1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory. Foul of Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic and Patrick, 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: it is our twenty twenty six preview episode looking ahead 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: to kind of the main storylines for twenty twenty six, 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: and I think it all kind of comes down to 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: one big team. Maybe this is a theme that you know, 8 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: we'll be talking about all season long, but it's kind 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: of you know, obviously, you know, don't want to go 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: to negative town with this worrying about just go for it, 11 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: to go for it twenty twenty seven holds who knows 12 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: it's something we can deal with a year from now 13 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: in all likelihood. But the specifically with the Cubs like 14 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: this is that cliff that I mean, how long is 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: Like Jed and even before him THEO, they talked about 16 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: these cliffs and there was a cliff coming up in 17 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, and now it feels like potentially there's 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: another cliff with Seye Suzuki, Ian Hap, Nico Horner, Jamison Tyne, 19 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: you know, Carson Kelly, so many others as Matthew Boyd. 20 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: There are a lot of pending free agents for this 21 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: Cubs team, a Cubs team that is built to win 22 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: right now, just made the playoffs and is looking to 23 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: do that again. But I think, you know, what do 24 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: they do to take advantage of a very clear two 25 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: year window and also how do they make sure they 26 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: avoid it being a cliff? What are what actions are 27 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: they going to take? And I don't want to make 28 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: it seem like they're devoid of talent. There's young talent 29 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: on this team and that's something that twenty twenty one 30 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: did not have. But there's a lot of talent up 31 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: for you know, free agency that could be walking at 32 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: the end of twenty twenty six. 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: The cliff was I believe one of Jed's lines after 34 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: the Darvish trade was that when he sort of called 35 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 2: out the Tigers, Phillies maybe another organization of this idea 36 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 2: of sort of running all the way to the edge 37 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: of the cliff. And you know whether or not you're 38 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: willing to do that, you know, at what point do 39 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: you start to build something different and hopefully better. I 40 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: think this group, I'm not going to call this some 41 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: sort of like Last Dance. I don't think this group 42 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: has accomplished enough. I don't think there's that sort of 43 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 2: connection to the city the way that the prior group 44 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: obviously had made an in double mark on franchise history, 45 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,839 Speaker 2: on baseball history like period. But I do think it's 46 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: kind of fascinating of just like, how do they manage that? 47 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: And we're joking off air like it feels like a 48 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 2: big trade should be coming, but we also felt that 49 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 2: way like years ago. Yeah, obviously Kyle Tucker trade was 50 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: obviously a blockbuster trade, but just sort of like but 51 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: that was less kind of minor league talent that was 52 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 2: more kind of moving. I guess Cam Smith just became 53 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: major league so quickly that I'm already forgetting that part 54 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 2: of it. But just this idea of like, you know, 55 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: they had a you know, really strong farm system and 56 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: some of them have graduated and performed in the majors. 57 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: Matt Shaw, Kate Horton, Pete kow Armstrong. Do they do 58 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: that or I mean, we're still starting on our spring 59 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: training schedule, but I'm guessing there's gonna be some big 60 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: names still out there, and I'm guessing we're gonna be 61 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: covering free agency in Arizona again, because that seems to 62 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: be the way the market has unfolded in recent years, 63 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: and this out of the Cubs position themselves sort of 64 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: like hanging around the basket, you know, trying to like 65 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 2: get a put back at an easy, easy basket instead 66 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: of setting the market and having the big show at 67 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: the winter meetings. 68 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: If they're adding someone like Alex Bregman, it feels like 69 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: you have to make a trade that has to be 70 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: coupled with the trade. Now I'm not saying it has 71 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: to be an infielder. I'm just saying there's not enough. 72 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: I'm saying it, whether it's by Astero's casey, Kevin Olcontra, 73 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: like someone. These guys have to play. You can't just 74 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: have them stay in triple A for the rest of 75 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: their careers. Eventually their value plummets if you don't play 76 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,559 Speaker 1: them or move them. And we were getting to that point. 77 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: I guess we're there where we're so you have to 78 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: make some decisions here. There was you know, like Kevin 79 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: el Contray, I think is an interesting name in the 80 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 1: sense like this guy has high upside talent. There are 81 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: talent evaluators that believe he can be a really good player. 82 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: Where does he fit on this team? This is a 83 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: guy that can handle center field. Well, he's not playing 84 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: center field on the Cubs. At some point you have 85 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: to get some value for a guy like that. If 86 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: you add a bat, if you add Alex Bregman, who 87 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,559 Speaker 1: are you moving? What do you You can't just shift 88 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: everyone to the bench or uh. It just like there 89 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: needs to be something done. There needs to be moves made. 90 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: I agree like it. When when's that big trade coming? 