Carlos Pena talks head-scratching ups and downs of Cubs' offense
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What were the highlights of the Cubs' recent game?
Cubs lead ninth inning. The pitch. Line drive. Diving backhand catch by Dansby Swanson. Sensational play. And the Cubs win the ball game. What a way to end the ball game. Well, we were asking about the catch of the game. We just got it right there. Great play by Dansby laying out to get that ball. And as we talked about it, right as we were going on the air, you and I, the Cubs needed a win.
That they did. That is Pat and Ron on the call. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3. The score looks a little bit better after the Cubs were able to survive St. Louis and get that win. Just one, though, out of a three-game set. So we go to our hotline, and that is where we find friend of the show, Carlos Pena, multi-year Major League veteran. He's also an analyst for not just Marquee Sports, but MLB Network, Gold Glover, Silver Slugger. Carlos, thanks for joining us today.
Thanks for having me, guys. Truly a pleasure.
Well, I kept saying Placata, but we did not see enough of your home run call during this past series. What did you observe out of the Cubs hitting plan?
You know, the cards just came out with really good pitching. They were able to execute. And we can talk all about the fact that after that incredible road trip that the Cubs had, right, they come home and they sweep the San Diego Padres. And, you know, if you had to write it perfectly, you would say you carried that momentum into the next series. And then you may say, look, they had a day off, so maybe momentum was broken. How about just giving credit to a good ball club that came in and actually executed? You know, they got good pitching from their guys, and that's all. You just have to shuck it up that way, put it aside, and then come back and try to get some wins. The Cubs were able to finish with a W, which was absolutely huge against the Cubs.
Carlos, I got to ask you because you saw the offensive explosion firsthand and to see it just go dead like that. Look, I know there are ebbs and flows with any season, whether you're talking about wins and losses, whether you're talking about maybe the volatility of a bullpen situation. But does this remind you of anything that you've seen in the past from a team that had actually gone on to go to the playoffs and have success to have this many swings over the course of just over half a season?
I mean, we've seen that before in baseball, right? I mean, we talk about getting hot, getting cold, and usually that is just written off as, hey, that's the way the game of baseball goes. That is unacceptable. I got to say that. That is absolutely unacceptable. And a team that has gone pretty much all year sort of – precisely like that i mean i i was making a comment that this season has gone almost like a like a broadway play where you have different types of acts and the first act everything was just going perfectly well for the cubs they were on a record-breaking pace and then here they hear lull where things did not go according to plan for a while that's act number two then you see act number three they come back and there's this revival they play very well on the road they go to new york which i don't care who
Who are you playing against? Going up against a mess and taking four over there in New York is absolutely huge for the confidence. And then coming back six and one on the road trip.
What observations did Carlos Pena make about the Cubs' hitting plan?
And then they sweep the Padres. This is act number three. Everything is OK. And now starting off, which was very interesting to see after that. incredible display of offense right that last game on Wednesday and then day off on Thursday Friday and now they just flip the cards right the cards were flipped and the the cards score all those runs and then the Cubs can't get their bats going it makes you scratch your head and you're like what is going on why why do we go on these epsom flows why do we get because epsom flows is one thing What the Cubs have done is a totally different thing, which is they've gone extremely hot and then gotten extremely cold. That is not sustainable. And everyone in the Cubs clubhouse knows that, you know, you want consistency.
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Chapters
4 chaptersSpeakers
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