00:00:06
Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick, the Cubs are red hot. Nine in a row. Wasn't the prettiest of wins on Thursday, but they got it done. The I mean, I think we got to talk about the offense right now. We've talked a lot about the pitching. The pitching has been strong, especially with all the injuries. I've been impressed with how resilient the group has been bullpen in particular, which we'll touch on coming up later in this show. But we got to talk about this offense they have. The numbers are updated. They're not in my story because I wrote midday and after last night's games. Here here are just some of the numbers, like third and runs scored behind Atlanta and Washington and all baseball. When it comes to way to runs great A plus, they're second in baseball behind the Dodgers. They're among they're the best team when it comes to obp they are third in batting average and the power, which has not been there, is now starting to come their eighth in isolated power A great like a stat that just basically says how many extra base hits you're getting. Sey Suzuki kind of cold when he when he came off the IL. Now he's one of the hottest hitters in the game. Moys is by a steros is just like a doubles machine. It seems like Dansby Swanson's hitting for power and HAPs hitting for power. Michael Bush seems to be coming around a huge home run on Thursday against Christopher Sanchez, one of the best pitchers of baseball. You can say that they're feasting on on reeling teams, but these aren't talentless teams. The Mets and Phillies are struggling, but they have talent and you have to beat up on some. You have to just face the schedule. You know, you have to take on the schedule as is that the offense is performing at a very high level. Whatever you want to say about that disjointed start to the season, that looks like it's well in the rear view mirror right now.
00:02:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm disappointed. You beat me to the Joe Madden oil paintings line. They all can't beat oil paintings in April twenty third, an early time to go to it, but I thought it kind of summed up this team of like, wasn't that long ago. I mean I wrote it like, this doesn't look like the team they're supposed to be, and of course they went on this ridiculous hot streak since then. I gotta say I also thought one of your lines of like kind of like last year's seem like, if you just have one really hot streak and play five hundredha the rest of the year, you're a playoff team. And obviously there's a long way to go. A lot can happen, but this is the type of stretch you need to withstand injuries, to withstand, you know, the inevitable regression, under performance, whatever it is. And I think you are starting to feel that. Like when Counsel and Bregman were saying things are going to turn. I know they have to say that they probably still believe it, but they were right. I mean, even guys who were struggling, you can see the numbers creeping up, and clearly they're playing with just a ton of confidence right now.
00:03:31
Speaker 1: When they say those things. For the most part, I always agree, Yes, you gotta be patient. This team will get better that that team. But the one concern I had at that time was there are a lot of injuries on this team. Like eventually they're going to catch up to you. I felt like it did on Thursday and the offense and the offense stepped up. I mean that was first of all, there was some uncared, duristically poor defense in in one inning I cannot remember exactly. I think it was the seventh, uh maybe yeah, seventh, seventh because Edward Cabrera was cruising Edward Cabrera. I thought, uh, I know, he had a couple shutouts early in the season to start the season. I thought he looked his best, uh, and then that that seventh kind of uh, you know, took the luster away from that start. I felt like, but uh best, like his best command, best command of of like all his pitches seemed to really like be sequencing properly. I talked to some pitching coaches before the game to kind of get an idea because he wasn't striking a lot of guys out and and he they said that they're still working on something sequencing wise, and and also like one thing guys said is like they need to figure out what pitch to kind of helps reset him. Like every like sometimes pitchers lose their command and they have like one pitch that it's like, okay, go back to that, go back, go to this, and that'll reset your your mechanics and everything and get you locked in on the zone. Who knows where they are in that process after yesterday's start, but I thought it was one of his better starts of the season. But yes, that that offense, you know, pulled it out for them, they like multiple times. It wasn't that that Saya Suzuki home run in the eighth, I believe, uh, I think it began the eighth. He just hit a rocket after the Cubs blew the lead. They had a six to two lead. It cut it to six', five then six to, six and then and then immediately say it hits a home, run and then immediately they blow it and then they still win that. Game that's one of those things where it's like multiple. Times it wasn't quite The diamondbacks crazy game last year at At, wrigley where the wind was howling out and it was like back and, forth insane, swings but it did feel, Like, okay this was a game that you almost. Blew it was almost, like, eh how can, you, like how can you have a bad feeling after a six and one homestand that they almost did, That and it's like. No seven to zero homestand really impressive. Offense AND i think the biggest key is these, guys like they were doing it without three maybe four. Guys you could say for majority of this, STRETCH pca hasn't been, Great Michael bush has been really, bad Says, suzuki hadn't been showing any, power And Alex bregman just wasn't, himself didn't feel like he was getting the ball in the air and. Up pretty much all of that changed this series against The. Phillies now you have those four. Guys we'll see About. Pete we can talk About pete in the next segment when we talk About la and going To, La but those other three look like they've found their. Rhythm and it's and to me like when you when your best players haven't even been playing that great and you're able to rattle off nine in a, row it says a lot About it's kind of what we said all, offseason like they wanted to build a deeper. Team, remember how we talked About jed being obsessed with. Depth they've kind of nailed this so. Far it's a month into the. SEASON i don't want, to you, know crown them just, yet but but they like early. On you have to give them props for the depth and kind of the team that they've built here that that's been very resilient and stood up to the early season. Tests they have a.
00:07:42
Speaker 2: Lot of, answers and all these things are connected to of you have starting pitchers sort of setting the tone for the, game an offense giving all the pictures but particularly the bullpen.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: Late a little more breathing, room.
00:07:58
Speaker 2: Elite, defense kind of racing mistakes all over the, fields the layers of depth that they have to be able to plug in certain, guys whether it's like a particular matchup in the game or when these inevitable injuries. ARISE i, mean watching The, phillies you know there's a long way to. Go they have a lot of elite, talent but you do start to, wonder, like are they kind of approaching that, Cliff like they're a little bit of a creaky operation at this.
00:08:34
Speaker 3: Point, obviously The mets season just totally went off the.
00:08:37
Speaker 2: Rails In, april and that even if they have an amazing second, half even if they have a Good may In, june they'll still be pointing at that of, like man like if only had stolen a couple of those, games if we'd gotten a couple. Breaks and that's like in the best case, scenario we'll see with you, know both of these teams like which which.
