Kap & J. Hood
8/29 7 AM: Chicago Cubs: Still Alive?
(crunching) - Chicago. This is your morning routine. - Listen to this (mumbles) - Cap and G hood. - That's right, that's right, we're bad, huh? - Watch the show on Twitch. Follow ESPN 1000 Chicago. Stream the show on the ESPN Chicago app. And on Infair, 100.3 HD2. And on ESPN 1000 Chicago. No, no, no. David Kaplan and Jonathan Hood. - Good morning, everyone. ♪ Bring 'em out, bring 'em out ♪ ♪ Woo ♪ ♪ Bring 'em out, bring 'em out ♪ ♪ Bring 'em out, bring 'em out ♪ ♪ Bring 'em out, bring 'em out ♪ ♪ Bring 'em out, bring 'em out ♪ ♪ Woo ♪ ♪ Woo ♪ - Good morning and welcome in to the Cap and G hood show on ESPN 1000 hoodies got the day off. We got Jay here, we got Jay Moore, and Jesse Rogers. - What's up? - Yeah! - For my guy, hoodie, I'm David Kaplan, three, one, two, three, three, two, three, seven, seven, six. I feel like we just did a show here with Shay, the last half hour. - That's it. - Bouncing around all over the place. - It is, but I'd like to wake up a gentleman getting older, might need a little more sleep. His name is Mark Silverman in the Northern suburbs. - Good old Marco. - Sylvie, good morning. Wake up, because the Cubs are still alive. (laughs) So let me set the scene for you. I filled in for Waddle yesterday. Only was an hour show because of the White Sox double header. We did the show from my kitchen table. He came over, I got the equipment. So remember, the show starts 2.30 with Black and Abdallah crosstalk. The cup game is getting to the later stages. So we are watching this in real time on the air. I'm like, ah, the comeback's gonna fall short 'cause they start, it scored a couple in the seventh, a few more in the eighth. - That's gonna fall in three in the eighth, six in the ninth. We're like, oh my God, what just happened here? They're back, still alive, still five and a half out somehow. They're playing the baseball, but they're still five and a half out. - Right, 'cause Atlanta doesn't lose. - No, did the Mets lose last night? - They did, they did. - They're creeping closer. - Game and a half behind the Mets, still five and a half against the Braves. Well, knock off that half game tonight either way 'cause the Cubs don't play. But how about this, Atlanta plays in Philly four games. Four games, Cubs have a day off, then take on the Nets. Now the Nets just beat the Yankees two in a row. So it's not necessarily a, you know, push over. - Right. - But you've got six straight more games against sub 500 teams while the Braves are playing the Phillies. I'm not sure who's after that. I mean, look, all the sites say it's 5% or less. I don't even think the Cubs internally believe they have a great chance. But you gotta play 'em out and let's have some fun with it. I have no problem with that. You know, here's the thing. It depends on your perspective cap. If you're expecting them to get the wild card, you're gonna be probably disappointed. If you're feeling like this is a long shot and they surprise you, that's a better feeling. - Okay, so. - I wouldn't go into this stretch saying they're gonna do it. - Braves have four at the Phillies and then they go from there, a day off on Monday. Who gets labor day off? - Right, that's weird. - It's a big day for baseball. - Yeah. - People don't have school or work. Then they come home for three with the Rockies. Not good. - Not good if you're at home. Although the Rockies did beat the Yankees. And then they have three at home with the Blue Jay. Then they have a makeup game at home with the Red. Then they have a two-gamer at the National. Then they have a four-gamer at home with the Dodger. Then they have three at the Reds, three at the Marlins. And then they close their season, three home with the Mets, three home with the Royals. And those Royals games will probably matter 'cause the Royals have caught the Guardians. - And the Mets games probably. - Yeah, they're right behind Braves. So Atlanta has the 16th hardest schedule down the stretch here. The Cubs at this moment, 22nd. But that's starting to creep up 'cause it was 27 as they knocked these games off against the Sub-500 teams. That's gonna keep going up 'cause they still have the Dodgers, Yankees, and Phillies. They just need to be a little bit closer, Cap. I mean, this is the Braves. This isn't some Johnny come lately, team. This is the Braves. - Okay. - They hit their beat up. I mean, it's still a long shot. Again, all the sites say 6% is the highest rate. - I agree, but my whole point is still alive. - Yeah, I can live with that. - Faint. - I can live with that. - Faint. - I mean, I'd like nothing more for them to grab this wild card. - Oh my God. - I'm not supposed to root as a reporter, but ESPN would have the first round game and it would be Brewers Cubs. And let me tell you something, think about it. Okay, as of this moment, the way they're playing right now, it wouldn't be the Brewers minus 360 in the series. - No. - That'd be a very close-- - And the Brewers pitching is playing. - The Brewers pitching is a little bit banged up and on paper, not that special. You gotta get all the respect in the world. And I know we have some tweeters that will yell at us that are Brewer fans, but honestly, if the Cubs offense can play like this, a Cubs Brewers best of three odds wise would be very