Latest / Monday Morning Cubs Show / PCA is the MVP + Full Brewers Preview w/ Special Guest CB

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PCA is the MVP + Full Brewers Preview w/ Special Guest CB · Monday Morning Cubs Show

• 0:05
  SPEAKER_02: Good morning, good afternoon, and evening, Chicago Cubs fans, and welcome back to the Monday morning Cubs Show.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_02: Today is Monday, August 31st.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_02: It is your host, Carl, and today I'm going to be joined by Mahoney and our close pal CB for a Brewer's preview, some uh, you know, light ball or strike as we get into the brewer's preview, some higher level 30,000 feet stuff.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we recorded during the rain delay.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_02: So this is just in a post-game insert.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_02: And as they say post-game, we're just like in the middle of getting our asses kicked by the Reds.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna drop this series to the Cincinnati Reds.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna play horrible baseball down the stretch into the Brewer series.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: And as we get into today's show, I'm still just like, I'm still not ready to say the division's over, even if we're eight back at the start of the series with the Brewers.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_02: And it's just merely a function that we have baseball to play against the Brewers.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_02: So I know we got our asses kicked by the reds.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_02: I know Showda doesn't look good at all.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_02: That's because it's almost September.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: So there's a reason we haven't considered him in the playoff rotation, we haven't talked about him seriously at all.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_02: You saw it tonight.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, meanwhile, our bullpen just is not nearly as good as it needs to be.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_02: That's a fact.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_02: That's a bona fide fact.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_02: But here's another fact.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like, Pete Crow Armstrong is having a historical season.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we have guys that are very good.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_02: We have very, very good veterans, and there is a world where we get hot enough.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_02: Even though we play like shit right now, and we are about to run into MLB's juggernaut at home.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna see Mizarowski.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_02: I'm still holding out hope, and that's what we're gonna get into.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: We got about a 45-minute round table with Maori and CB.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_02: We kind of get into some of the big picture stuff, and then we're gonna get into a very specific preview about the Brewers versus the Cubs, how we match up in position groups, which is something I very much like to do.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: You know, starting pitching, bullpen, catching corner infielders, middle infielders, outfielders as a whole.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think we get too much into the bench, you know, and I'll let you guys decide who would you rather have managing your ball club, Pat Murphy or Craig Council, because that's that's quite frankly a topic I cannot stomach.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, what I can stomach, though, is Thirsty Vacero.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, and I can't think of a of a better segue or opener is uh is I bring in two of my closest pales.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: So let's just let's do that and let's talk about some Thirsty Vaccaro.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_02: And speaking of vigilantes, uh, let's just welcome in, I would say, two real bad boys, C B and Mahoney.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, perfect timing for the ad read here, fellas.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: It's almost too easy.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's good to see you guys.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: C B, welcome back to the show.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: Excited to uh chop it up with you guys.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: This is my favorite time of year.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: We're getting into some real baseball here.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: So um no more dog days this summer.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get going.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no more dog days this summer, but still a good time for guys to go to Amazon and get some Thirsty Vaquero if they have it, a Mexican-style soda with a signature spicy finish.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_02: Mahoney, it's obviously taken over your life.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: It absolutely has.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_01: CB.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: Boy, was I happy to see you bringing that to the local block party, and I know that that was the talk of the block sector that you had going on there.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_01: Unbelievable stuff.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: Thirsty Vaquero's rolling.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: I I mean, the amount of pictures that we're seeing on social media across, you know, not just the maniacs, it's it's starting to really get beyond maniacs, which is a thing of beauty, and it's it's a beautiful thing because it's such a good beverage, Carl.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and it's available on Amazon and it ships right to your front door.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_02: It's in 12 ounce and 16 ounce.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_02: So it can't be any easier.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_02: And I think the easiest way we'd like to talk about it is hand out awards.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_02: We like to give out awards every single week.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_02: I'll kick it off.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, our spicy watermelon player of the week, Mahoney.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_02: Who is it?
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Our spicy watermelon, I mean, it it's almost too easy at this point.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: It's P.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: Crow Armstrong, folks.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: It's and it's not even close.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's it's too easy.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, when he did he Homer, what four times in seven played appearances?
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_02: C B.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have the statistics?
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_02: What what tweets were you sending out earlier today?
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: I I think that's right.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, how many, how many he, yeah, I think that's right.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: So we had three yesterday, and then that fourth one against a position player.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, just he just had nothing.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: It was almost like a joke on that bat.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: I don't even, I don't even know if you want to count that, but I think it was four and seven.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: I think you're correct, Carl.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: Do we have a level lead off today?
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_02: It's insane.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_02: Well, the the the progression of leadoff home runs, he's gonna is he gonna the ball or strike, he's gonna catch Ricky Henderson CD.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what Ricky's at, but I mean just look judging by the last couple weeks, I was thinking about this today after the leadoff home run against the Reds again.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, you know, I was 12 years old when Sammy in 1998, and I feel like every time I'm have a Cubs game on or I'm checking the box score.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Like on Friday, I was playing golf, so I wasn't watching the game.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: He's hitting a home run.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, how many more home runs is Sammy hit?
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Because I feel like every time I see it, PCA's got a bomb.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: So uh I don't know exactly what the number Ricky has, but he's young enough where you can catch it at the at the pace he's going now.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's 120-ish.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's 120-ish, and someone had posted earlier today that PCA in his last 75 games has 30 homers, so he is on a 60 plus homer streak.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_02: The crazy thing, too, is the 1,000 OPS against left-handed pitching, something Mahoney talked about all offseason long.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_01: It's absurd.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's absolutely absurd.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_01: The adjustments we've made, everyone's talking about it now, especially now we're on some national broadcasts.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_01: He has the national spotlight.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_01: Everyone's basically regurgitating a lot of what we've said on the Monday morning cub show throughout the season, and about Pete.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_01: The approach to left-handed is bats, uh base percentage is through the roof.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: I think he was bottom of five last season, top in the league this year, or somewhere around there.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_01: It's just unbelievable the adjustment.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: And the fact that he's just like running away with the MVP now at this point is very special to see and watch, and it just hasn't slowed down.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's it's unreal.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_02: And I have a specific PCA baller strike we're gonna get to before we do this Brewer's preview.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_02: I have three very good baller strikes before we get into it though.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_02: We obviously talk a lot about PCA's development.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_02: Is it fair to give Craig counsel Lamon the drone of the week because he's been so consistent, he's created an environment for PCA to develop, like C B I C the smirk on your face.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_02: Do you like Craig?
