Cubs Talk Podcast

Luke Stuckmeyer, David Kaplan, and Mark Potash get you ready for this week’s GM meetings by discussing big-name free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The trio also debates the excitement of signing a marquee player against the long-term ramifications, and reacts to Javier Baez not winning a Gold Glove award. :50 - are baseball's GM meetings actually productive? 2:50 - excitement of signings vs long-term ramifications 4:05 - big-money deals for Harper or Machado? 5:50 - should Cubs fans be worried about White Sox getting Machado or Harper? 8:50 - are the Cardinals legitimate threats to sign Harper? 10:20 - how important is the situation vs money? 12:40 - what's the value of defense in today's game? 15:25 - Gold Gloves discussion 17:40 - how much value should Cubs place on defense up the middle?

What are the scariest moments in Cubs history? Where does Rajai Davis’ home run, Steve Bartman’s foul ball and Kris Bryant’s hit-by-pitch rank? Plus, with the end of the Cubs championship window now in sight, is that haunting what the Cubs do this winter? David Kaplan, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki debate these topics and more, including how to give the Cubs lineup stability, Jason Heyward’s contract, Kyle Schwarber’s trade value and the need for a leadoff hitter. :45 – Scariest Cubs moments 4:45 – Brewers talkin’ smack 5:45 – Closing of Cubs’ championship window haunting this offseason? 10:05 – How do the Cubs achieve lineup stability? 13:26 – Leadoff woes 15:06 – Should Albert Almora Jr. be the everyday centerfielder? 17:26 – Do the Cubs have too much position player depth? 20:06 – Kyle Schwarber’s trade value 21:56 – Jason Heyward’s salary 24:56 – Favorite Halloween candy

Bryce Harper (2:00, 3:55) and Manny Machado (5:40) are both about to be set up for life with the contracts they'll sign this winter but does that mean they're worth the exorbitant amount of money they're going to get? And is it worth it to the Cubs to pay that much for one player? (7:10) David Kaplan, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki debate and provide a comprehensive preview of what may be in store for the Cubs this offseason (14:20).

With the MLB offseason about to kick off, we run down the boldest predictions for the Cubs winter from around the NBC Sports Chicago content team. Topics include where Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will sign, how much money they’ll get, what the Cardinals will do this winter, Cubs offseason trades and how Theo Epstein’s front office may add to the pitching staff. 3:10 Will Sammy Sosa be welcomed back into the Cubs family? 4:10 Anthony Rizzo receives wedding gifts via social media 5:50 Joe Girardi's status for the 2018 season 6:30 How much will Machado and Harper sign for and will it be with the Cubs and will Machado become a special member of the Cubs "family" 7:50 Kap: 'Kyle Schwarber has played his final game in a Cubs uniform' 9:05 Could Josh Donaldson be coming to the north side? 10:25 Will David Ross be on the Cubs coaching staff in 2019? 11:30 Is Andrew McCutchen a target for the Cubs in free agency? 13:55 Could the Cubs trade Jose Quintana? 15:25 Is Andrew Miller a target for Theo and Jed? 17:30 A familar name to be the new leadoff hitter 21:10 Who will lead the Cubs in saves in 2019? 23:00 What will the Cardinals do to keep up with the Cubs and Brewers in the NL Central? 24:00 Will the Brewers fall prey to the "Chuck Tanner Rule?"

Did Manny Machado’s value take a hit at all after he openly admitted hustling isn’t his “cup of tea”? Our Cubs team (David Kaplan, Kelly Crull, Tony Andracki, Jeff Nelson) debate that, plus the potential fit of Machado or Bryce Harper for the 2019 Cubs and beyond. The crew also runs down the top items on the Cubs’ offseason wish list – ranging from bullpen help to infield depth to a set leadoff hitter – in what may be the most impactful winter in Theo Epstein’s tenure in Chicago.

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan, Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki discuss the comments Chili Davis made after being fired as Cubs hitting coach, ask if the Cubs struggles on offense were Davis' fault or the players and Anthony Iapoce will be walking into as he tries to gets the team back on track a the plate.

Kelly Crull, Tony Andracki and Vinnie Duber recap and analyze Theo Epstein’s end-of-season press conference in which the Cubs president of baseball operations addressed topics such as Joe Maddon’s managing, the team’s season-long offensive woes, Addison Russell’s suspension and looking ahead to the franchise’s offseason. Plus, Luke Stuckmeyer and David DeJesus join Mark Schanowski to discuss potential shifts in the Cubs 2019 roster.

The Cubs had strong reactions to their shocking exit from the postseason after only one game, losing a hard-fought game to the Rockies. Listen to reaction from Javy Baez and Jon Lester and hear from Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki as they break down what went wrong and what's next for this team.

