WEBVTT - Craig Counsell’s quick hook, New Padres owners tease spending plans 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:06.340 Hey, it's Patrick Mooney from Northside Territory and The Athletic. 0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:07.160 He covers the Cubs. 0:00:07.200 --> 0:00:08.979 Patrick, good to see you. I know you just put 0:00:09.020 --> 0:00:11.600 something out on Justin Steele. I did want to actually 0:00:11.680 --> 0:00:13.960 start there and relate it to really what the pitching 0:00:14.000 --> 0:00:16.639 plan is going to look like for the Cubs, who 0:00:16.840 --> 0:00:20.029 actually have to still play the next month, but should 0:00:20.070 --> 0:00:22.630 be in somewhat of a postseason prep mode, too. 0:00:22.810 --> 0:00:23.950 So what are we thinking here? 0:00:24.510 --> 0:00:27.270 And I feel like start to start, you're wondering, you know, 0:00:27.310 --> 0:00:31.150 who's up, who's down, who's going to get that game 0:00:31.370 --> 0:00:36.150 one win. Simon and Kevin Gosman looked awesome Monday night 0:00:36.990 --> 0:00:40.949 at Chase Field. You had Craig Council managing with a 0:00:40.979 --> 0:00:45.600 lot of urgency the day before in Seattle and pulling 0:00:45.640 --> 0:00:48.699 Shota Minaga pretty quickly. And then they have this kind 0:00:48.720 --> 0:00:53.800 of fleet of pitchers waiting in the wings here. They 0:00:53.840 --> 0:00:58.940 got a very crowded Arizona complex of guys rehabbing and 0:00:59.020 --> 0:01:01.980 coming back and they're probably going to need some of 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:06.050 those guys seeing as how they're, you know, likely making 0:01:06.060 --> 0:01:09.709 the playoffs as a wildcard team and having to win 0:01:09.750 --> 0:01:12.690 four rounds if they want to achieve their ultimate goal. 0:01:12.790 --> 0:01:14.590 And, you know, Steele is. 0:01:14.569 --> 0:01:17.110 One of those guys I would kind of, you know, 0:01:17.209 --> 0:01:20.030 Craig Council made a point to temper some of those expectations. 0:01:20.060 --> 0:01:23.000 You know, this is someone who hasn't pitched in a 0:01:23.080 --> 0:01:27.500 real game since April, 2025, but he's been making nice 0:01:27.959 --> 0:01:32.900 progress and, they could probably use some of his talent 0:01:32.940 --> 0:01:35.699 from the left side, particularly if they keep advancing. 0:01:37.020 --> 0:01:39.690 Patrick, would he be a bullpen option? Would they be 0:01:39.730 --> 0:01:43.250 willing to put him into the bullpen and let him pitch, 0:01:43.650 --> 0:01:46.090 even though he's mainly been a starter his entire career 0:01:46.130 --> 0:01:48.070 and he's been out for so long? 0:01:48.150 --> 0:01:49.970 Is that an option for Justin Steele? 0:01:51.590 --> 0:01:53.660 Yeah, I think he'd have to jump ahead of a 0:01:53.680 --> 0:01:56.220 couple guys. The Cubs are already dealing with this roster crunch. 0:01:56.240 --> 0:02:00.230 I mean, Javier Assad's been so good for them, and 0:02:00.250 --> 0:02:06.710 he just got options to AAA Iowa again. I think 0:02:07.530 --> 0:02:10.070 Ben Brown is someone who's going to factor into this 0:02:11.000 --> 0:02:17.800 as well. Today's a busy day over at the Mesa Complex. 0:02:17.840 --> 0:02:22.040 Ben Brown and Justin Steele scheduled to throw live batting 0:02:22.060 --> 0:02:23.240 practice sessions today. 0:02:23.260 --> 0:02:27.530 Edward Cabrera throwing a bullpen. They're going to have options. 0:02:27.550 --> 0:02:30.590 I think Steele's point was like, I was a reliever 0:02:30.810 --> 0:02:34.730 when I broke into the majors and did pretty good 0:02:34.770 --> 0:02:37.050 job with that. And then took, just took advantage after 0:02:37.090 --> 0:02:41.410 the Cubs, you know, did their sell-off at the 21 deadline. 