1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,200 Speaker 1: That that's his name plate. 2 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 2: Now it's Mike Imanaga, and apparently when he goes to 3 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 2: the coffee shops, that's the name he gives. Welcome into 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 2: north Side Territory, your Cubs podcast on the Foul Territory Network. 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: I'm Sahadev Sharma. That's Patrick Mooney. We're both Cubs beat 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: writers over over at the Athletic Uh. Patrick. 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: Uh. First of all, I have to say, like, every 8 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 2: single time I start this show, I worry that I'm 9 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 2: gonna say north Shore Territory for some reason. And after 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 2: we had after we had John Greenberg on and then 11 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: like the Chris gets Jed Hoyer story. Yeah, yeah, I 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: feel like north Shore is like on my mind constantly. 13 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: I live on the North Shore as well, so so 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: it's every single time I do it, I'm like, wait, 15 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:50,959 Speaker 2: did I say it right? 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: Did I say north Side? Uh? 17 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: But that you are tough. 18 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 4: I've been thinking of Kenny Williams line of like we 19 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 4: got guys Chicago tough or that's what they look for 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 4: in free agency, like nor Short tough. 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: It would certainly be a good label for. 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 4: That series that was, you know, thrilling towards the end, 23 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 4: but not exactly like, you know, a game you'd put 24 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 4: in a time capsule by. 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: Any means, No, it wasn't. 26 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 2: Neither of these wins were the prettiest wins they got. 27 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: They got the job done right. 28 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: They had to win this series, they had to sweep 29 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 2: this series to feel good about where things are headed. 30 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: I did not come away from those games saying, hey, 31 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: they looked impressive. I'll start with some of the I 32 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 2: mean just in general, like yesterday's game, which is Wednesday's game, 33 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: was not you know, nothing stood out to me where 34 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: I was like, yeah, that was really good. They're doing 35 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 2: this really well right now. But you know, after the game, 36 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 2: a lot of the players were talking about how they 37 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: just did the little things well right. The relievers, for 38 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: the most part, were solid, got the job done outside 39 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: of one bad pitch for Mayden Wassnsky that got launched, 40 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 2: a good job by the bullpen. 41 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: Good like there was. 42 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: They made plays when they needed to, They scored in 43 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: different ways without needing really a big hit, which can 44 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: sometimes be valuable. 45 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: But this team doesn't get the big hit. 46 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 2: So I like, for me, I want to see them 47 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 2: getting the big hit more and more often rather than 48 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 2: just like getting one or two runs in a basis 49 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: loaded situation, right, you want to see them put up 50 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: the four spot more often things like that, and you 51 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: know what, here's here's a good thing that stood out 52 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 2: to me. They got two bad starts against a terrible 53 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: offense and still won the game like that is if 54 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: as long as that's not a sign of things to 55 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: come with the starting pitching, that's nice to see. You 56 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 2: gotta win games in different ways at the the team. Like, 57 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 2: things don't line up perfectly all the time, right, so 58 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 2: sometimes you gotta win games when one unit isn't at 59 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: its best. So, yes, it's the White Sox. They did 60 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: what they were supposed to do. It didn't look pretty. 61 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if fans that really pay attention or 62 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: brimming with confidence right now, but they did what they 63 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: were supposed to do. 64 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 4: You kind of read my mind in that this episode 65 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 4: will largely be about showda Imanaga kind of a wider 66 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 4: angle look at how he got here and where the 67 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 4: Cubs go from here. 68 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: But I think you nailed it because you know, the Cubs. 69 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 4: Were struggling while he was performing on just another level, 70 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 4: and so like as he comes back down to earth here, 71 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 4: which I think we see happening. 72 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 3: I don't think it's totally alarming, but you do need. 73 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 4: Guys to get big hits, and Mike Taukman certainly has 74 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 4: a feel and a sense for the moment. 75 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: And then they're gonna have to tighten. 76 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 4: Up the defense and we can get into Christopher Morel 77 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 4: now of like you know, Shoda was cruising there the 78 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 4: first time through the lineup and then an error. 79 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 3: That just opens the floodgates. 