September 18, 2024 • 54 mins
In this episode of Dingers, the Cubs dominate the A’s, with Shota Imanaga continuing to make a strong case for the team’s 2024 MVP. Jake recounts his unforgettable encounter with Cubs legend Kerry Wood, sharing insights from their conversation. As the Cubs look to make room for top prospects and potential free-agent signings, we ask the question: do they have the roster flexibility to make it happen? Tune in as we break down all the latest moves and news for the North Siders. 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
Test Sports Network with your host Mitch, Jake, Jeff and Kevis.
Ready to talk to the Cubs. All I need Dinger's
Podcast is on the air. I'm your host, Mitch. I'm
(00:24):
here with Kevin and Jake. Clubs are playing the Monday.
It's a Tuesday night. Monday, It's Tuesday. We're recording. Cubs
are taken on the as Jake was at the game
last night as the Cubs thump the as SO and
you got to meet Carrie Would at Obvious Shirts. So
(00:44):
that was pretty sweet. Uh, give us a little bit
of like what what happened and why you were so
excited to be able to see carry Wood.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah. So I'll start by teasing it. I don't want
to announce something on behalf of Joe, but he and
I have been talking about a little bit of a
collaboration for about a month or so now, and we
were talking about launching it with this carry Wood autograph
(01:20):
sign that happened yesterday and just the logistics of things.
It didn't work out, but keep an eye out. Joe
will announce it on the Obvious Shirts. All their social
channels and then I'll announce it as well. But in
those conversations, you know, Joe was talking about this this
Carry Wood signing, And for those that don't know, I
(01:43):
have not met Carrie Wood, despite the you know, being
in the documentary, it being twenty six years now, since
since the twenty K game, I haven't met him. I
just I'm not one to typically go autograph signings, and
that's really you know there or Cubs Con, and I've
(02:05):
only been to one Cubs Con. Those are the opportunities
that people typically have to meet professional athletes or you know,
something like Club four hundred and just haven't haven't gone,
not necessarily intentionally, but I did think it was kind
of funny that, you know, people had assumed that I
have have met him a bunch of times and I
(02:27):
hadn't met him. And I kind of thought, I was like, man,
should I just should I keep it that way and
just kind of have like a laugh about it when
people are like, oh, you know, like you must be
pretty close with Carrie, It's like no, But of course
I went. I brought with me four of the original
K signs to to get autographed and then to to
(02:48):
give to Carrie. I think it totally makes sense for
him to have a couple, something that I've been thinking
about basically since uh Joe presented a collaborative option. And yeah,
I mean we've got a couple of the cubs went
in the Hall of Fame and now two with Carrie.
(03:10):
Because they wouldn't be anything like it would They wouldn't
have been nearly as much fanfair, if any, if any
at all around the K Signs if it hadn't been
for Carrie's performance in ninety eight. So he was really
gracious with his time, super nice guy. I'm sure anybody
listening that's met him, would, you know, have the same feelings. Yeah,
(03:35):
kind of surreal. I kind of blacked out a little bit.
Like I told myself I wasn't gonna get nervous, but
you're waiting in line to meet someone and he's ten
feet away from me, and I'm just kind of like
looking around this room, like trying not to make eye
contact with him, and like you know, waiting my turn,
and then introduced myself and he's like, you know, we
got around to the point of him saying, yeah, I
(03:56):
feel like I've met all of your family and friends
except for you. So it was really cool. It was
really cool. Shout out to Joe for helping make that happen.
Got to see Obvious Shirts kind of behind the scenes
his operations. That guy is so busy, you know. I'll
(04:17):
say I'll say this, like when we were talking about
when he first reached out to me, you know, I
got back to him as you know, as quickly as
I could. And then I didn't hear from him, and
I was like, I don't really want to push, you know.
He came to me like he'll come back to me.
And then days went by and I was like, what's
this guy doing? Man? Like are we doing this or not?
And now I feel bad forever doubting because the dude
(04:41):
has like over ten thousand emails in his inbox. And
as we were sitting there talking and his you know
in the Obvious Shirts, like back office, his phone's going off,
he's got a photographer coming in like, hey are we
you know, am I taking photos? So that that guy
runs obviously in operation. It's beloved by a lot of fans,
(05:02):
and he did a really cool thing helping me out
and getting to meet Carrie and getting the signs to
carry so and and helped me get a K shirt
to show down.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Awesome. I'm glad you got yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I'm hoping for a Sam Bernero pick of showda walking
into Wrigley wearing wearing the K shirt. It's one of
the new ones where I've got the reproduction for, like
the hi Resi photo of the K on the shirt.
But yeah, hope hopefully it gets to him.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I mean, Joe, Joe will give him a swinging backwards
K or a regular K.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
No, it's a regular K, remember, I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
That's perfect showed up because he was missing bats last night.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh man, And that's so so that's the funny thing too, right,
like I, you know, signed from the universe, signed from
my dad. That a day that I gave show to
K shirt, he strikes out his career high comragine it's
only one season, but still eleven strikeouts is uh, pretty
(06:12):
damn good. So my buddy and I that us at
the game with we looked up at each other and
like the third inning, We're like, he's got six k's already.
So it was it was a great game. And then
of course as we were walking out, you know people
were saying, Wow, they dropped nine tonight, let's see them
struggle to get one tomorrow. And here we are for
two game with Sean Armstrong pitching. So that's what we're
(06:37):
gonna talk about today, right boys? What the state of
the Cup season?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'll be totally honest. I was like
two weeks ago, like fully almost like bought back in that,
like this team is gonna make the playoffs. And then
I don't know, I can't even like pinpoint when like
the game was, I was like, are it's not happening?
(07:06):
Maybe it was, Yeah, it might have been the Yankee series,
like it was fun rizzle back, but it was probably
the Saturday, the second loss, and they had scored two games,
and you're like, okay, that that's that's probably the nail
in the coffin for this team. And you're like, it's
(07:28):
the story the same story repeated from last year, where
you go two months where you have a non existent offense.
So so that was gonna be my one of my questions,
what is worse the Cubs offense during May and June
or the Bears offense on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
That's hard to make a distinction between them.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
It's funny because I'm not early, I don't for an
NFL team, but both of you guys are Bears fans.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So I've got a lot of thoughts. I've got a
lot of thoughts on the clock and and cut me off, yes,
right right.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I think they both have the same problem. They can't score.
I don't know, they're both ineffective and I don't know.
I think they're They're both offenses that we were we
were fooled into believing in, and here we are on
the board so distinct.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The distinction for me between the Cubs offense earlier this
season and the Bears offense two games into the season
is the the Cubs had a veteran group of hitters
for the most part. I mean, Michael Bush was really
the only guy who wasn't the veteran at that point,
and he was the one floating the offense, right, So
you can you can trast that with the Bears and
(08:48):
Caleb Williams and the horrendous offensive line. We're a Cubs podcast,
You've all, we've we've all been hearing about the offensive line.
If you're listening to anything, really into the Bears. So
I won't I won't be late for the point too much.
But I think Caleb is going to be a stud.
I really still think he's good. I mean, it's that
opening drive on Sunday. Was Ian and I were texting
(09:11):
each other like, dude, I don't think we've ever seen
a Bearess quarterback look this composed and making passes like this.
And I do think despite the offensive line, there were
some improvements, you know, week to week. So I'm looking
forward to to Sunday against the Colts. I think the
key is going to be to get the run game going.
(09:32):
Going back to the Cubs, though, I mean, it's it
just like you know, I feel like it was not
that long ago when we were talking about a season
needing everybody to click, like everybody. I mean, last season
it kind of started to happen, and then the offense
fell off, the whole team fell off in September, and
(09:55):
we went into this season thinking, Okay, if everybody plays
up to their seedling, we're gonna look really good. And
that's the problem that we keep that we've continued to
hammer home this season. There are too many guys whose
floors aren't high enough, and we've been counting on these
guys to hit the ceiling all season long, and that's
(10:17):
not realistic for any player. But you look at like,
you know, we go over and over again talking about
how this lineup needs a star like MVP caliber bat
because the floor for a bat like that, like a
Bryce Harper, like a Cory c or whatever, is still
a guy who's probably gonna bat like two sixty five,
(10:39):
you know, with an ops of like low eight hundreds,
eight eight thirty maybe, and that's a guy that can
still carry an offense and that's the floor. So, you know,
it just has been it's been really tough to watch
because there have been guys. You know, we've seen performances
from everybody else on the team. We've seen guys play well,
(11:02):
but they don't have that guy with the high floor
to to keep the team afloat when the rest of
the lineup fluctuates with the lower floor. If that makes sense, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
I'll kind of throw out and shout out with Don Cubbs,
they did a thing, I think it was either yesterday
or the day before on their podcast where they talked
about in the losses that the Cubs have had this season,
what the ops of app Bellinger, Swanson all of them
(11:43):
like went through their batting average went through in the losses,
and none of them performed well in losses, which that's
why you didn't score runs. You didn't, that's why he lost.
But you look at like the Yankees and Aaron Judge
still has a high OPS even in losses, like he's
still being productive in the losses. He's putting up what
(12:05):
he should be. Where the Cubs, their best players in
the losses are just like the low of the loll
so like your point is perfect, Like, yes, the Cubs
need that to be productive. And we've even heard like
pitching wins in the playoffs, and it does, it does.
(12:28):
But name me a World Series champion that doesn't have
a star, one star offensively on their team. They had
really good pitching on their team, but they all also
have a star. Cubs in twenty sixteen they had multiple stars.
