker 1: So hopefully we see that and they start impacting the

497
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:11,719
Speaker 1: baseball in a different manner.

498
00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:17,560
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm kind of I'm less bullish on the offense.

499
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:23,600
Speaker 3: I feel like during these stretches, the great philosopher Anthony.

500
00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,000
Speaker 4: Rizzo always echoes in my brain of like, it's just baseball, man, Like,

501
00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:30,040
Speaker 4: you know, like things go back and forth. They have

502
00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:37,080
Speaker 4: faced some great pitching. I will certainly acknowledge that, but

503
00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:41,600
Speaker 4: when the bullpens kind of disorganized, and I get that's

504
00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,280
Speaker 4: kind of the essential nature of bullpens, But when that's

505
00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:50,120
Speaker 4: going on and the offense isn't really hitting, you're kind

506
00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,480
Speaker 4: of back in this like, you know, where are the

507
00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,240
Speaker 4: difference makers? Like who is going to carry this team

508
00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,480
Speaker 4: this year? Bellnger did it for long stretch last year.

509
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:05,520
Speaker 4: Saya has shown he had those capabilities. Dansby and Nico

510
00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,200
Speaker 4: I think will be better the rest of the year,

511
00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:12,119
Speaker 4: But they haven't like really kind of blown us away

512
00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,000
Speaker 4: the way that you know, last year, things kind of

513
00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:19,320
Speaker 4: fit together and so and I'm also not like totally

514
00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:22,359
Speaker 4: sold on like the internal help because it's not like

515
00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:29,119
Speaker 4: they're plugging Alexander Canario in that lineup, and like pe

516
00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,120
Speaker 4: kro Armstrong, certainly, I think we both agreed. We've talked

517
00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:36,440
Speaker 4: about this off Arabs has been he has shown a

518
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,720
Speaker 4: lot of maturity and a little more refinement to his game,

519
00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:43,440
Speaker 4: and as Jed said, he's gonna be here for a

520
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:46,320
Speaker 4: long time, and I would not dispute that, But I

521
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:52,720
Speaker 4: just don't know if like, where's the Schwarber coming up

522
00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,240
Speaker 4: in the middle of the year. I think in twenty seventeen,

523
00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,080
Speaker 4: it was around this time when Ian Happ came up

524
00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,080
Speaker 4: and he I think hit like wanty Homers that year, right,

525
00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:02,400
Speaker 4: or maybe that was a year after, but he was

526
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:09,080
Speaker 4: like a productive offensive player for them. And I don't know,

527
00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:13,080
Speaker 4: maybe I'm wrong, but and maybe you know, people were

528
00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:17,040
Speaker 4: asking about Brennan Davis last night and sure, maybe he pops,

529
00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:22,480
Speaker 4: But I don't know, is counsel gonna trust that player?

530
00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,800
Speaker 4: Is you know, has how much has the league changed

531
00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,720
Speaker 4: since when like Schwarber came up and could just like

532
00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:33,360
Speaker 4: give the team an offensive jolt. So I think this

533
00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:36,800
Speaker 4: is now more looking like the group that they expected

534
00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:42,280
Speaker 4: when they you know, finished signing the Cody Bellinger contract,

535
00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,040
Speaker 4: and like, let's see, let's see what they can do

536
00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:51,320
Speaker 4: in warmer weather, in better hitting conditions, and maybe against

537
00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:56,080
Speaker 4: guys who don't throw like one hundred and three.

538
00:29:55,480 --> 00:30:00,320
Speaker 1: Right, And you know, Jed did kind of know it

539
00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:04,800
Speaker 1: wasn't like he was. I don't think someone like Brennan Davis,

540
00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,840
Speaker 1: Alexander Canario or Owen Casey who I like Owen Casey.

541
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,240
Speaker 1: I think he can be an impactful bat at some point.

