1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. We 2 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: have a cross over episode with Katie Wu today Cardinals Territory. 3 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: Cubs are in Saint Louis for four. Katie joins myself 4 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: and Patrick. We are all beat writers over at the Athletic. 5 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: Katie covers the Cardinals, Patrick and I the Cubs. I 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: am out here in brutal Saint Louis, brutal because it 7 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: is ninety five degrees, humid and disgusting. In that game 8 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: yesterday for Cubs fans, not like pretty disgusting for Cardinals fans, 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: I think they loved every moment of it, from the 10 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: fourth inning on. Katie, I want to start this off like, 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: just get it going, because I don't think Cubs fans. 12 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: I certainly wasn't expecting this from the Cardinals. I think 13 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: most of us weren't, just the way they talked about 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: things in the offseason. What is beyond what we saw 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: last night? What are we looking at with the Cardinals? 16 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: What's going right? Why is this team, you know, pushing 17 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: the Cubs for first place? 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: Yeah? I also didn't expect this from this Cardinals squad. 19 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: Much like almost everyone else, I know, the expectations were 20 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,639 Speaker 2: relatively low, but that makes sense when you think about 21 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 2: the organization publicly saying that they were going to take 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 2: a step back this year. So really, I think it's 23 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 2: a credit to the assortment of young players that have 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 2: stepped up, very similar to the Cubs. What's really sparked 25 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 2: the Cardinals in this really remarkably surprising run, as I said, 26 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 2: seven games over five hundred, has been the fact that 27 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: they don't do anything like particularly top notch. They don't 28 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 2: have one of the best offenses in the league, they 29 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: don't have one of the best rotations. They do have 30 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: a very strong defense, but most Cardinals teams usually do. 31 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: It's that they just do everything pretty well, so they 32 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: don't have a glaring weakness, and I think if you're 33 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: going to give them a strength, it's been that they 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: are a very resilient group. Maybe that's because the expectations 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 2: were low coming into the year, a lot of young 36 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 2: players with a lot to prove, But the Cardinals have 37 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: nineteen comeback wins so far this season. You really can't 38 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: count them out of any ballgame, and they've built their 39 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: identity around their resiliency and it's led to an overall, 40 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: I think I've taken confidence with this club. When you 41 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: have a lot of young guys learning to play every 42 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: day for the first time and getting a chance to 43 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 2: contribute to a major league team over and over again, 44 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: day by day, and they keep winning, that confidence grows 45 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: and it makes this team more and more dangerous. I 46 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 2: had zero expectations that this Cardinals team would be contending 47 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: in the NL Central and shows how much I know 48 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: because here they are. 49 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: Okay. I saw the attendance on Monday night was roughly 50 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 3: twenty seven thousand at Bush Stadium. I'm curious how the 51 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 3: Cardinals have kind of sold this transition year to the 52 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: public and whether Cardinals fans are like buying in at 53 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 3: this point. 54 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the official tendancy yesterday was around twenty 55 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: seven thousand, and Yeah, it is disgusting outside and really 56 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: hot here, But for Cardinals Cubs, you guys know this. 57 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: I mean, it's usually a packed house regardless of stadium. 58 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 2: So it was a little shocking to me with even 59 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: with the weather, to see Bush Stadium half empty. But 60 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: that goes to show that the messaging about this transition 61 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: season was not sold well. The Cardinals had an end 62 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: of season press conference last October where they announced that 63 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: long time present baseball opst on the Zeilaf would be 64 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: stepping down. I'm Bloom taking over in twenty twenty six, 65 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: and they sold this year as kind of a pathway 66 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: where we're going to focus on the youth and rebuilding 67 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: the minor league system, but we're also not fully going 68 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 2: to tear or rebuild, and to their credit, they didn't 69 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: have to. As you can see, there was still plenty 70 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: of talent that could make this team competitive. But I 71 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: think Cardinals fans were just kind of all they heard was, Hey, 72 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: we're not spending money on the roster, and they didn't. 73 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: They signed one free agent for two million dollars in 74 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: film Ayton in March, and that's very uncanny for the 75 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: Cardinals not going out there and proclaiming them to be 76 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: big spenders. Obviously they're not. But this fan base, much 77 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 2: like Kubbs, have a very high expectation of what their 78 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: team should look like, and this last offseason did not 79 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: match their expectations. So they've kind of made themselves known 80 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: that they aren't going to be come into the ballpark 81 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: like usual. And this is something that Cardinals ownership planned 82 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: for as well, they planned for a decline in ticket sales, 83 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: they planned for a drop in gate revenue. They're seeing it. 84 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 2: But hopefully, you know, once the weather calms down, if 85 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: it ever does, and the Cardinals continue to win, you'll 86 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 2: see Bushtadium get a little more full. But I think 87 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: it's pretty clear that the Cardinals fans. We talk about 88 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 2: people that weren't expecting anything from this team, Cardinals fans 89 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 2: were right there with them. 90 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was surprised to see all those empty seats 91 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: last night. I guess you're right. I mean, I started 92 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: this off with the weather. It is rough out there, 93 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: But the Cardinals are a good team. There's multiple players 94 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: on that roster that are surprising or you already knew 95 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: were good. Brendan Donovan's been kicking the Cubs ass for years. 96 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: It feels like so. I don't know why exactly that's happening, 97 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: why it continues to happen. It makes sense to start off, 98 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: but they're good enough now that you'd think they'd be 99 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: showing up. Do you expect them to be active at 100 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: the deadline? Is this a buying team? 101 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 2: I don't know. That's part of the reason why I 102 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 2: thought this series against the Cubs who've, like as you 103 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: guys know, they pretty much just start to fit start 104 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: from the end of March to right now, it's been 105 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 2: their division. I think this would tell a lot about 106 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: how the series ends and where the Cardinals are going forward. 107 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: I don't think that they're going to make a decision 108 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: whether they buy, sell or hold until the All Star break, 109 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: and it depends that they're in contention in the division 110 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: or just in the nationalgue wild card picture. They don't 111 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 2: want to deviate from their plan of focusing on the future. 112 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 2: If you're John Mozelac, you're also aware of that whatever 113 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: moves you make come July, you only have control over 114 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: the roster until October. And the whole reason the Cardinals 115 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: did this little transition plan, if you will bite this 116 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: almost never happening in baseball, was to give him blue 117 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: McLean slate. So if you're the Cardinals and you're going 118 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: to go out and you're going to buy it the deadline, 119 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: you're only probably buying to the degree of rentals. And 120 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: same if they sell, you're probably only offloading your expiring contracts. 121 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 2: Because the big decisions are going to happen over the 122 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: off season when him takes over so they're in a 123 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 2: very weird place. It's not like the Cubs where I 124 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 2: feel like, and you guys would know more. I feel 125 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: like if they're going to be buyers, because they're pretty 126 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: much owning the division for Saint Louis. It's not just 127 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: a matter of what do they look like right now, 128 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: it's how does this shape up for the future, a 129 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: new regime taking over, and if they feel like they 130 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 2: can keep up in the central or the wild card 131 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 2: the National League, guys is crazy. 132 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: Let's take a quick break and actually talk about what 133 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: the Cubs are going to be doing and how aggressive 134 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: they're going to be, if it's going to be soon or. 135 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 4: What krats real talk. 136 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 5: I do not carry cash around me, but what I 137 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 5: do carry around on my phone his cash app. 138 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 6: Easy Pasy. Like I said before, anytime Scott can pay 139 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 6: for the tab that is good and it's always right there, fast, easy, 140 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 6: always available. 141 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, oh my credit card's not working, or oh I 142 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 5: didn't bring cash. 143 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 4: With me, there's no more alligator arms. 144 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 5: Do you have your phone? Most people have their phone, 145 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 5: so use cash App. It's secure and safe, there's no 146 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 5: waiting around. 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That's money, that's cash App. 156 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: So Katie saw last night why the Hubs are going 157 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: to be active at the trade deadline. I think it's 158 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: you know, Ben Brown's a good guy. He's got nasty stuff. 159 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: He's got two pitches and the second, the second or 160 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,679 Speaker 1: the third time through the order, good teams are gonna 161 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: hit him. And they did. They he was he threw 162 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: his change up. I think once. 163 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: Okayo. 164 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: They hammered some pitches right down right down the middle. 165 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: Uh and and gave He gave up eight runs, couldn't 166 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: finish the sixth inning. It's clear they need a starting pitcher. 167 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: I don't know how soon it's gonna happen. All I 168 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: know is it will unless there's some sort of collapse 169 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: here where the Cubs lose fifteen sixteen games in a 170 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: row or something crazy like that. Even then that still 171 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: be in the wildcard race and Jed Hoyer knows his 172 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: job is on the line. They're getting pitching. This is 173 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: you know, the Cardinals may be like hedging things. There's 174 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: no there's no doubt what the Cubs are doing at 175 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: this dep line. They're making calls right now to start 176 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: to try and get things in motion. 