The Phillies, they have multiple stars on their team that
(12:48):
wins them championships. Like there has to be a star
to be able to care, especially in the playoffs when
sometimes you meet really good pitching and you go through
a lull that you're gonna strike for a while, you
need that star to like break you loose, like like
Chris Bryant did in the World Series, like his home
(13:09):
run got us going again. Like you need that star,
and you need that star in the middle of the
season sometimes to carry you when the rest of the
offense isn't going. So like, I'm there with you, Jake,
Like this team definitely does need a star. But you
have to like take a little bit of step back
(13:29):
for this year and be really happy with the production
that we got out of center field and first base.
Those have been kind of our question marks and you
saw both of our questions kind of get answered in
those those for going into next year with the growth
of PCA and center in Michael Bush being even though
(13:51):
he went through a struggle in late August, he's kind
of turned it back around now like he has been
a productive first basement. I think he ranks as one
of the top three or four offensively out of first basements.
Like he's doing awesome. So like those two positions are
kind of like checked off for next year as like
(14:15):
where do we go where can we get guy? Well,
we have our guys at least in those two spots.
Oh yeah, that's very true, But where where my quould be?
Where do we go in this lineup to improve the
(14:38):
everyday position player? How do we improve who do we
get in? What position do we need to improve on
to be able to make this a productive lineup?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
The problem is, the problem I see is so many
of these positions are filled with players that we will
have next year, like unless we trade or cut, which
I don't see the Cubs wanting to cut because we
keep playing small balls a big, big market team.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Well, and the problem that we've already cut Trey Mancini.
We're paying him this year seven million dollars. We cut
Tucker Barnhart last year, we're paying him this year three
point five million. We cut Brad Boxbrother, we're paying him.
We're still paying Jason Hayward's contract five million to the Astros.
We're still paying David Ross's contract for getting fired from them.
We're still paying part of John Lester's contract those backloaded
(15:38):
like we're still paying that now. Like we have all
these contracts that aren't even guys that are like helping.
So like if we cut another guy, like it just
adds to that like total, and so yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Like yeah, that's where like I'd like to see I've
I'll frame it this way. I've been disappointed by the
output or parades at third base that was. You know,
when they trade, I will say, when look last eighteen games,
he's batting three hundred an opp of four thirty six,
(16:14):
a slug of three sixty seven.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
He's turned it on the last.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
But it's the slug there.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
You're right, the slug slug is super long base.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, And I think the combo of of him as
that type of bat at third base and Nico as
his type of back at second base. It's too many
low slugging hitters that have been kind of off and
on all season, and I don't know I really would
liked it with one of those. We've got to end
(16:44):
up with a player who just smacks the ball out
of the yard, would you and like you said, has
a higher floor, would.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You say that, Yes, like Predes doesn't have the slug.
But if you do trade Horner and put Shaw in
a second Shaw is a twenty twenty guy in in
the minors. Could he be the guy that adds a little.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Did he pause for you, Kevin ro yep?
Speaker 1 (17:22):
But you're still not getting the question answered of the star,
Like if if you fill in Shaw at second and
keep Bradis you still don't have the star that you
need in the lineup right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
And then the other position that I potentially see would
be catcher, But I don't know that there's a star
batting catcher that's going to catch in the way that
this team has been built for on the defensive focus
towards pitching. That's where I like Scott's answer is, you know,
just sell it all and upgrade it all positions in
(17:59):
the comments kind of which isn't necessarily a bad idea,
because maybe there is a trade out there that we
we get rid of, we we move on from from
Horner and per it Is and maybe an outfielder that
floor is a little too low.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Well that's the problem too, is the best position player
we have that has trade value is Saya, And with
them going to Japan to start the year, it almost
handcuffs them. They're not gonna walk. They've already done all
the promotion stuff with Saya, y Managa and like and
going playing the Dodgers Like, they've already got that going.
(18:39):
It's gonna be really hard marketing wise to then go
in trade because they want that money from Japan. That
they're going to get like and there's word on the
street is that they're they've met with who's the next
big picture that's coming.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, they they they scouted him. I don't know if
there's no needing, but I know that Jet it was
reported that Jet was over their scouts.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
So they don't want to trade, sayah, but really like
he has the most probably value that could get something
in return from a team.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But that's being there though, is he's he's also been
our best offensive bat all season?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah, I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I was talking. I was talking to my grandpa about
it today actually, and I said, we're we're talking about
how Saya is like a really good number three, maybe
a solid number two bad on a team that has
that impact bat that we're that we've been talking about
(19:46):
now for whatever three years, and we thought, say it
could be and I think that I don't know if
he has another level. I mean, I'm looking at fan
Grafs right now. In his season WRC plus is one
thirty four, which is damn good. Two to one ISO
kate rate's a little high, but you know, we always
talk about the called strikes that he gets on him.
(20:07):
Could you maybe that's the next level. Maybe that's the
next level. And I know they're not gonna implement the
automatic balls and strikes between now and next season, but
if they did, maybe that's what gets say to the
next level, is actually being able, like getting the strike
zone that he is reading correctly, you know, like it's
gotta be so disorienting and frustrating to be at the
(20:33):
plate and you could you you read the pitch correctly,
could have been in the pitcherskret in a hitter's count,
but instead you're down one two and now you're battling.
So he's he's played really well despite that. I mean,
the guy's got to have the most miscalls of anybody.
But yeah, I mean, and not just in the on
(20:56):
the Cubs, but in MLB. I'm sure it's tracked somewhere.
If anybody knows, please please let us know. But yeah,
it's it's tough, and I there will be trades made.
I think I think bringing Shaw up, I think Nico
(21:17):
still has great value on the market too. I mean,
he's finishing the season pretty strong here offensively and defensively.
And because we've got Shaw and then Treanto's waiting in
the wings, like we've got depth at second base, whether
or not Nico is packaged with Perets, I feel like
(21:40):
there those are two guys that are slightly bigger pieces
that would be difficult to find a fit for. And
I don't even know where you go. Like when we're
having this conversation, I'm looking at the WRC plus leaders
at third base with a minimum of fifty played appearance
is and I've since switched something else. I was looking
(22:04):
at all the players and I was trying to find
if there was anybody on that list that's on a
team that's not competing this year, and the closest I
got was maybe Jose Miranda on the Twins. And it's
sort of intriguing because the Twins have a lot of guts,
like they've got oh my gosh, that's the stud rookie
(22:27):
that that has dealt with injuries. I can't think of
the guy's name, but they've got a lot of options
at third base, and Miranda has has played well. But
I don't think that's an upgrade. I don't think that
there's so the thing that's been floated around, and I
(22:47):
think it's just because we're playing the A's right now
and he just struck out looking against Valencia. People are
talking about trading for Brent Rooker, and it's like, Yeah,
he's been a stud the last two seasons, but he
turns thirty in November. He's a d H primarily, and
(23:13):
we've already got a log jam at outfield because you know,
he might be able to play a little bit of
corner outfield in a pinch, but we've got a log
jam there that doesn't solve anything. Yes, he's got three
years of control left, but I also like, I'm not
sold yet. I mean, he's got he's had. He had
a really hot start to last season, made the All
(23:36):
Star Team, fell Off wasn't playing well. I think he
picked it up at the end of the season and
now he's balling out this season. But maybe he's like
a Mitch Haniger type like where he where he has
a few peak seasons where he plays really well and
then I just the cost is going to be so high.
(23:58):
The cost is going to be so high for a
guy like that. It I was talking to somebody on Twitter,
Corey Secret, I think it was it just feels like
that feels like a desperation for Jed. It doesn't feel
like it feels like, oh, I gotta get it back.
I gotta get it back. Something overpaid for this, this
guy who just broke out at twenty nine years old.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Yeah, and that's the thing, Like you look at this
free agent class and you have Juan Soto, which that's
not gonna happen, and then you have Bregman. I don't
want the Cubs anywhere near Bregman for third because you're
gonna way overpay for that. Like and I don't think
he's gonna hit at Wrigley like he does in Houston.
(24:40):
And so it's like, so besides that, it's pretty thin
to get a really difference maker that really moves the
needle on the offensive side. So it's gonna have to
be through trade.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
And so I I just like, I don't know what's
out there. And the point that I made to Corey
in in this these back and forth tweets was so
he he had all these questions, you know, will the
prospect perform? Who else is out there besides Rooker? And
then there was a third question. I said, the problem
(25:19):
is that we're asking these questions at all. If Jed
We're doing a good job, these these questions would have
been these questions wouldn't exist because the problems would have
been figured out in previous off seasons, would have made
the signings that the Cubs needed to be competitive and
(25:39):
complement these contract extensions that he's given out and these
guys that are about to be you know, these guys
that are right like Owen Casey, if we lose this
game tonight, which is four to two, going to the
bottom of the seventh, If we lose this game tonight,
Owen Casey better be up tomorrow. You better start getting it.
That's tomorrow. And I know that our buddy dumb Mendo
(26:00):
has been calling for that as well. But like it's crazy, man,
Like there's no reason for him.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Not to be up. I thought it was gonna happen Monday.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah, me too, me too. With the home stand, it
made sense. Yeah, I think is today the last day
of triple A. I feel like I saw Alex Cohen tweets.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Yeah, so that's probably why they Yeah, they want him
to finish the season. How maybe I don't know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Like whatever, like what a stupid why who cares?
