October 8, 2024 • 60 mins
The Chicago Cubs' 2024 season has come to a close, falling short of a playoff berth. Despite finishing with the same record as last year, fans are left wondering: is it the same old Cubs, or is there something deeper at play? In this episode, the Dingers crew dives deep into what went wrong this season, from missed opportunities to key player performances, and where the team goes from here. Will the front office make bold moves, or is another year of mediocrity on the horizon? Tune in as the entire crew shares their thoughts on a season full of frustration and unmet expectations, and what Cubs fans can look forward to in the offseason and beyond. Subscribe: / @dingersachicagocubsfanpodc824 Talk #Cubs baseball on our facebook group: / 188995809182063 @dingercubs is presented by OnTapSportsNet.com, your go-to source for Cubs news, analysis, and updates. Follow us on social media: @Diingercubs | @OnTapSportsNet Panelists: @dingercubs | @baseball_buj | @wycoffjd23 | Follow us on Twitter: @dingercubs Follow us on Instagram: @dingercubs TikTok: @dingercubs Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dingercubs
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to The Dinger's Podcast, presented to you by
Shorts Network with your host Mitch, ja Jeff and Kevis.
You're ready to talk to the Cubs? All I need
is a bet, y'all looking the swingers. I'm here with I,
(00:26):
J Jeff and Sadly, I have been enjoying the MLB
playoffs even though the Cubs have not been in it.
Are you guys doing tonight? I think, how are you doing?
You're looking pretty down over there?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
You know, Mitch, we we watched Inside Out to night
and uh, let me tell you the their depiction of
anxiety really that oh yeah, there's a panic attack in
the movie and uh accurate, very accurate. So it just
(01:10):
got remove me from that great movie, great ending. But whoa.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Pixar?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
They do it again every time by Petrick.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
No, it is Pixar, is Yeah, it's Pixire.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So let's go. Yeah, you've got yeah, I've seen it.
It's it's good. It's good, good flick. I mean yeah, like.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Very high on centric, Yeah, very sports centric. And you
know what anxiety was sports? We're gonna be talking about
that to night, folks.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean I like I said, I've enjoyed the
baseball playoffs. I think yesterday is Philly's Mets game was
probably one of the best games besides Game seven of
the World Series in twenty sixteen. I've watched that back
and forth, and the whole time watching it, I can't
help but think is the Cubs should.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Be the Phillies.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yep, the Cubs should have Bryce Harper as their star.
They should not have let schwar or walk. They could
even have re signed Casianos and with their with the
Cub's current rotation, they could hold up and be in
the playoffs. They could that could be them. And the
whole time watching the Phillies, You're like, that should be us,
(02:28):
that should be us. But again we end up with
the same record as last year and have a failure
of a year and again out of the playoffs. And
where where do we go? Where do we go from
here end? Where do we go? We haven't heard you
from you for a while, you haven't been on the podcast,
So I want to jump right to what Ian has
to say, because I'm excited to hear what you have
(02:49):
to say. In your ramp.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Where don't we go? I mean, you throw a dart
at a dartboard and try to figure it out. I mean,
you know, I'm I I'm struck with the you know
where did it all go wrong? Kind of thing? And yeah,
at the at the start of the season, I distinctly
remember every single one of us saying when the games
(03:13):
in your division, win the games in your division, and
that's something this Cubs team just couldn't really seem to
figure out how to do consistently. And then you know,
even just with the sliver of hope that that this
team took into like mid September in that Rocky series
(03:34):
of like maybe it was that nine to five loss
on I think it was Friday the thirteenth. That's why
I remember it being so odd. It was that nine
to five loss where I was like, this team is
nowhere close. This this this isn't and and maybe, and
maybe it's hyperbole to say we're nowhere close, because I
(03:58):
feel like maybe it's just a few pieces still, but
like I feel like I'm living in Groundhog days saying
it's a few pieces for the last few off seasons,
and the conversation is the same next year, win the
games in your division. Well, that just got a little
harder because of a managerial higher the Reds just made.
(04:19):
They on a you know, on a personnel level. On
the field may not be much different, but they're gonna
be a heck of a lot better managed than they
were this past year. So you know, it's like, where
do you go, Well, you have to make moves, you
have to spend some money.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Now, Jed, your hand is forced because the talent you
have has just reproduced and you know, yeah, same record
as last year. People are gonna be like, oh, so
there's no difference between Ross and Craig. I mean, everybody
was injured on this team this year, like just massive
amounts of injuries this year, and I think Craig went.
(05:00):
Jed's hand is forced. You have to pay, you gotta
pay uf, You gotta make some moves.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Yeah, this is his last year of his contract, so
he's got make he's got to do something to get extended.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
You would take.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Or he won't because he's afraid of signing another Hayward
type contract. And then that's I can.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
See how somebody, I could see how somebody would be
gun shy after a couple of you know, big fat mistakes.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
The bright spot that he has done, was like showda Yeah,
games that showed us started. We went twenty three and six.
If we get one more pitcher.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, one more pitcher, and I you know, I like,
I'm I'm on the table of shit man, one more
one more impact back right, seriously, Like, I mean, if they're.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Gonna run the same defensive lineup out there, which is
basically your offense, then we're gonna have to have a
pitching staff like the nineties Braves.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
That's a great callback.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm serious.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean a Morgan wall in ninety eight brave song
over and over with he.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah, they made us through the World Series against the
Twins and they had Sid Breen at first base.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I run faster than Sid Breen.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, and that's a good that's a good point, Jeff,
Like you're gonna need something far better than what you've
rolled out. And I I look at how the Mets
dispatched the Brewers in the playoffs, Like when it came
crunch time, clutch batters came up. Yeah, the Cubs just
(06:39):
don't have that. I think I don't. There's no one
that walks up to the plate at any given time
where I'm like, they're gonna crush this.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, there's there's nobody on this Cubs team that steps
up in that moment the way.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, a lot did.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
And I'm not saying that like pid Alonzo isn't without
his fault because people brought up the rough September going
near the play but made up for it. You know,
That's that's all it takes. It's not like he wasn't
a good player before before that's kinder me. He still
had a great season. I want to say. I was
(07:13):
looking at the stats. Does argue with somebody on Twitter?
I think that this year was his lowest home run total,
but he still had over thirty five and he had
like thirty six or thirty seven home runks. Yeah, Cubs
cann't use that this year. Now, even if he had,
I think he had a sup to under it bad
(07:34):
any average in September. But the Mets still made it
to the playoffs. And if that's kind of what we
talked about all season, where you know you need that
superstar back or that not even that's necessary. I wouldn't
even necessarily say Pete onto the too short star. But
he's he's a power threat that the Cubs lack and
ringing that into play with all the complimentary pieces of
(07:55):
the Cubs haveot offense, even if Pete Alonso has a
rough screats Lando pipe bat as a threats. You hope
that the complimentary pieces that like the Cups have right
now and still float the offense. And they were able
to do I mean, the clubs offense. It looked great
in spurts, but there was a lot of moments where they,
(08:16):
like you study and they lacked clutch, clutch hitting, qutch
offensive moments. And yeah, you wonder if someone like Peter Alonzo,
if they're the type type of batman. Yes, he's gonna
be a free agent this offseason. But yeah, it just
feels like we're saying the same thing year after year.
Uh yeah, clutch bat or our bat and maybe one
(08:39):
more starting pitcher. And it's maybe back off what Jeff
said too, let's stuff forget like we can. We can
you know, crap all over Jet as much as we want.
But the tie on signing looked pretty good this year.
The trade obviously looked good. You know. Well, I would
(09:00):
say that mins trap record is more successful than not
in terms of pits, but the hits just haven't been
big enough.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, well and and to piggyback on that yet the signings,
like he's had some good hits, but he's acting like
he's missed on everything. That's how he that's how he
navigates free agency almost, It's like he navigates it as
I'm afraid to commit like we did to Jason Hayward. Understandable.
I get it, Like that's fine, but like, look at
(09:31):
your successes, like yeah, the Tyne signing, great, showda awesome,
and I mean Cody was fine, Like yeah, like he
was fine again this year, Like there have been more successes.
So act like you belong in the group of you know,
managers and front office execs that make good moves. Stop
(09:55):
being hesitant to make any sort of you know. But
to Jed's credit, you know, Peter Alonzo's war was only
two point six, so he's probably not a very good player.
I don't know, you're still.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
On that arger in reply, I can't remember if you
tried it in on that threat, but man, yeah, people
were like, oh, it's like yeah, is his defense? Is
it spectacular? But do we really I don't know, Like
I think the bat makes up for it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
I mean, yeah, you know, Matt Chapman then now the
greatest of seasons. But the Cubs could have used Matt
Chapman at some point too, Like, don't do we started
on I I'm sorry, I don't. I don't have I'm
just pointing out the facts. Twenty seven Homers.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Well, well, watching these playoffs, you're seeing the stars come
up big every much time, whether it's Pete Alonzo or
Jose Reyis, or Bryce Harper or Nick Cassianos or Kyle
(11:13):
Schwarber or like you're seeing these guys Jackson cheerios, like
like you're seeing those guys. The star of every team
comes to shine in the playoffs. That's the way your
team is built to be successful in the playoffs. And
even if the Cubs would have made it in this year,
they had been like the Braves and been out quick
(11:34):
because the Braves, like they were, they've been talking about injuries.
They've been decimated by injuries. I would love to see
a full force Braves in this playoffs. But you just
didn't get that. But the team's exited. The teams that
maybe the teams that exited were the teams that didn't
quite have their star come to to play, or they
(11:57):
just didn't have a star in general. So it's like
we've said it, like the Cubs need to find that
star and or a guy really needs to make some
huge steps on our current roster to be able to
become that. I just don't know if it's there.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I don't either. I don't see it, Like, I just don't.
I don't see any of the current players being super
capable of it. And it's almost like a clarid yeah
a little did they It's like they are playing it.
Say it too in a way, but it's almost like,
you know, the all signs point to one.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, which it's not gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
It's not one So if one way, one way, one
I'm sorry that was terrible.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Yeah, I mean it's it's just it's a tough and
it's tough for me too, Like I hate to admit
it's tough for me to watch the playoffs because I
I feel, first of all, I mean, you guys know,
I consume it outrageous about like a discussing about of
baseball over the summer. So by the time the Cubs
are are by the time the Cubs were pretty much
declared debt, shegain in September, I wasn't really paying that
(13:23):
much attention. They pulled me back in a little bit,
like we've talked about. But it's tough for me to
watch right now, and precisely because of what we're saying
in this moment, in that you see the way this
Cups team should be constructed, and when you see what
I can't remember what play or where we where we
(13:47):
are able standings, but it's too high for the outcome
that we've had. So you see, we've got all this
money inst I know that there's some money coming off
the books totopseason, but kind of sit here sitting on
your hands, like, Okay, what the hell, what's your like?
