PRESENTED BY THIRSTY VAQUERO - Something changed after the trade deadline, and you can feel it right away: the Cubs rip off a 6-1 week, the vibes swing from survival to belief, and the roster suddenly looks like it’s built for meaningful October baseball. We’re not doing empty scoreboard hype either we talk through what actually drives a post-deadline surge, why the new arms matter, and how confidence spreads when the clubhouse sees real investment and real depth.

Then we get loud about Pete Crow Armstrong. We break down why PCA’s value is bigger than a hot streak: elite everyday defense, game-warping range, timely power, and the kind of presence that can keep the Cubs near the top of MLB runs scored even when other regulars aren’t posting monster OPS numbers. We also tackle the MVP debate head-on, including how voters think about Shohei Ohtani versus a true every-inning position player who impacts both sides of the game.

From there, we dig into Kevin Gausman as a potential Game 1 starter and why his aggression and tempo fit a defense-first team. We map the path to catching Milwaukee, debate Pedro Ramirez versus Ian Happ for playoff lineups, and talk bullpen roles with Palencia’s return looming. The back half hits home with a Father’s Day makeup game story that turns into a tribute, and a reminder that baseball is sometimes the healthiest distraction we’ve got. If you’re a Cubs fan who wants analysis with real emotion, hit play, then subscribe, share the show, and leave us a review.

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- Carl & Mahoney

The trade deadline is where Cubs fans either spiral or lock in, and we’re choosing lock in. After a long, weird, very honest solo ramp-up about what it feels like to live pitch-to-pitch with a team that can actually win, we bring on Brian Smith from Baseball America, the most plugged-in Cubs prospects voice you’ll find anywhere online. If you’ve been staring at prospect lists, worrying about who we shipped out, and trying to figure out what the Cubs just told us about their future, this conversation is built for you. 

We dig into the moves that matter: Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor, and the prospect cost that triggered the loudest reactions. Brian breaks down Jefferson Rojas with real nuance, explains why some “Top 100” guys are more tradable than fans think, and names the true untouchables in the system from the Cubs’ point of view. We also get into why certain bats get squeezed on a high-payroll roster, how catching value changes everything, and what it means when the front office prioritizes October innings over long-term WAR debates. 

Then we zoom out to the big question: what did we learn about Jed Hoyer as a leader and a buyer? Brian’s answer is sharp, and it paints a clear picture of how the Cubs may use their farm system to keep the major league roster winning year after year instead of riding a rebuild roller coaster. If you care about the Cubs trade deadline, Cubs prospects, farm system strategy, and the playoff push, hit play, send this to a friend who’s melting down in the group chat, and then subscribe, share, and leave a review so we can keep doing this all season.

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- Carl & Mahoney

Trade deadlines are supposed to deliver one clean answer. The Cubs went the other direction and that’s why this one is so interesting.

We sit down right after the buzzer to talk through what Chicago actually did, why it fits the roster, and where it could blow up. Kevin Gausman is the headliner for us, not because he’s some mystery ace, but because his profile finally matches what the Cubs do best: convert contact into outs with elite defense. We dig into how his fastball-splitter approach works, why the mental side of committing to two pitches matters, and what changes when you pitch at Wrigley Field with real gloves behind you.

Then we get into the swing-for-the-ceiling move: Clay Holmes. He’s coming off a broken fibula, he’s heading into free agency, and his best version can tilt a postseason series with ground balls and ugly at-bats. We talk risk, timeline, and how the Cubs can deploy him without rushing. On the position-player side, Tyrone Taylor gives Craig Counsell a real weapon vs left-handed pitching, and we’re honest about what that means for lineup decisions down the stretch.

Finally, we unpack the emotional gut-punch trade: Moises Ballesteros out, Ryan Zaverishan in. The Cubs get a controllable, high-strikeout bullpen arm, but we also lay out the pressure test that comes with walks and late innings in Chicago. Braxton Garrett rounds it out as a long-odds upside play that might pay off later. If you care about the Cubs trade deadline, the MLB playoff push, and what wins in October, you’ll want this one. Subscribe, share it with a Cubs fan, and leave us a review on Apple or Spotify.

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- Carl & Mahoney

If you watched the Cubs light up Paul Skenes and thought, “Okay, this is different,” we’re right there with you. That game isn’t just a fun highlight. It’s evidence the Cubs offense can hit elite pitching, which is the whole point of October baseball. So we stop hand-wringing over being seven back and ask the only question that matters with the MLB trade deadline looming: what move actually raises our World Series odds?

