1 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick. It was 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: a rough first night for the Cubs in San Diego. 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: The bullpen once again is causing issues and giving fans heartburn. 6 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: We will get to that in a moment. There was 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: some news out of l A. Obviously, the bad news 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: was justin Steel, which we covered last podcast. Yes, there 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: was some there was some good I don't know, good vibes, 10 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: good good like chatter. You know, nothing fully came of it, 11 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: but you know p C A and and the Cubs 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: did have extension talks. They they have tabled it for now. 13 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: You know, this isn't something that's coming out of the blue. 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: We kind of touched on this in the spring. I 15 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: talked about about it. My understanding was this there was 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: a good chance that this would happen, and it did. 17 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: That that there's no extension isn't a huge shock. I 18 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: do think like, uh, the Cubs are the Cubs want 19 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: to get something, would love to get something done with 20 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: their young talent, and they see PC a as a 21 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: as a big piece of their future. That's that's obvious 22 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: by the way they've treated him, the way they when 23 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: they called them up, how I like, they didn't even 24 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: consider looking for help in the outfield. Uh. He's he's 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: a part of their future, their president and their future. 26 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: Uh. 27 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: I I'm also not surprised that he wants to bet 28 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: on himself, right. Uh, this is the We've we've talked 29 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: to him enough. It's it's only been like a year 30 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: that we've been around him consistently. Right. 31 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. 32 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: But the more you talk to them, the more it's 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: very obvious that it's not cockiness. But this guy is super, 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: super confident in his abilities. Uh. And you watch him 35 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: enough and you kind of understand why. 36 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt. 37 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: And you were way out in front of this side 38 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: of way back in Mesa. I think both sides knew 39 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: this was probably a long shot, but it was an 40 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: idea worth exploring, even if the probability was low, because 41 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 2: you never know what could happen, and it also could 42 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: lay the groundwork for something in the future. Pete explicitly 43 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 2: told us that he wants to do a long term 44 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: deal and that Carter Hawkins and Jed Hoyer are aware 45 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: of that, but still I think there's a belief on 46 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: Pete's side that there is more offense in there. We've 47 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: seen it in flashes, have not seen it consistently, and 48 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: I do think it is a question of, like, can 49 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: he be even just a league average hitter, because if so, 50 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: the entire package is like a star. 51 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, but if. 52 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 2: He doesn't really hit, you know, his worst case scenario 53 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: is still probably playing ten years in the big leagues, 54 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 2: and that's a way to get to X whatever you know, 55 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: kind of number the Cubs had presented. So both sides 56 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: exchanged proposals and insisted I think genuinely that there were 57 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 2: no hard feelings, no disappointments, that they appreciated the back 58 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: and forth, how the process was handled, the communication throughout. 59 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: So all of those signs make me think, you know, 60 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: tabling talks is not the same as cutting it off forever. 61 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: And I guess time is on their side too, right, 62 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: He's under club control through twenty thirty, so I'm sure 63 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: this won't be like the last time we talk about this. 64 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: Right exactly? He uh, he obviously had a great, great 65 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: last two games. It's it's interesting, how you know, we're 66 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: so early in the season still, and and people, you 67 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: look at it, it's such a it's such a bad 68 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: idea to look at stats. I do it, we all 69 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: do it. But he his numbers were bad three days 70 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: ago and now they're great, you know, like he's he's 71 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: like a top fifteen player in war uh and has 72 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: like above average offensive numbers. Uh. And that was just 73 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: two great games offensively. And and that's what that's what 74 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: happens early in the season. So we can't you can't 75 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: say he's a no bad all defense guy like you said, 76 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: he's he's searching for that consistency, which is why probably 77 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: the exchange of the numbers whatever, like whatever area they 78 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: how far we don't know how far apart they were, 79 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: but I think we've we've we can kind of see 80 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: like the comps, right, and the Cubs probably see him 81 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: in like or would like to get an Ezekiel Tovar 82 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: type extension, right, who is who is kind of seen 83 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: as like a