91 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: You know, we saw them pull the trigger last winter. 92 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: Curious if if that comes at any point this this winter, 93 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: in the spring. 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 3: Where whenever it may be, I agree, I what I 95 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 3: do wonder? I don't know. 96 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: Maybe there's enough rumblings with Regman that that'll get done 97 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: before the spring, but there'll probably be something that we're 98 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: talking about. 99 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 3: There's going to be a move. 100 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: There's gonna be something still happening in the spring that 101 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: we're covering. Uh And and the roster isn't fully settled 102 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: by the time pitchers and catchers. It used to be 103 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: you didn't have to worry about this stuff, and that 104 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: era kind of seems gone. 105 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: We'll see if the new CBA changes that at all. 106 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: But certainly something that I feel like we're just going 107 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: to be talking about uh for. 108 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 3: For a while here. 109 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: And I think there's pressure on them to make these 110 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: things happen, because, like I said at the start, like 111 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: they have this kind of too. They even view it 112 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: as a two year window. You know, this isn't something 113 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: that we're kind of throwing out there. 114 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 3: They see this. They they are aware of their contract status, 115 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 3: they are aware of what's going on, what type of 116 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 3: team they have right now. 117 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: And I think it's interesting to think about some of 118 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: the players that are coming up. I know he's not 119 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: beloved by every fan, but Ian Happ is a career 120 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: Cub and like, is this his final run with the Cubs, 121 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: what does that look like for him? What kind of 122 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: season can he put together? And of course the name, 123 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: I think fans nobody, there's nobody that's in this fan 124 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: base that has bad things to say about Nico Horner. 125 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: I would guess, consummate teammate, consummate player, like the type 126 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: of guy that you want on your team. We reported 127 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: earlier this winter about you know, teams asking about him, 128 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: and sure enough, there was a report in the San 129 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: Francisco Chronicle by Susan Sluss. I believe that the Giants 130 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: are asking about Nico Horner. 131 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 3: It would make a ton of sense. He's from the 132 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: Bay Area. 133 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: You know they can he can help any team looking 134 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: to win. For my money, I just don't see like 135 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: a point in moving him. I get but again, when 136 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: you're at this point with so many free agents coming up, 137 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: you have to entertain these things. Any pending free agent, 138 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: you kind of have to listen. That's a that's a 139 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: very Cleveland philosophy, and CARTERI. Hawkins obviously has brought that 140 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: with him from Cleveland. I don't think it's a bad 141 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: thing to have an open mind. 142 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 3: I do think it. 143 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: Would look optically be really rough, and it may take 144 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 1: a little while for. 145 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: Anyone to see it at. 146 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: The fruits of a move like that. If it were 147 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: to go down, Yeah, I think is really unlikely. By 148 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: the way, I wanted just to emphasize that. I think 149 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: we both feel this is a very unlikely thing to happen. 150 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I am curious as the winter plays out, like 151 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 2: could they trade someone on an expiring deal. I'm sure 152 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: they'll entertain it. I still think that'd be a hard 153 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 2: thing to execute. I still think Nico Horner or someone 154 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: you probably discuss the contract extension with. I don't know 155 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: if that's happened like that yet or if they wait, 156 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: wait a bit and know that they'd probably have a 157 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: pretty good shot at matching or getting something done in 158 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 2: free agency as well. I still think looking at to 159 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: kind of spring training, I think a Pete Chrome's frown 160 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 2: extension is something that will likely be discussed. I think 161 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 2: it's that kind of window of spring training before opening 162 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: day that's usually a time when teams and agents and 163 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: players get together on those sorts of things. Once the 164 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: arbitration site goes through, once those final free agents are 165 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: off the board, you can kind of look at internally, 166 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 2: look ahead and do it in a way that you 167 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: try and take, you know, the distraction off the table 168 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 2: one way or another to get some sort of clarity 169 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: or resolution. I believe it was around opening day in 170 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 2: Tokyo last year when Pete was considering, you know, some 171 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: some concepts. We don't have all the details, but that 172 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 2: was a general timeline. And and then I think it also, 173 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: I mean you've written about this a lot recently to 174 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 2: hot of like like dude, where's the pitching? And I 175 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 2: think that'll be a fascinating, like kind of going back 176 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 2: over our notes, I feel like we've covered a lot 177 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: of different sort of iterations here of the cups trying 178 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 2: to figure out that pitching pipeline, and there has been progress, 179 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: there has been success stories. There are different ways to 180 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 2: do it. See the twenty sixteen World Series. So we're 181 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 2: not you know, think about this one dimensionally. It's just 182 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 2: kind of kind of obvious that there's not a whole 183 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: lot coming And maybe that's fine. If Kate Horton like 184 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 2: contends for the cy Young every year for the next 185 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: six years, and Jackson Wiggins follows Horton's path and is 186 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 2: pitching in the big leagues, pitching big innings, big moments 187 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: in the big leagues this year, and they add a nice, 188 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 2: you know, medium long term piece to the rotation via 189 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 2: free agency or trade this offseason. All that could happen. 