1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory. Foul of Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic and Patrick, 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: it is our twenty twenty six preview episode looking ahead 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: to kind of the main storylines for twenty twenty six, 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: and I think it all kind of comes down to 7 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: one big team. Maybe this is a theme that you know, 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: we'll be talking about all season long, but it's kind 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: of you know, obviously, you know, don't want to go 10 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: to negative town with this worrying about just go for it, 11 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: to go for it twenty twenty seven holes. Who knows 12 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: it's something we can deal with a year from now 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: in all likelihood. But the specifically with the Cubs like 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,279 Speaker 1: this is that cliff that I mean, how how long 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: is Like Jed and even before him THEO, they talked 16 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: about these cliffs and there was a cliff coming up 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one, and now it feels like potentially 18 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: there's another cliff with Seye Suzuki, Ian Hap, Nico Horner, 19 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: Jamison Tyne, you know, Carson Kelly, so many others as 20 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: Matthew Boyd. There are a lot of pending free agents 21 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: for this Cubs team, a Cubs team that is built 22 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: to win right now, just made the playoffs and is 23 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: looking to do that again. But I think, you know, 24 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: what do they do to take advantage of a very 25 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: clear two year window and also how do they make 26 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: sure they avoid it being a cliff? What are what 27 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: actions are they going to take? And I don't want 28 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: to make it seem like they're devoid of talent. There's 29 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: young talent on this team and that's something that twenty 30 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: twenty one did not have. But there's a lot of 31 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: talent up for you know, free agency that could be 32 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: walking at the end of twenty twenty six. 33 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 2: The cliff was I believe one of Jed's lines after 34 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 2: the Darvish trade was that when he sort of called 35 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: out the Tigers, Phillies maybe another organization of this idea 36 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: of sort of running all the way to the edge 37 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: of the cliff. And you know whether or not you're 38 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: willing to do that, you know, at what point do 39 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 2: you start to build something different and hopefully better. I 40 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: think this group, I'm not going to call this some 41 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: sort of like Last Dance. I don't think this group 42 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: has accomplished enough. I don't think there's that sort of 43 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: connection to the city the way that the prior group 44 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: obviously had made an in double mark on franchise history, 45 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: on baseball history like period. 46 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: But I do think. 47 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 2: It's kind of fascinating of just like, how do they 48 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: manage that? And we're joking off air like it feels 49 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: like a big trade should be coming, but we also 50 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: felt that way like years ago. Yeah, obviously Kyle Tucker 51 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: trade was obviously a blockbuster trade, but just sort of 52 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 2: like but that was less kind of minor league talent 53 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: that was more kind of moving. I guess Cam Smith 54 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: just became major league so quickly that I'm already forgetting 55 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: that part of it. But just this idea of like, 56 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: you know, they had a you know, really strong farm 57 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 2: system and some of them have graduated and performed in 58 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: the majors. 59 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 3: Matt Shaw, Kate Horton, Pete kow Armstrong. 60 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: Do they do that or I mean, we're still starting 61 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: on our spring training schedule, but I'm guessing there's gonna 62 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: be some big names still out there, and I'm guessing 63 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: we're gonna be covering free agency in Arizona again, because 64 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: that seems to be the way the market has unfolded 65 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: in recent years, and this out of the Cubs position 66 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: themselves sort of like hanging around the basket, you know, 67 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: trying to like get a put back at an easy, 68 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: easy basket instead of setting the market and having the 69 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 2: big show at the winter meetings. 70 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: If they're adding someone like Alex Bregman, it feels like 71 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: you have to make a trade that has to be 72 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: coupled with the trade. Now I'm not saying it has 73 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: to be an infielder. I'm just saying there's not enough. 74 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: I'm saying it, whether it's by Astero's casey, Kevin Olcontra, 75 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 1: like someone. These guys have to play. You can't just 76 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: have them stay in triple A for the rest of 77 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: their careers. Eventually their value plummets if you don't play 78 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: them or move them. And we were getting to that point. 79 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: I guess we're there where we're so you have to 80 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: make some decisions here. There was you know, like Kevin 81 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: el Contray, I think is an interesting name in the 82 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: sense like this guy has high upside talent. There are 83 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: talent evaluators that believe he can be a really good player. 84 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: Where does he fit on this team? This is a 85 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,119 Speaker 1: guy that can handle center field. Well, he's not playing 86 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: center field on the Cubs. At some point you have 87 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: to get some value for a guy like that. If 88 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: you add a bat, if you add Alex Bregman, who 89 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: are you moving? What do you You can't just shift 90 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: everyone to the bench or uh. It just like there 91 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: needs to be something done. There needs to be moves made. 92 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: I agree like it. When when's that big trade coming? 