Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Ron Coomer & Brooke Fletcher talk Cubs-White Sox series (Hour 2)

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

In the second hour, Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Cubs Radio analyst Ron Coomer to break down the club’s 4-3 walk-off win over the White Sox on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. After that, Chicago Sports Network reporter Brooke Fletcher joined the show to discuss the latest White Sox storylines as they’ve dropped a pair of close games to the Cubs across the past two days. Later, Rahimi, Harris and Grote held the Halftime segment.

This hour is brought to you by Cars for Kids. Brickman lines one to center base hit. Kelly's going to try to score. Here comes the throw by Peters to the plate. Not in time. Cubs win. Cubs win. Another walk-off win at Wrigley.

That was Pat and Ron on the call on Northwestern Medicine Cubs Radio Network. We are excited to be your entertainment as we broadcast live from the Cubby Bear here, courtesy of our friends with Yingling ahead of the Cross Town Series finale. If you're going to the game, come by, say hi. It's a packed house here at the Cubby Beer already. We will be here until 1245, followed by Zach Zadman's pregame show until first pitch. It is all brought to you by Yingling Flight, the next generation of light beer. And a reminder this afternoon, Cubs and Sox wrap up the Cross Town Series at Wrigley Field.

Pregame coverage is coming up next after our show at 1245. first pitch at 120 in crystal clear FM quality on 1043, the score and the Northwestern Medicine Cubs Radio Network. And as we await the arrival of Coom, Coom Dog, The Dog. We got to ask him, how does he feel about the dog? I've got an explanation for it too, like why I have called it the dog as opposed to Coom Dog,

which is one of his nicknames. I like it. So as we await for him, I would like to get back to something that we didn't get to play because we were chatting. We were yapping in our first hour. And that was Tommy Hadovy comes pitching coach on with Mully and Ha this morning, talking about Javier Assad because we said this day belonged to the relievers,

the long relievers, Eric Fetty and Javier Asad, as much as it did, Alex Bregman. So here's what he had to say about Javier aside going three strong before he left after that first batter in the eighth inning. It's incredible, you know, to do what he does. It's admirable to be. around it and watch a guy who can can pitch in different roles and and ride that up and down, you know, train between, you know, the big leagues and AAA, even though you, you've deserved

to be in the big leagues the whole year. And that's, I think, when you look at a season and there's a lot of decisions that are made throughout the year that are, you know, probably not necessarily best for the player. They're best for the team. And when you have options and when you have you're still in that part of your career where you have options to go up and down. Unfortunately, those are just some things sometimes the team needs to use to do what's best for the entirety of the group, you know, not just one player. And I think the one thing I love about hobby is he doesn't care. I mean, he cares. Like, don't get me wrong.

Like, he's frustrated and he knows he's a big leaguer and he knows he needs to be in the big leagues competing. but he doesn't care in the grand scheme of things because he knows as long as he keeps doing what he's doing and controls what he can control everything else is going to work out and it's something refreshing it's something to be learning for all of us you know when things that we deal with in life that don't go our way and we overreact and we let it affect the next thing like hobby just does not do that and you can talk about we talk about every every year guys like him and Colin Ray guys that are your MVPs of the season that pitch in different roles and are asked to do a lot of different things and do it with, you know, little to no complaining and keep going out there and putting

up numbers. It's a reason why our team is where we are right now. And, you know, last night's another example of that. Look, this is a guy who, whether he has been a starter or a lever, has simply gotten the job done. And it's been very clear in the second half, as the White Sox would tell you of last night. The Cubs have depended on him in a way that you don't want to depend on someone who's been up and down three different times from the minors to the majors. Listen to this.

In the second half, a 1.64 ERA over nine appearances, excuse me, seven appearances, two starts, four relief appearances, last night being one of those. relief appearances. But if you're putting up sub two ERA, whether you're called upon as a starter or as a reliever, you're in good shape. I can't say enough about how hard that is, and I know we talked about it a little bit in our first segment, but just being able to adjust like that, being able to go in and your option, but then you don't even leave town because you get called back in because of the injuries and the whole situation that occurs. So, Hobby,

aside just yet again i i can't even imagine what the mindset has to be in order for that to happen but it's it was worth a good listen from tommy hot to be who knows the work that he is put in day in and day out that's how you make an entrance guys ron kummer hello boys and girls that's how you do it mark grody dust it off his seat oh yeah we're happy to see you kum thanks for coming in with us how we're doing good good good sorry i'm a little tardy oh yeah you're good it's a day Travel day. No, travel day is always an issue, but I'm here. No, we're happy to see you.