What do we do? And like you said, Ian, I
don't think that there is anybody on this roster in
(14:11):
in the minors that can really come in and make
that leap or should be expected to make that leap.
You know, we don't have We don't have a Jackson Seario,
we don't have a Gunner Henderson, we don't like Yeah,
PCA had a stellar performance in the second half this season,
but can we can we count that the same way
(14:33):
that Bellinger had a great offensive season last year when
we count on Petko Arnstraw not to have a sophomore.
Can we pount on him to continue with the offensive trajectory?
And as we talked about our near and you'll hear
if you listen to any baseball podcast, what progression is
not linear, especially with with young, young hitters. So I
(14:57):
don't know, I don't know what to expect the PCA.
I'm all in on the guy. I think you proved
that he asked something. It would take a couple of
back to back offensive seasons for me to be out.
But I don't know if he's going to continue what
he started this season. I don't know how much more
of a ceiling he has. And even then, he's not
(15:18):
a superstar. He's not gonna be an offensive superstar. And
that's fine. He can be a very good player. But that's,
you know, kind of the limbo that we've been stuck.
It is a roster of you know, good complimentary players
through you know, a couple of very good players. So
it just feels like, you know, I feel for some
(15:39):
of those podcasts, those coast podcasts that record every day,
it's like, oh man, where are they going to.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Be talking about?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
No, But it feels like jet's hamstrung in it. What
what moves can he make besides you know, the outrageous,
very improbable move that I threw out on Twitter about
a week ago.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And I'll I'll.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Finish my thoughts by by heading there. Unless I'm jumping
the Gunmige, I don't want no go for it. So
I tweeted that it's you know, it's been talked about
that Vladimir Guerrero Junior is on the trade market. He
was on I believe he was on the trade block
at the deadline. I can't remember if I read that
(16:23):
that comes we're involved. I think they're they're kind of
rumors out there, But my idea was Michael Bush and
it would probably have to be Nico by the front
line pieces in a trade to acquire uh Vladdie. And
(16:44):
in addition to that, you cony up the money and
signed Peter Alonzo, and that gives you a bona fide
star in Vladdie, and at a very very good, you know,
almost star. I mean, obviously everybody knows who Pete Alonzos.
I don't know if he's a star caliber player necessarily,
(17:05):
but obviously he fills that need for pop. Now, the
one thing that I brought up that people on Twitter.
I think there's one person in particularly did not like
is that you put Vladdie at third base and he
had like a you know, like one hundred innings at
third base this year and he is out above average
(17:26):
was one. He added, Uh six, he hadn't add positive
success rates positive add and success rate in his in
his chances. But it's been a long time since he
played third base for a full season. I think it
was his rookie season twenty twenty and metrics did not
look good. But I bring it up because he has
since lost weight gotten into better shape, and he said
(17:49):
that he wants to play third base, and the Blue
Jays played him at third base specifically as trade bait.
That's that's my theory. I think it's been out there
on the on the web. Two Yeah, So I don't know.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts. You guys think that
gets us out of a hole. If you think that's
putting up too much money, too much trade capital, curious, Curious.
(18:12):
Mitch miss doesn't look too enthused about it.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Uh, I'm trying to think through how Yeah, I mean,
I love having power at both first and third, like
having guys that can hit a bomb at any time
(18:35):
and get you back in a game or win you
a game, which the Cubs haven't had. It is huge,
just the run production and the slug that you would
get out of those two. Yeah, I just wonder how
it would play out to have Lad at third for
a full season. You go from having Nick bad or
(19:00):
Goal the smallest third basement Vlad one of the biggest
third basement. Is kind of funny. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I it's like a It's like a drawing sketch on
a door frame, the mark you children's growth. Yeah, but
I like it.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
I think they need some star players. Getting Pete alnzo
in getting Vlad for next year, that would significantly improve.
And then you have like the Ian Apps, you have
the corners, and you have the the Dansbys to slot
around them as as solid complimentary pieces like that, that's great.
(19:43):
And then like I even love the idea of bringing
Matt Shaw up right away and just getting him at
bats like all that bats that went to Nick Madrigal,
Patrick Wisdom and Master Boney. If they just all go
to Shaw next year and he doesn't have the weight
(20:04):
of having to start like that would be great just
to have a good bat off the bench and you
can plug in in a couple of different positions. That
makes the team better already and he has pop. So yeah, yeah,
I mean I like it with with knowing that Jed
doesn't have a lot of options, that is one that
(20:25):
they could explore, and you're selling Bush at his highest
when you don't know there's much more ceiling room for
him to get any better. Yeah what a guys thoughts.
It's Mitch from The Dinger's podcast. Today. I want to
(20:45):
talk to you about something that's truly transformed the way
that I, as a coach work with young players and
especially my own kids. I'm talking about the B four
bat app. For those who have ever heard of a
before bat app, it is an incredible tool that lets
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(21:06):
just your iPhone, a tripod and you're good to go.
I use the BA four bat app daily with my
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their swing. My son absolutely loves it. He gets a
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especially enjoys tracking his exit velocity. It's like a game
(21:28):
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how much this app has really helped improve their swings
in that immediate feedback and data that they get are
a game changer. So if you're looking to get that
valuable data and insight for your own slugger and for
(21:49):
them to hit maybe some more dingers this season, I
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will love it. Now, let's get back to hitting some
more dingers.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I'll let Jeff chiman. I've hogged some of the complaining
spotlight tonight.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Jeff, are you a Vlad Guerrero fan.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
I'm a fan of anybody hit the ball with some consistency.
I don't care if it's out in the park as
long as it's in play.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Oh, the worst I watched is somebody go up there
and put a bat on their shoulder and watch three
good pitches go by him and I'm gonna sit down there.
There are I mean, there are issues, and there's holes
to be filled, and there's things that can make the
roster better.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
But as far as.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
I don't know, I think Pete Alonso is kind of
being on the down the hill side of his career possibly,
And it's.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
To me it seems like a stop gap signing.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
You know, we're just gonna put a little bit of
this mud and this leaky dam for now until we've
come up with a better place.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
I feel like there was a better metaphor that you
get used to.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, I just I don't see that this this scenario
playing out because I don't think Jed has the balls
to do that. After I don't think that getting that.
I agree with getting the blush and getting red as
they're they're gonna be the third first baseman.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
And I agreement. But like the point that I brought
up when I was having a conference, a thing if
you could call Twitter response to the conversation, I know
you thought the biggest problem after twenty sixteen was the
front office's inability to sell I on players. Yeah, and
(23:45):
while I understand that Michael Puts potentially brings a lot
of value. He's not ever going to have the ceiling
that of Vladimir ger Era junior. Pass even if you
even if you trade for Vladdie to put him at
first base, you know, put take Tito Lonzo out of
(24:06):
the equation, which I gotta stay jet. I think that
Pete's profile right now, he makes good contact. He's got
like an eighty plus, you know, over eighty percent contact grade,
which is very very good for the amount of power
that he brings to the dish. So yeah, but I mean,
(24:26):
you never know, like a power here's profile could drop
off at any even season. But I think that trading
Michael Bush this offseason, while it would be an unprecedented
road by this Cup's front office, I think it's a
smart move, especially if you can get a guy like
(24:48):
Vladimir Gerire Junior. I don't know if there's anybody else
on the trade market that's off of that caliber. I
guess we'll have to wait and see. And of course,
you know, Bladdie only has one more season to control left,
so then you have to worry about giving giving up
big pieces, you know, someone with all the control that
Michael Bush has, And then can I can I can
(25:09):
you extend Laddie? You better hope? So right, you better
open it. Well, you just open up the pocket books
and say what do you want? You know, well, you
pretend this is your pre agent year. What do you want?
Let's start with with your number and and go from
there up because the Cubs have that money and they
should be spending that money on a guy like him,
(25:32):
and then for whatever it's worth. Mitch, if there's anybody
listening that that disagrees with the idea of bringing shop
to start at second the beginning of this of the
twenty twenty five season, which I'm okay with, I could
totally see them slow playing it a little bit to
it and and giving him a little bit more time
at Triple A. If anybody feels not great about that, uh,
(25:58):
tyro Strada is it's a depending cre agent. You have
a really rough offensive season in San Francisco after a
couple of really good ones. So I don't know, maybe
the Cups hitting infrastructure can figure something out there. See
you you know what's different? What's it?
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Was there?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Wing change?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Was there a change in the approach that he needs
to go back to? But I bring up Estrata because
he was fit in outs above averag just behind Nico
was according to Baseball Savant. So Nico is ten outs
above average by Rowans with Night and Estrada is also
their similar profile, but Strata have a little bit more
pop what he's on. But they're both speed threats. So
(26:43):
you know, that's a classic, like you know, who's the
who's the veterans second basement that the Cups are gonna
sign this offseason. But I will say, well, I'm not
sky high on Estrata by any means. I do think
that he brings more to the tape people that to
Hannuel descalso or at Eric Stoker.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, well, I think what's interesting there too, fake is
your you call out. You know, the hitting infrastructure, which
is going to be different this year. You know, like
the council effectively cleaned house. Basically, none of that was
(27:23):
really a surprise to me outside of maybe Napoli. I
think that maybe was the only surprise to me. But
you know where we're going to see another another season
of Craig kind of bringing in his own touch and
seeing what that looks like. Yeah, I mean I don't
(27:45):
I don't know for sure.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Like.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
How this is going to shake out, but moves have
to be made and whatever the move is, Like, you know,
the worst thing that Jed could do is Stan pat
because you know, as Jeff pointed out, you're in the
last two year contract. Dude, make a move. It doesn't
matter if it's good or bad. At this point, whatever
(28:11):
you're doing isn't working regardless.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
Yeah. Ah.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Thinking of Michael Bush and where he fits in if
I mean he's going to stay. If he was on
the Phillies, he would be like the Bryson Scott, like
just a role player but could come up and get
that big hit. The problem is, like the Phillies have
(28:46):
a Bryce Harper, the Phillies have a Kyle Schwarber. The
Phillies have a Nick Cassillis that pop. They can get
you immediate runs, and I feel like they have the
postseason switch. Like those guys like Nick Cassiano's like hasn't
had some great years during the regular season, but as
(29:07):
soon as the lights starts shining bright, like he feeds
off of it, like he loves it. And you've seen
two big hits in this post and out of him.
