Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Full Show — March 24, 2026

Episode Date: March 24, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote reacted to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong agreeing to a long-term contract extension with the Cubs and discussed what it means for the club moving forward. Also, what should we expect from Crow-Armstrong in the years to come?

This hour is brought to you by vasectomy clinics of Chicago. The views and opinions of Lela Rahimi, Marshall Harris, and Mark Grody should not be taken too seriously. Especially when they give advice. Do not take Marshall's analogies, literally. Especially when it comes to Russell Dorsey. The sports thoughts of Rahimi Harrison Grody may change at any time. It's just sports. Okay, thanks.

Bye. Rahimi Harrison Grody, 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. We all here on this show conspired to put together the best of the audio. And there was some very entertaining stuff. I would like to start, though. This was the in-game Lauren Shahadi interview with the head coach for Villanova. Kevin Willard, take a listen, please. Coach, 16 paid points for Utah State.

How do you keep them out? I'm going to fire my staff because we've given up eight points on underneath that a defense, so the only thing I'm going to do is father them and get a new step. No wink, no smile, just a scowl. Obviously, like, he didn't fire them in game, but he was pissed. I think the main difference between me and Donald Trump is that I get no pleasure out of saying the words you're fired. You're foiled. You're fired.

He just makes people sad. Best part about that is they went and watched him, and they were like, oh, is he going to fire them or not? Because obviously they're not going to happen during the games. I was like, okay, it looks like they made it through the timeout. Like, he was getting fired. Because he's doing the interview as he's going back to the bench where the assistants and the players are. Nobody's walking off the court.

It was funny, but also a little cringe, but the cringe kind of made it more funny. I just, I cringe when you talk. Here's Willard being questioned about it in the post game. Yeah, I'll probably have to make some changes to my staff just because of how bad we were. You gave an interview during the game. It went viral. You're being criticized pretty heavily online. I don't care.

A joke. Welcome to my life. I like that he actually clarified that it was joke, because let me tell you something. In the post game interview mark, it did not sound like a joke. I don't think he was a joke. I think he was pissed at his staff. No, I mean, it was a joke that he was going to fight. I think he was angry with his staff, though. I'm going to walk away.

I'm going to walk away. I'm kidding around. Wow. Relax, everybody. It's just a joke. It's fine. I'm not fire my staff because we... Not now. Yeah, I am. Lela Rahimi. Harris, Mark Grody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 1043, The Score.

Props to Lauren Shahati. She was right. It wasn't now. There you go, Lauren. This is Rahimi Harris and Grotie. It is Mark Grody and Laila Rahimi with you on this Tuesday, a midday here on 1043, The Score. And you know what did happen now? Relatively now, within the last 12 hours, Mark Grody was a slothie. because he's getting 10 hours over here. Your beauty rust. While you were sleeping, maybe not anybody else, PCA with the big extension. And the Cubs have set a direction with this. This is a big deal for many reasons.

So you woke up to this news. Sorry, not sorry. Yes, I put in the work last night, watched every drop of the Bulls game as we were all. We all did. You, me and Marshall, we were all chatting it up about that Bulls game. and then I have discovered sleep over the last five days. I went right to bed. I have to tell you, though,

there is nothing like that Christmas Day feeling if you are a sports fan and you're not aware of what went on and you turn on your phone. And then the PCA stuff is popping all over the place that the Cubs have reportedly do have a deal in place with PCAs through, a little bit vague on the details right now, Leila, but through maybe 2032 for about a home. million or so it has happened. Pete Crowell Armstrong will be here into the future. Well, and this was a debate that we had a lot last year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie.

And at this time last year, not exactly this time, but I would say probably in May when you really felt good about the Cubs last year when they had gone through the NL West with really high success, faced the toughest division in baseball. They had proven to you the office. Offense was good at the time. That was when Kyle Tucker was also swinging the bat really well. We saw Pete Kromstrung. Remember that Dodgers game? They're in L.A.

It's Sunday night baseball. And he absolutely owned that stage. Long home runs. And, you know, Dodger Stadium, even though, even at night, that Marine layer will drag a ball down. Not for him, you know, was on the stage in his hometown, hitting multiple home runs in that game. And I just remember thinking, are we watching the ascension of someone? And the first half for him was no doubt.

absolutely fabulous. We saw how it tailed off in the second half. And I thought for that reason, maybe the Cubs would wait. And, you know, we messed with Marshall a little bit about it, too. We're like, oh, I'm still feeling confident about the PCA extension week. But I think this says a lot about what the Cubs think of not just the market of offense of Major League baseball and how we've seen the prices go so sky high.

But also how they want to invest in somebody who they rightfully should not let walk out that door. don't forget that you traded your core in that pivotal season, the guys that brought you 10 years ago, a World Series, and that Javi Bayez trade is what brought you Pete Crow Armstrong. You should retain, if you did your job right, talent like that. And for that alone, not to get into his potential, which we will, but based on the season he had, based on how you understand how this market goes, and if you really want to have intelligent spending,

this was an intelligent spend. I like that the Cubs chose the projection of what he did in the first half of the season as opposed to the second half of the season. Pre-All-Star slashed 265, 302, 544, 25 homers,

27 stolen bases, 131 WRC plus. Four fastest player in Major League history to reach 25 home runs and 25 steals in a season. Post-all-star break. It needs to be mentioned. 216, six home runs, eight stolen bases, the slash, if you'd like, 216, 262, 372. That WRC plus goes from 131. 100 is average, by the way, goes from 131 down to 72 from that 131.

On the show yesterday, Leila, we had a five on it question. Who is the player that you are most sure about with the Cubs? Michael Bush in my case. Who was the player that you're least sure about? And I said yesterday Pete Crow Armstrong because I'm not sure about what he is, but I like that the Cubs, because they know a lot more than I do, that they are projecting this guy to be a $100 million contract guy, which may be, may turn out to be a team-friendly deal still.

Well, and I think just based on the price of free agent hitting, It is inherently a team-friendly deal. Now, do you expect him? And this is, I had to go to my note cards for this, not even the notebook, but the no cards. That's huge. That's huge. Did you guys see this? The index cards are out for Layla Rahimi.

Twitch.tv slash Chicago, no, not Chicago 670, the score. Twitch. I did that, I did that like four times yesterday. I know. It's our address changed. The score Chicago is where you can find us now on Twitch and on YouTube. So yes, if you look on that Twitch or you. that. Look at you. And your handwriting is so nice. It's great girl handwriting. It's so nice.

Well, I hold the pencil weird because I taught myself how to write. Anyway, here's what I wrote on here. 45, weighted runs created plus the last two months of the season. It was as bad as you thought it was. And he's made a lot of adjustments when it comes to how he's trying to, he's talked about it too, with hitting coach John Maley and others, how he's trying to do more in the box. like his initial setup going to the box. It wasn't what he wanted it to be. How is that affecting the entire apparatus of your swing after that? I think it was more affecting his pitch selection. And you and I have talked about this.

Guy was confident in being a bad ball hitter. Well, that doesn't mean you need to swing at every slider in the dirt. Said every person to every baseball player ever, right? But I feel like with him especially, how much can those adjustments help you? And for the Cubs to be able to put this vote, confidence into him. I don't think he's the guy who gets the contract and is like, okay, I'm good. That guy wasn't hurting for money to begin with growing up, went to one of the most

prestigious private schools in Southern California. You know, he comes from that kind of background. So I don't, I don't think that's going to be an issue. I think for him, it's the pressure is off. Do the things that we're telling you to do. Watch the benefits happen for you. And even in the World Baseball Classic. I got that impression. The goal is to not have the 45 WRC Plus, to have the bat at bats the last couple months of the year. The goal for you is to take that pressure off. Don't always have to swing for the fences. Pete and I need to get on baseball. Stop playing the garbage.

We're going to play that all day today. The score caller who was that, that was during the playoffs, right? Gallagher Way. I remember looking out onto the Clark Street and trying to figure That's a, for me, that very much I remember exactly where you were moment and what the conditions were. The little sunshine kissed. I remember there were people leaning on the statues in Gallagher Way and I was a little offended by that. That is not your seat, sir. And then we had that call, which as you said, we will play in full at the end of the show. Is that when we're doing that?

Yeah. Okay. Something to look forward to. I have a feeling it's going to get broken out here and there. but just getting back to the thought process of what Pete Crow Armstrong went through in the last couple months of the year where that collar is correct. He was swinging at garbage. And then, hey, pressure's off. We trust you.

We believe in you. Here's a huge contract to back it up. Go out there and be the best version of herself you can be. I think part of Pete Crawler Armstrong's problem was, and he expressed this even, whenever he was asked what you are, a hitter. His answer was always, I don't know. It was a revelation to all of us that he had that sort of slug in the first half of the season, just bombing the baseball all over the place. I don't think any of us looked at Pete Crowe Armstrong, even when he was traded to the Cubs and said, oh yeah, this is going to be a slug guy. We knew he was going to be a defensive player.

We knew that the hit tool was there, but more singles and doubles, and he's got to be a lead-off hitter. He's got to be a lead-off hitter and all of that. But he got a taste of hitting home runs, it's pretty hard to undo that feeling to start to think that you're not a slugger. Once you get a taste of what has to feel the best for any hitter in Major League Baseball, of hitting the ball over the wall, how do you adjust in season when you start to do that? I don't think the Cubs know exactly where he lands in Slug, and I don't even know if PCA knows exactly who he is as a hitter right now. I'm pretty confident. He's probably a 20 home run hitter. I don't know if he's a 30 home run hitter. Well, that's it.

And as we try to figure that out with him, the stolen basis factor into this as well. Don't forget that. I think they see his potential as being that. You know, he went on an absolute tear in that first half, the 265-302-544 slash lane. But it was really that 25 home runs and 27 bases. And that's why just knowing the background of the Cubs when it comes to how they've signed players and how they've approached this. And yes, I'm thinking about Kyle Schwerber right now.

I'm sorry. I'm not sorry. I have to acknowledge that. Might be my favorite cover that year. You can't let a small slump or what you think might be a small slump. Get away like you did the last time. And if that, if he doesn't end up being the hitter that Schwerber is that we've seen since he left the building. I still think it's smarter money spent than watching Schwerber walk, for example.

I thought about that. Did you, when this came through, did you give that any thought at all? I did, and maybe even that, and you brought this up in the pre-show backstage, that it has been rare in this era of the Cubs, and I say, like the Jed Hoyer era going back to, what, 2012? It has been rare when the Cubs have rewarded one of their own young players, right? And I had, like when you asked that question. Take a trading hobby, for example, this was the transaction. Everybody got traded.

Chris Bryant got traded. Anthony Rizzo got traded. And the only person, when you said that off the top of my head that I could think of that got paid, and these numbers are extraordinarily different, was the year 2013 when Anthony Rizzo, who was kind of star-crossed at that time? He did not have the confidence that he ended up starting to get. In 2013, Anthony Rizzo agreed to a seven-year $41 million deal. It was great business for the Cubs. I'm sure Anthony Rizzo probably when he looks back on it.

Maybe he's even on record as saying he regrets it. But there was some insecurities with Rizzo at the time and what he would be at the big league level. Well, don't forget, too, the Rizzo was traded for. Yes. That was the Andrew Kassner trade. Absolutely. Yes, Andrew. Right, right.

Because Jett Hoyer just kept on acquiring since the Boston days got him in San Diego, got him with the Cubs. So you do give the Rizzo, the whole Rizzo thing to Jet Horry. That was Hoyer's baby all along. Well, and they, you know, they had the background with San Diego professionally as well. Yes. You know. Oh, yeah. That Poir ran the Padres.

He was the GM for the San Diego Padres. So there's that aspect of it too. And, you know, at the time, I remember there being a lot of confidence in Cashner, knowing that he could throw over a hundred very easily and consistently. I was excited. And Rizzo has famously said, I was there for the interview session when he was in San Diego. And he said this. He's like, guys, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

He used that exact quote. when I was with the Padres. And we saw how that change of scenery worked for him. Yeah, and he struggled with the Cubs for a while. He did. He did. He did. And that's why he agreed to

a seven-year $41 million deal and never got the mass of money with the Cubs. This is Rahimi Harrison Brody on 104. We want to get your opinions, too, on P. Kroar Armstrong, signing this extension. 312, 64, 64, 67, 67 is our number. You can call and you can text us. But I think, too, is this is a change.

of direction for the Cubs front office. This, as you've mentioned, this is not something that they have typically done in the past. And if you're really intent on spending money smartly, and they don't even use that phrase anymore, I'm not even using it against them. I think this is a case where they're doing it right, because if you see any upside compared to the second half of what he did last year, and a lot of people do, then it was the smart thing to go ahead and do what teams like the Padres did with Jackson Merrill or the Brewers with Jackson Churio. Just lock it down because that money only gets higher the better they get.

Also, other GMs around the league, like if you ask any of those guys, the player they're going to point to on the Cubs and say, oh, yeah, PCA. Like if you have any kind of scouting eye, you look at Pete Crowe Armstrong and say, yeah, you definitely invest in that, even if you know that there's a little bit of mystery at the absolute base, he's going to be a gold glove outfielder. That never was affected last year. He's going to steal every base. And even if he does struggle again, he's still probably going to make things happen

and drive opposing teams crazy and affect the game even if the numbers don't show it. So that's at the minimum. And I think that's part of how they could justify it. I think one other note of justification, and this is way at the bottom, is there a more perfect, touchable Cubs superstar or superstar in the making? I don't know if I'm going to call him a superstar yet because he embraces it. He loves talking to the people. He loves dealing with kids.

And we know that that is quintessential Cubs star. I mean, think Sammy Sosa about how touchable he was and how fan-friendly he was, whether it was genuine or not. I don't feel like doing a Sosa argument right now. But he is a perfect Cubs star in the middle. making you invest in him for reasons even beyond what he does on the baseball field. Let's do a thought exercise real quick. Oh, I mean.

Prior to yesterday, who would you have said as the face of the Cubs franchise? Right at this very moment. No, prior to yesterday. PCA. PCA, absolutely. Because I think a lot of people would have given us different answers. No, man, because he's all over the page. He hangs out with Caleb Williams.

Today, I know exactly who the team wants to be the face of the franchise. I knew yesterday, too, just because he likes being the face of the... Because there's nobody else... That's the thing. There's really no other outward personalities on this team, and that's fine. I mean, the Cubs are grinders, man. There's nobody else who embraces the limelight like Pete Crowe-Armstrong. He insists on being the face of the team, and that's okay.

A couple of random receipts for you here on Rahimi Harrison Grody. Don't ever forget that it was... Was that the Markey Video? That was Marquis Sports Network that put that together, right? It was Ian Hap and Pete Crowe Armstrong nailing all of the Chicago lingo? Yeah, that was marquee. Did Pete Corr Armstrong know that the jewel was a grocery store? I have to listen back to it.

I don't remember. The jewels. Sorry, you mispronounced it. I did mispronounce it. I know you told me never to correct you, but yeah, Jules. I said to never correct me. That's what I always say would people correct me. What did I tell you about correcting me on the air?

Well, and then I'm asking you the question, which would mean inherently your response would be correct. That is true. Tools. But you got to add this. While we're at it, I hear you saying Soldier Field way too much. It's Soldiers. It is Soldiersfield. There is one that came through on Twitter and I forget what it was. And I was like, oh, I didn't think of that one. If I remember, I'll let you guys know. But yeah, you'll hear your Hill front with audio today from a lot of our PCA sound that we have and I think interviews. Thanks to Tyler Beterbaugh, our producer, Ray Diaz, who was a part of our producing crew as well. You heard Ray earlier talk to me about about our marquee sports network video. We got to go back and see that's on their Instagram if you want to check it out. Mark Grotie is hosting with me today. Layla Rahimian 104, The Score. As I forgot, our Twitch and our YouTube address is

The Score, Chicago. The Score. Chicago. Add the Chicago part. That's very important. We broadcast live from the Scores Hyundai Studios, brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers. And when we have breaking news on the score,

it is brought to you by Wildfire. Enjoy a delicious meal at Wendie. wildfire restaurants with five Chicago land locations. Our video crew is Connor O'Donnell, Jacob Stutz, and Max Curtis, and Cody Westerland. Man's our Bulls coverage and our website as well. Coming up next, let's get into some of the deep dives of the best practices of extensions. I mentioned a couple you may know. Here's a couple that were also bargains, and you might be surprised.