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 4: And I think Morell stands out just because, like the 81 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 4: defense has been bad overall as a team, and it's like, 82 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 4: where are you gonna fix this? 83 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 3: And Craig Council acknowledge. 84 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 4: That, you know, they're evaluating everything and that you know 85 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 4: he is. 86 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: Morel's not out of the woods on this. 87 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 4: Council totally believes in the offensive profile and his expected 88 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 4: statistics and that he anticipates a huge balance offensively. So 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 4: Morel's in the lineup, but I think they're going to 90 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 4: start mixing him matching more I think Matt Shaw is 91 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 4: not out of the question later to this summer, and 92 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 4: I don't know. Ja mccandelaria was pretty good last year. 93 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 3: He was a big pick up. 94 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 4: He got hurt unfortunately, so his impact was muted somewhat 95 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 4: towards the end, but I think that's an area that 96 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 4: we're going to be circling here as it gets closer 97 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 4: towards July thirtieth. 98 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's I can't remember the exact wording Council used, 99 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: but even before he said it, I was thinking, it's 100 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 2: kind of like two steps forward, one step back with 101 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: morell uh and it you know, just I think before 102 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: that game, I was talking to someone in the press 103 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: box about, you know, like I feel like he's he's 104 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: making progress, like it was a disaster of the first 105 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: two weeks, but and it's not like it's been since. 106 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: But you know, you see signs that he can he 107 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 2: can do this. And I said, but I also, it's 108 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: not like there's a ton of confidence. Every ball that 109 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: goes in that direction. You're kind of like, is he 110 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: gonna is he gonna screw it up in some way? Right, 111 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: there's just a little bit of hesitation. Uh So, I 112 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: don't know, I don't think. I think when he made 113 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: that mistake, and it was you know, it's costing them runs, 114 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: potentially costing them games, which it has in the past, 115 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: whether it's an error or not. Just not making certain plays, 116 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: not making the right throw and it gets called a single. 117 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: Those those things add up, and those you know, eventually, 118 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: I think they're going to have to make a decision. 119 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: Does that mean you rule out Christopher Morele as a 120 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:33,799 Speaker 2: third baseman? Ever, it's really hard to do this in season. 121 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: It just is. 122 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: And I'm not sure how how he gets there if 123 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: it's not this year, if there's a way they can 124 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: do work with him in the off season and just 125 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: dedicate a full off season to him. You know, they 126 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: didn't really have like a full plan in place with council, 127 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: and they're like the front office that they have now 128 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: ready to go last winter. So they try and look 129 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: at it as like, Okay, we're gonna have to mix 130 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 2: and match going forward. They like, look, they have David 131 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: Bodie up right now. I don't think you can start 132 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: him a ton right No? No, So so this is 133 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: this is absolutely an area where we need to start 134 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: looking at and thinking about how do you address this? 135 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: Is it as simple as finding someone that you know 136 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: that that can handle the position at an average or 137 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: slightly above average level and give you some offense and 138 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: and you and that's your new bench bat right you 139 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 2: know what I mean, like finding that person on the 140 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: trade market, it's gonna be hard to find, like a 141 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: star starter, right, like a guy that you're just like, 142 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 2: this is our no crap third baseman. Uh, this guy's 143 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: gonna be there every day. But there's there's ways to 144 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: to alleviate the defensive issues. I think without putting Christopher 145 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: Merrell to the side. I I mean I get the 146 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: the doubt in like you want to see results offensively, right, 147 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: and I get doubting expected stats. I just think when 148 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: I watch him and I combine it with the expected stats, 149 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: I just haven't seen someone like this. And I've said 150 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 2: this already on the podcast. I haven't seen this type 151 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 2: of bad luck for such an extended period of time. 152 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: My concern always was the mental aspect. I'm not seeing 153 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: him get out of his approach. And now a couple 154 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: balls have fallen, so some have fallen in the seats. 155 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: He's getting a little bit of a like if he 156 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 2: can continue that as long as he doesn't change his approach. 