1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick, the 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Cubs lose two to three to the Giants. You know, 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: not a lot of that series. They played good baseball. 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: They you know, the offense didn't show up for one game, 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: which you know, these are the types of things that 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: happen over the course of the season. We'll see if 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: that's a trend, but right now, it's nothing, nothing that 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: anybody should be concerned about, right so we just kind 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: of look at these games individually. Is outside of one inning, 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: I have to say that the Cubs played really well. 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: I think they pitched well, mostly hit and that eleventh 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: inning on Tuesday is what people are going to focus 15 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: on from this series, from this uh, you know, from 16 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: this week and it and it is it is a 17 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: big topic, and it's what's wrong with Brian Presley. This 18 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: doesn't come out of the blue. We we understood that 19 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: he was not perfect when he came when the season started, 20 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: he was it was not very good. He was getting 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: through outings, but he looked off. I felt like something 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: was clicking there. Then the knee popped up, and he's 23 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: been fine getting through stuff, but hasn't pitched a ton. 24 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: And then Tuesday was that that was historically bad. You 25 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: you were, you were there to watch it all unfold 26 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: it Wrigally. I mean it was I was. I'd gotten 27 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: home by that point, and it was it was one 28 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: of those things where you're watching and you're like, I 29 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: don't know how he gets anyone out, and that's kind 30 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: of what that's happened. 31 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, rewind back to that tenth then, 32 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: I mean the Cubs were in position, Pete Carl Armstrong 33 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: at the plate, Dansby Swanson hit a rocket, you know, 34 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: right at Matt Chapman at third base. If it's not 35 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 2: Matt Chapman, or maybe if it's you know, hit one 36 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: way or the other just slightly, Cubs win that game. 37 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: Ryan Presley doesn't come out, and maybe, yeah, I guess 38 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: maybe the meltdown happens Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley, But you're right, 39 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: like it wasn't just that one outing. It was this 40 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 2: sort of mystery surrounding Presley, who you know, had his 41 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 2: knee drained. Like you mentioned has just not pitched a lot. 42 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: Part of that was game situations. It felt like he 43 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: had turned a corner kind of that West Coast trip. 44 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 2: He had looked pretty good against the Dodgers and the 45 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 2: Padres out west, and you know, to his credit, Presley 46 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: showed up at his locker so that I didn't do 47 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 2: my job. Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottevey said, you know, 48 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: Presley was at the park at like eight am on Wednesday, saying, 49 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 2: you know, I couldn't sleep anyways, might as well get 50 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: back to work. It's just one of those things where 51 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:26,839 Speaker 2: if you're a Cubs fan, you felt like you've kind 52 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: of seen this before, right of like getting a guy 53 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 2: who has a track record but is aging and had 54 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: been with the Houston Astros. And I still think there's 55 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: a way for him to be an effective part of 56 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: this bullpen. I just don't know when we're going to 57 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: see Presley in like a high leverage situation again or 58 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: closing out a game. 59 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 3: I know they say they won't. 60 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: Avoid that, but I think at this point, you know 61 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: you're going to see him when the Cubs are down 62 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: or if they have a huge lead, and I think 63 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: that's what they have to do. 64 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: He just needs work. 65 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, I agree with that, he needs he needs work. 66 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: I think, uh, they're not going to come out and say, 67 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: like Counsel doesn't seem to be the type that says 68 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: I'm removing him as closer. It's a you know, councol 69 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: is very straightforward with us and honest with us. But 70 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: things like that where like I am moving Dansby Swanson 71 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: down to the eight hole. You know, like he doesn't 72 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: say it, he just does these things and then afterwards 73 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: you can ask him about it right after it's done. 74 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: The you know, when when Ryan Presley isn't used in 75 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: three straight moments that made sense for him to be used, 76 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: then then Craig Counsel will answer the question about it. 77 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: But right now he's not going to say Ryan