177 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: Well that makes sense, right because any contending team coming 178 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: into the deadline, they covet two things, starting pitching and 179 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: relief pitching. That's textbook what any team looking to make 180 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: a push will go for. The Cardinals are in a 181 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 2: really unique situation. I've said this so many times now 182 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: that I'm afraid I'm going to speak it into existence, 183 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 2: But I'm going to say it one more time. They're 184 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: one of the rare teams in baseball that have not 185 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: faced a significant pitching injury. You guys, there's a spider 186 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: on my computer. I'm trying to be cool. Right now. 187 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 3: We walk out this Are you in a Bush Stadium press box? 188 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 3: I feel like there's just. 189 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 2: The press box? Will the ac be back? Who knows? 190 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: Such writers were on the home side, which I really like. 191 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: I thought it was fun anyway, I. 192 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: Know, we all got to bond. 193 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, this is so scary. So the Cardinals 194 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: are one of the very few teams in baseball that 195 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: have not had a significant starting pitching injury or bullpen injury. 196 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 2: It's why Michael McGreevy, whose spots spot starts today against 197 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: the Cubs, is inarguably one of their best options remains 198 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: in Triple A. Between the Cardinals utilizing their schedule so 199 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 2: almost every pitcher can take us six regular or six 200 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 2: days of rotation. They've done a really nice job of 201 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: keeping their arms healthy, and they're one of the teams 202 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: that could possibly be trading away pitching when you look 203 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: at someone like and Eric Fetti, who is in the 204 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,079 Speaker 2: final year of his seven point five million dollar contract, 205 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: has the lowest era in the rotation. Do I think 206 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 2: the Cardinals and Cubs whatever make a trade. I don't 207 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: think so at all, just the nature of the rivalry. 208 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: But it's interesting to see the Cardinals could in a 209 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 2: way sell some of the pieces that have been instrumental 210 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: to helping them and gain something in return by swapping 211 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 2: someone out of the rotation and implementing McGreevy. You don't 212 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: necessarily lose anyone there, but you are able to kind 213 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 2: of maybe generate some leverage because everyone knows at the 214 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: trade deadline it's a seller's market. So I'm not sure, 215 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: you know, I don't think the Cardinals and Cubs are 216 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 2: matching up for a trade by any means, but it's 217 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 2: interesting to watch. I'm curious for you guys, when you're 218 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: looking at the Cubs as we sit here at the 219 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 2: end of June, is this where you expected them to be? 220 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: I mean, fourteen games over five hundred, pretty much in 221 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: first place all season long in the division. 222 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 3: I did not see this coming. I thought, you know, 223 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 3: our editors forced us to do those predictions over at 224 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 3: the Athletic and I think I put like they'd win 225 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 3: slightly more than eighty three games and still kind of 226 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 3: squeak by and win the division. They've definitely taken this 227 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,719 Speaker 3: to a level that I did not anticipate. I thought 228 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 3: there'd be a lot more more tension, a lot more friction, 229 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 3: a lot more uncertainty. But I mean, at this point, 230 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 3: you see it now like they're not playing as well, 231 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 3: and like that happens as you guys, know every year, 232 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 3: but they built this cushion in that they've needed because 233 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 3: I've been surprised across the board, Like I thought this 234 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 3: division was going to be really bad, and you got 235 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 3: four decent teams kind of going after it. 236 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're hitting a ceiling that I didn't think it 237 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: would be this good. I liked the offense. I was 238 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: saying that all off season. Once they made the Kyle 239 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 1: Tucker move, I thought they had a chance to have 240 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: a great offense. It's at times it's been much better 241 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: than I expected. I did not think Pete Armstrong would 242 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: get to this point. Now, I think we all agreed, 243 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,359 Speaker 1: like he had this ceiling and he could show flashes 244 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: that he would be an MVP candidate this season. It 245 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: just happened so quickly, and he's so dynamic all around 246 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: with everything he does, and it kind of changes everything 247 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: about the Cubs offense. There are players that I liked 248 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: that are living up to their pretension, like Michael Bush. 249 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker is a star. The offense looks really good. 250 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: I just did not think they'd beat this far over 251 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: five hundred at this point, these rough patches. I think 252 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: it's important for fans in general to remember the Cubs 253 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: went to Philadelphia and the Phillies had lost nine of ten, 254 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: I believe, and now they're red hot again. The Mets 255 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: are in the middle of a major scuffle. I believe. 