Matt Cozzi BREAKS DOWN Chicago Cubs Spring Training, Pete Crow Armstrong, & Starting Pitching

0:00He's the better half of Sam Ulberg. That's what Matt, like, say it's Matt. Oh, well, Matt underscore cozy. It's Matt cozy. What's up, Matt? Thank you so much for joining CHGO Cup. Joey and Luke, it's good to be on CHGO Cubs. And I don't vouch for that, Joey. Don't make sure that doesn't get the same. But, uh, well, yes, it's, it's great to be here. And, uh, sometime we'll have to get all four on the screen at one time. Uh, but excited to be with you and that spring training trip. That's going to be awesome. Yeah. You guys should come out. We should quad box it from Arizona. Actually, I don't think we're going to show us. We're just going to go have fun. We're not even going to do shows out there. It's just, it's just go. I've never gone Matt to a spring training game. It's just a fan. And so I want to sit out there in the grass and burn my skin until I blister. And, you know, I'll probably be the guy that falls asleep and they put the sunscreen across my forehead that says dork. And then I'll have to do that the rest of the month. I would never, I would never. A sunset, a sunset loop wandering

1:04in the outfield, uh, doing cold opens to nobody. Uh, that's where we're going to be looking forward to. Yeah, we're really excited for the trip, Matt. And, and, and who couldn't be excited as a cubs fan right now, Matt, especially, uh, there's going to be baseball by the end of this week. There's a lot to dive into in terms of just what we heard from players talking over the weekend and more importantly, also the owner, uh, Tom Brickett's just bring us into your world for the CS Show Cubs perspective, you know, your excitement level. What are you thinking about this Cubs team right now? Is there about to play some spring ball? Where are you sitting with the Chicago Cubs today? Yeah, really excited. This is, uh, an opportunity for the Cubs to enter the season as clear and essential favorites for the first time since, since 2018. So it's been a while. I think the Brewers, Pirates and, and Reds, we have something to say about that throughout the year, but, uh, they had a clear chance here this off season to build off 92 wins last year and a playoff appearance. And I think they did that. And, uh, within a matter of days last month,

2:10they traded for Cabrera and signed Breggman. I thought entering the off season, that was always their preference, whether it was, it was reasonable to get done or not, was, was to, to bring it a controllable starter and then pivot and, and add offensively with the free age and bat. And, uh, for them to do both and to revitalize the bullpen, a group that experienced a lot of turnover, uh, you know, all the projections are, are good right now, all the initial quotage to, uh, to come out of camp is good from rickets on down. Uh, the expectation should be high. Yeah, I mean, I don't know how much you get into the zips and, you know, Pocoda and all that stuff. Uh, but I feel like you could go through this roster or you could even just go through the off season and try to identify one player, one situation that would have to improve or really show up for the Cubs to go and take that next step, right? Do you have,

3:17if, if I put you on the spot and I say one player, if this guy does this, the Cubs not only win the division, they're going to be in the NLCS. Like, is it a position player? Is it a young pitcher? Who would it be for you? Well, my first thought would be someone offensively and I, I have two names in mind and that's Sayah and, and then Bush. Uh, because if they have years like they did last year, there really isn't going to be too many questions about the offense and you do have dreams of Michael Bush, home run totals starting with the four or at least starting with the three. And if Sayah does what he did last year, that means a lot of guys are on base, you know, from, from an RBI standpoint and, and whenever else. Uh, so those two names initially as, as people to repeat big years, I think they're, they're on my mind. I mean, shoot, both guys received down

4:17ballot MVP votes from last year. But I think it's going to be in like that three or four starter range guys. If, if someone steps up and is the clear like three or four with a healthy rotation, you know, steel, cabrera, boy, Horton. Um, but if, if, if, if Tyone, if Shoda could, could really do some things this year, if you could feel good about when they're on the bump that day, I think that's going to go a long way because that, that will have a trickle down effect to the pen. You're not going to be as worried about the, the rotation upside or depth. You're not going to care about Zach Allen anymore. Um, so I, I think initially I was thinking offense, but, you know, even, even to come out of the gate, if Shoda is pitching like he can, that's, that's huge. Cause, you know, they did the musical chairs thing in November. I thought he was gone.

