May 5, 2025 • 20 mins
In Episode 180 of the Dingers Podcast, the Cubs are riding high after back-to-back series wins over the Pirates and Brewers — but the good vibes come with a dose of concern. Shota Imanaga hits the IL, and now the big question looms: who fills his spot in the rotation? We break down the current state of the NL Central with the Cubs gaining ground and the Brewers still clinging to first. Plus, is it time for the Cade Horton call-up? We talk potential rotation moves, bullpen strategy, and what the Cubs need to do to keep the pressure on. All that and more from your go-to Cubs crew. 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
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
If you're listening to The Dinger's Podcast, presented to you
by on Test Sports Network with your host Mitch, jeff
and Kevis the Great to talk to some of the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
All I need is a.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Bet The Dinger's Podcast is on the air. I'm your host,
Mitch on here with Jeffrey. We're gonna jump on before
the Cubs take on the Giants at the friendly confines
of Urgley Field starting at six ten tonight. We're kind
of recording this podcast on a Monday, it's like four thirty,
(00:38):
so it's before the game.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
The Cubs have come off of two series wins against
the NL Central foes, taking two of three from the Pirates,
losing that middle game there and then taking two of
three from the djens from upcountry also known as the
Milwaukee Brewers. Went in the first two in pretty convincing
fashion and then drop the the last game in the
(01:02):
series on Sunday, which that's kind of like par for
the course of the coach the last like two years,
as we always lose on Sunday. But the big news
out of the series is should have Managa going down
there in like the seventh eighth inning with a little
pulled hamstring just came out not even an hour ago.
That he's headed to the fifteen day il and Gavin
(01:25):
Hallowell is being called up more of just a replacement
and a holding guy, a guy that's fresh, fresh arm
until I'm expecting Thursday, maybe that Caate Horton gets the
call up to take that starter spot from Shoulda. So
(01:46):
I'm joined by Jeff. He's been just locked in to
like every pitch the season, so I'm interested to hear
his takes on the Cubs Brewers series. What's your big
takeaway from the last last two series that you've kind
of seen with this this, these these Cubs and winning,
keeping the winning ways rolling.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Well, it would have been nice to get that sweep
against those douchebags from up north, but kind of par
for the course. When he did leave that game, you know,
nobody was up in the pen really warming up, so
we probably had a guy coming there a little cold
that wasn't really ready to probably pitch, and things just
kind of that domino started to fall, which is all right,
(02:29):
But what I do like is if we don't win
really convincingly by hitting a bunch of home runs, we're
still winning convincingly by playing small ball, you know, moving
stations to the station, stealing bases, keeping things really exciting,
really interesting, and it's I think a lot of that
(02:50):
is due to our our trade for Kyle Tucker, who
took a lot of pressure off people. But Pa has
made a huge step forward this year at the plate.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, dude is like he's on fire and he's so
much fun to watch, and I mean it's only a
matter of time. I think Council said this that for
him to move up to like lead off, and I
think that's where he's going to project to be. But
he needs to be one of the top three hitters
(03:19):
in the lineup to be able to earn that spot.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Well, so far this year, like the dude is like
he's earned it. I think we need to see.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
A little bit more sustained time to give some trust
with Counsel to move him up there. But that production
down the bottom of the lineup, We've talked about it forever,
Like lengthening that lineup makes a huge difference when you
have a Maaya hitting and you have production out of
the catcher spot that we haven't had for the last
(03:49):
three four years.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Yeah, I don't know if it was after Friday's game
or Saturday's game, but kind little sound bite after the
game and he says he feels really confident batting in
that seventh hole. So if he feels confident that I'd
leave him there for a little while longer, because we've
seen in the past what's happened to batters when you
move him all the way up to that leadoff spot.
(04:11):
They kind of kind of implodes a little bit.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Well, they change who they are instead of like PCA is, like,
you know, he's just care free up there, not overthinking things,
like he's not thinking, I have to like work the
count here.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
We have a good at bat.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
He's just I'm going to go up there and try
to be productive, and you're seeing the production. What I've
noticed too with PCA is his stance over the course
of his major league career has changed. Like when he
first came up in the big leagues, he was like
standing almost straight up and kind of striding and trying
(04:47):
to get long and generate power by getting long early.
And what we've seen this year is a little bit
of an open stance and he's wide and way out
and he's almost eliminated that that uh, I like and
all this heel up, heel down, and just go And
(05:08):
like I kind of made that same transition with my son.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
My son had a super wide open stance.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And I've cut that down and widened him out, and
he was kind of standing up at it and now
widened him out. Just be quicker to the ball, get
quick to the ball, get those hands to let your
hips drive the bat. And that's what's working for PCA.
