Cubs Talk Podcast

Ep. 155: Checking in with Joe & Theo at the Winter Meetings

Tony Andracki goes 1-on-1 with manager Joe Maddon at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. The Cubs manager touches on his efforts to put art back into the game, his biggest challenge in 2019, the Cubs' sense of urgency and his thoughts about Matt Nagy and the Bears (:30).Plus, we catch up with Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, who discusses internal team leadership, whether or not the Cubs are close to a deal, and how Maddon is changing up his coaching style (5:45).

Ep. 154: Hub Arkush on the 2015 Cubs vs. the 2018 Bears

On the latest edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, Luke Stuckmeyer, David Kaplan and Pro Football Weekly's (and lifelong Cub fan) Hub Arkush discuss the similarities of the Cubs' 2015 team to the 2018 Bears.:45 Memories of their first Cubs game3:30 Discussions with Bears Chairman George McCaskey about being a Cubs fan4:15 Similarities between 2015 Cubs and 2018 Bears5:45 Bringing in Joe Maddon vs Matt Nagy8:00 Trades for Jake Arrieta and Khalil Mack10:30 Rookies becoming stars: Bryant & Schwarber vs Smith & Miller12:00 Who does Eddie Jackson compare to on the 2015 Cubs14:00 Who is the Kyle Hendricks (under the radar) player on the Bears this year?16:30 What do the Bears have to do this offseason?18:30 How the Cubs will proceed this offseason20:30 Chili Davis' comments on how coachable the Cubs players are

Ep. 153: Brett Eldredge on his GLOW Live concert in Chicago and his love for the Cubs

On the latest CubsTalk Podcast, country music artist Brett Eldredge joins Luke Stuckmeyer and Kelly Crull to talk about his Glow LIVE tour coming to Chicago and his love for the Chicago Cubs.0:58 - Brett on Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting ceremony on November 28th2:19 - GLOW Live in Chicago December 5th at the Chicago Theatre3:17 - What gets Brett in the Christmas spirit4:16 - How 'Wanna be that Song' music video at Wrigley Field came about6:03 - Brett's relationship with former and current Cubs players8:45 - How good of a musician is Anthony Rizzo?9:28 - Why Brett skipped the CMA Awards for Game 7 of the World Series in 201610:43 - Flashback to NBC Sports Chicago interviewing him immediately after the final out in Cleveland13:03 - Brett remembers his first game at Wrigley Field14:53 - Thoughts on the upcoming 2019 season15:56 - Thoughts on being back in Chicago for GLOW Live16:46 - Cubs home opener perfect time for a trip back to Chicago?

Ep. 152: Cubs Talk Podcast with Mark DeRosa

On the latest Cubs Talk Podcast, Luke Stuckmeyer and David Kaplan are joined by former Cub and current MLB Network Analyst Mark DeRosa.01:08 - What does Mark see from this Cubs roster02:30 - How difficult is it for a player to have to play multiple positions at the big league level?06:10 - Is having too much talent an issue for Joe Maddon in terms of getting everyone playing time?11:30 - Which Kris Bryant will show up in 2019?13:30 - Is he surprised Joe Maddon is heading into the final year of his contract?15:00 - Which former Cub does DeRosa think helped out Joe Maddon the most with other players16:00 - Is a regular leadoff hitter overvalued?18:40 - Are the Cubs still considered one of the elite teams in baseball?

Ep. 151: Bumgarner + Brewers = Big Problem?

Luke Stuckmeyer is joined by David Kaplan and Tony Andracki to discuss all the latest Cubs news, including what the Madison Bumgarner trade rumors mean for the North Siders (:40), whether you’d rather have Josh Donaldson or Cole Hamels for one year at a similar price (5:00), the potential for a new hierarchy in the National League (7:30), the loss of Jesse Chavez from the bullpen (9:30), and the latest update on the Addison Russell situation (12:30).