I'm like, like, that's what you want. You want the
stars to be able to turn it on when when
you need it, and and the Cubs just don't have that,
and so getting like a ladder getting signing up ped
(29:27):
Alonzo like, at least it provides the opportunity when the
lights come on for those stars to like turn it on.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Yeah, And I just don't.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
See right now anywhere in the Cubs system or in
the current roster that that would happen now. Jed mads
a comment that we need to beat projections are and
have our players outperform, like what's your what's your guys
(30:01):
take on that? And it makes me like, I feel
like that's the same thing he's like said last year that.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
It's just he took it into Chad Ebt and said,
make this sound smarter, and it sounded smarter. We need
to beat projections, good man. Yeah, definitely that was would
have been a good start to just the roster itself,
but unfortunately that didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
The thing is, like the Phillies didn't need to out
perform projections. They were projected to make the playoffs, and
they made the playoffs, like the like the Cubs were
projected to get the record that they got, and that's
what they got.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Well, like, that's exactly it, Mitch, that the Cubs need
to Every team going into this season says to them,
every front office is we need to we need to
beat our projecteds. Right. Every team is saying, the problem
is the Cup's projection was middling. The projection going into
(31:07):
the season has to be higher. So it's not it's
not right. We need to beat projections. We need to
raise the floor of the progenial projection and then beat
the projective.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yes, you raise the floor of it because you can't
account for the things that are going to go wrong inevitably,
like injury. For example. You can't account for injury. You
can't account So raise the floor of your projections. Maybe
it's from eighty three wins to ninety wins, Like that
should be enough. You should be able to get that
(31:42):
old agency somehow, somehow, you should be able to get that. Yeah,
and maybe that's enough to get you into the postseason. Maybe, Yeah,
I mean starting with beating projections. Yeah, like you said, Jake,
every team is saying that. Every team. There's not a
team that's like, well, if we underperform our projections, things
(32:03):
will be really good. No, what nobody is that's nobody's
saying that. Every team is like, we got to do
better than what we're projected to do. But it starts
with raising the baseline of what those projections are. And
this team is just not there. The team doesn't have
the talent to be able to do that.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Yes, for tacker projections, I'm thinking of expectations.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Also, Darren. Darren, in the comments, uh brought up so
a veteran catch with a bat and control makes the
most sense to trade high end prospects for it.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
The okay, do you have a name? Do you have
a name that we could Yeah, that's the hard thing.
A name that would be available that isn't controlled or
like just from a team that would be willing to
give something up, that'd be the hard thing. I agree, Darren,
it's just where can we find.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
That I'm making I'm making a prediction. This is my
prediction right now, before Darren gets us a name, the
newest rotation piece is gonna be Corbyn Burns. I Jake,
I know you hate it, but I'm gonna I'm gonna
(33:20):
die by it, just because Craig I don't think can
help himself. Right, They wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Surprise me at all if you started filling up the
club's roster with phone that.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Bruce, Yeah, no, no me either. A proven closer yeah.
Darren also says a proven closer would have Yeah, a
closer was a big problem this year. A proven didn't
have one. No, we didn't have one. How many wins
does that work? You know?
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Like?
Speaker 3 (33:46):
And that's so, So I'll I have Wow, there's a
lot of things I.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Want to really do it all.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Corbyn Burns is So I'll say this, I'll give him
the better bit of the doubt in the sense that, yes,
the stride out rate has been going down season after
season overthe last I think four years. And when I stay,
(34:17):
I'll give him the best of the doubt. I'll look
at the A L East this year al least took
solid division, not not as solid as it was you
know a year or two ago. He's touching in a
strong division, a stronger division than the Central has been
in recent years, especially considering that he was hitting for
(34:39):
the division winner. You know, unfortunately the best team in
at our central in the Brewers. But I just don't
think like, I think your point is well placed, and
I just you agree that that's that that would be
that that's not the sign.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
And he I don't want it. No, no, no, there's
not a part of me that's advocating for it. There's
but there's the internal like I can't have nice things
as a fan of this team that I now like.
For example, other free agents that would be available would
be like Walker Bueler or uh Shane Bieber or Max
(35:23):
even that would present some better options, but I just
don't think we can have nice things. And then there's
that level of familiarity, and Jed's gonna be like, hey, Craig,
can you get him on a discount? And then we're
gonna have Corbyn burts.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Yeah, and that's just doing that. Corbyn Ferns likes Greg Counsel,
which i'd tell I'm not saying to anything points to
it not like it.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Well, yeah, my assumption is yes he does. I'm assuming
they like each other because he was Greg's dude.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Something something like thinking about players stepping up in quatch moments,
going back we were talking about it earlier. There's something
about that that makes me want Max freed over.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
It feels like I don't know at the top of
my head, but it feels like Freed has dealt with
more injury issues in the past, so you know that's
a potential risk. But yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Mean, what about getting Tyler Holton from the Tigers. They're closer,
their closer all, He's all. They've been weird because folks, yeah,
been only in holding, have been kind of back and forth.
He's been pretty solid this year.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Hang on out because I'm looking at catchers. I'm thinking
about relievers.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
We've got a lot juggling here.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
I don't know, guys, I thought I thought Hector did
fantastic this year.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
For hey, I'm lying. Didn't he make the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Wasn't he didn't?
Speaker 1 (37:04):
He got Aliston?
Speaker 2 (37:05):
He is home right now.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
They he played the playoffs. I should have shown a
chicktok with you, fellas.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
Last week I saw all the former Cubs players that
are in the postseason right now.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Shut up, David Zach McKinstry.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
And you know how many you know, yeah, you know
how many players are in the playoffs that should have
been Cubs. That list is even longer. I'll give I'll
give you the first one. His name is Bryce Harper
if maybe you've heard of it.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
I then he played by Baseball with Chris Bryant.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, they were buddies.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Yeah, like a dog. He has a dog, or at
a dog named named Wrigley, right that. I wise, I'm
I'm all in on quarter odds.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Yeah, I am too iley for odds.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Well, I think they need some guys like one more.
I like, actually our bullpen going forward, some guys stepped up.
If we could add one more and get Elsleigh and
get all the Merriweather back from injury, get all those
guys back from injury, I'm pretty confident that our bullpen
is going to be solid. I would add one more
(38:18):
high leverage guy in there. And that's why I said, I'm.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Gonna give you a free agent. And I know if
there's anybody that's watched any Yankees baseball or followed Clay
Holmes the season, no gloves the way he says, he
blew a lot of cities because he gives up cone
he he's got. And you kind of wonder then if
if how to be tou yeah, not like advantage of
(38:46):
his of his repertoire at you know, I would way.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
That he's why do you guys want one more high
leverage guy?
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I mean, are you guys look at for a like
a trade piece.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
We had twenty three blown saves this year. That's why
Clay Holmes way have had that many.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
I was three blown saves. That's that's almost twenty three wins.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
I'll say this so I man shout out by students.
Max Uh. He's a diehard Yankee fan and he a
month ago told me that the Cubs need to sign
Clay Holmes, that he has been absolutely filthy and has
been getting beat on like soft contact, and that's why
(39:33):
he's like, it's because the Yankees defense has been garbage,
not necessarily that Clay Holmes hasn't been pitching well. He
said he should go. The Cubs should sign them for
for your late inning, either closer or a inning guy
like get Clay home self. I'm a shout out Max
there because he dude, we talk ball the time. Max
(39:56):
is awesome. So he's loving the Yankees all he was yesterday.
He's not longing this score.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Well, I help Max.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
I hope Max has a phenomenal postseason ride.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
I you too, in eight years, since we've had that
eight years. And I'll throw out this name, Brent Rooker.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Are are you like eh?
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Or is it like? Is it just another a's flash
in the pan. One guy is good on the team. Like,
I don't know, I've heard that name is thrown around,
so I wanted to hear what you guys just thought.
May Sin may Sin, Yeah, if you're gonna get an
a gift.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I I think that Ruper just adds to the log
damn in outfield and da yep. Like and he's also
he's thirty. Uh, they're gonna be thirty. So like, while
I think when he did this season, considering that he
(41:04):
did it for half of last season too, and maybe
just Pitcher is caught off or whatever.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Yeah, back thirty home runs, thirty home runs and back
to back years, that's it's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I just the defensive fit. I just think that that
like you'd have to clear, you'd have to trade like
say our half and free up an outfield spot. I
guess it's a tooming bellunder ops in. But even then,
like you know, cupstands are banging the table for owen
case you be called up, and then they all likely
(41:41):
that case you're gonna be the D eight. So then
where does where does someone like Rooker fit it? I
just Rooker is a great looking bat right now, and
I think the as would be the one thing that
people I've seen people break break up, is the A's
should hang on to Rooker that when they unfortunately make
(42:03):
the move to Sacramento, fans have a rereathing to come
watch their team. I would argue that Lawrence Butler will
be a good reason. Lego Ears and their other kind
of cuts are first base, then forget it. They've got
They've got guys, They've got some interesting pieces that will
bring fans. But I don't know. I don't know if
Rooker will be moved than if he is, I I
(42:26):
don't think it's it makes sense for the Cubs day.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
I'm still like daydreaming over pitchers over here.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
I mean, throws some names out there. I mean obviously
you know Mason Miller has talked about all season, but
h well, you know, I'm.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Looking at players that you know, because we're talking about
Chad Bean gun Shy. It's like, I like, you know,
I think Max Max because of potential injury history, Like
and I think you're right, Like I feel like Max
(43:08):
has been on a injured you know, the aisle a
lot over just the past couple of years. So like
maybe there's a prove it sort of situation there. You know,
I wouldn't be totally opposed to Walker Bueler as an option.
(43:30):
I mean, if you're you're looking at having to replace
a rotation spot because of Kyle, Yeah, like that's that's
a no brainer.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
Like it is saying if you aren't, then you're asking
Jordan Wicks to really step up and make another huge step.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
In Totally I don't see it.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
I mean, I like Jordan Wicks, but it's it's can you.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Trust Hank and mcdonment says, go get Tanner Scott. I
don't hate that.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
That what that name has been thrown around in tough
circles for for Hank like profile picture. I am a
fellow black.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
I do. I do like that, especially for you know,
like a really solid relief. I'm really just I you
need one or two more arms. You need another solid
reliever at least, and then you need a closer. Like
(44:33):
we've I said this, we all said this at the
beginning of last season. The but to do list hasn't changed, right,
just well, how do you get there?
Speaker 1 (44:45):
I think it's what you said earlier is you need
to raise the ceiling of what our expectations are, And
it starts with JAD in its press conference to not
say we just want to get back into the playoffs
and be sustainable, like yeah, that's great, but we want
World Series championships like we have to. Like, I guarantee
(45:08):
the Yankees aren't happy that they just made the playoffs.
I guarantee the Phillies aren't glad they made the playoffs
for another year. They want a thing like like the
Philly Yeah. So it's like, that's the difference like the Phillies.
That's the byproduct of them wanting to win the World
Series is that they're making the playoffs, but their goal
(45:30):
is still to win the World Series. That needs to
be our goal. And for it seems like for Jet
every single time we're like you just need to make
the playoffs, it's like, no, we need to win World Series.
