BIGGEST STORYLINE: Will the Chicago Cubs win the NL Central?

BIGGEST STORYLINE: Will the Chicago Cubs win the NL Central?

Storylines for the second half. What were the best games of the first half of the year? And we have results from the athletic survey. You are Locked on Cubs. Your daily Chicago Cubs podcast. Part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. You are locked on Cubs, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team alongside Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is presented by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Uh, this show one favorite non-bears Chicago sports podcast in the athletic. Uh, we will follow up on that in full later in the show. That’ll be the last thing we do. What were the best first best games of the first half for the Cubs? We’ll do that as well. And we start with second half storylines, Sam. As for me, uh there there is, you know, a bunch of them, and I have five in front of me here. But what I’m learning over the last couple of years is they’ve flirted with contention, flirted with seller, buyer. There’s one goal, and that’s to win the NL Central. I don’t see how there isn’t another top story line entering the last 66 games. Do you? No, I think I think that’s number one. I think and I think that’s been number one since uh you know the Cubs opening day in Japan. You know, it’s winning this division and you know, I don’t know. You know, the the way the postseason works now, it’s so tricky because what if you were to tell me right now the Cubs don’t win the division, but they make a wild card run all the way to the World Series, I would also take that. But it just feels like with with everything that they’ve put into this um financial resources with with uh you know compared to the other teams in the division, not not compared to the rest of the league, but they they’re spending about you know almost $90 million more than the Brewers. And you know that’s that’s a lot of money with the the the play that you’ve gotten from PCA and the and the big you know risk risk trade with Kyle Tucker. It feels like it would be a big disappointment if they didn’t. And so I think that that’s number one. I agree. It has to be number one. Yeah. This team hasn’t won a division excluding the short and 20 campaign. Hasn’t won a division since 2017. Hasn’t won a playoff game since 2017. Uh and and so much has happened since then in order for them to have a so-called successful season. And and yes, have we allowed ourselves to dream? Sure. Do I do I peek at the Dodgers and the Phillies and the Mets uh and and and whoever else might come in between the Cubs and the possibility of of really big heights this year. Absolutely. But the Brewers are also right now one of the best teams in baseball. And so we’re enjoying this season for sure, acknowledging, wow, the Cubs have been a great team, but but but the goal is is clear uh now even that it was a couple of weeks ago. And yes, some is some of that is because of what’s happened in the rearview mirror, but it’s all part of the puzzle. And uh I I I don’t I’m not sure if 90 wins would win this division. I think it may take more, but you still have to come out on top. Um I I you know, a wildcard birth. I’m not even going there. Yeah. Go ahead. Win the division. I agree. I agree. What’s next? Trade deadline strategy. I disagree. There is only 12 games until the trade deadline, folks. We’re going to preview more than 12 games for our last episode on this All-Star week before the Cubs resume play against the Red Sox. Are the Cubs going to go allin? Are they going to get a starter that could start game two of the NLDS or is he just going to be more of a depth guy? Uh, are they going to get a third baseman? Are they going to get a reliever? Is that reliever gonna knock everybody else down on the depth chart? What say you? Well, do you want me to talk trade or do you want me to tell you what my what my number two would be? Sure. Tell me your number two because I think this is a major storyline because if they if they get Adrien Howser, that’s a problem. I think it’s the number three story line. I think I think number one is winning the division and I think number two is Kyle Tucker. Well, he’s my third. Okay. Okay. So, we’re pretty close as it is. All right. So, then let’s go. I’ll let’s talk trades that will hit Tucker next. Um yeah, the trade deadline is is very tricky. Uh because I think the easy thing to do and the smart thing to do is to go, hey, they got to get X, Y, and Z in order to get to the playoffs or in order to win the division and all those things. But they really put themselves in a in a good spot in the sense that they’re buyers, but also a spot where they need the trade deadline. This team, let’s just say it, as currently constructed, they will not win the Central. They need to make an addition. Wow. Oh, for sure. They have to make another