190 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: But like they they've acknowledged that it it's an issue. 191 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's interesting how quickly it happened. 192 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: There were some names that I think, you know, it 193 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: had been traded over the past couple of years. They're 194 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: not they haven't turned into top prospects, but they were 195 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,959 Speaker 1: valuable enough to be you know, used in trades. Ty 196 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: Johnson comes to mind, a guy that they moved to 197 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: get Esach Paratis. I'm probably missing a few. Uh, there's 198 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: but there's been arms that have been traded that are like, oh, 199 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: that's an interesting guy. Oh look, he added five miles 200 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: per hour to his fastball over the past three years. 201 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: Those guys don't exist in the system. It's Jackson Wiggins. 202 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: Then a steep decline and talent. Something that I had 203 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: heard was the Cubs were like a bottom five team 204 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: this past season and velocity gained. That was something that 205 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: they changed drastically under Craig Breslo. This was a focus. 206 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: This was something that was a major issue with the 207 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: Cubs during you know, the THEO years, during their best years, 208 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: and it was a complaint within the organization. They're bringing 209 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: in guys and nobody's adding stuff, nobody's adding velocity. 210 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 3: Where is the player development? 211 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: And I don't know if it's like one thing leads 212 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: to another, Craig Breslo leaves, this happens. It's hard to 213 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: pinpoint exactly what went wrong? Is this player development? Is 214 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: this draft? There are things that I've heard from outside 215 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: the organization that you know, like I don't love these drafts. 216 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: I got a lot of that this past draft of 217 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: I liked their strategy, I don't know if I love 218 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: the players that they selected in that strategy. Why where 219 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:32,359 Speaker 1: are the upside swings for pitching? You know, there's who's 220 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: going to work with like or who where's the talent 221 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: to work with? So you know that some things need 222 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: to change and that they're making changes. I will say 223 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: that was something that we didn't see as much, you know, 224 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: in the previous years, a last decade, as much of 225 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: like there weren't changes made. It took a while before 226 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 1: THEO finally made some sweeping changes. 227 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 3: Uh and and now there are changes being made. 228 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: And you know, I don't want to act like Tyler 229 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: Zambro can fix everything. Obviously we've talked about him a 230 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 1: lot on this podcast, and there's a reason for that. 231 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: Like he's a he's a pretty big part of this 232 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: front office, and he's being tasked with some pretty big things. 233 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if he can fix everything. I don't 234 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: know how long it takes to make changes and and 235 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: and get things on the right path. 236 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 3: If he can get them on the right path, I. 237 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: Will say he's respected in in the baseball world and 238 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: and you can you can do enough that changes can. 239 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 3: Show up pretty quickly. 240 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: Uh. 241 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: I felt like they did under Breslo. We we started 242 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: to see almost immediate changes and and went from like, 243 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: how come we never see a player develop, a pitcher developed, 244 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: to here's Edward al Zalai, here's Justin Steele, Here's Keigan Thompson. 245 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: You know, did all those players turn into great players 246 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: and stars? No, but we just weren't seeing that. Javier 247 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: Assad now Kate Horton, We'll see, We'll see where this leads. 248 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: I think for me that they have acknowledged the issue, 249 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: are aware of it, and are addressing it. That that's 250 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: like you just need to see that. You can't like 251 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: you can't be in denial that like things are fine. 252 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: We have Kate Horton, Jackson Wiggins is coming. Look at 253 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: you know, we developed Justin Steele. You're not hearing excuses, 254 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: And I think you know that that's that's what you 255 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: want to see. You want to see them say like, Okay, 256 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: this isn't going well enough for us, because if you're 257 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: not developing pitching, it's the same thing. It's the same 258 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: thing that happened and it's sunk a much more talented core, 259 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, it sunk them. And this whole thing is 260 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: being built on player development. If you don't develop talent, 261 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: if you're not going to spend like the Cubs and 262 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: flex your financial might, then you have to develop talent. 