542
00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,080
Speaker 1: I'm not sure if he's fully ready, but I like

543
00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,120
Speaker 1: Jed did say, like when asked about those guys, we

544
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,440
Speaker 1: we got to give our guys that are here more

545
00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:21,680
Speaker 1: of a leash, and and they got they have to build,

546
00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,440
Speaker 1: they have to show us what they can do. And

547
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,880
Speaker 1: it's not you know, we're not at the point where

548
00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,760
Speaker 1: we're calling these guys up and benching regulars just yet.

549
00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,120
Speaker 1: You know, we're not looking for that, uh at this moment.

550
00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:37,960
Speaker 1: Brendan Davis, I will say, is on a tear. And yeah,

551
00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:42,360
Speaker 1: I talked to a hitting coach recently in the organization

552
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,200
Speaker 1: who does believe it's real. Like he's turned a corner.

553
00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:50,479
Speaker 1: He's healthy, he's finally getting Uh, he's made some you know,

554
00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:54,360
Speaker 1: he's made some changes. A scout outside the organization warned

555
00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,040
Speaker 1: me about his in zone swing, and miss, I think

556
00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,280
Speaker 1: that has looked a little bit better over the last

557
00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,800
Speaker 1: couple of weeks. But that's you know, that's an that's

558
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:03,800
Speaker 1: always an issue when you're swinging and missing it in

559
00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,440
Speaker 1: zone pitches a lot. If that's too high, uh, that

560
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,680
Speaker 1: can be concerning. But if if he's if something's clicked

561
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,600
Speaker 1: and and he's healthy, and he and he's confident, and

562
00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,479
Speaker 1: he's out there and hitting like he has been. Uh,

563
00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,080
Speaker 1: my guess is he's going to get a call at

564
00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:23,160
Speaker 1: some point, like he's gonna get Yeah.

565
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,479
Speaker 4: There's gonna be more and there's gonna be an oblique strain.

566
00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:31,480
Speaker 4: Some's gonna run into a wall. They're gonna need just

567
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:33,640
Speaker 4: a change for the sake of change.

568
00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:37,000
Speaker 1: Right, Right, And like you said, right, like so, Ian

569
00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:39,640
Speaker 1: Happ did hit twenty four home runs in twenty seventeen.

570
00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,719
Speaker 1: You know, Kyle Schwarber was impactful, Wilson Contreras was impactful.

571
00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,040
Speaker 1: I don't know if they have, like I I don't

572
00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:52,160
Speaker 1: disagree with you, right, they have really talented prospects. Maybe

573
00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,040
Speaker 1: Owen Cases that get guy, maybe Brennan Davis. Maybe they

574
00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:58,520
Speaker 1: can give you a hot month. I don't know if

575
00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:02,719
Speaker 1: they're gonna that jump happens anymore as often, right, like

576
00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,080
Speaker 1: we talk about the triple A to a major League

577
00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:05,720
Speaker 1: baseball jump.

578
00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,239
Speaker 2: The Orioles managed to do it.

579
00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,600
Speaker 1: That they they have something magic going on with their

580
00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:13,120
Speaker 1: hitting development.

581
00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:14,280
Speaker 2: I'm sure the.

582
00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:17,760
Speaker 1: Cubs would like to get a record number one draft picks,

583
00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:22,320
Speaker 1: right yeah, yeah, that helps too. The Cubs would certainly

584
00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:24,640
Speaker 1: like to get that reputation as well. So if if

585
00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:26,920
Speaker 1: if some of these guys can come up and impact

586
00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,440
Speaker 1: the baseball in a uh and and really you know,

587
00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,400
Speaker 1: give them a hot few weeks or a month or two,

588
00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,480
Speaker 1: uh that that could be. That could be the difference

589
00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,560
Speaker 1: between you know, making the playoffs, or making a deep

590
00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:42,800
Speaker 1: run of the playoffs, making having a higher seed in

591
00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,760
Speaker 1: the playoffs, whatever it is. Uh That that's how you

592
00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:48,880
Speaker 1: know good that That's what good teams, especially teams that surprise.

