Ian Happ Could Be Entering His Final Year With The Chicago Cubs

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1:00Best and worst coming up at the end. Some roster stuff with the roster ZAR. I'm going to give you that nickname. Mr. Matthew Kozy. Birthday shout out to one of our loyal listeners of belated birthdays. He listens to this Nolan. Remember we met Nolan over at almost home. Yeah, happy belated to him. And we start with everybody's guy in half. I start castically say this because, you know, I think a lot of people believe I don't like in haps game or whatever it is. Which isn't the case. It's just he is what he is. And you know, when you have this long of a time with somebody Matt, you just kind of accept them for what they are, which is a very nice baseball player that, you know, sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. Sometimes carries the team. And anywhere in between before we get into details. Well, I was thinking about a phrase you use the other day for Ben Brown lightning rod. And I think in some circles,

2:01Ian Hap may fill that bill. I don't think that applies for most of the fan base at all. I think. Sometimes I, I'll admit I get caught up in just like. Kind of our, our, our corner over here. But, but across the whole fan base, if you had to put a blanket on it, I think Ian Hap is a beloved player. I think that he's, he's. Really established himself here. Shoot, he's the, he's the longest tendered athlete in Chicago sports. I don't believe it's close. The last time I checked, especially after the black hawks made a few trades earlier this week. I think that he's, he's. Really established himself here. Yeah, I think there's been a lot of ebb and flow with him. But across the, the totality of his career. He really is one of those guys that you know what you're going to get. That for better or worse, you could rely on. You just don't know how you're going to get it. Yeah. And I think at this point, I, I'm resigned Ian Hap's fate.

3:03And, and when he goes, the one for 20. Sure. That you know what you're going to get. That for better or worse, the one for 20. Sure. The timing might not be convenient, but I know he's going to do it. And if he opens the season 10 for 20, I won't be surprised even a spec. So I do believe this is his last year, Sam. I think he's going to be a red or a pirate until he, he hangs them up for good, which makes sense to me. And, and you know, there's other guys in this, in this group too that are, that are probably leaving. But I think for him, especially it's going to have kind of that last run feel. I think he's going to put it all out there. And, and hopefully they go far. I had a friend of mine. Also named Matt. Describe how I think a lot of people feel about Ian Hap's season coming up to preview it. And it's totally unfair.

4:03It's totally meatbally. But I'm just going to share it because internally sometimes it's just how I feel. And he goes, if the Cubs disappoint this year, Ian Hap will have a great year. If the Cubs are a 90 plus, they're dominating, he'll be okay to below average or whatever he typically is. And it's like sometimes that's how it feels with Ian Hap. You know, it just does. And there's no evidence to support it. It's totally anecdotal. But sometimes that's just how it feels with him. Let me read you his numbers last year. You know, they're really not anything like. But we could look that up though if we wanted. Like when they lose, does he think? And when they lose or when they lose, is he good? Yeah, but you can't really look that up though. Because it's like, you know, when they win, what if he gets a home run with the bass is loaded off a position player when they're up 10. And so then he's good and wins. It's just kind of one of those feel things as a Cubs.

5:03And I don't, it might not be true. It's just it's part of it's part of how it goes. Because last year he was tremendous in August and September when they needed a most, you know, he's last last year. What I would call pedestrian 243-342-420. He was extremely unlucky last year. His expected slug. All those things were hurt by Riggly, even though people are saying that Riggly was actually a good place to hit last year. Tell that Dean Hap or Danesby Swanson. 23 home runs. Here's his OPS by month, 738 April, 684 in May, 779 in June, 638 in July. And then he cranked up 835 August, 894 September to really salvage his season. Playoffs was a measly 490, but in his defense probably had the biggest single hit in the postseason for the Cubs. So, you know, I don't remember exactly what we graded on. I think you gave him a B minus. I gave him a C C plus. That's sound right.