Presley 78 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: is not closing. Tommy Hodeby said they're not avoiding him 79 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: in those situations. I want to give them, give him 80 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: the benefit of the doubt and the Cubs the benefit 81 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: of the doubt. I I do think and what you 82 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: said is is completely accurate. Cubs fans are going to 83 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: feel burned here and not and a lot of them 84 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: are not going to want to give any leeway here 85 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: understandable after what happened last year with Hector neris but 86 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: not every picture that or every player that looks cooked 87 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: is cooked, right. And I'm not saying he isn't. I 88 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: don't know. But the explanation Tommy how to Be gave 89 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: was he's lacking deception, right, and that's causing the issue 90 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: with swing and miss. You said the West Coast trip, 91 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: he looked good. I'm just quickly looking here. So it 92 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: was tech like he stopped walking guys around the early April. 93 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: He stopped walking guys at this insane clip and it 94 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: was Texas. Then at LA at San Diego, three outings 95 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: and he he was missing bats. He was getting solid 96 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: swing and miss or at least some swing and miss. 97 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: He struck out a batter one of the three batters 98 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: he faced. I believe in LA and San Diego got 99 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: good swing and miss. Didn't strike anyone out against Texas, 100 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: but got good swing and miss, like the highest swinging 101 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: strike rate of an outing of this season. Like those 102 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 1: those are the issues that he has. It's swinging strikes 103 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: and just strikeouts. He's not getting them, like at a 104 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: really bad rate. I want to say one eligible reliever, 105 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: I wrote this yesterday, one eligible reliever had worse strikeout rate, 106 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: and only two eligible relievers have a worse swinging strike rate. 107 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: So swinging strike rate, if you don't know, it's just 108 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: the swing and miss. It's just how often they swing 109 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: at the pitch, swing and miss at the pitch. He 110 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: and then the knee injury kind of started bugging him, 111 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: and then the swing and miss goes away. So it 112 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: was kind of lying up with what they're saying, Okay, 113 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: he developed some bad habits that now they're seeing the 114 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,679 Speaker 1: ball better, and now his knees bothering him. They can't 115 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: work on getting these things right. Uh, And and now 116 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: they have to work on it, and he needs to 117 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: go out there and get that right. So maybe it's real. 118 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: Maybe that's the issue. And he goes out there and 119 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: and he and he looks a lot better and he 120 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: starts getting swing and miss in two weeks. Right that 121 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: that's that's very possible. Uh. I. I just I can't 122 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: fault Cubs fans for saying I don't want to be 123 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: patient for this. And and you know what, Uh, they 124 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: don't really have to. Uh yeah, we why don't we 125 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: take a quick break, Patrick, and then we can discuss 126 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: the bullpens actually in decent shape here. If you don't 127 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: focus on Ryan Presley. 128 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 4: FT fan by now you know, if you're buying, selling, trading, 129 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 4: collecting cards, Arena Club is the spot. We've been talking 130 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 4: about them all season long. But I do want to 131 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 4: focus on the slab pack experience, Crats. Since you've been 132 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 4: ripping some slab packs digitally and what happens. 133 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: I mean, as a kid, you wanted to rip open 134 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 3: the packs. How can they do this digitally? 135 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: Oh? 136 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 3: Baby, this is exciting. 137 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 5: How the graphics come out and everything, and oh yeah, 138 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 5: the card that you pull you can actually get that 139 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 5: John physically, so it's perfect. It's all in one place 140 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 5: and it's a super exciting experience. 141 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, they send that to you from the vault if 142 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 4: you want it. But if you look at it and 143 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 4: you're like, it's not the card for me, I want 144 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 4: to sell back, go for it. You can do any 145 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 4: of that on Arena Club and you can acquire the 146 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 4: best value for your money with those slab packs, transparent checklists, 147 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 4: and Arena Club's Slab Safe program. Right now, you can 148 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 4: get twenty percent off your first slab pack or card 149 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 4: purchase by going to Arena club dot Com slash foul 150 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 4: and use code foul. Arenaclub dot Com slash foul, use 151 00:08:58,120 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 4: code foul. 152 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: Patrick, I want fans to ignore ras for a moment, 153 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 1: right this, you know. 154 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: So we can put some picture wins, right. 