You're seeing like such quick hands being driven by his
lower half because he's he's using it now. He's not
just trying to let his body stride forward. He's using
(05:37):
his lower half to really turn that barrel. And it's
it's it's fun to watch because the dude is he's
sitting some tanks, like some deep shots and.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
It's it's awesome. It's exactly what you want for.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And I mean, the Cubs did offer him a contract
and he turned it down. He bet on himself to like, no,
I'm worth more and I'm gonna go.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Out and show it.
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Now.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
It's gonna hurt the Cubs because of Cubs down the
road here.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
If they want to extend him, which I looks like
they do, they're gonna have to pooney up the money
to be able to get him. And if I were
the Cubs, I'd be pouring money into him and Tucker because.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
They're gonna be the guys. They're gonna be, yeah, the future.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I mean, yeah, what what's Tucker like? Twenty eight? Is
he twenty eight years old? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Give give the guys the money. Big things showed out
going down in his last start. He exited the game
with a little bit of like leg cramps early after
pitching well yesterday, pitch pitching really well. Uh.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I think he was in the sounth or eighth, no
no runs.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Maybe like six and the third or something. I think
I got credit Ford, but either way, Uh, yeah, you're pitching.
It was basically a pitcher's duel up until that point.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Yeah, and then pulled the little hamstring. I think it's
a left ham string strain. They didn't really give much
more detail, just put them on the fifteen day dail.
I mean, I think that's a good news that it's
only fifteen day early that they think that they can
work him back, but it's still now you are down
(07:20):
your number one in your number one A.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
In your pitching rotation.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
This season, and we've talked about all off season the
biggest hole in this Cubs team is starting pitching pitch.
And now what they said is they have depth. Well,
beginning the season started up out without a SOD. You've
(07:45):
had guys like Colin Ray step up and be great.
You had Ben Brown do pretty well so far this year,
and it looks like we're going to turn here shortly
to another young young fella in Kate Horton.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
You have some of his stats, Kate Horton, I've I
just saw a couple, and you know, over the last
six games, he's got a one two four ERA, and
I think what's he hold in the.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Opposition's batting average? Is it one thirty something? Yeah, so
that's pretty phenomenal. Granted everyone's going, well, it's only triple
A whatever. At some point this season he's gonna get
up and he's gonna be pitching starting for the.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Cubs, and it's gonna look like soon because yeah, he
has he's only pitching six outings, he's looked phenomenal. Uh,
first couple outings he was only going like three innings,
four innings. I think his last two he got up
to six innings. Building up that arm uh stamina and strength.
But he's looked great and he's worked on a new pitch.
(08:53):
Like he's everything that we kind of wanted him to
be last year. This year he's proved that he he
should get a look and now with showed a down,
he's the next guy that you need to look. And
I don't know, like I haven't been excited excited for
a pitching prospect.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It's Mark Prior, since Mark.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Pryor and Carrie would like it's been a long time,
like maybe Jeff Samarja. I was like kind of pumped
when they're gonna break like way back in the day, but
like it's been a while. So like this, I want
him to be super successful. I want I want that
that fire him come up and just dominate like the
(09:39):
rookie Carrie Wood did.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
When he called up against the Expos.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Like I want that we actually drafted Kate Horton, didn't
we We didn't get him in a trade. Yeah, yeah, So
when was the last time we actually drafted a picture
that made it a difference In Justin Steele? Justin Steele, Yeah,
with him and before him had been a long time.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean, but Justin Steele.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
He the Miners for quite a while before he got
his break, and he wasn't like a highly touted guy
like Caate Horton. I feel like has been a little
bit more highly touted prospect. So I'm super excited for
the Cubs to give him a look, for him to
kind of get in there, get a shot, and.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
He's gonna get it against Who do we play?
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Who will we played?
Speaker 7 (10:21):
Then?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
It looks like it'll be the Mets, and the Mets
have a really good lineup. We play at New York
on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
It looks like it's gonna be the Mets.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So for playing the Mets, that's gotta be the hardest
series that we have this month, right.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, that, I mean, it's the It's the Mets,
the Giants. The Giants have been pretty pretty good this year,
but then we have the Marlins, White Sox, Marlins, Reds,
Rockies Reds.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
So yeah, so what I what I send you guys
the other day? What did what did I send that
to that I texted to you?
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I think you said on Instagram?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
But yeah, I saved that that picture that the Cubs.