00:09:01
Speaker 3: Managers and coaches.
00:09:02
Speaker 2: Survive and you, know but they're already sort of getting buried in division where The braves look to be. Back The cubs had to play well to keep pacing a division that looks better than at LEAST i thought heading into the.
00:09:19
Speaker 3: Season, again we'll, see but.
00:09:24
Speaker 2: This, schedule outside of that homestand to start the, season uh have a lot of on, paper a lot of difficult, opponents and they've more than you, know passed this first initials test.
00:09:37
Speaker 1: Here, yeah obviously a big one coming. Up so why why don't we take a quick break here and talk about this this weekend series in la which which will obviously be a, huge huge test for. Them All, right, everyone it is summertime In, chicago or at least it's close to summertime In, chicago which means it's time to get out of the, house get to some baseball. GAMES i Know i'm gonna go See John mullani At Wrigley. Field i'm gonna take my kids to a game out there and then probably somewhere. Else drive them somewhere around this country and see another. Ballpark knock one off the. List which is WHY i want to give the sponsor of today's, video See geek a huge shout. Out with over thirty five million, downloads Sea geek is the number one rated ticketing. App there are more than seventy thousand events listed on sea, geek including, concerts, sports, festivals and. More we're in full swing in THE mlb, season THE nba AND nhl playoffs are, here THE nfl schedule is coming out, soon and you can Get World cup tickets on Sea. Geek and of COURSE i have a code for you. Guys you can Use territory ten for ten percent off your next set of tickets at Sea. Geek that's ten percent off any tickets with per Code territory. Ten make sure you click the link in the description to download the app and have the code automatically added to your account so you can use it. Later thank, You sea. Geek all, Right, patrick The cubs are on The west, coast three IN la three In San. DIEGO i want to, say The cubs have like the fourth best record in, baseball and these are two of the teams with better records than. Them they catch a if you want to say they catch a break in a, sense they do by missing show, Hey yamamoto And. Glass, now not that The dodgers have a bunch of stiffs filling out their, rotation but that that's a little bit of a. Break, still you have to face The dodgers and The. Padres this is going to BE i wouldn't you, Know like you said, that they've had some tests, already but this is the biggest test so. Far and this is the team that they have looked at from since spring. Training everyone looks at and, says we're gonna chase them, down like this is who we want to take down and we think we can do. It so here's the first early season test for.
00:12:20
Speaker 2: That, yeah looking at the pitch up, matchups pitching, matchups there.
00:12:27
Speaker 3: Would not Like Roki.
00:12:30
Speaker 2: Sazaki Roki sazaki's chances against this lineup at this particular, Moment like if you can't throw.
00:12:37
Speaker 3: Strikes it's going to be a long.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: Day but, also and we'll get into this in the next, segment like if The cubs bullpen is a little banged, up you, know this is obviously a tough place to, play even at full. Strength and then it was always interesting is Seeing Pico armstrong back. Home we'll see how, much if at, all he gets. BOOED i know that was a. Thing Chicago magazine had a story that came out during spring training And pete, essentially you, know, said you, Know cubs, fans you know are the.
00:13:13
Speaker 3: Greatest they're not you know, whatever fake fans or you, know just there to you, know take in the. Scene it. Was it was some sort of throwaway.
00:13:21
Speaker 2: LINE i have a hard time imagining, that Like dodger fans who like live in soul In california with like amazing weather and access to the mountains and The Pacific ocean and watching like like the greatest baseball creation of our, lifetimes really worrying about What.
00:13:37
Speaker 3: Pete armstrong said to a magazine writer several months. Ago but.
00:13:42
Speaker 2: This is where you Know pete's you, know, obviously Where pete grew, up where he built a name as a as a big time baseball.
00:13:51
Speaker 3: Prodigy and also where he turned his season.
00:13:54
Speaker 2: Around last year he was really. Struggling, reports inaccurate reports came out about the extent of his contract talks with The. Cubs he was pissed. Off those are you, know kind of his. Terminology and then he hits two home. RUNS i believe it was his first two home runs the season last. Year you're blown a kiss to his. PARENTS i think it was On Sunday Night, baseball but it, was you, Know, pete love's the, Moment AND i do think this is something we both heard in spring training of like. Cups they matched up pretty well against The dodgers during the regular season series last. Year obviously they didn't get. There they're not you, know you, know bragging or over. Confident it, realized you, know you got to get there. First BUT i think the eye test will be. Interesting and also the momentum can flip pretty quickly on The West coast, here it's not always it's not an easy place to, play and so that's why you want to bank those wins at home before you come out.
00:15:01
Speaker 1: Here, YEAH i, mean obviously huge should get all seven of those at home and feel. Good you obviously want to do as well as possible on The West. Coast but a, SPLIT i think is a huge. Win if you come away from this road trip three and, three you're feeling pretty good about. Yourself, obviously fans are gonna want. More The cubs want. More this IS I i Think pete is the story for this, weekend for when it comes to The, cubs like he's the. Story he needs to get hot at some, point like with the power. Stroke seems like we're seeing some signs of life offensively in. GENERAL i do think he's he's had a better. APPROACH i think he's walking a tiny bit. More he's not striking out as much of. Late he's hit some balls, Hard he's hit some balls hard against. Lefty THAT i, mean the power fully isn't there. Yet like the he had that one home RUN i want to say it was In tampa Against tampa And Saint. Pete that's that's his only home. Run that's like the Prototypical pete home run Two just like you, ripped pulled a ball high in the air and demolished. It those Are that's kind of what he did in L a last. Year so that that's kind of what you're looking. For just you, know a couple of those get red hot carry the team for a month or. Two if he gets. Hot you know this is you're talking about. IT i, MEAN i don't know how much better it can get one loss record, wise as as far as what they've done the past tennis, days but obviously this is A i think this offense has a chance to be very high powered and and and we've seen it, already said the numbers at the start of the. Show uh you Get. Pete this is gonna be a tough matchup for any team to face right now because a lot of guys are are feeling good at the. Plate.
