1 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Welcome into North Side Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick the 4 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: Tokyo series over. The Cubs are back from Japan. I 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: am back from Japan. They are an h to baseball team. Currently, 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: there's panic in the streets of Wrigley Bill. 7 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: Those are just people running wild watching marsh madness post 8 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 2: Saint Patrick's dead. 9 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 3: You know, there could be lots of reasons for that. 10 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's I mean, I'm not gonna take 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: too much away from two games. You know, Matt Shaw 12 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: looked bad defensively one game and then great defensively the 13 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: next game. What does it tell us? I don't know, 14 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: Like he he struck the ball well a couple of times, 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: had some really bad at bats, say Suzuki had those 16 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: weird swings that he has had, like when he's in 17 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: a slump. And then you know, Kyle Tucker got to 18 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: double up the wall. I don't I what does it 19 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: tell me? What does any of this tell me? Is 20 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: Justice Steel bad now? Because he had a bad game 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: against the Dodgers, like, it's two games, they didn't play great, 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: there wasn't much positive to take away from it. If 23 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: you want to panic, you're you're more than free to 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: do that. I just I just struggled to take two games. 25 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: Take much away from two games in the middle of 26 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: March against the best team in baseball that was down 27 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: to two of the better players. But still it's just, 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: you know, we'll see what the Cubs are. But I 29 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: get people that aren't like inspired by that, or or 30 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: that we're already ready to be negative. You know, they're 31 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: going to lean into that, so uh, you know, go 32 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: for it. I guess. 33 00:01:57,960 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. 34 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: I think some of the perspective is a little harder too, 35 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 2: when this is a team that a couple of years 36 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: ago missed the playoffs by one game, and that even 37 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 2: two years later, the kind of payroll structure and roster. 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 3: Building philosophy has not evolved that much. Right. 39 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 2: It's not like, you know, they just missed the playoffs. 40 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 3: And they fire their manager. 41 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 2: Oh wait, they did and brought in counsel, but didn't 42 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: really surround him with a totally new and improved cast. 43 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: So I kind of get that part of it. You know, 44 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: it's crazy. I think the Dodgers could just you know, 45 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 2: basically sit to future Hall of famers and not a beat. 46 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 2: But I think that's most teams, uh displayed of most 47 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: teams right now, it's kind of the Dodgers league. And yeah, 48 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: I'm curious, like how do you feel? You know, I'm 49 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: trying to you know, reading something of the comments out 50 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: of Arizona and trying to picture what you know, athletes 51 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: are feeling, like how how do you feel after making 52 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 2: that long trip, not on a charter flight and not 53 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: having yeah, same accommodations. 54 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, well my my travel, like we don't we don't 55 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: need to spend too much time on it. But it 56 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: was insane. I went to Osaka, tried to check my 57 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: bags back in in Osaka and I was told, oh, no, 58 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: you're at a different airport for your flight to LA. 59 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: I didn't really realize that when I was booking it. 60 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: So I had to take a bus, like an hour 61 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: long bus trip to another to another airport in Osaka. 62 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: Glue to LA had a five hour layover there. It 63 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: was a five hour layover in Osaka, so I had 64 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: plenty of time to get to that other airport. And 65 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: you know, it was it was about twenty six hours 66 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: of travel with layovers. Surprisingly, I feel okay. I got 67 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: home late enough and that I just kind of crashed 68 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: hard and probably slept the best I slept in a while. 69 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: So so so it worked out in the end. We'll 70 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: see where I am by, you know, like the rest 71 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: of this day. I was able to stay up last 72 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: night and watch Illinois basketball, so that that put me 73 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: in a good mood. So we'll see if I'm able 74 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: to push through and watch the more march madness. But yeah, 75 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: back to Arizona soon enough. And I do like it's weird. 76 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: It's supposed to be tougher on the way back. I 77 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: talked to some people that said, like, it's always harder 78 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: on the way back, But then some one person was like, 79 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: I've had some random trips where I'm okay on the 80 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: way back, so it's so it's kind of random. I think, 81 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, it depends on when you land, how much 82 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: you sleep on the flight, things like that, but right 83 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: now I'm okay. So who knows how those players are feeling. 