Oh see, if I can pull it up and show
you this little thing.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Yeah. That. So those are all the teams that the
Cubs have played below five hundred zero. I mean, look
at the Mets, they played twenty teams below.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Five hundred, but the Cubs have played zero.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And right now I think we're what twenty one and
fourteen and we got seven blown saves. It's pretty phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, feel pretty good about that. You gotta feel pretty
good about where we're sitting, sitting in first place, and
that we've come. Like we said last year, like these
games against the n NOW Central, because there isn't so
many of them, they're even that much more important. When
you can take care of business against the n NOW
Central and taking two of three from both the Pirates
(11:59):
and Mawa, you gotta feel pretty good. Uh, getting the
Reds twice, which I now think the biggest contender for
the Cubs in the Central are the Reds. The Reds
have some young pitching, they have some pretty good young bats.
That's gonna be where and so we play the Reds
(12:21):
not twice at the end of this month, where are
we going to be when that comes around.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, I feel like they're really streaky, like they're really
tough and uh, you know, hard to beat team. But
then there's other times where you look at you know,
they play somebody other than the Cubs and they like
fall in their face and lose pitiflee.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, they got swept in a doubleheader by the Cardinals.
I saw that, and they got blown out both games.
But like they have Terry fair and ConA as their
manager now, and so like that's manager makes a difference.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Manager makes a difference.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
In a young team. They're gonna be more disciplined. That's
going to the team that I'm a little bit more
nervous about.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Especially.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I mean we will be coming off playing the Marlins
and the Rockies during that stretch, so hopefully we're feeling
good by getting a lot of wins before we take
on the Reds of the month.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Do you think Terry Francona is going to be remembered
for breaking the eighty six year drought for the Boston
Red Sox or as the double a Birmingham Barons manager
that coached Michael Jordan.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
I don't know a lot of people forget that he
coached Jordan. I'll say, right, I want to end with this.
This is gonna be a short podcast and with two things.
One and I saw this I'm stealing this from the
setup man because I saw him do a YouTube video
on this. I thought it was great. But I want
(13:52):
to pose the question to you. Do you think this
year's team playing a regular season three game series could
beat the twenty sixteen Chicago Cubs.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Yes? Wow, I really yeah, it'd be okay. Even at
the twenty sixteen team started out hot and that kind
of propelled their season. But there were some times where
there's some walls and there were some games. Seriously, if
you just put Jason Hamill against this lineup.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
They had Arieta, they had Lester like right, but Kyle Hendricks.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I think they could beat him. I honestly really do,
just because the offense. Yeah, I mean, we had way
better bullpen and way better pitching in twenty sixteen than
what this team has right now.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
But you're forgetting how good the twenty sixteen offense was.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, Christmas Rizzo, you had to use somebody else's bat
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Mister Fowler getting on base. Adison Russell.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
I think they hear Addison Russell's name, overest.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I think he's playing in some like third rate Dominican
Mexican League.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, I guess Patrick Wisdom is tearing it up in
the Korean Baseball League.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
Good for him, Good for him.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
I have one more question.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Shoot, it's Ben Brown.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
And there was a farmer who had a dog and
Bingo was his name. About where we were and b and.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Bingo was his name.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Oh, and then he had the back injury. If he's helped,
it looks like he has been bullpens out with the
farmer's name. I've been next to when he said he
feels really good. So all the science points things from
him is gonna throwing the live batters today, So I'm
really excited.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
There was a farmer who had a dog and Bingo.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Was his name.
Speaker 8 (15:59):
Oh, I I worry about the farmer's name. Was stretching
the mountain training.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I don't know, but if you're going to write it
in such a way that it wants the dog said
he was a farmer who had a dog starter and
Bingo was.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
Those guys dogs dailing, you could be seen there was.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
A farmer, you had a.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
Dog named Bingo, and that they like specific produce.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
There was a job and what I did look because
I looked into this and it was an old Irish
bar tune outside original had nothing to do about it.
Speaker 8 (16:34):
Donald, I mean he was last year when he got injured.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
I named Bingo and then he proved me wrong.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
The thing for the position.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
I had this fight with my student.
Speaker 8 (16:49):
I'm just like, man, there's gonna have to be an
injury or something.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Guys to get I said, I will die.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
You don't want to bring up stars in casey and
say you're going to get the Alexander Canari treatment and
just get a couple of that every seven day.
Speaker 8 (17:02):
I don't think that's good for them.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I don't think it was a farmer or.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Me.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
If that's like the.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
Third oblique things also stand on the hamstring thing, everybody, fans,
let's see what this same thing the highest stairs.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Maybe maybe Carson Kelt something growing.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I don't know, say stairs be that number two capture
for a couple of weeks and losses where they be
and maybe hang your head on that, which is really difficult,
by the way, the triple A and yeah, you don't
expect these guys to come in start producing right away.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Christ morelle More story.