263 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: So you got to get this right. And and I 264 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: think there there's some uh, you know, what's the word 265 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: I'm looking for. They're being aggressive about it, and and 266 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: there's there's some fire here and they're trying to make 267 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: things happen. 268 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that previous career of Time Out had 269 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: a little bit more talent, right. It was like basically 270 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 2: the youngest core to like win a World Series ever. 271 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: And here we're talking about a core where like maybe 272 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: roughly half the everyday players are going to be free 273 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 2: agents right in you know, several months. So, uh, I'm 274 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 2: curious to see this year. You mentioned Justin Steele. 275 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: M h. 276 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: He is to me a fun pitcher to watch, just 277 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: looking seeing how fans engage with him on social media. 278 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 2: Him screaming in the dugout a couple of years ago 279 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 2: in Milwaukee, I think he spoke for a lot of 280 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 2: Cubs fans. I think it was his wake up, you know, screaming. 281 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 2: I think there's another word thrown in there and the 282 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 2: return of show to in Monaga. Like for me, I 283 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 2: think I think it's that good year. I believe in 284 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 2: what we've seen for what like ten of his twelve 285 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 2: months as a Cubs pitcher, you know what, over twelve 286 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 2: months and over two seasons, whatever, however you want to 287 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: break it down, I think the way Craig Council talked 288 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: about him, how motivated he is. I think anyone who's 289 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 2: encountered showed to understands where he's coming from. On that 290 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,239 Speaker 2: we've seen him make these adjustments before. You don't want 291 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 2: to use injuries as an excuse, but if that set 292 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: off a tiny chain, tiny chain change on that whole 293 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: chain of mechanics that have to happen for him to 294 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: be effective in the majors, maybe is a relatively simple fix. 295 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 2: And if you have steel and showed a uh, you know, 296 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: you go out and add another picture and an unidentified 297 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 2: pitcher this offseason, we still't know who that is yet, 298 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: Boyd tie on Colin Ray like I have a hard 299 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 2: time seeing the twenty twenty sixth season going off the rails. 300 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 2: I think they do have enough credible starting pitching. 301 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 3: I think. 302 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 2: The bullpen will frustrate people in April. Eventually they'll figure 303 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,719 Speaker 2: it out with guys we've never heard of before. 304 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: And then just the. 305 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 2: The Jed having his contract extension, Craig Counsel being one 306 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 2: of the most established managers in the game, very professional 307 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: group of players. I don't see it snowballing with like 308 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 2: off the field stuff or distractions or personality conflicts like 309 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 2: that does not mean the Cubs are winning like a 310 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 2: hundred games and like dusting the Brewers. But with this 311 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 2: extra wild card, like meaningful baseball in September almost feels automatic. 312 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 2: I know it doesn't work like that in baseball, but 313 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 2: I just have a hard time seeing them like losing 314 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 2: ninety games or being on that sort of track you 315 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 2: know where they where they set the deadline like they 316 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,719 Speaker 2: they should be in it for the long haul here 317 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: and then it's just a matter of being healthy again, 318 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 2: right breaks, And at what point do they sort of 319 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 2: go outside their comfort zone and maybe do a big 320 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,919 Speaker 2: move that shakes things up. 321 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I agree on a lot of that. 322 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: Outside of injuries, you know, just hitting them hard. There 323 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: is a core here and I know fans just think 324 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: like losing Kyle Tucker means it's a huge step back, 325 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: and you can't just assume that the young players take 326 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: all take steps forward everyone stays healthy. I do believe 327 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,959 Speaker 1: that there's a lot of young talent here that can 328 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: whole serve on on the offensive side, maybe not have 329 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: a top five offense, but a top ten offense with 330 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: you have to add on pitching. But I do believe 331 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: that there's a step forward coming from from Kate Horton. 332 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: What I saw from that guy this past season, Like 333 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: he's the one that if I'm watching anyone in this staff, 334 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: I agree with everything you said, like I think showed 335 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: a will bounce back. I'm excited to see what he 336 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: can do. I'm curious to see how Justin Steel looks 337 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: when he's healthy. But Kate Horton showed me something that 338 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: I was just so impressed by everything both on the 339 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: field and off the field, that I think something special 340 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: is coming with this kid. I don't like being hyperbolic 341 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 1: and saying, you know this guy, you know, just assuming 342 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: stardom for young players when they show flashes, but it 343 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: was the complete package, and that's why I'm impressed. 344 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 3: He got better with each start. The strikeout started to come. 345 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: You look at the overall numbers and you think he's 346 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: not striking out enough guys. They started to come, and 347 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: he learned how to pitch in the big leagues. He 348 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: expanded his arsenal, like to do that all in one season, 349 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: to add pitches, to use them differently, to learn how 350 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: to command your pitches better, and what parts of the 351 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: zone to attack hitters, and to have like these mental challenges. 