593
00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:50,960
Speaker 1: Jen says it all the time, right, good teams that

594
00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,640
Speaker 1: surprise they have young guys come up and impact the team.

595
00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:58,120
Speaker 1: That's what happened with Arizona last year. Uh So, I

596
00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:02,360
Speaker 1: you know, I when I say I'm bullish on the offense,

597
00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:04,960
Speaker 1: it's it's a lot to do with last year to

598
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,840
Speaker 1: six and run scored, so I just expect more out

599
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:12,200
Speaker 1: of them. So maybe maybe I should stop holding on

600
00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,160
Speaker 1: to last year. But that that That's where I'm at

601
00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:18,200
Speaker 1: right now. I think we can. I think we've covered

602
00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:20,680
Speaker 1: what we need to cover for for the moment. If

603
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,800
Speaker 1: if people aren't aware, we're we're planning on doing three

604
00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:29,160
Speaker 1: podcasts a week, uh, we're well, we'll make sure to

605
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:31,160
Speaker 1: cover every topic that you guys want.

606
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:31,920
Speaker 4: Uh.

607
00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,640
Speaker 1: Where we're going to have some interaction with the fans,

608
00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,440
Speaker 1: We'll make sure to reach out. We'll figure out exactly

609
00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,000
Speaker 1: how we want that to work. Uh. We're going to

610
00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:44,040
Speaker 1: have interviews, uh with with coaches, with for ant office people,

611
00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,520
Speaker 1: whatever we can figure out what we're going to try

612
00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:50,600
Speaker 1: and make evolve this podcast into into something that fans

613
00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:55,040
Speaker 1: really want to uh, you know, make a destination multiple

614
00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,520
Speaker 1: times a week, and whether it's your drive to work, uh,

615
00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:02,520
Speaker 1: you know, your excuse to cut college classes, you know,

616
00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,320
Speaker 1: whatever it is. We we're going to try and keep

617
00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,200
Speaker 1: these episodes tight to like thirty ish minutes and make

618
00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:10,120
Speaker 1: sure you have something you can listen to on your

619
00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:15,520
Speaker 1: commute and get your you know, cubs fixed for for

620
00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:20,200
Speaker 1: the day. Thanks so much for listening. Patrick, I don't

621
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,000
Speaker 1: know if you have something you want to I just.

622
00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,480
Speaker 4: Wanted to say thank you to the behind the scenes

623
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,960
Speaker 4: crew at foul Territory. They've been great to work with.

624
00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:32,120
Speaker 4: They've been very supportive. They have like great ideas about

625
00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:36,080
Speaker 4: what we can do and that involves you, the listeners.

626
00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,400
Speaker 4: Some of those interactive segments that's a hot day have

627
00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:43,359
Speaker 4: just mentioned. So we will be at Wrigley Field, one

628
00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:45,440
Speaker 4: of us will be in Saint Louis, We'll both be

629
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:49,120
Speaker 4: in Milwaukee at different points. Our coverage is really like

630
00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,000
Speaker 4: picking up here the deeper we get into the season,

631
00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:56,640
Speaker 4: and we're just super excited to have this platform and

632
00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:58,239
Speaker 4: a chance to talk ball.

633
00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:01,960
Speaker 1: Yeah, really excited to be back at it. Make sure

634
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,400
Speaker 1: to subscribe, rate and a review. Uh We're We're available

635
00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,920
Speaker 1: everywhere that you can find podcasts. Uh so, so go

636
00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:13,799
Speaker 1: check us out in whatever form you'd you'd like. I'm

637
00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:17,240
Speaker 1: Sahadiv Sharma and that's Patrick Mooney. We we both write

638
00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:20,280
Speaker 1: for The Athletic. Make sure to check out our work there.

639
00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:23,080
Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening. This is Northside Territory.

640
00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:23,480
Speaker 2: Take care