Kyle Tucker HOMERS And Then Gets Injured In Chicago Cubs Victory!

Kyle Tucker HOMERS And Then Gets Injured In Chicago Cubs Victory!

Something happened in the Cubs win on Tuesday for the first time all season. We talk about it next. 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 Network. Your team every day. I’m Sam Obert. from a lifelong fan taking my passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Do we have a little division race down the stretch of the final 23? We talk about that later. We talk about uh an unsung position group that has just been a huge huge boost to the Cubs this year. U some PCA platoon stuff. But we begin on Tuesday night at the friendly confines with the Cubs winning their second consecutive game taking the series against the Atlanta Braves by a score of 4-3. Um, the big story in this game, the big headline in this game, both good and bad, the bad, uh, uh, not being his fault, is Kyle Tucker. For the first time this season, I’m going to say this again because I don’t think people, some people will realize this, for the first time this season, Kyle Tucker hit a home run to the opposite field, a left center field wriggly home run. One of the things I was so excited about uh uh when he got here was that swing. I was waiting for it because, you know, we had that swing with the Crawford boxes in Houston. We just haven’t seen that swing. We haven’t seen that left center field pop. And it wasn’t a a basket scraper either. It was a legitimate opposite field home run as a three-run shot, part of a four-run inning, the only inning the Cubs scored in. And it was the biggest hit of the baseball game. Unfortunately, later on in the game, Kyle Tucker what was removed with what the Cubs are calling calf tightness. Um, I’m not sure where it happened. I’m not going to speculate anything right now. I’m waiting right now like all of you um for a report. Uh, hopefully I’ll get one uh a as this uh you know, as this uh uh show goes. I’ll be checking Twitter to see. Uh but obviously anytime uh you have a player of his caliber go on the uh or have to leave a game, you know, it sparks things because, you know, especially with Tucker, I’m not going to speculate anything on the injury, but even if it all comes back great, we now know he was playing with that finger thing for such a long time or or or the hand thing. I don’t remember if it was his hand or his finger. Uh but it’s it’s you know, even if he’s out there now, we’re going to overanalyze the performance and be a little bit nervous about that. and he’s just starting to get going because that is the swing that that I’ve been waiting for. I know he had a great road trip. I know he broke out in Anaheim, but as somebody that’s watched a lot of baseball, when you have a talented hitter like that from the left side, be able to go opposite field uh uh and go to left center field the way that he did, that’s the swing. And and I bet you that’s the swing that Kyle Tucker has been waiting for for a really long time. I know the home run to right feels great, don’t get me wrong, but when you’re able to showcase that opposite field pop, that’s when you know as a hitter, you’re feeling good. You know, any any good major league hitter, they’re going to hit their pullside home runs, but when you start to get into one five, six, seven rows up to the opposite field, now it’s, you know, now you’re now you’re feeling it a little bit. Now you’re in a groove. And so I just I sincerely hope that this is just a a precautionary nothing. maybe a game tomorrow and then they have an off day on Thursday and he comes back against uh the Nationals on Friday because that when he hit that and I’m I’m not just saying this to be dramatic. I’m not just saying this because later in the game he got hurt. When he hit that swing I was like he’s back. That was the swing that I I know he like I said I know he’s been redot but that was in my opinion that was the I’m back swing. Uh uh that opposite field uh just beautiful beautiful uh swing of the bat. So, um I hope that he obviously uh is okay and um you know can come back as soon as possible because this team needs him. Otherwise, it wasn’t a whole lot offensively in this game. Hap had an RBI hit. He continues his hot uh you know stretch here. Nico had a couple hits at the top of the lineup. Uh Seiya continues to really just hit into unbelievable luck. I I don’t know if you guys have noticed this with Seiya. It’s more this year than last year, but it started last year. They just the left fielder just basically gives him the line. Basically, it’s a right fielder, a center fielder, and then a left center fielder. Um, there’s nobody in straightaway left because he just hits the ball to the left center field gap so much. And he hit a ball today. I forgot how hard it was off the bat, but it was crushed. And it’s like, oh, that’s a gapper. And then it’s like, no, you forgot that the left center