Latest / Monday Morning Cubs Show / The Playoff Puzzle: Building the Cubs' Postseason Lineup feat. Joey Mulinaro

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The Playoff Puzzle: Building the Cubs' Postseason Lineup feat. Joey Mulinaro · Monday Morning Cubs Show

• 0:03
  SPEAKER_03: And we're clear.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_03: Good morning, good afternoon, and evening, Chicago Cubs fans.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome back to the Monday Morning Cub Show.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_03: It is late Thursday, September 25th, episode number two of the week.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_03: We just lost to the New York Mets.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_03: We're also joined for the first time in Monday morning Cub Show history.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_03: We have a guest on the show.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_03: Everybody, please welcome Die Hard Cubs fan Joey Molomero.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Joey! Woo!
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_02: So good to be here.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_02: What an honor it is to be the first guest.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_02: That's incredible.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_02: I listened every episode.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_02: Was so psyched when you guys went to two per week because I needed more of that fix, especially down the stretch here as of late.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_02: So it's an honor to be here.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_03: We're more than delighted to have you.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_03: Joey and I obviously worked together at Barstwell, have stayed in touch since very closely around the Chicago Cubs.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_03: I'm known as a diehard.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_03: Most people would identify me with as a diehard.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_03: I'd put Joey uh at or above when I say just a relentless, you know, heartbeat for the Chicago Cubs.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_03: So I'm excited to have a good fluid conversation with a guy who's plugged in day to day.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and just one of the boys, a true maniac.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney, any comments?
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, Joey.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for coming on.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: An actual maniac joined us for the first time.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I'd been following you for years.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Love everything that you do.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, one thing I had realized too a long time ago was the fact that you were, you know, a diehard Cubs fan and now a maniac.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: So it's an absolute pleasure to have you on board as our first guest of the Monday morning cub show.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_02: Maniac through and through.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_02: I two things off the top I gotta get.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_02: One, when is any merge coming?
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_02: Do we already have that in the works?
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, and then two, uh, need a live show in in Wrigleyville somewhere out there.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_02: What do we got working?
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, I can address both of those.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_03: We do have a thing in the works.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_03: On I'm I'm going through some copyright stuff because what I would like to use is technically copyrighted, but I think if I repurpose it, then my use could be original enough to trademark the the maniac.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_03: So stay with us on this.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um and I appreciate you for initiating that because you know we always feel it's a little I have a pizza smack uh you know concept I'm working on right now, pizza smack art that with the t-shirt that Carl hasn't had a chance to set his eyes on, but he will real soon.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_03: Second guest of Monday Morning Club show history will be Pizza Smack Guy.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we should be live, we should be live streaming playoffs from this guy's garage.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, and then the second answer, I think we're gonna do a show at Yaksy's.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_03: Now, I don't know if we'll do it in the postseason.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_03: If they make it to the NLDS or NLCS, maybe, but that reminds me, thank you for bringing this up.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_03: I went to Wrigleyville this week, and this show is brought to us by Thirsty Vacaro.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_03: And me and one of the founding partners, a good friend of mine from Thirsty Vacero, went and did some business meetings with bar owners up and down Clark Street.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_03: And specifically, the two spots we wanted to put it in was Yaksis and Sluggers, because those are my two favorite, one north of Waveland, one south of Waveland.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_03: Those are the two most authentic, family-owned best spots in Wrigleyville.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_03: And so they're for sale and available now.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_03: It's Thirsty Vaquero, Mexican-style soda, and everybody on the podcast right now is drinking one.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney, what flavor do you have?
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Uh look, I we have to have Limon Ladron and Limon Ladron.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: You guys, if you hear me smacking my lips at all, it's because of that chili spice and salt.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm telling you, this is as genuine as it gets.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying mocktail, I'm not saying it's a non-alcoholic drink, but man, does it feel like an experience through and through?
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: Joey, I mean, what do you got?
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: What do you?
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: I saw you, I saw you swinging back there.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: You pop something.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_02: I got the mango habanero, and it is absolutely delicious.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, Carl, you just texted me yesterday, just said they're delicious.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_02: And that's all I knew immediately what he was talking about.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_02: I said, absolutely, I love them.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_02: Thirsty Vicaro, all bite and no rattle.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, I'll I'll take that one for you guys.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_02: I'll take that one for you guys.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but dude, it's it's so good, it's ice cold.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um, this is just and I'm you know, I'm I'm a I'm a big beverage guy.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I love to have me a cocktail, I love to have me um, you know, a nice little adult beverage, especially now like Mahoney.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_02: I know you know the feeling.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_02: Like the kids are down, wife's down, you know, cubs lost, so I might need a little something to take the edge.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_02: But this isn't even this isn't even that.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_02: It's just straight up thirsty vacero, megan hot, mango habanero, and uh it's delicious, man.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_02: So I love it.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_03: You guys check this out.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_03: We'll put a link out, check it out on Amazon.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_03: It's probably the easiest way, especially if you're a Prime member, and you can set up a subscription if you like the lot.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_03: Great for outdoor stuff, throw it in the cooler.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_03: It is a huge hit, I'm telling you.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_03: And not to like be, I don't know where this falls in line with pushiness.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_03: The babes love it.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_03: Women, I'm not joking.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_03: Every single woman I've talked to, you put it in their hands, they're like, This is so refreshing.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_03: And then they look at the label and they're like, Oh my god, real agave nectar.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_03: Like it's real agave nectar.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_03: So, you know, if you're one of those guys, you need a little brownie points, or you're trying to throw something fresh in the fridge.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm not a scientist, but there's some probable health benefits when I'm drinking one of these, and I'll report on that, you know, after a couple years of data.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: And one thing too, Carl, I have to say is I feel that your buddy targeted you because if you're gonna have anyone giving away product out in public during an event of any kind, let alone in Wrigleyville during a Cubs game, it's you.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: So now it kind of all made sense when I saw the picture pop up with that trunk open up with all those tasty, tasty beverages with that all-night bike, no rattle.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_03: We we have a good out there, we have a good strategy in place.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_03: It's nice, it's nice to partner.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_03: These are old friends, good friends, close friends, smart guys, old beverage guys.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_03: So, you know, excited to do more with them.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_03: Good partnership and having it out in regulate, just a real nice tie for the Monday morning cub show because it's an exclusive for you guys.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_03: This is out there for the maniacs.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not joking.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_03: When you guys get your hands on this stuff, you're gonna love it.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um, we're rolling though, guys.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_03: We got a great show for you again.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for Joey for you know popping on.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_03: Some of the stuff we're gonna talk about, obviously, where we're at with the starting pitching, the Mets loss.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_03: You know, where do we register with that?
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_03: Do we want to be mad?
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_03: I think that's a good way to set the theme.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_03: I want to talk a little bit about the playoff lineup.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_03: I want to talk about the playoff starting rotation, and I think we're gonna do some grades, like some old-fashioned, some old-fashioned grades for the leadership.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_03: We'll we'll do some bullshit along the way.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, good to see you guys.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney, always a pleasure.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: It is always a pleasure.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I have to say.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: The sun's been shining, the weather's nice.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm fine right now after a loss such as that.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm feeling I'm feeling fine.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: We made it admirable.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: It was a pizza smack game the night before.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: You know, however, it's not how we wanted to, you know, roll into a series against the Cardinals to close out the year.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: Joey, your thoughts?
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, how are you?
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: You know, how are you doing tonight?
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: Let me let me reiterate.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: How are you doing?
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: Because that's what I should be asking first and foremost.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: I'm good, man.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_02: I'm good.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, I took the the wife, has a she's a head head coach of a cheer team in high school.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_02: So Thursday she's got practice.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_02: So two to like 7:30 was just me and the kids.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_02: So it's kind of getting kicked around a little bit.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, was looking forward to coming home and having the Cubs, you know, beat the Mets and win the series and get rolling a little bit here until last weekend.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, that didn't happen.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but other than that, good man.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_02: I'm I'm trying to balance this weird line.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like you guys are right there with me of being grateful, being excited about the opportunity that lies ahead, but also not gonna lie, a little on edge.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_02: A little on edge.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just trying to I'm trying to walk that I'm trying to walk that fine line right now.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna be honest.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think that's the theme, right?
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_03: Like, let's just do this off the top is where are we on this line and how mad do we want to be about dropping a series against the Mets, about not really looking that great against the Cardinals?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_03: And dude, you bring up the fact though, like, okay, you had a great day with the kids today.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_03: The last time the Cubs were in the playoffs was five years ago.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_03: So just fast forward five years from now, and like the your the the outlook of what you're doing with your kids can be way different, and like five years later from that, like you're cutting massive tuition checks.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_03: So the the just putting this in the scope of like how often do the Cubs playoff happen, like in the relation to your kids, it's like the last time it happened.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_03: I know both of you guys didn't have kids, so the next time it happens, like your kids are gonna be like holding hands with a girl or something.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_03: The next time after you just go down the line, it's like this is very rare, so there is a balance of we are mad about losing the Mets, but like you know, as we get closer to the postseason, it is a special time upon us as there's a little chill in the air.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_03: So, how mad do we want to be, Maui?
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: That's like why I said I'm fine earlier, because I don't want to be that mad, so I don't want to be mad ever.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, I think when you're just so in on you know 162, you you're almost treating it as such game by game, and like I have a right to be a little aggravated, so it's I don't like to see the inconsistencies in the offense, you know, like it's like the hammer or the nail, you know.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: We had texted about that a little bit earlier, uh and other or just not showing up at all.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it it's a little nerve-wracking, but then at the same token, it's the playoffs are right around the corner.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: I can't, you know, we made it this year, you know, second season of doing the show with you, Carl.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: So that's great.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: But um and I can see this team shaking things up, you know, in uh in the first round and the second round and so on.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: If the everything comes together, it's just will it?
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: So it's that juggling of aggravation versus you know, hopefulness is what we used to, you know, would get into a few weeks back.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I feel like like this, I'm also just in that full-on baseball mindset of I feel like I just have to be where it's hey, you know what?
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_02: Quick memory, we're dealing with failure right right now.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_02: But you know what?
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_02: We're coming to the ballpark tomorrow at 120.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_02: And you got a game tomorrow, and you got a game and a half lead in the wild card for the home for home field, and all you can do is go to bed tonight, show up at the ballpark early tomorrow, be ready to go win a ballgame, and that's all you can do.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_02: And so that's where I am right now.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_02: I know we're recording on Thursday, so some people might be listening to this Friday while the game's going on, Friday night, what have you, but that's just the mindset right now.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_02: You got three games left, show up to the ballpark at Wrigley, win a game one game at a time, and then let's get rolling in some day baseball coming up next week for the playoffs.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_02: That's where I'm at.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_03: Well, can we peel back the curtain for a second, though, for the maniacs?
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_03: Because, like, I do know, and we talked a little bit in the game, like you had to work yourself to get to that mindset because you were mad earlier today.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_03: Like, I mean, you've calmed down, or I think I've calmed down too, and I think it's I'm no Mahoney's nodding his head too, and I think hopefully a lot of people listening to this have calmed down too.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_03: And this is where we're walking that line together.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_03: Because, like, yeah, dude, when Shota was getting lit early in the game, I was kind of freaking out because there's other considerations to this, like now Cade Horton's out, uh Shota's getting lit.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_03: Don't we want this game?
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_03: But then in the back of my head, the Mets want this game a little bit more than we do because they haven't clutched posted, they just wanted a little bit more, and I think that's completely fair to say, at least acknowledge it.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, and when watching these games, like I'm putting Shota in, you know, that game two situation in my head when I'm seeing the ball fly off the bat, right?
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and that's and that's insane to do, right?
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: That's a completely different virtual reality that I'm playing, and it's not it's just I I I was getting too wrapped up earlier on, and then I did settle, you know, when I saw the offense get some solid at bats because I think that they're just gonna be the ones that are gonna have to do it, and not necessarily all on our starters, but I don't know.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's that fine line, dude.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_02: Tuesday night was way worse.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_02: Tuesday night, that was uh that was meltdown time for me.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_02: And I think the Thursday night loss I'm trying to take away those positives.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_02: I'm trying to say, hey, say a Suzuki.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_02: Is this to say that you're gonna get and going into going into October, right?
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, you know, Moises getting more beneficial at bats, right?
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_02: Because is he gonna be somebody that you're gonna have to rely on, you know?
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, Dansby goes opposite field, you know.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: Like I'm I'm trying, I'm trying to I'm trying to just pick up on these.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_02: I'm trying, yeah, I'm trying to pick up on these and and take them with me because if I don't, then I'll lose my mind because I'm saying, what are you doing?