plus plus defender with average to slightly 84 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: below offense. Right, And sure Pete Armstrong would love the 85 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: Corbyn Carroll deal. My guess is the Cubs don't see 86 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 1: him as that offensive type of player like Corbyn Carroll 87 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: is an MVP candidate and has put up MVPC like 88 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: caliber seasons. Michael Harris had like a monster rookie campaign 89 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: with Atlanta. Those are the types of if he can 90 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: have that type of offensive impact, I mean, it's game changing, right, 91 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: He's a game changing force and he's worth whatever the 92 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: extension would be. Then if it's even close to Corbyn Carroll, 93 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: Michael Harris range, those are the probably what he's aiming for. 94 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: And I think that's those are good cops. I think 95 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: that's the range that you're looking at. Tovar to Michael 96 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 1: Harris to Corbyn Carroll, Like that's that's kind of a 97 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: pretty big range. And then you start talking about free 98 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: like you're eating like most of these deals eat up 99 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: all the R bears. And then you start talking about 100 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 1: how many options you can tack on to get a 101 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: free agent year or two, and that's that that probably 102 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: usually is the biggest sticking point in these deals. 103 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:31,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you from Pete side, you know they're 104 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: not going to want to go that far out into 105 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: the free agent years or really any player or agency. 106 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 3: Would have that Outlook. 107 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,559 Speaker 2: Now I'm in San Diego at the moment and talking 108 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: to a couple of people out here, they're still sort 109 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: of blown away at Jackson Merrill's deal. How that is 110 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 2: kind of like the new example of team friendly deal. 111 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: And obviously Jackson Merrill had a way better season than 112 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: Pete crow Armstrong did last year. His offensive upside is proven. 113 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 2: But it just goes to show you, like the numbers 114 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: and years can go to places that are kind of crazy. Right, 115 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: even if that's a team friendly deal, it's still a 116 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 2: guy who you know, at the start of last season 117 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: was like learning a new position, was totally unproven. But 118 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: this is how much teams value that young talent. And 119 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 2: that's why I think you'll keep seeing the Cubs try 120 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: to do this. I think we would guess Matt Shaw 121 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 2: would be on this sort of radar as well, not 122 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 2: saying anything has happened yet or anything will happen, but 123 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: like that's their job to kick around these ideas. And 124 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: you know, from Pete's perspective, it was going to be 125 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: a thing that popped up. There was our initial story, 126 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 2: there was his reaction the next day at Dodger Stadium. 127 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: Then it's just like kind of over until the next 128 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: offseason or if there is some sort of fundamental change 129 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: in how both sides look at this. So it's definitely 130 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: not the We've covered these dramatic talks before, right, I'm 131 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: thinking about Anthony Rizzo. Yeah, in twenty twenty one, we've had, 132 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: you know, pictures when the Cubs were in cell mode there, 133 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: whether it was like Matt Garza, Jeff Samarga, things like that, 134 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: where Okay, is this new regime gonna kind of extend 135 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: these guys or flip them? Like, that's not part of 136 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: the equation here. The Cubs have no plans to sell 137 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: and Pete is nowhere close to free agency. So I 138 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 2: think it's just an interesting site both into how the 139 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: Cubs front office is looking at things and also, like 140 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 2: you said, Sahat, of Pete's confidence, which he said, you know, 141 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 2: whether I get offered again or whether you know, they 142 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: never offered me anything, like my belief in myself will 143 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 2: never change. Like he is just a fundamentally confident dude. 144 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and just purely talking about his play. I mean, 145 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: I felt like these past two days maybe not this good, 146 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: but I felt like they were coming. He was not 147 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: had bad at bats, He's not chasing and looking lost 148 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: at the plate. There was, you know, not a ton, 149 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: but a pretty solid amount of bad luck happening with 150 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: him too, especially like early in the season, and then 151 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: one of the Dodgers games. I'm not sure if it 152 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: was Saturday. Yeah, I'm pretty sure was Saturday. I just 153 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: remember him hitting a rocket, it being caught and him 154 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: just kind of being like you can tell by his face, 155 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: like it was just like, really, is this going to 156 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: keep happening to me? Uh So, I think it was 157 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: probably a relief for him to have that game on Sunday, 158 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: just have a couple, you know, just you know, it 159 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: was two home runs, right, Yeah, it