Chicago Cubs writing own story with Cody Bellinger back | CHGO Cubs Podcast

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell says the team is writing their own story this season with Cody Bellinger back in the fold. Ryan Herrera and Cody Delmendo jump on the pod from Arizona where CHGO dominated the Bellinger breaking news this weekend! From predicting the signing date and hour to an early morning podcast and article (ICYMI). Today, hear reaction from Cubs players on the big signing, plus Hayden Wesneski and Michael Busch make their Cactus League debuts this spring against the Royals. Join Luke Stuckmeyer, Cody Delmendo and Ryan Herrera for the February 26th edition of the CHGO Cubs Podcast. #VIBEWithUs #springtraining

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Hey Chicago what do you say it’s the chgo Cubs podcast live from spring training presented by Blue Moon made brighter get Blue Moon delivered and see delivery options by visiting Blue Moon beer.com chdo celebrate responsibly Blue Moon Brewing Company Golden Colorado Cody delmendo Ryan Herrera live from

Arizona I’m back in Chicago where it was 71 degrees today wow credit to us in the windy city uh Cubs lose six to nothing to the Royals um we want to make sure we give a shout out to all of our new die hards we’re giving a big push here we’re approaching

Our two-year anniversary right and just in the last couple days Wes welcome back Don Timmy Holden Michael Ryan Mike Ian Scott Darius and Gary all signing up to be a die hards it’s happening in droves now no it’s it’s fomo fear missing out everybody’s getting afraid they’re

Missing out on something and they are they’re missing out on Ryan’s articles one o’clock in the morning you can read that Cody Bellinger is signed with the Cubs fear missing out 1 in the morning Cody and Brendan are doing a podcast because Co nobody else is doing it

There’s no other podcast doing it we’re doing it whoa we’re just gonna forget that I was also on that podcast and right but you were writing the article too yeah both articles I was multitasking so you know we’re cranking ey and of course don’t forget credit to

Me for predicting this a month ago that once again the Cubs planned this they do it on the 24th we all knew it was going to happen I even said on the 23rd hour I said boy they’re pushing this check my tweets pushing this to the max 24th hour

They’re really pushing it but it looks like it’s gonna happen sure enough there it is went to bed confident it was gonna happen woke up and it happened wrong it was the 25th was the 25th where you were 25th where we are not the 25th in California not the 25th in Hawaii half

The a. and you would have been like R Ryan before we get to other orders of business you’re talking about when Jeff passon tweeted it I’m talking about when it happened well technically it Hasen if you think Jeff passon was in a hotel room sitting there next to Cody

Bellinger I guarantee you I guarantee you that when they wrote the ink on that contract the date at the top of that contract was 24 24 and I guarantee you when they shook hands on it it was 242 24 and I guarantee you they knew about it for multiple days too well here

Technically waited to make contract was on the 24th technically it hasn’t happened because obviously they haven’t announced it yet it’s not official he also was he also was uh taking the physical the next day so I would doubt that a contract hands on the 24th all

Said and done me even even Brendan Gary and I been right for over a month credit to Gary the only person did say it first Gary said it first the only person I’m giving credit to is Lisa nois well my sister’s name is Lisa stuck that’s all I’m gonna say I’m giving

Credit to Lisa from the south suburbs who was on MLB Network radio the other day credit for Lisa credit to Lisa for listening to our podcast a month ago when she got the idea that this was going to happen on the 24th uh no credit the lease as well uh

Hey chgo spring training accommodations these guys I can see they’re staying in a beautiful hotel you’re asking where is it Cho spring training hotel accommodations provided by our friends at hila River Resort and Casino viqua it’s the place for Chicago Baseball fans to stay when visiting the Phoenix area

So if you’re heading out for some of those Cactus League games or if you’re just traveling to the desert throughout the year call 1 1800 946 4452 or visit play Hilo that’s g.com did you guys know that we are 1100 followers Away on YouTube from 50,000 11 right there we’re closing in I

Would like to see 50K by our anniversary fantastic let’s go by Monday by Monday 50k would be a nice push so if you haven’t already subcribe to the chdo sports YouTube page that’s how you that’s one of the best ways to avoid missing out on our podcast right that’s

That’s how you can be in this live chat like Gary like Stephen uh like Cubs comment section vanilla chill Becky is always there um that that’s how you do it so make sure you subscribe to that uh what else what other order of business

Did I want to take care of before we get going on this no m mostly I just wanted to give myself credit and Gary and Lisa and you guys for get staying up late and knocking it out no really knocked it out of the park right how many views are on

That live uh podcast now uh believe Sarah said off air around 12,000 y 12,000 and why had because you nobody there yeah we had 400 watching live at 2 am I think to like by the end of the show it was almost 2:30 and there were still 400 people watching live it was

Awesome right and so what what’s that a shout out to well to you guys for being up and doing it out in Arizona and also to the sick goes and D die hards the die hards who are signing up in droves they 400 of them sitting there waiting for

You guys to do it they knew it was going to happen here because they’re die hards of the Chicago Cubs and so the Die Hard program like sign up lot of benefits you don’t miss Ryan’s articles right now and by the way another newsletter another newsletter today another newsletter from

Ryan out that that’s free that’s that’s a gimme you just got to sign up for the thing and you get the newsletter for now by the way for the Die Hard sickos you get an extra % off the dope merch now right now in the chg locker

Great time to get those shirts because 30% off almost everything at the chg locker right now and that’s Monday through Wednesday but again if you’re a DI hard that’s another 20% off if you’re a die hard and you’re going to a takeover for anything we got a couple of

We got three of them coming up this year right we got three of those uh takeovers coming up there’s one against uh the white socks on June 4th there’s the trip to Milwaukee coming up on uh June 29th and then against the Mets in September 20% off

Those oh Yankees yeah 20% off those right yep so that’s that’s a great deal uh but the merch thing right now listen if you’re not buying the that one’s on sale I know it yeah Ryan is on sale too belly bombs great time to get the belly

Bomb shirt yeah just when you thought we weren’t gonna print anymore now you got to print them again now relate in related to the newsletter credit to me I helped edit it in route to the ballpark today while driving was driving 90 miles per hour down the

Highway I wasn’t going 90 miles per hour there was get in the way of a good story brother desert speed isn’t as fast in other states no that newsletters good stuff uh from today based off my own reading so I highly check it out if you’re if you’re

Curious about the roster uh conversation that we’ll probably have today as well is what everyone else is probably thinking so yeah get into that uh become a die hard so you can get this merch uh 30 well 20 20% offut and then also you know you get a free shirt when you

Become a die hard and then you could buy another shirt that’s that will automatically be 20% off I think Gary’s in the chat saying the double dip doesn’t work for this deal it’s just the 30 okay all right well then great you know what I mean so it’s a

Perfect time to become a die hard it is especially with baseball season on the rise and the Chicago Cubs looking a lot more interesting and those discounts are at checkout by the way they’ll be applied at checkout so don’t worry if you don’t see it right away um make sure you check