157 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: I agree with Counsel like this is going to turn 158 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 2: for him and he's going to be a big part 159 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: of the offense. If not, like the team's just not 160 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 2: gonna be good enough because he has to be a 161 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 2: big part of the offense, like he's he's kind of 162 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: key to there, to their power as well, you know, 163 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 2: like he's probably the most consistent power bat that they have. 164 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 2: You know that there's always thunder in that bat, like 165 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 2: whatever the city suation is, whoever he's against, Like you're like, 166 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 2: there's a chance for a home run here. But he 167 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: also puts up good at bats now, doesn't strike out 168 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 2: as much, doesn't chase. 169 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: Like it's just it's a good offensive profile Now. 170 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: Before it was just like this is all power and 171 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 2: it was and you just took it, took the bad 172 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: with the good. I think the offensive profile is really 173 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: impressive now and how it's all come together. But yes, 174 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 2: absolutely defense has now become a big focus there. And 175 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: I think when when you have the manager say what 176 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 2: he said, I think it'd be foolish to ignore. 177 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 3: It, no doubt. 178 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 4: I mean, I think we don't hear any whispers about 179 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 4: Christoper Morrel's attitude or work ethic, like just off the 180 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 4: charts positivity, like the tools are loud. You know, you 181 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 4: don't need to go to Scout school to see like, 182 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 4: oh wow, this guy's different and athletic and energizing and entertaining. 183 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 4: But part of this experiment was like there weren't many 184 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 4: other great options, and they still aren't a ton of alternatives. 185 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 4: But once the manager acknowledges that and it's introduced into 186 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 4: kind of the public sphere, you know, they've been thinking 187 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 4: about it for a long time and discussing. 188 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 3: It pretty extensively, and so. 189 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 4: We have a lot of moving pieces here to how day. 190 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 4: But I'm curious, like, I don't know you no pitching? 191 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 4: What's your panic level? Was showed in Minaugua. Right now, 192 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 4: we you and I Ken Rosenthaler colleague at the Athletic 193 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 4: and Felterer. I wrote a big story on him. We're 194 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 4: kind of, you know, under the gun there to get 195 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 4: it out. While he was on the work start, we 196 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 4: knew he was gonna regress a little bit, but you know, 197 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 4: maybe earlier in the year he pitches around that Marillra, 198 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 4: you know, like he's at a moment now or I 199 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 4: think it's gonna be really interesting to see kind of 200 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 4: how he continues to make adjustments here. 201 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, he got hit hard after a while there, 202 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 2: right it It just it took a little while there 203 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 2: there was some bad there were there was bad defense 204 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: and then and then they started getting to. 205 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: Him and uh it. 206 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 2: He suddenly started missing bats. It was I don't know 207 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 2: where my panic Clem was. I like, I want to see, 208 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 2: you know, Milwaukee. For me, that's a flush it. Yes, 209 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 2: there's concern after the White Sox hit him, right, he 210 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 2: probably shouldn't have been hit that badly. You gotta gotta 211 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 2: make plays behind the guy, but he also needs to 212 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 2: make up. 213 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: For it, right. 214 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: Uh So, yeah, I'd say that, I'm I'm watching the fastball, 215 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 2: I'm watching the pitch usage. 216 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: Is he going to go to his other pitches? More? 217 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 2: Like I just quickly picked pulled up his his numbers 218 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: from the last game, the last start against the White Sox, 219 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: and he went to his sweeper twice and his curveball once, 220 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 2: and then it was like pretty much four seamen splitter 221 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: other than that out of his sixty six pitches. So 222 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 2: he's just not going to his other pitches right now. 223 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: Much like I think what we wrote was combined ten 224 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: percent between the sweeper, curveball, and sinker, Like that's that's 225 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: just barely using your other pitches. I was told the sweeper. 226 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 2: I think we were both We've both been told that 227 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: the sweeper is pretty impressive. Right, they liked the sweeper, Yeah, they. 228 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 5: Kind of put him more firmly on their radar, this 229 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 5: idea of like between twenty two and twenty three he 230 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 5: was getting better already and that that, you know, could 231 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 5: be a separator pitch with him in addition to. 232 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 3: Getting into work higher in the zone and then kind 233 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 3: of hammering the splitter down. 234 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 2: So I mean, like, I think Tuesday was mostly about 235 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: just like he location right, Like the location wasn't great, 236 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 2: It wasn't like. 237 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: One thing that we heard. 