1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory. Foul Territory Networks Cubs podcast. I'm 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your 3 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic. Patrick, let's do 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: a mail bag episode. Always a good time. The fans 5 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: always have plenty of questions. Things are going really well 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: for the Cubs right now. Right we just saw another 7 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: series win. They beat Paul's Skeins on Wednesday or Thursday. 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: That was pretty impressive, was. 9 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: You know, after a tough loss on Wednesday with a 10 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: pretty scary scene with the fan falling from the stands 11 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: like a lot of like that was hard to watch 12 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: as just like an observer from afar, I can't imagine 13 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: what those players and coaches and everyone is feeling at 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: that moment, and and you know, just getting through the 15 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: rest of that game. Uh, But obviously our thoughts are 16 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: with that person and their family and hopefully they're all 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: right and and and come through this event all right. 18 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: It's scary. I think there's a couple of stories out 19 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: on the Athletic, Uh what happened? 20 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: And then background about that man. 21 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: Uh, But back to baseball, the Cubs are playing well. 22 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: It's uh, it's you know, I think we uh, I 23 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: think we expected them to keep it going against the pirates, 24 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: but it's it's, you know, I think it was important 25 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: to actually see that. Uh, there's a there's some obvious questions, right, 26 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: and here's the first one. The first one is the 27 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: obvious one. We just wrote about this. Uh, I didn't 28 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: edit this, so apologize for the lack of lack of 29 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: capitalization here if you're if you're watching on YouTube. But 30 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: how long can the Cubs afford to have this play 31 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: at third base before looking to make a move by acquisition. 32 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: That's from Tyler Dershall, regular emailer contributor to the show. Yeah. Look, 33 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: I think it's the obvious question. I think we all 34 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: we're all seeing the same thing. We're seeing mistakes at 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: third base defensively, you know, subpar production. Offensively. I think 36 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: what I like the first thing that comes to mind 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: that we wrote about. And I was doing research for this, 38 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: and honestly, Patrick, it was kind of mind boggling, like 39 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: he is, just there's a dearth of talent there right now. 40 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: It's funny. 41 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: I was looking this up, right, and I just kept 42 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: going back in years, like trying to figure out where 43 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: does this end? 44 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: When? When does this get good again? 45 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: From nineteen fifty on this is I believe I wrote 46 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: it was a third worst season currently by a way 47 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: to runs created plus offensively for third base, third base 48 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: is equal to shortstop only better than second base among positions. 49 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: That's just not what we grew up watching, you and 50 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: I grew up watching. And it's like as recently as 51 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, obviously, Chris Bryan's MVP season, third base was 52 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: the like had one of the best seasons in the 53 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: history in like the last seventy five years, right, So 54 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: it's just a bad position right now. It's just the 55 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: Cubs aren't good. They're not the worst team in baseball. 56 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: They're bottom six, I believe, twenty fifth in war but 57 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: like nineteenth or twentieth in offense. If you're looking at 58 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: way to runs created plus, like, that's kind of shocking 59 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: to me that they're not even that bad, right Like, 60 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: come like, it's just like there's just not a lot 61 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: of third base talent out there. 62 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: No, And I think, can we take a step back here, 63 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 3: because I sometimes see, like, why do you mention Alex Bregman, 64 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 3: Why do you write about you know, the one, you know, 65 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: bad spot on the field, and it's like, well, because 66 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 3: that's what people within the organization are talking about, Like 67 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 3: this is why it stung the Cubs so badly in 68 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 3: February when Bragman chose the Red Sox. Because they think 69 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 3: about the worst case scenarios, they wonder like and they 70 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 3: also think about the best case scenarios, like how do 71 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 3: you build a team that gives you the absolute maximum 72 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: best chance to play deep into October Winter World Series 73 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 3: And for this particular year, Alex Bregman was that player. 74 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 3: So okay, we move on from that. But then you 75 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 3: see matt y'all gets a really quick hook and gets 76 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 3: sent back down, you know, gauge workmen. Not surprisingly, was 77 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 3: a guy we talked a lot about in spring training 78 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 3: and like didn't even make it all the way through April. 79 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 3: I think Nikki Lopez and John Birdie are very solid 80 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 3: role players. Uh definitely have been part of playoff teams. 