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_02: Are you in or out baller strike?
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: I I bet I waffle with Craig.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: I but I'm in on the Lamon Ladrone because I think the first time I was on with you guys, we did this, we did this segment.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: I gave him the Lamola drone, and I was like, I'm thinking outside the box here, but it it fits.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's Craig.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's what he gets.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the the Mango Muerte is the one where it's like kind of like the the hot guy of the week, but I'll stick with I I think you're absolutely right with the Lamla drone being Craig Council.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_02: Molly strike, Molly, by all means, my friend.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_02: I'm sorry.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it's a strike, and I'm afraid to bring up Craig Council.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: You might get yelled at or anything on the podcast when we're going to be talking and trying to focus on the players, but I will say about the atmosphere that he's created to allow PCA to thrive, and that is where I think that he is it's absolutely Ladrone.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_01: It's one of the things that closest really mix with the margarita.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: Something tells me that Craig's like a little salt on his rim, and he's he's the Lamon Ladrone of the week.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_01: So it's that's it.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: Do we have a muerte?
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_01: My muerte?
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_01: I have it at Clay Holmes, ladies and gentlemen.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: Just showing up.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: He's an all-bite no rattle pitcher.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: I know that you know he's gonna be tough to re-sign in the offseason, but Clay Holmes just dealing this week.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh what?
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: He had that seven scoreless two hitter earlier on, and Clay Holmes is my is my mango muerte of the week, Carl.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: The walking dead.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm giving mine to Greg Maddox, which is a great transition into the most important thing I wanted to talk to you guys about.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_02: And it's just the idea that Greg Maddox did not do that intentionally, and just how wonderful it is that he never puts the Cubs uniform on, he's never around.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_02: The one time he is, he just pulls a prank that unbelievable first pitch from Greg Maddox.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_02: And again, I have to go back to the fact he's just never around.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_02: So the fact he gets one bite at the apple and he gives us a viral clip, classic mad dog.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and it makes me salty.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_02: There's there's there's the combination of my 150 observation is that it's I'm a little salty when I see Greg Maddox back because it's just crazy we had him and Sandberg at the same time in a grace with Sosa and did not connect those eras through Greg Maddox, will forever bother me.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: It will, I think, too, just seeing the fact the amount of success that he had had.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: I know they only won one World Series, which is perennial everything on the Braves, and he had that, you know, in a clubhouse with uh with a Ryan Sandberg, right?
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: Some of the pieces were there, and you know, we didn't get to grow up really watching Maddox thrive, you know, and is throughout his major league career beyond you know what he initially did with the Cubs.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, that was I was pretty young even watching that, so I wish I could have grew up rooting for Maddox more than I got the chance to.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: Carl, I I like that you're still salty about that because I I remember having a conversation.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: I used to go to Cubs games with a guy who lived in our neighborhood, I was friends with his kid, and he had season tickets behind the dugout, and he would talk about how cheap the Cubs are because they I think they offered$500,000 less than the Braves did.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: And Maddox jumped ship and took it there, and the Cubs had some sort of Jerry Rhine sort of type deal where oh, with incentives you can make more, but it wasn't even that much more.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: And he was so salty about it, it's kind of stuck with me.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm glad you brought that up because it's something I've thought about too.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: And then just kind of reopening that wound and being like, hey, he had Rhino with him, and then Grit and Grace, and then here came Sosa.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Could you imagine Mad Dog on that 98 team instead of getting swept in that wild card in that first series?
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, who knows could have been different.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think he pitched game three too at Wrigley, beat us Al Rigley.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_02: I believe I was there.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_02: We were there, okay.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_02: We were both there.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, formative experiences.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: The other thing is the the dogs in the clubhouse that I mean Grace and Sandberg are legendary Piss Hounds.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_02: You mix in Maddox as the prankster, then you're really tying together what would have been, anyways.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_02: Let's move on from that.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_02: Although I'll say this how about this?
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, anybody argue or anybody willing to disagree with the fact that Carlos Zembrano should have been there?
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: He sh should have, I feel huge part of that rotation, fan favorite, a lot of memorable moments.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: He should have been there.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: This is it's kind of a tough list to make because you got the 2016 team, and you know, guys like Jake absolutely needed to be there, but that's just so fresh, and there's such a large history, but there's a large history of losing, so like how do you narrow it down?
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but Zembrano was a big miss on that team.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_02: I wonder how much of that is carried over from like one of Theo Epstein's first big moves at the big league level when he became a leader was to get rid of Zembrano.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_02: And I remember he did not want Zembrano anywhere near what he was trying to build and bring in young guys, and then you go and you look in he obviously brings right in like you go and you look at guys like David De Jesus, uh Edwin Jackson, some of the guys he was willing to lose with that nobody cared about at all.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_02: But then so I don't know how much Tommy cares about that, you know.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: He could, I don't know.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_01: Big Z not being there is it was just a little strange, but you know, maybe just didn't want anyone like you know punching holes in a Gatorade machine or some shit.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_01: Like they didn't want any of that anger meant you know, anger around, I suppose, but I don't know why it didn't have anything to do with the 150 if Tommy's gonna be carrying grunges of that nature.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and they let it go on they let it go on Sosa, you know, so like it's nice to see Sosa back.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_02: It's good to see Sosa back in the mix and being embraced, and like obviously the PCA clip of him saying, like, Sammy told me I'd hit three homers.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_02: You know, there's it's not too long ago where the idea of Sosa back being celebrated, being talked about on Marquee is like a is like a crazy concept.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: That's a celebration in itself when he got back balk into the fold, but a lot of pop and circumstance this year, boys.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of celebrations going on at Wrigley from the unveiling of Championships Gate or Champions Gate, the all-star announcement, the 150th celebration.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_02: No, I'm hearing pop in the background.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_02: I'm hearing clicking and popping.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if somebody's playing the drums.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_02: We don't knock on wood here, but um no, Moni, I'm with you 100%.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_02: And the fact that, like, again, I want to go back to that specific clip.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_02: PCA saying Sammy told me I'd hit three pops today, and then PCA hitting three homers, like that being the post-game moment, you know, again, go back a couple of years ago, like PCA it does not have is never talking to Sammy Soso.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_02: So like they bring Sammy back, that's just so incredible.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, great sound bite.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_02: All right, Sam PCA here.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_02: CB is P baller strike is PCA so good that anything less than an NLCS is a year is a failure.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_02: PCA is so good this year, he's so dominant that anything less than us going to the NLCS is a failure.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna say this is a ball just barely missing.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's such a team sport.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Pitching's been who knows, you know, starting pitchings up and down.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh eight-nine, we gotta figure out.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: Uh PCA can only do so much.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think Craig had a comment the other day when they lost, I think it was nine to eight.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: He said, hey, when you score eight runs, you usually win the ballgame.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: We didn't win.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: So what could what more could he do at this point?