00:17:12
Speaker 2: YEAH i, mean and If Pete romstrong is your number eight, hitter or Like Dancy swanson's your number nine, hitter you, know nine figure players at the bottom like, that that's not probably not where they would want to write their own names into the, lineup but it's certainly a sign of the depth.
00:17:30
Speaker 3: Of this.
00:17:31
Speaker 2: GROUP i think you see, too just like Adding, BRAGMAN i know he obviously is heating up. Now his overall numbers like don't wow, You BUT i think just his presence and just kind of the domino effect from him being in THERE i mean Having Matt shaw being what he played center field, Yesterday like just like here go, play go play center field At Wrigley, field and you, know he's done a good job overall of just kind of rolling with, things Having moises Bi asteros and and a bench that is just far more functional than what it had been in previous years and really allowing counsel to press all these different. Buttons LIKE i, know this is not how The cubs would have drawn it, up given all the injuries on the pitching, side and Obviously sayah was delayed coming, in BUT i don't, know you, side this is kind of like the almost like a the best case projected version of this, offense, Right like this is why they were so confident they'd get out of, it and.
00:18:42
Speaker 3: Why they were so confident in Letting Kyle tucker walk.
00:18:45
Speaker 1: To dodger, Stated, YEAH i mean you're. RIGHT i mean everyone hasn't played up to their potential just, yet but the fact that others are are playing really. Well, yeah, THIS i, mean this is you, KNOW i, WONDERED i thought this, team this could be a top ten. Offense LIKE i felt good about. THAT i KNEW i thought they had the potential to be a top five offense were a month end of the. Season they're not a top five. Offense, yeah for the full season, yet we'll see where they. Are but right now they're one of the best offenses in baseball without some guys really. Hitting AND i think that says a. Lot i'll say. THIS i did talk to. SO i talked To Alex bregman over the. WEEKEND i think about his, mechanics and he was way. Off he said he's been, working and he's been working for a. While this has been like weeks of him, working and he's not happy with where he was. AT i briefly talked to him yesterday just to make, sure LIKE i was, like, look we're seeing the results, now are the mechanics where you want them to. BE i just wanted to make sure, that you, know he's feeling, right he's seeing. Things he's, like, yes and he gets very. Detailed he's very quick about, it like he knows he. LIKE i was very much, like you, KNOW i don't want to bother. YOU i already took your time up the other. DAY i just want to make sure that the results That i'm seeing are a result of you working hard and getting your, mechanics. Right he he he wanted to talk about. It he was, like this is what's. Changed this Is he's like and he went over like. One he's, LIKE i had that. One did you see the one that went on the ground the other? Day that, like this is what. Happened this is why it wasn't. Right every other Swing i'm doing, This he's, LIKE i. Should he's, LIKE i barely missed two home runs this. Week he's like, this it's looking a lot more like it. Should it's starting to feel second. NATURE i think that's a big. Deal when When Alex bregman is starting, to you, know get his mechanics where he wants them. To, uh that's that that this guy's an incredibly intelligent hitter and and knows what what he wants to do on the. Field and when when he's at that, POINT i think that's that's a good sign for for. Him we'll see how it how it plays on The West, coast but he's a big part of this as, well and he seems to be turning things. Around, No Kyle tucker doesn't mean like this can't be a great. OFFENSE i think we we got a lot of questions about that in the, offseason AND i Think bregman Isn't Kyle, tucker but he's a he's a damn good. Player And moyes's biasteros we, had LIKE i, WAS i really thought he was going to be. Impactful he's better than what like early, on he's been better Than eve AND i. Expected but he kind of just puts the ball all over the, place like the like he got his second double yesterday off a. Lefty i'm not, saying you, know we don't need to Bug Craig counsel any further about whether he should be it's coming.
00:21:36
Speaker 4: Though it's coming, though pretty, soon pretty, Soon but that that was important to see, Too like these this is just a really deep, lineup really good, lineup AND i think you're seeing for those.
00:21:49
Speaker 1: Who, question like how can it be as good or how can how can you say this team is? BETTER i think you're kind of seeing some of those things as to why this is a has a potential to be as, good if not better team come you, know the middle of the. Season all, right let's take a quick break and come back and talk about some of the injuries that The cubs are.
00:22:10
Speaker 5: Facing support for today's episode comes From, square and they've got big. News during squares Biannual releases, event they launched a wave of innovative new tools to help local businesses run, faster, smarter and more. Profitably squares. Awesome Around orlando WHERE aj AND i, live we go to the farmers' markets around. TOWN i go to the one Near Lake.
00:22:29
Speaker 1: Iola it's.
00:22:30
Speaker 5: AWESOME i Use square to pay with my. PHONE i get the receipt right.
00:22:33
Speaker 1: Away it's.
00:22:34
Speaker 6: Great and so many, businesses not just small, businesses. Uses so many restaurants and BUSINESSES i walk, into not only In, orlando but all over the country have these and you just use your credit, card pops out a, receipt emails it right to. You it's so, fast it's so, efficient it's so hassle. Free it's one of the great things that you have.
00:22:51
Speaker 5: Going square launched its most powerful tools, yet designed to give local businesses a competitive edge without the. Complexity if you're ready to sell, smarter run faster and strung us last right, now you can get up to two hundred dollars Off square hardware At square dot, com slash go slash foul That's square dot, com slash, go slash f o u L run your business smarter With square get started.
00:23:11
Speaker 1: Today, patrick we got some injuries still pilot up for The. Cubs Caleb thielbar gave up that game tying home run To Adaliska. Garcia then about three pitches into his at bat Against Trey, turner he he came up like the trainer came. Out it sounds like left hamstring. Tightness Greek council was very. Vague you're In la, Obviously, well we'll find Out friday night whether this is an ill. Stin i'm assuming it. IS i mean left hamstring tightness at. First unless that was cramping and we're completely, Off i'm assuming that's an il. Stint That's Daniel, palencia your, closer Film, aton one of your top setup, Men Hunter, harvey one of your top setup. Men Caleb, theobar your top. Lefty now all on the. Shelf somehow they've been winning games without those. Guys Thel bar has been huge for, them getting a lot of saves. HERE i think about two or three saves in the, meantime while these guys have been injured like they really can't afford. This my assumption is the Way Craig council was, TALKING i think along with the potential theol bar. MOVE i think we'll see another. MOVE i think they're gonna try and get more fresh. Arms who those fresh arms ARE i don't. KNOW i just don't. KNOW i don't know who you're gonna add On friday beyond bringing Maybe luke little back with theol bar going on the, SHELF i don't even know who the potential other shuffling arms would. Be if, that IF i interpreted counsel correctly after game, yesterday.