5:22Not only is he back, but if he could perform well, that's going to be a big time story. Following up on that rotation, obviously Zach Allen signs with Arizona Diamondbacks, the team that he's played for his whole career for $22 million. The dude frankly never left his house. He just sat, declined the qualifying offer for $22 million. Stayed at home. We had shows and I'm sure you guys, you and Sam did segments of Galen, Galen, Galen, and it turns out he just ends up right into place where he started to begin the offseason. Um, are you, do you have a disappointment level? Would you have liked to have added Zach, Galen or, um, was the price not really worth doing the business at $22 million for a guy with a ERA close to five last year? Yeah, I think for one year at $22 million, that was less appetizing that maybe two or three years for, for 15 to 20 million AAV or something like that. Yeah, I'm not too up in arms about it. I do wonder if, if the Cubs are going to make one more major league signing, whether that's

6:27Zach Latel or I'm the pitching side or Andrew McCutchen as a veteran leadership bench type guy. But yeah, Galen and Merrill Kelly both went back to the Diamondbacks. One, Kelly after being traded, um, I think the time spent on Galen was, was worth it. I mean, I think the, the idea was good and they were certainly in the mix, but from, from here, you, you know, you move, you move forward and, and you take a closer look at who the Cubs have and, uh, you know, if they played a game today, they already have nine or 10 people that, that could start. Um, yeah. So I, I don't, I don't feel too bad. That's the crazy thing, right? At one point, we thought he was already signed with the Cubs, but that never happened. That's a cautionary tale to the rest of us to just wait until maybe, uh, there's a second source or somebody else. I don't think I ever remember, uh, guys, uh, a rotation like this for the Cubs, where I could see number one being a fifth starter,

7:34I could see the fifth starter being a one starter, the two being the three, the three, the four, I mean, literally it, by the end of the season, one through six in the rotation could be any order of names. And I don't mean that in a negative way. I know some people would look at it and say, well, that means you don't have an ace. I don't know about that. I think you have six guys that could, could elevate themselves to being the ace of your staff that season, at least five that could somehow have a great season. And you could say, well, while he's having the ace season at the very least four, right? So the way it all unfolds, I think it's one of the most interesting rotations that Cubs have ever had. And I hope that they use it in it just as a unique way. I hope they are creative with the way they use it. So we don't get to the post season and have the same situation that we had last year. Yeah, Luke, even brainstorming player preview segments for

8:36shows, which I'm sure you guys are doing too. I put Colin Ray on my sheet. He was a really, really big piece to the team last year. And when you break that down, like you just did, I think about guys like him too. What role is he going to play? We know he's going to be fine with it. Yeah, so up and down, I think that's absolutely right. We're talking to Matt Kozy of Lockdown Cubs here on CHGO Cubs. Make sure you like this video, subscribe to the channel. Great comments here coming in the chat. Loving the crossover, Matt. Just like that Chicago PD, Chicago Med Chicago Fire. Yeah, this is the crossover episode. Everyone's been dying for to hop back onto the offensive side, Matt. Really enjoyed not only the article from Sahara Sharma this weekend from about PCA, but frankly, just the comments from PCA this weekend.