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I think I know the forty man is a problem too,
But like Master Boney's still on the forty man, when's
the last time he's seen game? He's up right, Yeah,
he got a bat.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
He got that bat.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The Dodgers probably got one last night night, but.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
You're partying because they're already up by a ton.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
It's tough because the way Hap has played this year,
I don't want to see him get traded because he
he can play a very serviceable for fourth bat in
the lineup, like not batting fourth, but like a fourth
good bat in the lineup to be able to a
(27:18):
complimentary piece if you have a star around him like
he has played, he's kind of carried the offense, been
the most consistent guy, I would say, after a slow
start the first month and a half, he's been the
most consistent hitter for the Cubs, probably the biggest run
producer for the Cubs this year. And he plays a
(27:39):
good outfield. So it's like, I like Hap out there,
I like Pca Dansby. Like, really, when you look at
the numbers, it hasn't played that bad this season. It
just he played so bad early on. He's played a
lot better. We just need to see yet. Last year
(28:00):
he had a great start in a really bad finish.
This year, it's kind of flip flop like next year, okay, dance,
we were paying you a bunch of more money. Put
a total season together, consistency, and be the guy that
we need in the lineup. We're paying you a ton
of money. You shouldn't be batting eight like you just
(28:20):
shouldn't the amount of money you're getting paid. You shouldn't
be an eight hole hitter for this lineup. But he's
gonna be there pretie like I don't know, Like you're right, Jake,
we need more slug and if that needs to be
the position, like we've test ran him for a half
(28:40):
a year, do you then try to flip him and
turn him again and trade him in, trade him and
Nico like put two of them together to.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Do right, like yeah, because he was already traded and
he was traded for morell who like after his first
few games with Tampa Bay. I haven't heard anything that
he's done, so I mean, just really quickly like talking
going back to Ian Hap half his fourteenth overall in
WRC plus with the one twenty four. Saya is seventh
(29:15):
with the one thirty fourth, So it's not like and
BELLI actually for you know, to his credit twenty second
one thirteen. You know, I don't know. I can't remember
we've talked about this, and I know that they it
was talked about on the compound. At least I heard
it was talking about the on the compound. I didn't
listen to the episode, but I think it was during
(29:39):
this Dodgers series that the broadcast was talking about the
home splits for Cubs players and how Wrigley wasn't hasn't
been playing his hitter friendly this year. And I don't
know that. I don't know all the details behind that,
(30:00):
but it's like, do we We can't run it back exactly,
is what we're getting at here. There has to be
some kind of change, And unfortunately, if the reports, if
Boob Nightingale's reports are correct, and Bellinger does opt back in,
the change is going to be from in, like within
(30:24):
the organization. Like I don't necessarily know how that's going
to work, but Owen Casey's gonna get called up and
players are gonna shift around, but the roster is going
to look basically the same. Otherwise, man, do you know what,
I really wish that Michael Bush could just play third
(30:47):
and we could put Belly at first base. And Owen
Casey d H's and say takes a bunch of outfield
clinics in the offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
And Wine's the guys.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah yeah, but I mean, I guess I kind of
I kind of lost track of my point, but could
things play better if the wind conditions are different and
Wrigley next year? Like like how ridiculous is that? That?
That's that? That is something that you know. Now I'm
gonna take a deep dive into the Cubs homeworld.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I can't remember what Pop Cubs podcast I was listening to.
Maybe it was cap like talking I like just checking
out different Cubs podcasts this week, and I usually don't
listen to Dave kaplan By, like or I haven't listened
to him in a while. I think he was talking
about that Wrigley Field has played really poorly offensively for
(31:45):
both both home and away teams, like both like even
the other teams have come in and their runs haven't
been put up enough in Wrigley Field, so like that's
that is interesting, and he there was even like a
line that like it's been trending down the last couple
of years, and that's why players don't want to sign
(32:06):
in Chicago because it doesn't play well offensively. It's like,
since when did we get that? Like, I haven't heard
about that, so it's weird that now I've heard it
from you too.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Thanks climate change something like that.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
So with that, do we have to go and improve
this team pitching wise? And could we go out and
get Corvin Burns.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Kevin I want to hear.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
I always think of Corbyn Burns and I think of
him when on the Brewers and I just want to
bunch walls and not be friendly to him. But at
the same time, if you can have that guy on
our team and with Craig Counsel again, maybe there's some
magic to happen to continue the name sounds nice. What's
(33:05):
interesting to me is I don't know that our starting
pitching has like it feels like the bullpen last couple
of weeks has been full of our all season had
been full of players we were playing every so often
as starting pitchers that we're doing pretty well. But you
(33:26):
bring in Corbyn Burns, you pair him, you got Justin
Steel and Chota and you've got a big three headed
monster in that rotation.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
I'm kind of all over the place. I think the
problem for me is that I feel like Corbyn Burns
is on the decline and I'm worried about paying him
right now. Again, it's another situation where it feels like
it's a it's a move. It'd be a desperation move
(33:57):
from Jed trying to patch a whole that he created
by not making the correct signings in the last few
off seasons. And I agree, like, I do agree Kevin,
Like I'm not saying that he's not going to be
a good pitcher, but I don't think that he's the
ace that we saw with the Brewers anymore. Hey, maybe
(34:17):
there's some council magic there. Maybe you bring him in
and there's a relationship there. You know that council is
able to get him back to that peak form. But
how much do you have to pay him? And is
is he able to regain that you know, number one
pitcher in Major League Baseball steps And I just don't.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
I think you get I think you'd get two good
years out of him and then there'd be a sharp decline. Yeah,
I could see that, And so then you're paying because
he's gonna ask for like five five years. I about you.
He won't get he's gonna at least get a five
(35:03):
to seven year deal where he's gonna want that.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
He's twenty nine, so I could see it's I could
see an eight year deal.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
And so then you're then you're paying, really you're overpaying
the last five years of that contract and you might
get two or three.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
So yeah, what if what if he took a what
if he took a show hey type of contract? You know,
he gets paid, you know, a whole bunch of we
just spread that thing out, or the or the guy
at the Mets that they're still paying. You know, we
just spread that thing out five hundred grand a year
for until you die.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Because who cares about our kids watching the Cubs and
then being good that?
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Now? No, I mean, like do that, like with what
Scott said in the comments, signed ten years, five hundred million, Yeah,
defer that contract for fifty years or whatever it is.
I mean, let's be real, it's I'm not this is
all I'm going to say about Juan Soto. I'm not
(36:06):
gonna entertain it at all. It's not it's not gonna happen.
I bet he either stays in New York or he
goes back to Washington. I think there have been a
lot of really good arguments for why he should go
back to Washington with that young team, right, So he's
(36:27):
not He's not coming to Chicago. Yep.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
That's why I think he's either gonna go one of
those two places. So it stinks. But like the just
I want so badly for Cubs to be the destination
that every free agent wants to come to, and is
(36:55):
it hasn't been that way for like name uh the
last time there was a huge, significant free agent signing
that signed with the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
I think it's so like offensively, like I think you
might have to go back to Alfonso Soriano, am I right?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I mean like who else? Who else? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (37:20):
Because even the all the talk around Dansby was about
you know, the double plays up the middle with Nico,
Like it wasn't the.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Third arguably the fourth best short stop on the board
that season. He's probably played better. I mean I wouldn't
really want Dawson.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Yeah yeah, so yeah, So I don't like we can
talk about corn Burns just because when you look at
the logjam that we haven't if Bellinger ops in, it
limits what we can do offensively. If you get a
Corbyn Burns looking at just next year, it does help
(38:07):
the team for next year. I think putting him in there,
it takes like Wis or whoever, that fifth guy pushes
them maybe to the bullpen or whatever. You have. You
have a ton of guys coming back next year. Our
bullpen has looked really solid to finish this year. And
then you throw in Yanciomante that has been injured, Merriweather
(38:29):
that Atley is healthy, Like I think this even him
coming off the injury wasn't totally back. You have either
Ben Brown coming off injury moves to the bullpen like
it solidifies the bullpen even more so. And then if
you get one more starting pitcher in there with the
corn Birds, it would make the team better for next year.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
You and you think go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Like I think it's a play that is a playoff team,
but it's still not a World Series championship team. But
they could make the playoffs, but they're not going to
make a run to win the World Series because they
don't have the offense or the star that can carry them.
When there's solid pitching from the other side in a
(39:16):
playoffs which you will face and you need that spark
or you need that guy that is going to be
able to drive in the runs, like Chris Bryant in
the World Series and brought up that like when you're
struggling offensively to break us loose, like you need that.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
And I want to like, I think this is a
good time to highlight Darren's comment. One thing to ponder
if we had a quality closer from day one this year,
the Cubs are holding a playoff spot. And that's true.
I think that's one hundred percent true. I think not
only have no I don't know how many blown saves
the Cubs have this season. It's a lot. It feels
like a lot. But that's not necessarily saying that. If they,
(39:56):
if they, if all those blown saves convert to wins,
which let's say, let's say whatever, let's say seventy five
percent of those blown saves convert to wins. I don't
know what the number is off the top of my head,
but that gets you more wins, more more games than
the win column. But on top of that, how demoralizing
(40:17):
is it to continue to blow saves? What does that
do to the morale in the clubhouse? And how a
team is able to rebound from that because there's a
mental aspect there too, in the grind of one hundred
and sixty two game seasons. So I think it's a
great point, Darren. One that's been talked about in comes podcasts,
blogs all season long. So my question to you guys,
(40:45):
do you guys think that Porter Hodge that's what it
takes to be the opening day closer for a playoff
contending team next year.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
I like Porter Hodges stuff a lot. He showed me
a lot the last two months. When he first came up.
I had some question marks because he he didn't have
the the consistency of throwing strikes, and he proved really
really fast. He started throwing a lot more strikes. But
(41:24):
like I hate putting it on this, but like the
one game against was it was it the Dodgers where
he had like the heart like he had like pause
and come off the mound, like just the anxiousness of
that moment got to him. And I don't know if
(41:44):
it was a health condition, I don't I don't know.