00:25:03
Speaker 3: YEAH i mean you're looking at kind of that forty. Man the next guy's up At.
00:25:08
Speaker 2: Iowa usually that there's at least one name we can sort of be, like, oh you, know but.
00:25:13
Speaker 3: This is Not Colin.
00:25:15
Speaker 1: SNYDER i GUESS i don't.
00:25:16
Speaker 2: Know, well you MENTIONED i believe in your Story Trent. Thornton what is is he kind of a guy on the? Horizon maybe?
00:25:24
Speaker 1: Not, Yeah Trent. Thornton and THEN i was told he is going to be pitching An iowa. Soon So Trent, thornton veteran, reliever had a great twenty twenty, FOUR i want to, say and then twenty five HE i think he had like one bad outing that elevated his. Era and Then Torre's achilles and he's been out since. Then he's he's a guy that LIKE i think he's been throwing lives and things like that In, arizona really working his way. Back if you saw him in, spring he kept telling me WHENEVER i asked, him it was LIKE i can pitch right. NOW i don't know IF i could cover first. Base and if you looked at his, LEGS i want to don't quote me on, THIS i want to say it was left. Achilles if you looked at his, legs you could just see like the right calf was significantly stronger than the left, Calf like he needed to strengthen that area and get it back to you, know equal strength with his with his. Right and he must be there because they're sending him out on a rehab. ASSIGNMENT i don't know if you'd call it that he. Was he's a non roster. Invite he's not on the forty, man so he's going to be With TRIPLE. A we'll see for how. LONG i think they're not as they may not need to rush him Because mayton is making a rehab start tonight where we're recording this On friday or. Today Whenever iowa. Plays WHEN i say rehib not, rehab start rehab. Outing. UH i think he'll be back perhaps this weekend if that goes, well like he could be activated. Soon they do not seem overly concerned With Daniel. Palencia this could be a minimal Stint Hunter. Harvey while they're gonna just be super cautious and right now they're. Not they're not, like, eh this is worse than we thought type. Thing he's gonna start as throwing up again and throwing program back up again Today friday as, well and, uh and they'll go from. THERE i think you heard a lot of similar things early in the week and that's where they're at. Now just one more, injury though added to The, ledger And council was very matter of fact about. It he's like These he's, like, yeah there's there's a lot to handle and a lot to. Juggle but that's what a season, is you. Got it's a next man up. MENTALITY i can't dwell on what's already. HAPPENED i have to come up with, solutions and that's what he's, doing trying to figure everything. Out one one person did describe it to me as, chaos and they were, LIKE i kind of like just embrace, it and it's kind of you, know it's like solving a puzzle like we would try and, like you, know we prefer everyone we're, healthy but it's, like, okay this is a challenge for, us like how do we get through? This and councils, said, like you can't script out a. Season this isn't you, know you have an idea of how you want the season to, go but you also understand like you're going to be thrown curveballs and like the season doesn't go as you, expect so you have to adjusts as you, know these these challenges come come in your. Way, YEAH i.
00:28:41
Speaker 3: Mean cubs pitching, Development cubs pitching.
00:28:44
Speaker 2: INFRASTRUCTURE i know is an ongoing topic that we've discussed for several years, now and The cubs obviously get some criticism in certain aspects of, that and deservedly. So BUT i think on, balance over time you've seen them be more right than not that they've just ESTABLISHED i think kind of a mindset and obviously that starts with the, players but whether it's council's sort of, demeanor you, Know Tommy hottavey as this connector in baseball, operations the various analysts instructures that they have who come at it from different, angles and, YEAH i know that won't land like hearing this won't land that, well like if, show, hey HiT's like three homers off The cubs bullpen this weekend or one whatever whatever the case. Is, like this is a series that you know it could really look, bad but it's a group that usually finds solutions and they're not always the obvious.
00:30:00
Speaker 1: Once, YEAH i, Mean Riley martin has looked really. GOOD i don't know if i'd say like he's a he's a no doubt set up guy right, now but he's battled and he's looked, solid like he's he's he's done what The cubs needed him to, do kind of in an emergency. Situation we'll see How Corbyn martin, Develops like in an ideal, World Corbyn martin would still be in the minors and really getting into a rhythm and building. Up. Uh now he's kind of thrown into the. Fire we'll see how he reacts over. Time AND i do wonder If Colin snyder is is one of the moves this, weekend although that there's obviously some tough lefties with the with The, dodgers so we'll see if they're they're they're going to keep that lefty heavy bullpen. Going uh, yeah it's a it's been a resilient group and you're, right, like not always the most obvious, solutions but this is you, know a pitching infrastructure that has done well with with finding ways to get through these difficult. Moments basically they need like a WEEK i feel like of good news and and and guys not having setbacks and you almost get through. It perhaps we'll see what the news is On caleb. Dealbar if it's not, severe then that's. It that's another you, know major issue. Dodged but you hope it's nothing more than just like a quick stint on the il to get that hamsterring. Healthy we'll see if it even. IS i don't. KNOW i don't think you can afford to be short for even a full. WEEKEND i don't know if that that's, possible if they can do. That but, yeah, yeah all, right that's it for. Now we will next time we come at. You it'll be after This dodger. Series we'll see how The cubs do out In, la If pete wakes, up and if the pitching can hold down Show Hey, tony thanks so much for listening to. Everyone this Is Northside. Territory make sure to rate for you, subscribe subscribe to the YouTube channel and subscribe To The athletic Where patrick And iron top of all things. Cubs thanks, everyone take, care
Speaker 1: Welcome into Northside Territory Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm Sahadev Sharma with my partner Patrick Mooney. We are your Cubs beat writers over at the Athletic Patrick, the Cubs are red hot. Nine in a row. Wasn't the prettiest of wins on Thursday, but they got it done. The I mean, I think we got to talk about the offense right now. We've talked a lot about the pitching. The pitching has been strong, especially with all the injuries. I've been impressed with how resilient the group has been bullpen in particular, which we'll touch on coming up later in this show. But we got to talk about this offense they have. The numbers are updated. They're not in my story because I wrote midday and after last night's games. Here here are just some of the numbers, like third and runs scored behind Atlanta and Washington and all baseball. When it comes to way to runs great A plus, they're second in baseball behind the Dodgers. They're among they're the best team when it comes to obp they are third in batting average and the power, which has not been there, is now starting to come their eighth in isolated power A great like a stat that just basically says how many extra base hits you're getting. Sey Suzuki kind of cold when he when he came off the IL. Now he's one of the hottest hitters in the game. Moys is by a steros is just like a doubles machine. It seems like Dansby Swanson's hitting for power and HAPs hitting for power. Michael Bush seems to be coming around a huge home run on Thursday against Christopher Sanchez, one of the best pitchers of baseball. You can say that they're feasting on on reeling teams, but these aren't talentless teams. The Mets and Phillies are struggling, but they have talent and you have to beat up on some. You have to just face the schedule. You know, you have to take on the schedule as is that the offense is performing at a very high level. Whatever you want to say about that disjointed start to the season, that looks like it's well in the rear view mirror right now.