I was playing like I was in the Bears coming across the street, but that's okay. Look, you know what's crazy is that every time I look at what's going on with the Cubs in particular, right? And we get to this point in the season where we're like, all right, well, the Cubs, they do pretty well at home as far as just level of excitement. Yeah. You now have, to lead the majors, 13 walk-off wins. that is a lot. But it's especially a lot when you think about the fact that they've only got 38 wins at homes. That means basically better than a third of the time you're winning in walk-off fashion.

What can you say about one in the atmosphere, but also just this team's ability to make it happen at the end? Well, you can look at it a bunch of different ways. I'll say this. You have a superstar player in the making that has a flare for that, which I've seen him. And so of you, Mark, here in Chicago, we've had, I had a teammate that got to play right field years ago that had a little bit of that flare. Same with Sosa. But, you know, there's some guys that have that thing, and Pete Crowe Armstrong has that

thing. There's no doubt. But then there's other guys, like a game like last night, Breggman, who's now starting to swing the bat much better. You know, you're a veteran player, and you got quite a few of them. And they know how to have good at bats in big moments, and they can, you know, take the game from it being really fast to slowing the game down. And that's what we saw last night with Bregman.

He knew he was going to get a breaking ball. He got one away and just shot it back through the middle of the game winner. Well, and that's big to me, Coom, because when you consider number one, how breaking balls really ate up the team in May. No doubt. And the adjustments that they had made. What I saw last night was a hitter and Alex Bregman who had a clear two-strike approach that worked for two RBIs of consequence, one being the game winner,

as we saw, two-out approach rather. So we see the two-out approach happen. Then we see a hitter who had a clear approach when it came to, say, facing that breaking ball, not looking at it go by him like we had seen previously in the season. What do you think about the adjustments that he's made? This is not a flash in the pan yesterday. This is culmination of, I'd say, a few weeks of work now. Yeah, months, actually.

Reggie had a see, you know, a lot of guys have issues when they first come to a new team and they sign a big deal. I saw it in New York with Jason Giambi. You know, we all signed in New York, but he's the one that really signed. He got the big money. Bregman got a lot of money. And you're playing, you want to really do well in front of your home fans, and you want to do well for your new team.

And he's starting to get there now. But I just saw a guy yesterday that, you know, and in the last two weeks of using the other side of the field, it's starting to click for him. And that couldn't be a better time for, for the Cubs, especially with Dan's be going down, but Bregman's an established big league hitter. He's going to eventually be okay, and you knew that,

but, you know, when you're going through it and you're the guy, it's not very much fun. I remember in 2015, John Lester got off to a sluggish start, remember, and he even admitted, like, he was putting too much pressure on himself. Breggman has been somebody that comes have desired for two years, so he knew how much they like, a five-year deal, he ain't going anywhere. So I was, as a human being, I was relieved for Alex Bregg, and relieved for him, and hopefully this will click, and it will continue for him.

We were just talking about Javier Assad and the role that he has played on this team this year. I think two things. I think that he has been managed perfectly this year, and I know he doesn't want to be sent down, and I know he'd prefer to be a starter, but sometimes you manage guys as to not get them exposed. I also think that he has done his job maybe better than any other. cub. He's not the most valuable cub, but he's done his job better than maybe any cub this year.

I couldn't agree more with you, Mark. Last night is a perfect example of sitting in a bullpen, probably sipping on a cup of coffee, and thinking, you know, we're just watching our new star pitcher go to work. And then next thing you know, his

thumb is a mess with the cramp. It was very bizarre. And guess what? The phone rings. You're in. And you got like all of 30 seconds to grab your glove, your hat, put that thing in your hat for the signs and off you go. And he comes in and gets a double play ball. And he's just, it's awesome. And I just look at him and he reminds me of old school baseball.

He's not popular with what he throws. It just works. And that's that sink or slider change up combination puts the ball and play. And with our defense, it works. do you feel like the Cubs have simply done a better job handling the other team's most dangerous hitter as opposed to the White Sox approach to the Cubs most dangerous hitter when you look at Mune.

Mune got his last night. Don't be full, but they have done a good job of just navigating around him as opposed to PCA who's just, you can't stop him. Yeah, well, I would say I listen to Will's comments after the PCA walkoff Homer and I understood it. There's different trains of thought.

And we were talking out this in the booth yesterday well before the game with, you know, Darren Jackson and Jeff Frankor and, you know, ex-players that played the era before this. And we were always taught, and this is straight from my manager. This is from Joe Torrey and Kelly, Tom Kelly, with Minnesota. They would flat out say in the team meeting before the series, they had a star player, we are going to do our best not to have that guy beat us. And I watched Roger Clemens in the final game of a series ready to chew nails because Joe would not let him pitch to Barry Bonds.

