Monday Morning Cubs Show
A show every Monday morning about the Chicago Cubs from Carl and Mahoney.
Monday Morning Cubs Show
The 2026 Cubs: A NEW HOPE w/ Joey Mulinaro
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A 5-0 hole in the second inning usually feels like a death sentence, and with how the Cubs have looked early, it also feels like a shortcut to a bad mood for the rest of the day. Then Sunday happened. We talk through the comeback win that stopped the bleeding after a frustrating Pirates series, why it genuinely felt like our “mentals” got saved, and what it would actually take for momentum to become real instead of just a nice Sunday memory.
From there we get honest about the bigger anxiety hanging over a 7-8 start: the schedule gets harder fast. We head into Philadelphia, we’ve got the Mets coming, and the Dodgers are on the horizon. That’s where the Craig Counsell conversation hits, because the team still feels too quiet, too flat, and too reliant on “it’ll turn around” without showing us the spark first. Joey Molinero joins us and brings the perfect comp for Cubs expectations right now: The Last Jedi. Big hype, early warning signs, and the fear that you might wake up in June and realize you’ve been telling yourself stories.
We also run a full slate of Ball Or Strike on the stuff Cubs fans are arguing about every day: Matt Shaw playing first base in extras, Pete Crow-Armstrong struggling vs lefties and whether he should hit ninth, Miguel Amaya potentially moving up in the lineup, and the Michael Busch alarm at first base. We hit the bullpen health, Ben Brown’s wild pitch problem, and why roster depth suddenly feels thin. We even detour into Marquee broadcasts, commercials, and why the Ross and Rizzo podcast is a reminder of what the 2016 Cubs had that this group still needs.
If you’re watching every night and feeling every swing, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share the show with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a review so more maniacs can find us.
Thanks for tuning in!
- Carl & Mahoney
Welcome Back, Cubs Maniacs
SPEAKER_01And we're clear. Good morning, good afternoon, and evening, Chicago Cubs fans. Welcome back to the Monday Morning Cubs Show. Today is Monday, April 13th. The Chicago Cubs are 7 and 8. It is your host, Carl. I am joined by, as you heard off the top, Mahoney and special friend of the program, Joey Molinero. Is this your second, third time on the show? Joey, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_03Thanks, buddy. Second time, I believe I am the first recurring guest on here. Now that we're doing guests so much that you guys have you are absolutely absolutely the first recurring.
SPEAKER_00Feels like you've been here five times, Joey.
SPEAKER_03I did the playoff preview, one of the playoff previews with you guys last year. And then yeah, when you turn 26, I mean, you got Alex, Cohen, Big Cat. Uh, I mean, it's been great, man. So I'm loving the the extendos, the the Friday episodes of the guests, and uh psyched to be the first recurring, man. Got a W under our belt on Sunday, and let's roll.
SPEAKER_00What a nice Sunday, to be quite honest, for everyone involved.
SPEAKER_01I mean, weather, masters, McElroy repeat. I'm gonna stay on the M's for a second here. Mahoney, Mulanero, couple maniacs. I mean, a lot of M's flowing around here. Joy, I appreciate you being a maniac and being a part of the community. It's been a it's been a lot of fun, and you can start to feel the momentum. There's another M for you, another theme for the show today, a lot of M's. Is you can feel the momentum on my end, social media, seeing the maniacs pick up in steam, seeing the thirsty vaquero tweets, just like in a in a when we need a rally, like somebody was like, we need to get some thirsty vaquero in the dugout. Like, I can't tell you how much I love seeing the maniacs out in the field like that.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it's amazing. And I ran through my thirsty of vacaro, so I need to uh I need to hop back on and and get me some some uh some more juice, man, some more good stuff for uh 26 here. And uh, yeah, especially because like you know, I don't want to I don't want to get too much into me, too much into bragging, but like my in-laws, they got a boat. We were on the boat today, need some thirsty vacaros on the boat, on the water. Kids are running around, have a little bit of uh tequila in there if I want, like Carl, you did a little last week when the lineup preview. Uh, anyways, no, it's amazing, dude. And uh it's it's it is like you see the logo up here, the MMCS logo with the Ivy and everything. I need to see that on some merch. What is that happening? I need to see that on some merch. I need to see a live show in Wrigleyville with Carl Mahoney. I mean, that that's next on the table. I know you guys got your hands full, you're doing a whole bunch to go to the community, but that's next. That's next.
Thirsty Vaquero Sponsor And Origin
SPEAKER_01One step at a time here. I appreciate it. We we do have more as we're coming. You know, the merch scene, it's competitive. I say you think you're popular, I say just go sell a t-shirt and see how that turns out. You know, it's tough. But I think it would the logo we do have on the back end. It's actually we are staged for video, you know, and it's in a short order. We will be on video. We're just we're just figuring it out. But you bring up a good point about needing the juice, and I know a lot of maniacs listen to this need some juice. So, guys, it's thirsty vaquero, it's a Mexican-style soda with the signature spicy finish. Let's all bite, no rattle. Mahoney's shaking his head here in satisfaction.
SPEAKER_00I heard Joey mention like boat and boat weather and people going on boats. Talk about having a handle of thirsty vacaro and bringing a couple four-packs into the void, you know, at H dock and Hammond Marina. You are loving light, and everyone is loving you. That is what I'm talking about, boys. This is why we do this for the Monday morning cub show.
SPEAKER_01You guys can get it on Amazon, three bald flavors, organic agave, 90 calories per serving, less than 20 grams of sugar per 16 ounce can, which is unbelievable when you get a taste of it. And I'll tell you this there's no conspiracy theory behind these ingredients, folks. There's nothing like this. Is purely from a couple of health nuts, a couple of guys who are working at a big beverage company, they went to their bosses, they were like, listen, when we're downshifting out of COVID, even though a lot of people are drinking out, we see a movement coming towards non-alcoholics. We should position ourselves and make it kind of you know, make it sensible here. We have this idea to do a Mexican-style soda, and they've not got laughed out of the room, but they were just like, We're absolutely not gonna do that. So these guys left, started their own thing, and you have like beverage veteran expertise, and these guys are health nuts, and they made an unbelievable product here in Thirsty Vacaro. Uh, so go get yourself some on Amazon, guys. We've said it before, I'll say it again. You will not believe how good it is until you have it.
SPEAKER_00So, I mean, it's an all-bite, no rantle. Give me the bite every time, Carl.
SPEAKER_01Oh, God. Moni, how you doing, buddy? We missed you last week.
Mower Sunday And Life Updates
SPEAKER_00You know, I missed myself, and I I do apologize to yourself and you, Carl, and the maniacs. You might have an alternating thing of meetings on Mondays, so it goes 10-11, 10-11. I was traveling as well on Monday. Thought I was gonna be good to go with 10. Happy to see CB jump in and just handle it like the professional he is. Love that guy. So thanks to CB. But Carl, to answer your question, I myself, I'm doing fantastic. Talk about a Sunday. I thought it was gonna be raining early. It wasn't. It's master's weekend. We had a Cubs Day game come aboard, looks like shit early on. We end up rallying and winning the game, which was just a sight to see. I got to cut my grass for the first time today, which is just that's on the docket for me.
SPEAKER_03When yeah, it's coming.
SPEAKER_00Katie Patates, Joey, Joey. Katie Patates goes, Do you want to like cut the grass today? And I'm thinking, she's thinking, like, oh, he's not gonna want to do something. He's gonna get annoyed that I'm asking. And I'm like, that is music to my ears. Yeah, baby. So yard work got started. Uh, just a beautiful thing. The Cubs winning. Yeah, seeing Rory, you know, go back to back at the Masters. It was also Fern Day at the Mahoney household. We load up on the ferns on the deck, and it's a it's a big day, and it follows me throughout the season. So I no complaints. And then we have Joey on the Monday morning cub show, the first recurring guest at Carl. Like now I'm here with you guys. So how can I complain right now?
SPEAKER_01All right. So the how the mower, the mower, there's a big M for us today. This is a mower Sunday. Did is the mower health okay? Do you got to change the oil? Like first rip, did it get going? What'd you have to do to get them to get the motor going on on the mower?
SPEAKER_00Well, Carl, all iteration aside, I do want to say I had maybe three or four rips to get it going, but the mower I had bought was one of those you pour in the 10 and 10, and you know, I just listened to the guy, and he's like, you never touch it ever again, and just put straight on lead of gasoline. I have not had to add any oil so far. I'm on year three. Now, here's where I went wrong. I zigged when I should have zigged, boys. I didn't get, I didn't spend literally like the$10 or$15 more to get the mower that just gives you a little bit of a push. You see, everything I'm doing. I am it's in my legs right now, and I've been on the trampoline with the kids. I was I'm I'm doing the push and I'm on a year three. I think I have to invest in something that kind of takes me along for the ride.
SPEAKER_03See, but Mahoney, I feel like I mean, you're what 36, 37?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I appreciate that, Joey. I'm 42 years of age.
SPEAKER_0342 yeah, you know, yeah, I'd rather undersell. I'd rather undersell, right? Right? You know, I know Carl is getting he's had a birthday, right? So, you know, understand the 36, 37 can't go wrong there. You're looking great, but I know for you know guys that are of our age now, dads, you know, we're getting up there. I feel like that's key to be able to have that push because that gives you a little bit of exercise while you're being productive, right? Gives you a little forearm, gives you a little leg workout. You're on the trampoline, you're getting you're getting you're getting cut up calves, cut up quads, right? Maybe Sarah's wrong should join you on the trampoline, man.
SPEAKER_00Get those legs, get those legs. Arlett tonight's isn't far. He can jump on the trampoline anytime he would like. And Joey, you know, with that said, I'm thinking like, I got a bad meniscus, but I was thinking, you know, I'm gonna be rehabbing. When I bought the motor, I was like, this is gonna be my workout. I'm gonna be really getting it in. And you know, I regret, I regret the decision, but you do remote the motor health is is quite fine. Three poles started right up, went through a couple like moist leave piles, and we'll leave it at that, Carl.