was two home 160 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: runs and yeah, so, I mean just a great overall 161 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: game and and follow it up with Monday that that 162 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: has to feel good to finally have some you know, 163 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: both send over the fence and and some fall get 164 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: past defenders, whatever it may be. Because he he is 165 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: just a truly impactful player. I mean, we haven't really 166 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 1: seen someone like this for the Cups. You could compare 167 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: him to Hobby, but it's a I think it's different 168 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: when it's a center fielder. It's it's he's a he's 169 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: a really fun player to watch. Patrick. Let's let's take 170 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: a quick break and we can talk a little bit 171 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: about the bullpen too. 172 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 4: Tod Father, I want to pull a very expensive card 173 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 4: out of a pack, veryicult to do and very expensive. 174 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 4: I can't pay for it, Okay, how could I acquire 175 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 4: that card? 176 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: Simple? 177 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 4: Instead of driving somewhere, you go on Arena Club. 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Uh, he used a council, used all 205 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: his best relievers. I don't know what his plan was, 206 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: but watching the game, my thought was he would have 207 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: preferred obviously wanted ty Own to get through that sixth 208 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: inning and and then ideally you'd like Keller to have 209 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: a quick inning and then get the seventh too. That 210 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: was my guess of what he wanted. And when that 211 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: pop up dropped, everything kind of went to hell. And 212 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: that's like, because I don't think he wanted uh Nate 213 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: Pier sitting in that situation. He just kind of had to. 214 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: Uh and and Nate Pearson did not look good, gave 215 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: up what was it, five earned runs? Uh, maybe it 216 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: was just three either either way, he didn't. He got 217 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: one out, two hits, three walks, no strikeouts. It was 218 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: a terrible outing. And then Eli Morgan comes in struggles 219 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: as well, apparently ends up exiting with an elbow issue 220 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: that he's been dealing with. Uh, maybe give some clarity there, 221 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: but it was it was a bad It was a 222 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: bad outing by the bullpen. I phrased what I say 223 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: at the bottom there intentionally comes. Bullpen depth remains a concern. 224 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: I don't think the bullpen as a whole is like 225 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: there's not It's not like there's no answers. I thought 226 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: Brad Keller pitted really well. I know he gave up 227 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: the tying run. I thought he looked great, he touched 228 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: one hundred. What he's I think he's a legit bullpen arm. 229 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: I think Ryan Presley looks so much better. I think 230 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: Porter Hodge is legit, and I think Julian Merriweather is 231 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: starting to strain things out, and it looks like you 232 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: have like four ish guys that you trust. Right beyond that, 233 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: maybe Ethan Roberts is knocking on the door. There's some 234 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: good bullpen arms, but it's these when you're trailing or tied. 235 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: When you or when your high leverage guys are are down, 236 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: that's when you start to have a concern like Nate 237 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: Pearson was unusable yesterday. 238 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, And going back to how you let this off, 239 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 2: tye Own indicated that he had been feeling under the 240 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: weather in recent days, so he knew he wasn't gonna 241 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 2: get you know, pushed. 242 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 3: To the limit today. 243 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: And there is this you know, kind of cascading effect 244 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: when you have you know, Justin Steele's hurt. So you 245 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: got go to Colin Ray who does a great job 246 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: but is not like fully stretched out or a guy 247 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: you want to go through thes lineup like three or 248 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 2: four times, right, So you have to make choices. 249 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 3: I'm with you. Presley has looked a. 250 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 2: Lot better, and his track record makes me think he'll 251 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: be more or less fine. 252 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 3: Like I don't think it's going to be. 253 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 2: You know, automatic every single time out or without any 254 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 2: sort of angst from Cubs fans on social media. But 255 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: if he's good, if Hodge is good, if Merriweather stays healthy, 256 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: you can sort start to see the formula. I think 257 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 2: we'll see how the rotation steps up in the wake 258 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 2: of Steels season ending injury that always plays a factor. 