Herb Howard shares a Bears hit: Case Keenum is preparing to start (Hour 3)

0:00Hey, I arrived almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to D-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multitasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get D-Mobile. So many reasons to join D-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uclosepetextintelligence data of National Speed Score results in incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Have you ever felt like you were living just a B or B-plus life?

1:05It's so dangerous to live that more dangerous than a B-minus or a C-plus life because when you're living a B or B-plus life, you don't change it. You think it's good enough? Is it? I'm Susie Welch. I host a podcast called Becoming You. People think, okay, an A-plus life is not available to me, but there is a way. We are all in the process of becoming ourselves. Listen to Becoming You, wherever you get your podcasts. This is where Chicago comes to talk bears football. We are Sports Radio 1043, the score. Broadcasting live from a Hyundai Studios. Presented to you in part by your local Hyundai dealers. WSCR, WSCR FM and HD1 Chicago in Odyssey Sports Station. The score! This hour is being brought to you by Minard, save big money at Minard's. This guy right here, Herb Howard, he is the absolute true. Herb Howard. Herb Howard, Ferris B.

2:05Reporter. He's in the spell. Herb Howard, always a great football press conference question. Ask her. Covering the bears for 1043, the score. Yeah, that's a great point for her. I will say that you hit it around the head there. Happy to be here. I think you guys have phenomenal phenomenal bears. But I'm actually honored to be a part of it now. Herb Howard, with Spiegel in hope. I just love the talk with Paul. On 1043, the score. Man, we are so happy that Herb Howard is covering the bears for us here on the score and being at Hallis Hall. He joins us now on the Potawatomi Casino in Hotel Hotline, the Midwest, Best Casino. Sir, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it. There's a lot to discuss when it comes to this team. And I know that that we'll get to some of the quarterbacking stuff. But is there anything that happened news wise up there that you found particularly interesting? Well, just one, you know, continuing the role to recovery for Aussie Trepillo. We know how miraculous it's been in terms of, you know,

3:05how quickly he was able to heal from what was a catastrophic injury. And he's steady, you know, improving and getting closer. I mean, we heard from Coach earlier this morning and Coach Johnson was saying how Aussie, it's only a matter of time before he's going to be able to get out there and get in a real game for them. And so we know they aren't completely satisfied what they have left talking right now. As we saw the kind of platoon continued for Braxton Jones and Theo in the game on Sunday. So you know, they want to give Aussie his opportunity to have some input on this left tackle conversation. And he seems like he's going to be getting closer and closer. Coach said he just got to get to the point now where he's just confident and putting his full weight on that leg and not probably be the last hurdle for Aussie return to action. Yeah, it's a major storyline salute that has kind of slipped to the background with everything else that's gone on. But they went ahead and put in Theo Benedett for another series by design earlier there in week two. One other injury question before we get to the quarterbacks. Tyree Stevenson, not a part of things in terms of what you could actually see today

4:09in terms of practice. No, he was not. Coach said he's designated right now currently as week to week. And so we'll see kind of what that means. We know they brought Nick McLeod back with us with a lot of time with the Bears last year. They played a lot of football for them mostly in the slot. I don't know what that means for, you know, Malik Muhammad and then potentially bumping outside. I did get a chance to talk to Malik inside the Bears locker room today. And he says, listen, I can play either. He says actually started to enjoy playing inside because there's so many different things that he's able to do. He says he thinks that it's the best way for him to potentially win defensive rookie of the year is what he said he wants to do. He's got an interception in week one week two. He comes out and gets a sack. He said he should have had two sacks in that game on Sunday. And so this kid does not lack confidence. He also has lofty goals. And so he says he's got an acclimated to playing inside. But by the looks of things, he may be bumping back outside. Which he also said he's very comfortable with. He said I've only played outside corner through high school and in college. I've gotten here and start to play nickel, which he seems to enjoy right now. But it looks like he may be headed back on the perimeter.

5:10But considering that this is the day that guys who started the season on the public list could practice the or work their way back into practicing in front of the team. Kyla Gordon was not there, correct? Kyla Gordon was not there. I think it was Brad Biggs who asked Coach Johnson this morning. Was there any update, any improvement for Kyla Gordon? Coach repeated what he's repeated the entire time. He says I've got nothing new there and hard stop. Wow. Well, as always, listeners, you know that when our guy Herb Howard comes on to do a Bears report right here on the afternoon show, you get all the news. And we get to some sound of consequence from the day up there. What he got for us, Herb, take us through it. Couple things from Coach this morning. And talking about the challenge of getting ready for what's a big game. Primetime Monday night football against a really good opponent and doing so without knowing who your quarterback is.