Ep. 150: Giving Thanks to the Cubs

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of the CubsTalk podcast, Luke Stuckmeyer, David Kaplan, and Tony Andracki discuss what they're most thankful for relating to the Cubs (1:00), with responses ranging from the upgrades at Wrigley Field to the hiring of Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon. Then, in a nod to Black Friday, our panel debates the best deals the Cubs have ever made (7:10), including trades for Sammy Sosa, Ryne Sandberg, Jake Arrieta, and more. Plus, Kap tells us how Harry Caray came to be the Cubs announcer after many years with the White Sox (15:00).

Ep. 149: Former GM Jim Hendry: ’Jim Thome.. I’m convinced today... he would have been a Cub’

David Kaplan and Luke Stuckmeyer are joined by former Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. In part 2, Hendry looks back at his favorite move he made as Cubs GM, on getting a World Series ring from the Cubs, and what future Hall of Famer Hendry was convinced could have been a Cub.01:00 - How much pressure is put on a team after signing a big money free agent02:30 - Why didn't it click with Kosuke Fukudome04:00 - What was his favorite move he made as GM of the Cubs?05:30 - What is the Winter Meetings like from a General Manager's perspective09:10 - On signing Ted Lilly while Hendry was in the hospital10:25 - On seeing the changes to Wrigley Field over the past few years11:25 - On getting a World Series ring from the Cubs13:30 - On one free agent he wished he would have signed

Ep. 148: Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry ’we had Baez ahead of Lindor in the draft’

David Kaplan and Luke Stuckmeyer are joined by former Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. In part 1, Hendry looks back at some of the players he drafted during his time with the Cubs and getting a deal done with Theo Epstein at the trade deadline in 2004.00:45 - What he does now for the Yankees02:30 - How involved is a GM with drafting a player04:30 - Looking back at the drafting of Javier Baez05:45 - What made Javier Baez so appealing as a draft pick09:00 - Josh Donaldson moving to 3rd base after the Cubs drafted him11:45 - On having to trade prospects at the trade deadline to put the team over the edge for a postseason spot13:10 - Looking back at the 2004 3-way deadline trade that brought Nomar Garciapara to the Cubs14:35 - On Willson Contreras' growth in the Cubs organization16:40 - On going over budget to sign Starlin Castro17:20 - Carlos Zambrano's growth within the Cubs organization19:10 - How good could Gleyber Torres be?

Ep. 147: What would it take for the Cubs to trade Kris Bryant?

Luke Stuckmeyer, David Kaplan and Tony Andracki break down the Kris Bryant trade rumors..01:00 - How much truth is there to the "Will Kris Bryant be traded" story?04:25 - Is there any package a team could offer that would give the Cubs what they value Kris Bryant at?05:35 - Who is the most untouchable player on the Cubs roster?08:55 - Will Kris Bryant be in Chicago long enough to wear a Cubs hat if he makes it to Cooperstown?--12:00 - Is Nolan Aranado a match in a possible trade for Bryant16:00 - If MVP is Bryant's ceiling, what is his floor?17:00 - Any players who had a shoulder issue like Bryant had who never bounced back?19:00 - Would a Noah Syndergard for Kris Bryant trade make sense?20:20 - Could Josh Donaldson be a target for the Cubs?21:00 - Is all this Bryant talk much ado about nothing

Ep. 146: Harper sweepstakes begin & Ryan Dempster talks all things Cubs

Luke Stuckmeyer, Kelly Crull and David Kaplan react to Scott Boras opening up the Bryce Harper sweepstakes, and debate whether Harper would be a fit for the Cubs at this point. Then, “the distinguished Canadian hurler,” aka former Cub Ryan Dempster, joins the pod to discuss a wide variety of topics, including Yu Darvish, the role of pitching coaches, and John Lackey’s retirement party.1:15 – Scott Boras’ comments on Bryce Harper from the GM meetings3:00 – If you were a player, would you want Boras to be your agent?6:15 – Would you rather spend $300 million on an ace, or an everyday player?7:30 – Ryan Dempster joins the pod8:10 – Dempster discusses his former teammate, Yu Darvish 9:15 – Changing expectations for the Cubs10:40 – Biggest needs this offseason 12:10 – The role of pitching coaches14:00 – Do the Cubs need another superstar?16:05 – How young players adjust to coaching staff upheaval17:40 – Stories from John Lackey’s retirement party