Speaker 7 (17:43):
Too, that was that was the outlier. Okay, maybe they
can stay on the roster after that. Utah, they're gonna
have a lot of pressure on themselves to produce right
away if they get that.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Chance knocking on.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And so what you're saying is it's gonna be a
fun year to watch baseball Sunday morning, telling her that
her seventy year old, So I think I think it'll
be a five year old, sister.
Speaker 8 (18:05):
I'm just really on a drive. We usually have these
plans right of like, oh, this guy's.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Looks ten miles this year to a neighboring town.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
I don't I don't know where these guys fit, which
is why we kind of surprised if the more trades
this off season with the prospects, but.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
The police had to run the car off.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
Then look at the twenty twenty six roster. After twenty
twenty six, there's not a lot of guys like.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
You sent that to me, And then, yeah, it was
really hard when I lived.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
You're not really wrong, Like I didn't drive.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
We went a ton of IP teams and got to
know a lot of but I did.
Speaker 8 (18:36):
And then they're getting traded.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
It's like, hey, I know this guy, like he's up
in the middle and he's gone, so it's tough that
to deal with.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
You learn to like them.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
You're like, okay, the.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Seven year old in the streets.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
And then gets traded away, but it's still gets follows.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
What's happening until I missed? What?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Who else like that you've.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
Seen so far in spring training?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
They're like, man, that that he looks sharp or.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
It looked.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Just Steel showed his video sharp right away in his
first outing, bringing Hugh back, and he looked good.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Else that you like, man, he looked really good.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
I mean, Porter Hodge looks really good.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Sowtmore batters, all the minor league batters struck out all
four sometimes and you know, you know, kind of back
to my point, there hasn't been a ton of guys.
Speaker 8 (19:30):
There hasn't been a ton of like really intense practices yet.
So it's tough for me to say that.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
I feel like if you asked me that question again
three days, I might have a better answer for you.
But Steel and and Hodge are the first ones that
come to mind.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Wheelers and stuff.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
On the phone.
Speaker 7 (19:47):
Ben you know what, Ben Cowell really fun to watch
in the infield. Uh, he's got a smooth globe. I
didn't know that about him. I didn't know anything about
his fielding, and I've heard it.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
You know, he's a pretty header design, but his gloves
really is impressed me.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Well, I'll let you go because I know you have
to get out and they're gonna be starting to practice
here pretty soon. You want to get over there and
see see all that. So thanks for joining us. We
really appreciate it. Keep killing the content for the Cubs.
We as Cubs fans appreciate all the videos and everything
you're putting out there, So keep doing that. Make sure
you go and subscribe to his YouTube channel, set up
(20:24):
Man on YouTube and follow him on Twitters, everywhere else,
Instagram and TikTok is all at set up Man Kyle yep.
So thanks for joining us. Appreciate you stepping in and
giving your time, especially being out spring training. So thanks
a lot, Kyle.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Thanks Mitch.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
It's Mitch from The Dinger's podcast. Today, i want to
talk to you about something that's truly transformed the way
that I, as a coach work with young players and
especially my own kids. I'm talking about.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
The B four bat app.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
For those who have ever heard of before bat app,
it is an incredible tool that lets you track your exitvelocity,
launch angle, and more, all from your iPhone. No fancy
bat sensor or expensive equipment needed, Just your iPhone, a
tripod and you're good to go. I use the BA
four bat app daily with my son and daughter and
the results have been phenomenal. It provides valuable data and
(21:19):
video feedback that helps fine tune their swing. My son
absolutely loves it. He gets a kick out of watching
his videos of his swing and especially enjoys tracking his
exit velocity. It's like a game for it. I'm trying
to find that perfect blaunch angle to maximize his explosity.
For me, it's been amazing to see how much this
app has really helped improve their swings. In that immediate
(21:41):
feedback and data that they get are a game changer.
So if you're looking to get that valuable data and
insight for your own slugger and for them to hit
maybe some more dingers this season, I highly recommend checking
out before Batting app. You can go to bfore dot org,
app dot com, or search before Batting in the app store.
(22:04):
Trust me, you and your kids will love it. Now
let's get back to hitting some more dingers. Thanks for
joining us in this episode of The Dinger's podcast. I
hope you enjoyed the interview with Kyle from The Setup Man.
The dude is awesome. To make sure you're subscribing and
following him.