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I don't want to say he can't pitch because then he brings up that whole MVP conversation with Otani, and I think Pete's the front runner for MVP.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: But I think that's just a ball, it's a it's a waste of a season as a fan.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_00: But as far as like, hey, he cannot carry this pitching staff the way he's being carried right now, he's not a pitcher.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: He's doing what he can.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: If you have to score eight, nine runs a game, you're not gonna win, you're not gonna get to the NLCS that way.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: I have it, I have it as a strike, and it's because he is good enough for fans and himself to be mad if we don't go deep.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_01: And you got an MVP in his prime.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: We spent money on Bregman in the offseason.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_01: This is a potential last season before there's the uh strike lockout, whichever it is.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_01: And it's very much in this win now mode where you know if the added Gaussman, Clay Holmes tried to bolster the bullpen as much as possible.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: But in terms of PCA having an MVP caliber season, which was a step above what I thought that he'd be doing this year, and just the fact that we've been winning these games, I think it's a strike that he'd be pissed if it was like, especially a wild card, like all of a sudden a quick oncey twosies, two games, and we're done.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_01: Like if we got sent home early, I feel like it has to be at least a deep five-game divisional series uh for us to be like, all right, good season.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_01: At least it wasn't entirely wasted.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think it comes back to like I'm gonna go, it's a strike, it's a bad, it's like he's that good now.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_02: And the one caveat I have is it's not these remarkable splits right lefty, where like he has a 750 OPS against lefties and a 1400 against ready's and he's just dialed in, and you you can find a weakness.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_02: Like he just went against Andrew Abbott, who ate our lunch and his lunch going into that game and completely embarrassed him.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_02: I think you're starting to see that evolution of Pete doesn't matter who's pitching, doesn't matter who the opposition is, he's just that much better.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_02: I'm willing now.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_02: If I make that connection, then I'm willing to say we should be good enough to beat anybody.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_02: But then this comes back to okay, let's go right into this one because this is a great connector, ball or strike.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_02: You're starting Tyrone Taylor over Ian Hap tomorrow, if we played the Phillies in the playoffs and Christopher Sanchez or Lazardo or one of the lefties was on the mount.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_02: Would you sit Ian Hap for Tyrone Taylor?
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_02: Because that's something we're gonna get into.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, if we do see the Phillies in the playoffs, if they end up being five or we're four, we're gonna have to see these two lefties.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: And so this comes back to where go, Pete's shown he can dominate these lefties, but I guess baller strike, let's stay on Ian Hap and Tyrone Taylor.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_02: Baller strike, you're benching Ian Hap for Tyrone Taylor against left-handed pitching if it started tomorrow.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_00: That's a strike for me.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm putting him on the bench.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: This the I think I read the OPS is 520, around 5'20 for Ian Hap, and it's 880 for Taylor.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: He half strikes out too much against lefties.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, you you need someone that that that can put the ball in play and make some plays against these left-handed pitchers against the Phillies in the playoffs.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_00: I love Ian Hap.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: He's done a lot for this team.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: I saw him yesterday.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's funny, Marky had the graphic up top 11 home run hitters in in the Cubs uniform, and they only put 11 there because half's number 11.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, so they wanted to kind of sneak him in that graphic there.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm I'm sticking with Taylor.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, you got to play, you can't just play with your heart in the playoffs.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: Taylor's got to be the guy that didn't get those at bats um against a left-handed pitcher.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_01: I I have it as a strike as well, and only because it that's basically what is happening right now.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_01: Hap is not starting against lefties, and if the playoffs started tomorrow, he wouldn't start against them either.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_01: And I could see him being a defensive replacement later in the game.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_01: Other than otherwise, the answer to your question, Carl, is a strike.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_01: Tyrone Taylor has to start left field, has to get those at bats against those lefty type of pitchers.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_01: Ian Hap on a walk year.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_01: It's not worth it, like CB said, can't play with the heart, baby.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we've seen enough, right?
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's like a good it's just a question is like, is Craig seen enough?
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_02: And then this is also like the fan perspective versus the dugout perspective.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_02: I'd be interested what the players would say off the record about it.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: Because obviously, yeah, he has been here for a long time.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_02: The other thing, too, like we're not talking about against right-handed pitching.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_02: Like Ian Hap is gonna be in the lineup, should hit fifth.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_02: He still pops from the left side.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's just making that conscious decision that we're at a disadvantage if we have Tyrone Taylor on the bench and even happen left field because the glove isn't that much better justified at this point, which is the nice thing about the addition of Taylor.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_02: But then I'll come back to this too.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_02: If we do sit hap against a lefty, then he becomes what?
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_02: Is he our best lefty bat off the bench?
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_02: Hammer Conforto?
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_02: Like who who gets a pinch hit spot then?