We get specific on what has to change in the rotation and what can’t keep happening, including a blunt take on Jamison Taillon’s role in games that matter. Then we lean into the optimism that’s earned, not imagined: Shota Imanaga’s steady run, Matthew Boyd looking locked in, and the real possibility that internal bullpen reinforcements like Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, and Hunter Harvey can reshape the late innings by September.

From there, it’s deadline strategy with names, priorities, and trade-off debates. We talk Joe Ryan, the temptation of “club control,” and why Tarek Skubal is the kind of pitcher you push chips in for if you want to win a playoff series against the Dodgers, Braves, or Brewers. We also hit the Matt Shaw conversation, why prospect value only matters if it helps you win now, plus a quick Cardinals series look and a nod to James Triantos getting his moment. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave a review, then tell us: what’s the bold move you want the front office to make?

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

A longtime Cubs reporter accidentally fires off a tweet that was never meant for the public, and suddenly we’re not just talking about baseball. We dig into the Bruce Levine “Twinkle D/Twinkle Dumb” moment, why it’s so funny, and why it also taps into a real tension around Cubs media, Marquee Sports Network, and what fans expect from people who “cover” the team.

From there, we pull the camera back and get honest about how the info ecosystem actually works. Carl revisits his own Yu Darvish reporting fiasco, the kind of sourcing win that can still turn into instant internet jail if the timing goes sideways. It’s a perfect trade deadline backdrop, because the Cubs are good enough to make everyone desperate for answers, rumors, and accountability, even when the truth is messy.

Then we finally get on the field. We talk about the case for the Cubs as a legit top-five offense and top-tier defense, and what that could mean in a postseason series. We run “Ball Or Strike” on the Aaron Civale trade as a very Jed Hoyer move, debate whether Pete Crow-Armstrong is stacking one of the best all-around Cubs seasons in decades, and get real about how hard 40-40 becomes when September pressure hits. We also unpack Craig Counsell’s “just make the team better” comment and what it signals about urgency inside the building.

If you’re into Chicago Cubs analysis, MLB trade deadline talk, PCA hype, and the weird little off-field stories that tell you what’s really going on, this Friday drop is for you. Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, share it with a Cubs friend, and leave a review so we can keep doing this every week.

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

The Cubs are doing something that should change how we talk about the deadline: they’re sitting in the top tier of MLB offenses by team OPS while also playing elite, mistake-resistant defense. That is not a “rebuild” profile. That is a team that can win playoff games, right now, if the pitching side gets real support.

I walk through why Pete Crow-Armstrong’s season matters so much to the front office calculus. When you have a player tracking like a true difference-maker in center field, the responsible move is to ask what gives him the best October runway. For me, that points straight at starting pitching at the top of the market. I lay out the high-end fantasy of Tarik Skubal, why it’s probably unrealistic with Detroit competing, and why I’d still consider paying a painful prospect price if the opportunity somehow exists.

Then we get into what’s more realistic at the MLB trade deadline: how I think about Joe Ryan versus Freddie Peralta, and why “good starter” is not the same thing as “Game 1 Wild Card starter at Wrigley Field.” We also hit the bullpen problem, including why a name like Mason Miller is so hard to acquire and why the better path might be creative, under-the-radar reliever adds that actually fit October usage.

If you’ve been wondering whether the Cubs should buy, how aggressive they should be, and what a smart buy even looks like, this is the roadmap. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave a review, then tell me which pitcher you’d target and what you’d give up for him.

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

The Cubs hit the All-Star break with a record that should feel safe, but nobody watching this team feels relaxed. We’re five back in the NL Central, sitting in the playoff mix, and still arguing every morning about what the Cubs actually are. So we brought CB back to help us do a real first-half reset, from the emotional swings to the numbers that matter and the roster flaws that won’t stay hidden forever. 

We start with the biggest storyline in Chicago: Pete Crow-Armstrong. We lay out why PCA’s defense, power, speed, and improved approach put him in the National League MVP conversation, and why the “with or without him” test makes the Cubs look like a completely different club. From there we get into the hard stuff: the Alex Bregman contract, what $35M per year needs to buy you, and how the Cubs can’t keep living with a pitching staff that gives up too many home runs. 