SPEAKER_01Love it, thank you. And I would just color in you probably had a couple beers last. Like you probably, you know, I mean, it wasn't like you got up early and went and worked out and came home and hit the lawnmower and were like, you know, using it as a hell thing. I mean, you were probably vertical or you probably horizontal on the couch, and Tades is like, what do you say? What do you say? A fresh cut. What do you think, Tim?
SPEAKER_00It was a hell day with the kids yesterday, Carl. So yeah, I was polishing back a couple Trumer Pilsners, you know, late into the evening. There was a UFC fight on. I had that going, all kinds of other things. So, no, you're right. I wasn't necessarily at the freshest. I don't my meniscus isn't whole at the moment, you know. So there's I had them some things working against me on the trampoline playing this game with basketball jumping around, being careful, but it's still a workout. But enough about me, boys. I mean, I I appreciate it.
Pirates Series Frustration Then Relief
SPEAKER_01All right, that this has been a delightful introduction to the show, nine minutes in at the time recording, you know, because last time I did a show was an hour and 20 minutes of me just fucking talking to the microphone passionately solo. So I like this side of things where I can have some fun banter, put a smile on my face, you know, come up with some themes. We're talking about M's. So here's here's just like a big take. Um, my mental health saved today. My mentals completely saved today. They go down five-nothing early. Obviously, talking about the third game of the Pirates series, two extremely disappointing losses. Like you showed an Imanaga going six innings, hitless, nine strikeouts, just so dialed in, and we lose that game. I think we had 19 walks in the series, you know, and the offense just looks like shit. So scoring seven runs on Sunday, my mentals completely saved. We're on a group text of three of us, and I would say the tone of that group text was pretty sad and morbid. What am I wrong? Ball or strike.
SPEAKER_03All stars, that's a hundred percent a strike, and I was kind of leading the way on that. I'll take full responsibility. I'm a little bit of an overreactor. I've learned over the my years on the internet that I really dial it down on the internet and I just save it for the group chats because you go on the internet, everybody wants to pull that up, live forever. Oh, you said this back in April, you're freaking out. And so that's why I just sent it to you guys because on Saturday I was sitting there, my folks. This fucking sucks. Sorry for the F-words, watch the F-words, I know. But sit sit sitting right there on Saturday and all that nonsense. And as soon as Teal Bar picked that ball up, I said he's throwing that shit away. And uh sure, sure enough, you know, you have Matt Shaw over there, he's popping around all over the field, anyways. I digress. Uh, but I'm fully leading the charge on that because I said that on Saturday, and then on Sunday, I'm the first one to say, pretty sure I've only had fun watching this team two times this year. Because I was out on the boat and I was like, I need a little mental health to Carl's point, mental health break. I'm out on the boat, got fresh water, fresh air, kids are there, got a drink, feeling good. Check the score, five-nothing the second inning. Send that text because I was in a dark place. So I fully was leading the charge on the morbid, on the sad, and the group chat for us. But sometimes you just got to get it out there so you can bounce back and feel better about it, you know.
SPEAKER_00You have to vent, and if you're not going to vent with anyone other than the maniacs, you vent with me and Carl. And after like a hangover of wasted no-hit innings, six no-hit innings from Shota, you know, next day there's one for 15 with runners at scoring position. How could you not say that this sucks, Joey, when we're down five-nothing at Wrigley with game three almost getting swept by the pirates? So, hey man, let it go. Always, always get it out there.
SPEAKER_01And how about Jameis and Teon? Giving up a grand slam in the same inning, you strike out the side is some marvelous MLB level shit, dude. Like it and we knew wind's blowing out, like obviously, expect the fireworks. But I got up today, I was like, we we can't we can't be six and nine to start the season. Now, I mean, obviously you can, guys. Like, obviously, you can be six and nine, and the season turns out fine, and obviously there's a ton of time to turn around, and they could go on a maybe they go on a hot streak, and you know, we laugh about this, but I don't know if that happens. I know right now only what I've seen and what's in front of me, and it's relatively lifeless going into today's game. I mean, that's kind of the vibe, it's six and eight, and now you're down five-nothing in the second inning, looking like a bag of fucking dicks. You know, again, sorry for the F, but like, you know, we're kind of built up this narrative. Craig Council, not a fiery guy. This team is lacking fiery, and I think this is like the perfect win to turn the tides, get people shut up, but they have to go play well in Philadelphia this week. So, like, big challenge is okay, you played like shit. I thought we had a huge advantage with the three 120s in a row at home. And the other thing is we almost got swept. We weren't we didn't even see Paul Skeets. You play the Pirates, you don't see Paul Skeets, you gotta take advantage of it. Like you just can't and so I don't know how real or legit they are. I think they're thin and they're starting pitching. You know, I'm impressed with the way they've put a lineup together with young guys and scrappy players and guys that are getting a second chance in their career, like some of the Tampa Rays players or Ryan O'Hearn. There's some interesting stuff going on with the Pirates, but we gotta beat them. And the fact we could have gotten swept and then it's 5-0, and so we come back. This is why I say my mental health completely saved today. And now I I go into Monday, we go into this show, we go into this week feeling optimistic.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, a hundred percent. Mahoney, go ahead. Sorry.
SPEAKER_00No, oh no, no, Joey, I was actually gonna let you ride. Always kind of give the guests, you know, as much layups as I can when they're ready to go, if not. However, I will say it did it save the Sunday, it saved the week, and what a great start for ourselves and the maniacs, you know. But what you know, the I think the grander scheme of things, it doesn't feel like this isn't a team that should be trying to figure things out right now. Like I feel like we should be teams that they're they're not executing. We're good baseball players that are not executing with, you know, you see the runners in scoring position thing I'd mentioned earlier, and that's been happening regularly. So I'm comfortable enough that it's early. Hey, let's get this out of the way now, kind of feel. But at the same token, it's not what I want to see. Back to Carl, your comment with Craig. And if this team is struggling with an identity, the last person's identity that we want them reflecting on is that guy's stick in the mud attitude. And that's something you had tweeted about like Joe Man or Craig Council, Craig Council. I think great manager, great for like we'll be great for this team and all that. I'm not chopping the gun here. But if if there's uh any reflection of a manager on the team and the way that they're playing and the way that they're acting, and if they're a team struggling for an identity, Craig's not the guy.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
The Last Jedi Expectations Comparison
SPEAKER_03I was gonna say this for ball or strike. I don't know if I want to do it for ball or strike, but I want to I want to I want to get this. I want to put my cowherd cap on. I want to get this out here for you guys. See what you think. Because Carl, I know you're a big Star Wars guy. So I want you to stay with me for a second. The way that I felt about uh the first 15 games of this year, especially when you're down 15 to nothing, or not 15, 5-0, excuse me, you're down five-nothing the second inning in the 15th game of the season, with the expectations and the excitement uh and the hope that everybody had going into this year and the first 15 games of what we've seen, uh it felt like to me, uh it felt like to me the last Jedi. It felt like you remember when everybody you're going in, you have the Force Awakens underneath your belt, and you're going into Last Jedi, and you're like, holy cow, where are we gonna go? Luke Skywalker's coming back in this movie. It's gonna be this is gonna be on par with Empire, this is gonna be so big, this is gonna be, we have these great expectations, this great hope. And I remember sitting in the theater the first time I saw Last Jedi, and the first 20 minutes go by, and I'm like, that wasn't like kind of what I was hoping or expecting for, but like, hey, we still got more, we still got more. Okay, uh, I'm still trying to, you know, we're holding out hope. Big finish here, big finish. And I left the theater and it just never clicked for me. And I and I and the the movie never never took off for me. And so what I'm saying is that's how I felt so far, is that I'm just like, hey, people want to say, yeah, it's early, sure, it's early. But like, I feel like we've seen stories like this before where you're like, hey, it's early, we're good, there's time, we're fine. All right. I don't know if I agree with it or I like it so far, but like we got time, and then all of a sudden you get to June or July, and you're like, oh shit, this may just be who we are. Like, that's what the thought process was was going on in my head when you're down five-nothing, and still I'm not fully out of it because you're still seven and eight, you're still going to Philadelphia this week, right? Like, you you you're staring at you got New York, you got the Mets like coming into town after. I mean, it could be very dark at the end of this upcoming week, but yeah, currently as it stands, is that's where I'm like, is like and I went through this with Purdue basketball this season, Carl, your line eye, congrats on a great year. The waggler kid, unbelievable. I was in the building in Mackey, now they're M in the building at Mackey when he dropped 43 points or whatever on us. It was insane. Um, but I went through this with Purdue, where you know we have that same thing, and like you kind of muddle around, and then all of a sudden January, you're like, ah, but it's really turn it on in March, is when it matters. And then at the end of the day, you just weren't good enough, and it was a sad reality, and so that's where I was kind of am still right now in the back of my head. My Sunday scaries are getting there, and I'm I'm feeling a little nervous about it. But again, big win, rallying win, chance to really ride that momentum and turn it around starting now. I just feel like there's a little bit of last Jedi to the story right now, right now.
