1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: It sounds alarmist to be like in May and June 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: saying this can really fight him. 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 2: But it did. 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 3: Welcome into North Side Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 3: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney, where your 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 3: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick, the Cubs 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 3: are still dreaming on the playoff run. You had a 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 3: nice article talking about that, all the all the things 9 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 3: they're talking about that they seem realistic, but also you 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 3: know they're not gonna They're still a shot, so they're 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 3: they're going to preach playoffs and winning on a day 12 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 3: to day basis. I thought the series in LA was solid. 13 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 3: You went to a three. You take that. Obviously the 14 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 3: last game, uh didn't go as expected or as hoped. Uh, 15 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 3: but you know it's still like our last podcast. I 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 3: don't understand, Like the second they went down five to two. 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 3: I was watching in that game and I was like, 18 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 3: I guarantee Wis is going into that dugout and that 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: offense is saying we got you because they're so confident 20 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 3: on the on the road, and five runs wasn't enough 21 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 3: to win that game. Oddly enough, that that offense just 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 3: looks completely different on the road. But we don't need 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: to talk about you know, miracles, miracle runs or the 24 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 3: chances of the playoffs. We know it's sub five percent, 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 3: if not lower than that in reality. But these next 26 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 3: few weeks matter, right, Like we want to there are 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 3: things we want to see over the next few weeks, players, performances. 28 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 3: I'm sure Council has a lot of things he wants 29 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 3: to see, right. I think one thing that is important, 30 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: and we've gotten some solid news on this is Justin Steel. 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 3: If if for nothing else, like him getting it back 32 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 3: on the mound and pitching again is good for everyone 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 3: to kind of see like, Okay, this is very even 34 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 3: if they're out of it. Right, if he pitches and 35 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 3: they're out of it, like that shows even more like 36 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: there's nothing wrong here, right, You're you're out in LA. 37 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 3: You're you're out in Colorado now, but you were out 38 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 3: in LA. What like, uh, let us know what what's 39 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 3: the latest with Justin Steele right now? 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: Yeah? 41 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: I mean, as Counsel would say, this is literally a 42 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: day to day situation. 43 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: But Steele's had a lot of good days. 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 1: And to use a council phrase, he's kind of stacking 45 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: good days on top of one another. And he threw 46 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 1: a bullpen on Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium and is scheduled 47 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: to throw another bullpen this weekend at Course Field. And 48 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: it's kind of implicit that you know he's feeling good 49 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: if he's throwing bullpen sessions. But Steel made it sound like, 50 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: you know, he's kind of symptom. 51 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: Free at this point. 52 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: And now that information is data a little somewhat if 53 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: we're going on the day to day. 54 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: Framework here, but. 55 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: Certainly he's advancing, he's making progress, and he is one 56 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: of those names that I think we'd circle on the 57 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: roster for what do you need to see over these 58 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: last two plus weeks. 59 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: And we've alluded to it earlier. This is someone who is. 60 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: In the middle of that arbitration cycle. He's got a 61 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: long way to go once they reach his free agency. 62 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: It's like him a long time to reach the major leagues. 63 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: We're not quite sure if or how the two sides 64 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: could come together on a long term deal, but certainly, 65 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: like if you want that to happen, you kind of 66 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: have to pitch in September. In my mind, now, there's 67 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: always exceptions and whatever but I think it would go 68 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: a long way for him to pitch again this season. 69 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: It's been a fantastic season on his part. He's really 70 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: it's fun to watch. He's really grown as kind of 71 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: a presence around this team, a reason to watch, and like, yeah, 72 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: the percentage is not zero, right, I mean, like if 73 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: he does come back, like the Cubs could make it 74 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: a little interesting here with you know, their schedule, the 75 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: way they have been playing, And I realize it's kind 76 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: of absurd to walk up to people like Dansby Swanson 77 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: or an Eco Horner and be like do you think 78 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: you can really make the takoffs? But you know, when you're 79 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: around these guys for literally years, and you know how 80 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: they think, Like this is a very like analytical group, 81 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: right of like they're not oblivious to any of this stuff. 