93 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: You know, we saw them pull the trigger last winter. 94 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: Curious if if that comes at any point this this winter, 95 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: in the spring, where whenever it may be, I agree, 96 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: I what I do wonder? I don't know. Maybe there's 97 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: enough rumblings with Regman that that'll get done before the spring, 98 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: but there'll probably be something that we're talking about. There's 99 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: going to be a move. There's gonna be something still 100 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: happening in the spring that we're covering. Uh And and 101 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: the roster isn't fully settled by the time pitchers and catchers. 102 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: It used to be you didn't have to worry about 103 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: this stuff, and that era kind of seems gone. We'll 104 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: see if the new CBA changes that at all. But 105 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: certainly something that I feel like we're just going to 106 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: be talking about uh for for a while here. And 107 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: I think there's pressure on them to make these things happen, because, 108 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: like I said at the start, like they have this 109 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: kind of too. They even view it as a two 110 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: year window. You know, this isn't something that we're kind 111 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: of throwing out there. They see this. They they are 112 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: aware of their contract status, they are aware of what's 113 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: going on, what type of team they have right now. 114 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: And I think it's interesting to think about some of 115 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: the players that are coming up. I know he's not 116 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: beloved by every fan, but Ian Happ is a career 117 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: Cub and like, is this his final run with the Cubs, 118 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: what does that look like for him? What kind of 119 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: season can he put together? And of course the name, 120 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: I think fans nobody, there's nobody that's in this fan 121 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: base that has bad things to say about Nico Horner. 122 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: I would guess a consummate teammate, consummate player, like the 123 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: type of guy that you want on your team. We 124 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: reported earlier this winter about you know, teams asking about him, 125 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: and sure enough, there was a report in the San 126 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: Francisco Chronicle by Susan Sluss. I believe that the Giants 127 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: are asking about Nico Horner. It would make a ton 128 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: of sense. He's from the Bay Area. You know they 129 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: can he can help any team looking to win. For 130 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: my money, I just don't see like a point in 131 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: moving him. I get but again, when you're at this 132 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: point with so many free agents coming up, you have 133 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: to entertain these things. Any pending free agent, you kind 134 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: of have to listen. That's a that's a very Cleveland philosophy, 135 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: and CARTERI. Hawkins obviously has brought that with him from Cleveland. 136 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: I don't think it's a bad thing to have an 137 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: open mind. I do think it would look optically be 138 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: really rough, and it may take a little while for 139 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: anyone to see it at the fruits of a move 140 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: like that. If it were to go down, Yeah, I 141 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: think is really unlikely. By the way, I wanted just 142 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: to emphasize that. I think we both feel this is 143 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: a very unlikely thing to happen. 144 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I am curious as the winter plays out, like 145 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: could they trade someone on an expiring deal. I'm sure 146 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: they'll entertain it. I still think that'd be a hard 147 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 2: thing to execute. I still think Nico Horner or someone 148 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 2: you probably discuss the contract extension with. I don't know 149 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: if that's happened like that yet or if they wait, 150 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 2: wait a bit and know that they'd probably have a 151 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: pretty good shot at matching or getting something done in 152 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 2: free agency as well. I still think looking at to 153 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: kind of spring training, I think a Pete Chrom's from 154 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: extension is something that. 155 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 3: Will likely be discussed. 156 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 2: I think it's that kind of window of spring training 157 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 2: before opening day that's usually a time when teams and 158 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: agents and players get together on those sorts of things. 159 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: Once the arbitration site goes through, once those final free 160 00:09:55,840 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: agents are off the board, you can kind of look internally, 161 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 2: look ahead and do it in a way that you 162 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: try and take, you know, the distraction off the table 163 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 2: one way or another to get some sort of clarity 164 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 2: or resolution. I believe it was around opening day in 165 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 2: Tokyo last year when Pete was considering, you know, some 166 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: some concepts. We don't have all the details, but that 167 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 2: was a general timeline. And and then I think it also, 168 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: I mean, you've written about this a lot recently to 169 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: hot of like like dude, where's the pitching? And I 170 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: think that'll be a fascinating, like kind of going back 171 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 2: over our notes, I feel like we've covered a lot 172 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: of different sort of iterations here of the Cups trying 173 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 2: to figure out that pitching pipeline, and there has been progress, 174 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: there has been success stories. There are different ways to 175 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 2: do it, see the twenty sixteen World Series. 