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, the re the Mets need it more than than we do at the time, but still, I mean, like, you're you're playing with fire here, man.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you're going into the I texted Carl on Tuesday.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_02: I was like, isn't that just this the most this year's team thing ever to make this so difficult, having a five-game lead for home field, and then it's gonna literally come down to the last three against the Cardinals, who you notice want to be a pain in the ass.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, just taking those positives, man.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_02: You know, Danzbiappo, uh Seya getting hot.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_02: Let's get him going, and and that's that's all I can do right now.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_03: I think the Seya thing getting going is probably the biggest silver lining because he's a guy who hits his homers in bunches, and he's a big timing guy.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_03: And we've been questioning is he hurt, is he not hurt, is he sluggish?
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_03: And really, just his identity has emerged this season as an extremely streaky guy because it hasn't been an injury, it hasn't been a body issue.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so seeing him go, I don't know, is it two for four tonight with two homers?
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_03: He had two big flies.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_03: That just says, okay, we can get into some bunches, and they only have an off day on Monday.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_03: So let's just at least operate under the assumption like we're not gonna pull a doomsday scenario here.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_03: Like, I'm totally operating on the assumption that playoff baseball at Wrigley Field next week, and I think it's a tight enough assumption for us that like I just want to kind of bypass and make this assumption for purposes of the rest of this podcast that, like, we agree the Cubs are gonna be playing playoff baseball at Wrigley Field, like we trust that these guys are gonna get it done.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we do agree.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: I started looking at breakdowns of tiebreakers against the Padres, and I just didn't want to go down that rabbit hole, and I don't think we're gonna have to whatsoever.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, 100%.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_03: So, I want to talk for a second about Cade Horton and kind of the starting pitching and gauge where you guys are at.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_03: But as we talk about games in Chicago, I think it's also important to talk about recognized shows in Chicago.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_03: And Joey, you have a show in Chicago coming up.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_03: Can we just tell the maniacs real quick about how they can come out, see you perform live?
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_03: You and your boy, I fucking love you guys.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_02: That would be awesome, yeah, dude.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Zany's uh downtown.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I performed there in May of 24, sold it out, gotta say, sold it out.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_02: Was a great crowd, was a popping crowd.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um, was one of my favorite shows ever.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_02: Had a blast.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_02: Love that club, love that room.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_02: And me and Ben Pulitzi, Benny Boy, you know him from F Boy Island, Lovers and Liars, all over the internet, play cat calling.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_02: He's my buddy.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_02: We've grown up together.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_02: We do our show, These Guys Together.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_02: We're doing a live These Guys performance show recording uh at Zany's, downtown Chicago, December 22nd.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_02: Tickets are on sale, so you got plenty of time.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_02: Make your travel arrangements.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, a lot of the maniacs in Chicago don't have to travel too far.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_02: That's great.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_02: But we're starting off the fakeest week of the year, holiday week, Christmas Eve, Christmas, all that.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Zany's Monday night, December 22nd.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna have a ton of fun.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_02: Wear your best uh bear starter jacket or old school bears jersey.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_02: It's gonna be great.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: Dude, for the holidays, that is literally perfect.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_00: I think you had mentioned the tickets go on sale recently today.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, it was a couple days ago, beginning of the week.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_02: All right, yeah.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_02: Well, here we go.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_02: Beginning of the week.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, all right, yeah, we're not too far off.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, go ahead.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: Tickets out for real time.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: This guy sells out, folks.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_00: And you're I mean, Christmas holiday at Zany's, that's gonna be a phenomenal, phenomenal show.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: I pray to God I'll I could be there.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_02: Had to get it out there, you know.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_02: I had to make sure that everybody knows that it's not me and Pulitzi's first rodeo up there in Chicago.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_02: We've had some, you know, we've had our fair share of success up there.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_02: We're we can't wait to get back, man.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, it's gonna be great, Carl.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_02: Appreciate the plug, man.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, this guy sells out, check him out.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, soon is all I'm saying.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: Hey guys, yeah, you got to get tickets soon for intermission.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_03: We're gonna have pizza smack.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, okay.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_03: So all right.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_03: One thing that I'm actually like I have to hone in on is the starting pitching as it pertains to playoffs because like, do we agree?
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_03: I guess let's do let's try and build some consensus.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_03: So obviously, Cade Horton out, stiff back, MRI, a little bit confusion throughout the day.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_03: Jesse Rogers had some negative speculation, turns out some strain, maybe some residual strain into a rib cage.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_03: You know, it doesn't sound like structural, sounds like more just like lingering muscle stuff, you know, down the stretch.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_03: It's a it's a big workload.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_03: So let's just start here.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_03: Has anything been revealed about Kate Horton that would cause you to say at this point he shouldn't start game one?
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_03: Or do we agree and can we build consensus that still at this stage the Monday Morning Cup show as an institution says Kate Horton should be starting game one of the playoffs?
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_03: I'll start with you, Joey.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_02: I I you know I went to, and this is pre-the aggravation of the rib.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I went to a 70th birthday party actually for one of my boys' dads, who he turned 70, who I grew up with, and whatever, over the weekend, handful of Cubs fans there.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_02: So we were just, you know, BSing with the beers, having the talks about, hey, you know, who do you like?
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_02: Who do you like?
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_02: And and nobody else there said Cade Horton.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_02: And I was looking around, like, are you guys watching the same product?
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_02: What are we talking about here?
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_02: How do you not have Cade Horton rolling out there as game one starter, uh putting the fear of God in lineups?
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, because that's you know, for for me, and I know that's what you guys think too.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_02: It's like the guy getting the ball game one.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you you you you want him to have people saying, oh man, like this is uh this is gonna be a long night.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not looking forward to going to the ballpark.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_02: And that to me is what Kate Horton is.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_02: So I don't know if like you're meaning it's because of you know, you're worried about aggravating and getting something uh long term to where he's you know, is that what you're talking about?
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_02: Like you don't want him to get you know an injury that's that's re-aggravated that affects him long term, or do you or is this just strictly about his stuff and how he's performed over 2025?
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, like just strictly if he's gonna if the question was today, strictly around the back, was a lot of speculation was that the diagnosis would not be good, he would be shut down for the year.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_03: Now, my sensitivity is personally as it pertains to this, I don't think is relevant nearly as much as it is to out what I think Jed Hoyer and how the front office is gonna operate.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_03: Their sensitivity is just through the roof.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_03: I'm much less sensitive about it.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I this guy's Oklahoma psychopath gamer, look in his eyes, put him on the mound, and let the guy go until his arm falls off.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_03: And I think he'll be the person to take himself out.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_03: I think he's a big time, big game pitcher, and so I think personally he's totally ready to go.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_03: The sensitivities, though, would be with the front office, knowing that this guy is going to be a lock to be one of the top right-handed starters in all of Major League Baseball.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_03: The only thing would hold him back is like a major injury.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_03: So, like, I think the Cubs are, and I think this is not just the Cubs but modern baseball.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_03: If the MRI comes back and there's any suggestion at all that more exertion could cause long-term damage, I know for a fact the Cubs are shutting his shit down.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_03: They're not, there's no way.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_03: And I think Cade Horton would have a ri that would create a rift, or that would be a difficult thing, unless you think I'm wrong, Mahoney.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_00: No, I might it might create a rift just on his you know competitive nature in a sense.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: And I think what had happened wasn't this is kind of a theory, but it was if you're gonna feel good enough, or you're feeling good enough to throw, and Cade Horton has that you know dog in him and such where he like just wants to bite down on the mouthpiece and go, right?
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I had heard the term like adamant that he was adamant about pitching, and that like there was no ifs, ands, or buts that he was gonna be throwing tomorrow, and then counsel had mentioned today, cade's a go as of now.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_00: So um, yeah, he's our game one guy, and that's all there is to it as far as I'm concerned.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_03: Even though just a little lingering back thing pops up.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_03: I for on for a second there, for 24 hours uh today, middle of Thursday.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_03: People credentialed people, Bruce Levine, people with access, are saying that like this could be much worse than people are leading on.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_03: So it is a good breath of fresh air that Craig comes back and says actually he's should be available.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_03: That's my understanding, and that's what we're trying to get consensus like.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_03: Because if he is fully available 100%, he's starting game one.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: Somebody who's like, I heard he coughed and slipped a disc, it's gonna need surgery, and he's out of you.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_00: I heard he's like, No, thank you.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_02: I heard he's got bad mucus.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_02: Is this is this all just a ghost of 22's past here?
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_02: They think people are are are are seeing that and getting caught up in in the mirage there a little bit.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_03: I don't know.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_03: No, it could be.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_03: I I I think what people are I think what people are hesitant to commit to Kate Horton because he's a rookie because he doesn't have any experience.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_03: I think there's more familiarity and comfort with Shota, but then Showday start tonight.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_03: So then this brings me to the second point of this.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_03: Like Shota has looked terrible down the stretch.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_03: Do we agree though?
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_03: Like, she's still probably probably most likely our game two starter against the Padres.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I agree.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_00: So you what I have written down, and I've kind of stuck to this was Cade and Shota as the game one and game two, and I'm still sticking with that based on Shota's big game experience and you know, in the world baseball classic and such.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_00: So that was my take for the one and two starter.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_02: No arguments for me.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_02: I think Shota, perfect number two.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_02: I just uh man, you got to get out there at game one, man.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, you know, I know that's football season and we're we're we're kind of mixing both, but you gotta just set the tone.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: You gotta set the tone out there with 22 coming down there and just just uh just firing it, firing it.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm I'm I'm I'm with you 100%.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_02: I've been on the Cade Horton starting game one since probably let's see, I remember I went to the Reds Club, Reds Cubs.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Cade Horton started was like a Wednesday 120, and I texted Carls like all aboard the Cade train.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_02: So that was early August, and I think from that point on, I was like, yeah, this this this guy is game one, and I'm I'm sticking with it.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_03: So uniquely, and I would encourage people if you get a chance, you know, Craig Council makes these appearances on 6'7 in the score.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_03: He hates doing it.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_03: There it's awesome, though, because he does give insight, he's very dry.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_03: I don't think he's laughed once this season, but I catch a lot of it, and he talked, which I think is unique because we've talked about well, I think what he talked about is unique, and that's how good Cade Horton is, why he's so good.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_03: And it's something we've talked about on the show a lot, but it's like good to hear the manager confirm or basically validate a lot of the theories or the stuff we've talked about on the Monday morning cub show is how difficult he is to square up when he's over the plate and in the heart of the strike zone, and he like lives in the middle of the plate, but the ball has so much subtle yet powerful movement to it.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_03: And it was great to see her to like sit and listen to Craig just explain like he so many guys think that they're gonna square it up, and at the last second, it's either gonna cut or it sinks, and it does so many different things, it's so hard to square up.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_03: And as we talk about a playoff rotation, that shit travels.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: That's like defense and special teams in the NFL.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_03: Like that shit just shows up.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_03: It doesn't matter because a lot of times players will say, like, I don't have my best stuff.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_03: What they're talking about is like you're not breaking off your filthiest slider, your filthiest curveball.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_03: I'm talking about run of the mill, every pitch this guy throws.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_03: We're not talking about like his wipeout strikeout stuff.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_03: I'm just talking about it's oh, you're getting a pitch over the middle of the plate.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_03: The quality of the pitch that he throws is so much higher than almost anybody else in Major League Baseball.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_03: So, like, up there with Paul Skeens, it's up there with as good as anybody in baseball, Hunter Green, etc.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_03: So, playoff-wise, I hope he's healthy enough because this is just my long-winded way of saying I think Cade Horton has a whole other gear to get to, and as long as his back and his rib cage is holding up, we're gonna see it.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, man.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_00: We the I want the rookie of the year getting the ball in game one, and he's the type of dude with you know between his ears, has that mentality, and I know that he wants it.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_03: Ball or strike, Kyle Tucker is gonna start a playoff game one.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_03: He's gonna start playoff game one.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_03: Playoff game one.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_02: So not just game one, he's there starting DH or right field.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, baller strike, he's in the lineup.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_02: Strike.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, like low.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_00: I think this is like low outside clips the corner, and I think it has a lot to do with how he plays this weekend as he's slated to play tomorrow in the DH role.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: So I almost want to say it's like a Kyle Tucker gets a tryout for the Cubs before the postseason.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_02: I think it yeah, I think it's a strike where like if you're watching on Marquee, JD's kind of like, oh, I don't know about that, and then uh Boog goes down to the the box, the K box, and is like, uh, I think it just clipped right there, partner.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I think it's one of those.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_02: Um where you know JD is gonna disagree, but then Boog uh has to pull up the box, the all-telling box.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, I I I I I think that's a strike, dude.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's man, kind of like what mc Mahoney, what you're saying, it's like a tryout for the Cubs to go into the playoffs, but I just how are you how are you gonna have that?
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_02: Whether his calf is 100% or 80 or whatever, like how are you gonna have that dude who you made this trade for, who yes, you would still like to bring back, I think, and has the capability based on his past.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh like how are you just gonna not have that bat um in the lineup?