6:11He says they welcome the challenge and it creates opportunities for others. And you have a challenge when there is so much unknown and you're trying to prepare for a game and short hold. It's a challenge for you. Yeah, well, it's opportunity. It's the way I see it. I think our guys see it as well. One of those things that everyone outside of the building, I'm sure is right in us off and telling us it can't be done and we really relish that. And so guys will step up to the plate and guys that maybe we don't anticipate or expect. We have a really talented team and it's been that way. I've been saying that in the spring. I've been saying that throughout camp. High expectations for where this year can go for us. And so we're going to continue to get better. We're going to race to improve. Nothing's changed. It's still the month of September in that regard. There's plenty of things we need to clean up from last week that and we need a great week of preparation here this week. So that's really all we're concerned about right now. It reminds me Lawrence of all the times. Craig Council will talk about the bullpen injuries. Like you got to find some guys and give them a chance to step up and then theoretically, hopefully you get to the end of the year and you've got more depth that you feel good about.

7:15It's one of the things that we talked about a little bit yesterday. Like I know that Ben took it as an affront when people talked about regression with this Bears team. This is the part that goes into that. Like the Bears were pretty lucky from an injury standpoint, especially with the quarterback last year. And now immediately they are thrust into maybe not having both their starter and their backup available and it's only week three. Why don't they get their Ben tested by a couple of things that, you know, most people would just seem to believe about this team. One is that Ben Johnson is or is becoming an elite head coach in the National Football League. And the other is that this roster is loaded full of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. If both of those things are true, they should have been able to weather the storm. They go from a situation where your quarterback is the best player on your offense to now a situation where maybe all the other 10 guys kind of need to support and lift up the quarterback position.

8:16But if they are who they believe themselves to be, they should be able to do that. Same is true for coach Jonathan. So many of these players have said, you know, we aren't worried about these challenges or those challenges because we have Ben Johnson. We've heard those things echo throughout the off season. It's time for those things to be true, right? And so coach Johnson is going to have to, you know, devise a game plan that that case is comfortable with, which is most game plans because he's been in so many offensive systems. Coach talked about, you know, the value of having Case Keenam himself and what his relationship has been with him. So if I said an interesting career, honestly, now a year 14, I believe it is it. What do you appreciate about kind of his career? What he's been able to accomplish and stay in ready is the back up. Yeah, I mean, he's not just not just an NFL career, but he's a prolific college quarterback. He's got numerous records. I think that still stand. He's just been he's been a baller from from I think the day that he was born from what I can tell, you know, it's just he's got that way about him.

9:17He's got a knack as teammates gravitate to him. I think that's a good starting point for a quarterback and of course, you know, he's up there in years a little bit, but that experience is really paid off for him. He sees the game the same way that we do. I think he accelerates through his progressions because he's seen so many things over the course of his time. He's been in so many different offenses. So in a lot of ways, he might be a step slower than he was when he first entered the league. And yet his mind's going so fast. It helps catch him on up and and he's playing as good a footballist as he probably has his whole careers. What do you tell you from the day he was born. That kid was a baller and kindergarten man. Just, you know, other kids would try to get the talk of toys in case it's like, oh, hell no. He throw it away from me for 5,000 yards. Now, I do his point. At the University of Houston, it became the all-time leader in division one for passing yards,

10:18touchdowns and completions. I mean, seriously, one of the greatest college football quarterbacks of all time. I mean, he's part of that run of Texas high school quarterbacks that showed up on the scene in college and we're just out there slinging it one after another. Whether we're talking about Houston or Baylor or Texas, Texas, Texas. There's a bunch of those guys that that when we started seeing a little bit more air raid being thrown across the landscape. The college football, guys were out there doing the thing. Yeah, I mean, like, like, first team all-America, it's unbelievable. And then, of course, you know, everybody knows him for the music city. There's nothing music city miracle because that's the thing. Minnesota, when they got the big play up in the Sainson and Minneapolis. Yeah. Yeah. But so everybody knows knows him for that, but his life and career are a hell of a lot more than that. So it's pretty cool. We get a chance to hear case. And we were unsure if today was going to be a quarterback podium day or not with the Monday night football game. Well, that's another question that we have for you. Is is any quarterback

11:23going to speak this week? Okay, spoke today. So beyond beyond. Oh, that's right. I guess they can't because Tyson can't be in the facility, right? Right. I think so that was this like on the official. It was just the anointing of him as a starter or just here's a quarterback for you guys to talk to. What was your impression of it? Well, he's the only one available. They weren't going to have us talk to Miller Moss. So it was case kingdom. Case kingdom took the number one rep. The first team reps out there practiced today. Coast did not commit to him being the starter yet. He said he still does not know. He hasn't even ruled out Caleb Williams, as potentially being the starter on Monday night. But right now they're operating with case kingdom in terms of preparation with all of the first team. And so case kingdom was the one who came to the podium to speak for the quarterbacks today. I know there's a few clips of audio that we want to get into discuss here. And cases listen, this is his first rodeo, right? You're not it's not hyperbole to say that he's one of the most prolific college pastors of all time. And he's had his good romance in the national football league as well. Case is prepared for his opportunity.