close, would be very close. - Right, and you're telling me that Steel, Imanaga, can't win in that series? - Right. - Come on now, what are we doing? - And if you have to go a third, okay, J-Mo, I can live with J-Mo as a third. I mean, they have Freddy Peralta, they've got some good pitching that nobody knows about. - Ty Young pitched into the seventh the other day, he'd given up two runs into the seventh inning. - Yeah. - He's a solid pitcher, I'm not telling you he's Cy Young, I never said that. Now, I don't think that they've arrived in terms of beating the Yankees or the Phillies, or maybe even the Brewers, but what's happening now is a confidence boost, and you hope this leads to September where there's tougher games in front of them, because I still think that this is a little fool's goal, because Pittsburgh has fallen apart. This is not Pittsburgh up two months ago, they have fallen apart, right? The Nats will be a good test, like I said, they just beat the Yankees. The fact that we're even having this conversation is cool, because it looked like they were dead in the water, and this little surge isn't shocking, it's not because of the schedule, and the fact is we knew they were this good on paper, so they're doing the very least, they're pushing themselves above 500, but I'm not sure about the big term meaning. Now, there is some meaning into Miguel Amaya and PCA's game advancing, that's cool, no matter what. - Okay, I'm gonna read you, I read this to you guys before the show, I'm gonna read these stats to you, and you're gonna be like, oh my God. - Yeah. - First of all, rough week for the Pirates per J. Kuda, who is an awesome follow on Twitter. - Yeah, it's hilarious. - The Pirates allowed more runs to the Cubs in the last three days than the Pittsburgh Steelers allowed in points versus the Chicago Bears from 1970 to 1988. - Incredible. - Remember, when you score in football, it's six or seven at a time, right? And still, the Pirates gave up more. - Okay, how 'bout this one? Until the Pirates blew a seven run lead in the seventh inning against the Cubs on Wednesday, since 2019, I believe, teams were 1,192 and oh, in the last seven years, seven years, when they were up at least seven to start the seventh inning. Let me say that again. Over the last seven years, teams were 1,192 and oh, when they were up at least seven to start the seventh till the Cubs beat the Pirates. Here's another one. The Cubs Pete Crow Armstrong, in the three games set against the Pirates, had multiple three or more hit games. He stole three or more bases in a single game. He scored four or more runs in a single game. No other MLB rookie has accomplished all three in a single series since 1901. - Yeah, incredible. - And it's the most runs the Cubs have scored in a three game series since the Pirates in 2019. - It is unbelievable. - Yeah, that comeback was quite something. And of all people, Christian Betancourt has seven Ribbeys. - I mean, seven. - I mean, I'm sure there are Cubs fans out there. Why are you sitting on Amaya? What'd you do day game after night game? And Betancourt comes in there with seven Ribbeys. And I said to Sylvie, I was ready to be a really critical counsel because this is go time, right? You got to lead off Skins. It was clear Hendrix did not have it. And he pulled them too late, in my opinion. - Inning it two thirds. - And that was too late. That was too late. Got down to six three, they were down six three, I think when they pulled him. You know a guy doesn't have it. He was walking guys with non-competitive pitches. It could have been, you pull them at three three. And I thought he pulled them too late. Because again, you got to show urgency. You won't do that in April, but you do it now. Anyway, the offense has just been amazing. And we've been waiting, we've been waiting for it. - Right, now they get a day off and they go to Washington for three. Then they come home for the Pirates for three and they get Washington, who's here next weekend? - Is it the Yankees? - Yeah, see the Yankees. And then they have Washington coming in for four. - First time back. - Riz? - Yeah, I don't know if he's gonna, oh he's been a rehab, he'll probably play up there. He'll probably be up for it. - I would think, I'm going to the game with my son Tuesday. - Tuesday, are you gonna go Friday? Standing O for your guy? - No, be at the lake. - No, come on. I'll give him a stay to go from my dock. - It's cool, I've been in touch with his people, like his family's coming, his agent, you know, they're gonna soak this thing up. - Good for them. - Yeah, enjoy. - How many people? - How many made it here? And then went on the IELF for the rest of the season. - Yeah, he's got, he's had, I guess how really bad. - Yeah, yeah, really bad. - He talked a lot about it two seconds. My health, my health, my health and then three days later, it was this. - Having major hip surgery. - Okay, then on the other side of town, we are the home of the White Sox, ESPN 1000. I'm watching that game. Like I watch every game. - I know you do. I was playing golf yesterday, I had the game on the phone, and this is a Cubs game on the phone, and then moved to the Sox game. So I'm watching the game. They've already lost game one of the double header, competed three to one, so they're getting to be 80 to