The playoffs will come if we have our goals to
win the World Series, Like left are just a byproduct
of that.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
So yeah, I'm sorry, Day And that's exactly it. It doesn't
feel like they want to win the World Series. Right.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
This is a very like And I have to give
Jake the credit for say and raise the projection that
was his original thought. I just piggybacked on it. But
this is this is like a an epidemic among Chicago
sports and it is play play with me for a
second here up until just like the playing game. Yeah,
(46:17):
not the Cubs, because they're not playing any right now.
I up until this last Sunday, and until last season
with the Blackhawks, every single sports team in Chicago has
(46:38):
pedaled nostalgia on Chicago sports fans. And this is the
team that decides not to do it, is the team
that's gonna get the most love, get the most revenue,
get the most attention. So I'm I'm calling this out
(46:59):
because this is a really specific saying that owners across
sports I think failed to realize. The Bears for the
longest time, have pedled the nostalgia of the eighty five Bears.
And we're going to be a hard nose running team
(47:20):
and we're gonna play tough defense. That is not how
you win in the modern day at NFL. How you
win in the modern day at the NFL is you
have a stud quarterback that can throw you into games
and can throw you out of games too. Like that's
just how it is. So this past Sunday, we saw
the Bears finally start to move away from we're just
going to run the ball and play defense. No, we're
(47:42):
going to have a pretty great defense, but we're also
going to have a quarterback that can kill you. I
given the opportunity that's meshing the modern day NFL. The Bulls,
I don't know what is happening. Like they don't either.
They are pedaling the nineties Bulls for the rest of it. Turn.
I mean, look, I love Derek Rose as much as
(48:02):
the next person, but they're still even playing nostalgia of
what could have been with Derek Rose. All Right, that's fine,
but like start building, start figuring something out. The Cubs
now have The Cubs are in this weird predicament of
they have so much nostalgia because they continue to have
(48:27):
historical players involved with the team, which is not a
bad thing, but that's pedaling nostalgia. And you've changed the
expectations in twenty sixteen by winning a World Series, So
now all of a sudden, they're pedaling the nostalgia of
we were once bad and then we finally got the
monkey off our back. You can't have both. You've changed
(48:51):
the expectations. Now now there are living Cubs fans that
know what it's like to have a World Series championship.
Do it again. Continue to tell you know, Tom, if
you want your sportsbook paid off, put another product on
the field that wins the World Series, then trust me,
(49:12):
you'll make the merchandise money. Because how many of us
when they won the World Series, We're like, I want
this shirt and this shirt and this hat and this
hat and this jersey and this jersey. How many of
us did that? Every probab.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
I had not bought a clothing item of the Cubs
since twenty eighteen because I was like, no, I'm not.
I'm like, but like sixteen I bought, like, give me
a Rizzo jersey, give me Brian jersey. Like leading up that,
I was like, all right else, But now like people are.
Speaker 2 (49:47):
And hey, it's an insanity thing where it's like, oh well,
we just don't have the money. Then spend the money now,
and I guarantee you you make it, You'll make it
back in boatloads.
Speaker 3 (49:58):
Like you gotta spend money to make money.
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Absolutely, you know. The one of the things that I
that I liken it to is here in Denver, the
Avalanche and the Nuggets haven't been on TV in years
because there's been a dispute. So you're robbing generations of
fans basically from rooting on these players because you're not
(50:21):
broadcasting them. So you have fans all over the city
of Denver that don't get to root for Nikola Jokic
and see what he is on a basketball court because
you're not broadcasting any games. This translates the same you're
withholding people from investing in these players. If you're the
Rickets right now, and if you're jed Byen not ponying
(50:41):
up and spending the money to put a product on
the field, that is like, I'm going to invest in
this player. I'm going to buy this player's merch. I'm
going to become attached to this player so that you
do make the money. You do have people coming out,
you know, you can sellreet so you can do all
this random crap that generates peripheral income and passive income.
(51:07):
If it's the cost that the Rickets are worried about,
they're idiots or they're horrible business people. Because putting a
winner on the field, even just making the playoffs, like
you said, Mitch, it shouldn't just be making the playoffs.
It should be staying in the playoffs as long as
you can, because playoff tickets cost more money, playoff concessions
(51:28):
cost more money, playoff merch costs more money.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
Spend it, Yeah, pedal nostalgia in a couple of years.
After we win a couple World series.
Speaker 2 (51:38):
Right, like look had they had they like, had we
won in twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, you know one of
the other years, The conversation is probably a little bit
different right now because it's like, all right, well we
we won eight years ago than we won five years
or we won you know in twenty twenty. Maybe you know,
(51:59):
yeah it's a mickey now is ring, But maybe maybe
the conversation.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
Is just a little different totally.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
But spend the money now, stop with the cheapness. We
you're not fooling anyone, and you're buying out you're buying
out the rooftops around regularly. We know you got the
money to do that.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
I mean you look at the teams like the Padres,
like they've they've spent a ton of money and failed
a couple of years and still went out and spent money. Yes,
and now look what it paid on.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
Like it took them a couple of years and they're
and they're dealing prospects and still finding ways to reload.
And that's the other thing too, Like going back to trades,
we can get humnged up over prospect but look how
many prospects don't hand out.
Speaker 1 (52:48):
Right well, even a lot of they trade away haven't
panned out with the other teams that they got that
got them and they've won deals.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
And that's the thing is like, you know, we were
in here and like Cubs fans are so protective of
our prospects on the farm system, and it's like, I look,
Jake and I think had this conversation on an episode
earlier in the season where it's like, are we really
sure that our farm system is this good? Like because
I don't see it the same way as what everyone
(53:17):
else does. Who cares figure out a way to put
a product down the field that makes people reinvest because
what you know, outside of an acquaintanceship I have with
a current member of this team, I'm not invested in
any of these players outside of maybe Shoda. And that's
(53:39):
just because Shoda is awesome and does cool things because
he performed right like like he's and he's fun and
he's got personality, and that's that I'm willing to invest
in that kind of a player, you know, and if
it wasn't for me, you know, having having a relationship
with another player on this team, Like, I'm not invested
(54:00):
in any of it at this point. We were all
invested in Hobby, KB and Rizzo, and we were invested
in Leicester. We're you know, we're all invested in Kyle.
But like that, time is done, the nostalgia's gone, Like
he is the last remaining member of that team. It's
time to turn the page and figure out how to
(54:21):
put quote unquote the next great Hubs team together to
get us back to them then get in the playoffs
and stay in the playoffs. No, I think that is ranto. No,
I think that is.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
Extremely well said and needed to be sad, and it was.
It's it's perfect, it's it's where we're hint think where
we're all at as Cubs fans is is right there.
And so you said what needed to be said. So
I mean, I don't even have anything more to say,
like that was it.
Speaker 2 (54:54):
I need you to cut that whole video segment. We'll
send it to the front of office and maybe I'll
get a job with the front. There you go, there
you go, Like, guys, I don't know if you know
how this works, but this is how it does work.
Speaker 4 (55:07):
I still have one question.
Speaker 1 (55:09):
Yeah, somebody job in my memory.
Speaker 4 (55:12):
Oh what happened to Nick Manderal?
Speaker 1 (55:14):
Where'd he go? He went to the miners and then
he got hurt.
Speaker 2 (55:18):
Yeah, and he got hurt. He like fractured his hand
or something, what like filling the ice bucket or No,
he's trying to climb up on the top shelf.
Speaker 1 (55:30):
I think he went. I mean he went to Iowa.
Speaker 2 (55:32):
I think he was.
Speaker 1 (55:32):
Detasseling corn and rest injury, wrist injury of pulling.
Speaker 4 (55:38):
The Yeah, pulling the fassels.
Speaker 1 (55:40):
Yep, No, I mean that that's what you said. He
in It is exactly it and it and you can tell,
Like I mean, I feel like the Yankees were a
little bit where the Cubs were are at and now
the Yankees were there a couple of years ago where
there pedal in nostalgia of the naz Yankees until they
(56:06):
got Judge to like come out and then they're like, Okay,
now we're gonna go spend money and we're gonna have
pictures and we're gonna and now it's finally paying off
where they're gonna make a good run and they've they
went out and made the trade that they needed to
get Chass like that was a great deal. They went
and got Soto, they spent the mon So now it's like,
(56:27):
I guarantee you they're gonna pull up the money and
keep him like they're gonna do the things that because
they know that they have their core and they need
to spend now to win a World Series where they
have Judge at his peak. That's what you do. That's
what you do when you have those type of players.
(56:48):
And I'm just saying, like danceby, like you spent invest
so much money and dance mey. He ain't getting any younger,
like an app like he ain't gonna get any younger,
Like here a little bit where s the little decline
and even half like he's not a young buck anymore.
He's not. He's been around with the Cubs for quite
a few years now, like those guys. Baseball lifespan isn't
(57:12):
This isn't very long. That window is pretty short, so right.
Speaker 5 (57:19):
Yeah, it'll be I don't think we'll ever see players
like they had.
Speaker 4 (57:23):
In the sixties seventies and eighties.
Speaker 5 (57:25):
Like the Hank Aarons to Willie mays Is that played
for twenty some seasons and the production to really tail
off into like them very very end like that era.
Speaker 4 (57:35):
Yeah falls over.
Speaker 2 (57:37):
Well definitely, and you know you you have sports medicine
and people are listening to their bodies more. Yeah, those
guys were smoking cigarettes and chucking beers in between innings.
Speaker 3 (57:49):
To too many. Too many guys are too many guys
are throwing too hard too. Yeah, you can't as as
the guys guy's age out because they just can't. The
best Rich wears off, Mitch.
Speaker 2 (58:01):
You you said something that that shows that it doesn't
take a lot of time to to get back to
where this team wants to be or where this team
needs to be. And that is the look where the
Yankees were just a couple of years ago, like they're
(58:22):
pretty not great, like just kind of starting to fall apart.
And now I look at the Yankees as one of
the few teams in the playoffs that can keep up
offensively with the Dodgers on a regular basis, and that
could maybe beat the Dodgers. Like, because that's where I'm at,
is just anyone but them at this point.
Speaker 1 (58:44):
But there's only really three teams in the playoffs right
now that I see offensively that can hang with the Dodger.
Speaker 2 (58:51):
I mean, yeah, it's the Phillies, the Yankees, and what
the Padres. I mean they did it tonight.
Speaker 1 (58:56):
I think the Potters. I think the Potters are really
gonna give them a runs. So I mean, I'm I'm in.
I'm invested into this's playoffs just because I think there's
been some fun, exciting games. I think they got my attention.
So it's good for baseball. But I hope it does
something and it challenges Jed. I mean, I feel like
every year we don't make the playoff. We hope that
(59:18):
Jed is watching this and Ricketts and Carter they're watching
the playoffs and doing and thinking anything that they can
to be able to get the Cubs in that position.
Speaker 2 (59:31):
I'm gonna spam the Cubs social media accounts with this episode.
Speaker 1 (59:35):
So all right, we've been talking for a long time.
