1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. I 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 1: am in Tokyo. The Cubs are in Tokyo. I don't 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: know how they're doing. I'm surviving. I'll say that it 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: is ten thirty am Tokyo time right now, and somehow 7 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: I slept normally. I think I was up for twenty 8 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: seven hours with maybe me an hour of spotty sleep. 9 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: I am not a good airplane sleeper. I just is 10 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: not great for what we do for a living. But 11 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: like I I, yeah, it didn't. It didn't work out 12 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: in my favor. Before we get into my. 13 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: You sound pretty chipper man. 14 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, I'm feeling I'm feeling okay. I think 15 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: the night's sleep like I went out with not really 16 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: went out, went to the hotel bar with our friend 17 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: Megan Montemorrow and our other friend Evan Dreuch and just 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: kind of like we forced ourselves to stay awake. I 19 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: think Megan may have gone out for another drink and 20 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,199 Speaker 1: I was like, it's past ten pm. I've made my goal. 21 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: I am going to bed. I've been up for twenty 22 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: somethings hours straight. 23 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 3: This is insane. 24 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: But yeah, how was What did you see in your 25 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: final moments there in Arizona. I think you're back home now, 26 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: but what did you observe? 27 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: The kind of the vibe from the team I saw. 28 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: I saw them all. They were all like, kind of 29 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: dressed the same. 30 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: It was it almost felt like a Joe Madden moment 31 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: but obviously very different. But they were all like in 32 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: their Tokyo gear, Tokyo series gear. 33 00:01:58,160 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: It looked it looked fun, and there were a lot 34 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 3: of videos coming out. 35 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, you know, the Cubs lead the league, 36 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 4: you know, in sweatsuits and T shirts and team trips 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 4: and things like that, and it was kind of odd, like, 38 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 4: you know, we've been doing this so long and it's 39 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 4: such a regimented thing. Not that it's boring, it's just 40 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 4: that it's you have your body clock, your schedule is 41 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 4: kind of used to and you know, that last day 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 4: of Phase one spring training in Mesa, just seeing all 43 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 4: these equipment bags everywhere, suitcases, backpacks, and it's like spring 44 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 4: training is not quite over, like the season is about 45 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 4: to start, but not really like it was just kind 46 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 4: of in this limbo zone you had. All these suitcases 47 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 4: were lined up later outside the performance center there, you know, 48 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 4: a bunch of moving trucks and buses, and you know, 49 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 4: it was this kind of odd thing of every day 50 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 4: asking counsel about the roster. We don't have to make 51 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 4: a decision yet, you know, telling Kevin Alcintara and Matt 52 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 4: Shaw packed for Tokyo and then pretty sure they got 53 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 4: a heads up of where things were leaning towards, but 54 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,679 Speaker 4: no official announcement till Tuesday morning. 55 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: For those guys. 56 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 4: So you know, I think we said this earlier on 57 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 4: previous shows, but I think they're genuinely excited, Like there 58 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 4: was not a lot of and I read this too. 59 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 4: I think it was maybe in Bob Nightingale's story from 60 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 4: the Dodgers side of like how and well, we had 61 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 4: a trip to Australia several years ago and lots of 62 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 4: players were kind of complaining about it in the travel 63 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 4: and the schedule. 64 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: I did not get any sort of inkling on that. 65 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,119 Speaker 4: And you know, I'm sure you know how how much 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: they respect showed in Managa and Sae Suzuki. I'm sure 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 4: as a part of it, but also just like what 68 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 4: Council said, this is an awesome experience for players, staff, executives, 69 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 4: and the media traveling abroad as well. 70 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've tried to I've tried to look at it 71 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: in that way too, that this is this is a 72 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: moment for for all of us, you know, like to 73 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: kind of soak it in. It's kind of like I'm 74 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: stealing this from Nico, but I've just thought of it too, 75 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: like you have to, Like I when they made the 76 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: World Series, I was like, Okay, I want like I 77 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: need to focus and I need to get my work done, 78 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: but also like appreciate these moments like soak it in. 79 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: Like who knows if you'll ever get this opportunity to 80 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: cover World Series again? So you know, like I don't 81 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: know when I'm going to get back to Japan. I'm 82 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: certainly like it's very unlikely I'm going to cover the 83 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: Cubs in Japan in the near future again. Right, Uh, 84 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: you know we're we don't cover the Dodgers. Fabi and 85 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: ar daya our Dodgers beat writer, apparently gets a gets. 86 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 3: A trip every year to some foreign country. 87 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: Korea last year, Japan this year, who knows where he'll 88 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: go next year. Uh so it is you know, it 89 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: does feel like it's going to be a moment. 