one. And then the second game, they're up to nothing, and then home run to make it a three to lead. And then Sosa ties the game with a rocket base set up to the middle. Sosa also booted one ball. Then he had another ground or two where he missed the guy on the swipe tag to try and start the double play. Then he's batting and he pops one up right in front of the plate, and he gets in the way of the catcher. The catcher studies himself, but the umpires already said interference out, and he misses the ball. What a loaded the bases. - So funny. - Now he is warming up on the infield. And I'm watching the game, and I have my brother on the phone, who's a die-hard Sox man. And both of us, at the moment this happened, and if you did not watch it, or you were not listening, you got to see it, go to social, you got to see what happened. He's at second base. Eller, I think, is warming up the reliever, who's pretty good. And he gives the little thumb, like, send it down, and they throw it down to second, when he's done with his warm-up pitches. This dude is looking down at the base, like, I don't know, he's tying his shoe. He gets up. Here comes the throw from the catcher, hits him right between the eyes. - And he looks up, bam! Right in the face. There's two trainers out there, the manager, three of his team, like, they were concerned. - Oh God! I would call that a little league move, yet I coached a little league for about seven years. Never once did I see the catcher hit the infielder in the face, 'cause he wasn't looking. Not once! - And I don't mean like a glancing blow. - No, it got him. - Right between the eyes. - Oh, Mike. - And that is all over social. Here is... - Jay, what did you call it? The microcosm of the 2024 season? - It is my single favorite moment of the season. - And I know it comes at Linine Sosa's expense, but I mean, 30 years from now, if you had one moment to explain what the 2024 White Sox are, you can show a person one piece of video. It's gotta be Linine Sosa getting hit in the nose with a simple throw down to second base at the end of a warmup. - I mean, it has to be. - Seriously, right between the eyes, and there's all the staff out there and teammates, like, oh my God, what happened? He's okay. He stayed in the game. He finally laughed it off, but holy cow. - And let me just say this, Jay. I don't know. We should take calls. I don't know if that's the symbol of the season. There are so many. I get what you're saying. I get why you would pick that, but I don't know. Die Hard Sox fans might pick a bunch of other ones. I mean, there's Luis Roberts, right? I mean, there's so many. I can't even go over them. - There was... - Yeah, he was not paying attention and, oh, we'll hit some right in the nose. - There was the Luis Roberts, the game where he didn't throw home. He just caught the ball and was like, whatever. I'm good. - I forgot about that one. - There was the Bobby Whit eighth inning grand slam in the middle of the losing streak. - And then in the ninth inning, Sox are losing. They give him a run on eight. Corey Seager with men on first and third two outs, pops one up, shallow setter, and he flings his bat down like, oh, God. And Luis Roberts misses it. And there's that one where the shortstop didn't throw home because nobody was yelling home when he would have gotten him by a mile. There's that one. - That was the Cody Belinger one. - Was that even... - I can't remember. Was it? - Yeah, Belinger was gonna score. - You're right. - Even the catch last night, Andrew Vaughn just tattoos the baseball, walk off the game. - Here you go. - So that's where I was going. They score on the Corey Seager bloop that he thought he popped out to short center to end the ninth and ball falls. Robert gets a late break, ball falls in front of him. Like, oh my God, he tried to make a catch, didn't. Four, three. Sox get two on, one out. Andrew Vaughn up, and he hits one deep into the south side night. - All right, the one, two. (crowd cheering) That's in the air left field. That's trouble. Kankowski back. - Out of the catch, oh my goodness, what a grab. (crowd cheering) He brings the game back. - That, and I know I will go over the top of times, that is one of the five greatest catches I've ever seen. - Yeah, ever. - Yeah, totally. And I wish, like you said, it mattered more for the Rangers and the standings, you know, making that kind of a catch. 'Cause that's a season turning catch kind of thing. I had to sound down, saw it. So I didn't hear Shriffen's call, do we have it? 