0:02:41.440 --> 0:02:46.840 You know, I think Brown is the guy that is 0:02:46.880 --> 0:02:50.480 just on a quicker path back and has done both 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:54.840 roles this year, but certainly The point I made was 0:02:54.850 --> 0:02:58.520 I was at Chase Field when Kyle Schwarber crashed into 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:04.740 Dexter Fowler, and we thought this was a season-ending, career-altering injury, 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:06.780 and it was just in a totally different way. He 0:03:06.800 --> 0:03:08.690 did surprise everyone and make it back, and that's why 0:03:08.710 --> 0:03:10.630 I think you have to allow for that possibility that 0:03:11.290 --> 0:03:15.350 maybe he does finally get that moment in October after 0:03:15.370 --> 0:03:18.470 what's been a really long road back from a major 0:03:18.710 --> 0:03:20.210 arm injury. 0:03:21.620 --> 0:03:23.519 All right, so you're saying Steele's going to be used 0:03:23.540 --> 0:03:28.340 for a short burst. Cabrera could be used as short bursts. 0:03:28.760 --> 0:03:31.470 Ben Brown, all those guys are used. Does that change 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:36.190 how they would build that playoff rotation? Or do you 0:03:36.270 --> 0:03:39.090 still think if Gossman trends the way he did in 0:03:39.130 --> 0:03:42.570 his last start, he's the number one starter, and then 0:03:42.610 --> 0:03:48.150 you save all these short bursts for Boyd, for Imanaga, 0:03:48.230 --> 0:03:51.230 guys who have a tougher time third time through the order, 0:03:51.290 --> 0:03:54.080 even maybe even second time through a platoon order. 0:03:55.920 --> 0:03:56.180 Yeah. 0:03:56.200 --> 0:04:00.660 You guys know how managers run their pitching staffs in 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.960 the playoffs now, like, you know, getting three and two 0:04:04.040 --> 0:04:07.480 thirds or four and a third. And, you know, there's like, 0:04:07.640 --> 0:04:11.060 you get a standing ovation, you know, walking off the field. 0:04:11.120 --> 0:04:15.600 And yes, I think Gosman and Clay Holmes were acquired 0:04:15.660 --> 0:04:20.420 to be starting pitchers in a playoff rotation and, Matthew 0:04:20.460 --> 0:04:25.460 Boyd was a Game 1 playoff starter last year, opening 0:04:25.500 --> 0:04:29.340 day starter this year, an All-Star the year before, has 0:04:29.400 --> 0:04:32.510 a nice baseline of playoff experience. I would figure that 0:04:32.550 --> 0:04:36.770 he would operate as a starter, and all these guys 0:04:36.810 --> 0:04:39.430 are going to have short leashes. You guys know how 0:04:39.490 --> 0:04:44.050 Craig Council operates. They put this puzzle together. They've done 0:04:44.070 --> 0:04:46.980 a really good job with it amidst just a barrage 0:04:47.120 --> 0:04:51.080 of pitching injuries. And so you also have, you know, 0:04:51.100 --> 0:04:54.260 if you're working backwards as well, you know, Daniel Palencia 0:04:54.500 --> 0:04:57.770 just came back and he was, you know, just an 0:04:57.810 --> 0:05:01.570 electric reliever last year. He brings something totally different, you know, 0:05:01.570 --> 0:05:05.250 100 mile hour fastball, swing and miss stuff. Jacob Webb 0:05:05.290 --> 0:05:09.690 has been really good in the interim as a closer. 0:05:10.060 --> 0:05:12.600 And so while I feel like I'm being way too 0:05:12.640 --> 0:05:15.520 positive for AJ's taste, I feel like they will have 0:05:15.560 --> 0:05:18.280 a lot of options and they can see if it 0:05:18.339 --> 0:05:19.920 works down the stretch here. 0:05:20.890 --> 0:05:24.530 AJ is not a negative person. How dare you offend 0:05:24.610 --> 0:05:27.690 my friend like that? He's just not a positive person 0:05:27.750 --> 0:05:28.510 towards the Cubs. 0:05:28.650 --> 0:05:32.520 That's it. Gotcha. That's fair. That's totally fair. That's totally fair. 0:05:33.320 --> 0:05:35.520 Is there a drop-dead date on any of these guys 0:05:35.620 --> 0:05:39.039 because they're filtering into a new role in the sense 0:05:39.140 --> 0:05:42.990 of if Edward Cabrera's bullpen, you know, this whole thing 0:05:43.210 --> 0:05:46.229 slowly and we get to September 15th, You can't just 0:05:46.290 --> 0:05:48.990 throw starters into the pen and be like, you get 0:05:49.110 --> 0:05:51.520 one outing, and then we need you in the playoffs. 