155 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I mean relief pictures and their eras, especially 156 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: what is it May. We're recording this on May eighth. 157 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: Their eras can be super distorted. So let me just 158 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: look here. What is Porter Hodge is at four point five? 159 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: Are you worried about Porter Hodge right now out of 160 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: the bullpen? I don't really think he's a major concern. 161 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: He I'd like him to stop walking guys as much 162 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: as he has been. But other than that, uh, you know, 163 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: he gets strikeouts, he's he limits damage, He's not going 164 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: to get hit hard. For the most part, I think 165 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: Porter Hodge is the guy that you go to if 166 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: if you're removing Ryan Presley from the closers role. And 167 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: it's not just Porter Hodge. Daniel Palencia looks so much 168 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: better than he did last year. Brad Keller great, great reliever. 169 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: He gets ground balls, he misses bats, he doesn't walk 170 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: too many guys, he does not get barreled up Craig 171 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: Council seems to just want to use him in any 172 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: situation like up down, Men on you know, whatever it 173 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: may be, seventh thinning, eighth inning, sixth th ininning. He's 174 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: using him wherever. He seems to really trust him and 175 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: really like him. Cale thielbar after looking awful, I thought 176 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: they were going to have to get rid of him 177 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: and go find other lefties, and they've certainly cycled through lefties. 178 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: But he looks good. He looks so much better. He's 179 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: really figured things out. Drew Pomerantz. He's throwing the same 180 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 1: velocity that he was when he was at his best. 181 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: I don't really know how that's possible that he looks 182 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: this good, But right now he looks good. Who knows 183 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: how long that lasts. Julian Merriweather needs to strict more 184 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: guys out, but he's outside of He had a really 185 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: bad outing when Shoda got hurt. That's a really tough 186 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: situation to come into men On Base. You're you don't 187 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: really know that what's going You know, you suddenly have 188 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: to get hot, like Shoda was cruising at that point. 189 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: You're not thinking you're coming in. So mentally he's not 190 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: fully prepared to go in there and then he has 191 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: to quickly get hot. So you know, I like, I 192 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: like what he's doing. I want him to strict more 193 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: guys out, but there's a lot of options here. I'm 194 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: probably missing someone that's doing pretty well. Gavin Hollowell has 195 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: looked good. I'm not saying Gavin Hollowell is locked in 196 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: and and a part of this high leverage group, but 197 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: you know, he's looked good so far. 198 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I think. 199 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: The Cubs have a pretty good track record with this, 200 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 2: and part of it is they have to kind of 201 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: cover for some of their mistakes coming into the season. 202 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: That's looking at it historically. I think if you believe 203 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 2: that relievers can sort of come from anywhere, I think 204 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 2: you have to give Presley some credit here of like 205 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 2: he has done it for so long and that there 206 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 2: are these reasons why. I mean, going back to that 207 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 2: West Coast trip of Tommy hotteby explaining that Presley had 208 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 2: made some kind of adjustments coming off a sort of 209 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: down season with the Astros, but a lot of that 210 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 2: was like flat ground stuff, and so it takes a 211 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 2: while to like go off the mound at game speed, 212 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: with game pressure. 213 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 3: And so. 214 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: I think you give Craig Counsel this huge contract because 215 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 2: he has a good track record with managing the bullpen. 216 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: So maybe it's not Porter Hodge automatically in the ninth, 217 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: but it's making sure Porter Hodge is in the most 218 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 2: high leverage situation against the other team's best hitters over 219 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: and over again. Or to your point on Brad Keller, 220 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 2: I mean, this is a really nice weapon the Cubs 221 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 2: found on a minor league deal. You know, guy who 222 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: had bounced around but is like clicking at this moment, 223 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 2: in part because he struggled with the White Sox, in 224 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 2: part because he got picked up by the Red Sox 225 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 2: and learned something in Boston, you know, from their pitching group. 