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Grading The Chicago Cubs After 6 Games with Blake Cowell · Monday Morning Cubs Show

• 0:05
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning, good afternoon, and evening, Chicago Cubs fans, and welcome back to the Monday Morning Cubs Show.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_01: Today is actually Friday, April 3rd.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it is your host, Carl.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_01: I will be joined by Blake Cowell today, very excited, independent Cubs journalist, investigative reporter, I should say on Twitter, if you know this guy.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, a thrill of a Cubs fan, and we're gonna have him jump on the show with us today, this Friday.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_01: But before we do, just some housekeeping, right?
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: So some general housekeeping before we have Blake on.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: And we're gonna we're gonna keep a theme going with the interviews.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: I guess this is kind of not really an interview, more of like a hangout session.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: But the general concept uh is we'll do like a long drawn-out segment.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and this week we are giving out grades through the first six games of the season.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: That's how we're using our off day.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna be giving out greats, like back to school, A through F.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Blake's here for.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but obviously, before we do anything, I would like to encourage everybody to check out Thirsty Vicaro, a Mexican-style soda with the signature spicy finish.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: That's all bite, no rattle, 90 calories per can, less than 20 grams per sugar per 16 ounce, which is unbelievable because it's a sweet and tasty treat with the signature spicy finish.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: That's all bite.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_01: And as I said the other day, I'm watching my F-words.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: You guys know this.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_01: You guys know this.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: But when I so when I use the F word now, it's rather judiciously, it's all bite, no fucking rattle.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: I mean it.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: I mean put it in the fridge, impress yourself, impress your friends, treat your taste buds, treat a neighbor.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: I couldn't, I couldn't have more pride standing behind a product than I do Thirsty Vicero.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: Three bold flavors.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: You can get it on Amazon, ship to your front door.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: How many people listen to this have prime memberships?
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: Couldn't be easier, all right.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I would challenge you to figure out which one you like the most because it's a debate I find myself in frequently with Mahoney with my mother the other night.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: She's rehabbing a knee replacement.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: God bless you, Joyce.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_01: But we got it not into it the other night, but I mean it's a spirited debate, you know, because she doesn't like watermelon.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I said, You have to give it a try because it's different than any watermelon.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I'm never gonna like the watermelon because I don't like watermelon.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_01: I said, Well, when you woke up today, you weren't the biggest mango fan either.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_01: And then you had a mango morte.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: So, like now we're sitting here talking about how how often are we gonna reload the mango?
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: So give the watermelon a try.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: And this is just a long-winded encouragement here, guys.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: Check out Thirsty Vicarol, and it's a good opportunity for me to get warmed up for the episode, okay?
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: So just give me a break here and check out Thirsty Vicarrol.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: It's on Amazon.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we're gonna get to Blake first, just a quick roundup.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: We're three and three.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: It's Thursday afternoon, evening-ish.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: We're 500.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: We're disappointed.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: We lost the first series.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: We obviously bounced back, won a second series against the Angels.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Offense looked better against Kakuchi.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, haven't won two in a row, haven't dropped two in a row.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: It's been frustrating to say the least, but we're three and three.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: Some people are saying we're gonna pick up some momentum.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: It's a Thursday off day, so this is going out Thursday night.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_01: Then Friday we play the Guardians at 310.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: Just check your calendars here.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_01: We're playing the Guardians, then we play the Tampa Rays, and then we're off again.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: All right, so we got six in a row.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_01: So that's just some housekeeping notes.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: We're three and three.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: Some people are pissed off.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: You can be pissed off.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: I know a guy who's not pissed off.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: His name is Blake Cowell at Blake CowellX.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_01: Let's get him on the show.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: Blake, welcome to the show, my friend.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: Carl.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great introduction.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: I like the investigative journalism.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: That's what I'm going with right now.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like if you go to the winter meetings at least once with the intent of scoring news for Cubs fans, which is how you originally came across my timeline.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, because you're just like an aggressive young guy at the winter meetings, like hunting down Jed.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_01: It was just funny.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_01: So, how would you how would you explain your Cubs fandom to a stranger?
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Obsessive takes up too much of my mental health, but at the end of the day, it's fun.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's why we do it.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: We don't do it directly to get pissed off, although the last week we've we've gone up and down that roller coaster.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, this has been a frustrating start to the season.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: It could be a lot worse, and there are like really good flashes.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_01: So I think we should concentrate on that.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm excited to do this report card exercise with you.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: I've been trying to get in the habit of like now that we're having people on the Monday morning cub show, like we should have a purposeful exercise in front of us.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: And so today it's the report card segment.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we you know, a weekend, you you got you kind of get stuck in this loop of not trying to overreact, but I don't watch baseball just to say things don't matter because a game in April counts the same as a game in September.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: People do forget sometimes.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: So it's important that we take some of this stuff.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, not so much as a grain of salt, but we got to talk about it.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's easy for people who aren't plugged in 162 to then react on social and see when somebody like you and me are like, god damn, you know, when we're upset about something.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: And then people are like, You're really gonna get mad about a game of March.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_01: Well, the answer to that question is, yeah, if I'm gonna sit and watch it, I mean, we're talking about three hours, that in and of itself.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: If you sat for three hours and watched a movie and at the end it just turned out to be a complete stinker, you know, like that could just completely fell apart.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: You would not be happy that you wasted three hours that fell apart, you know, fell apart on a shitty movie.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_01: And that's kind of how I feel about like Cubs game.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: Each game is like its own individual little movie, not to be romantic.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_01: So okay, let's do this.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_01: Before we get to the report card segment, I think there are some people listening to this that are familiar with you.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_01: So let's just get some background going.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: You have been a Cubs guy on Twitter for a number of years, and then most recently you worked on what was it, Wrigleyville Forever with Cody, who is now partnered up with Dan Bernstein.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_01: How would you want to give the background to that to people who don't know you?
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so start off as a Twitter reply guy four years ago, as most of most of us do during the DeMar DeRozan MVP era of Chicago Bulls basketball.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: Always been a Bears and Cubs fan, so I tweeted about every sport, and the Cubs was what really picked up at the start.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um started just podcasting, going to the winter meetings, going to games, doing more self vlogs out on Twitter, and it kind of grew into its own little thing.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: And then last summer, Cody and I teamed up for Wrigleyville Forever for a little bit, and you know, all roads, all roads lead to a purpose for some reason.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: So he's with Bernstein over at 312 Sports on the off Divey podcast.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm I'm free rolling right now.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: I'm back on the open market.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of respects, we're all free agents, so true.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like you're in good company.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: We're we're gonna find a path.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: I guess that actually was the next question I had.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: So technically, you're considering yourself for the 2026 season a free agent.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: So if somebody listening to this is hiring content creators related to the Cubs, you're a name at the top of the list, right?
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: There you go.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: That's a that's a good segue there.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_01: That's good marketing there, Carl.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_01: I appreciate that.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: And at the very least, I would then just say I encourage listeners who are just meeting you for the first time, uh, follow Blake on Twitter.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_01: He's passionate and funny and entertaining at Blake Cowell, uh C-O-W-E-L-L X, at Blake Cowell X.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: Uh because like there's a lot of people on Cubs Twitter, etc.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it takes a certain attitude to be positive through 162, takes a certain attitude to get in the pickup truck and go to the winter meetings.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it takes a certain attitude to give a fuck and watch every single game.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, that brings us here to today's conversation, my friend.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look looking forward to it.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: 158 to go, I think that's the math.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: Not a math guy.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I'm in sales.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Not even close.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: 156, my friend.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, too off work.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: We're close.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, so let's just get into the re report card segment because it's a Friday show.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_01: Let's keep the line moving here, my friend.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna just start with A's, and I would just like to hand them out and trade it off.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_01: I think the biggest A for me is if we're gonna be specific about Jed Hoyer, we can say Jed Hoyer extension.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: Because I'm I do have some complaints about the rest of the roster, but my first A is Jed Hoyer's ability to get these two extensions done before April 1st.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_01: That's incredible.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I think a lot of people uh were shocked by it, and extremely few people saw this coming.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_01: I don't even know if it was rumored.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: So there's your A, Jed Hoyer extensions.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'll stick with the A real quick.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we're gonna go with Edward Cabrera.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: Six innings pitched on Monday, zero hits or one hit, zero runs, five K's.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Is he the best pitcher on the team, Carl?
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_01: No, yeah, you're a Cade Horton guy.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_01: And this is we're just handing out grades here, guys.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: The next A is Cade Horton, and we can talk about him in conjunction with Eddie Cabrera because they're two completely different guys, you know.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, obviously, they're two completely different guys.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: One's a gigantic Dominican, the other guy's, you know, from Oklahoma.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: But like the reason I'm saying they're different is just their general approaches, and it Edward Cabrera would benefit from taking more from Cade Horton, but I'm giving an A to Cade Horton because the follow-up to a masterful second half and his first start of the season, to go 75 pitches and six and a third, I really want people to latch on to how just incredible that is.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: I have a future on Cade Horton to win the Cy Young.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: Not a huge gambler anymore.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: We're we're weaning off that this Lenten season for the fellow Christian listeners here, but we we do we do like a good Cade Horton start.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna be pushing those agendas all off season long.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: Are you giving an A to your Cade Horton future Cy Young?