238 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: Was watch the rise on the fastball right the vertical break. 239 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: As the weather changes, it could he could lose some 240 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 2: of that rise, and that's going to make that pitch 241 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: more hittable because you know it's coming in around ninety 242 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 2: two ninety three miles per hour, not ninety seven ninety eight. 243 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: That leaves more less margin for error. And when the 244 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 2: rise isn't as good, isn't as effective, that's going to 245 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: get hit hard. That that wasn't that's not what happened. 246 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 2: So we don't need to worry about that yet. The 247 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 2: Cubs fans don't need to be too concerned about that. 248 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: Yet at some point it becomes it becomes a question. Right, 249 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 2: But right now, that doesn't seem to be an issue. 250 00:13:54,800 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 2: I yeah, like he's This is why I I wouldn't 251 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 2: worry if I were a Cubs fan, Like he is 252 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 2: a veteran. I don't think everybody fully appreciates that. 253 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: But he is. He's not. 254 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: He's not someone that he's going to need to adjust, right. 255 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 2: I'd like to see him start to use that sweeper more. 256 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 2: I don't think he needs to panic and completely abandon 257 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 2: pitches or or completely changes arsenal, but you start maybe 258 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 2: there's a moment now, I guess I don't know if 259 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 2: he's going to did he face the Reds already? Like 260 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 2: is he finally going to face the team for the 261 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: second time? I can look that up real quickly, But 262 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: that that would be like, let's see, does he use 263 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 2: the sweeper more this weekend because he's already. 264 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: Faced the Reds. 265 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 2: Let's see has he faced the Reds since he so again, 266 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: he's not he's not going to face a team for 267 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: the second time yet, so Cincinnati is the first time 268 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 2: he'll face them, So maybe we'll continue to see four 269 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: seam splitter. But I that's that's something that we need 270 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 2: to watch second time through the league team seeing him again, 271 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: I think he knows that. He's not like he's been 272 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: preparing for what's happening right now. Uh, he knows he's 273 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: going to need to make adjustments. He's not shell shocked. 274 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: He's not sitting there like, oh no, what what do 275 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: I do? 276 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: Right? 277 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: He's very confident in himself. He's very calm in these situations. 278 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 2: Those are huge things that we can't really measure. But 279 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 2: I don't think like some people may not appreciate it 280 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 2: as much and just focus more on numbers. But and 281 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 2: I was one of those people a decade ago, But 282 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: now the more I'm around baseball players, the more I'm 283 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: around the game, this stuff is so huge. And that's 284 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 2: he's not going to be rattled and overcome overwhelmed by 285 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 2: the moment. 286 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, the genesis of that story was in one one part, 287 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 4: we had our editor who's just saw how people are 288 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 4: responding to Showda I mean, the shirtless dudes in the 289 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: bleachers spelling out Shoda, just some of the funny uh 290 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 4: interviews and comments he's had. So like there's the that's 291 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 4: your personality feature? Right, and then Ken Rosenthal. Our colleague 292 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 4: is like, what do you guys got on showdough, Like, 293 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 4: didn't the you know, the industry miss on this guy. 294 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 4: And we were kind of thinking it of like two 295 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 4: separate stories, not trying to like jam everything into one long, 296 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 4: kind of unwieldy piece. But the more we reported it out, 297 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 4: it's impossible to separate those things. Of like, yes, he 298 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 4: was sort of undersold or undervalued in the marketplace, I mean, clearly, 299 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 4: but there are a lot of reasons for that, and 300 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 4: I think there are These are some of the things 301 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 4: to keep in the back of your head of like, 302 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 4: you know, he's roughly five ten, or at least he's 303 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 4: not six five two thirty. He is thirty years old, 304 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 4: which brings a lot of experience and benefits, but the 305 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 4: like upside you plug into your computer program. He had 306 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 4: never thrown a major league pitch before, and so then 307 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 4: you even have the Cubs sort of they were on Showa, 308 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 4: but they weren't like overwhelming him or putting the full 309 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 4: court press on. It was very much a let's see 310 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 4: where this goes. Okay, there could be a fit. And 311 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 4: meanwhile