Out the merch sale Monday Tuesday Wednesday so you got a couple days to do it but time’s running out uh uh I mean the Bellinger thing let’s be honest we we waited how many days Cody 147 days and I know I know that free agency technically doesn’t start until like November but

It’s been it was 147 days since the the very last game of the regular season in which it it basically started the clock of will Cody boner be the Chicago Cub Cubs technically if they really would have just you know I don’t know I I it would have been an insane contract that

We all would have been pissed off about if they did it but you know they could have you know extended Bellinger before free agency or at least came to agreement on one like they basically are now could have I don’t I’d say that percentages are very low that that would

Have happened you’re right you’re right but I’m just saying they could have so that’s why I started from that very moment that’s 147 days but but if you want to go based off free agency it’s it’s less than that but you know what don’t let the facts get in the way of a

Good story as we always say uh Ryan says for $2 in a Super Chat Stucky not on the emergency 2 am pod For Shame Shame Shame me all you want I was getting some sleep I told you I went to bed with a clear head I knew it was happening I knew what

Was going on and I said listen those guys are getting paid to be in Arizona they’ve got this under control and Brendan’s in California he’s going to take care of it now as humble as I am I I don’t like to bring up the fact that I’ve been

Predicting for a month along with Gary that this was going to happen on the 24th because I know the Cubs pretty well I know how they operate so and and I’m not GNA bring up the fact that I predicted 83 wins on the money yes I’m

Two for two I’m not gonna bring any of that up I will give credit to Cody one for three I will give credit to Cody I did say before he left Ryan wasn’t getting the job done for closing the deal with Bellinger we were sending

Cody boots on the ground now now we sent him all the way to Japan and he didn’t get Otani but he went to Arizona and he’s coming back with Bellinger in his pocket well well done well done it is all because the entire process basically played out the way I thought it would

And I’m not bragging about it but I did say or I did and at least throw the idea out there that the longer that it went along as the longer his FR agency went along the more Not only would it be more likely that he comes back to the Cubs

But also take a Carlos karea like contract which is basically what he did because if he has another great year he’s probably going to opt out and do this whole song and dance next offseason so uh Evert says I was right um I I do a question for you do you

Change do we now change our two things one I think I mentioned it last week or maybe it was two weeks ago I said is there a chance that Jed is playing this perfectly turns out Jed was playing it perfectly like all and nobody nobody was

Saying like well at least we weren’t we weren’t saying this guy’s blowing it this guy’s blowing it we were always saying to this point he has blown it but if he signs him we’ll all we’ll all Pat him on the back for playing his cards right like game well played right I

Think I’m pretty sure I said at the time that I thought he was actually playing it right considering the fact that no one else had signed him you know I I that that was my point of view like no one else has signed Cody Bellinger he’s still a fre AG so

How how could you say he’s playing it wrong and obviously like you got they got a deal that works for both sides at that point so yeah no I I I said at the time I thought Jad was playing it right it was like Cody Binger specifically right because the offseason like he

Wasn’t able to get Otani which you know was never uh like they were the favorite or anything right but um with Bellinger it was they played it right and and it worked out in their favor now there was potential that it ended up not being playing right right Cody Binger goes

Somewhere else and and then they have to figure out how to replace that production so things going to change but yeah he ended up playing it the right way and everyone’s happy everyone’s happy about it like walk that club there’s a lot of excitement about it and there’s there’s so much flexibility

Right it could just be a one-year $30 million deal okay fine it could be two years and a total of a 60 mil that that’s okay too but there’s there’s flexibility in it right well and you know for anyone like I saw Godfather’s comments and how I’ve seen him in my

Mentions the last you know 24 hours like who think like who’s who might be you know complaining about the fact that we’ll probably do this again next year that has to that’s all Boris in my op like like yeah first off who cares but second off they clearly weren’t getting

The deal as in whether it’s a combination of Bellinger and Boris or just Boris or or it has to be a combination of both because at the end of the day Cody Bellinger signs a contract right he probably wanted a long-term deal but five6 years for 160

To 170 or 180 whatever wasn’t like like they want they think they can do better than that and so they they decided to run it back like this one more time and see what happens in the 2024 winter right and so to me like yes Jed played

It right and also like you guys are saying flexibility it clearly still shows that the Cubs are high on PCA and some of these other Outfield prospects that they have and I’m okay with that listen by the end of 2024 we’re gonna have more answers about some of the

Young guys like hopefully PCA really you know comes into his own in some form in 2024 and if you know Bellinger has another great season and he walks at least you at least there’s more answers about PCA going into 2020 and I could probably find a way to be

Okay with letting Bellinger walk then because again it won’t even just be PCA but you’ll probably have more answers about a lot of these guys that we’re talking about right and that was my whole thing about why they should bring back Bellinger for this coming season anyway because it you just there’s

There’s a lot of question like yeah there’s a lot of upside they’re all highly T touted prospects but you don’t know at least this year you’re going to see some of them come up like PCA and you’re going to have an answer or at least the better idea of these guys by

The end of 2024 and you know we’ll go from there so again I think it’s is a great for both sides because Bellinger is gonna get paid $30 million this year which I don’t believe the Cubs have ever paid someone 30 million dollars in like

Aav for a season I I don’t believe I think I credit to Michael Camy on that he tweeted that the other day or yesterday so um I again like yeah it’s not technically like longterm but at the same time like we still don’t know what Cody Bellinger we GNA get next season

Right like so to me it’s it’s only more motivation for Bell Bellinger to go out there and play well and earn that long-term deal that he wants right which benefits the Cubs and you know if he puts up another similar season like last year I mean he probably will get a at

Least a multi-year deal and maybe maybe the Cubs will give him the long-term deal I don’t know or maybe he just opts back in and you do it again the next season right like again it’s not like he’s not making any money he’s making more money than what he made last year

He made like 17 and a half million last year he’s gonna make $30 million dollars in 2024 man like there there’s there’s like I there’s nothing to complain about here as a CBS fan because at least you you’re running it back with him one more

Time and see if he really is back to like the player he was right yeah well I think we talked to Nico um yesterday about it obviously and um you know kind of he he was like joking the ass like you know he’s got like Bellinger’s got

The OPD dos on that deal you’re ready to kind of go through the whole questioning again next year All of Us Media bugging you about Bellinger you put it perfectly he’s like if he’s like if that happens that means he had a great year and that’s that’s what you need that’s what

You need about if he’s if he’s a free agent next year that means he had a great year for the Cubs and considering what they need him to do in 2024 a great year would be really really good for the Cubs this year so yeah it’s if he’s a

Free agent next year yeah you might have to go through the whole song and dance again considering Boris is his agent and and he’s probably gonna it may be a repeat of what happened this year but that means your 2024 at least on Bellinger side was really good I agree

Like I think he’s way more likely to opt out after year two than is after year one to be honest with you and the only risk you have is that he’s a bum this year and that it doesn’t work out and it’s $30 million down the