256 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: The Yankees had two weeks of just really bad play, 257 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: bad results. This is it's fair to have concerns. This 258 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: team is not perfect. We just talked about what they need. 259 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: They have to go get starting pitching. It was a 260 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: brutal weekend in Chicago because of that weather and they 261 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: and I think that that kind of set them back 262 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: with their bullpen, just guys getting beat up. You want 263 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: depth constantly with that. I don't think their bullpen's bad. 264 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: I think it's pretty damn good. But this team, I 265 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't freak out just yet. You want you know, games 266 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: like Monday Night are going to set fans off, though. 267 00:13:58,880 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: It's just it's hard not to. 268 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 2: I've experienced in the same in Cardinals Land, and it's 269 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 2: been a lot of a rollercoaster here in Saint Louis. 270 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 2: They had not a great April. I think they spent 271 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: most of April four or five games under five hundred. 272 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: Then they went nineteen to eight in May, the best 273 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: record in the majors, and they followed it up by 274 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 2: two weeks of just mediocre baseball, and then here they 275 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: are winners of their last six and seven. So what 276 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: I'm getting here is that in a one hundred and 277 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 2: sixty two game season, there are going to be highs 278 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: and lows. It doesn't mean that the Cubs are a 279 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: bad team right now because they're in a little bit 280 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 2: of a lull. Obviously they're not. You look at their 281 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 2: overall record. Same with Saint Louis. There was a lot 282 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: of talk about, oh, here they are regressing back to 283 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: who they were they were supposed to be because they 284 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 2: had a bad ten days. Well, a bad ten days 285 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: is going to happen to every single team in baseball. 286 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 2: If you're a team like the Rockies, it's going to 287 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 2: be like a bad one hundred days, but for most teams, 288 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 2: for most teams, it's going to be you're going to 289 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: go through stretches like this. And with scheduling for the 290 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 2: Cardinals in June they had just two off days, it 291 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 2: was kind of predicted that this would be it. It 292 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 2: doesn't surprise me that the Cubs are hitting a little 293 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: bit of a lull because they haven't yet this season. 294 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 2: They've also played, you know, I think what everyone in 295 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 2: the NL West by now maybe twice, and the Cardinals 296 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: have not done that. In the NL West is a 297 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 2: huge test for them. So what I'm saying, Cardinals Cubs 298 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 2: fans is just because your team is going through a 299 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: rough week does not mean that they're going to be bad. 300 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: I'm an NL Central I don't want to say hater. 301 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: I'm definitely a Reds hater because I know they're good. 302 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 2: I know they're much better than what I see. But 303 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 2: every time I see them, they lose and I'm just like, 304 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: this team cannot be what I think it is. And 305 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: then I watch them on TV and I'm like, that 306 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 2: is the Reds team that was sold to me. I've 307 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: always been kind of bummed out about the division over 308 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 2: the last three or four years because it's so five 309 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 2: hundred and it's like, oh, here we go again, another 310 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 2: five hundred NL Central Division. Yay, so excited. And it's actually, 311 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 2: I think one of the most competitive division in the 312 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: National League because you have four teams that are in it, 313 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: and the Cubs are the favorite in my opinion, But 314 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: I don't think you can count the Brewers as what 315 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 2: we know they seem to make a run somehow magically 316 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 2: every year. I think this Cardinals team is on the rise, 317 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: and I think they are legit to be contenders, and 318 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 2: I think the Reds are right there with them. So finally, 319 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 2: at long last, this division gives us something exciting. But 320 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 2: I did not have I think I had the Cubs 321 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: and the Brewers battling it out for first place. I 322 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 2: didn't have the Cubs this far ahead of the game. 323 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 2: But I'm super excited to see how this rivalry, how 324 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 2: the Cardinals and Cubs base out over the rest of 325 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 2: the season, especially because the last series of the season 326 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 2: three games at Wrigley, so that'll be fun. I can't wait. 327 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 3: Go ahead, Patrick, I just want to get one question 328 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 3: before our next break. Like Katie, I had flashbacks reading 329 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 3: your coverage from Milwaukee, Wilson Contreras popping off, like because 330 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: we've all been there, and the Cubs don't really have 331 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 3: that player anymore. Like those are certain teams, certain players 332 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 3: where like you just have to wait them out after 333 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 3: the game because you never know what they're going to say. 334 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: And Wilson, obviously livers. Wilson also in our experience, is 335 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 3: someone who kind of sees things sort of black and white, 336 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 3: and the Cardinals are existing in this gray area. How 337 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 3: has he sort of accepted his role as well as 338 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: the organization's direction at this point. 339 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: Well, he continues to be the most vocal of the players, 340 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: which makes for postgame interviews that are anything but boring. 