12:27I know you prepare as though you're going to start every week, but possibly starting a game at age 38 in the NFL. How exciting is that for you? Yeah, I don't think I add at age 38. Like, you know, I just I just I get to you know a chance to maybe play this week. Like, and I prepare every week. It's just a lot more mental reps. So it was nice getting a few more reps today. We'll see how the rest of the week goes. I have no idea. At this point, I've done enough weeks preparing where you just really don't have any clue or any idea of, you know, how guys are going to be able to come back or what? And you just you just go day to day to time. You go meeting at a time, practice at a time, a film session at a time, and just plug away and just keep working. And when you're when you're prepared, you don't have to get prepared. So try to stay prepared. You mentioned prepared case without getting a lot of those actual reps in practice. He said that mental reps, how prepare do you feel for this? I feel I feel very prepared. I mean, I think

13:28people don't realize in general, the NFL how little reps go around during the a game week. The starter usually gets all the first team reps. And you know, maybe a few for the backup here and there, you know, the backup gets all the scout team reps. And then, you know, other than that, it's kind of mental reps. So I'm standing behind Caleb Tyson, you know, getting reps seen where those guys are. You know, you're trying to trying to bank stuff from training camp. But, um, yeah, I feel very prepared. I mean, that's what I do every week. That's what I've done for a long time. I backed up a long time in this league. So, you know, if my name's called, I'm excited to be out there. How about the savvy vet move of I might get the chance to play on Monday. So you keep throwing it out there. That someone else might end up quarterbacking. And obviously, like, I feel like he's going to be impressive. The thing is I wanted and speaks noses. We talked about it a lot in the free agency market last year that I wanted case kingdom in the room. I don't know

14:30if that meant that I wanted case kingdom on the field. But that's what you are apparently going to get. Yeah. Maybe case said maybe. But it's certainly a possibility. And, and you know, coach is comfortable with it. He called them. It's like having another coach out there on the field. And at this point, shoot, I think case and coach are pretty close and aged. So, I mean, he feels probably closer to Ben Johnson than he does to Caleb Wibbs. And so, I think he brings that level. But he also ignores that. Listen, his football and he still gets that kind of nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. And I'm probably sure he'll have it if he takes the field on Monday night. I love the feeling of being nervous. Like, I do get nervous. And it's not a scared nervous. It's an excited nervous because I know I'm prepared. I'm confident in my preparation and what I've done. I'm confident in my teammates. Confident in their preparation. I'm confident in the game plan and what my coaches have put together. And I say, if you're not feeling something, everybody feels it differently. I feel it. I feel a little butterflies. But it's because I care. I love this game.

15:32I love this team. And heck, this, this Texas boy, I love Chicago. Like, I really do. I've enjoyed it here. So I had some special moments in that stadium last year. And if my name's called this week to get, you know, an opportunity. Yeah, my thing is I care too much sometimes. So yeah, I love it. If I don't, if I didn't love it, if I didn't have those feelings, if I wasn't nervous, I'm going to go do something else. Like, I don't know, jump out of airplanes or you don't try to get some other way. Yeah, I love this game. And heck yeah, I tell that to kids all the time. I get nervous. I'm 38 years old. Hey, man. That is, first of all, extremely likable. Second of all, scientifically accurate. And I have worked on this as a parent to share with my son. And also just as a performer, like whether it's on stage to sing or whatever before a weird radio show, the nerves and the anxiety are from exactly the same place. It is a matter of how you frame it, you know,

16:36and how to deal with it. Yeah, 100%. I would be remiss if I didn't at least ask for some background on Miller Moss in case he ends up playing her power. So their choice was to not bring in another quarterback. And people can read that and say, well, maybe that means that their confident Tyson is going to make it out of protocol or that Kayla will be healthy enough to be the emergency quarterback on Monday night. What do we need to know about Miller Moss? Well, we need to know about Miller Moss is that we hope he doesn't take the field on Sunday. I saw the field facts. And that is not, I'm not trying to knock the kid, but you talk about Case Kingdom, not getting a lot of reps with the ones Miller Moss has had zero, right? And so there's no familiarity in terms of him being able to go out there and prepare. I did see him out there, you know, after practice, getting some extra work in as we were headed down to the locker room, I always take a peek out there on the field and see what's got to get some extra work. And he was out there getting some things in, but that would not be an ideal situation. You say you didn't,