We'll do that next. Rahimi Harris and Grody. Bears tight end. Cole Komet. call welcome to the party pal well thanks for having me i heard it was a big day so naturally i dropped everything i had going on today you've complained a lot through the years about not being able to hear the score on the 670 a.m dial when you're inevitably cruising around downtown and now that we have an fm signal call you can now hear the score all day all the time all you want you can hear all the where's hot takes you want.

Well, that's perfect. I'll make sure I blast that in the locker room. Beautiful batch! Rahimi, Harris and Grody. Midday's Tyndle 2 on 1043 the score. The jewel? That's Joe Osco, no?

Gotta be. Yeah, that's right. Dansby did not know about the ways of the jewel. But Yinn Haft and Peacrow Armstrong, well, well. That's Joe Osco, no? Gotta be. Hap's Chicago Act aptitude should be.

at a 10 because he's been here for 10 plus years now. Yeah, and Hap deserves Bears for going to the 6 to 3 game against the Seahawks. Oh, yeah, he does. We'll have to reevaluate his Bears scale at some point in time. Dahl, you did Jack Sanborn? You're still mad at that, aren't you? Yes, this is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. Pekro Armstrong's extension is the news of the day.

And perhaps was that the first test? The Jewel? Was that the Jewel test? Oh, yeah, that was great. I mean, he could have thrown a Jewel's Osco. You must pass this exam. Oh, yeah. And then he had the Jewel Osco. I mean, that's a subtlety right there.

That's Joe Osco, no. Gotta be. That's right, Ian. That's right. While Mark Grady was sleeping last night, we got the news about Pete Crow Armstrong. And the Cubs reportedly finalizing a long-term contract extension. I believe Jeff Passon was first of this,

or at least that's how we all heard about it. And he posted the team's first 30-30 season in three decades last year, getting a gold glove and happy birthday to PCA because tomorrow he turns 24. I do think this is intelligent spending, even though I know the Cubs used it in a different way when they would bring it up to us. But when you consider the going price of offense in Major League Baseball, it just makes more sense that if he's anywhere near the player you thought he was in the first half, that you would sign him to this type of extension.

And while we were thinking about it, and while we talked about it a lot last year when he had that great first half of baseball, what surprised a lot of us here at Rahimi Harrison Grotie was the fact that he wasn't talking about it, at least back in February, listen to what he had to say to foul territory about contract talks. Any extension conversations this spring training? I know, you know, that kind of comment really gets Cubs fans going. And I'm sure the organization's like hey this this dude loves us I mean dude was in enemy territory growing up and he's thick and thick a Cubs guy so anything there so far this spring do you think there could be conversations

yeah I mean I do what I just appreciate about our front office is like they know what I'm here to do like it hasn't been such a huge topic of conversation to distract from like the everyday you know I'm only here for so long before

I go play in Houston and this and that. So, like, yes, there will be talks. They're having talks. But at the same time, like, we're not in really any rush to do anything. And I'd like to keep it that way just because I'm going to go out and play regardless and enjoy myself while I do. So there's bigger fish to fry right now, I think, than getting me paid. Like, yeah, I want to go focus on WBC and get to know those guys.

and then really like dive into this team. I've gotten three years now with pretty similar group of guys. And that's been really special to me because I just feel more comfortable and more comfortable as we go. So we got too much stuff, too much good stuff going around out here that I don't really need to focus on anything else. Interesting. My, how things changed in a short amount of time. Hearing that again, I do think he knew something was coming, even though he said that there are bigger fish to fry and he's thinking about Houston

and it's about the team and all that. I think he was showing some very mature humility right there. But when he said there will be talks, there have been talks, I think that that was PCA trying to restrain the hope of getting something done right now. before the season because it gets agonizing for players and reporters to talk about such issues during the season. And you know what? We saw that to your mention with Anthony Rizzo.

Remember that? Like how Jed Hoyer said he didn't want to talk about extensions during the season and how that played out. So I feel like we all kind of just follow that lead. But in the meantime, you're right. There's more than one way to look at this when it comes to why he was saying what he was saying and how. Yeah.

Sneaky PCA. It's really interesting to think about the contract extension trajectory. The Cubs wanted to do it or there was talks of it before last year. There were talks. There were talks. The Cubs were desirous. PCA is like, yo, I'm going to bet on myself. And then he goes off in the first half.

And we're all like, oh, man, where is he putting himself now? That is quintessential bet on yourself. And then that it's starting. starts to go downhill in the second half when we think, huh, not of the Cubs having more where they want them? And then it all comes out to this potential $100 million deal to 2032,

which I think all of a sudden, I don't know how you feel, Leila, doesn't it feel perfect because of, like, I don't know who has the upper hand here, if we want to look at it that way. The team or PCA, considering the slump in the second half, and considering what he got from

what the Cubs did receive from him in the first half. Well, I'll tell you, I think that P. Kroar Armstrong said that because the second half was humbling. At least it was humbling to watch from afar. I'm not going to ascribe an emotion to him. But I completely understood, especially after the last two months, which I just pointed out the stats, they were ugly. And so when you consider that, think about how frustrated he was at the plate. And we talked about this last season. We talked about it last week. Slammed his bat down, breaking helmets, you know, that kind of reaction, almost every single at bat that was frustrating for him.

And how much we didn't know if that was affecting him in other ways, did it affect him throughout the game? So I could see why he's saying to himself, yeah, I don't want to talk about this right now. Yeah, right. That's not exactly when the price was high. Uh-huh. And they've been humility in going back to the drawing board. Say, hey, actually, I wouldn't mind that extension. So the bottom line is that is the game changer.

is this extension to the tune of $100 million, as we know is reported. Here's why it's smart money, though. Consider Kyle Tucker and how much he signed for and how far that contract goes into the future because of the deferred money. How much more money that is for the player. Kyle Tucker is the extreme example here because of his offense and what he means to a team. I know he dropped off here.

That's not even necessarily the comp. You know, it's a healthy Kyle Tucker and what. what his value was to the Dodgers, who were on that team, he's not making the biggest difference. You know, he makes a bigger difference to a lineup like the Cubs.

Jackson Merrill, that was last year he signed his extension, nine years, 21 years old. He was nine years for $135 million. He was second to Paul Skeens in the National League Rookie of the Year conversation. 826 OPS that year,

24 home runs, and he was an all-star. go back to 2023 for jackson churio's extension that's when he was baseball's number two prospect eight years 2031 is the option for 32 and 33 so that's up to a 142 and a half million dollar contract up to that looks like a deal now two years ago three years ago sorry i keep forgetting it's 2026 guys so then go back to even previous extensions and we've had some jokes about this and our Twitch mob, Twitch.tv.tv. slash the score of Chicago.

What up, Twitchers? But consider the price now for a decent, remotely decent offensive player. Elohimenez was six years and $24 million. And that was considered a gamble at the time. That's $24 million for six years. That is a great reference point. 2019, Evan White with the Mariners was also

six years and $24 million. consider that Luis Robert is getting $20 million this year, 20. Well, his extension was six years and $50 million prior to this year. 50 for six, and he gets 20 last year. So when you put that into perspective, it lets you understand how much you can spend on an extension like this, even up to $100 million in 2026, and why it would be considered when you look back at even a couple of years later, how it can be a good value for a team.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, and I'm glad you brought up, Luis Robert and Aloi Jimenez, because those are the cautionary tales. But you didn't get as burned as badly as you thought because of the affordable deal, and that's what it looks like in these terms. In these terms, that's what it feels like with PCA.

In 2019, when the world was much simpler, didn't you remember thinking Eloy got paid? Like paid paid. You're like, oh, he's raking in the minor leagues. He's bad. 375. Oh, and it was a proactive. It was a proactive.

Wow. Everybody was happy about it. The White Sox were happy. Rick Hahn was a genius because that was Rick Hahn's trick. He was the guy that locked in the young potential superstar players. And we all applauded him. And I still do. Like that felt like the right move at the time as this does for the Cubs right now.

And when you see how the new EW. Empire in L.A. is doing things. And you see that other teams, like, for example, the Blue Jays, who took them to seven games in the World Series, or how the Yankees operate. That's why this is always going to be smart money. Yeah. And it's also awesome that the Cubs have one of those guys. As Craig Counsel said, I believe on the afternoon show last year, we got one of those guys,

one of those young budding superstar players. everybody wants them and the Cubs have one and they took care of him. Right. It's the other part. Don't just get the guy. Make sure he stays in the building. And he seems very happy in the building too. And they haven't been able to do that for way too long.

Way too long. We went through playoff droughts because this didn't happen. Yeah. I'm looking at Kyle Schwerver again. I'm sorry. It's virtually impossible. I know. It's always a good reference point on the Schwabino.

It is 312, 64, 64, 66. 67 is our phone number. I know we got one guy on hold, so we will get to your call next. We also want to remind you, it's a good day to talk about the Cubs. This Thursday, join the score in Circus Sports, Illinois at Sluggers in Wrigleyville for our ultimate home opener broadcast. Our show will broadcast live from 10 to 1245 before the home opener on the north side, and then Zach Zayman, who had a heck of a call yesterday. We'll have the pregame show up until first pitch. So come out and join us this Thursday at Slugger. starting at 10 a.m. It is all brought to you by Circus Sports Illinois. Sports betting the way it

should be. So we'll take your calls. 312644-67. What do you think about the Cubs extending PCA? Is he the face of the franchise to you moving forward? And if not, who is? How do you feel about this Cubs season? I feel like they've also told us their window is now. We'll get into that a little bit next on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104.3, the score. On 104, 3, the scores. This time he got a strike and he pounded it. His second home run, 8 to 6. Peekoe Armstrong, putting Team USA on his back.

That is courtesy of Fox Sports 1. That was Pete Crow Armstrong and the World Baseball Classic. Team USA against Team Italy. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043. The score. We go to the phones, 312, 6.4. 44-67-67 ahead of the news that Pete Crowe Armstrong has reported late, reportedly, signed an extension with the Cubs that we think is worth $100 million.

What do we learn about physicals, Leila, recently from the National Football League? Pending the physical. Is that part of this? I hadn't even seen that phrase be part of it. I did see that phrase as part of it, and immediately the response was, oh, my God, physical. Not to go further down this path, but Ryan McFadden, of ESPN.com has written an article about how the Raiders and Max Crosby fell apart. That adds to Mike Sandoz article from The Athletics.

So I'll be reading that later. Speaking of that, we go to our phones and Jerry and Oak Forest. Jerry, you're on Rahimi Harrison Grody. Well, good morning, guys. Hi, Jerry. How are doing? Good, man. How are you?

I'm very, very good. I'm very excited about the whole Pete Crow Armstrong thing. He's definitely the face of the Cubs. I know you guys were discussing that earlier. And I just wanted to mention a couple things. Like, the kids, obviously, 100% talent just playing at Wrigley. I absolutely love the fact that he is a cub. But I really want to state that there's only really two things that I believe that if he improved on,

he would be an instant superstar. And those two things are, it's very simple, actually. Reduce the strikeouts and increase the walks. because now your OPS goes up, your OVP goes up, everybody's happy. I truly believe if we can just get him on the base band, they'll still your 50 stolen bases every year too, you know? I mean, what do you guys think about that? Well, and it's what's precluded him from being what everybody thought he was going to be

when he came, when he first came to the Cubs in that first year. Make him the lead-off guy. He's got to be the lead-off hitter. He's so fast and he's good at defense and he could slap the ball all over. No, he just didn't get on baseball. base enough. So that is why that didn't happen. But yeah, of course, Layla, reduce the strikeouts, more walks. All of that would be great. Well, and that was the point was we know that he's not a perfect player. I think that's why he probably didn't want to wait and sign a bigger contract too.

You know, you have to consider the culpability when both parties are involved, but that is absolutely the game plan. You know, there's a reason he talked about his setup in the box and and how that translates and what he wanted to work on in spring training. For me, it's also how is that emotion going to be sustained in a more productive way during a game, as we just discussed. But when you know the hit tool is there, when you know that the power is there, when you understand how he covers center field, I think those things must have mattered. For the Cubs to do this and break their convention that they've had for a couple of years now. What, I'd say five or six or seven, right?

Yeah. Considering we just talked about this that they hadn't done these extensions and they made those trades in 21, 22. So when you consider that part of this, they must know that this is something that they think he can work on. If we're seeing it, I'm assuming they're seeing it. It's funny because in some ways, the comp for PCA is the man for whom he was traded, and that's Javier Baez. Both want to hit the baseball. That's what they want to do. They are told every day, be a little bit more patient.

But the way they get on base is by hitting the baseball. And that's what you want to do. And to some degree, like there's so much about PCA that you have to be careful of as far as the coaching is concerned. You want to coach some of the emotion out of them, but you don't want to coach all of it out of them. You want to coach some patience to him at the plate, but you don't want to take away the aggressiveness that he has. And like the comp goes even further with Javier Baez because. both are extremely aggressive, sometimes frustrating hitters, and both are at a 10 when it comes to their defense.

Well, and that's a big part of this, too. What did we say about Danes B. Swanson? He was pivotal in helping the Cubs get past the Padres and face the Brewers and the D.S. That he helped win them that series with his defense. You want to have the offense helping any of the series too. Yeah. But in the meantime, it does matter, and it matters to the Cubs,

and it has for many years. I think that falls in line with their long-term plans and how they want to build a team. So that's a big part of it, too. I am curious as to the timing of this, not just from a point of the Cubs having the extension, but also we're seeing more long-term contracts this off-season than I thought we would based on what we've been warned by the ownership about the fragility of the 2027 season. Does that factor in for you at all?

Because it does for me. Of course. Of course. I don't know. Maybe this is some optimism towards 2027. No, absolutely. That they're getting this deal done. And there's been zero of that optimism for 2020.

The Orioles are my recession indicator, so to speak. We use that term a lot on social media. When they decided to sign Pete Alonso, I was like, okay, maybe there's hope for this thing yet. Right. Like maybe these are little. They're not a team to just throw away a year to me. Yeah, tiny little drips of optimism after we've been hit over the head for the last year saying that there's never going to be a 2027 season.

We shall see. There will be negotiating all season long. Our friend Corey in Whitewater, Wisconsin, chimes in with this. I love the PCA extension. However, I think extending NICO, though likely a costlier proposition, was a more urgent move. I really hope a Nico extension is still on the agenda. I do two. And for the same principle,

how confident are they in what Nico can put together after this last year, which is his contract year? When you know that he was a shade under 300 as a hitter, he had a career year, not just offensively but defensively for him. Where is his future with the team now that we've seen this Peacrow Armstrong extension happened? And I want to see some comps to Nico.

Horner because it gets a little bit complicated because of, I know he's a terrific ball player, but the lack of slug does make it interesting in what kind of numbers, like he's not going to probably get the gargantuan crazy offer because of the lack of slug. And I know people, oh, he's the best player on the team. It's Nico Horner and all that. But when you don't hit home runs, whether you want to admit it or not, it changes the equation. Well, the other thing, too, is we've gotten some pushback when it comes to, like, somebody said I was just stupid on one of our videos, like the comment when it came to Alex Bregman. Marshall was talking about Moises-Bio Starros being the best hitter on the team, and I don't necessarily think he's going to be the best all around here.

And there are people who talked about Nico Horner appropriately in that discussion. But the OPS is what matters to me significantly. And for example, Kyle Tucker's OPS was still at an 841, even. even with the injuries last year. Michael Bush was at 866, say it was at 804. So if you factor in like Alex Bregman at an 822 last year, how good does that look? He doesn't have the same type of slug, and he still got paid.