341 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: I know, my favorite thing about post game lately is 342 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: that he's had a little bit more of a free 343 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: spirit tense on this, he said. And for live shots 344 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: for the postgame show, you can't air half things, he says, 345 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: so they have to reshoot it and it's hilarious. Wilson, 346 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 2: can you like say that again? But like Queen a 347 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 2: couple little so that's happened the last couple of weeks. 348 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 2: I'm sure you guys can pick the incident in Milwaukee, 349 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 2: but I actually really want to end Wilson contraras for 350 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 2: how he's handled this year. The Cardinals approach him over 351 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 2: the off season and say, hey, we know we signed 352 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 2: you for eighty seven million dollars to be our starting catcher, 353 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 2: but what about in our starting first baseman instead? And 354 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: he took that position easily, no reluctancy to switch, and 355 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 2: has actually been a really good first basement, and you 356 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 2: guys had seen him play first base in the past, 357 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 2: but it wasn't his starting position. I think when you 358 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 2: look at out above average across the league, Wilson Contrera's 359 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: is third in baseball. He's done a really nice job 360 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 2: there and he's I don't know why you guys are 361 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: so surprised. But one thing that I think stands out 362 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 2: even more than his play at first base and his 363 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 2: bad of course contrast, is I think since he's no 364 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 2: longer behind the plate, he has a lot more energy 365 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 2: and a lot more health to focus offensively. He's on 366 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 2: a heater right now, but his ability to look at 367 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 2: the clubhouse, both him and Nolan Arnatto have done a 368 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: really nice job at this and let these young players 369 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 2: have the ability to be themselves and kind of learn 370 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 2: to play the game their way. They've given this clubhouse 371 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 2: to the young guys. They've said, hey, we're here if 372 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 2: you need us, and we're going to set the tone 373 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 2: by how we play on the field. But in terms 374 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,199 Speaker 2: of establishing a new coldlture, this is your future. So 375 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 2: we're gonna let the younger players come in and set 376 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: the tone. We're gonna give you the ability and the 377 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: flexibility to be yourself, and when you are the Cardinals, 378 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: there is kind of that cardinal ay of how you 379 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: should act and how you should present yourself as a professional. 380 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying that that's a bad thing, but 381 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 2: I'm saying, if you're going to transition into a new era, 382 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: why not let these players who are going to be 383 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 2: around for the bulk of it set that tone of 384 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 2: what it should look like. And I think it's allowed 385 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 2: those young players to really relax and come into their 386 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 2: own That's not easy to do as a veteran, especially 387 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 2: when you were Both Nolan and Wilson came to Saint 388 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 2: Louis with the expectations that they would be contending every year. 389 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: They took a step back. They're still here. One chose 390 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: to be. One is still here because of circumstance. But 391 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 2: they both said, we need to let these young players 392 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 2: and the up and coming guys for the next core 393 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 2: of the club set the tone for this clubhouse, and 394 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 2: we'll support them in that way. 395 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: I have a question about those young guys. Let's take 396 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: a quick break and we'll get to it. 397 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 5: Well, if you're a normal human, can't speak English to 398 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 5: your pup, but what you can do to understand what 399 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 5: they love, which is spotan Tango nkibble, is to see 400 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 5: how they react when you put the unkibble in the bowl. 401 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 4: And my pup, Penalope loves it. So does Bella. 402 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 6: Well, Bella speaks Spanish, so she says, moibien, I love 403 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 6: this stuff. 404 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 5: She says, wow, Dad, thanks for creating a custom plan 405 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 5: based on my age, weight, breed an activity level. 406 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 4: You nailed it. 407 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 5: And also it's made with one hundred percent whole fresh 408 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 5: ingredients like real USDA meats, fruits and veggies. But it's 409 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 5: forty percent less expensive than frozen food. So upgrade your 410 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 5: pets bowl with spotan Tango unkibble and for a limited time, 411 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 5: go to spotantango dot com slash foul and use code 412 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 5: foul for fifty percent off your first order. That's spotantango 413 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 5: dot com slash foul, code foul to get fifty percent 414 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 5: off your first order. 415 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: So Katie saw peek Row Armstrong. He had had a 416 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: good game last night. He stole a home run. It 417 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: looked like he stole a home run at least and 418 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: had a few hits. He is the future for the Cubs. 419 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: It's clear that you can build around this guy. It 420 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: seems like he's you know, he's an MVP candidate, he's 421 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: a star. I don't know if the Cardinals have that guy, 422 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: am I is that guy on the roster currently? Is 423 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 1: that guy coming up through the system? And this is 424 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 1: just different? I like, I, what how do they develop catchers? 