17:39you wanted Case to be on the team and in the locker room and in the meeting room, but not necessarily on the field. Well, you definitely don't really want that from Miller Moss. He was a guy comes out of USC. There was some overlap in there with him and Kayla, then he waits his turn, then he has an opportunity to play, but that would be a worst case in there. Maybe you'll see some wildcat with Kalmananga and Andrei Swift out there if Case Kingdom isn't able to go the full four course. Cole, come at handing the ball off. There you go. There you go. So that wouldn't be ideal, but what what serves the bear has well in terms of having case there is not only his own personal experience, his familiarity with so many different offensive systems, but he has become a bit of a coach to this team. He has been someone they all kind of looked to. I had a great conversation today inside the locker room with Jody Walker and Jody Walker with someone I wanted to talk about Case with because Jody has played all over this roster up and down. He's been all over the depth chart. And so he as much as any of the major contributors on offense has spent a lot of time with Case Kingdom. I asked him, what is Case Kingdom like in the Huddled? How does he like to catch

18:44the football from those a really really good piece from Jody Walker? For one, he's a great in the Huddled. Very cool. You can hear him excellent. He will actually point to the side the concept on. So you know, I do not, you're not on the wrong side or you know, you're going. He do that to a lot of rookies when you first get here. So you understand the offense better. Friendly ball, a nice and nice friendly ball. And it's always out early too. He can get it up and down for sure. He likes going it on time. Pretty much a lot of, he got a lot of a lot of f***ing his bag. He had definitely a good, last time I did just a good better one to have in the rooms. For sure. A good better one having a room and I'm just saying, I'm excited we got three good points. That's great. Of course, the Scrub case as another punch off the one of those. So he's seen the game the same way as he does. Is that your experience with him also?

19:47For sure. I kind of pick his brain a lot, asking him different questions, trying to see if he used to always give me hair last year because I used to run dad was off my foot, stepped me set him up my fifth. So he used to always tell me like, you messing up a few bit time and then I didn't understand that at first. But now that I got that year on my belt and just understanding the aspects of the game and the time and the everything and the league. I can count as you can you can run around short and you still get the ball. I believe you have to be on time. You have to pre-session nice to have you. It's John Day Walker who has been impressive as a pro frankly. That's great stuff by case because those guys will tell you 13 is not 13 and a half. Like that 12 and a half is not 13. Like it's so precise in the fact that John A got that lesson early on in his career and that's what a guy like that's why I kept

20:48swiping for a guy. Yes, in the room. Not just another young lottery card of a future backup. Yeah, but someone who can like think about that because John A is probably spending most of his time with case like after a practice and like that's one of those things where a while event helps you become better for just a small tweak so that like your whole understanding of route running changes because of that correction that's made. It's not a stretch to say that case kingdom is as big a reason for John A Walker still been on the team as anybody. He came in here as an undrafted rookie for Agent Lashy. He wasn't getting first team reps. He wasn't getting second team reps. He was going with the third with the threes until he earned opportunity to get to those tools and part of him earning that was some of the two to glitch that he got directly from case kingdom about how to run routes where to be and when to be there and case kingdom is the guy he's not going to run around like like Caleb is. He's going to get the ball out on time and put it where it's supposed to be and you better be there and so it wouldn't surprise me much to see this

21:48offense function certainly differently but perhaps a little bit more on time because he does not have the athleticism to make other things happen so he's going to go through his reads and like coach Sadio go through them quickly because he doesn't want to take those hits either so he's going to he's seen all these things before he's going to go through his reads get the ball out of his hands and so I think they have a lot of confidence going and I think certainly we'll see potentially maybe cases value go from additional coach to actual starting quarterback. Well the values are there when you think about the success he and Jade had together in preseason last year which is why Jade is on this team and you know in part why he's on this team so cases already done his job and helping prepare a depth piece that ended up being an important part of the roster. Anything else we need to know? No that clear to no book today I did have a good chance to talk to TJ Edwards and he talked about the challenge of dealing with this Eagles offense that's coming in and talking about you know starting with with Seikwam Barclay and dealing with the weapons that they have and so to defense that he says listen in week one they didn't play as well as they wanted to