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_02: Hammer Conforto.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'd go with Hap in that position.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_00: You have to at that point.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_00: Conforto's had a great he's he's he's been he's exceeded what I thought he would do this year, but uh if hap's coming in, you put him out there, then you you can put him the upfield as a good defense replacement.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_00: So the half's a left-handed bench are bad off the bench in that situation.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_02: Which then it's like if we agree Tyrone Taylor's an upgrade against left-handed pitching, then we also agree that it's an advantage to the bench, and then have Ian Hap go to the bench and then be available to pinch hit against a very tough righty who might only have two pitches in command issues.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_02: Like that's where Ian Hap's gonna thrive.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_02: So all right, we're smart.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, last position to be in.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_01: My computer's going to dark mode, too.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: Do you guys have computers go into dark mode just now?
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_01: Oh just switched.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_02: No, you might still be on the Japanese time zone.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_01: That might be, yeah.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe I was an early bump.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_02: So black and white.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, what about uh what about this now?
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_02: Shaw's back.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_02: So baller strike.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, let's assume Danzby Swanson is back healthy too.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_02: So it's Swanee in in corner up the middle.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_02: So then uh baller strike, Pedro Ramirez is ahead of Matt Shaw on the infield depth chart once Swane comes back.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_00: That's a strike for me.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: And I I've been one of Matt Shaw's biggest fans since he came up.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: I just really love the way he had love his approach, love the way he plays the game.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: But Ramirez has done what he's been asked of.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he's he's come in, and when when Dan Tree got hurt, it was like, hey, he's the second baseman, he's hitting well.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um he's the guy, he's the hot hand, he's been there.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_00: Shaw hasn't seen a lot of live pitching this year, and and I feel like he does have the mental headspace to bounce back, and that won't be a big deal for him.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: But Ramirez has played himself into that role, in my opinion.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I have it as a strike too in this situation of where he is on the depth.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_01: Uh however, I do think that Shaw will be very valuable piece in October because that is still going to allow us for the flexibility.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_01: He's played multiple positions.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_01: Pedro Ramirez, though, I mean, just the way that he's been exploding against lefties, period, as well as just his his feel his fielding at second base is above average.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_01: I can't see how you could slow him down right now.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_01: And I think he still has some upside there.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a strike.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_01: Pedro Ramirez over Matt Shaw, but I think Matt Shaw is gonna have some huge moments down the stretch that might have us revisiting this very conversation, Carl, in about a month or so.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_02: So I think this is gonna be going kind of low.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm with you right now that it is Pedro Ramirez.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: But it's like crazy to say Shaw's not going to be competing his butt off to get that job back.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: Like, that's just how Matt Shaw is.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_02: And then next man up, if he does have to take a position, I am comfortable with that guy.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: More than I probably should be.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_02: But can we just like for a second, you know, like everybody, Baniax, everybody, everybody in the community right now, just take it, take a second and enjoy what Pedro Amiriz has done this year.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_02: Because that's not a name at all.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_02: Anybody was talking about in December about having anything close to the impact.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_02: He's had it was a guy.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, pay attention, this guy's got to get bat.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_02: We'll see if maybe he plays.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_02: It's hard to break into the infield, but he's he's been way above replacement levels.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and the timing of his you know come up in Gansby getting hurt towards the end of the year, with Matt Shaw getting healthier and coming back at this very time.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: We're we're lucky, very, very lucky to have these types of players on our team and lucky that we're we're seeing Pedro Ramirez doing what he does.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, doing what he does.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: What am I talking about?
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_01: Doing what we didn't know he was going to be doing, is the way I should phrase.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_02: So let's get we obviously we want to talk about this brewer series that's kicking off.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_02: And I've maintained forever the series, the season's not over the division's not out of control at all.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_02: I've said that in the intro, I said that in the recap, you know, before we before we got into the round table discussion here.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's important to emphasize that as we get into this brewer series.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_02: I have like I'm not saying all the expectation that we compete hard and all this stuff.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just not willing to say the divisions over ball or strike.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_01: Ball slightly outside for me.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, ball.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_01: That's a ball.
• 23:48
  unknown: Fuck.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'm with I'm with Mahoney here.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_00: That's a ball.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_00: I was oh I know.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: I hate to break your heart, but it they have to show me something against the Brewers, and it's a four-game series.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: You if they if they win the first two, I'm gonna call you.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'll be the first one to say, hey, this is that was a strike.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_02: Well, no, I'm saying right now.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_02: I know, but I know it's I'm not ready for it yet.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_02: Sunday night, I'm saying that I'm not willing to call it before the series starts.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_02: You're calling it before the series starts.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_02: Mahoney's calling it before that's what I'm saying.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_01: Carl didn't hear no bell.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_02: I'm saying right now.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_00: Like because I'll put it this way, Carl.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_00: I've been thinking about the Phillies a lot more than I had the Brewers the last 10 days, and that that concerns me as a fan, but that's where my head's at right now, and that's that's why I answered the question the way I did.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_01: And I just do it because I'm seeing seven.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_01: Anytime I see seven and a half or eight, it it it just gives me the heebie jeebies, especially on August 30th.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_01: And I know we we have seven total against them the rest of the year, but they're gonna be playing other games too, you know?
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: And like, yeah, we just we gotta get three out of four here for me to be pulled back in and getting that uh strike by the end of the week, Carl.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and as we record this too, like just transparency, there was rain delay, we got young kids here on the other side of the like there's a bigger forces are at play, which is why at the time of recording, it would appear that we'll be eight back when the series starts.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: So maybe maybe I should be calling, maybe like a realistic version of me.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_02: You know, this is kind of like a good intersection that I have in my fandom, which is like I know that deep down inside the beast in me does not want to give up.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_02: However, I do hold this out to be an objective place where we have like legitimate conversation.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_02: So am I sacrificing my position as like an objective baseball guy if I'm gonna sit here and be like, no, no, no, no, no, no.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_02: The vision's still in in reach as long as we play well.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_02: What do you guys think?
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_02: Is that is that, or am I just should I just shut the fuck up and get into the preview?