Ball Or Strike Kicks Off
SPEAKER_01It's a great comparison. And with respect to the Last Jedi, we would be like within the first eight to ten minutes of the movie. So, like, there's right, yes, there this is where we're at. So, like you had made the point when you're explaining through the first 20 minutes, you're like, Oh, I don't know about this. So, this is really the first part of the movie store of that story in the comparison. We're like, hey, we're going into Philly, like now's the time, right? We can't, and another reason we can't be messing around. Three in Philly, three at home against the Mets, who are significantly more talented than the Pirates, whether or not they're playing well, I don't care. Then we have four against the Phillies, then we're on the road in Los Angeles, and things really spike from there. And so this way I'm a little uncomfortable when people are walking around, don't worry, offense is gonna turn, don't worry, it's early in the season. It's like, well, guys, just look ahead quickly. And if we can't handle the Nationals, and if we can't go to the Cleveland Guardians and score more than zero runs, and if we're gonna have trouble at home against Carmen Majinski, we're gonna have trouble at home against Carmen Majinski. Like we gotta go on the road against Shohei Otani. So these are the things where you have to, it's not just that it's bad, it's like bad in comparison of where things could go. But today's win is an opportunity to spark that dugout and to get those guys going. It's not a fiery team. You're you're not gonna get good quotes. So, with all this being said, though, let's let's kick off. We got a good baller strike. Let's see if we get let's see if we get 30 good men. Why do I even say that, Mahoney? I'm always throwing fucking timers out there.
SPEAKER_00As soon as you do that, it's like we're going an hour and a half, Joey. I hope you're saddled up for a long one, partner.
SPEAKER_03Oh, hey, I'm I'm a maniac, so I hear it every week and I laugh every time. But uh, real quick before we get into Paul Strike and Paul Strike, I do have to say I was listening to the Friday show heading south to my folks on Saturday, and uh I was with my whole family, like a three-year-old and a two-year-old and my wife, and you know, my wife's vegging out on her phone, and I'm listening to Carl. And he's I love when you get into the when you start talking about like, you know, when you start talking about like uh, you know, the pirates, they're getting they're they're getting uh a T-bone right now steak, and they're all sitting around and they're hobnobbing, and you know Danzby Swanson is watching some shitty reality show with his wife, and he's you know doing the mushroom infused thing, and then you get to Nico and he said, You know, Nico, I mean that guy's probably plowing too chicken, or whatever you said, and I'm sitting there and I'm laughing, and finally I always know when to turn it off because my raw wife will look up from her phone, and I saw it out of the corner of my eye, she looked up. I was like, All right, Carl, that's good. But I love what I love when you get into the sidebars. No, it's uh I love when you get into the sidebars of like, you know, Danzby, he's not going downtown, he's fucking doing yoga, like it's so spot on, so funny. But uh, I had to get that side note in there for the maniacs. I'm sure that's happened to a few of us out there, and I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00Dude, Carl, that was fantastic. Also, there was a very subtle, like, just not great, Bob. And the to drop those in the way that you did as an art form, it could be overdone, but the way you did it was perfect. I noticed it. I wanted to say that. In respect to the last Jedi seeing it on a premiere date, let's just say, Joey, you're you are spot on. I was in the best mood ever because I had gotten engaged the night before to Katie Potato. Oh, wow. So I'm whistling Dixie, dude. I left that place. I thought it was the greatest fucking movie I've ever seen in my life. I walked all the way home from New City into Fulton Market. And but, you know, as time went on, I kind of feel a little bit differently, but it is that same, it's that same feeling. So when you were saying that, I'm like thinking like big off season, here we go. This engine's going, Disney's gonna get fucking hell with this, and then it's like, oh shit, pop the brakes, and I'll leave it.
SPEAKER_01It's really funny when you that's really funny when you see a movie and you think it's awesome, and then you find out later everybody else hated it.
SPEAKER_00I was on two hours of sleep, just yeah, love and life.
SPEAKER_03I should have I should have checked, like you know, I should have put that in the notes of like, hey, had a little heat check. Like, how do we how do we ball strike last Jedi good or not? Just for you guys, because you know, I I obviously am not a last Jedi guy, but the point being again is that like I was walking in a theater is one. Those were me and my dad were like, Yeah, I mean that part was cool. Like, yeah, it was cool, but like we knew we didn't like it, and so it's like, Yeah, we're good, we're good. You then you start to wonder you the voice gets a little higher, right? So, anyways, uh I'm gonna stay on this for a second.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna stay on this for a second. Yeah, what I I liked some things about it, I didn't like some other things. I was left kind of like, I didn't really like the way they use Luke Skywalker, and that I know this isn't a Star Wars show, but Joey brings it up. I got some passionate opinions, and so like I uh there was things I liked, there's things I didn't like about it. Adam Driver's awesome, so like whatever. Even if he even if they're giving him bad lines, even if they're putting him in weird situations and they're developing weird arcs, like whatever that guy touches, he just delivers and I just went to the same college as me. Oh, yeah? How about that? Let's get him on the show.
SPEAKER_03Both an in both an Indiana version of U of I. So you got your U of I, we got our U of I, University of Indianapolis. He went there for a year, and that's where I graduated, and that's one of our clamps.
unknownYep.
SPEAKER_01I love it. Well, I I liked it. I liked it, I liked it less and less every time I saw it after the first time I saw it, and then I did take a turn on it and start to there's part of me that kind of appreciates some of the risks Ryan Johnson took on it, even though it didn't really pay off. And I thought Disney fucking botched it from the start, and Kathleen Kennedy, that lady, is just out of her fucking mind as far as own stories. I thought they just botched that it was doomed from the start. Force Awakens Rock, but the way they set up number two is terrible, and there's no continuity in the directing and the storytelling, so that there's no payoff. The fact number two is made significantly worse. Last Jedi is made significantly worse by the fact that Rise of Skywalker is arguably the fucking biggest piece of trash Star Wars has ever put on. It's a good thing they put out the acolyte so you could have the tape to turn around and go, it's not that bad. It's good acolyte.
SPEAKER_03We got to stop it there before we just fully get 50 minutes into Star Wars.
SPEAKER_00I have like thoughts and I'm looking at the clock, I'm like, it's not a good idea for me to get this right now.
SPEAKER_01You know, so we'll circle back, we'll do a bonus Sunday morning Star Wars episode one of these days. Yeah, we'll just be all are striking each other on like, you know, Yoda, Yoda's.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I had like thought-provoking questions ready to go. I'm done.
SPEAKER_01So we each of us, we should say this, each of us prepared a couple baller strikes. We don't really know what each other have. I have some ideas of where you know Mahoney will go, but I I'll start and we'll just trade. I'll go first and then uh Joey, you go second, Mahoney will go third, and we'll just we'll throw a couple pitches, see if we could throw about 15 pitches here and just see if we'll see what we get baller strike. So I'll kick it off and just staying on M here, guys. Baller strike, we have momentum. Yeah, strike 100. Sorry, sorry.
SPEAKER_03I forget that I forget how much we have to guess. Do you throw right to me? You sick.
SPEAKER_01I think to me, I think the let's figure this out in real time, though. Let's just let's just do a good exercise here. I think each of us kind of go through quick whether it's baller strike, what do you have? And then Joey, you can give your explanation more. So we should get our takes initially. Yep, and then so I have it, I have it like as a French strike, ABS reviewed. It's just clipping the edges.
SPEAKER_00Strike Carl, I have to agree as well. Just be given the fact that it's Sunday, we're feeling good, we had a big come from behind win at the same token, clips the edge, given the fact that we also lost twice to the pirates at home at 120 games.
SPEAKER_03I think it's a little bit uh not the edge, but like it's it's it's it's hardly in the in the zone for me. Because I think that you really had an opportunity to just lay down flat on your face and just fucking you know, just kick dirt right there when you're down 5-0 and they come out that you know blazing right off the bat. And I think something really stand out to me is our guy Dansby Swanson. The way he ran the bases today, the the the passion he showed, the risk that he took uh, you know, on that on that uh pop fly to second base, the dude falls down. That was weird, but he fully took advantage of it. Uh, so I think when you couple the way that they did bounce back from down 5-0, you have your leader, in my opinion, our opinion, my opinion, uh Danny Swanson doing that, showing some passion, kicking the leg, helmet off, air flowing. I give it a little bit more. Uh, that's gonna be, you know, about belt high, uh, about you know, three inches. Belt high about three inches from the heart of the play on the inside corner, but really perfectly a strike. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Quintessential. Like, not a question. They're not not a challenge strike at all.
SPEAKER_03No, just no, no, no challenge based on those factors. Momentum right now on Monday morning, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01And if they won convincingly today, say four to one or something, and it wasn't really a ball game. I wouldn't know. I would say I'd be a little curious or something. I think the circumstance and how they win, I love you talking about Dansby Swanson running the base as being an active spark plug for that team, leading by example. You know, let me not talk about how much I love Dansby. His head's always in the game, his IQ, he knows when to break. He he's such a great, great, quintessential, all-around baseball player. Uh, I know people, there's stuff he's he's got his flaws, swing and miss, lower average than you like for 27 and a half million dollars. But just generally going back up to the top of what I'm trying to say is that the circumstance in which you come back from 5-0, Jamison wearing six innings, giving up six earn, knowing it's a bad start, but just laboring through it anyways, and then turning it over to the bullpen that's been you know shoddy and injured, and to put them in a situation where they only need to give three three innings, and then the offense coming back and doing it in the bottom of the eighth. That's where I would say if I'm making an argument for M's and momentum, then I'm I'm pointing at the circumstance of the way we come back, and just that that is how you can spark a team, and that's the spark we need, as opposed to if it's your run of the mill 4-1 win with a two or three run homer in the fifth inning or something. Maybe I'm not making an argument for momentum, but I am because of the way they came back today, and that's what makes me really proud.
SPEAKER_00Carl, that's fantastic. And to something that you'd said earlier, and you know, when it's like, well, the Cubs they're gonna turn it around or whatever. At least we need to see it first, right? We need to see that click, we need to see the spark, and at least we saw that today. So absolutely, I feel the same way. While it is early in the season, and it's like, yeah, things will get better. I have that fear, the last Jedi fear, where like, oh, yeah, all this hype going into the season, the big contracts, then we fall flat, and then it never happens. And then the same token, I haven't seen anything yet out of the team that I needed to, and today we did.
