Nico Hoerner was SPECTACULAR for the Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner was SPECTACULAR for the Chicago Cubs

Mr. Reliable. That’s what I’m calling Nicoer. 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 Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. Alongside Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our 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, use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Again, we’re still doing brand new shows this off season, five days per week. No one else in podcasting covers the Cubs like this. New episodes will be published to your preferred audio platform and YouTube each weekday morning. Uh, usually I like this for Sam and the audience to make up their minds on my trivia. I try to showcase as much humility as possible, but I do want to say I have a great trivia question for today. That’s going to be the last thing we do. Managerial openings that may or may not impact the Cubs. Uh, a final payroll check for 2025. And we start with Nicoer who in 156 ball games. Wow. Slashed 297, 345, 394 with seven home runs, 29 doubles, four triples, and 29 stolen bases. He was also again excellent defensively in his third season now as the full-time second baseman. Sam, I said Mr. Reliable in the cold open. This guy showed up in the regular season, showed up in in the postseason. I know he’s one of, if not your favorite players. Uh, we lead off our report card and review series, I think appropriately with Nicoer as the first name as the best player on this 2025 team. Nico her. Look, not better than Michael Bush. Yeah, I thought Nicoer was the best player on the team. Um, we both talked about the the the opportunity and the possibility of the Cubs trading him in the off season because he did not have a good 2024. I remember that. Yeah. And that and that was that was uh in rumors and a lot of people, not just us, thought that that could be on the table. Thank goodness it didn’t happen. Sometimes the best moves are the moves that you don’t make. This was the year I envisioned Matt. This was the year I envisioned in 2022 when we did I one of our first five or six episodes was could Nico her be a superstar or yeah whatever the title was that was it so brilliantly uh created for superstar you came up with that one actually I I appreciate the guys that put the bat on the baseball I appreciate the guys that you’re one of the only ones by the way contact skill skills getting it done with runners in scoring position. And by the way, it’s not a coincidence. It’s not like Nicoer is just, oh, he’s an amazingly clutch player. It’s the fact that his skill set is made for being clutch. Putting the bat on the ball is is conducive to getting hits with runners in scoring position. And it just feels like this team needs another one of those guys. Um, with Nico, I’ve always used two metrics. He needs to be right around the 300 mark or he’s got to hit some more home runs when you hit 297. And I I’m gonna pull up his numbers if you don’t mind. Uh while you’re while while you’re talking, I I need to figure out uh what he hit with runners in scoring position because Yeah, that would be good to get too. It was it was exponentially better than what it was, you know, that that that 294 uh 297 average that you mentioned. When you do that, I don’t care if he doesn’t hit a home run, another one, the rest of his Cub career. Oh, come on. I’m s I don’t need him to hit homers. I don’t even need him to draw walks. If he’s going to be right around 300 with good speed, playing great defense, and not striking out, and hitting in the clutch, that’s his job. A and he’s doing his job this season with runners in scoring position. Do you want to know what this young man batted? I’ll guess it. Okay. So, he had 297. So, with Butters in scoring position, I’ll I’m going to add 13 and say 310. Yeah. Well, why don’t you add another 60 with runners in scoring position? 370. 371 this guy hit. Now, I get it. I get it. I hear you. I hear everybody. It’s unsustainable. Whatever. This version of Nicoer is spectacular. This is the version we were waiting for and hoping for. It’s like a a a Derek Jeter light, if you will, at second base. Very clutch winner leadership, big hits. He was outstanding all year. It was a pleasure to watch. And as I say on Twitter all the time, my bit bit with him, it makes me emotional. Yes, that’s a great It’s more than a bit. I’ve seen you tear up a couple times. [Laughter] Nico her is the ultimate clutch player and I think a lot of our quest this off season is to find someone like him for third base. Yep. Yep. Because that’s the spot that I see for a Nicoerlike player. Maybe maybe right field, maybe DH, but I think it’s probably going to be at third. I don’t think I got we got too caught up in the hoarder trade talk last year. I I I was reviewing, you know, some of our episodes last winter, but but it abs him him and Cody Bellinger were listed very early by Jeff Passen himself. There’s a lot of Seattle buzz with horror. Yes. Being on the trade market. Uh so