Thanks for listening, Go Cubs. And yeah, it's been a
great season. Thanks for sticking with us the whole season.
We'll have some winter episodes as we go through the
winner and but yeah, it's been a great season, Thanks
for listening to us the whole season. And yeah, and
(59:57):
go Cubs.
Speaker 2 (59:58):
Go Cubs.
Speaker 4 (01:00:00):
I think you're since Jake's said
You're listening to The Dinger's Podcast, presented to you by
Shorts Network with your host Mitch, ja Jeff and Kevis.
You're ready to talk to the Cubs? All I need
is a bet, y'all looking the swingers. I'm here with I,
(00:26):
J Jeff and Sadly, I have been enjoying the MLB
playoffs even though the Cubs have not been in it.
Are you guys doing tonight? I think, how are you doing?
You're looking pretty down over there?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
You know, Mitch, we we watched Inside Out to night
and uh, let me tell you the their depiction of
anxiety really that oh yeah, there's a panic attack in
the movie and uh accurate, very accurate. So it just
(01:10):
got remove me from that great movie, great ending. But whoa.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Pixar?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
They do it again every time by Petrick.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
No, it is Pixar, is Yeah, it's Pixire.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So let's go. Yeah, you've got yeah, I've seen it.
It's it's good. It's good, good flick. I mean yeah, like.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Very high on centric, Yeah, very sports centric. And you
know what anxiety was sports? We're gonna be talking about
that to night, folks.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean I like I said, I've enjoyed the
baseball playoffs. I think yesterday is Philly's Mets game was
probably one of the best games besides Game seven of
the World Series in twenty sixteen. I've watched that back
and forth, and the whole time watching it, I can't
help but think is the Cubs should.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Be the Phillies.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yep, the Cubs should have Bryce Harper as their star.
They should not have let schwar or walk. They could
even have re signed Casianos and with their with the
Cub's current rotation, they could hold up and be in
the playoffs. They could that could be them. And the
whole time watching the Phillies, You're like, that should be us,
(02:28):
that should be us. But again we end up with
the same record as last year and have a failure
of a year and again out of the playoffs. And
where where do we go? Where do we go from
here end? Where do we go? We haven't heard you
from you for a while, you haven't been on the podcast,
So I want to jump right to what Ian has
to say, because I'm excited to hear what you have
(02:49):
to say. In your ramp.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Where don't we go? I mean, you throw a dart
at a dartboard and try to figure it out. I mean,
you know, I'm I I'm struck with the you know
where did it all go wrong? Kind of thing? And yeah,
at the at the start of the season, I distinctly
remember every single one of us saying when the games
(03:13):
in your division, win the games in your division, and
that's something this Cubs team just couldn't really seem to
figure out how to do consistently. And then you know,
even just with the sliver of hope that that this
team took into like mid September in that Rocky series
(03:34):
of like maybe it was that nine to five loss
on I think it was Friday the thirteenth. That's why
I remember it being so odd. It was that nine
to five loss where I was like, this team is
nowhere close. This this this isn't and and maybe, and
maybe it's hyperbole to say we're nowhere close, because I
(03:58):
feel like maybe it's just a few pieces still, but
like I feel like I'm living in Groundhog days saying
it's a few pieces for the last few off seasons,
and the conversation is the same next year, win the
games in your division. Well, that just got a little
harder because of a managerial higher the Reds just made.
(04:19):
They on a you know, on a personnel level. On
the field may not be much different, but they're gonna
be a heck of a lot better managed than they
were this past year. So you know, it's like, where
do you go, Well, you have to make moves, you
have to spend some money.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Now, Jed, your hand is forced because the talent you
have has just reproduced and you know, yeah, same record
as last year. People are gonna be like, oh, so
there's no difference between Ross and Craig. I mean, everybody
was injured on this team this year, like just massive
amounts of injuries this year, and I think Craig went.
(05:00):
Jed's hand is forced. You have to pay, you gotta
pay uf, You gotta make some moves.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Yeah, this is his last year of his contract, so
he's got make he's got to do something to get extended.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
You would take.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Or he won't because he's afraid of signing another Hayward
type contract. And then that's I can.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
See how somebody, I could see how somebody would be
gun shy after a couple of you know, big fat mistakes.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
The bright spot that he has done, was like showda Yeah,
games that showed us started. We went twenty three and six.
If we get one more pitcher.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, one more pitcher, and I you know, I like,
I'm I'm on the table of shit man, one more
one more impact back right, seriously, Like, I mean, if they're.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Gonna run the same defensive lineup out there, which is
basically your offense, then we're gonna have to have a
pitching staff like the nineties Braves.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
That's a great callback.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm serious.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean a Morgan wall in ninety eight brave song
over and over with he.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah, they made us through the World Series against the
Twins and they had Sid Breen at first base.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I run faster than Sid Breen.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, and that's a good that's a good point, Jeff,
Like you're gonna need something far better than what you've
rolled out. And I I look at how the Mets
dispatched the Brewers in the playoffs, Like when it came
crunch time, clutch batters came up. Yeah, the Cubs just
(06:39):
don't have that. I think I don't. There's no one
that walks up to the plate at any given time
where I'm like, they're gonna crush this.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, there's there's nobody on this Cubs team that steps
up in that moment the way.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, a lot did.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
And I'm not saying that like pid Alonzo isn't without
his fault because people brought up the rough September going
near the play but made up for it. You know,
That's that's all it takes. It's not like he wasn't
a good player before before that's kinder me. He still
had a great season. I want to say. I was
(07:13):
looking at the stats. Does argue with somebody on Twitter?
I think that this year was his lowest home run total,
but he still had over thirty five and he had
like thirty six or thirty seven home runks. Yeah, Cubs
cann't use that this year. Now, even if he had,
I think he had a sup to under it bad
(07:34):
any average in September. But the Mets still made it
to the playoffs. And if that's kind of what we
talked about all season, where you know you need that
superstar back or that not even that's necessary. I wouldn't
even necessarily say Pete onto the too short star. But
he's he's a power threat that the Cubs lack and
ringing that into play with all the complimentary pieces of
(07:55):
the Cubs haveot offense, even if Pete Alonso has a
rough screats Lando pipe bat as a threats. You hope
that the complimentary pieces that like the Cups have right
now and still float the offense. And they were able
to do I mean, the clubs offense. It looked great
in spurts, but there was a lot of moments where they,
(08:16):
like you study and they lacked clutch, clutch hitting, qutch
offensive moments. And yeah, you wonder if someone like Peter Alonzo,
if they're the type type of batman. Yes, he's gonna
be a free agent this offseason. But yeah, it just
feels like we're saying the same thing year after year.
Uh yeah, clutch bat or our bat and maybe one
(08:39):
more starting pitcher. And it's maybe back off what Jeff
said too, let's stuff forget like we can. We can
you know, crap all over Jet as much as we want.
But the tie on signing looked pretty good this year.
The trade obviously looked good. You know. Well, I would
(09:00):
say that mins trap record is more successful than not
in terms of pits, but the hits just haven't been
big enough.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, well and and to piggyback on that yet the signings,
like he's had some good hits, but he's acting like
he's missed on everything. That's how he that's how he
navigates free agency almost, It's like he navigates it as
I'm afraid to commit like we did to Jason Hayward. Understandable.
I get it, Like that's fine, but like, look at
(09:31):
your successes, like yeah, the Tyne signing, great, showda awesome,
and I mean Cody was fine, Like yeah, like he
was fine again this year, Like there have been more successes.
So act like you belong in the group of you know,
managers and front office execs that make good moves. Stop
(09:55):
being hesitant to make any sort of you know. But
to Jed's credit, you know, Peter Alonzo's war was only
two point six, so he's probably not a very good player.
I don't know, you're still.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
On that arger in reply, I can't remember if you
tried it in on that threat, but man, yeah, people
were like, oh, it's like yeah, is his defense? Is
it spectacular? But do we really I don't know, Like
I think the bat makes up for it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
I mean, yeah, you know, Matt Chapman then now the
greatest of seasons. But the Cubs could have used Matt
Chapman at some point too, Like, don't do we started
on I I'm sorry, I don't. I don't have I'm
just pointing out the facts. Twenty seven Homers.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Well, well, watching these playoffs, you're seeing the stars come
up big every much time, whether it's Pete Alonzo or
Jose Reyis, or Bryce Harper or Nick Cassianos or Kyle
(11:13):
Schwarber or like you're seeing these guys Jackson cheerios, like
like you're seeing those guys. The star of every team
comes to shine in the playoffs. That's the way your
team is built to be successful in the playoffs. And
even if the Cubs would have made it in this year,
they had been like the Braves and been out quick
(11:34):
because the Braves, like they were, they've been talking about injuries.
They've been decimated by injuries. I would love to see
a full force Braves in this playoffs. But you just
didn't get that. But the team's exited. The teams that
maybe the teams that exited were the teams that didn't
quite have their star come to to play, or they
(11:57):
just didn't have a star in general. So it's like
we've said it, like the Cubs need to find that
star and or a guy really needs to make some
huge steps on our current roster to be able to
become that. I just don't know if it's there.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I don't either. I don't see it, Like, I just don't.
I don't see any of the current players being super
capable of it. And it's almost like a clarid yeah
a little did they It's like they are playing it.
Say it too in a way, but it's almost like,
you know, the all signs point to one.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, which it's not gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
It's not one So if one way, one way, one
I'm sorry that was terrible.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Yeah, I mean it's it's just it's a tough and
it's tough for me too, Like I hate to admit
it's tough for me to watch the playoffs because I
I feel, first of all, I mean, you guys know,
I consume it outrageous about like a discussing about of
baseball over the summer. So by the time the Cubs
are are by the time the Cubs were pretty much
declared debt, shegain in September, I wasn't really paying that
(13:23):
much attention. They pulled me back in a little bit,
like we've talked about. But it's tough for me to
watch right now, and precisely because of what we're saying
in this moment, in that you see the way this
Cups team should be constructed, and when you see what
I can't remember what play or where we where we
(13:47):
are able standings, but it's too high for the outcome
that we've had. So you see, we've got all this
money inst I know that there's some money coming off
the books totopseason, but kind of sit here sitting on
your hands, like, Okay, what the hell, what's your like?
What do we do? And like you said, Ian, I
don't think that there is anybody on this roster in
(14:11):
in the minors that can really come in and make
that leap or should be expected to make that leap.
You know, we don't have We don't have a Jackson Seario,
we don't have a Gunner Henderson, we don't like Yeah,
PCA had a stellar performance in the second half this season,
but can we can we count that the same way
(14:33):
that Bellinger had a great offensive season last year when
we count on Petko Arnstraw not to have a sophomore.
Can we pount on him to continue with the offensive trajectory?
And as we talked about our near and you'll hear
if you listen to any baseball podcast, what progression is
not linear, especially with with young, young hitters. So I
(14:57):
don't know, I don't know what to expect the PCA.