6:03Yeah, it does. I mean, his career is like, is that exact, is that exact range? Yeah, and it's like, he's never, I think 2021, he had a bad year, and that was it. Yeah, I don't think he, because of his approach, I don't think he's really capable of having a bad year. Yeah. And I don't, and I don't think he's really capable of having like a top five MVP year. Like it's just, this is who he is. And I do think for me, when I judge him, I am impacted a little bit by the dollars, not saying it's a bad contract, but, you know, could you find guys at 10 to 12 million or 10 to 15 million to give you what he gives you at 20 plus? I don't know. What I, what I did in the 20 minutes doing my in-hap research before this was just feeling like I'm pretty unfair to him. And that my, my rationale of, of frustration with him, I don't really have any substance for. It's just something that just has a feel to it.

7:03I just can't explain it. You know, like with the game on the line and he comes up versus like Nico, I just feel better with Nico. I just, you know, there's no, there's no better. There's no, I don't have a good explanation. I just don't. I've, you know, reached out to try and, you know, combine pods with him and whatever. He's a busy guy. But if he came on here, one of the things I would be honest with for is being like, you know, the criticism sometimes I have of him. I don't have any evidence for. Yeah, I think that's, I think that's fair. I, I'm curious to see how he's going to, his last year is going to play out. I think he's going to have a good year. Yeah, I mean, I, I don't think he's going to crash or anything like that. Like you just said. No. You know, and he's played, you know, four straight gold gloves. It's, it's, you know, it's almost obnoxious at this point. You know, he, he's, he has been one of the best left fielders in the sport the last five years.

8:05You know, the last thing I would add is that I'm really interested. So the Cubs obviously had a really good year last year, 92 wins. Let's say, if they did win 94, 95 games and they won the division, I wonder if the narrative around half season would change, even if he has the same year as he always does, because to your point, you said earlier, kind of in, it's always kind of been like a B minus sort of player. And let's be honest, outside of last year, the Cubs for a while had been a CC plus B minus type of team. And so I think his performance will sometimes get looped in as a symbol or an embodiment of what the team's doing. But if they turn into a 95 win team, and he's hit four through six, then gives you 25 and 80 with a 770 OPS, maybe the narrative changes around him a little bit, or maybe there is no narrative, and it's just my weird thing of watching him for a long time. I don't know. Yeah, I see what you're saying.

9:06I'm trying to follow along. I think there is some truth to that. I just, I remember him last year, and I get the whole like, oh, feel better with Horner thing. Yeah. He did feel though like last year he was better in high leverage. Yeah. He probably was. And he, and he, and he hit him and, and Horner and Swanson were the three guys carrying the team at the end of the year when nobody else could hit for a while. Yeah. And I rarely think about player salary, but I do think it's fair to say that it's possible and or likely if he didn't have no trade clause, he wouldn't be a Cubs. Yeah. For me, it's less about the money that it is about. You know what? I don't know if he would be a Cubs anymore. You're a hundred percent, right? That's a bet. You know what? That's the best way to put it. That's the best way to put it. He will be a Cubs this year. We're going to talk about a couple other people who might not be coming up next.

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13:11Matt called you the rosters are earlier today. I'm going to pull up the sheet that you so kindly made if we're watching on YouTube of the Cubs current roster projection. And I'm going to lean towards in field outfield D.H. You know, you and and just the wonderful Matt Pilitis. We're talking about this earlier in the week. You know, you told me before. You told me before is going to be a nice surprise. What an excellent. I'm start, you know, these. I forgot, but I forgot. I want to make up for it. Now I forgot to go over the inside part, which is you've threatened for him to replace you on the show. And I think you will. I want to say this publicly. Get back, paying back to us. I do think this will be a this might turn into a mat and mat. Lockdown Cubs. Well, how would that go? Where are you going? I just. No, I just think Pilitis is just something spectacular. Man, does he not age? All right.