Speaker 8 (22:20):
At in all those places.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
But yeah, excited that sprint training is here. Hopefully we
have games coming in like twelve days and the season
will be here before we know it, like thirty six
days and there in Japan playing a game. So excited
that baseball is back, even though it's snowing here in
Iowa a lot. So thanks for listening and go Cubs.
If you're listening to The Dinger's Podcast, presented to you
by on Test Sports Network with your host Mitch, jeff
and Kevis the Great to talk to some of the Cubs.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
All I need is a.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Bet The Dinger's Podcast is on the air. I'm your host,
Mitch on here with Jeffrey. We're gonna jump on before
the Cubs take on the Giants at the friendly confines
of Urgley Field starting at six ten tonight. We're kind
of recording this podcast on a Monday, it's like four thirty,
(00:38):
so it's before the game.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
The Cubs have come off of two series wins against
the NL Central foes, taking two of three from the Pirates,
losing that middle game there and then taking two of
three from the djens from upcountry also known as the
Milwaukee Brewers. Went in the first two in pretty convincing
fashion and then drop the the last game in the
(01:02):
series on Sunday, which that's kind of like par for
the course of the coach the last like two years,
as we always lose on Sunday. But the big news
out of the series is should have Managa going down
there in like the seventh eighth inning with a little
pulled hamstring just came out not even an hour ago.
That he's headed to the fifteen day il and Gavin
(01:25):
Hallowell is being called up more of just a replacement
and a holding guy, a guy that's fresh, fresh arm
until I'm expecting Thursday, maybe that Caate Horton gets the
call up to take that starter spot from Shoulda. So
(01:46):
I'm joined by Jeff. He's been just locked in to
like every pitch the season, so I'm interested to hear
his takes on the Cubs Brewers series. What's your big
takeaway from the last last two series that you've kind
of seen with this this, these these Cubs and winning,
keeping the winning ways rolling.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Well, it would have been nice to get that sweep
against those douchebags from up north, but kind of par
for the course. When he did leave that game, you know,
nobody was up in the pen really warming up, so
we probably had a guy coming there a little cold
that wasn't really ready to probably pitch, and things just
kind of that domino started to fall, which is all right,
(02:29):
But what I do like is if we don't win
really convincingly by hitting a bunch of home runs, we're
still winning convincingly by playing small ball, you know, moving
stations to the station, stealing bases, keeping things really exciting,
really interesting, and it's I think a lot of that
(02:50):
is due to our our trade for Kyle Tucker, who
took a lot of pressure off people. But Pa has
made a huge step forward this year at the plate.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, dude is like he's on fire and he's so
much fun to watch, and I mean it's only a
matter of time. I think Council said this that for
him to move up to like lead off, and I
think that's where he's going to project to be. But
he needs to be one of the top three hitters
(03:19):
in the lineup to be able to earn that spot.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Well, so far this year, like the dude is like
he's earned it. I think we need to see.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
A little bit more sustained time to give some trust
with Counsel to move him up there. But that production
down the bottom of the lineup, We've talked about it forever,
Like lengthening that lineup makes a huge difference when you
have a Maaya hitting and you have production out of
the catcher spot that we haven't had for the last
(03:49):
three four years.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Yeah, I don't know if it was after Friday's game
or Saturday's game, but kind little sound bite after the
game and he says he feels really confident batting in
that seventh hole. So if he feels confident that I'd
leave him there for a little while longer, because we've
seen in the past what's happened to batters when you
move him all the way up to that leadoff spot.
(04:11):
They kind of kind of implodes a little bit.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Well, they change who they are instead of like PCA is, like,
you know, he's just care free up there, not overthinking things,
like he's not thinking, I have to like work the
count here.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
We have a good at bat.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
He's just I'm going to go up there and try
to be productive, and you're seeing the production. What I've
noticed too with PCA is his stance over the course
of his major league career has changed. Like when he
first came up in the big leagues, he was like
standing almost straight up and kind of striding and trying
(04:47):
to get long and generate power by getting long early.
And what we've seen this year is a little bit
of an open stance and he's wide and way out
and he's almost eliminated that that uh, I like and
all this heel up, heel down, and just go And
(05:08):
like I kind of made that same transition with my son.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
My son had a super wide open stance.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
And I've cut that down and widened him out, and
he was kind of standing up at it and now
widened him out. Just be quicker to the ball, get
quick to the ball, get those hands to let your
hips drive the bat. And that's what's working for PCA.