field uh uh player there plays there uh for Seiya. So, um, you know, he he’s starting to show signs, I think, of coming out of it. Uh but it’s, you know, the overall numbers are are really taking a hit. Um you know, uh Kevin Elcontra got a chance to play. We’re going to talk about that in a little bit. Uh he he had a hit and scored a run. Um Pete came on later uh uh in the in the platoon situation uh to finish the game uh defensively. As far as Sha goes, um yeah, six innings, three earned RA at 315. I mean, he’s having a magnificent season. Uh his record now with the Cubs, I believe, is 24-9 after the latest win. I think with Shota, you know, he gave up two more home runs today. Uh luckily, they’re both solo. I just think my only concern with Shota is it’s obviously it’s the home run ball, right? And you know, there is a little randomness to it when it’s solo and when it’s not. And if he’s going to pitch game one of a playoff series, you know, a you hope the wind’s blowing in. Um, and B, you know, if it isn’t great conditions, you just he just can’t walk people and stuff because the only thing that’s just terrifying with him is it’s just I mean, he’s an amazing pitcher. The guy’s amazing and he’s been amazing as a Cub and it feels almost wrong to to to say a what if or an if. It’s just the home run ball is just it’s so prevalent for him. It’s it’s so right there and you just in one playoff game, you just you get a little bit worried about it. But but what makes him so special? But what makes him so unique uh is that his whip is 0.93, meaning his his walks and hits perings pitch is so low because he doesn’t give up a ton of hits and he doesn’t walk people and that’s why he’s successful. You know what I mean? Because he when he does give up those home runs, they are mostly, you know, of the solo varieties. So, um you know, he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. But just just something to keep in mind. Two more homers today. I didn’t think he was particularly sharp. Um he gave up a good amount of hard contact. Uh but he got the job done and and 90% plus of his starts. That’s what he does. He gets the job done. Um the Cubs were winning this game. It was four nothing. It felt real comfortable. Um and then he gave up a triple to Olsen. Uh then a uh a wild pitch and then a homer to to Alb’s who I got to just say separately one of the biggest Cub killers I have ever gone up against or ever seen go up against the Cubs. I I mean seriously I I’ve always known he’s a really good player but now the the definition of a guy that just absolutely destroys your team is even when he’s not having a good year, even when he’s not good, he’s still amazing verse your team. And I was really interested to to watch the Cubs face Alb’s because he’s really having a poor season by his standards. And he just looks unbelievable. I mean, he looks unbelievable. Two more hits, another home run, and then Eli White hit a home run. But the reason the Cubs were able to win this game. Um, and I I I think as big of a reason as any that they’re going to be a playoff team is their bullpen got the job done. We talk about those guys and more coming up next. This episode is brought to you by Upside. Hey, locked on Cubs fans, are you still paying full price for gas? Stop leaving money behind. 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All right, we are back here on Locked On Cubs and Matt and I were doing our MVPs of the of the season or the candidates. And Matt mentioned a position group, the catcher group um being in there and um you know, we had individual bullpen pieces. This bullpen to me has been the unsung hero uh this season. Um, you know, there’s there’s plenty of individual guys, whether it’s Keller, Theelbar, Palencia, uh, Pomerance, now Kitridge, whatever, who who, whoever you want you want to put in there, but this bullpen as a whole, h how many times have you listened to me in the off season, in the beginning of the season, they got to figure out their bullpen, they got to figure out their bullpen, they got to figure out their bullpen, and it got off to a disastrous start this year. I mean, Porter Hodgej was supposed to be the closer. Ryan Presley. Actually, Ryan Presley was supposed to be the closer. Porter Hodge was supposed to be the setup man. And again, they did get it wrong out of spring. Again, uh both those guys are are are non-factors in the bullpen now, but they fixed it quicker. Um Daniel Palencia has come in. He’s been a little bit shaky lately. Had a another couple guys get on base, but he got the job done. But overall, you can’t say anything more about Palencia. Uh um he’s been great. Brad Keller’s been the best reliever on the team. And if it isn’t Brad Keller, then it’s been Caleb Thebar. The only reason I lean Keller over Theelbar, if I had to, is that Theelbar is more of a specialist where Keller faces both. But they’ve both been absolutely magnificent. I mean, look