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: Is that what you would like to do?
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: I will.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, two runs, two runs against the Angels, or two runs against the Nationals, my bad days are getting mixed up now.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's a good start.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Paul Skeens went two outs, his first start, and it's obviously a quality start, right?
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_01: Like, listen, there's obviously whatever.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_01: If we get into the numbers, I think the numbers I'm looking at are strikes, pitches, pitching to contact, how deep can he get into games?
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_01: Because really, this is born out of the fact that coming through the minor leagues, being on a pitch count, being hurt.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_01: So when he did get on the mound, he was he's always just been on a pitch count.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: And I give the guy a lot of credit for adapting into just attacking the zone and trying to get weak contact in the first three pitches of an at-bat, which is something a lot of young pitchers would benefit from.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: But four, the personal obsession with the strikeout.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: Do you see his lack of?
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think you mentioned on your last show, strikeout stuff, but isn't hunting strikeouts.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: Do you think that's going to hurt him in the middle of summer when the wind's blown more out?
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's an easy switch to flip, and we'll see.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_01: Like, what is he like with runners in scoring position?
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_01: We don't really see it that often where runners get on second and third.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_01: But I think when he wants to reach back and if he wants to make adjustments and say, this is a high-leverage situation, I need a strikeout, I think he can get to that spot.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's an interesting thing to keep an eye out for, though, throughout the season is like what's he like with runners in scoring position and less than two outs, basically strikeout situations.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: And I have a high degree of faith in him.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: Now go back to Eddie Cabrera, though.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: What do you like the most about him after watching his first start in a Cubs uniform?
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_01: Power pitching.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: Just yeah, the most power pitcher we've had since can I say Jake Garrietta?
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: Like 92 mile an hour changeup, sits at 96, tops out at 98.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like that was we gave up one hit.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Like when Jake took them out every single fifth day, it was like this could be a no-hitter.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: I don't feel that way yet with Eddie Cabrero, but I think I could I think I could get there.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: I could be convinced that by middle of summer if he keeps progressing and stays healthy.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_01: It's a totally fine comparison.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_01: I think Alex Cohn made that direct comparison from what he had seen himself and heard from insiders from the spring training reps and stuff.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: And that's crazy territory.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, like, you got to be real care.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, you gotta be careful talking about that comparison.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_01: But like, really the point that we're trying to make is we don't have, haven't had, and it's been a long time since we've had a power pitcher.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: How long?
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I guess you're right.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_01: You'd have to point back to Jake and say that would be it.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_01: Now, Justin Steele could make an argument because he's dominant and he gets so much weak contact.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: You could make an argument, but then what we would point back to is stuff-wise, like he's never gonna climb into the 98 spot, he's never gonna do these uh, you know, high, I guess have these high profile sword.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_01: I don't want to disrespect Justice Deal's fucking awesome, but he doesn't cross the threshold of what we're trying to say from a power pitching standpoint.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_01: Is that fair?
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's fair enough.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: Another thing, too, about Edward Cabrera, you could kind of tell he wanted to just blow the lid off his like his emotions.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: That was the biggest crowd he's ever pitched in front of.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: And there was a couple times where he got a big strikeout and he kind of did like a little fist pump.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I think if you get like middle of summer against the Brewers, big inning strikeout, you're gonna get like that level of that swagger that I think he he will bring at some point.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: I know I just fired the mic because here's the thing is that makes me super nervous.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_01: That makes me I wanted to go back to Justin Steele and say six-man rotation because I I'm nervous Eddie Cabrera is gonna get to use his juice too soon in the season and get burnout, and that makes me nervous because he's really never been in a situation where the season's gonna matter start to finish.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: Fair enough.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_01: There's high expectations from the team, whatever his burnout rate.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe I'm underestimating the guy, but isn't that the one thing to be cautious about?
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_01: And then comparatively, isn't that the one thing that we want to be sure going into October?
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_01: If we're gonna assume they're a playoff team, like, yeah, we want Eddie Cabrera pitching in one of the first two playoff games.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_01: I think that is a fair expectation for Eddie Cabrera.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's fair too.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's where I have to lean, that's where I have to lean away from my fandom, lean harder on the Zombro Hot of V brain trust that they're not gonna they're gonna keep their stallion in the stables in in April.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_00: But when October runs around, the gates come up, let let the horses run.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_01: See, this is why I like you because I know that you're positive about the big guys behind the scenes.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you're not somebody who's bitching about you know Tyler Zombro.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: You're you're an endorser, and I agree.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I think that's the other.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_01: I guess the A2 I have.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_01: Here's one more A.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: If we're giving them out, you know, Kate Horton obviously got one.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_01: Eddie Cabrera's first start, Ched Hoyer on the extensions.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_01: Well, let's just generally give an A to Matt Boyd swing and miss.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, the big question is was he gonna regress or not?
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: Coming out, what's he got?
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_01: 17 strikeouts in his first two starts.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you know, obviously blew it on opening day, whatever, dude.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_01: But if you're looking for bright signs, you can generally say, be specific here, Matt Boyd swing and miss.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_01: Matt Boyd's 17 strikeouts in the first two games is a great sign that he will be uh, you know, a fucking top of the rotation arm this year, which I think is just a question of regret people are nervous about regression, and that's what I'm looking at and saying I actually quite love my Matt Boyd to start the season.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: You get an A from the strikeout standpoint, strikeouts only, Blake.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: Opening day was a little rough, but yeah, it was a good bounce back there in game two for him.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: Opening day giving up some hard hit contact.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: Win probably saved him a few extra runs and ended up giving up.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think he in the third, he blew up, maybe the fourth.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: But if he's a solid three, that's a that's a good method.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, people forget he's getting paid$15 million.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_00: I think our expectations rose so high because he made the all-star game last year, which again, I'm I'm all for raising the expectations on some of these guys, but like you like you said, a lot of people predict regression.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: So to kind of find what we think could probably be a middle ground for Matt Boyd in 2026.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: Again, it's a week.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: So let's let's let's jump all in on the narratives here.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe he is a high strikeout guy.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: I'd love to see it.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: I'm talking about it for a reason.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_01: It's important, it's just it's in my gut instinct as just a big storyline is Matt Boyd going contract year, too.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_01: Could be the first time in forever he's healthy back-to-back seasons because he really is the swing man on how successful this team can be.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_01: I know what Cade Horton is.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_01: You saw what Eddie Cabrera is.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_01: It's just the more that Matt Boyd pitches towards the top of a road as a guy at the top of the rotation, then there's just way more room for this team to benefit.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_01: And the other thing is we've seen, I know we're three and three and it's annoying, but this is it's gonna be a very hard team to beat multiple times.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_01: And it's gonna be a very it's gonna be very difficult for this team to lose three or more games in a row, just from what we've seen so far.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_01: So that that's a different rabbit hole to get on.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_01: Let's stay on the A's for a second, and I just want to repeat myself.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_01: I'm being specific when I say Matt Boyd.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_01: Strikeouts, Blake, strikeouts only.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, he was the opening day thing sucked.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_01: And I did like his strikeouts.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have any other A's?
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: Nico Horner, the$141 million man.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: Seven hits, four doubles last, or seven hits, four doubles, four steals.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: OPSing 885.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: Is he overpaid now, Carl?
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: I think he's probably you know what?
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_01: I think this is a fair market deal.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_01: I think my reaction was is if I predict 19 to 20 million dollars and they pay him 23, then in my heart of hearts, I have to say, well, that's more than I would have expected.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_01: So by definition, it is an overpay.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_01: However, from what we've seen through the first couple games, like he is a six plus war player, you know.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um and he just hits the ball so hard.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: So many of his outs are hard.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_01: Line drive, caught, balls in the gap.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_01: You know, if he did have more power, there's there's already been a number of balls he's hit where like um this would be a home run for a guy with it's kind of a hard he's hard, he's a hard player to figure out.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_01: Do you believe he is worth 23 million dollars, Blake?
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, because I can't sit here for the last three offseasons and complain we're not playing paying the premium for good baseball players, and then if they go pay the premium for a top three second baseman in Major League Baseball, I can't sit here and complain about three million dollars.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I'm saying?
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_00: Right, that's my take on it at least.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_01: And how many second basemen are comparable to him?
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: You know, obviously Tarang from the Brewers is good, credit where it's due, and Marte is very good, credit where it's due.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: I think Brendan Donovan can slot in that class, and then however you want to mix up those four, I wouldn't complain too much about.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, and I'll get tighter on the rest of the league as the season gets going.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_01: All right, you know, hand up.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_01: Like I didn't go to all 32 camps this spring training, right?