glad that didn’t happen. But you you are one of the only people who values backtoball skills like like you do. Mhm. And more people I think need to get on board with this. Well, maybe I could get maybe I could get hired by one of these openings. Nico her struck out how many times in the postseason? Do you know? Once. Twice. Two strikeouts in eight games, dude. He’s hit 419 in eight postseason contests. Final 32 games of the regular year, he hit 328, which for that seven to 10 day span, we were like, wait, he could win the batting title. There’s three guys that come to mind when I think about Nicoer’s offensive skill set. Luis Arise, Stephven Quan, two guys, and then three including Nico. The difference is is that Nico’s spectacular at second base. Uh the difference between him and Arise is he’s spectacular at second base and he also runs well. Uh um Quan runs really well, too. Um he he’s just he he’s a a perfect fit for this Cubs team. They need more of him. And again, we could actually have this conversation. You keep saying how clutch he is and I agree with you, but in reality whether he’s clutch or not, it’s just that his skill set for the most part is conducive to hitting in the clutch because when guys are on you want to put the ball in play and last year was actually the anomaly. Last year he didn’t hit with runners in scoring position. every other year in his career, he’s been right around 300 or more because that his skill set plays. And I just think the Cubs need to find another guy like that, like you just said, uh, with that type of skill set to balance out the Haps and the Seyas and the Pets and the Dansbies with all the up and down, swing and miss. Yeah, Alec Bow is would be entering a rental season. That could be a good target. Alexman’s going to be a free agent. Really and they’re off. If you want to go really big, Michael Garcia, who would be a large price to pay, he’s under control for a while with Casey Royals. So there, I just snuck that in at the end of segment one right there. Okay. Nico her grade Sam for me is a a an A. It has to be. Yeah, it’s it’s no minuses with Nico, man. No, it’s closer to a plus than it is a minus for sure. It’s a 95 96%. 100%. All right, coming up. That was good. I was unintentional. Oh, why did the offseason shows produce more laughs? Yeah. Well, look, we don’t have to talk about the team scored three runs every day. Coming up next, the payroll. Oh, boy. Do you realize how much under the first luxury tax threshold that that baseball’s number three market team finished under? Get those details next. Come on, man. This episode is brought to you by Game Time. There’s nothing like catching a baseball game live. The energy, the crowd, the chance to see your team in person, but actually getting tickets, that’s the tough part. Cues, login screen, surprise fees, it takes all the fun out of it. That’s why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to fans. Game time is fast, easy, and backed by the Game Time guarantee. You’ll always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included, so the price you see is the price you pay. I’ve used Game Time for every Cub game that I’ve been to. Uh, it’s the best. You you get tickets right away. You could literally wait up to first pitch. The prices go down. Fees are included. Know your total upfront with no surprise fees at checkout. So download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lock.mlb for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code L O C K D O MLB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go download game time today. Shout out to the everydayers. And you can become a Lockdown Cubs Everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week, which is all five weekday mornings or whenever you consume this show uh in the off season. According to Fan Graphs, the Cubs ended the 2025 campaign with a luxury tax payroll of $228 million, 13 below the first threshold of 241. Remember, they went over the threshold in 24 by about 2 M’s. Uh that number of 228 for 25 ranks 11th in all of baseball. And Sam, where do you want to start with this? Because I don’t um you know, it’s it’s tough because they didn’t reo reallocate some of the dollars, namely when they traded Cody Bellinger to the Yankees for a bag of Doritos. and Cool Ranch Doritos are well they’re they’re really I don’t know if it’s the number of the total sum spent or even where they rank. So 20 228 and 11th is the ranking respectively but it’s more the principle that that has me and um yeah I just wanted to be thorough and make sure we get the numbers out there. Well the Cubs have two choices in the offseason, right? All right, let’s hear them. Choice number one is and when I and I’m talking about relative to to figuring out a way to conquer the NL Central, they just spend $250 million 260 and just say we’re not losing to the Brewers anymore. We’re just going to outspend them to mitigate the organizational gap. It’s not going to happen, right? So choice number two is, hey, let’s be shrewd. Let’s find more guys and get better at