David DeJesus and David Kaplan kick things off by previewing the Cubs-Rockies Wild Card Game. Then hear what Joe Maddon and some Cubs players have to say about the crucial game. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki report from Wrigley on the state of the Cubs.

Could the Cubs eliminate the Cardinals from postseason contention for the third time in the past four years? They have a chance to do so this weekend in what figures to be the most intense Cubs-Cards series since the 2015 NLDS. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki break down the final weekend of the season, provide updates on Pedro Strop and Kris Bryant and analyze where this team - especially the offense - is at right now.

The Cubs reduced their magic number to 5 Sunday behind another stellar outing from Kyle Hendricks and a second straight game of encouraging offense from Kyle Schwarber. The emergence of the Kyles at the most critical point in the season should come as no surprise for two guys who have built their reputations as big-game performers, but what they’re doing right now is huge entering the final week of the season. Meanwhile, Kris Bryant’s balky left shoulder is a talking point yet again. Is there any level of concern regarding the health of the Cubs superstar with October right around the corner? Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki discuss.

Is Joe Maddon the NL Manager of the Year? Is Javy Báez the NL MVP? Who makes the postseason roster out of David Bote, Tommy La Stella, Ian Happ and Terrance Gore? Will Dillon Maples carve out a role in the October bullpen? Our Cubs crew (David Kaplan, Tony Andracki and Jeff Nelson) address these topics and more in the latest Cubs Talk Podcast with only 10 days remaining in the regular season.

Tony Andracki and Jared Wyllys recap the Cubs-Reds weekend series at Wrigley Field, culminating in a one-run loss Sunday afternoon. Between Willson Contreras pimping his double and Daniel Murphy getting thrown out in a key spot, the Cubs baserunning issues were on full display in a game they could’ve won and taken advantage of a Brewers loss to add more room in the tight division race. Plus, hear from Joe Maddon and Contreras himself on the reaction the Cubs manager called “horrible.”

The Cubs are in the midst of a 30-day stretch with no off-days and still have a week left, clinging to only a one-game lead in the NL Central after dropping the series to the Brewers at Wrigley Field this week. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki run down where the team is at mentally and physically right now, plus what they can do moving forward to turn around the issues on offense and in the bullpen.

David Kaplan and David DeJesus join forces to discuss the most worrisome things surrounding the Cubs as the Brewers come to town for a three-game series. What do players think when they see a team get hot late, like Milwaukee has? Plus, the effect Daniel Murphy has made at the top of lineup.

David Kaplan, Kelly Crull and Luke Stuckmeyer discuss the state of the Cubs with only 23 games left in the regular season and the importance of the crosstown series in late September. Plus, is Kris Bryant a long-term player at third or in the outfield? What is the optimal lineup to run out in a key game down the stretch, and is a designated closer a key part of that?

With September approaching, David Kaplan and Tony Andracki discuss the biggest issues facing the Cubs at the moment, including the health status of guys like Kris Bryant and Brandon Morrow. Is this bullpen good enough to win if Morrow can’t return to health and his dominant form? How good should fans feel about the rotation moving in September and October? What does the trade for a new veteran catcher say about the status of Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini in the final month of the season? Is this team good enough to win a World Series right now?

Daniel Murphy sits down for a 1-on-1 interview with Kelly Crull and talks about the Launch Angle Revolution, how he’s changed and developed as a hitter over time and what his first week with the Cubs has been like. Crull and Tony Andracki also discuss the Cubs feeling like they’re getting their mojo back after a nice five-game win streak, but they know they have a huge test in front of them over the next couple of weeks as reinforcements like Kris Bryant work toward rejoining the roster.

With Tuesday’s news that the Cubs acquired Daniel Murphy and will be without Yu Darvish’s services for the remainder of the season, how does that affect the roster moving into the final month of the season? How much will the Cubs be able to count on Kris Bryant? How does Murphy fit in the picture for the Cubs’ potential playoff roster and lineup? Will Darvish even be ready to go in 2019? Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki answer these questions and more on the latest CubsTalk Podcast, plus a special bonus take on Cole Hamels’ future with the club.

For the first time in almost two weeks, the Cubs offense started to look more like the team we know they can be in Wednesday afternoon's victory over the Brewers. But when will the starting rotation follow? Kyle Hendricks pitched better than his stat line once again, but it's getting late in the season to continue to use that rationale for any Cubs starter. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki break down the Cubs-Brewers series and Kelly sits down with David Bote for a 1-on-1 chat about his whirlwind week. Leila Rahimi also catches up with MLB Network's Dan Plesac to get his thoughts on Javy Báez's place in the NL MVP race, how the Central division is shaping up and X-factors for the Cubs and Brewers down the stretch.