81 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 3: You can see them making contributions in a variety of manners, 82 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 3: but not really like an everyday third baseman, not like 83 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 3: kind of the traditional way you know, we thought about it. 84 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 3: So this is something that's nagging at the Cubs and 85 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 3: you see it in moments like you know, vdel Bruhan 86 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: against the Phillies on Sunday night of kind of playing back, 87 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 3: you know, against Trey Turner and that allows an insurance 88 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 3: run to score in the tenth inning. So like, if 89 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 3: you want to be that team that plays multiple rounds 90 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: in October and seriously contends for a World Series championship, 91 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 3: like you you're not gonna have like all stars at 92 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 3: every single position, but you also want, you know, dynamic 93 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 3: players everywhere, Guys that you know, can hit you a 94 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 3: big home run or can and make all the defensive plays. 95 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 3: And right now the Cubs have not had that, and 96 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 3: I think you're mind bending historical reference points kind of 97 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: shows that it's going to be hard to go out 98 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 3: and get that guy. That's probably why Matt Shaw is 99 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 3: their best bet at the moment. But I will say 100 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 3: before like totally running off the possibility. Like in twenty 101 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: twenty three, we thought the Cubs were like definite sellers 102 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 3: and then they got hot, and not only did they 103 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 3: retain Cody Bellinger, who might have been the best hitter 104 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 3: who could have been moved, they went out and got 105 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 3: Jamer Candelario, who was probably the most accomplished hitter moved 106 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 3: at that deadline, I believe, certainly one of the top hitters. 107 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 3: And then even last year when they were sort of selling, 108 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 3: sort of buying, they went out and got an all 109 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 3: star third basement in esach parades. So if they have 110 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 3: a team that's either running away with the Nationalague central 111 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 3: or has like a comfortable lead or maybe a dwindling lead, 112 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: and they want to to get to the next level, 113 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 3: I have no doubt they're going to exhaust every possibility 114 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: to try and find that difference making third third basement. 115 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 3: I just don't think it's gonna happen in May. 116 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're you're not finding that that player, you know, 117 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: in the next month or two, you know, like it 118 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: we'll see who falls out of the race and what 119 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: happens right there. There could there could be an option, right, 120 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: I don't want to assume that, you know what, Like 121 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: you could make the argument that the Blue Jays should 122 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: move Boba shet right, I don't know what his market 123 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: would be. 124 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: I don't know it. 125 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: You know, if people will pay a higher rate for 126 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: him because he can play shortstop. Right, So would the 127 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: Cubs be kind of pushed out of that bidding if 128 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: they're if the Blue Jays were to move him, you 129 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: also have to consider in that scenario that the Blue 130 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: Jays are kind of like in when now mode, right, 131 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: like those that that for an office is feeling more 132 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: pressure than Hoyer and Carter Hawkins in this front office. 133 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: Right So I'm just assuming that he's not going to 134 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: be available. They're going to keep trying to push in 135 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: unless they just fall fifteen twenty games under five hundred. 136 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: I just don't see how they start selling aggressively. It 137 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: may make sense, you know, because he's his contract ends 138 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the season, but it's going to 139 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: be I'd be surprised if they move into cell mode. 140 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: There's just not like Nolan Ronado is not a realistic option, right, Like, 141 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: they probably have to overpay for him. I never want 142 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: to say never, because weird things happen. Jose Kintana happened 143 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: when I think most of us were assuming that wasn't 144 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: going to happen. There are moves that happen, there are 145 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: trades that happen that surprise everyone. Like just like mentioned, 146 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: nobody he's at Paratis was not on our radar last season. 147 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: So you know, I and I don't want to assume 148 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: that that they won't make a move right now. It's 149 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: hard to get an upgrade at this very moment. Matt 150 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: Shaw is is the is the guy we should be 151 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: looking at. 152 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: Patrick. Let's take a quick break and then get to 153 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: another question. 154 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 4: If you want a razor that looks good, makes you 155 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 4: look good, gets the shave done, and doesn't cost much. 156 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 2: Uh oh, oh, it's it nice. That's a hairy John 157 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: and you can smell it too. Smell it. Oh, that's Harry's. 158 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: That's the shave tel. I'm telling you look, I mean. 159 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 5: You look. 160 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 2: Scary. Man, shut fresh, Come and come and come and 161 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 2: get I don't. 162 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 5: Want to touch it. 163 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 4: Looks like German engineered blades made in their own factory 164 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 4: that stays sharp longer. 