259 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think we're looking at at least one 260 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 2: roster move for Eli Morgan and then it sort of 261 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: becomes how many buttons do they want to press at once? 262 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 2: I mean we're around twenty ish games, you know, by 263 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 2: the time they get home for Friday's homestand that would 264 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: be a time to reset as well. Uh. And that's 265 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: something you know, we'll be asking counsel about because you know, 266 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: something he said last year kind of echoes in the 267 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 2: back of my head of like, you know, you know, 268 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: the answers are rarely at triple A, right, like, meaning 269 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 2: guys are at triple A for a reason, So like 270 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: kind of going to MI I LB dot com and 271 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: scanning the stats and thinking, oh wow, like that guy 272 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: can get out. 273 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 3: Fernando Tatis Junior doesn't always work that way. 274 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 2: But we haven't even mentioned Ethan Roberts yet. I mean 275 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: we mentioned him the other day, but he's looked pretty 276 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 2: good and has kind of begun to approach that circle 277 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: of trust there. 278 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know what's going on with Nate Pearson. 279 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: Like I was going to tell you what his issues 280 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: were going to be this year, I would have said 281 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: he's going to give up too many home runs. He 282 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 1: gives up he can't miss like when he like, he 283 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: gets a lot of swings and misses, but when they 284 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: make contact, it's hard. That's not what's happening. He's not 285 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: His hard contact is down, his home run per fly 286 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: ball rate is down. He's walking a ton of guys 287 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: and not striking anyone out. I don't know what is happening. 288 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: I haven't dug into if it's like, you know, like 289 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: if there's something up with his pitches, if he's using 290 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: different pitches. I haven't even really looked at it, just 291 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: because it's been so bad. It's like he like, I 292 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: think he needs a reset. That would be my thought process. 293 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: Go to Triple A, work on whatever it is you 294 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: need to work on, and like he has the type 295 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: of stuff and ability that he could he could come 296 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: back and be a great reliever. There's I don't doubt that. 297 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: We see it all the time. I just don't think 298 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 1: you can afford to wait much longer, not at the 299 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: major league level, especially when you have depth, You have 300 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: guys on the forty man roster, and you have a 301 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: guy that you can move off the forty man roster 302 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: and not to the sixty day and in steel right, 303 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: and they're gonna start getting healthier. Like I think Brazier 304 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: is pretty far away the way it sounds like he's 305 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: just not progressing the way they want him to. Tyson 306 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: Miller isn't like on the verge of coming back, but 307 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: I think at least he's he's on, you know, he's progressing. 308 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: And then asad that could eventually return to the rotation, 309 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: you have you have guys that can kind of help 310 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: you move things around, and then you have like all 311 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: these guys in the minors. Have they done it yet? No, 312 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: not really, but they just added Tom Crossgrove lefty. Right, 313 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: you have Luke Little, another lefty, Jack Neelye, Daniel Palencia, 314 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: Jordan Wicks had a really good multi inning. I don't 315 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: know what they see him his role as, but he's 316 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: probably depth for the rotation. Right. You don't want to 317 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: push him to the bullbenches. Yet you have Keegan Thompson 318 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: and Brooks Krisky, two guys that aren't on the forty 319 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 1: man that are been dominant in the minor leagues. Part 320 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: of what we were told in spring training in the 321 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: off season is they needed to be aggressive with these things, right, 322 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: they need to. They like they can't allow they The 323 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: whole problem last year was they didn't provide Greig Council 324 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: with depth. That's what Jed Hoyer told us over and 325 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: over again. Right, we didn't provide them with depth, so 326 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: when things got bad, we didn't have the moves to make. 327 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: They've been hit with some injuries, right, but they still 328 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: have some depth here. They have pieces that you can 329 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: call upon and say, look, this guy's not getting the 330 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: job done. He has options, let's send him down. You know, 331 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: I think they need to be aggressive with these moves 332 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: and start moving things around, not because the bullpen is 333 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: in shambles, but because they have pieces that you can 334 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: kind of shift around and do this with and you 335 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: don't want to. I don't know if you could say 336 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: this is a game that that was truly lost like 337 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: that that they had this game wrapped up. It's not 338 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: like the Diamondbacks game. Yeah, everyone lead against a really 339 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: talented team, like even the good bullpen arms could have 340 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: could have blown it. It wasn't. It was too early 341 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: to say this is like a wrapped up game, but 342 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: it's it's still a loss that at one point looked 343 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: like it was. It went