the dudes just posted up out in Schomberg. I 312 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 4: mean out in like you know, going to the Woodfield 313 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 4: mall or whatever it is out there, you know, like 314 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 4: waiting for you know, the Cubs to kind of reel 315 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 4: him in. And so I think this is where the 316 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 4: personality sat talking about factors in the intelligence, the curiosity, 317 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 4: the composure of like you know, kind of being able 318 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 4: to handle a lot of this stuff because there was 319 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 4: some trap about what this could look like for a 320 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 4: fly ball pitcher trying to figure this stuff out. And 321 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 4: so another layer to this is just like as much 322 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 4: as I was just kind of bagging on the Cubs 323 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 4: for not like going out and signing him immediately, they 324 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 4: deserve a ton of credit for being in position and 325 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 4: having a plan in place to draw some of this 326 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 4: stuff out. Like obviously Eric Fetti's done a nice job 327 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 4: with the White Sox, but like, I don't know if 328 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 4: showed us on the White Sox, does this happen if 329 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 4: showed us in a different city, Like U Darbys said 330 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 4: to himself, like, the Cubs are good at individualizing the 331 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 4: stuff and accentuating a pitcher strength and not just taking 332 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 4: this cookie cutter approach. And so this is going to 333 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 4: be a big test. I don't think either one of 334 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 4: us expect like the bottom fallout, but you know, show 335 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 4: to carry this team, not to like new hikes. 336 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 3: We just kind of kept them afloat. And now I 337 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 3: think it's kind of on the. 338 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 4: Rest of the Cubs to play better defense, to have 339 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 4: the bullpen lock some stuff down and really create a 340 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 4: sense of momendum. So it's not just like, oh, like 341 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 4: as show to go, as the Cubs go, Like, it's 342 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: gonna have to be just a total team effort here. 343 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: Right he can't. 344 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 2: He can't win one nothing games over and over again, 345 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: right like that that can't be the recipe to success. 346 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: I just I hadn't fully looked at like his pitch 347 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: chart from Tuesday and like what was hit Like the 348 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 2: like these are just like there's a couple of splitters 349 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 2: like center cut, you know things like that, like four 350 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 2: steamers that aren't at the top. 351 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: Of the zone, that are in the middle of the 352 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: zone or down. 353 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 2: Those are those are pitches that are supposed to be hit, Like, 354 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 2: those are pitches that that's command. That's not him losing stuff, right, 355 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 2: And he's not someone that is known to have. 356 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: If he command. So it was a bad it was 357 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: a bad day. 358 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: It was a bad team right, it looks it looks 359 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 2: scarier when when it comes against bad team. I think 360 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 2: because you almost what what I'm what I looked at 361 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 2: just there. I wanted to make sure it was what 362 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 2: I was remembering from the game. 363 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: It was. 364 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 2: It was a bad team that actually didn't miss the 365 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: pitches that they're supposed to hit. 366 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: Uh Like the probably. 367 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 2: My guess is, if I like fully look at all 368 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 2: his pitches, they they probably did miss some. Right, he 369 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 2: probably just was like really off and and they missed 370 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 2: more pitches. But he was so off that he gave 371 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 2: them multiple chances and they took advantage of it. Right, 372 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: he was he was just off with his command. This 373 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 2: isn't going I'd be surprised if that continues, because this 374 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 2: isn't a guy that's ever had command issues. That's what 375 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: he's known for, So you could I think. I think 376 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 2: there's reason for belief there and and trust for so 377 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: many reasons, including the tangi intangible ones that we've mentioned. 378 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: Uh I just like uh. I like his personality. 379 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 2: I like uh you know this, like the willingness to 380 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 2: joke about things, the willingness to talk about the inside 381 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 2: jokes with us and and explained them like like the 382 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 2: Mic and Immenaga thing if if you haven't read the piece. 383 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: He was that that's his name plate. 384 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 2: Now it's Mike Imanaga, and apparently when he goes to 385 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: the coffee shops, that's the name he gives. 386 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 3: Not to Duncan. 387 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 4: He said, he doesn't give his name at Duncan. But 388 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 4: it was more of an in general, there are scenarios 389 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 4: where you have to give your name and he kind 390 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 4: of sense it's gonna be mispronounced or misunderstood. 