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_02: So that's the way I see it, man.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_02: Is like you gotta if you if you if you got him there and he's available, if the calf's 70, like okay, man, you may not be able to stretch out a double into a triple, but like just hit a bomb, you know, yeah, just get up there and hit a bomb.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, if he's give me a little trick, Gibson.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_00: If he's healthy and says he can go, you have to put him there, period.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I think it's binary.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's just gonna be are you available, yes or no?
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_03: Yes or no?
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_03: I don't think that I think it's just gonna come down to that.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_03: Then for him to say no would be to forfeit, like it's a guaranteed forfeit hundred million dollars in free agency, 50 million at least, because people are gonna say then the big knock against him is this guy was hurt, he's soft, he couldn't play in the playoffs.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_03: Teams will now whether that is actually worth knocking his value, teams are definitely gonna negotiate against the fact that he was slow down the stretch, hurt, funky body out last week or last year for half the season.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_03: So teams will be hesitant to give him the 500 million.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_03: So I'm sure his agents just like, dude, if you can go go, Mahoney and I said last week or earlier this week, he's probably hopefully in Florida taking steroids, so he can't be helpful.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, creaming up the calf.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_03: Like that's fine by me, but sure, dude.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_03: Craig Council will have to play him.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_03: You can't play Biasteros over him in a DH role.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_03: So then it's like, is a is a healthy say a Suzuki better than a hurt Kyle Tucker?
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I don't know.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, lately, I guess some recency bias could say yes to wingers tonight, right?
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: But at the same token, no, in the I don't know in the in the field probably not because Peter Armstrong is gonna cover half of that quarter anyway.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I was just gonna say, could this could could this little this little late season push here by say it based off the Thursday night two dinger game, could this kind of work out in a backwards way in our favor?
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_02: To where you can just have a, let's say, 78% Kyle Tucker, kind of a bum calf, but you still got his bat in the lineup, but then you also have a hot, engaged, active, say a Suzuki who's playing right field and who's rolling at the plate.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_02: Is this kind of work?
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_02: Can we talk ourselves into this working out in our favor here a little bit?
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_02: Or is this is this jumping the gun too quick based off of one game from say uh on Thursday night?
• 28:40
  SPEAKER_03: No, I think you have to.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_03: I think you I'm more than willing to overreact to say hitting two homers in a game because he's a foot-down timing guy.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_03: Like, if he's hot and hit the bat's rolling, he hits him in bunches.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_03: So, like, we just need the bat to be ignited.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_03: So we'll tell you'll know tomorrow against the Cardinals the quality of the contact that he has.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_03: And if we can censate it for I don't think you're crazy at all because we that's really all it takes for say is just like just show me a little sign of life and we're rolling, baby.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_03: Now, I would assume, I mean, I'm saying 100% guaranteed Say Suzuki's gonna be in the in the playoff lineup.
• 29:12
  SPEAKER_03: I do like him as a five-hitter if we're committed to Michael Bush as a leadoff hitter and we're committed to Nico Horner as a two-hitter.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_03: The big confusion or question, or I suppose, move for Craig to make is you know, I'm making the assumption that Kyle Tucker's going to be available, and then I'm further making the assumption that if he's available, the Cubs are gonna play him.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_03: What I can't answer is where do they hit him?
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_03: Do they hit him two?
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_03: Do they hit him three?
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_03: Do they hit him six?
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_03: You know, that's a confusing thing.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_03: He probably shouldn't hit any lower than four in a major league lineup, regardless of how healthy his calf is.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_03: His plate discipline is incredible.
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_03: Like if he can go and he can run down to first base and he can't, you know, and his calf's not gonna fall off his leg, then I would say he should hit two, three, four.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_03: But then what do we do with Nico?
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_03: Then does Nico go to seven?
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_03: So just generally interested if you guys have any like standout.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_03: Thoughts about what you would want to see from the lineup, like stuff where you're like, I don't I want to see say hit five or anything like that.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: One takeaway is I believe if Tucker's back, he's hitting two.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I like Nico in the seventh spot in those situations.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_00: You know, just no dead innings sort of thing, and is that mindset, not having a slugger on the back end.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I mean it doesn't thought that Tucker would be there, but I think that allows that flexibility.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: So that's why I'm thinking if Tucker's playing, he'd probably be too, regardless of you know, the other moving parts.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_02: See, I'm you said Nico 7 and to me, I I just want Nico leading off.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_02: I I I I I don't know why I just have this I I mean I guess I do know why I just have this trust in him, but it he he he he just seems like a fit for the leadoff position.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_02: When I think of the you go we go type of thing, I feel like Nico Horner is a guy who goes in there and will get it going.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_02: He'll put together good at bats, he's not gonna strike out a lot.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_02: He's obviously what he's still hitting over 300.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if he is after Thursday night.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_02: Um I don't know.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_02: I just have a lot of trust in Nico up there at the top to get things going because it feels like sometimes, like if you got a Michael Bush up there leading off, or even Happer who did for a lot of the beginning of part of the year, I know that.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it didn't always happen like that.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_02: So I I don't know if that's crazy to want Nico up there at the leadoff spot, but something something just makes me feel safe about that Luke Skywalker looking SOB being up there and uh leading us, using the force to get us going or something, boys.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, just the crack of the bat, even because you know he's gonna probably make contact into the gap and get on base, so that'll get everyone going during the crowd.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_00: Just saying.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, a little bit of a reach there because we're still we're talking about like Michael Bush is a leadoff hitter, who's their first guy since 2016 to have 30-something home runs, 32 plus home runs and 130 plus you know, OPS plus or something like it's not like we have huge issues with the leadoff.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_03: I think the bigger question would be can we make the lineup better if Bush is in the middle of it?
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I do think Nico's good, but my question about if we're gonna move the leadoff hitter, it's more Michael Bush against a righty is somebody who should be hitting four.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_03: So then is it like is it more advantageous to have Ian Hap, who's better without runners on base, and then have Nico Horner hit a little bit later, who's better with runners on base and two outs?
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_03: You know, the there's a bunch of different ways to play it, but like I don't think Craig Council is gonna deviate from what we've seen, which is Michael Bush hitting leadoff.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_03: That's fair.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: I I agree, you know, especially right-handed pitching.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_00: So I we won't is that like what it looks like it's gonna line up for in game one.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_03: Nick Pivada would likely pitch game, is probably gonna pitch game one, so we're gonna see a righty.
• 32:59
  SPEAKER_03: Like tonight's a perfect example of we don't have Kyle Tucker, especially the last two weeks.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_03: We don't have Kyle Tucker.
• 33:06
  SPEAKER_03: If you wanted to throw more meat in the middle of the lineup, Craig Council's had plenty of opportunities to move Bush down and throw Nico at leadoff spot consistently.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_00: That's the thing, is like I don't have the answer when like it's not a righty because of the configurations that Craig has put together over the last couple months.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_03: So stay on righty for a second.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_03: Let's build out the lineup.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_03: Let's say Bush, I'm I'm fine.
• 33:29
  SPEAKER_03: We'll build some consensus here.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_03: He's not gonna change.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_03: And then let's say Tucker's available, we're building consensus here.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_03: Tucker hits two.
• 33:41
  SPEAKER_03: Do you go Suzuki three or do you go hap three?
• 33:44
  SPEAKER_03: Hap has been our best player since August 1.
• 33:47
  SPEAKER_02: I would like I'd be fine with Hap there.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'd be fine with it, yeah, for sure.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, based on the way he's been playing, but I wouldn't hate having him batten like fifth or even fourth as well.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so cleanup I would suggest Seaha.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah or Flip Town or Carson or Carson Kelly.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but I like what you said, I think earlier in the week, Carl.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_02: You're like, how long are we gonna keep pretending, you know, how long are we gonna keep up this kind of facade with Carson Kelly being a cleanup hitter, right?
• 34:24
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, Alpha If Kyle Tucker and Saya Suzuki are gonna be in the lineup, then we don't have a Biosteros.
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_03: So now the rest of the players we can play with.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_03: So we're we're at the cleanup spot.
• 34:35
  SPEAKER_03: We've got Saya, Carson Kelly, Dansby, we've got Matt Shaw.
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's saying that so I take it that I mean I you're gonna I'm jumping the gun.
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_02: I'm jumping the gun.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_02: Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_03: Or do we think Pete Crow Armstrong?
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_03: Who's been hitting seven?
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_02: That that was gonna I that was literally where I was going.
• 34:57
  SPEAKER_02: I was saying, is this all leading to that PCA has just kind of cemented himself down at the uh at the seventh spot for the for the postseason?
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_03: I think he should be.
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_03: I think he should be.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_03: And I think that Nico Horner should get in that bat before Pete Crow Armstrong in a playoff lineup.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_00: Fair makes sense.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you're not gonna look to have PCA just like going on to shake things up because he's gonna still be swinging the way that he's been swinging.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like it's kind of crazy every time that I see him.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh then you see the play, like the play where it's like just get on the base, like get on base, like, and then that confusion happens, he scores from second on you know the wild pitch miscommunication.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_00: That's like the sort of thing is like I wish I see more, but only because you know he's been not really performing.
• 35:55
  SPEAKER_03: Carl.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_03: I'd like him more if he was a pesky player and not a show-me the money player.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_03: He's more valuable as a show-me-the money player, he's more valuable hitting 30 homers and stealing 30 bases and all that shit.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_03: I personally would like him more if he was a guy who scored from second base on a wild pitch like that, and then fucking jogged back into the dugout and dapped his boys up instead of taunting the Mets or like making a sign to the Cubs like this is real meatball shit, but he flies out to the warning track tonight and he fucking stands in the batter's box like he's got 500 career home runs.
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_03: And this isn't old meatball baseball take.
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_03: This is me assessing the character and the player and saying, like, what your showtime, but it's Edwin fucking Diaz.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_03: Your showtime, your big time.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_03: You got a fucking 510 OPS over the last two and a half months, pal.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_03: I would suggest just like you can just get back in that dugout and have a little bit of a chip more chipper, peskier attitude, but he's got a big time fucking show-me the money attitude, and I'm kind of like getting a little salty about it, even though I did compare him to Griffey and Trout, but like he had warranted comparison at the time at the time.
• 37:08
  SPEAKER_00: It there was nothing, there's nowhere else we could go.
• 37:11
  SPEAKER_03: So it's hard for me now to complain about him because he isn't playing bad, so you can't ask him to lose the swag and all that stuff, but all it all comes together, it's a beautiful cocktail.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_03: But you know, as we're getting into postseason play here, as we're season's coming down the stretch, the fact that Craig has him seven tonight.
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_03: Like, I'm looking at tonight's lineup as a playoff lineup.
• 37:28
  SPEAKER_03: And the question that I'm asking is when Kyle Tucker comes back, where are the levers and the changes in the switches to be made?
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_03: And I don't think that the switch or anything is gonna bleed itself into changing PCA from hitting seven, Dansby from hitting eight, or match off from hitting nine.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_03: That's why when I texted you guys the outline, I said make sure we talk about seven through nine in the playoff lineup.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_03: Because I think based on what we've seen down the stretch, we can all but guarantee it's gonna go PCA seven, Dansby eight, Shaw nine.
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_03: So now it's that one through six.
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_03: Well then so where's Nico go?
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_02: Nico's gonna be six, because like you said, because he he's not gonna hit you know, he's not gonna hit two through four.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_02: So it's either six or leadoff, and then if you're uh you know, we came to the agreement, the consensus on Bush at the leadoff, then there you go.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um I'd say Nico right there at that at six.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_02: What do you Carl, what do you put what what's your on like lefty lefty righty in the lineup in the playoffs?
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_02: What's the emphasis on that?
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_02: Does it matter?
• 38:27
  SPEAKER_02: Like not the not the all you know, lefty righty in the lineup.
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_03: I think it matters enough where like you'd have to seriously consider Justin Turner against a lefty, you know, just because it's a crazy people want to even see him on the playoff roster, but like Bush is so bad against the lefties, it's not even like a just see how he does against them.
• 38:45
  SPEAKER_03: He doesn't see him, he's just it's a different, completely different baseball player.
• 38:51
  SPEAKER_03: Now, Justin Turner's not very good either, and he's a basically but he is better than Michael Bush, so I don't know what our left-handed situation would be against the Padres.
• 39:01
  SPEAKER_03: I I because I would understand that they would throw mostly, if not all exclusively, righties.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_03: So that's kind of a little advantage for us because we are kind of shit when it comes to lefties.
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_03: And I was gonna say, Joey, all this, dude.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_03: We I like this exercise of just going through the playoff lineup and talking about the different players and where they're at because we go through this against what it would look like against a righti, all of it to just say, I'm kind of now gonna go back to what you were saying and be like, we should just have Nico Horner lead off.
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_03: I but I would just love to see against the St.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_03: Louis Cardinals because we're working through this and saying, All right, well, who's gonna be our cleanup hitter?
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_03: Say Suzuki should hit cleanup against Nick Pivetta.
• 39:38
  SPEAKER_03: I don't love that.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_03: I don't love that at all.