And if it's that like that sucks. But like you
need a guy in the ninth inning to be nails
like where like nothing will rattle on like, because that
moment is very, very small compared to pitching game seven,
(42:04):
ninth inning, winning run on second base or tying you're
on on second base and it closed the door, Like,
that's different. And if he can't handle that moment.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Do you want to hear my theory? Do you want
to hear my theory? I don't know. I'm sure, I'm
sure it's been put out there and I just I
just missed it. What happened to Hodge that night? But
I follow Trent Athletics great follow on Twitter. I you know,
(42:37):
my wife and I we happen to know the owner,
really good guy, Ben Brewster. But he had a video
I believe that he was talking about really quick. Scott
says twenty four blown saves most in MLB compared to
fifty nine quality starts, the eleventh most in MLB. So
the starters have done their job, which we've known all season.
(43:00):
It's a bullpen, that's that's and the bullpen has bounced back.
But to finish my thought on on Porter Hodge, I
think it was Pard Athletics. I posted it in it
that talked about in a video, guys like pounding energy
drinks before they go into the game or like while
they're warming up, and I think the three of us
have all taken pre workout or a little bit too
(43:21):
much pre workout before that might be. And if he
does have an underlying anxiety thing or a heart condition
that we don't know about, and maybe that's not out there,
he doesn't have to, you know, divulge that information with anybody.
But if he does have that, and he had a
little bit too much caffeine, and it's a night game
when it's you know, in a new time zone that
(43:42):
you're adjusting to all these factors, and it's Dodgers, he's
a twenty three year old rookie. It's like, I want
to give the guys benefit of the doubt because he
came back out there and despite it taking a miraculous
home run robbery by Petekow Armstrong, he did finish off
the game. So I think my thing is like, if
(44:03):
we're not going to if we're not going to make
a trade for a closer, which I don't even know
who would be out there, like like maybe maybe maybe
the Giants are willing to, like they've had some missions
with Camilla Dovall, maybe they're willing to move camuladovall, but
even he's been a little erratic this year. He got
sent down to Triple A after blowing some saves. There's
(44:26):
no there's no guarantee out there, But could you imagine
we have a guy with like seven years of team control,
a twenty three year old potential stud closer whose underlying
numbers look really good, and he's had a year to
learn how to face major league hitting, and he comes
back next year after working on any of his deficits
(44:47):
over the offseason. Like I don't know if I'm drinking
the kool aid a little bit too much, but I
could totally see him being the guy, And that would
be an incredible fine for the Cups meeting Hodge not
not the ball.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Yeah yeah, I mean, and then you are getting l's
La back to Like that puts yea if he comes
into like anything close to what he used to be
get him in the eighth or seventh, Like yeah, I mean,
I I have stuff. Wise, Hodge looks amazing Like Hodge,
Hodge has the stuff to be the ninth inning guy
and get guys out, like he's proven it. He's proven it,
(45:25):
and like I didn't think about that, Like the pre
workout or like, yeah, that could have totally been in.
Been there, I've been there, like I've taken it.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You're just you're just you're just three three sets into
your workout and you're like, I'm.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
Gonna die right now. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
I always struggle with going out and signing a big
closer too, because the closer role in general is just
so turbulent, like like anybody can have it and then
you can lose it. Yeah, it would be nice because
if you go and get a big, big name star,
(46:12):
that's that's a good name to throw on the you know,
on the on all the marketing for next season. But
at the same time, I don't know that it often
pays off. You know, I'm just watching Thank you, Scott
c Yeah, it's true. We don't believe you, Mitch. Your
(46:34):
legs are too small.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Well, Scott. Scott also put up that IOWA just tweet
out on case you're stealing a home run, So I
was I was watching that when happened, and Scott can
outsquat you any day. Yeah. But yeah, like that, these
are all like questions that we have going in. We
have a long off season to be able to talk
(46:58):
about all these things, which which stinks, like it's another
year that the Cubs don't make the playoffs and like
doing this podcast now for how long we've done it?
Five years, four or five years, like, and we've only
had a twenty twenty season that we got out some
(47:21):
playoff games and that I don't even really count, like
because it's short and it was weird like and so like,
and it was two games and they're out like, So
I just want to be able to have this podcast
going when the Cubs are in the playoffs and be
able to talk playoff baseball like I do, like I
(47:41):
I I want that, and part of me it's really
hard for me, like to get excited about next year
knowing that it's just going to be run back the
same team for the second year in a row, and
it's like, like, how are you going to sell tickets?
Like that?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Like that I'm telling you right now. I'm telling you
right now. My season ticket first payment is due I
think October fifteenth, and I'm not like, sorry Mike if
you're listening, and I haven't talked to you about this yet,
but I don't know if I'm gonna be able to
do it, Like don't I mean just from a financial standpoint,
(48:23):
Like I lost money on season tickets this year, like
not an insignificant amount. There were games that my tickets
I just wasn't able to sell them Bleacher ticket there
was like there was like a Friday one twenty game
that I think I wasn't able to sell the tickets for.
It's like, if you can't sell or I took a
huge loss on the tickets, if you can't sell out
(48:45):
a Friday one twenty home game in the middle of
the summer. And I'm not complained. I'm not you know,
asking for a pity party. I'm just using it as
a barometer. That's a problem. That's a problem.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Yeah, so it's true we can't get to well you
go ahead, go ahead, Kevin Well.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
I was gonna say, we gotta get back to the
playoffs because we also need to have have some Jeff
and his lasagna on the podcast going through all that.
He's gonna have some stomach issues. We gotta we gotta
talk talk him through, you know, we need we need
that as a community.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
So like you talk about, like Jake Click, I've had
this conversation with my kids who who want me, Like
my son wants me to buy the new Hype fire bat.
It's like five Like those things are, they're hot. They're like,
you're gonna hit some maybe hit some bombs with it.
(49:43):
But I told him at this like it's like, okay, Canon,
you want this bat, and I'm willing to invest in you,
but I want to see you invest in yourself. But
you going out and putting in the work yourself without
me having to ask you to go to hit ex
sure or go field. Like, if you're investing in yourself,
(50:03):
I will totally invest in you. I will put money
into you. I will do I'll buy you the nicest glove,
I'll buy you the nice spat. I will put you
on whatever team like I will. But if I don't
see it, then it's really hard for me invest It's
the same with the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
It's a great analogy.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
If they're willing to invest in their team to make
it worth me then turning around and invest, Yeah, I'm
willing to invest back in the Cubs. I'm willing to
go to games. I'm willing to do that because I
want to see them do well. But it's really like
this year, like it was hard for me to want
(50:39):
to invest in my time in driving to Chicago, and no,
I'm going to be spending over a good chunk of
money while I'm there to watch a product that I
don't feel like they invested in to get me to go,
Like it's it's so.
Speaker 2 (50:55):
It's yeah, I feel that missions. So I think it's
what's split three ways? I get twenty seven tickets or
twenty seven games worth of tickets I went, and you know,
I had, you know, life going on, and I live
a two and a half three hour drive from Wrigley, So,
like you said, it's not easy for me to get there.
(51:16):
I think I went to four games this season. I'm
going to I'm going to another one on Saturday. But
if twenty seven games that I have tickets to, and
part of that is just because they weren't doing enough
for me to feel like I had to be there
and like couldn't miss a game. There just wasn't enough going.
I mean, I'm excited that last night I got the cisayas,
(51:37):
you know, potentially best best start of his career. Last night.
Speaker 1 (51:42):
That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (51:43):
You know, some great defensive plays up the middle from
Nico and Dansby, an offensive onslaught future cab Brent Rooker
hitting a home run. But no, man, I mean I
totally hear you. It's it's not. And then yeah, just
when when you get there, I can't even imagine you going,
you guys going with kids, having having to pay for
(52:05):
a family at these games. It just is so prohibitive.
And and I love I love that comparison you made
to to Can investing in himself. Yeah, let's click that
and send it to Rickets.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Yeah, I'm willing to invest. I'm willing to invest in
your Rickets. I'm willing to pay the money and go
to a game, go to quite a few games if
there was a good like and that's a tough thing,
Like they put the worst product in the field in
the summer months that people are willing to take vacation
time and go and watch your team, And your team
(52:44):
sucked for the middle of the summer when you could
have had that place packed out. And it's like I
would have gone, but your team was like I didn't
even want to watch them on TV, let alone drive
three hours and pay a whole bunch of money to
go watch them. Like I'm not gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (53:01):
And you know what, to wrap up, this thought. Do
you know who deserves better? Hall of Famer Pat Hughes. Yes, yeah,
I know, I know we got I know we got
a world series for him. But and I love listening
to Pat and Ron and I'm in those rough stretches
(53:23):
in the middle of the summer. You could hear the
pain in Pat's voice. Yeah, And and I can't as
a Cubs fan if you're if you're hurting Pat Hughes,
you're you're really hurting me. And I just can't. I
can't take that. So do it. Do it for Pat,
as Scott says, the fake reality is over all?
Speaker 1 (53:49):
Right, Well that does it for episode or one sixty
seven of The Dinger's podcast. Appreciate everybody in the comments.
They're awesome. Shout Omar dare In. Scott as always love
your comments. So thanks everybody for in there. It's fun
to do podcasts when people are going off in the comments. So,
(54:12):
but yeah, this is this is probably it. We'll do
one more wrap up before the season because it's what
we have twelve games left, so we'll have the end
of the season podcasts and then a bunch of winter
podcasts to look forward to. So but thanks for listening.
