How do we rate that now? How do we like straight the schedule? Who'd you beat? Who'd you play? You can switch the argument to make it fit your framework for just about any school you want out there.

It's madness in college football this year.

It's just insane.

I did the South Carolina-Tennessee game last weekend, and prep for that game included going and watching South Carolina go on the road and beat Florida.

So it's an interesting...

It's an interesting conversation because you look at the record of South Carolina, you look at some of their losses and you think, OK, they're not as good.

But then they go into to Gainesville and beat a really good Florida team.

Is Kentucky legit in your mind? And should we be taking them much more seriously?

What are some of your early thoughts here as we're getting closer to that game?

Well, it's funny because it feels like almost like rinse and repeat of the game we had last weekend.

You know, you have this Tennessee team coming off this emotional win over Alabama and then this South Carolina team that's coming off a bye week, which is exactly what happened last weekend, Georgia versus Auburn.

And you could take it even a step further and you have a big physical quarterback like Auburn has with Byron Brown, like South Carolina has with Lenora Sellers.

And that's a problem.

For me, this game comes down to can...

South Carolina's offensive line hold up against this Tennessee defense.

The head coaching position and what this is going to look like for this team if they can't get this win.

What are some of your early thoughts here as we're getting closer to that game?

Well, it's funny because it feels like almost like rinse and repeat of the game we had last weekend.

You know, you have this Tennessee team coming off this emotional win over Alabama and then this South Carolina team that's coming off a bye week, which is exactly what happened last weekend, Georgia versus Auburn.

And you could take it even a step further and you have a big physical quarterback like Auburn has with Byron Brown, like South Carolina has with Lenora Sellers.

And that's a problem.

For me, this game comes down to can...

South Carolina's offensive line hold up against this Tennessee defense.

The head coaching position and what this is going to look like for this team if they can't get this win.

What have been some of your favorite memories from the last seven seasons with Marquee and covering the Cubs?

I think when I look back and why the decision was so hard for me, it was just I really have enjoyed the people and the place of Wrigley Field in Chicago.

You know, like my favorite part of the gig is everybody that I've come across with, all you guys, you know, everybody on the beat, everybody at Marquee, everybody in the Cubs front office, in the organization, everybody.

I just, when you're someplace for seven years, you get to build real relationships.

And when I first came here, obviously I didn't know anybody.

And, you know, I'm leaving with some really awesome friendships.

And so I think that is first and foremost, like, what I've enjoyed the most.

Can you tell the listeners, tell the fans why this really was such a dream job for you and how much you really wanted to do this?

Is it really possible that the Dogs are, as the number two ranked team in the country, are actually below the collective radar here going into week three?

You know, I think that's an interesting question.

Obviously, when you have a number two next to your name, you're really not underrated.

However, would I say they're being talked about as much? Maybe not, um, in comparison to years past, and probably some of that is the way last year unfolded with a loss to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl and, and just didn't look like as dominant of a Georgia team as we had seen when they won, won their back-to-back national championships.

So I'm really excited about what Georgia brings to the table.

I think the defense looks incredible.

Obviously, that's what you expect with a Kirby Smart coached team, but that was where the issues were a year ago.

Uh, for, for someone who covers and sees this team all the time, is there an X factor for you, uh, whether it be on the pitching side, position player side, uh, someone who you believe could be that de facto game changer when the calendar turns to the postseason?

Sure.

I do know that.

So I believe the, how the, the screen was even on was because of another line.

Now, the operator was in the press box side of the tower.

So that was my understanding, is there's just different power lines.

Um, I've had to, like, Google and learn this stuff.

Yeah.

And, uh, so anyways I had known that going in, because I've been to Baltimore a couple times, and then all of the players saw how exposed I was.

What was this like to experience?

It was wild in the sense of nobody knew what was unfolding in real time.

So you're sitting there and one person will say one thing, the next person will say the next thing, and everybody's just kind of guessing.

And so I felt like my job in that moment was to go to the decision makers.