You're seeing like such quick hands being driven by his
lower half because he's he's using it now. He's not
just trying to let his body stride forward. He's using
(05:37):
his lower half to really turn that barrel. And it's
it's it's fun to watch because the dude is he's
sitting some tanks, like some deep shots and.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
It's it's awesome. It's exactly what you want for.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And I mean, the Cubs did offer him a contract
and he turned it down. He bet on himself to like, no,
I'm worth more and I'm gonna go.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Out and show it.
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Now.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
It's gonna hurt the Cubs because of Cubs down the
road here.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
If they want to extend him, which I looks like
they do, they're gonna have to pooney up the money
to be able to get him. And if I were
the Cubs, I'd be pouring money into him and Tucker because.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
They're gonna be the guys. They're gonna be, yeah, the future.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I mean, yeah, what what's Tucker like? Twenty eight? Is
he twenty eight years old? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Give give the guys the money. Big things showed out
going down in his last start. He exited the game
with a little bit of like leg cramps early after
pitching well yesterday, pitch pitching really well. Uh.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I think he was in the sounth or eighth, no
no runs.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Maybe like six and the third or something. I think
I got credit Ford, but either way, Uh, yeah, you're pitching.
It was basically a pitcher's duel up until that point.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Yeah, and then pulled the little hamstring. I think it's
a left ham string strain. They didn't really give much
more detail, just put them on the fifteen day dail.
I mean, I think that's a good news that it's
only fifteen day early that they think that they can
work him back, but it's still now you are down
(07:20):
your number one in your number one A.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
In your pitching rotation.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
This season, and we've talked about all off season the
biggest hole in this Cubs team is starting pitching pitch.
And now what they said is they have depth. Well,
beginning the season started up out without a SOD. You've
(07:45):
had guys like Colin Ray step up and be great.
You had Ben Brown do pretty well so far this year,
and it looks like we're going to turn here shortly
to another young young fella in Kate Horton.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
You have some of his stats, Kate Horton, I've I
just saw a couple, and you know, over the last
six games, he's got a one two four ERA, and
I think what's he hold in the.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Opposition's batting average? Is it one thirty something? Yeah, so
that's pretty phenomenal. Granted everyone's going, well, it's only triple
A whatever. At some point this season he's gonna get
up and he's gonna be pitching starting for the.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Cubs, and it's gonna look like soon because yeah, he
has he's only pitching six outings, he's looked phenomenal. Uh,
first couple outings he was only going like three innings,
four innings. I think his last two he got up
to six innings. Building up that arm uh stamina and strength.
But he's looked great and he's worked on a new pitch.
(08:53):
Like he's everything that we kind of wanted him to
be last year. This year he's proved that he he
should get a look and now with showed a down,
he's the next guy that you need to look. And
I don't know, like I haven't been excited excited for
a pitching prospect.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It's Mark Prior, since Mark.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Pryor and Carrie would like it's been a long time,
like maybe Jeff Samarja. I was like kind of pumped
when they're gonna break like way back in the day, but
like it's been a while. So like this, I want
him to be super successful. I want I want that
that fire him come up and just dominate like the
(09:39):
rookie Carrie Wood did.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
When he called up against the Expos.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Like I want that we actually drafted Kate Horton, didn't
we We didn't get him in a trade. Yeah, yeah, So
when was the last time we actually drafted a picture
that made it a difference In Justin Steele? Justin Steele, Yeah,
with him and before him had been a long time.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean, but Justin Steele.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
He the Miners for quite a while before he got
his break, and he wasn't like a highly touted guy
like Caate Horton. I feel like has been a little
bit more highly touted prospect. So I'm super excited for
the Cubs to give him a look, for him to
kind of get in there, get a shot, and.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
He's gonna get it against Who do we play?
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Who will we played?
Speaker 7 (10:21):
Then?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
It looks like it'll be the Mets, and the Mets
have a really good lineup. We play at New York
on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
It looks like it's gonna be the Mets.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So for playing the Mets, that's gotta be the hardest
series that we have this month, right.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, that, I mean, it's the It's the Mets,
the Giants. The Giants have been pretty pretty good this year,
but then we have the Marlins, White Sox, Marlins, Reds,
Rockies Reds.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
So yeah, so what I what I send you guys
the other day? What did what did I send that
to that I texted to you?
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I think you said on Instagram?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
But yeah, I saved that that picture that the Cubs.
Oh see, if I can pull it up and show
you this little thing.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Yeah. That. So those are all the teams that the
Cubs have played below five hundred zero. I mean, look
at the Mets, they played twenty teams below.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Five hundred, but the Cubs have played zero.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And right now I think we're what twenty one and
fourteen and we got seven blown saves. It's pretty phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, feel pretty good about that. You gotta feel pretty
good about where we're sitting, sitting in first place, and
that we've come. Like we said last year, like these
games against the n NOW Central, because there isn't so
many of them, they're even that much more important. When
you can take care of business against the n NOW
Central and taking two of three from both the Pirates
(11:59):
and Mawa, you gotta feel pretty good. Uh, getting the
Reds twice, which I now think the biggest contender for
the Cubs in the Central are the Reds. The Reds
have some young pitching, they have some pretty good young bats.