pitching edition. Yeah. No, that’s true. That’s true. Yeah. But they’re in this position where there’s not a ton of sellers. Hopefully, there’ll be more as the season as we get closer to the trade deadline. And so, and it’s a it’s a sellers market. They’re going to be competing. And, you know, the the term that I’ve heard a lot is they’re going to have to overpay. they’re probably going to have to pay 150 cents on the dollar in order to get said starter that you’re talking about. And so, yes, I think it’s the biggest story, the one of the biggest stories, but I also am just a little frustrated because I feel like this could have been a lot less of a story before the season cuz before the season, they they knew they needed a pitcher. They were they were at the two yard line, you use your term, with with Jesus Lazardo. It didn’t work. And then they lost arguably their best pitcher to season ending surgery. So now they really need two from from from what they what their actions have told you. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s kind of going to be one guy and then another depth piece. But yes. Yes. All that is Yes. It’s a huge story. Just I think it’s number I think it’s number three for me. As we marinate this week without games. Have you allowed yourself to dream about a McKenzie Gore? No. Do you think they could re rehab Sandy Alcantra? Is Mitch Keller good enough? What do you think? Mackenzie Gora, I I I just can’t see the Nationals making that deal with a new GM and whatever. I really don’t think the Cubs want to go with a huge risk like Alcantra has been. They need a surefire thing. Um I think I think like like here’s here’s a great question. Is Keller and Sroka enough? Both of them? I don’t think it is. Probably. But I I you know because Keller’s pretty good. I I know Bubich got knocked around a little bit in the All-Star game. You know, outside of Cabrera, he’s my number one target. I think he I think you give him the ball game, too. You feel pretty good. And Cabrera had a little bit of a scare last, right? But he’s okay. I think so. I think I mean, he left early, but I haven’t heard any any bad stuff. And Suarez got hit yesterday on the finger at the end of the game. I believe Suarez, right? By the same socks pitcher that uh hurt him the first time, Shane Smith. The first time. So, yeah. No, it’s going to be a lot. I I I really, to answer your question, haven’t done that because it could get overwhelming. I have two players as the next two storylines followed by uh Craig Council. Okay. and we get to that right after this. We are going over second half storylines for the Cubs. 66 games remaining, 12 until the trade deadline three with the Red Sox to lead off that set beginning at 1:20 p.m. on Friday. My third story line is a player, his name is Kyle Tucker. Yeah. Uh weird commentary on the Fox broadcast uh last night, by the way. Some of that was when Tucker was batting. They called him under the radar. Is he still under the radar? I think his person I think his personality makes him makes him feel to people like he’s under the radar because he’s he’s so even keel. He is the key. I It’s It’s not cliche to say. He is a major key to their success the rest of the way. no matter what happens. Uh he is the main piece to to all of this. Yeah. And I I have him too, not just because of the on the field, but I mean the off the- field stuff. I mean, okay. This is Oh, good good uh good observation. We are here. It is now postallar game and the Cubs have not extended Kyle Tucker yet. And if I if I remember correctly, All-Star game was right about your deadline. Yes, it was. And my deadline was about June, mid June. So, I just think, you know, he had a quote today saying like, “Why not?” when asked, you know, “Sure, why not?” or something. Did you see that about Yeah, briefly. I just again, I just think that this season is as fun as it’s been, it always feels like that question is looming over everything. And if Kyle Tucker gets red-hot to start the second half, which I wouldn’t be surprised if he did, those talks are going to continue uh in our business and in the media. If he continues to slump, those talks are going to continue in our media and our business. Having a player of his caliber in a walk year when you traded what looks like to be a a present stud, a future really good, maybe even a great player like like Cam Smith. It’s it’s a big story, Matt. Whether we want to talk about it or we don’t, it isn’t. And I’ll loop in uh I I’ll skip over Carter Hawkins. I’ll skip over Jed Hoyer and I’ll loop in Tom Rickettts as well into that course because you know if we get like if h how long are we going to get to where he’s not coming he’s going to free agency at some point here if if they don’t extend him. They haven’t extended him and if he goes to free agency I cannot see a path where the Cubs outbid other teams for him. I just can’t. Well, as