425 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,199 Speaker 1: All the time? They lose you out of here, Malina, 426 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: You think, okay, they'll they'll never be good at catcher. Again, 427 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 1: it's impossible to replicate this. They seem to have catcher 428 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: after catcher. I'm impressed by that, but I also I'm 429 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: also curious about do they have a potential superstar. 430 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's funny looking at the Cardinals pipeline. A lot 431 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 2: of issues that they're addressing with their farm system and 432 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 2: minor league development. That's part of the reason why home 433 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: Bloom was brought here in the first place. But one 434 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 2: thing that they seem to have like millions of is 435 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 2: catching death and dhs uh and they have a see 436 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 2: to trade any of them, and then they'll get to 437 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 2: the Big Way club and they're like, well, we don't 438 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 2: have any flexibility. You'll figure so maybe one of their 439 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 2: their rising stars is still in the pipeline. The Cardinals 440 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 2: don't have a clear superstar like pie chor Armstrong. They 441 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 2: have a bunch of players that I think are going 442 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 2: to be stars, but don't have like the superstar ceiling 443 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: of pe Kormstrong. Mason Wynn is their short step of 444 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 2: the future. Brendan Donovan should be an All Star this year. 445 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: You can build a club around those two. Lars newbar All, 446 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 2: the big question for him this year was can he 447 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 2: stay healthy. He's done a great job in doing that. 448 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: He's been mostly their everyday left fielder and that's someone 449 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:41,959 Speaker 2: that they're looking to build around as well. So they 450 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 2: don't necessarily have someone bitter Scott. I should mention him 451 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 2: just if you're looking for another exciting defensive centerfielder. He's 452 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 2: right there with Pca. So they have pieces to build around, 453 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 2: but they don't have the like star and maybe they 454 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 2: don't need it. Maybe that's coming in the system. They 455 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: have a bunch of pitching prospects coming up to co 456 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: Robe Quinn, Matt Views and the Cardinals. If there was, 457 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 2: you know, one thing they were super behind was developing pitching. 458 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 2: So this could be a turning point for them. Maybe 459 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 2: they go out and they trade for their next star. 460 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: I'm so interested to see how much things change because 461 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 2: Mo has been here and I have a lot of 462 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 2: respect for what he's done in his career, but he's 463 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 2: been here for like two decades and it's been the 464 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 2: same voice in the same pun intended Mo motive uh 465 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: for a decade and a half. Right, So you're going 466 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 2: to have a brand new front office come in because 467 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:33,199 Speaker 2: not only as Mo leaving, most people under him are 468 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 2: on expiring contracts and there's no really blueprint or no 469 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 2: one really knows if they're going to stay or if 470 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: they're going to go somewhere else, if Time's going to 471 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 2: keep them. So I'm not sure if they have their 472 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: next star in the system. They have a bunch of 473 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 2: ab above league average players that can allow them to 474 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 2: maybe jumpstart this runway and force them back into being competitive, 475 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 2: maybe earlier than they would have decided. But the first 476 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 2: thing that I'm going to look at if i'm him Bloom, 477 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 2: is am I going to go outside the organization to 478 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 2: find a star? Do they need a star? Because I'm 479 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 2: not sure that they have one currently on their major 480 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 2: league roster. 481 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 3: Kid, you'd laid all this out in your excellent coverage 482 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 3: in the Athletic like even going back to last year, 483 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 3: like you had great feel and instincts for this larger 484 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 3: story around the Cardinals. I mean two part question here, 485 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 3: these two kind of central figures, Like do you think 486 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 3: Moe will try on another team somewhere And do you 487 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 3: have a sense of what a Heim Bloom kind of 488 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 3: post red Sox experience, how he would kind of go 489 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 3: about reshaping the Cardinals. What are your kind of early 490 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 3: impressions on those two guys. 491 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 2: At this point, I don't know if Moe would take 492 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 2: on another team. I mean, I can't picture him leaving baseball, 493 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 2: so I know he might want to take a step 494 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 2: back after dedicating over half his life to the Saint 495 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 2: Louis Cardinals. But I can't see him, and this is 496 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 2: just my expect elation in my gut feel, I can't 497 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 2: see him leaving completely. I could see him. He's so smart. 