176 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 3: So we're not you know, think about this one dimensionally. 177 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: It's just kind of kind of obvious that there's not 178 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: a whole lot coming. 179 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 3: And maybe that's fine. 180 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: If Kate Horton like contends for the Cy Young every 181 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: year for the next six years, and Jackson Wiggins follows 182 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: Horton's path and is pitching in the big leagues, pitching 183 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: big innings, big moments in the big leagues this year, 184 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 2: and they add a nice, you know, medium long term 185 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 2: piece to the rotation via free agency or trade this offseason. 186 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 3: All that could happen. But like they they've acknowledged that 187 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 3: it it's an issue. 188 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting how quickly it happened. There were some 189 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: names that I think, you know, it had been traded 190 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: over the past couple of years. They're not they haven't 191 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: turned into top prospects, but they were valuable enough to 192 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: be you know, used in trades. Ty Johnson comes to mind, 193 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: a guy that they moved to get Esach Paratis. I'm 194 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: probably missing a few. Uh, there's but there's been arms 195 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: that have been traded that are like, oh, that's an 196 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: interesting guy. Oh, look, he added five miles per hour 197 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: to his fastball over the past three years. Those guys 198 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: don't exist in the system. It's Jackson Wiggins. Then a 199 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: steep decline and talent. Something that I had heard was 200 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: the Cubs were like a bottom five team this past 201 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: season and velocity gained. That was something that they changed 202 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: drastically under Craig Breslo. This was a focus. This was 203 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: something that was a major issue with the Cubs during 204 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, the THEO years, during their best years, and 205 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: it was a complaint within the organization. They're bringing in 206 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: guys and nobody's adding stuff, nobody's adding velocity. Where is 207 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: the player development? And I don't know if it's like 208 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: one thing leads to another, Craig Breslo leaves, this happens. 209 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: It's hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong? Is this 210 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: player development? Is this draft? There are things that I've 211 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: heard from outside the organization that you know, like I 212 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: don't love these drafts. I got a lot of that 213 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: this past draft of I liked their strategy, I don't 214 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: know if I love the players that they selected in 215 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: that strategy. Why where are the upside swings for pitching? 216 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: You know, there's who's going to work with like or 217 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: who where's the talent to work with? So you know 218 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: that some things need to change and that they're making changes. 219 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: I will say that was something that we didn't see 220 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: as much, you know, in the previous years a last decade, 221 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: as much of like there weren't changes made. It took 222 00:13:54,520 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: a while before THEO finally made some sweeping changes. Uh 223 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: and and now there are changes being made. And you know, 224 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: I don't want to act like Tyler Zambro can fix everything. 225 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: Obviously we've talked about him a lot on this podcast, 226 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: and there's a reason for that. Like he's a he's 227 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: a pretty big part of this front office, and he's 228 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: being tasked with some pretty big things. I don't know 229 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: if he can fix everything. I don't know how long 230 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: it takes to make changes and and and get things 231 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: on the right path. If he can get them on 232 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: the right path, I will say he's respected in in 233 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: the baseball world and and you can you can do 234 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: enough that changes can show up pretty quickly. Uh. I 235 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: felt like they did under Breslo. We we started to 236 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: see almost immediate changes and and went from like, how 237 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: come we never see a player develop, a pitcher developed? 238 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: To here's Edward al Zalai, here's Justin Steele, Here's Keigan Thompson. 239 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: You know, did all those players turn into great players 240 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: and stars? No, but we just weren't seeing that. Javier 241 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: Assad now Kate Horton, We'll see, we'll see where this leads. 242 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: I think for me that they have acknowledged the issue, 243 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: are aware of it, and are addressing it. That that's 244 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: like you just need to see that. You can't like 245 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: you can't be in denial that like things are fine. 246 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: We have Kate Horton, Jackson Wiggins is coming, look at 247 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, we developed Justin Steele. You're not hearing excuses, 248 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: and I think you know that that's that's what you 249 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: want to see. You want to see them say like, Okay, 250 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: this isn't going well enough for us, because if you're 251 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: not developing pitching, it's the same thing. It's the same 252 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: thing that happened, and it's sunk a much more talented core, 253 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, it sunk them. And this whole thing is 254 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: being built on player development. If you don't develop talent, 255 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: if you're not going to spend like the Cubs and 256 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: flex your financial might, then you have to develop talent. 