00:02:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm disappointed. You beat me to the Joe Madden oil paintings line. They all can't beat oil paintings in April twenty third, an early time to go to it, but I thought it kind of summed up this team of like, wasn't that long ago. I mean I wrote it like, this doesn't look like the team they're supposed to be, and of course they went on this ridiculous hot streak since then. I gotta say I also thought one of your lines of like kind of like last year's seem like, if you just have one really hot streak and play five hundredha the rest of the year, you're a playoff team. And obviously there's a long way to go. A lot can happen, but this is the type of stretch you need to withstand injuries, to withstand, you know, the inevitable regression, under performance, whatever it is. And I think you are starting to feel that. Like when Counsel and Bregman were saying things are going to turn. I know they have to say that they probably still believe it, but they were right. I mean, even guys who were struggling, you can see the numbers creeping up, and clearly they're playing with just a ton of confidence right now.
00:03:31
Speaker 1: When they say those things. For the most part, I always agree, Yes, you gotta be patient. This team will get better that that team. But the one concern I had at that time was there are a lot of injuries on this team. Like eventually they're going to catch up to you. I felt like it did on Thursday and the offense and the offense stepped up. I mean that was first of all, there was some uncared, duristically poor defense in in one inning I cannot remember exactly. I think it was the seventh, uh maybe yeah, seventh, seventh because Edward Cabrera was cruising Edward Cabrera. I thought, uh, I know, he had a couple shutouts early in the season to start the season. I thought he looked his best, uh, and then that that seventh kind of uh, you know, took the luster away from that start. I felt like, but uh best, like his best command, best command of of like all his pitches seemed to really like be sequencing properly. I talked to some pitching coaches before the game to kind of get an idea because he wasn't striking a lot of guys out and and he they said that they're still working on something sequencing wise, and and also like one thing guys said is like they need to figure out what pitch to kind of helps reset him. Like every like sometimes pitchers lose their command and they have like one pitch that it's like, okay, go back to that, go back, go to this, and that'll reset your your mechanics and everything and get you locked in on the zone. Who knows where they are in that process after yesterday's start, but I thought it was one of his better starts of the season. But yes, that that offense, you know, pulled it out for them, they like multiple times. It wasn't that that Saya Suzuki home run in the eighth, I believe, uh, I think it began the eighth. He just hit a rocket after the Cubs blew the lead. They had a six to two lead. It cut it to six', five then six to, six and then and then immediately say it hits a home, run and then immediately they blow it and then they still win that. Game that's one of those things where it's like multiple. Times it wasn't quite The diamondbacks crazy game last year at At, wrigley where the wind was howling out and it was like back and, forth insane, swings but it did feel, Like, okay this was a game that you almost. Blew it was almost, like, eh how can, you, like how can you have a bad feeling after a six and one homestand that they almost did, That and it's like. No seven to zero homestand really impressive. Offense AND i think the biggest key is these, guys like they were doing it without three maybe four. Guys you could say for majority of this, STRETCH pca hasn't been, Great Michael bush has been really, bad Says, suzuki hadn't been showing any, power And Alex bregman just wasn't, himself didn't feel like he was getting the ball in the air and. Up pretty much all of that changed this series against The. Phillies now you have those four. Guys we'll see About. Pete we can talk About pete in the next segment when we talk About la and going To, La but those other three look like they've found their. Rhythm and it's and to me like when you when your best players haven't even been playing that great and you're able to rattle off nine in a, row it says a lot About it's kind of what we said all, offseason like they wanted to build a deeper. Team, remember how we talked About jed being obsessed with. Depth they've kind of nailed this so. Far it's a month into the. SEASON i don't want, to you, know crown them just, yet but but they like early. On you have to give them props for the depth and kind of the team that they've built here that that's been very resilient and stood up to the early season. Tests they have a.
00:07:42
Speaker 2: Lot of, answers and all these things are connected to of you have starting pitchers sort of setting the tone for the, game an offense giving all the pictures but particularly the bullpen.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: Late a little more breathing, room.
00:07:58
Speaker 2: Elite, defense kind of racing mistakes all over the, fields the layers of depth that they have to be able to plug in certain, guys whether it's like a particular matchup in the game or when these inevitable injuries. ARISE i, mean watching The, phillies you know there's a long way to. Go they have a lot of elite, talent but you do start to, wonder, like are they kind of approaching that, Cliff like they're a little bit of a creaky operation at this.
00:08:34
Speaker 3: Point, obviously The mets season just totally went off the.