84 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: I bet it's hitting everyone differently, you know, like like 85 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: that's my guess. Like what I was told was and 86 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: I think this is what happened. I didn't pay super 87 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: close attention, but like, don't expect anything on Friday. As 88 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: far as regulars playing, I don't think. I think a 89 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: couple of people that traveled played, but not like you know, 90 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: Dasy Swanson wasn't out there, Kyle Tucker wasn't out there, 91 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: and that was kind of the plan. Most of the 92 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: pitchers didn't pitch. For my understanding, I think maybe Brad 93 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: Keller was only one on the travel roster that pitched. 94 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: I could be wrong, but he didn't. He didn't pitch much. 95 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: You know, he pitched in the exhibition games and he's 96 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: not on the roster yet, so it makes sense that 97 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: he's just getting some time in there. I'm sure they 98 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: needed today or two. I think they may be back 99 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: at it. I wonder what the lineup looks like on 100 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: today's Saturday when we're recording. I wonder what the lineup 101 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: looks like. 102 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, they never post the lineup like in 103 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 3: the clubhouse, but. 104 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: Our guy Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune had a 105 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: couple news and notes crediting him a special guest on 106 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: North Side Territory previously as well, but that Nico Horner 107 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: felt well, he was a regular who played, and that 108 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 2: seems to be on track for that domestic domestic opening 109 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 2: day in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. We also had a 110 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: couple of unsurprising roster moves coming out of Japan in 111 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: that Eli Morgan and Jordan Wicks were both option to 112 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: triple A Iowa. I think we've kind of always viewed 113 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: Wix as just a depth starter, that he's at Wrigley 114 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: when guys get hurt, and I think Eli Morgan is 115 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: interesting in that the option really works. 116 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 3: Against him in this case. 117 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: I don't think I don't think they think that we 118 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 2: were kind of tipped off to this, you know, in 119 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: the middle of March of like, look, they're going to 120 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: make a lot. 121 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 3: Of decisions just based on that. 122 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,799 Speaker 2: So Eli Morgan is the prime example of a guy 123 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: who gets option to Iowa, but you don't know if 124 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: he'll even make it to Iowa, right, Like someone could 125 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 2: get injured in the intervening days to where they need him, 126 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: but they expect him to spend a lot of time 127 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: in Chicago, just not maybe not from the start. 128 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was actually told when he was acquired, like 129 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: he has an option, like you know, in an ideal world. 130 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: You never use that because he's so good. But there 131 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: were a lot of moves made after that that made 132 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: that now make it make more sense to option him there. 133 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: We've talked about this all spring. Really, they're not a 134 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: super optionable bullpen. There's a ton of guys that don't 135 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: have options. Craig Council, Jed Hoyer. They love death. They're 136 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: not going to start dfaing guys. I know there's good 137 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: I saw it comments on my piece. I know people 138 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: want h oh jeez, why am I blanking on his 139 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: first name? Miller's cheez oh, Tyson Miller, Tyson. I wanted 140 00:07:53,840 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: to call him Trevor Miller, Tyson Miller, dfaid or or 141 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: whoever they're They're ready to DFA guys that had poor 142 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: springs and listen, Tyson Miller may have a bad April 143 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: and uh and like may struggle and and then he 144 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: has earned his DFA. They need this type of depth. 145 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: They need bullpen depth. They need to see who is 146 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: good and who is not. There are moments when you 147 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: think this guy's terrible, he's no good, he can't pitch, 148 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: and then and then they go on huge runs because 149 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: that's what relievers do. I mean literally, Tyson Miller was 150 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: DFA last year and then had a great run with 151 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: the Cubs and and really stabilize their bullpen. So I 152 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: get it. Eli Moore can look good in one game. 153 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: He very well can be and and needs to be 154 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: an important part of the bullpen. But when you have 155 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 1: an option, it's going to be used. Guys are gonna 156 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: come up and down and that's just part of baseball. 