257 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: So you got to get this right. And and I 258 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: think there there's some uh, you know, what's the word 259 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: I'm looking for. They're being aggressive about it, and and 260 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: there's there's some fire here and they're trying to make 261 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: things happen. 262 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that previous career of Time Out had 263 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 2: a little bit more talent, right. It was like basically 264 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: the youngest core to like in a world series ever. 265 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: And here we're talking about a core where like maybe 266 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 2: roughly half the everyday players are going to be free. 267 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 3: Agents right in in you know, several months. So, uh, 268 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 3: I'm curious to see this year. You mentioned Justin Steele. 269 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: H He is to me a fun pitcher to watch, 270 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: just looking seeing how fans engage with him on social media. 271 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: Him screaming in the dugout a couple of years ago 272 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 2: in Milwaukee, I think he spoke for a lot of 273 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 2: Cubs fans. I think it was his wake up you know, screaming. 274 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 2: I think there's another word thrown in there and the 275 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 2: return of showed to in Monaga. Like for me, I 276 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 2: think I think it's that good year. 277 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 3: I believe in what we've seen for. 278 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 2: What like ten of his twelve months as a Cubs pitcher, 279 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 2: you know what, over twelve months and over two seasons, whatever, 280 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 2: however you want to break it down, I think the 281 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 2: way Craig Council talked about him, how motivated he is. 282 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 2: I think anyone who's encountered showed to understands where he's 283 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 2: coming from. On that we've seen him make these adjustments before. 284 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 2: You don't want to use injuries as an excuse, but 285 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: if that set off a tiny chain, tiny chain change 286 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 2: on that whole chain of mechanics that have to happen 287 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: for him to be effective in the majors, maybe is 288 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 2: a relatively simple fix. And if you have steel and 289 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 2: showed a uh, you know, you go out and add 290 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: another picture and an unidentified pitcher this offseason, we still't 291 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 2: know who that is yet, boyd tie on Colin Ray like, 292 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 2: I have a hard time seeing the twenty twenty sixth 293 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 2: season going off the rails. I think they do have 294 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 2: enough credible starting pitching. 295 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 3: I think. 296 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 2: The bullpen will frustrate people in April. Eventually they'll figure 297 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 2: it out with guys we've never heard of before. 298 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 3: And then just the. 299 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 2: The Jed having his contract extension, Craig Counsel being one 300 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 2: of the most established managers in the game, very professional 301 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 2: group of players. I don't see it snowballing with like 302 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: off the field stuff or distractions or personality conflicts like 303 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: that does not mean the Cubs are winning like a 304 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 2: hundred games and like dusting the Brewers. But with this 305 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 2: extra wild card, like meaningful baseball in September almost feels automatic. 306 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: I know it doesn't work like that in baseball, but 307 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 2: I just have a hard. 308 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 3: Time seeing them like losing ninety games or being on that. 309 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: Sort of track you know where they where they sell 310 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 2: the deadline like they they should be in it for 311 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 2: the long haul here and then it's just a matter 312 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 2: of being healthy again, right breaks And at what point 313 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: do they sort of go outside their. 314 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 3: Comfort zone and maybe do a big move that shakes 315 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 3: things up. 316 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I agree on a lot of that, 317 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: outside of injuries, you know, just hitting them hard. There 318 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: is a core here and I know fans just think 319 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: like losing Kyle Tucker means it's it's a huge step back, 320 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: and you can't just assume that the young players take 321 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: all take steps forward everyone stays healthy. I do believe 322 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: that there's a lot of young talent here that can 323 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: whole serve on on the offensive side, maybe not have 324 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: a top five offense, but a top ten offense with 325 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: you have to add on pitching. But I do believe 326 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,479 Speaker 1: that there's a step forward coming from from Kate Horton. 327 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: What I saw from that guy this past season, Like 328 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: he's the one that if I'm watching anyone in this staff, 329 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: I agree with everything you said, Like I think showed 330 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: a will bounce back. I'm excited to see what he 331 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: can do. I'm curious to see how Justin Steal looks 332 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: when he's healthy. But Kate Horton showed me something that 333 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: I was just so impressed by everything both on the 334 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: field and off the field, that I think something special 335 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: is coming with this kid. I don't like being hyperbolic 336 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: and saying, you know this guy, you know, just assuming 337 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: stardom for young players when they show flashes, but it 338 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: was the complete package, and that's why I'm impressed. He 339 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: got better with each start. The strikeout started to come. 340 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: You look at the overall numbers and you think he's 341 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: not striking out enough guys. They started to come, and 342 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: he learned how to pitch in the big leagues. He 343 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: expanded his arsenal, like to do that all in one season, 344 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: to add pitches, to use them differently, to learn how 345 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: to command your pitches better, and what parts of the 346 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: zone to attack hitters, and to have like these mental challenges. 