That's gonna be where and so we play the Reds
(12:21):
not twice at the end of this month, where are
we going to be when that comes around.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, I feel like they're really streaky, like they're really
tough and uh, you know, hard to beat team. But
then there's other times where you look at you know,
they play somebody other than the Cubs and they like
fall in their face and lose pitiflee.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean, they got swept in a doubleheader by the Cardinals.
I saw that, and they got blown out both games.
But like they have Terry fair and ConA as their
manager now, and so like that's manager makes a difference.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Manager makes a difference.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
In a young team. They're gonna be more disciplined. That's
going to the team that I'm a little bit more
nervous about.
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Especially.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I mean we will be coming off playing the Marlins
and the Rockies during that stretch, so hopefully we're feeling
good by getting a lot of wins before we take
on the Reds of the month.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Do you think Terry Francona is going to be remembered
for breaking the eighty six year drought for the Boston
Red Sox or as the double a Birmingham Barons manager
that coached Michael Jordan.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
I don't know a lot of people forget that he
coached Jordan. I'll say, right, I want to end with this.
This is gonna be a short podcast and with two things.
One and I saw this I'm stealing this from the
setup man because I saw him do a YouTube video
on this. I thought it was great. But I want
(13:52):
to pose the question to you. Do you think this
year's team playing a regular season three game series could
beat the twenty sixteen Chicago Cubs.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Yes? Wow, I really yeah, it'd be okay. Even at
the twenty sixteen team started out hot and that kind
of propelled their season. But there were some times where
there's some walls and there were some games. Seriously, if
you just put Jason Hamill against this lineup.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
They had Arieta, they had Lester like right, but Kyle Hendricks.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I think they could beat him. I honestly really do,
just because the offense. Yeah, I mean, we had way
better bullpen and way better pitching in twenty sixteen than
what this team has right now.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
But you're forgetting how good the twenty sixteen offense was.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, Christmas Rizzo, you had to use somebody else's bat
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Mister Fowler getting on base. Adison Russell.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
I think they hear Addison Russell's name, overest.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I think he's playing in some like third rate Dominican
Mexican League.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, I guess Patrick Wisdom is tearing it up in
the Korean Baseball League.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
Good for him, Good for him.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
I have one more question.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Shoot, it's Ben Brown.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
And there was a farmer who had a dog and
Bingo was his name. About where we were and b and.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Bingo was his name.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Oh, and then he had the back injury. If he's helped,
it looks like he has been bullpens out with the
farmer's name. I've been next to when he said he
feels really good. So all the science points things from
him is gonna throwing the live batters today, So I'm
really excited.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
There was a farmer who had a dog and Bingo.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Was his name.
Speaker 8 (15:59):
Oh, I I worry about the farmer's name. Was stretching
the mountain training.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I don't know, but if you're going to write it
in such a way that it wants the dog said
he was a farmer who had a dog starter and
Bingo was.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
Those guys dogs dailing, you could be seen there was.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
A farmer, you had a.
Speaker 8 (16:18):
Dog named Bingo, and that they like specific produce.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
There was a job and what I did look because
I looked into this and it was an old Irish
bar tune outside original had nothing to do about it.
Speaker 8 (16:34):
Donald, I mean he was last year when he got injured.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
I named Bingo and then he proved me wrong.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
The thing for the position.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
I had this fight with my student.
Speaker 8 (16:49):
I'm just like, man, there's gonna have to be an
injury or something.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Guys to get I said, I will die.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
You don't want to bring up stars in casey and
say you're going to get the Alexander Canari treatment and
just get a couple of that every seven day.
Speaker 8 (17:02):
I don't think that's good for them.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I don't think it was a farmer or.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Me.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
If that's like the.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
Third oblique things also stand on the hamstring thing, everybody, fans,
let's see what this same thing the highest stairs.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Maybe maybe Carson Kelt something growing.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I don't know, say stairs be that number two capture
for a couple of weeks and losses where they be
and maybe hang your head on that, which is really difficult,
by the way, the triple A and yeah, you don't
expect these guys to come in start producing right away.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Christ morelle More story.