14:11Let's get into the roster. I want to just focus real quick on the outfield position because the infield spots. I mean, without injuries. I mean, we feel pretty locked in with the Breggmans of the world, the Swanson, the Horners, the Bush, the Shaw. The question that I have for you on this outfield here is you have that PCA say a bias there is Conforto Carlson. Number one, who plays first base behind Michael Bush against against left handed pitchers? Does that leave room? To me, when I saw this and you guys are talking about this, I thought that there was only going to be room for one of Conforto or Carlson. What what say you? So right now, I don't think Michael Bush is going to sit at all. They place if they play someone against the lefty once in a while, I think it's going to be a Maya. At first, I think he's going to play maybe the first six or seven innings and then Bush is going to close.

15:13So that's that's number one. Number two, I think one of the top stories from the week that, you know, I'm not listening to the other shows anymore. But if I if I was, my guess is they haven't talked about this. And that is that Matt Shaw played center field the other day. And so I think that prospect of him playing center field changes this graphic now. So I'll have to update it this weekend. And it's kind of like I have fun with it in that Joel Lanardi, Bracketology way. I think Conforto is a lock still a lot of Matt Shaw could play center field. And Dylan Carlson doesn't need to make the team or Chas McCormick doesn't need to make the team. I don't think Kevin El Contra is really in the mix at all. So then you start looking at different infield options. Ben Cowles, they keep picking pick up like every other day from waivers after dropping him themselves. They must like him.

16:14James triantos is having a pretty good spring. Pedro Ramirez, who was added to the 40 man this past off season to be protected from the rule five. I think is a candidate now. He entered today's action of five for 14 with three walks. He's played both second and third. So I do think the calculus positionally has changed a little bit since we last put up this graphic with MP. Because Shaw being able to play center could change who gets that 26th spot. Carlson Sam is having an excellent spring. But now I think an infielder like Ramirez or someone else does have an outside chance I do. Why is Conforto a lock over Carlson? Because of the volume of production and good seasons that he's put up throughout his career. he's not only an established player, but he's had a monster year like 2019.

17:16He's had other productive years. I've met Jay and 2019, we have a program. I think what? 2019, we didn't have a show yet. That's a lot of time. I know. We were either done. So it's, so Michael could ford, so you're saying you like Conforto, because what do you think they could catch magic in a bottle with Conforto? Where Carlson's pure bench and, and, and with Conforto, it's, it's insurance on Bia Starros as a DH version. Totally, totally. Conforto can easily start a DH. Carlson's not a candidate for that, but I'll say this right now. Okay, go ahead, it's a talk program. In the beginning of this year, the first 30, 40 games, every time there's a righty on the mound, moistest Bia Starros should be DH in. Yeah, I want a good number, yeah. I want a full runway for this young man. You're right. I think he's got a chance. I think he's got very, very special bat to ball skills. I know that his speed doesn't match those bat to ball skills,

18:17but I also think there's some opposite field power there. And I think there's a really, really good hitter in there. And I don't want him losing at bats to Michael Conforto early in the season. No, no, that would be frustrating. I think Bia Starros has to have a long leash. And Craig Council has shown signs, maybe not right when he got here, but certainly over the last year, where I think it is trending that way. I think he's just going to get runway. I don't want to spoil our bold predictions. It starts to win Pedro Ramirez research. I don't want to spoil our bold predictions segment, but let's just say this, by July 4th, I wouldn't be surprised if he was sitting in the middle of the order, moistest Bia Starros. The last thing I want to say on this, and the bullpen battle is heating up a little bit too, but yeah, yeah, I'll let you cover that.

19:18Any residual, I'll use that word, any residual disappointment now. Kevin Alcantre looks like he probably is not going to make the team. And you look at now that 2021 deadline. And you hit a home run with Pete, right? I mean, you just hit one absolutely out of the park. But the Bryant trade, literally no major league production at this point. Canario is on a different ball club. It didn't work out with Killian. The Rizzo trade, Alcantre, and forgive me, I forget who else was in it. Kimberl, obviously, that didn't go well. I mean, you literally went A plus with Pete, but you kind of went zero with anyone else. We're moved on from that, right? Yes, and I could, but I could throw you one back. Like, Chafen, today's for Polencia.