To The Doinger's podcast, make sure you're going and checking
out on TAP Sports Network, as well as giving the
(54:35):
guys that Cubs on Tap a shout out because they're
awesome over there, So thanks for listening and go Cubs.
You're listening to the Dinger's Podcast, presented to you by
Test Sports Network with your host Mitch, Jake, Jeff and Kevis.
Ready to talk to the Cubs. All I need Dinger's
Podcast is on the air. I'm your host, Mitch. I'm
(00:24):
here with Kevin and Jake. Clubs are playing the Monday.
It's a Tuesday night. Monday, It's Tuesday. We're recording. Cubs
are taken on the as Jake was at the game
last night as the Cubs thump the as SO and
you got to meet Carrie Would at Obvious Shirts. So
(00:44):
that was pretty sweet. Uh, give us a little bit
of like what what happened and why you were so
excited to be able to see carry Wood.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah. So I'll start by teasing it. I don't want
to announce something on behalf of Joe, but he and
I have been talking about a little bit of a
collaboration for about a month or so now, and we
were talking about launching it with this carry Wood autograph
(01:20):
sign that happened yesterday and just the logistics of things.
It didn't work out, but keep an eye out. Joe
will announce it on the Obvious Shirts. All their social
channels and then I'll announce it as well. But in
those conversations, you know, Joe was talking about this this
Carry Wood signing, And for those that don't know, I
(01:43):
have not met Carrie Wood, despite the you know, being
in the documentary, it being twenty six years now, since
since the twenty K game, I haven't met him. I
just I'm not one to typically go autograph signings, and
that's really you know there or Cubs Con, and I've
(02:05):
only been to one Cubs Con. Those are the opportunities
that people typically have to meet professional athletes or you know,
something like Club four hundred and just haven't haven't gone,
not necessarily intentionally, but I did think it was kind
of funny that, you know, people had assumed that I
have have met him a bunch of times and I
(02:27):
hadn't met him. And I kind of thought, I was like, man,
should I just should I keep it that way and
just kind of have like a laugh about it when
people are like, oh, you know, like you must be
pretty close with Carrie, It's like no, But of course
I went. I brought with me four of the original
K signs to to get autographed and then to to
(02:48):
give to Carrie. I think it totally makes sense for
him to have a couple, something that I've been thinking
about basically since uh Joe presented a collaborative option. And yeah,
I mean we've got a couple of the cubs went
in the Hall of Fame and now two with Carrie.
(03:10):
Because they wouldn't be anything like it would They wouldn't
have been nearly as much fanfair, if any, if any
at all around the K Signs if it hadn't been
for Carrie's performance in ninety eight. So he was really
gracious with his time, super nice guy. I'm sure anybody
listening that's met him, would, you know, have the same feelings. Yeah,
(03:35):
kind of surreal. I kind of blacked out a little bit.
Like I told myself I wasn't gonna get nervous, but
you're waiting in line to meet someone and he's ten
feet away from me, and I'm just kind of like
looking around this room, like trying not to make eye
contact with him, and like you know, waiting my turn,
and then introduced myself and he's like, you know, we
got around to the point of him saying, yeah, I
(03:56):
feel like I've met all of your family and friends
except for you. So it was really cool. It was
really cool. Shout out to Joe for helping make that happen.
Got to see Obvious Shirts kind of behind the scenes
his operations. That guy is so busy, you know. I'll
(04:17):
say I'll say this, like when we were talking about
when he first reached out to me, you know, I
got back to him as you know, as quickly as
I could. And then I didn't hear from him, and
I was like, I don't really want to push, you know.
He came to me like he'll come back to me.
And then days went by and I was like, what's
this guy doing? Man? Like are we doing this or not?
And now I feel bad forever doubting because the dude
(04:41):
has like over ten thousand emails in his inbox. And
as we were sitting there talking and his you know
in the Obvious Shirts, like back office, his phone's going off,
he's got a photographer coming in like, hey are we
you know, am I taking photos? So that that guy
runs obviously in operation. It's beloved by a lot of fans,
(05:02):
and he did a really cool thing helping me out
and getting to meet Carrie and getting the signs to
carry so and and helped me get a K shirt
to show down.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Awesome. I'm glad you got yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I'm hoping for a Sam Bernero pick of showda walking
into Wrigley wearing wearing the K shirt. It's one of
the new ones where I've got the reproduction for, like
the hi Resi photo of the K on the shirt.
But yeah, hope hopefully it gets to him.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I mean, Joe, Joe will give him a swinging backwards
K or a regular K.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
No, it's a regular K, remember, I mean.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
That's perfect showed up because he was missing bats last night.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh man, And that's so so that's the funny thing too, right,
like I, you know, signed from the universe, signed from
my dad. That a day that I gave show to
K shirt, he strikes out his career high comragine it's
only one season, but still eleven strikeouts is uh, pretty
(06:12):
damn good. So my buddy and I that us at
the game with we looked up at each other and
like the third inning, We're like, he's got six k's already.
So it was it was a great game. And then
of course as we were walking out, you know people
were saying, Wow, they dropped nine tonight, let's see them
struggle to get one tomorrow. And here we are for
two game with Sean Armstrong pitching. So that's what we're
(06:37):
gonna talk about today, right boys? What the state of
the Cup season?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'll be totally honest. I was like
two weeks ago, like fully almost like bought back in that,
like this team is gonna make the playoffs. And then
I don't know, I can't even like pinpoint when like
the game was, I was like, are it's not happening?
(07:06):
Maybe it was, Yeah, it might have been the Yankee series,
like it was fun rizzle back, but it was probably
the Saturday, the second loss, and they had scored two games,
and you're like, okay, that that's that's probably the nail
in the coffin for this team. And you're like, it's
(07:28):
the story the same story repeated from last year, where
you go two months where you have a non existent offense.
So so that was gonna be my one of my questions,
what is worse the Cubs offense during May and June
or the Bears offense on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
That's hard to make a distinction between them.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
It's funny because I'm not early, I don't for an
NFL team, but both of you guys are Bears fans.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So I've got a lot of thoughts. I've got a
lot of thoughts on the clock and and cut me off, yes,
right right.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I think they both have the same problem. They can't score.
I don't know, they're both ineffective and I don't know.
I think they're They're both offenses that we were we
were fooled into believing in, and here we are on
the board so distinct.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The distinction for me between the Cubs offense earlier this
season and the Bears offense two games into the season
is the the Cubs had a veteran group of hitters
for the most part. I mean, Michael Bush was really
the only guy who wasn't the veteran at that point,
and he was the one floating the offense, right, So
you can you can trast that with the Bears and
(08:48):
Caleb Williams and the horrendous offensive line. We're a Cubs podcast,
You've all, we've we've all been hearing about the offensive line.
If you're listening to anything, really into the Bears. So
I won't I won't be late for the point too much.
But I think Caleb is going to be a stud.
I really still think he's good. I mean, it's that
opening drive on Sunday. Was Ian and I were texting
(09:11):
each other like, dude, I don't think we've ever seen
a Bearess quarterback look this composed and making passes like this.
And I do think despite the offensive line, there were
some improvements, you know, week to week. So I'm looking
forward to to Sunday against the Colts. I think the
key is going to be to get the run game going.
(09:32):
Going back to the Cubs, though, I mean, it's it
just like you know, I feel like it was not
that long ago when we were talking about a season
needing everybody to click, like everybody. I mean, last season
it kind of started to happen, and then the offense
fell off, the whole team fell off in September, and
(09:55):
we went into this season thinking, Okay, if everybody plays
up to their seedling, we're gonna look really good. And
that's the problem that we keep that we've continued to
hammer home this season. There are too many guys whose
floors aren't high enough, and we've been counting on these
guys to hit the ceiling all season long, and that's
(10:17):
not realistic for any player. But you look at like,
you know, we go over and over again talking about
how this lineup needs a star like MVP caliber bat
because the floor for a bat like that, like a
Bryce Harper, like a Cory c or whatever, is still
a guy who's probably gonna bat like two sixty five,
(10:39):
you know, with an ops of like low eight hundreds,
eight eight thirty maybe, and that's a guy that can
still carry an offense and that's the floor. So, you know,
it just has been it's been really tough to watch
because there have been guys. You know, we've seen performances
from everybody else on the team. We've seen guys play well,
(11:02):
but they don't have that guy with the high floor
to to keep the team afloat when the rest of
the lineup fluctuates with the lower floor. If that makes sense, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
I'll kind of throw out and shout out with Don Cubbs,
they did a thing, I think it was either yesterday
or the day before on their podcast where they talked
about in the losses that the Cubs have had this season,
what the ops of app Bellinger, Swanson all of them
(11:43):
like went through their batting average went through in the losses,
and none of them performed well in losses, which that's
why you didn't score runs. You didn't, that's why he lost.
But you look at like the Yankees and Aaron Judge
still has a high OPS even in losses, like he's
still being productive in the losses. He's putting up what
(12:05):
he should be. Where the Cubs, their best players in
the losses are just like the low of the loll
so like your point is perfect, Like, yes, the Cubs
need that to be productive. And we've even heard like
pitching wins in the playoffs, and it does, it does.
(12:28):
But name me a World Series champion that doesn't have
a star, one star offensively on their team. They had
really good pitching on their team, but they all also
have a star. Cubs in twenty sixteen they had multiple stars.
