A 90-win team is good. A 94-win team that breathes in October is built. That’s where we take the Cubs: away from splash-chasing and toward a durable run-prevention machine that travels, plays in the wind, and punishes mistakes. We start with the hard truths about the Ricketts family’s spending posture, the real payroll buffer under the tax, and how that shapes every move this winter without handcuffing the deadline.

Shota Imanaga accepting the qualifying offer is the hinge that swings the plan open. One year at a higher AAV gives Jed maximum flexibility and gives Shota a sharpened incentive to dominate. We break down why that alignment matters if labor clouds linger and why a focused, chip-on-shoulder Imanaga can anchor a rotation built on health management and targeted whiff. Then we scout Phil Maton’s fit: vertical curve, sneaky cutter, hidden arm action, and the hilarious side effect of making big leaguers bark at their bats. At Wrigley, that shape plays even better. Add one more strikeout starter, two trustworthy relievers, and the bullpen stops being a nightly coin flip.

We also map the cleanest offensive tweak—first base platoon help versus lefties—without stealing runway from Matt Shaw, Owen Caissie, and the young core. Defense remains a weapon. Counsell’s rest patterns will save bullets for September. And yes, leadership matters: Dansby’s detail and tone pull the dugout forward when games get heavy. Stack these edges and the Central looks winnable while the Dodgers become beatable in a short series.

If you care about how the Cubs actually win more games—in this park, with this manager, under this budget—this breakdown gives you the blueprint and the why behind it. Subscribe, share with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify to help the show grow. What’s the one move you’d make first?

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- Carl & Mahoney

Expect a strange winter on the North Side. We unpack why the Cubs’ path runs through pitching, controlled contracts, and a defense-first identity while the 2027 labor storm gathers on the horizon. With only Dansby Swanson guaranteed through that window and uncertainty around caps, floors, and tax dynamics, Jed and Carter look far more likely to trade for a top-three starter than drop half a billion on a right fielder. That’s not timid; it’s portfolio management in a volatile market.

We break down the fork in the road at DH and right field—Seiya Suzuki plus low-cost internal options like Moisés Ballesteros and Owen Caissie versus a megadeal that would throttle flexibility for a decade. Then we tilt to the rubber, where one dependable arm with control can stabilize Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and Jamison Taillon, and where the bullpen can be rebuilt with proven Cubs magic: one-year reclamations that turn stalled arms into multi-year paydays. Pair that with a team Gold Glove defense and you’re preventing runs at an elite level before spending a dime on slug.

Player arcs matter. Matt Shaw looks primed for a leap. Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Ian Happ feel bankable. Michael Busch needs either real reps versus lefties or a no-doubt right-handed partner who mashes them—clarity now, not in August. PCA’s glove is already special; modest gains in swing decisions unlock real value. We also tackle the Shota Imanaga qualifying-offer clock and why process there could echo in future international recruiting.

Stick around as we riff on Wrigley hosting football, the Bears’ late-game surge with Caleb Williams, and five sharp differences between London and Chicago—from spotless pub bathrooms and tap-to-pay culture to architecture that feels like walking through a film set. Subscribe, drop a five-star review on Spotify or Apple, and share this one with a Cubs fan who loves smart roster talk. What’s your move: trade for a controllable starter or pay for power in right?

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- Carl & Mahoney

One voice, one hotel room in London, and a clear-eyed look at what’s really driving the Cubs’ offseason. Carl breaks down why Kyle Tucker won’t be wearing Cubbie blue next year, not because he isn’t a fit, but because ownership’s debt load still dictates how aggressive Chicago can be when it matters most. From the GM meetings in Las Vegas to the realities of qualifying offers, draft compensation, and international bonus pools, we connect the dots on how strategy and spending collide.

We dig into the Shōta Imanaga contract maze: the declined three-year path, the turned-down two-year option, and a one-year QO that forces a pride-versus-payday decision. What the Cubs choose says a lot to future Japanese stars about how this front office values relationships and risk. If Shōta walks, Chicago gets a compensatory pick; if he stays, they’re paying more for a pitcher they might not fully trust. Either way, the message to the market matters.

With free agency tangled in penalties and a thin class, we map the realistic path forward: bold trades. The GM meetings are where those deals start, where GMs quietly gauge who’s ready to move prospects or swap controllable arms for impact bats. Along the way, we rally around Pete Crow-Armstrong after a Platinum Glove snub that screams perception gap, and we spotlight Cade Horton’s trajectory toward frontline status if health cooperates. This is a call for clarity and conviction—either inject new cash or risk drifting into clever-but-capped territory while rivals buy certainty.

If you’re ready for a smart, unfiltered offseason blueprint, hit play, share it with a fellow fan who needs the context, and leave a review with the trade you’d make first. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next deep dive.