• 39:40
  SPEAKER_03: I'd much rather have him have him hit fifth or sixth.
• 39:43
  SPEAKER_03: If you have Nico lead off, then you can move Bush down to a three or four.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_03: You could have Hap hit three or four.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_03: You just kind of the lineup gets a little bit longer because as we're at talking about it now, it just feels clunky being like, well, we'll have Nico hit six.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_03: Have him hit behind Carson Kelly, that's kind of weird, right?
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it does it, it does get all funky, and that's why like I know that Bush has had a hell of a year, hell of a year, but it it is it is just kind of weird, no, when you have to put that much into like oh well, you know, he can't be our guy today at least you know, leading off because you know we're we're not facing a righty, right?
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_02: Like, isn't the leadoff man supposed to, I mean, traditionally, like supposed to just be a dude that you just get up there and you just trust no matter what in any situation who's gonna go up there, put together good at bad, get you on base, get things going.
• 40:35
  SPEAKER_03: I agree.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_03: I got no arguments here.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_02: I'm saying I I think oh I wasn't I wasn't like confront I wasn't I was just like that that's in my head, in my safe space head.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_02: That's where I'm just like looking at Nico versus Michael Bush.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, I'm gonna get a little nod to Nico.
• 40:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, even though that I know Bush has more pop, obviously, has that's just you know no, the eye test.
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_00: If you put if you just put them, you know, uh side by side, I know nothing about these two guys, like which one's the leadoff hitter, I would say Nico.
• 41:05
  SPEAKER_00: If I didn't know anything about him, just for the sake of the conversation.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_03: I know this is but now I'm like I'm thinking I'm like I agree with you, Mahoney, and then I'm like, moneyball strike.
• 41:13
  SPEAKER_03: I'm an old scout moneyball right now, being like Nico Horner is a leadoff hitter because there's probably some modern argument to having Michael Buddh lead off because it's like we're we're in the like we're Nico got engaged this year, folks.
• 41:27
  SPEAKER_00: He got engaged under the bridge.
• 41:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for instance, he's got a better gall line.
• 41:33
  SPEAKER_00: That's not nothing.
• 41:35
  SPEAKER_01: His his eyes look better in pants.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, no, dude.
• 41:40
  SPEAKER_03: He definitely he he slept with more girls in the minor leagues.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_03: He's just gotta, he's just got that thing about him.
• 41:46
  SPEAKER_02: That's why that's why I what that's why I was prefacing it because I you're right, all that I think is going on in my head right now, like old like 12U travel ball shit that was like somehow still ingrained in my head.
• 41:59
  SPEAKER_02: Like, that's what's coming up about it.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_02: But you know, just for Devil's Damishek counter-argument there, that's where I was going with with Nico and Bush.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_02: But I was actually talking about Carl, like not only the I'm not talking left uh in terms of you know pitcher guy at the I'm talking about in our lineup, like how much is that matter in terms of you got you know uh lefty, lefty, lefty?
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_02: Let's say if you go Bush, Tucker, uh Happer, and then you know, you're facing a righty, and then you come like do you how much do you want to alternate to where you can have even let's go down to say seven, eight, nine, you know?
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_02: Like, is it important to maybe have Dansby go seven, peak, P PCA eight, shawl nine?
• 42:44
  SPEAKER_02: So it's righty lefty righty.
• 42:45
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 42:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I would have said historically that's a huge deal, and I'm sorry for not picking up on that question earlier.
• 42:52
  SPEAKER_03: That was it's important in some very limited situations, I think.
• 42:57
  SPEAKER_03: Now with the bullpen rolls.
• 42:59
  SPEAKER_03: Now that a bull now that a reliever has to face at least three guys or finish an inning, uh, it certainly changes the dynamic where it doesn't really matter as much if you want to go Pete seven as a lefty and then double up the righties as opposed to breaking them up.
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_03: I don't think it really has that much of an influence.
• 43:15
  SPEAKER_03: Where it really matters is when you see reverse splits from the starting pitcher.
• 43:19
  SPEAKER_03: So when you see a righty who's fucking trash against lefties, then you want to dump lefties into the lineup.
• 43:24
  SPEAKER_03: Now, this is a question I I gotta look at Nick Pivetta right now because here's dude, here's something crazy we haven't even considered.
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_03: And it's gonna be really interesting to see his credit council.
• 43:34
  SPEAKER_03: Like, dude, I don't know, is he crazy enough to like start Willie Castro?
• 43:40
  SPEAKER_03: Because like Willie Castro, like you know what I mean.
• 43:43
  SPEAKER_03: Like, are we gonna run into one of these situations where you're like, yo, what the what is this lineup?
• 43:49
  SPEAKER_03: Because we gotta mention that lineup preview, you know, that'd be some spicy ass takes.
• 43:55
  SPEAKER_03: You want to talk all bite no rattle, put Willie Castro in the fucking playoff lineup.
• 43:59
  SPEAKER_03: But like, you know, I'm looking at Pavetta now, lefties hit him poorly, very poorly.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um he's a reverse split guy, so righty's actually hit him harder, but not by much.
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, he's really good.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_03: That's the starting pitcher that we're gonna see.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_03: Big righty from Canada.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_03: Um, that's that's the number one for the Padres.
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_03: I don't think it matters if we go righty-left.
• 44:21
  SPEAKER_02: I think what you have to identify are just how about just put the best bats out there?
• 44:26
  SPEAKER_02: Does that work?
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that works.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_03: Um I think it's unique that we know 7-8-9.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_03: Like, at least the three of us can sit here and agree.
• 44:40
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's unique that like we like the fact it's gonna be Dan's bee PCA and Shaw at the bottom, however they arrange that.
• 44:46
  SPEAKER_03: Where I think that's pretty unique where most most clubs are going to the playoffs and they can tell you who their one through four is like pretty seriously.
• 44:53
  SPEAKER_03: We have no clue.
• 44:54
  SPEAKER_00: No, that's the thing.
• 44:55
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the well, and let's like remind everyone, my my seven, eight, nine originally I wanted Nico in the seventh spot, but no, I am in full agreement for the you know, sake of the money morning cup show that this is how we're rolling.
• 45:10
  SPEAKER_00: I'm with you, Tim.
• 45:12
  SPEAKER_00: And are you guys Shaw goes nowhere?
• 45:15
  SPEAKER_00: You could argue that he could be in the middle, you know, you could argue you can move in him up, but you just that he's not going anywhere.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna stick in the nine.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_03: I'm with you.
• 45:24
  SPEAKER_00: Cemented.
• 45:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.
• 45:27
  SPEAKER_03: Playing good defense.
• 45:29
  SPEAKER_03: You know, 100% agree.
• 45:31
  SPEAKER_03: A lot of good things to say about the young ball player.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_03: But I'm still confused, dude.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_03: I wish I could I wish I could give like one final recommendation on this lineup.
• 45:39
  SPEAKER_03: I'd I'm stuck with like I think it's way obvious if Tucker's not in the lineup, then it's gonna look exactly like it did tonight with Biosteros in the four spot and say in the five spot.
• 45:50
  SPEAKER_03: I do think they break that up for purposes of that's different.
• 45:55
  SPEAKER_03: The guy tonight, McLean, I'll go down a rabbit hole on his stuff in a six-pick Mitch.
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_03: When you have a six-pitch mix like he does, then it's good to change righty lefty, righty lefty.
• 46:08
  SPEAKER_03: Similar to Arietta, like he didn't give a fuck who gets in the box.
• 46:11
  SPEAKER_03: This guy's not gonna change his shit.
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_03: McLean today, he's gonna change his shit if it's a righty lefty.
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_03: So then the advantage there is that you're just kind of throwing off different strategies, you're alternating the starting pitcher strategy, if that makes sense.
• 46:22
  SPEAKER_03: But gotcha.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_03: Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, it took us like 15 minutes to do to answer that question appropriately because you asked it, I miss it, now I come back.
• 46:33
  SPEAKER_02: No, it was very I didn't word it correctly.
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_02: We got we got the best of both right there.
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_02: All good, all good.
• 46:40
  SPEAKER_02: Are you guys uh are you guys gonna make it out to uh to any any of the games at Wrigley?
• 46:46
  SPEAKER_03: I won't.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_03: I I promise myself I'm not gonna go to the wild card, and that if I'm gonna like drop something, you know, spend money on it, I'll probably wait till the DS.
• 46:56
  SPEAKER_03: I I can't do it.
• 46:58
  SPEAKER_03: I just I can't.
• 46:59
  SPEAKER_03: I'm like sizing it up.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_03: I'm looking at the day, I'm like, that's at least a thousand dollars for the day.
• 47:03
  SPEAKER_03: Like after the ticket, after the beers, transportation, and so just being a pussy, like I'm I'm gonna sit on it.
• 47:10
  SPEAKER_03: I'd rather watch the games from home.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_03: I hate to do this.
• 47:12
  SPEAKER_03: I hate to do it.
• 47:13
  SPEAKER_03: Are you going?
• 47:16
  SPEAKER_02: See, my thing, dude, is that I know that once we get to the DS, like, yeah, maybe what would there be like a Saturday game, maybe during the day or during the evening, possibly, yeah, in the divisional series.
• 47:29
  SPEAKER_02: See, I'm just like, dude, what do you guys are talking about?
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_02: Or the way it's shaping up, uh a day playoff game at Wrigley.
• 47:37
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, it's just a stuff that like childhood dreams are made of for me.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_02: And so I'm like, damn, I really want to be a part of that, even if it's the wild card.
• 47:45
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so all's that to say is I don't have an answer right now.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_02: I'm kind of waiting to see how this weekend plays out, and maybe pulling the trigger last minute.
• 47:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um, because yeah, dude, that October sky, the sun beating down in that crisp way, you know what I'm talking about.
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_02: Probably got the banners, the red, the American flag, red, white, and blue, playoff banners going uh around the backstop and whatnot.
• 48:11
  SPEAKER_02: Like I feel like I need to see that with my own eyes, but there's still some things that need to fall into place, obviously.
• 48:18
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I hope you get to go, Joey.
• 48:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'm absolutely not going to be able to just, you know, full coverage over here with the kids.
• 48:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm just gonna have to have my mom stop by so she'll be able to take them out to some ball pit place or something so I can get locked in during one of these day games.
• 48:31
  SPEAKER_00: But I will not be setting foot in Wrigley and and truth be told, right now, I feel very much more comfortable being able to hear everything, you know, right directly in front of me from the comfort of my own home.
• 48:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, unfortunately, I won't be able to be there at least for this first wild card round.
• 48:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now we advance and we see some home games that will change.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, now you guys are swaying me.
• 48:56
  SPEAKER_02: Now you guys are swaying me a little bit.
• 48:57
  SPEAKER_02: My hold off.
• 48:59
  SPEAKER_03: I know I'm thinking about like in the back of my head, I'm like, maybe I do like an old Sean McGuire from Goodwill Hunting, you know, the doctor, psychiatrist is like, you know, go see about a girl sit at the bar in the neighborhood, you know, gives the ticket away.
• 49:10
  SPEAKER_03: Like, there's part of me that's like maybe I just go sit at Yaksy's and just fucking pound thirsty vacaros just because I want to be around the environment and all that stuff.
• 49:17
  SPEAKER_03: But I know, dude, the second I get in that bar, a couple cocktails in, right to Stub Hub, you go.
• 49:22
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah, yeah.
• 49:23
  SPEAKER_03: There's no way you can do that.
• 49:25
  SPEAKER_03: Spent way too much.
• 49:27
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, here's an underrated thing: road playoff games in Wrigleyville.
• 49:31
  SPEAKER_03: Road playoff games in Wrigleyville are freaking elite, dude.
• 49:35
  SPEAKER_03: Those bars go nuts, they'll have DJs playing in between innings and stuff, you know, like bucket specials, people spilling out in the street, the cigarette smoke wafting in through the garage doors that are like, oh, you know, like how bars have the whole traveling street.
• 49:51
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, like you could be posted up like shoulder to shoulder, like up against one of those like chain smoking inside the bar, blowing smoke outside of it.
• 49:59
  SPEAKER_03: So that's a special environment.
• 50:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I hadn't I hadn't thought about that.
• 50:04
  SPEAKER_02: It's like a three and a half hour commute for me, you know, to get up there.
• 50:08
  SPEAKER_02: So it's got to be the right, the right moment and the right time.
• 50:12
  SPEAKER_02: But hey, at the same time, it's like what do you what what what was the numbers you said?
• 50:16
  SPEAKER_02: It was 45, 84, uh, 89, yeah.
• 50:22
  SPEAKER_02: 98, like I mean, we're 98, 03, 07, 08.
• 50:27
  SPEAKER_02: 15 16.
• 50:29
  SPEAKER_02: And like you said, Carl, I mean, I was you know, I was in third grade when they when uh oh three, I was uh in uh middle school in 07-08, then it wasn't until late college, until 1516, and then now we're here.
• 50:43
  SPEAKER_02: So all is that to your point, yeah.