226 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: And so I think you're always going to feel uneasy 227 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 2: about it because it is just so volatile. 228 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 3: And you know, even that. 229 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: Presley game, I mean, the Cubs bullpen, by and large 230 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 2: pitched really well over an extended period of time, and 231 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 2: then it just blows up with Presley or even in 232 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 2: some of these outings. Counsels made this point where when 233 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 2: you're a reliever, when you're the closer, these outings hinge 234 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: on like one or two pitches, and so it's really 235 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: hard to look at like five games and you know, 236 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 2: kind of draw too many grand conclusions off of maybe 237 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: four pitches total. Now, we'll see how they kind of 238 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: survive what's going to become a tougher schedule in terms 239 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 2: of lack of off days, how they manage that as 240 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 2: they get into the season, sort of like the wear 241 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: and tear. I am curious, like who is gonna pop up? 242 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 2: Like there are guys who kind of entered the season 243 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 2: circle of trust and then just sort of disappear. And 244 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 2: then we still have the Tyson Miller's and Ryan Braziers 245 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: at Iowa. We'll see kind of when they come up 246 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 2: if they can contribute. And then, Yeah, the sustainability of 247 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: Drew Pomerans would be like a great story. 248 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 3: I think we just want to see it a little more. 249 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: Right, Sure, what you want is for him to stay 250 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: healthy and and do it for what it's been two weeks, 251 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: So I'm not taking anything too far there. I just 252 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: I've been impressed that he's purely What I'm impressed by 253 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: is the stop. I agree, I agree, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 254 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm just surprised. I'm surprised. This stuff is so Chris. 255 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: But you know that he's getting out and all that great, 256 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: but I was looking I was like, what is velocity 257 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: is the same? That doesn't make sense to me, okay, 258 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: and he he was, you know, guys say a lot 259 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: of things, and you never really know when when you're 260 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: kind of just like listening to them, talk to the media, 261 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: talk to us. He said he felt great. He feels 262 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: physically the best he's felt in the while. So you know, 263 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: maybe he's right, maybe maybe that's an accurate description. And 264 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: and he's he's always wearing like these heating pads and 265 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: these things, but. 266 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 3: He's like Arth Vader like arm mans and yeah. 267 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: So he's constantly taking care of his body. But like 268 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: that's also I think that's just the reality of a picture. 269 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: I don't think that's anything too dramatic. But it's just 270 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: funny to see constantly like his arm is in these 271 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: like high tech I don't know exactly what they are, 272 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: but I you know, they he's always wearing them. I 273 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: was talking to him the other days, like, let me 274 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: just put my put my equipment on and you can 275 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: just keep asking questions, and he's like putting all that 276 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: stuff all over his arm and shoulder. 277 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 3: I don't I. 278 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: When when I look at Bullpens, I generally it takes me. 279 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: I'm never going to judge them on the first couple 280 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: of weeks, but I will. I will say this year, 281 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: I was concerned in that in those first couple of 282 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: weeks they've won me over. This group has largely won 283 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: me over. Like I mentioned with deal bar Keller's kind 284 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: of piqued my interest. Porter Hodge, I trust him even 285 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: like I said, the walks, I don't like those, But 286 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: then guys like Palancia just hammering the strike zone looks 287 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: like a different picture. You mentioned the schedule, Patrick, it 288 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: does ease up, right, it does ease up in terms 289 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: of competition. The off days are going to make things 290 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: a little complicated. We kind of wrap up this. We 291 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 1: said it wrapped up earlier, but really they had a 292 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: few more tough series, right. It was Milwaukee and then 293 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: San Francisco, and now they go to New York City. 294 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: And I don't know as PCA mania died down in 295 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: the last couple of days, I don't think, so no 296 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: chance to know. Like he was as exciting at a 297 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: player as I can recall covering when when he was 298 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: doing what he was doing against the Brewers. You know, 299 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: he's still hitting the ball hard. That bad at bat 300 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: I think is going to linger in some people's head 301 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: on Tuesday. That's a really tough lefty that he's facing 302 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: with nasty stuff. He is an aggressive swinger. He is 303 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: going to learn a lot this year and going forward. 