391 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 3: He went with Mike. 392 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 4: Uh, did not fully get to the bottom of that one. 393 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 4: He did not particularly want to like outline everything. 394 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 3: But what we wrote was accurate. 395 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 4: Uh, just a ton of just really good and you know, 396 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 4: we'll probably reserve some of this. But James and Tyn 397 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 4: had told like, you know, his before showed his first 398 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 4: cactus leak outing. 399 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 3: He went up to him. He's like, hey, man, like 400 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 3: today is your day? Like today's show today, and like 401 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 3: showed to just love this. 402 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 4: And so now whenever he sees him supposedly and he's starting, 403 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 4: he'll go up to time and be like today show today, 404 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 4: and then ty On will do it, you know, the 405 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 4: same thing to him, just like a funny little like 406 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,360 Speaker 4: for I'm using air quotes, rookie and for a guy 407 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 4: who's in a foreign country. 408 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 3: He's been extremely. 409 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 4: Intentional about how he's gone about this. 410 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 3: He's not. 411 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 4: Attached to the hip of his interpreter, Edwin, who does 412 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 4: a very good job. Got to give him a shout 413 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 4: out that he is really just diligent and available and 414 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 4: he really gets the game. And then just the the 415 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 4: other one was like, you know, he's facing the braves, 416 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 4: doesn't have great stuff. He's kind of battling, you know, 417 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 4: a bunch of walks and hits, and in between innings, 418 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 4: teammates are cracking up. He's drinking a Tobo Chico sparkling 419 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 4: water while he's ropes and winds up throwing five scoreless 420 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 4: at what at the time was probably his his toughest 421 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 4: task or biggest challenge. Just that sense of cool and 422 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 4: also an ability, like one of the coaches had told us, 423 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 4: like when it's time to work, like he is totally 424 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 4: locked in, Like he very much, like he's not showing up, 425 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 4: kind of wondering like what I should be doing, Like 426 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 4: he has a plan, and once it's time to go 427 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 4: to work, he is extremely I don't know if ridge 428 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 4: is the right word, but just very focused on what 429 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 4: he has to do. And so I think all of 430 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 4: those things the intangibles you mentioned sat of are are 431 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 4: really good bay from which you can build a strong season. 432 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 3: And like why the Cubs, you know they're. 433 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 4: Gonna be cautiously optimistic and working an extra rest or 434 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 4: being aware of that. I think Council said about one 435 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 4: hundred and seventy innings is kind of what he's been 436 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 4: on track for, and there'll be a lot, but I 437 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 4: don't think it's inconceivable or you know, too big for Showa. 438 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think how he does the rest 439 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: of the way is a big storyline. Right He's he's 440 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 2: in the cy Young conversation right now. I haven't paid 441 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 2: enough attention to the rest of the league to know 442 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 2: for sure if he'd be like the front runner, but. 443 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: I would assume he's top three or five. The Phillies 444 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: probably have three in the top five, right yeah. 445 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, And speaking of the Phillies, like I'll just transition 446 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 2: here to to kind of wrapping this up and kind 447 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 2: of putting things in perspective. The Phillies just swept the Brewers. 448 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 2: The Cubs are five back at the Brewers. The Cubs 449 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 2: have the second wild card spot. They have been bad. Okay, 450 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 2: they've not played well for a month now, and they 451 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 2: had a good month, they had a bad month, and 452 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 2: somehow they're right there. They're lucky that the NL is 453 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: pretty mediocre. I as I said at the start, I 454 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 2: don't think this. These last two games inspired confidence that 455 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 2: they're turning a corner performance wise. But it can turn 456 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 2: at any moment. I really do. I know that from 457 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 2: watching baseball my entire life. I'm not saying that the 458 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 2: Cubs will turn. I'm just saying come back, got it? Yeah, 459 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,199 Speaker 2: I'm just so used to seeing stuff. I mean, it 460 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 2: happened last year where how many times a we where 461 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,880 Speaker 2: we were like, oh are they back? Oh oh are 462 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 2: they going to turn it on? And then finally both 463 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 2: you and I were just like, okay, we need to 464 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: stop like they're sellers. What are we doing constantly talking 465 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 2: about them getting back to being you know, showing like this, 466 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,239 Speaker 2: being consistent