0:05:51.560 --> 0:05:53.520 That's not the reality that we live in. 0:05:55.500 --> 0:05:58.020 Eric, I think you could probably speak to this even 0:05:58.040 --> 0:06:00.820 better than I could, that Craig Council is a very 0:06:01.400 --> 0:06:07.790 direct communicator. He gives players good news, bad news, whatever 0:06:07.810 --> 0:06:11.469 it is. He tells them the truth, and they've gotten 0:06:12.430 --> 0:06:14.730 some pretty good buy-in really recently. 0:06:15.779 --> 0:06:17.670 All phases of their roster. 0:06:17.730 --> 0:06:20.910 Obviously, Ian Happ wants to be playing every single day, 0:06:20.970 --> 0:06:23.710 but they went out and acquired a nice role player 0:06:25.570 --> 0:06:28.909 at the trade deadline. That cuts into his playing time. 0:06:29.670 --> 0:06:33.400 David Peterson, we haven't even mentioned him yet. He kind 0:06:33.500 --> 0:06:36.160 of saved this rotation when they acquired him from the 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:39.859 Mets in late June, and he got bounced after the 0:06:39.900 --> 0:06:42.520 trade deadline to make room for Cabrera, and he got 0:06:43.279 --> 0:06:45.740 You know, four big outs in a win over the 0:06:45.779 --> 0:06:47.920 White Sox at Wrigley Field and then went back into 0:06:47.940 --> 0:06:51.719 the rotation in Seattle and, you know, pitched a really 0:06:52.400 --> 0:06:55.620 nice game there. So, you know, if you look at 0:06:55.660 --> 0:06:58.440 this rotation right now, I think it's like five guys 0:06:58.480 --> 0:07:01.540 who've been an all-star at some point in their career, 0:07:01.740 --> 0:07:05.560 but not that traditional number one starter. You know, that's 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:09.049 why they gave Craig Council that huge contract is to 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:10.350 go figure it out. 0:07:15.310 --> 0:07:17.390 For the families out there looking for a new path 0:07:17.470 --> 0:07:20.190 to help your child succeed, take a look at K-12 0:07:20.290 --> 0:07:25.820 Powered Schools. K-12 offers tuition-free accredited online public education for 0:07:25.860 --> 0:07:28.540 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It's all in a 0:07:28.580 --> 0:07:32.000 setting that works for your family. 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That's 0:08:05.760 --> 0:08:07.960 the letter K, the number 12, dot com slash F-O-U-L, 0:08:07.980 --> 0:08:09.320 k12. com slash foul. 0:08:09.360 --> 0:08:09.680 Yeah, well. 0:08:13.940 --> 0:08:17.500 He'll figure it out, Patrick. By the way, I'm not 0:08:17.560 --> 0:08:19.660 negative at all. And I don't even agree with that. 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:23.500 I've been actually very positive on the Cubs for a 0:08:23.540 --> 0:08:25.380 long time. When we talked when I was at Wrigley, 0:08:25.460 --> 0:08:27.880 I said PCS would be the MVP for a while. 0:08:28.320 --> 0:08:30.890 I mean, I've been very positive on the Cubs for 0:08:31.470 --> 0:08:33.990 this entire year or so. I don't appreciate that, Patrick. 0:08:34.010 --> 0:08:38.170 But what I don't understand is Craig Council the other 0:08:38.190 --> 0:08:39.730 day took Shodan Minaga out. 0:08:39.650 --> 0:08:41.699 After, what was it, two and a third? 