90 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: You know. 91 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: The travel is long, it is exhausting. It is kind 92 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: of discombobulating, I'd say, because I woke up at four 93 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: am on Tuesday in Chicago and by the time I, 94 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, now it's ten something on Thursday, and I 95 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: feel like I barely I just got here, right, But 96 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: I've lost two days over two days, it feels like, 97 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: just because. 98 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 3: Of the time change and the travel. 99 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: So that's that's a little discombobulating, losing those days and 100 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: then like communicating with people back home, like I'm texting 101 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: with my kids and things like that, and you're just like, 102 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: it's weird, right, I know, I understand it. It's not 103 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: like I'm breaking news here that it's a different time 104 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: in Japan. 105 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 3: I get it. 106 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: I get these are simple concepts, but it's still it's 107 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,799 Speaker 1: still like throws you off, and experiencing it is very odd. 108 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: I haven't had a chance yet to like really go 109 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: out and explore, so I'm looking forward to doing that 110 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: and kind of getting around it and kind of. 111 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 3: Like seeing things. 112 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 5: Uh. 113 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: I think I think the the exhibition games are gonna 114 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: be fun. 115 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 3: Like I'm really curious to. 116 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: How and and we'll talk about this when we experience 117 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: when I experience it, But like the crowds, what are 118 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: the vibes? Like, Like how different is it compared to 119 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: American crowd just you know, the food at the ballpark, 120 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: how different is that? And you know, we'll talk plenty 121 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: about baseball, but I just think, like I think this 122 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: stuff is is something that you know, these players seem 123 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: I get what you're saying, Like, I like, I like 124 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: that nobody was complaining, Like I think that's you know, 125 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: they I don't know who put it in perspective for 126 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: them or if they all have good perspective, but my 127 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: assumption is there there must have been something said or 128 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: understood among the group, like, yeah, is this going to 129 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: be a strain on us? Will this be a little difficult, Yes, 130 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: but we're up for this challenge. And also like this 131 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: is an experience. Someone must have made that clear to 132 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: them that this this is important and this is going 133 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: to be a bonding experience. 134 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 3: We are going to be a better team because of this. 135 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that messaging has been from the top down. 136 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 4: As you know, this group is pretty thoughtful and mature, 137 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 4: and this have two terrific Japanese players. 138 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: I think it might have. 139 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 4: Been Seyah who had joked at the startup spring training 140 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 4: like I'm not going to give them any recommendations or advice. 141 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 4: I want them to know how I feel when I 142 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 4: travel around me. But you know, even Jamison Taiwan was saying, 143 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 4: like my goal was to just pitch somewhere in Japan, 144 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 4: that he felt the Tokyo Dome was one of the 145 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 4: greatest baseball venues in the world. He wanted to experience 146 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 4: that and that even facing one of the MPB teams 147 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 4: would be a phenomenal memory for him, And I think 148 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 4: that's what a lot of players had said. I think 149 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 4: it was Justin Steel and Pico Armstrong when I'd asked them, 150 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 4: both referenced like and Tilan as well, like I've seen 151 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 4: these videos of what the crowds are like, and that 152 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 4: you know, with social media now with YouTube and how 153 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 4: connected our world is like, they have a sense of 154 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: what's coming and they saw that WBC a couple of 155 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 4: years ago was just I think the more and more 156 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 4: we're removed from it was an enormous landmark event. So 157 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 4: that while it is a foreign place. I think the 158 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 4: baseball is going to be very familiar and energizing for them. 159 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: How you said that someone was talking about how they 160 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: complained about one of the series. 161 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 3: Was it Australia that you said? And how long ago 162 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 3: was that? 163 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: I believe it might have been ten. 164 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: It's like ten fifteen years ago, right, yeah, it was so, 165 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: I mean the game is completely changed, right, Like we 166 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: have this influx of Japanese talent. I think the world 167 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: has kind of changed where what you said, like they 168 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: see videos, they see these things, and I think they 169 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: see the talent and they understand like this is like 170 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: this is different. 171 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: This is maybe Australia is just different than Japan. 172 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: Japan loves baseball, but they understand that they have two 173 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: like you said, they have two great players. They pursue. 