82 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: They can there's an eye test for them of like. 83 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: How they're they're playing and things like that, and you know, 84 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: I think it was also way to just explain to 85 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: our readers and reinforce this idea of like how they've 86 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: gone about this season, right, Like they didn't go in 87 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: the tank when things were not looking very good at 88 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: various points during the season. That they've kind of kept 89 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 1: at it and there are no no parades or rings 90 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: for that, But I do think it's a way to 91 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: kind of understand this team and try to envision what 92 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: it's going to look like under council moving forward. 93 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 4: Snoring sucks, sodas, congestion from sinuses, allergies or a cold, 94 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 4: and you might not even realize how much it's affecting you. 95 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 4: Ft Fam. You need to try Navage nasal care. It's 96 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 4: been a game changer for me. Yeah, Kratz Navaj uses 97 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 4: that smooth saline flow and nasal suction to clear those 98 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 4: nasal passages. 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That's promo code 111 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 5: foul at navage dot com slash foul. 112 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 3: I don't want to derail us here, but something in 113 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 3: your article stood out to me because like I just 114 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 3: I knew this, but like seeing the records in May 115 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 3: and June just like kind of reinforce this idea of 116 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 3: like if they just somehow put together three more wins 117 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 3: between those two months, it would be having a completely 118 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: different conversation right now. And that's how wild baseball can 119 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 3: be sometimes. And I know the feeling among Cubs fans 120 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,559 Speaker 3: is like this is a missed opportunity. All that stuff 121 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,119 Speaker 3: is fair. I think it just and I've said this before, 122 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 3: but we need to keep reinforcing that they're not that 123 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: far off. They're they're like they're definitely they're within the 124 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 3: margin of error. That what we keep saying, and what 125 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: I think is important is you don't want to be 126 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: that type of team though they need to. They need 127 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 3: to have goals for a higher level, right where that 128 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: this margin of error doesn't impact them as much, but 129 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: it's just it needs to it when when people are frustrated, 130 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: like how did the Cubs compete? They're not that far off. 131 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 3: They need to make the right decisions and do those things. 132 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 3: But what we're talking about here, I think is important too, 133 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: right like justin Steele showing that he can finish the 134 00:07:54,960 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 3: season healthy. I think this is this is smaller. I 135 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: don't know if how much he's going to impact the future, 136 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 3: just because it's he's been so up and down during 137 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 3: his Cub's career. But I'd like to see what Hayden 138 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 3: was Nesky has these final few weeks. Yeah, he's pitching 139 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: in Iowa. I don't know what the latest is on him. 140 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: I believe he pitched like three or four days ago 141 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: in Iowa. I don't know if the expectation is like 142 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 3: we'll just see how he goes. I'm not sure if 143 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: there were any updates on the road. 144 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,679 Speaker 2: Like they wanted to give him. 145 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: They're not stretching him out to start, but to try 146 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: to get to pitch multiple innings, And the last update 147 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: was like things are going in the right direction, and 148 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: you know, I'm sure we'll get a better sense of 149 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: that this weekend in Corsefield. But I'm with you, he's 150 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: got it. He's there's something there. He has one, some 151 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: sort of like it factor. I don't know, just his 152 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: his energy, his stuff, his drive. 153 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: I would say, like I think he really wants this. 154 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: And you see the flashes and you're like, oh wow, 155 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: Like that's interesting, that's different. And you know, does he 156 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: come back to just sort of audition for next year? 157 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: Does he come back and have a chance to like 158 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: impact meaningful games in the playoff? 