157 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 158 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: I was also like, it's also important to remember that 159 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: these moves are for Jameson Tyne and Matthew Boyd. They 160 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: don't tell us anything. There more moves are gonna need 161 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: to be made. There needs to be a forty man 162 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: move made for Brad Keller, and there needs to be 163 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: and also a roster move made for Nico Horner. So 164 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: someone's going like there's like someone's gonna be dfaide off 165 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: the forty man and then two twenty six man roster 166 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: moves will need to be made. It could possibly be 167 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: the same one for the DFA and the twenty six man. 168 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: We'll see, but those guys are unless again, unless there's injuries, 169 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: those guys are are going to be on the domestic 170 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: opening day roster. So and and like you said, Nico, 171 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: that they reported from out of Arizona, Sully and whoever 172 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: else was out there. Nico's back and he was in 173 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: a major league spring training game. He'd been playing in 174 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: minor league games. He looks good, he looks fine, he 175 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 1: looks ready to go right like all that matters his 176 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: health and playing and getting those innings in. I think 177 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: that you know, I'm sure he's bumped of misterr Pan, 178 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: but obviously it's the right move to get them, get 179 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: them some time out there, Patrick, Before we do anything else, 180 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: let's take a quick break and hear from a sponsor 181 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: ft FAM. 182 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 5: I hope you have as much confidence as Penelope right now, 183 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 5: who is an avid Spot Tango fan. 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Go to spotantango dot com slash val use 198 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 5: code ful to get fifty percent off your first order. 199 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 5: That's spot in tango dot com slash foul. It's spotan 200 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 5: Tango dot com foul foul. 201 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: Sorry that get your. 202 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 3: Dog, you know, an endorsement deal. 203 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, seriously, I've not seen that one before, so it 204 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: threw me. Sorry. So one of the things. Uh again, 205 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna take anything too much away from those games, 206 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: but when when you see the team struggle with runners 207 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: in scoring position, it's an instant like that is an 208 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 1: instant trigger for fans. It's just like if a bullpen 209 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: blows a lead. These are the types of things that 210 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: trigger fans, I believe, going off memory, the number was 211 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: two for fourteen with runners in scoring position. They they 212 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: had a game plan going into Game two against Roki 213 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: Sasaki and nailed it like they were going to take pitches, 214 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: they were going to force him to Like this guy 215 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: is making his debut major league debut in Japan, in 216 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: his home country for the Dodgers. Like, that's a huge 217 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: moment for the kid. They were hoping he'd be a 218 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: little rattled, and I don't know if it was just 219 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: nerves or you know, like kid has a little trouble 220 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: finding the zone in general. Who knows. We'll see what 221 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: he's like as the season goes on. They drew a 222 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: ton of walks, They had a great approach, they couldn't 223 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: get the big hit right. And that's that's when stuff 224 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 1: like that happens. It frustrates fans and you're trying to 225 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: extrapolate it and say this is what it's going to be. 226 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: I have no clue if that's what it's gonna be, right, 227 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: I believe if they can get men on base and 228 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: that they they'll eventually start driving them in. My point 229 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: is they face two talented pitchers in a good bullpen. 230 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: That's not going to change. They faced Zach Gallon and 231 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: then in all I don't know if it's official, but 232 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: Gallon has Opening Day we know that, and likely followed 233 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: by Corbyn Burns. I assume is Corbyn Burns. It's a good, 234 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: good pitching staff Mayl Kelly, I'm sure I'm missing. Uh. 235 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: They have young talent that I really liked on that 236 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: pitching staff. Yeah, yes, yeah, yeah, So I mean they 237 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: have a ton they have they have veterans, they have 238 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: good young pitching. It's a tough it's a tough team. 239 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: Playing the Diamondbacks for four in Arizona is not going 240 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: to be an easy set of games. It gets no easier. 241 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: They're face tough pitching. They're going to continue to face 242 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: tough pitching. The NL is stacked right now, so so 243 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: get ready for and and their April their March April 244 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: schedule is stacked, so get get ready to get likely 245 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: be frustrated. Cubs fans like they they may win some 246 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: of these games. They like they they're gonna have to 247 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: outpitch them. Though the offense may not get off to 248 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: a roaring start. Well see, maybe they do because it's Arizona, 249 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: and maybe they're just you know, Kyle Tucker elevates the group. 250 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: Say Suzuki gets hot, whatever, who knows what happens, But 251 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: I'm just saying, like Yamamoto looked great, Sasaki was fine, 252 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 1: and you know, got through the big moments, was able 253 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: to keep the traffic limit the damage, but it's not 254 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: getting easier. 255 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you we heard this throughout the off season 256 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: as a group of us were reporting on Sasaki at 257 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 2: different points, Like it was emphasized, he is not a 258 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: finished product yet. 259 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 3: He is not quite Yamamoto. 260 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: He's certainly not when Darvish came out, not as experienced 261 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 2: as Sega, like no doubt one of the most gifted, 262 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: talented pitchers on the planet, but not as refined or 263 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 2: as polished. 