Speaker 7 (17:43):
Too, that was that was the outlier. Okay, maybe they
can stay on the roster after that. Utah, they're gonna
have a lot of pressure on themselves to produce right
away if they get that.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Chance knocking on.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And so what you're saying is it's gonna be a
fun year to watch baseball Sunday morning, telling her that
her seventy year old, So I think I think it'll
be a five year old, sister.
Speaker 8 (18:05):
I'm just really on a drive. We usually have these
plans right of like, oh, this guy's.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Looks ten miles this year to a neighboring town.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
I don't I don't know where these guys fit, which
is why we kind of surprised if the more trades
this off season with the prospects, but.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
The police had to run the car off.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
Then look at the twenty twenty six roster. After twenty
twenty six, there's not a lot of guys like.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
You sent that to me, And then, yeah, it was
really hard when I lived.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
You're not really wrong, Like I didn't drive.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
We went a ton of IP teams and got to
know a lot of but I did.
Speaker 8 (18:36):
And then they're getting traded.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
It's like, hey, I know this guy, like he's up
in the middle and he's gone, so it's tough that
to deal with.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
You learn to like them.
Speaker 8 (18:46):
You're like, okay, the.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Seven year old in the streets.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
And then gets traded away, but it's still gets follows.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
What's happening until I missed? What?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Who else like that you've.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
Seen so far in spring training?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
They're like, man, that that he looks sharp or.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
It looked.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Just Steel showed his video sharp right away in his
first outing, bringing Hugh back, and he looked good.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Else that you like, man, he looked really good.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
I mean, Porter Hodge looks really good.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Sowtmore batters, all the minor league batters struck out all
four sometimes and you know, you know, kind of back
to my point, there hasn't been a ton of guys.
Speaker 8 (19:30):
There hasn't been a ton of like really intense practices yet.
So it's tough for me to say that.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
I feel like if you asked me that question again
three days, I might have a better answer for you.
But Steel and and Hodge are the first ones that
come to mind.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Wheelers and stuff.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
On the phone.
Speaker 7 (19:47):
Ben you know what, Ben Cowell really fun to watch
in the infield. Uh, he's got a smooth globe. I
didn't know that about him. I didn't know anything about
his fielding, and I've heard it.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
You know, he's a pretty header design, but his gloves
really is impressed me.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
Well, I'll let you go because I know you have
to get out and they're gonna be starting to practice
here pretty soon. You want to get over there and
see see all that. So thanks for joining us. We
really appreciate it. Keep killing the content for the Cubs.
We as Cubs fans appreciate all the videos and everything
you're putting out there, So keep doing that. Make sure
you go and subscribe to his YouTube channel, set up
(20:24):
Man on YouTube and follow him on Twitters, everywhere else,
Instagram and TikTok is all at set up Man Kyle yep.
So thanks for joining us. Appreciate you stepping in and
giving your time, especially being out spring training. So thanks
a lot, Kyle.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Thanks Mitch.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
It's Mitch from The Dinger's podcast. Today, i want to
talk to you about something that's truly transformed the way
that I, as a coach work with young players and
especially my own kids. I'm talking about.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
The B four bat app.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
For those who have ever heard of before bat app,
it is an incredible tool that lets you track your exitvelocity,
launch angle, and more, all from your iPhone. No fancy
bat sensor or expensive equipment needed, Just your iPhone, a
tripod and you're good to go. I use the BA
four bat app daily with my son and daughter and
the results have been phenomenal. It provides valuable data and
(21:19):
video feedback that helps fine tune their swing. My son
absolutely loves it. He gets a kick out of watching
his videos of his swing and especially enjoys tracking his
exit velocity. It's like a game for it. I'm trying
to find that perfect blaunch angle to maximize his explosity.
For me, it's been amazing to see how much this
app has really helped improve their swings. In that immediate
(21:41):
feedback and data that they get are a game changer.
So if you're looking to get that valuable data and
insight for your own slugger and for them to hit
maybe some more dingers this season, I highly recommend checking
out before Batting app. You can go to bfore dot org,
app dot com, or search before Batting in the app store.
(22:04):
Trust me, you and your kids will love it. Now
let's get back to hitting some more dingers. Thanks for
joining us in this episode of The Dinger's podcast. I
hope you enjoyed the interview with Kyle from The Setup Man.
The dude is awesome. To make sure you're subscribing and
following him.
Speaker 8 (22:20):
At in all those places.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
But yeah, excited that sprint training is here. Hopefully we
have games coming in like twelve days and the season
will be here before we know it, like thirty six
days and there in Japan playing a game. So excited
that baseball is back, even though it's snowing here in
Iowa a lot. So thanks for listening and go Cubs.
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