'Cause was he halfway through? Stand up, oh no, south side. (crowd laughing) That's what I imagined it to be. (laughing) Stand up, sit down. (laughing) That's what I imagined it to be. So yeah, it was quite a day of baseball for the Cubs and Sox yesterday. It was unreal. - Like if I told you at the start of the day, here's your parlay. Sox are gonna get swept, you'd be like, okay, I'm in. (laughing) On your card, Lydin Sos is gonna get hit with a warm up throw in the, between the eyes, right at the top of the nose. And there's gonna be one of the five greatest catches you've ever seen. And Christian Bethancourt's gonna drive in seven and the Cubs are gonna come from 10, three down, going to the seventh. All that hits. That's gotta be on a million to one. - Yeah, I mean, just to come back alone, I mean, insane. Did you see this one, the Cubs are the first team in like five years to win a game down seven and to lose a game up seven. - That was the Padre game, they were up eight, nothing. - So that, those two things haven't happened to a team in five years. So been a wild year on both sides of town, mostly bad to be honest, but at least the Cubs are showing some luck. - Can you ask Dansby if it's still June? - Right. (laughing) - My God. - Yeah, and that still stands because if they were a little closer, going back to those games, this would really be interesting in September. - Come on, Jesse. It's a bad take. - Only took 17 minutes for that to come out. That will live forever, forever. - Yeah, I know. - Oh my goodness. Three, one, two, three, two, three, seven, seven, six. We'll get to Bears in a little bit. Ryan Poll spoke and Matt Eber flew spoke. So a lot going on around the Bears. They did sign Austin Reed to the practice squad. Good to see, developmental prospect there. Our guy Tom Thayer said, Ripon, Austin Reed, no disrespect to Ripon. Paraphrasing with Tommy said to me last week, he said, I like developmental prospects. That's what Austin Reed is, and he's around. But when does this become a legitimate playoff race for the Cubs? Three, one, two, three, two, three, seven, seven, six. Be right back. - Welcome back to Captain J. Hood. You're officially locked in. (upbeat music) - On Chicago's home for sports, ESPN, Chicago. (upbeat music) - Rolling on, Kat and J. Hood. He's got today and tomorrow off. Jesse's here today. We got tomorrow. We gotta wake up dollop. - Yes, it'll be a dollop tomorrow with you. 'Cause I will be in studio tomorrow in the afternoon with Grandpa Tommy. Grandpa Tommy. - How 'bout that? - How 'bout that? - That little boy. - That little boy named Tommy. - Yeah. - So cool. - So cool as that. So big Tom, I think is gonna be called, Grandpa's gonna be known as, and little Tommy, congratulations to Tom Waddle and his lovely family, first grandchild. - Georgia gave birth to Tom. - Yeah, super cool. - Very cool. - Yeah, I've got my grandkids tonight. - Nice. - And all weekend. Plus, is it, is it what they say? You know, the fun without the responsibility? - It's the greatest. - 'Cause until now, it's been all responsibility on my end. - So I got three-year-old Ben, Benjamin David and one-year-old Nora. - So I got boy and a girl. And Ben will come over, his, okay, my daughter lost not listening right now. - She's at work. - How do you spoil Ben? - So I have this candy, like a dish, like Danny has in his office. And mom, can I have a piece of candy? Ben, you've had enough, we're going home. And soon as she starts, or Garrett, or my son, packs up the diaper bag for the little one. Come here. (laughing) Here you go, bud. Then I give him a little more candy. - He comes out. - That's awesome. - Yeah, it's the greatest. - The fun without the responsibility. - That's the greatest. - Now you can go. - Yeah, it's fun. - That's how they describe Cap's young days and hitting the streets, fun, you know, without the responsibility. - Correct. - Damn. - Life's different. - Yeah. - So when does this become a legitimate play-off race for the Cubs? They turned a trick yesterday, if you're just tuning us in. It was, I think, 1,192 and oh, the last seven years. Teams with a seven or more run lead going to the seventh inning had never lost in seven years. 1,192 and oh, and the Cubs did it. - Crazy. - The funny thing is they're playing better but really haven't gained ground on the Braves. However, you still had to pass those other teams and they're starting to do that. They have the Mets in their sights, the Mets lost yesterday so they gained a game there. So I think it's a great question for our listeners. 3, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 7, 7, 6. When is it a playoff race for you as a Cubs fan? When will the casual fans start to tune back in? Is it just while they're playing good baseball or do you have to open up the paper, so to speak, the computer, your laptop, look at the standings and say, oh, they're too out? Okay, now I'm gonna pay attention. When does the casual fans start to pay attention? 'Cause I think a lot have tuned out for a wild cap, for a while, are you ready to tune back in? Even though they haven't gained really ground, but it feels like they've gotten a little momentum. - Like I have not tuned out, I have not. - You haven't, but a lot have. - And people who do it your job, it is, but I guarantee you there are people doing our jobs who are not watching every pitch of every game. I watch every White Sox game. - Yeah, I'm just sitting on the couch last night. - Watching the game, that's what I do. - I'm so excited, man. I just love baseball. - Well, the fact that the Cubs are still alive. - Right, I'm not telling you they're getting there. - Yeah, you're singing to the choir here. I love good baseball and I love both teams to be great for my own needs and desires here. I mean, look, the White Sox are going to make a headline in a couple of weeks. They're going to make a national headline. Now, can the Cubs make one as well is the question. Cubs come back from the dead to grab a wild card. That would be a headline. Everyone doubts it. I think anybody listening doubts it. - Oh, here. - But