I'm all in on the guy. I think you proved
that he asked something. It would take a couple of
back to back offensive seasons for me to be out.
But I don't know if he's going to continue what
he started this season. I don't know how much more
of a ceiling he has. And even then, he's not
(15:18):
a superstar. He's not gonna be an offensive superstar. And
that's fine. He can be a very good player. But that's,
you know, kind of the limbo that we've been stuck.
It is a roster of you know, good complimentary players
through you know, a couple of very good players. So
it just feels like, you know, I feel for some
(15:39):
of those podcasts, those coast podcasts that record every day,
it's like, oh man, where are they going to.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Be talking about?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
No, But it feels like jet's hamstrung in it. What
what moves can he make besides you know, the outrageous,
very improbable move that I threw out on Twitter about
a week ago.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And I'll I'll.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Finish my thoughts by by heading there. Unless I'm jumping
the Gunmige, I don't want no go for it. So
I tweeted that it's you know, it's been talked about
that Vladimir Guerrero Junior is on the trade market. He
was on I believe he was on the trade block
at the deadline. I can't remember if I read that
(16:23):
that comes we're involved. I think they're they're kind of
rumors out there, But my idea was Michael Bush and
it would probably have to be Nico by the front
line pieces in a trade to acquire uh Vladdie. And
(16:44):
in addition to that, you cony up the money and
signed Peter Alonzo, and that gives you a bona fide
star in Vladdie, and at a very very good, you know,
almost star. I mean, obviously everybody knows who Pete Alonzos.
I don't know if he's a star caliber player necessarily,
(17:05):
but obviously he fills that need for pop. Now, the
one thing that I brought up that people on Twitter.
I think there's one person in particularly did not like
is that you put Vladdie at third base and he
had like a you know, like one hundred innings at
third base this year and he is out above average
(17:26):
was one. He added, Uh six, he hadn't add positive
success rates positive add and success rate in his in
his chances. But it's been a long time since he
played third base for a full season. I think it
was his rookie season twenty twenty and metrics did not
look good. But I bring it up because he has
since lost weight gotten into better shape, and he said
(17:49):
that he wants to play third base, and the Blue
Jays played him at third base specifically as trade bait.
That's that's my theory. I think it's been out there
on the on the web. Two Yeah, So I don't know.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts. You guys think that
gets us out of a hole. If you think that's
putting up too much money, too much trade capital, curious, Curious.
(18:12):
Mitch miss doesn't look too enthused about it.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Uh, I'm trying to think through how Yeah, I mean,
I love having power at both first and third, like
having guys that can hit a bomb at any time
(18:35):
and get you back in a game or win you
a game, which the Cubs haven't had. It is huge,
just the run production and the slug that you would
get out of those two. Yeah, I just wonder how
it would play out to have Lad at third for
a full season. You go from having Nick bad or
(19:00):
Goal the smallest third basement Vlad one of the biggest
third basement. Is kind of funny. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I it's like a It's like a drawing sketch on
a door frame, the mark you children's growth. Yeah, but
I like it.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
I think they need some star players. Getting Pete alnzo
in getting Vlad for next year, that would significantly improve.
And then you have like the Ian Apps, you have
the corners, and you have the the Dansbys to slot
around them as as solid complimentary pieces like that, that's great.
(19:43):
And then like I even love the idea of bringing
Matt Shaw up right away and just getting him at
bats like all that bats that went to Nick Madrigal,
Patrick Wisdom and Master Boney. If they just all go
to Shaw next year and he doesn't have the weight
(20:04):
of having to start like that would be great just
to have a good bat off the bench and you
can plug in in a couple of different positions. That
makes the team better already and he has pop. So yeah, yeah,
I mean I like it with with knowing that Jed
doesn't have a lot of options, that is one that
(20:25):
they could explore, and you're selling Bush at his highest
when you don't know there's much more ceiling room for
him to get any better. Yeah what a guys thoughts.
It's Mitch from The Dinger's podcast. Today. I want to
(20:45):
talk to you about something that's truly transformed the way
that I, as a coach work with young players and
especially my own kids. I'm talking about the B four
bat app. For those who have ever heard of a
before bat app, it is an incredible tool that lets
you track your exit, launch angle, and more, all from
your iPhone. It's no fancy bat sensor or expensive equipment needed,
(21:06):
just your iPhone, a tripod and you're good to go.
I use the BA four bat app daily with my
son and daughter and the results have been phenomenal. It
provides valuable data and video feedback that helps fine tune
their swing. My son absolutely loves it. He gets a
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especially enjoys tracking his exit velocity. It's like a game
(21:28):
for I'm trying to find that perfect launch angle to
maximize his explosity. For me, it's been amazing to see
how much this app has really helped improve their swings
in that immediate feedback and data that they get are
a game changer. So if you're looking to get that
valuable data and insight for your own slugger and for
(21:49):
them to hit maybe some more dingers this season, I
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will love it. Now, let's get back to hitting some
more dingers.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I'll let Jeff chiman. I've hogged some of the complaining
spotlight tonight.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Jeff, are you a Vlad Guerrero fan.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
I'm a fan of anybody hit the ball with some consistency.
I don't care if it's out in the park as
long as it's in play.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Oh, the worst I watched is somebody go up there
and put a bat on their shoulder and watch three
good pitches go by him and I'm gonna sit down there.
There are I mean, there are issues, and there's holes
to be filled, and there's things that can make the
roster better.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
But as far as.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
I don't know, I think Pete Alonso is kind of
being on the down the hill side of his career possibly,
And it's.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
To me it seems like a stop gap signing.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
You know, we're just gonna put a little bit of
this mud and this leaky dam for now until we've
come up with a better place.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
I feel like there was a better metaphor that you
get used to.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, I just I don't see that this this scenario
playing out because I don't think Jed has the balls
to do that. After I don't think that getting that.
I agree with getting the blush and getting red as
they're they're gonna be the third first baseman.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
And I agreement. But like the point that I brought
up when I was having a conference, a thing if
you could call Twitter response to the conversation, I know
you thought the biggest problem after twenty sixteen was the
front office's inability to sell I on players. Yeah, and
(23:45):
while I understand that Michael Puts potentially brings a lot
of value. He's not ever going to have the ceiling
that of Vladimir ger Era junior. Pass even if you
even if you trade for Vladdie to put him at
first base, you know, put take Tito Lonzo out of
(24:06):
the equation, which I gotta stay jet. I think that
Pete's profile right now, he makes good contact. He's got
like an eighty plus, you know, over eighty percent contact grade,
which is very very good for the amount of power
that he brings to the dish. So yeah, but I mean,
(24:26):
you never know, like a power here's profile could drop
off at any even season. But I think that trading
Michael Bush this offseason, while it would be an unprecedented
road by this Cup's front office, I think it's a
smart move, especially if you can get a guy like
(24:48):
Vladimir Gerire Junior. I don't know if there's anybody else
on the trade market that's off of that caliber. I
guess we'll have to wait and see. And of course,
you know, Bladdie only has one more season to control left,
so then you have to worry about giving giving up
big pieces, you know, someone with all the control that
Michael Bush has, And then can I can I can
(25:09):
you extend Laddie? You better hope? So right, you better
open it. Well, you just open up the pocket books
and say what do you want? You know, well, you
pretend this is your pre agent year. What do you want?
Let's start with with your number and and go from
there up because the Cubs have that money and they
should be spending that money on a guy like him,
(25:32):
and then for whatever it's worth. Mitch, if there's anybody
listening that that disagrees with the idea of bringing shop
to start at second the beginning of this of the
twenty twenty five season, which I'm okay with, I could
totally see them slow playing it a little bit to
it and and giving him a little bit more time
at Triple A. If anybody feels not great about that, uh,
(25:58):
tyro Strada is it's a depending cre agent. You have
a really rough offensive season in San Francisco after a
couple of really good ones. So I don't know, maybe
the Cups hitting infrastructure can figure something out there. See
you you know what's different? What's it?
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Was there?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Wing change?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Was there a change in the approach that he needs
to go back to? But I bring up Estrata because
he was fit in outs above averag just behind Nico
was according to Baseball Savant. So Nico is ten outs
above average by Rowans with Night and Estrada is also
their similar profile, but Strata have a little bit more
pop what he's on. But they're both speed threats. So
(26:43):
you know, that's a classic, like you know, who's the
who's the veterans second basement that the Cups are gonna
sign this offseason. But I will say, well, I'm not
sky high on Estrata by any means. I do think
that he brings more to the tape people that to
Hannuel descalso or at Eric Stoker.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, well, I think what's interesting there too, fake is
your you call out. You know, the hitting infrastructure, which
is going to be different this year. You know, like
the council effectively cleaned house. Basically, none of that was
(27:23):
really a surprise to me outside of maybe Napoli. I
think that maybe was the only surprise to me. But
you know where we're going to see another another season
of Craig kind of bringing in his own touch and
seeing what that looks like. Yeah, I mean I don't
(27:45):
I don't know for sure.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Like.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
How this is going to shake out, but moves have
to be made and whatever the move is, Like, you know,
the worst thing that Jed could do is Stan pat
because you know, as Jeff pointed out, you're in the
last two year contract. Dude, make a move. It doesn't
matter if it's good or bad. At this point, whatever
(28:11):
you're doing isn't working regardless.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
Yeah. Ah.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Thinking of Michael Bush and where he fits in if
I mean he's going to stay. If he was on
the Phillies, he would be like the Bryson Scott, like
just a role player but could come up and get
that big hit. The problem is, like the Phillies have
(28:46):
a Bryce Harper, the Phillies have a Kyle Schwarber. The
Phillies have a Nick Cassillis that pop. They can get
you immediate runs, and I feel like they have the
postseason switch. Like those guys like Nick Cassiano's like hasn't
had some great years during the regular season, but as
(29:07):
soon as the lights starts shining bright, like he feeds
off of it, like he loves it. And you've seen
two big hits in this post and out of him.