SPEAKER_03And I think you can even go back to the Saturday game a little bit. I know we're getting a little bit off, but I mean, they did you know spark that comeback enough to the two-out rally, Danzby taking the walk, Kelly taking the walk, Bregman coming through with a big hit right in the right moment. I mean, they had that ball, they you had they had plenty of chances, ball game for the taking, then all of a sudden it's a series win. Obviously, they threw away, it didn't work, but I still think that was a little bit of a uh a spark that'll light the Cubs, that'll start the fire. I'm trying to do Last Jedi here, where Poe Dameron does the we are the spark that'll flight the fire that lights the first or whatever he said. Uh, but the little bit of that that trickled into today, I think that you can kind of say, All right, now the train's chugging a little bit. They're not gonna just lay down and die, they're gonna keep at it.
SPEAKER_00And hopefully soon we see somehow Saya is alive.
Craig Counsell Pressure And Vibes
SPEAKER_01Oh my god. Well, I listen, this is beautiful. This is beautiful. On the M on the end, speaking of Monday morning Cub Show, uh Monday morning mall, Darth the Darth Maul show is out. Check that out. That's a really good channel. The first Disney property that's been released in 7.1.2 surrounds out. So if you guys got a full system in the basement, obviously close the door, blow that fucking thing out, you know, bang, baby. Uh Molanero, what do you got?
SPEAKER_03Okay, ball or strike. At the current rate, Craig Council won't be managing the Cubs at this time next year.
SPEAKER_01At the current rate is the key thing there. Because at the current rate, the Cubs would be 10 games under 500 over the course of a full season.
SPEAKER_03Uh okay. So maybe not 10 games under 500. Let's say they go 84 and 78.
SPEAKER_01Nah, he's still the manager. That's a ball, then. He'd have to win less than 75 games to lose his job. And even then, I don't think they will because they don't have the cash. They have to pay him all that shit. I think Tom Rickards will still give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't think we're an organization that cuts. I don't think we would. I think it would have to be, he'd have to make a mocker. There'd have to be a scandal. I'm gonna go full ball, regardless of win-loss record.
SPEAKER_00I have it as a ball, and I'm gonna tell you guys why. He would have to take his shit in Rickett's office and literally just leave it there and not even wipe his ass. I think to be let go based on the fact that they're not gonna pay out that contract, the biggest of all time, you know, with three years left or whichever. So that's probably the reason. Made the playoffs last year, you know. If it's a complete meltdown, I would this point next year, still the manager. Two years, maybe that's a that might be a strike.
SPEAKER_01Two years is a strike, two years of strike, and this takes. I have mine was ball or strike, Craig Council's a jabroni, so we can just lump all this conversation in because I have that. I have I have ball to Jabroni. That was the ball, and I I intentionally took that too far. And I think that's where we should be, though, talking about Craig is how far are we willing to take it with Craig? The sound bites are awful. Him after a loss is some of the worst shit of all time. He he can't. I mean, struggling with the dip is funny. That's funny.
SPEAKER_03Oh man, what do we would? I mean, let's say what do we think real quick? Is that just a situation where he's trying to transfer, he's trying to compact it a little bit, and the little bit slides back into the throat? Pause. I get it, but like what what what do we think? Because you know, we all uh I've been there before, I'm sure, but like that's tough.
SPEAKER_00I think there's two things. One, uh happened, you know, there was a happening in his mouth where something came into the throat, the nausea hit. Two, he knows he's on camera with his knee up on the dugout, and he's trying to contain that thing as hard as possible, and his eyes are watering a bit. So, I mean, both things work against him in this and in that scenario.
SPEAKER_01It was brutal, it was absolutely brutal. It's just I hope the team was giving him shit. I hope it's a clubhouse that can bust his balls, and that's something I don't know, which I guess would kind of be an indictment, I suppose. I don't know if Craig's the guy that can bust his balls, or if like, you know, I hope he got shit for that. But let's take it a little bit more serious, though, because it is a it is a good question. If he goes down this path, how long would it take for the Cubs to dismiss him? Do we think he's a I think ultimately, if you listen to the Alex Cohn interview, well, my prevailing thought on Craig is what was represented in that sentiment, which is he's always prepared, he's the smartest guy in the dugout, one of the smartest managers in Major League Baseball. He he is so convicted, he has so much conviction in his decisions, and so that ultimately is the most important thing is the direction he's taking the ball club in decision making and shit. Now, the fire and the passion is all the subjective stuff that surrounds it, and we that's the stuff we want to see. We want to see fire and passion, and he's just kind of a boner, too. And you know, we're just a couple guys, like we're just regular guys. He doesn't he doesn't strike the cord as like, oh, that's a regular guy, he's one of us, he's just a little different.
SPEAKER_03He it yeah, and again, this is going back to what I said about our group chat, where I'm like, I'm the one for three weeks in the season sending like this fucking sucks, like this is you know, so of course I'm sitting there and I'm sitting on the boat and I'm thinking about that very question for ball or strike. I'm like, if we're is we're gonna be six and nine, we're gonna go on the road. We this is the highest paid manager in the history of major league baseball, and this is what yeah, we made the playoffs last year, still haven't won the division, like still still little brother to where the place that he left us for. What kind of cuck shit is that? And then it's like going back to the money ball mentality that we joke about sometimes, you know, it's like if he's a good manager, why does he manage good? Like, he yeah, he's making these right decisions, he's the smartest guy in the dugout, then why isn't it fucking working? Sorry for the F words, but like why are we not seeing better results? I don't know. I'm not smart enough to know that, but that's not that's not my job. My job is to be on here with you guys and you know, shoot the shit and laugh and talk about the Cubs. So that's my thing where I came up with that ball or strike because I'm just like, if we're looking at uh, you know, another uh uh uh 83 and 79 or or 82 and 80 season, where maybe they make the last wild card and like the brewers are sitting there laughing, you know, our our face in their ass for the third straight year. Like, I'm pretty pissed off. What kind of return on investment is this?
Matt Shaw At First Base Debate
SPEAKER_01There's just too many basic excuses available for him if Cade Horton's gonna be out for the season, if Justin Steele doesn't come back and pitch like one, he'll have plenty of stuff at his disposal. The bullpen wasn't, you know, wasn't healthy. We had injuries at the start of the season, and more problems would have to continue like that for the Cubs to really go, in my opinion, to be a 500 team at the end of the year. Like I they still should at the end of the day, you know, we can make an argument their division change, they can still easily win the division. Win 92 games, yeah. We're just staying within the first 15 games and what we watched, and this is why we're you know, it is to it is kind of shitty through the first five series of the year, six series of the year, to turn around and look and say, it's we lost at home to the nationals, we lost at home to the pirates, you know. So now we have to go on the road to Philadelphia, we're gonna have to go on the road to Los Angeles, we're gonna host the Mets who are more talented objectively than the Pirates. And so if it's not now, when is it gonna click? But I do think exactly you know, we're in a good spot, it could be a lot worse here. So the one the one thing I want to the one big difference I want to make before we get to Mahoney's next baller strike is that when we complain about Craig Council, the alternative that would make a lot of people happy. I brought up Joe Madden because obviously he managed the Cubs of the World Series, but I think a good stark contrast that many people are familiar with and love is Tito Francona. And Tito is gives you the best quotes, is the coolest guy, makes you feel the best guy. Yep. But the argument against Tito is that he's not nearly prepared or smart enough and doesn't make high-level modern baseball moves. He's still old school instant gut stuff, and a lot of Reds fans just like hate at his guts and just complain left and right. Uh, so like pick your poison is really what I'm trying to say with this analogy. Because would you be more satisfied if Craig was giving you Tito answers but making Tito moves? You know, so we'll see where counsel goes. I think he's prepared, I think he's always trying to make the most strategic decision, and I'm interested, you know, in the long run to learn more about how the front office impacts day-to-day decisions and how much of it is Craig and how much is it as him? Because that was ultimately the big falling out between Joe Madden and the front office, was just like the growing dependence that they wanted the dugout to have on analysis. And Joe was like, ultimately, it's my decision, you can't influence it. Well, then they're getting mad at Joe when Joe's not making the moves that they're recommending, and then that creates friction. So I wonder how much Craig's plugged into that. So just a long-winded take on this. Mahoney, what do you got? Baller strike.
SPEAKER_00Um, you know, should be interesting. Let me just extrapolate on that conversation real quick from uh, you know, Craig and his style. But baller strike, so Matt Shaw playing first base in extra innings for his first time in his career in the big league level is the right call.
SPEAKER_01It's a ball. That's that was credit's a ball. It was not the right call to have Matt Shaw play first base for the first time. That was stupid, but it was a bad throw from Tilbar. So, like, I don't know if Bush makes the play. Bush is way bigger than Shaw, so he probably has the reach to make the play. Carson Kelly's bigger, maybe he makes the play. That was weird, but I give Shaw credit. He goes out and he plays first base. They had him start today.
SPEAKER_00Yep, nope. Same. Give Shaw a lot of credit. Crazy for the fact that he was, you know, at first base at that juncture of the game. Joey, that ball or strike, what's your sentiment?
SPEAKER_03I'd say ball because the second that I saw him over there and then realized that he was playing actually first base, because I was like, uh, he he was running over there, he was swinging buttons. So he was was first baseman charging for him to come over from second to cover, but no, why would Nico be out of the game? That's my first reaction when I saw him over there covering first base. So yeah, it's a ball for sure that he was out there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I had to pepper in some actual balls because I always just throw them right down the middle a lot of the times at the same token. When I saw Matt Shaw, that glove looks just giant on his hand because it looks like a little league, yeah.
SPEAKER_01It looks like this sixth grade little league who gets the first base glove for the first time, but his you know, his dad gets in the A2000, like the big boy one. Uh great ball or strike there, Mahoney. Great, great one. I I think Matt Shaw uh will go down as one of my favorite Chicago athletes of all time, and it's not gonna be because he's the best player on the field, it's gonna be because they did shit like this to him throughout a season. They just are gonna abuse this guy's career, he's never gonna complain.