and winning, and then they rattle off that 467 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: insane run right and nearly make the playoffs. So there's 468 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 2: even when you think it they're done, you have to 469 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 2: just like pay attention and make sure, like are they 470 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 2: really dead. Uh and and as you wrote, as you wrote, 471 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: they're not selling right, They're just not. 472 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:26,439 Speaker 3: No, it's hard to see. 473 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 4: I think our stronger went a little our headline went 474 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,439 Speaker 4: a little stronger of like Cubs ruling it out. But 475 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 4: you know, there's just no scenario that's realistic on the horizon, 476 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 4: like to for something like that to happen. It's almost 477 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,679 Speaker 4: impossible to imagine what that would look at or look like, 478 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 4: or what it would take. I mean, just the way 479 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 4: the roster is set up, how invested the franchise is 480 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 4: this year in winning, the pressure on the front office 481 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 4: and the manager, the coaching staff, you know, the lack 482 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 4: of pieces to move the you know, obviously you always 483 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 4: need prospects down the line, but the last thing that this 484 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 4: organization needs is like another like you know, Toolsy Class 485 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 4: a player who's like four years away from the big leagues. 486 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 4: Like and I think what we're talking about here is 487 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 4: like if you have an ace, you know, coass and 488 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 4: showda Justin Steele, Javi Asad's kind of creeping. You know, 489 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 4: maybe they're not exactly traditional aces, but all really strong 490 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 4: starting pitchers. And you have some depth with Tyne and 491 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 4: interesting younger pitchers and Ben Brown and Hayden Wizneski and the. 492 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 3: Bullpens kind of getting into order now. 493 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 4: And you have a lot of like you know, solid 494 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 4: two way players, if not you know, superstars in your 495 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 4: lineup like to I think you'll have something come on 496 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 4: athletics soon. Like if you upgrade a catcher, you keep 497 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 4: your mind open at the base. Jed Hoyer short sounded 498 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 4: interested in adding a slugger, whether or not that's Pete 499 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 4: Alonzo or someone else of that. 500 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 3: That's these things are. 501 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 4: Not going to take that much in the grand scheme 502 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 4: of things to acquire. And if you make those three 503 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 4: maybe moves to shore up some of these areas, I 504 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 4: don't think it's gonna like cost as much as maybe 505 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 4: you'd think. And I think the value in the aggregate 506 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 4: of combining all those things could be huge because the 507 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 4: National League, outside of a couple of teams, is just 508 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 4: extremely mediocre, and the Cubs are, you know, better positioned 509 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 4: than most of the mediocre teams to go six months here. 510 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 6: Amocrats here from FT. I'm a former athlete that really 511 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 6: pays attention to his routine, and AG one every morning 512 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 6: before my workouts is something that gets my day. 513 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: Going Hey, bron here. 514 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 7: Ag one is a foundational nutrition supplement that delivers daily 515 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 7: nutrients and gut health support, and it's backed by multiple 516 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 7: research studies, so you can trust what you're putting in 517 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 7: your body. 518 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 6: Unlike other products which only test their ingredients in isolation, 519 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 6: ag one tests their formula. 520 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 3: As a whole. 521 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 7: Ready for this stat, ninety seven percent of people in 522 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 7: a research study felt more energy after thirty days of 523 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 7: drinking ag one. If I had to recommend one product 524 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 7: to support whole body health, it's ag one and that's 525 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 7: why FT is excited to have them as a new partner. 526 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 7: Starting your journey with ag one is a win. Try 527 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 7: ag one and get a free one year supply of 528 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 7: Vitamin D three, K two and five free ag one 529 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 7: travel packs with your first purchase at drinkag one dot 530 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 7: com slash foul that's drinkag one dot com slash fo 531 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 7: ul go check it out FTFAM. 532 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you mentioned Pete Alonzo. It's a also worth mentioning. 533 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: Like Toronto has talent, Houston has talent, Alex Blad Guerrero. 