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_01: That's on me.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_01: But just from my vantage point, Nico Horner is a top five second baseman in Major League Baseball.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_01: And how about just the Rickets from Alex Bregman into PCA extension into Nico Horner?
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_01: Here's last A, I'll give out last A.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_01: Tom Ricketts, let's say, agreeing to defer money in contracts.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_01: That gets an A for me.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: You get an A for that, Tom Ricketts, for now deferring money and contracts because look at the benefit it gets us now.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_01: Alex Bregman, and then obviously the security.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_01: I think too, sorry, this is so long-winded, but PCA and Nico are both the type of players from a psychological standpoint that will perform better having these deals locked up.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I don't think they need a chip on their shoulder.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think they benefit from walking in the door and being 20 mil plus million dollar players and knowing it themselves and being able to function in the clubhouse, and that changes the relationship dynamic with them and other players and new guys that come up, and they're like obviously established paid guys, and I think it benefits them, whereas other guys can take their foot off the gas.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_01: You see that with young players who get paid.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: So I think this is the complete opposite with those two.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: I agree with that as well.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_00: And PCA too, he's loves the city, so I'm I'm sure he's happy to know he's gonna have a place to stay for a few extra years, and that place is gonna be a nice penthouse.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_01: You think he's a partier?
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think I think PCA absolutely is.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but within the context of your generation, like I'm old, I'm 39.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_01: Party for me is like John Lester, you know, going through a fifth of bourbon the night before a start.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_01: Party for them is like I think Pete Crow Armstrong like hits a vape pen.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_01: And fires at Fortnite with Cale Williams, spiked iced teas, green tea shots.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_01: And I bet he probably smokes, I would guess he's probably because a lot of major league baseball players are cannabis friendly.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_01: And let's just circle back on the Jed Hoyer.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_01: He gets an A for these extensions, and I'll ask you as somebody, you're always sniffing around chat rooms and fucking Reddit threads, and like you are.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: One of those online creatures when it comes to Cubs.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_01: Did you even have a sniff that these extensions were coming?
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: The PCA one, no.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_00: I figured at some point they'd get it done, but again, I need to see Tom Rickett spend the money before I can believe.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: The Nico Horner one was interesting because when they asked him in spring training, him, Ian Happ, and Sayasuki, two of them said no, they haven't heard anything, and he said he wasn't going to talk about it.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: Raised a little bit of interest that they could have at least talked about it.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: And the thing with Jed Hoyer, when he when he brings something to the table for someone, he's he there's a deal to be had.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_00: He never went to the table with Wilson Contreras.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_00: He went to the table with Ian Hap three years ago, went to the table with Nico three years ago, got those two done.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_00: So I wouldn't say I expected it, but I wasn't as shocked as I think most people were.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_01: But there it's not like there's a trail of breadcrumbs out there that's getting leaked from either camp or something about an extension.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_01: Things are just different.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_01: The way the Cubs are reported on, like they can move in the middle of the night.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_01: Jed Hoyer takes advantage of it.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_01: Those were airstrikes I did not see coming.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I just absolutely love the fact that that guy locked those extensions up because I have a lot of I don't know how to interpret these extensions from the standpoint of the lockout that's coming next year.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: Or even if there really is going to be a lockout, I don't know if I'm convinced that's gonna happen nearly as much just because there's so much moment baseball has so much momentum right now.
• 23:21
  SPEAKER_01: I think the owners realize that I think there's a huge incentive for both sides.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_01: So we can get into that at a later date.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_01: I'll have you back on when we can speculate.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_01: But I would say for purposes of right now, Blake, do you have anything from an interpretive standpoint what these extensions mean as far as the Cubs heading towards a lockout?
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_01: Like, do you think that the salary cap is going to be higher?
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have any read on the situation?
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: I hope there's not a lockout because even if they're even if there is, and they have new negoti if they have new parameters they have to negotiate in, the Cubs aren't heavy on deferral.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_00: So is a cap on deferrals going to kill this team?
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_00: Are they they have 120 million coming off the books?
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: Or are they are they cap are they are they handcuffed by the cap, even if there was one?
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_00: Not really.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I I think even if there isn't a lockout and they just keep moving on as business as usual, if there isn't a cap, which I think there will in some regard, the Cubs are financially flexible.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: They have most of their position players locked up.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_00: So you have$120 million you can go spend.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_00: This free agent class isn't isn't good either.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: Outside of Scoobaul and a few other little pieces.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not going to tell you Scooba's a possibility, but I think you'll be in the John Heyman tweets.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think you'll be in the John Heyman tweets the first week.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_00: Because they have money to spend.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Scooba will get paid probably too much, I think.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_01: I think it'll be like the same way we feel about Kyle Tucker's contract when the details got revealed.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_01: Everyone's just like, oh wait, never mind.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_01: 240 four years, like never.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_01: We didn't even don't, it's not even didn't even cross our minds as a possibility.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_01: So we gotta believe.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of believe, let's stick on the B's for a second.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_01: And I would just like to start by giving a general B.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_01: This should be a B plus just to Ian Hap start.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_01: He could be in the A category, but you know, I feel like it's better to just stay behind Ian Hap, keep pushing him forward.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm just gonna give him a B to start.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: Like he looks he looks great, he looks exactly as good as I would want him to look.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_01: So get a B for me, Ian Hap.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_01: Keep going though, pal.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna clip that.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_00: People will hate you for loving Ian Hap, but that's okay.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_00: My B here is the the chicken and churro new menu item.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: Oh boy, at Wrigley Field.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: You know, Taylor McGregor, Boog, they they love doing their little gimmicks throughout the broadcast.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I had to go try this out for myself.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_00: Chicken was a little dry, but the chocolate sauce with the strawberries made up for it.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_00: I I give it a B.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_00: If the chicken was a little better, it probably slots in that A category, but for$18, it was it was a pretty uh impressive platter.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, that's what I'm talking about.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_01: When I called you an investigative reporter about the cups, like not a lot of people are prepared for that when they're walking into Wrigley Field right now.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: Some people are caught off guard.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_01: Now I know if you've been listening to this, now you know the chicken churro.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what inning did you get it?
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_01: Because that's a critical piece of information.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_00: Well, the line was super long, so I went pre-game because I a seat was being saved for me in the bleacher.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_00: So out of bleacher respect, I had to get back to my seat as soon as possible.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I got it pregame.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: It was a pregame meal.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_01: They could have been cooking those things at five.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_01: You might have to get that thing second, third, fourth inning.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_01: Like let it let it go through some inventory turnover.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_01: But that's a good thing to keep your eyes peeled for.
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_01: Here's another B for you, and it's a B for myself, actually, for completely overlooking Michael Bush, who deserves an A, who started the season.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think looks great.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_01: I think looks as wonderful as possible.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_01: And no matter what, though, I don't think he's gonna get an extension.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_01: Michael Bush, you're uh B plus A minus.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_01: Ah, fuck.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: He should have gotten an A.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_01: No regrades.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it's just such a big storyline with him going against left-handed pitching this year.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_01: You know, he he really can shape much as I would have just said about Matt Boyd and the impact he has, because there's a lot of predictable things.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_01: But like if Michael Bush has a six-win season, five and a half win season, which is a lot to ask of a first baseman, but who knows if he has 600 plus plate appearances?
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: He certainly could do it.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_01: His weighted run created plus is high.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_01: He's his value's through the roof.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's interesting to see in the first start against a lefty, him hitting fifth.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_01: So he would hit, I suppose he's our loadoff here against righties, and they're gonna hit him fifth until Say Suzuki comes back against lefties.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, are you like a huge believer in Michael Bush?
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_01: Are you somebody who would defend him adamantly if I said something along the lines of that, you know, like Michael Bush is a slightly worse version of Anthony Rizzo, like where would that register with your emotions?
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think if you hit 30 plus home runs, I mean he had more home runs last year than I'm pretty sure Rizzo ever did in his career.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: So dude, dude crushed his right hand to pitching.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: Like if that's what he ends up being, just a guy that you platoon and and you bat leadoff against righties and you move him down against lefties, I think that's a fine statement.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_00: I thought it was cool he went to PCA's, was it right?
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_00: PCA's extension.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I think they all went to Nico's.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think that was where that video came from.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_00: It might have been PCA, but the one I saw was the Nico Horner one.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: It was a picture of what looked like almost everyone on the team.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Or at least the positional guys.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I bring it up because that's the first time I can remember Michael Bush's personality being intentionally displayed by Marquee Network, or you know, generally Cubs insiders.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_01: He never has sound bites.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_01: There's never a clip of him on the there's never a time when they're like, you won't believe what Bush decided, or at least being insightful in an interview or showing any personality.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_01: And so I thought it was interesting.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_01: He had just recently he was commenting on PCA, and they were talking about why, or was it easy, or how did you find out, or something to the effect of what puts you in the room for the PCA press conference around the extension.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_01: And he opened up about, you know, we come in together in 2024 and we didn't know anybody, and he's a close friend of mine.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I know if the roles were reversed, he would have he would be there supporting me, etc.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_01: Now I'm thinking, shit, I've been watching this guy play baseball now.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_01: This is his third season as the starting first baseman for the Cubs.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm thinking this is the first time I've ever seen him in a featured interview.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, go ahead and correct me if I'm wrong.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_01: Can can anything else jump out to your mind when it comes to Michael Bush?