Drain okay fine like all right it’s not it’s not the worst K it’s really not that bad of a deal it’s just not well it’s not it’s not and because even if that is H it does happen you’re not your your long-term flexibility still isn’t really excuse me oh geez

You’re still coughing you’re still coughing I got pink eye again oh no at this ey this one look at this out the eyeball anyway um yeah like so yeah three years 80 million like you’re not hurting your long-term Financial flexibility roster flexibility because it is only three years at Max

Right so yeah it’s a good deal for both sides like he gets paid this year and with potential to be a free agent anytime in the next two years and the Cubs get back a guy who for most of the season was producing like their best

Player and that’s what they that we went into this offseason saying if it wasn’t Otani they need to get Bellinger back and that’s once again obviously once Otani went off the board that’s where that’s where things turn to us like they like Bellinger feels like the priority

Now for sure and so yeah they went out they got their guy and even if it’s only for the year that’s what that’s what we’re looking at is we’re looking at 2024 like obviously the other things they’re doing building up the farm system you know locking down a couple of

You know the Nico Horner types to to be around for a few more years like that’s all well and good for the future the Cubs future um and trying to build a consistent winner but Bellinger right now it’s like you’re you’re signing him because you expect him to be one of your

Best players again in 2024 yeah so that’s where comes at no I just saying that’s where the Cubs are at yeah Rich is saying exactly what Cody did it’s another year to see what they’ve gotten PCA Bush and mous I I think and others tell tell me the details refresh my

Memory didn’t Korea have an opt out after year one I think he had I think he had a similar thing after first two years Cody Bellinger can make 30 million next year what kind of year would he have to have for him to be like ah you

Know what I’m tearing this up and I’m going for it I’m gonna give them the 30 million back to me he’d have to hit like 45 home runs and if he hits 45 home runs you’re more than happy to tear that deal up and be like we’ll take it another

Long-term deal with you like I I think it his year would have to be so massive to turn down a $30 million contract that it’s it’s almost to me it’s unlikely he opts out after one year I think two years I was gonna say I disagree a little bit just in the sense

That if he has a great year he would want to cash in right like he’s turning 29 in July or August like he’s getting closer to 30 and and getting that long deal after you turn 30 yeah but that wasn’t he hurt the whole first year or for of it or had like

Still ended up he still ended up having a a pretty good year like if he if Cody Bellinger has a Korea year like karea had last year I I think we would take that right like you just don’t want massive regression from last year that’s that’s what you don’t really want I

Don’t expect him to go back to MVP but let’s let’s get some of the interviews that Ryan you mentioned Nico you also got some other players and I think Sarah’s going to play him for us I’m reacting to Bellinger coming back said this wasn’t like hanging over

The clubhouse this wasn’t a topic of discussion for you guys constantly but is just kind of nice to be able to move on and know that this is the team going forward and like you have a complete unit without us bugging you well you still

Are um no I mean he he like we’ talked about belly is has been a was a staple on our group last year and um so being able to have that kind of clarity is always nice but at the end of the day uh like I said the beauty of about this

Group is the fact that we’ve been so focused on you know the task at hand and I think that that’s going to really serve us well uh this season what about just being able to kind of run it back after you guys talked about how special

The group it was and you came so close and running it back with a little extra help yeah no I think um it can I’ve seen it both ways right where people you know we had a good thing going let’s just you know keep it going it’s like well at

Some point like we still got improve and I feel like this off season and so far like we’ve we’ve taken those steps in a bunch of different ways um and I think that that’s like the key thing is that guys that were here guys that weren’t

Here uh you know some of the young kids like that we all understand what it is we’re actually going for and what we need to do to get there and that’s been I feel like just like a a real real big Focus uh for us so far on spring

Training well yeah I mean he was big for me but on a different level than he you know than his greater impact I guess on a bigger scale in here like you have the the the captain of this team wanting him back saying it publicly in front of big fans

And then you got guys like me who who really responded to the way he you know kind of carried himself in here too so like he reaches all aspects of this team and you know hopefully he just brings that same energy this year I have all

The faith in the world that he will what does it mean to see the the front office step up and and find a way to bring him back and and just obviously the vision they have for this team and what you guys are potentially capable of of this

Year I mean they did the right thing I don’t know I don’t I don’t have much more on that I mean we were just focused on Cody you know that’s yeah that was it was as specific as it got it just Cody you’ve talked about his leadership before but like specifically his just

Like very chill attitude like what can that do during the ups and downs of a season um I think for for him that’s kind of the best baseball player to be is just to be able to to roll with the punches you know I think I noticed that he’s never

Too high never too low so you know being able to manage the the good parts of his days and you know and then when the bad ones come it’s like he’s the same dude so I mean that probably just like you know when when teams start hitting like

That’s kind of contagious I think in in a similar way that’s pretty contagious too yeah I think it uh you know it makes it easy for him to walk in and you know everyone knows who he is you know we feel so comfortable with him so it’s not

You know I feel like we can just kind of carry on with spring training and there’s not you know no tension in the locker room there’s nothing we got to get to meet a new player it’s someone that was with us you know fighting all

Year last year so we’re able to kind of you know carry on what we tried last year you know so um yeah it’s definitely a great feeling and just I know everyone’s looking forward to having him back in here all right so so you were wrong

About Korea by the way like I just look yeah credit credit to everybody for pointing that out the die hards keep me out my toes credit to Ryan again center cut on three interviews who who’s giving you the most uh muscle on the side there

Trying to get you out of the way in the center is it Levine is it Levine trying to shove you aside is it Tony andrai who’s giving you the most competition for the center cut photos I don’t think anyone wants wants to you know mess with

Me I think they they see me and they know I work out and they’re like wow this guy’s kind of this guy’s kind of scary he’s rolling there’s been no elbows no no elbowing out the way of me I I get my shot I sh she’s not even getting in there nobody’s

Getting in there with the shots not even Taylor McGregor is willing to be like listen this is my gig Ryan’s just in there right in the front uh yeah you listen to all these guys and it’s what we’ve talked about all offseason right and that’s what they’ve talked about all

Offseason like how much they enjoyed having Bellinger around last last year how much you know he fit in with um you know obviously in the clubhouse but just on the field he was great and then and how just how how much he felt a part of that team and so like for Nick

Madle’s question actually it was my I I had asked him like you know in theory you go out and you sign a big name free agent should always be a good thing right it doesn’t always work out but it’s in theory when you go out and sign it that’s a good

Sign but I asked him is there another level when you’re bringing back one of your own guys a guy that was in all those battles with you in 2023 that went through the ups and downs the roller coaster of that season he know you know obviously he’s had the whole year to to

Get to know a lot of those guys because a lot of those guys are back a whole year to get to know them and and and mix together with them and build relationships with them build relationships throughout the organization so it was like yeah is there a different level to that when

It’s not just any old free agent but it is your own guy coming back and that’s you know that’s how he answered it was like yeah it is it does feel different Nico Herer also essing the same thing and and he felt the same way that you

