Cubs Talk Podcast

Ep. 135: The timely emergence of the Kyles and a low level of concern about Kris (Bryant)

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.

Ep. 134: Answering your burning Cubs questions

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.

Ep. 133: Baserunning gaffes loom large as Cubs miss out on golden opportunity

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.”

Ep. 132: Summing up the series with the Brewers and how the Cubs are dealing with an exhausting stretch

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.

Ep. 131: Biggest concerns heading into Brewers series

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.

Ep. 130: The state of the Cubs heading down the stretch

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?

Ep. 129: What do we need to see from Cubs in September to feel confident about their World Series chances?

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?

Ep. 128: Daniel Murphy talks hitting and Cubs feel like they’ve gotten their mojo back

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.

Ep. 127: After Murphy/Darvish news, examining Cubs’ roster moving into September and October

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.

Ep. 126: Cubs offense takes a step in right direction, when will rotation follow?

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.