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_01: Not not of that nature, no, not of that nature.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_01: So categorically forgettable.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_01: Like, and I think the Cubs actually might consider just how forgettable he is when it comes to the fact that, like, I don't think there's a chance he gets an extension.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_01: I would be shocked if they expended him in anything that was close to fair market value.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_00: Not at this point, because I think his contract with the Cubs would end after 2029, which lines up with some of these other contracts they have.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so they got some time to figure out if they if they'd want to do that or not.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't put that on the on the pressing list for Jed Hoyer.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_00: Another quick B though.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_00: My optimism for Seyo Suzuki coming back to the team.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_01: Oh God.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_01: Your optimism gets a B.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_01: Fine, fine, fine, fine.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: Go ahead.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_00: Let me rephrase this, or let me phrase this how I'm trying to explain it.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: When he initially got injured, I was thinking this would be a drawn-out medical thing where they don't put him on the I.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: L, then they do put him on the I.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_00: L, or he tries to play hurt.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_00: I like that they put him on the I.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_00: Figured out it's it's not that bad of an injury, allegedly, and now he's rehabbing.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_00: I think the the training staff doesn't deserve much more than a than a D for how they handle injuries in the past, so I give it a B.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's that's very kind of me.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_01: Is this injury on Cub staff?
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_01: How much can we blame Cub staff for how they handle it if it happens on foreign territory wearing, you know, the samurai Japan uniform?
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_01: If you're Cub staff, you're like, we told you, we told you don't go play.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_00: I more blame their staff for how they handle stuff.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, Kyle Tucker last year, Nico Horner in the past, Danzu Swanson, the list.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_01: Go right ahead, my friend.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_01: Every oblique that's ever swung a bat for the Chicago Cubs since Tom Ricketts has bought this team uh has been cursed.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_01: Something's going on with the medical step.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_01: I'll stay on the beast for just like one last second here.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm gonna say the bullpen generally, you know, the bullpen generally.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_01: Now there's been a couple bad, like poopy.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_01: I don't like that.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I wish Phil Mayton looked way better because I've been the highest on him.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_01: But then at the same token, like there have been plenty of good moments and crisp appearances early uh that give me enough to say I'm gonna throw a B on the bullpen.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_01: But hey, room to get an A.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_01: I love our arms.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_01: We could be having this conversation a month from now, and I could be calling it the greatest strength of the team.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_01: That's how much I love that bullpen.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_00: Hobie Milner has been fun, a fun little piece, fun little weapon for Craig Council.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_00: Do you see Phil Maeton, real quick?
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_00: Do you see Phil Maeton as the setup man for the team?
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_00: Because they've used him in they've used him in different roles.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_01: I see him as the number one high leverage piece out of the pen before Palencia.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_01: However, would it surprise you if I told you last year Caleb Thielabar was third in Major League Baseball amongst all relievers, qualified relievers, in slugging against at 230.
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_01: Gave up an opposite opposing slug against him was 230.
• 32:41
  SPEAKER_01: Do you know how incredible that do you know if someone was slugging 230?
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_01: That's like that's like John Lieber slugg 230 in 1999, I bet.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, that's the that's the Tyler Zombro special potion there, man.
• 32:55
  SPEAKER_00: The secret stuff.
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_01: There's arguments to be had, but bullpen right now gets a B.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_01: Any other B's you want to slap out there when we get to C's?
• 33:03
  SPEAKER_00: C's.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_01: All right, see, my I got one C off the top, just giving it to Craig Council.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_01: Just I mean, nothing.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know, just nothing.
• 33:11
  SPEAKER_01: So just right now, and I feel like I'm gonna keep giving him C's until the season's over.
• 33:17
  SPEAKER_01: Like we I he could just be in that situation, and this is just that unique relationship you can have in baseball where no matter what he does, I'll be unimpressed and slightly annoyed.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_01: You know, maybe I'm at that point with him.
• 33:30
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_01: Three and three through the yeah, he's you get a C.
• 33:34
  SPEAKER_01: Fuck you, Craig.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_00: My first C ABS.
• 33:39
  SPEAKER_00: I like it, I don't love it, but I also don't hate it.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's starting to remind me like timeouts in a football game.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's like you can't take them with you.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_00: So why are we why are we leaving the ninth inning with with with challenges on the table?
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I feel like some of these cub hitters are scared to use it.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_00: So, like, what's what's the internal conversation in the clubhouse of hey, you guys can use it, you can't.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_00: Don't use one before the fifth inning, only use it with runners on.
• 34:05
  SPEAKER_00: I think it'll be kind of like the pitch clock.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I didn't love pitch clock violations when those first started.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_00: And then once everyone adapted, it was like, okay, this is awesome.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_00: I think I'll get there with ABS, but but I'm not there yet.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's a little, it's a little choppy.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's a little choppy, it doesn't really flow in the game.
• 34:21
  SPEAKER_00: What's your thoughts on that?
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_01: We haven't had our first big ABS moment, so I think that's and we just have to we'll have to judge it through the big moments, and or have we?
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_01: I I don't know.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_01: I did I'm just trying to think like when the game is decided or saved by abs, then I'll revisit.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_01: I will say I like the technology, I like the cut, I like that cut into, and I wish we use it.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_01: I wish we could use the abs replay more judiciously, just throw abs replays all over the place on cold close calls, like you know, or is that expensive technology to run and broadcast?
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_01: I don't understand the background specific.
• 34:57
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know what the graphics package looks like.
• 34:59
  SPEAKER_01: That could be labor intensive, but I'll say this when they do cut the ABS, it is nice.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_01: That's suspenseful.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_01: Am I wrong?
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, it's funny.
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_00: They had a game the other day end with an ABS.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_00: I want to say Orioles Basal, Basalo, ball was a strike, or ball overturned to a strike, ended the game.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_01: They lead major league baseball.
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_01: They're 13 and 2 in ABS challenges.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_01: That's incredible.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_01: We need that coaching with the Cubs now.
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_01: Now I've seen hitters are generally around a coin flip in their accuracy.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_01: I could be wrong on this data.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_01: By all means, someone correct me, but just be careful.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_01: You could catch me in a bad mood.
• 35:35
  SPEAKER_01: I could say something mean back to you on Twitter.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_01: But like, by all means, correct me.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_01: I've seen hitters are around a coin flip 50-ish, 52% on the accuracy of their ABS challenges.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_01: Whereas catchers are closer to 75%.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_01: Apparently, catchers are just having a much better feel of what the challenge is.
• 35:55
  SPEAKER_01: So obviously, because those are the two challenging players generally, right?
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_01: The pitcher may want it, I suppose, but really it ultimately comes down to the catcher.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_01: He's the one sitting behind the fucking plate, right?
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_01: Now I think, and I also think applied to the Cubs, we have a complicated clubhouse as far as pecking order with these challenges here.
• 36:17
  SPEAKER_01: Like who gets them, right?
• 36:18
  SPEAKER_01: You're right.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_01: Like Alex Bregman, does he get first crack?
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_01: Does he go to Swanee?
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_01: How do they do that?
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_01: I have no idea.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sure Craig wants to save it till the absolute last minute always.
• 36:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_00: It's just weird how they've done it so far.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_00: So the opening day, there was, I think Nico let a ball go past.
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_00: They called it a strike, ended up hitting into a double play, and it's like, well, that might be your best shot.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_00: That's your highest leverage spot to challenge.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see how it develops, but it's a C for me for now.
• 36:44
  SPEAKER_00: Do you have any other C's?
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_00: Can I say Alex Bregman's defense?
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_01: I had that in the D category, my friend.
• 36:51
  SPEAKER_01: So if you want to throw a C minus on it and kick us off, by all means, take it for a test drive.
• 36:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_00: Let's stick him in right field.
• 36:57
  SPEAKER_00: We got a gold glove finalist in right field right now.
• 37:00
  SPEAKER_00: I know we'll get to him, but two plays, two plays that I expect a$175 million guy to make.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_00: And he'd tell you the same thing.
• 37:07
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't think that's that's throwing him under the bus in any regards, but two plays you should have had.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_01: It cost him runs both times.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_01: This is like don't meet your heroes, but really don't have your heroes play third base for your favorite baseball team because prior to the first six games of the season, I looked up to Alex Bregman, and it only just takes a couple moments of me looking at him in the dugout, you know, happy while we're losing because he had two home runs, wearing yellow and sky blue and all that goofy shit, and not taking a ground ball off the chest when it matters, not putting the leather on it, you know, for 175 million and being one of those.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: So then I guess the question is is Alex Bregman softer than I thought?