that. And that’s the angle I’m going not because I want to, but because I’m forced to. They’re just not. I’m I didn’t even realize they got to 228 cuz when the off season or when the season started, weren’t they below 220? Did they they added 10 million a salary from the Kitriges of the world? The therated the prorated salary of Kitridge Castro. Rogers. Rogers and um Sarroa I guess. Yep. And uh Savale a little bit. Santana there. Santana. Yeah. So, they they got to 228, which if I remember correctly, we were going to we were we were going to we were hoping they got to 240 or like high 230s. Uh well, yeah. I mean, that would have left a little buffer before paying a tax. Yeah. Yeah. This is this is the biggest this is the biggest problem right now in the organization. I mean, you could sit here and get upset at Jed and Carter Hawkins and uh all these comments and and and they’re very valid, but the fact that the Cubs continue to spend at a level where they’re 11th in baseball and they came within one game of to the Final Four. Um it’s aggravating. And you know what’s even more interesting is they’re 228 now. I I don’t have it in me and and I I commend you for being able to move on this quickly. Not until not until late November will I dig into the payroll stuff and see where they’re projected for next year. Um you know in terms of guys, you know, because Imanaga potentially of that already. Yeah. Yeah. But you know the year after that and we know 2027’s a weird year. I mean they have literally nothing on the books almost. I mean, it’s going to be like Dansby and a bunch of our arbitration guys after 27. You said after 26 going into 27. After that’s right, Tyion, Seiya, Nico, Swanson would be the only guaranteed deal. Yeah. The only ma Yeah. major guaranteed deal. And I can’t even think of any other ones besides the, you know, the Hortons of the world and the steels of the world and the guys the PCAs of the world, the guys that are on arbitration or pre-arbitration. Um, you know, so at some point they’re going to have to spend. So who who’s off the books that they’re that they’re clearing for this year? Yeah. So, yeah. So, the free agents on the Cubs roster from the last day of the year are uh I believe it’s 10 guys, but count with me here. I have them. Yeah. Tucker. Okay. Castro. Yeah. Santana. Those are the position guys. So, so Tucker right away takes him from 228 to about down to 211. Yeah, cuz he made 17. Uh let’s see. Well, are you looking for a commitment number for next year? Yeah, I’m looking at like going into the offseason when they make without without ARB projections, they’re only at 148, Sam, right? But then the ARB will increase it a lot. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, also pitching Rogers, Soka, Brazier, Theelbar, Keller, Pomerance, and Savali. Yeah. So, so my my guess is including the ARB guys, they’ll have they’ll be right around like the high 100s, low 200s. And so they’ll they’ll probably have about 30 35 million to spend in the off season. That’s not very exciting. Well, maybe a little more. Yeah, because I actually MLB Trade Rumors put out arbitration stuff already. I could probably do that pretty quick. And then and then Well, that’s what Help me out here. Yeah. Yeah. And that’s why the Imanaga thing is so fascinating because they could clear they could clear another more money with him. But it’s just it’s ridiculous that we even have to talk about it. It’s about 11 million for the four ARB guys. So that would bump it up to one. You could round up to 160. There’s no way that they have 160 is a light number. No, but there’s there’s got to be more stuff we’re missing. There’s no way that they could spend 70. Well, it’ be all the players that are under team control would need their six-digit number or whatever. Yeah. I’m just looking for I’m looking for the f like just apples to apples. So, they finished the year at 228. You know what what would they be projected at right now ex like so that’s why I just take the guys. So, like you just mentioned those 10 guys. Add up those 10 guys salary in 2025 subtract from 228. That’s the number I’m talking about. You know what I Yeah, that’s a good way to do it. Yeah, that’s that’s what I’m talking about. So Tucker’s 17. The other nine guys combined are probably like nine or 10, something like that. It’s not a lot. And so you’re talking about, you know, 200. You’re right. Yeah. Right around. So, you know, they’re going to be right there. They’ll have probably 30 35 M to spend in the offseason unless they make trades or they they reject that option of of of Shota. Yeah. Which is a major dilemma coming up for them. Uh, looking around the NL Central. Welcome to Lockdown Cubs. We do math and you’re not going to like it. I mean, people are like, “Oh, are the Cubs going to sign Bregman?” How? Hope so. How? So, they’re going to they’re going to go over the luxury tax then is, you know, and that’d be great. Uh, Cardinals 19th at 161, Brewers 22nd at 144, Red’s right behind at 142, Pirates 28th at 110. So, uh, that’s right, Sam. The Cubs don’t have a ton of commitments for, uh, well, for 2026 even. Yeah. Only guaranteed deals right now are Swanson, Hap, Seth, Tyion, Boyd, Horner, and Kelly. All those, but Swanson becoming free agents after, right? And then Shaw, Pete, Steel, Horton, Visteros are all the the our prearbs. But a bunch of dudes under team control. Yeah. Bush and as well, Horton. You said the final number was what? Was 140 for the Brewers? 