Nico Hoerner having EXCELLENT SEASON for Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner having EXCELLENT SEASON for Chicago Cubs

It’s time for me to tell you why Nicoer is the best player on this baseball team. Go Cubs. 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. 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 our great partners at FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and if your bet wins will get $300 in bonus bets to use across the FanDuel app. Download the FanDuel app today. Cubs won the series over the Rays, taking two out of three on the weekend. full breakdown of that. Nico her having an excellent season. Uh PCA’s continued struggles breaking down the full series, breaking down individual players, including a bunch of injury updates. And then later, Cubs Pirates preview as the Cubs get back in action right away Monday night. Cubs are now 85 and 64 on the season, still firmly in the first wildcard spot with only 13 games remaining. Wow. Wow. 6-4 win Friday, 54 loss Saturday, 4-3 win Sunday. It was a close series. And Nicoer is a clutch player. Batting average of 299. Just an absolutely huge two out, two-run double on Sunday to give the Cubs the lead in the seventh and they won by that same score of four to three. Sam, I know her has been the subject of of your delights for many years now and he really is turning in an excellent excellent year. You know, it is this is the guy. This is the guy that I envisioned because last year he didn’t have a good season. And yes, he was mentioned in trade talks and and we were going off of what he had been because that that that version of him doesn’t work. He needs to be right around in the I mean, I’ve said this hundreds of times in the 290s, but it’s got to be a loud 290s. He’s got to get clutch hits. he’s got to find a way um to make an impact. And you know what? I think he’s made the biggest impact out of anybody in the lineup. And and maybe it’s maybe it’s my bias because yes, to all the listeners we have and we have so many of wonderful ones. Yes, I do still believe in batting average. Yes, I still think it matters. And to see his batting average at 299 when I look at the rest of these guys that are supposed to be having these great years, 240, 240, 250, 240. Um, it sticks out and it’s no coincidence that he’s getting a lot of clutch hits, too. And, uh, defensively, it goes without saying, I believe at the end of the year, we’re going to talk about Pete in a little bit, he might pass Pete and War. So, even in that stat for the people that that use that, he’ll be the best position player. And I’m just going to say one more thing before I toss it to you. It’s time for us to do a giveaway. And and I will do a big giveaway. I haven’t thought of it yet, but you could promise it’ll be a big one if Nico’s end of the year batting average starts with a three. Wow. if we have a 300 hitter on this team like a Horner jersey or something. I haven’t thought about it. It might be something else. Okay. But uh it’s going to be a giveaway uh if his if his batting average starts with a three. And I would love a trivia question this week about that because I off the top of my head, I’m trying to think of the last Cub guy, let’s say, to play at least 145 games and hit 300 plus. I know uh uh Starland did it in in 2011. There’s got to be somebody that’s done it since. I think it was Cody Bellinger two years ago. You’re right. So, Nicoer, I hope you do the giveaway. I don’t know how many games he played, but you’re right. Forgot about that. Okay. So, well, it’s a good question though. I’ll We’ll do that next episode. Let’s see how many games he played. Okay. I think he played 130 two years in a row. Yeah. So maybe it’s not your qualifier then, but I think he was a qualifying player. You have to look at the MLB. Yeah. Well, my qualifier is at least 145. Okay. So then I’m wrong. So then it might be Ben Zus to answer your question. I don’t know if he ever hit 300 in a Cub uniform. I think Zobris did. Yeah. We’ll have to look into it for the next show. Sure. So yeah, not only starting with the three Sam for batting average, but he might win the NL batting title. Yeah, which says a lot about where the league is. But yes, you’re right. Trey Turner’s hitting .305. He’s missed this past week. He is supposed to return sometime this week, though. But Nico has a real chance at this. And with 13 games left, he’s putting together a run offensively, defensively, and special teams. Okay. Base running that would is that a football reference? The best season on the team. It would and and the fan graph’s number for war would help. What is it good for? The eye test would help. uh some more some more gold in in his cabinet at home for playing a fantastic second base and he has a chance at 30 steals. He’s been amazing. He’s at I which is something I’ve done a lot this past week. Say that again. Uh well, Hoarder has a