• 37:48
  SPEAKER_01: I thought we were getting like this old school Lou Boudreau.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: I'll play with a broken fucking leg and a dip in my mouth type player.
• 37:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, are we getting like a softer guy than we thought?
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_01: Where do you stand on Alex Bregman's presence right now?
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's a it's a it's a rough start.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_00: I will be the first one.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_00: If I have to, I'll make the first tweet.
• 38:10
  SPEAKER_00: Matt Shaw, third base, Alex Bregman.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_00: You go try and play right field.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_00: Let's swap him out.
• 38:15
  SPEAKER_00: Let's let's you're gonna put that out there.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_01: You're gonna put people will people will cut your people will come to you and cut your throat at the idea of like shifting those two.
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_00: What one more air and I'll do it.
• 38:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's a promise.
• 38:27
  SPEAKER_01: That's a promise to you, Carl.
• 38:29
  SPEAKER_01: One more air and I'll do it.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_01: I guess if we're doing C minuses, we can say the start to the season generally.
• 38:35
  SPEAKER_01: Three and three.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_01: It could be worse.
• 38:37
  SPEAKER_01: It sucks when you lose that opening series to the Nationals because they're so bad, and Jake Irvin sucks.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_01: I just really liked how we bounce back against Kakucci now off day into the weekend.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_01: Now, some people would say it doesn't matter, every game doesn't matter.
• 38:53
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, if I'm gonna sit and watch it matters, I already made that argument.
• 38:56
  SPEAKER_01: But the other thing, too, I encourage people is to, and this is a big thing in the clubhouse, and generally as baseball guys, as they go out throughout the season, is you're looking at the series and you have a series perspective.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_01: And so as we get into this weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians, you know, like obviously we can come out, we can play like shit on Friday at three o'clock.
• 39:19
  SPEAKER_01: I would expect them to have momentum from the off day playing in shitty conditions on the road.
• 39:26
  SPEAKER_01: I would expect them to play well on Friday, but this is just like a PSA to encourage people, even if they drop Friday, then the mindset goes, can we win these next two games back to back?
• 39:37
  SPEAKER_01: And you're just trying to look at it from a three-game standpoint, because that's a lot of how the players view it.
• 39:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so that's what goes back to the disappointment of the opening series because we had an opportunity to win a series there against a very shitty fucking team, and that's where I get mad is about losing the series, as much as you know, yeah, we lost opening day, Matt Boyd sucked.
• 39:56
  SPEAKER_01: But in the collective, if you really want to get mad, I think it's just series specific off my southbox.
• 40:02
  SPEAKER_00: No, it's all right, you can stay on it.
• 40:04
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you you when you have a soft landing into the schedule, you expect to win those series because then you look at the team up north, not gonna talk about the standings yet.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_00: We're not gonna get that sick in the head.
• 40:14
  SPEAKER_00: They go out and beat the breaks off two two teams that that also suck.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's comparative.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_00: What do you have for D's?
• 40:21
  SPEAKER_00: D's.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_00: This one's gonna hurt.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_00: This one hurts to give out, but I have to.
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_00: The Ushers at Wrigley Field on opening day.
• 40:29
  SPEAKER_01: Let's hear it.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_01: I don't I don't have uh what's this saying?
• 40:34
  SPEAKER_01: I'm so bad at sayings.
• 40:35
  SPEAKER_00: Dog in the fight.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's it, dude.
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_01: That's valuable.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_01: I don't have a dog in the fight.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_01: I'm agnostic.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_01: I've had good experiences, I've had bad experiences.
• 40:44
  SPEAKER_01: Why are they a D?
• 40:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's opening day, Carl.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_00: And if there's a big moment in the game, even if the ushers don't think it's a big moment, you don't tell fans to sit down.
• 40:55
  SPEAKER_00: You are in the bleachers.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_00: We police ourselves until we can't.
• 41:01
  SPEAKER_00: If I want to stand up and clap because it's a 3-1 count and we need a walk to get things rolling, I'm gonna stand up.
• 41:09
  SPEAKER_00: And if the people behind me get mad, they stand up too.
• 41:13
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's what that's what that is.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_00: Also, side note a little bit, we had someone throw the ball back pre-game.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_00: Miles Michaelis talking a little smack to my good friend Big Haas on Twitter.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_00: He throws him the ball and more of like a spiteful, spiteful ball toss.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_00: Big Hoss throws it back, not at him, toward the field, he gets a warning.
• 41:33
  SPEAKER_00: I think I think there's a little leeway there to be had as well.
• 41:36
  SPEAKER_00: So the standing thing really set me off.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_00: The ball thing I kind of understand, but again, it's opening day, it was all in good fun.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_01: Warning.
• 41:45
  SPEAKER_01: Does it come with a written thing or is it just a stern finger in the face?
• 41:49
  SPEAKER_01: Stern finger.
• 41:50
  SPEAKER_00: I saw someone vaping though.
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_00: They they got really pissed about that too.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not a vapor, so I I don't really understand that part.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but come on, let's let the boys play and girls, the the women of the bleachers.
• 42:00
  SPEAKER_00: Let us have fun.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_01: I'll go on record and say it depends on what you're vaping.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_01: Hitting nicotine vape pen in the bleachers, a little trashy.
• 42:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh passing passing the cannabis pen amongst your friends, like that's a classic move.
• 42:15
  SPEAKER_01: That's just obviously that's just communal good stuff.
• 42:18
  SPEAKER_01: So it depends on what if you're getting vaped, if it's one of those like big devices, you know, that you got to charge overnight and it's like, what is it, dragon passion fruit?
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_01: Like, that's a problem.
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_01: You shouldn't be vaping that stuff at a baseball game.
• 42:29
  SPEAKER_00: I don't have the insider knowledge on what it was, but nonetheless, Wrigleyville Usher or Wrigley Bleacher Ushers, D on opening day, that could change midseason.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_00: We'll be back.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_00: We'll be back to reevaluate.
• 42:41
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I don't have any D's.
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think as I was putting this together, I guess Bragman's defense was we just I had that as my D, and we bumped that up to a C minus.
• 42:55
  SPEAKER_01: You know, maybe it's a D.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm not gonna make up a D just cuz.
• 43:02
  SPEAKER_01: So we can move on to F.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_00: What do you got?
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_00: The discourse on Matt Shaw on the internet, not trying to get too complex for us here.
• 43:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's a Thursday afternoon.
• 43:14
  SPEAKER_00: We're we're we're running on fumes here.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_00: But for people to say that he's a bad baseball player will will never not piss me off.
• 43:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because you have a guy who's moved from second base to third base, almost won a gold glove, was replaced to a guy who isn't playing better defense than him at third base so far, and now you move him to right field where he's been struggling.
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_00: His defense, his defense is an F.
• 43:38
  SPEAKER_00: But the discourse around him is also an F because he hasn't had a full season of at bats yet because he was sent up and down for the minors last year, and so people think he's a bad baseball player because he doesn't play good defense.
• 43:50
  SPEAKER_00: Dude, he had 130 WRC plus in the second half and like 11 15 bombs.
• 43:56
  SPEAKER_00: The discourse sucks around him.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_00: I know you're a Matt Shaw guy.
• 43:59
  SPEAKER_00: I want to hear.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_00: Thoughts on that?
• 44:01
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I led the team in slugging percentage in the second half last year, finished top three in gold glove despite having going down to Iowa in the middle of the season.
• 44:09
  SPEAKER_01: Position change first time in his life, breaking camp as a rookie with like almost very limited minor league experience right into the everyday opening lineup as a third base.
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's tough, like it's tough.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_01: And then he's the type of guy who's just very sensitive and takes things very seriously.
• 44:25
  SPEAKER_01: And he's a serious baseball, he's very good.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_01: He's a very good baseball player.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_01: He's only going to get better.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_01: He swings ferociously.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_01: He's got so much purpose and intent.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, he uses the middle of the field.
• 44:39
  SPEAKER_01: He plays multiple positions, he has a great attitude.
• 44:42
  SPEAKER_01: He's just a manager's dream because you don't really have to tell him much.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_01: He's gonna work so hard before the game, after the game, just his preparation, everything that goes into it.
• 44:52
  SPEAKER_01: You know, he's at the very high end of a professional baseball player as far as approach, presence, maturity, purpose, want, all that stuff that you can't measure on a baseball card.
• 45:06
  SPEAKER_01: Matt Shaw has all of that in spades.
• 45:08
  SPEAKER_01: The problem is obviously, you know, you have to say it when you take time off to go to Charlie Kirk's funeral, it gets leaked the way it does, the way the Cubs manage that.
• 45:17
  SPEAKER_01: That is really a stain, I think, on the Cubs PR and them not having a better strategy, at least of being out up front about it, you know, and that's his own personal choice.