Tony Andracki, Kelly Crull, Matt Buckman, and Jon Graff break down a wild weekend set against the Nationals. We discuss David Bote becoming a household name, Cole Hamels continuing the stellar start to his Cubs career, and Kris Bryant finally feeling pain free. Plus once the 2016 MVP returns to the lineup, what does that mean for Bote’s playing time?

The Cubs were back in Chicago for a quick four-game homestand against one of the worst teams in the National League, but the North Siders only managed to win two of the games – barely. The series ended on a bad note with Anthony Rizzo getting in the face with home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, but the weekend in general shined a light on some of the biggest concerns surrounding this Cubs team. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki discuss the issues with Jon Lester, the Cubs bullpen and how badly the team needs its injured stars – Kris Bryant, Yu Darvish, Brandon Morrow – back and performing at their best as the season moves to the Dog Days of August.

The Cubs went out and added three pitchers to their staff before the trade deadline Tuesday while the Pirates and Brewers made waves at the last minute. With all that pitching in tow now, do the Cubs have enough to mitigate the recent rash of injuries and hold off both NL Central rivals? David Kaplan, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki break it down while also providing their picks for the most important Cubs player for the second half. Plus, Kaplan and Doug Glanville predict what Cole Hamels’ Cubs debut may look like.

Will Yu Darvish pitch again for the Cubs this season? Jon Graff, David Kaplan, and Doug Glanville discuss Darvish’s status going forward and respond to Alex Rodriguez’s critical comments on Yu during Sunday Night Baseball. Plus the guys talk about the final piece(s) the Cubs may add before the trade deadline passes and Jon Lester’s advice for athletes using twitter.

Tony Andracki is joined by Phil Barnes, the senior editor of Vine Line, to break down the Cubs-Cardinals 5-game series at Wrigley Field that kicked off the second half of the 2018 MLB season. The main takeaways from the weekend included an up-close look at a Cubs starting rotation is still struggling to find their footing almost 2/3 of the way through the season. The Cubs lineup and bullpen continue to be the saving grace of the team with the NL's best record and run differential, but there are serious question marks moving forward on the depth of the relievers as well as waiting for Kris Bryant to return to MVP form.

NBC Sports Chicago’s own Kelly Crull and videographer Scott Changnon recalled what All-Star week in the nations capitol was like from their point of view.

Where does MLB Network's Dan Plesac place the Cubs in his current power rankings and what's the key to their World Series dreams? Plus, which three star athletes mix to make Javier Baez? The conductor of the Big Blue train is back for a mid-summer breakdown of the Northsiders with Luke Stuckmeyer on this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast presented by Wintrust.

Kelly Crull spoke with both Javy Baez and Kyle Schwarber after an electric and entertaining show they put on at the 2018 Home Run Derby in Washington, DC.

David DeJesus, Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki discuss Kyle Schwarber’s bid for the Home Run Derby alongside teammate Javy Baez and explain why Cubs fans shouldn’t worry about the possible negative effects on either player’s swing. Will the Cubs have any tricks up their sleeves as Jon Lester and Willson Contreras watch their teammates swing for the fences? Plus, the crew discusses what they’d like to see from Baez and Schwarber next week and how to drum up more interest in the All-Star festivities moving forward.

Luke Stuckmeyer and Matt Buckman are joined by Mick Gillispie, the voice of the Tennessee Smokies, to discuss Kris Bryant’s rehab stint and his thoughts on Bryant not making his 2nd consecutive All Star game. He also provides a scouting report on some very interesting pitching prospects on the AA team including Monday’s winning pitcher, Matt Swarmer.

David Kaplan, David DeJesus and Doug Glanville discuss what's next after Yu Darvish's latest setback.

Doug Glanville, David DeJesus and Tony Andracki discuss whether or not Javy Baez should enter the Home Run Derby in D.C. next month. His swing is built for it and he oozes swag, but could the event cause him to slump or wear down as the Cubs enter the stretch run toward the postseason?

Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki analyze the Cubs’ recent rash of injuries and what it means for the team moving forward. Is there a silver lining to Kris Bryant’s first career trip to the disabled list? Does Yu Darvish have a major mental hurdle to get over before he can return? Either way, it’s a good thing the season is only half over.

David Kaplan and Matt Buckman are joined by Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register to get the full scouting report on Duane Underwood Jr. ahead of his Major League Debut in Los Angeles. Birch talks about Underwood’s early innings struggles, his rise to the big leagues, his stuff, and of course his command which has left him at times this season.

The Cubs have been a different team the last six weeks, looking a lot more like the resilient bunch from 2016 than the sluggish 2017 squad that lacked energy. After some wacky circumstances Monday and a tough loss in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Cubs came out and showed what they’re made of in the last two games of the series against the Dodgers, the team that knocked them out of postseason play last fall. Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki sum up the longest short homestand (or shortest long homestand?), updating the status of Yu Darvish, Brandon Morrow, the Cubs pitching staff and how the team is rounding into form as the season’s halfway mark approaches.