• 50:45
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, like my sh, I mean, my kid's gonna be like getting his first communion the next time that you know something like this happens.
• 50:52
  SPEAKER_02: So I gotta like keep that in mind.
• 50:53
  SPEAKER_02: So all that to say, maniacs and Carl Mahoney, uh, I will keep you posted on if and when I'll be up there, and um, hopefully it'll be one or multiple times here soon.
• 51:06
  SPEAKER_03: I think you have to go now based on what I've heard.
• 51:08
  SPEAKER_03: Like, I can't, oh I know Mahoney's locked in, but like I feel like you owe it to your third grade self.
• 51:15
  SPEAKER_00: I I got my postseason 2017 MLB issued cap right here, the ones that you don't really typically buy, but here we go.
• 51:22
  SPEAKER_00: Postseason 2017 right here for the listener on my hat.
• 51:26
  SPEAKER_02: That's such a great point, Mahoney.
• 51:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because I'm always like, you know, it's you know, if your team doesn't, you know, like my the Pacers, right?
• 51:32
  SPEAKER_02: Down here in Indiana, they made it to the finals this year, and it was a huge freaking deal.
• 51:36
  SPEAKER_02: First time in 25 years, but I was like, Do I get final stuff?
• 51:39
  SPEAKER_02: You know, even like when they made it, I was like, Do I get final stuff or do I hold off?
• 51:43
  SPEAKER_02: Then I was like, nah, I'm getting final stuff.
• 51:45
  SPEAKER_02: That's how I felt honestly this year.
• 51:47
  SPEAKER_02: I was like looking at that October stuff, and I was like, you know, after they clinched in Pittsburgh, all the vibes were so high, like you guys are talking about.
• 51:54
  SPEAKER_02: I was like, I might just give myself a little hat and a little shirt to commemorate, you know, pop open a little beverage and celebrate.
• 52:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
• 52:02
  SPEAKER_02: So it is the kind of it is it is kind of that feel.
• 52:04
  SPEAKER_02: We'll see.
• 52:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 52:05
  SPEAKER_03: Anyways, influence on me.
• 52:07
  SPEAKER_03: This is stuff I need to be thinking about because I see that stuff on sale, and I'm just like rip off jabronies.
• 52:13
  SPEAKER_03: I hate these people.
• 52:14
  SPEAKER_03: I'm too I'm too much of a cynic about it, but now hearing the way you guys are talking about it, it's fond.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_03: You know, it's nice to put on a 2017 postseason.
• 52:22
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I found it behind the dresser today.
• 52:25
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's great.
• 52:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, think back to those times, might as well, man.
• 52:30
  SPEAKER_02: A little cap didn't hurt.
• 52:31
  SPEAKER_02: So not at all.
• 52:32
  SPEAKER_00: The style came around, you know, a few years later, so here I am.
• 52:36
  SPEAKER_03: I've got some great core memories at Wrigley in playoffs.
• 52:39
  SPEAKER_03: I didn't go to the 2016 playoffs, but oh three, I went to a bunch of games with my mom.
• 52:43
  SPEAKER_03: Um 98 went to the one game in '98, watched Kerry Wood lose to the Braves.
• 52:48
  SPEAKER_03: That was a formative experience, just in the throws.
• 52:51
  SPEAKER_03: I was like 11 years old.
• 52:52
  SPEAKER_03: I can't believe my dad took me to that fucking game.
• 52:55
  SPEAKER_03: That was like a Tuesday night in Wrigleyville, just absolute chaos.
• 52:59
  SPEAKER_03: But I went to that in '98 and went to a couple of games in 17, went to a couple of games in 15.
• 53:04
  SPEAKER_03: Of course, the one season they win the World Series.
• 53:06
  SPEAKER_03: I don't go to, but I went to funny enough, I went to the 2015, I went to an NLCS game with vendor partners for work.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_03: And I get obviously, dude, I'm at the bar gassing pierce, like chain smoking cigs, treating it like I'm out with like my fraternity brothers, and I'm still close with these guys.
• 53:26
  SPEAKER_03: You know, these are funny guys I get emails from bullshit with some of them.
• 53:30
  SPEAKER_03: Do some business with my wife.
• 53:32
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, but don't that's just funny memories to think back of because it's like I would do anything to go to a playoff game, and then like a guy from work is like, hey, somebody from MetLife is gonna connect us, like one of their bosses in town.
• 53:44
  SPEAKER_03: Like, they got a ticket block at 12.
• 53:46
  SPEAKER_03: We got our hands on four.
• 53:47
  SPEAKER_03: You we're gonna get you in.
• 53:48
  SPEAKER_03: Do you want to go?
• 53:49
  SPEAKER_03: I'm like, fuck yeah, just get loaded.
• 53:52
  SPEAKER_03: So I would advise against doing that.
• 53:54
  SPEAKER_03: Maybe no career damage, no reputational damage there, nothing bad.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_03: I didn't do anything stupid, but it was just like that.
• 54:03
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not there with my brother, I'm not there with you guys.
• 54:06
  SPEAKER_03: I'm there with right.
• 54:08
  SPEAKER_02: They're they're wearing like collared shirts with the top two buttons unbuttoned, maybe throwing a ball, asking if they can watch it in the bar.
• 54:17
  SPEAKER_03: First game they watched all season.
• 54:19
  SPEAKER_03: First game, these guys are like, Oh, wow, that shortstop's pretty good.
• 54:21
  SPEAKER_03: You're like, Yeah, dude.
• 54:23
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you show up with your Carrie Wood jersey on and your hairy carry fake hair, we're ready to roll.
• 54:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like, who the fuck is this guy?
• 54:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, um, okay.
• 54:35
  SPEAKER_03: One thing I want to do quick, can we just give out leadership grades?
• 54:38
  SPEAKER_03: Jed, Jed, uh, Tom, Craig.
• 54:41
  SPEAKER_03: So I don't know if you guys want to do this.
• 54:42
  SPEAKER_03: Anybody get want to give anybody an A here?
• 54:44
  SPEAKER_03: Is anybody here giving out any A's?
• 54:47
  SPEAKER_00: I don't have any A's on my board right now.
• 54:50
  SPEAKER_00: The highest would be uh a B plus.
• 54:52
  SPEAKER_03: And who gets that B plus?
• 54:54
  SPEAKER_00: That's gonna be Jed Hoyer gets a B plus based off of the way he's built the team, the philosophy behind it all, and obviously the moves that he did not make at the trade deadline when everyone was barking up a tree, you know, to sell the farm.
• 55:07
  SPEAKER_00: So I am grateful for that for Jed, he gets a B plus, and then we'll we'll see at the end of the year what their finalized grade is.
• 55:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, totally agree with Mahoney.
• 55:18
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I feel like Jed is just in this weird spot of I'm trying to think, I'm trying to put on my cowherd cap and like think of a real life analogy of where Jed is between like ownership being like your parents and then the fans being like your friends, and like Jed is trying to like have this like weird balance of like trying to please both while you know having certain rules that he has to follow.
• 55:45
  SPEAKER_02: Like it's almost like that's maybe that's where I'm going.
• 55:48
  SPEAKER_02: It's like um in in high school, like Jed's trying to have a party, and like all of his friends want to do this crazy shit and have it be like so insane.
• 55:58
  SPEAKER_02: And his parents, like, okay, well, you can have a party, yeah, but like we're we're we're checking all the bags and the bottles that anybody brings in, and um people have to be out there by midnight, and he's so he's like, How the fuck do I make this like fun still and like cool while also not pissing off my parents?
• 56:19
  SPEAKER_02: And so far, I feel like it's you know, you're it's you know, it's like 10 15, you're showing up, you're like, I don't know, I kind of thought this is gonna be kind of lame, but like Jed pulled it off.
• 56:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I'm having a pretty good time.
• 56:29
  SPEAKER_02: Like, yeah, it'd be it'd be pretty cool if like we could have a fifth of vodka here, but like all things considered, this is pretty great.
• 56:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so hey, let's just kind of get yeah, at least I cowered cap right.
• 56:43
  SPEAKER_02: I cowered capped, like talk myself into that one, but I that's kind of where I am right now with Jed.
• 56:49
  SPEAKER_03: It's so perfectly said.
• 56:53
  SPEAKER_03: I agree with you guys on Jed, like the B plus area, he has made it work with a little bit, and I I don't really love Carter Hawkins.
• 57:02
  SPEAKER_03: And dude, when you think about how long Jed's been here like 15 years now.
• 57:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 57:09
  SPEAKER_03: Something like that.
• 57:10
  SPEAKER_03: It's remarkable.
• 57:11
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, well, I'm I'm Carl, I like when you I because I know you got like some boots on the ground, like inside.
• 57:18
  SPEAKER_02: I like when you get kind of the nitty-gritty, like let us know what's going on with with the rickets and with ownership.
• 57:24
  SPEAKER_02: So like what would your what would your thoughts, your grades kind of be on that situation?
• 57:29
  SPEAKER_03: I'm I'm probably I think all things considered, you know, Tom can't get higher than a B.
• 57:41
  SPEAKER_03: Um people probably would give him closer to like a C minus or C.
• 57:49
  SPEAKER_03: And it's really just like a matter of how much do you blame Tom for the bad financial structure that got destroyed during COVID?
• 57:58
  SPEAKER_03: Like, how much do you want to blame Tom that a global pandemic destroyed his revenue stream that prevented him from being able to pay off the debt that then forced him to field like a minor league baseball team in 22 and send all those guys packing in 21 without even the thought of an extension?
• 58:13
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, all the idea of an extension or keeping these guys around, they had to slash payroll so bad.
• 58:17
  SPEAKER_03: So it's really a function of like how much do you blame Tom for that?
• 58:21
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, because there's a lot of good he provided to the Cubs before that happened, you know, three straight NLCS's fixing Wrigley Field, basically bringing concerts in there, fixing up Clark Street.
• 58:34
  SPEAKER_03: Now I have nostalgia for Clark Street in my 20s, but now as I you know, I'm 38 years old, like I love what he's done with the ballpark.
• 58:40
  SPEAKER_03: So it's really a function of how mad do we want to be at Tom for having the Frank Schwindel era, and how mad do we want to be at him for letting the heroes walk and Rizzo being a Yankee and stuff?
• 58:51
  SPEAKER_03: Because if we focus in on this team, the payroll starting to increase more.
• 58:56
  SPEAKER_03: We are back in the playoffs, and I think everybody listening to this, and I know the three of us like would hope imagine like we have an optimistic outlook on the Cubs for like the next five to seven years.
• 59:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I optimism is one thing, and then if you just look at everything on paper, right?
• 59:14
  SPEAKER_00: Ricketts got the all-star game to Wrigley, so he's getting some points there.
• 59:18
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of the people that knock him down, it's because of the comments that he's made.
• 59:21
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, we're trying to break even, right?
• 59:23
  SPEAKER_00: That's gonna rub anybody the wrong way and ruffle a ton of feathers.
• 59:27
  SPEAKER_00: So that's where you get a lot of people barking about Tom this, Tom that pay Kyle Tucker$700 million, you know, just defer money left and right.
• 59:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so that's where people get pissed off at Tom because they know where the money would come from.
• 59:40
  SPEAKER_00: However, if you look at everything and the big picture, I love going to Gallagher Way, it's a complete family atmosphere now in Wrigley, even in the surrounding area.
• 59:51
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, so he's kudos to Tom in that regard.
• 59:55
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I agree.
• 59:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think I he can only get a B because he's the owner.
• 1:00:00
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the guy that we're always going to have to bitch about.
• 1:00:04
  SPEAKER_03: Joey, do you think he could go lower?
• 1:00:06
  SPEAKER_03: Do you want to put him down C or something?
• 1:00:08
  SPEAKER_03: Like, there's part of me that wants to drag him more.
• 1:00:10
  SPEAKER_03: And part of it is mostly from the optics.
• 1:00:12
  SPEAKER_03: He is an idiot.
• 1:00:13
  SPEAKER_03: What's wrong with the Marquee network when people are booing him at the remember?
• 1:00:16
  SPEAKER_03: That's a great clip of him standing at the cover expensive.
• 1:00:18
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, dude.
• 1:00:23
  SPEAKER_02: It's almost like the the the the Jeb Bush, please clap.
• 1:00:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like it's up there with that.
• 1:00:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think it was like right after John Lester had like signed with the Cardinals or something.
• 1:00:37
  SPEAKER_03: He was up there being like, and the Marquee network is gonna really knock yourself.
• 1:00:41
  SPEAKER_03: People are like, fuck you.
• 1:00:42
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 1:00:43
  SPEAKER_00: The last thing they want to hear.
• 1:00:45
  SPEAKER_03: So that is where I kind of point my finger.
• 1:00:47
  SPEAKER_03: He does some stupid, they have some stupid real estate partnerships that if people in Cubs Hands paid more attention, um, it would really bother you.