142. 144. Yeah. So, the Cubs spent $86 million more than the Brewers did. So, that’s what that that Right. Is that I think that quick math, right? Um 228. Yeah. Whatever it is. I got it. Um 84 84. Sorry. So, that’s a lot. Yeah. And so, that’s what Tom would tell you. we still spent $84 million more in the second place. Shouldn’t that be enough? And that’s and that’s the the issue there there that that it stands. Well, we’ll see what he says. Usually pens a letter to fans about November one. So, uh we’ll find out in a few weeks. All right. Coming up next, man. Payroll talk. Second show of the offseason. No, I didn’t I really didn’t enjoy it. Hopefully. You might need a Tums or something. No, not a Tums, but yeah, I didn’t enjoy it. Coming up next, we have managerial openings. There’s eight of them right now. Uh, and one trivia question. Stay tuned. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season is here. It’s already week seven and FanDuel has an offer you don’t want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 300 bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Folks, I’m not a big brager when it comes to gambling because I just feel like it’s, you know, at some point I’m going to cool off. I am 20 and five right now in the NFL uh uh betting against the spread. Um I took our beloved last night at plus five and a half. They won that game outright. Now they’re minus five and a half uh uh against a a lowly Saints team. This Bears team could be four and two, which is just really surprising. Um I’m going to give out some picks. I I I’m going to give out some picks here Thursday for Friday, maybe the Thursday night game or something because I’m just I’m hot and and if I really feel confident, why shouldn’t you uh profit from that or fade it if you believe uh in the analytics like Carter Hawkins? So what are you waiting for? or visit fanduel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. Oh, that’s too good. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Uh we’re back here on lock.com. Thank you. Appreciate it. So good. I couldn’t even get the controls in in time. Uh make sure you’re subscribed here on your preferred audio platform or YouTube. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you. All right, last segment of the show. There are eight open managerial jobs around baseball right now. There were nine, but the Rangers Rangers already hired Skip Schumacher, Padres’s, Angels, Giants, Braves, Rockies, Nationals, Twins, and Orioles all have open jobs. And Sam, my I I was curious to to get uh your f initial thoughts on just the volume of jobs open. This is something we see a lot associate the NFL with. Um, but baseball to have this many at one time, it just it seems very very strange. Well, you had some retirements in there, right? Yeah, you did. Snitker and Schilt, I believe, retired. And then wasn’t and then the Rangers thing with Bshi that was that wasn’t that like a mutual. Yeah. Ron Washington had health concerns in LA as well, Angels. So, I actually talked uh um to to Jake uh over at Locked on Braves. Um, hopefully he doesn’t mind mentioning this, but he asked me about my thoughts about David Ross because he’s he’s been linked there, right? He’s been linked there, I guess. I I I would assume so. Um, so that was a fun conversation that that I had with him. Really just exchanged a couple messages. Um, yeah. I mean, you’re asking what are my thoughts on how many managerial openings? Yeah, I don’t have a whole lot. Um, okay. I think I think just, yeah, some some retirement and and things like that. I’m I’m really interested. It’s interesting. The Cardinals situation is fascinating to me with that because it’s just, you know, like my dad was saying last night, he’s over for the Bear game. It’s just so weird to see the Cardinals and like a rebuild and and nothing’s happened and right, you know, we’ll see what happens with with Pittsburgh. Uh, you know, I I focus on those things that that how it impacts. Yeah. No, it’s good to stay close to home. Yeah. Yeah. But, uh, yeah. The division. Are there any are there any candidates for the the Cubs? Is that Yeah. So, well, David Ross, I wanted to mention Mark D. Rosa notably, is up for a lot of these jobs. He’s coaching Team USA again, managing Team USA this spring. Uh Joe Madden hasn’t been linked to any of these. He’s been out of the game now a couple years. Yeah, would like to see him back, but I don’t I don’t think we will. So, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flity is a candidate with both the Padres’s and Orioles. And John Haymon says he’s the favorite. Uh well, John Haymon says Flity’s the favorite for the Orioles. And Bruce Levine says Flarity’s the favorite for the Padres’s. So he’s as good as gone. Well, and he he came from the Padres’s, right? Yes. So the Cubs will very likely need a new bench coach next year. Well, I’m open. Um I’m open. Uh, this team could use, you know, council was at his best with Murphy as his coach. We could just go back and forth. I’m just saying I’m open. Wow. You want to You want to win 98, win a world championship? I’m open. Well, I’ll have to start putting a list together of possible candidates over here then. I could do both. Okay. No, I’m just joking around. 