Know it’s a a guy that one you don’t have to like go and build a relationship with in spring training anymore already like you you don’t have to go and do that in spring training because you already have that you have a Year’s worth of of building that relationship

With him and again he’s a guy that knows what everyone in there’s all about he knows what you know this this team was last year and how it can improve and how um you know they jelled and what made people tick and all this different stuff

So it they they all said it it is just different when you’re bringing back a guy who’s your own guy you’re bringing back a guy who went through all those battles and stuff with you because it’s just it does have a different feeling to it that’s what they all said and I you

Know I agree with them I I look at it as like yeah you’re not just bringing back a free agent you’re bringing back Cody Bellinger who was on a big part of your team last year that’s huge I think that’s huge just for obviously onfield stuff but even chemistry in the

Clubhouse and the locker room purpose I think that’s huge too Cody how do you change your offseason grade for what the Cubs have done I I see Brandon in the live YouTube chat uh by the way 1100 followers away from 50k uh saying a lot of continuity talk hopefully it works

Better than the Bulls I I do get what he’s saying how do you change your offseason grade for the Cubs now that they have imanaga now that they made the trade for Bush now that they’ve added Hector nerys and now of course Cody Bellinger um you I was kind of talking

About this in the Twitter space I did while I was waiting for Ryan to get out of the ballpark last night we were quite credit to us we were literally the last people to leave last night by Brian doesn’t stop Brian doesn’t stop you’re right but I was doing Twitter space

While I was waiting because I was bored and uh you know I kind of told the people um you know I’m I I I give it like a C+ at this at this point still um and it it can still change because I do think that you know in Bill’s asking in

The chat you know with you know the Cubs needing to find a way to get Cody B on the 40 man they’re going to have to make a trade or DFA someone like you know I think if they DFA anyone on this 40 man that that guy’s not gonna fall back to

Them I think he’ll get picked up by someone who no matter who it is and so I think a trade could happen and I’m not saying that that trade’s gonna be in like massively impactful but my point is is you had the entire off season to perhaps use some of this Prospect depth

To make an imp trade for maybe a high-end starting pitcher maybe a high-end bat whether it was Juan sto you know I’ve mentioned Jose Ramirez enough damn times on this podcast everyone knows I was that I would have dreamed of that now I don’t know if he was ever

Available but you the point is is like you have all this Prospect depth that and you know that not all of them are going to be able to play for you one day that you could and still could make it made an impact trade to maybe fill one

Of these holes that you still have and so like even with adding Bellinger there’s still like a mid 80s projected win team right with with the possibility to outperform that remember last year was 78 they end up winning 83 right and and I certainly with Bellinger certainly

Believe that they can they can go over that but if we’re talking about what my expectations going the offseason were or what I wanted I feel underwhelmed and I think a lot of fans still feel a little underwhelmed they’re just happy at this point that they brought their best

Player back from last year and so now we can proceed to move forward and see what happens um and again it does look like the Cubs are you know they want to get a look at a lot of these young dudes and like I’m fine with that

Um I think some fans look at it though is like why can’t you develop and win at the same time and again I think that they will be a good team this year but it’s not like they’re 95 wins it’s not like they’re projected like what the

Braves or the Dodgers are I understand it takes time to get to the level of those organizations and I do think that we’re on that way I genuinely do feel that way but again for me at least I just feel a little underwhelmed still because at this point okay you replaced

Marcus strowman with with imanaga you brought back Bellinger okay great and the nearest signing is great I like the nearest signing you traded for alonte and Bush uh to you know get a high-end prospect on top of a a like a a reliever that has experience and you feel like

You can probably get back on the right track and then you have a bunch of minor league signings that you know who knows how they will fit in will will they even make the roster or you know be sent to Iowa right like I I I give it a C+

Because to me it’s just an average offseason you did the things that I guess most people expected you to do you replaced strowman you brought back Bellinger yeah you added a few relievers and you know the bush you know Bush being part of one of those trads is you

Know it’s great he’s a top 50 Prospect in all baseball he’s a left-handed bat you need a left-handed bats but you still don’t know what you’re gonna get out of him and so it’s like I’m not even saying it’s a risk it’s just it it it’s

Fine it’s like it’s a wait and see thing but if you know to grade it right now for me I’m I I still feel underwhelmed but it’s average like it’s it’s it’s fine yeah but yeah I told Cody we talked about this actually on the drive back from

Surprise Arizona Luke you know you know that’s a long haul um that I I look at it and and if you feel underwhelmed you know that’s your prerogative obviously but I I look at it as was there many other ways to not feel that way like any what how many

Other moves could have been made to make you not feel that way like Otani and Yamamoto maybe or a tra a big trade but also it’s at the point where like a big trade it still takes two to tangle right they can’t just go out and force a team

To trade so I I look at it as like if you feel underwhelmed you feel underwhelmed that’s fine but I think there they were just when you look when you when you step back and you look at just like the free agent class and that it was it felt more topheavy than we

Were maybe talking about early in the season early in the offseason that you know they were they were they were only a few moves that could have really been made that would not have made you feel that way you know what I’m saying again it’s it’s a fine it’s a fine off season

Like I’m I’m at a point where you know I I feel really good at about the team considerably than I did a week ago but I don’t know I I know it takes two tangle for a trade but you have all this Prospect depth that I feel like you

Could have made something whether you whether Bellinger was still on the on the free agent Market or not and I don’t think it’s gonna happen now now in the spring like I so you know we’ll see but when it comes to figure out figuring out

How to get him on the 40 man it’s very interesting like I don’t I don’t know what they’re going to do but they’re going they’re whoever they if they decide to just DFA someone it’s I don’t think that person is going to somehow find their way back into the

Organization let’s hear the uh sound bite that Ryan got this morning from Craig Council kind of talking about this like what what is this team how are they built like what what are kind of the expectations and he talked about sort of writing their own script let’s hear from

Uh Craig Council today out at uh was that in surprise or was that at Sloan Park this was still at Sloan this morning yeah still at Sloan this morning well I mean the season season happens look this is what we go through a season

This is why we play um I think you know our our you know you put a bunch of guys together and it’s not last year it does last year in a lot of senses like doesn’t it doesn’t matter it really doesn’t it’s not going to necessarily help us this

Year um it’s not going to play the games for us um good or if it was good or bad um so you know that we got to do what’s in front of us and and worry about what’s in front of us um and our all of

Our goals is to you know get into a better space and per keep getting better and perform better keep taking steps forward collectively we’re going to you know hopefully have bunch of people take steps forward there’s going to be some guys that take steps back and at the end

Of the year that adds up to a net net plus so I guess if you want to say that like that way but um it’s it’s a new group man that’s how I see it it’s a new group and every year is a newp group um and every

Year you know we we figure out what happened and that supposed to tell us what we’re going to be and I I think we get to write the story you know we’re going to write the story about what this coach team’s going to be and wouldn’t