0:08:43.150 --> 0:08:46.390 Two plus two plus yeah two plus yeah and they 0:08:46.510 --> 0:08:48.990 and and he's like okay with the three run lead 0:08:49.030 --> 0:08:51.230 and he's like all right we're it's go time so 0:08:51.270 --> 0:08:53.610 is he just prepping for the playoffs and by the 0:08:53.630 --> 0:08:56.380 way before you answer this question cub fans when they 0:08:56.420 --> 0:09:00.640 released jameson tyon i said jameson tyon has been serviceable 0:09:00.660 --> 0:09:03.579 they annihilated for me for saying that their big stat 0:09:03.600 --> 0:09:05.219 that they said was he had given up so many 0:09:05.260 --> 0:09:08.160 home runs should aminaga has given up 30 home runs 0:09:08.179 --> 0:09:09.260 should they release him too. 0:09:12.860 --> 0:09:15.240 Uh, no, they shouldn't. He's been their best pitcher this year. 0:09:16.000 --> 0:09:18.880 Oh, I mean, he's been the most consistent thing. Home 0:09:18.900 --> 0:09:21.079 runs aren't the most. Okay. Just checking. Just trying to 0:09:21.100 --> 0:09:22.820 figure this out. Cup fans love you. 0:09:23.840 --> 0:09:26.520 Well, I would actually say that. I don't, I feel 0:09:26.540 --> 0:09:33.170 like cups fans really focus on show does bad outings that, 0:09:33.610 --> 0:09:36.130 you know, his body of work over almost three full 0:09:36.150 --> 0:09:40.540 seasons in the majors has been really impressive. Uh, you know, he, 0:09:42.610 --> 0:09:46.110 He's performed at an all-star level, but he just did 0:09:46.130 --> 0:09:50.730 not have it on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. And your 0:09:50.770 --> 0:09:54.310 counsel looks at this bullpen. He's got a bunch of 0:09:54.370 --> 0:09:58.350 long relievers there. He basically said as soon as Ian 0:09:58.390 --> 0:10:01.270 Happ hit that home run. he started thinking, like, if 0:10:01.309 --> 0:10:04.390 Shota doesn't pick it up here, we're going to make 0:10:04.429 --> 0:10:07.619 a change. And his velo was down a little bit. 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:11.740 I think it took 72 pitches to get six outs, 0:10:12.800 --> 0:10:19.750 three first-pitch strikes to 14 batters. I just think Shota, 0:10:19.850 --> 0:10:23.610 the way last season ended for Shota really just kind 0:10:23.650 --> 0:10:26.490 of stands out the way they avoided using him for 0:10:26.530 --> 0:10:29.689 that game five in Milwaukee. I don't think that's like 0:10:30.550 --> 0:10:32.950 totally fair, but like that's why they went out and 0:10:32.970 --> 0:10:36.130 got a ton of pitching at the deadline so that 0:10:36.200 --> 0:10:41.060 they would not run out, you know, almost after that 0:10:41.700 --> 0:10:44.699 wildcard round. I mean, you saw it, they kind of 0:10:44.740 --> 0:10:47.160 poured all their resources into being the Padres and then 0:10:47.610 --> 0:10:52.650 Matt Boyd, starting on short rest, game one Milwaukee, that 0:10:52.670 --> 0:10:57.300 was not a very competitive game. And even council acknowledged 0:10:57.520 --> 0:11:00.560 if they had somehow won that game five, it was 0:11:00.600 --> 0:11:05.120 really difficult to see them having enough pitching to win 0:11:05.980 --> 0:11:09.480 two more playoff rounds. And so I think that while 0:11:09.559 --> 0:11:11.900 Shota's probably not getting the ball for game one of 0:11:11.920 --> 0:11:13.740 the playoffs, I think for them to get to where 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:16.309 they want to go, they'll need The version of him 0:11:16.470 --> 0:11:19.209 that he's been for most of his time in Chicago 0:11:19.670 --> 0:11:23.450 is just the home runs and the blowout outings really 0:11:24.170 --> 0:11:27.359 just stand out in your memory as you watch this team. 0:11:28.400 --> 0:11:32.040 Maybe a little exhausted from being used throughout the entire season, 0:11:32.080 --> 0:11:32.660 the bullpen. 0:11:32.780 --> 0:11:33.580 But hey, you know what? 