264 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 3: So the Cubs probably caught him at a good. 265 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 2: Time, like if you'd want him, probably in his debut 266 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 2: in his own country, dealing with nerves after his first 267 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: major league spring training or not even a full spring training. 268 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 3: So yeah, I mean that could be sort of missed opportunity. 269 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 3: And you're right, I mean you've hammered the schedule before, 270 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 3: and I think we're going to have to continue doing it. 271 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 2: When you're looking at, Okay, playing in Sacramento in a 272 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 2: minor league ballpark after facing a really good Diamondbacks team, 273 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: you know, getting the Padres and the Rangers for your 274 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 2: first home stand, then going back out west to Dodger 275 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 2: Stadium to San Diego, then come home you get the 276 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 2: Diamondbacks and the Dodgers and the Phillies as a home stand, 277 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: and then at the end of April you go to Pittsburgh. 278 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: So like and I mean a good pitching staff at Pittsburgh, 279 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: I mean you may yeah, yeah, guys like that. 280 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 3: Exactly, like it's it's not. 281 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 2: But this is the second half of that road trip 282 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 2: is at Milwaukee, so you know, we'll see, like we 283 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 2: have to do this exercise in the athletic of making 284 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 2: preseason predictions, and like when picking a World Series winner, 285 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: like I probably would have picked six or seven National 286 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 2: League teams before one American League team, Like I really 287 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: sort of struggled to envision, Okay, who's gonna win the 288 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 2: Pennant in the American League, Like who do I think 289 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: has a really just like stacked loaded team that can 290 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: keep winning And you can kind of to me cross 291 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 2: out the Central. 292 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 3: The West has some interesting team, you know, the East. 293 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 2: I don't think any team in the East is really 294 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 2: and the American League East is you know, fully what 295 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 2: we think of as the American League East as just 296 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 2: like you know, kind of that monster team where kind 297 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 2: of everything is kind of going in the same direction, 298 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: and that that's what the Cubs are doing with This 299 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 2: is why Jed Hoyard said, your wins are. 300 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 3: Gonna be at a premium in the National League. 301 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 2: That's why they wanted, you know, more resources, why they 302 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: you know, went in for Kyle Tucker and things like that. 303 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 3: It's gonna be it's gonna be a hard, hard place 304 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 3: to earn a playoff spot. 305 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and and uh, I think it was Ken Rosenthal 306 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: those saying on on on one of the foul territory shows, 307 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: uh that you know, these things are cyclical. It's not 308 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: gonna be like the NL dominates forever, but right now, 309 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: the n L is a very difficult place, uh to play. 310 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: It's gonna be hard to Like the division may not 311 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: be hard, but the NL is stacked. There's just a 312 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: lot of talent around. And uh, you know, you have 313 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: the big money teams. You have a team like Atlanta 314 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: that probably are we overlooking them because they just weren't 315 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: as dominant last year and they had a lot of 316 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 1: injuries and they still they still make the playoffs, but 317 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 1: they didn't make a lot of noise. So yeah, like 318 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: it's I am curious to see how they settle in, 319 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: right Like I kind of I kind of want. I 320 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: don't want to completely throw out the Japan Games, but 321 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: I kind of but like there's like part of me 322 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: that's like that just tells me nothing. It was just 323 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: such a weird set of circumstances. So I'm eager to 324 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: see how they look and how they It's going to 325 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: be a challenge this first month, like May. And one 326 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: of the things I saw, I saw this strength of 327 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 1: schedule chart someone tweeted out and it showed it by month, 328 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: and they have the hardest month if you look at 329 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: March and April, the hardest month obviously strength of schedule 330 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: based off last year's record. Right, hardest month of any 331 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: team is March April Cubs. Easiest month of any team 332 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: is May Cubs. So you'd you'd like to I think 333 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:51,159 Speaker 1: the scenario that the Cubs realistic scenario, right, dream scenarios 334 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: you you just dominate in the first month because here 335 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: you turn out to be one of the best teams, right, 336 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: But realistic scenarios you I'm through that first month, stay 337 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: healthy and you're around five hundred, and then you clean 338 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: up and may build your confidence and get and like 339 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: a lot of a lot of things. Something that I 340 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: don't think fans fully understand, Like they'll start breaking the 341 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: season down into segments and be like, well, they're five 342 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: hundred from this point, they may be ten fifteen games 343 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 1: over five hundred. But baseball is majority of the time, 344 