159 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 2: Right, we'll see yeah. 160 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 3: No, And like I if you're talking about the latter, 161 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 3: it's like, okay, who who do you want up to 162 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 3: help the team right now? Trey Wing Genter or Hayden 163 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 3: Wisnsky right, like the one And that's not like Wing 164 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 3: get there obviously has stuff and it could I would 165 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 3: never like these types of relievers like Wing entered would 166 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 3: not surprise me if he has like puts together a 167 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: really good season, figures things out. It happens all the 168 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 3: time with relievers. But weis Nesky is under control with 169 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: this team. He's he's a young guy that they invested 170 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 3: in by trading, Uh, you know, a quality reliever for 171 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 3: him or someone that was a quality reliever before his injuries. 172 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: With Scott e FROs. They they there's a chance that 173 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 3: you know, Wisnesky is an impactful part of either this 174 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 3: bullpen or rotation as early as next season. Right, he 175 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 3: was supposed to be earlier than that this season. But 176 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 3: it feels like there's something. I agree with all the 177 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: positives O there, but it feels like he just needs 178 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 3: to get over some hump here. I don't know if 179 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 3: it's a mental thing, but it's something he just needs 180 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: to show us that here are four relief outings in 181 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 3: a row where I'm not giving up a home run, 182 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 3: where I'm not giving up a critical walk, something like that. Right, 183 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 3: you just want to see some sustained success from him, 184 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 3: even if it's the end of season, whether it's meaningless 185 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 3: games or not. I'd like to see a nice run 186 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 3: from him at the end. Here one other guy who 187 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 3: pitched Wednesday or Thursday night in Iowa. I know he's 188 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 3: a free agent. I know he may not be back. 189 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 3: I think it matters to see Jorge Lopez healthy for 190 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 3: the front office to kind of make a decision on 191 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 3: do we want to invest in this. I think he's 192 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 3: so comfortable in Chicago, and that was a big factor, right, 193 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 3: Darren Holmes, Craig Council both have history with him. He's 194 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 3: looked so dominant when he's healthy. Out of this bullpen. 195 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 3: There are pieces starting to come together, like Nate Pearson 196 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: and Porter Hodge that make you feel like, Okay, and 197 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 3: I don't want to We've done this before where I've 198 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: seen young guys and then the next season it goes 199 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 3: to hell with them. But those are two guys that 200 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 3: look really interesting. Right now. You have a veteran like 201 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 3: Lopez that that you feel good about. You're talking about 202 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 3: pieces for a bullpen that you can kind of trust 203 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 3: entering April instead of June or July waiting to figure 204 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 3: things out. So I think it's worth seeing how he 205 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 3: does down the stretch, and it gives the front office 206 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 3: a little more information, like, Okay, maybe we try and 207 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 3: knock out a one or two year deal. What's he 208 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 3: what's he looking for? We try and knock out a 209 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 3: deal before November? Right, maybe they can do that. 210 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 211 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: I I go back to what you were saying about 212 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: the month to month records, like we would talk about 213 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,239 Speaker 1: that in real. 214 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 2: Time on this show when we'd write about it. 215 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: As it was happening, of like this could really come 216 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: back to haunt them, and. 217 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:19,839 Speaker 2: It sounds. 218 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: Alarmist, you know, to be like in May and June saying, 219 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: you know, this could really bite them, but it did 220 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: last year and you are seeing. 221 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 2: It this year. And that, to me is yet another 222 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 2: reminder of needing. 223 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: More like established talent, like dudes you can count on. 224 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: And that goes to kind of the overall pitching out 225 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: look that you just mentioned, and I definitely think the rotation. 226 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: Is an area where you can upgrade. 227 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: I mean, Jordan Wicks did not have a good start 228 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: the end Dodger Stadium. That happens, I mean that's a 229 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: you're facing, you know, Hall of famers at the top 230 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: of the lineup in their ballpark. You know, it's kind 231 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: of flying there this week. But if you look at 232 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: his season as a whole, it's been a disappointment. There 233 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: were injuries, two different injuries, two different types of injuries. 