chance at 30 steals as well. I know. But what did you do a lot the last past week? I missed that. It cut up. Yeah, you’re you’re cutting out a bit. I’m sorry. Oh, okay. So, this has been just a joy to watch. It put an exclamation point on the weekend because they stole that game. That was going to be a loss. They were down to their seven outs left. He comes up with that huge hit. And uh you know, I thought Saturday and Sunday they did squander opportunities, but he didn’t. And that’s been a theme of of his year and a lot of his career. He is the only guy on the team and and I I’ll say this Bisteros has a little bit of this in him. It’s just he’s really young. He’s the only guy on the team when he comes up with the game on the line, you feel good. Absolutely. Is I mean, am I missing anybody? Maybe Tucker when he’s right. Maybe Tucker when he’s right. Let me put it That’s really about it. Let me put it to you like this. Ian Hap’s having a good run right now. Yeah, but I wouldn’t want him up in in a spot. Let me Let me put it to you like this. If you were to tell me give or take right now, we’re down one, bottom nine. Let’s say base is loaded, one out, and Nico’s at the plate. I’m taking that. You know what I mean? Absolutely. You know, I mean, you the only way you don’t score is a double play. But if you were to tell me that some of these other guys are up, if you were to tell me it’s Bush than Seya, I’d rather just let the game play out and and hope we win in a different way. I don’t trust those guys to to do to do that. But I trust Nicoer. Um I trust Nicoer. He’d be in my top 10 15 of guys I’d want up in baseball. Seriously. Yeah. Absolutely. No, the numbers track with that. The eye test tracks with it. The Cubs actually had a similar situation to your laying out, Sam. Saturday afternoon, Matt Shaw hit a ground ball first and third, no outs. Yeah. And Dansby Swanson broke for home immediately. Did So, wait, let real quick before we go to break. Let because you and I think were disaligned on that. I thought he had to go home. If he didn’t, it’s a double play. Let’s say you Well, I thought I just thought he should have like stuttered the moment. I thought this that he should have should have been some kind of read and retreat and I thought Matt Shaw would have beat it out at first. Okay, that’s fair. And I didn’t understand why Colin Ray faced the order a third time on Saturday. Where’s Assad? Where’s Brown? Where’s Savali, who’s only pitched twice in two weeks. Yeah, and then Assad came out of the pen for the long. Why did they push that on Saturday? I was a little bit confused. Yeah. And I I I got to tell you, it’s not as much that, but they got to be careful now with K. They got to be real careful with Theoboar, Keller, Kitridge. Like, they got they’re in a pretty good spot right now. Those guys don’t burn burn the candle at both ends with them. I’m going to say this right now. I’ll I I almost could guarantee you this. The Wildard series, there’s going to be at least one, probably two, that the Cubs are up one late, and it’s just going to come down to those guys getting the job done. Whether you like it or not, that’s what it’s going to come down to. And so they got to be at their best going into that because I think entering this week they they’re gonna start to realize that more and they’re just one of the main goals with this cushion is going to be to get healthy and get rested. Yeah. I mean you want them to pitch. You don’t want them to get rusty, but you also just got to be care, you know, I would just say once every couple of days really. Uh uh and it would help if the lineup could put up a 12 spot somewhere so they don’t have to worry about it because these games are just they’re all one two-run games. Yeah. With 13 games left, I would like to see them subscribe to that. Don’t don’t pitch back to back anymore. Couple more notes from the weekend. Sam out. I said this already. 85 and 64. Moist by Esteros out opposite field prowess. Man, it’s fun to see by him. He can hit. Anthony Rizzo almost caught a home run from him on Saturday. That was one of the the moments of the year until uh until it wasn’t. Uh Rizzo retirement celebration was a blast to see Sam. I What about for you? Amazing. I I it was just I really wish they came back for him, but it was amazing. Right. And finally, Sha I Managa last four starts slash24 innings pitched, 12 runs and seven homers. Right. and and to your point, you know, the Boyd thing. Now, I’m on I’m on your side with the Boyd thing. So, okay. Uh there’s some there there there’s some issues tiring out with those guys here down the stretch. Uh uh and it does look like Kade is your game one starter. Wow. Cubs are 26 and 25 since July 20th. One of the reasons why they’ve been up and down like that. Haven’t been able to sustain a streak or anything uh is is the offense and and the lack of run scoring despite a really good bullpen, a pretty good rotation. And we’re going to outline the struggles of Pete Crow Armstrong right after this. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season is here and FanDuel is making sure you’re ready for kickoff with a can’tmiss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Folks, twice last week, I told you to take Detroit. Right now, I’m 10 and2 as we speak in the NFL season. Now, that probably won’t last, but I’m feeling pretty good. 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I’ve been playing prize picks lately. It’s such a fun way to stay locked in for the season. Josh Allen is a great player to key in on. Lamar Jackson, uh, uh, Derek Henry, uh, Dvin Cook. I’m just naming Ravens and Bills, but that I I just really enjoyed their game from from last weekend. And you can download the Prize Picks app today and use code lockMLB to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code locked on MLB for $50 in lineups after your first $5 play prize picks. It’s good to be right. Shout out to the Everydayers. And you can become a Lockdown Cubs Everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week. Since August 2nd, Pete Crow Armstrong is hitting 161 in 37 games. It’s actually a little bit lower now if you include Sunday. Uh 20 hits, five extra base hits, including a home run, just one home run, I guess you should say. Eight walks to 38 strikeouts. Oh yeah. Five steels. This is uh particularly frustrating when you hear this. In 90 games in which the Cubs went 54 and 36 from April 13 to August 1, PCA slash287, 318, 616 with 27 homers, 27 steals, four triples, and 23 stolen bases. Since then, he’s been a non-factor. Sam. Um, this is a long overdue segment and the reason why it’s overdue is because I thought it was fair that Pete had a bad month of August. Um, I just thought he he had been great for a while. He’s young. He hit a wall and then he got those three days off and he came back and he was hitting a little bit and I expected him to bounce back in September and he hasn’t bounced back in September. Uh uh he’s coming into today he’s hitting 185 with a 487 OPS. It’s just dreadful and it got worse today. The quality of bats are a zero. Um and I’d like to add that he has not played great defense either. Uh he he’s let some balls drop that he shouldn’t have. It better not happen in the playoffs, man. And I’m going to say this. Um, you and I have talked a lot off the air, a little bit on the air about why is this team now 21 games over and it’s it just doesn’t feel that exciting. It doesn’t, you know, people aren’t as excited as as you would think they’d be. And this is the biggest reason why. From from midappril until the end of July, the Cubs had a real superstar. and not only a superstar in terms of production, but a superstar in terms of he he was the big he was as big of a story as anybody in baseball. I mean, he got interviewed during the all-star game in center field. He he was the talk. I mean, anyone that wasn’t, you know, the the the few radio shows I would do out of state, first question I’d get, PCA, PCA, you know, uh texts from people that don’t follow the team, PCA, PCA. I mean, he was a magnet and and I and and will be again, by the way, but when you th this sport really, you could say this about anything. It everything’s always about expectations, right? If you wake up on a Monday morning and you’re thinking it’s going to be a really bad day and the day goes okay, you’re going to be really happy. Do you know what I mean? And when Pete ra he raised the expectations of oh my goodness, we might have like a real superstar here that that could captivate the league and then it goes down like this. It’s noticeable and it hurts. I think he’s going to be totally fine. I just don’t know if that’s going to happen this year or if it it’ll be at the beginning of next year, which may determine how far the Cubs go in the playoffs because he is their ceiling razor when he is performing at an elite level. Um there’s there’s no limit on what this team could do, you know, and I just think that when he’s performing like this, they’re limited. They’re limited. for the type of run they’re going to make in October. I absolutely connect the Cubs possibilities with with Peter Cro Armstrong. Um I I think Kyle Tucker is part of that convo as well, especially, you know, if he’s just not even around then obviously that’s going to play a big factor and we’ll update his injury later. But I mean that’s yeah that’s if PCA gets back to at least some version of that 90 games because if he gets back to that version you’re talking about a special October. I don’t know how else to put that. Um but if he gets to at least some version of it then they do some damage in October. And if I if I had to rank players correlation to their success starting in a couple of weeks and and and uh crossing into October, he would be he would be at the top and we we should