Cubs closer Daniel Palencia talks 2026 expectations, WBC experience
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What exciting moments did Daniel Palencia experience during the World Baseball Classic?
Rahimi Harrison-Grody, middays 10 to 2 on 104.3 The Score. 1 and 2 the count, 2 outs. 3-2 Venezuela, U.S. batting last of the ninth. Valencia set, the 1-2 pitch, swing and a miss!
Venezuela wins the WBC! Wait for it. There it is, courtesy of Sirius XM. That was Daniel Polencia throwing the gasolina to close out the World Baseball Classic. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody as we get you ready for Cubs baseball. We are coming to you live here from Sluggers on the north side. Very happy to do so. Zach Zademan will be here for the official pregame show coming up in our next segment. This is all brought to you by our friends with Circus Sports, sports betting the way it should be with no bet fees. Now let's go to Wrigley Field and our Bruce Levine, who is joined by the man who threw that pitch you just heard, Daniel Palencia.
How did the WBC experience impact Daniel Palencia's growth as a player?
Okay, I'm down on the field here with Daniel Palencia before the game. Daniel, we got to talk about the WBC and that experience. How far do you think that took you as a player and as a person?
uh super far you know like i i take all the to all those memories to to to get better you know like i just thought we concert about that like we can use that like those bad moments like just trying to come back and i just and just say say it to myself and like i can do this So yeah, it was great. It was awesome. Great experience on another level. Like for me, just I can, I had no words to describe that. Just really proud.
What did the experience of hearing counsel at the beginning of spring training tell you you're the closer? What did that mean to you?
It means a lot, you know, like this is my dream. I want to be there. I want to help the team. I want to win a World Series.
What does being named the closer mean for Daniel Palencia's career?
So for me, having that confidence of the manager, it's just awesome for me. It's great to hear that from them and I'm here to support the team.
What did you work on most this spring? You know, you talked about the breaking ball, but, you know, we know you have one of the best fastballs in baseball, but where's the breaking ball at, and how is that being used by you now?
I think the most important thing I worried was just getting healthy, you know, getting ready. And, yeah, right now I'm trying to use more of my speeder in the corners and just trying to put the fastball wherever I want and just executing my plan attack.
What is opening day and how the fans react at Wrigley Field? What does that mean to you?
I mean, it's awesome. It's a dream come true. First opening day, just here with the Cubs, with the East 30 team. For me, it's just a dream come true. I feel like a kid right now. Just enjoying every moment and just taking memories.
Daniel, have a great year.
What specific skills did Palencia focus on improving during spring training?
Thank you so much, okay? Daniel Palencia down in the field. Now back to you at Sluggers.
Thank you, Bruce. Good to hear from Daniel Palencia, who I know will be ready for this game if he has to come in in a possible safe situation. I know, Mark, you're on the record with saying you would like to see a close game because you want to know how this bullpen shakes out.
Yeah, and let's hope that Daniel Palencia has everything together, that what he did, which was great in the World Baseball Classic, hasn't affected him in any way, shape, or form because now it is about the team, which pays him. And it is, as I've said a number of times, it is so nice to know, even if we don't know... in the bullpen at this moment that for the first time in a few years we know exactly who the closer is going to be and i can't wait to see that let i loved hearing him talk about fastball command essentially working the corners of the plate which is going to be really nice to see so i'm very excited to see what daniel palencia is going to do this year nice job by bruce levine for me the world baseball classic is about two things when it comes to palencia it's about his confidence number one
He should be as confident as he's been in his entire professional baseball career based on how that run went for him personally and what he was able to accomplish with his team.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What exciting moments did Daniel Palencia experience during the World Baseball Classic?
0:02–1:06
2
How did the WBC experience impact Daniel Palencia's growth as a player?
1:06–2:03
3
What does being named the closer mean for Daniel Palencia's career?
2:03–3:07
4
What specific skills did Palencia focus on improving during spring training?
3:07–5:16
5
How does Daniel Palencia feel about the atmosphere on opening day at Wrigley Field?
5:16–6:17
6
What are the expectations for the Cubs this season according to Daniel Palencia?
6:17–7:31
7
How does the Cubs coaching staff plan to manage player workloads this season?
7:31–8:42
8
What challenges do the Cubs face with several players heading into free agency?
8:42–10:42
Speakers
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