You like to know which players are going to take the step forward and which ones are going to take the step back uh coming up we’re going to talk about Michael Bush’s first game we’ll hear from him Ryan got an interview with Michael Bush and we’ll talk about Hayden

Neski outing today but first want to tell you about the most unexpected unscripted and Unforgettable Motorsports experience for families and fans in the world today it returns to Chicagoland for an adrenaline charged weekend at the All State Arena from March 1st to 3D that’s this weekend the world’s best

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Compete for the title of world champion see world class Athletes In Action performing in the craziest stunts in Motorsports experience big-time family fun at Monster Jam unexpected unscripted Unforgettable this is Monster Jam see it live all state Arena March 1 first through third this weekend link for

Tickets in the description I have a trivia question for you guys you ready for this how much do you think one of those tires weighs on a Monster Jam truck one wheel one wheel yeah like you know they keep driving over crushing cars uh I’m gonna go

Like I was going to say like 3,000 lb oh wow well the the cars themselves are 12,000 lb the wheel each wheel 645 pounds I’m I’m not good at I’m not good at excuse me oh Zach H hillborn got it on the money well he’s off by five

Pounds but you know oh 655 okay no I or 645 uh my my friend goes all the time to moner says it’s electric I’ve never been I’m super excited to take my son once he’s not afraid of the loud noises so probably you know like one or he’s two

So I’m thinking two more years and then I put the headset on and might take him there he sees the truck he’s big into trucks but it might be a little loud for him I’m excited to go myself because I’ve never seen it and I’ve always

Wanted to go all state Arena gonna check it out so it’s uh March 1st through 3D by the way Blue Moon I’ve seen Cody doing a lot of beer bat chugs out there our friends at Blue Moon hooking us up sponsoring all our spring training coverage out there blue moon made

Brighter of of course get to uh blue moon. beard.com chgo celebrate responsibly made in Golden Colorado but smooth it’s a smooth way to enjoy you’ve been there what now four days four days brother yeah four days of no sunscreen a lot of Blue Moon and a Bellinger signing it’s been a

Pretty good trip yeah one might say I’ve had a I’m I’m let’s just say that I’m happy that the sun was not out today okay um yeah no it’s been a lot of fun at the park these last couple days yesterday yesterday actually while walking around

With my blue moon I walked around with the mini mic and asked a bunch of fans about their thoughts on Cody Bellinger returning to the Cubs and most people were pretty excited there was one guy who literally learned the learned the news from me which was wild um but yeah

So he must not be on the internet like at all but or watching TV but uh yeah he was there with his wife and kid it was yeah but we uh we cheersed our blue moons together and uh you know we I sent him on his way with his family after that

And yeah it’s good stuff yeah I’ll tell you what this blue moon I’ll tell you what like I’m you know the every once in a while going out grabbing grabbing some food yeah um with friends and you sit down it’s like they asked you want can I

Get you anything to drink and I say do you got blue moon if they say yes I’m drinking that blue moon if they say no I said I’m just going to drink this Air instead because I’m not put I’m not drinking anything but Blue Moon Yeah that’s what wake

Up yeah wake up blue moon go to the gym Blue Moon eat lunch before bed Blue Moon yes right before bed that helps me go to sleep Blue Moon yeah yeah absolutely and then you have an orange gets it ready for breakfast you know oh yeah I’m

Running out of oranges I had to go to Walmart and get a bunch of oranges because I can’t have one without it you’re in Arizona just go in somebody’s yard and pick one off a tree they won’t mind we’re literally we’re in a we’re in a casino hotel that like is just

Surrounded by mountains and that’s it we’re way out here in like the middle of nowhere beautiful yeah hila River Resort in Casino viqua uh so Michael Bush we got our first check of him today we got to see him for the first time Ryan got some

Sound which we’re gonna hear in a second I’ve seen everything in the chat from people saying can’t wait to see him play like and then I’ve already seen Nan’s packaging him with other players to try and get nla from the from Cleveland so uh listen it was his first game and why

This was pregame sound correct Ryan this was before he even played no this is after after this is after the game so he had a hit and he a walk I love the two out walk uh in his first at bat more pitches so this this is him afterwards

His first game in a Cubs uniform feel to get some game game action under your belt here it was fun it was uh it was good we had uh it was just it’s always fun to get back out there especially in Arizona um such

A you know good day and yeah just fun to be back out there Craig said you were kind of dealing with a little soreness in the shoulder to kind of start springing how you feeling now just what yeah I F I feel really good um you I’ve

Been throwing for quite a bit of time now so um yeah it was just something that kind of wanted to put behind me but yeah really you know they were awesome with everything just kind of like feeling 100% dude like appreciate just the C approach especially this early in

Spring just not pushing you yeah absolutely I mean yeah like I want to I want to be out there you know as much as I can um you know obviously during the season but even in spring training and you know these are these are nice at

Bats to get before um the season comes comes along but um you know sometimes you know even during the season you have some stuff that’s just a little Naggy or something you need a day here day there but try to be on the field as much as possible obviously some nice results out

There for you but what are you looking for from these at bats this ear spring yeah tough to put you know too much emphasis on it just trying to see the ball well um you know get the timing right and just um but not think about it

Too much so early on just kind of you know let my body kind of get back into things um you know so it was nice to get you know three Bs and then hopefully get some more on Wednesday is a walk like a especially good sign for you where

You’re like oh my my eyes working yeah yeah yeah it is I mean just everything right um you know you want to be putting the ball in play you want to be getting your walks you want to be swinging at the good pitches so there’s there’s so many things you know in baseball

Especially hitting that you kind of want to focus on like you want to be aggressive but you also you know don’t want to be swinging out of the zone so stuff like that is just you know key and I think you know when you get so many at

Bats during a year and then you go four or five months without any and then you come back you know some of those things can be a little off so it’s uh it’s hard to put too much uh into some of those at bats but but yeah it is it is nice you

Know get some of at bats and um you know have a have a Zone and not be swinging out too much well it’s gonna be fascinating to see how he develops as a young player and how he fits into this team because I mean there’s obviously High upside but

At the same time it’s like everybody else that comes up to the big leagues he’s a prospect so there’s just you know there’s still that possibility that he doesn’t pan out same time top 50 prosp there’s a chance you got a diamond in the rough there so if the Cubs can find

A left-handed bat a power left-handed bat that has some versatility and can play some different spots they might have something on their hands I I don’t know which way I’m leaning towards because I’ve I’ve seen none of it like you know it’s just not even even if you

Watched every batting practice that he’s had or all of spring you’re still not really going to have a good feel for what the guy is until the season gets going yeah and and with with Bush um as mean you said it like he’s a he is a

Highly rated Prospect right like the the the reason he couldn’t get consistent opportunities in the big leagu is because the Dodgers have so many guys at the positions that he plays that are also getting that playing time so um but he is a highly regarded Prospect for a

Reason roughly top 50 oh man looks looks not okay over there um but yeah no but he’s as we’ve kind of all said already it’s it’s you don’t know what you’re going to get from him right like he just hasn’t proven it at the big league level as great as he’s