probably should do that for an episode, right, at some point. It would be PCA, it would be Tucker, it would be Boyd, um you know, that that that type of thing. Uh so yeah, it’s been it’s actually been troubling to watch it as much as it is as it has lasted. Uh because now we’re we’re pushing 40 games and he’s just he’s genuinely struggling. He he he swings and misses a lot. He’s back to chasing, especially chasing uh up in the zone. You know, he’s loves to swing at VO up. The biggest difference, just to cut you off real quick, steal bases anymore, but then again, he’s not on base much. The biggest difference it to me isn’t the chase. It’s that the pitches he was crushing. He’s just not even close. Like, I mean, he was hitting home runs on pitches from Freddy Peralta above the zone and you’re like, whoa. Like, I thought this guy struggled with the high fast ball. Now, it’s back to that. He’s just He’s not I don’t mind the chasing. It’s He’s not hitting the mistakes like he was. Yeah. So, what’s he doing in zone, which I don’t think is Yeah. Not good. That’s That’s the problem. Good. Yeah. So, um it’s hard. It’s hard. And And you know, I would say I I I think this is a little unfair, but just the terms of how he’s been managed, I just I just feel like it’s obvious he needs a mental break. And I know they gave him a few days. I get it. But, you know, I don’t know. I just feel like there’s something they could do. I You know, you know, You shouldn’t. Well, for here’s an example. Don’t play him Tuesday night against Sk. Yeah, something like that. Just something to just make it a little easier on him right now because you know he’s your ticket in my opinion to a long run in October. Just like when you asked me before the All-Star break, right? You was like, “Hey, which guy needs to stay the course?” I thought it was Pete because that was the scariest one. Like what do you do if he drops off? He He’s been so crucial to you. and credit the Cubs and credit council and credit these guys for being able to write the ship basically without Pete producing, without Bush producing, without Seya producing, and with Tucker being in and out of the lineup. Uh, you know, to be 500 during that actually is is an impressive feat. Yeah, that’s true. And I wonder what where he’s going to rank in terms of like jersey sales this year because he was at top of the sport at one point. Yep. I see his jersey everywhere, including the all-star version, including the the baby blue version. I mean, it’s it’s just it’s so prominent at this point. All right, coming up next, lot of injuries. Seiya didn’t play all weekend. Why was that? Kyle Tucker is not going to be activated when he’s eligible from the IIL. We preview Cubs Pirates, including just a dandy of a a probable pitching matchup on Tuesday. Stay tuned. This episode is brought to you by Neutrifull. 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For a limited time, Neutrifull is offering locked on MLB listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping when you go to neutrfull.com and enter the promo code locked on MLB. That’s neutrfull.com promo code locked on MLB. Make make sure you’re subscribed to Locked On Cubs. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you, including the Cubs postcast with Joe George live after the final out of every game. Say missed the entire weekend due to illness. He’s questionable for the Pirate series. Wow. Uh last 47 games of 196, 330, 245 with a home run and 47 strikeouts. Many of us had been wondering if he was going to get a a Tucker or Pete like break and it turns out he is, but but he’s uh ill and uh to not play the three games in Pittsburgh would mean he’s misses six games and uh you know that starts to be quite quite a large absence, Sam. I’m not sure I I was asking for that, right? So, you hope he gets well soon. Yeah, I mean I thought initially that what was happening was exactly what we had been talking about for a while. Um but yeah, that that that you don’t want obviously. Um hopefully he could just get healthy and and and use this one use this to just get away just get away from the game, focus on your on your physical health, get better and take your time. There’s no need to rush him back. Um you know, that’s that that’s what I would say. I mean there, you know, you don’t know what he’s dealing with physically, just an illness. Um, but but hopefully he could get get better and then when he gets better, just, you know, you know, sometimes just getting away from the game, you know what I mean, for for a while can can be of service as long as he’s obviously feeling well physically. So So we’ll see. It’s a weird It’s a weird time, Matt. I mean, with Tuck, like you got unknown stuff with Tucker, you got unknown stuff with Seiya and and you’re, you know, you got 13 games left and so it’s it’s it’s a weird it’s a weird situation. Yeah, the calendar’s on your side for now, but like