Then we go straight at the MLB trade deadline. Is one ace enough to make a run in October, or do the Cubs need multiple starters plus real bullpen upgrades? We talk medical risk, prospect cost, and what the front office should prioritize if the offense keeps forcing the issue. We also give Seiya Suzuki his flowers, touch on the Cubs MLB Draft approach, and close with a fast mailbag on division goals, sellers, and second-half expectations. 

Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What’s your No. 1 move you want the Cubs to make before the deadline?

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

Something feels different with the Chicago Cubs right now, and it isn’t a single box score. It’s the heat. When Craig Counsell looks genuinely furious after a loss, when the frustration is visible and specific, it tells me the wins and losses are starting to matter in a sharper way again and that’s a big deal heading into the All-Star break and the MLB trade deadline.

We talk through the Orioles series, the temptation to blame umpires, and why that’s a dead end when you score two runs. Then we get into what I actually care about: urgency, buy-in, and the hard truth that a lot of major league players become emotionally numb over time. I break down why a manager showing “breaking points” can be healthy, how clubhouse culture changes when losses sting, and why the edge isn’t always found in the cleanest spreadsheet comparison.

From there, we look forward: what Jed Hoyer needs to do to upgrade the bullpen and add proven arms, what the Cubs should aim for in the final series before the break, and how we should be thinking about trade packages and real roster costs. I also get into a Cubs broadcast rant, what the best broadcasters have always done for fans, and why that matters more than people admit.

If you’re watching this season closely and trying to figure out whether the Cubs are building toward something real, hit play. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave a rating or review so more people can find us.

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

A perfect Cubs week doesn’t exist, but this one comes close to capturing the whole experience: a monster win, a brutal loss, a Cardinals series that swings your mood every inning, and just enough momentum to make you believe again. We’re back on the Monday Morning Cubs Show after a July 4th break and a real-life disaster at home, then we get right into what actually matters for the second half: how good can this team be when the best version of its core shows up at the same time?

Dansby Swanson is the heartbeat of the conversation. We break down the hottest two-week run you’ll see from any hitter, and the stat that makes it even stranger: eight home runs and 26 RBI over 51 plate appearances with zero walks. That turns into a deeper Cubs hitting discussion about approach, timing, and how pitchers were stealing easy early-count strikes against him earlier in the season. We also talk John Mallee, what “it clicked” can really mean for a veteran, and why Swanson’s high-end outcomes change the ceiling for the entire lineup.

Then we zoom out to the standings, the All-Star break, and the trade deadline. We make the case for Pete Crow-Armstrong as the lone Cubs All-Star, why we love that he’s skipping the Home Run Derby, and what “Wild Card team” actually means when your starting pitching is hanging on. Finally, we wrestle with the big one: would you trade Matt Shaw to land an ace like Tarik Skubal if the goal is October baseball, not just chasing the Brewers? If you’re riding with the Cubs right now, subscribe, share the show with a fellow fan, and leave us a review so we can keep building this Monday routine together.

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney

A road series in Milwaukee can either expose you or announce you, and the Cubs just delivered the kind of weekend that makes the division race feel alive again. We walk through how this team climbed out of a rough start to that soft stretch of the schedule, why the last 15 games matter more than any single headline, and how a gritty extra-inning win can change the whole tone of a clubhouse. If you’re tracking the NL Central standings and asking whether the Cubs are real contenders, this conversation is built for you. 

Then we get into the stuff fans actually argue about: effort and leadership. We go all-in on the Alex Bregman baseline jog and why it hits a nerve when you’re paid like a centerpiece. It’s not about sprinting like you’re chasing a record, it’s about setting a standard in games decided by one bobble, one extra 90 feet, one moment of pressure. 

From there it’s pure Cubs baseball analysis. We give Seiya Suzuki his flowers for the weekend’s biggest swings, break down what the Cubs offense seems built to do, and talk pitching realities. David Peterson’s debut leads into a wider trade-deadline lesson on why June deals take time, plus how a ground-ball starter fits better behind a top-tier Cubs defense. We also face the bullpen injury carousel head-on, shout out Jordan Wicks for a season-shifting moment, and preview the Padres and Cardinals at Wrigley as the first half closes. 

If this gave you hope or fired you up, subscribe, share the show with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a review so more Monday morning maniacs can find us. What’s your biggest takeaway from the Brewers series win?

Thanks for tuning in! 

- Carl & Mahoney