I'm like, like, that's what you want. You want the
stars to be able to turn it on when when
you need it, and and the Cubs just don't have that,
and so getting like a ladder getting signing up ped
(29:27):
Alonzo like, at least it provides the opportunity when the
lights come on for those stars to like turn it on.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Yeah, And I just don't.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
See right now anywhere in the Cubs system or in
the current roster that that would happen now. Jed mads
a comment that we need to beat projections are and
have our players outperform, like what's your what's your guys
(30:01):
take on that? And it makes me like, I feel
like that's the same thing he's like said last year that.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
It's just he took it into Chad Ebt and said,
make this sound smarter, and it sounded smarter. We need
to beat projections, good man. Yeah, definitely that was would
have been a good start to just the roster itself,
but unfortunately that didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
The thing is, like the Phillies didn't need to out
perform projections. They were projected to make the playoffs, and
they made the playoffs, like the like the Cubs were
projected to get the record that they got, and that's
what they got.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Well, like, that's exactly it, Mitch, that the Cubs need
to Every team going into this season says to them,
every front office is we need to we need to
beat our projecteds. Right. Every team is saying, the problem
is the Cup's projection was middling. The projection going into
(31:07):
the season has to be higher. So it's not it's
not right. We need to beat projections. We need to
raise the floor of the progenial projection and then beat
the projective.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yes, you raise the floor of it because you can't
account for the things that are going to go wrong inevitably,
like injury. For example. You can't account for injury. You
can't account So raise the floor of your projections. Maybe
it's from eighty three wins to ninety wins, Like that
should be enough. You should be able to get that
(31:42):
old agency somehow, somehow, you should be able to get that. Yeah,
and maybe that's enough to get you into the postseason. Maybe, Yeah,
I mean starting with beating projections. Yeah, like you said, Jake,
every team is saying that. Every team. There's not a
team that's like, well, if we underperform our projections, things
(32:03):
will be really good. No, what nobody is that's nobody's
saying that. Every team is like, we got to do
better than what we're projected to do. But it starts
with raising the baseline of what those projections are. And
this team is just not there. The team doesn't have
the talent to be able to do that.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Yes, for tacker projections, I'm thinking of expectations.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Also, Darren. Darren, in the comments, uh brought up so
a veteran catch with a bat and control makes the
most sense to trade high end prospects for it.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
The okay, do you have a name? Do you have
a name that we could Yeah, that's the hard thing.
A name that would be available that isn't controlled or
like just from a team that would be willing to
give something up, that'd be the hard thing. I agree, Darren,
it's just where can we find.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
That I'm making I'm making a prediction. This is my
prediction right now, before Darren gets us a name, the
newest rotation piece is gonna be Corbyn Burns. I Jake,
I know you hate it, but I'm gonna I'm gonna
(33:20):
die by it, just because Craig I don't think can
help himself. Right, They wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Surprise me at all if you started filling up the
club's roster with phone that.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Bruce, Yeah, no, no me either. A proven closer yeah.
Darren also says a proven closer would have Yeah, a
closer was a big problem this year. A proven didn't
have one. No, we didn't have one. How many wins
does that work? You know?
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Like?
Speaker 3 (33:46):
And that's so, So I'll I have Wow, there's a
lot of things I.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Want to really do it all.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Corbyn Burns is So I'll say this, I'll give him
the better bit of the doubt in the sense that, yes,
the stride out rate has been going down season after
season overthe last I think four years. And when I stay,
(34:17):
I'll give him the best of the doubt. I'll look
at the A L East this year al least took
solid division, not not as solid as it was you
know a year or two ago. He's touching in a
strong division, a stronger division than the Central has been
in recent years, especially considering that he was hitting for
(34:39):
the division winner. You know, unfortunately the best team in
at our central in the Brewers. But I just don't
think like, I think your point is well placed, and
I just you agree that that's that that would be
that that's not the sign.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
And he I don't want it. No, no, no, there's
not a part of me that's advocating for it. There's
but there's the internal like I can't have nice things
as a fan of this team that I now like.
For example, other free agents that would be available would
be like Walker Bueler or uh Shane Bieber or Max
(35:23):
even that would present some better options, but I just
don't think we can have nice things. And then there's
that level of familiarity, and Jed's gonna be like, hey, Craig,
can you get him on a discount? And then we're
gonna have Corbyn burts.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Yeah, and that's just doing that. Corbyn Ferns likes Greg Counsel,
which i'd tell I'm not saying to anything points to
it not like it.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Well, yeah, my assumption is yes he does. I'm assuming
they like each other because he was Greg's dude.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Something something like thinking about players stepping up in quatch moments,
going back we were talking about it earlier. There's something
about that that makes me want Max freed over.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
It feels like I don't know at the top of
my head, but it feels like Freed has dealt with
more injury issues in the past, so you know that's
a potential risk. But yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Mean, what about getting Tyler Holton from the Tigers. They're closer,
their closer all, He's all. They've been weird because folks, yeah,
been only in holding, have been kind of back and forth.
He's been pretty solid this year.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Hang on out because I'm looking at catchers. I'm thinking
about relievers.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
We've got a lot juggling here.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
I don't know, guys, I thought I thought Hector did
fantastic this year.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
For hey, I'm lying. Didn't he make the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Wasn't he didn't?
Speaker 1 (37:04):
He got Aliston?
Speaker 2 (37:05):
He is home right now.
Speaker 4 (37:08):
They he played the playoffs. I should have shown a
chicktok with you, fellas.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
Last week I saw all the former Cubs players that
are in the postseason right now.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Shut up, David Zach McKinstry.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
And you know how many you know, yeah, you know
how many players are in the playoffs that should have
been Cubs. That list is even longer. I'll give I'll
give you the first one. His name is Bryce Harper
if maybe you've heard of it.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
I then he played by Baseball with Chris Bryant.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, they were buddies.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Yeah, like a dog. He has a dog, or at
a dog named named Wrigley, right that. I wise, I'm
I'm all in on quarter odds.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Yeah, I am too iley for odds.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Well, I think they need some guys like one more.
I like, actually our bullpen going forward, some guys stepped up.
If we could add one more and get Elsleigh and
get all the Merriweather back from injury, get all those
guys back from injury, I'm pretty confident that our bullpen
is going to be solid. I would add one more
(38:18):
high leverage guy in there. And that's why I said, I'm.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Gonna give you a free agent. And I know if
there's anybody that's watched any Yankees baseball or followed Clay
Holmes the season, no gloves the way he says, he
blew a lot of cities because he gives up cone
he he's got. And you kind of wonder then if
if how to be tou yeah, not like advantage of
(38:46):
his of his repertoire at you know, I would way.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
That he's why do you guys want one more high
leverage guy?
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I mean, are you guys look at for a like
a trade piece.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
We had twenty three blown saves this year. That's why
Clay Holmes way have had that many.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
I was three blown saves. That's that's almost twenty three wins.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
I'll say this so I man shout out by students.
Max Uh. He's a diehard Yankee fan and he a
month ago told me that the Cubs need to sign
Clay Holmes, that he has been absolutely filthy and has
been getting beat on like soft contact, and that's why
(39:33):
he's like, it's because the Yankees defense has been garbage,
not necessarily that Clay Holmes hasn't been pitching well. He
said he should go. The Cubs should sign them for
for your late inning, either closer or a inning guy
like get Clay home self. I'm a shout out Max
there because he dude, we talk ball the time. Max
(39:56):
is awesome. So he's loving the Yankees all he was yesterday.
He's not longing this score.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Well, I help Max.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
I hope Max has a phenomenal postseason ride.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
I you too, in eight years, since we've had that
eight years. And I'll throw out this name, Brent Rooker.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Are are you like eh?
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Or is it like? Is it just another a's flash
in the pan. One guy is good on the team. Like,
I don't know, I've heard that name is thrown around,
so I wanted to hear what you guys just thought.
May Sin may Sin, Yeah, if you're gonna get an
a gift.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I I think that Ruper just adds to the log
damn in outfield and da yep. Like and he's also
he's thirty. Uh, they're gonna be thirty. So like, while
I think when he did this season, considering that he
(41:04):
did it for half of last season too, and maybe
just Pitcher is caught off or whatever.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Yeah, back thirty home runs, thirty home runs and back
to back years, that's it's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I just the defensive fit. I just think that that
like you'd have to clear, you'd have to trade like
say our half and free up an outfield spot. I
guess it's a tooming bellunder ops in. But even then,
like you know, cupstands are banging the table for owen
case you be called up, and then they all likely
(41:41):
that case you're gonna be the D eight. So then
where does where does someone like Rooker fit it? I
just Rooker is a great looking bat right now, and
I think the as would be the one thing that
people I've seen people break break up, is the A's
should hang on to Rooker that when they unfortunately make
(42:03):
the move to Sacramento, fans have a rereathing to come
watch their team. I would argue that Lawrence Butler will
be a good reason. Lego Ears and their other kind
of cuts are first base, then forget it. They've got
They've got guys, They've got some interesting pieces that will
bring fans. But I don't know. I don't know if
Rooker will be moved than if he is, I I
(42:26):
don't think it's it makes sense for the Cubs day.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
I'm still like daydreaming over pitchers over here.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
I mean, throws some names out there. I mean obviously
you know Mason Miller has talked about all season, but
h well, you know, I'm.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Looking at players that you know, because we're talking about
Chad Bean gun Shy. It's like, I like, you know,
I think Max Max because of potential injury history, Like
and I think you're right, Like I feel like Max
(43:08):
has been on a injured you know, the aisle a
lot over just the past couple of years. So like
maybe there's a prove it sort of situation there. You know,
I wouldn't be totally opposed to Walker Bueler as an option.
(43:30):
I mean, if you're you're looking at having to replace
a rotation spot because of Kyle, Yeah, like that's that's
a no brainer.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
Like it is saying if you aren't, then you're asking
Jordan Wicks to really step up and make another huge step.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
In Totally I don't see it.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
I mean, I like Jordan Wicks, but it's it's can you.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Trust Hank and mcdonment says, go get Tanner Scott. I
don't hate that.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
That what that name has been thrown around in tough
circles for for Hank like profile picture. I am a
fellow black.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
I do. I do like that, especially for you know,
like a really solid relief. I'm really just I you
need one or two more arms. You need another solid
reliever at least, and then you need a closer. Like
(44:33):
we've I said this, we all said this at the
beginning of last season. The but to do list hasn't changed, right,
just well, how do you get there?
Speaker 1 (44:45):
I think it's what you said earlier is you need
to raise the ceiling of what our expectations are, And
it starts with JAD in its press conference to not
say we just want to get back into the playoffs
and be sustainable, like yeah, that's great, but we want
World Series championships like we have to. Like, I guarantee
(45:08):
the Yankees aren't happy that they just made the playoffs.
I guarantee the Phillies aren't glad they made the playoffs
for another year. They want a thing like like the
Philly Yeah. So it's like, that's the difference like the Phillies.
That's the byproduct of them wanting to win the World
Series is that they're making the playoffs, but their goal
(45:30):
is still to win the World Series. That needs to
be our goal. And for it seems like for Jet
every single time we're like you just need to make
the playoffs, it's like, no, we need to win World Series.
The playoffs will come if we have our goals to
win the World Series, Like left are just a byproduct
of that.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
So yeah, I'm sorry, Day And that's exactly it. It doesn't
feel like they want to win the World Series. Right.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
This is a very like And I have to give
Jake the credit for say and raise the projection that
was his original thought. I just piggybacked on it. But
this is this is like a an epidemic among Chicago
sports and it is play play with me for a
second here up until just like the playing game. Yeah,
(46:17):
not the Cubs, because they're not playing any right now.