234 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: You know, looking at he said one start where he 235 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: finished six innings. Everything else is below that, only ten 236 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: outings at the major league level. And this is not 237 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: all about Jordan Wicks. It's just this idea of like 238 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: how do you stop some of those losing streaks, or 239 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 1: how do you kind of minimize those down periods, or 240 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: how do you kind of like steal a game and 241 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: just kind of change the momentum. And you know, I 242 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: think Cubs have asked a lot of their pitching staff 243 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: one because the offense, for whatever reason, what ever conspiracy 244 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: theory we want to go with on Brayleyfield, the offense 245 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: is kind of coming gone here and there. The bullpen, 246 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: they don't want to just hand out multi year deals 247 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: to establish guys, which we largely understand that logic, but 248 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: then you kind of get into the rotation and like 249 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: hoping a lot of these young pitchers step forward, and 250 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: some of them have, i mean showed to it's not 251 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: necessarily young, but he's a rookie. 252 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: He's been awesome, and the SATs had a good season. 253 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: But I think it's just like you bring in a 254 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: dude who can kind of just change how the rotation 255 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: functions of just like spreading some of the responsibility, taking 256 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: some of the pressure off, carrying some more innings, which 257 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: helps your bullpen and you know, maybe get you a 258 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: couple more games where the offense you know, doesn't have 259 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: to score eight runs. Just things like that. 260 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 2: I think that. 261 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: I think individually, you know, certainly a picture like Wix, 262 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: who again the first round pick. He looked really good 263 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: last year injuries happened, should have a bright future in 264 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: front of him. It's just more of that whole group 265 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: that the Cups have of like depth and interesting guys. 266 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: Like for me, I would go get a guy you 267 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: can put towards the front of rotation and just knock 268 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: everyone down and towards like where you feel pretty good about, 269 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: like your eighth or ninth starter in Triple A Iowa 270 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: when you open the season next year in Japan. 271 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think there's that makes a lot of sense. 272 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 3: I think I've been kind of preaching that since like 273 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: mid season. Part of the reason I said that is 274 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 3: because I my concern was a sod like it looked 275 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: like he hit a wall. I got to give him credit. 276 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 3: He's he's bounced back. It's like he hit he did 277 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 3: hit a wall, and then he got Yeah, he got 278 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: over it. He's you know, he's not a dominant starter. 279 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 3: He's a really good mid back rotation guy on a 280 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 3: winning team. I think that's what you want. You want 281 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 3: guys that can give you innings, that can keep you 282 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 3: in games. For the most part, he does that. You 283 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 3: want to see him kind of lock in that command 284 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 3: and not walk as many guys. But it's just like 285 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 3: he's he's kind of turned a corner after I was like, oh, 286 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 3: he's hit about one hundred innings and now he can't. 287 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 3: It looks like he's laboring every single time he's out there. 288 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 3: I think that's a big deal for them to see that. 289 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 3: And if you can push him to where he's like 290 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 3: fighting for the fifth spot with Wicks and Ben Brown. 291 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 3: I don't know what they do with west Neski. If 292 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 3: Kate Horton's ready to start the season or if it's 293 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 3: June July, whatever, he's ready to come up to the 294 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 3: big leagues. If you have a competition with all those 295 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 3: young guys, right Brandon bird Cell at Triple A, who 296 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 3: have heard really good things about like this guy's not 297 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: a superstar, but another depth starter. Uh, Like you you 298 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: want those guys to be fighting for that last spot, 299 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 3: and you have someone established to get you know it's 300 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 3: we we know it's Steel Tyn and in Monaga, assuming health, 301 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 3: assuming no weird trades happen in the winter, those three 302 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: are locked in, Right, You add a fourth guide that 303 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 3: you lock in whether you know, I think we you 304 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 3: and I are on the same page, like Corbyn Burns 305 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 3: isn't happening. 306 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 2: I doubt it. 307 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but there's not a lot of upside for us 308 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 1: to rule it out, you know, right game Yeah. 309 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't want to say it's yeah, not one 310 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 3: hundred percent. I'm I'm not. That's not where my focus is. 311 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 3: As far as I don't expect, it's not worth ruling 312 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: anything out because who knows how markets play out, and 313 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 3: this this front office will pounce if things if weird 314 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 3: things happen or unexpected uh area, or maybe they're just 315 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 3: laying in the weeds and and and they want to 316 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 3: pounce on someone specific, and that person could be Corpornburns. 