304 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: He's twenty three. 305 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 6: I believe. 306 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: This kid isn't done learning, he isn't done getting better. 307 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: I don't think there's more in there to kind of 308 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: refine his game. But he goes back to New York. 309 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:30,120 Speaker 1: I'm kind of excited to see how this plays out Patrick, 310 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: because if he's nothing if not a showman, right, and 311 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: when we're gathering stuff about about him and talking to 312 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: his teammates, that's a lot of what I hear. He 313 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: handles the big moments really well. Again, Tuesday was a 314 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: bad big moment. We'll see what this is the next 315 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: big moment. Let's see what he does in New York. 316 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be it's going to be 317 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,199 Speaker 1: a media frenzy for him, right the team that traded 318 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: him to the Cubs, New York media in general is 319 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,959 Speaker 1: it's a packed clubhouse whenever we go there. And now 320 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: you're talking about one of the most exciting players in 321 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: baseball kind of taking center straight stage against a really 322 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: good Mets team. 323 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel you can almost just bank on it 324 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 2: that PCA is going to have some huge homer or 325 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 2: some wild celebration or some sort of like base running 326 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 2: trick that he pulls out or you know, some leaping catch, 327 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 2: you know in front of where they still have that 328 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 2: apple that comes out of the hat, you know, like 329 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: kind of right, but that I think that's in center field. 330 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 2: But yeah, there's always a big crowd when the Cubs 331 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 2: go to New York in terms of reporters in the 332 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 2: clubhouse and the dugout talk to the manager. You know, 333 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 2: PCA is going to be a story there. A Fox 334 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 2: game on Saturday night, Cubs and Mats to good historic rivals. 335 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 2: You know, it's not the same anymore because they see 336 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 2: each other a lot less frequently, but like really good 337 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 2: history there. And you know, I've just been impressed by, like, 338 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 2: you know, I'm curious to kind of read what PCA 339 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 2: says because he's always just been so insightful this year, accessible, humble, 340 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 2: self deprecating, self aware, like you know that ultimately that stuff, 341 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 2: you know, I don't know how much it matters, but 342 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 2: it can be revealing, I think. I mean, that's why 343 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 2: we do this to kind of get a sense of 344 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 2: where a players head is at. And I think you 345 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 2: see why teammates like Pete you can see him becoming 346 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: more comfortable and letting his personality show a little more. 347 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 2: This hasn't gone to his head, and I think all 348 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 2: of those are just kind of you know, I can't 349 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 2: really measure that stuff, but I think they're all like 350 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 2: really good signs for his like long term growth and 351 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 2: development as one of these like marquee stars in the game. 352 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 3: Like you. 353 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: There is really no ceiling on him at this point, 354 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 2: which is crazy to think when the Cubs traded for him, 355 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 2: when they send hot ve Baias to the Mets and 356 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 2: PCA was recovering from you know, season ending shoulder surgery 357 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 2: down in Port Saint Lucy, Florida. 358 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean to think about it, he wouldn't have 359 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: He probably wouldn't have been available if he if he had. Yeah, right, Yeah, 360 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: for sure, I can't imagine that. You know, the Mets 361 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,239 Speaker 1: see him play and are willing to willing to move him, 362 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: especially his ability to just do everything he does instead 363 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: of field one small thing. I know. This isn't you 364 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,719 Speaker 1: know what he's known for, I guess, or what's going 365 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: to get him headlines? Council was asked about it, and 366 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: I noticed it too in Milwaukee, and then it happened. 