is it at least a race? - Here's a question. What would be more surprising? White Sox don't break the 121 lost record or Cubs make the playoffs. - No, it would be that. It'd be the White Sox. - If the White Sox didn't break the record now, they're at 103 with what? - 29 to go. - 28 left. - 28 games to play. - And a road trip in Boston and Baltimore. Forget about it. That's six losses. I'm sorry. So add six more right off the bat. - So you're at 109. - Yes. - Okay, let's call 108. They get you squeaking one out. Who else do they have? That's going to matter. - Yeah, they go out west. I mean, I think San Diego, they have three there. - They end the season on the road in Detroit. I know, but Detroit's not as tough as these other teams. - They just swept them. - They have no chance. - Yes, they did. You're right. Maybe Detroit's playing for something. - Yeah, Detroit's one, eight to 10. They've won six in a row. - We can open that up to callers and tweeters as well, which would be more surprising. The Cubs making the playoffs or the Sox not losing 121 or more. It's got to be the one. - They're going to lose. They might lose 125. They've got the Mets. Then they go on the road to Baltimore and Boston. Then Cleveland, three, so six with Oakland and LA. The Angels, they might save them. - And there isn't really a team in baseball that can take their foot off the gas. You know what I mean? Cleveland's going to want these games. The Mets are absolutely going to come in here trying for a sweep. Every team that is in it needs it because there's no separation this year. So there's no way they've avoided it. The fact that it won't go down to the final series of the year, which you normally would think, looking at 120 losses, is crazy. It's going to happen in mid September, not late September. And I think it's either happening in San Diego or that home series against the Angels right after that. - My God. - I mean, there's no way that they don't set the record. - There's no way now. They're like a month ago, we were wondering, there's no wonder now. - So these two dudes tweeted at hoodie and I yesterday, and they had t-shirts on. - They show up at the Sox game two nights ago. Did you see the team? - Did you see the team? - Yeah. - No. - Oh, well, I saw a sell the team thing that they got turned away from something. - Yeah, these two dudes show up and they have a t-shirt on with White Sox jerseys over it, but they're unbuttoned. The shirts say, I don't like our team with the pinwheels from the scoreboard. That's the Chris Getz line. - I don't like-- - Oh, that's right. I was there for that. - Timor's got it. - Timor has that cut. - Timor has that cut. - I'm the one that fed it in from the GM meetings when he said that. - I don't like our team. - That was the moment. I'm like, oh, I'm starting to like Chris Getz. There's some honesty there. - Right. So they had that shirt and it was awesome. And guess what security told them? - Our owner doesn't like to see that shirt. So you're gonna have to either turn it on the inside out or button up your jersey. - Wait a minute. I don't like this team. - I don't like our team. - That's the line, right there. - They turned away that shirt? I thought they-- - They made them either turn the t-shirt inside out or the guy said, our owner's in his box. He does not wanna see that shirt. So you have to button up your jersey. - I saw a tweet that said sell the team, Jerry, that they made them turn inside out. - Right. - I don't like this team. - I don't like our team. - And one, if a fan just did that, but that's quoting the GM, like you just said. - Correct. - So did Jerry chastise Chris when he said it? I wonder. - That's a great question. - Man, what an organization. - I mean, it is truly unbelievable. - Unbelievable is, I don't even know if that's the word you could use. It's not good enough. It's not strong enough, correct, you know what I mean? - Like they haven't created a word strong enough to describe the dysfunction there. And I'm gonna go on record saying, like you, I would root for Chris Katz to have success here for a lot of reasons. - He's a good guy. - He's a good guy. - He's a good guy. He's a good guy, but you still have to do it. And he's gonna have to wear this season. That's on his resume. - I mean, it's like holy, I cannot believe where this thing's at. Again, like I covered like you, the 2012 Cubs that lost one on one, and they're starting guys like Jason Birkin. I remember, this is true. - This is Birkin. - Jeff asked me to go to lunch. I gotta talk to you about something. I'd go to lunch with him. He's new here. It's his first year. He's asking me questions like, what is this person like? And what does the city think of it? Like they're trying to learn. - Yeah. - We're walking back from lunch in Rigbyville at Bar-Louis. Remember that place? - Oh, I love Bar-Louis. - It was great. We're walking back, and here come these two dudes in hoodies. And as we get closer, it's Theo and Jason McLeod, with the hoods up over their heads. And he goes, look at these two goofs. They look like they're dead men walking. Hey Theo, how's it going? And he goes, I feel like I've seen a ghost. That's what his line was. And I said, who's pitching tonight? Jason Birkin, and I don't know who that is. That was his line to me. I don't know who