498 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 2: I can see him maybe joining the business side of 499 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,919 Speaker 2: the organization and kind of seeing where the Cardinals go 500 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 2: from there, because it has been a recession year and 501 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 2: he does really understand that side of the game super well. 502 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 2: Maybe he you know, do the Rockies need help? Yeah, 503 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 2: he's from so maybe, but I think the more likely 504 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 2: path is he takes a year off and then because 505 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 2: we're all suckers for paying, we usually come right back 506 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 2: to this sport and maybe he helps side And I 507 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 2: don't know what to expect from hein Bloom. I think 508 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 2: this organization needs a set of fresh eyes. I mean, 509 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 2: it can get when you have success for so long 510 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 2: as the Cardinals did, it can become almost just like 511 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 2: you know your daily routine. And for him to come 512 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 2: in and have such a modern view of the game. 513 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 2: We all know what he's done in player development and 514 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: how he's kind of modernized that aspect. We're familiar with 515 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 2: his work in Tampa, we know what happened in Boston. 516 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 2: I'm one I'm curious to see just how much extension 517 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 2: ownership is going to give him from a payroll point. 518 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 2: I do think it's a little ironic where unfairly he's 519 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 2: known for trading Mookie Betts in Boston as one of 520 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 2: his big moves is one of his first moves in 521 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 2: Saint Louis going to be trading Nolan Arnatto Like that 522 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 2: is really not setting for all the success, but it 523 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 2: remains a possibility. So uh, you know, It's it's interesting 524 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 2: because I think we're both in a little bit of 525 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 2: front office holding patterns. What's the feel around Jed Hoyer, 526 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 2: a name that Cardinals fans know very well. 527 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, it all depends on this year. What's happening right now? 528 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: There was talk what there's been talk Patrick for a 529 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: few weeks. People have been buzzing about does he should 530 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: he get an extension or their extension Talks's not talking 531 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: about that. He's not gonna He's not going to answer 532 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: questions about that we've asked. I I think it's all 533 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: about the playoffs and and if they if they continue 534 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: on this path, he's getting an extension. I think I 535 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,359 Speaker 1: think he does deserves credit for kind of he had to. 536 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: He took on the hard job of tearing down the 537 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen team. THEO left and the system was kind 538 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: of barren, and Jed had to reshape a lot of 539 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: different departments. Did he make all the right moves? I 540 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: guess we're starting to see some progress. Obviously this season 541 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: is the first time we're really seeing the moves he 542 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 1: made bear some fruits. So I think he's going to 543 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: get extended. But if there's if something bad happens here 544 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 1: over the next couple of months that could mean his job. 545 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: I mean, this season is all about it. We've been 546 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 1: talking about it all winter, Patrick and I. It's this season, 547 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: what happens. Playoffs are not dictates Jed's future. That's a 548 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: tough way to go about business. But you know, one 549 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: bad injury, one weird set of circumstances can dictate your future. 550 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: But that's that's the reality of the situation he's put 551 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: himself in. This team wasn't good enough for years and 552 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: now they finally look good. But it's just that the 553 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 1: margin of error type stuff where where you never know 554 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: what can happen and how how season can go sideways. 555 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: Right now it looks fine, I would I think Patrick 556 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: and I would agree that that's he's back next year. 557 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: But it all, like I said, something goes wrong, the 558 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: discussion completely changes. I have no clue what direction they'd go, 559 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: because this is not the Mets or the Dodgers, where 560 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 1: someone like David Stearns or Andrew Freeman comes in and 561 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: it's like, hey, look at what I've done on a 562 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,880 Speaker 1: small market budget. Now I get, you know, three hundred 563 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: million to spend or whatever. That's not what the Cubs 564 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: do anymore. That's not the Cubs are not of financial behemoth, 565 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: not with their payroll. They just aren't. They're what are 566 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: they the thirteenth in payroll this season? Come on, like, 567 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: that's you know, yeah, so yeah, I think it. You know, 568 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: I think that's a big question facing the team. It 569 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: feels like it felt like a couple of weeks ago 570 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: it was answered, and now they're they're in a little 571 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: bit of a slow so people are going to start 572 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: questioning everything. I would assume they pulled themselves out of 573 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: it and that question is answered soon enough. 574 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 2: A very stable industry that we work in. Awesome for 575 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 2: you guys, because I full disclosure love Showda. I mean 576 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 2: I sent your article about pitching against St. Louis to 577 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 2: the Cardinals PR staff and I sent it with like 578 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 2: and they were like, oh, I love him. I mean, 579 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 2: it's like a borderline unhealthy obsession where one of the 580 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 2: Japanese reporters last year came up to me and gave 581 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,320 Speaker 2: me a Shoda baseball card and I kept it in 582 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 2: my ball all season. I don't know why I like 583 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 2: him so much, but I do, so I'm super excited 584 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 2: to see him on Thursday. How big is Shoda coming 585 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 2: back to the rotation for this Cubs team. 586 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 3: I mean it means everything. I mean, the