22:52and in week two they played a lot better he said they still can improve on a lot of areas but it was good for them to kind of feel like they're going to be weeks where the offense kind of carries them along like they did in week one and then there are going to be other weeks where they can hold teams to nine points and keep the offense in the game and so a step forward for the defense but still some room for improvement as well. Herb as always we appreciate the information thank you sir my pleasure that is Herb Howard talking bears with you giving you that that Jody Walker and if you use great stuff. Yeah man there's a lot of great stuff in there and you're getting everything you need from the Bears report which is how it is designed to function bears don't play till Monday cubs played two games on Friday I mean they played a night too yeah and one tomorrow and then maybe two on Friday or maybe none or maybe just one and then maybe two on Saturday or maybe none and probably none on Sunday so maybe two on Monday before the plan can you they might have to they might have to this thing is whole weekend is chaos Alex Breggman's out here talking about how

23:58he wants to get in a bat tonight in the clubhouse how about no how about you come sit next to me with an ice bag on your face it is all happening sir when we come back at Jedhoi was on the station earlier today and there was a lot of stuff that kind of caught our ear we listened to it as a show and there were things that we were like yeah we should probably bring that back and discuss it the most important stuff that you need to know from Jedhoi are about this cubs team is next on the score Chicago football fans Bud Light in the score invite you to real time sports and Elk Grove Village to get you ready for the prime time showdown between Chicago and Philly Monday hey it's Spiegel and Holmes join us as we take the show on the road to real time sports a long time favorite spot of hours from two to six p.m. just hours before kickoff come out to watch us do show live and compete in the Bud Light's national football faceoff tournament giving you a chance to test your football skills to win a trip to Vegas during an NFL playoff weekend in January it's the Spiegel and

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26:02in some areas see plan for details are you looking for a football podcast that doesn't put you to sleep with a fog of analytics or insult your fandom with phony hot takes I'm Dan Hanses and I'm Mark Sessler and we're the host of he the call the NFL podcast you've been waiting for he the call covers the entire NFL not just the same five or six teams you're sick of delivering news weekly power rankings plus previews and recaps of every matchup yes we cover your team and we do it with a touch of birth because football is fun why shouldn't your football podcast be the same follow and listen to heed the call NFL podcasts wherever you get your podcasts you got to spend a ton of time around this city yes I did your time at Detroit you were here three times a year taking on the white socks three times a year plenty of bias but outside of Miami I think this is a crown jewel in the United States there is no doubt about that the first pitch that half a little too hot for over to short auto's got it stands tall tosses the first and next is how this ball game ends great win for the boys tonight great win for the boys tonight a six spot for the Marlins in the

27:09top of the 12th and they get the win in 12 but eight two over the Cubs at Riggly that six spot was frustrating and how we got to that place with the failed bunch the really great defensive play at second base and then it's like oh they had their opportunity to win that game and then the Marlins took it from them they did they they got it done that's the call from Marlins radio it's Jack McMullen on the call pretty good I saw his mother my sister on the concourse briefly she was there last night with a bunch of jacks friends from Oak Park River Forest high school you had some pretty nice seats sir we did as a matter of fact um but uh yeah you know it's pretty crazy jacks up there doing his thing back home and me and steen are there watching and assuming all night that the Cubs were going to get a win and clinch a playoff spot and celebrate

28:10on the field and they had three chances to do it in the ninth and tenth and eleventh to walk it off and then it didn't happen and then kill them field bar gives up a run in the top of the 12th and then Edward Cabrera your guy comes in oh wow oh I'm I am 100% sure that I have been saying can't trust it for the last four weeks while someone in this room has been like no you got to do it you got to try you got to do it you got to try how about have you still trying no I'm I'm good now I think I think I'm good they've tried you're good I mean right like they they did the conversion they got him out there he had one outing it was all right another one was just okay and then this thing was an abject disaster and folks that was a playoff atmosphere last night 100% you could feel it through the TV you could absolutely feel it in person absolutely and everything I mean both teams right now with this both Cubs in the white socks and so every decision everybody every arm

29:15is important I I I really do like his or nearly like when it comes to September baseball overall I usually throw out like individual performances because there might be teams that are completely out of it but I give the marlins and the royals because the royals could have been like you know what boys pack it up let's pack it up and let's let's just take this this beating that we're getting and they're like no how about we make it uncomfortable for you you're right we find out which teams are playing like a give a crap and which managers are allowing it and which ones are not and we'll see like the Rockies play a huge role in what happens with playoff seating they've got the diamond backs again tonight if the diamond backs lose in the Cubs or the Cubs win the Cubs clinch a spot in the playoffs and then the the Rockies come to the south side this weekend so there there's an opportunity for the white socks that you think that there's an opportunity and I I think that the

