Cubs Weekly

The Cubs have a new manager in Craig Counsell as the offseason kicks off and the Cubs Weekly Podcast broke it all down. Andy Martínez and Bruce Levine share why Jed Hoyer felt now was the time to pull the trigger and hire Counsell as their skipper. The pair discuss why the Cubs felt he was the right choice and how difficult it was to part ways with David Ross.

Later in the podcast, the pair recap agent Scott Boras’ press conference, share some of his best one-liners and discuss the Cubs’ interest in Cody Bellinger. Levine offers some insight on the Cubs’ offseason plans. They also assess Christopher Morel’s move to first base in the Dominican Winter League.

A shocking managerial move leads to an emergency Cubs Weekly Podcast. Tim Stebbins and Tony Andracki break down the coaching swap as Craig Counsell is in and David Ross has been relieved of his duties as Cubs manager.

Why did the Cubs make this move? What does this mean for the organization moving forward? How will this shake up the NL Central? Will the rest of the Cubs coaching staff be affected by the change?

 We analyze all the ripple effects of the aggressive move while Joe Girardi also lends his perspective as a former manager.

Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast, joining Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki to discuss how he's experiencing Chicago in the offseason, a chat on fantasy football and the Bears plus his approach to the winter.

Taillon detailed his journey to the Cubs, from the No. 2 overall selection in the 2010 MLB Draft (just behind Bryce Harper and ahead of Manny Machado) to pitching in New York with Anthony Rizzo, who sang praises of what it's like to play for the organization.

In a couple fun segments to finish off the podcast, Taillon builds the perfect Cubs pitcher from individual traits and then plays a new game called Best of 7.

Fans submitted their burning questions for the Cubs' 2023-24 offseason in the latest edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki answer questions ranging from Cody Bellinger's future to top priorities for the Cubs this winter.

Who are realistic free agent targets for the Cubs? What would a trade package for Pete Alonso or Juan Soto look like? How do the Cubs improve in clutch situations? Will Patrick Wisdom return in 2024?

We answer these and more, including a rapid fire round of fun questions at the end of the podcast.

The MLB playoffs are heating up and there is much to learn from how October has played out. Is securing a first-round bye actually an advantage? Will the success of the Phillies and Rangers motivate other teams to be more aggressive in free agency to build their rosters?

And there is one important lesson the Cubs could take away from this postseason in how the best lineups are constructed.

Plus, where do Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson slot in on the 2024 Cubs? And among the most intriguing position groups this offseason, here's why first base/center field and the bullpen are the units that bear watching the most over the winter.

The Cubs debuted plenty of rookies in 2023, including prospects like Jordan Wicks, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Daniel Palencia providing an interesting discussion: how does a team break young players into their roster while winning? Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins discuss that on the latest edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. The pair analyze Crow-Armstrong’s debut and usage in his first few games at the big-league level.  

Later in the podcast, Martínez and Stebbins discuss Christopher Morel’s importance and where he could fit defensively in 2024. They also discuss Julian Merryweather’s role next season and the importance of the Cubs’ bullpen.  

The podcast wraps up with some postseason talk, including the NL Central’s struggles in the postseason of late and whether or not the playoff format is skewed against the top teams.  

Bruce Levine joins the Cubs Weekly Podcast to chat with Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki and answer the question about whether this 2023 season was a success or not.

The panel also discusses what the offseason has in store for Cody Bellinger and whether or not he'll be back in 2024. Plus, the trio weighs in on the Cubs' support of David Ross and the resurgence of Kyle Hendricks.

We also doled out 2023 Cubs season awards, including MVP, best moment and plenty more.

Was the Cubs' 2023 season a success? Our podcast panel of Andy Martínez, Tim Stebbins and Tony Andracki attempt to answer that question while providing initial thoughts on the campaign.

What went right for the Cubs? From Cody Bellinger's MVP-caliber season to Justin Steele's Cy Young bid. What went wrong for the team this year? From performance in close games to a lack of bullpen depth, our crew discusses all angles.

Plus, will the Cubs bring back Bellinger?

The Cubs Weekly Podcast recapped a tough, two-day stretch that saw the Cubs lose a pair of games by 1 run in Atlanta. Tony Andracki, Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins broke down the start of the series and looked ahead to the final 4 games of the regular season.

The trio discussed the Cubs’ bullpen woes, how David Ross can piece together the end of a game and how the defense — a staple for this team — has struggled of late. Later in the podcast, the group discuss the impact of Jeimer Candelario returning to the lineup and what it means for the Cubs moving forward.

As it stands, the Cubs have Justin Steele lined up to pitch game 162 against Milwaukee, which begs the question: if the Cubs get into the playoffs, who starts Game 1 of the Wild Card round? Andracki, Stebbins and Martínez discuss that and more in this week’s edition of the pod.

The Cubs had an epic offensive explosion Tuesday night at Wrigley Field to reclaim a playoff spot. Wednesday night brought about some question marks with Justin Steele's tough outing.

We break it down on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast with our panel of Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki.

How will the Cubs utilize Marcus Stroman down the stretch? Plus, why the Nick Madrigal injury is an underrated important storyline, Alexander Canario's big night and an ever-fluid bullpen.