165 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 5: I'm using the razor and it does not. You can 166 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 5: start to feel when it gets dull. I mean, you 167 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 5: guys only do like here and like up here. True, 168 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 5: I'm doing acreach. Get the edge on your shave with Harry's. 169 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 5: Normally their trial set is ten dollars, but right now 170 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 5: you can get it for just six dollars at Harrys 171 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 5: dot com. Slash foul. That's our exclusive link harrys dot 172 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 5: Com slash foul for a six dollars trial set. 173 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: Uh. One thing I wanted to say about third base 174 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,599 Speaker 1: Patrick before we get back, before we get to the 175 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: next question, is John. 176 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:28,319 Speaker 2: Birdie's doing pretty well. He's he's you know, he you know, 177 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 2: he made it. 178 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 1: He's made some mistakes on defense, obviously a big one 179 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,839 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, but yeah, I think that was him, right, Yeah, 180 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: that was that was him playing third at that point. Uh. 181 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: But otherwise he's he's been pretty good. I want to say, 182 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: he's above average offensive player so far this season. So uh, 183 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: it's not a complete Like I said, it's not a 184 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: complete disaster, but Shaw's probably the long term answer there. 185 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 2: And so and and that goes to this question. 186 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: Actually, the Birdie part, the bench pieces seem to be 187 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: performing better so far than in past than in years past. 188 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: How much input did counsel have there? That's from blue 189 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: line theology. So the bench pieces, Birdie, Bruhan, Kelly Turner. 190 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: Who there's someone missing in that in that group, right, 191 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: Nikki Lopez. 192 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: So here's the thing. It like, John Birdie has been great, 193 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 2: Like I just said, Carson Kelly, I wouldn't. 194 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'd call him a bench piece, 195 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: like he's co starter. He's co starter with Miglmaya, and 196 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: he's kind of getting the bulk of the time right 197 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: now because he's red hot. Breuhan hasn't done much, Like 198 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: he's questionable on defense, He's fast, he's a great pinch runner. 199 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: I think, like that's a nice bench piece to have 200 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: if you have the depth to kind of overcome that. 201 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: He's not going to be like pinch hitting for you, 202 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: but he's most like his best, his most value is 203 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: is pinch running. I think he has hit the ball hard, 204 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: hit some balls hard. He hasn't found the grass much, 205 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: and then Turner is struggling. I like the addition right 206 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: now you're not seeing much from him performance wise, But ultimately, 207 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: how much input did counsel have their Patrick? What's your 208 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: feel on that? 209 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,599 Speaker 3: I sort of asked him, you know, a version of 210 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 3: that question a couple of weeks ago, as Bertie was 211 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 3: kind of emerging and we were starting to see like, oh, 212 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 3: like this team is really playing a certain way at 213 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 3: Wrigley Field, really pushing the envelope in terms of base running, 214 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 3: and as you know, SA how they have counsel, you know, 215 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 3: kind of likes to downplay certain questions and you know 216 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 3: look and shake his head or kind of a shrug. 217 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 3: But look, we know we've reported he is part of 218 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 3: the inner circle in the front office of like the 219 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 3: there's a handful of people who are kind of like 220 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 3: in that you know, final phase of any decision, like 221 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 3: they're kind of are you know, taken into account, and 222 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: Council is certainly part of that. That doesn't mean he's 223 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 3: like giving thumbs up or thumbs down on every single transaction. 224 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 3: He calls himself a consultant. But you know, we saw 225 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 3: those teams in Milwaukee that always seemed to like the 226 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 3: whole was greater than. 227 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: The some of its parts. 228 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 3: Right that they would play matchups, Council would push the 229 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 3: right buttons, and all of a sudden, you know they're 230 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 3: winning ninety games. 231 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: You have no idea how they did it. 232 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:38,839 Speaker 3: And so Council, you know, likes Birdie. I think, you know, 233 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 3: part of it what you're alluding to earlier is is 234 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 3: his best role every day third basement. Probably not like 235 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 3: as the season goes on, I think you'd like to 236 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 3: break him in different places and have him, you know, 237 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 3: coming off the bench or giving certain guys rest, but 238 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 3: he was certainly part of the this embrace Wrigley that 239 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 3: Dustin Kelly talked about on on our last show, The 240 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 3: Cups Hitting Coach of like this should be a home 241 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 3: field advantage. We know there are certain days where you 242 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 3: just can't hit where it's gonna you're gonna have to 243 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 3: manufacture offense. And you know, this group that they have 244 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 3: I think certainly fits into that. And I was curious 245 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: if you look further into the numbers side of I 246 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: know you asked Counsel about Turner the other day of 247 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: just like you know, kind of his bat speed, his 248 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 3: lack of production thus far, Like what is the concern 249 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 3: level at this point? 