And finally, we're up 8 to 2 and a 7th. And Clem just looks into the dugout and the skipper just gives them to shrugging the shoulders. Like, go ahead, big boy, go get him. I'm playing first base and holding the runner on and I come off the bag and Bonds hit a ball so damn hard. I went like, whoa, and the ball went over my head and hit the upper deck, the third deck, and I flinched, and I was like, oh, my God. And it makes sense, right?

And I went, boy, skipper's pretty smart, man. He's had my life in his hands, me playing that close to the hitter. That was no good. But, you know, that's such a good illustration because we know Clemens was an absolute game on. Nobody wants to be put in a situation where you want to have to walk, Because he's thinking he's one of the best in the game at the time when that went down. There's no doubt.

If it wasn't the godfather Joe Torrey, Clement, and Rock would have never agreed to that. He'd been, uh-uh, I'm pitching him. And what are you going to say to Clemens? Right. Exactly. Take the ball. Go get them.

Somebody's going to be upset there. And it's either going to be on a result or a prevention. We all had so much respect for Joe that you would never cross Joe. But I, you know, I watched it. And then that's the hardest ball ever. seen hitting my life. In the pitch, we all looked at it because then we're messing with him the next day once he's calmed down Clemens.

The pitch almost hit him in the chest and he hit it into the third deck. I would. Yeah, that was unbelievable. I do want to ask you, too, about the use of the bench because we see Craig Counsel. I think this is, it's a wrinkle that I don't know is going to be mentioned up front because of all of the things that happened in this game. But Kevin Alcantra gets brought in as a pinch runner and glides home. You see that happening.

He has the nice fist bump. Then you know that brings up Carson Kelly. well who's getting on base for Alex Bregman to help bring home. Like that worked out really well how that all went down and just the use of the bench there. Yeah, and counts, you know, he likes to play his lineup night after night after night. He's always been that way with Milwaukee. He's that way. And he has the teams to be able to do that.

And he does here. But there comes a time at this period of the season usually where there are guys that go down. And then all of a sudden, you have to use your bench. And I think he's done a, he's navigating. this season well enough to where all these guys that are on a bench, Comforto, Ramirez, they're all playing enough to where they're sharp. They're not, you know, totally rusty. And so Ramirez is playing well.

I think the catching situation has been awesome for the Cubs, you know, and they're fresh. So, you know, and then some of these kids from the minor leagues are bouncing up and down like El Contra. And, you know, he made a contribution. He scored a run yesterday. It's a big run. All right, let's get to the Kevin Gossman weirdness from last night. I know that obviously players cramp up. It happens that's part of the game.

Have you ever seen it like that where it's the glove hand and they're slamming the goo on the mound? That I've seen. Now that happens, not on the mound, but I've seen it in a field. Okay. You know, this new gel that they have instantly gets into your blood system and starts working. So the first time it happened yesterday, I know they were trying to get two outs. So you're trying to get that stuff in his system. So you get the third out, and now you can come to the bench.

You hope you have a long inning on offense, and then things can work out. Well, it didn't quite work out that way, but he's still pitch. You know, there are some guys you look at and you go, this guy's a baseball player. He's a pitcher, but he's a baseball player. And I think Cubs got a couple of them in this trade that, you know, home's the same thing. He's a ball player. You know, and that's because you could have came out of the game then. And he was fighting to stay in.

And that to me tells you all you need to know about a guy pitching, you know, in late August trying to get to the playoffs. And as far as you can see, he's all right. I don't know if you've talked to the manager today. I'm right out of my car. No, I, yeah, no. Shall we go, baby? It's a travel day, Mark. He's had to get his stuck together.

Come on, you remember that. Shot over here. This is why he is the dog. Okay. Ryan Ports. Tell me about the dog. Tell me about the dog. I had a police escort from Ryan Porth coming over here.

He's a good blocker, man. He's a big guy. I want Mark to explain because he's gone from calling you, you know, Coom Dog. Now he's just the dog. The dog. Here's the thing. There's a lot of dogs out there. You got a Snoop Dog.

Right? You got one dog. Remember Lance Johnson back today? Nobody accused me of being Snoop Dog. I don't think that. You know, I've met the air. Very nice guy. What I'm saying is I am proclaiming you as the dog.

Yeah. The dog. There's a lot of dogs out there. You are the dog. And I mean that in the dog the good way. Maybe you know what that could go. Around Wrigley Field. Ladies and gentlemen,

The dog. Yes, we clap for the dog. Are we ready for a good ball game tonight, folks? Let's go. We've had a great series. It's been a lot of fun. Let's keep it fun, easy, no fights, and let's have a Cubs victory today. Let's keep it Gingway.