of right now, I’d be surprised if he didn’t reach free agency, right? However, as we’ve said before, if they don’t resign him, there will be marches in the streets. Gallagher Way will be full. There will be people with signs. I don’t know if it would be to that level, but but there’s going to be a a wheel of emotions if that day comes. And I’m already very very fatigued over, oh well, you don’t want to pay him 50 m when he’s 37. Okay. Well, then you’re not going to get him. Yeah. Right. Then the Phillies, the Yankees, or the Red Sox will sign him. And it’s it’s really they will. Two those are the three main competitors, by the It’s two separate conversations that that’s what I that’s what I would would encourage people to look at it. One conversation is is he good enough to give the deal to long term. But the other part is remember the Cubs didn’t even approach Juan Sodto. It’s not about his ability. We we need to see the Cubs go for it, make a deal like this to just for I think our sanity. So even if deep down you go, “Well, I’m a little bit nervous about Tucker when he’s in his mid-30s.” Fine. But if not him, then who? They need who? Absolutely. They need to act like one of the best franchises on the globe and lock up not only a top tier talent, but one that was already in your house under your roof for a whole year. And so he’s the third story line. The fourth for me is Matthew Boyd and maybe in parentheses Managa question mark. Okay. The starting rotation has mostly held serve despite um Justin Steel being out basically the entire season despite uh another top pitcher and show being out eight weeks. And the main reason why is Matthew Boyd. I hope he stays healthy. Uh if he does, I think the Cubs will be in in fairly good shape provided they add another guy or two. Um, but as of right now, Boyd would take the ball in game one. I would I would loop in. For me, I would loop in at number four. Instead of going Matthew Boyd, I’d go something. Can the overachievers continue to overachieve? So, at Boyd being one of them, I’d have Boyd in there, Bush in there, maybe Pete, like just because because that’s been such Kelly, that’s been such a huge part of it. And I think the theme in in the second half for this team to win the division is they’re gonna need Boy to continue being great. They’re gonna need Kelly to continue being really good. They’re going to need Pete to continue being uh uh this elite level player because even if one of them uh uh regresses quickly, it could be a huge problem depending on what they do in the deadline. But I would say Boyd’s probably the leader in that clubhouse of, you know, what do the Cubs do if Matthew Boyd hits a rough patch or gets hurt or something. So, you know, I’m on your wavelength there. If the Cubs finish 500 the west rest of the way, they will win 90 games. I do feel like towards the top of the list of them winning more is the manager. Yeah. And he was in a big time observation listening phase last year. He has certainly exerted his influence in the winter now in the summer on on the roster. And uh if they’re going to do it and do it big, I do think he’s going to play a role. Yeah, I got some really good um statistics. Maybe for tomorrow we’ll do that baseball math, right? Yeah. About the 500 for 90 wins and all that stuff. It’s very interesting. Yeah, I think Council has to be here and I I I know that this probably is one that’ll get a couple of eye rolls, but I think he has to be there as well because we’re in a division race with the team he came from. Wow. And I think that matters a little bit, doesn’t it? It does. No, it does. Just like, hey, and I know he doesn’t care at all. I know. And his bench coach is their manager. Yeah. And it’s like backtoback years now you’re going to have the team that you left win the division over you and the guy that you hired to be your bench coach. I just think, you know, I know it’s a little meatbally. I I get it, but I also think it’s a story. I mean, I I’ll tell you, I bet you it’s a story for Brewers fans. I bet you it’s a motiv motivation uh motivation motivation uh uh you know, Brewers. I don’t know where I’m going with that. It’s been a crazy day. Uh but um I think that’s part of it. I really do. I I I think that’s part of it. And yeah, I mean he’s done a good job this year, but I think he needs to win this division just as much as anybody does. I don’t know how much I attribute the bullpen resurgence to Craig Council. Yeah. Or the rotation holding serve. But offensively, Sam, just in the last 10 days, actually probably less. Swanson’s out of the five hole. Haps out of the leadoff spot. Shaw is going back to Triple A. That’s counsel. No. And I when I graded him yesterday, I gave him a B+. Um and and the B+ I gave him is exactly what you just said. Um he’s been he he showed urgency. How about the job with Palencia? I mean, he went right back. He went right back to Palencia