Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What recent performance changes have the Cubs made?
The Cubs scored their most runs of nine in their win over the Rockies yesterday since May 27th against the Pirates. Despite it being in Coors Field, are you buying into that this could be the awakening of the Cubs' bats?
I don't know that I am buying into a possible awakening yet. Although I do understand that there have been some swing adjustments made by Alex Bregman. I know Harold Reynolds talked about them. And what I like to see was a pitch that when he hit on the home run, it was inside and low. So that would give you an indication that maybe there is a difference in what he's doing at the plate.
If there's anybody who I think can make that adjustment, it's him. He's one bat. I need them all to do better. And you face a Giants team now in San Francisco where that Marine layer will come to play, where the ball you think may be going out of the yard will get dragged down quickly. So... I would love to say yes, I feel confident about this.
But I don't know what about the eye test in the past month, if anybody's been watching, leads you to believe that they can produce offensively two games in a row against two different opponents, regardless of how bad the opponent is. It's really about them and what they're doing right now, especially facing breaking balls.
Chapter 2: Could the Cubs be experiencing an offensive awakening?
Listen, I'm looking at this Cubs team right now, and I have all kinds of questions about This could be the awakening of the Cubs bats, but I feel like we've said that before and it hasn't happened. We keep saying it. Well, yeah. So my answer is yes, it can definitely be something that happens. My concern is this. Craig Council's got to make sure that his lineups are optimized.
And I'm not sure he's done that. Matt Shaw hasn't gotten a start since he's come off the I.L. I still question some of the placement of the players not named Pete Carl Armstrong and Michael Bush in the lineup.
And at this point, Nico Horner.
Okay, that's fair. That's fair. Although Nico's really struggled since he got hit in the head. I mean, I'm not saying it's a causation thing, but...
Chapter 3: How does the Giants' recent performance compare to the Cubs?
No, that's the point. That's the point. You can even question where Nico goes in a lineup right now.
And so, I think, yes, it can definitely be the awakening that the Cubs offense needs. The fact that Robbie Ray's not pitching in this series, I think there's an opportunity here for the Cubs to feel good about themselves with... A series win. Series win just means a 500 road trip, which is what teams should aim for when they go on the road in Major League Baseball.
Especially when they're not a good team, when they're just a mediocre team. And Mark, this is a mediocre Cubs team right now. It is. Yeah, they are exactly mediocre. And we are... So desperate right now for an awakening. So I totally and completely understand the question, but I just can't. I just can't look at this and say, yeah, this is a launching pad for the Cubs.
Chapter 4: What are the expectations for the Cubs-Giants series?
Hereforth, they are going to be fine. There just hasn't been enough evidence of that recently. However, I do not take for granted what happened yesterday. And in the question, the caveat is put, despite it being in Coors Field. Well, the last two games in Coors Field, the Cubs were not scoring runs. The Cubs scored two runs on Wednesday. They scored three runs on Tuesday. So I do think that...
Scoring the nine runs yesterday was a big accomplishment. It was really cool to see Seiya Suzuki hit that grand slam. And maybe we shouldn't be talking about the team getting hot. Maybe just somebody getting scalding hot. I know PC. has been there, but maybe we're adding Seiya Suzuki because we know what it looks like when really any of these guys gets hot, but we know exactly what it looks.
Seiya Suzuki looks like an all-star when he gets hot.
Chapter 5: What challenges does the Cubs lineup face against the Giants?
We saw evidence of it last year, so maybe just Seiya Suzuki getting hot is what I would settle for. at this point. I have some good news for you, Mark. Nine games in the month of June so far. Seiya Suzuki's already hit three home runs. He's hitting .267. His on-base is .333, and he's slugging .567. And maybe that's it. A .900 OPS.
I'm more worried about individuals getting hot right now because right now they're so cold it hasn't felt like there's a way out. So give me Seiya.
His runner's in scoring position after the Grand Slam is now .145.
Right. Still not good enough, but maybe he's on the path. Number two.
Chapter 6: How does the Cubs pitching staff impact their chances in the series?
We got a two-parter for here on number two for five on it. How confident are you that the Cubs can win this series against the Giants? And how confident are you that they can sweep them?
I am not confident that the Cubs can sweep the Giants. I'm worried right now about them taking two out of three against teams like the A's, which they didn't do. The Astros, which they didn't do. The Rockies, which they didn't do. The Giants the last time, which they didn't do. So I would like for them to win the series against the Giants. That would go a long way with me.
But I am not confident that they could sweep or take the series, especially with the Giants being at home. The Giants. Like... What do you say? I know Kylan Mills is coming out next to talk about the Giants in the next segment, but it's not just about what they're doing.
Chapter 7: What are the concerns about the Giants' bullpen?
It's about what the Cubs are trying to accomplish, and they're not hitting consistently enough to let me believe that that's going to be the case.
I think the key word that you said there is do. You said it several times, and I think to go with the other version of do, not D-O, but D-U-E. The Cubs are due. I'm very confident they're going to win the series against the Giants. Mainly because they're due. And here's what I mean when I say that. They've gone 10 straight series without a series win. That's insane.
It's been five weeks plus since they've had a series win. That is ridiculous. And against a Giants team that's not very good, that's been very up and down, I think they have a golden opportunity to really hit better. And the guys that we just talked about, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crowe, Armstrong, Michael Bush, Ian Happ have to be at the top of that.
Alex Bregman, you can't, I'm not ready to depend on him. He just hit a home run finally with a man on base.
Chapter 8: What is the latest news on the Bears' stadium situation?
69 games into the season. That's crazy. And so I think they're due to win the series. I'm confident they're going to win the series. I'm less confident they'll sweep. But I think it's a real thing that's on the table is that they could sweep. Oh, Sweepy Marshall. No, I don't see. I like that. I like what you did there. You like that better than Sleepy Marshall? Sure. That was only in Las Vegas.
No, I don't think they're going to sweep. I do think they can win the series. Despite the last time they played the Giants and the 18-3. You like bringing that up. Because it was a rock bottom moment.
We talked about it yesterday. It was a bad game.
And it was after the elation of the victory the night before, the last time we thought the Cubs were going to launch, and that would be the thing that would spark them. And then the very next game, they lose 18-3. That's not even my point, though. My point was going to be the other two games were very closely contested. They were both one-run games.
The Ben Brown PCA game on the Saturday of the series, and then, of course, on the Sunday nighter. Actually, that was a San Francisco win. But it was a one-run game, but that was a Javier Saad to the rescue and looking really good. So I do think that these two teams play very competitively. I think the Cubs can and maybe will take two out of three, but take the sweep off the table for me.
Number three. Not a possibility. Sorry.
It's impossible. This is five on it on Rahimi Harris.
Why would you think there would be evidence to suggest that I should pick the Giants to sweep? I think they're going to start scoring runs now. The Marine layer, though. You don't have to hit the ball in the park to score runs.
And then there's the chaotic mess of right field. Like, if you're a right field defender, like, that's not fun, man.
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