174 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: They regularly pursue players from Japan. You Darvish loved his 175 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: time in Chicago and he's probably behind each of row. 176 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: He's probably the most famous player that played in the MLB, 177 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: Japanese player that played in the MLB. You know, I 178 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: think this is you know, it's going to be an 179 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: event for everyone and an experience for everyone. But I think, 180 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: like what I'm curious about is like for me, like 181 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: I traveled overseas as a kid all the time. 182 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 3: I'd go to India every three years with my parents. 183 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: Right, So like as annoying an knowing quotes as the 184 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: long flight is, I've done it before, and I know 185 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: it's just like you just kind of grind through in 186 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: a sense. I like I saw some of the videos 187 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: and like Peker Armstrong seemed legitimately a little stressed about 188 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: it all, like he's like I'm. 189 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 3: Gonna be on a plate for how long? Like kind 190 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 3: of like what is this? 191 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: Like how am I going to do this? I'm curious 192 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: how many of them, like and Pete's probably like traveled, 193 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: I would guess, like knowing his family and all that stuff. 194 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 3: Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe I'm making. 195 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: An assumption that I shouldn't, but like, like how many 196 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: of these guys They've all traveled country obviously, but I 197 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: wonder how many of them have actually traveled overseas, Like 198 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: how many of them want to like we know like 199 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: some of them do that over the summer. 200 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 3: I don't know how many of them actually do it. 201 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: So this is had gone to Japan? 202 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 4: I think maybe honest honeymoon or something like that, and 203 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 4: I know he had visited Sea during that time, but. 204 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: Oh nice, Okay, that was I said over the summer, 205 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: and I didn't mean baseball during the summer. 206 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 207 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 4: Well, you know, they traveled to London, and you know, 208 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 4: I think we've mentioned this before too, but in twenty 209 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 4: twenty three they felt like they were really rolling. I 210 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 4: think they won four in a row, and then they 211 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 4: go to London and I think Stroman get hurt. They 212 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 4: lost at least one, maybe two games. They come back 213 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 4: to the smoky Wrigley Field of the Canadian wildfire was weird, 214 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 4: like it was their season hit. 215 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 2: A wall there. 216 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 4: And I think in general, the Cubs are more concerned 217 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 4: about the back half of this trip, like when they 218 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 4: get back to Arizona, the jet lag, the like ramping 219 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 4: up for the Tokyo Series, ramping down sort of when 220 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 4: you get home, having to play more exhibition games and 221 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 4: then having to face the Arizona Diamondbacks and you know, 222 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 4: the next one hundred sixty games of the season. 223 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 2: So I think that's that's probably what you know. 224 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 4: When you get back to Arizona, that'll probably be a 225 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 4: story of like, Okay, how do they recover from this 226 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 4: or you know, build off of this depending on how 227 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 4: things go in Japan. 228 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's certainly gonna be interesting how that 229 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: all happens, right, Like the ramping down process is gonna 230 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: be weird. 231 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 3: I would think, like how do you handle that? How? 232 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 3: Like what exactly are they? Like? 233 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: It's just a different It's just a weird experience. You 234 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: talk about like they have the there's the All Star break, 235 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: but that's after three plus months of playing baseball, you know, 236 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 1: like going at it. You almost need that break kind 237 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: for your body to like recover. This is just a 238 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: very different experience, and they're also gearing up for what's 239 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: going to be a really daunting first month plus. I mean, like, 240 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: let's not like, I know, everybody looks at the Athletics 241 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: and thinks they stink. 242 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: They don't. They're gonna be I think they're gonna be 243 00:12:58,800 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 3: pretty good. 244 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: And then so you open up with the Dodgers obviously, 245 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 1: and then Diamondbacks and Athletics, then Padres, then Rangers and 246 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: Dodgers and Padres and Diamondbacks. 247 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 3: The Dodgers and Phillies. Are you kidding me? 248 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: Like that's how they start the season, Like the easiest 249 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: stretch right there? Is the Padres, I mean the Rangers. 250 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: Like that's and the Rangers could be good this year 251 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: were there are a year removed from winning the real Series. 252 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: I don't know how good they'll be this year. That's 253 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: not like that's a really hard first month, and we'll 254 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: talk about that a lot more as they get into it. 255 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: But I think, like, I think that is interesting. I 256 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: think that's an interesting idea that they have to like 257 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 1: they kind of have like this exhilarating experience. So not 258 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: only do you get like like mentally pumped up, but 259 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: like physically you're ramped up, and then you have to 260 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: come back and then you have how many exhibition games? 261 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 3: Five? 262 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: Five more, and then and then you have to play 263 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: reil baseball again. 