I up until this last Sunday, and until last season
with the Blackhawks, every single sports team in Chicago has
(46:38):
pedaled nostalgia on Chicago sports fans. And this is the
team that decides not to do it, is the team
that's gonna get the most love, get the most revenue,
get the most attention. So I'm I'm calling this out
(46:59):
because this is a really specific saying that owners across
sports I think failed to realize. The Bears for the
longest time, have pedled the nostalgia of the eighty five Bears.
And we're going to be a hard nose running team
(47:20):
and we're gonna play tough defense. That is not how
you win in the modern day at NFL. How you
win in the modern day at the NFL is you
have a stud quarterback that can throw you into games
and can throw you out of games too. Like that's
just how it is. So this past Sunday, we saw
the Bears finally start to move away from we're just
going to run the ball and play defense. No, we're
(47:42):
going to have a pretty great defense, but we're also
going to have a quarterback that can kill you. I
given the opportunity that's meshing the modern day NFL. The Bulls,
I don't know what is happening. Like they don't either.
They are pedaling the nineties Bulls for the rest of it. Turn.
I mean, look, I love Derek Rose as much as
(48:02):
the next person, but they're still even playing nostalgia of
what could have been with Derek Rose. All Right, that's fine,
but like start building, start figuring something out. The Cubs
now have The Cubs are in this weird predicament of
they have so much nostalgia because they continue to have
(48:27):
historical players involved with the team, which is not a
bad thing, but that's pedaling nostalgia. And you've changed the
expectations in twenty sixteen by winning a World Series, So
now all of a sudden, they're pedaling the nostalgia of
we were once bad and then we finally got the
monkey off our back. You can't have both. You've changed
(48:51):
the expectations. Now now there are living Cubs fans that
know what it's like to have a World Series championship.
Do it again. Continue to tell you know, Tom, if
you want your sportsbook paid off, put another product on
the field that wins the World Series, then trust me,
(49:12):
you'll make the merchandise money. Because how many of us
when they won the World Series, We're like, I want
this shirt and this shirt and this hat and this
hat and this jersey and this jersey. How many of
us did that? Every probab.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
I had not bought a clothing item of the Cubs
since twenty eighteen because I was like, no, I'm not.
I'm like, but like sixteen I bought, like, give me
a Rizzo jersey, give me Brian jersey. Like leading up that,
I was like, all right else, But now like people are.
Speaker 2 (49:47):
And hey, it's an insanity thing where it's like, oh well,
we just don't have the money. Then spend the money now,
and I guarantee you you make it, You'll make it
back in boatloads.
Speaker 3 (49:58):
Like you gotta spend money to make money.
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Absolutely, you know. The one of the things that I
that I liken it to is here in Denver, the
Avalanche and the Nuggets haven't been on TV in years
because there's been a dispute. So you're robbing generations of
fans basically from rooting on these players because you're not
(50:21):
broadcasting them. So you have fans all over the city
of Denver that don't get to root for Nikola Jokic
and see what he is on a basketball court because
you're not broadcasting any games. This translates the same you're
withholding people from investing in these players. If you're the
Rickets right now, and if you're jed Byen not ponying
(50:41):
up and spending the money to put a product on
the field, that is like, I'm going to invest in
this player. I'm going to buy this player's merch. I'm
going to become attached to this player so that you
do make the money. You do have people coming out,
you know, you can sellreet so you can do all
this random crap that generates peripheral income and passive income.
(51:07):
If it's the cost that the Rickets are worried about,
they're idiots or they're horrible business people. Because putting a
winner on the field, even just making the playoffs, like
you said, Mitch, it shouldn't just be making the playoffs.
It should be staying in the playoffs as long as
you can, because playoff tickets cost more money, playoff concessions
(51:28):
cost more money, playoff merch costs more money.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
Spend it, Yeah, pedal nostalgia in a couple of years.
After we win a couple World series.
Speaker 2 (51:38):
Right, like look had they had they like, had we
won in twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, you know one of
the other years, The conversation is probably a little bit
different right now because it's like, all right, well we
we won eight years ago than we won five years
or we won you know in twenty twenty. Maybe you know,
(51:59):
yeah it's a mickey now is ring, But maybe maybe
the conversation.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
Is just a little different totally.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
But spend the money now, stop with the cheapness. We
you're not fooling anyone, and you're buying out you're buying
out the rooftops around regularly. We know you got the
money to do that.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
I mean you look at the teams like the Padres,
like they've they've spent a ton of money and failed
a couple of years and still went out and spent money. Yes,
and now look what it paid on.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
Like it took them a couple of years and they're
and they're dealing prospects and still finding ways to reload.
And that's the other thing too, Like going back to trades,
we can get humnged up over prospect but look how
many prospects don't hand out.
Speaker 1 (52:48):
Right well, even a lot of they trade away haven't
panned out with the other teams that they got that
got them and they've won deals.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
And that's the thing is like, you know, we were
in here and like Cubs fans are so protective of
our prospects on the farm system, and it's like, I look,
Jake and I think had this conversation on an episode
earlier in the season where it's like, are we really
sure that our farm system is this good? Like because
I don't see it the same way as what everyone
(53:17):
else does. Who cares figure out a way to put
a product down the field that makes people reinvest because
what you know, outside of an acquaintanceship I have with
a current member of this team, I'm not invested in
any of these players outside of maybe Shoda. And that's
(53:39):
just because Shoda is awesome and does cool things because
he performed right like like he's and he's fun and
he's got personality, and that's that I'm willing to invest
in that kind of a player, you know, and if
it wasn't for me, you know, having having a relationship
with another player on this team, Like, I'm not invested
(54:00):
in any of it at this point. We were all
invested in Hobby, KB and Rizzo, and we were invested
in Leicester. We're you know, we're all invested in Kyle.
But like that, time is done, the nostalgia's gone, Like
he is the last remaining member of that team. It's
time to turn the page and figure out how to
(54:21):
put quote unquote the next great Hubs team together to
get us back to them then get in the playoffs
and stay in the playoffs. No, I think that is ranto. No,
I think that is.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
Extremely well said and needed to be sad, and it was.
It's it's perfect, it's it's where we're hint think where
we're all at as Cubs fans is is right there.
And so you said what needed to be said. So
I mean, I don't even have anything more to say,
like that was it.
Speaker 2 (54:54):
I need you to cut that whole video segment. We'll
send it to the front of office and maybe I'll
get a job with the front. There you go, there
you go, Like, guys, I don't know if you know
how this works, but this is how it does work.
Speaker 4 (55:07):
I still have one question.
Speaker 1 (55:09):
Yeah, somebody job in my memory.
Speaker 4 (55:12):
Oh what happened to Nick Manderal?
Speaker 1 (55:14):
Where'd he go? He went to the miners and then
he got hurt.
Speaker 2 (55:18):
Yeah, and he got hurt. He like fractured his hand
or something, what like filling the ice bucket or No,
he's trying to climb up on the top shelf.
Speaker 1 (55:30):
I think he went. I mean he went to Iowa.
Speaker 2 (55:32):
I think he was.
Speaker 1 (55:32):
Detasseling corn and rest injury, wrist injury of pulling.
Speaker 4 (55:38):
The Yeah, pulling the fassels.
Speaker 1 (55:40):
Yep, No, I mean that that's what you said. He
in It is exactly it and it and you can tell,
Like I mean, I feel like the Yankees were a
little bit where the Cubs were are at and now
the Yankees were there a couple of years ago where
there pedal in nostalgia of the naz Yankees until they
(56:06):
got Judge to like come out and then they're like, Okay,
now we're gonna go spend money and we're gonna have
pictures and we're gonna and now it's finally paying off
where they're gonna make a good run and they've they
went out and made the trade that they needed to
get Chass like that was a great deal. They went
and got Soto, they spent the mon So now it's like,
(56:27):
I guarantee you they're gonna pull up the money and
keep him like they're gonna do the things that because
they know that they have their core and they need
to spend now to win a World Series where they
have Judge at his peak. That's what you do. That's
what you do when you have those type of players.
(56:48):
And I'm just saying, like danceby, like you spent invest
so much money and dance mey. He ain't getting any younger,
like an app like he ain't gonna get any younger,
Like here a little bit where s the little decline
and even half like he's not a young buck anymore.
He's not. He's been around with the Cubs for quite
a few years now, like those guys. Baseball lifespan isn't
(57:12):
This isn't very long. That window is pretty short, so right.
Speaker 5 (57:19):
Yeah, it'll be I don't think we'll ever see players
like they had.
Speaker 4 (57:23):
In the sixties seventies and eighties.
Speaker 5 (57:25):
Like the Hank Aarons to Willie mays Is that played
for twenty some seasons and the production to really tail
off into like them very very end like that era.
Speaker 4 (57:35):
Yeah falls over.
Speaker 2 (57:37):
Well definitely, and you know you you have sports medicine
and people are listening to their bodies more. Yeah, those
guys were smoking cigarettes and chucking beers in between innings.
Speaker 3 (57:49):
To too many. Too many guys are too many guys
are throwing too hard too. Yeah, you can't as as
the guys guy's age out because they just can't. The
best Rich wears off, Mitch.
Speaker 2 (58:01):
You you said something that that shows that it doesn't
take a lot of time to to get back to
where this team wants to be or where this team
needs to be. And that is the look where the
Yankees were just a couple of years ago, like they're
(58:22):
pretty not great, like just kind of starting to fall apart.
And now I look at the Yankees as one of
the few teams in the playoffs that can keep up
offensively with the Dodgers on a regular basis, and that
could maybe beat the Dodgers. Like, because that's where I'm at,
is just anyone but them at this point.
Speaker 1 (58:44):
But there's only really three teams in the playoffs right
now that I see offensively that can hang with the Dodger.
Speaker 2 (58:51):
I mean, yeah, it's the Phillies, the Yankees, and what
the Padres. I mean they did it tonight.
Speaker 1 (58:56):
I think the Potters. I think the Potters are really
gonna give them a runs. So I mean, I'm I'm in.
I'm invested into this's playoffs just because I think there's
been some fun, exciting games. I think they got my attention.
So it's good for baseball. But I hope it does
something and it challenges Jed. I mean, I feel like
every year we don't make the playoff. We hope that
(59:18):
Jed is watching this and Ricketts and Carter they're watching
the playoffs and doing and thinking anything that they can
to be able to get the Cubs in that position.
Speaker 2 (59:31):
I'm gonna spam the Cubs social media accounts with this episode.
Speaker 1 (59:35):
So all right, we've been talking for a long time.
Thanks for listening, Go Cubs. And yeah, it's been a
great season. Thanks for sticking with us the whole season.
We'll have some winter episodes as we go through the
winner and but yeah, it's been a great season, Thanks
for listening to us the whole season. And yeah, and
(59:57):
go Cubs.
Speaker 2 (59:58):
Go Cubs.
Speaker 4 (01:00:00):
I think you're since Jake's said
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.