a week from today would not be at all, right? Like these guys would I think have to play at least six games. I really I would say seven or eight to get ramped up for the playoffs. Like do you have a game number in mind for for Tucker and Seiya? Because I mean Tucker is going to be dhing if he in the playoffs I think no matter what if he’s if if he could swing and just move a little bit. Okay. Uh but yeah, I I would for Seiya I I would say ideally coming back about a week this Friday, you know, and getting some swings and feeling good would be great. Well, and Tucker it sounds like will be Thursday or Friday, too. Yeah, he’s not going to be activated from the IIL when eligible Tuesday. Uh so yeah, there’s still still some cloudiness there. Owen Casey got called up Saturday and then Pete tripped him as he made a great catch as Casey did. Casey’s head hit the brick wall. Now he’s out. Yep. With the concussion IIL. Probably won’t see him again. Kevin Alcantra is back on the roster. Um, I mean, are you worried at all that Tucker is just out for the for I mean, he can’t come back Tuesday the 30th, right? Yeah. I mean, I’m not worried he’s out for the year, but I’m worried this situation does not make a lot of sense. And when it doesn’t make sense, that typically brings a lot of worry. I mean, it it literally went from day to day to he’s hopefully’ll be available off the bench Monday against Atlanta to IIL to it’s not going to be a minimum stay. That that’s if you’re not worried about that then then I you’re you’re a way better person than I am. Well, Tuesday will be two weeks since he last played. Yeah. Yeah. It’s and and and he and the worst part is is he finally got going the game that he was excellent before that. Yeah. He hit a home he hit his first home run to the opposite field opener in the Angels series to that last game when he was it I Yeah. So, you know, how long is it going to take? Is that going to be a whole thing? I mean, there’s a lot there. Michael Sroka will be activated this week. will pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the way, likely in a one two inning roll, something like that. And Miguel Amaya will join TripleA Iowa Tuesday. He’ll spend the week there. The AAA season ends on Sunday, Sunday the 21st. Amaya will initially DH and then hopefully catch by the weekend. Uh so that’s that’s really nice. He’ll be he’ll get a huge ovation at Wrigley that following week if he comes back. Amazing. and Cubs Pirates. Three games beginning at 5:40 PM Central Monday, same time Tuesday, and then 11:35 a.m. Wednesday. That happened uh in May, I want to say as well on a Thursday. That’s Yeah, I think they face Sk. Yes. Yeah. Tyone Ashcraft, Horton, Skins, Boyd, Aedo, Pirates 2 and eight in their last 10. Cubs have been 21 games over a few times this year. They could make it a season high 22 on Monday if they win. Uh Horton SK is mustwatch TV Tuesday. Yeah. I mean I I hope the baseball world Yeah. I I I mean I hope the baseball world their eyes are on that because that’s going to be a uh a spectacular spectacular matchup. And um you know this week you you got three with Pittsburgh, you got four with Cincy if you really want to put an exclamation point and make sure that that wildcard series is at Wrigley because remember these are divisional games. So So that goes towards that tiebreaker. If you have a good week here, like if you go five and two this week, it’s a wrap in my opinion. I think I think that over the Padres’s over the Padres’s I think it’s a wrap. Um, and four and three would be fine. You know, that would just continue to be just doing what they’re doing. That’s probably what’s going to happen. But, well, the they haven’t played seven games in a week. This is probably only what, the second or third time all year. It just really doesn’t happen anymore. And you’re going to see you’re going to see some stuff that you’re going to be like, why is Council have this guy in here? Like, he’s going to be real cautious how he uses relievers and stuff. So, I thought you made a great point about the Field Bar Keller Kitridge trio earlier. Yeah, like those guys shouldn’t pitch. They shouldn’t pitch tomorrow no matter what. Hope you’re right. Yeah. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On 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. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lock MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. We’ll be back after Cubs Pirates on Monday night. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs. Go Cubs.

Nico Hoerner hit a clutch 2-run double to give the Cubs the lead on Sunday en route to a series win over the Rays. We review Hoerner’s great season, give a full breakdown of Cubs/Rays, and more. Plus: Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting 161 since August 2, injury updates, and previewing Cubs/Pirates.

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