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_00: I I like where your head's at.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: I do.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: I wish my head was a little bit more like yours in this situation.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: I just I just I think you're a little bit crazy right now.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_00: I see that eight games and I see that we have seven against some, and it and like Maloney said, it's August 30th.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm just not as confident.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like I said, my eyes have been just making sure we maintain that lead on the Phillies at this point.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_00: And I hope they changed my mind this week.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_00: But back to your original question because I was a cop-out answer.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: Today, my answer is it's a ball.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_01: And really, it Carl, uh the old me, I'd be doing any math that says that we could do it, it's gonna work out like a little kid on the paper.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you're looking at the calendar, crossing off the game, seeing how many you have to win to catch them, whatever.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but I mean, even just doing the show, I've become slightly more objective, and that's the only reason where I'm like, I don't know.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_01: If it's eight, I'm a little bit reluctant, and I'd rather focus my energies elsewhere.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_02: Which gets us into we should do it.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_02: It's time to do the preview.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_02: Now, if you followed me before, I why do I have to say that?
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_02: I've done these before where I do the roster breakdowns, roster wars, whatever.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_02: It it couldn't get any easier than to just take one team versus the other team, start position group by position group.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_02: We'll start with the number ones, we'll start with the starting pitching staff, we'll get in a bullpen.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_02: I think we got infield catching group, outfield, maybe bench manager.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_02: Anything else you guys want to talk about, obviously, we'll get into it, but we'll just start with the starting pitching.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_02: And I do like the fact now.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_02: This is a four-game series, and we are gonna send Gossman to the mound, we are gonna send Holmes to the mound, we are gonna send Boyd to the mound.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_02: Now it's not gonna be like a playoff series in the way they're set up, but those three guys are going.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_02: Peterson is going.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_02: If this was a seven-game series, these would be the four pitchers we're we would send out there.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_02: Opposite that, we're gonna see Kyle Harrison, Mizerowski, Logan Henderson, and Gasser.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_02: Not in that order.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_02: Any immediate reactions to who has better starting pitch?
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: Out of the position groups you named, this is I think this is the biggest blowout in favor of the Brewers right now.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_00: I I I like what you just said about having Clay Holmes and Gaussman on there, kind of see what they could do as like a as like a playoff preview.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_00: But if you look at every position group, this one is this I I can't even make an argument for it.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, Miz is better than all of our starting pitchers combined in B-War.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_00: It it's it's crazy, or it's crazy.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: So um that this one doesn't deserve as much airtime as the other ones because I think we can get really into weeds on other ones, but starting pitching is brewers all day.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, unfortunately, it is.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_01: It does have the headline with with the Miz.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's a baller strike, but strike.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, did they yeah, their starting pitching is is definitely better, but I'm looking at let's look double sided the coin here, guys.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_01: Devil's advocate.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_01: We have more guys.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like we got more dudes than the brewers do, they just have more talent on the top end, and with that said, you know, we're not at that level.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_01: They do kind of blow us out of the water in terms of starting pitching, so we can leave it at that.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, I guess that's a strike, even though it wasn't a baller strike.
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I mean, the Mizorowski matchup is Peterson, so like you can kind of it's an interesting take there.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_02: Do you prefer that our worst guy in the four is going against Mizorowski?
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_02: Now again, all I should say, I agree that the Brewers have better starting pitching, and I agree Mizorowski largely is he's just so good, but at the same time, they're also consistent.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_02: Kyle Harrison's good, Henderson's good, etc.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_02: So now do we have any type of can we can we find any type of advantage in the fact that Peterson's pitching against Mizorowski, which means we have a slight advantage Holmes versus Harrison at home?
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_02: Do we have a slight advantage with Boyd at home against Gasser?
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_02: We probably have an advantage at home with Gossman over Henderson on game four.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_01: So the depth is there for the Chicago Cubs.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_02: Even though we agree that the Brewers have better starting pitching, I just went through and said if you look at this, I I give on two occasions I say the Cubs have an advantage.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_02: On one occasion, the Brewers have an advantage, and on one occasion for the series of coin flip.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_00: So we like the way it's laid out.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_00: We like the way it's laid out.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's like you said, it's not laid out exactly like a playoff series, but we have a slight advantage in a couple of the ball games, which is good.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's a fair way to say it.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_02: Um what about the bullpen?
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I feel like the Brewers regardless of what the situation is, like they always just have five, six guys, always healthy, always count on.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh in the meantime, I feel like this is the biggest weakness the Cubs have.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_02: Unless Mahoney, you feel otherwise?
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_02: Do you like our bullpen right now?
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, not in comparison to Milwaukee's.
• 30:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, but McGill's their closer, they have your ebay, is the setup man.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they're loaded and they always have been.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: Every year I look up, and their bullpen is one of the scarier components of a major league baseball team.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_01: And ours, I wouldn't say, is very frightening at this time, but theirs, theirs is.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_01: So I I think that they have the edge uh on the bullpen, and I think ours can get there.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_01: It's just not quite at that level, right?
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_00: They have they have some high leverage arms that are really talented, and we have a couple high leverage arms that I don't know if they're where they need to be right now.
• 31:28
  SPEAKER_00: Webb was and kind of fell off a little bit.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_00: Plentia is not where he needs to be right now.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we're missing that high leverage, it's incredibly important down the stretch.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: So I I give the advantage here to the breweries.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_00: Not quite as big as the starting pitching against our starting pitching, but they have better arms than we do.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_02: And our arms are just all over the place right now.
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_02: All you have to do is just go to a Cubs Reddit page and just see what people have to say about the bulkhead because there the I did a whole thing about this on Friday.
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, the amount of names and just opportunities that are going to be available over the next couple weeks.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_02: So it's not even that, like, yeah, I think the brewers have better arms.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_02: We're also still in this position where like guys are getting opportunities and guys are being mixed and matched, and we're still doing a discovery phase where I think the brewers are much further along in what they know about their bullpen.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_02: So it's it's uh it's yes, we're at a disadvantage and we're also in a shitty situation because we don't even know what's going on.
• 32:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like Xavier Sean, we want Palency to be better.
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_02: I agree with you about Webb.
• 32:32
  SPEAKER_02: Do we all agree though that Palencia like today, tomorrow, whenever?
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_02: Like Palencia is a closer for here the rest of the year if unless he gets hurt, right?