264 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 3: It's just kind of weird. 265 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, I'm not saying it's like we just 266 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: said how awesome this experience is, and like I'm happy 267 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: that everyone gets to go through it, but it is, 268 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: like baseball wise, it's going to be interesting to see 269 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: how how they handle it. 270 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: Well. 271 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 4: Look, and they they survived phase one of spring training, 272 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 4: particularly when you look at just all the headlines coming 273 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 4: out of Yankees camp. 274 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: They avoided avoided that. 275 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 4: Enormous disappointment over how the Alex Regman saga unfolded. You 276 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 4: were there for Sammy Sosa's return. Those are the two 277 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 4: kind of like bigger i'd say, national storylines. But otherwise, 278 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 4: they kind of checked a lot of boxes. They knew 279 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 4: they had their schedule, they knew when they were leaving, 280 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 4: they knew the checkpoints they wanted to hit with their pitchers. 281 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 2: They large we did. 282 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 4: I think the pitching depth you've mentioned this, players have 283 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 4: mentioned this like it's pretty exceptional, especially compared to some 284 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 4: other Cubs teams we've seen, even great Cubs teams we've 285 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 4: seen before, I don't think had this sort of like 286 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 4: pitching depth layered kind of up and down the forty 287 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 4: man roster. And then you know, look guys like Matt Shaw, 288 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 4: guys like pre Crow Armstrong. I'd be fascinating to see 289 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 4: how they respond to this environment and the challenge ahead, 290 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 4: because there are times when I look at this roster 291 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 4: and it's like, man, they got they're pretty thin on 292 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 4: the bench, they got a lot of young, unproven question 293 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 4: marks at lots of key positions. Then other times you like, 294 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 4: what if Matt Shaw is his rookie the year? What 295 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 4: if pie Crow Armstrong is a star, Like what if 296 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 4: Michael it just gets a little bit better and Dansby 297 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 4: and Nico are healthy, Like so many ways this could go. 298 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 4: And that was kind of my feeling as I was 299 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 4: leaving Mesa and you know, heading to the airport and 300 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 4: out of spring training, of like, we really don't know 301 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 4: what's going to happen, but I think they have this 302 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 4: kind of solid foundation and then it's up to them 303 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 4: to like just go out and do what they've been 304 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 4: talking about for a while. 305 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: Now, all right, Patrick, I want to take a real 306 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: quick break and then I have a question for you 307 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: about about the pitching that we should expect in Tokyo 308 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: ft fam. 309 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 5: If you love ripping packs of cards, there is a 310 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 5: modern way to do that now on Arena Club with 311 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 5: their slap packs and crats. 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Get after at FTFAM. 332 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: All right, Patrick, we know Showta Managa Game one versus I'mamoto. 333 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: I'm not sure when how recently this was announced, but 334 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: Roki Sasaki is officially starting Game two against Justin Steele. 335 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: That'll be really fun. What is the plan the rest 336 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: of the plan for the pitching, like, what else? As 337 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: you said, Tyne likely going in the second exhibition game. 338 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 4: Yes, well, obviously they're going without getters. That's their plan 339 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 4: is to get out. But beyond that, Craig Council said, 340 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 4: bullpen game for the first MPB Exhibition Tyne starting the 341 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 4: second exhibition. 342 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 2: As of Tuesday morning, they were holding off. 343 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 4: On a Matt Boyd decision whether or not he'd be 344 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 4: available out of the pen against. 345 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 2: The Dodgers or whether they wanted to. 346 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 4: Have him absorb some of those innings in the exhibition games. 347 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 4: My guess would probably be that they'd use him in 348 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 4: the exhibition games. But like it's been a weird process 349 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 4: and they don't know, you know, they could show up 350 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 4: at the Tokyo Dome for a workout, or you know, 351 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 4: something could happen in one of those MPV exhibitions that 352 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 4: makes them change their plans. Otherwise, you hope Showda and 353 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 4: Steal can throw what like seventy seventy five pitches something 354 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 4: like that to kind of see how it goes. 355 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 2: The plan would you know, be to have. 356 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 4: Probably eleven relievers available out of the pen for the 357 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 4: real games, but very much kind of read and react, 358 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 4: and they've thought of all the kind of worst case. 359 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 2: Scenarios. 360 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 4: But like they kind of there's no no room for 361 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 4: changes anymore. Like those are the guys they got, the 362 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 4: seventeen pitchers they brought, and then they'll whittle down to 363 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 4: thirteen for the real games. Tyne would be one of 364 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 4: the three inactives. Nico Horner back in Arizona would be 365 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 4: one of the inactives. 