Looked in the minor leagues he hasn’t proven it at the big league level so you need to see that um but you know I also talking to Bush um and I think Sarah I believe has his quote um you know I kind of asked him what what excites you about the

Opportunities you have ahead of him and he said you know like that’s all you can ask for here’s the quote here that’s all you can ask for I’m just excited to be able to get the opportunity to help the ball Club win at the end of the day

That’s all it’s about it ain’t about me it’s about helping that organization win some ball games and I think that’s a great mentality um for a guy like Michael Bush to have where you know what was it uh the other day I guess Carter Hawkins was on the broadc and and

Basically said that Michael Bush is g to be the first baseman on opening day or something something along those lines is what I’ve read on the Twitter sphere um and so that they have confidence in him right like at least right now we’re a month away from opening day but they

Have conf that um he could be that guy he he could help them lock down that position over at first and so it’s it’s a great opportunity for him one that he just didn’t get consistently prior to being traded to the Cubs and so um yeah it’s going to be really interesting to

See what what he’s able to show I mean just even in spring training right like does he look good in spring training games I know the results don’t matter but you would obviously rather have a guy look good than not um but what what he can do when he gets that opportunity

To start the season like is does he hit the ground running does he start to show signs at least at least signs of the the guy that you know the reasons why he’s so highly regarded as a prospect so um yeah I don’t know he you know I there

Was that part about the the sore shoulder in there um that’s something that Craig Council told us yesterday asked about it today um and just you know no no concerns obviously like the that’s another thing that Craig csil wanted to make clear like he’s in there today because you know there’s no issues

It was just a cautious approach and um just obviously didn’t want to push him at the beginning of Spring training let him kind of get his get back into it um so yeah so he looks like he’s good good to go at least and uh ready to take control of that opportunity and

Show what he’s made of again I don’t know what we’re going to get out of him this year I don’t know what we’re going to see from him but the Cubs believe in him he obviously believes in himself and I’m intrigued to see just what he can do

Um with what should be a more a little more leash right a a little more of a consistent opportunity than he’s had in the past yeah well you know anyone who thinks this guy is washed or not good like I just don’t I I’m never gonna understand it at least at this point

Because he has barely even had enough at bats to even to like to to even say that like he’s quite literally been blocked by Freddy Freeman for for two years basically right um so I I just think a rational person will give give the guy a chance and if you’re not then you’re

Just go yell at a wall about it real quick real quick real quick I’m I’m seeing in the chat that people are like someone kebert said shut him down if he has a shoulder injury it’s not a shoulder injury he had some little soreness coming into Camp well we’re

He’s fine he played today obviously like he’s good there’s no issues is what you know what what is the message is there’s no issues now it was just playing it cautious obviously because it’s the beginning of Spring training there’s no need to push anyone and not just Michael

Bush anyone that’s dealing with a little bit of anything there’s no need to push them it’s not a shoulder injury injury he had a little soreness but it’s it’s good now that was you know that’s the beginning of Spring training he’s good to go now he’s in games Craig Council

Said there’s no issues Michael Bush said they no issues he feels good so no no need to worry about shutting him down or anything if you’re in the chat saying that he’s he’s fine right they’re not shutting him down much closer to being shut down than he is at this point right

Like anyway like I Ryan confirm with me this did didn’t you say to me in the car the other day that he had been taking Bing practice anyway over the these last handful of days he he’d taken BP yeah yeah okay so what like didn’t think I TW

I think I put out a video of him taking BP like beginning of Spring again like it was cautious but today he was taking ground balls at first base he did BP and then he had three bats and most of the guys who started were out after two

Plate appearances so Council left him in there a little bit longer to get you know an extra at bat um he had a single up the middle in his second bat hadit a long Fly ball from where I was sitting I don’t know how deep it was but it did

Look like it was at least a warning track from where I was sitting um in his third it bat um and he walked in his first bat so you know there was nothing from today’s game at least if you give a sh that should give you any kind of

Negative feeling um yeah it’s it of course it’s wait and see but I could say that about freaking PCA or anyone else I really could I really could we’re gonna I mean people in our YouTube chat we’re judging PCA after 20 play appearances I mean we are we have we have people

People have lost their goddamn Minds for real like if if we’re just going to just assume this guy is is what he is I I I need to see more to fully believe that he is not good so um yeah no it’s good to see that he’s back and that you know

You know he’s probably I honestly won’t be surprised if he’s playing tomorrow so um yeah and again he he could be a big part of this year’s team someone asked me the other day like what I project for him and I like I didn’t really know off

Top of my head and I just kind of threw a name to him like a young first baseman that’s out there and I was just like you know I’m kind of optimistic that maybe he can give them like the first year of Tristan cassus uh for a combination of

Tristan casses his first and second year um and he was like a two a two and a half War player last year almost hit like 30 bombs but like he’s at first base so like war is kind of hard to measure when it comes to First basement

Because the defense just is not always the same as like a short stop or a second basement right so um yeah I I just I I think that the you know maybe the ceiling could be you know something like what Tristan Cassis was I don’t I don’t I

Don’t know but he definitely showed a little bit of everything today with his pled approach with the walk being able to hit the all Fields hitting the ball at the middle like I obviously just need to see more but it was a good first start for him

Today uh Becky and Gary want to talk West neski will do that in just a second I believe we have one more Super Chat do we have a super chat Sarah Sarah’s running the ones and twos back here in Chicago by the way and uh Ryan Lambert

For two bucks says 2025 Cubs will sign Juan stto calling it now calling a shot there you go there it is calling a shot much like Gary and I did about uh Cody Bellinger signing on 22 242 24 Lisa for listening to that and then tweeting out that she heard he had

Signed Luke is convenient is conveniently forgetting that he first said January 24th I did I I had my month wrong but I clarifi well then but okay my sources were off by a month at first that was actually my you also said 2424 you said oh two February 4th 2024 was

Your second guess you got that one wrong and obvious and obviously I hear Jeff pass making the 2024 242 24 prediction I didn’t hear it that’s because knew was happening own network was credit my own network wasn’t crediting the store and Ryan says according to Jeff

Passing when he knows I said it a month ago a month ago along with Gary uh anyways uh we’re gonna get to the West neski talk in just a bit but first I want to tell you about Cirus sports book Tight money line splits the lwh hold

Model games that strive to be a minus 110 split on circus Sports menu unlike other sports books may use minus 115 or minus 120 Cody swears by this like he making money hand over fist and these are real people behind the uh circus sports brand who resolve issues in a

Timely fashion unlike other books who use chat Bots is there anything worse than a chatbot out there no all uh real people and all aspects of the app are being run by the same team that runs the main Circa sports book at Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas um make sure you

Download the Circas Sports Illinois app at Circas Sports .c Illinois Dasa to sign up today also be on the lookout for the Circa events watch parties and tailgates if you are someone you know may have a problem with gambling call 1800 Gambler that’s 1800

