Chapter 1: What are the initial thoughts on the Cubs' recent performance?
The views and opinions of Layla Rahimi, Marshall Harris, and Mark Grody should not be taken too seriously. Especially when they give advice. Do not take Marshall's analogies literally. Especially when it comes to Russell Dorsey. The sports thoughts of Rahimi, Harris, and Grody may change at any time. It's just sports. Okay, thanks, bye. Rahimi Harrison-Grody, 10-2 on 104.3 The Score.
Mike Forio, our weekly guest.
Mike, we don't keep secrets on this show. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody. You need to reveal everything you know. What do you know about the Bears? You know something, sir. Give us answers now.
The Bears will play 17 games this year.
Nine at home, eight on the road. I'd rather not talk about this. No, I don't mean to. Are you teasing me?
No, no, no, no, no. He's not teasing you. It's just that... If it's personal, I don't want to pry, but I just think it's cool.
A lot of people are speculating about Seahawks and Bears to open the season.
It's down to four possibilities because there were nine home opponents for the Seahawks. Five of them are already spoken for based upon games that we know have been announced. That leaves four teams. Chargers, Cardinals, Patriots, and Bears. So, 25% chance. as to whether or not it will be the Chicago ban. Well, now we're getting somewhere.
And 100% chance as to whether I know the truth and just won't. You tricked me. See? Here we are again. Here we are again. 100% chance as to whether you know the truth or 100% chance that you do know the truth and you just can't tell us. I do know the truth and I can't tell you. We're going to get you. We're going to break you. We are going to break you by the end of this segment.
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Chapter 2: What is the significance of the upcoming Crosstown series?
But that's just it, though. Like, what are you going to do right now? The Freddy Peralta stuff popped up and that was pushed down quickly because it's too early.
It's not for the Mets, though. They said June 1st, right? That seemed to be common. Like, if it's June 1st and you already know if you get swept by the Braves today, are you a little more motivated?
I mean, I don't know if I'm going to look at the Braves, the best team in baseball, and use them as the measuring stick to panic and say, oh, the Cubs need to make trades. They need to augment because they've gone through – suddenly gone through a cold streak. This is a team that has twice won 10 games in a row this year.
So I'm not ready to start talking about, wow, you really – yes, you make adjustments defensively. day-to-day, and the pitching thing is real, and Matthew Boyd hopefully will be back eventually this year, but I can't go into that mode yet. I can't go into something's got to change now because of what the Cubs have done so far.
No, no, I look at this clearly as just a data point in understanding where you are with the rest of Major League Baseball. Losing a series to the Braves is not a bad thing. You know how I know that? Because every team the Braves have faced this season has lost to them with the exception of two.
One split a four-game series, and then they just lost to the Mariners less than 10 days ago in a series. Other than that, they've beaten everything. That's how you get to a 30-13 record. They dominated the Dodgers in the last two games of that season.
I'm not saying you panic. I'm saying you use the information to your advantage. I'm saying you use this as an honest test to understand yourself.
No, that's what I said. It's a data point. And what I think, Mark, your point is, and I'm not speaking for you, I'm just saying, I think what I'm hearing here is that the reason it's not time to panic is because your hitters just didn't hit this series. They're going through a struggle. I can't make big conclusions out of, if they are, and I hope not, swept by the Atlanta Braves.
I'm not going to be like, okay, what are the Cubs going to do? I'd like to see Craig Council make some adjustments possibly, and that is on the manager to do that, whether it's sitting a guy for a day, changing the lineup around for the sake of changing the lineup around. But in terms of like, oh boy, there's information that has come out of this mini slump here. I'm not ready to do that yet.
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Chapter 3: How is the White Sox's performance being evaluated?
But when you look at what's happened over the last week with the Cubs, here are some just stats that I want to point out. Over the last week, not a single player on this roster, position-wise, has an OPS over 800. An on-base plus slugging over 800. That is problematic. Not a single player over the last week has...
Has more than three RBI, and I think you remember the Michael Bush game where he had three RBI. That tells you where this team is. It's not a one-player shuffle the chairs on the proverbial Titanic situation. They've got to find something within themselves to get going, and I would be shocked if I don't see an all right-handed plus Ian Happ lineup today with Chris Hill on the mound.
Well, and here's what I don't want to have happen if I'm evaluating after yesterday. You know what I don't want? Shota Imanaga, who has gone out there every day and done his job and then some, to feel bad about giving up two earned runs, one a home run on a slider. Here's what he had to say through his translator, Edwin Stansbury, after the game.
I've been reflecting on my outing today. If I didn't give up any runs, then the Cubs would have had a chance to win. So I think when I'm looking back at it, I should have kept them to zero.