352 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: The Houston start, everyone talked about that, and and that 353 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: did not sink his confidence. It made him tougher. I 354 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: really have a ton of respect for the kid and 355 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: think think special things are coming for him. And I 356 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: think just on the offensive side, I really want to know, 357 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: like I don't. Maybe we don't get an answer to this. 358 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,439 Speaker 1: Maybe up and down is his career. But Peter Armstrong, 359 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: those two halves were so fascinating to cover, and just 360 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: like that, that second half was a lot of questions 361 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: spring up from that. And I don't think it's this 362 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: is a disaster and he can't handle the moment as 363 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: much as how does he learn from this? What kind 364 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: of player can he be? How consistent can he get? 365 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: Can he reach those highs a little bit more consistently 366 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: and spread it out over a full season and what 367 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 1: can he learn from the struggles and kind of bottle 368 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: that up take those lessons. 369 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 3: There's one thing that you know, like as. 370 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: As crazy as he can see sometimes as like is undisciplined, 371 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: I guess as he can see him at times, I 372 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: think his teammates really like him and they know that, like, hey, 373 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: look it can sometimes be a little limature. And you 374 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 1: know why, he's a kid. He's still young, he's still learning, 375 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: but he's learning. He wants to learn. 376 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 3: He wants to get better. 377 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: He wants to how do I how do I improve 378 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: in all facets of the game, whether it's on the 379 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: field or smashing my helmet or you know, getting ticked 380 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: after a rough at bat, whatever it may be. He 381 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: wants to get better at all that stuff. And that 382 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: that's something that I'm curious to see how that unfolds. 383 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 3: And ultimately, I like, I think it's what everyone's waiting for. 384 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 3: It's like what what is? And it's what we kind 385 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 3: of started this with, like how do you what are 386 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 3: you going to do to make this not the cliff? 387 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 3: Like is it going to be some trade that adds talents. 388 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: So now it's like okay, yeah, look yeah in in 389 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: case he's taking a step forward, feel good about him 390 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: stepping in at left field. If that's the case, a 391 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: right field for sayah by a stereo your everyday dage 392 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: say it's the kids. 393 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 3: You go with a lot of kids. 394 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: But is there a deal to be made to kind 395 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: of extend, like add some pitching and like, you know, 396 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: cover the gap of like okay, well the pitching development 397 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: isn't where we want it to be right now, but 398 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: here's how we cover the gap. We got a young, 399 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: controllable pitcher and him with Kate Horton and Justin Steele, 400 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: we we have pitching for the next couple of years. 401 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 3: What what is it? What are you going to do? 402 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 3: Are you going to sign Alex Bregman? 403 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: And now you have Dancy Swanson and Alex Bregman as 404 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 1: your cornerstone veterans? 405 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 2: Is that? 406 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 3: Are you going to extend Nico Horner? What is it? 407 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 3: What are you gonna do? How are you going to 408 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 3: extend this? So it's not the cliff. 409 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: We'll see what it is. I don't know if there's 410 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: a hard and fast answer coming in the next month. 411 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: That'll be during the season what we're going to see. 412 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: But it's a it's a fascinating season in so many levels. 413 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: Obviously we're going to be talking a lot about the 414 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 1: CBA a year from now. Hopefully it doesn't eat into games, 415 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 1: but you know, that's a depressing thought for another day. 416 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll leave negative town and say thank you to 417 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 2: all of our readers and listeners and the great behind 418 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 2: the scenes people at the foul Territory Network who are 419 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 2: on like twenty four to seven, always hustling to put 420 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 2: out a ton of shows around the clock. 421 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 3: And these shows don't happen without the passion. 422 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 2: From our listeners and readers who give us this great 423 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 2: opportunity to cover a team that people really care about. 424 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 3: We see it in the numbers, and we thank you 425 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 3: for your support. 426 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you to everyone behind the scenes putting in 427 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 1: all that work. Happy holidays to all of you. Thanks 428 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: for listening. We really appreciate the support. It has been 429 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: great to see you over the past almost two years 430 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 1: now that we've been doing this show. Everyone really supporting 431 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: this show and we're growing with each episode and we 432 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys listening and spreading the word. Uh hope, 433 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 1: hope to hear a lot more Cubs news in in 434 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 1: the new year, and we'll talk to you then. Well, no, 435 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you before the new year. We'll talk 436 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: to you after Christmas time. Thanks so much for listening 437 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: to everyone. Happy holidays and take care.