that is. - Totally believable. - They lost 101. - Totally believable. - And he felt like I've seen a ghost on a regular basis. - Yeah, yeah. 120 plus. - I know. - My God. - Yeah. - Are you that mad about a t-shirt? Come on, man, tough enough. - And the only thing you can tell yourself is when we do have success, it's gonna feel that much better because we came from the worst of all time. So that's how you mentally have to stay positive. When we do have success, it'll feel better than any success any GM's ever had because no one's lost this many games. - Right, but the point is you have to have the success and there is a long shot. - Oh my goodness. What a club. - Geez. All right, 3-1-2-3-3-2-3-7-7-6. John, Andrew, the rest of you, if you're on hold, you will be on the air. Next. - Here's to Dave's headline, headline with Kevin J. Hood. - Well, White Sox swept away in a double header. Yesterday at guaranteed rate field, they dropped the opener 3-1. It was the resumption of a suspended game from Tuesday when Garrett Crochet started through four pitches. The heavens opened up ballgame, suspended. They dropped the nightcap in excruciating fashion. They came back from a 3-2 deficit late, tied it on a Lanine Sosa base hit, gave up a run in the ninth, had two men on when this happened in the ninth inning with Andrew Vaughn at the plate and down 4-3. - And the 1-2 hits in the air left heel. That's trouble. Kankowski back out of the catch. Oh my goodness, what a grab. He brings the game back. - He went five feet into the bullpen with one hand on the top of the wall. It brought back a walk-off three, run, home, run. Lanine Sosa, who took an errant warm-up throw right between the eyes when he wasn't looking for the toss down from the catcher. - Unbelievable. - Right between the eyes in the top of the nose, flew out to end the ballgame. Sox dropped the double dip. The Cubs made history yesterday, down 10-3. Going to the seventh inning at Pittsburgh, they scored two in the seventh, three in the eighth, six in the ninth, teams over the last seven years with a seven-run lead. Going to the seventh inning, we're 1,192 and oh. And oh, Cubs win 14-10 off today, then in the nation's capital starting on Friday night to take on the Nationals. Adjusted fields will be the backup in Pittsburgh. He loses the competition to Russell Wilson, who will be the opening-day starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. - Jay Moore. - Welcome back, welcome back. - Welcome back to Captain Jay Hood on Chicago's on for sports, ESPN Chicago. (upbeat music) - I don't know, Shay. I think the symbol of the sock season may have been two days ago, and I was there when their best pitcher, who they're trying to, I don't wanna say baby, but obviously monitor his workload and all that stuff, takes the mound for four pitches and is burned for the week. That might be a symbol as well. Now, I'm still trying to figure out, Cap, and I should know this 'cause I cover baseball, that leap close to game time, whose call is it to start or not start? Usually, it's the league hours before the game. We're talking minutes before, listen to this, I was there. The rain starts coming down pretty hard, literally as the white socks take the field. It picks up more and more over the course of the first four pitches. They delay the game, they burn crochet. If you wanna avoid 121 losses, having crochet on the mound as much as possible is a good idea. And of course, flexing takes over yesterday. That could be a symbol of their failure as well, Shay. I mean, literally, unfreaking, believable. - You get one item, 30 years from now, one moment to show people and explain the season. - It's not that. - You can show them Lineen Sosa getting popped in the nose on a throw down to second base in what was their 103rd boss. That's it, that's it for me this year. - Yeah, you might be right, but there's other contenders. - It's either that or the Bobby Wick Grand Slam, one or the other. - I don't know, I kinda like Luis Robert not trying to throw home. I kinda like that one. That's pretty good. - Wow, this team, man. This team. And then I don't like our team is something that was said to Jesse by Chris gets the GM at the winner meetings. - I don't like our team. - So somebody makes a T-shirt. I'm assuming it was my dear friend, Joe Johnson. It obvious shirts with the pinwheels from the scoreboard. And security says our owner doesn't wanna see it, so you gotta button it up. - What? - Amazing. - Don't for fanny, I don't like our team. It is exactly that quote. - They don't like our team? - That's unbelievable. - And they looked like the Oakland A's in the stands yesterday afternoon for that game. They were like 60 people. - Did you hear the, I said it to Jay Moore, but I don't think we put it in, 'cause I said don't, we don't need it. - The announcer for the Texas Rangers, as they began the first game-- - I didn't even know what I was saying. - He said, well, not a big crowd here. I just counted, I got to 140. - Oh my God. - 140 at a big league when you can start counting about the market. - In this market, you know, it's not good. - Not good. - Do we have Shriffon's call of the Jankowski? I kinda wanna hear, just wanna see. - Oh, Jamerrill, if there's something interesting there. - Jamerrill is the king, he'll look for