30:17white socks getting into the playoffs I think we're good now it's just a matter of do they win that why are you looking at me like that you looked at me like he was waiting for me he's like no we're not good no I think he's right I think we're good but the much rather play a team with something to play for than these teams that are like you think are checked out but they're really not yeah that there's you worry if are you taking them seriously enough and and this white socks team and they're they're amazing because like last night you go all right let's let's just slug it let's just keep slugging and chase my drop continues to be great but we'll get to them in the next segment Jed was on the station earlier today and along the things that that he talked about in the whole interview you should go check out with with Rahini and Grody they did a great job with it this was Jed talking about the back of the bullpen and particularly Polencia yeah and I think it is critical to happen so unwell you know he came back from injury struggled a bit and

31:18you know listen like you never know what's what's the calm I think that but what what we've seen the last couple of times out has been you know really encouraging I think it delivery looks much better obviously the fastball has been explosive I feel like he's come out and they've been over a hundred you know right away and and they throw on strike and yeah that they outing on on Saturday against the reds was excellent he was really good last night so you hope these keep building confidence I mean we've seen this guy be dominant we you know he's obviously WBC he was incredible and you know that's been spotty this year through you know some struggles and some some injuries but yeah getting him back to throwing that way it is really important the most important guy in that bullpen by a long long shot even if he doesn't end up getting used to close it's used in big situations and knowing that he can shut people down and folks he got three outs in his first inning last night on eight pitches all fastballs touched 101

32:21came back out after an uptown and got a fourth out through one slider in there but more fastballs dominance and he changes the possibilities it it is it is still possible that they can piece together a bullpen over the next few days that hits the ground running on Tuesday in the playoffs and makes you feel good and having him and Zephyr John as arms you trust at the back of the bullpen that feels pretty good that yet you need a third you need a third a third righty well let's talk about your man Edward Cabrera here's with Jed had to say about his chances of being that guy yeah I wouldn't expect that on that but obviously last night was a it was a game where you know a lot of guys do really well before him you know getting to that period and any struggle you know he came into a tight situation and obviously didn't didn't perform well and yeah I think he's new to the bullpen he hasn't done this and I think there are some adjustments and so certainly we're paying attention to how he's making those adjustments so I would expect that on what's

33:25to come but yeah certainly that last night with a reason it was a rough one you like he's doing something new and he struggled that last night oh yes he did so if if we give you Zephyr John and Palencia from the right side okay Rolison and feel bar from the left side and Shoda I don't know but let's stay with the bullpen like Savali I think is the best long relief option is the one that they like more than Assad even and more than Colin Rae who's thrown one in since the night the September who's the other righty I don't think it's Cabrera there needs to be one more righty that you trust is it is it web we haven't seen Jacob web be good in a long time is it Colin Rae they haven't even tried him haven't even used him is it Edward Cabrera I don't think it's Edward Cabrera I don't think so either so if it's not Cabrera then it's got to be web or it's a Assad but Assad doesn't have enough swing and miss and they tried that they tried it it didn't work

34:25the other night but but it was only one I know you know like maybe you say all right we let's make some corrections here's how we're going to use you in like in inning well this is how we want you to attack you're pitching one inning yeah you know I just Assad or Rae it's probably going to be web it's probably going to be web he did he had great moments this year at a phenomenal season and and and so I think it's probably what they're going to do unless they go wild card scenario and put clay homes in there in the bullpen use Shoda as a third starter and I've clay homes in the bullpen since he's done it before so that's seriously wild card stuff wait wait wait so do you mean Shoda and homes is a piggyback or Shoda as the starter and homes is a high leverage reliever talking homes as a potential high leverage reliever or at least bulk guy to have out there in the pen but he could you he could be a high leverage reliever without a doubt these are the times that try them in

35:26soul seriously what you got Craig he's what you got Craig said a great year managing this team well Vinnable has had a great year managing the white socks too let's talk about where they're at right now and and what's up for them let's do that next year on the score Chicago it's time for today's Toyota Tacoma game day lineup and 104 three the score brought you by your Chicago and Toyota dealers Toyota let's go places tonight the north ciders are back at rigley to take on Miami as they're pushed for the postseason continues pregame coverage starts at 605 first pitch 640 heard live right here on the score this has been your Toyota Tacoma game day lineup on the score this segment is sponsored by you Chicago medicine you Chicago medicine at the intersection of science and hope at the leading edge world renowned facilities and physicians at the forefront of what matters most your health you Chicago medicine at the forefront of care in Chicago