• 1:00:55
  SPEAKER_03: It would really, really bother people to know how they've partnered.
• 1:01:00
  SPEAKER_03: And and I'm talking about like developments and stuff with Pritzker families and just stuff where you're like, dude, you know, that's not that's not in your wheelhouse.
• 1:01:12
  SPEAKER_03: You're an investment banker, you own the Cubs, and now you're using it's it's like you get this sense that he's propping up the Cubs in his relationship.
• 1:01:18
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, he's the owner of the Cubs to do more stuff, acquire more land, be more of a power owner, do more for the Ricketts regime and that whole stuff.
• 1:01:27
  SPEAKER_03: And that's where I kind of like, you know, I that's the stuff I want to tune out and be like, I don't give a fuck about it.
• 1:01:31
  SPEAKER_00: Dude, yeah, I was just gonna say that's the last shit I ever want to hear about.
• 1:01:34
  SPEAKER_03: But if we got to give him a grade and we're gonna talk about this stuff and people talk about payroll, where's the money going?
• 1:01:39
  SPEAKER_03: And dude, I'll tell you who hate his guts.
• 1:01:41
  SPEAKER_03: The rooftop owners swear that he and Crane Kenny are the spawn of Satan.
• 1:01:45
  SPEAKER_03: You know, there's some stories of rooftop owners being like what they have done to force us to sell the land with respect to obstructing views, negotiating tactics, all stuff.
• 1:01:55
  SPEAKER_03: Like they're fundamentally bad people.
• 1:01:57
  SPEAKER_03: Now, is it Tom Rickett sitting on the other side of a conference call or a Zoom call with some you know real estate attorney?
• 1:02:03
  SPEAKER_03: Absolutely not.
• 1:02:04
  SPEAKER_03: But it's people who work for them and it's people under their directive that have been empowered to push people around locally, and they've done a lot of that, they've done a lot of that, and so that's the stuff that really pisses me off.
• 1:02:14
  SPEAKER_03: But again, we got to tune this up.
• 1:02:16
  SPEAKER_03: We're it's a baseball team, but like fundamentally, there's stuff about the guy where it's like, Oh, you son of a gun, and he does all of it with a big smile on his face.
• 1:02:24
  SPEAKER_03: And the problem is I personally like him because I've had drinks with him a bunch of times before.
• 1:02:28
  SPEAKER_03: I've hung out.
• 1:02:29
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, not to say like whatever.
• 1:02:30
  SPEAKER_03: I've I've been around doing this stuff for a long time, since as long as he's on the team.
• 1:02:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, you know, I'm on a first name basis with his assistant, talk to her regularly, and like all friendly and all above the belt here.
• 1:02:41
  SPEAKER_03: The guy's awesome.
• 1:02:42
  SPEAKER_03: You get him out, he's super friendly.
• 1:02:44
  SPEAKER_03: He'll fucking sit and talk to you, look you in the eyes, make you feel warm and fuzzy, and all stuff.
• 1:02:49
  SPEAKER_03: So, like, I think that matters, and I think that matters way more than the fact that he's got weird real estate deals going on.
• 1:02:54
  SPEAKER_00: I like yeah, no, he he never, yeah, he never shies away from like actually interacting with people, he doesn't ever hide or anything, he's not somebody that's up in the press box.
• 1:03:04
  SPEAKER_00: So that does go pretty far.
• 1:03:07
  SPEAKER_00: Took a picture with my nieces, you know, at the Chris Kindle market when they were ice skating, you know, he got out there with the family and then they all retreated back into the stands, but still, like he'll do that stuff.
• 1:03:17
  SPEAKER_00: And an owner, I can guarantee you, a lot of owners you do not see that from.
• 1:03:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well, it's almost like you have that tagline to the social network movie, like where they're talking about Zuckerberg, and it's like you you don't you don't become a billionaire without making a few enemies, or or or I think it's something along those lines, right?
• 1:03:39
  SPEAKER_02: Like it was one of them in the trailers, and it's like, yeah, I mean, simply put, you got a guy like that, like almost to the same point of like you show me the man, I'll show you the crime.
• 1:03:48
  SPEAKER_02: It's like you show me a guy who's that powerful and that wealthy.
• 1:03:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's gonna be some people who have bump shoulders with them in the wrong way.
• 1:03:53
  SPEAKER_02: There's gonna be some things that are like that guy absolutely effed me over, and you're like, Yeah, it's probably why he has you know four billion dollars or whatever it is.
• 1:04:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so I yeah, I mean, like, kind of kind of where I'm coming, like just like full circle from where I started on this program.
• 1:04:10
  SPEAKER_02: Kind of with Tom, it's it's a mix of grateful, you know, I'll always be grateful, but you know, at the same time sitting on edge, just like with this team currently.
• 1:04:22
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I'm grateful we're back in the playoffs.
• 1:04:24
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna have at least three games, hopefully at Wrigley, to have some postseason baseball, uh, or at least two games, hopefully, hopefully just that for us, but three, whatever.
• 1:04:34
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm grateful for that, but at the same time, kind of on edge with how I've been playing as of lately.
• 1:04:37
  SPEAKER_02: It's like with Tom, you know, hey, grateful for all those things you mentioned, Carl Mahoney, everything he's done for Gallagher Way for Wrigleyville 2016.
• 1:04:45
  SPEAKER_02: Always be grateful for that.
• 1:04:47
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but then yeah, at the same time, it's kind of just like all right, got the DraftKings sports book up there, you got Gallagher Way, you got all these renovations, you've totally flipped Wrigleyville, you've got Marquee, you've got your network now.
• 1:05:00
  SPEAKER_02: Like, now let's get some players, kind of thing.
• 1:05:03
  SPEAKER_02: So I'd say, yeah, I Carl, I think it's fair.
• 1:05:06
  SPEAKER_02: B, B minus, maybe on a bad day.
• 1:05:09
  SPEAKER_03: Um minus in the way you said the minus, too.
• 1:05:13
  SPEAKER_03: I let that's a true just a B minus, like right.
• 1:05:17
  SPEAKER_02: A little bit, uh just a little bit of a like if you're in the private school system, it's like an 85, 84, you know, like you're kind of like on that grading scale right there.
• 1:05:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, so I don't know.
• 1:05:31
  SPEAKER_02: Craig, I don't know.
• 1:05:32
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you want to hit that.
• 1:05:33
  SPEAKER_02: I know you've been pretty pretty harsh down on Craig, but kind of come back up on Craig.
• 1:05:37
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know where you currently stand on Craig.
• 1:05:40
  SPEAKER_03: I'll let Mahoney decide for the show.
• 1:05:42
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney, you have the official grade on Craig Council.
• 1:05:45
  SPEAKER_00: My my official grade is a B, and I know that's boring.
• 1:05:48
  SPEAKER_00: B is for boring, but Craig can be boring.
• 1:05:51
  SPEAKER_00: He drives me nuts in the post game, but we you know, it is post-game pressers, his attitude, his like you know, just dreadfulness at times.
• 1:05:58
  SPEAKER_00: He's not who you want to talk to when you know things aren't going great, but when things are, I feel like I love Craig.
• 1:06:05
  SPEAKER_00: And we got to the postseason.
• 1:06:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think that what we're gonna see, you know, well, there will be this.
• 1:06:11
  SPEAKER_00: This is this grade is subject to change because we're gonna see what Craig's philosophy actually is with his management, with the lineups, etc.
• 1:06:20
  SPEAKER_00: Come next week.
• 1:06:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited.
• 1:06:22
  SPEAKER_00: I I I think he he could go down, right?
• 1:06:26
  SPEAKER_00: Like this could go down to uh uh a C minus really fast.
• 1:06:31
  SPEAKER_00: So with that said, I give Craig a a B for now.
• 1:06:35
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think that's totally fair.
• 1:06:38
  SPEAKER_03: I think that's fair.
• 1:06:40
  SPEAKER_03: Bs are boring, but like there's times I can come in here and give Craig an F, and it's mostly subjective.
• 1:06:45
  SPEAKER_03: And there's times we want to applaud him, especially the start of the season.
• 1:06:48
  SPEAKER_03: Like it's but the reality is it's gonna take years for me to figure out where I stand on Craig Council.
• 1:06:53
  SPEAKER_03: Like, most importantly, I want to see what he does in the playoffs, you know.
• 1:06:57
  SPEAKER_03: And it's just like he's building a program.
• 1:06:59
  SPEAKER_03: Like last year, the program failed.
• 1:07:01
  SPEAKER_03: So this is the second year it's improved.
• 1:07:03
  SPEAKER_03: We're in the playoffs, so like we're improved from where we were last year.
• 1:07:06
  SPEAKER_03: But it does suck watching the Brewers be as good as they are without him, and that there's just no way to reconcile that without feeling like we got a raw deal paying him eight million a year, no matter how good he is.
• 1:07:19
  SPEAKER_03: It's like look at what so what's Pat Murphy worth 15?
• 1:07:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, seriously, and Pat Murphy wouldn't even have a job.
• 1:07:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not saying for Crank Council, but had Craig Console not left.
• 1:07:30
  SPEAKER_03: Sure.
• 1:07:30
  SPEAKER_03: And he there it is.
• 1:07:32
  SPEAKER_02: What do you got for him, Joey?
• 1:07:36
  SPEAKER_02: Craig, uh yeah, I will say, not to make this about me, but I will say that Craig, I and I don't have one, but Craig is pretty impressionable, impressionable.
• 1:07:46
  SPEAKER_02: Like if it in terms of a little behind the scenes for how I look at things, like when I listen to Craig and when I see Craig, I'm like, that's a voice, and that's a that's a level of speaking that could be done.
• 1:07:59
  SPEAKER_02: So maybe in the future there could be some Craig Council sketches, but I also just always look at it.
• 1:08:04
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, how many people know what the hell Craig Council sounds like?
• 1:08:08
  SPEAKER_02: There's probably, you know, legitimately, like I don't know, 500,000 people who would maybe be like, Oh yeah, I've heard Craig Council like talk regularly, anyways.
• 1:08:18
  SPEAKER_03: Um that's an interesting peek behind the curtain and like how you think about that stuff.
• 1:08:24
  SPEAKER_00: It as soon as you said that, I could hear like the nuance, like his pauses, like that.
• 1:08:28
  SPEAKER_00: You could like you know, go out.
• 1:08:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, he's got yeah, he's very breathy, he's got a slight lisp.
• 1:08:36
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it's I it's not even like a lisp, I'd say.
• 1:08:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but just if you you know, on on some of his C's and some of his S's, you kind of hear it there.
• 1:08:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but then just look at his tone, like the the frogginess kind of that's in his throat, seemingly, like that that's a voice that because there's some that are more impressionable than others, right?
• 1:08:57
  SPEAKER_02: And at least in my mind and Craig, there there's there's something there.
• 1:09:01
  SPEAKER_02: Like I remember Carl, maybe it was you like right like five or six years ago, where you're like maybe some maybe get a Rossi in there when Rossi was our manager at the time.
• 1:09:10
  SPEAKER_02: And I remember like I was like, I I did, I listened to him and I was like, I don't know, I'm sure somebody could do it, but I just don't think it's for me, anyways.
• 1:09:18
  SPEAKER_02: Um, that's just a little bit about Craig Council.
• 1:09:21
  SPEAKER_02: Um, yeah, I mean, I I I I'd say, did you guys say B?
• 1:09:24
  SPEAKER_02: Sorry, my computer was falling and shit when I yeah, we were saying I I was saying B like B B minus.
• 1:09:31
  SPEAKER_03: I can take him down to an F, I can take him up to an A.
• 1:09:34
  SPEAKER_03: I do want to say, hold on a second on the Craig on the impersonation thing, because he says the phrase you know a lot.
• 1:09:40
  SPEAKER_03: He'd say, Well, you know, yeah, I know I throw him in like well, you know, I mean throw throw throw same fillers in there, you know, throw some fillers in there, yeah.
• 1:09:51
  SPEAKER_03: You know, it's not easy, right?
• 1:09:53
  SPEAKER_03: So you have to get outs and big moments and big games.
• 1:09:58
  SPEAKER_02: He does always he does always just seem like incredibly put off, like not ever wanting to, you know, how there's some guys that just got a little bit more of the the magic, like the ratata, like a little bit, you know, like Joe Madden, right?
• 1:10:13
  SPEAKER_02: Like somebody who like all of a sudden you're gonna get a quirp or Mike Tomlin, right?
• 1:10:17
  SPEAKER_02: Like you're gonna get a a quote, and you kind of know that they're putting it in there, and they got away with words, and you're like, oh man, you could this guy could have a career in TV or podcasting once he's done uh managing or or coaching.
• 1:10:29
  SPEAKER_02: Craig, don't get that at all.
• 1:10:32
  SPEAKER_00: Council's a therapist is like therapist nightmare.
• 1:10:35
  SPEAKER_00: Like no one's psychoanalyzing that guy.