it. Let's go to the phones. Andrew and Aurora has a very good question. - Andrew, what's up, Sparky? - Hey, so thank you for taking the call, guys. I love the show. - Appreciate you. - I think we didn't make this painful for Jerry, and I don't know if you guys can give me some information on if there's any legal recourse. But let's say 200 people decide to wear a shirt that says, I don't like our team, and refuse to leave, and refuse to take off the shirts. It's gonna be a bigger black mark on Jerry if he does anything about it. But what recourse do they have? There's no racism, there's no swearing, there's nothing disparaging other than a quote that they themselves set. So what does that point can be done? - It's a good question. - That's a great question. - I mean, he's right. - But you kick out hundreds of people. Now, here's my question. If I was, first of all, if I was the owner, I could promise you I would never have allowed this to get to this level. - Yeah, I mean. - But let's assume that I bought the team today. I got it, I'm gonna fix this thing. And people showed up with those T-shirts. I go, I don't like our team either. But we're working on it. We'll get it fixed. - Exactly. - And I remember the days of that, the Saints having the ain'ts and they wore paper bags over their head. People don't get asked to get removed from the park if you just, as long as you're doing it kind of in, I don't know, like-- - Comedic, tasteful. - Right. - Like, you're not, again, if there was something profane, racist, I get it. - I think they should wear the shirt, put quotes around it, and then, you know, dash Chris Kets, put his name on it to remind, this is your GM, and his quote. All I'm doing is quoting your GM. Nothing profane, nothing. - That's it. - That's what I think you should do. Ad Chris Kets is named to remind everybody he said it. - Yeah, but you know, what is the recourse? Like, sell the team-- - Is the game for truck passing if you refuse to leave? - Probably, sell the team is the same thing. It's not profane, right? - I mean, you bought a ticket. You legally can be there and you haven't done anything other than wear a shirt that somebody doesn't like. - But, Cap, correct me if I'm wrong. It's their business. They can turn you away for anything probably, right? Maybe there is some recourse, but you're really gonna go down. - It's a good question. - It's a lawsuit for us. - Our famous attorney, whose sponsors are-- - Well, we're starting to go out of their way to wear as many shirts like that and make a painful for Jerry, so he looks really bad. - I mean, again, if I was him, I would go, I don't like our team either. Let 'em wear what they want. As long as it's clean. - And for somebody who has a great weekend, man, enjoy your holiday weekend. - And I, you know, I don't know Jerry like I used to, but Jerry has a sense of humor. So, I'm not sure he'd be upset with, I don't like our team. So, I don't know what security may have done that without. - I don't, I personally believe that security guard just was being aggressive, yeah. - Yes. I mean, he wouldn't be happy with profane stuff and swearing and all that stuff, but something like that. - I don't think so. - So, 3-1-2-3-3-2-3-7-7-6, Jim's in Bloomingdale. Hey, Jim, what's up, Sparky? - Hey, how you doing, guys? A cast, I owe you a lunch. Beginning another season, you had a caller call in and said, that against the white socks, every game. So, light bulb went off. - That was. - Not the money lines. - Yep. - Third button. - Oh, the run line. - $25, $50 kept going. I'm at $3,800, thanks to that piece of crap team. - Wow. - So, it's great. I mean, you got the next 12 games after this. You know, I just studied their schedule. You have bought Baltimore, Red Sox, Met, and I think, oh, cleanly, all teams fighting for playoffs. - Yes. - You got to pound these guys. I mean, there's three teams I hate in sports, right? The Packers, Red Wings and Cardinals, but there's no team. I despise more than a white Sox. So, everything is Christmas. - This is better than the video. I'm telling you. - And this is why I can't believe this. Thanks for the call. - See, we have a great day, man. A good holiday weekend. - Shae put up this poll, which would be more surprising. Cubs making the playoffs? Socks avoiding 121 losses or more. - Oh, the Sox by a mile. - No, the vote is even. - But that's amazing. - I'm shocked. The caller just said it. Coming up is the Mets, the Orioles, the Red Sox and Guardians. Four straight series against playoff contenders. - They're done. - And then it lightens up, I guess. Oakland is much better than people will give credit. It lightens up a little bit. Oakland and the Angels and then at the Padres race, but it doesn't matter the opponent. They're as bad as anybody and much worse than most. So, I can't believe this vote is even. The Cubs making the playoffs? They're five and a half behind a team that is banged up and they have one of the easier schedules that it would be a surprise, but not more than the Sox avoiding 121. - Agreed. - Come on. - Agreed. 