9:36Now I understand the talk is cheap, but there's a real sincerity. I think when P. Crohr Armstrong talks about what he wants to get better at this year, he's talking about controlling the zone, doing drills to try and dial in and make sure that he's attacking dangerous pitches for him. And I think for a lot of Cubs fans right now, I feel like P. Crohr Armstrong, your excitement level is like a gradient level of hot sauces, right? Like there are people that are ghost pepper hot that think that he can go like 40 for 40. Other people have more tempered expectations. So Matt, what is your hot sauce level right now for your expectations for PCA heading into this season? Well, whatever has the, not only the heat, but the flavor, because when you're talking about ghost pepper, that, you know, the flavor is out the window with that burns it off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm also excited. There's a really long profile piece in Chicago magazine next month on PCA than I'm excited to read too. He is the Cubs brand. And for him to lead the way off the field,

10:42like from a branding marketing standpoint, it's really cool to see, but he clearly is very serious about this game. And to already hear the quotes from him and Breggman and others about adjustments that he wants to make, whether it is chasing less or accepting walks, just really selling out with doing damage over the plate. It's really encouraging. And, you know, he, sorry, Otani, but he was the best player for about the first 85, 95 games last year. And it really wasn't close when you pair him at the plate with, with gold glove elite level defense and center. So the, the sky's the limit for him. I've, I've got one more quick question for you, Matt, because this is important stuff that I want to finish with. What do you think of this?

11:45That is apparently, it looks like it's the Cubs slogan for the season. I told Joey, at mid-season, I'm not going to go with that. What do you think of this as a season slogan? The postseason will be the other. That's what we've decided. There's this, there's that and the other. And the other. That's what we're going to have. It'll be a three. I need to table my answer until I think about it more. I, I thought it was, it was a strange choice. Especially with, you know, clear goals in mind this year to shoot for, and all central final four or beyond. But yes, the one word phrasing, you know, I was a big fan of leading off with, with fragments when I was a reporter before I was a teacher, then podcaster. But I'm not sure if this one is the one I would have went with for the, the 2026 Cubs. I would have, I would have had at least, you know, some kind of

12:48complete sentence. I think with any slogan, you can't leave yourself open to interpretation of exclamation after, like, you can't be this, you know what I'm saying? We can't allow the question mark to seep into the Cubs season, Luke. That's where I'm kind of like, they're leaving the door open a little bit for, for possible. I don't know possible. This question mark instead of a period that will be something for sure. This where? Over here? This? No, it's this. I don't see it. What it's like an Abba and Castello kind of started to roll. Roll itself out really quick. Matt, we're going to get out, you get you out here on this last one. I wanted to get your take on this show because I am, I'm a frequent listener of Lockdown Cubs. I've been a fan of you guys long before I was on C H show Cubs. And I just want to get your take on, um, your enthusiasm level for the amount of Cubs players participating in the WBC in the next couple of weeks. Is that you just as a fan just wanting health ultimately all at the same time?

13:54Are you going to be watching those games? Are you going to be, you know, are you going to be gripping the seat a little bit tight in your recliners or watching those games? What's your take on eight Cubs in the WBC? Yeah, I've already changed my tune a little bit on this. I think it was a lot of worry at first. And then I decided, I don't think that's any way to live even for that two weeks of the WBC. Ultimately, yes, I want everybody to exit with with their health. But, but I do think it's helpful for the game. The participation numbers and the people that are signed up to play clearly reflect a level of seriousness and excitement from them as well. So I think when it's, when it starts that first week of March, I'll get, I'll get there. Right now it's a little bit more, more milder, but, but I do think it's going to be a fun time and it's going to be a nice on ramp to the real thing on March 26th. I love it. I love it. Matt Coasey from Lockdown. Now, remember folks, we're all one family.

14:58So people say like, why is Lockdown talking to CHGO? Why is CHGO talking to Lockdown? Yadi, Yadi, Yadi. We're all Cubs fans. We are this, this, and you can listen to them, or you can listen to us, or you could listen to all of us because Luke, you're good. You're all fans. See how I bring that together? Yes, that was really good. Luke and Joey, thank you so much. Hey, thanks for coming on. And if we can get you out there in Arizona, I would like to see it, if not, maybe we do a collaboration show during the season somewhere. I think we should. I think we should. And that was good to be on this episode of CHGO Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. Stake you. St