So, you know, there's a part of it that when you factor it all in together, you can get to a number that is an understanding for quantifying hitting and how guys hit to their profile. Yeah, absolutely. There's an absolute argument to say that Alex Bregman is the Cubs' best player going into the season. There it is. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104-3 The Score. We want you to keep listening for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Outlaw Music Festival, which makes it stop at the Credit One Union Amphitheater in Tinley Park on August 25th. The lineup includes Willie Nelson, the AVet Brothers, Lucas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hall, and Don Wass and the Pan Detroit Ensemble. Tickets are provided by Live Nation and are available at Live Nation. So listen for that. And then coming up next, we're going to

have Eric Ed Holman. He is the lead NFL draft writer for NFL.com because he came out with new power rankings after free agency. And the Bears actually dropped down a bit. So we're going to talk to him about it next. This hour is brought to you by Cars for Kids. I think there's

a common theme with the guys that we brought in. One, we wanted to get faster, more explosive. And I think we did that. I know we did that. what guys that are passionate about football that play our style and our brand of football and I know we did that. And then especially the leadership to continue to enhance our roster so that we continue to push forward via championship caliber team. I know we got better through this phase.

That was Ryan Pulse talking about his free agents. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 The Score. And we go to our hotline and connect with a friend of the first. the show, Eric Ed Holm. He is the lead NFL writer on the draft for NFL.com. He is at Eric underscore Ed Holm on Twitter and X, and he joins us on Twitch.tv slash the score Chicago. Now, Eric, I'm not trying to have a beef here. I'm really not. But you did rank the Bears down two spots from last year after free agency when you created your power rankings. and if you guys are interested, you can find those at NFL.com.

Eric Adelham put those together last week. Power rankings, 40-nighters cracked the top five after 2026, free agent frenzy, Ravens and Chiefs back on the rise. So the Bears on the solicitor at nine, they were at seven previously. Why did you do it? I'll apologize. I can kind of barely hear you guys, so I'll try to do my best to work through it. I did hear part of the question about the power rankings there.

if it has to do with the rankings, obviously some of it reflects what the bears and other teams have done in free agency to this point. But also the fact that it's a new season. The last set of rankings I did were kind of wrapping up 2025 and now we're resetting the books. For instance, I think I had the Ravens going up like nine spots and all had a fight off an angry mob on X or Twitter or whatever we're calling it these days. and, you know, look, guys, they do get Lamar Jackson back, you know. So the point is, you know, I know some of the ups and down, the movement that people saw kind of confuse some folks, but I was sort of resetting the decks a little bit there. And, you know, obviously the Bears have lost some pieces.

They've added some as well. They're not done yet. It's just a reflection of where we are right now. Some teams will be busier than others in the draft, obviously. but it's a different kind of anger than you get in November, December, something like that. Eric, we're going to put you on hold for a second so that way we can fix the audio with your appearance, and hopefully you can hear us a little bit better. I understand teams move up and down in free agency.

That's going to happen. Your power rankings are going to reflect it. Top 10, though, Leila, I don't know that I would have said the Bears had a top 10 free agency season. Like even before he came out, I know you said he did. dropped them too, but I'm good. Like if that relative to the rest of the league, the Bears are top 10. To me, that says Ryan Poles, at least per Eric Ed Holm's opinion, the Bears did pretty well in free agency, top heavy with Kobe Bryant and Devin Bush.

And I'd maybe even throw Garrett Bradbury in because then it kind of goes Neville Gallimore, Khalif Raymond, Cam Lewis, Jerich Willis Jr., and Catavia Street. So it kind of goes, whew, but I shouldn't say that. As my guy, Weedsie reminded me, there were a. many of those random flyer guys that hit last year like our guy, Nishon Wright. Yeah, and Nishon Wright is a great example of a glad they called that guy guy. C.J. Gardner Johnson was another flyer guy. What can you get out of this guy? How fast is he going to be gone from the Bears? What's he going to do? He was good.

We're trying to get Eric Edholm back because there was an issue with his Zoom calls. So we're working on that. Let me just read what the ranking says from his story. So ninth for the Bears down. too, as we mentioned. It's been a little bit of a mixed bag and free agency so far for the Bears who have made more noise in recent off seasons, that they have. Devin Bush replacing Tremaine Edmonds and Kobe Bryant replacing

Kevin Byard could end up in a wash or maybe a tiny upgrade. Losing DJ Moore stinks, but they got a pretty good trade return for him and have some more ammo with four picks in the top 89 of the draft. If you factor in a young roster continuing to bloom,

it's possible to see some improvement within two. I still think they'll find a way to grab some headlines either in the draft or before it, but the bears are prudent and holding served well enough for now. Eric, we understand you've got us a little bit better this time around. I do, in fact. Thank you for helping me out there. Appreciate it. Okay, so that's good. We just read your rankings. Mark just said he's still pretty happy being in the top 10. Yeah. So I think that begs the question. What did you like? You mentioned Devin Bush. and Kobe Bryant, why did you like those moves for the Bears?

Yeah, no, I mean, obviously filling, you know, need spots there and, you know, Kobe coming off a championship and Devin Bush kind of reinventing his career, not reinventing, but, you know, reviving his career a little bit. The one move I didn't love is Garrett Bradbury, and I understand that the center market was tricky this year. There were, you know, there was Tyler Linderbombs resetting the market in a way that we haven't seen in a position in a lot. mile of 27 million per year compared to, I don't know, 13 or 14 for the next highest paid center. So that obviously probably, once they found that price out, I think they realized, all right, we've got to lower our sights a little bit here.

But to me, giving up a pick for Bradbury, who I thought was pretty, you had some hold in his game, how much of that was because of the fact that he was starting with two rookies to was left. I don't know how much of that was the scheme. I don't know, you know, but again, I just sort of felt like that may have been my least favorite move. Caliph Raymond was a good pickup as well. And Jared Dirk Will's too, I think, is good insurance of the position of left tackle, which obviously was a little bit of a roundabout last year. So, you know, again, overall, I think there's a case to be made that they've done some, some, some, decent things this offseason.

But again, it's just sort of about resetting the deck and the bills are going to be higher than they were at the end of last year. The Ravens are higher. There are other teams that I felt like had so many players on IR where it kind of pushes the bears down a little bit. But they're in a good position. They're in a really tough division, obviously. But, you know, the Bears can go through their draft

and have a successful weekend and come out in good shape, I think. I want to follow up with you on Garrett Bradbury, if I can here, Eric, it sounds to me like you watched a lot of him last year, and the evaluations of him have been all over the board as they usually are with offensive alignment. But is there anything else specific you could tell us about when it comes to Bradbury that you were worried about? Obviously, it's a huge thing here with Drew Dalman, having pulled the surprise party retirement. Well, you obviously have to look at the Patriot success first and say, like Drake May taking a massive step in year two, even with the playoffs, the Super Bowl, nightmare, if you will.

you know, the fact that he improved, I think speaks positively about Bradbury and, you know, you want your center to kind of be a shepherd for, or for the quarterback. That's why the Raiders who are going to draft Mendoza number one took Linderbom. You see it off and, you know, you pair kind of a veteran center with a young quarterback. So from a X's an O's standpoint and, you know, getting the Mike linebacker ID and making sure you have everything checked up front, he's probably your guy. He's a super smart dude. When he came out of the draft, he was a very athletic guy and tested very well, always a little on the undersized side.

I think anchoring and, you know, sort of bearing down against some of those bigger nose tackles was a struggle. Again, it's like it's hard to tell. Sometimes you wonder, is he compensating for Jared Wilson at left guard last year? Everyone talked about Will Campbell struggling for the Patriots, but their left guard was a young guy, too, and they had injuries as well. So maybe he kept things together better than I realized. But the times I watched him, I felt like power. You know, getting walked back against some bigger players was something that was concerning. We're talking to Eric Edholm of NFL.com.

He's the draft writer. He also came out with power rankings. Seattle, the Rams, the Broncos, the Bills, and the 49ers are the top five. Then Ravens, Patriots, Texans, and then the Bears, the Eagles round out the top 10. And I think what you noted about the 49ers is significant. their health and then getting Mike Evans, they're probably going to be more of a contender than a lot of people realize, even with how good they were despite all of that last season. And even with, you know, the Seahawks and Rams, you know, being above them being to the best teams in football. I mean, that division looks terrific. And, you know, that's why you see the 49ers make that kind of move.

And, you know, they didn't have a whole lot of flexibility, but they brought Drey Greenlaw back. I think that's going to serve him well. They made a real shrewd trade, I think, with the Cowboys, too. But Evans is the big ticket item. And, you know, I think they still need another pass rusher. I think they still probably have a few other spots. They'd love to patch up, the offensive line, the Trent Williams situation. But, you know, it's pretty telling to me, you know, just from afar seeing that Mike Evans, who, you know, look, Baker Mayfield was an MVP candidate after eight games last year.

I don't know that he was going to win it, but he was in the discussion. The bucks were six and two. They were pulling out these miracle wins and had this feel-good thing going. And I think Baker, most people, felt like, was sort of restarting his career and reimagining what he could be. And they chose Brock Purdy over him. That was Mike Evans' decision, is that I have a better chance to win another ring with Brock Purdy than with Mayfield. Now, obviously, there are, you know, 51 other guys on the roster besides Evans and the quarterback. But still, it says a lot.

I think in an era where we kind of put Brock Purdy in that second or third tier of quarterbacks, Mike Evans thinks that this is a guy who can get it done. Eric, in your latest mock draft for the upcoming April 23rd extravaganza in Pittsburgh, with the number 25 overall pick, the Chicago Bears select Missouri Edge Rusher, the senior Zion Young. Tell us all about Zion Young and why you. you went with him for the Bears at number 25? Yeah, he's definitely a scheme fit for them.

I mean, he fits what Dennis Allen seems to seek in his ends, which are, you know, some mass, some lengths, some strength. Yes, you want that pass rush shoes, too. But, you know, especially in this era where the last really three years, we've seen the run game kind of cycle back into the league, everyone's, you know, thinking sacks and pressures and those are great. You know, you're still throwing the ball more than you're running it. But you still need a lot more.

an edge center too. And I think that's really what Young does well. And I don't know that he'll ever be the sack king in the NFL. I don't know that he'll ever have that one massive season, but I think he's going to be a real steady producer. There's some traits that are similar to what Montes-Swet does. You know, he plays with an attitude and an edge. And I think that's a good thing you see in play. He's not afraid to talk to the guy lined up opposite him and go watch the coin flip of overtime against, I can't remember, is it Nebraska, or not even in Nebraska, Auburn or one of those teams, I can't remember which game it was, but he's got some zest to him. And I think that shows up in his play, too, but all the benchmarks they seek are there.

Is he a first round prospect? I don't think everyone would say he was, but he's not going to get to their second round pick either. So, you know, you have to sort of prioritize what's on the board, what do we want most? That's just kind of how it worked out for me. I could see a safety. I can see another position as well, but yeah, I think Young crosses off a lot of boxes. Obviously, moving down and getting him would be

the daily double, if you will, but I think it makes some sense. Eric, I love that pick. I know he talked to the Bears at the Combine. He talked about that when he had his availability. I think people are on to this, though. I think there are a few

mock drafts I've seen where he doesn't even fall that low to the Bears 25. So I'm surprised to hear that that people may think he's even a later picked than that in this draft. It seems like a lot of teams are very high on him. Yeah, I think there are about

a half a dozen teams in that range that would make some sense taking him. I think other people will wonder, hey, you know, the testing's okay. You know, his pro day 40, I think he ran in the mid-four-sev.

Yeah, it's not slow. It's not terrible. I think his 10-yard split was in the one low one-seven range, which again is is a little disappointing, but it's not terrible. You'd like to have some kind of, you know, you have the first-round measurables. You'd like to have a little closer to first-row workouts. They're kind of day-two workouts, if you will, the tape's very good. I mean, if you see the guy, he just looks like an NFL defensive end. There's no question in your mind that physically speaking, he's going to be fine in this league in time. I think the question you have is how do you get him to that that sort of Pro Bowl level or very close to Pro Bowl level. And I don't know that he'll ever

be a star in this league, but I think he will be a productive pro and a very good run defender and a above-average pass rusher. Love the idea of an edge to the Bears. We all know that that is a need, and Ryan Poles is going to have to be diligent defensively in this upcoming draft. We know at safety. You mentioned safety. Caleb Downs is the top guy. He's not going to be around 25. But what about Dylan Thineman and a guy that I've seen mocked to the Bears as well, Dylan McNeil Warren?

Yeah, yeah. I think what Thineman brings is a perfect athletic sort of specimen for what the Bears want in a split field safety. I mean, I think he can play up in the box. He could play deep. Some Big Ten fans will remember his first year Purdue when he had, I think five or six interceptions. He didn't make as many plays on the ball at Oregon,

but I think some of that was what he was asked to do. They had him a lot in deep coverage and wasn't always there to be able to make as many plays in the ball. You know, I mean, I think he fits a lot of what they want. Emmanuel McNeil Warren is an interesting player who played a lot of zone, played kind of in the alley a little bit, and was there. I mean, he forced a lot of fumble.

I think if you're asking for somebody to cover a quality tight end or back in man coverage, he could do it eventually. I think he's going to need a little time and patience in that regard. You know, obviously we saw, you know, Quignon-Mitchell, the Toledo corner a couple years ago, go to the Eagles in the first round, and Toledo hadn't had a first round picks since the 70s or something, and he proved he belonged. So, I mean, the level of play question was there for him. it's a little different with McNeil Warren based on the position requirements.

I don't know if they're tougher than corner, but I think they're different. And, you know, if you start him off in kind of that third safety role and ease him in, he could be a very good player. Personally, I think we're forcing him a little bit as a prospect. I love him a lot. I like him a lot, but I don't know that I love him, I should say. I like Thineman. I think I prefer him as a bear's selection.

As you get further down, A.J. Halsey is a really, interesting pick from LSU possibility. Bud Clark, I mean, both guys, if you're thinking in the same mindset as the 2025 Bears, take the football away, both those guys fit in exactly with, you know, that takeaway mentality. And Eric, I know we had to do some time to make sure your call was correct, but I do appreciate the downranking of the Packers, down two spots to 15th, and the Lions are down two spots to 16th. So that's good to know as well.

As long as I can, you know, in subtle ways, get on your guys' good side, then I'm good with it, right? Honestly, it's not even that. It's that there's such a split understanding of what the Packers' goal was in the offseason that I feel like. Yeah, right. Yeah, it's about collecting more data than less. So this is good to know.

Eric, thank you so much. If you want to check out Eric's work, as we mentioned, he is at Eric underscore Ed Holm on X. He is also doing a ton of work on NFL. dot com and I'm sure we'll bug him before the April NFL draft. Thanks as always Eric. Thanks Eric. I love being bugged. See you guys later. Thanks Eric. That is Eric at home. He is the writer for NFL.com and we are going to stand the football lane here and give some stuff away, aren't we? Mark, I hear you are doing a little show. Oh yeah. I've never heard of this show. Yeah, well, let me tell you about it.

It's something called it's like something with a direction and there's some sort of active verb about it. here. I've got to get the script. It's called Take the North. A high, yes. Take the North is a Bears football podcast that I get to perform with the one and only Dan Weederer a few times a week. As a matter of fact, it'll be a recording of Take the North today, which will drop later on this afternoon. Oh yeah, you had your big microphone in your backpack. I did. Yeah, that was, it was a very heavy walk. Mark carries whole ass studio equipment in his backpack. I don't want to. to go to a set. I don't want to go to a two-bag system as I walk through the city. I like a one

bag and that's it. I know. I just think there are smaller microphones is the thing. There probably are, but it's a pretty good microphone that I'm very lucky to have. Thank you to the company and Odyssey and all of that good stuff. But we are going to be doing a live edition of the Take the North podcast. Check me out. Callers 6 and 7 right now to the score contest line. 312-540 0.670 will win a pair of tickets to a special edition of Take the North live with Dan Weider, one of our founding fathers, and me, Mark Grody. This live edition is coming up on Thursday, April 16th from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Studio, again, 312540-0670. People really do win here on 1043 the score. So we have some late breaking news here to the score.

Apparently, J.B. Pritzker spoke about the comments that Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tenalia had regarding the Bears Stadium deadline. So let's bring those to the people because it is March 24th. So the month is over in a week. Yeah. So let's update everybody and get the latest on that. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104.3, The score. Can you imagine Lovie Smith doing the whole good better best thing and and saying bleep the Packers? Come on, guys, good better best.