from a competitive game to 344 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: not competitive right pretty quickly. Uh So you don't want 345 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: that to happen. You want to stay in tighter games 346 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 1: or be the team that's blowing and blowing the opposition 347 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: out right. So, uh, I don't know what the answers are. 348 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: We will you know, some people are going to be 349 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: listening to this podcast, and the moves are going to 350 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: be made. There's there's certainly one move coming, right, it 351 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: was pretty obvious that Eli Morgan's headed to Bayel is 352 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: that the. 353 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 3: That would be my full expectation. There wasn't. 354 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: It was a pretty brief post game back and forth 355 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 2: with council, but kind of at the end, you know, 356 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: you anticipate, you know, a roster move and he said, yes, 357 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 2: I should have clarified whether it was plural, But there 358 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 2: was just. 359 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 3: So many like it was a kind of like bullpen. 360 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 2: Whack a mole, right of like, Okay, which guy are 361 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 2: we talking about here? Which guy people angry at on 362 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 2: social media? But you know, I also think this goes 363 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 2: back to the defense has to be air tight, you know, 364 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 2: I mean, stuff happens, and also I know that lost 365 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: to the Diamondbacks that eighth run eighth inning really stung. 366 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 2: But part of that game was also Kyle Tucker hitting 367 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 2: a three run homer, right, So like they're gonna have 368 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 2: to hit their way out of some of this. You 369 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: have to make plays on defense. And I think this 370 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,400 Speaker 2: topic is sort of evergreen because the stress on the rotation, 371 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: like you're going to see it in the bullpen and 372 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: all of these things are interconnected. I mean, isn't that 373 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 2: kind of what Council has said since he got here 374 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 2: and what we had seen in Milwaukee of like all 375 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,719 Speaker 2: these pieces are interconnected, Like it's a team down It's 376 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 2: almost like a whole separate team down there in the bullpen, 377 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 2: and like almost everything any pitcher does can impact the 378 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 2: entire group, and they gotta gotta figure it out. 379 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you can't just because guys are down. You 380 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: can't like completely fall apart in a game, right. It 381 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: like that you need some depth here and you need 382 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: guys to step up. So I'm curious to see what 383 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: the moves are. Obviously it's not just on the bullpen 384 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: like you said, like you're gonna need to spread some 385 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: games out. A three to one game, like if you're 386 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: if the bullpen is a concern. If the weaker part 387 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: of the bullpen is concerned, you have to like then 388 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: other parts of the offense need to or other parts 389 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: of the team need to step up. It's not always fair, 390 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound fair, but like that's just how you 391 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,239 Speaker 1: cover up pieces. Sometimes other areas have to step up. 392 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: That's they have to address these weaknesses. But as they 393 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 1: look to, you just don't want to lose too many 394 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: games because of it. It's it's sunk them two years 395 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: in a row. You lose too many games early, you 396 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: lose winnable games. Cubs fans don't want to hear it again, 397 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: Like they just don't want to see it. They don't 398 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: want to hear it again. So I understand the frustration. 399 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: Hopefully this is rectified because it is. It is the 400 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: most frustrating topic to talk about. Bullpen. Bullpens, bullpen's falling apart, 401 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:33,719 Speaker 1: bullpen's blowing leads. 402 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: Well, you know, when the bullpen's good, we never talk 403 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 3: about them. 404 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: Yeah right, it's just like whatever, that's it's just supposed 405 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: to be expected. It's the same thing with runners in 406 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: scoring position. Yeah, they're good with runners in scoring position, 407 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: and everyone's like, yeah, the offense is good. Well, no, 408 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: they're they're you know, they're hitting with those runners on, 409 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: and it's going to slump at some point. You can't 410 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: hit like an insane manner every single game like that. 411 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: All right, okay, Patrick, we'll be back after the padres 412 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: Or season series is wrapped up with another episode, wrapping 413 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: the West Coast trip up and starting another tough set 414 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: of games at home. Thanks so much for listening to everyone. 415 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: This is Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. Make 416 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: sure to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the YouTube channel, 417 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: and subscribe to Patrick and I work at the Athletic 418 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: where we are on top of all things Cubs. Thanks 419 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: so much for listening to everyone. Take care 420 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 2: The Red