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:35.920 You just got to get hot in the playoffs. Let's 0:11:35.980 --> 0:11:39.120 go to the one big free agent acquisition that the 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:42.190 Cubs had this offseason. You wrote an article about Alex 0:11:42.250 --> 0:11:45.900 Bregman and what he has meant to this team. Has 0:11:45.920 --> 0:11:48.730 he been worth every penny, even though his numbers wouldn't say, ooh, 0:11:49.140 --> 0:11:52.540 all-star MVP type of numbers? Has he been worth it 0:11:52.660 --> 0:11:54.860 based on the fact that this team is where they are? 0:11:57.260 --> 0:11:59.550 Yeah, I guess it depends on, you know, kind of 0:11:59.590 --> 0:12:03.390 what you value. And I think with Bregman, the Cubs 0:12:05.330 --> 0:12:08.450 thought he would have this high floor, you know, just 0:12:08.470 --> 0:12:13.960 with his defense at that particular position. That's a spot 0:12:14.000 --> 0:12:18.939 where you can accumulate value. and as well as they 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:21.000 thought he would bring a ton of intangibles. And this 0:12:21.020 --> 0:12:26.540 is a very model-driven team, a very unsentimental operation, but 0:12:26.580 --> 0:12:31.620 they thought that he could be a special connector in 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:35.319 their group. And I think he's just fit in really 0:12:35.360 --> 0:12:40.080 well in that regard. He's finally getting hot. I mean, 0:12:40.100 --> 0:12:43.460 I was there one late night at Wrigley where he 0:12:43.580 --> 0:12:45.740 spoke to a small group of us and just said, 0:12:46.570 --> 0:12:50.390 I've been terrible. Like he did the thumbs down gesture 0:12:50.410 --> 0:12:57.219 at Wrigley at one point too. It's been interesting to cover. 0:12:57.260 --> 0:12:59.460 I'm sure Cubs fans at various points were like, why 0:12:59.480 --> 0:13:02.340 were they so obsessed with this guy? Because they were 0:13:02.860 --> 0:13:06.920 over multiple off seasons as a free agent, but watching 0:13:06.940 --> 0:13:09.180 him day to day, he is a really, really nice 0:13:09.220 --> 0:13:12.970 defender at third base, a position that's been kind of 0:13:13.330 --> 0:13:16.150 hard to fill for the Cubs over the years. I 0:13:16.170 --> 0:13:19.410 think he fits well in this lineup when you piece 0:13:19.470 --> 0:13:23.770 it together kind of left-right and having different skills and 0:13:23.820 --> 0:13:29.520 different ways to beat your opponent. And he has this 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:33.800 reputation for being a baseball gym rat and that he 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:37.559 was not going to stop until he found that feel 0:13:38.540 --> 0:13:41.410 to have a better sense of his mechanics. And I 0:13:41.450 --> 0:13:44.170 think you're kind of seeing it now. I mean, walking 0:13:44.210 --> 0:13:46.470 away last October, I think the Cubs felt they were 0:13:46.950 --> 0:13:50.690 a little short on the position player side. They knew 0:13:50.710 --> 0:13:54.859 that Kyle Tucker was leaving and that this is the 0:13:54.900 --> 0:13:59.000 guy that they had circled. They knew kind of how 0:13:59.059 --> 0:14:02.860 weak this upcoming free agent class would be. They felt 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:07.780 that he would just be a good solid overall investment. 0:14:07.840 --> 0:14:09.580 And I think you're, you're seeing that now. 0:14:11.350 --> 0:14:13.250 Patrick, can you do me a favor? Can you go like, 0:14:13.350 --> 0:14:15.369 can you put both hands above like this? Can you 0:14:15.390 --> 0:14:16.250 just go like this for me? 0:14:16.910 --> 0:14:17.610 Oh, why? 0:14:18.290 --> 0:14:21.730 What's this? Just, just do it. It's not bad. No, 0:14:21.770 --> 0:14:22.890 it's not a trap at all. Okay. 0:14:22.930 --> 0:14:25.250 Now last night when you were sitting in the press box, 0:14:25.270 --> 0:14:28.360 were you the one signaling to Quentin Barry when Merrill 0:14:28.380 --> 0:14:29.740 Kelly was going changeups? 