Never let it rest. I'll see you on Tuesday. Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. Welcome to Hollis Harbor. You know what that music means. Raging Bull. It's time for mom and dad to talk about uncomfortable stuff. Oh.

So it's the reference to Kyle Tucker having to talk about his injury. and then the report about him somewhat covering it up or not wanting to acknowledge it, however you want to say that. And then he had to talk during the Vanga Bus in the background. And then the Cubs went on some nice run, so they were like undefeated for a minute in the Vanga Bus era. It was a thing.

What a weird part of Cubs injury history that was. I remember seeing Kyle Tucker at Gallagher Way. Remember I was using the facilities and there he was walking in and it was the first time I saw him gathering people and signing autographs. And that was the first moment where I was like, oh, he's not coming back next year because he's soaking it up here. It was in the playoffs. And it was like, yeah, that's it.

He's done. He's out of here. Gone. That he was. But we're in a new day. We're in a new post-PCA reported extension time. And we'll talk more about that coming up at noon. We have five on it.

Russ Dorsey is in at 1225. But in the meantime, we had a late-breaking development here to the score. This was sent to us via email. Apparently, Governor J.B. Pritzker was at an event in Springfield this morning. And before we get to what he had to say, a friendly reminder that Arlington Heights Mayor, Jim Tenalia, indicated that the state of Illinois needed to get something done before the end of the month regarding the megaprojects bill, which has not moved forward since the latest updates. that we had. We know the House re adjourned on, I think, the 17th last week. So they're back. They took a

brief break after trying to get that bill to the House and then move it from the committee, which happened. But not much has happened since. We know one of the sticking points at the time was reported. Cam Buckner, who is in the district that represents Soldier Field, said that he wanted the Bears to pay back some of the money that the county spent on the renovations to Soldier Field back in 2003. So all of that said, things are moving slowly. Are you surprised by this? No, no, I mean, I'm the one who predicted that they won't break ground until 2027. As did I, Mark.

No, I didn't. Back to you. I did not. I said July, 27th. Think about moving a barge rather than pivoting a kayak. And just to give you the information again, here's the quote. I can promise you that no one at Hallis Hall wants to wait until the end. end of May for this to be solved, Tenalia said. The pressure is on to try to wrap it up with the capital

ASAP. Well, it depends on who you ask what ASAP really is. So that said, let's hear what J.B. Prisker had to say about all of that. I think we all feel like this needs to happen sooner rather than later. And it is in the hands of the legislature. As you know, we've done a lot of work in our administration to try to put something together that will work for both the state, the legislature, and their concerns and the team itself. It is a pretty good deal that's been put on the table that I think seems to have support broadly by the bear's ownership. And so it really now is in the hands of the House of Representatives and then the Senate to get something done in a timely fashion. You know what that was? The old passing the buck.

Yeah. It's not coming to him yet. It has to go to other places first. It's like I'm just a bill song from Capitol or from a schoolhouse rock. He was sitting on Capitol Hill. Sorry about that. Yeah. Sooner rather than later, pretty good deal on the table.

And as I told you from what I had been hearing a month ago after I went to the big meeting in Arlington Heights, which now feels like a year ago. is that J.D. Pritzker has always wanted to get this done. And like he just did right there, putting pressure on the House of Representatives. And you said it you were right to bring up Cam Buckner because it is about the city legislators who are the, what is holding it up and what they are trying to finalize is what does the city of Chicago get out of this when the bears inevitably move to either Arlington Heights or Indiana or that great new rendition of Soldier Field. that we got to see last week. Oh, yes, glass football spaceship. It's beautiful, man.

But it ain't happening. Not going to happen. I think they may be a little late on that one. Just a little. And we still don't know who paid for those renderings, right? They just appeared. Yeah. And like I said, that's the ex-girlfriend or boyfriend saying,

look how hot I could be. Look how hot I am. Look, this is what you could have had. If you want to go to your little suburbs or to Indiana, go ahead. But look how hot I look here. in a beautiful part of the city with my beautiful lake behind me. You know that that's going to get taken by some Chris Tana Hill or somebody like that. You're saying, look how hot I look here and used out of context in a promo.

If that's the worst thing that gets taken out of context that I've ever said, look how hot I am, I'll take it. All right. Put it in heavy rotation. You know, it's really funny, though, is this is not the first time a red ring about the new soldier field has occurred. they did this after they bought Arlington Heights too. The Bill Curtis video? I was there.

Oh, the Bill Curtis video. Yes. You know what I'm talking about? Lori Lightfoot and Bill Curtis. Oh, yeah. Bill Curtis was not with Lori Lightfoot to be like, hey. Bill Curtis. He just lent his wonderful voice to the project.

He still does that. He's doing something. He's narrating some commercial that's in heavy rotation. Calmos. Is that what it is? I'm Bill Curtis. I do everything. That's how much I watch Bulls game.

That's what it was. Should I admit this out loud? Hey, we all as a program from our separate abodes were watching every, I watched every second of the Bulls game last night, and I feel like I was paid off for it. It was wonderful. Wonderful entertainment. I like this quote from our Twitch mom.

This is from Ben Johnson Disciple. Chicago is Stone Cold Fox, Grody. And somebody has redeemed the quote on Twitch. Look how hot I am. There you go. Look, I mean, look at me. Look at me. I feel like this was J.B. Pritzker reminding everybody of parliamentary procedure.

Well, before it goes to me, guys, the House has to vote on it, and then the Senate. And then I'm like, hey, maybe I'll see this now. He wants this done. He knows he can't be the governor that loses the Chicago. Even if it's not that big a deal because... They're not his to lose. They make their own decision. I know they make their own... They're not being held captive. I understand that.

but his opponents will use that and attack him, even though we know that this has happened in a dozen other NFL cities, that they move out of their city proper into the suburbs, and it's been just fine, but it's a game within a game here for J.D. Pritzker. Let me apply some out-of-town stupid here. Okay. Because I assume you're talking about not necessarily the gubernatorial race here,

but if he were to run for a larger office, such as El Presidency. Both. Absolutely. Governor and re-election and presidential. I don't know how much it's going to matter to Pennsylvania, for example, a state where the vote is in question. It's just something that can be. It's just a bullet that can be used against him in any way, shape, or form. I get what you're saying. Of course.

They're not going to care in Pennsylvania. But it is some, it is just, it is ammunition. Maybe they will. You know, I don't know. Yeah. Pittsburgh, PA. But if you're, so if you're in Texas, for example, when you saw the Cowboys go from Dallas to Arlington. Didn't care.

Right. Didn't care. It's a non-issue. Right. But his candidacy would likely be a non-issue there anyway. Right. Just because of how they go. Yeah.

Yeah. And the big picture. But you know how the news works. He would get crushed for it here and that would spread to the rest of the country. And maybe the rest of the country would just be, oh, okay. Interesting. But it is ammunition. That's all.

I think he doesn't seem too concerned. Like, that's what I heard when I heard him speak. No, I hear him. Well, it's got to go to the house and Senate. I don't know that he's not concerned. I think he, I hear it as, don't look at me. right? Like it's got to go like they they have to haggle over this.

I'm good with it. That's what I'm inferring anyway. So I do think he's he's comfortable with it. And you know what that is? Politics. Politics. Exactly. Ammunition. Yes. No, I think you're completely right about that. But I don't. Jim Tenalia putting a timeline on this is frankly

the most of a timeline we've gotten in the state of Illinois. Incredible. Because for example, in Indiana they said, oh yeah, here's the session, here's when it's ending. We would like to get it heard by this time. We have these people. We have this city. We have these proposals, et cetera.

So I feel like that's, they at least applied the proper timelines to it. Let's get back to halftime coming up next here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie and a perplexing crime story to say the very least. In the meantime, as you know, baseball is back. Opening night is live on Netflix tomorrow night. Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees clash with Raphael Devers and the San Francisco Giants. It still feels weird to say Raphael Devers in the San Francisco Giants.

It does. He's a Red Sox, man. I know. When you say Yankees and you say Raphael Devers. Wild. It's a left turn. MLB opening night. Yankees and Giants live on Netflix tomorrow night at 7 p.m. A true crime story that has mystified us all. Next.

Look how hot I look here. It is halftime here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. I have had trouble with the humidity or lack thereof in this studio. I apologize. We drink water, but it's just dry in here because the heater's on and that's a good thing. Anyway, it is Tuesday here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. And we're trying to figure out how much. Pete Crow Armstrong is getting paid, but we began with the big news that

Pete Crow Armstrong reported extension is going to happen. his birthday is tomorrow. So this is big direction for the Cubs that they are setting. This is also a big statement that they're making, extending a player who they traded for. And I think really helps us understand how they value him as well. So we spent our first hour talking about that. Eric Edholm, the NFL draft writer for NFL.com.

He's also part of the power rankings. Talk to us about his position with the Bears and also where he thinks some of these players might fall. Zion Young. He thinks could be a real possibility for the Bears. and I got to say, I thought that Zion was probably going a little bit earlier based on what I had read. And he said that some people are saying he could go later and maybe even into the second round, so he's a mystery man. I think it also just indicates, Mark, the nature of the draft this year and how much of a very,

it can be for a lot of teams. Additionally, we got the latest from J.B. Pritzker reminding us all how parliamentary procedure works. And we're a picture. This headline is. is just absolutely shocking, but the story and the details are just as so. Quadruple amputee professional cornhole player faces murder charges. Oh, wow. Those are not words that I would expect together in a headline.

No. And he is a noted professional cornhole player, so he is a public figure in that way. This is a story that is being reported by multiple outlets. ESPN here has it. A county sheriff's office in Maryland said Monday that a professional cornhole player, who is also a quadruple amputee, fatally shot a passenger in the front seat of a car he was driving during an argument. Dayton James Weber, 27, was arrested and charged as a fugitive from justice by police in Virginia. Charles County is seeking his extradition from Virginia and said he will be charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and related charges. ESPN apparently profiled him in 2023 because what he had done as an athlete was notable.

It was something that you wanted to see how he overcame what had unfortunately happened to him reportedly when he was just a child 10 months old and there was a bacterial infection that had caused this. And the story takes a turn that is, I think, reminiscent of a lot of people following the Oscar pasturian story. Yeah, yes. who was also featured, who I first heard about on ESPN. That was back when they used to do their 30 for 30. Right. And he had the prosthetic legs, right?

Or at least feet. Yeah, he was known as Blade Runner. Yes, right. And he allegedly murdered his, I don't remember how that. Serve time. Serve time. Yeah, in South Africa for his late girlfriend. I believe girlfriend was the title.

Yep. So the details of this are gory and disturbing. This is from Fox 5, which is out of the D.C. area. Now, the charges filed, as we mentioned, first degree murder, second degree murder, assault in the first degree, two counts, one relating to an alleged assault on somebody identified as Braddock Weber. And another relating to Bradrick Wells, this is per the story, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, alleged firearm used during the felony event. So the witnesses identified in the charging documents as witness one and witness two. told police that Weber pulled out a firearm and shot Wells twice in the head during the argument. The statement of charges says Weber then pulled the vehicle over and asked the passengers to remove Wells from the car, which they refused.

The two refused. The two witnesses exited the vehicle and flagged down a police officer, the document state, while Weber drove off with Wells, aka the reported victim, still inside the car. car. It's like gangster stuff. According to the filing, around 1241 a.m. on March 23rd, a resident at 1,1115 Newport Church Road in Charlotte Hall discovered Wells' body on the side of the road. That's why this is disturbing. It's not just the entire circumstances surrounding it.

Drop them off on the road? And then there were the reports that Weber had become very, I don't know, if infatuated isn't the right word, but he was a gun. enthusiast. So this was something that he was very well versed in. He's posted to social media to show how he fires rifles and nine millimeter handguns. That is dark and ugly and most of all shocking. Yeah, there's no other way to put this. It's just a collection of really really compelling yet appalling details. This is one of those that I think. think is a story that the media is going to latch on to just because of his story overcoming what he has to become a professional athlete and then to have it turned in this way

and then the details surrounding the actual reported crime are just a hauling. So it drives off and then just nudged them out of the car? Or how does that work? Okay. Wow. Yeah. There's a lot there. And the American Cornhole League did post a statement on its Facebook page saying it is aware of the allegations evolving Weber, but said it would not comment on what it called an active legal situation.

But just what a turn to have this happen. Well, that's going to be something very fascinating to follow and get the day. Hey, we're the place. We will update you on this story as it moves forward. Yeah, this was one that was absolutely, unfortunately, compelling when it came to just all of the details. And I think the Oscar Pistorius story, I think, was one that took a lot of people, I think, captive in the attention that it had. Right.

Because of the stories that surrounded him to begin with, how he became this incredible world-renowned athlete, you know, and was defying a lot of even what people knew to be the case with what his prosthetics were able to give back in speed that he had even outpaced what the science was or what the established science was at the time when it came to how fast he would be able to run. And to have that happen where a vision that you have of somebody is completely different after all of this. Because he was heavily featured. The quadruple amputee was heavily featured on ESPN in the, 23 for overcoming what he had and then being able to be a professional cornhole athlete. Well, and I think that we as human beings, most empathetic human beings have, like, you start

with a base of sympathy for both, right? For like talking about Oscar Pistoria or anybody who is dealing with a handicap or something as bad as being a quadriplegic, there's a baseline of sympathy. And then, and this is the part that's probably, is not right, is that we also. assume because they're dealing with that, that they're just going to naturally be a good person who's fighting for their life and you're not going to see like amoral characteristics. But they're normal human beings who have bad intentions and bad thoughts just like the rest of us.

But it is the fact that they are in the situation that they are in that makes it even more surprising from this perspective. It's like, no, you've got stuff going on there. And now you've created more problems for yourself. I think it's also just the features that we see, you know, the stories that are reported on where you really do, you have an emotional attachment to a lot of the people. I remember being incredibly moved by what I had seen with Oscar Pistorius, who was born without fibulas in either leg.

So he had to have amputations when he was 11 months. He won six gold, one silver, and one bronze Paralympic medal. and then yes was convicted in the murder of his late girlfriend. They are to be sympathized with, but they are not sympathetic human beings, as it turns out. Just, well, and I mean, that's, I think that happens with everybody. You know, that's how we, your first reaction to anything is, no, what happened? And in a way, that's denial. But this is just the detail of the, of what happened regarding the body.

The report from the witnesses to Fox 5 is disturbing. Yeah, that is, that is ugly. But something tells me that this is a story that the media will continue to track because of the noteworthiness of it, knowing what I knew about what happened with Oscar Pistorius. I feel like that is very much the case. And ESPN linked the story. So they have the story if you want to watch it regarding when he was profiled in 2023. We need happy things now.

It's like when you watch a horror film and it kind of scares you. They're going to turn the lights on and I need something happy. I need to like watch Mr. Rogers or something. Let's do happy stuff now. What about PCA? Oh, hey, yeah, PCA. What about Russ Dorsey here for five on it? Oh, he's here.

He's here. He's here early. Oh, I didn't see him sitting back there. Look at you sitting back there. Look at old podcast Russ being early to our show. Old podcast Russ. Podcast Russ has entered the building. So we will join Russ Dorsey, get him to talk.

talk about the PCA extension, how he feels like it may or may not be of value to the rest of the league. And yeah, let's get back to the blue-haired kid, as Pat Murphy called him. He's good, that blue-haired kid. And the Bulls won. We'll do that in five on it next. The score. It's time for five on it. Rahini Harrison-Rody. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104-3, the score. I got five on it.

Number one. Special edition of five on it today, Laila Rahimi, Mark Grody, and Russell Dorsey, Yahoo Sports National MLB Insider, Insider, and Analyst for MLB Network and Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV Plus, and host of the Relay with Russ Dorsey, episode one, dropped today. Make sure you check it out wherever you get your podcast. Here's question number one. Podcast Russ. Podcast Russ. Podcast Russ.

Let's go. All right, how do we get out of this now? Okay. Question number one. We just stop. Which young player will be in Chicago the longest? the newly paid and minted Cubs outfielder Pete

Pete Crow Armstrong, PCA, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams or Blackhawk Center Connor Bedard. Okay, so here's the thing. These are all careers, at least in baseball and hockey, where you can have a very long, lustrous life.