20:19That was a home run. Home run and getting Casey, getting Casey and turning him into Cabrera, you know? Yeah, yeah, if you go back that far to December of 20, which will be when we did have a show that 50 people are listening to. Yes, 75. I remember going on for an emergency episode after that deal. Yeah, we were screaming on the phone as a random weeknight. And wow, good memory. And so, no, I think Pete makes up for all that stuff. You know, at one time, Alcantre and Casey were like, they were always talked about together. We're going to see this year. I mean, how distant that is. Casey's going to be playing. First of all, Casey's going to show off for Canada. I think starting this weekend, yeah. I think Canada's going to win their pool. If not, they're going to at least make the quarter final. By the way, I apologize. He's going to play every day for the Marlins. Meanwhile, Alcantre is in Des Moines. I apologize. The United States plays Brazil on Friday. And I said, great Britain. I don't know why I said that. You're excited for School Bull start. That's why.

21:19Well, because you said something about it and then I just copied you, but you probably said it right. And I didn't sell. Yeah, well, School Bull is starting against great Britain, which in my mind, I feel like is their first game, but no, they play Brazil on Friday. And who's with Morgan Webb? Oh, oh, Logan Webb starting. Yeah, Paul Schien's is starting game three against Mexico. Who? Yeah. Paul Schien. We'll face him nine times this year. So Sam, Ethan Roberts, we met at the SOS event in September of 24. He may be on my next graphic. He's having a nice spring. When's the last time Hollow Wells pitched? Yeah, I think it was Friday. So maybe it was almost a four week. So maybe he'll come in at the end of this game today. This contest, yeah. All right, speaking of spring training notes, it's the best and worst. We get to that coming up next.

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23:24Internet connection is required. Pre-order MLB The Show 26 right now. It's available March 17th on PlayStation 5, Xbox, Series S and X, and Nintendo Switch, rated E for everyone to check out MLB The Show 26. Welcome back to locked on Cubs, the number one podcast for your Chicago Cubs. And some spring training notes today. Cubs dominating the Arizona diamond back, seven to one, Danzby Swanson, another home run. He's been on fire. I think this is back-to-back home runs in spring. And then I think he hit one in the exhibition when they played it at least. I think he has three on the campaign. So far, double for your boy, Michael Conforto, a couple hits for him, hold run for Carson Kelly. Colin Ray started this game when three and two thirds struck out six.

24:26I'd like to share how I feel about Colin Ray right now. Let's do it, man. Have you ever, you might not have this. But let's say we go to an event, you and I, right? And we're doing, we're talking to people for a couple hours. We have a long commute. Maybe we're going to the Cubs game. We don't know when we're going to eat, and you know me, I kind of get a little cranky, you know, if I go a couple hours without food. And so you just kind of bring like an emergency cliff bar or, you know, a pack of, you know, mixed almonds, mixed nuts. You know what I mean? Something like that. Well, yeah, there wouldn't be mix if they were all almonds. Go ahead. Yeah, but you know what I mean? You bring in a snack, like an emergency snack. That's what Colin Ray is to this team. It's like an emergency snack. He's like, he's like the, he's like Clifford. Oh, you know what? I'm not feeling great. I feel like I need to eat something. Boom, don't worry. I brought a cliff bar. Bang. Don't worry. I brought a, I brought a sandwich. That's what Colin Ray is. He's a safety net. He's an emergency net for the back of red grapes, if you will.