00:08:37
Speaker 2: Rails In, april and that even if they have an amazing second, half even if they have a Good may In, june they'll still be pointing at that of, like man like if only had stolen a couple of those, games if we'd gotten a couple. Breaks and that's like in the best case, scenario we'll see with you, know both of these teams like which which.
00:09:01
Speaker 3: Managers and coaches.
00:09:02
Speaker 2: Survive and you, know but they're already sort of getting buried in division where The braves look to be. Back The cubs had to play well to keep pacing a division that looks better than at LEAST i thought heading into the.
00:09:19
Speaker 3: Season, again we'll, see but.
00:09:24
Speaker 2: This, schedule outside of that homestand to start the, season uh have a lot of on, paper a lot of difficult, opponents and they've more than you, know passed this first initials test.
00:09:37
Speaker 1: Here, yeah obviously a big one coming. Up so why why don't we take a quick break here and talk about this this weekend series in la which which will obviously be a, huge huge test for. Them All, right, everyone it is summertime In, chicago or at least it's close to summertime In, chicago which means it's time to get out of the, house get to some baseball. GAMES i Know i'm gonna go See John mullani At Wrigley. Field i'm gonna take my kids to a game out there and then probably somewhere. Else drive them somewhere around this country and see another. Ballpark knock one off the. List which is WHY i want to give the sponsor of today's, video See geek a huge shout. Out with over thirty five million, downloads Sea geek is the number one rated ticketing. App there are more than seventy thousand events listed on sea, geek including, concerts, sports, festivals and. More we're in full swing in THE mlb, season THE nba AND nhl playoffs are, here THE nfl schedule is coming out, soon and you can Get World cup tickets on Sea. Geek and of COURSE i have a code for you. Guys you can Use territory ten for ten percent off your next set of tickets at Sea. Geek that's ten percent off any tickets with per Code territory. Ten make sure you click the link in the description to download the app and have the code automatically added to your account so you can use it. Later thank, You sea. Geek all, Right, patrick The cubs are on The west, coast three IN la three In San. DIEGO i want to, say The cubs have like the fourth best record in, baseball and these are two of the teams with better records than. Them they catch a if you want to say they catch a break in a, sense they do by missing show, Hey yamamoto And. Glass, now not that The dodgers have a bunch of stiffs filling out their, rotation but that that's a little bit of a. Break, still you have to face The dodgers and The. Padres this is going to BE i wouldn't you, Know like you said, that they've had some tests, already but this is the biggest test so. Far and this is the team that they have looked at from since spring. Training everyone looks at and, says we're gonna chase them, down like this is who we want to take down and we think we can do. It so here's the first early season test for.
00:12:20
Speaker 2: That, yeah looking at the pitch up, matchups pitching, matchups there.
00:12:27
Speaker 3: Would not Like Roki.
00:12:30
Speaker 2: Sazaki Roki sazaki's chances against this lineup at this particular, Moment like if you can't throw.
00:12:37
Speaker 3: Strikes it's going to be a long.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: Day but, also and we'll get into this in the next, segment like if The cubs bullpen is a little banged, up you, know this is obviously a tough place to, play even at full. Strength and then it was always interesting is Seeing Pico armstrong back. Home we'll see how, much if at, all he gets. BOOED i know that was a. Thing Chicago magazine had a story that came out during spring training And pete, essentially you, know, said you, Know cubs, fans you know are the.
00:13:13
Speaker 3: Greatest they're not you know, whatever fake fans or you, know just there to you, know take in the. Scene it. Was it was some sort of throwaway.
00:13:21
Speaker 2: LINE i have a hard time imagining, that Like dodger fans who like live in soul In california with like amazing weather and access to the mountains and The Pacific ocean and watching like like the greatest baseball creation of our, lifetimes really worrying about What.
00:13:37
Speaker 3: Pete armstrong said to a magazine writer several months. Ago but.
00:13:42
Speaker 2: This is where you Know pete's you, know, obviously Where pete grew, up where he built a name as a as a big time baseball.
00:13:51
Speaker 3: Prodigy and also where he turned his season.
00:13:54
Speaker 2: Around last year he was really. Struggling, reports inaccurate reports came out about the extent of his contract talks with The. Cubs he was pissed. Off those are you, know kind of his. Terminology and then he hits two home. RUNS i believe it was his first two home runs the season last. Year you're blown a kiss to his. PARENTS i think it was On Sunday Night, baseball but it, was you, Know, pete love's the, Moment AND i do think this is something we both heard in spring training of like. Cups they matched up pretty well against The dodgers during the regular season series last. Year obviously they didn't get. There they're not you, know you, know bragging or over. Confident it, realized you, know you got to get there. First BUT i think the eye test will be. Interesting and also the momentum can flip pretty quickly on The West coast, here it's not always it's not an easy place to, play and so that's why you want to bank those wins at home before you come out.
00:15:01
Speaker 1: Here, YEAH i, mean obviously huge should get all seven of those at home and feel. Good you obviously want to do as well as possible on The West. Coast but a, SPLIT i think is a huge. Win if you come away from this road trip three and, three you're feeling pretty good about. Yourself, obviously fans are gonna want. More The cubs want. More this IS I i Think pete is the story for this, weekend for when it comes to The, cubs like he's the. Story he needs to get hot at some, point like with the power. Stroke seems like we're seeing some signs of life offensively in. GENERAL i do think he's he's had a better. APPROACH i think he's walking a tiny bit. More he's not striking out as much of. Late he's hit some balls, Hard he's hit some balls hard against. Lefty THAT i, mean the power fully isn't there. Yet like the he had that one home RUN i want to say it was In tampa Against tampa And Saint. Pete that's that's his only home. Run that's like the Prototypical pete home run Two just like you, ripped pulled a ball high in the air and demolished. It those Are that's kind of what he did in L a last. Year so that that's kind of what you're looking. For just you, know a couple of those get red hot carry the team for a month or. Two if he gets. Hot you know this is you're talking about. IT i, MEAN i don't know how much better it can get one loss record, wise as as far as what they've done the past tennis, days but obviously this is A i think this offense has a chance to be very high powered and and and we've seen it, already said the numbers at the start of the. Show uh you Get. Pete this is gonna be a tough matchup for any team to face right now because a lot of guys are are feeling good at the. Plate.