And the same can be said for quarterback if you take Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady into consideration when it comes to the length of success of a quarterback. Hell, let's even mention Joe Flacco in that because, you know, Joe's out here playing at 40 years old. So you too can be into your 40s and be an NFL quarterback.

That's what makes this a challenge. Then I factored in that Chris Chelyos had a 26 year season or career in the NHL, 26 seasons he played. Maybe Chris Chelyos is the extreme. Chelly is usually the extreme when it comes to career length. But that said, could that be Connor Bedard's length of time in his career? In this economy? I still think it's probably going to be.

So I do think that because of that, maybe Connor Bedard has the longest actual career? The only question is, will it be in Chicago the entire time? Because you see where Patrick Kane went off and went to. So I think I'm going to go with, despite all of that, I'm going to say it's probably things go right and given how the bears never find quarterbacks, I think it's still probably Caleb Williams. I like this question a lot. I think if you're thinking about who

the process of elimination, who are the two longest just because of how long careers go in their individual sports, the answer is probably Bedard or Caleb Williams. And you mentioned Patrick Kane. He just left Chicago three years ago and

he was with the Hawks for like 15 years. It's a long time. Right? I think the thing with Caleb, though, if you have a quarterback in the NFL that you like, who is talented, sometimes it's not even about them being a top three quarterback in the NFL. If you believe that you have a guy that is an above average quarterback, you're going to lock that guy in. Jake Cutler, who at the time, I think people like him a lot more now than they did when he was

playing for the Bears. He played for eight seasons in Chicago Grotes, and that was, he had three seasons in Denver before that. So my gut says Caleb Williams will be the longest of those three names in Chicago. Yeah, because the NHL salary cap is so maybe it changes

during the course of Connor Bedard's career but maybe I, you know, sprout scales and fly because I think the two are about as likely. Like when you're a star in the NHL, there's a good chance you're not going to play for your respective team your entire career. Controversial answer. I'm going to say PCA because

as of right this second, He is the only one of those three that we know for a fact that is locked in. That is locked in. And now we know wants to be here long term. I'm pretty sure Caleb Williams wants to be the quarterback of the Bears for the next 10 to 15 years, I think. But we don't know that for a fact. We know that things can sometimes be a little bit wobbly in Caleb Williams' camp and how much influences dad might have when contract time comes along. You can't just all of a sudden turn your back on what is going on with his family and the people that represent him.

We don't actually know what Caleb's desires are or who will influence him. I don't want to scare people because I would like him to be here for the next five to ten years as well. And then, you know, with Connor Bedard, same thing. Same thing. I think he likes Chicago. I think he wants to be here. But we just don't know that for a fact. We do know for a fact now that PCA likes Chicago and wants to be here long term.

How dare you bring facts into this conversation? There I go again. How dare you? Number two. The Cubs finalized their opening day pitching staff Monday by optioning right-hander Javier Assad to AAA Iowa and informing righty Ben Brown that he'll be used out of the bullpen. Are you surprised that the Cubs went with Brown over Assad? Yes.

Yes, I am. I feel like we've been in this spot. And dare I say the same spot happened last year? And what were we asking the question then? Like, oh, well, maybe if Ben Brown gets his third pitch, you know, he's going to be that guy and, you know, he's got all this good stuff and it's got potential and stuff is potential and blah, blah, blah, blah. But, oh, Javier Assad, you know, he had a great world baseball classic.

Remember the last time we said that as well? And then what was a common refrain during the season? When's Javier Assad going to be ready and okay? So at no point did I think that I would be sitting here saying that Javier Assad wouldn't be on the big league roster. And that Ben Brown, as we still look to see whether or not his third pitch that he's been working on, is going to be one that will help him this time around. I think this probably says more about Ben Brown and the Cubs' faith in him, or at least wanting to give him this chance, because of how much they have invested in him,

than it does their opinion of Javier Assad. I just hate options still. I think teams don't get enough of them, players. don't get enough of them. I hate that people get out of options and then they're forced to be in certain spots. So that's another story for another day. But I just hope this sinker works out for Ben Brown because if it doesn't, how do we see him being viable on this team that has really high competitive aspirations?

I think this says more about Ben Brown has the ability to easily play the multiple, versatile role for the Cubs, right? Like he's a guy that's pitched in the rotation. He's a guy that's pitched out of the bullpen. And you want to keep Javier Assad stretched out as a starter. The easiest way for them to do that. If he's not going to pitch in the big leagues, they send him to Iowa so he can pitch and have longer outings there.

I think that's probably the biggest thing, especially when you're thinking about March and April when you don't necessarily need a full array of starters because you're going to have additional days off. things like that. So I think this is more about the versatility of Brown being able to pitch out of the bullpen and then Assad being able to stay stretched out. What's crazy, there was a lot of us thought Assad was going to be the long guy out of the pen. You know, that that was a possibility too. Maybe they just don't, maybe they like him better in a just pure starting role. I think that might be it.

I think first of all, the Ben Brown upside is just so tantalizing for the Cubs. They have not quite been able to, yeah, they haven't been able to harness it. But we all know that. but he's a guy that, you know, he can strike out tent. Like, he's that guy. He's got that stuff. And yeah, he's got to work in the sinker, and hopefully that works out. The bottom line for me with Javier Assad, though, and he's, he has had some really nice moments with the Cubs.

He makes me nervous because Javier Assad is the guy who always gets in trouble on the bases and then magically gets out of the trouble. He's been getting out of the trouble less and less often it feels like. And I think that there's a philosophical, justifiable change. going on with the Cubs starting rotation and it's called Velocity. And that's not Javier Assad's game. I mean, the addition, obviously,

of Cabrera, like you want to start to get guys that throw in the middle 90s. I don't think you can afford to have another guy who is a soft tosser in your starting rotation, so I think his value has been decreased. So I like it. I like you're out on the touch and feel guy,

Groz. You see, like, I've seen enough Kyle Hendrix, I've seen enough of that. We're going to go 89 90 to mile an hour fastball, and here comes a change-up. I think so, and I think that that's what GMs wants. Lord knows that's what managers want, right? I mean, it's great. Like, Kyle Hendricks was fantastic.

It was great to watch him do that, but it made me nervous. Those guys are becoming more exception than rule. Yes, for the longest time, that's what the Cubs specialized in. What were those guys? Like all of them a few years ago. Remember it was almost comical how they had to, like, say, well, we've got guys that are pitchers, man. No, no, give me some throwers along the way too.

And I think it's something that we talked about last year, especially going to the postseason for the Cubs, it's like who was going to be that power arm. And that's why we were talking about different guys approaching the trade deadline that you could go after where it's like, okay, this guy can punch 10 in a postseason game for me. And then, you know, Kate Horton, that was the power arm in the rotation. Right.

But now you have more of those guys and you have fewer spots for guys. Yeah, you know what I say. Stoppers and boppers. and those guys typically are expensive. Good rule. You do say that. They're handy. It sounds good too.

Number three. This is five on it on 104. The score with Laylorahe, Mark Grody, and Russ Dorsey. Here's question number three. In the name of Seahawks receiver Jackson Smith and Jigva, setting the market in wide receiver riches, will the bears have the luxury of being faced with paying one of their receivers that kind of dinero? Exactly. Exactly, exactly, that sound.

You go first because you had the best sound to summarize it. To be in the JSN conversation, and shout out to that, man. I think if I'm the Los Angeles Rams today, I'm thinking about that. Or it's like, oh, shoot, Puga got to get paid. I don't necessarily think the bears are thinking about that right now with Luther Burden and Roma Dunzee. That would be a great problem to have because that means those guys turned into premier wide receivers in the national football league.

I think we got a taste of what Luther Burden can be. I don't think we've necessarily seen all the potential that Roma Dunzee has. And that's a guy that I was really excited about when they drafted. And I still think he has tons of talent ability in there. You just want to see that. And you're going to have to see that, you know, in a bigger role in 2026 for the Chicago Bears. But do I think they're like, oh, shoot, we got to back up the truck for, no, I don't. I think Jackson Smith and Jigba is in a league of his own.

And did I or did I not? Ray Diaz, Tyler Buterbaugh. Didn't I go off about him early this season? And I was like, he's the best receiver in the league. And Ryan Porth, or Pryor. Yes. He was like, I think he might be right of that. I was like, I don't know.

I feel like this is a bold claim that I'm making. But my brain had been broken by Seahawks football. I did a deep dive this year, as you guys know, and I was really into it. So I'm glad to see that the money matched my feeling toward Jackson Smith and Jigbo. He's the best receiver in the league. He's now getting paid the most. Four years, $168.6 million. Even five years ago, that sounds like an absurd amount of money.

Good for him. It's $42 million a year. I feel like the Bears thought they had that guy, so to speak, and DJ Moore. He, as you guys recall, was the highest cap hit on the team. And then they had to make difficult decisions. And that's actually what makes this tricky. Do you have a player who's good enough to set the market or get close? And then do you have enough cap space to keep him?

And I feel like that is a big part of this discussion as they move forward as well. Because Darnell Wright's extension is stare at us in the face. And that might set a market or two as well. And Jamar Chase was the previously highest paid receiver in the league. So we're talking about that class of guys. I think that it will not happen, not because Luther Borden and Roma Dunesay and we got to throw DJ Moore in there, even though he's not here anymore. It's because I would love to see Caleb Williams continue to distribute the ball to multiple guys like he did last year. They were all in the 600-yard range last year.

Burden, 47 catches 652. O'Donze, 44 catches, 661. DJ Moore, 50 catches, 682. I didn't even mention Colston Lovelland. I don't have that up, but he was in the 600s as well. Led the team in receiving. Led the team in receiving. So if Caleb continues to have that ball distribution

and continues to use the hot hand and you don't have one guy that just elevates the statistics, that might be the best thing for the Bears. 713. Oh, so he did get over. the 600 mark. Indeed. But not by it like a ton.

So, yeah. So I think that, and I hate to say that because I love to see guys get paid, but if you could kind of quell their numbers just a little bit and have it in the 600s for a bunch of guys, I'll take that. Number four.

The Bulls beat the Rockets yesterday. Here's how it sounded right here on 104. The score and the Bulls Radio Network. Five seconds left. Over the mid-court line. Doran with a pull of 43-footer. Nope. Rebound loose on the floor. Sellis grabs it.

Ball game over. Bulls win. Bulls win. Bulls win. 132. 124 over Kevin Durant and the Houston rocket in a spectacular ballgame for the Bulls at crunch time. Chuck Swirsky telling you the Bulls won, but did you think the Rockets were going to come back and beat the Bulls last night? I did.

The Bulls lead was too big, too early. And that's where I thought the mechanics would not favor Los Bulls. you will. I thought that their lead was established way too early on and because of that, that the Rockets and a man we know is Slim Reaper Kevin Durant would be able to come back. It was 22 points and come back. They did. That Kevin Durant stepped back three where he's like, oh, let me check where I am real quick. Fade away with a defender in his base with the arm up, tap it straight to my veins. That is just absolute quintessential KD right there. However, the Bulls also made clutch shots of their own.

I did not think that they were going to win. I don't think it's good for the tank, but I think it's good for the individuals on the Bulls. So a win is a loss and a loss is a win. And I think that means everybody wins somehow in the NBA right now for the Bulls. My problem is you said it there at the end. It's not good for the tank. And where you are right now, winning a game against the Rockets might feel good in the moment. But I'm just, I'm a long-term guy.

What is the state of Chicago Bulls going to be a year from now, two years from now, three years from now? And if you're not going to be in the upper tier of the lottery, having the, what they're the ninth pick in the draft right now. It's getting worse. Yeah, like that's not good. I'm sorry. That's the right answer. However, I thoroughly enjoyed watching every, for some reason, watching every minute of that game last night. Because we committed to it, that's why.

And yes, the whole game was about, is Houston going to come back? I mean, when they got up to those big leads even in the first quarter, the whole theme, even from Adam and Stacey, not once during the broadcast, did those two get comfortable with the Bulls lead? Stacey was always like, oh, here they count how many times in that game watching it on TV. And I'm sure on radio as well with Chuck and Bill, how many times they said, here they come, here comes Houston. Here they come. They're starting to do it. And then with 628 left in the game,

they came back all the way from 22 down to win the game. But I was happy the Bulls won, especially since we got a double onions with a side of fries from Chuck as well, which was great. Chuck, you are awesome. I almost have a heart attack. I think we have to pause. I think we have to pause.

We're up against the deadline. This is what happens on a three-man weave. We've got time. Yeah. That we do. more on the extension of P. Coral Armstrong, I want to go over some numbers with Russ. It's accounting, but it's fun because it's not your money and decisions can be revisited. And ultimately it doesn't matter if you change your opinion.

So accounting that isn't my responsibility with Russ Dorsey and the fifth question to five on it, which involves some vintage bull's shade, maybe, maybe. Next. Five on it. Number five. That's right. We're closing out five on it. Our fifth question here.

Lailohemi, Mark Grody. Our guy, Russell Dorsey, check out the relay with Russ Dorsey, wherever you get your podcast. Go ahead and follow that thing like I did. Here's question number five. Bull's legend, Scotty Pippin, is starring in a new commercial for the spicy cherry flavored soda, Mr. Pib. Let's set the record straight about PIP. When you think about Pib, you think of what? Second best?

Fact check on, Pip. When something has been considered second best for so long, we just blindly accepted its gospel. A decades long plot built on marketing, social media. Multipart documentaries. PIP took that personally. Yeah, I said it. PIP is a goat. It's Pib.

Don't correct me. That is Bulls legend, Scotty Pippin, in a new commercial for Mr. Pib. Here's the question is Scotty taking a shot at the goat Michael Jordan in that Mr. Pib commercial. This is the 50 cent jow roll beef. Like this will never go away. No. They wouldn't joke about it like this, either one of them. There's nothing coming from MJ's side, though.

I'm not saying it's one side and 100%. But Scotty is never letting this go. And I'm one of the belief when everybody's 60 years old and old and nobody, come on, man. Hey, that's most of our listeners, sir. Watch it. No, I'm talking about when it comes to beef and like holding on to grudges, like Scotty has to, like as the years go on, it just looks worse and worse on Scotty. See, I look at it a little bit differently with this particular one because he's finally

leaning into it and being playful about it as opposed to being dead serious and angry and looking bitter and holding onto resentments. He's finally just like, yeah, I'm doing this thing with Jordan. So I thought it was awesome. I did too because he hasn't made jokes about it previously. Right. It was so serious before. I understand you addressing the obvious, which is it is not been in a good place.

Let's not even get into who his ex-wife dated. Michael Jordan's son. So and also I will stand on this, by the way. I will stand on this. If that situation were reversed and it was a man and the younger person in the relationship was a woman, we would think about that a lot differently. So I just want to throw that out there. In the meantime, I think this, this is him having fun.

Finally. Like, this is him making a joke about it. And the joke is funny. The pitch for this if you're the Mr. Pib. Hey, Scotty, we have this commercial concept where you take shots at Michael. And yes. Done. I'm in.

I don't even care about the money. Yes, I'm in. Give me the script. But even he's funny in it because he says Pip and then they go, it's Pib. And he's like, no. I said. Don't correct me. Yes, that was funny.

Also, Scotty, I will also say this, has an amazing voice. I think he should have been doing voiceovers for a very long time. There are certain people who have excellent narrative voices and I feel like he is one. I need to say this real quick. For the 60 plus listeners, I promise I was not taking a shot at you. I was saying at a mature age like that, we got to let go of grudges and beef. But specifically, Scotty, I was not talking about y'all. You know what's funny?

You're covered. Thank you. Got you. Can you say that, though? How many people in America are like, well, the 80-year-olds are still beefing in public. So there's that. 80's the new 60, though. It keeps you young.

I think the genes still play a part in this. I think they get you so many years, technology and such. Sure. But I think that the genes are still an issue. I think so. So that concludes five on it. I'm glad we got to wait and discuss that with Russ Dorsey on the other side of our little commercial break. Now, in the meantime, let's get back to the big news.