0:14:29.820 --> 0:14:32.520 Okay. It was, you have like a, a flash, a pen, 0:14:32.600 --> 0:14:34.260 like the, your laser pointer. 0:14:36.690 --> 0:14:40.390 Uh, no, it's hard to hear to like, uh, you know, 0:14:40.830 --> 0:14:42.930 hear your own thoughts at Chase Fields sometimes. Cause they 0:14:42.970 --> 0:14:46.530 have a lot of piped in noise and things like that. But, uh, yeah, 0:14:46.570 --> 0:14:48.930 that was a good one. I actually noticed it more, uh, 0:14:49.030 --> 0:14:51.490 on the foul territory popped up on my, uh, Twitter 0:14:51.510 --> 0:14:55.530 field there, uh, Twitter feed there. Um, you know, I 0:14:55.550 --> 0:14:59.130 would actually like Eric's thoughts on this because I feel 0:14:59.150 --> 0:15:01.910 like he's been on the show before saying how the 0:15:01.930 --> 0:15:05.530 Brewers were pretty good at, uh, you know, finding the 0:15:05.570 --> 0:15:11.210 Cubs weaknesses in that regards when they weren't totally buttoned up. But, 0:15:12.190 --> 0:15:14.250 you know, there'll be something to follow up for sure 0:15:14.270 --> 0:15:16.840 on today. I think it's two teams competing. Craig Council 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:23.040 called it gamesmanship that happens every single day in this league. 0:15:23.100 --> 0:15:26.180 And yeah, I'm curious what you guys as former players think. 0:15:26.640 --> 0:15:29.420 Is there anything to see there? 0:15:30.740 --> 0:15:32.260 I mean, of course, there's something to see there. But 0:15:32.300 --> 0:15:34.590 my question to you is, you've been around this team. 0:15:34.620 --> 0:15:39.910 Are they a fiery, feisty team that when the Diamondbacks 0:15:39.970 --> 0:15:44.510 throw at one of their players today, they will just say, eh, whatever? 0:15:44.570 --> 0:15:47.670 Because you sense those kinds of things when you're in 0:15:47.710 --> 0:15:50.510 a clubhouse talking to both teams. Do you think there 0:15:50.530 --> 0:15:53.550 will be some type of retaliation? Do the Diamondbacks do 0:15:53.620 --> 0:15:56.580 something tonight and the Cubs, what's their reaction to it? 0:15:58.840 --> 0:16:03.960 I don't know the Diamondbacks well enough in that regard. 0:16:04.080 --> 0:16:09.640 I do feel like these are two teams competing for 0:16:09.660 --> 0:16:13.180 a playoff spot. I think the Cubs in general, like 0:16:13.830 --> 0:16:16.609 this group, why Bregman was such a fit is because 0:16:16.630 --> 0:16:19.970 they do have these baseball gym rats who do like 0:16:20.030 --> 0:16:24.270 to study the game and kind of obsess over their 0:16:24.710 --> 0:16:26.570 craft and look. 0:16:27.090 --> 0:16:30.290 At the finer details. Within the game, this is not 0:16:30.330 --> 0:16:30.970 a group. 0:16:32.910 --> 0:16:36.770 That all shows up on the late bus or is 0:16:36.810 --> 0:16:39.010 kind of just sitting at their lockers looking at their 0:16:39.070 --> 0:16:42.830 phone for hours and hours before the game. 0:16:42.870 --> 0:16:44.010 They're pretty engaged. 0:16:44.050 --> 0:16:47.640 I think if you look at Quentin Berry's resume, the 0:16:47.700 --> 0:16:50.840 job that he carved out in the majors required as 0:16:50.940 --> 0:16:55.000 a designated pinch runner on some great teams required a 0:16:55.620 --> 0:17:01.530 really high level of attention to detail um so yeah 0:17:01.590 --> 0:17:04.629 i'll certainly be asking around about that uh today as 0:17:04.690 --> 0:17:06.990 when we were in the clubhouse i was in the 0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:10.260 cubs visiting clubhouse so i wasn't really aware of uh 0:17:10.619 --> 0:17:14.000 kelly's comments until my colleague at the athletic johnny floris 0:17:14.960 --> 0:17:18.000 alerted me he wrote up a good story uh on 0:17:18.020 --> 0:17:21.399 the athletic and i would recommend you check that out 0:17:21.440 --> 0:17:24.909 i think it's It'll be fun to watch tonight. I 0:17:24.910 --> 0:17:27.110 feel like at Chase Field when the Cubs come into town, 0:17:27.150 --> 0:17:31.209 there's usually a couple unusual things that happen. We'll see 0:17:31.250 --> 0:17:32.770 how much spillover there is tonight. 