Let's keep it Gingway. Yeah, well, and that's another thing. I know Friday, August 28th from 7 to 9, you can go to Coombs Corner in Lockport after the game and meet the dog, Rod Coomber. Enjoy yingling bucket specials. Score some yingling swag. Don't miss the post-game party at Coombs' Corner with yingling flight. Next generation of light beer.

Really good on a day like this where it might be a little steamy. I'll have one after the game. I can try to, you can bank it. They're ready. Yeah. There you go. Uh-huh. I do want to point out the atmosphere there is going to be great at Coombs.

It's really great inside the Cubby Bear right now. We have a wonderful crowd. It's always good here at the Covey Bear. You know that. At sound of the frustrating fights that we saw. Yeah. What can you say about that? Even last night during the rain delay, what was it like to kind of observe the vibe that was going on?

hilarious when all that so I had family in the booth and all the kids be piling behind home play it's just funny and I you know that just tells you how fired up fans are for this series and when the kids all come to the ballpark you know that was me when I was 16 15 16 years old coming to Wrigley on a night that you could get here and you just love being here and I think people the brain it didn't matter they were going to hang out here at the ballpark and have a great time and they did I I thought, Cubs did a great job. We got back on the field and played.

The grounds crew did an unbelievable job. And it was just, it was a fun, fun night. And once again, you know, it's always even that much more fun when you win. Like we were talking with a walkoff, you know, that's pretty cool. Yeah. No, I wonder what today is going to be like just because you've got Clay Holmes on one side and you've got, I don't even know, on the other side of the White Sox, right? You know, the White Sox, coming into this series, we knew,

in talking with Stoney and Darren Jackson that their bullpen was pretty beat up coming in. They used them a lot. So this was going to be one of them series where you really want to win, right? I mean, it's Cubs Sox, but you're also pretty depleted in the pen. So we've had series like that

where we played St. Louis, and our pen was depleted. And, you know, so it's one of those situations for the White Sox. This is a big, big series for our city. Playing in October is bigger for everybody. Absolutely. Well said. Ron, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you, Ron. We'll let you get back to the getaway date and game three of what it should be a great series conclusion. And we've had a packed house. It's been a lot of fun. Thanks for having me on. Of course, man. Thanks for making us your first stop, buddy. Enjoy your yingling post game. Yes, I will for sure.

Absolutely. That is Ron Coomer. We are happy to have him. The Cubs Radio Network analyst eight seasons with the Twins, Cubs, Yagies and Dodgers. Let's go. How about a little a round of applause for Ron Coomer? 1999 All-Star and the dog, as Mark Grody dubbed him. So we are happy to get you ready for game three of Cross Town here from the Cubby Bear.

Thanks to our crowd who is here. Thanks to everybody providing a good vibe. We'll talk a little Bears next. There are some finer points to the Ben Johnson Press Conference that probably deserves some more attention. So we will examine as they get ready for joint practices. And we're alive here from the Cubby Bear. Thanks to Yingling. Next.

AJ, how are you? Good. I can't believe how fancy you all are now. I mean, it used to just be a radio calling show. Now I've got to put clothes on to do this thing. I can't peek too early. I got to kind of try to control my peeking. So it's a little early to already put a shirt and a hat on.

Middays 10 to 2 on 104, the score. The Pope knows who AJ Persinski is, and yet here he is saying that to us. What's scandalous, man. Hoping ain't easy. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 to score. We are live from a very buzzy, Covey Bear. I added this third and final game of the Crosstown series.

The crowd is packed. They are having fun, and we are here thanks to our friends at Yingling. If you're going to the game, come by, say hello. We are here until 1245, followed by Zach Zainman's pregame show until first pitch. It is all brought to you by Yingling Flight, the next generation of light beer. good on a sunny, steamy day like this. We had a couple of observations. I know we talked about it, guys from Bears camp.

Ben Johnson spoke yesterday, and he talked about the joint practices, the all-important joint practices. Should we come up with a name for them or something? I feel like they've gotten so special they need a name. It's the Super Bowl of the Bears' entire off-season program. At least that's the way it seems to be being built up. The Super Bowl of the Bears' entire off-season program.

That's not great, I know. No, hold on. S, B, oh, wait, no, I'm sorry. The big game. Are we allowed to say Super Bowl? It's the big game. But it's not a game. It's the Spoeop.

Okay. The Spohy Op. That is very relatable. I dot because it's not a game. That's right. This ain't no game, man. There it is. But we knew that they were important, major key, spowy op, whatever you want to say.