• 1:10:38
  SPEAKER_02: Just just nah, none of that at all.
• 1:10:41
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I'd say with the 2025 Craig Council.
• 1:10:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, I'd say just off the fact alone that you know you clinch a playoff spot with a week and a half, two weeks left to go in the season.
• 1:10:55
  SPEAKER_02: Um hopefully after this weekend you're gonna be over a 90-win team.
• 1:11:01
  SPEAKER_02: I I I guess you go B plus.
• 1:11:05
  SPEAKER_02: Um it's interesting.
• 1:11:09
  SPEAKER_02: It's interesting.
• 1:11:09
  SPEAKER_02: It really is.
• 1:11:10
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I don't I don't really know if you'll ever get the answer to this or how it'll go down, but like maybe it's just baseball, I guess.
• 1:11:16
  SPEAKER_02: Like, probably is, but just the latter half of June, into July, into August, in September, as compared to March, and then obviously that April and May that was so phenomenal that first half of June.
• 1:11:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like, it's just I don't I don't know how you can quantify what happened.
• 1:11:35
  SPEAKER_02: You maybe you guys can tell me like how much that falls on Craig, or how you can get an answer about like how somebody how a team starts off that way, and then like seemingly right in the middle of the season, just kind of like plateaus to a 500 baseball team.
• 1:11:50
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if that's just baseball.
• 1:11:51
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not smart enough to know that.
• 1:11:54
  SPEAKER_03: Love to hear you guys' thoughts real quick before we yeah, I point my finger at him for like the fact we've lost six of our last seven when it's just like we need to tighten this up and just have these guys focus.
• 1:12:03
  SPEAKER_03: The fact that Danz V.
• 1:12:04
  SPEAKER_03: Swanson's out there, you know, leading a practice today before the game, so they can go over little drills and stuff.
• 1:12:09
  SPEAKER_03: Like, it's nice to see, but that does kind of bother me and speak a little bit to like some lack of leadership focus.
• 1:12:14
  SPEAKER_03: It does bother me when we get swept by the Giants, we lose a series to the Nationals at home.
• 1:12:20
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we just look like shit in these moments where it's like we should be sharper.
• 1:12:24
  SPEAKER_03: Now, who do I point a finger at that?
• 1:12:26
  SPEAKER_03: You can point a finger.
• 1:12:26
  SPEAKER_03: There's a couple reasons for that.
• 1:12:28
  SPEAKER_03: Kyle Tucker not being there when he is there, he's kind of a quiet presence.
• 1:12:31
  SPEAKER_03: P.
• 1:12:31
  SPEAKER_03: Cormstrong has too much of an impact.
• 1:12:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, you know, for a rookie, instead of being this like quiet, like fucking really bust his ass, he's he's just kind of a guy that really like he's a show-me-the-money guy.
• 1:12:42
  SPEAKER_03: He's a big ego player.
• 1:12:43
  SPEAKER_03: That's okay.
• 1:12:44
  SPEAKER_03: He's a good player, but like there's a bunch of little things about this team.
• 1:12:47
  SPEAKER_03: Ian Hap's disposition.
• 1:12:49
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Danzig Swanson's a very vocal, strong leader, but I know for a fact that there's players that look at him, they're like, all right, dude, like take it easy.
• 1:12:58
  SPEAKER_03: Like, come on, like, we kind of know this.
• 1:13:01
  SPEAKER_03: Matt Shaw, he's got his own issues fitting into a major league clubhouse.
• 1:13:04
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not saying about any of the recent stuff.
• 1:13:06
  SPEAKER_03: I'm just saying, like, he's he's just he's just a we he's just a weird guy.
• 1:13:11
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, he's just a weird guy.
• 1:13:13
  SPEAKER_03: So I think it's a tough, I think it's a tough group to bring together.
• 1:13:16
  SPEAKER_03: Like, Joe Madden didn't have a hard time bringing guys together.
• 1:13:19
  SPEAKER_03: What he had a hard time do is keeping it together.
• 1:13:22
  SPEAKER_03: In this case, I think it's kind of hard to bring guys together, but I think it's easier to kind of keep them rolling together.
• 1:13:27
  SPEAKER_03: So I point my finger at Craig for a number of things, but it's it's it's easy to do it when you have four or five guys that are slumping all at the same time to point at him and saying, What type of program are you putting together?
• 1:13:40
  SPEAKER_03: What messaging do we have?
• 1:13:41
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I don't like knowing that Kyle Tucker doesn't take BP on the field, that's his own personal preference.
• 1:13:46
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, fine, but how long do you let the guy slump before you make a change to these guys?
• 1:13:50
  SPEAKER_03: And what does that relationship look like?
• 1:13:52
  SPEAKER_03: So I don't think he's very hands-on in an approach, I think he's a player's player, is a guy who's 15-year career experience.
• 1:13:58
  SPEAKER_03: So, like when a guy slumps, he kind of treats it the way he would figure it out.
• 1:14:03
  SPEAKER_03: Slump, and yeah, where I think Madden might be a little bit different, and so it's just it's to each their own.
• 1:14:09
  SPEAKER_03: It's this is the first time he's managed a team with a payroll over 200 million dollars.
• 1:14:15
  SPEAKER_02: I'd say I'm gonna drop it down, migrate down a little bit, just simply off of because like you said, it's seemingly these times when you kind of need to have it the most, they just fall flat on their face so far.
• 1:14:27
  SPEAKER_02: And honestly, now we're getting a little bit more therapeutic.
• 1:14:29
  SPEAKER_02: Like that kind of just what freaks me out going to the postseason is like, is this just who this team is?
• 1:14:34
  SPEAKER_02: Is like when you kind of need it the most, they're just not gonna, they're not gonna show up like the Giants series, the national series at home, the red series last weekend, kind of the Mets series here.
• 1:14:45
  SPEAKER_02: It's like guys, what if we're not getting up for this, like what the hell what the hell are we getting up for?
• 1:14:50
  SPEAKER_02: You know, like how how does this work?
• 1:14:52
  SPEAKER_02: And I guess to your point, fingers got to be pointed at somebody, it's gotta be pointed at the head man, right?
• 1:14:57
  SPEAKER_02: So that does kind of piss me off now that I think about it, and I kind of just unrattled myself into spinning out of spinning out of control now that I think about this team and this kind of journey we've been on at 25.
• 1:15:10
  SPEAKER_02: But yeah, anyways, I know there's more you want to get to.
• 1:15:13
  SPEAKER_02: Mahoney loves him.
• 1:15:15
  SPEAKER_00: I don't mind.
• 1:15:15
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I I'd go, you know, shoot a team with Craig any day of the week, steady hand.
• 1:15:20
  SPEAKER_00: He's not gonna have to run over any Gatorade tables anytime soon, but hey, you know, you can't really win when like the players all fall off a cliff at the same time either.
• 1:15:30
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, we'll see.
• 1:15:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he still has a B, you know, it's a decent grade.
• 1:15:34
  SPEAKER_03: I was I'm doing a really shitty job.
• 1:15:36
  SPEAKER_03: Console's good friends with guys in my network, some of my buddies from college, um, from the college baseball team, because one of them runs a big facility, the Bo Jackson Dome, and there's guys that work and coach out of there.
• 1:15:50
  SPEAKER_03: And Murph, Pat Murphy, is like a regular out of this program and spends a lot of time with John Cangelosi and the Sparks and all stuff, the Illinois Sparks, which is a national famous, well-known, regarded uh travel training program that's in collaboration with Bo Jackson and John Cangielosi.
• 1:16:07
  SPEAKER_03: And so Murph used to like coach out of there and has done a lot of like lecturing, is very close with these guys.
• 1:16:13
  SPEAKER_03: And through that is also a guy that used to work for Murph.
• 1:16:16
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm peeling back.
• 1:16:17
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I don't know if these guys, I mean, I might get a text message like, hey, don't be talking about this stuff.
• 1:16:20
  SPEAKER_03: But the other guy, Flan, who used to coach at Arizona State and is like tight with all these guys, and then council's like plugged in with these guys, they're buddies.
• 1:16:28
  SPEAKER_03: Because when council took the job in Chicago, he's going to Flan and being like, Hey, do you have buddies?
• 1:16:32
  SPEAKER_03: Do you who do you know?
• 1:16:34
  SPEAKER_03: Like, council's not this big overbearing personality where he's like, I'm in here, I got eight million bucks, I'm gonna be the man around town.
• 1:16:40
  SPEAKER_03: Let's get a house on Lakeshore Drive or Eber Floose, we're gonna move to Lake Fort Lake Bluff and get the big thing on the he's pretty low-key in he's kept a pretty tight network, and I just know firsthand that like he's reached out.
• 1:16:55
  SPEAKER_03: Not, I'm not saying I haven't talked to him, but just there's been social stuff behind the scenes that I've cut that I'm that I know that he's pursued and people he's gotten together with.
• 1:17:03
  SPEAKER_03: And it's not like you would imagine being the Chicago Cubs manager at eight million bucks a year, you're coming in here and he's looking to play golf with Michael Jordan at Chicago Golf Club.
• 1:17:11
  SPEAKER_03: Like, he's low-key as fuck, like he's just totally fine with like hanging out with regular people as long as they're within this little network of familiar people, which I think is a telling thing about the type of guy Craig Consul is because I'm just going back.
• 1:17:22
  SPEAKER_03: Like, you're the manager of the Cubs, you get 40 million bucks, you come in here, his ego is like non-existent.
• 1:17:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, you can you watch one interview with the guy that kind of that kind of screams at you that so good to know, but also to you guys' point that you talked about a lot on here.
• 1:17:39
  SPEAKER_02: Would I would I hate seeing him go a little berserk every now and then?
• 1:17:43
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe that's just the money ball scout in me.
• 1:17:45
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know, but that's just not his style.
• 1:17:47
  SPEAKER_02: So all good.
• 1:17:50
  SPEAKER_03: There's one last thing I have on the docket.
• 1:17:52
  SPEAKER_03: I'd like to talk about.
• 1:17:53
  SPEAKER_03: I got brought up in the green screen room.
• 1:17:55
  SPEAKER_03: So we got good some consent, some good consensus here.
• 1:17:57
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, thanks, Joey, for coming on the show.
• 1:17:59
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, everybody go get yourself a thirsty curl.
• 1:18:01
  SPEAKER_03: We've got some good consensus on where we're at with the starting pitching, where we're at the lineup, what we think about Kyle Tucker 7-8-9.
• 1:18:08
  SPEAKER_03: Good stuff with the leadership grades, good stuff with where we're gonna be for the playoffs, our approach to playoff baseball as older guys, guys with families.
• 1:18:15
  SPEAKER_03: What are we doing for the games?
• 1:18:16
  SPEAKER_03: Are we gonna spend money on the games?
• 1:18:18
  SPEAKER_03: The last kind of thing we had in on the list was just a wild story Mahoney brought up in the green screen room.
• 1:18:23
  SPEAKER_03: We don't need like all the details, but to the best of your knowledge, Mahoney, like you just brought this up casually.
• 1:18:30
  SPEAKER_03: Apparently, the Cubs are in federal court.
• 1:18:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so the earlier in the week, you know, I'm fishing for some other, you know, off offhand topics to to maybe bring up on the Money Morty Cubs show, and here we are.
• 1:18:41
  SPEAKER_00: And apparently, yeah, two lawsuits, separate lawsuits by two different people were brought to the Chicago Cubs organization saying that they had used facial recognition software against their will, like where if you ever use facial recognition software in any public space, you have to uh be knowledgeable of it, or you know, sign something, or maybe if you purchased a ticket, it's on the back of the ticket, something like that.
• 1:19:04
  SPEAKER_00: And apparently, like that doesn't happen.
• 1:19:06
  SPEAKER_00: The Cubs don't have any of that in the place, right?
• 1:19:08
  SPEAKER_00: So that gets brought to court, and then the Cubs come back and say, Well, we don't have any of that technology.
• 1:19:12
  SPEAKER_00: No, so they're gonna invite this vigorously, and then something's telling me hey, the Cubs got the all-star break.
• 1:19:19
  SPEAKER_00: You're telling me that the security firm that they didn't hire isn't using every single thing in their playbook to bring into uh you know to get the all-star game over the finish line.
• 1:19:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't know, but the cubs say, Hey, we don't got this technology at any place in our vault park.
• 1:19:34
  SPEAKER_00: We don't know what you're talking about.
• 1:19:35
  SPEAKER_00: Something to keep an eye on moving forward.
• 1:19:38
  SPEAKER_00: They're lying.
• 1:19:40
  SPEAKER_02: What how did how does one even like do you have any more details about how these people figured out that they were on facial?
• 1:19:48
  SPEAKER_00: Like what that I don't know.
• 1:19:50
  SPEAKER_00: I wish I knew how these people came to the like assumption that their data was compromised, their biometrics were compromised in some computer.
• 1:19:59
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't know how you would where would you go to look for that?