I did not expect, Russ, that was part of the surprise for me, was the Cubs not only reporting this extension close to the beginning of the season, with the home opener, the season opener being two days from now. Paker Armstrong's birthday is tomorrow. This is a heck of a birthday present. For them to do this, I feel like the timing of it was unexpected. I think when you're talking about extensions in Major League Baseball, usually the window to do it is between the starter of spring training and opening day.

So, like, you're at the tail end of that window, but think about where we were a year ago, where those conversations were starting to bubble up of could the Cubs extend Pete Crowe Armstrong? And remember last year, I'm like, you don't really have to. And at that point, Pete hadn't proved anything yet, right? We still had questions about the bat. Could he be an everyday player where you're like, okay, this guy is a player that you build around for a long time. Then he has the first half that he has and it's like, okay, for Pete,

you're probably like, all right, let's hold off. Let's keep cooking and see how the season goes. And then we see the second half where the numbers dropped off dramatically. And then going into this year, the Cubs big expectations, but you expect Pete and they expect Pete to be a big part of it. And you're like, you know what? If we're going

all in, or the Cubs version of all in, and you make the moves they made and bring Bregman in and you look at their roster after the 2026 season where they have money freed up, and you're like, okay, we believe in Pete and his talents, and we believe that he's a guy at a premier position that we can have locked in for a long time and maybe have some value if we do this now, maybe this is the right time to do it.

And go ahead. No, I was going to say, even as for the numbers, which are glaring from one half to the next. Obviously, it's a projection by the Cubs that he's more of what he was in the first half in the second half, but what do you think he is? What do you think? Is he a 30 home run guy? Is he a 20 home run guy?

Is he under 20 home run guy? That's such a great question. I don't know the answer to it. And I think if I had to take my best guess, I think PCA is an 800 OPS guy with a premier glove in center field, which I think makes you an all-star. Right? So if you're saying he's an all-star caliber player, Yeah. And we don't have the numbers yet, and there's reporting going on, and people trying to figure that out.

I think from conversations I've had in the last 12 hours, and for everybody out there, contract extensions are based on player comps. So when a team and an agency get together and say, hey, let's talk about an extension, you're talking about, okay, what are the comparables, the comparables in the last, we'll call it five years to this guy. And so I made a list because I knew I was going to talk with you guys about it. For PCA, if you're talking about centerfielders or outfielders who are in his age range that have been extended in the last four years, you're talking about Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners, who signed a 12-year, $209 million extension. Good call on Julio. Then you have Jackson Merrill was 9 for 135. Roman Anthony, beginning of last season, was 8 for 130, and then Corbyn Carroll was 8 for 111. Corbyn Carroll.

So if I'm thinking about what these numbers are going to be, because Pete already has some service time, and a lot of those guys didn't have a ton of service time, this might be a six or seven year type of extension where you buy out all the arbitration years and then you add on a couple of the first years of free agency. Probably in that $85 to $95 million range with escalators that take it over $100 million. but it would fall in line with those deals. I think you're right to bring up the escalators because I know Jackson Trio doesn't fit all the comms, but he was like, wasn't division. That was before he ever made his debut.

Yes, and I was thinking about him as part of this because division, young, offensive firepower, as we know. And then he was the number two prospect at the time, but it was the escalators that made that one different because of the worth of the two option years in 32 and 33. Yeah. But that's the point. point, though, is that ultimately, this is smart money when you consider how the league is moving.

And look what happens when your talent is not locked down. I still can't really put into the proper terminology the value of Kyle Tucker's contract based on the years of deferral, because that's also kind of the point is that it isn't just a way to help ensure a guy's career. It's a way to ensure generations for them ahead. And that's why the deferred money is so attracted to a lot of these players. They come from how to do that because they did something like this. Yeah, you save yourself some money and teams are always trying to do the, let's pay them before they're like really, really good, right?

And that's where you get. They're trying to do at the beginning of last year. And that's how you get the Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, like these guys that signed these massive Vladimir Giro Jr, even though he signed an extension, but like what he ended up getting $500 million is what he would have likely gotten had he hit free agency. that's how you get those types of deals done. And so I think for the Cubs, you're getting value because you don't necessarily have to pay top of market money, but you're also rewarding Pete Crow Armstrong and saying, we do believe in you being a foundational piece going forward.

And for a player, you're like, hey, I saw what I can be. I also saw if things go the other way. And while you still believe in yourself, we just never know. Like, look at how hard it was for me to say who PCA is as a player, girls, when you ask me. Because I don't know, and I don't think Pete knows yet. I just say he doesn't know. He doesn't know. I think he saw what he can be, but with such a high variance type of player where it, I hate the word, the term boomer busts.

But that's what we saw last year. A lot of boom in the first half, a lot of busts in the second half. And so I think it's finding that consistency where you get that everyday player that is 800 OPS with the defense. It's lazy to do the White Sox comp and I get it because it's in town and they're very different things in some ways. But I think when you consider Luis's Robert, Louis Roberts extension at six years and $50 million, and then the fact that the socks willingly, knowing they might not have a trade partner for him, picked up the option for the $20 million loan year by itself, that gives you an indication of how it is still a deal for a million.

of these players, regardless of the actual production, at the end of that contract. Yeah. You know, and I think for what that, and the white tax are, and I know people were upset, they were still able to move it at the end of the day. That's it. Right? Like, you were still able to move it. And when you think about a lot of deals once you get past contract extensions,

when you get to free agency, et cetera, a lot of these deals are hard to move. Right? when you talk about guys that sign the 10 for 300, 10 for 350, 10 for 400, it's really hard to move a deal like that because teams are like, I don't really want to take on bad money at the end when that guy's 36, 37, 38. And he's hit, and he's a sub 700 OPS and we have to think about eating this money. I don't necessarily want that. But when you're talking about like a Fernando Tatis Jr. type of deal where it's 341 over, I believe

that one. was 13 years when he signed it and looked like great value for both sides at the time. That deal is movable. But when you talk about on the same roster, Manny Machado, right, if the Padres, for whatever he doesn't want to say, hey, we want to move Manny Machado, it'd probably be really hard to move him at $350 over 10, or what that value is now, pro-rated. 14-3-40. 14-3-40.

So, yeah, I think the age plays a big. role here. And I think the Cubs, you're paying for the prime years. And I think a lot of times that's what teams are thinking about. Like, can we pay for the prime years or entering the prime years, save some money in terms of the arbitration years and those free agency years? One other part to this, and it's not the most important part, but I can't think of too many former Cubs players who have embraced stardom as much as Pete Crowe Armstrong. Havier Baez comes to mind. Sammy Sosa comes to mind, but he is, as I like to say, he's a touchable cub, as

in he likes signing autographs. He likes hanging out with kids. He likes the bleacher creatures. Like, it's the peripheral part of it, but he's kind of a perfect Chicago Cubs star from the PR standpoint. Every team needs that guy, like the budding personality, walks into the room and everybody I'm just like, oh, that's a dude, right? Before he even says anything, you're going to always have your quiet leaders,

your more reserved type of dudes, but you need your personality, the guy that gets people to go to the ballpark, the guy that gets people really excited. There are a lot of really young Cubs fans. They're like, I want to be like PCA. Like, that's a real thing. And they don't have a lot of that even on this team right now. They're all very quiet, grinder, do your work and go home, guys. And now if you're one of those kids,

you now get to grow with PCA being on this Cubs roster. I want to get into more of that as well with Russ Dorsey as we are, man, we are almost 48 hours before opening day. How about that? That is quite the thing. This is Rahimi Harrison Brody. We are with Russ Dorsey, who has his own podcast now, the relay with Russ. Source is confirmed.

I've been running right now, right? Yes. Yes. Yahoo Sports is National Baseball Insider. He's an insider and analyst for MLB Network. Friday night baseball on Apple TV plus. So Warren Pekro Armstrong's extension and also what we can't expect

to see just over two days away on opening day next. Rahimi Harrison Grody. I don't want to break time. I want to yell about you. Can we handle more Anthony Herron? Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. I think it's like the funny mix of, you know,

I would love to be here. Let's get something done. but I think Jed Carter, Mr. Irriguez, like they all know where my head's at and I think that's the best part about the situation is that you know, we

I don't want to let it leak into the season again and I think they're very supportive of that thought. And now we begin to wonder, that was Peekker Armstrong at Cubs Convention, right guys? This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 the score. We begin to wonder how confident he was for reasons

now that we know he's getting an extension. Russ Dorsey is in studio with us. He's got a podcast. The Relay with Russell Dorsey. He's also an insider for Apple TV. You can see his work there. When is your first Apple TV broadcast, by the way? Friday.

No way. Heck yeah. Let's go. Let's go, guys. Double dip. Can't wait. MLB Network, Friday night baseball on Apple TV Plus. And we were talking about some of the projections when it comes to Pekro Armstrong.

And we've talked about his home run. value. I also want to get into this aspect of his game. He had 37 doubles last season. I think that we are probably not valuing enough because we don't see him enough. The doubles aspect of his game, how much that is valued in this Cubs lineup specifically, because they tend to hit last year a lot of singles as we saw. That, even that is harnessed, even if it's not necessarily the home run ball. The extra base hits could be so crucial for this team moving forward. Yeah, he was a 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30 guy last year. 30, 30 doubles, 30 homers, 30 stolen bases.

And at his age, his age 24 season, there was only like four guys in the history of the game who've put that up at that age. And so you're talking about a guy that is immensely talented. And so I think for the Cubs, if you're trying to project that out, you're like, man, if this guy did this and he's not even final form of what he can be as a hitter. And you already know he, him and Saddam Raphael are the best center fillers in baseball. He's the best center fieler in the National League. Then you feel really good about who he is as a player even today before he's made those changes that you want to see in terms of the consistency and everything like that. So yeah, I think you're right, Layla. I think outside, I think we just think of the home runs and the strikeouts.

But the ability for extra base hits, like doubles, triples even with his speed, stolen bases. is like, I think he's a for sure perennial 40 stolen base guy if he can get on base at a higher clip, right? And then that's the catch-22 with it is the thing that he has to improve is being able to get on base at a much higher clip. If he could get that on-base percentage to 325, you're talking about 40 bases every year. at what spot in the lineup do you think he will slash should hit most this season or is it a work in progress i heard i saw speeds did speake say sixth that is a popular place for him like four five six so it's it's bush Bregman Niko

Or Hap Nico at the top against lefties Yeah I mean I like Nico Is it crazy to think of Nico leading off to This year based on what you did

Against right handers And left handers Or just left handers? I don't think so But yeah No I I dare I say both If I had to go based off

Of what they've been Putting out there Against right handed pitching It probably still goes Bush Breggman Hap More thunder with Bush At the top

Yeah And then I want Bush When there's somebody on base? I'm thinking fifth. Okay. Fifth or six.

And depending on how he ends up doing this year, left on left, maybe that you, maybe you push him up if he's on one of those heaters. And if he's not, maybe you keep him down in that five, six spot. But I think the thing for PCA are there are guys in the lineup that get on base at a high clip. And so it does play to the Cubs advantage if they decide to move. them down in the lineup because Alex Breggman is a guy that gets on base at a high clip. Michael Bush gets on base at a high clip.

Ian Hap, when he's going right, is getting on base at a really high clip. If those guys are on base and then you have that pop with PCA, you're talking about him driving in a lot of runs. And now being a run producer, as opposed to when he was hitting at the top of the lineup, it's like, well, yeah, he's hitting homers, but like, who's going to get on base? Well, and that's what it comes back to again. The question of the day, who is he? Is he that run producer? Is he the bopper?

Is he the guy that's going to drive in the runs? Or is he a guy that's going to get on base and hit doubles and steal bases? So I'll ask you guys this question. If we get to the end of 2026 and PCA is a slash line, let's call it 268, 310, 475 with gold glove caliber defense and center, hits 30 homers, 30 doubles. and swipes 38 bags. That's a sub-800 OPS. Yeah. But he still did a lot of things.

I mean, okay, so his first half, 544 for the slug, 372. I think it's hard to expect that type of slug that he had in the first half again. I think it won't be 372, though. That's my word. And I go back to the number, and I've used this before, the 45 weighted runs created plus, which is just atrocious

for the last two months of the season. Like that's the number that has to change. It's the hits of consequence. And that's why WRC is so valuable. And then it's not just that, but the Cubs offense is not without responsibility in that. Somebody's got to be on base here. The thing that I think where his value becomes even more intangible

is I've got to be okay with that concept, right? the four some odd slug. It's that when he's on base, say his mindset becomes more, make solid contact, not necessarily golf swing launch angle. If he's on base, the inning changes.

The lineup is more likely to turn over or at least lengthen where you don't have as many automatic outs because they're so afraid of him as a stolen base threat that that changes how the looks from a complexion standpoint.

That's where I feel like his value. So much of what he does is measured in an intangible, which is why it's hard to put a monetary value on a lot of this. That's where I feel like

his true value can help. If that's the case, get on base with extra base hits or figure out how to once you're on base, try to make an extra base happen with every single opportunity you have.

Yeah, and that's why I think the PCA's ability to get on base is such a big storyline for me. That's something I'll be watching because there's a lot of pressure on his slug if he doesn't get on base at a high clip. Right? Like if he is a 310 or less

in terms of on-base percentage to get the value, he's going to have to be a 500 slug guy. Like we think of guys hitting Homer. Like there's not a ton of guys that can hit a 500 slug for an extended period of time that aren't named Raleigh, Judge, Otani, et cetera. Nick Kurtz.

So that's why his ability to get on base at a more consistent clip. Look, swing and miss is going to always be a part of his game, right? That's baseball. Like, there are a lot of guys who swing and miss. There are guys who are in the Hall of Fame that don't have a crazy high on base percentage. But he's a better player and the Cubs are a better team if you can improve, If it's a 4% increase, right, that's a lot for a guy. And it puts less pressure on him like, hey, man, you got to hit 30, got to hit 30, got to hit 30.

Because there's probably going to be some regression when it comes to the power. And we know how Wrigley Field plays. Like, there's a reason there's only been one guy in the history of the team to have 40 homers as a left-handed hitter. Like when that season started, everybody's like, oh, PCA is going to hit 40. And then he didn't because it's really. really hard to do. And it goes to show you just how good of a first half he had. Oh, that's a great point. Russ Dorsey, always great to talk to you. If people want to find your podcast, the relay with Russ Dorsey. Where can they find it? It's available everywhere,

Leila Rahimi. Spotify, Apple. You can watch it on YouTube, subscribe to the YouTube channel. It's under my name, Russ Dorsey, on YouTube. And yeah, having a good time over there. Episode just dropped this morning. I give you storylines of things that you should think about as a fan throughout the season. I gave you some players that you should watch, players that I'm expecting a lot out of this season, and some quick hitters on MVP, Syung, Rookie of the Year. Awesome.

Good call, yeah. I think Marshall's in on that value, so you guys could do some damage. He's a big Murakami guy. Like, he's all in on that for him for Rookie of the year. We all love the unknown. He's going all local with his value for AL and NL R-O-Y. He plays a big part in this season. Absolutely.

I've been thinking about that a lot. Like, the bat for him, for the Cubs, Moises Bayisteros' bat playing is a really important part of their success this year. Yeah, it needs to happen. It's not just that it's important. It's that they are betting on it to have to happen. Yeah, there we go. There we go. Good luck.

We're all counting on you. Russ Dorsey, thanks as always. Thanks, Ross. Thank you guys. Let's keep the baseball talk going. Ben Verlander joins us next. The score. Strike field.

Cablions going back. That is Pete Crow Armstrong, three-run shot. That's up, everybody. That is Pete Crow Armstrong at the World Baseball Classic, courtesy of Fox Sports. This is Rahimi Harris and Grody on 104-3, The Score, and we go to our hotline. He is also on Twitch. Twitch.tv.tv slash The Score, Chicago, Ben Verlander, the host of the Flipin'Bats podcast.

Just noted baseball mind as well. Ben, thanks for joining us on this pretty big day here with the PCA news. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Yeah, happy to have you. So what was your initial thought when you heard about this reported extension?

First thought was good. I love this. I love when, you know, players, this young stars in an organization stay in that organization. And I'm not saying they need to take a hometown discount to do it. But I love that he came up.