It rolls off the tongue. Doesn't it? It's like Fasasas. Jokes on me. Liam Cohen had an excellent season last year. Spohiaab is there. everywhere. But I think before we get into what Ben Johnson had to say yesterday, Mark, there's been a comment by Press Taylor that's been rattling around in your bear's brain

that has stayed with you. It has. And Ben Johnson, like when asked about Caleb Williams starting at any of these preseason games, obviously he did not start in the first one. Ben Johnson came pretty close to saying that he would not play in the preseason, but he didn't completely rule it out. And then along comes Press Taylor, the offensive coordinator for the Bears the other day and he was asked about, you know, is Caleb good? He doesn't need to play in any of these games. And Press Taylor seemed to take a little bit of an exception to the idea that there's no chance that Caleb Williams will be playing in any kind of preseason games. Has Caleb shown you enough to where, that he's mastered the system enough, to where you don't

need to see him in a scenario where he can actually take a hit like preseason? Well, I don't know if I'd say that. I mean, I think he's getting closer and closer every single day to improving in his mastery of the system. I don't know if he's ever going to get there. I don't know that anybody ever will. I think us as coaches, we continue every day to learn a little bit more about the system and where it can go and how we can evolve it and grow. And so I think all our players are getting better at it and making it their own. It's always going to evolve. But I think in terms of him playing in a preseason game, I think that's kind of a case by case basis. I don't think we're going to make any definitive statements today on what he's going to do

in game two or game three because we want to see what the week entails. If we get some good work and more confident than maybe they won't play. If we want to see a little bit more or change the situation or the dynamics, then we can reserve the right to make that decision when the time comes. Okay, so when you hear that, what did you think? Well, number one, every single day, the evidence continues to build that these joint practices are everything, whether it is putting the left tackles on an island, whether it's Caleb Williams, whether it's Roma Dunzee, whether it's the nickel cornerback. This is going to tell some truth. And if the truths aren't told it, it doesn't look good enough that it's not out of the realm of possibility that we see somebody like

Caleb Williams getting just a little bit of time out there. So I kind of like that idea that that could possibly happen. Here you go, Brooke. And this is a, this is a sip and see. I feel like it's like everybody comes to hang out when they can. And now we're joined by Brooke Fletcher. Brooke is good to see you. You get your headset on. Hey, yeah, we're happy to have you here. The last time I talked to you was after you had made history with the White Sox. So congratulations again. and it's great to see you. Well, thank you. It's great to see you.

This is such a cool setup. I didn't realize like we were on a stage and all over the loudspeaker. So, hi, everyone. Hello, this is Brooke Fletcher. She is the sideline reporter, field reporter, and sometimes television analyst for the Chicago White Sox joining us here on CHSN on Rahimi Harrison Brody. And thanks for taking the time. I know visiting clubhouse, getaway day for the Cubs.

It's a little bit of a fluid situation. Yeah, you know, especially after the rain delay last night, a lot of people got in late. And so it was a quick clubhouse after the game. And guys were, you know, they're drinking their coffee this morning, just trying to get ready for game three. Hopefully the socks can take this one. You know what's really interesting to me is that everybody in this rivalry, this version of the rivalry, everybody gets along.

The managers seem like their buddies. The GMs are literally friends whose kids play together. And then you and Taylor McGregor hanging out, doing videos together. It's pretty cool to see that. And like the supposed rivalries all coming together at. Wrigley Field. I know. It is a little friendly rivalry, if you will, but it's funny because Taylor and I actually have been friends for probably like eight or nine years now. And so coincidentally, she got the job when she was with the Rockies. When she got the job with the Cubs, I was still in Detroit.

And then I coincidentally got the job here. And it's just been kind of a full circle moment. Our dads used to work together way back when with the Rockies. And so, yeah, this has been fun just to kind of, you know, share this little friendly, friendly rivalry and make a few TikToks on the way. Brooke, what have you thought about the way this is played out? I mean, obviously we know the White Sox coming off such a huge series, a sweep in Detroit, and then have to come back knowing that you kind of had spent everything just to get through that series. And it has to be frustrating for the players for Will Vennel to watch how this is played out

because so close yet no cigar. Yeah, no, I mean, that Tiger series, that was an emotional series. It was a big learning experience for these guys. But that was the priority. You know, when you have the Tigers, they're one of the hottest teams of baseball. right now. You look over your shoulder and they are right there. You've got to, you know, get everything you can in order to take that. But it did put us in a unique situation. Obviously, with Davis Martin going on the IL, that was really unfortunate because our pitching staff now,

we're taking it day by day. And that's what you've seen, just kind of piecing it together. Will Vinnable was really happy with what he saw from Eric Fetty last night, this bullpen doing what they can to keep us in it. And so today it's going to be kind of a fluid situation as well. You're going to see your Kiti potentially getting a bulk roll with Sean Newcomb opening. and then tomorrow we'll be back on schedule. But yeah, you know, it is depleting because you are at that point in the season where everybody's experiencing this for the first time. And so guys are just trying to, you know, come together and maintain that energy.