SPEAKER_00He's hopping in right field way too often, and it's not the like PCA hops where there's a lot of swagger to it. He's like hopping, like, oh shit, hop, hop, and he'll make the catch, but damn man.
SPEAKER_01Oh shit, hops. Yep, yeah, yeah. A middle infielder who's like largely considered one of the greatest Big Ten players of all time in his age, certainly was like the most successful right-handed hitter of his time in college, and as heralded as it gets from his type of background. If he was two or three inches taller, he would have been the first overall pick. He's just he's so unbelievably talented. Then you draft him as a middle infielder, make him learn third base, start him as a rookie, kick him down to AAA, and then you bring him back up, and he's just awesome. And then you turn around, you find Alex Bregman, you give Nico Horner an extension. Danz B. Swatson's not going anywhere. You know, you're like, here's a hey, what about your right? You are you have any interest in playing right field? Who played right field last year? Kyle Tucker's getting paid 60 million from the Dodgers, so now they're gonna give it to a league minimum guy who like wasn't it's just crazy. And he was good enough to play third base to get gold glove, like he was in the final three of gold glove votes last year at third base. And I think now he's playing first base in extra innings, is my point. What's he gonna be our catcher next week? What the is he pitching?
SPEAKER_03Well, I mean, that I I wanted to kind of I think I know the answer to this, but yeah, it's like, do you think at all there's ever been a time that he's voiced to I don't know, his agent, his dad, maybe even somebody with the Cubs? It's just like, Am I being fucking punked here? Like, is this in practical jokers? What the hell are you talking about, right field? Or is he just straight up, nope, yep, I'm your man, put me out there?
PCA Versus Lefties And Adjustments
SPEAKER_01That one he would never complain. He has to be, he would never, he would never. That's why I like this guy so much. He just like with a smile on his face, is like, you got it, coach. You got it, coach. That doesn't exist in basically baseball. Yeah, what you're saying in the first one of like going to your agent being like, yo, what is this about? That's like 99% of these guys are emotionally distraught. Matt Shaw is like, you got it, coach, you got it. So here, here's a good baller strike for you. Just stay on the position players for a second. Um, and this is a little bit more tactical. So, Joey, baller strike, PCA should hit nine against left-handed pitching.
SPEAKER_03Ninth against left-handed pitching, man. Um I mean, I think just like straight up based off results, you're probably looking like a corner strike right now. I mean, but but again, this is I've seen on Twitter, and it's something that creeps into my head too. I mean, if that's the case, if that's a strike, then you feel like you got bigger problems.
SPEAKER_01He's been really, really troubling to me to start the season.
SPEAKER_03I mean, if that's a if that's a strike that you're sitting here and you're saying, man, and this extension, and he's gonna world baseball classic, he was a starting center fielder at the first half last year, and it's really been kind of like you know, he he's getting mocked on Twitter a lot. I'm seeing a lot of people who love to come after P PCA. Um, and you can't really go against them mostly at this point, and that is concerning, and that is scary, and I don't like to think about that. But yeah, I mean at the current moment, it's like yeah, at the current moment, I mean, that's uh he's staring, he that is a strike that he has not lifted the bat off his shoulder, and he's standing there looking at the plate for like 12 seconds after the pitch goes by and everybody's running off the field because he just got rung up. Yeah, that's a strike.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I have it as a strike as well, Carl. And you hate to see it, especially after a big contract, a lot of hype around PCA. And correct me if I'm wrong, but he's not doing a lot of the chasing swing and miss, and he still isn't performing, which tells me that that is that larger problem Joey alluded to, which is the cause for concern that I have at the moment with Crow Armstrong.
SPEAKER_01He looks so bad, he's got a 391 OPS against left-handed pitching. I mean, obviously, guys, I'm gonna say it, it's all been said. This is what you have to say every time you talk about baseball as point in the season. Small sample size, small sample size. It's April 12th, but a 391 OPS is yeah, it's like it's still it's it's three 391 OPS is 391 OPS. And we're going into a series looking ahead where we're gonna see Christopher Sanchez, we're gonna see Jesus Lazardo, you know, like we're gonna see those guys at least twice, I think, over the next 10 games. And that's yeah, so that's just shitty. Like, like we're looking at this, being like at we're gonna see at least we're gonna have at least four of our next 10 games are against competent strikeout, heavy left-handed starters. And so the question is to be like, how long can I see PCA six, seven, knowing these are surrender at bats right now?
SPEAKER_03And you know, we do we say small sample size, and it is right to start, but then I got that bomb dropped on me in Tampa last week when they're talking about how uh PCA only has four home runs in his last 76 games when you go back to last year, and of course, that night he hits his. First bomb of the year. So then all of a sudden you're saying, all right, cool. Yeah, we're good. But here we fall back to this. And now you're saying, all right, well, we 81 games into this. We got five bombs. You pledge yourself as this power player, you know, dynamic player. And you get this, you know, the extension. It's scary stuff, man. He's young, you know, he's he's got a lot going on. That generation that's a decade younger than me. That's that's you know, even younger than you guys, obviously. Like, there's a lot of different shit going on with those guys with online and the fashion and the style and their head and their different places. I know, but man, it's like I hate to agree with my uncle on opening day. We're driving up to Wrigley, and the first thing, one of the first things he says is, man, I want to see PCA drop down a few more bunts. And I'm saying, on I'm I'm I'm I'm laughing on the way up to Chicago on opening day. You know, it's 9 a.m. And I'm saying, I'm saying, come on, man, we're really doing this still. Like the kid's a stud. The kid he's gonna get paid. He hit 32 bombs last year. We're over the bunning conversation, and now here we are three weeks into this. I'm saying, maybe if you push still third baseline against the lefty wouldn't be too bad. And I don't like it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, dude. What and one lot one thought last on that baller strike with PCA potentially batting ninth, you know, against lefties. The aspect of carrying over from last year, the league adjusting, and him not biggest concern as well. Like that could be is that is that true, Carl Addison? I think the league has a meet of water here.
SPEAKER_01No, that's that's 100%, dude. That's a whole part of Major League Baseball is the adjustment process. And you it takes like 500 uh plate appearances, you know, for the league to know who you are. It's gonna take another 500 plate appearances, you know, for them to make their adjustments, and then you get 500 more for you to adjust to how the league pitches you because the league can't readjust to once they make their move. This is this is a high-level um understanding of the adjustment phase in your career. And this is not stuff I know, this is stuff that's been taught to me by major league players. I will not name drop who taught this to me, but everyone will be like, oh no shit, you got it from him. And so the general concept is like the first couple hundred plate appearances, the league is gonna figure out who you are. And after that point, once they have an idea, the league will make that's when you're gonna start to see yourself get pitched different. And it's gonna take some time, but then you're through this. That's a second phase where you're seeing consistent adjustment from what you were through your first couple hundred plate appearances, and then generally speaking, you really have like a couple hundred plate appearances after that. So, say it's 500 to another 500, so after your thousand plate appearances, to where you have like 500 more to make these adjustments and adapt yourself to like this is how the league sees me, and this is how I can beat the league now, and then that kicks off the cat and mouse game for the rest of your career if you're good enough, where they you they have a record on you, this is the book on him, and now if you want to change yourself, which is guys do in the offseason, Dansby Swanson did it like three years ago where you just overhaul your swing completely because you're trying to figure out um an approach, which is mental and physical. When I say approach, you know, the actual tactical process of hitting the baseball, but then the mental process of what are you looking for? When do you want it? Where are you trying to drive it? What's your what did all that stuff? And there's a thousand different ways to approach an at-bat. Um, so like you can change, you can modify your approach, which is a huge part of it, but how much do you want to change your approach? You know, a guy like Alex Bregman hasn't really changed much at all. At all. He just learned how people are gonna pitch to him and then, you know, just hits it, hits it where it's pitched, really. That's ultimately. I don't think PCA'll ever be a guy who can hit it where it's pitched. I think he's gonna be forever in his career guy who can still hit the ball out of the ballpark. And he should be a 30-plus home run guy based on how hard he swings and how strong he is and athletic and all this shit. But I don't think he'll he probably should never be, you know, unless maybe he's a great athlete. But it'll it's gonna take probably another year, year and a half for him to kind of settle into the hitter that he would be for the rest of his career, for me to say. There's a lot of adjustments still going on, long-winded fucking stage.
SPEAKER_00Very insightful, very insightful.
SPEAKER_03Do you think do you think do you think the PCA he seems like he's got a pretty like solid head on his shoulders? Do you think that he's open to listening to like the vets like like Breckman? You know, if Breckman's in his ear, do you think he's no, he's not?
SPEAKER_01I'm shaking my head no to that. I'm I'm not emphatically saying no as much as I'm saying PCA is probably like, okay, cool. Yeah, but that's what makes him so great is that he's he's an alpha, he's totally a guy who who's like, yeah, I got it. I know me better than you know me.
SPEAKER_00So for the only only caveat to that that I'll say, just slightly devil's advocate, is I did read at the world baseball classic, he was just yucking it all up, but then you never know how much of that is media manipulation or not.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, I don't know. Absolutely.
Lineup Tweaks And Michael Busch Panic
SPEAKER_01There it makes a lot of sense now, Joey. I think he's I think he's like below he he sees himself as belonging in the room as much as anybody else. And I don't know how much of that is, but he works his ass off, right? I think he's getting a lot from the hitting coaches, I think he takes advantage of the resources. He's definitely a grinder, he's very passionate about the game. He's very passionate about being a great player. I should say he's more passionate about being great than he is about the game, and that's fine for me because I'll take either one. I'll take a Matt Shaw who loves the game, or I'll take a guy who wants to be the best at what he does. And I made this argument on the last Friday show that, like, it wouldn't matter if PCA was playing soccer in the EPL or if he was playing hockey, however, he got brought up into whatever he was doing. If he was doing fucking Broadway plays and he was tap dancing like Fred Astair, whatever he's doing, he'd want to be the best at what he's doing. And so ultimately that's enough for him to get the most out of his career. You know, ideally, you'd like to see both a guy who wants to be great and loves the game. But this is too nuanced, all right? I have another just a quick baller strike for you guys. Baller strike, Mises by Astero should hit two for the foreseeable future.