0:17:34.670 --> 0:17:37.600 And we're going to continue this combo with AJ and Kratz. 0:17:37.619 --> 0:17:39.740 We have that Merrill Kelly sound too. So we'll let 0:17:40.180 --> 0:17:42.879 Patrick jump and get ready for the next round of 0:17:42.980 --> 0:17:44.740 a potential boxing match with those two. 0:17:44.820 --> 0:17:46.219 Patrick, thank you. Appreciate you. 0:17:47.270 --> 0:17:51.950 You got it, guys. Thank you. Bella. 0:17:52.490 --> 0:17:52.790 Bella. 0:17:53.350 --> 0:17:53.970 Bella, where? 0:17:55.170 --> 0:17:57.419 I don't know where Bella is, but I know how 0:17:57.440 --> 0:17:58.359 to take care of my pup. 0:17:58.980 --> 0:18:02.240 Crats, while you find Bella, today's episode is sponsored by 0:18:02.300 --> 0:18:06.580 the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Program. The ASPCA Pet Health 0:18:06.619 --> 0:18:09.890 Insurance Program offers customizable accident and illness plans that can 0:18:09.930 --> 0:18:12.730 fit your budget, your lifestyle, and even your pet's particular quirks. 0:18:13.230 --> 0:18:16.350 Because let's be honest, vet bills can add up. And 0:18:16.390 --> 0:18:18.690 when it's time to submit a claim, it's easy. Just 0:18:18.810 --> 0:18:21.590 use their app and receive reimbursement for eligible vet bills 0:18:21.630 --> 0:18:23.750 directly into your bank account so you can get back 0:18:23.770 --> 0:18:27.650 to focusing on what really matters, your pet. To explore coverage, 0:18:27.910 --> 0:18:47.550 visit aspcapetinsurance.com. That's aspcapetinsurance.com. The ASPCA is not an insurer 0:18:47.690 --> 0:18:50.590 and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Hey, 0:18:50.650 --> 0:18:53.790 let's talk to Marty Caswell about the new look San 0:18:53.810 --> 0:18:54.810 Diego Padres. 0:18:55.170 --> 0:18:57.300 You can hear her on Friar Territory, of course. Marty, 0:18:57.340 --> 0:18:59.000 great to catch up with you again. 0:18:59.300 --> 0:19:01.820 I say new look because, I don't know, do we 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:04.200 want to go the route of how well the team 0:19:04.260 --> 0:19:06.900 is playing in August, best team in baseball this month, 0:19:07.540 --> 0:19:10.550 and how it correlates with the ownership group taking over? 0:19:10.570 --> 0:19:12.090 Let's start with the ownership group because you were at 0:19:12.170 --> 0:19:14.609 the pomp and circumstance, right, yesterday. 0:19:14.650 --> 0:19:17.290 So how was it? How are the new owners making 0:19:17.310 --> 0:19:19.610 themselves seen and heard on day one? 0:19:20.750 --> 0:19:23.270 Hi, Scott. Hi, Eric. And hi, AJ. 0:19:23.390 --> 0:19:25.590 I have never been to a press conference like that 0:19:25.630 --> 0:19:27.609 in my entire life. And I've covered, I told this 0:19:27.630 --> 0:19:31.030 to Prowler afterwards, I've covered like hundreds of press conferences. 0:19:31.070 --> 0:19:35.410 And it started differently with like this music, this energetic music. 0:19:35.810 --> 0:19:39.320 And it's something that Kwanzaa Jones, the co-owner of the Padres, 0:19:39.680 --> 0:19:43.139 produced and wrote. And she was apparently inspired by a 0:19:43.180 --> 0:19:47.330 key phrase from a grand slam that Fernando Tatis robbed. 0:19:47.430 --> 0:19:52.020 So it was unlike anything I've ever seen at Petco Park. 0:19:52.800 --> 0:19:57.100 The enthusiasm coming from her was just contagious. The vibe 0:19:57.119 --> 0:19:59.440 that she and her husband, Jose, the synergy they had, 0:19:59.619 --> 0:20:00.740 it was a lot. 0:20:00.630 --> 0:20:01.290 Of fun to watch. 