• 45:27
  SPEAKER_01: And he he's and he's he gets the shitty dessert.
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_01: Like if you're gonna do that, you have to understand it's gonna come with a consequence because it's gonna open you up to a level of discourse and debate.
• 45:37
  SPEAKER_01: Now, where I draw the line is that crossing that over is saying, is he a bad baseball player, or you don't want to watch him play baseball, or he's not an entertaining baseball player?
• 45:47
  SPEAKER_01: I think Matt Shaw is the total package, and I can't wait to see his career blossom, you know, under the core that they've locked up because I think he's a perfect supporting character early in his career, and he's gonna develop into an all-star caliber player.
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_01: I have such a high opinion of Matt Shaw.
• 46:03
  SPEAKER_00: I agree.
• 46:04
  SPEAKER_00: He kind of plays like a little, like when Javi Baez first came up, he wasn't he wasn't the star right away, right?
• 46:09
  SPEAKER_00: Like he was played a little all over the field, or played a little over the infield and didn't really have his full role till a couple seasons in his career.
• 46:17
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll we'll see how it develops.
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_00: But Matt Shaw, I mean, two for four the other day, silenced some of the early hate on himself.
• 46:24
  SPEAKER_00: Professional at bats, too.
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_00: I think the one single was like a 10-pitch at bat, went from a one-two count to an RBI single.
• 46:30
  SPEAKER_01: Great fastball hitter at a time guys are throwing harder and harder, too.
• 46:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 46:34
  SPEAKER_00: Love to see it.
• 46:35
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, my my F is just basically Cubs fans that are overreacting in general and getting mad.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_01: You know, there's a couple of things you want to get mad about, but I mean, just people that are like mad, you know, about Matt Shaw or mad at Dansby Swanson, or just generally under the influence that Peter Armstrong could be a bust.
• 46:58
  SPEAKER_01: There isn't even a possibility that Peter Armstrong's anything less than a five-war player.
• 47:02
  SPEAKER_01: There's no bust conversation around him at all.
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_01: Or people that complain that Nico Horner's contract's an overpay.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I admitted that I was wrong in my estimate, and by definition of me being wrong in the way I was, that I'm calling it an overpay, but I'm not complaining at all.
• 47:19
  SPEAKER_01: It's Tom Rickett's money.
• 47:21
  SPEAKER_01: There are people who are mad though.
• 47:23
  SPEAKER_01: And so, just generally speaking, if you're mad cubs fan, you get an F from me.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_01: Fuck you.
• 47:27
  SPEAKER_01: We're three and three.
• 47:28
  SPEAKER_01: We got some momentum on this off day.
• 47:31
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of season to go.
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_00: No, no reason to jump ship yet.
• 47:34
  SPEAKER_00: If you're jumping ship now, then long, long summer ahead for you.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_00: These are our grades.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_01: These are grades for the first six six games of this six games of the season.
• 47:45
  SPEAKER_01: I have an F on my expectations for Say Suzuki.
• 47:48
  SPEAKER_01: F for myself.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a moron for expecting that this would be the year we get a full, lovely.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_01: It's never gonna happen.
• 47:58
  SPEAKER_01: It's never gonna happen.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_01: It's never gonna happen.
• 48:02
  SPEAKER_01: He's always gonna let me down.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, I have a quick segment before we let you go.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_01: This is a Friday show, so we try not to go too long, but I'm having a good time talking cubs with you.
• 48:11
  SPEAKER_01: And so we just put together a couple.
• 48:13
  SPEAKER_01: You know, this will be pitch clock, ball, or strike.
• 48:15
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna put you on the hot seat.
• 48:16
  SPEAKER_01: This is an alternator, my friend.
• 48:18
  SPEAKER_01: So we're gonna start with we're gonna start with pitch clock, which I believe you're smart enough to know what that means.
• 48:24
  SPEAKER_01: So pitch clock, pick one position player from the 2016 World Series Championship team to join this team.
• 48:30
  SPEAKER_01: Caveat, his name cannot be Chris Bryant.
• 48:32
  SPEAKER_01: Who are you picking from that team?
• 48:34
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go Ben Zobrist.
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_00: Plays all over the field, three and a half, four player clutch.
• 48:39
  SPEAKER_01: He is the answer to my problem, basically, because I can't take Jason Hayward and we need a right, we need a right fielder more than anything else.
• 48:46
  SPEAKER_01: So then I would be between Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler.
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_01: The nice thing about Dexter Fowler is like him going into our right field would be awesome for the defense with PCA, Ian Happen, Dexter Fowler, that'd be crazy.
• 48:59
  SPEAKER_01: But I do love that Ben Zobrist plays all five positions.
• 49:03
  SPEAKER_01: So I was in between those two.
• 49:04
  SPEAKER_01: Now again, I go back.
• 49:05
  SPEAKER_01: The caveat is because obviously the obvious because Chris Bryant just haven't played right field being a you know 6'7 war player.
• 49:12
  SPEAKER_01: We need we do need help, so that's why I gave Jed an A for extension talks.
• 49:18
  SPEAKER_01: But for depth, Tyler Austin's hurt.
• 49:21
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I don't know.
• 49:22
  SPEAKER_01: I haven't heard Jonathan Long's name, and I don't know what happened.
• 49:24
  SPEAKER_01: Michael Confordo should not be on a baseball team.
• 49:27
  SPEAKER_01: He gets an F.
• 49:27
  SPEAKER_01: That guy stinks out loud.
• 49:29
  SPEAKER_01: F.
• 49:30
  SPEAKER_01: We don't even have competition for the 26th spot, and we have nobody if Michael Bush turns out to not hit lefties.
• 49:39
  SPEAKER_01: So that's suspect.
• 49:40
  SPEAKER_01: All that gets an F from me.
• 49:42
  SPEAKER_01: Fuck that.
• 49:43
  SPEAKER_01: Tough spot.
• 49:44
  SPEAKER_01: Where's Dylan Carlson at?
• 49:45
  SPEAKER_00: Let's see what he's got.
• 49:46
  SPEAKER_01: We're not given grades.
• 49:48
  SPEAKER_01: We're on the pitch clock.
• 49:48
  SPEAKER_01: All right, so you pick Ben Zobris.
• 49:50
  SPEAKER_01: Let me go ball or strike here.
• 49:51
  SPEAKER_01: PCA is fine.
• 49:52
  SPEAKER_01: No reason to freak out.
• 49:53
  SPEAKER_01: PCA's fine.
• 49:54
  SPEAKER_01: Baller strike.
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_00: Strike.
• 49:56
  SPEAKER_00: Although I don't love him bunting with two strikes.
• 49:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh-oh, I do.
• 49:59
  SPEAKER_00: Let me hear it.
• 50:00
  SPEAKER_00: Either your four-header, you want your four-header bunting with two strikes?
• 50:04
  SPEAKER_00: I don't care where he hits in the lineup.
• 50:05
  SPEAKER_00: Step in and battle.
• 50:07
  SPEAKER_00: Protect the zone.
• 50:08
  SPEAKER_00: Go battle.
• 50:08
  SPEAKER_00: Give me a good at bat.
• 50:10
  SPEAKER_01: Nope.
• 50:10
  SPEAKER_01: Doesn't matter to me where he hits in the lineup.
• 50:12
  SPEAKER_01: JD said it perfectly.
• 50:13
  SPEAKER_01: Two strikes 0-2 against Drew Pomerance.
• 50:15
  SPEAKER_01: His on-base percentage has got to be underneath 280 there.
• 50:19
  SPEAKER_01: 250.
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_01: If Drew Pomerance goes 0-2 against a left-handed hitter, what's the likelihood you get on base after going 0-2?
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's under 28%.
• 50:29
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what's the likelihood Pete Carl Armstrong, if Bunning at a strike, can get it into fair territory, which is basically all it required, I think is closer to like 38 or 40%.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_01: So just playing the odds, I don't think it's nearly as dumb as people think it is.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's actually this is actually pretty good if the third baseman gonna play that far back.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_01: He's giving it to him.
• 50:48
  SPEAKER_01: Now the question is is PCA good enough to get that bunt down?
• 50:51
  SPEAKER_01: He should be.
• 50:52
  SPEAKER_01: You want to get mad about something, get mad he can't get the fucking bunt down.
• 50:55
  SPEAKER_01: But don't get mad that he's bunting in the first place.
• 50:57
  SPEAKER_01: Don't love it.
• 50:58
  SPEAKER_01: Don't love it.
• 50:58
  SPEAKER_00: Still strike, don't love it.
• 51:00
  SPEAKER_00: You don't love the approach?
• 51:02
  SPEAKER_00: I don't love the fact that you're bunting there.
• 51:04
  SPEAKER_00: That show that shows lack of confidence in your ability to hit left-handed pitching.
• 51:08
  SPEAKER_00: He's 0-2 against Drew Pomerans, he's 41 years old.
• 51:11
  SPEAKER_01: He's a union guy.