00:17:12
Speaker 2: YEAH i, mean and If Pete romstrong is your number eight, hitter or Like Dancy swanson's your number nine, hitter you, know nine figure players at the bottom like, that that's not probably not where they would want to write their own names into the, lineup but it's certainly a sign of the depth.
00:17:30
Speaker 3: Of this.
00:17:31
Speaker 2: GROUP i think you see, too just like Adding, BRAGMAN i know he obviously is heating up. Now his overall numbers like don't wow, You BUT i think just his presence and just kind of the domino effect from him being in THERE i mean Having Matt shaw being what he played center field, Yesterday like just like here go, play go play center field At Wrigley, field and you, know he's done a good job overall of just kind of rolling with, things Having moises Bi asteros and and a bench that is just far more functional than what it had been in previous years and really allowing counsel to press all these different. Buttons LIKE i, know this is not how The cubs would have drawn it, up given all the injuries on the pitching, side and Obviously sayah was delayed coming, in BUT i don't, know you, side this is kind of like the almost like a the best case projected version of this, offense, Right like this is why they were so confident they'd get out of, it and.
00:18:42
Speaker 3: Why they were so confident in Letting Kyle tucker walk.
00:18:45
Speaker 1: To dodger, Stated, YEAH i mean you're. RIGHT i mean everyone hasn't played up to their potential just, yet but the fact that others are are playing really. Well, yeah, THIS i, mean this is you, KNOW i, WONDERED i thought this, team this could be a top ten. Offense LIKE i felt good about. THAT i KNEW i thought they had the potential to be a top five offense were a month end of the. Season they're not a top five. Offense, yeah for the full season, yet we'll see where they. Are but right now they're one of the best offenses in baseball without some guys really. Hitting AND i think that says a. Lot i'll say. THIS i did talk to. SO i talked To Alex bregman over the. WEEKEND i think about his, mechanics and he was way. Off he said he's been, working and he's been working for a. While this has been like weeks of him, working and he's not happy with where he was. AT i briefly talked to him yesterday just to make, sure LIKE i was, like, look we're seeing the results, now are the mechanics where you want them to. BE i just wanted to make sure, that you, know he's feeling, right he's seeing. Things he's, like, yes and he gets very. Detailed he's very quick about, it like he knows he. LIKE i was very much, like you, KNOW i don't want to bother. YOU i already took your time up the other. DAY i just want to make sure that the results That i'm seeing are a result of you working hard and getting your, mechanics. Right he he he wanted to talk about. It he was, like this is what's. Changed this Is he's like and he went over like. One he's, LIKE i had that. One did you see the one that went on the ground the other? Day that, like this is what. Happened this is why it wasn't. Right every other Swing i'm doing, This he's, LIKE i. Should he's, LIKE i barely missed two home runs this. Week he's like, this it's looking a lot more like it. Should it's starting to feel second. NATURE i think that's a big. Deal when When Alex bregman is starting, to you, know get his mechanics where he wants them. To, uh that's that that this guy's an incredibly intelligent hitter and and knows what what he wants to do on the. Field and when when he's at that, POINT i think that's that's a good sign for for. Him we'll see how it how it plays on The West, coast but he's a big part of this as, well and he seems to be turning things. Around, No Kyle tucker doesn't mean like this can't be a great. OFFENSE i think we we got a lot of questions about that in the, offseason AND i Think bregman Isn't Kyle, tucker but he's a he's a damn good. Player And moyes's biasteros we, had LIKE i, WAS i really thought he was going to be. Impactful he's better than what like early, on he's been better Than eve AND i. Expected but he kind of just puts the ball all over the, place like the like he got his second double yesterday off a. Lefty i'm not, saying you, know we don't need to Bug Craig counsel any further about whether he should be it's coming.
00:21:36
Speaker 4: Though it's coming, though pretty, soon pretty, Soon but that that was important to see, Too like these this is just a really deep, lineup really good, lineup AND i think you're seeing for those.
00:21:49
Speaker 1: Who, question like how can it be as good or how can how can you say this team is? BETTER i think you're kind of seeing some of those things as to why this is a has a potential to be as, good if not better team come you, know the middle of the. Season all, right let's take a quick break and come back and talk about some of the injuries that The cubs are.
00:22:10
Speaker 5: Facing support for today's episode comes From, square and they've got big. News during squares Biannual releases, event they launched a wave of innovative new tools to help local businesses run, faster, smarter and more. Profitably squares. Awesome Around orlando WHERE aj AND i, live we go to the farmers' markets around. TOWN i go to the one Near Lake.
00:22:29
Speaker 1: Iola it's.
00:22:30
Speaker 5: AWESOME i Use square to pay with my. PHONE i get the receipt right.
00:22:33
Speaker 1: Away it's.
00:22:34
Speaker 6: Great and so many, businesses not just small, businesses. Uses so many restaurants and BUSINESSES i walk, into not only In, orlando but all over the country have these and you just use your credit, card pops out a, receipt emails it right to. You it's so, fast it's so, efficient it's so hassle. Free it's one of the great things that you have.
00:22:51
Speaker 5: Going square launched its most powerful tools, yet designed to give local businesses a competitive edge without the. Complexity if you're ready to sell, smarter run faster and strung us last right, now you can get up to two hundred dollars Off square hardware At square dot, com slash go slash foul That's square dot, com slash, go slash f o u L run your business smarter With square get started.
00:23:11
Speaker 1: Today, patrick we got some injuries still pilot up for The. Cubs Caleb thielbar gave up that game tying home run To Adaliska. Garcia then about three pitches into his at bat Against Trey, turner he he came up like the trainer came. Out it sounds like left hamstring. Tightness Greek council was very. Vague you're In la, Obviously, well we'll find Out friday night whether this is an ill. Stin i'm assuming it. IS i mean left hamstring tightness at. First unless that was cramping and we're completely, Off i'm assuming that's an il. Stint That's Daniel, palencia your, closer Film, aton one of your top setup, Men Hunter, harvey one of your top setup. Men Caleb, theobar your top. Lefty now all on the. Shelf somehow they've been winning games without those. Guys Thel bar has been huge for, them getting a lot of saves. HERE i think about two or three saves in the, meantime while these guys have been injured like they really can't afford. This my assumption is the Way Craig council was, TALKING i think along with the potential theol bar. MOVE i think we'll see another. MOVE i think they're gonna try and get more fresh. Arms who those fresh arms ARE i don't. KNOW i just don't. KNOW i don't know who you're gonna add On friday beyond bringing Maybe luke little back with theol bar going on the, SHELF i don't even know who the potential other shuffling arms would. Be if, that IF i interpreted counsel correctly after game, yesterday.
