Cubs Weekly

Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki rank the Top 10 building blocks on the Cubs roster entering 2025 as Jed Hoyer and Co. work to get the team back into the playoffs after a 4-year drought.

The duo explains why Pete Crow-Armstrong tops the list and why Justin Steele ranks above Shota Imanaga. Plus, some intriguing young players make surprise appearances in the Top 10 while key veterans find themselves in the "Honorable Mentions" category.

Plus, Martínez and Andracki analyze the Nico Hoerner injury news and how that could permeate through the Cubs offseason.

On the latest edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast, Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki debate a quintet of hot button issues surrounding this team. Topics include the bullpen, the offense, the rotation, the catching spot and whether or not the Cubs are set up to make the playoffs in 2025.

Plus, Martínez and Andracki pick their 2024 Cubs Awards, including:

-MVP

-Cy Young

-Rookie of the Year

-Best Moment

-Most important on-field development

-Most impactful roster move

-Biggest surprise

Taylor McGregor, Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki make their picks for the top storylines of the 2024 Cubs season and what it means moving forward for this franchise.

Selections include:

-The development of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch

-The roller coaster nature of the Cubs offense

-Another season of May/June swoon

-Shota Imanaga's incredible rookie campaign

-The volatility of the Cubs bullpen

-The rise - and fall - of young pitching

-Kyle Hendricks' emotional send-off

Jed Hoyer held his end-of-season press conference this week and our panel of Andy Martínez and Tony Andracki broke down the key takeaways from his 43-minute long session with Chicago media.

What stood out most from Hoyer's comments? How has the team reacted to another season without a playoff appearance?

Plus, we discuss the Cody Bellinger Conundrum, the coaching staff changes and Kyle Hendricks' emotional send-off.

Frank Schwindel stops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to share what he's been up to the last 2 years since he left Chicago and how his baseball career has panned out.

Schwindel reflects back on his incredible run in the final 2 months of the 2021 season, when he batted .342 and led the majors in hits. What clicked in that moment to put together such an amazing stretch? How much fun was that season and what was it like replacing a Cubs legend in Anthony Rizzo?

Plus, Schwindel explains interactions with Cubs fans - both then and now - while sharing some of his favorite moments during his time in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Tony Andracki and Andy Martínez discuss how the Cubs first base position has evolved since Schwindel's tenure.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.