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_02: Strike?
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_02: Strike for me.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, strike as well.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_02: What about all right, like what about catching?
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_02: Do we want to do that?
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_02: Do we want to get it like I feel like that's that's just the most specific one we can do here?
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um two sides of the coin to this one, too.
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I like our as a tandem, I like the Cubs.
• 33:03
  SPEAKER_01: As the single catcher, I like the Brewers, William Cotreras.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_01: But I love Carson Kelly and I like Amaya Spelling.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm with uh Contreras is a better offensive talent than both of them, but I like our I like our both catchers.
• 33:22
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't know how to even say this.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_00: I I kind of give slight edge clubs here because love it.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, if Contreras is cold for some reason in the playoffs hitting wise, we could take advantage of him as as a defensive catcher.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: He's more of a liability than we have.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_00: And then Kelly, if you look at their numbers, they're pretty similar offensive wise.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_00: Contreras and Kelly.
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_00: Like I Contreras has more home runs, not that many more, but Kelly's putting up a pretty solid year, and I do trust the Maya back there still.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna slight edge Cubs here, uh, just because they're so dependent on Contreras, and we can kind of mix and match with pitchers and hitters and whoever's there to find the best solution.
• 34:00
  SPEAKER_02: The Cubs have the fourth best catching tandem in the National League by combined wins above replacement as a group.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_02: So when like baseball reference has a page that breaks it down if you go to the catcher, sort by catcher.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_02: Cubs are Cubs are seventh in Major League Baseball, fourth in the National League.
• 34:15
  SPEAKER_02: Uh the Brewers are 11th in Major League Baseball.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Contreras is by far the most talented player out of the entire group, but uh I do like Arc Tandem more.
• 34:25
  SPEAKER_02: And hey, do we have any like tape on this?
• 34:27
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think so.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_02: Mahoney, do we have any tape this year on us sucking Carson Kelly's dick for being the best ABS guy in MLB?
• 34:35
  SPEAKER_01: No, I don't believe we have much tape on that one, Carl.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_02: But he is.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_02: You like blowjobs, would you mind?
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_00: No, that's that's I don't even know that I didn't know that stat, so I I'm I'm happy to hear that.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, good for Carson.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_00: I know that's all I got to say about that.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, uh let's let's do we want to flip a coin on this?
• 34:58
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, this seems like we're at home.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_02: People are gonna this is where we lose our objectivity.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_02: William Contreras is William Contreras William Contreras is better than Carson Kelly and I think Alamaya.
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_02: Now, over the next four days, I think the Cubs have a better catching tandem for four straight games.
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's fair.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_00: I agree.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_00: I agree.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe maybe that's how I should have said instead of freezing it like let's hope we run into a cold Contreras in the playoffs.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_00: Like over the next four games, we have better options than they have.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Contreras is definitely more talented than Kelly, but if you look at the numbers, Kelly's not too far behind.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_02: Mahoney, you anything you want to add before I get to the the next grouping here?
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_01: No, I you know what?
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_01: I like our catchers.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_01: I did what I want to add one thing about Miguel Amayo when I was at that event a few weeks ago.
• 35:49
  SPEAKER_01: He tossed us a ball.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_01: So it was really nice of him.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_01: He was coming over, yucking it up.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_01: Great personality.
• 35:54
  SPEAKER_01: He was starting tomorrow.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_01: But man, what a just nice gentleman.
• 35:58
  SPEAKER_01: Saw some of the ladies, signed some autographs, did everything that he could to take the time out and give it to uh to some Cubs fans, torn while he was, you know, getting some guys ready for the game.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_00: You know what, Mahoney.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta do the Maniacs a favor, give him a muerte one week because someone that does that for you, you got to give them a little bit of awards.
• 36:17
  SPEAKER_00: So you got to give him a mango muerte one week.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_01: I will.
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna be looking for any opportunity to fit Vigalamaya in on uh a vigilante of the week for sure.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_01: And a muerte is where he would fit in.
• 36:28
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_01: He's a mango guy.
• 36:30
  SPEAKER_01: He is.
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, yeah, he is a mango, you know, because I was about to make an argument for Lamar Madron, but as I'm thinking about it, he's a mango, which reminds me you guys can get their supercaro shipped directly to your front door.
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_02: Just go to Amazon.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, corner infielders.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_02: This should be a blowout.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_02: Alex Bregman and Michael Bush first.
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_02: However, Jake Bowers is much better than people realize, and he's very good left on left.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_02: He's very good left on left.
• 36:55
  SPEAKER_02: Jake Bowers is a first baseman.
• 36:57
  SPEAKER_02: Then they've got David Hamilton's played a little bit of first base or a little bit of third base for him.
• 37:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I it they're hard, they're they're hard to predict what's going on.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_02: I gotta you gotta follow the uh I feel like unless I'm wrong here, like is is Murphy's using many people who play third base this year.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_01: To my knowledge, yes, and also platooning at first.
• 37:21
  SPEAKER_01: So it's the corner infield, it's the Cubs, Carl, and it's not even close.
• 37:24
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm just gonna tell you why Michael Bush and Alex Bregman, and that's it.
• 37:29
  SPEAKER_01: It's almost that that's just too easy right there.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_01: I'm with you on that, but I'm in on two guys.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_01: Go ahead, sir.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm with you on that, and Bregman's really kind of turned a corner lately, but I do want to reiterate what what Carl said about Bowers.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_00: He's a stud, he's really good, so don't sleep on that first baseman.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_00: I know when when they got Andrew Vaughn and he had that unbelievable month, he's kind of nothing though.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_00: But Bowers is a really, really talented ball player.
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's a good way to say it because when we talk about the Brewers, it's very easy to say faceless, nameless, they're just good tough players or whatever.
• 38:01
  SPEAKER_02: But like uh Bowers does jump out as somebody who's a very good ball player.
• 38:06
  SPEAKER_02: I have no disagreements.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, I'm extremely biased towards Alex Breckman, and then Michael Bush is so consistent.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_02: Middle infield is very interesting, and just so we're keeping score of this, we do have Brewers have the better starting pitching, although the Cubs matchups kind of slightly favor the Cubs in this situation.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, they do have a better bullpen, they have the more talented catcher.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_02: I like our catching depth.