0:20:01.369 --> 0:20:05.070 So if you're a Padres fan watching it, They hit 0:20:05.590 --> 0:20:08.130 all the right notes. They said all the right things, 0:20:08.490 --> 0:20:11.810 wanting to go ahead and win, invest in San Diego, 0:20:11.830 --> 0:20:15.659 invest in the Padres, and also honor Peter Siler's legacy. 0:20:15.680 --> 0:20:18.460 So they hit all the right notes. It was a 0:20:18.520 --> 0:20:19.960 pretty fun day until the game started. 0:20:21.600 --> 0:20:23.920 Marty, one thing they said that was interesting, you said 0:20:23.940 --> 0:20:26.280 they want to win, but they said they want to win, 0:20:26.320 --> 0:20:26.700 what is it? 0:20:26.800 --> 0:20:31.060 I forget the exact, responsibly? Yes. Right? Not like Peter. 0:20:31.080 --> 0:20:31.820 Judiciously. 0:20:33.440 --> 0:20:37.940 Yeah, because they were asked about, you know, because Peter 0:20:37.960 --> 0:20:40.570 Seidler was aggressive in free agency, right? 0:20:40.609 --> 0:20:42.250 This is the guy that wasn't afraid to go ahead. 0:20:42.150 --> 0:20:45.270 And throw $ 300 million at Manny Machado and then, oh, 0:20:45.310 --> 0:20:48.330 by the way, give him another 10-year extension. This is 0:20:48.350 --> 0:20:51.119 the guy who went after Xander Bogarts. This is the 0:20:51.150 --> 0:20:53.859 guy who flew out, who sent his private jet to 0:20:53.880 --> 0:20:56.060 pick up Aaron Judge and try. 0:20:55.820 --> 0:20:59.389 And sign him. So, So Peter Seidler was. 0:20:59.310 --> 0:21:02.530 Aggressive, and the line that stood out to me was 0:21:02.650 --> 0:21:05.590 they were going to go ahead and spend within their means. 0:21:06.210 --> 0:21:08.210 I'm waiting to find out what that means. I know 0:21:08.310 --> 0:21:12.679 Padres fans are as well. They've paid $ 3. 95 billion for 0:21:12.700 --> 0:21:15.439 the Padres, and what we know about them right now, 0:21:15.880 --> 0:21:20.179 they are the richest ownership group the Padres have ever had. 0:21:20.580 --> 0:21:24.239 So perhaps within their means could mean something good. We're 0:21:24.280 --> 0:21:27.050 not going to find out, though, until the offseason really 0:21:27.090 --> 0:21:27.440 kicks in. 0:21:28.060 --> 0:21:28.920 I hope they spend though. 0:21:29.960 --> 0:21:32.740 Yeah, we all hope they spend because San Diego is 0:21:32.780 --> 0:21:35.439 an awesome place to watch a game. It's incredible. But 0:21:35.460 --> 0:21:37.060 what I want to know is, did you get a bonus? 0:21:37.080 --> 0:21:39.260 Because apparently you get a bonus. I get a bonus. 0:21:39.740 --> 0:21:42.480 Scott gets a bonus. The usher in the ticket thing 0:21:42.500 --> 0:21:44.139 gets a bonus, right? 0:21:44.200 --> 0:21:46.609 The scoreboard operator, the guy who paints the foul poles 0:21:46.640 --> 0:21:47.120 gets a bonus. 0:21:47.200 --> 0:21:48.240 And Marty, did you get a bonus? 0:21:49.490 --> 0:21:50.669 I should get a bonus. 0:21:50.730 --> 0:21:52.450 I'm going to go ahead and check my inbox after 0:21:52.470 --> 0:21:54.139 this and see if I'm getting a share. I did 0:21:54.160 --> 0:21:57.420 see that story that every full-time and part-time employee of 0:21:57.440 --> 0:22:00.520 the Padres is going to get a bonus because the 0:22:00.540 --> 0:22:04.040 partners of the Padres, those who have shares in the Padres, 0:22:04.119 --> 0:22:06.139 are contributing towards a bonus pool. 0:22:06.619 --> 0:22:08.710 And they're all going to make some money. What a 0:22:08.910 --> 0:22:10.929 nice gesture on the way out. 0:22:11.190 --> 0:22:11.610 I like that. 0:22:12.670 --> 0:22:13.729 Everybody likes Christmas money. I did not. 0:22:17.550 --> 0:22:19.990 Kratz, she does get a bonus, actually. Just bring it 0:22:20.030 --> 0:22:20.590 in for a sec. 0:22:21.369 --> 0:22:24.490