On the latest CubsTalk Podcast Scott Changnon and Tony Andracki discuss the state of the Cubs offense, the value of Javy Baez and Addison Russell and what it means now that the starting rotation looks to be finding its form.

The Cubs head to St. Louis this weekend firmly in second place in the National League Central after dropping 2 of 3 to the Brewers in Milwaukee where they didn’t score a run for the final 18 innings. What’s going on with the offense? Is it time to start panicking about the lack of power? What more does Mike Montgomery need to do to stick in the rotation? Kelly Crull, Jon Graff and Tony Andracki discuss these topics plus a couple under-the-radar reasons why the series may have turned after the Cubs’ big win Monday night.

JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago and Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald look at an important week ahead for the Cubs with series in Milwaukee and St. Louis. They wonder if it really feels like the Cubs are a dozen games over .500 with 100 games left in the season.

Kelly Crull sits down with Jake Arrieta to discuss his emotions during his return to Wrigley Field. Jake talks about missing out on facing his former team and reuniting with all his buddies. Plus, Kelly chats with Brennen Davis, the Cubs' second round pick of the MLB draft.

A discussion with NBC Sports Chicago Cubs content braintrust Jeff Nelson, Scott Changnon, Nate Poppen, Jon Graff and Tony Andracki on how to consume the rest of the Cubs’ 2018 season with increased expectations surrounding the team. Is the Cubs fanbase spoiled? Is it OK for fans to ride the daily roller coaster even if players and coaches don’t?

A discussion with Doug Glanville, David DeJesus, Kelly Crull, Luke Stuckmeyer and Tony Andracki on how to consume the rest of the Cubs’ 2018 season with increased expectations surrounding the team. Is the Cubs fanbase spoiled? Is it OK for fans to ride the daily roller coaster even if players and coaches don’t?

Albert Almora Jr. joins Kelly Crull on the CubsTalk Podcast to weigh in on a variety of topics, including his budding bromance with rumored Cubs target Manny Machado, his expanded role and how he spends his time off away from the ballpark. Plus, Almora has a surprise pick for the organization’s unsung hero, stating the Cubs would’ve never won the World Series without this guy.

Luke Stuckmeyer, David Kaplan, and Doug Glanville break down a solid 4-2 road trip for the Cubs. Plus who would you rather have long-term: Bryce Harper or Manny Machado?

Siera Santos, Kelly Crull, and David DeJesus go into the audio archives to break down the biggest games for the Cubs in Cincinnati. David DeJesus gives us his top 3 ballgames with such gems as The Schwarber Game, The Kris Bryant Game, Starlin Castro’s debut, and Jake Arrieta’s 2nd no hitter.

David Kaplan, Chris Kamka and Tony Andracki discuss the latest rumors that the Cubs could emerge as frontrunners to trade for Manny Machado, but if any deal like that came to fruition, how could the Cubs reasonably part with Addison Russell for only a few months of Machado? The panel debates whether the Cubs should take the risk or not and if there would be some possible way to acquire Machado without having to throw in Russell.

Kelly Crull and Tony Andracki break down the Cubs’ 5-2 homestand where they easily could’ve gone 7-0. As the team heads on a road trip to Atlanta and Cincinnati, Kelly and Tony weigh in on the underlying problems that face the 2018 Cubs and could spell doom down the line if they aren’t corrected. On a positive note, the offense looked fantastic the whole week at Wrigley with Willson Contreras, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo all heating up.

In honor of the Crosstown Classic, Chuck Garfien and David Kaplan are joined by Ozzie Guillen and David DeJesus to discuss the Cubs-White Sox series. Guillen and DeJesus tell stories of their playing days, what their crosstown experience was like, and share their favorite memories. Guillen also recalls a radio incident with Mike North of 670 The Score at the time after a crosstown game in May 2007, when he was the manager for the White Sox. You don't want to miss what happened in the aftermath.

The Cubs swept the Marlins at Wrigley Field scoring double-digits in two of the three wins. David Kaplan, Jeff Nelson, and Tony Andracki break down the much needed home cooking and look ahead to the Crosstown showdown with the White Sox.

The Cubs were just swept in a weekend series in St. Louis, with the last two games coming on walk-off home runs. This is easily the lowest point in the 2018 season, with breakdowns in every facet of the game, including head-scratching defensive woes and an anemic offense that hasn't hit well for two weeks. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times joins Tony Andracki on the CubsTalk Podcast to break down the latest happenings with the Cubs, but don't worry fans, there is reason for optimism.

David Kaplan hosts this episode alongside David DeJesus and Jeff Nelson. The guys talk about the incredible streak Cubs starting pitching has been on over the last week. Plus, what's up with Anthony Rizzo's struggles? Finally, they discuss the new dugouts at Wrigley.