And when you're coming off a big series like that and then you're going to play, you know, your cross-town rivals, yeah, it's tough. But this group, they're taking it one day at a time and they're coming together and they understand like the potential of this group and they're going to keep moving forward. Well, and I think the Sean Newcomb comment is as good as an example as any. we've had to see some of the big names that we're used to seeing be the horses in the pen. You're Hudson yesterday and now Nukem today, guys that we've come to rely on, getting these opening roles.

You know, what do you think about Newcomb just getting that nod today? I mean, he's been, I think, probably the, maybe not unsuck here, but he has been the steady force, I would say, in that bullpen all season long. You know, coming into this season out of spring training, he was fighting to be a starter. And, you know, he has been a starter. Now he's serving as the bulk guy. And so he's been able to serve in just so many different roles. and just being consistent.

And, you know, you talk to him in the clubhouse. He's just never, he's so even keel, he's never wavered. And I think he's just been somebody that they really can rely on. And so they're going to see what they can get from him here today, you know, how many innings. Will said he wasn't sure. But, yeah, I think it's a smart move, especially going up against this Cubs lineup.

And he knows Craig Counsel. He's going to counter whatever Will, whatever Will makes, what move he makes. And so we'll see how it goes. Do they just intentionally walk PCA in his first ad bat in this game? I mean, crazy the at-bats that he's had against the side. Oh, my gosh. Well, it's funny because, you know, coming into this series, everybody's like,

okay, PCA's slumping, he's three for his last 27. And then, you know, you can never count him out. This is a guy that just can beat you in so many different ways. And I even asked Anthony before the series, and he obviously didn't pitch, but I was like, how do you handle a guy like him? And he goes, you just keep him off the base pass. Do whatever you can because he's got the speed,

obviously his defense, but showing off his power as well. So, you know, it'll be interesting to see how. how they pitch to him here today, but obviously a dangerous force. Brooke, do you have any indication of what the plan is the next time through the rotation? As you said, back on schedule tomorrow, 16 games and 16 days. You don't have a lot of leeway for pitching, but you need guys to fill those starters roles. So you're not back in this position. Yo, let me rob Peter to pay Paul.

Yeah, and I asked Will that. I said, is tomorrow just back on schedule. And he said, yeah, so you can expect Anthony Kay. Obviously, it throws a wrench in things when you have to do a makeup game versus the Braves. You don't get that off day for your bullpen and your, arms just to kind of reset. But he said back on schedule with Anthony Kay tomorrow. Then we're going to see, you know, Sean and so forth.

But, yeah, hopefully Davis this time off, his finger can heal. And it was a nice mental reset for him so he can get back in the mix. But, again, a lot of credit to this bullpen. They're going to continue to rely on those bulk guys just to kind of carry the heavy workload as they've done so as of late. Now we saw in the ninth inning, Brooke, Will Venable came under a lot of fire. And he defended his decision previous to the game yesterday. ninth inning last night we see p.

Crow Armstrong has intentionally walked. What do you think about just the decisions that Will made in those situations and what were your takeaways from what he had to say about it and how it was addressed? I mean, the one thing with Will is he's so confident in who he is and it's his process and we heard from him before the game

yesterday and he still stood on that move and he said no, you know, we decided to pitch to PCA we put Hagen Smith in that spot so we could get to say a Suzuki there. But yeah, he said, you know, we asked just what his process is, because especially at this point of the season and as a manager, it's like, okay, you can look at the

eye test and the feel for the game, right? But then numbers are a huge part of it. So we were like, how do you find that balance, especially in a game like this, right? And given where your pitching staff is. And he said, you know, what he does is he takes the information that he has in hand. Then he talks to his committee, his coaching staff,

and then they kind of decide what the best course of action is. And so we were saying before the game, okay, well, you walk or you pitch to PCA, are you going to take that same approach in this game here today, given what he was able to do to you? And he goes, absolutely. He's like, I'm not going to deviate from who I am as a manager. You know, I'm going to look at the facts and what information I have on hand.

I'm going to talk with my staff. And we're going to go about that. So I do respect that as a manager because it could be a little tricky, especially when you hear in a rivalry like this and you hear the fans talking. But Will is so confident in who he is and what they've been doing all season long, that, yeah, he just sticks to his plan. I'm really curious how you feel about the energy for this series, this city, baseball is it, has kind of flipped on its head after back to back to back, 100 lost seasons for the White Sox.