• 38:28
  SPEAKER_02: They are weaker at the corner infield.
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_02: Now the middle infield position is interesting because Joey Ortiz and Bryce Turing up the middle are durable.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_02: We have Nico Horner playing shortstop, Pedro Ramirez at second base, maybe with Matt Shaw moonlighted in these four games.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_02: No Dansby Swanson.
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_02: So who do you give the edge C B to with the middle infielders?
• 38:47
  SPEAKER_00: I I hate to say this because I I was always team Nico over Bryce Tarang, but Bryce Tarang is having such a fantastic year, and the uncertainty and Shaw being hurt, and you don't know what Danz is gonna be like when he comes back.
• 39:01
  SPEAKER_00: Again, we love Pedro, but Bryce Tarang is is the most talented player right now out of anyone in the middle of the field on either team, so I have to give a slight edge to the Brewers on this one.
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_02: Bryce Turing's very good.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_01: You would automatically like uh off the top of my head, Cubs, best offensive team in the league.
• 39:19
  SPEAKER_01: You think about with a with Dansby being out, it for me it changes the answer to the question where I would have to lean towards the Brewers, and and CB just put it really the exact reason why.
• 39:31
  SPEAKER_01: With with Dansby out, I I don't I know Pedro's good and sufficient, however, they have some go GovClay Alber guys up the middle.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_01: So Brewers right now, Cubs overall.
• 39:43
  SPEAKER_02: If Swanson's playing, uh there's no way I'm gonna even entertain this argument.
• 39:49
  SPEAKER_02: There's no way, so it's really just comes back to like Nico out of position is worse, way worse than Bryce Tarang at second base.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_02: I'd much rather have Nico at second base even for having this argument.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_02: So now it's Joey Ortiz at shortstop versus Pedro Miris at second.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_02: And Ortiz a solid shortstop.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_02: I I can't I can't put myself in a position to argue for Pedro Miris here.
• 40:13
  SPEAKER_02: Um I like Tarang a lot too.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_02: Like these aren't average guys, or these aren't guys having like you know surprisingly good seasons.
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_02: These are very good baseball players.
• 40:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and Joey Ortiz, he's like a glove first guy, right?
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_01: He's not some offensive giant threat.
• 40:32
  SPEAKER_01: So there's a reason why he's out there playing as much as he is up the middle.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_02: So it is what it is right now, but yeah, Ortiz is Ortiz is a solid, like doesn't really strike out that much.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_02: You know, he's got like a lower strikeout rate, lower walk rate.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, he's just like clutch, he doesn't get really beat too much.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_02: Runner on third base, less than two outs.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_02: He's the exact type of person you want the box.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_02: Like when we complain about bad baseball and runners and scoring position and shit.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_02: This is a guy who can bunt, he can hit and run, he can play all infield positions.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_02: He's a good leader.
• 41:05
  SPEAKER_02: Pat Murphy trusts him.
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_02: You know, he's just a grinder, it's a guy you look to at the end in the middle of the game, you're like solid, like the fact this guy's playing next to me.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um, yeah, and I would love if he was a club.
• 41:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I didn't I didn't even I didn't know that about him in the box and what have you, but I do know how good he is at fielding because that's what I've seen and what I'm familiar with.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it makes sense.
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_01: So, dude just shows up.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_02: No, I think we obviously we're missing like we're wasting time if we include if we just say all outfielders because we have Pete Crow.
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_02: So do we want to do corner outfielders?
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_02: Do you guys want to break it down like that?
• 41:40
  SPEAKER_02: Or what do you what do you want to say about the outfielders, CP?
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_02: Because obviously, anytime you lump Pete Crow in, it's as simple as doing the Mizorowski thing with the starting pitching, I feel like.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_00: Well, yeah, I agree.
• 41:49
  SPEAKER_00: And that I kind of when I said earlier that this is the biggest blowout starting pitching for the Brewers over the Cubs.
• 41:55
  SPEAKER_00: I did originally put all outfield together, and I know Churio's good, and but fuck that guy.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_00: PCA is so much better that this is not even close.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_00: This is a blowout as well.
• 42:05
  SPEAKER_00: You know, Freelick, I feel always plays well, but he's not really having a great year.
• 42:09
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Seya is putting up numbers just like Churio.
• 42:12
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't I think if you want to do corner outfield, they'll make it closer because PCA is in a different atmosphere.
• 42:17
  SPEAKER_00: But even if you do corner outfield, I think I think the the Cubs take both, take the corner and obviously take center field as well.
• 42:24
  SPEAKER_00: So they they're they're they're outfield is the sweet spot for for the Cubs right now, and the Brewers just can't compete with it.
• 42:32
  SPEAKER_01: Ditto, CB Ditto.
• 42:34
  SPEAKER_01: San Suzuki's a doubles machine, competent right fielder this year.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_01: We have options as well.
• 42:41
  SPEAKER_01: So if you think about the depth of our corner or of our corner outfield or of our outfield as a whole, um plenty of different pieces that we can move.
• 42:50
  SPEAKER_01: So I have the cubs with with our outfield as a whole, and then with the whole PCA aspect, it's like, come on, that's it.
• 42:59
  SPEAKER_01: I'm glad you took that element kind of out of the question to start.
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_01: But um, yeah, I still have the Cubs.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_02: If we did this at the start of the season, there'd be a very valid debate about Jackson Curio versus Peter Armstrong.
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_02: Am I wrong?
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_02: For sure.
• 43:12
  SPEAKER_02: No, absolutely.
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_00: There was a lot of debate on Twitter about Churio and how great he is or great he was um throughout you know, Cubs.
• 43:19
  SPEAKER_00: He's good, he's good.
• 43:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but he say has been just as good as him this year, so that's why it's like we're with Alfield is his Cubs, no question.
• 43:27
  SPEAKER_02: Say has been so good this year that we really have to start to introduce that uh before the season's over of does he have a future here?
• 43:36
  SPEAKER_02: So I'll do it now.