367 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: Was it Tuesday night? Maybe he cuts off these balls 368 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: that are base hits that are headed for the gap 369 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: or should be going to the wall, or should you 370 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: should be getting them deeper in the field something. He 371 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: does this so regularly, and I think teams are now 372 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 1: well aware not only that he has that speed to 373 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: get there, but that his arm is so strong that 374 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: you don't try to extend that stretch that single into 375 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: a double. He threw another runner out that was yesterday, 376 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 1: that was Wednesday. At the plate, he's I mean, and 377 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: sometimes I wonder is he better than even I realize 378 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: when when I see stuff like that, And I was like, 379 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: because I will see the ball going into the gap 380 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: and I think that's a double. I believe there was 381 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: one that was Jackson Curio. Uh, there was definitely there 382 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: was Lee Jung Hu Lee. There these are guys with 383 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: speed and they're stopping at first and they're not even 384 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: really thinking about going to second. They're not gonna push it, 385 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: he's cutting it off. He's saving bases. That's saving runs 386 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: that you don't even realize. That's that's something that I wonder. 387 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: I don't even know if the advanced metrics really can 388 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: can measure that right that that's not something I'm aware of. 389 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: I could be wrong. I really don't know exactly the 390 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: details on how that's measured. But something small like that 391 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: feels so monumental in the grand scheme of things. Keeping 392 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: guys at first uh takes pressure off the pitcher and 393 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,479 Speaker 1: it likely limits runs. He's just so valuable in ways 394 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: that you know, you may not even notice until you 395 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: watch him all the time. You know, Wow, that's saving bases, 396 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: that's doing little things. Then you know you add in 397 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: the arm strength, just the general defense, and you made 398 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: a spectacular play Tuesday night, So you know, you got 399 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 1: the jaw dropping plays along with just the smaller stuff. 400 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: And he's just this special talent that does so many 401 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: different things on the field. 402 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, you make a great point there, because when we're 403 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 2: at Wrigley Field, I have in the press box, we 404 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,479 Speaker 2: have a great view of center field and you can 405 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: kind of see that burst and the angles he takes 406 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 2: in a way that's harder to do on TV or 407 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 2: maybe in other parts of the ballpark. And I think 408 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 2: that's a really kind of rarefied air when you're that 409 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 2: player who gets in the other team's head, and you're 410 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 2: going to see it in some of the cautious base 411 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 2: running decisions that teams are going to have to make 412 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: because of his speed and his arm, like you say, 413 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 2: and you also see it in defenders who are sort 414 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 2: of rushed, like their internal clock is off because they 415 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 2: know he's on the bases. And like we've covered a 416 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 2: lot of great players, I don't know how many players 417 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 2: can do that in so many different ways. And of 418 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 2: course the first player you think of who did that 419 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 2: is Hobby Bias. 420 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 1: It's kind of it's weird. It's it's weird, it's a 421 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, serendipitous in some way that that this 422 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: is how it's turning out. Uh, he's becoming. Hobby was 423 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: every kid's favorite player, remember that, And now I think 424 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: p c A has become every kid's favorite player. Every 425 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: every kid wants to emulate pc A. Sorry, kids, here, 426 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: you're that's gonna be really hard. You're just not that fast. 427 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 3: Good luck with that though, you can die your you 428 00:25:57,920 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 3: can dye your hair blue if. 429 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 6: You want, go for that. 430 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,719 Speaker 1: I'm sure your moms will. Moms and dads they were 431 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: out the country. We encourage your children to die their 432 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: air blue. All right, Patrick, The Cubs have three against 433 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: the Mets this weekend. It's going to be a fascinating weekend. 434 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: PCA obviously is a main story. We'll see if any 435 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: other if the other main story of if Kate Horton 436 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: is pitching this weekend, we'll see. We'll talk about that 437 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: perhaps in our next episode, if we get a better 438 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 1: idea of what's going on. Thanks so much for listening everyone. 439 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: This is Northside Territory Foul Territory Network's Cubs podcast. Make 440 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: sure to rate, review and subscribe. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, 441 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: and subscribe to the Athletic for Patrick and I are 442 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: on top of all things Cubs. Thanks so much for 443 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: listening to everyone. 444 00:26:52,760 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 6: Taken anything? Do they I will wave? Do they