25:26Yeah, he just, oh, you know what? Oh, thank goodness. And the key part of it is psychological. You just know you have it in your backpack. You just know you have it when you're ready. Just knowing that Colin Ray is there. If something happens to any of these guys, he was really good last year. I mean, we did a couple of those Friday audio only's where he was just, he was beating the Phillies. He was, he was, he was beating the early 70s athletics. He was beating the 20s Yankees. You can watch 20s, 30s, 40s Yankees or however many championships they won. The 90s Yankees. He got into a heated, heated debate with a friend a few days ago about the Mount Rushmore of Yankees and he told me that Derek Jeter had to be on. And I just said, well, who'd you like to put them ahead of Ruth Gareg, Manel and Demagio? Anyway, that's totally beside the point, Matt. But just talk about Colin Ray and just, I just think he's

26:29one of the unsung guys on this team. Well, yeah, I'm really curious to see how, you know, if the people that we think are going to open the year in the rotation, I'm really intrigued to see how Craig Council uses Colin Ray. Because there's really no reason why he should be used as a clean up guy up ahead, up a lot or down a lot. I could be convinced of that. I just feel like he brings more value. Grant it again to your point. You know he's there if it's a more trying time or if you need to insert him into the rotation for whatever reason. But I think he's going to contribute to this team in a meaningful way. He was a big part of it last year. I really hope for him at his career that the same thing could happen. And, you know, he's the reason why Javier Assad and Ben Brown are as of right now opening the season as the one two in the rotation at AAA. Think about that, that they would open the year

27:31as the one two down there. And then they would bring in more of a short relief guy for that last spot. So, yeah, curious to see how they're going to use him. But, yeah, what a nice person to have. Best and worst of the week, I just have a quick worst that's just, I just find it very funny. Obviously, the NBA is a massive tanking problem, which luckily I don't think baseball has to deal with. The tanking teams, the bottom teams in the NBA right now have combined, lost 44 games in a row. If you combine all the losing streaks of the bottom, I think it's the bottom 10. There are, none of them are coming off a win. It's a combined 44 straight losses. And meanwhile, the balls in February did it win a ball game. They didn't win a baseball game. The Cubs and Bulls tied for wins in February of games that count, and the Cubs didn't play any.

28:31Wow. Wow, yeah. Yeah, minor, both WBC related. Actually, we loosely mentioned my worst already. Why didn't the stats count for that game against Italy the other day? Yeah, and he counted the stats. These are all exhibitions. It's all practice. It's OK. You can count them. They just recycle every exhibition. That's stupid. It is. It really is. I noticed that last year when the Cubs were in Japan playing those exhibitions against the Japanese teams, and then the next game, it recycled. Yes, someone was one for one for the Cubs, batten, a thousand. Stop. Yeah, Cubs did not have a good showing in those two games last year. Italy's a dark horse. Yeah. I am really excited for the first three games of the WBC for the US, web, scoobles, skeens, wonder who will start game four. It's looking right now that Matthew Boyd is going to be like a piggyback guy for web or skeens, and hopefully pitch as well.

29:32Yeah, I hope Pete starts. Looks like it's going to be Roman Anthony. It left a Bucson in center, judge and write, Sam. Yeah, why? I just, he's such a, first of all, he's a better defender than Bucson in Anthony. I just, I think Pete should start, man. I'm a little bit frustrated with where he's at right now in terms of the lead, because, I mean, man, when that all start game was happening, he was literally on top of the world. That's not true. Literally. He was. Yeah, figuratively. Yeah, figuratively. Poor Steven. And now it's like, oh, he's a top 20, top 30, top 40 guy. And I just, I really hope he gets off to a good start so we can get back to that, because I just think he should be the starting center feeler for Team USA. I just, I, I think, I mean, I just, I hope he starts one of the first four games in pool play, if it doesn't, that would be weird. How many, how many homeers do you think judges it in this tournament? Like six?

30:33It's a, it's a good number. Yeah, he's, he's, he's a really good at baseball. So what if he hits like 10? Yeah, you never know. Thank you for making a lot of coves. Your first listen of the day for those of you on video, we send you to 24 seven National Lockdown podcast that we're huge you channel and audio. Make sure your second listen is locked on MLB. It's go time guys, baseball's here. Join us. It's time. We're right there a couple of weeks away. Oh, comey.