00:25:03
Speaker 3: YEAH i mean you're looking at kind of that forty. Man the next guy's up At.
00:25:08
Speaker 2: Iowa usually that there's at least one name we can sort of be, like, oh you, know but.
00:25:13
Speaker 3: This is Not Colin.
00:25:15
Speaker 1: SNYDER i GUESS i don't.
00:25:16
Speaker 2: Know, well you MENTIONED i believe in your Story Trent. Thornton what is is he kind of a guy on the? Horizon maybe?
00:25:24
Speaker 1: Not, Yeah Trent. Thornton and THEN i was told he is going to be pitching An iowa. Soon So Trent, thornton veteran, reliever had a great twenty twenty, FOUR i want to, say and then twenty five HE i think he had like one bad outing that elevated his. Era and Then Torre's achilles and he's been out since. Then he's he's a guy that LIKE i think he's been throwing lives and things like that In, arizona really working his way. Back if you saw him in, spring he kept telling me WHENEVER i asked, him it was LIKE i can pitch right. NOW i don't know IF i could cover first. Base and if you looked at his, LEGS i want to don't quote me on, THIS i want to say it was left. Achilles if you looked at his, legs you could just see like the right calf was significantly stronger than the left, Calf like he needed to strengthen that area and get it back to you, know equal strength with his with his. Right and he must be there because they're sending him out on a rehab. ASSIGNMENT i don't know if you'd call it that he. Was he's a non roster. Invite he's not on the forty, man so he's going to be With TRIPLE. A we'll see for how. LONG i think they're not as they may not need to rush him Because mayton is making a rehab start tonight where we're recording this On friday or. Today Whenever iowa. Plays WHEN i say rehib not, rehab start rehab. Outing. UH i think he'll be back perhaps this weekend if that goes, well like he could be activated. Soon they do not seem overly concerned With Daniel. Palencia this could be a minimal Stint Hunter. Harvey while they're gonna just be super cautious and right now they're. Not they're not, like, eh this is worse than we thought type. Thing he's gonna start as throwing up again and throwing program back up again Today friday as, well and, uh and they'll go from. THERE i think you heard a lot of similar things early in the week and that's where they're at. Now just one more, injury though added to The, ledger And council was very matter of fact about. It he's like These he's, like, yeah there's there's a lot to handle and a lot to. Juggle but that's what a season, is you. Got it's a next man up. MENTALITY i can't dwell on what's already. HAPPENED i have to come up with, solutions and that's what he's, doing trying to figure everything. Out one one person did describe it to me as, chaos and they were, LIKE i kind of like just embrace, it and it's kind of you, know it's like solving a puzzle like we would try and, like you, know we prefer everyone we're, healthy but it's, like, okay this is a challenge for, us like how do we get through? This and councils, said, like you can't script out a. Season this isn't you, know you have an idea of how you want the season to, go but you also understand like you're going to be thrown curveballs and like the season doesn't go as you, expect so you have to adjusts as you, know these these challenges come come in your. Way, YEAH i.
00:28:41
Speaker 3: Mean cubs pitching, Development cubs pitching.
00:28:44
Speaker 2: INFRASTRUCTURE i know is an ongoing topic that we've discussed for several years, now and The cubs obviously get some criticism in certain aspects of, that and deservedly. So BUT i think on, balance over time you've seen them be more right than not that they've just ESTABLISHED i think kind of a mindset and obviously that starts with the, players but whether it's council's sort of, demeanor you, Know Tommy hottavey as this connector in baseball, operations the various analysts instructures that they have who come at it from different, angles and, YEAH i know that won't land like hearing this won't land that, well like if, show, hey HiT's like three homers off The cubs bullpen this weekend or one whatever whatever the case. Is, like this is a series that you know it could really look, bad but it's a group that usually finds solutions and they're not always the obvious.
00:30:00
Speaker 1: Once, YEAH i, Mean Riley martin has looked really. GOOD i don't know if i'd say like he's a he's a no doubt set up guy right, now but he's battled and he's looked, solid like he's he's he's done what The cubs needed him to, do kind of in an emergency. Situation we'll see How Corbyn martin, Develops like in an ideal, World Corbyn martin would still be in the minors and really getting into a rhythm and building. Up. Uh now he's kind of thrown into the. Fire we'll see how he reacts over. Time AND i do wonder If Colin snyder is is one of the moves this, weekend although that there's obviously some tough lefties with the with The, dodgers so we'll see if they're they're they're going to keep that lefty heavy bullpen. Going uh, yeah it's a it's been a resilient group and you're, right, like not always the most obvious, solutions but this is you, know a pitching infrastructure that has done well with with finding ways to get through these difficult. Moments basically they need like a WEEK i feel like of good news and and and guys not having setbacks and you almost get through. It perhaps we'll see what the news is On caleb. Dealbar if it's not, severe then that's. It that's another you, know major issue. Dodged but you hope it's nothing more than just like a quick stint on the il to get that hamsterring. Healthy we'll see if it even. IS i don't. KNOW i don't think you can afford to be short for even a full. WEEKEND i don't know if that that's, possible if they can do. That but, yeah, yeah all, right that's it for. Now we will next time we come at. You it'll be after This dodger. Series we'll see how The cubs do out In, la If pete wakes, up and if the pitching can hold down Show Hey, tony thanks so much for listening to. Everyone this Is Northside. Territory make sure to rate for you, subscribe subscribe to the YouTube channel and subscribe To The athletic Where patrick And iron top of all things. Cubs thanks, everyone take, care