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: it's not like the twenty sixteen season where you like 345 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: pretty much every month you're awesome. You have one great 346 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: stretch and that catapults you into the postseason. That happens 347 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: a lot where you just have this stretch where you're 348 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: fifteen games over five hundred, and then the rest of 349 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: the season you're like four games over five hundred or 350 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: two games under or something like that, you get into 351 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: the playoffs. That's just kind of how it works a 352 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: lot of times at baseball. Like that's not you want 353 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: to be the dominant team. You want to like constantly 354 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: be super consistent, but you need one great month sometimes 355 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: and like it can may be that month. You just 356 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: don't want that to be counter bounced by a terrible month. 357 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: So that's that's kind of how you have to hope 358 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: it works out. I don't know. I don't know how 359 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,479 Speaker 1: this April, this March in April is gonna go. If 360 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 1: I if I did, you know, I'd be making a 361 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: lot of money, not betting on baseball. 362 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 3: No, definitely not betting. I think the Cups did crush 363 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 3: it for. 364 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 2: Most of last April, too, right, I mean, I think 365 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: they started seventeen and nine or seventeen and eight something 366 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 2: like that, and everything was kind of they were kind 367 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 2: of rolling, and I think that series at Fenway Park 368 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 2: became you know, your default of like office stats and 369 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 2: then then yeah, yeah, falling off. 370 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: Right right when, right when Dansby said, like, we asked him, like, 371 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: are you just a good team? And he said, I reckon. 372 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: Ever since then, they just they went in the tank 373 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 1: right after that. I was like, Ah, you can't say 374 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: you're a good date. I mean just kidding. Obviously you 375 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: believe you're a good team, you say it, but no, 376 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: I just I. 377 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: Think that's a good way to kind of wrap this 378 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 2: up here, because a huge part of the logic of 379 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 2: the season was bringing in two guys from the Houston 380 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 2: Astros and Ryan Presley and Kyle Tucker to just shrink 381 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 2: those terrible stretches that every team goes through inevitable slumps. 382 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 2: But the Cubs have had a recent history of letting 383 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 2: that just snowball into like six seven weeks of bad baseball, 384 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 2: and we'll see what Ryan Presley can do out of 385 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 2: the bullpen. If he can, you shut the door with 386 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 2: some of those close games. But Kyle Tucker is obviously 387 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: supposed to be that elevating presence. And I'm sure you 388 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 2: saw a channel the Rome Rome story in the Athletic 389 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 2: Our Colleague at the Athletic and also on the Foul 390 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: Territory Network. Just a great story on Cam Smith and 391 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 2: how he has just blown everyone away. 392 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, Patrick, I We've talked about this right, like 393 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,959 Speaker 1: you have to give up talent to get talent. I 394 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: think Kyle Tucker is one of the top five offensive 395 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: talents in the game, maybe all round talents in the 396 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: game really because he can, he can run, he can 397 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: he can play defense. I I've liked Cam Smith since 398 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: they drafted him. I've heard nothing but good things. This 399 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: is not like, this is not that surprising. Am I 400 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: surprised that he's in the conversation to make the team. Yes, 401 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: that's a little aggressive to me and surprising. I am 402 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: not surprised that he's shooting up prospect rankings. I've been 403 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: saying it since he drafted, Since he was drafted, they 404 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: were like this is the guy. This is people think, 405 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: like we're gonna look back at that draft and say, 406 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: why wasn't he the number three pick? Why was he 407 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: available when the Cubs selected him? That's that's what I've 408 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: been told, not by one person. By Look, I got 409 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 1: so many texts when he was drafted that like from 410 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: people outside the org. Great pick. The Cubs nailed this. 411 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: They didn't overthink this. They got the right guy. You 412 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: watch watch this guy turn it, like turn it on 413 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: all season long. He hit the crap out of the 414 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: ball from the moment he got in pro ball. Look, 415 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: he could he could flounder when he gets to the 416 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: big leagues. This could all be smoking mirrors. I don't know, 417 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,719 Speaker 1: but like, this is not something this didn't It's not 418 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: like the Cubs didn't know what they had. It's not 419 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: like the cut like they they had to they felt 420 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: they needed to be aggressive, they needed to win now, 421 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: and they had to add a difference making bat. We've 422 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: been how much have we said that, Patrick, Like how 423 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: much have we talking for. 424 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 3: You as the same same thing. Yeah, we've talked about 425 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 