He bet on himself and didn't take an extension last year. and now, you know, after a really good year, he's being rewarded for that. He's a, I think he's a superstar in this league. He's on pace to become a superstar in this league. Everything I've seen from him, at his best, he's a, you know, a guy with power that can steal 40 bases and hit for a high average and be a superstar center fielder. At his worst, he's a superstar center fielder that's going to be a good offensive player

for you. So this is a no-brainer. I love it for him. I love it for the Chicago Cubs, and I love it as a baseball fan. And maybe with the money that he's making now, that some of the, if there was, if he felt the pressure to perform in that second half, which we know went way downhill by the numbers, maybe there's a new, take a deep breath, a little bit of comfort and get back to more of what we saw in the first half, even if it's not as ridiculously 544 slug as it was in that first half.

for sure i think there's always a bit of um under you know when you do sign a deal like this a bit of pressure that comes off of you and i know players can say it goes either way no this just makes me feel like i need to be the guy but i i just don't think that's the case he's a young guy that now has his future set and he has the tools that he has so i i do think this will allow him to settle in he doesn't have to worry about the future or his his free agency or his arbitration years. He knows where he's going to be. He knows he's set.

And now he can just go out and play the game he loves the best he's able to do day in and day out without putting pressure on himself. And I think the best player that Pete Carr Armstrong is is one of the best players in baseball. And I do think this helps him take some of the pressure off of his game. So, Ben, you're saying that you expect him to return to that first. half form, if that's your assessment of him, you think the second half was a bit of an aberration, or maybe it was the league adjusting to him before he had the chance to readjust? I think that is him. I think he's that player. I think he's that first half player.

I think, you know, everything there is to love about him, you saw on display in the World Baseball Classic. He was good there. I think the tools are there. So then it becomes, okay, we saw what he did in the first half, why did he struggle in the second half? And there's always a degree of getting adjusted to and pitchers knowing how to attack you, but there's also a degree of pressure attached to performing as a young player in the league and needing to, you know, pitchers can adjust from game to game. As an offensive player, you're really not, it's tough to do that in season. You're really going to use the offseason to attack how to adjust your approach at the plate because it's really It's tough to, that's what makes hitting so hard, right?

Like, I can go up to the plate. I played professionally for five years. I can go up to the plate and I know my weakness. The pitcher knows my weakness and I know the pitcher's weakness. But he doesn't have to throw what he struggles with, right? He can continually attack my weakness and there's nothing I can do about it as an offensive player. And it's really tough to make those adjustments in season from day to day when you're playing

every game. You can't go up to the plate saying, hey, I was working on this, now I need to do this. It's so difficult to do that. Hitting's the hardest thing to do in all of sports. You take the offseason to make your adjustments. And from what I've seen from Pete, he's a star, and he's able to make those adjustments,

and he's going to put in the work to do it. I'm really excited to see how he approaches this year and to see him get back to that player he was in the first half. So PCA is in place for the Cubs comfortably. They have a very good roster, tons of expectations for them. As for Ben, the National League Central, do you think it is the Cubs division to win and which teams do you think will be competing for the crown in the NL Central? Yeah, so I don't want to, you know, can't give away too many spoilers here, but my NL preview

is today on my show and I do have the Cubs winning the NL Central. Okay. Look, I think they're the best team in the Central. I think last year they were really missing the day Justin Steele went down. I thought, okay, it's pretty obvious. They need a starting pitcher. And it just never seemed to happen. And then Cade Horton going down in the postseason,

and they're just like, they just don't have enough, they don't have enough bullets to do what you need to do in the postseason. Now you get him back. You get Justin Steele back at some point. You add Edward Cabrera, who you might look at his past numbers on paper and say, I don't get it. But what I see with Edward Cabrera is a guy with some of the best stuff in baseball, and he's finally seemingly over the last year or so

learn to hone that in a little bit and learn how to pitch with that stuff. And I see that taking another step forward and maybe a change of scenery and a new pitching coach helping him out and getting Justin Steele back at some point and pairing that with Imanaga who came back who you don't need to be a two in a rotation.

You can have him be a four in a rotation or a five in a rotation. So I love what they've done with the rotation, adding an arm and adding Alex Breggman. I love Breggman. He's a friend of mine. I've been watching him play for a long time. I've been watching the way he goes about his game.

The things people say about being in a clubhouse with him are all true. And then some, he's a star. And I love that they went out and got that done. So I'm in on the Chicago Cubs this year. I think they win the NL Central and I think they're built to do some damage in the playoffs. We're talking to Ben Verlander. He is the host of the Flipping Bats podcast. if you want to check out that NL Central preview.

And I want to get into a little bit more of just what you said about Alex Bregman. Knowing him personally like you do and calling him a friend, what are the intangibles to the leadership aspect that a lot of people say that he brings? How have you seen that really affect the teams that he's been on? Yeah, you know, I feel like I do often say he helps the game. He helps a team in so many different ways. It's not just offensively. It's not just defensively.

It's a pitching staff as well. And a common response to that, which I understand is how. What is he doing to, what is Alex Bregman doing to help a pitching staff? But it's so much. He's a student of the game. Like one of the best I have ever seen as a student of the game. He's reading hitters over at third base. He's relaying things to a pitcher.

He's going to communicate with the pitcher on the mount. He's communicating with them in the dugout. He's in on scouting meetings, on pregame meetings. offensively reading pitchers and what they're doing and being able to relay that to batters and working with guys behind the scenes. I've talked to so many guys in the offseason that I didn't even know work out with Bregman. And every single one of them, to a T, says Alex Bregman has really helped me this offseason. Jet Williams, a prospect just traded to the Brewers.

We were talking and he said, Alex Bregman is like he called me out of nowhere. even really know him. He called me and said, get down here. Let's work out in the off season. And it's changed me. And I'm so grateful to him for that. To have a guy like that in your locker room, that's a leader that can hit, that can play defense, that can help a pitching staff, and that can help everyone around him be better, you're not just getting a good baseball player. You're not just getting a great baseball player. You're getting a guy that can help everybody on the roster in every way imaginable. And that's what I think makes him so valuable. He's more than the numbers on a piece of paper.

He just, he helps an entire roster. He's awesome. Absolutely love hearing that. And Ben, another thing we loved hearing, there are rumors out there that a guy by the name of Ben Verlander might be bullish on the other team in this town, the Chicago White Sox. Is that true, Ben? Well, let me, let me make this clear. Am I saying, first off, the answer is yes. It is true.

It's true. Am I saying I think the White Sox are a 2026 playoff team? I'm not. But what I am saying is I'm just, I'm looking at this roster and the team. And I thought to myself, I'm excited to watch them play baseball this year. And maybe what that means is they're much closer to a 500 team. All I know is they have a lot of young guys on that team that I'm really excited to watch. And I feel like they deserve a lot of credit for going out and making their team much better this offseason.

Other than maybe the Detroit Tigers, who didn't do a ton, but they added a Framber Valdez, added a Justin Verlander, a veteran piece. I think the White Sox might have had the best offseason of anybody in the AL Central. Adding Muntaka Murakami, a very low-risk, high-reward contract with the way that's set up. And to pair that with so many young guys in the lineup. I'm excited about Kyle Teal, Coulson Montgomery, Quiro, Muntakami. I'm just, they're a team this year that I don't go into it saying, I'm not going to watch them because it's just no fun and they might be the worst team ever. It's not that.

In fact, it's not even close to that, in my opinion. You can see the future with the White Sox. It's no longer what is their direction. It's I can see the direction. I can see the future and I'm excited to see that start to get built on. So are they a 2026 playoff team? No, but are they a fun team to watch in 2026? At least from my perspective, that answer is yes.

I will take it, Ben. And I know you just mentioned your brother. If you would have the conversation 10 years ago, and I know that's a long time ago, but still, did you think that your brother was going to be able to pitch into his 43rd year now at this point in his career? You know, it's funny. It's pretty unprecedented, right? I think, like, Nolan Ryan is the comp you can give to this career longevity with the weight, with the type of pitcher he is. And if you were to ask me 10 years ago, my answer would have been

absolutely. And I, it's just, I, you know, I was born into a baseball family. He's nine years older than me. I was born watching him play travel ball, high school, college, professionally. And I've just, I've seen him go about his work every step of the way. And he has always said that his idol is Nolan Ryan and he wants to pitch until 45. And throughout every step of my life, I've seen him accomplish what he's wanted to do. And that's not saying every year he's winning a Cy Young or he's just, he's the hardest worker I've ever seen. He's really, when his career needed a bit of a change of how he went about his body and his body of work, he did that. And he works on himself harder than I've ever seen anyone do.

And, you know, I think the year after the COVID season, when he had Tommy John, that next year, he came back as a 39-year-old. And I think the conversation around the league was, he's got to, he's done. He's getting Tommy John at 39. And he went out and won a Cy Young Award. And every year, it feels like people are saying, yeah, he's got to, he's done. father time catches up with everyone. And that's true. Father time does catch up with everyone.

It's just taking a little bit longer with him. And it's because of the hard work that he puts in. So I guess it's a long-winded answer. And a lot of people might not believe me, but I've just been around him my whole life. He's my brother. And I love him. And he's said forever that he wants to pitch until he's 45 years old.

And if you were to ask me 10 years ago if he's going to do that, I would have said, yeah, you're dang right. He's going to pitch until he's 45. and he's going to be pretty good doing it. So it's really cool to see him being back in Detroit. It's going to be a special year for sure. And he's still got a lot left in the tank. This isn't some memory lane move.

It obviously includes walking down memory lane. But he's a good pitcher on a good team. So I'm excited for the Tigers this year. No, I think that's a great assessment. I'm glad you were long-winded. And I'll take this time to point out that Nolan Ryan was 44 years old when he threw his last career no-hitter. Wow.

So Ben still got some time if he wants to throw another one of those in the mix as well. Absolutely. It would be awesome. I mean, there's obviously 300 on the horizon. I think he's at 267, but there's a lot of other things. If he doesn't get to 300, there's still a lot he could put on his list of career accomplishments. And how cool would that be to add one of those? I can't wait, Ben, for the treatment that he's going to get in Detroit.

On that one year 13, like the ovation that that man is going to get, When he walks out to the mound for the first time, I mean, I'm just thinking about that, right? Like the whole season, like the appreciation that I'm assuming they're going to have for him. Yeah, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm going to get there for that. They start the year on a six-game road trip. There's a lot going on with travel right now. It ain't cheap to get there.

But the tickets are booked and I'm going to be in Detroit when my brother makes his first start back there. You've got to make it happen, you know? Love it. Noted White Sox Nemesis, I will point out, for many years. of his career. But if you love baseball, it is an incredible story because his delivery is one that is power. You know, you wouldn't necessarily say going back to the beginning of his career, that it would be one that would be so repeatable until this point in his career. But you're right, Ben, it's been really incredible to watch. And he did make the adjustments

necessary to lengthen his career. Yeah, and absolutely. And it feels like the last time he was in Detroit, his White Sox nemesis was Joe Creedy and Jermaine Dye. And now it's got to be You can't Takamara Akami and Kyle Teal. Hey, I remember Ozzy Gehan when he was a rookie. And I was all Borlander, Burlander, Burlander, like just kind of like mocking him because he was so good. And I remember your brother just kind of smiling and doing the, okay, Ozzy, get out of here.

hilarious. Yeah, good times, good times. Well, and then Michael Copac, I think we've talked about this. And he also loved Nolan Ryan. You know, and his delivery is very similar to your brothers. It doesn't always work out for everybody to have that type of delivery and have it last as long as he's had. 100%. I mean, it's, I've been around it since literally the day I was born.

And it's, there's also, there's a gift in that arm. And to pair that with the, the drive that he does is, is why we're seeing one of the greatest of all time. It's a combination of a lot of things and a combination of hard work. And I couldn't be more proud of them. Well, we are looking forward to checking in on the White Sox are fun to watch prediction. along with your NL Central preview throughout the season. Ben, this has been a lot of fun.

Thank you. Of course, guys. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks, Ben. That is Ben Verlander. He is at Ben Verlander on Twitter. You can check out the flipping bass podcast, and he will touch on that NL Central.

And yes, he said he was excited to watch the White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. I get it, but. Marcelo Zuna is on the Pirates. We care more about that whole, that whole Cubs part of the equation. Yeah, with Freddie Peralta and Caleb Durbin being gone, help. I'm not making any predictions. Not me. That's good because one of our texters actually said,

Deja Vu, score guess predicts Cubs will win the Central, discounts the brewers. Next step is for Cubs to disappoint. The score is completely confused as to how the brewers keep winning cycle repeats. Got to be careful with those brewers. Got to rinse and repeat. We're traumatized, okay? I got rinsed last year, that's for sure.

That sounded inappropriate. I want to ask the question next. And we had this among our crew here, Rahimi Harrison Grotie, who we think the next Chicago athlete is, other than Caleb Williams, to be next to receive an extension. So we'll do that next. Rahimi Harrison Grody. That sounds so crazy.

104.3, the score. Wow, I like that. Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, The Score. Keep listening. We have an Easter egg for you. Metaphorically speaking. Aw.

Well, I mean, it's just not that time of year yet. I want an egg now. Palm Sunday is this Sunday. After Palm Saturday here on the score, by the way. How about that? It's actually going to be Palm Saturday on Palm Saturday. What do you do with that Palm when you get home with it? I put it over my door.

Aw. Yeah. That's nice. That's a good idea. Yeah. Sorry the answer was so automatic and quick, but yes, that was my training, if you will, so that's where I put. Asked an answer. Speaking of asking, we are asking the question, who's the next Chicago athlete other than Caleb Williams? Because it's Caleb Williams. He gets his own exemptions here that we think will be the next to receive an extension.

I do think Caleb Williams is getting extended. How do I know? Because Ryan Poles mentioned it. he said he's not there yet but he knows that that is something that is top of mind for the bears that was addressed that was specifically discussed I don't think you're far off for me in just giving Caleb Williams the given there I agree with you Ryan Poles has everything in the world to want to have that happen after his rookie year when we were all questioning Caleb Williams and based on what he did in the second half of last year and something of the things he still needs to tighten up. Oh yeah, I agree with you. Yes. Direct Ryan Poles has has had a couple of hits with me recently. Oh. Yeah. Direct Ryan Poles, it's kind of like podcast for us.

It's just a different version of these people that we know. Yeah. When he's like, oh, we have a lot of tough decisions to make regarding a DJ Moore question. When he didn't even have to bring that in, direct Ryan Poles showed you how he felt. I feel like direct Ryan Poles also showed us how he felt about Caleb Williams. Yeah. Hey, no, whatever you want to say about Ryan Poles, he's always been much more, let's just say, relative to his predecessors, especially Ryan Pace, and we can go on and on and on with Phil Emery and Jerry Angelo. I don't know how far you want to go back. You usually don't get transparency.

Jerry Angelo could be pretty transparent at times, but that was just out of anger and frustration with the media at times. So we asked the question other than Caleb Williams, because direct Ryan polls indicated that that's happening. Who's next to be extended in Chicago? We already got a good answer, I think, from our text line. Yeah. 815 says Colson Montgomery will be next.

That was mine. Oh, no way. God. Got all the numbers up. Okay, so tell me why you think that because that's all 815 said. You spoiled my answer. How dare you go to the text line first? It was just staring me in the face and I can read.

My God. Yeah, the guy played in 71 games last year, hit 21 home runs. This pisses me right off. What? 55 RBIs in those 71 games last year. And we were just talking about how, and it was a different regime. It was Rick Hahn and how they were very good at taking care of the arbitration years with Louise Robert and Alloy Jimenez. And I know it didn't work out.

But if he continues to do this on this trajectory, then I think it would be a good idea to buy out his years and give him some sort of extension. There, fine. What else you got from the texters, Layla? Well, I mean, I just thought it was a good point because if there was any team who might want to, I don't know, have some, quote, intelligent spending, end quote, and lock down their core and start at shortstop. Sure. A guy who's certainly paid off in a way that was unexpected last year because, well, we thought he was going to start the league,

you know, start the year at the league level and then he had injuries, then they had to get his head right with balls, so to speak. A weird path. Wasn't he all alone? Sercutis in Arizona. You know, it's just a baby. He's all the life. Well, you remember Nico Horner did one of his afternoon appearances on Spiegel and Holmes coming up a little bit here of Dredsition.