250 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I think you know, I don't want 251 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: to like say, ride alert because I Council is right, 252 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: like this guy hasn't played like you know it hasn't. 253 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: Done the part time playing thing before. He just hasn't 254 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 2: done that. He's I think. 255 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: It's not a ton it's not a big sample, so 256 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: you don't want to take too much. It doesn't look good, right, 257 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: Like I haven't seen hard contact and you look at 258 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: the numbers things underneath, and it's not great. So yeah, 259 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: I think it makes sense for a forty year old 260 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: player to struggle. You know, this wasn't it wasn't unreasonable 261 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: to think that. My my argument against it was, Look, 262 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: he's he's produced every year, like even last year he 263 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: produced offensively, and that's all he's here to do. Like 264 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: occasional starter, occasional pin like you know, pinch hit in 265 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: a game, laid against a lefty, things like that like that. 266 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: That's a that shouldn't And and the thought in my mind, 267 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: and I think with the Cubs was part time role 268 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: is better for him. It'll his body will stay fresh. 269 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: He's a professional hitter, he'll be able to handle that. 270 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: I don't think this is a rhythm thing when you 271 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: watch it. Maybe it is, maybe maybe in the sense 272 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: it's a rhythm thing in the sense that if he had, 273 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, one hundred plate appearances or whatever right now, 274 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: he'd be hitting better, right, just because he'd have more 275 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: opportunities up there. But I do want like, so, I 276 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: guess that's the question. Is this a is this a 277 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: rhythm thing or is this just an opportunity thing in 278 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: the sense that his next thirty play appearances will be 279 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: much better, right, because the more time he goes out there, 280 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: the more. Uh, you know, that's just more opportunity to 281 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: get some hits. If he's if he needs that every 282 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: day playing time, that's going to be an issue. Right, 283 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: He's just not going to get it. There's no reason 284 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: to you can't play every day at third. Michael Bush 285 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: is a good ballplayer, one of your biggest bats. There's 286 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: no reason to sit him. I don't see how how 287 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: he gets every day playing time, and he like he 288 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: certainly hasn't earned that. Right, Carson Kelly has produced to 289 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: enough that now he's getting a little bit more playing 290 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: time than am I. At some point, Carson Kelly's going 291 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: to slow down and that'll go back to to fifty 292 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: to fifty, right I. You know, it's it's one of 293 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 1: those things that I'm going to continue to watch and 294 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: I'm just going to continue to see, Like I don't 295 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: like to say like a guy's done, this guy's terrible, 296 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 1: or this is until we're like really like, okay, there's 297 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: been a lot going on here, but you are seeing 298 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: like councils started Bush against a lefty the other day. Right, 299 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: it wasn't a great it wasn't like a dominant lefty. 300 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: It's Andrew Heeney. Who's a good picture but not a 301 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 1: great picture. 302 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 2: I don't know. 303 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: I guess we'll see, well, we'll see what Council's decisions 304 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: are going forward. I think he speaks more with his 305 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: actions than his words sometimes because especially with negative stuff. Right, 306 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: he didn't We've asked him about Dansby Swanson. He didn't 307 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: throw dance By Swanson under the bus. He just moved 308 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: him to the spot right, and he said he's a 309 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 1: streaky hitter. He expected him to get hot, and he 310 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: put him in the eighth spot. He didn't make a 311 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: big grand pronouncement of like I have to move this 312 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: guy down. He didn't say anything. 313 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: He just did it, right. 