The Cubs were swept out of the desert and begin the final homestand of 2023 in an unenviable position in the playoffs.

Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki analyze the Cubs' 5-game losing streak and where the team goes from here. Who will step up in the bullpen? How does the offense get back on track? Will the Cubs take advantage of a soft schedule on the upcoming week?

We answer these questions and more on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast.

Carlos Peña joins Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki on the Cubs Weekly Podcast to dissect the team's disappointing series in Colorado.

Top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong had a storybook debut but the Cubs still dropped the final 2 games to the Rockies. Peña reflects on his own debut, evaluates what he's seen from "PCA" so far and explains how Seiya Suzuki was able to regain his confidence and become a game-changing player for the Cubs down the stretch.

Plus, Dansby Swanson is exactly what the Cubs paid for and the panel discusses how the team can bounce back in Arizona.

The Cubs salvaged the series finale Sunday against the Diamondbacks and the Cubs Weekly Podcast broke it all down. Tony Andracki and Andy Martínez break down the Cubs offense and why the Cubs weren’t concerned after scoring just 4 runs in the first three games of the series.

The pair discuss Kyle Hendricks’ importance to this team, especially given his injury last season and the uncertain nature of his return, let alone his performance. Also on the pitching side, the duo look at the Cubs’ bullpen, who has stepped into David Ross’ circle of trust and how he is managing workload for a corps of relievers that has been heavily relied on.

Later in the podcast, Andracki and Martínez look at Bellinger’s significance to the Cubs’ offense and where they would be without him. 

The Cubs swept the San Francisco Giants in a series with massive Wild Card implications. The Cubs Weekly Podcast, hosted by Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins, recapped the series including big performances from Seiya Suzuki, Justin Steele and Jordan Wicks.

Martínez and Stebbins discussed the Cubs’ ability to rest some of their bullpen arms in the series, how David Ross is managing late-season fatigue and why it’s important to preserve some of those key relievers. They examined Adbert Alzolay's absence and why a few days off now is beneficial. 

Later in the podcast, the duo looked at September call-ups, including why they decided to call up Shane Greene and move on from him in a short amount of time. Then, the Cubs discuss one of the hot topics among Cubs’ fans, Alexander Canario and why he hasn’t seen too much playing time and what the Cubs hope he gains in his time up in the major leagues.

The Cubs showed what they are made of with a strong series against the Brewers, finding a variety of ways to win and gain ground in the NL Central.

Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki sum up the week at Wrigley Field that certainly felt like the playoffs even if it was still only August. They break down how Adbert Alzolay and the bullpen has been a key to the team's success in recent weeks as well as the mindset and chemistry of the group.

Where does Justin Steele rank in the NL Cy Young conversation? Will rookie Jordan Wicks stick in the rotation for the rest of the season? Who will the Cubs call up when rosters expand on Sept. 1?

The Cubs keep finding ways to grind out close victories. Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki analyze the Cubs-Tigers series and stress the importance of Jameson Taillon pitching up to his capabilities.

How do the Cubs solve their 5th starter woes and what does the team do with Drew Smyly? Plus, where would the Cubs be without Cody Bellinger this season?

Triple-A Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen also stops by the pod to provide a lowdown on Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jordan Wicks, Alexander Canario and other players to keep an eye on who might come up and help the big-league club in the middle of a pennant race.

Christopher Morel delivered another magical moment in his Cubs career. The righty hit an epic 3-run, walk-off home run as the Cubs beat the White Sox 4-3 in the finale of the Crosstown Classic. Andy Martínez and Tim Stebbins recap the magical night at Wrigley on the Cubs Weekly Podcast. 

The duo recaps other big moments in the game, including Nick Madrigal’s home run against his former team and Michael Fulmer’s clutch performance in relief. They discuss what the win means for the Cubs playoff hopes.

Later in the podcast, the two breakdown the Marcus Stroman injury and what it means for the Cubs moving forward. Stebbins and Martínez discuss how the Cubs might fill the fifth spot in their rotation moving forward. 

Looking at pitching puzzle On this week’s edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast, Andy Martínez and Bruce Levine discuss the Cubs’ decision to move lefty Drew Smyly from the rotation to the bullpen. The pair discuss the ramifications that has on the rest of the starting rotation, including the impending return of Marcus Stroman. 

The duo then discusses the Cubs’ bullpen usage and how David Ross will manage his relief corps in the stretch run. Levine and Martínez discuss Mike Tauchman’s incredible run and what his success means for the team’s use of Seiya Suzuki going forward.

Later in the podcast, Levine recalls being present for Hall of Fame weekend, where Cubs radio broadcaster Pat Hughes was honored as the Ford C. Frick Award winner. Levine shares what makes Hughes so special.

The Cubs are officially going for it. They picked a lane at the deadline and emerged as buyers with a big lineup pickup in Jeimer Candelario.

Tim Stebbins, Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki analyze the Cubs' deadline moves, what it means for the rest of the season, how the new-look lineup is shaking out and ripple effects up and down the roster.

Plus, pitching questions surrounding Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly and the bullpen. And what are the top storylines Cubs fans should pay attention to in the final two months of the season?