SPEAKER_00I like that as a strike based on what I've seen. A lot of hard hit contact, and you know, I think a lot like a lot of those are going to be driven into the gaps more than they have been for him. But what you saw today as well, um, nothing but just athletic swings, dude can hit and why wouldn't you have somebody who could just hit the baseball at your two spot and hit?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I was gonna say I like it as a strike on the corner based on at this point. Why the fuck not? I mean, it's it's it's like you know, I mean now that's at this point because they're 15 games in the season, but to everything that Mahoney just said, and he seems he seems to continue to like right, you know, he's putting continuously good swings, hard hit baseballs, went yard on Sunday. I mean, shit, might as well, you know, better than having Michael Bush won for his last 32 in there at this point, right? Okay, baller strike, all the fire alarm on Michael Bush.
SPEAKER_01What are we doing?
SPEAKER_03That was gonna Carl, that was gonna be my ball strike. I was gonna say we've seen the best of Michael Bush, baller strike.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I hope that's a ball, but like looks like ooh, ooh. Hey, you know, I hope that's a ball. I'm in the dog out calling. Please be a ball, please be a ball, please be a ball. And then the umpire is gonna call this a delayed strike. He's gonna take his time, he's gonna fuck with me.
SPEAKER_03Or or no, this this is a this is a modern one where it's a it's it's a challenge, it's an abs corner, and he calls it a strike, and you're like, please be a ball, please be 0.2 centimeters outside the zone. You get the whole thing on the big on the jumbotron at strike, strike.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's a problem, and this is why we talk so much about Michael Bush getting everyday playing time in a it doesn't matter if it's left or righty. We made a big deal about that all off season long, all into the start of the season. And you can tell I talk about the metal side of hitting, it's a different beast when it's like, hey, you know you're only gonna see righties, you only have to prepare for one type of thing. Yeah, now we're opening it up to now when you have failure. Okay, I'm gonna ask you guys this. Uh, I know I've golf with Mahoney like every other week in the summertime. So I know this with Mahoney. If he's on the first T and the first ball goes way right, when we get to the second T, he's gonna aim way left because the ball went way right. And when he gets to the third T, he's gonna, and we're gonna go out the round. And if he makes, you know, if he hits one too long, then the next time he's gonna go. I make it work for myself, I will say. You are you're in Mahoney, you're shooting, and it's great.
SPEAKER_00Serviceable golfer, serviceable golfer.
SPEAKER_01Good for you, Mahoney. Damn. But my point in this example is that Mahoney, you're gonna make adjustments, right? Right, you're gonna make it you're gonna make adjustments after something bad happens, okay? Typically. And so do you think that same athletic intuition applies to professional athletes? The adjustment process of something isn't going well, of course. Of course. If Mahoney's gonna try and adjust his fucking drive at Bliss Creek National Golf Club when he's playing with me and we're smoking a joint and have six thirsts of a carrow tequila deep and at 11 a.m., like Michael Bush is gonna make adjustments to hit lefties if he can't see the breaking ball. And he's gonna, and that's what I'm talking about. Is if he didn't have to make those adjustments last year when you're just seeing right-handed pitching, now we're just opening up Pandora's box here. And so I don't know how much of that impacts things, but if you look for historically the platoon situation, now it's like there is no platoon, it's just you. I wonder if that has an impact because he is he's terrible right now, he's so bad that he shouldn't be in the lineup.
SPEAKER_00Carl, I just to just to piggyback off that, I've been at a lot of sales meetings lately, but with Michael Bush, too, and this sample size of being an everyday player leading off the one for 32 stretch or 0 for 32 stretch, geez Louise and Maclees. Um, dude, like, aren't you so glad now the one of the baller strikes when we just had strike down the middle, we weren't glad that we extended him? And like the organization, now that I'm thinking, like they were laughing. There was no way that that was even on the table before they would ever look at that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we ruled that out. You can't extend a first baseman like that. You got to extend if the if you're extending a first baseman, it's gonna be a Vlad Jr. when he's 22 years old, and you're gonna want to get 10 years out of him, or it's Anthony Rizzo when he's 23 years old. But she's just a little bit too fur further along in his career and the age point. And it's like we're not gonna extend lock this guy up, he can play his timeout, arbitration. You want to get a big contract, you have to earn it, you know, through the traditional system. Because first base, you have to be constant. Like, if you can't get 30 homers from your first baseman in the aggregate, at least, you're terrible. And we're right, we're like staring this down the barrel. He's hitting 118 this season. You know, you first base is a place to put someone who can hit the lineup 100%. We'll never change from that. That's the most important thing is can your first baseman hit? So the if he's a guard yard yet, has he? No, no, no. And we can replace there's there's people who can hit and play first base. Like what if Tyler Austin was healthy, I'm sure he'd be hitting just fine. You know, and if he isn't, then there's another guy who can get paid a couple million bucks and hit just fine. That should be of all the positions to replace offensive value from first base, should be the easiest. So that's kind of the issue with extending Bush, and that kind of puts that really puts slumping in context. Like it's positional wise. Like if Dansby slumps, that's one thing. He's a tremendous shortstop, saves runs all the time, lead all this up. If your first baseman's slumping, you got big problems.
Depth Problems And Triple A Options
SPEAKER_00That next brings me to my next baller strike. Now, the baller strike, boys, Carl, you go, pitch to you. Cubs have a roster depth problem. Roster depth problem.
SPEAKER_01Right now that's a strike. Well, that's it, it wasn't at the start of the season, but now it is with there's just so many injuries. I mean, our bullpen is fallen apart. I don't know, Joey, what do you think? Do we have depth issues? Baller strike?
SPEAKER_00I think we lost connectivity there.
SPEAKER_03Isn't it funny how everything literally three weeks ago in your preview show that we were talking about, everything we feel so good about next time, it's just totally flipped on its head. The roster depth, the starting pitching, the right, like everything. And I know that it's because of injury, but I mean, yeah, I mean, at this point, what are you saying? You're again, you're you're you got a slumping bush, so then you have to throw who Carson Kelly or Matt Shaw over at first base, or you know, say is still in and out. You got Michael Conforto playing every day, Carl's guy. I don't know what the hell's going on, man. I don't know what the hell is going on.
SPEAKER_01There's no answers anywhere available. I can't properly articulate. You know, you lose your top two starting pitchers, then you lose two veteran free agent signings to the bullpen that you've signed, at least two, I think, off the top of my head. You know, Michael Butch obviously being terrible. I don't know what's going on. Ian Haps sitting in those two games. Alex Bregman looks fine so far. Like he doesn't, he's not a three-hitter, so there's a there's a bunch of things, but you bring it up that you're right. Like, there's a lot of things we just kind of assumed would be well, at worst, it can be a little bit below average, but there's a number of things that are just downright terrible right now.
SPEAKER_03And that's where I fall back to kind of going back over my first points and even the points about Craig is like those thoughts keep creeping into your head is is this just who we are? And I know that you can't really say that on its head because of all the injuries, but at the same time, with the production from the guys you mentioned with Bregman, Bush, Happer after the first three or four games is kind of like, I mean, I feel like he hasn't gotten a big hit for us in two weeks. Am I off on that? He sat the two games at Tampa, right? Maybe I'm overreacting here.
SPEAKER_01Maybe a little bit seems about right, though. Hap at the end of the day, we'll have his positive OPS plus because he slobs.
SPEAKER_03And I'm a big, I'm a big Ian Hap guy. Don't let don't let that fall through the gap here. I'm not somebody who's gonna bash him on Twitter or say we need a new left field or anything like that. I'm just saying in the sample size that we've seen in 15 games, it's just been weird. It's just been a question of is this just an early season slump or is this gonna be who we are? And I battle with that daily right now, hoping that it hoping it bucks.
SPEAKER_01We'll see how much Matt Shaw plays first. In now that it's I bet they take Bush out a little bit against lefties. I'd be surprised with how he's struggling if they continue to let him hit lefties. He's probably gonna have to get hot against righties. And then we'll see how Matt Shaw plays at first base in this little interim period, is what I would anticipate. But then Jonathan Long is a name who keeps coming up. Hit 320 last year, hit 310 last year, I should say, in triple A, 20 homers, back in triple A now, hitting 320. Um, you know, how old is he? He's 24 years old. This is a earlier round draft pick, ninth round, I should say, not that, not that soon from Cal State Long Beach. And just a guy's a pure hitter and has been a pure hitter. He's not toolsy, he's not flashy. What he is is a big first baseman who hits left-handed pitching. And so, like, we'll see how this Matt Shaw experiment goes at first base. I don't like an undersized first baseman, but we do have a remarkably good throwing infield, so I don't know how much that matters. I know Shaw will probably have other things he's really good at defensively, fielding bunts, he'll be awesome at. I'm sure he'll be good at picking the ball. There's a lot of things he'll be he should be good at. But as far as depth is concerned, like we got guys in AAA, they're still gonna have to get their reps in AAA. It's too early to be bringing guys up. You can't bring a guy up from AAA until like mid-May. And then if you bring him up, you got to send somebody down. So we're in a weird holding spot. We're in a weird holding spot.