at the ERAS, guys, of the three dudes that pitched today. Pomerance, remember when they just randomly got him? That was his 11th hold. He now has a 2.04 ERA. Theelbar 1.99 ERA. Palencia 2.16 erra. We know Keller’s erra is really low. Kitridge has become a a reliable guy. Um even before they had to get rid of Flexon, Flexon did a lot of really good things for them. This is what I mean when I say this season is so important because you just don’t get performances like that, man. Like this is crazy. I How many games have we watched? Matt and I covered the second half of the 22 season. We covered the 23 season. We covered the 24 season. Now we’re covering 25. How many times in in in second half of 22 23 and 24. Do you say, “Oh no, four nothing lead becomes 4-3. Now they just got to hold on.” Because that was one of those games. Tonight was one of those games where you were setting yourself up to say, “Well, the offense kind of uh uh, you know, failed at the at the end there. They didn’t do anything but one inning.” But the bullpen, you don’t talk about that because the bullpen did the job. The bullpen is the ultimate band-aid. It’s like having a an unbelievable quarterback and football around a really mediocre team that makes everybody look good. Like those guys, you know, that wasn’t a great offensive performance today. They scored one inning, but they scored four runs and the bullpen made it hold up. And, you know, outside of a couple runners in the ninth, there wasn’t a ton of drama. And uh that’s how it’s been. And that’s been I think when you look at PCA, you look at Tucker, you look at Boyd, you look at Cade, you look at all these guys that have produced at a really, really high level, I just think at the top of the list, not individually, but but groupwise, this bullpen, and of course, I’m saying this and I’m setting myself up for tomorrow, but you know, they’ve been really, really good. And at some point, they’re probably not going to be as good. and hopefully the starters and and and and more so the offense will be able to bail them out a couple of times because this this bullpen has really done a nice job for this team particularly Palencia Theelbar Keller Pomerance and like I said now that you had Kitridge but I just thought that’s what really stuck out to me. That was my takeaway from this game is just that’s just a game the Cubs usually lose, right? 40-0 lead uh becomes 4-3 now. You know, oh, you got even I tweeted out, you got to score more runs. This isn’t going to be a game that ends 4-3. You’re going to have to get to five. You’re going to have to get to six. No, sometimes it can be that. And and that’s why I was so frustrated for so many years where I know 3-2 games you could always blame on the offense, but sometimes you got to win those. You don’t want to rely on them all the time, but sometimes you got to win them. And you got to win them sometimes in October, too. And uh you just feel good uh with this group of relievers right now. And I I I I I give them and you got to give Jed in that regard his credit. He fixed that bullpen and he fixed it um in enough time uh for the Cubs to have a 90 plus uh win season. I wanted to mention a little bit of uh Elcontra up, Owen Casey down. Uh Matt projected that basically as Matt said that that actually happened in live time when we recorded last night. I don’t have a whole lot of opinion on it. Um, I I guess my my take would be that they want Casey playing every day and they don’t, you know, they they think Alcantra fits better as a platoon type guy for now. Um whereas, you know, Casey just isn’t getting better and he’s not getting a chance to play. Now, we’ll see what happens with this with this Tucker injury as I am refreshing Twitter um quickly. Uh because you know, you know, here it is. Here it is. Um, uh, Taylor McGregor, this is from McGregor. Cubs Craig Council says Kyle Tucker will not play tomorrow. They’ll use tomorrow on the off day Thursday to heal. We’ll see how it responds by Friday, but he said they’ll be cautious. Okay. Yeah, that’s not great. Um, I was obviously just hoping they said, “Yeah, it’s nothing. Hopefully, he’s in there tomorrow. If not Friday, for sure.” Um, but um, we’ll see. I mean, I I knew he wasn’t going to play tomorrow, but uh, we’ll see on that. I guess back to my point, um, you know, if Tucker does have to miss any time or go to the IIL, then you’ll probably see Owen Casey back up again. Um, I I I think it’s a really smart move by Craig to platoon PCA a little bit against lefties down the stretch here because I think Pete just needs a little bit of a breather as we head into the home stretch here. I just think he needs a little bit of a breather. There’s 23 games left. If he if he starts like 17, eight of them and and 18 of them and gets like five off, I I I don’t think that’s the worst case. I really do believe, this is just my personal opinion, not making any excuses for