their pitching 587 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 3: has been thin for a while now. They were able 588 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 3: to kind of compensate in different areas, but it's kind 589 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 3: of getting exposed. Uh, not just Ben Brown, although you 590 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 3: know he's been kind of the more obvious issue to 591 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 3: this point. You know, it wasn't an arm injury, so 592 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 3: the Cubs are hopeful that you can kind of slide 593 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 3: right back in there. But yeah, our memory, kadies, I 594 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 3: feel like you missed a bunch of its, Like he 595 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 3: just did not come up against the Cardinals that often, 596 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 3: or you weren't covering, you know, a particular series, and 597 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 3: I remember you saying you had missed him. But he 598 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 3: he does have that if factor, like you know, the 599 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 3: starting pitchers kind of uh been or has been very 600 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 3: much diminished over the years. But he's still one of 601 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 3: those few guys that has kind of the name recognition, 602 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 3: has that creativity. Uh definitely has like a flare and 603 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 3: a style uh to his game. So you know, I 604 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 3: think side of you know, you wrote it in the 605 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 3: preview that you guys, did you know if you had 606 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 3: kind of told us spring training that Justin Steele would 607 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 3: undergo major l elbow surgery like in April, and that 608 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:11,640 Speaker 3: Shoto would miss I mean almost two months before the 609 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 3: Star break, and that the Cubs would be in first 610 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 3: place and rolling to a large extent. I don't think. 611 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 3: I don't think I would have believed it. 612 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's I'm still surprised by it. Honestly, it 613 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: was they were set up to collapse with those injuries, 614 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: and somehow that managed not to what one thing before 615 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: we go I just wanted to say, the Cardinals fans, 616 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: what when you described the team, Katie, it sounds so 617 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: similar to what we watched like the last the previous 618 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 1: two years with the Cubs, where a lot of good 619 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: players but just lacking that superstar talent. And I feel like, yes, 620 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: you can win, you can have a good season. I 621 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 1: think what at least what I felt like I learned 622 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: in twenty three and twenty four is look this that 623 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: team was good, That they were good talented players. To 624 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: have that superstar in the lineup, it brings some sort 625 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: of consistency to the group that keeps you from, you know, 626 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 1: getting in those really deep slumps that the Cubs suffered 627 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 1: last year in May and June. If I remember correctly, 628 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: and the Cardinals look like I like a lot of 629 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: these players when they come up to bad it was 630 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: like non easy there's no there's nobody that looks like 631 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: there's where the pitcher can breathe real easily. And this 632 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 1: is you know, this isn't easy out. It doesn't seem 633 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,719 Speaker 1: like there's multiple of those guys in this lineup. Uh, 634 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: but they do lack that superstar. I do think to 635 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:41,120 Speaker 1: get to back to, you know, fearing the Cardinals, they 636 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: do need that. But I also think Cubs fans probably 637 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: need to be ready to possibly fear the Cardinals again, 638 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 1: not not to in the not it seemed like it 639 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 1: was going to be longer, but because they're just like 640 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: holding steady right now, it's like, maybe this isn't as 641 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: long as we thought it was going to be. I 642 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: think the Cardinals could be back and pretty dangerous soon, 643 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: if I mean, they're giving them a run now. So 644 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: so it's not like I'm saying like way off in 645 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: the future. Maybe it's now. Maybe it's right now that 646 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: they're dangerous, but they could be even better and winning 647 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 1: this Central over and over again if things go right 648 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: and they find that star. That's that's just how I 649 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: feel about that team. They're They're different than the Brewers 650 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: the way they go out business. But these teams are 651 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: pesky for Cubs fans. They drive the nuts, I know that, uh, 652 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: in different ways. So so we'll see what the rest 653 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: of the series have has if if it goes south 654 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 1: for the Cubs, it's gonna be panic city for for 655 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: the for the fan base. Uh, it can't be for 656 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 1: the team. That's that's for sure, because they they they 657 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: and this is not a team that panics. But uh, 658 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: these these tough moments, especially uh in the in the 659 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: middle of the summer, the they can they can overwhelm 660 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: a fan base. We'll see what happens though. All Right, everyone, 661 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: thanks so much for listening. Katie's work is over at 662 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: The Athletic. Make sure to check that out. She does 663 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: wonderful stuff. And make sure you check out Cardinals Territory, 664 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: great podcast. To make sure to rate review, subscribe to 665 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: Northside Territory, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and subscribe to 666 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: The Athletic where Patrick and I are on top of 667 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 1: all things Cubs and Katie owns the Cardinals. Thanks for listening, everyone, 668 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:17,440 Speaker 1: Tack