366 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 2: And then. 367 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 4: Vertically, I'm not sure where they left it. Brat Keller 368 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 4: they could just bring there, not add him to the 369 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 4: forty man yet, but that is their plan at some 370 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 4: point in March. Like there's a lot there. 371 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: Is a little bit of wiggle room with some of 372 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 2: this stuff. 373 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 4: And that another thing just in noticing people on social 374 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 4: media or the comment section the Athletic, like the roster's 375 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 4: going to change again for domestic opening day, that the 376 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 4: decisions they make now some of it is just not 377 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 4: wanting to make a decision right like they did they 378 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 4: did on Keegan Thompson. That their pitching depth is a 379 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 4: point where they have seventeen guys they think are better 380 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 4: that they're willing to, you know, probably let him go 381 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 4: at some point here in March. But for that Diamondback series, 382 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 4: you see how everyone comes out of the how they 383 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 4: do the rest of the Cactus League schedule, and then 384 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 4: I still think they're probably just going to defer to 385 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 4: the guys who are out of options and things like that, 386 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 4: like contract situations like that gets priority but we alluded 387 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 4: to it earlier, like they have more options than they 388 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 4: had in the past. They do have some urgency. Maybe 389 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 4: they're not quite as patient. And also we'll see again 390 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 4: who's healthy and who's not, you know, during this window. 391 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 4: But like Ben Brown is still like a really super 392 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 4: interesting guy of like what where does he fit? He 393 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,479 Speaker 4: made the travel roster, and if you're a starter like that, 394 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 4: you're gonna be pitching a lot. Maybe it's in some 395 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,400 Speaker 4: of those exhibitions and just sort of doing it that way. 396 00:21:58,240 --> 00:21:58,400 Speaker 1: But. 397 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 4: He's someone who has been he's certainly one of their 398 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 4: thirteen most interesting and intriguing pictures. And then it's ultimately 399 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 4: you know, they're just going to keep stretching him out 400 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 4: until they can't anymore, or you know, the decision is forced. 401 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 4: But he's probably the other name. I'd be kind of 402 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 4: curious to see if, like, all right, what are they 403 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 4: doing here with him? 404 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 2: Or you know, how does he line up for April. 405 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 1: Matthew Boyd likely inactive or active. 406 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 4: It was to be determined right before they left Mesa 407 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 4: that he could. I would guess he's probably piggybacking in 408 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 4: Tyne's outing. But even Tyne had said like look, I'm 409 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 4: supposed to start this exhibition game, but they've been told 410 00:22:57,359 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 4: we don't know exactly what's going to happen, Like you 411 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 4: have to be sort of prepared for a couple of 412 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 4: different things. And that's why Showed and Steal kind of 413 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 4: work backwards from I think it's March eighteenth and nineteenth, 414 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 4: But Boyd and Tye on were also kind of around 415 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 4: that target date to where they could pitch, they could 416 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 4: be available, and Showed is going to have a pretty 417 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 4: long layoff too in between his outings. I think he 418 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 4: was going to do two I think high intensity bullpen 419 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 4: sessions or something like that. Like it's it's gonna be 420 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 4: it's gonna be a lot for them to absorb. 421 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 2: Over there, right. 422 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: Right, right right, and and you know the Dodgers have 423 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 1: to go through this as well, and you know they'll 424 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: be creative as well, So it's not like it's some 425 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: disadvantage for the Cubs. All right, Patrick, I'm I'm really 426 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: curious to see how it all goes down. We'll have 427 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: one more, one more episode this week. I believe I'm 428 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: losing it. Like I said, I have no clue what 429 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: date is or time of day or where I am 430 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: but we'll have one more episode this week and then 431 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: it is opening day next week, so we it's right 432 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: around the corner. It's creeping up on us. I will 433 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: be sure to report from Tokyo. I guess that's why 434 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: I'm out here. 435 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 2: And go somewhere other than just the hotel bar. 436 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,360 Speaker 1: Right, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm going to seven eleven. Come on, 437 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: there's the seven elevens are actually supposed to be amazing, 438 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna check it out. 439 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: That's what the Japanese comedian said. 440 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, So I'm definitely like all the 441 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: all the We were talking about this in front of 442 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 1: some Japanese writers and they were like, oh. 443 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 3: No, it's not a joke. It's like yeah, yeah, yeah, 444 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 3: all right, okay. 445 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: I will I'll report back from seven to eleven and 446 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: the Tokyo Dome later on. Thanks so much for listening. 447 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: This is Northside Territory. Make sure to rate, review and subscribe. 448 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,239 Speaker 1: Make sure to subscribe to The Athletic, where Patrick and 449 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 1: I are on top of all things cubs. Thanks so 450 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: much for listening to everyone. Take care