314 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: I think we so we kind of let's watch how 315 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: he uses Turner going forward. But I do think it's 316 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: something to keep an eye on and absolutely worth monitoring 317 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: and see, Like, I don't know if there's an obvious 318 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: filling in the minors, right. Someone did ask about Moys's 319 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: bit by Asteros, and I didn't put that question in. 320 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: But he's a lefty, You like, do you need another 321 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: lefty bench off the bat at some point? Maybe you do, 322 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: but you also probably want moyses bart by his hairs 323 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: playing all the time. This kind of touches on that 324 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: in the sense that this was I think the Nate's 325 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: question a touched on Moys's by Asteros. But what do 326 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: you think about the fact that all three outfielders and 327 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: Swanson have yet to get a day off? Is that 328 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: a reflection of Council's view of his bench? Seems like 329 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: they could wear down at this rate. Well, I mean 330 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: we just talked about the bench. I think the bench 331 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: is pretty good. I think that there's a very simple 332 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: answer here, Nate, and that's go look at all the 333 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: off days that they had. They've played thirty two games, 334 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: but that was in like what over forty days? Right, 335 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: like they had like seven off days. I think they 336 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: started seventh straight and then just like had a ton 337 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: of I started seventh straight after the Japan right seventh 338 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: straight after Japan, and then just a ton of off days. 339 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: So they they did not they I would not worry 340 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 2: about that. 341 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: Here's here's where if he's if we get through June 342 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: and these guys haven't had days off, that's where that's 343 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: when you have to wonder what Greg Council was doing. 344 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: They play they they end June. I look this up. 345 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: I want to say, twenty six games in twenty seven days. 346 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: That's how they end June. There will be days off 347 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: for all of these guys. What here's my theory, and 348 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: I think it's simple and I think it makes sense. 349 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,239 Speaker 1: I haven't asked him about it, just because of all 350 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:01,479 Speaker 1: the off days, but you why, like you get all 351 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: those off days, you play them now, Like there's no 352 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: need to rest them. 353 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: It's the toughest part of the schedule. Let them play. 354 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: It's early on. They just came off. 355 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: You know, they had a week long break after the 356 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: first two games, right, and they had time off, right. 357 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: They barely played in those spring in those spring training 358 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: games between Japan and and and Arizona. There's like, it's 359 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: very simple, Like I don't think it's anything you need 360 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: to overthink. And I certainly think we like we answered 361 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: before that the bench is he trusts his bench, he 362 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: likes his bench, and he likes playing those guys. I'm 363 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 1: not sure there's any real He has been asked about 364 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: Swanson getting a day off here and there when the 365 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: time comes, and it's just not I just don't think 366 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: there was a reason to do it. 367 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 3: Right now, no, I mean now when he's playing defense 368 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 3: at a Gold Glove level. He's been someone who posts 369 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 3: Ian happ As, someone who posts Peter Armstrong's what twenty 370 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 3: three years old? Who wants to see Kyle Tucker sit 371 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 3: the bench? You have one year, Kyle Tucker. They can 372 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 3: play nine innings every day on games. 373 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: No. 374 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 3: I think if you look at Craig Counsel's track record, 375 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 3: if you listen to his answers, and actually you're right, 376 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 3: the actions are what I speak the loudest with Craig Counsel, 377 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 3: But his reputation is someone who very much keeps the 378 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: long season in mind, conserving energy, preserving players health. You 379 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 3: can see it in how he aligns his starting rotation. 380 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 3: And you know, this bench is maybe not entirely his bench, 381 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 3: but he certainly had some influence in how it was shaped. 382 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 3: And I do think in terms of moistist I think 383 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 3: it's interesting, like if there is an injury, say with 384 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 3: one of those outfielders or whatever, you gotta think moiss 385 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 3: is you know, option one or one A at this point, 386 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 3: Like maybe you'd give Turner some more run to let 387 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 3: him get into that sort of flow of the season, 388 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 3: But otherwise I think you'd feel pretty good about you know, 389 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 3: kind of playing that card the way the Cubs did 390 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 3: in twenty fifteen. Uh when I think it was what 391 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 3: Schwarber coming up, and you know, they've had a couple 392 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 3: of players like that over the years where Ian happ 393 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 3: you know a long time ago, just plugging that rookie 394 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 3: in and seeing what happens. And I think that's probably 395 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 3: what they'll do with Moises. 396 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 397 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: I think Moys's is gonna come up at some point. 398 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: He's hitting to what he's he's ready for the big 399 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: leagues when it comes to his bat, right, I don't 400 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: know if he'll thrive like he is. 401 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 2: I mean, he can't. 402 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: He's not gonna hit like he's hitting at Triple A. 403 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: He's hitting like over four hundred. But he's been awesome, 404 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: Like I'm not sure what more he can do at 405 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: triple A offensively, right, Obviously he's you know, it takes 406 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: a while for any player to get to get ready 407 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: big league ready at catcher. For him, especially like it 408 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: was always a question. I think he's done tremendous work 409 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: on his body to kind of get to a place 410 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: where he can be passable. I'm not sure if he'll 411 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: ever be an everyday catcher. Or you know, part time catcher. 