426 2537 or text gam to 833 234 or visit are you really winning.com Cody any idea what kind of numbers we can get uh for Cody Bellinger MVP yet um I bet I bet those odds are not nearly as good as they were last year year I got him at

Plus 10,000 last year you know so but like the you know still a lot of doub yeah there’s still a lot of doubters but you know I’m sure that it’s not plus 10,000 I I I’d be shocked if it was but I tell you what it’s wor I’d sprinkle a

Little there maybe I think if the Cubs are good he’s gonna be a big part of it right yeah uh by the way game time comes up big it comes up big for us all the time we talk about you know uh the Die Hard membership and how it hooks you up

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Purchase terms apply again create an account redeem with the code chto for $20 off download game time today last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed guaranteed before we move to wesneski I just want to correct myself because it I’m you know I’m a man of integrity all right right like me with

The whole Korea thing yeah right uh I said Tristan casses hit like 30 bombs last year he hit 24 I said he had was like a two and a half War player he was a 1.7 but he wasn’t he’s a two point two . Z War uh two two years combined he

Played like a handful of games in 2022 so he got his he had his first full season last year still only played 132 games so he missed like 30 games I don’t know if it’s because he didn’t start the year team or not but again like you look

At what he did for you know a guy like in his first full season like a 1.7 fangraphs war is like I feel like that’s modest expectations for a guy like Michael Bush who can we help can we help out Michael Evans on a Super Chat

How do you put the code in bought tickets today on game time there’s no option for a code no no the Fe they show you the fees up front it’s not hidden fees but how do how do you put the code in for chg you remember the last time you did it on

Game Time send us a DM send us a DM to CH Sports and and somebody will answer that for you Michael I it’s like when you create your account so if you already have an account you can’t use it but like if you don’t like have an account or Michael you know are

You married get your get your wife to create an account work around yeah a little work around it’s all it’s about when you create your account that’s when you create your account first purchase $20 off that’s whatever uh and then Michel hold on Michael’s got another Super Chat Cubs get rewarded if PCA

Starts the year in Major League Baseball if he finishes high in rookie the year votes but no incentive if he starts in triaa it’s the from KB service time and new CBA he can still be sent down and come up later thanks for the comment and the superat it’s possible possible yeah

I mean I don’t know that I I don’t know that I see that as for sure a possibility possible though is there a different prospect that they could do that or is it just your top prospect or like how how does that I I know the rule

That he’s talking about I think Diamond Backs or someone got I know there were multip there had been at least a few teams that like benefited from this I but I’m with you I I don’t I personally don’t think PCA starts the year on team

But but I don’t know the rule like can it just be a a prospect so it’s it’s about promoting the best prospects to the big Le the best prospects not just like any old Prospect I guess so yeah so it would be like the PCA level I don’t

Know how far down it would go on the Cubs but it’s like that um but yeah uh real quick I just gotta Barb I am talking to you right now straight to Barb I did not say Michael Bush is injured I said he came into Camp started

Camp with a sore shoulder had soreness in his shoulder he’s good now he said he’s been throwing for quite a bit of time now he’s fine he was in the game today he’s not injured I never said that barb stop saying that I said that because I didn’t Barb puts words in our

Mouth she really does she she she’s put so many words in my mouth how’s it feel to be on this on that side Ryan well yours yours were deserved you want to trade all the best prospects Cody oh yeah like that’s EXA exactly what she

Says she always says I want to trade all the best prospects which is complete in order of [ __ ] but you know I just run with the bid at this point so I want to trade them all Barb Barb knows that the best thing to do is is always point out that I was

Right um if the Michael Bush thing doesn’t work out they’ve always got Garrett Cooper they’ve added another they’ve added another guy that could play some first base this year yeah see how many guys are they gonna have that can play first base 50 it’s like the when the Bears

Added like seven seven tight ends that one year trying to see if which one worked yeah yeah well Bellinger now is can also play first also play first right yeah so now well with dom Smith Garrick Cooper Bellinger Bush five so you got five but again two

Of them are minor leag Deals they might Morel has taken some time there right like we had Morell in the offseason working on it yeah sure the only guy that hasn’t tried it yet is is Madrigal but I’m sure that’s gonna happen before it’s all said and done are you worried

About West neski afterday Audi say it again Stucky are you worried about wesneski ending in a third six hits four in runs a home run there just you know spring spring training you’re not you don’t care well for one for one spring training and um like you know we

Talked to him after the game um as far as like what he wanted to work on you know filling up the Zone spinning the ball fill it up with the heater and and you know sprinkling the change up um you know as far as how he felt about it he

Said he he for the most part he did fill it up like he was the goal was but that um just the the pitch selection wasn’t great and that he had left just a few too many pitches over the middle um so he didn’t feel great about his his

Outing today um and that’s one of those tough things to balance right it’s like you know the spring results don’t matter you know a lot of guys go into that game with specific things they’re working on right and uh but at the end of the day

They do still want to have they still they still want to perform well like they want things that they’re working on to look good at when they do it in a spring training game so it is you know a little tough thing to to to word or a

Tough thing to kind of balance uh my worried about was deski no uh again it’s the first his first outing of spring training um but he’s got he’s got stuff to prove himself right like they they added a couple Bullpen pieces who I are think are going to start uh the start

The the year on the big league roster or know started with the Cubs um obviously brought it like the the pitching staff the number of uh open spots on the pitching staff has shrunk since last season uh and so like wineski got stuff to prove himself and so that’s why I

Think like why um he wants to do well in these outings because we know that last year the way he performed in Spring did help him you know kind of earn that spot to start the year and while Craig cin is a different manager than David Ross may

Not it may not affect him the same way um weski does got stuff to prove and he he wants to show that he can be um you know that guy whether it’s in the rotation the bullpen whatever it is that he that he um can be trusted with an

Opening day roster spot can be trusted to be on a big league roster to start the year so um yeah moving forward it’s another guy you’re going to want to watch out for for sure uh just to see how he performs whether that’s in games

Um you know how they how they feel about his uh live BPS or bullpens or other stuff during uh workouts uh throughout the rest of spring definitely an interesting um case of like there the roster is better now the the especially the the margins of the roster is better

Now um is a guy like Hayden wasi he do well and earn a spot on the opening day roster will he start the season with the team or is he going to be a guy that kind of gets edged out at least for the time being until the next opportunity

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Hooked up hooked up is what happened last week when in the office Charlie the bacon guy rolled in with his little griddle and bags full of bacon he made the whole place smell like heaven oh Charlie the bacon guy is based out of Woodridge Illinois he makes craft bacon

And bacon jams in over 35 different flavors bacon and bacon jams all naturally cured preservative free products no ingredients that Charlie can’t pronce pronounce himself involved in the process unlike most store-bought bacon vacuum sealed freezes perfectly bacon lasts in the package up to 60 days in the fridge one week after the Seal’s

Broken nine months in the freezer Bak bacon Jam lasts 90 days in the fridge up to a year in the freezer if you’re keeping it in the freezer that long you’re doing it wrong listen here’s some of the flavors for you on the on the bacon French toast jardinera raspberry