anybody. Um, I just think Pete’s tired. I think it’s just a lot. He’s go, go, go. Energy, energy, energy, and he’s just he’s missing fast balls that he’s that he crushed all year. Now all of a sudden he’s hitting like 111 on fast balls since August 1st. I just think he’s a tick late, a tick off. And I think he could just use a little bit of a mental refresher. And why not give that to him against lefties where he hits, you know, in the in the high 100s against those guys. I think it makes sense. Uh I thought that’s why Willie Castro was on the team. I’m struggling to find his his value right now. But if that’s what what Kevin Alcantra is there to do and he can get a couple hits off of him here and there, that’s fine. If the Cubs were to face a lefty uh starter in in October, I Pete’s going to be out there. But but right now, I I I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world. Um you know, to to just give Pete some time. I just think Pete needs some time. He he’s he’s 23. It’s been a long year. MVP conversations, all-star stuff, you know, you know, you get tired. You get burnt out a little bit, especially when you swing at everything and and your your your style of play is go go go. And when that style when you when you when you are a little bit off, it it it changes everything because he’s so reliant on that energy and that hey, just see it and hit it and and all that stuff. So, I don’t mind it. I don’t think it’s that big of a story. I’m glad it hasn’t become that big of a story. Uh, we’ll see how it happens down the stretch. Speaking of down the stretch, obviously this Kyle Tucker injury is going to be the the caveat in this next segment, but do we have a potential division race with 23 games left to go? Can the Cubs at least put some real game pressure on the Milwaukee Brewers? Let’s talk about that next. This episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Most people can’t name all their financial accounts or even what they’re worth. Whether it’s 401ks, properties, or investments. And when you don’t have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. That’s why there is Monarch Money. 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Use code locked on MLB at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code locked on ML. We are back here on Locked on Cubs. Uh, make sure you are subscribed to Locked On Cubs. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you. That includes the Cubs postcast with Joe George who does an awesome job live after the final out of every game. We also have an important request. Lockdown wants to hear from you. We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcast even better. This is your chance to tell us what you like, what you don’t, and answer questions about our advertising. Go to lockdownpodcast.com/servey to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards. Again, that’s lockdownpodcast.com/servey. You can also find the link in this episode description. All right, it’s a little premature. There’s 23 games left to go and the Chicago Cubs trail the Milwaukee Brewers by five games. Uh, is this a pennent race? Is this a pennant race? Is this a divisional race, I guess, is the appropriate term? I agree with Matt. I think it needs to get down. If the Cubs can get it down to three with about 15, 16, 17 to go, then it’s it it gets real serious. Remember, the Cubs own the tiebreaker. So, if you really want to look at it, they’re actually not five back. They’re they’re more hypothetically four and a half back because if if if the if the Cubs and Brewers end up with the same record, uh they would the Cubs would go through. Okay. So, I have the 23 games left that the Cubs have, 23 games left uh that the Brewers have, and the record I think the Cubs need to go to have a serious serious chance at this. Okay. Cubs have four left with the Braves. One tomorrow, then next week they go to Atlanta. While you’re while while some people will be watching Monday Night Football, the Cubs will be in Atlanta uh at that bel ballpark where they never have any success. Uh uh seeing how that goes. Um they have four left with Atlanta, like I said, three Washington home, three Tampa home. Got to like those. Uh, three at Pit, four at Cincy, three at home vers, three at home verse St. Louis. 