412 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: It may just be like a I think what we've 413 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: heard is like third catcher type thing where he he's 414 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: d H and and then comes in and starts, or 415 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: like has the pitcher that he catches specifically, or or 416 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: just you know once a week is able to give 417 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: guys a blow type thing, comes in late game in 418 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: a blowout to catch whatever it may be. 419 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: We'll see if he if he catches this year in 420 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 2: the big leagues. 421 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: But I'd be surprised if he's not up at some 422 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: point right just kind of whether they hit a rough patch, 423 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: whether there's injuries, whatever, it is, like he's good enough 424 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: to come up. And here's another name that you know 425 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: we're we're gonna see Kate Horton. Why not bring up 426 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: Kate Horton immediately? Orus running up innings in Iowa. That's 427 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: from Van Pelt. I asked this question. 428 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 2: Two. 429 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 3: Uh, the story story coming up pretty soon, right. 430 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I'll have I'll have a story on it. 431 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: I think I think it's interesting. I think it's a worthwhile. 432 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: It's a fair question, and I think it's something that 433 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: the front office asks people ask. Counsel's answer was basically 434 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: like listen, it's a fair question. But you know, we've 435 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: got to get him. We've got to make sure he's healthy, 436 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: we've got to make sure that he's ready. Like it 437 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: that that you know, he still has some things to 438 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: prove there, like let's get him, like, let's get his 439 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 1: feet under him. Essentially, let's let's make sure that he's 440 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: good to go and then and then there will be 441 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: a time. And there was a follow up asked whether 442 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 1: he's you know, the plan is you expect him to 443 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: be up this year? 444 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 2: There was like no doubt in that. 445 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it's gonna I don't like again we've 446 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: said I think we've said this on the podcast. I 447 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 1: don't think this is a September call up. This is 448 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: not an August thing. I think I think we're going 449 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: to see him relatively soon, whether that's you know, the 450 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: end of May. 451 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 2: I don't. 452 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: I don't have a date. I don't have a timeline. U. 453 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: I straight up ask counsel if they did, if they have, like, 454 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: are there like things they're looking at? 455 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 2: Okay, check mark, check mark? Check mark? Here doesn't sound 456 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: like that. It's just like you know, it's a you'll 457 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 2: know it when you see it. 458 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: Maybe they'll they'll be a feel as far as Okay, 459 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: we can use a starter right now, Let's see how 460 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: Ben Brown is doing. Colin Ray, how long. 461 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 2: Can he keep this up there? Those are all considerations, 462 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 2: right yeah. 463 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 3: I also think we alluded to the abundance of off 464 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 3: days earlier, which means they'll be fewer off days later 465 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 3: if I remember correctly. I mean the Cups haven't had 466 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 3: a rain out yet, right, Like if there's a you know, 467 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 3: a double header pops later. You alluded to that June schedule, 468 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 3: the way it closes out that month. We've talked about 469 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 3: how Counsel likes he doesn't just announce a six man rotation, 470 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 3: but he's always looking for opportunities to space out guy's 471 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 3: outings and give them an extra day here or there. 472 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 3: So like, it's not like if Kate Horton doesn't pitch 473 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 3: for the Cubs this year, man, something went really wrong. 474 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 3: Like he's already at Triple A. He's a first round 475 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:35,920 Speaker 3: pick from a couple years ago. He's one of the 476 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 3: top pitching prospects in the game, and I think there's 477 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 3: very much something to like, you know, this is a 478 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 3: guy who did not have a ton of innings in 479 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 3: college at Oklahoma, he was a two sport guy, you know, 480 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 3: football recruit, he was a two way player in baseball. 