36:28and beyond learn more at you Chicago medicine dot org okay says give me the scoop what have you been up to living my best life i've been traveling working even hiking more and things to team mobile i'm connected for all of it really i need details i mean with america's best network i can pretty much go anywhere even when i'm off grid i'm still connected by satellite that's cool plus i get unlimited texting and data brought so i'm all set for my trip degrees i don't even need to do anything it'll just work when i get there that's it i gotta get team mobile i don't even get reception in my apartment this is why i'm mom's favorite so many reasons to join team mobile find yours at team mobile dot com best mobile network in the u.s based on analysis but ucliffe speed test intelligence data first half of 2026 with compatible device in most outdoor areas and select countries where you can see the sky it's literally the experience beyond $10 a month auto-renews monthly cancel any time i speed data on select plans not for extended international use coverage and other available in some areas see plan for details

37:31hey it's gin hat maker here's what i've learned in midlife joy isn't the reward you earn after all the work is done joy is the work that's what this new series on for the love is all about the sacred yes it's choosing delight rest and pleasure on purpose because saying yes to yourself that's the thing that finally lets you fill your table with everybody else come find your sacred yes with me follow and listen to for the love wherever you get your podcasts that's this one a lot closer now here in the night in the air to right field it is Peters and that's gonna do it light socks slug their way to a 14 11 win and take game one of this series versus the royals yet that game was kind of crazy because you felt like from the beginning of it the white socks had a stranglehold on that game and you're like all right this is going to be one of those

38:35games where the white socks in actually coast to to a nice win in Kansas city and then it's like and i think will did the right thing we got a big lead hey Luis you want to go work out some of your issues well i mean by then he'd worked through so many different pictures already had because he lifts k after four in the middle of a trouble with fifth which is kind of become the trend yeah i mean he gets and Noah's shultz gets through two which has been a nice pleasant surprise the return of Noah's shultz has gone really well i agree and then a bras ban or braze ban bros ban bros ban for your 200 milligrams goes one inning and that's that then Richard's goes one inning too many one inning stance drives me nuts yeah it really does and then after Richard's gives up three that's when castio comes in and makes it a ballgame and makes everybody scurry around the bullpen after gives them a grand slam like oh boy i better get ready all right

39:38i better get ready there's nothing like like the the a quiet bullpen that then is like oh oh jeez wheat man god you see bags moving you see you know like right like guys are like starting to stretch and they're like i just want to stay in my cool jacket bullpen catchers are like all right let me get the knees we're gonna get a star work get it out boys hey but that's where Luis castio does the teams that's what he does he makes your bullpen catchers stretch out his ankles and there they go but they found a way shout out to Randall Gritchick with a massive freaking night i want and maybe if we have a chance in between one of those games i mean i guess what you do it now we got time between Gritchick and cronforto these two guys have been deployed so well by their managers let me make you the comp okay corner outfielders with pop who can platoon like that are the the 28 29 year old running backs of major league baseball it's like oh i know this guy can still

40:46play michael turner can still get out there and burn it up let me go get him and you just put him in the right spot you use him correctly and all of a sudden you're running back rotation you're like man is it great to have daring sproles on third down i had no idea nick chub still at this much game left in him devon single terry can still tote the rock austin eckler can still go get it man do it right guy austin eckler is somebody's Randall gritchick waiting to happen but yeah man when i look at both of those guys and gritchick has been money for the white socks but just like here's i'm gonna use you the right way yeah man i'm gonna set you up and done a great job with that and he's been crushing it like it give me an opportunity against some lefties and watch midwork and with michael can for the same thing where it's like i'm gonna figure out the best way to use you and then you have to maximize the opportunity and he's done that yeah you could argue that uh council shouldn't have pulled conforta when he did and maybe then you don't end up with four

41:50empty at best for matcha but that's neither here nor there patreon martina's might be my favorite picture of all time and there's lots of reasons but i i adore that dude and he's become a great commentator a really smart thoughtful baseball conversation and he says stuff he does he's not afraid to say stuff he knows the game he does his homework and apparently had good things to say about your Chicago white socks the only thing that concerns me about the the white socks is the lack of experience that they have going into the postseason any of those themes that has a lot more experience happen to be in you know somewhere around the white socks i think they have the advantage because of the experience that they have but the white socks have young enough pitching good arms a motivated young group of guys that they are hungry and they want to make a statement especially after having such an unbelievable season after losing 100 games last year i think they have