It's been so cool just to see how the city has continued just to rally around, you know, obviously the Cubs, but the White Sox and just what this young group has been able to do. Guys, we've had 15 debuts this season. And so just how young they are, but just they're experiencing this for the first time and they're just continuing to ride the highs. It's funny, I actually talked to Patrick Kane before the game yesterday, and, you know, he was just talking about the successful teams that he was on with the Blackhawks. And in his words, he said, we were almost too young and dumb to realize, like, what we were doing.

But we were able to kind of use that to our advantage. And I kind of gave him some insight into the White Sox. And he said, you know, you just got to continue just to keep doing what you're doing. But he loves the support that the young stars in this city have for one another. You saw Modest there last night. You see PCA, you see Munitaka, Marikami, Caleb Williams. and it's like that's just so unique, especially in a large sports city. So it's just kind of cool just to see how all these guys are coming together.

I'm glad you brought up Caner. I mean, he gets a massive standing ovation from the crowd when he gives that pitch. I'm glad you got to talk to him. And speaking of that, I love some of the interactive stuff that you guys do in games over there with Mike Vassel, obviously, being a big part of it. Who have been, who are some of your favorite personalities in that clubhouse, amongst a bunch of personalities? I don't know if there's favorites, but what's funny is they're all,

unique in their own way. So you have, you know, Mike Vassel, he's the life of the party, he's that glue guy. Then you have a guy like Sam Antanachi where he's just like a bulldog and he's just like unique in his own way. But I love, you know, talking to him and getting to know him. Kyle Teal is so fun. He's a sneaky good one. But it's just, I mean, there's so many unique guys in that group and just somehow, and I think a lot of people underestimate team camaraderie and chemistry and what that, how that can equate to success on the field. And something about this group, it's just like, Chris in this front office have really emphasized that. Obviously the skill set you bring to the field, but just the type of personalities and how it fits. I almost describe it like a puzzle piece, right,

and how they just really come together and they make it work. It's a really good group. When we talk about young teams, we usually talk about there being an adult in the room. Is that like Andrew Benintendi on this? Who's the adult in the room when you talk about these hitters? The supervisor, if you know, he's like the very laxed adult, I would say. He's just, he's the type of guy. describes him as like almost the right type of leader that you want in the clubhouse, especially for this type of group. His locker is always open. Guys will come to him.

Hey, what are you seeing? How can I be better here? And he's like, yeah, but he's never forcing anything on some of these guys. And it's kind of what you're seeing in clubhouses now. Whereas, you know, before in clubhouse is the old baseball way, hey, you got to do this, right. You got to do this. But they're allowing guys to be themselves, which I think has just kind of allowed them to flourish on the field because they're not too scared stepping on people's toes.

So I think Benny has been a really good influence for that group. Also, Randall Gritchick, you got to give him a lot of credit. They call him the dad in the group. They even got T-shirts. Yeah, they even got like T-shirts made. So it's just a fun group, yeah. So I would say probably Andrew Ben-intending. Well, Brooke, thank you so much for taking the time for stopping by.

Brooke has to get back to work. So she walked across the street to get to us at the Covey Bear. We really appreciate you doing it. Thanks so much, Brooke. Thank you guys for having me. Great to talk to Burke Fletcher, who got the orange and red memo. I am out on this. Brooke Fletcher, the on field reporter for the White Sox on CHS and also TV analysts work as well.

So we're happy to see her. Brooke, have a great call today. Good luck with the rest of the stretch of a billion games in no days. That was Brooke Fletcher joining us as we get you ready for game three of Crosstown here, live from the Cubby Bear. Coming up next, it's halftime, and do I have a negotiation for you? It involves a lifetime supply of something. That is next. It's halftime.

It's halftime, and you know what we've been doing. We're broadcasting live from the Cubby Bear today, courtesy of our friends with Yingling ahead of the Cross Town Series finale. So if you're going to the game, come by, say hello. There's a lot of people here. You might see somebody you know. We're here until 1245,

followed by Zach Zaven's pregame show until first pitch. It is all brought to you by Yingling Flight, the next generation of light beer good on a steamy summer day like this. We talk Cub socks. We talk bears. That's really all you need sometimes. So that's where we've been at with this. Ron Kumer stopped by, Brooke Fletcher from CHSN, stop by.

And now it is time for halftime. It's not time. Exactly. Here's what got me, Mark and Marshall. Von Miller is trying to get his number 40 from fullback Hunter Leapke with the Dallas Cowboys. And he has offered him in exchange for number 40, a lifetime supply of chicken.