The Phillies, they have multiple stars on their team that
(12:48):
wins them championships. Like there has to be a star
to be able to care, especially in the playoffs when
sometimes you meet really good pitching and you go through
a lull that you're gonna strike for a while, you
need that star to like break you loose, like like
Chris Bryant did in the World Series, like his home
(13:09):
run got us going again. Like you need that star,
and you need that star in the middle of the
season sometimes to carry you when the rest of the
offense isn't going. So like, I'm there with you, Jake,
Like this team definitely does need a star. But you
have to like take a little bit of step back
(13:29):
for this year and be really happy with the production
that we got out of center field and first base.
Those have been kind of our question marks and you
saw both of our questions kind of get answered in
those those for going into next year with the growth
of PCA and center in Michael Bush being even though
(13:51):
he went through a struggle in late August, he's kind
of turned it back around now like he has been
a productive first basement. I think he ranks as one
of the top three or four offensively out of first basements.
Like he's doing awesome. So like those two positions are
kind of like checked off for next year as like
(14:15):
where do we go where can we get guy? Well,
we have our guys at least in those two spots.
Oh yeah, that's very true, But where where my quould be?
Where do we go in this lineup to improve the
(14:38):
everyday position player? How do we improve who do we
get in? What position do we need to improve on
to be able to make this a productive lineup?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
The problem is, the problem I see is so many
of these positions are filled with players that we will
have next year, like unless we trade or cut, which
I don't see the Cubs wanting to cut because we
keep playing small balls a big, big market team.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Well, and the problem that we've already cut Trey Mancini.
We're paying him this year seven million dollars. We cut
Tucker Barnhart last year, we're paying him this year three
point five million. We cut Brad Boxbrother, we're paying him.
We're still paying Jason Hayward's contract five million to the Astros.
We're still paying David Ross's contract for getting fired from them.
We're still paying part of John Lester's contract those backloaded
(15:38):
like we're still paying that now. Like we have all
these contracts that aren't even guys that are like helping.
So like if we cut another guy, like it just
adds to that like total, and so yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Like yeah, that's where like I'd like to see I've
I'll frame it this way. I've been disappointed by the
output or parades at third base that was. You know,
when they trade, I will say, when look last eighteen games,
he's batting three hundred an opp of four thirty six,
(16:14):
a slug of three sixty seven.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
He's turned it on the last.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
But it's the slug there.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
You're right, the slug slug is super long base.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, And I think the combo of of him as
that type of bat at third base and Nico as
his type of back at second base. It's too many
low slugging hitters that have been kind of off and
on all season, and I don't know I really would
liked it with one of those. We've got to end
(16:44):
up with a player who just smacks the ball out
of the yard, would you and like you said, has
a higher floor, would.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You say that, Yes, like Predes doesn't have the slug.
But if you do trade Horner and put Shaw in
a second Shaw is a twenty twenty guy in in
the minors. Could he be the guy that adds a little.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Did he pause for you, Kevin ro yep?
Speaker 1 (17:22):
But you're still not getting the question answered of the star,
Like if if you fill in Shaw at second and
keep Bradis you still don't have the star that you
need in the lineup right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
And then the other position that I potentially see would
be catcher, But I don't know that there's a star
batting catcher that's going to catch in the way that
this team has been built for on the defensive focus
towards pitching. That's where I like Scott's answer is, you know,
just sell it all and upgrade it all positions in
(17:59):
the comments kind of which isn't necessarily a bad idea,
because maybe there is a trade out there that we
we get rid of, we we move on from from
Horner and per it Is and maybe an outfielder that
floor is a little too low.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Well that's the problem too, is the best position player
we have that has trade value is Saya, And with
them going to Japan to start the year, it almost
handcuffs them. They're not gonna walk. They've already done all
the promotion stuff with Saya, y Managa and like and
going playing the Dodgers Like, they've already got that going.
(18:39):
It's gonna be really hard marketing wise to then go
in trade because they want that money from Japan. That
they're going to get like and there's word on the
street is that they're they've met with who's the next
big picture that's coming.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, they they they scouted him. I don't know if
there's no needing, but I know that Jet it was
reported that Jet was over their scouts.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
So they don't want to trade, sayah, but really like
he has the most probably value that could get something
in return from a team.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But that's being there though, is he's he's also been
our best offensive bat all season?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah, I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I was talking. I was talking to my grandpa about
it today actually, and I said, we're we're talking about
how Saya is like a really good number three, maybe
a solid number two bad on a team that has
that impact bat that we're that we've been talking about
(19:46):
now for whatever three years, and we thought, say it
could be and I think that I don't know if
he has another level. I mean, I'm looking at fan
Grafs right now. In his season WRC plus is one
thirty four, which is damn good. Two to one ISO
kate rate's a little high, but you know, we always
talk about the called strikes that he gets on him.
(20:07):
Could you maybe that's the next level. Maybe that's the
next level. And I know they're not gonna implement the
automatic balls and strikes between now and next season, but
if they did, maybe that's what gets say to the
next level, is actually being able, like getting the strike
zone that he is reading correctly, you know, like it's
gotta be so disorienting and frustrating to be at the
(20:33):
plate and you could you you read the pitch correctly,
could have been in the pitcherskret in a hitter's count,
but instead you're down one two and now you're battling.
So he's he's played really well despite that. I mean,
the guy's got to have the most miscalls of anybody.
But yeah, I mean, and not just in the on
(20:56):
the Cubs, but in MLB. I'm sure it's tracked somewhere.
If anybody knows, please please let us know. But yeah,
it's it's tough, and I there will be trades made.
I think I think bringing Shaw up, I think Nico
(21:17):
still has great value on the market too. I mean,
he's finishing the season pretty strong here offensively and defensively.
And because we've got Shaw and then Treanto's waiting in
the wings, like we've got depth at second base, whether
or not Nico is packaged with Perets, I feel like
(21:40):
there those are two guys that are slightly bigger pieces
that would be difficult to find a fit for. And
I don't even know where you go. Like when we're
having this conversation, I'm looking at the WRC plus leaders
at third base with a minimum of fifty played appearance
is and I've since switched something else. I was looking
(22:04):
at all the players and I was trying to find
if there was anybody on that list that's on a
team that's not competing this year, and the closest I
got was maybe Jose Miranda on the Twins. And it's
sort of intriguing because the Twins have a lot of guts,
like they've got oh my gosh, that's the stud rookie
(22:27):
that that has dealt with injuries. I can't think of
the guy's name, but they've got a lot of options
at third base, and Miranda has has played well. But
I don't think that's an upgrade. I don't think that
there's so the thing that's been floated around, and I
(22:47):
think it's just because we're playing the A's right now
and he just struck out looking against Valencia. People are
talking about trading for Brent Rooker, and it's like, Yeah,
he's been a stud the last two seasons, but he
turns thirty in November. He's a d H primarily, and
(23:13):
we've already got a log jam at outfield because you know,
he might be able to play a little bit of
corner outfield in a pinch, but we've got a log
jam there that doesn't solve anything. Yes, he's got three
years of control left, but I also like, I'm not
sold yet. I mean, he's got he's had. He had
a really hot start to last season, made the All
(23:36):
Star Team, fell Off wasn't playing well. I think he
picked it up at the end of the season and
now he's balling out this season. But maybe he's like
a Mitch Haniger type like where he where he has
a few peak seasons where he plays really well and
then I just the cost is going to be so high.
(23:58):
The cost is going to be so high for a
guy like that. It I was talking to somebody on Twitter,
Corey Secret, I think it was it just feels like
that feels like a desperation for Jed. It doesn't feel
like it feels like, oh, I gotta get it back.
I gotta get it back. Something overpaid for this, this
guy who just broke out at twenty nine years old.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Yeah, and that's the thing, Like you look at this
free agent class and you have Juan Soto, which that's
not gonna happen, and then you have Bregman. I don't
want the Cubs anywhere near Bregman for third because you're
gonna way overpay for that. Like and I don't think
he's gonna hit at Wrigley like he does in Houston.
(24:40):
And so it's like, so besides that, it's pretty thin
to get a really difference maker that really moves the
needle on the offensive side. So it's gonna have to
be through trade.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
And so I I just like, I don't know what's
out there. And the point that I made to Corey
in in this these back and forth tweets was so
he he had all these questions, you know, will the
prospect perform? Who else is out there besides Rooker? And
then there was a third question. I said, the problem
(25:19):
is that we're asking these questions at all. If Jed
We're doing a good job, these these questions would have
been these questions wouldn't exist because the problems would have
been figured out in previous off seasons, would have made
the signings that the Cubs needed to be competitive and
(25:39):
complement these contract extensions that he's given out and these
guys that are about to be you know, these guys
that are right like Owen Casey, if we lose this
game tonight, which is four to two, going to the
bottom of the seventh, If we lose this game tonight,
Owen Casey better be up tomorrow. You better start getting it.
That's tomorrow. And I know that our buddy dumb Mendo
(26:00):
has been calling for that as well. But like it's crazy, man,
Like there's no reason for him.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Not to be up. I thought it was gonna happen Monday.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah, me too, me too. With the home stand, it
made sense. Yeah, I think is today the last day
of triple A. I feel like I saw Alex Cohen tweets.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Yeah, so that's probably why they Yeah, they want him
to finish the season. How maybe I don't know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Like whatever, like what a stupid why who cares?
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I think I know the forty man is a problem too,
But like Master Boney's still on the forty man, when's
the last time he's seen game? He's up right, Yeah,
he got a bat.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
He got that bat.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The Dodgers probably got one last night night, but.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
You're partying because they're already up by a ton.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
It's tough because the way Hap has played this year,
I don't want to see him get traded because he
he can play a very serviceable for fourth bat in
the lineup, like not batting fourth, but like a fourth
good bat in the lineup to be able to a
(27:18):
complimentary piece if you have a star around him like
he has played, he's kind of carried the offense, been
the most consistent guy, I would say, after a slow
start the first month and a half, he's been the
most consistent hitter for the Cubs, probably the biggest run
producer for the Cubs this year. And he plays a
(27:39):
good outfield. So it's like, I like Hap out there,
I like Pca Dansby. Like, really, when you look at
the numbers, it hasn't played that bad this season. It
just he played so bad early on. He's played a
lot better. We just need to see yet. Last year
(28:00):
he had a great start in a really bad finish.
