Craig Counsell

All right, uh, currently the Phillies have a one-game lead over Chicago for the top wildcard spot in the National League.

If you're Don Mattingly and Craig Counsell, how hard do you go after that four seed?

Okay.

I, I don't think historically it's mattered as far as, like, wins and losses.

I wanna give them playoff baseball in our home park." And obviously the wildcard, they're all in one spot, so that's the only way to do it is to host it.

Um, that's, that'd be my reasoning.

reasoning.I think if it's Craig Counsell, it's imperative.

I don't think it's as big for Don Mattingly.

All right, uh, so load up the phone lines at 312-323-7760.

In case you're just joining us, we had a hot and heavy conversation about the Cubs and Craig Counsell's moves.

The White Sox need a win tonight against Pittsburgh.

The Bears are back on the practice field today after having yesterday off, a rare Wednesday off.

It's just, again, I just keep hammering that it has to happen in the next 15 games.

Another big takeaway for me is what's gonna happen with Dansby Swanson? Now, we heard from Craig Counsell that Dansby Swanson is gonna f- uh, pitch a...

He's gonna hit against, what's it called? I think a, a Trax machine-

Okay

We differ when it comes to division.

Like, for me, that was a big check mark for me.

Like, to, for Craig Counsell to finally, you know, uh, uh, take over his mentor, for the Cubs to finally flex their financial muscles and, and, and that Wrigley Field crazy fan base, and to win the Central.

But like I said in my earlier comment, that's what I wanted and what I really, really was hopeful for and what I thought was going to happen.

Here's a three-part question for you, Jensen.

One What should Jacob Webb's mindset be right now? Two, what should Craig Counsell do with the closer position? And three, what price would you need to bet the Cubs to miss the playoffs?

Wow.

Um, okay.

They're like, "Come hell or high water, do we want this guy closing out games?" Guess what? Down the stretch, he was ridiculously good.

He was so crucial for them in the postseason, ended up working its way out.

I don't know if that can be said for the Chicago Cubs because Craig Counsell doesn't really have another guy in-house.

E- uh, Danny Palencia did a lot of the closing last year.

Whether they blow this and, and [laughs] and fall out of the playoff race, which has suddenly become possible, is something we can, we'll see over the next two weeks.

But, uh, last night's game brought about some second, some, uh, some doubters of, of Craig Counsell, right? It happened on Monday night and, and let's, uh, that's, that's what the first question is here.

Uh, Jamie Weiss wants to know, "What possible reason would Counsell have for pinch-hitting a rookie with one [laughs] MLB hit for a guy that crushed a big double off their closer the night before?" I, I don't know if you have thoughts on this, Patrick.

I, I can give you what I immediately looked up when, when this happened, and, and what I wanted to know, and what I thought of.

But, uh, I'm curious w- if you were, uh, if y- if you have thoughts on, like, what your takeaway was seeing that.

Carson Kelly had a big double yesterday off Trevor McGill.

It...

So, first of all, why did Craig Counsell do that? He had a very simple answer.

I wanted to ask you.

If the Cubs don't make the playoffs, is Counsell in the hot seat?

Yes, but they're gonna make the playoffs.

That last wild card.

Too little, too late.

And then maybe a questionable pinch hit decision by Craig Council.

Baseball and football, top of mind.

The NFL season did kick off last night with a game that I don't think really wowed or thrilled anybody, although it was an exciting finish for as boring as the game was for about the first 35, 40 minutes, 45 minutes even.

to win a lot in the regular season when you have an organization that's doing the things the Brewers are doing right now.

And it is impressive, and you tip your cap to them.

And what drew the ire, I think, of a lot of Cup fans last night was this idea that analytics are running amok and that Craig Council is pinch-hitting for Carson Kelly at the end of the game.

You're dying to get PCA to the plate there.

Come on, man.

Like, now, now you're starting to snap into this realization that other people have strikeout stuff when they need it, and you don't? I, I just hope Craig Counsell knew what he was signing up for when he took this job.

Listen, I, I don't wanna just repeat myself every show.

Like, I think they do value that.