Too little, too late
The Cubs' playoff hopes have dwindled and we turn our attention to other pressing matters surrounding this team over the final 10 games.Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki provide their initial thoughts on why the Cubs came up short this year and explain why Isaac Paredes, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cody Bellinger are the key players to watch down the stretch.Plus, what does the future hold for Kyle Hendricks? Why was it so important for Justin Steele to come back from the IL and pitch with such little time remaining on the schedule?All that and more on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast.
19 Syys 202426min
Catching up with Derrek Lee
Cubs icon Derrek Lee was in town at Wrigley Field recently and stopped by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to chat with Tony Andracki.They covered a wide array of topics, including:-Favorite memories of the newest Cubs Hall of Famers: Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramírez -What he's been up to in retirement -Reflecting back on playing at Wrigley and in front of Cubs fans -The monumental MVP caliber 2005 season -Playing for Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella -The 2007-08 playoff runs -His emotions during the 2016 World Series
12 Syys 202424min
The incredible stories behind the Cubs' combined no-hitter
Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson, Porter Hodge, Miguel Amaya and the Cubs combined to make history Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, throwing the 18th no-hitter in team history. Tony Andracki, Andy Martínez and Alex Cohen, who called the no-no, broke it all down on the Cubs Weekly Podcast.The trio shared their favorite moments from the epic game, including some fun anecdotes. Cohen shared his story of being thrust onto the call at the last-minute and what it meant to call a no-hitter on his third big-league game. They broke down what the win means for the team as they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive.
5 Syys 202426min
Bottoms Up
The Cubs pulled off their win of the season - and one of the best wins in the last decade - Wednesday to finish off a sweep of the Pirates in Pittsburgh.Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki recap the wild week, The Christian Bethancourt Game and explain what it all means for the Cubs in the playoff race.The Cubs are now 16-8 in August and a big reason for that success has been the performance from the bottom of the order. Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Bethancourt have been phenomenal this month, combining for a .991 OPS in August.We discuss all that and more on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast and we even work in a little Caleb Williams and Bears chat with the new Marquee Sports Network Bears Insider Scott Bair.
29 Elo 202426min
The return of El Mago and the ripple effects of the Cubs bullpen
It was a busy week at Wrigley Field as Héctor Neris was released and Javy Báez made his return to the North Side.What was behind the Neris move and what does that mean for the rest of the bullpen? Does it say anything about the final month-plus of the Cubs season? Are there more moves along those lines coming?Our panel of Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki break it all down on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast.Plus, Dexter Fowler joins the show to share his favorite memories of Báez while reflecting back on 2016 and the chemistry that group played with.
22 Elo 202426min
Reasons for optimism over the final 6 weeks
The Cubs are making a run at a final National League Wild-Card spot and with a little over 6 weeks left in the 2024 season, we run down why there are legitimate reasons for optimism with the Cubs. On the other hand, are there reasons for pessimism?Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki discuss recent trends with this team and what the series in Cleveland actually means.Plus, Doug Glanville analyzes Pete Crow-Armstrong's rookie seasons and evaluates the Cubs' playoff chances - including whether or not this season will end with a trip to October.
15 Elo 202426min
One last push for the playoffs
The Cubs wrapped up a successful, 5-2 homestand against the Cardinals and Twins and Tony Andracki and Andy Martínez broke down on the Cubs Weekly Podcast. The duo debate whether the Cubs have one final push for a playoff spot left in them after moving to 6 games back in the Wild Card and 3 games under .500 with about 7 weeks to play. Before Wednesday’s finale against the Twins the Cubs had a 5.9% chance to make the playoffs, per Fangraphs. They breakdown the success of the bottom of the order and how the success of Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong and how that has contributed. Andracki and Martínez later assess the odds of Michael Busch and Shota Imanaga for NL Rookie of the Year and where they fit in that race. The two share their early impressions on Isaac Paredes and what he has brought to the Cubs.
8 Elo 202426min
Recapping a slow, yet impactful trade deadline
The trade deadline came and went with the Cubs making just three moves — trading for Nate Pearson, Isaac Paredes and minor leaguers Ben Cowles and Jack Neely and sending out Mark Leiter Jr., Christopher Morel, Hunter Bigge and three minor-leaguers. Elise Menaker and Andy Martínez broke down the three deals and why the Cubs were relatively quiet this deadline and whether or not the team is punting on 2024.The crew broke down why Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer executed the deals he did and if they were successful in accomplishing their goals of building for 2025 and beyond. While the Morel trade might have been a bit of a shock, Menaker and Martínez discussed why the Cubs were OK parting ways with him and what made Paredes such a target for the Cubs.They discuss why the Cubs didn’t move players like Jameson Taillon, Héctor Neris and Drew Smyly and how Neely could factor into the equation for the Cubs down the stretch.
1 Elo 202425min