So obviously on the field, the white hat, and then after everybody left the field, Basically being in the pocket of Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, because I knew he would have all the information, and so that's really what I tried to do.

But it was one of those moments you really have to put on your journalism hat and just be a reporter.

And so it was kind of crazy for an hour and 45 minutes and the delay.

Correct me if I'm wrong before we move on to talking about the Cubs, but weren't you on the sidelines for the crazy Arizona State-BYU game that ended but didn't end and then almost ended and then ended?

What was this like to experience?

It was wild in the sense of nobody knew what was unfolding in real time.

So you're sitting there and one person will say one thing, the next person will say the next thing, and everybody's just kind of guessing.

And so I felt like my job in that moment was to go to the decision makers.

So obviously on the field, the white hat, and then after everybody left the field and Basically being in the pocket of Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, because I knew he would have all the information, and so that's really what I tried to do.

But it was one of those moments you really have to put on your journalism hat and just be a reporter.

And so it was kind of crazy for an hour and 45 minutes and the delay.

Correct me if I'm wrong before we move on to talking about the Cubs, but weren't you on the sidelines for the crazy Arizona State-BYU game that ended but didn't end and then almost ended and then ended?

What was this like to experience?

It was wild in the sense of nobody knew what was unfolding in real time.

So you're sitting there and one person will say one thing, the next person will say the next thing, and everybody's just kind of guessing.

And so I felt like my job in that moment was to go to the decision makers.

So obviously on the field, the white hat, and then after everybody left the field, Basically being in the pocket of Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, because I knew he would have all the information.

And so that's really what I tried to do.

But it was one of those moments you really have to put on your journalism hat and just be a reporter.

Correct me if I'm wrong before we move on to talking about the Cubs, but weren't you on the sidelines for the crazy Arizona State-BYU game that ended but didn't end and then almost ended and then ended?

Can you give us what actually ended up happening to get to where we were at the beginning of that game yesterday, Taylor?

So it's still not confirmed exactly what caused the power outage, but Pat, I am with you.

I have heard the same rumor that there was a car crash which ultimately caused a power outage on Sunday night, and then they believe led to the power outage, um, at the stadium.

But that has not been confirmed.

I tried to get it confirmed several times last night, but nobody could.

Um, so basically what happened was the power went out, and then like anybody w- would do if, if your light isn't working in your bathroom or whatever, you go to try to reset it.

And when they reset the transformer, it basically blew.

But how long did the teams have to prepare for having to do, like, number system hand signaling as opposed to what the modern football is with everything basically on comms?

Yeah.

You lose two in a row in college football, it kind of is the end of the world.

And so intensity is high, and, um, it's also, again, the, the sport I think just lends itself to being more intense because of what they do on the field.

You're literally beating your bodies into one another.

And so, um, it's, it's certainly much more intense, and it's, it's a, an atmosphere that, that I love this time of year, but it's also a fun balance with baseball just because the sport lends itself to being much more anecdotal in the form of a broadcast, and you get deeper relationships with the athletes, and it's just totally different.

So they're fun for each of them in their own seasons.

[laughs]

But then you'll get him in certain moments, like I gave a report, I think we were in Arizona, and I was asking him, you know, "Do you ever sit back and just like watch highlights of yourself?" And he starts laughing.

Yeah.

You lose two in a row in college football, it kind of is the end of the world.

And so intensity is high, and, um, it's also, again, the, the sport I think just lends itself to being more intense because of what they do on the field.

You're literally beating your bodies into one another, and so, um, it's, it's certainly much more intense, and it's, it's a, an atmosphere that, that I love this time of year, but it's also a fun balance with baseball just because the sport lends itself to being much more anecdotal in the form of a broadcast, and you get deeper relationships with the athletes.

And it's just totally different, so they're fun for each of them in their own seasons.

[laughs]

But then you'll get him in certain moments.

Like, I gave a report, I think we were in Arizona, and I was asking him, you know, "Do you ever sit back and just like watch highlights of yourself?" And he starts laughing.

Do you have any insight into maybe like what his process was or what he did even within this year to affect that change?

Yeah, I think there's a lot.