the day after Palencia blew that save in Miami. That’s good managing because now that guy is is your best reliever, and I didn’t see that coming. So, I think Craig’s done a lot of good this year. Um and and I think it needs to continue. I look forward to baseball math, excuse me, on Friday’s episode, uh because I think it’s okay to get greedy. And so when you break down some of these these facts and figures, I think we’ll get a good sense of, okay, how many games can they win, different stretches of the season, past, present, or future, and uh all all that sort of thing. All right, coming up next, I have the uh the the the best games of the first half. Uh what do you remember about these? And we give the full results and write up uh from the athletics Chicago sports media survey. Stay tuned. All right. This morning, I put together a list of the top five games from the first half. And I have them in front of me in calendar order. Oh boy. Okay. Okay. So, I didn’t rank them. Uh just doing it from uh the uh AP April to now. Okay. Very cool. Uh first one is April 18th. Do you remember? If I gave you a date, would you be able to spit something back or not? Really? I could try. Okay. Is this the Arizona game? It is. Cubs 1311 over the Diamondbacks in a crazy wind windfilled game. What was Yeah, that was just a footballish game. Unbelievable game. Unbelievable. Kyle Tucker big time in that game. Big time. Carson Kelly, if I remember right, Seiya heard it all in the car. Yeah, heard I heard most of it in the car as well. That was I mean Friday and huge win. Didn’t they? Did it? I mean, I think they gave up like an eight or nine run seventh to blow the lead. Yes, they did. And then they came back and won on a on a windhauling out day at Wrigley. That one That one’s in That one’s in the top two. And Marquee is showing a few games this week. I believe that’s one of them. That makes sense. As they should. Only a few days later, Sam, the Dodger game. The Cubs won 11 to 10 in 10 over the Los Angeles Dodgers. That was my number that was my number one game. Oh, it was. Yeah, I think so. I I think so. I mean, I’m I’m curious to hear what you have. I think that’s my number one. Um so, no, I know, but you know, there might be another one that pops up where I say, “Oh, you’re right. That one’s better.” Oh, okay. Uh Ian Hap walkoff, right? Yeah. Amaya, nobody on, two out, down a run. That was also the Gage Workman DFA game. you know, he made another huge error and it was like and I I was solo that night and I literally had a whole show planned of like, hey, why are we letting Gage and think about how important that game is. If if if you lose that, you’re tied right now. Like these games, they do matter. And uh I was like, I can’t believe we’re letting Gage Workman ruin this great start to the season, whatever. And as I’m getting ready to get ready to go, Amaya solo homer ties it. Porter Hodgej, his best moment of the season. He he he threw that extra inning in the tenth and then Ian Hap walked them off. All right, this was the two games in the same series in late May against the Reds. I picked the Sunday game. Okay, 11 to8 over the Reds. I believe they were down 83. They won 118. So yeah, it was a Sunday. I remember eight that would be eight unanswered runs, but two days prior they were down 62 PCA game and won 136. Yeah, that was the PCA PCA Grand Slam. So, uh, two I guess I gave you two games there, but I went with that that series finale. What about you? Yeah. Uh, both both are great. Both are great. Friday I remember is the PCA game. Sunday I remember I think it was Ben Brown on the mound. Had a really hard time and Yes, he did. And then they rallied back and it was that was these are so far you’re spot on. I think this was the first game f second show I think second show but first game back for me uh after Bennett was born. Oh Cubs June 17th Cubs 53 over the Brewers. Oh PCA off the scoreboard PCA catch. Yep. Yep. One of the best games of the year. And that was that was the high water mark. I believe that took him to six and a half up on the division. Yeah, you’re right. I think when they won that they were six and a half up. PCA hit a home run. Like you said, he made a great catch and say had a huge home run in that game as well if I remember correctly. Okay. All right. Then the last one is uh the last game they they played 4-1 Sunday over the Yankees. It was 1-1 for a while. You you wanted to get momentum in the break and I thought they clutched up and got it. Yeah, I think so. I’m trying to think if I have any off. Are there any other games that come to mind that stick out 90 plus? You know, um Turner’s walk-off against the Marlins was a fun one. Uh the the the July 4th explosion from the bats, I think, is in Oh, yeah. is in the conversation. Uh maybe that Friday night game explosion, Apple TV in Milwaukee. In Milwaukee was just going to say that. You know, there’s