• 1:20:02
  SPEAKER_03: Like, well, we have this we have the stores now where you you just grab the item and it and it tells you how much.
• 1:20:08
  SPEAKER_03: Oh you know, they have those stores on the concourse.
• 1:20:12
  SPEAKER_03: You just walk up to the cooler, you open the cooler.
• 1:20:14
  SPEAKER_03: So, like, I swipe my debit card, I open the cooler.
• 1:20:16
  SPEAKER_03: So we have that technology in there where it can tell what items you're holding in your hand.
• 1:20:21
  SPEAKER_00: The technology's there, they can see it, like it's there.
• 1:20:24
  SPEAKER_03: Wrigley could implement this, but they're just saying that they don't walk into the target at fucking Ashland and Roscoe, and you're gonna see 120 cameras scattered, all eyes in the sky, buddy.
• 1:20:36
  SPEAKER_03: All facial recognition, all of it facial recognition, it's everywhere.
• 1:20:40
  SPEAKER_03: And I'll guarantee it's at Wrigley Field.
• 1:20:42
  SPEAKER_03: I'll guarantee it's if the Cubs are denying it, and the fact that they had to respond and deny it, and the thing didn't get dismissed right away as being a frivolous suit.
• 1:20:49
  SPEAKER_03: The fact the Cubs had to respond to this, I don't believe you.
• 1:20:52
  SPEAKER_03: Sorry.
• 1:20:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I'll be following this case throughout the offseason and reporting accordingly.
• 1:20:57
  SPEAKER_03: I think it'd be great if we could get you down to the Dirksen Federal Courthouse and have you propped outside, like how they do the Madagan trial.
• 1:21:04
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, let's go.
• 1:21:07
  SPEAKER_02: I'd be too afraid to bring that up because they'd be like, Oh, yeah, we got facial recognition for you.
• 1:21:11
  SPEAKER_02: Here's your dumbass out in left field making a scene, making a fool of yourself, and be like, ah, okay.
• 1:21:19
  SPEAKER_00: You got to retroactively retroactively pull up everything from like the last 10 years.
• 1:21:25
  SPEAKER_00: Handshake deal here.
• 1:21:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I'm doubting outing season outing season ticket holders for leaving games early, showing up late.
• 1:21:33
  SPEAKER_03: You know, guys online talking shit like, oh yeah, Brad, does that really matter?
• 1:21:36
  SPEAKER_03: Does that really bother you?
• 1:21:37
  SPEAKER_03: Is that why you average leaving in the seventh inning in 82% of your appearances at Ridley Field?
• 1:21:42
  SPEAKER_03: Like just calling people out now that they got the recognition, they got all the stats on us.
• 1:21:46
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah, Mahoney, you haven't bought a beer, you haven't bought a popcorn popcorn for yourself.
• 1:21:51
  SPEAKER_03: And you sold 50% of your tickets this season to Deborah.
• 1:21:59
  SPEAKER_03: We know you guys are inflating the Monday morning cup show ticket giveaway, which reminds me we did give away four more tickets to tomorrow's Cardinals day game, which is now our 84th or 88th.
• 1:22:11
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of tickets, a lot of tickets, premium seats.
• 1:22:14
  SPEAKER_03: I gotta find 88 schedule C with the IRS for all the value we're giving out right now.
• 1:22:20
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna get sued, I'm gonna end up and to put a bow on it.
• 1:22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Let's yeah, thanks.
• 1:22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, shout out to New Amsterdam Craig if you didn't already mention that.
• 1:22:29
  SPEAKER_03: That guy fucking rocks.
• 1:22:31
  SPEAKER_03: New Amsterdam, you want to talk about OG?
• 1:22:36
  SPEAKER_03: I don't even know what does OG even stand for, original gangster.
• 1:22:39
  SPEAKER_02: Original gangster, yeah.
• 1:22:40
  SPEAKER_03: All right, yeah, he's an OG, New Amsterdam Craig.
• 1:22:43
  SPEAKER_03: He threw a live show for Red Line Radio at a jewel asco one time.
• 1:22:47
  SPEAKER_03: He was the guy he had to go set up the activation.
• 1:22:49
  SPEAKER_03: This guy does so much.
• 1:22:50
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney, remember we were hanging out with him one time, and he's like, We were like, Craig, do you he asked you, he's like, Do you guys have kids yet?
• 1:22:57
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm like, No, we're working on it.
• 1:22:59
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney's like, Yeah, I've got two young ones, you know, whatever.
• 1:23:03
  SPEAKER_03: And we're like, Craig, do you have kids?
• 1:23:05
  SPEAKER_03: And he's like, Yeah, I got seven, you know, he's got like college, like man.
• 1:23:14
  SPEAKER_03: He's got he's got like 20, 22, he's got like, yeah, he's like just a leg up 21, 19, 17.
• 1:23:23
  SPEAKER_03: I have another 14-year-old, 11 and 6.
• 1:23:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the guy's like 40 years old.
• 1:23:28
  SPEAKER_03: What a what a legend, what a champ.
• 1:23:30
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks, Craig, for helping us give out the tickets.
• 1:23:33
  SPEAKER_03: Enjoy the game, Craig.
• 1:23:34
  SPEAKER_03: All right, he's he gave her the tickets, he's not going to the game.
• 1:23:37
  SPEAKER_03: He gets he get he gives them out.
• 1:23:38
  SPEAKER_03: He has the tickets.
• 1:23:39
  SPEAKER_03: It's he gives them out.
• 1:23:40
  SPEAKER_03: He's got he gets a lot of tickets through vendors and sponsors and stuff, and you know, and he's just a big big supporter of the show, so you gotta appreciate Craig.
• 1:23:49
  SPEAKER_03: Obviously, guys, if you're in regular, you actually fluttered, get yourself a thirsty vaquero.
• 1:23:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um, what was the date again for the Zany show, Joey?
• 1:23:59
  SPEAKER_02: December 22nd, Monday evening, December 22nd, show at seven, doors at six.
• 1:24:05
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we're just gonna be having a little Monday night party right before the holiday.
• 1:24:10
  SPEAKER_00: Mahoney Monday, too.
• 1:24:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's a thing of beauty.
• 1:24:13
  SPEAKER_00: I see the snowflakes pouring with that dim light walking into zany's and just people having a hell of a time.
• 1:24:19
  SPEAKER_00: I'm looking forward to it.
• 1:24:20
  SPEAKER_00: I really hope I get to make it out.
• 1:24:22
  SPEAKER_02: I would love to see you, Mahoney.
• 1:24:23
  SPEAKER_02: That'd be awesome.
• 1:24:24
  SPEAKER_02: If I don't see it beforehand, go watch our cubbies uh in the postseason, man.
• 1:24:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and if that's that's a plan if we get through the first round.
• 1:24:34
  SPEAKER_03: Hell yeah.
• 1:24:35
  SPEAKER_03: We will.
• 1:24:36
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not scared of the Padres.
• 1:24:38
  SPEAKER_03: We'll be back next Monday with a full playoff preview show.
• 1:24:43
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna tell you guys it's gonna go, it won't, it can't go over two hours because then I can't use the AI on it.
• 1:24:48
  SPEAKER_03: But we just upgraded AI, by the way, Mahoney.
• 1:24:51
  SPEAKER_03: So hey, part of the part of the Thirsty Vacero.
• 1:24:55
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, you know, it's in the budget now that we're sponsored by Thirsty Vaquero to get a little AI production help, but we still in the long run, you know, obviously as we expand the show, could use some help on a lot of fronts, but we'll cross those bridges when we fucking get there.
• 1:25:09
  SPEAKER_03: You know, right now we gotta worry about the playoffs, boys.
• 1:25:11
  SPEAKER_03: Right now we gotta worry about selling some thirsty vaquero, putting cans in hands, whittling down this magic number and fucking rolling into the NLDS.
• 1:25:23
  SPEAKER_02: Well, yeah, man, you know I'll be having cans in hands.
• 1:25:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I appreciate you guys.
• 1:25:27
  SPEAKER_02: Like I said, I listen every episode.
• 1:25:29
  SPEAKER_02: I'm riding there, I'm a maniac, I'm looking forward to the merch, I'm looking forward to the live show, and truly, truly an honor to be uh a guest on here.
• 1:25:37
  SPEAKER_02: I appreciate the hell out of you guys and everything you do for the the Cubs community.
• 1:25:41
  SPEAKER_02: So let's get this thing back rolling, baby.
• 1:25:43
  SPEAKER_02: And um, thanks for having me on, boys.
• 1:25:46
  SPEAKER_03: Of course, Joey.
• 1:25:46
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for joining us, and I'd be remiss not to ask Mahoney did make a list.
• 1:25:50
  SPEAKER_03: He was super excited.
• 1:25:51
  SPEAKER_03: I said, Don't do it.
• 1:25:52
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney's like, I want to.
• 1:25:54
  SPEAKER_03: I said, Don't do it, Tim.
• 1:25:55
  SPEAKER_03: I've done shows with Joey before.
• 1:25:57
  SPEAKER_03: It can get awkward in the middle of the show, it's weird at the start of a show.
• 1:26:01
  SPEAKER_03: Do your best not to do it.
• 1:26:02
  SPEAKER_03: Mahoney's like, I gotta do it so bad.
• 1:26:03
  SPEAKER_03: He made a list.
• 1:26:04
  SPEAKER_03: He loves your impression so much, so I'd be remiss not to ask Mahoney.
• 1:26:08
  SPEAKER_03: What do you have one you want to ask for?
• 1:26:10
  SPEAKER_03: Is there one on the list?
• 1:26:11
  SPEAKER_03: Is there something?
• 1:26:12
  SPEAKER_03: This is the time now, Tim.
• 1:26:14
  SPEAKER_00: No, it's not necessarily you know, in the baseball world, but my the Nick Saban is probably my favorite, and I'm sure that you could get that a lot.
• 1:26:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I mean, just give me a quick Sabin uh on the puff and then we play off just putting in the spot.
• 1:26:30
  SPEAKER_01: God dang it, Mahoney.
• 1:26:32
  SPEAKER_02: No, you know, you don't have to like I it's such a weird, like it's it's just it's such a weird dichotomy of like, yes, I get it and I know, but then it's in different situations, like Carl said, where I'm just like I'm in a different mindset of like I'm with you guys and I'm talking about the cubs, and then all of a sudden I flip it, and and also like doing it remotely is just weird too because there's always a delay and it's always like somebody's talking over, and like then like I get self-conscious because like I you know the 0.4 second delay, the reaction like isn't that matching up to like me performing, and then my like performer's mind gets all messed up because I'm like, oh, this sucks, and then and then I spiral and I think about it for the next three days.
• 1:27:20
  SPEAKER_00: So let's not do that.
• 1:27:23
  SPEAKER_00: I want good good vibes, positive attitudes and postseason.
• 1:27:27
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't work, not it's I'm glad I didn't have to do it off the top.
• 1:27:31
  SPEAKER_03: I'm so i wasn't being I wasn't being mean when I told you we definitely don't do that, like it's not this isn't it's not a good it's not a good situation.
• 1:27:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, regardless I wasn't being mean I'm I'm I know I know and uh regardless, honestly, I we couldn't have asked for a better first guest on the Monday morning cub show.
• 1:27:48
  SPEAKER_00: And Joey, I hope to have you back, you know, sooner rather than later.
• 1:27:53
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks, boss.
• 1:27:53
  SPEAKER_02: All those videos go watch all of them, they're all available to everybody, to you especially.
• 1:27:58
  SPEAKER_02: So those are what they're meant for.
• 1:27:59
  SPEAKER_02: And you can go get your shits and giggles that way.
• 1:28:03
  SPEAKER_01: I hope you do.
• 1:28:04
  SPEAKER_01: I hope you do.
• 1:28:05
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, buddy.
• 1:28:06
  SPEAKER_01: I appreciate it.
• 1:28:07
  SPEAKER_03: And just a reminder for maniacs, when you see Joey out to dinner, you know, or something, or he's sitting with his family, like, don't blindside the guy for a say, but like it's probably it just he's not gonna say that to you because he's a nice guy, you know.
• 1:28:20
  SPEAKER_03: I'm saying it to you because I'm I'm I'm nice enough to give you just a heads up.
• 1:28:24
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, this is the Monday morning cub show.
• 1:28:26
  SPEAKER_03: We're gonna be back next Monday with a full playoff preview.
• 1:28:28
  SPEAKER_03: Again, thank you very much to Joey Molinero for joining the show.
• 1:28:30
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you to for Thirsty Vacaro for sponsoring the show, Mahoney for being the best wingman in the fucking universe.
• 1:28:36
  SPEAKER_03: We're gonna be back next Monday, guys.
• 1:28:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um, until then, let's just keep our fingers crossed.
• 1:28:40
  SPEAKER_03: We didn't really get into it because we made the assumption we will have home field advantage.
• 1:28:44
  SPEAKER_03: We'll see you guys next time.