• 43:36
  SPEAKER_02: Does say have a future after this year?
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_01: I hope so.
• 43:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they they there's gonna be a big gap in right if they don't have him.
• 43:44
  SPEAKER_00: I I don't know what he's looking for as far as contract, but uh I I think I'd love to see him back, you know, three year, four year deal, whatever it may be.
• 43:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um he he deserves to be in right field right now.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_01: He's born on second base, dude.
• 44:01
  SPEAKER_01: He's just hammering the ball.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_01: It's just slug, slug, slug with that, dude.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_01: Or even if it's a single, it's a hard hit single into the gap off the wall, you know, that just happens to get take a bad angle.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_01: I I I really have I think he's been uh he's kind of flown under the radar this year with how good he's been.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_01: And um, I'm glad that you're bringing it up, Carl.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_01: I'd love to have him back.
• 44:23
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know what the finances are gonna look like, so I I'm hoping he would be back, and I would entertain a two to three year deal for for him to to return.
• 44:35
  SPEAKER_02: Things working against him are like the injury, and he's limited defensively, and so it'll kind of be hard for a team to give way more than whatever the Cubs offer, and maybe they can strike some kind of friendly deal there, you know, two, three-year option thing.
• 44:49
  SPEAKER_02: I do like it very much, and I think it's a great kind of closing pointer as we get ready for the brewer series that like to say is so overwhelmingly underrated, and I think it's fair to say that about a lot of guys on that team.
• 45:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think, you know, we're having great second halves the more you dig into it.
• 45:06
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm willing to say prediction-wise, despite we're you know, I hate the fact I'm about to do this because at the time of recording we are losing to the Cincinnati Reds.
• 45:14
  SPEAKER_02: It is looking bleak, but I'm I'm I've done the math.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_02: I went through the scouting report.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_02: I see a path to three and four.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_02: It's probably a coin flip two and two series, but I'm gonna vouch for three and four at the time of recording.
• 45:28
  SPEAKER_02: I am I'm vouching right now that we're gonna take three or four from the reverse.
• 45:32
  SPEAKER_02: Stop it.
• 45:33
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna ride.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_01: I'm riding with three or four.
• 45:36
  SPEAKER_01: The main race are gonna ride C B.
• 45:38
  SPEAKER_00: I'm riding with that.
• 45:39
  SPEAKER_00: Let's do we've we've we've shown up against big pictures.
• 45:42
  SPEAKER_00: I want to beat Miz.
• 45:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I I three out of four would be great for momentum, especially the way they played out west and what it's looking like right now against the Reds at home.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um three or four would be delightful.
• 45:54
  SPEAKER_00: We need we kind of need it.
• 45:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, I have like vivid memories about this time last year just shitting on Mizorowski's like makeup and he's a pussy.
• 46:05
  SPEAKER_02: Like, yeah, but the point of that is like we gotta get we gotta get out of now, man.
• 46:09
  SPEAKER_02: When it once this guy settles in, we're in big trouble.
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_02: He is setting them, we are in big trouble.
• 46:14
  SPEAKER_02: So if we get the Peterson over the Ms.
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_02: Rowski game, that's game three.
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_02: We win that one, that means we won the first two.
• 46:21
  SPEAKER_02: We win the first three, we're winning the fourth.
• 46:22
  SPEAKER_02: We sweep them.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_02: I'm back in business, boys.
• 46:24
  SPEAKER_02: I'll see if it's a five.
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's a strike, Carl.
• 46:26
  SPEAKER_01: Then I'm in on the division.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's a strike.
• 46:29
  SPEAKER_02: In the meantime, guys, this is the Monday morning cub show.
• 46:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, obviously appreciate if you guys get a chance to check out Thirsty McCarrow, subscribe to the show, leave a comment, be a lizard king, be a cook daddy.
• 46:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, jump in there, say what's up.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_02: Anything else I'm missing Mahoni?
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_01: No, hey, to CB.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks for joining again.
• 46:48
  SPEAKER_01: Reoccurring guest.
• 46:49
  SPEAKER_01: Appreciate it so much, brother.
• 46:52
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, is this is this your mo you're our most frequent guest?
• 46:56
  SPEAKER_01: I believe so.
• 46:57
  SPEAKER_02: I think this is four.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_01: That's a fact, then it's not a cracker jack.
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_02: Do you want it?
• 47:07
  SPEAKER_02: I mean this segment brought to you by my is this a that's an old segment from 2024.
• 47:14
  SPEAKER_02: Fun factor crackerjack.
• 47:16
  SPEAKER_02: CB, do you want people to follow you on uh they can.
• 47:20
  SPEAKER_00: I don't put out much like you guys, so like it they're not.
• 47:22
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I I interact with Lizard King, Iraq Carl, Iraq Mahoney.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_00: That's really about it.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_00: Shout out Lizard King, by the way.
• 47:28
  SPEAKER_00: He's boots on the ground, he's doing great stuff.
• 47:30
  SPEAKER_00: So more than welcome to shoot me a DM.
• 47:33
  SPEAKER_00: You can you know, tweet me.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll respond.
• 47:36
  SPEAKER_00: But no big deal.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_00: I'm here for the maniacs, I'm not here for anything else.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_00: I just like talking baseball, and I'm I'm hoping this thing turns around a little bit.
• 47:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'd love to catch the Brewers, Carl.
• 47:46
  SPEAKER_00: I hope I'm wrong, but I'm I'm worried about the Phillies right now.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_00: So uh I need to be a little bit more optimistic, I guess.
• 47:52
  SPEAKER_02: I like where your head's at.
• 47:53
  SPEAKER_02: That's CB, obviously, Mahoney on the other side.
• 47:55
  SPEAKER_02: This is Carl.
• 47:56
  SPEAKER_02: This is the Monday morning cub show.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna hear more from CB as a season wines now.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_02: We got some other people we're gonna talk to.
• 48:01
  SPEAKER_02: Until then, though, guys, obviously please subscribe to the show, share the show, be a lizard king, be a cook daddy.
• 48:07
  SPEAKER_02: Until next time, go cubs.