been a lot of them. They have they have a lot of wins and and they haven’t won a ton of conventional games. when they win, it’s usually pretty loud. So, yeah, I think those five are pretty good. I think those five are pretty good. Where does the game you went to on the 3rd of July rank? Top 10? No. Top 12? No, it was that game. I I could have read I could have read a newspaper and you know, the tribute, right? Yeah. I mean, it was a nice walk-off one- nothing win against Cleveland. I’m not going to go against it, but to say it’s it would not be in my top 10, I you know, Anthony and I were talking about like fantasy football through most of that game. Oh yikes. That was not overly exciting. Oh, something I do not want to take part in. Hot hot bleachers, too. So, last week we uh discussed the athletic put out a Chicago sports media survey mainly focused on radio and podcasting and there was a a non favorite non-bears Chicago sports podcast. There were several that were listed. We were not. So, I composed uh one tweet and looking back on it, it was very teacher-like, including a screenshot. It was very, almost giving people directions on what to do, how to write us in. We talked about at the top of Friday’s show last week, and almost 1,000 of you voted as we uh won that that category by a lot. Uh John Greenberg, the author of this, put out a story uh on Wednesday morning. And uh very cool. Very cool. And then and then to top it off, uh I just want to I wish I could screen share. I think I actually can. I’ve just never test drove it here. Um then to top it off, the last category was the best X follow Chicago sports media. And I I actually gonna read I’d like to read at least this first part. Okay. Um John Greenberg says he doubted the passion of the locked on Cub super fans. Sam Olberg, the co-host of the podcast, might only have 6,932 followers, but he easily won this category with 9.2% of the vote. So, the show won and Sam is the best follow in all of Chicago sports media. Pretty cool. What did the last line say? And then the last line said is is a reference to a big cat over at Bar Stool who was second, who’s fantastic. John Greenberg says, I’m guessing also might go to FS1. Sam, I don’t know. I just saw that right right before we went on. Yeah. Uh, I’m guessing Cats make slightly more money podcasting than Ober. So, this is a win for the little guy. Who? Uh, the little guy, meaning uh, you know, the the the David verse Goliath or the little engine that could and, uh, the underdog, if you will. Very grateful to our listeners. Um, very great, first of all, very grateful to you. very grateful to you for for being on on this because if it wasn’t for you, I would have had no idea this was happening. Okay. Um so, thank you. No, seriously. Yeah. No, I I I don’t you know, you’re you’re on top. I appreciate you saying that. No, I’m serious. Uh thanks. You know, that’s People don’t understand one of the real secret sauces of our success is Matt uh you know, he knows what’s going on. You know, after this, I’m gonna have a sandwich and watch some soccer. So, Um, I’m not like, you know, I’m not really on it like that. But, um, yeah, man. I mean, just for our listeners to do that, I think was extraordinary. I think it says I think it’s all about them a little bit about about you getting it out and and all about them um showing up and showing out for us and showing their loyalty and stuff. Oh, incredible. And making this this little guy feel appreciated. So, uh, yes, I uh I I’m grate I’m grateful for the group that we have. And uh absolutely absolutely and uh you know we did take initiative to get our name out there like like Greenberg notes in the story but uh I I have no regrets. No regrets. Well, what possibly could you regret? We we we got him an extra how many thousands people voted for his for his stuff? And I’m sure most of our listeners voted for everything. Yeah, they probably did. That’s a that’s that’s a great point. So yeah, very thankful. I’m gonna enjoy this and hope you do as well, Sam. And really want the Cubs to win Friday to start the second half. Well, yeah, we’ll talk about that in full. We will on uh the next episode. Lucas Gilo and the 10 in a row Red Sox. If I told you Colin, if I told you Colin Ray was getting the ball the first game out of the break, what would you say the Cubs record is? Like 500. Yeah, I’d say less. So that’s pretty cool. Locked on Cubs, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Who’s going to start the third game? Horton, I don’t know. TBD right now. Uh, your team every day for your second listen. Check out the allnew Lockdown MLB game night. Every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lockdown MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. All right, we’ll be back Friday. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked On Cubs.

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