347 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: The Houston start, everyone talked about that, and and that 348 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: did not sink his confidence. It made him tougher. I 349 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: really have a ton of respect for the kid and 350 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: think think special things are coming for him. And I 351 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: think just on the offensive side, I really want to know, 352 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 1: like I don't. Maybe we don't get an answer to this. 353 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,479 Speaker 1: Maybe up and down is his career. But Peter Armstrong, 354 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: those two halves were so fascinating to cover, and just 355 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: like that, that second half was a lot of questions 356 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: spring up from that. And I don't think it's this 357 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: is a disaster and he can't handle the moment as 358 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: much as how does he learn from this? What kind 359 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: of player can he be? How consistent can he get? 360 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: Can he reach those highs a little bit more consistently 361 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: and spread it out over a full season and what 362 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: can he learn from the struggles and kind of bottle 363 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: that up take those lessons. There's one thing that you know, 364 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: like as as crazy as he can seem sometimes as 365 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: like is undisciplined, I guess as he can see him 366 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: at times, I think his teammates really like him and 367 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: they know that, like, hey, look, it can sometimes be 368 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: a little immature, and you know why, he's a kid. 369 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: He's still young, he's still learning, but he's learning. He 370 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: wants to learn. He wants to get better. He wants 371 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: to how do I how do I improve in all 372 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: facets of the game, whether it's on the field or 373 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: smashing my helmet or you know, getting ticked after a 374 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: rough at bat, whatever it may be. He wants to 375 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: get better at all that stuff. And that that's something 376 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: that I'm curious to see how that unfolds. And ultimately, 377 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: I like, I think it's what everyone's waiting for. 378 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 3: It's like what what is? 379 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: And it's what we kind of started this with, like 380 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: how do you what are you going to do to 381 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: make this not the cliff? Like is it going to 382 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: be some trade that adds talents. So now it's like okay, yeah, 383 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: look yeah in in case he's taking a step forward, 384 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: feel good about him stepping in at left field if 385 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: that's the case, a right field for sayah by a 386 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: steer your everyday dage say it's the kids. You go 387 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: with a lot of kids. But is there a deal 388 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: to be made to kind of extend like add some 389 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 1: pitching and like, you know, cover the gap of like okay, 390 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: well the pitching development isn't where we want it to 391 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 1: be right now, but here's how we cover the gap. 392 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: We got a young, controllable pitcher and him with Kate 393 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: Horton and Justin Steele, we we have pitching for the 394 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: next couple of years. 395 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 2: What what is it? 396 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: What are you gonna do? Are you going to sign 397 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: Alex Bregman? And now you have Dancy Swanson and Alex 398 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: Bregman as your cornerstone veterans? 399 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 2: Is that? 400 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: Are you going to extend Nico Horner? What is it? 401 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: What are you gonna do? How are you going to 402 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: extend this? So it's not the cliff, We'll see what 403 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: it is. I don't know if there's a hard and 404 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 1: fast answer coming in the next month. That'll be during 405 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: the season what we're going to see, But it's a 406 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: it's a fascinating season in so many levels. Obviously, we're 407 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: going to be talking a lot about the CBA a 408 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: year from now. Hopefully it doesn't eat into games, but 409 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: you know, that's a depressing thought for another day. 410 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll leave negative town and say thank you to 411 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 2: all of our readers and listeners and the great behind 412 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: the scenes people at the foul Territory Network who are 413 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 2: on like twenty four to seven, always hustling to put 414 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 2: out a ton of shows around the clock. 415 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 3: And these shows don't happen without the passion. 416 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 2: From our listeners and readers who give us this great 417 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 2: opportunity to cover a team that people really care about. 418 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 3: We see it in the numbers, and we thank you 419 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 3: for your support. 420 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you to everyone behind the scenes putting in 421 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: all that work. Happy holidays to all of you. Thanks 422 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: for listening. We really appreciate the support. It has been 423 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 1: great to see you over the past almost two years 424 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: now that we've been doing this show. Everyone really supporting 425 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 1: this show and we're growing with episode and we appreciate 426 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: you guys listening and spreading the word. Uh hope, hope 427 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: to hear a lot more Cubs news in the new year, 428 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to you then. Well, no, we'll talk 429 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: to you before the new year. We'll talk to you 430 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: after Christmas time. Thanks so much for listening to everyone. 431 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: Happy holidays and take care.