• 51:13
  SPEAKER_01: Let's switch it.
• 51:14
  SPEAKER_01: If Michael Bush does that, do you love it?
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_01: Pete Cromstrong should be a significantly better bunner than Michael Bush.
• 51:22
  SPEAKER_01: Then Bun Afair.
• 51:23
  SPEAKER_01: He should be.
• 51:25
  SPEAKER_01: Should be.
• 51:25
  SPEAKER_01: He'll learn, right?
• 51:26
  SPEAKER_01: Is he fine, ball or strike?
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_01: That's Michael.
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_01: You don't like he drunk strike.
• 51:31
  SPEAKER_00: Strike.
• 51:31
  SPEAKER_00: He's still fine.
• 51:32
  SPEAKER_01: I will not entertain any PCA.
• 51:36
  SPEAKER_01: Like, is it maybe he's not the guy I talk until Father's Day?
• 51:41
  SPEAKER_01: You're everybody's on notice.
• 51:43
  SPEAKER_01: Give me however many how much time is that?
• 51:45
  SPEAKER_01: 12 weeks, 11 weeks?
• 51:47
  SPEAKER_01: I want them all.
• 51:48
  SPEAKER_01: I want every single one of those weeks.
• 51:50
  SPEAKER_01: No one bitch about PCA.
• 51:52
  SPEAKER_01: You're on notice.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_00: We got time.
• 51:54
  SPEAKER_01: All right, pitch clock.
• 51:55
  SPEAKER_01: What does a realistic Ian Hap extension look like?
• 51:57
  SPEAKER_01: Some people are asking that question.
• 51:58
  SPEAKER_01: Is Ian Hap gonna get extended?
• 52:00
  SPEAKER_01: He's contractor.
• 52:01
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know why I picked Ian Hap.
• 52:03
  SPEAKER_00: If extended by the Cubs, I guess that's the only team you can get extended by.
• 52:06
  SPEAKER_00: Open market contract looks a little different.
• 52:08
  SPEAKER_00: Four years, 92 million dollars.
• 52:11
  SPEAKER_00: Puts in about 23 a season.
• 52:13
  SPEAKER_00: I I compare him and Nico Horn a lot.
• 52:16
  SPEAKER_00: Good defense, different approaches, but he slugs.
• 52:19
  SPEAKER_00: Nico doesn't.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_00: If it hits the open market, I think a bad team would overpay for him.
• 52:23
  SPEAKER_00: But I think$23 million is so fair for Ian Hap.
• 52:28
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think he would sign with another team at this point.
• 52:30
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, if it if I think he would take a team discount, I think it would be hard.
• 52:34
  SPEAKER_01: Could you imagine him playing for the Marlons?
• 52:36
  SPEAKER_01: Which there's no way.
• 52:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I like the Diamondbacks, the Rockies, they'd shell out some bucks for Ian Hap.
• 52:43
  SPEAKER_00: He'd be their marquee player.
• 52:45
  SPEAKER_00: Not the Diamondbacks, but the Rockies.
• 52:47
  SPEAKER_01: Gone to your head, Kalishnikov, you know, guys about to pull the trigger here.
• 52:51
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 52:52
  SPEAKER_01: And he's he's saying you're you're going pay raise.
• 52:54
  SPEAKER_01: Ian hat pay raise, yes or no.
• 52:56
  SPEAKER_01: You say yes.
• 52:56
  SPEAKER_01: Gone to your head.
• 52:58
  SPEAKER_01: Loaded.
• 53:01
  SPEAKER_00: Pay raise from what 23?
• 53:02
  SPEAKER_00: So give him what four for 25?
• 53:05
  SPEAKER_00: What's he get right now?
• 53:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think he gets 19.
• 53:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's getting paid 19.
• 53:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's what I thought.
• 53:12
  SPEAKER_00: So he's getting a pay raise.
• 53:13
  SPEAKER_00: I'm giving him a pay raise.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 53:15
  SPEAKER_00: Four war player, 20, 20 bombs a year, 20 doubles.
• 53:18
  SPEAKER_00: Four and a half war player this year.
• 53:20
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe five.
• 53:20
  SPEAKER_00: Mahoney says five.
• 53:22
  SPEAKER_00: We're on the right track.
• 53:23
  SPEAKER_00: Hard to disagree.
• 53:24
  SPEAKER_01: He's off to a hot start.
• 53:25
  SPEAKER_01: He looks like it.
• 53:26
  SPEAKER_01: You know, this could be the season.
• 53:28
  SPEAKER_01: The reason I don't think they extend him is because they just I don't I think they have the leverage.
• 53:33
  SPEAKER_01: I think he would take a team discount.
• 53:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 53:35
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we're like PCA and Nico wouldn't.
• 53:37
  SPEAKER_01: I think Ian Happ's way too far in his career to be buying a new condo, getting a new clubhouse, new spring training routine, new teammates.
• 53:47
  SPEAKER_01: Like he is has his favorite coffee shops in the city.
• 53:50
  SPEAKER_00: Like he's he's established.
• 53:51
  SPEAKER_01: And without having to be the leader, it is his clubhouse.
• 53:56
  SPEAKER_01: Like he doesn't have to lead, he doesn't have to say shit.
• 53:57
  SPEAKER_01: He's low-key behind the scenes, but he is a senior statesman.
• 54:00
  SPEAKER_01: Like that's worth something to these guys, I suppose.
• 54:02
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's fair.
• 54:03
  SPEAKER_00: 23 million a season.
• 54:05
  SPEAKER_01: Baller strike.
• 54:06
  SPEAKER_01: Ben Brown is good.
• 54:08
  SPEAKER_00: Ball not falling for it.
• 54:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, me neither.
• 54:11
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 54:13
  SPEAKER_00: It was give Volmer opening day.
• 54:16
  SPEAKER_00: Give Volmer on opening day.
• 54:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I just felt so vindicated for jumping off the hype train at the middle of last season.
• 54:23
  SPEAKER_00: I'll say this though.
• 54:25
  SPEAKER_00: Just give me the all-out one inning of Ben Brown.
• 54:27
  SPEAKER_00: That's all I want.
• 54:28
  SPEAKER_00: I don't want the long, don't half, don't half ass me with the long relief, but also pitches in high leverage.
• 54:34
  SPEAKER_00: Also, when you need a strikeout, because I needed a strikeout the other night and he got it.
• 54:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, sweet.
• 54:38
  SPEAKER_00: Like check has been cashed.
• 54:40
  SPEAKER_00: You got your strikeout, Ben Brown.
• 54:42
  SPEAKER_00: You impressed me, pull him out of the ball game.
• 54:43
  SPEAKER_00: They let him go deeper.
• 54:45
  SPEAKER_00: Granted, he pitched well, but I'm not I'm not falling for it yet, is the ball.
• 54:49
  SPEAKER_01: It's gonna take so much to get me back on.
• 54:52
  SPEAKER_01: But however, he looked like a guy the other night.
• 54:57
  SPEAKER_01: Now, the reason he looked like a guy is because we're already down two.
• 55:01
  SPEAKER_01: So he can't, it's a perfect situation for Ben Brown to be on the mound because he can't.
• 55:06
  SPEAKER_01: We're already losing.
• 55:07
  SPEAKER_01: I think he's like the best arm we have when we're already losing.
• 55:11
  SPEAKER_01: Because if it's not on him, he can relax, then he can just let his stuff take over.
• 55:19
  SPEAKER_01: And people argue that are close to the team.
• 55:21
  SPEAKER_01: He's it's just stuff is absolutely unhittable.
• 55:23
  SPEAKER_01: The only problem is Ben Brown is Ben Brown, it's in between his ears, it's just not having you know what what Kate Horton has in spades that cannot be measured, which is just so valuable, is exactly what Ben Brown needs.
• 55:36
  SPEAKER_01: I hate to make it so subjective, but it really is character driven.
• 55:41
  SPEAKER_01: His stuff is so good, but no, fuck him, man.
• 55:45
  SPEAKER_01: When you're that talented, that's where you can really piss me off.
• 55:49
  SPEAKER_01: When you're really he's God gifted, just so good, you know.
• 55:54
  SPEAKER_01: And it's just like just did we just took a little bit, just a little bit of the just a little bit of seasoning or something, some salt.
• 56:00
  SPEAKER_01: All right, let me pitch clock you.
• 56:02
  SPEAKER_01: Expectations for the weekend against Cleveland.
• 56:04
  SPEAKER_01: Pitch clock.
• 56:04
  SPEAKER_01: What do you think?
• 56:05
  SPEAKER_01: We have three games against the Cleveland Guardians.
• 56:07
  SPEAKER_01: Where do we stay?
• 56:08
  SPEAKER_00: You got to win the series.
• 56:10
  SPEAKER_00: Horton and Cabrera go this series.
• 56:11
  SPEAKER_00: Shodan that sandwiched in the middle.
• 56:13
  SPEAKER_00: Still don't love him season outlook, but yeah, go go go ruin their home opener series.