317 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 3: So I don't want to rule anything out, but it's 318 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 3: it's going to be like the tier below that in 319 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 3: my mind, but maybe you know, who knows Max Freed 320 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 3: could make sense. I think that's probably a tier too 321 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 3: high for them, but I don't. I don't want to 322 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 3: make assumptions. Well, we'll have a better idea when we 323 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 3: get to November. And then I've been thinking this for 324 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 3: once I started looking at the free agent lists, and 325 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 3: I've seen this type of season Walker Buehlers had. It 326 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 3: hasn't been great. He's not going to get this monster deal. 327 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 3: He's going to need a one year bounce back. When 328 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 3: it's a one year deal, I don't care if it's 329 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: if he's asking for thirty million, which is not going 330 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 3: to be But you know, Jed doesn't care. It's a 331 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 3: one year deal, like that's perfect, Like that's it's just 332 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 3: like it's just like the first ballaner deal. And it's 333 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 3: the reason why Reese Hoskins was on our radar and 334 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 3: turning last off season, even though he ended up with Milwaukee, 335 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 3: that was a guy that we were like, let's pay 336 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: attention to this. He's gonna want a one year deal. 337 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 3: I think Bueller makes a ton of sense. And it's 338 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: the exact type of player that you want to kind 339 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 3: of fill a rotation spot when you have four or 340 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 3: five young guys that you're not one hundred percent sure 341 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 3: can lock in a rotation spot, but you would like 342 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 3: to by July of next year, you know, but you 343 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 3: don't know right now in September. That's the name that 344 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 3: that I keep coming back to again. This is without 345 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: we haven't hit the offseason, so we don't know who 346 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 3: they're targeting just yet. But I think that's a guy 347 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 3: that makes a ton of sense. And I am going 348 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 3: to continue to say this no matter what happens over 349 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 3: the next three weeks. But I think they I think 350 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 3: they have to add some certainty to this rotation. I 351 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 3: think after we talked about like upgrade, getting one certain 352 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,239 Speaker 3: upgrade on offense, that's my next spot of where like 353 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 3: if you come out of this offseason and you're relying 354 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 3: on all those young guys that we talked about to 355 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 3: lock in a rotation spot, I don't love the off season. 356 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think this is kind of what I wrote. 357 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: Our conversation was building towards, and it's a lot of 358 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: stuff that frankly, I think the Cubs are talking about 359 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: amongst themselves. 360 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: Of like they have interesting young talent. They have. 361 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: Some system and systems in place that have surfaced, whether 362 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: it was surface different types of talent as well, of 363 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: like whether it's kind of cast off relievers. 364 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: Or pitchers through the draft or kind of some. 365 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: Homegrown relievers getting creative going out and getting a Tyson Miller. 366 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: You mentioned Lopez, Like a lot of like good smart 367 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: things that don't. 368 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 2: Handcuff them anyway, even if it doesn't work out. 369 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: But I think there's just this sense of like, after 370 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 1: a couple of years of this, you know, eighty three wins, 371 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: maybe they wind up with eighty five this year, just 372 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: looking being just outside the playoff bracket and seeing some 373 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: of these dips throughout the season, which do happen to everyone. 374 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: But I just think it's like, you know, Jed Hoyer 375 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: going into year five as president of Baseball operations, no 376 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: playoff wins for. 377 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 2: The franchise since twenty seventeen, like it's. 378 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: Time to just build more certainty and upside into this operation. 379 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: And you know, any team, like every team needs stuff 380 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: to go right, right. I mean it's not like, you know, 381 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: you just roll out the baseballs, but like you've hammered 382 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: this point of like there are ways to like that 383 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 1: team that on paper looks like it's gonna win ninety, 384 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: you have a high probability of going beyond ninety. 