SPEAKER_00It's so weird and bizarre. This is almost a very tough show to navigate, to be quite honest. So, Joey, I appreciate it so much. It's been funny, an unbelievable show. One of the best shows I've felt like we've had in a long time. But to be quite honest, we're through murky waters here. We can go in any direction and go on and on, I think. And it is it is the testament of how this season feels right now. And while it is so early, it's just I do not I don't like it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, uh again, you go back to like uh when I was texting Carl about opening day and I was going up there. Like, if you guys would have told me, hey, three weeks from now, we're gonna be seven and eight, should have would have could have gotten swept by the pirates at home, uh, and are going on the road to Philadelphia before bringing the Mets, I'd be like, geez, really? This is this team, this this version of this this 2026 Cubs, that's it. Um, but hey, you another common theme that's on the Monday morning cubs show, 162, and we're riding. So it has been murky, it has been weird, but uh, you know, we could roll off six six in a row here, and I hope we do.
Rapid Fire Takes On The Staff
SPEAKER_01It has been a good show. I do appreciate you coming on under confusing circumstances. I have a couple, let's do this. I just want to fire through rapid, rapid fire, not even pitch clock, like rapid fire, because I just have a couple baller strike. I just want to get some takes out there.
SPEAKER_03I do too, I do too, I do too.
SPEAKER_01If we can so let's just yeah, let's let's rattle through these next ones. This is like just bonus round firing off. So, like baller strike showed us fucking back.
SPEAKER_00Showed us back, baller stuff showed us back. Baller strike, that's a strike, Carl. It's almost too easy.
SPEAKER_03Uh I'm I'm gonna go ball here. I just still have a little show to trust issue. I think he's been great so far, but I've played a long game here. Um, and say a light loving it, but let's I'm gonna check back in June.
SPEAKER_01Six hit lists scoreless, six six hit lists, six scoreless, nine strikeouts. That's what I just love that. I just love to see this shirt on the polish. So hopefully he's got a chip on his shoulder. All right, how about this? Uh baller strike, Alex Bregman is an MLB 300 baller strike.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna go ball based on what we've seen. I just don't believe that he's somebody who's gonna be slugging as much as we need in that spot.
SPEAKER_03Say I'm gonna say strike. I mean, I you know, this is some old head money ball shit, but I'm just like, based on what I used to watch in in Houston and like based on what I'm paying him for, I'm like, get up there and fucking rake, man. Let's go. You're Alex fucking Bregman. Strike, give me a three-hole, dude. You're gonna you're gonna tell me you're a two-hole hitter and not a three-hole hitter. Shut the fuck up.
SPEAKER_01Get up there and love it. Oh boy. Because I do think, you know, I want to see a little, I want to see a little bit more pop. By definition, he is a three-hitter. And who cares? I mean it it is amplified because we don't have a true four-hitter, you know, because Suzuki's banged up, but we're like a little weak at other points, which I think makes the Bregman argument, you know, stand out a little bit more. Here's my last one here. Bullpen will get better before it gets worse. Baller strike, the bullpen will improve before it gets worse. And just one thing to consider here, the guys we're bringing up from Triple A have look pretty good. Like Riley Martin looks solid. It seems like we the next guy, I can't think of his name off the top of my head, but we just brought him up today for Hunter Harvey, who's out. So like it seems like we have some good guys that are coming up with swing and miss, a couple lefties I like. I don't know, baller strike, bullpen gets better before it gets worse.
SPEAKER_00Carl, I have that actually as a swinging strike just off the left corner into the dirt. First swinging strike in baller strike history, and it is because the way it has been going, I do feel it it will and and can improve. I don't think it's then the ultimate pits, but way too many masterpieces like Shota's and then you know blowing the lead and such that we absolutely can't have if we're gonna be a contending team.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm gonna we mean me and uh Mahoney are gonna go 0 for three here on agreeing. Um I'm gonna say ball.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm gonna say I'm gonna say ball, and it could be just kind of a like a uh kind of a common theme of what we're going through, whether it be with the you know, guys who are slumping uh starting rotation uh position players, but man, it's just like I feel like you got guys banked up, you got new guys who are coming up, they're gonna be young, they're gonna be fresh. You got Ben Brown still spiking pitches every game that he is in. Um, God, that drives me insane. And I know how it's well documented on the show about how you he, you know, he's got great stuff. I'm sick of it, though. I'm sick of that. What the mind, the mindset just like every outing of his, he spikes a fucking pitch. And I'm like, dude, quit throwing it 48 feet, man. Yeah. Uh drives me nuts. Uh, but I think there's just too many variables. There's too many variables right now with the bullpen. There's too many variables with the whole team, unfortunately. But with the bullpen for it to get better before it gets worse, uh, and I know that's sad to say because there's been a lot left on the table uh from the first 15 games from from that bunch, but uh don't have a very high, high hopeful outlook right now.
SPEAKER_01No, you know, Ben Brown, you bring up, I think it's important to point out last year in 106 innings, he threw five wild pitches, which you know is still like it's not it's not too much. Greg Maddox would throw five wild pitches in 250-something innings. Like he five and 106 is is one thing. This year in 12 innings, he has four. He leads Major League Baseball with four in 12 innings. He's on pace to throw more wild most wild pitches in like the history of baseball.
SPEAKER_03And I'm being picky and it because for me, it doesn't have to be a like legit wild pitch. I'm just sick of like seeing him on a one-two count throw a non-competitive spike ball 48 feet. It it just pisses me off. It's something that I've noticed and uh I've really harped on with Ben Brown. I agree with you guys, I think he's a young kid, good kid, you know, but has uh has an electric arm, but uh just tired of seeing that from old BB.
SPEAKER_00All right, dude. I couldn't I couldn't agree more there, Joey, and really be quite honest. Even if it's situational pitch that's in the dirt, the situation is that I don't want to see him on my TV screen. I have been way too often this early in the year.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. Exactly what I'm saying. Strike, strike on you, you money. Uh, I got uh a couple here for you guys, if that's okay. Go right ahead.
SPEAKER_01I just want to point out with wild pitch records, as far as we're concerned, because I just bring this up the record in the modern era for wild pitches in a season is owned by Juan Guzman, who in 221 innings threw 26 wild pitches. If Ben Brown threw 224 innings, he would register 75 wild pitches. He would break the record three times over. We are through it. He's gonna break this record by fucking Mother's Day.
SPEAKER_00Oh man. It's gonna be May 28th. Oh, yeah. Brown's block wasn't around then. So he's actually under the gun at all times. He's got 30 seconds to throw another.
Boog Talk And Marquee Commercial Rant
SPEAKER_01All right, Joey, what do we got here? Let's get let's get some good on good ones rolling, baby.
SPEAKER_03I got I got three, uh very quick, or or however long you want to go, it's your guys' show. Right. Uh baller strike, Boog in the booth in 26. What have we thought so far? I just want to get Carl fired up on this. Boog in the booth in 26.
SPEAKER_01Here's the I am like kind of hesitant to shit out of Boog because after interviewing Alex, it really came across just how like influential Boog is, and I like Alex a lot. And so it's like the whole time. You get the behind the scenes thing where it's like, okay, I didn't know he was like such a strong mentor and a positive influence on people, and people liked him so much. But like I don't interact with like him like that. I don't work for him, I don't work with him. I I consume the stuff he puts out there, I also consume the stuff Alex puts out there. So, you know, Boog, I think he's been a little bit better this year, though. I'll say that. I think he and JD seem like they're at least on a little bit better footing than they have been in the past. So I'm gonna give Boog the benefit of the doubt right now and say it'll be his best season as our Cubs play-by-play guy.
SPEAKER_00That's fair, that's fair, Carl. I'm gonna go wild pitch ball. And because of so is I just I don't know his contract situation. He's got a lot of different moving parts on the national scene, and that said, don't know where he's gonna be. But I will say, while we're in the announcer realm, uh the Cubs are undefeated with a Monday morning Cubs show person calling the game. A Monday morning Cub show guest calling the game in the booth, the Cubs are undefeated. Just putting that out there. And on the note, and I had to fit it in. I just I just caught the note out of the corner of my eye. Joey, do you like him?
SPEAKER_03I'm very not as the Cubs broadcaster, no.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think he's a good broadcaster. I like him on Sunday night baseball. He's a good national guy. I like him on MLB playoffs a lot.
SPEAKER_03Yes, I came up uh in my ear early in my radio career. That's all I was doing is like pushing buttons, running the board for fucking Mets Dodgers, NLCS or whatever, you know, like back in like 2015, whatever it was, not 2015, because that was Mets Cubs. Just want to before anybody in the maniacs come out, you're a Cubs fan. No, no, you're just a reference, or just a reference point. Yeah, just bullshit Sunday night baseball, let's just say Sunday night baseball Dodgers Mets in 2015, and Boog would be on the radio call. I was like, this guy's awesome. He had a little bit of humor, fun, great, meets the moment, good deal. But yeah, then when he gets to be your team's guy, you just you have a different idea in your head of what you want that to be. And so for me as a Cubs fan, watching the Cubs network, not not done meet the moment for me. Not my not my guy in that in that moment. I think that's fair. Okay. Uh speaking of marquee and to theme, baller strike, the Eric Burns, Rick Flair commercial that plays every uh any half any break is the worst commercial of all time.
SPEAKER_01What is going on who who owes this guy? What's the situation here, Mahoney? Whatever, that's a strike that sucks. I'm sick of seeing Car Shield. I don't what is going on, Mahoney?
SPEAKER_00I don't understand the technology either that they're not trying to use in those commercials or not trying to use in those commercials. Like, give me an angle on that.
SPEAKER_03I can't tell, like, one, how do they afford Rick Flair and Eric Burns? Not that Eric Burns is like a high demand guy, but like Car Shield getting both of them for that cameo. What is the point of what's happening? I have no idea. I I can't tell if it's like a parody or if it's real, but it plays everything.
SPEAKER_00That's great because that's like one of those simulation things, and at least I know that we're in the same simulation together.