• 56:19
  SPEAKER_00: You got two of your best guys going.
• 56:21
  SPEAKER_00: Go take it.
• 56:22
  SPEAKER_01: I'm with you.
• 56:23
  SPEAKER_01: I think we I think we can set an expectation to say if they don't win the series, should be bummed out.
• 56:28
  SPEAKER_01: Cleveland's a great team.
• 56:30
  SPEAKER_01: I've they've got good players.
• 56:32
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they're they're right on the cusp of like could always outperform expectation.
• 56:37
  SPEAKER_01: Never bad.
• 56:39
  SPEAKER_01: Early in the season, they're usually a 500 team first half-ish.
• 56:43
  SPEAKER_00: Brewers of the AL.
• 56:45
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta play well against them.
• 56:46
  SPEAKER_01: We'll have a good presence too.
• 56:48
  SPEAKER_01: Cubs fans obviously traveling well.
• 56:50
  SPEAKER_01: I would imagine that helps early in the season as the boys are getting adjusted, coming out, playing catch before the game, seeing all the cups.
• 56:57
  SPEAKER_01: Just gotta love it, especially for the new guys.
• 56:58
  SPEAKER_01: Like Eddie Cabrera is gonna be like, what the fuck's this about?
• 57:01
  SPEAKER_01: What are all why there are more Cubs fans at this game than there were at Marlin's fans at any game I ever played?
• 57:07
  SPEAKER_01: And it's gonna be a Friday afternoon in Cleveland.
• 57:09
  SPEAKER_01: So I always love that experience for new players.
• 57:12
  SPEAKER_01: All right, last one I got for you here.
• 57:14
  SPEAKER_01: Ballers.
• 57:15
  SPEAKER_01: This is this could get mean.
• 57:17
  SPEAKER_01: This could get mean.
• 57:18
  SPEAKER_01: I hope it doesn't.
• 57:19
  SPEAKER_01: Baller strike, David Ross doing a Cubs podcast with Anthony Renzo is kind of awkward.
• 57:24
  SPEAKER_01: Baller strike.
• 57:26
  SPEAKER_00: Ball.
• 57:28
  SPEAKER_00: But badder review, ABS over overturns it.
• 57:32
  SPEAKER_00: It's a strike that just just hits the corner.
• 57:36
  SPEAKER_00: It feels like a weird like office reboot.
• 57:38
  SPEAKER_00: Like the joke's kind of over, but like they're still running Kevin from the office on the on like the CarMax commercials.
• 57:45
  SPEAKER_01: Still hit the numbers are gonna be there.
• 57:47
  SPEAKER_01: Like you know people are gonna like it.
• 57:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 57:50
  SPEAKER_01: It's an office reboot.
• 57:51
  SPEAKER_01: See, this is where Rizzo could have just a peaceful career in retirement.
• 57:58
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know why he wants to do media.
• 58:00
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I don't know what compels this guy to do MLB network in Sunday night baseball now.
• 58:07
  SPEAKER_01: It's a different conversation.
• 58:09
  SPEAKER_01: But David Ross was like sitting in Murphy's bleachers with him, like bullshit about the Cubs.
• 58:16
  SPEAKER_01: Is that like a testament to Ross being a like a gig who's he could just move on from some trauma?
• 58:24
  SPEAKER_01: Or like, is there something there?
• 58:26
  SPEAKER_01: Like, can I read too much into that that he's comfortable doing this?
• 58:29
  SPEAKER_01: What is going on?
• 58:30
  SPEAKER_01: Would you be if they fired you and brought in Craig Console, would you turn around a couple years later and do media and across Waveland?
• 58:38
  SPEAKER_00: That'd be a tough pill to swallow, but I think he he knows at the end the fans appreciate him more than anything.
• 58:43
  SPEAKER_00: So he's he's a he's a man of the people.
• 58:45
  SPEAKER_00: I would classify David Ross as that man of the people.
• 58:48
  SPEAKER_00: He wants to keep that MO up.
• 58:50
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's a positive for his reputation.
• 58:53
  SPEAKER_01: I think good for him.
• 58:54
  SPEAKER_01: In the long run, people will hopefully he can attach himself more.
• 58:58
  SPEAKER_01: He's just so endearing to Cubs fans.
• 59:00
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't know how things go in the long run with his reputation as a manager.
• 59:05
  SPEAKER_01: Getting fired going 83 and 79, then bringing in Craig Council to give him the at time record biggest contract in the history of managers, in the history of the sport, only for them to turn around and go 83 and 79 and miss the playoffs.
• 59:20
  SPEAKER_01: That had to feel good if you're David Ross, obviously.
• 59:23
  SPEAKER_00: Everyone loves a good hate watch on your former employer.
• 59:25
  SPEAKER_00: I bet I bet it was nice.
• 59:26
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, as far as the podcast goes, it's it's a clip thing.
• 59:29
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it gets hits hits the timeline, you watch it and move on.
• 59:32
  SPEAKER_00: I probably will not listen to a full episode of it, but the the clips I've seen is it's what it's a gimmick, but you know, that's what gets clicks.
• 59:41
  SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see where it goes and if they can do good shit during playoff baseball, or I guess in meaningful, or if they could have cool interviews, if they get guys to open up, but if it's June and they're sitting around there telling stories about Lester's house, you know, and the time Eddie Vetter took out the guitar or whatever, it's like we've I've heard that you know what I mean.
• 1:00:02
  SPEAKER_01: Like that's all been told.
• 1:00:03
  SPEAKER_01: Not to say it's not entertaining and it wasn't a good time, but if they can apply their knowledge to the real-time team, and that's what I think will be interesting with David Ross, if like you can see him turn around and like doing a sit-down interview with Danzby Swanson, that'd be so that'd be wild, man.
• 1:00:19
  SPEAKER_01: It's like content inception, so it'll be interesting, to say the least.
• 1:00:23
  SPEAKER_01: So, in any event, hey, I want to say thanks a lot for jumping on the Friday edition of the Monday morning cub show.
• 1:00:29
  SPEAKER_01: You know, most of the time I suppose these are gonna be solo, but I do like having a back and forth conversation uh with someone who's just so passionate about the team.
• 1:00:39
  SPEAKER_01: Like you really are a fucking diehard, my friend.
• 1:00:41
  SPEAKER_00: Carl, thank you.
• 1:00:42
  SPEAKER_00: It was uh it was a blast as always.
• 1:00:45
  SPEAKER_00: And we're right, we're we're in the long haul for 162.
• 1:00:49
  SPEAKER_00: I I know you are, I definitely am, and hopefully all your loyal listeners are too, because it's it's a battle.
• 1:00:55
  SPEAKER_00: But with the we just got started.
• 1:00:57
  SPEAKER_00: April April 3rd tomorrow.
• 1:00:59
  SPEAKER_00: We just got we just got started.
• 1:01:02
  SPEAKER_01: I'll tag Blake obviously on Twitter when I publish the show, but I would encourage you guys to follow him.
• 1:01:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um young guy, good energy, very positive uh person to follow around the Chicago Cubs and an independent uh grow, uh like growing following and stuff, and a good engaging fan base within like Cubs Twitter and stuff.
• 1:01:23
  SPEAKER_01: So somebody I've enjoyed following for years.
• 1:01:25
  SPEAKER_01: So that's obviously the reason why he's on the show.
• 1:01:28
  SPEAKER_01: So before we close the show, the much way, I would encourage you to check out Thirsty McCarrow.
• 1:01:32
  SPEAKER_01: I would encourage you to follow Blake um on Twitter at Blake Cowell, C-O-W-E-L-L-X.
• 1:01:39
  SPEAKER_01: At Blake Cowell X.
• 1:01:41
  SPEAKER_01: Until next time, guys, we'll be back on Monday with Mahoney.
• 1:01:44
  SPEAKER_01: Hopefully, the Chicago Cubs put an absolute beating on the Cleveland Guardians.
• 1:01:48
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, if they don't, you have every right to be mad.
• 1:01:50
  SPEAKER_01: That's an expectation we can set.
• 1:01:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but in the meantime, please do me a favor, review the show.
• 1:01:55
  SPEAKER_01: Five stars helps.
• 1:01:57
  SPEAKER_01: You know, like if you're gonna review it, don't sandbag me with a three or four.
• 1:02:00
  SPEAKER_01: That doesn't help anybody.
• 1:02:02
  SPEAKER_01: But if you do have time, uh, you know, and I track these numbers.
• 1:02:05
  SPEAKER_01: I have the user IDs, I got the IP addresses.
• 1:02:07
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I'll see out.
• 1:02:08
  SPEAKER_01: And if I know that you haven't left me five stars, that could be awkward.
• 1:02:12
  SPEAKER_01: So I appreciate you guys.
• 1:02:14
  SPEAKER_01: We'll be back on Monday.
• 1:02:15
  SPEAKER_01: Go cubs.