And he said, like, they asked him about Colson Montgomery and said, oh, what do you think about the path that he took? Kind of interesting. And Nico was like, no, that's not a path that I would like to take. That is not a path that I think is good. Paraphrasing what Nico Horner said. But I love the idea of Colson Montgomery continuing to thrive and making him a cornerstone, hopefully. And just to counter the texter, how about Chase Midroth while we're at it too? Sign all the socks.

I've mentioned to it. What about Munay, Munataka Murakami? How about him too? What about Danks? What about, don't worry about Danks. It hadn't been asked for a while. It hadn't. Someday, friends, someday, now that I've been in this town 10 years, I will tell you about

life on the other side of the John Danks trade. Someday. What do you mean? Like, because you were there covering it? No, because I was in Texas at the time. And as a Rangers fan, I was like, why did we give up John Danks for nothing? He was a Texas Ranger. No offense to Ackinori Oatska or anything.

No, no, you don't want to offend him. Oh, my God, that trade was infuriating on the other side. Who's the guy you just said? Ackonori Outska. I believe Brandon McCarthy was a part of it, too. I called it the Magic Beans train because I was like, you traded John Dakes for Magic Beans. Very mad.

Franon McCarthy was supposed to be a star, man. He is. in television. Is he? What's he doing? Yeah, he's doing analyst work. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah, he's a very likable person.

Where? I think he was with the Rangers for a while. Oh. All right, so would you like to know my submission to the class? I guess. It's kind of like you bringing facts into the conversation earlier when you said that PCA is the one who's going to be here the longest because contractually he's here for the longest.

Yeah. Connor Bred's in the last year of his deal. It's time. It was an entry level contract, three years, $2.85 million. So the story from our friends Scott Powers and Shana Goldman at the Athletic Red as such, what will Connor Bedard's next contract look like for the Blackhawks? I know that's the easy answer. But I think when we consider extensions and as I've mentioned the frustrating nature of the NHL salary cap,

trying to figure that out is very much a part of all of this. He's 100% earned it, I think, like these really obviously has starting to show the things that the Black Hawks wanted to see from him. So he's got, of course, of course he's going to get the big extension. I don't know what hockey money extension is for a young, up-and-coming player right now. Well, and that's the article is essentially kind of surrounding this relative to what the hawks have to take on. You know, they're still responsible for a Seth Jones cap hit. There's a lot to it.

Still. Yeah. See, I mean, that's it. It's the frustrating nature of it all. So I think that that is part of the reason this is part of the discussion. How about, I've got a couple of other names here for you. There is the Nico Horner discussion. Important.

He is in the final year of his contract with the Cubs. Is he a core member of what we hope is the next Cubs team to make it to the World Series? I do hope that they take care of him, and we know that he's not going to get the crazy gargantuan number because of the lack of slug. So hopefully that makes him affordable, but there might be other teams, like the San Francisco Giants who have money and seem to have already desired him. And of course, he is from there. And again, I think he loves it here because he says it all the time.

And I think it's pretty obvious from hearing him here on the score. But we don't know what his actual desires are in terms of his baseball life. No, I think that that's absolutely fair. Because you have said this before. And I got frustrated because the Cubs had not been on the side of extending homegrown talent recently. and that's why the Nico Horner trade conversation was a bit frustrating. It's because you're right. As a GM, you have to listen.

But to trade him when he's at the highest point of his career, there's also a huge argument to be made for enjoying and reaping the benefits of that. Yeah. I mean, to me, it's like, why wouldn't he want? Because he really, like, nobody, like we talk about PCA embracing Cubsness. Nico Horner does a pretty good job of it as well. different personality, different type. But as Craig Counsel said last year, like he is built for the 162.

He is built for the grind of Wrigley Field as well. There is a bear. There is a bear that I'm thinking of. You tell me who you're thinking of, and I'll tell you if it's the same bear that I'm thinking. Maybe there's two bears. Let's go blindfolded and do this. We're covering your eyes. Are you covering your eyes? I can't see.

Yeah, I am. Do you want to say it at the same time? Ray, is he really covered? Grody has covered his eyes. I'm seeing like, telling the truth. Why did I assume Grody was cheating? Wait, should I cover it? Yeah, why do I assume? Okay, everybody, cover your eyes.

Okay, eyes covered. One, two, three. Darnel Wright. Oh my gosh. I did think of Darnell, but Rome's the one that I think is the better discussion because we know Darnell Wright's going to get. So that might be the answer to the question. You're right, that's the question.

Well, I know, I think it's Connor Bedard. Oh, wow. Right? I feel like, don't you feel like that the darn all right think it happened any time, like right before the seasons? No, because they have like $2 of cap space. Here we go again with the cap space. That's not an official figure. I think they could figure out the money.

I think they might have stashed a little bit. They may have saved some in the rainy day fund for darn all right. Okay, that's a good question. Connor Bedard or darn all right. It's a race to the extent. They're both getting it. extensions, but it's a matter of who's going to get it first. Really? You think Rome is absolutely getting an extension?

Oh, no, no, I don't know. I don't know that Rome is getting. I meant, yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Badard and darn all right are definitely getting extensions. No, Roma Dunesay, I think, no, no. This is the year that will decide whether it's his third year, so there's rookie contract obviously goes into the fourth year, but this will be the year that will dictate whether or not they are considering Roma Dunesay for the extension. Yes.

What a stressful year? Yeah. But man, Roma Dunesay was so angry with himself at the end of the season for dropping that touchdown in the end zone. And just for having had some bad drops throughout the year, the injury, the foot thing. And I hope that that's okay. Like I don't want to. He pushed himself too far. He might have. No, I mean, I think we're all, they indicated that. I feel like he just pushed himself too much. Yeah. And I hope that he is recovered and that he, like, I don't have. to say anything about this guy's attitude because it's all there. It's just a matter of living up to being a top 10 pick in the National Football League with your Chicago Bears. I mean, think about it.

The accolades, you know, the Pro Bowl nod for Darnell Wright, too. It was all pro. Was it? Did he get All Pro? Let me look. I forget it. Because there's a huge difference, too. So it's worth finding out the distinction. Like, Pro Bowl. Yeah, it was all pro. Okay. Yeah. All pro. He and Kevin Byard. Right. So that's a massive thing. I'm just not used to saying All-Pro with a bear. Can I be honest? Absolutely.

He was second team. And I think the last bear that we got to talk about All-Pro, wasn't it prior to that Roquan Smith, prior to Kevin Byard and Joe Tunney and Darnall Wright? God. I think it was Roquan. I want to think that we're missing somebody. Yeah. Okay, well, that's something to think about out loud.

But that's why I think darnall right is been the success. story drafting wise. His tape matched his traits. Yeah. He had a great year. I know that he's, you know, there's still work to be done. But the league indicated and echoed. He's in the right spot.

Right. And we don't have to get as angry that they didn't pick Jalen Carter, right? Because that was what the Bears did. They decided they didn't have the infrastructure for him at the time. People got mad that I pointed out that Jalen Carter season before last, had an incredible playoff run. And of course it made you think about it. mad.

They're like, they thought I was saying that the bear should have taken Jalen Carter instead of Darnel-El Wright. Well, maybe they should have, but they got a pretty good player in a pretty important position. When the guys that you decide that you're not going to choose, put the league on notice and had incredible playoff runs, of course we're going to point it out. Like, that's, his team went on to win the Super Bowl. That's kind of how that works. But it was never to take away anything from who Darnall Wright was as a player.

Of course not. And yeah, he's elevated. These are just team decisions. Bears get credit and Dan Rochard gets credit for getting the best out of that guy. He's legit. Well, Dan Rochard got the best out of a lot of people, which is something we haven't been able to say recently as well prior to this year. No doubt about it, which is why I guess we could be comfortable with what Dan Wheater and I were at one point surmising could be a five-player competition for left tackle. Once training camp starts, it could be like the kicker competition all over again.

speaking. Oh, Jalen Johnson was second team all pro. Oh, you mean Yalen Yonson. Yes, I was getting him confused with his cousin, Yelan Yonzen. Yeah, I didn't want the Roquan Smith to be right. And of course, I didn't come up with it. So thank you. I just, 2023 in some ways was like two days ago for me.

And in other ways, it becomes very, very, very far back. Yeah, I'm just glad that like last year now we could start a new trend of not having to get into the muck of, okay, which horrible year was it? So 11 and 6 and a playoff win. Dan Weider and I host a podcast called Take the North, and we're going to be doing a live show, as in a live studio audience. It'll air on the score and then be in its usual podcast place, but check this out. If you are caller six right now to the score contest line 312 540-0-670, you'll win a pair of tickets to this special edition of Take the North Live with Dan Weederer. and me Mark Grody.

It is Thursday, April 16th, 6 to 8 p.m. and are very cool and posh and illustrious and celebrity filled at times. Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Studio. Again, that number. Call now 312-540-0-670. Also, you're right about it being posh and sometimes celebrity-filled. Yeah. I've seen some famous people in there.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Like tons of like Wilco was in there recently. or just shows that I remember. Perry Farrell was in there with porno for pyros. There you go. Yes, he was in there, so that was pretty sick. I've seen lots of cool acts in there.

And they're free for us. As opposed to when you said on the air, porno for pirates. That's why I couldn't remember how I botched it. That's why I stopped and thought about what I was about to say. That's right. I did do that. Pordo for pirates.

And, hey, pirates need porn too. Were they able to access? that back then when pirating was a lucrative business? Look at those. Or did they just have wenches at the time? They did have wenches. They're after me booty.

And isn't that real life stuff then? So thereby not whatever. They got that stick for an arm. What can you do? Never mind. Never mind. All right. Coming up next on Rahimi Harris and Grody. Let's keep it wheels off, shall we? Yeah, we shall. We have to go back

to since PCA got a extended. A curious piece of audio from a score caller that has lived red-free in our heads ever since. So, a hundred out of a hundred on the timing. One out of a hundred on the execution we'll examine next. Rahimi Harrison Grody. I'm not a fan of any team. I'm just a fan of being right. Middays 10 to 2 on 104-3, the score. What's up everybody? Ah, yes. PCA. after the playoff celebration.

That was a good time. In the meantime, guys, I have an apology here on behalf of Rahimi Harrison Grody. I can't believe that with all that pirates talk, we forgot to Yar. God. Yeah, that's pretty bad. Really is. I'm sorry, guys. That's our first

error of the show. It's where we missed it. I was lamenting. Oh, what we should have said. I should have brought a mermaid into the pirate porn conversation, and I didn't. So that's on me. They're not real, though. They're not.

Who told you the mermaids? You aren't real. I mean, I haven't seen any of a person. What about the little mermaid? That was a cartoon. Are you going to tell children listening right now in their car with their parents that mermaids aren't real? What's the matter with you, Laila?

Are you heartless? If children are still listening after all of that on a school day, your parents are cool. We're all in trouble. We are. So let's go back in time, shall we, in honor of PCA, getting monies and his birthday tomorrow, all of the monies for the PCA? The big two four tomorrow, kids. I know.

So young. Just a baby. It's one of the great ages, 24. There you go. Right. Nobody likes you winter 23. That's true. Blank.

Okay. We were at Gallagher Way. It was a lovely day. Sun splashed, if you will. nice weather. Everybody was all buzzing about because of the Cubs and the playoffs. Oh, but you set that? The vibe. And we took calls. And the calls were very plentiful. They even went into our top of the hour because people were on one. They wanted to talk about the Cubs and had all sorts of

stuff to say. And that's when we came across Carl, who, Carl. After many, many minutes of thought and after the call was well over, we finally figured out that he was trying to talk to PCA to give him some suggestions as to how to hit as a character from family guy. Carl and Antioch, Carl, you're on the score. P. and I need you get on baseball. Stop playing the garbage. We'll develop the character. I feel like you're getting a little better. That might work. Yeah, play a little small ball. It works for the big man every three times a month.

Oh, small ball. All right. The calls are coming in a little low, by the way. I got to adjust my volume. Hold on a second. What? Was that a serious call? Or was that a gentleman?

I think it was. He was talking about small ball. I thought it already said the second. I didn't understand what he said. I thought it was character development. That was his voice. I thought he was working on something, like a bit. Sorry, sir.

Okay, so Robbie Triano, who we lovingly call Bob Tree, who used to be our producer before Tyler, could not stop laughing at this. He could not stop cracking up. He could not stop laughing. And Tyler, was it you who helped decode it for us? Yeah, so I was actually back here getting ready for Cubs when this happened. And we were both dying laughing, just trying to figure out what that was. And I said, it sounded like Lois Griffin.

And he's like, oh, my God, I think you're right. That's totally Lois Griffin. And we played it back for ourselves about five to ten more times just to make sure that's what he was going for. Peter? What's a really bad, Lois? Get a get on baseball. Stop swinging a garbage. Stop swinging a garbage.

Yeah, in real time. Peter, stop swinging a garbage. Now, that's the real imitation of Lois. I hate the impressions I do. I hate them more than my own voice. What's the other one you do? It's, uh, it's, oh.

John Fox? Yeah, John Fox. I'm not doing it. It's all a problem. Everyone. Everyone can impersonate John Fox. But in real time, when that call came in, I said to you guys, which could not,

be hurt on the air. Well, I did say it was a problem. I told you guys to move on from that call because I just didn't understand what it was. We don't know if this guy's messing with us. I knew it was something hilarious, but I couldn't figure it out. So we all spent way too much time thinking about it after the fact. Like it stayed with us for a while. Very much rent-free. We all gave it a lot of thought. It was the thing we texted about through the weekend. Like Saturday. Like, how about that guy? Carl broke our brains. P.9. You're going to get on baseball and stop swinging a garbage.

And I wish that I could tell you we've moved on, but we have not. Clearly we have not. We're using our meetings all the time. Yeah. Well, PCA deserved to get paid and he got paid, but let's hope he doesn't swing at garbage. It's still a valid question. Please don't. Is he going to? Right? And I don't, yeah, don't make us have to use that drop throughout the season. Stop swinging at garbage. There was more.

I need you to get on baseball and stop playing the garbage. There was another one we wanted to play, but we can't. Do we have time? Let's do it. Drunk PCA, I think. Pete, you're celebrating going to the postseason in Major League Baseball with this group of guys. What does this moment mean? Everything, man.

I've never done interviews like this. Me neither. No, this is really cool. I think it's just special that we get to share it with each other. This is probably the best example of perseverance and sticking with one another, loving on each other all year. When you look at this group of guys and you just examine the room, what goes through your mind?

This is a group to do it. I mean, it's a group. You know, the balance of really enjoying this and then being able to move on to the next, however many games we got, I think it's the best, the best choice we'll ever get to make in our life. We get to celebrate this for tonight and then go play Cincy for four and do everything in our power to be able to play as many games at Wrigley as we can. How will you season birth in the major leagues? I'm never going to forget this. I just love who I get to share it with.

Yeah, this is one of the coolest moments on my life for sure. Pete, it's been so cool all season long to see the way that Chicago has fallen in love with you, and they're watching at home right now. What do you want to tell them? We got a long ways to go, and I'm so excited. You guys have showed up all year, loved us, supported us, felt with it. Yeah, we got a long way to go. So I'm just looking forward to seeing y'all back at Wrigley and winning some more ball games.

I don't think he was drunk. I think he was just having fun. Yeah. He was a little overwhelmed it for his. which cracked me up. He doesn't sound like a Blackhawks player at a Grand Park celebration. Quote, Hockey, baby. Quoting Braveheart, if you will.

Yes, that was Duncan Keith, right? Yeah. I'm still impressed that he threw it all out there like that. Oh, it was great. Oh, that was performative. It was beautiful. Now, Patrick Cain said some things that he regretted. But, hey, haven't we all said things we regret?

Certainly not on this show today. No. Nope. Nothing. Nothing can be co-opted. Nothing. Speaking. Spegel and Holmes are next.