42:55good enough reasons to go and and try to prove everybody wrong and i hope they do i hope they do make no mistake about it but i just don't i i i'm concerned about their experience concerned about the experience factor on that roster i'm concerned about the experience factor too and also the manager's experience because we've seen a little bit of maybe will over managing over the last two weeks but maybe now that he's been able to do some of this he's eliminating choices who's the old head with playoff experience and success on that team karate man Tommy Favre yeah probably is karate man bleed on the inside who's the old head on the pitching staff with playoff experience it was supposed to be Luis Castillo yeah he's been good in the playoffs at times maybe maybe he can still play a role but not as someone with a uniform man he gets a he gets a hoodie yeah you can have a hoodie but you can't have a uniform i mean the the the old heads the old heads on the

44:01pitching staff are like Sean Newcombe who's bounced around an awful lot but he hasn't really had post-season experience fettie and k who have not had postseason experience but have defending dealt with the rigors of of a tough MLB life i mean k left went to career and came back was fettie on a playoff team but not on the roster maybe jiffetti the other day he told Chuck Garfine that he feels like he's been pitching for his career every time out since may man is like for his suffer if like if i don't if i'm not great today i might lose my spot and my career is over that is heavy to have to think of it that way but i don't think he's wrong i could tell him though he's probably not gonna lose the spot they kind of need him bad at this point and they don't seem to want to give drew thorpo shot i could have told that right at the trade deadline i think now you're good man remember baddest year came out of here and said the good news is our young guys aren't blocked

45:04remember when he said that in march the good news is when they're ready they'll pitch and i'm like man if i'm Anthony k and Eric fettie i'm hearing that and i'm like a few man yeah but then you're trying to block y'all but things change and they did change and and and now it's been a mix right like you've gotten your noir solstice and your grantey and and and and hey and smith like you've gotten yeah the younger guys out there while also having the the lifers that the guys that are pitching for their supper they're still out there doing that it's all happening it's all happening on both sides of town with crazy ball games of consequence and playoff atmosphere and you know i'm a guff head and i saw that archa i ran a guffie pointed out that tonight for the first time ever in the history of life both teams and jacquayle could clinch on the same evening that's nuts i could have it could both happen tonight sure wow i mean seriously at all honestly this is one of the greatest baseball seasons that i can remember for chicago i agree like overall you think

46:05about and it's been surprising like with the white socks too has just kind of been a consistently fun story of like wow they're not terrible too oh my god they might win the division their story alone is surprising and joyful they pico armstrong glow up is completely unprecedented not only in this town but really in all of baseball history i agree and then the cubs losing ten in a row and winning all of their pitchers and winning ten in a row you know why don't we talk this through with bruce vine by the way shout out to coast contrade that their song it's all happening it's all a big would be a good theme for us as you talk about it's all happening love at least the hook for it's also just a great song uh bruce vine is going to join us to talk baseball next on the score it's david haw and jerry paton now in the mornings 5 30 till 10 a.m. on the score this is also a huge test on ben johnson to see how he can cook things up for him he's got to redeem himself a little bit he's got to redeem himself a little bit we all had to know into him he got punched in the face

47:09on sunday and i felt genius ben johnson now it's time to be able to show it well because the next defense accordion he goes against is just as smart as the one he just faced zik van geel well established as one of the smartest defensive minds in the NFL the haw and pagan show on your way to work mornings 5 30 to 10 on sports radio 104 three the score and live on the free honesty app don't sit on the sidelines monday september 28th discover boating is taking boat getting to the water chicago pro football great jerry azuma israel is the adonajay and charles pina tillman will be aboard the discover boating flagship tossing footballs and chatting with fans join us from pew to four p.m. bring your boat and your crew or rent a boat and get in on the action this is how chicago boat gates follow at discover boating on social for all the details and to find out how you can get involved okay sis give me the scoop what i'm even up to living my best life i've been traveling working even hiking more and things to team mobile i'm connected for all of it really i need details i mean

48:11with america's best network i can pretty much go anywhere even when i'm off grid i'm still connected by satellite that's cool plus i get unlimited texting and data brought so i'm mong set for my trip degrees i don't even need to do anything it'll just work when i get there that's it i gotta get team mobile i don't even get reception in my apartment this is why i'm mom's favorite so many reasons to join team mobile find yours at team mobile dot com best mobile network in the u.s based on analysis but who clues speed test intelligence data first half of twenty twenty six with compatible device and most outdoor areas and select countries where you can see the sky clear with experience beyond or ten dollars a month auto renews monthly cancel anytime i speed data on select plans not for extended international use coverage and other available in some areas see plan for details how we made your mother is the how i met your mother rewatch podcast with me Josh radner and series co-creator Craig Thomas follow how we made your mother wherever you get your podcasts