385 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 2: And then there are. 386 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: These sort of I don't know if they're half measures, 387 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: but kind of like just being very very measured in 388 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 1: your approach and not overextending yourselves and leaving a lot 389 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: of optionality for the future. I think, you know, kind 390 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 1: of this season, this moment is really leading towards them 391 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 1: having to be more aggressive and kind of getting outside 392 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: their comfort zone. 393 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think when you have is it five guys 394 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 3: in the triple A lineup that are bordered either in 395 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 3: the top one hundred or borderline top one hundred prospects, 396 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 3: if you keep three to three or four of them, 397 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 3: now you're talking about having solid depth at minimum for 398 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 3: your for your major league team. Right at minimum. These 399 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 3: guys are like if there's an injury to outfield or 400 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 3: x and you can call upon Owen Casey or Kevin l. 401 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 3: Contra instead of you know, this guy that's a four 402 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 3: A outfielder, you feel good about that, right or These 403 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 3: are the types of things you want. That's why twenty 404 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 3: twenty five is you want to look at it as like, 405 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 3: don't rely on these prospects as much as these prospects 406 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 3: are quality depth for them, and if they emerge, if 407 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 3: they push, you know, if they push force the issue, 408 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 3: that's what that's the ideal scenario that Jed Hoyer and 409 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 3: Carter Hopkins want. I think what both you and I 410 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 3: are saying is, so you want those guys to be 411 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 3: the depth you want them to be, the surprise additions, 412 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 3: and then you add the established talent, you add the 413 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 3: certainty this winter to create to make those guys the 414 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:53,199 Speaker 3: surprise depth. If they're superstars, hey awesome. If there's like 415 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 3: you just you just created a great team. Now you're 416 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 3: talking about ninety five plus wins, right, you want to 417 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 3: create that floor of eighty eight to ninety two. That's 418 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,640 Speaker 3: where you want to be. So then when surprise good 419 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 3: things happen, you're pushing to be one of the best 420 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 3: in Baseball, national League, whatever it is. And that's how 421 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 3: that's how the fifteen and sixteen it was different. Right. 422 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 3: I don't want to compare it always to that because 423 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 3: the way you build and how it happens is different. 424 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 3: But that's we I don't think we've talked about this 425 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 3: a lot, but THEO was obsessed with depth back then. 426 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 3: He was obsessed with it, that's all he like because 427 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 3: he knew we had this really good team. He's like, 428 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 3: we cannot afford to have anything derail this. And it 429 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 3: nearly did in like day four of the season, right 430 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 3: with the Kyle Schuber injury. But because of that depth 431 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 3: that they created they didn't trade. You know, they didn't 432 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 3: trade this excess of talent that they had because it 433 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 3: turned out to be valuable to them, like Jorg Solaer 434 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 3: being an extra outfield or whatever turned out to be 435 00:24:55,160 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 3: really valuable, right, So stuff like that. So I wouldn't 436 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 3: rule out any sort of move. There are some guys 437 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 3: that are just locked in, but I think they We 438 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 3: saw it at the deadline, We saw it in the 439 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,479 Speaker 3: Michael Bush trade a year or you know whatever, and 440 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,640 Speaker 3: nine months ago. That's the type of creative creativity this 441 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 3: front office has to have and continue to have to 442 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 3: kind of push twenty twenty five to another level. All right, Patrick, 443 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 3: I think that wraps it up for today. We will 444 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 3: be back at it next week to start the homestand 445 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 3: we'll see if the Cubs are still in it by then. 446 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 3: I think a sweep is necessary. I think we think 447 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 3: pretty much everyone agrees that there can't be many more 448 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 3: losses to for us keep talking about the playoffs. So 449 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 3: got to take care of business in Colorado not an 450 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 3: easy place to play, but this is a better team. 451 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 3: The Cubs are a better team than Colorado. Got to 452 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 3: take care of business. There's no more excuses, right, now 453 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to Northside Territory. Make sure 454 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the Athletic. Patrick and 455 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 3: I are on top of the cubs for the rest 456 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 3: of this season and through. 457 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: The off season. 458 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening. Everyone appreciate it. 459 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 2: Take care