I think Alex Bregman, which has been well-documented, has helped him with really his approach when he steps into the batter's box.

So that was huge really at the end of May to kind of hone in on one pitch in one area of the zone and – do damage on that pitch when you get it.

And that's kind of what got him into the rhythm.

And then once you start feeling convicted and feeling confident with your swing, then you can expand a little bit and get to more pitches.

So, yeah, one thing that I found interesting last night, though, is you just mentioned, T-Bob, that he's been much more patient at the plate.

How has his transition gone throughout this year? And obviously he's peaking right now at a very important time.

What differentiates PCA, not only offensively, but a generational defensive player in center field? What really makes him a cut above as that National League MVP candidate?

Yeah, so I think if you just look at him and Ohtani, for me, i- i- it's gonna depend a lot on how long Ohtani isn't pitching, so that, we'll start there.

But look, PCA is the best defender in baseball.

And honestly, it's not close.

Um, he just broke a Statcast record for the most five-star catches.

And Cubs fans, you know, we almost take him for granted because he makes the routine, um, look so, or the hard play, ex- sorry, excuse me.

He looks, makes the hard play look so routine.

And could you envision three teams out of the Central making it to October?

Were you shocked that he, he finished 14th amongst all outfielders? And this is a year after he was number one in All-Star votes.

Well, it, it's completely different, right? Because last year he had got off to that hot start, so you're basically being judged by your first eight weeks of the season because that's essentially when the voting starts, and so he had not been as good.

Last year was when he was red hot.

So I, I don't know if I was necessarily surprised.

Um, I, I think with the, the recent success, I'm hopeful he will be able to, to sneak in and at least go to the All-Star game.

Um, but no, I, I wasn't super surprised.

And as for the hate, it's so funny.

So from someone who has covered his whole career here in Chicago like you have up close and personal, what is he like to deal with?

So i- is- it something that has changed in his delivery or his pitch mix? Is it easy to kind of zero in on what's happened?

Yeah.

So for him, he's always been a fly ball pitcher.

So they knew when they brought him to Wrigley there were going to be home runs.

That's a reality of this ballpark, especially as the season progresses and the weather warms up.

Um, so I think it's natural that there was an expectation the way the season started wasn't going to be the way the season finished because, again, you expect the- the warm summer months at Wrigley.

What was interesting about Shota at the beginning of the year was the chase was way up.

Uh, what is it gonna take for the offense to get going? Is it a guy getting hot like that, or are there other guys like a Dansby Swanson, whose numbers are really down this year, uh, that needs to kinda find his position in the order to help the offense out?

How's it going so far?

Yeah.

It's been a wild ride.

I mean, the Cubs currently sitting on Tuesday as the best team in the National League Central with one of the best records in baseball.

Do I think that's completely descriptive of what's gone on? No, because the biggest story to me is the pitching and the injuries and everything that's unfolded there.

I mean, the Cubs' three best pitchers are on the IL, and for the majority of the season too, right? I mean, obviously you lose Cade Horton at the beginning of the year, who had a lot of promise going into this season.

Justin Steele, who had been the ace, missed last year and then, uh, he will miss a majority of this season, and then Matthew Boyd's gonna miss a big chunk.

Can you tell us about that, how it started, how we can help promoting it?

But like, yeah, what's it been like?

Well, it's been so fun because people always ask me, they're like, what do you like, college football more or baseball? And the thing that's unique, especially in my role, is I'm not a part of the team, but I'm around so much that I kind of am.

And so... you just feel like you're celebrating with a hundred or not a hundred, you know, 45,000 of your closest friends with the whole stadium.

And it's, it's so much fun.

That's what, I mean, there's so many awesome parts about Wrigley, but to me, it's like the intimacy and it feels like every fan there is your friend and we're all in this together.

And I think the players even feel that too.

And so it's just, it's, it's the best.

Do you, do you, do you, do you sense that at all? Do you deal with that in your life? How, how do you deal with that as a baseball fan to not, to not, to not fear what is coming to kind of be present with what is.