Chipotle Cody was big on that one bacon Jam flavors I just love the bourbon and the original but they’ve got other ones too bacon Jam perfectly on anything put your scrambled eggs your toast your crackers Burgers grilled cheese shakery boards even tried cinnamon rolls Game Changer Pizza too Charlie loves it on a

Spoon his old bacon Vault it’s got all the flavors but if there’s any missing you know not at that moment in stock it’s not currently available give Charlie about two weeks he’ll make it just for you starting now you can save 10% on your order at Charlie thebacon

Guy.com when you use the code chgo that’s right chgo you can pick it up most efficient way for you or he’ll deliver it to you meet you halfway even ship it he makes the bacon so you can bring it home on Instagram Charlie the bacing guy or email him Charlie thee baking guy

Gmail.com that bacon Jam I can tell you there’s only half of it left in my fridge put it in the eggs over the weekend I can’t wait to get to my bacon when I get home wow my fridge all right Cody what were you trying to say I’m

Sorry I wanted to get the ray shevy well what I was just going to say is that like the ass man wasn’t exactly great either on no on on Sunday so and I don’t feel any different about him so again it was I believe it was his first outing

Right Ryan right yeah so yeah yeah I mean listen does he have a lot to prove uh in 2024 yes um does he need to perform well to make a roster spot this this this spring I think so just because they have so many Swingman guys

Um and in the way that I what I mean by that is just like you know whether you know him Assad Drew Smiley um you know you know Ben Brown’s eventually gonna get an opportunity to be a similar type I think um so like

Yeah he’s got a lot to prove and I still think that he is he is a good pitcher he showed flashes of being really solid he mainly struggled against lefties last year what’s crazy today you know I don’t know what he was exactly working on whatever Ryan you would know more about

This but like and I think you probably said Cody was not listening I was not listening I was probably reading the chat um anyway like that first inning he allowed a hit then he got a gr he got Bobby Whit Jr the best player on the Royals to ground

Into a double play and then you know he gave up a few more hits and pra uh hit the homer so I I I don’t really know how to take anything away positive from it obviously so anyone who is thinking negatively I mean I guess I understand but it was

Just the first appearance of the spring and like again I you just got to think about what he did last year I I don’t necessarily think he has to be as good as he was in the spring last year but he definitely has to show

That he still has his stuff and he and he can be what the Cubs need him to be which is basically the role that I said I I don’t think he has any shot at the rotation and uh to finish Council has openly said like how

Much he likes the guy so it sounds like he’s gonna get he’s gonna have a good opportunity to at least make the roster so I’m not worried about him I’m not even I don’t even care that he did what he did today I’m just like I’m just

Curious to like how the Cubs are going to use them in in this season like it’s a big it’s not necessarily a question it’s just more more of like a curiosity of like the role because I I just he’s not going to be in the same role as last

Year he entered La he entered last year as a starter we all thought he like people were placing bets on him to win Rookie of the Year man like like it’s crazy when you think about it a year later but like his role is gonna be so

Different this year in my opinion so it’s for me it’s just like get get work on whatever you’re supposed to work on kid and like just show that the things that the coaches are looking for because again results don’t matter in the spring so you know he’s clearly got the stuff

Tommy hve has talked to us about him and his stuff right and they’re not he said they’re not basically said they’re not giving up on him as a starter either like they still see stuff in that from and that’s fair like it makes sense to

Him for him to actually be in that like position because they have so many lefties now with steel in in and imanaga you know if you put wicks in the rotation that’s three lefties but you know Wick’s he’s only been a starter in his professional career he’s only been a

Starter so that’s why I say that W nesi doesn’t really necessarily have a chance to be like an every fifth day guy but he can certainly be a guy who can make spot starts because council’s kind of talked about how you need more than five guys right

So you just got to find a way to make sure he makes this roster and he’s going to get his chance oh uh oh we lose him lost that’s a sign oh there he is said too not only will he stay on the roster but he will be able to you know

Become more reliable and maybe that will eventually get him into the into the rotation one day so yeah that’s right like it is what it is yeah I’ve you know I’ve talked to him um actually we’ll have a uh on camera interview coming up in the near future oh beautiful that

That’s called a tease lukee stuck talk that um but you know it’s the same thing like he still wants to be a starter he still wants to be a starter in the big leagues um and that you know that’s his goal he wants to be a starting pitcher

In the big leagues and he hasn’t given up on that obviously now what the Cubs the role the Cubs put him in is out of his control um if he starts the season in the minor leagues that’s out of his control but you know what whoever starts

As what we said whoever starts the season on the opening day roster they’re still going to need way more than that way more than those 26 guys to get them through the 162 Game season we lost Cody just disappeared uh Into The Ether whatever the word is um but yeah no but they’re

Gonna need more than the 26 guys that leave Mesa to go to Chicago with the Cubs on opening day H so whether he starts in the major leagues or is in Triple A to start the year um I think that there’s still he’s still one of

Those guys that will have to well will need will need to be step up and produce at some point for the Cubs I got that one up uh he’ll need to step up and produce for the Cubs at some point this year um and and that’s just you know

Regardless of where he starts the season that’s that’s what he’s got to show he can do is that he could be one of those guys that when they call his name he can be a trusted arm out of the bullpen in the rotation whatever it is he could be

A trusted arm for him credit to us for going 15 minutes long an hour and 15 minutes on this podcast you guys have uh 24 more hours less than 24 hours now to complete the domination of the Arizona coverage of spring training by the way uh brought to

You by our friends at Blue Moon made brighter get Blue Moon delivered and uh see delivery options by visiting Blue Moon beer.com chgo celebrate responsibly Blue Moon Brewing Company Golden Colorado uh one more chance to dominate again tomorrow credit to us for dominating so far the Bellinger story

Breaking the Bellinger story a month ago uh credit well to me and then credit to you guys for agreeing with me and uh credit to us that will dominate again tomorrow and Gary I believe Ryan is working on a one-on-one exclusive sitdown interview with slaughter so we

Will see if that happens I can’t guarantee it but most likely we would run that just in the Discord just in the Discord also I I believe we still have two more Super chats two more Super chats do we have more Super chats Sarah I believe so that’s what she

Sarah’s running the ones in two but it’s possible checked out at this point okay my bad I was reading our private chat it said that we had two more my bad don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story so you’ve had waterburger did you have Inn out or

Not no water just Water Burger Tortilla Factory no not yet okay not yet all right we got we got plenty to do before we leave tomorrow that’s right credit to everyone that way Barb knows so that way she doesn’t yell at us this was live we’re live at 3:30 Chicago time tomorrow

3:30 back to 3:30 tomorrow Chicago time everybody get that barb 3:30 tomorrow bring the bacon we’ll be here thanks to everybody for watching the chgo Cubs podcast back at 3:30 tomorrow until then thanks for watching and fly the W sitting like the mayor