SPEAKER_01I'll point it out. I know no one wants to talk about it, but Car Shield paid$10 million settlement to the Federal Trade Commission in July of 2024 for misleading marketing practices. A lot of people don't like Car Shield. And I don't like the fact that Marquee Network is in business with Car Shield, they're cash heavy, they're flush. This could be money money laundering situation where just money's changing hands here. It's a we didn't even realize Car Shield is hey, is a lot of people carries a very low favorable rating on Better Business Bureau. Has me just questions about what is Marquis willing to get into business with? This is bad. Don't be pushing, especially when you got Vukovic buying out the fifth inning. Remember Jeff Vukovic nationwide?
Why The 2016 Cubs Felt Alive
SPEAKER_03I feel like he's got a little bit to say about Vuk's been around forever. It's just it's just fascinating. I can't believe it. It's such heavy rotation. I'm like, if I see it once a ball game, all right, fine. It's every inning. I got Eric Burns and Rick Flair screaming in my fucking face. It's insane. All right, last one for me. Uh, baller strike. Based on listening to the uh Ross and Rizzo podcast, the 2026 Cubs should party more.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's a strike. I did this about what I think me and CB talked about it being awkward, or who did I talk to being?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you mentioned it being awkward. I don't know if it was with me or if I was listening and it was in my head.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I remember talking about being awkward. Oh no, me and Blake did that. Blake collis well, yeah. Yeah, um, we were talking about whether or not it's awkward, and I'm gonna take it back because the last episode they did with Lester and the stories they're telling about going to Pebble Beach and the Kenny Chesney concert really gives you insight. And it's like turned out to be a really cool show into the inside storytelling of what is the most memorable season in like since the 85 Bears in Chicago. Like uh, you know, obviously the Jordan era is the era, so I don't know. I don't know. That's a big statement, but obviously it's a very compelling, you know, storyline. It's cool to see these guys dig in and tell the story, so it's turned out to be a much better product than I initially anticipated. One, two, the big takeaway is that that team was so special and cool. That team was just so unbelievably special. And the fact that they won a championship, we're so lucky, dude. And who cares? I mean, obviously, this team is nothing like that team was as far as camaraderie and the boys and the talent, you know, and anything can happen. But man, was that team sp that's the one thing that jumps out just listening to those shows and seeing the clips and why it's just like damn, that's awesome. Those guys were just ledges.
SPEAKER_03Oh my god, in the highest sense of the word, Mahoney, please. I won't I want to hear your thoughts on on my ball or strike here.
SPEAKER_00So I do think it was kind of early on to first episode. We were like, this is kind of awkward. It did find its legs as it got going a little bit further, but the same token you see that it was these alpha dogs all in the same locker room, willing to let loose a little bit and then bring each other out of their comfort zones into their own atmospheres and inviting, I should say, and that's what made them so special uh uh off the field, and that's why I think that it was such a magical season because of so. So that's been cool to listen to, and I'm looking forward to more. I don't know if they they if they're there's like 10 or something that they have planned, but either way, no, you know, in the first it was a little strange for me, but you know, it found its footing.
SPEAKER_03But but these but these guys, this this era, this generation of cubs, these guys, the Horners, the Happers, the Dansbeys. Um, they need to be doing it more. Is that am I wrong? Is that bad? I feel like they don't. I feel like there's no I feel like these guys literally show up to the ballpark, hey, hey, good to see you, pal. Yep, let's have a good day today. Do that, shake hands after the game, and then they're bye-bye birdie off to wherever. I could be I could be totally wrong. You're not, you're not, but I feel like I knew that in 2015, 2016 when I was in college. I feel like I knew, damn, these guys look like they're having a fun ass time, like not just at the ballpark. And it turns out we were all right, they're having more fun than any of us could even comprehend or imagine while being the best team in baseball. And so I'm just like, ah, you know, Swanny, why don't we, you know, let's go have some wine on a Wednesday night when you get an off day on Thursday.
SPEAKER_01Like, let's, you know, never gonna happen. It's a it's a weird culture and group, but you point, I mean, what you're pointing out is dead-on balls accurate, and I don't think it would change, which is the argument to me of like, I wanted a guy like Bias Daros to have a bigger presence on the clubhouse, a guy like Amaya to have a bigger presence. I don't know, PCA could be a guy who could bring people together, but I don't think he's that type of guy. You need to have Justin Steele get back in that clubhouse as soon as possible because he brings people together left and right, he's the exact type of personality because we're devoid of that. Alex Bregman's Braggman's not that guy, Swannee's not that guy, Bush ain't that guy. You just have a lot of softer personalities. Why does that matter? Because the season's a grind that's long and it's boring and it sucks, and you're gonna be in Cincinnati in July and it's gonna be hot as balls, and you want to go home to your wife and kids. It's there's just a lot of situations where you're dragging feet on the road, and so to the point that you can like play for each other, you know, you play for each other, is where you get the best baseball. And can we still do that if they're not guys that don't socialize and don't really love each other the way the 2016 team? I think so. I think it's kind of unfair to be like, well, the 16th team was this, but there is stuff that holds true that you want from the 16th team, there's stuff you you still want it, it does help you, but it is unfair though to judge because that team was just so unbelievably special. We've never seen anything like it on the Cubs. We'll never we'll probably never see anything like it again. I mean, having Lester while Jake Arietta is like the most dominant righty in the game, where Chris Bryan is the unanimous MVP in his second full season, where Rizzo's the leader, despite not really being the leader, and you'll learn more about how mad they get at him, how much he fucked up, and how David Ross is like magically there. Does he shouldn't really be there? His career should have ended a long time before he's even there. Dexter Fowler coming back. There's so many things about like every single guy that's on that team has like an awesome story of why they're on that team.
SPEAKER_03Truly, like it just movie shit. Like it's like Hollywood movie stuff. And I don't know, I've just been listening to those shows, and I I'm I'm like you guys. Like, I enjoy like you know, on Friday night, I was with eight of my high school best friends. We get together like once every five months to get dinner, like have drinks. And it's just like I think it's just an important part of you know being an adult male, you know what I mean? And so I'm just like, I wonder what's the deal with that, those guys, and I feel like maybe there could be something there if they I don't know, maybe popped out somewhere and was like, Yeah, I'm feeling rough today for this 120, but like that was fucking fun. I don't know, it's not there.
Rizzo And Ross Podcast Movie Idea
SPEAKER_01Last one I have baller strike start with Moni. Baller strike this, and I'm glad we got to talk about the Rizzo podcast because this was on the docket. So thank you for bringing this up. Last one I have this. This is what I just thought of. If you saw me, I had a strong reaction while Joey was talking. Baller Strike, the Rizzo Ross podcast is the start to the movie. This is how they get the stories out there. Someone's gonna turn around and be like, hey, I want to executive produce the movie. This is what this podcast is going to be the thing that turns it into a movie, Baller Strike.
SPEAKER_00That's a strike, Carl, and the rights then are going to go straight to Anthony Rizzo and David Ross, a portion of which will go to the Anthony Rizzo Foundation, I'm sure. There will be the link with Lester and Rizzo. The story starts, begins, fade in to a hospital where a young Anthony Rizzo is just receiving his final cancer treatment after being drafted by the Boston Red Sox and meets John Lester, another survivor. Flash forward 26. It's like chills, boys.
SPEAKER_03There's a lot of different ways they can go with it. I mean, okay, ball strike. It's gonna be a movie or it's gonna be an eight-part series on Netf on FX by Ryan Murphy.
Closing Thanks And Week Ahead
SPEAKER_01It's gonna be an eight-part series because you can't make it a movie. That's genius. We we should be the executive producers on this. I have already I sat through and watched those games. Yeah, let's ride it out. Hey, this is actually a good reminder, Joey, because I want to introduce this segment. Maybe I should have talked to Mahoney about this before I do. So as we close out the show, thanks everybody for tuning in. Get yourself obviously Thirsty Vicarol. Go check it out, put it in the fridge, you know. And again, remember Stirk Family Farms is 20% off. Promo code MMCSsturkfamilyfarms.com. That's the family business my wife and I run. Um, okay, so just closing out some thoughts on this. I can't, I can't um I would just say I I've enjoyed this because I know you're a maniac. I want to do like a monthly maniac interview. I want to have like a maniac, like I like the idea. I like this has been very enjoyable because it's nice to do a show with someone who's part of the community and gets the inside jokes and stuff. So I just wanted to make that very clear. I just very much enjoy having you around the show and the program.
SPEAKER_03No, it's the best, really. It's like uh I joke with my family. That's uh we they're they're not as big a Cubs fans as I I mean they are, but like I'm like you guys. I watch every single game, I make it a part of my daily schedule. I have you guys in part of the schedule, right? Like it's a big part of my life or write and die with these guys, so it is nice to have somebody who speaks the same language with you two leading the charge. So I appreciate you.
SPEAKER_01This is the Monday morning cub show.
SPEAKER_00You guys can't subscribe because it sounded like a cat was scratching or something on the sound. I'm gonna try to. I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I hope that there's not like a mouse on my like I don't think I got any of my cats behind me. I don't yeah, I think I did my best to take it out, but you know what? It's late Sunday night, it's been a great show. Good bounce back win from the Cubs today. We have some momentum that we talked about. This is a huge week. You know, I know a lot of people have been sensitive to display urgency in their fandom, but like the time is now. I don't think you guys understand. It's gonna get it's gonna get harder before it gets easier. So um, you know, again, thanks to Joy Molinero for coming on. Anything you want to promote, direct people to?
SPEAKER_03Uh I'd just say uh these guys, uh, me and Benny Politzi doing it. Follow us at these guys lol on Instagram. Uh our our we do a weekly show. Just uh every Tuesday we drop a new episode. And uh not too dissimilar to this. We talk about a whole bunch of stuff that's not about the Cubs, uh, but it's just me and him bullshitting around. So uh we're growing that thing and go check it out.
SPEAKER_00Love these guys.
SPEAKER_01Thanks again, man. You guys are hilarious, and just thanks again for spending time with us. Maniac, subscribe to the show, share it with a friend, win an argument this week. We'll be back on Friday with a good show. Uh, until next time, go Cubs.