534 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 2: I mean those would lad probably cost is a half 535 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: deep price because I think separate, but but still like 536 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 2: they have it, Like, there's no doubt the Cubs have 537 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 2: the talent as much. 538 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: As anyone in the game. 539 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 2: Maybe uh not Houston, maybe Baltimore. Uh there's one other 540 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 2: team that has a ton of prospects. But but the 541 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 2: Cubs have what it takes to go out and get 542 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 2: pretty much anyone they want. If they you know, if 543 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 2: they choose to be aggressive, and I think their their 544 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 2: names like Bregman and Glad, that could really make sense 545 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 2: and really impact the team. I mean, Alex Bregman changes 546 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 2: kind of the the way everything looks, right if if 547 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 2: that's a if that's a possibility. I just don't know 548 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 2: if Houston will end up being aggressive sellers. Well, we'll see. 549 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 2: We'll see how they choose to. They kind of do 550 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 2: need to replenish their sis them. 551 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: It just depends. I don't know who's running things there. 552 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. 553 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, right, Wilson Contrez was supposed to get 554 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 4: traded there right right right, Like the mess just to 555 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 4: me seem like. 556 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 3: Very clear sellers. 557 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 4: And that Alonso being this close to free agency, and 558 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 4: I know he's a big homegrown guy. 559 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 3: He just seems like like. 560 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 4: That dude just showing up at Wrigley and hitting bombs 561 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 4: like would like be Nick Cassiano's times a million, you know, 562 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 4: like you have no doubt of like, oh, is he 563 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 4: gonna be you know, kind of cautious or scared or 564 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 4: like no, like that guy won't necessarily fix the defense, 565 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 4: but if he can hit you know, like fifteen homers, 566 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 4: you know, from. 567 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 3: August first on, Like, yes, and there's. 568 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 4: A handful of untouchables, But I don't think you even 569 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 4: have to really likensider that, like the cost of sluggers 570 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 4: in recent years, guys in their walk ears should not 571 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 4: be prohibitive. And even if it is, like who cares, 572 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 4: this team's got the right playoffs Like this is a 573 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 4: playoffs or bust kind of year. 574 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: And they're starting to have players that it's just like 575 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 2: where like you don't want to like that, where do they? 576 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 2: Like you don't always want to think like that, but 577 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 2: you kind of do have to at a certain point. 578 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 2: It's like what do like these guys are some of 579 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 2: the like Kevin ol Contres on the forty man, He's 580 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 2: proving to be a pretty damn good center fielder. It's like, 581 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 2: what's going to happen with him? You know, like you 582 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 2: have to make a decision about how you use this guy. 583 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 2: Eventually he's gonna be out of options. 584 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 1: You know, he's not that. 585 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 2: Far away from that. He's been on the forty man 586 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 2: for a couple of years now. So these are just 587 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 2: like things that you have to consider. But yeah, they're 588 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 2: going to be aggressive. You would think two nice wins 589 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 2: come back when energetic wins, even if they weren't the 590 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 2: prettiest of baseball can can somehow spark something four in 591 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 2: Cincinnati and my yeah, four in Cincinnati, day off, three 592 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 2: in Tampa. This is this is winnable. Like we said, 593 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 2: like I've said, keep repeating it. But we're in a 594 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 2: stretch where the Cubs need to make up some ground, 595 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: build some confidence, figure some things out. They don't have 596 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 2: to play perfect baseball, but they need to get to 597 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 2: a point where they're looking better on the field. 598 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: Right. 599 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 2: So, if you can win games here against the lesser competition, 600 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 2: it don't don't like either you end up being considered 601 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 2: the lesser competition or you start to stand out a 602 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,959 Speaker 2: little bit and full away from the pack, right Uh. 603 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 2: And I think that's what we're headed here. In the 604 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:48,400 Speaker 2: next few weeks. We're going to see where this team 605 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: is what they're what they're heading for, and really like 606 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 2: how aggressive Jed needs to be. 607 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: In a month and a half or two months whatever. 608 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: I don't know what data is June sixth or whatever it. 609 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 2: Is, so uh, yeah, Patrick, will we'll be back at 610 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 2: it on the off day. 611 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 1: I believe we'll have a podcast for you guys. 612 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 2: Uh, and you know, we'll see if we're talking about 613 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 2: a tough series in Cincinnati or what. But it's every 614 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 2: everything feels big right now as we look to see 615 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,239 Speaker 2: if the Cubs can really fully turn the tide. Thanks 616 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,839 Speaker 2: so much for listening. Uh, make sure you subscribe, rate, 617 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 2: and review the podcast. This is Northside Territory read Patrick 618 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,320 Speaker 2: and my work at the Athletic. 619 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: And yeah, thanks so much for being here. Take care,