3-1-2-3-3-2-3-7-7-6. More of your calls. We're having fun. Jesse's in for hoodie. Take that. - If you missed something, get the podcast on the ESPN Chicago app. (upbeat music) Jack and Jay Hood are back on Chicago's home for sports. ESPN Chicago. (upbeat music) - Cap, this could be the greatest ESPN 1,000 poll of all time. What would be more surprising the Cubs make the playoffs? Or the Sox avoiding 121 losses or more? It is an even tight race. Vote now at ESPN Chicago. The poll is up. 50-50. But I think people are nuts 'cause the Sox will lose 121 or more. It's impossible that they don't do that. - Crazy. - It's not impossible that the Cubs make the playoffs. - 3-1-2-3-3-2-3-7-7-6. When has this become a legitimate playoff race for the Cubbies? - I believe they're in one. Again, long shot that they get there, but they have a chance. They do, they just do. - Sylvia up yet, buddy. Still alive. - I was at his house yesterday. I had to drop some things off the, Sylvia he needed, but he wasn't home. And I thought about putting a big sign. I was gonna run to the FedEx King Coast 'cause I knew he wasn't home. The house was dark and a big sign right on the front door. My Cubs, still alive. - You should have, I had to go to his house late last night too. He took my power cord from my laptop after he did the show at my house. Why are we going to his house? Why isn't he delivering stuff to us? - Agreed. - That's what I wanna know. - Agreed. - But he's got two little ones running around. We don't, so I can give him a break. - Let's go to the phones. John's in Hoffman Estates. Hey John. - Good morning, boys. How you doing? - We're good, man. - Yeah, I'm gonna say that the playoff race is alive and well, especially when you look at this weekend to start off, you got the Braves playing Philadelphia who's only the second best team in the league. That could get you two games right there while we play the lowly national. And I'm not being delusional here. I know we're nine games back in the division. But look at mid-September, while we have to go through Oakland, Washington, and where's the Colorado? The Brewers have a gauntlet coming up. They have seven with the Phillies and then, or seven with the Diamondbacks. That's what we had to go through last year. And three with the Phillies. So one of my favorite movies is Little Big League and there's a great quote at the end. This is baseball. Anything can happen. I mean, just look what happened at the Central. - Yeah, Milwaukee. - And the Royals have stormed right back. - Milwaukee has the eighth toughest schedule remaining. So there's some truth to that. But boy, 10 games is a lot to make up. It's a lot. I mean, it's just like the Wild Card. If you're just a little bit closer, I could buy what you're selling, John, you know? - It's true. And that's that, oh, it don't have an easy schedule going forward. And it's all about the timing of who plays who win and who wins and loses on what given day. - Be very cub-like if they caught the Braves and then lose on the tiebreaker. That'd be very cub-like. Oh my God. Can you imagine-- - Oh, what's that in the universe? - Sorry. (laughing) Good point. Sorry about that, John. Hey man, have a great day, okay? - Thanks, boys. - Appreciate you. John in Manhattan. Hey, John. How you doing? Thanks for taking my call. - Thanks for calling. - Wouldn't you think that some of the other owners would be on Ryan's door about how pathetic that team is and do something about it? I'll hang up and listen to you, thank you. - Well, I mean, yes and no. I mean, just from a pure baseball standpoint cap, think about the Boston Red Sox who are in a Wild Card race, okay? And there's these two AL central teams that would be in the playoffs right now, mostly because of how they've beaten up the White Sox. I mean, think about anybody outside the division. I mean, fortunately for the Red Sox or the Mariners or whoever, you're not playing 19 games in the, can you imagine the Royals going 18 and one against the White Sox? Yes, or the Twins or the Guardians? So it's just 13 games compared to six if you're the Red Sox, you know, getting the White Sox home and all. But I could see how owners and executives would be like, "Hey man, Chris, Jerry, you gotta be more competitive." - No, no, I'm sorry. I mean, some of the other White Sox owners, not just Jerry. - Yeah, no, no, all they care about-- - Here's the deal. - Yeah, they care about their investment. - They have, when they put their money in, and I believe the first share was 250,000 to get in. Early 80s, he has the only vote. They have zero, I mean zero power. - And I don't think they care 'cause their investment has gone up. Some of them have passed away and, you know, passed it down to family members. - No, I think the other owners on other teams are more upset than the investors, to be honest. John. - Okay, thank you. - Have a good day, man. - Appreciate it. - But I mean, think about that. If you're the Red Sox, and you miss out by a game because Cleveland, you know, even Detroit now, and all of these central, just completely beat up on the White Sox. It really does feel unfair, but that's the game. - It is incredible. - All right, we have our red hot segment known as Shot, or No Shot, that's coming up. Tom Thayer, the great Tom Thayer. It's a Thayer Thursday at nine o'clock. So we have a lot to do on the old program. Jesse is in for our guy, hoodie. Hope you're off to a good start to your holiday weekend, hoodie. Shays here, Jay Moore's here. I'm Cap. Shot or No Shot is in exactly two minutes.