23 baseball games to go. 23. I think the Cubs need to win at minimum. I think they got to get to about 17. I think they got to go 17 and six and finish with 97 wins in order to really have a chance and win this division. because if you if you get to 17, that means the Brewers go 12 and 11 down the stretch. Um, and that’s just that’s that’s asking a lot right there with how good they’ve been. Uh, but here’s who they have left. A little trickier. Uh, they got two left with Philly, three Pit. They got to go to Texas. That’s a tricky series. They got to go to San Diego. That’s a tricky series. They have six left with the Cardinals. That’s going to probably determine it. the car we’re going to need the Cardinals to take three of those six in in theory if that’s going to happen. Um they have three against the Angels and then uh they wrap up the year with three at home against Cincinnati. Hopefully those games matter uh for Cincinnati, but the Mets are starting to heat up so they might not. So I think 18 and five I think gives you a real shot. I mean that’s a that’s a heck of a stretch to go 18 and five. I think you can go 18 and five. That gives you a real shot because, you know, I I I I could see I could see the Brewers going uh uh 13 and 10. You know, 13 and 10, that’s not a bad stretch of baseball. Um 12 and 11, they they haven’t done a lot of 12 and 11 uh uh recently here. You kind of just have to flip it. You kind of just have to make it like 2018 where the Cubs played 500ish baseball down the stretch and the Brewers didn’t lose. Well, seven years later, the Cubs are going to have to get on a stretch where they just don’t really lose a lot. And that’s going to be 17 out of 23, 18 out of 23 uh to get to 97, 98 wins. Do I think it’s going to happen? Probably not. Is it possible? Sure. Sure it is. And let me tell you something about about the game of baseball and the game of sports. Everything changes with real game pressure. everything. Everything when when when they look up, if they look up and there’s nine to go and they’re only two up, it’s just a different feel, man. It’s just a different feel. So, we’ll see. Um I I I think the Cubs deserve some credit that that that that they cut it down to five. It was once nine, it’s now five. Uh I know 23 games doesn’t feel like a lot because it isn’t, but a lot can happen. A lot can happen. one crazy sweep uh for the Brewers. You never know of the Brewers. You never know. So, um we’ll see what happens with that. It’s going to be fascinating to follow uh uh down the stretch, but at the very least, the Cubs main goal is is to get that first wild card spot, play your wild card games at Wrigley Field, defend your home turf because they’re a really good home team. Uh some other news and notes, the Cubs uh signed Joe Ross. I I don’t I don’t have much on that. Just more depth. Uh a pitcher there. I wouldn’t expect them to to need him at the major league level. Um a and really if I’m being honest with you, you know, which I always try to do. It’s, you know, this Kyle Tucker thing now is is huge. You know what I mean? Calf tightness, you know, that could be anything. But we we we need to get out of that with with nothing because he’s really starting to show signs and uh not show signs, that’s disrespectful to him. He’s he’s looks like he’s back. He’s hitting the ball great again and he hit a long opposite field home run today and the Cubs really really need him um healthy uh for the home stretch here and for him to be at his best and I’m starting to see some things with Seiya just a little bit of him coming out of it and then you know the last domino to fall would be either Pete or Bush and we got 23 games to get there but if we can get those guys going again at the same time you know that’s going to be the key uh to to to being able to have a magical run uh in October. We know we know about the starters little bit concerned lately, you know, with Boyd and Shota. We’ll see how Cade looks tomorrow. Um this bullpen has been great. Uh we know this this this season is going to go as far uh as the uh Chicago Cubs offense takes them and and without a healthy Kyle Tucker, it’s uh not really even worth talking about. So, best wishes for for for Tucker. Hopefully, he’s good. Cubs have won two games in a row. Let’s go finish a sweep. let’s go finish a sweep uh uh uh tomorrow a and really start to play good baseball, really start to put pressure on, really start to stack wins. I mean, it’s a it’s a very favorable matchup on paper. Uh you got Elder who’s, you know, his erra is close to six. Cade has been amazing. Uh Cubs are are pretty heavy favorites. Go finish that sweep and uh get a nice off day, a nice rare home off day and then maybe maybe you sweep the Nationals and things get really exciting here. This is Lockdown Cubs, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. For your second listen, check out the allnew Lockdown MLB game night. Every game, every night, all season long, guys. Check that out. They’re amazing. Uh Lindseay Crosby’s always on it. Um and he he does the the Braves postcast as well. He does an awesome job along with all the other guys. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Locked on MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast.

Sam talks about another Cubs win but it came at a price. Kyle Tucker it a 3 run HR in the third inning but left the game later with what the Cubs are calling calf tightness. Sam discusses this plus a potential division race looming for the Cubs.

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