No, no. Perfect should not be. I mean, I get that that's her goal, but you can't live like that. Like, I don't want him mentally doing anything other than what he's been doing in his starts. That is what I don't want. He's one of the things that is working. Two runs should be enough allowed to have this team in particular still win you a ball game.
He knows that. Shota Minaga is allowing a 183 batting average against. That's eighth best in all of baseball, but it's below 200, so I don't really even care where he is against other guys. His .90 whip amongst the best in baseball, if not number one, depending on how you look at qualified pitchers. He is doing his job, and then some.
No, Shota. No shame for you yesterday. I don't want to hear that out of you or Edwin ever again, as long as this is happening.
I don't think he really feels shame. I think that was a little bit disingenuous. Isn't that what something pitchers say? Oh, I could have been better. I could have been better out there.
But there are ways to say it, you know? You think Shota doesn't remember how many home runs he gave up at the end of last year?
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Chapter 4: What insights are shared about the Cubs' hitting struggles?
They're a wagon. We examine their win over the Kansas City Royals next.
Rahimi Harrison-Grody.
I don't want to break time. I want to yell at Marshall. Can we handle more Anthony Heron?
Middays 10 to 2 on 104.3 The Score.
Swinging. Sir Anthony Dominguez shuts the door in the ninth. And the White Sox have now won four in a row. And they take this series from the Royals. And oh yeah, with the win tonight, the White Sox get to 500 for the first time this season.
That is John Triffin, CHSN, on the call. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score. And in the words of the Cash Money crew, you could say that the White Sox yesterday were V12 or better and no, it's strictly leather. They have the chance to sweep the Kansas City Royals. They are now 500 on the season, 21-21, beating them 6-5 and surviving a late surge, too, because I
I don't know about you guys, but that Bobby Witt Jr. home run of the ninth gave me a little stress. Just a little.
Sir, sir. No stress over here. Here's why no stress. It's Bobby Witt Jr. He's going to do that.
In the ninth inning, you didn't think that there was a chance they were going to come back.
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Chapter 5: What insights are shared about Ben Brown's pitching strategy?
And that's another thing. You know that they're going to be getting into the bullpen relatively early, unless there's a plan that I don't know about to stretch Ben Brown out a little bit more. As I said in the last segment, he has not thrown more than 50 pitches in a game this year, has Ben Brown. We all understand that he had been... a reliever and highly successful at doing that.
So all of that to say, I'm at about a five here. I do think that the Cubs are going to hit Chris Sale today just because we don't expect it and weird things happen and the Cubs are due. So they may get to Chris Sale.
But I'm also fearing that the Braves may put some runs up on the board, too, because it's not like they have the best offense in the league and they haven't exactly exploded in these first two games.
Chapter 6: How do the Cubs plan to handle Chris Sale's performance?
Five runs in the first one, four runs last night.
So, yeah.
Five.
Yeah. Middle end for confidence index. But it's really not as much about Ben Brown tonight as it is about just trying to beat Chris Sale.
That's true.
Number two. Before we get into question number two, big programming note for tomorrow.
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Chapter 7: What are the expectations for the White Sox in their upcoming series?
What? White Sox manager Will Venable will join the show tomorrow morning at 11 ahead of the Crosstown Series against the Cubs. Here's question number two. Should we get the brooms out for a White Sox series sweep against the AL Central rival Royals?
I don't see why not. I'm sorry. Why am I sorry? I'm not sorry.
Why are you being apologetic about White Sox success?
Chapter 8: How do the teams compare in terms of playoff potential?
I think it's more about being respectful to Chris Bubich, which I think is going to be a trade candidate at the deadline because I'm just going to poach Royals pitchers. It's a thing. He has an expiring contract at the end of the year. So I kind of just want to... It's also recon because I'm like, hey, Cubs, could you use this guy? Is he going to be a part of our trade deadline stalking segment?
But also, I feel like the White Sox smell blood in the water. So if that's the case and you're feeling sexy at the plate or you've got Mike Vassell and his magic wand trying to help you guys, do whatever you possibly can. Why the heck not? Everybody's hitting well right now. They're hitting well as a lineup. Go ahead. Go ahead and expect to sweep. Now be concentrated and you're at bats.
And Anthony Kaye is going to have to do his best with that just under five ERA. But, no, I think, yes, the brooms might be out. Or at least, I don't know, something like a broom, a squeegee. You know, something along those lines. A carpet rake back in the day.
I think squeegees have to be for, like, two out of three. Squeegee? Get your squeegee out for two out of three.
I don't know, because a squeegee covers more ground.
Doesn't that connote rain, though, too? Yeah. Wet and whatnot. I think the squeegee is too dependent on other outside factors.
I mean, you can use it for your windows and stuff. Just clean them.
Squeegee. I want to point out two things here. You mentioned Chris Bubich. His best start of the season came against the White Sox earlier in a 2-0 win back on April the 10th.
That's a different team you see in a day.
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