3-1 Dodgers top six in game. All right. So, also, you know what I was I actually didn’t know that. I appreciate that information from you. I did not know that Flity was the favorite for the Padres’s job, which I don’t like because that Padres’s team, as we just saw, pretty big competition. No, it is. It is. And he was already there, like you said. Uh, also he was it was sort of an arranged marriage with council like the Cubs pursued him um off of hiring Schilt entering the 24 season and uh you know he came over here and so it seems like it’s a good relationship. You know when they show counsel Flity is usually right there. They’re talking a lot. Um so I think it would be you know a pretty a pretty significant loss as far as I could tell. Um, all right. Only one player has played, one player in baseball history has played for all of the current Final Four teams, Dodgers, Brewers, Mariners, and Blue Jays. He had a 16-year major league career from 1997 to 2013, so recently. Including playing for the Cubs from 2005 through 2008. Sam, can you name this player? Unbelievable question. Thank you. All right, just let me This is unfortunate. I I apologize to the audio listeners. I have to get into a certain frame of mind here. Okay. I Dodgers, Brewers, Blue Jays, Mariners, late 90s, retired in 13. And he spent which years with the Cubs again? Excuse me. Four seasons? 05, 06, 07, 08. Oh, wow. Okay. Okay, I’m not in a hint phase yet. So, so right, I’m going small and I’m just thinking like Cubs Mariners or, you know, because that’s probably the most the toughest one that for me to get. So, who 05 Cubs, but he was also on the 08 Cubs. Yeah, let me know if you need any hints. Yeah. Um, hold on. I I I’m I’m thinking in my head that it’s not a position player. Okay, I’m wrong. Okay. Well, that that actually makes it a lot easier then. Um, all right. 05 Cubs. Um, he he was with the So, that rules out a Ramis. That rules out Lee. Um, is it like a It’s not Daryl Ward or one of those guys. Um, uh, it’s not Tero. Just thinking 08 Cubs. It’s not It’s not Fonto. Um Yeah, it’s good to go around the diamonds. Yeah, I’m just thinking like 08. Oh, it’s not D. Rosa because D. Rosa didn’t came later. Um Oh boy, what a great question that I really Thank you so much. Yeah, the best ones of all time. I feel like I should know the answer to it. Like I there’s not many position players that were with the Cubs for four straight years and they were on both playoff teams. Like I like this guy know if he was on both playoff rosters but Oh he played 208 games across his four years. Oh, okay. So he’s not a regular. That’s right. That’s Yeah, it was a good I guess I could have given that hint earlier. Jock Jones. No. Okay. Uh, he Let’s do Yeah. two maybe two guesses before the clue. Yeah, he wasn’t on the 08 team. It’s a bad guess by me. Oh, this is really This is the ‘ 08 part of this is bothering me because like I I should know all the position players on the 08 team. Yeah, he had a really He hit for a high average in08 playing about 60 games. I know. All right, go ahead and give me a hint. I’m very disappointed. Part of the Cubs 2016 World Series coaching staff. [Music] Well, it’s not it’s not Eric Kinsky. Um I was thinking that initially, too. Yeah, I I’m trying to think of their coaching staff. Um, oh, this is quality control coach. Also helped out in the bullpen. Henry Blanco. That’s correct. Henry Blanco was on the 08 Cubs. He was good. That wasn’t horrible. Actually, honestly, once you said quality control, coach, I don’t know why that you said quality control and I went straight to Henry Blanco. And you were right. That does it for this episode of Lock. Question. Uh, it’s gonna be a long off seasonason for me if it took me that long to get part of the lockdown. It took about four minutes podcast network your team every day. For your second listen, check out Lockdown MLB game night every game every night all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lock MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. All right, we’ll be back. Not good for me, folks. covering the Jed Hoyer press conference in our next episode. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cub.

We begin our player review series with Nico Hoerner. Plus: Final payroll check for the 2025 season, bench coach Ryan Flaherty is a contender for the Orioles and Padres manager jobs, and a memorable trivia question.

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