This year, it's kind of flip flop like next year, okay, dance,
we were paying you a bunch of more money. Put
a total season together, consistency, and be the guy that
we need in the lineup. We're paying you a ton
of money. You shouldn't be batting eight like you just
(28:20):
shouldn't the amount of money you're getting paid. You shouldn't
be an eight hole hitter for this lineup. But he's
gonna be there pretie like I don't know, Like you're right, Jake,
we need more slug and if that needs to be
the position, like we've test ran him for a half
(28:40):
a year, do you then try to flip him and
turn him again and trade him in, trade him and
Nico like put two of them together to.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Do right, like yeah, because he was already traded and
he was traded for morell who like after his first
few games with Tampa Bay. I haven't heard anything that
he's done, so I mean, just really quickly like talking
going back to Ian Hap half his fourteenth overall in
WRC plus with the one twenty four. Saya is seventh
(29:15):
with the one thirty fourth, So it's not like and
BELLI actually for you know, to his credit twenty second
one thirteen. You know, I don't know. I can't remember
we've talked about this, and I know that they it
was talked about on the compound. At least I heard
it was talking about the on the compound. I didn't
listen to the episode, but I think it was during
(29:39):
this Dodgers series that the broadcast was talking about the
home splits for Cubs players and how Wrigley wasn't hasn't
been playing his hitter friendly this year. And I don't
know that. I don't know all the details behind that,
(30:00):
but it's like, do we We can't run it back exactly,
is what we're getting at here. There has to be
some kind of change, And unfortunately, if the reports, if
Boob Nightingale's reports are correct, and Bellinger does opt back in,
the change is going to be from in, like within
(30:24):
the organization. Like I don't necessarily know how that's going
to work, but Owen Casey's gonna get called up and
players are gonna shift around, but the roster is going
to look basically the same. Otherwise, man, do you know what,
I really wish that Michael Bush could just play third
(30:47):
and we could put Belly at first base. And Owen
Casey d H's and say takes a bunch of outfield
clinics in the offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
And Wine's the guys.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah yeah, but I mean, I guess I kind of
I kind of lost track of my point, but could
things play better if the wind conditions are different and
Wrigley next year? Like like how ridiculous is that? That?
That's that? That is something that you know. Now I'm
gonna take a deep dive into the Cubs homeworld.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I can't remember what Pop Cubs podcast I was listening to.
Maybe it was cap like talking I like just checking
out different Cubs podcasts this week, and I usually don't
listen to Dave kaplan By, like or I haven't listened
to him in a while. I think he was talking
about that Wrigley Field has played really poorly offensively for
(31:45):
both both home and away teams, like both like even
the other teams have come in and their runs haven't
been put up enough in Wrigley Field, so like that's
that is interesting, and he there was even like a
line that like it's been trending down the last couple
of years, and that's why players don't want to sign
(32:06):
in Chicago because it doesn't play well offensively. It's like,
since when did we get that? Like, I haven't heard
about that, so it's weird that now I've heard it
from you too.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Thanks climate change something like that.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
So with that, do we have to go and improve
this team pitching wise? And could we go out and
get Corvin Burns.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Kevin I want to hear.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
I always think of Corbyn Burns and I think of
him when on the Brewers and I just want to
bunch walls and not be friendly to him. But at
the same time, if you can have that guy on
our team and with Craig Counsel again, maybe there's some
magic to happen to continue the name sounds nice. What's
(33:05):
interesting to me is I don't know that our starting
pitching has like it feels like the bullpen last couple
of weeks has been full of our all season had
been full of players we were playing every so often
as starting pitchers that we're doing pretty well. But you
(33:26):
bring in Corbyn Burns, you pair him, you got Justin
Steel and Chota and you've got a big three headed
monster in that rotation.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
I'm kind of all over the place. I think the
problem for me is that I feel like Corbyn Burns
is on the decline and I'm worried about paying him
right now. Again, it's another situation where it feels like
it's a it's a move. It'd be a desperation move
(33:57):
from Jed trying to patch a whole that he created
by not making the correct signings in the last few
off seasons. And I agree, like, I do agree Kevin,
Like I'm not saying that he's not going to be
a good pitcher, but I don't think that he's the
ace that we saw with the Brewers anymore. Hey, maybe
(34:17):
there's some council magic there. Maybe you bring him in
and there's a relationship there. You know that council is
able to get him back to that peak form. But
how much do you have to pay him? And is
is he able to regain that you know, number one
pitcher in Major League Baseball steps And I just don't.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
I think you get I think you'd get two good
years out of him and then there'd be a sharp decline. Yeah,
I could see that, And so then you're paying because
he's gonna ask for like five five years. I about you.
He won't get he's gonna at least get a five
(35:03):
to seven year deal where he's gonna want that.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
He's twenty nine, so I could see it's I could
see an eight year deal.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
And so then you're then you're paying, really you're overpaying
the last five years of that contract and you might
get two or three.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
So yeah, what if what if he took a what
if he took a show hey type of contract? You know,
he gets paid, you know, a whole bunch of we
just spread that thing out, or the or the guy
at the Mets that they're still paying. You know, we
just spread that thing out five hundred grand a year
for until you die.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Because who cares about our kids watching the Cubs and
then being good that?
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Now? No, I mean, like do that, like with what
Scott said in the comments, signed ten years, five hundred million, Yeah,
defer that contract for fifty years or whatever it is.
I mean, let's be real, it's I'm not this is
all I'm going to say about Juan Soto. I'm not
(36:06):
gonna entertain it at all. It's not it's not gonna happen.
I bet he either stays in New York or he
goes back to Washington. I think there have been a
lot of really good arguments for why he should go
back to Washington with that young team, right, So he's
(36:27):
not He's not coming to Chicago. Yep.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
That's why I think he's either gonna go one of
those two places. So it stinks. But like the just
I want so badly for Cubs to be the destination
that every free agent wants to come to, and is
(36:55):
it hasn't been that way for like name uh the
last time there was a huge, significant free agent signing
that signed with the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
I think it's so like offensively, like I think you
might have to go back to Alfonso Soriano, am I right?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I mean like who else? Who else? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (37:20):
Because even the all the talk around Dansby was about
you know, the double plays up the middle with Nico,
Like it wasn't the.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Third arguably the fourth best short stop on the board
that season. He's probably played better. I mean I wouldn't
really want Dawson.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
Yeah yeah, so yeah, So I don't like we can
talk about corn Burns just because when you look at
the logjam that we haven't if Bellinger ops in, it
limits what we can do offensively. If you get a
Corbyn Burns looking at just next year, it does help
(38:07):
the team for next year. I think putting him in there,
it takes like Wis or whoever, that fifth guy pushes
them maybe to the bullpen or whatever. You have. You
have a ton of guys coming back next year. Our
bullpen has looked really solid to finish this year. And
then you throw in Yanciomante that has been injured, Merriweather
(38:29):
that Atley is healthy, Like I think this even him
coming off the injury wasn't totally back. You have either
Ben Brown coming off injury moves to the bullpen like
it solidifies the bullpen even more so. And then if
you get one more starting pitcher in there with the
corn Birds, it would make the team better for next year.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
You and you think go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Like I think it's a play that is a playoff team,
but it's still not a World Series championship team. But
they could make the playoffs, but they're not going to
make a run to win the World Series because they
don't have the offense or the star that can carry them.
When there's solid pitching from the other side in a
(39:16):
playoffs which you will face and you need that spark
or you need that guy that is going to be
able to drive in the runs, like Chris Bryant in
the World Series and brought up that like when you're
struggling offensively to break us loose, like you need that.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
And I want to like, I think this is a
good time to highlight Darren's comment. One thing to ponder
if we had a quality closer from day one this year,
the Cubs are holding a playoff spot. And that's true.
I think that's one hundred percent true. I think not
only have no I don't know how many blown saves
the Cubs have this season. It's a lot. It feels
like a lot. But that's not necessarily saying that. If they,
(39:56):
if they, if all those blown saves convert to wins,
which let's say, let's say whatever, let's say seventy five
percent of those blown saves convert to wins. I don't
know what the number is off the top of my head,
but that gets you more wins, more more games than
the win column. But on top of that, how demoralizing
(40:17):
is it to continue to blow saves? What does that
do to the morale in the clubhouse? And how a
team is able to rebound from that because there's a
mental aspect there too, in the grind of one hundred
and sixty two game seasons. So I think it's a
great point, Darren. One that's been talked about in comes podcasts,
blogs all season long. So my question to you guys,
(40:45):
do you guys think that Porter Hodge that's what it
takes to be the opening day closer for a playoff
contending team next year.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
I like Porter Hodges stuff a lot. He showed me
a lot the last two months. When he first came up.
I had some question marks because he he didn't have
the the consistency of throwing strikes, and he proved really
really fast. He started throwing a lot more strikes. But
(41:24):
like I hate putting it on this, but like the
one game against was it was it the Dodgers where
he had like the heart like he had like pause
and come off the mound, like just the anxiousness of
that moment got to him. And I don't know if
(41:44):
it was a health condition, I don't I don't know.