3: this with Jed. 426 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,159 Speaker 2: This is not something they like sneak off and do 427 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 2: a podcast on like Jets were very open about this. 428 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, so they did what they had to do. 429 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: Like I do wonder, like what it's gonna look like 430 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 1: in five years. Uh they if they don't, if they 431 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: aren't unable to bring Tucker back, and Cam Smith is, 432 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: you know, leading another like bounce back, Astros run whatever 433 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: it is. I don't know. I don't love the way 434 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: that organization is run as far as the depth that 435 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: has right now behind all these older veterans. But Cam 436 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: Smith is their best prospect and and he could be 437 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: one of the better players in the game in a 438 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: few years. We'll see. Like that's how I mean that. 439 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: That's how effusive the praise was in the piece. And honestly, 440 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: it's not much different like it was it was. The 441 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: piece was a lot like there was a lot of 442 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: good stuff in there, and the players and teammates clearly 443 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 1: love him, and there were people that think very highly 444 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 1: of them. I don't know if I like I I 445 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 1: told Chandler when when he first when he first told 446 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: me about the potential of this trade, I'm like, the 447 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: Cubs aren't trading camp smith man. They love him, But 448 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: they did so, you know, they they they loved him 449 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 1: they still love him. He's a he's a highly he 450 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 1: thought of prospect, and he's mashing and getting insane praise, 451 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: you know, good for him. It's going to drive I 452 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: think it's just going to drive Cups fans nuts. Like 453 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: I think that's hard to hard to deny. 454 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: I mean, the praise was over the top, sixty Homer sixty, 455 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 2: the next sixty Homer guy, that he's built like a transformer. 456 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 3: I mean, all this stuff that could prove to be true. Ish. 457 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 2: I just think if as long as the Cubs make 458 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 2: the playoffs and you know, Matt Shaw has a long 459 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 2: productive career at Wrigley Field, I don't think there should 460 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 2: be that much. 461 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 3: Looking back. 462 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 2: I think clearly the constraints Jed Hoyer's front office was 463 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 2: working within is also a factor too. 464 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 3: You can't just like ignore that. 465 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 2: Like these are types of trades that the Cubs sometimes 466 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 2: have to make, you know, if they're not just gonna not. 467 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 3: Even compete for you know, wants to. 468 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 2: Or you know, top of the rotation pitch if you 469 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 2: want to get better in different areas to cover up 470 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: for maybe some offensive deficiencies. 471 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean definitely one of those like Gift. 472 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 2: That keeps on giving for us would be something to 473 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 2: talk about. And you know, I think we've had very 474 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 2: limited interactions with Cam. I feel like it was a 475 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 2: zoom and then he was at Wrigley Field towards the 476 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 2: end of the year. But definitely very like polished, kind 477 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 2: of personable guy who you know, is confident, confident and 478 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 2: isn't a place, like you said, where they're not afraid 479 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 2: to rush guys to the majors. And also, you know, 480 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: Dana Brown is part of a you know, the Astra 481 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 2: GM is part of a interesting front office dynamic where 482 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 2: the owner has a lot of say like it's they're 483 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: kind of non traditional or a little unconventional. But his 484 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 2: background was in scouting, like that guy knows talent and 485 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 2: I'd imagine that he had Cam Smith's name, you know, 486 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: circles on a board somewhere like this is a guy 487 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 2: that we need. 488 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, yep, Well, like you know, I can't wait to 489 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: see how he performs, how how good he is. And 490 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: the meltdown coms fans if they don't make the playoffs 491 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 1: is you know, I'm not sure if I can, we'll 492 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: be justifiable. Yeah, it'll be. Yes, they need to make 493 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: the playoffs. That Cam Smith. That has nothing to do 494 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,959 Speaker 1: with that, right, Yeah, exactly, Cam Smith. If he's good 495 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: or not, it doesn't matter as far as the Cubs 496 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: need to make the playoffs this year. That's the bottom line. 497 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: All right, Patrick, let's wrap this one up. We'll be 498 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,640 Speaker 1: back next week, inching closer to domestic opening day, I'll 499 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: be back in Arizona. Uh and then eventually we'll be 500 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: back home. Right, We're about two weeks away from Brigley 501 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 1: opening day. Less than that, it's all creeping up on us. 502 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: All right. Thanks for listening to everyone. This is Northside Territory, 503 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, 504 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 1: subscribe to the YouTube channel, and subs ribe to The 505 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: Athletic where Patrick and I are on top of all 506 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: things Cubs. Thanks so much for listening to everyone. Take 507 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: it