481 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 3: He got hot, you know, in that draft eligible year 482 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 3: and you know, went to the College World Series and 483 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 3: the Sooners kind of rode that. I think there's something 484 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 3: to be said for that with the Cubs, like, we 485 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 3: don't this guy does not have a huge volume of 486 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 3: innings and you know, how many pitches does any pitcher have, 487 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 3: you know, in in his arm, and like, if he's 488 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 3: feeling it and you've you've actually you know, pointed this 489 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 3: out to me, sid of like if it's not an 490 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 3: unlimited amount and he's feeling good and his ceiling is 491 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 3: a high, like, see what happens. And I appreciate counsels, 492 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:35,160 Speaker 3: you know, conservative nature on this, Like I'm not dismissing 493 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 3: that at all, but at a certain point there those 494 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 3: voices in the organization saying, hey, we got to see 495 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 3: what we got. Are going to become louder and outweigh 496 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 3: any sort of hesitations on maybe not every every single 497 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 3: developmental box has been completely checked. It's like, no, just 498 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 3: see if he can get hitters out and that doesn't 499 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,880 Speaker 3: he's ask him to throw two hundred innings this year, 500 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 3: like maybe it's just sort of this piggy or like 501 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 3: in shorter bursts, like just see what you've got, because 502 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 3: it's if he's this good, there's no way the Cubs 503 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 3: have thirteen pitchers better than him in their organization. 504 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 1: Right right, you were breaking up on my end there, 505 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: so I didn't hear everything you said, but I did, 506 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 1: so I just want to if you said this, I 507 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 1: apologize for repeating it. But they're they don't monitor just 508 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: innings anymore. They don't monitor just pitch count. This is 509 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 1: not how they do things anymore. Majority of organizations. They're 510 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: not just looking at here's he's hit. He's only throwing 511 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, one hundred innings in a season in the past. 512 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: We cannot go over one hundred and twenty. Nope, they 513 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: don't do that. They I think there's wearable devices. I 514 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: think there's something called like Modus that that's one device 515 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: that they wear. It like measures everything, right, Like it 516 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: measures fatigue essentially, is what they're measuring. And there's ways 517 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: to measure or that on the field, off the field, 518 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: when you're working out, they're constantly there's so much data 519 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: that they're going through. So there, it's not it's not 520 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 1: as simple as pitch counts. It's not stuff that we 521 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: even have access to. And honestly, they I I asked around, Uh, 522 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: the Cubs don't really want to tell me too many 523 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: things that they're measuring, that they're using. 524 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 2: Good. I think they're. 525 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 3: Those like the sports bra things that we see. 526 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 2: I think that's that's one of them, one of one 527 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 2: of the things. 528 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's so much stuff that they that they use 529 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: and that they're wearing and that they measure. Uh, so 530 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: there's a but there are there are people that they've 531 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: hired data scientists, I believe. Uh, there's a there's a 532 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: guy named Mike's Mike Son, I believe who who may 533 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: have written something for the athletic it's at least years ago, right, Yeah, 534 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 1: and and he's he's a big part of this. There's 535 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: so many pitching coaches and and that are you know 536 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: from offshoots of drive Line and the like that that 537 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,479 Speaker 1: that are just things are much more advanced than they 538 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: used to be fifteen years ago. So it's a it's 539 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 1: a different game. It's a it's a different way of 540 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: measuring things. Uh, their player development is a little bit 541 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: different this year. Uh, the way they're handling pitchers. I'd 542 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 1: go look at the innings pitched it per game and 543 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: the pitch count of guys like Nazia and Mulat and 544 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: Jackson Wiggins, two guys that were coming off injury and 545 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: they were being very careful with and and it seems 546 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: like they're just pushing them harder. Now. It's similarly true 547 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: of Kate Horton. I'll write more about this. They've they've 548 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: figured some things out with his delivery where they've gotten 549 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: them back to the twenty twenty three version and and 550 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: he's pretty nasty. So you know, I expect him to 551 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: be up at some point this year, and you know 552 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: there's a good chance he makes an impact. He's that 553 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 1: type of talent and you know, it's exciting for fans 554 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: ends to have this type of pitching talent come up. 555 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: So we'll see, we'll see when that is. 556 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: Uh. You know, I don't think they're gonna tip their 557 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 1: hand right away. I don't think this is imminent, but 558 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: I also don't think it's that far away. So we'll 559 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: see when when Kate Horton comes up. All right, Patrick, 560 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: thanks to everyone for those questions. We always appreciate I 561 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 1: appreciate you listening and reaching out and contributing to the show. 562 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 2: This is Northside Territory. 563 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: Make sure to rate, review, subscribe, subscribe to the YouTube channel, 564 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: subscribe to The Athletic or Patrick and I are on 565 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: top of all things Cubs. 566 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening. Everyone, Take care.