And if it's that like that sucks. But like you
need a guy in the ninth inning to be nails
like where like nothing will rattle on like, because that
moment is very, very small compared to pitching game seven,
(42:04):
ninth inning, winning run on second base or tying you're
on on second base and it closed the door, Like,
that's different. And if he can't handle that moment.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Do you want to hear my theory? Do you want
to hear my theory? I don't know. I'm sure, I'm
sure it's been put out there and I just I
just missed it. What happened to Hodge that night? But
I follow Trent Athletics great follow on Twitter. I you know,
(42:37):
my wife and I we happen to know the owner,
really good guy, Ben Brewster. But he had a video
I believe that he was talking about really quick. Scott
says twenty four blown saves most in MLB compared to
fifty nine quality starts, the eleventh most in MLB. So
the starters have done their job, which we've known all season.
(43:00):
It's a bullpen, that's that's and the bullpen has bounced back.
But to finish my thought on on Porter Hodge, I
think it was Pard Athletics. I posted it in it
that talked about in a video, guys like pounding energy
drinks before they go into the game or like while
they're warming up, and I think the three of us
have all taken pre workout or a little bit too
(43:21):
much pre workout before that might be. And if he
does have an underlying anxiety thing or a heart condition
that we don't know about, and maybe that's not out there,
he doesn't have to, you know, divulge that information with anybody.
But if he does have that, and he had a
little bit too much caffeine, and it's a night game
when it's you know, in a new time zone that
(43:42):
you're adjusting to all these factors, and it's Dodgers, he's
a twenty three year old rookie. It's like, I want
to give the guys benefit of the doubt because he
came back out there and despite it taking a miraculous
home run robbery by Petekow Armstrong, he did finish off
the game. So I think my thing is like, if
(44:03):
we're not going to if we're not going to make
a trade for a closer, which I don't even know
who would be out there, like like maybe maybe maybe
the Giants are willing to, like they've had some missions
with Camilla Dovall, maybe they're willing to move camuladovall, but
even he's been a little erratic this year. He got
sent down to Triple A after blowing some saves. There's
(44:26):
no there's no guarantee out there, But could you imagine
we have a guy with like seven years of team control,
a twenty three year old potential stud closer whose underlying
numbers look really good, and he's had a year to
learn how to face major league hitting, and he comes
back next year after working on any of his deficits
(44:47):
over the offseason. Like I don't know if I'm drinking
the kool aid a little bit too much, but I
could totally see him being the guy, And that would
be an incredible fine for the Cups meeting Hodge not
not the ball.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
Yeah yeah, I mean, and then you are getting l's
La back to Like that puts yea if he comes
into like anything close to what he used to be
get him in the eighth or seventh, Like yeah, I mean,
I I have stuff. Wise, Hodge looks amazing Like Hodge,
Hodge has the stuff to be the ninth inning guy
and get guys out, like he's proven it. He's proven it,
(45:25):
and like I didn't think about that, Like the pre
workout or like, yeah, that could have totally been in.
Been there, I've been there, like I've taken it.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You're just you're just you're just three three sets into
your workout and you're like, I'm.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
Gonna die right now. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
I always struggle with going out and signing a big
closer too, because the closer role in general is just
so turbulent, like like anybody can have it and then
you can lose it. Yeah, it would be nice because
if you go and get a big, big name star,
(46:12):
that's that's a good name to throw on the you know,
on the on all the marketing for next season. But
at the same time, I don't know that it often
pays off. You know, I'm just watching Thank you, Scott
c Yeah, it's true. We don't believe you, Mitch. Your
(46:34):
legs are too small.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Well, Scott. Scott also put up that IOWA just tweet
out on case you're stealing a home run, So I
was I was watching that when happened, and Scott can
outsquat you any day. Yeah. But yeah, like that, these
are all like questions that we have going in. We
have a long off season to be able to talk
(46:58):
about all these things, which which stinks, like it's another
year that the Cubs don't make the playoffs and like
doing this podcast now for how long we've done it?
Five years, four or five years, like, and we've only
had a twenty twenty season that we got out some
(47:21):
playoff games and that I don't even really count, like
because it's short and it was weird like and so like,
and it was two games and they're out like, So
I just want to be able to have this podcast
going when the Cubs are in the playoffs and be
able to talk playoff baseball like I do, like I
(47:41):
I I want that, and part of me it's really
hard for me, like to get excited about next year
knowing that it's just going to be run back the
same team for the second year in a row, and
it's like, like, how are you going to sell tickets?
Like that?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Like that I'm telling you right now. I'm telling you
right now. My season ticket first payment is due I
think October fifteenth, and I'm not like, sorry Mike if
you're listening, and I haven't talked to you about this yet,
but I don't know if I'm gonna be able to
do it, Like don't I mean just from a financial standpoint,
(48:23):
Like I lost money on season tickets this year, like
not an insignificant amount. There were games that my tickets
I just wasn't able to sell them Bleacher ticket there
was like there was like a Friday one twenty game
that I think I wasn't able to sell the tickets for.
It's like, if you can't sell or I took a
huge loss on the tickets, if you can't sell out
(48:45):
a Friday one twenty home game in the middle of
the summer. And I'm not complained. I'm not you know,
asking for a pity party. I'm just using it as
a barometer. That's a problem. That's a problem.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Yeah, so it's true we can't get to well you
go ahead, go ahead, Kevin Well.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
I was gonna say, we gotta get back to the
playoffs because we also need to have have some Jeff
and his lasagna on the podcast going through all that.
He's gonna have some stomach issues. We gotta we gotta
talk talk him through, you know, we need we need
that as a community.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
So like you talk about, like Jake Click, I've had
this conversation with my kids who who want me, Like
my son wants me to buy the new Hype fire bat.
It's like five Like those things are, they're hot. They're like,
you're gonna hit some maybe hit some bombs with it.
(49:43):
But I told him at this like it's like, okay, Canon,
you want this bat, and I'm willing to invest in you,
but I want to see you invest in yourself. But
you going out and putting in the work yourself without
me having to ask you to go to hit ex
sure or go field. Like, if you're investing in yourself,
(50:03):
I will totally invest in you. I will put money
into you. I will do I'll buy you the nicest glove,
I'll buy you the nice spat. I will put you
on whatever team like I will. But if I don't
see it, then it's really hard for me invest It's
the same with the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
It's a great analogy.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
If they're willing to invest in their team to make
it worth me then turning around and invest, Yeah, I'm
willing to invest back in the Cubs. I'm willing to
go to games. I'm willing to do that because I
want to see them do well. But it's really like
this year, like it was hard for me to want
(50:39):
to invest in my time in driving to Chicago, and no,
I'm going to be spending over a good chunk of
money while I'm there to watch a product that I
don't feel like they invested in to get me to go,
Like it's it's so.
Speaker 2 (50:55):
It's yeah, I feel that missions. So I think it's
what's split three ways? I get twenty seven tickets or
twenty seven games worth of tickets I went, and you know,
I had, you know, life going on, and I live
a two and a half three hour drive from Wrigley, So,
like you said, it's not easy for me to get there.
(51:16):
I think I went to four games this season. I'm
going to I'm going to another one on Saturday. But
if twenty seven games that I have tickets to, and
part of that is just because they weren't doing enough
for me to feel like I had to be there
and like couldn't miss a game. There just wasn't enough going.
I mean, I'm excited that last night I got the cisayas,
(51:37):
you know, potentially best best start of his career. Last night.
Speaker 1 (51:42):
That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (51:43):
You know, some great defensive plays up the middle from
Nico and Dansby, an offensive onslaught future cab Brent Rooker
hitting a home run. But no, man, I mean I
totally hear you. It's it's not. And then yeah, just
when when you get there, I can't even imagine you going,
you guys going with kids, having having to pay for
(52:05):
a family at these games. It just is so prohibitive.
And and I love I love that comparison you made
to to Can investing in himself. Yeah, let's click that
and send it to Rickets.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Yeah, I'm willing to invest. I'm willing to invest in
your Rickets. I'm willing to pay the money and go
to a game, go to quite a few games if
there was a good like and that's a tough thing,
Like they put the worst product in the field in
the summer months that people are willing to take vacation
time and go and watch your team, And your team
(52:44):
sucked for the middle of the summer when you could
have had that place packed out. And it's like I
would have gone, but your team was like I didn't
even want to watch them on TV, let alone drive
three hours and pay a whole bunch of money to
go watch them. Like I'm not gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (53:01):
And you know what, to wrap up, this thought. Do
you know who deserves better? Hall of Famer Pat Hughes. Yes, yeah,
I know, I know we got I know we got
a world series for him. But and I love listening
to Pat and Ron and I'm in those rough stretches
(53:23):
in the middle of the summer. You could hear the
pain in Pat's voice. Yeah, And and I can't as
a Cubs fan if you're if you're hurting Pat Hughes,
you're you're really hurting me. And I just can't. I
can't take that. So do it. Do it for Pat,
as Scott says, the fake reality is over all?
Speaker 1 (53:49):
Right, Well that does it for episode or one sixty
seven of The Dinger's podcast. Appreciate everybody in the comments.
They're awesome. Shout Omar dare In. Scott as always love
your comments. So thanks everybody for in there. It's fun
to do podcasts when people are going off in the comments. So,
(54:12):
but yeah, this is this is probably it. We'll do
one more wrap up before the season because it's what
we have twelve games left, so we'll have the end
of the season podcasts and then a bunch of winter
podcasts to look forward to. So but thanks for listening.
To The Doinger's podcast, make sure you're going and checking
out on TAP Sports Network, as well as giving the
(54:35):
guys that Cubs on Tap a shout out because they're
awesome over there, So thanks for listening and go Cubs.
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