Because he owns Texas B. greatest Greeter Pastures Chicken. So Von Miller was like, hey, if you give me your jersey, I'm going to give you chicken. There was another time where Adrian Wilson of the Patriots got his number 24 with a lifetime supply of diapers because the player who he was trying to take it from had just had a baby. That was Kyle Errington. But then there's Juan Soto who got Brett Beatty a $92,000 Chevy Tahoe. So people can be bought.

but a lifetime supply of chicken or diapers may be the most creative ways I've heard. The way we started this story, my first question is, does he want the number 40 because he is 40? Then I looked it up, he's only 37 years old. Bond Miller just looks 40. Von Miller somehow looks old,

and I don't know how that happened. I think he's got to pull the U and shave his head. Yeah, he's got kind of a balding situation going on, and that'll add a good 10 to 20 years to your life long. I do not want to say that to Von Miller. I don't want him to come after me. I would tell him. I'd be like, look, brother to brother, listen.

You want to face him on a line of scrimmage? No, not on line of scrimmage. I would tell him in real life if we were to meet in a social situation like this. Hey, man, it's okay. You can come on home. You can come home. Or I got a guy. My guy's in advance hair.

I can probably hook him up, man. Maybe that's what he is, a lifetime supply of that. Lifetime supply of hair. Yeah, I'll give me a nephew. You know? Don't you just want cash? Lifetime supply of cash? I guess play. I guess they're already rich.

They don't need cash. Gifts are better, I suppose. But I just like, just give me an envelope. I get a much cash in there. You said, you had lifetime supply thoughts. So what were they? Well, I don't, I don't know necessarily what I would want is a lifetime supply, but I know, like, in my family, my, we got my dad a lifetime supply basically of mustard. What?

Mustard? We put them in a, Ray likes that. We put them in a mustard club. for his birthday, and the mustards kept racking up, and my mom put an end to that. Gene didn't want mustard? No, Gene G was like, we joked with her about, well, we're going to renew the subscription and make sure he stays in the mustard of the month club permanently. No, we're not doing that.

Mustard of the month club? That's a real thing? Every month. I knew about wine of the month or cheese of the month. I'm not even kidding. Every month at my parents' house, mustard would show up. A different kind of mustard, and the mustard just, it's a, My dad would use it.

You know, you don't use mustard every day, right? You use mustard. I don't know. Like, how much does one use mustard in there? If you make a sandwich every day, you use mustard every day. I do not use, I use mustard maybe once every two weeks. Right, right. That's probably about it, and that's what happened at the Gene and Gary household.

Three weeks. Follow-up question. Too much mustard. Follow-up question. Mustard. Do you refrigerate your mustard? Yes. Yes.

Because I don't have to. Once it's open, I refrigerate it. Okay, I don't do that. Let me ask you this question. Because I struggle. with this one. I go back and forth. Do you refrigerate your barbecue sauce? I refrigerate everything once it opens.

Really? If it's open, it's going in the fridge, period, paragraph. Okay. I don't refrigerate my barbecue sauce, and I'm doing just fine. You kids are crazy. Yeah, I'm living on the edge. If it was a lifetime supply of anything, outside of, I guess, cash, because cash rules everything around me. Dalla Dala bill, y'all. Yeah. But I think it would be a lifetime supply of medical health and

Wellness services. Daniel just tweets at us a picture of Sanford is Von Miller. That's George Amos. He of Good Times. Yeah, it's good. Yes, George Amos. Thank you. That sent me.

I'm sorry. I was laughing too much. That is kind of what Von Miller looks like, though. Really? I haven't seen these updated Von Miller pictures. Show him the one picture you showed me in the article. That one I've seen. Yeah, I love that.

No, the article that you put out. J.G. He's yelling at J.J. right now. Do you want to upset Von Miller and have him come after us? Doesn't he look a little aged in that? Because he's got the patches on the side and the balding on top. He looks like George Jefferson a little bit.

Yeah, like it's clearly his hairline is running away from his face. That's the distinction that needs to be made here. And you know what? That's okay. I fired my hairline before it quit on me. That's how I roll. You're doing a good job.

We're playing with fire, tempting Von Miller to hear that we were talking about him. If there's ever anybody who would rush through a door He's not Terry Tate office linebacker. It's Von Miller. Hey, he could have signed with the Bears that he didn't. So, you know. Yeah, we don't care about him.

He grew up a Cowboys fan. Okay. Good for him. There's that. Go Von Miller. Go Von Miller. I don't know if the lifetime supply of chicken is going to do the thing for the number 40, but good to know mustard might be also in the mix.

Mustard. Mustard. Yep, not going to happen. Five on it is next live from the Cubby Bear. We're getting you ready for game three of Cross Town on the score. Thank you.