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- Carl & Mahoney

A thrilling baseball year ends, and we’re fired up about where Chicago goes next. We kick things off by saluting three Cubs Gold Gloves—Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Horner, and Ian Happ—and why these awards actually matter for roster building, contract value, and a defense-first identity that plays in October. From there, we relive a chaotic, edge-of-the-seat World Series and tackle the hottest take in the sport: the Dodgers aren’t ruining baseball. They develop as well as they spend, and that’s the blueprint every serious team should follow.

We dig into what Los Angeles did right, why the Blue Jays’ payroll undercuts the “small guy vs. big guy” narrative, and how Yamamoto’s fearless workload became a postseason lesson in value. Then we bring it home to the Cubs: how to approach starting pitching without overpaying for risk, why relievers are best found through development and rebound bets, and how to keep the defense elite while adding more on-base and late-inning swing-and-miss. We also talk about Ian Happ’s underrated consistency, the importance of durability, and which arguments about awards actually hold water.

Between segments, we share a burst of life: London plans (type G plugs, bum bags, pub crawls), EPL ticket gymnastics, and a quick Goose tour recap. It’s baseball-first with just enough culture and humor to keep your commute moving. If you care about the Cubs’ next step—and want a clear-eyed plan for getting there—this one’s for you.

Enjoy the show? Tap follow, drop a five-star rating, and share it with a friend who still thinks payroll is the villain. Your reviews keep the mics hot and the takes sharper.

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- Carl & Mahoney

A World Series split is the perfect mirror for what the Cubs need next: a rotation that hunts outs, not headlines, and a front office brave enough to buy flexibility instead of false certainty. We dig into the big call around Shota Imanaga’s contract—three years at $57M with a no-trade if exercised versus a leaner path that prefers a $15M pivot year—then lay out how that decision ripples through the entire 2025 build. The question isn’t whether Shota is good; it’s whether the league adjusted to his fastball shape or health blunted the deception, and how much risk the Cubs should carry when Justin Steele and Cade Horton already set the staff’s tone.

From there, we zoom out to identity. Dansby’s power gain must meet better two-strike choices. Nico either adds thump or swipes 40 to keep the offense humming. Michael Busch’s role versus lefties can’t be a shrug. PCA’s winter needs a plan that turns elite defense into six months of impact. We argue that October baseball rewards teams that allocate innings to command-first, put-away arms, not just chase strikeout crowns.

We also survey realistic upgrades. Dylan Cease is electric but expensive and walk-prone; could Tommy Hottovy convert him from a whiff hunter into an at-bat dictator? Ranger Suárez brings fearless sequencing, Verlander tempts on short-term upside, and depth pieces like Colin Rea matter more than fans admit. Add in trade routes—if Owen Caissie or Moises Ballesteros force roster choices—and the path becomes clear: decline rigid commitments, keep options open, and spend where it truly moves October odds.

If you care about how the Cubs catch the Dodgers without copying them, this conversation lays out the map: grit over gloss, flexibility over vanity, and a rotation that competes every count. If this breakdown hit home, follow the show, leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify, and share it with a Cubs friend who loves arguing roster math as much as you do.

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- Carl & Mahoney

Welcome back to the MMCS and thank you for tuning in. 

Rival banter won’t move a single runner. We start by calling out the L flag noise and center the only thing that matters: building a tougher Cubs team with a durable identity. From there, we dig into Jed Hoyer’s steady hand—why a quiet presser, a restrained deadline, and a long view on development are features, not bugs, of a front office that finally has real teeth. Discipline isn’t passive; it’s how you win late in October when the lights are hottest.

We unpack Kyle Tucker as a perfect one-year accelerant: the OBP, the presence, the way he changed at-bats around him. That doesn’t mean a nine-figure marriage makes sense now. If you’re trying to outspend the Dodgers, you’ve already lost; if you’re trying to out-execute them, you’re in the fight. That puts more weight on Matt Shaw’s glove and bat, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defense and growth, Owen Caissie’s right field future, and Moises Ballesteros’ bat-to-ball. The blueprint is simple to say and hard to do: cultivate dogs in the clubhouse, then add selectively where the roster truly needs it—DH power, contact under pressure, and pitching depth that can survive a seven-game grind.

We also level with you on the money. The Dodgers have Guggenheim behind them. The Mets have Cohen. The Cubs have strong revenues—and real constraints from a debt-heavy purchase that COVID made worse. “Go over the luxury tax” misses the point when the actual issue is cash flow. That’s why Jed’s creativity matters, why internal growth is non-negotiable, and why free agency must be a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. Want to beat LA? Build a team that knows who it is on day one of spring, plays clean, and refuses to blink with two outs.

If you’re into clear-eyed strategy, culture over noise, and a plan that gets the Cubs back to late October, hit play. Then subscribe, share with a Cubs friend, and drop your offseason priority in a review—we’re reading every word.

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- Carl & Mahoney

The season ended on three runs we should’ve survived—and one we couldn’t score. We walk through the Game 5 knife’s edge: the Brewers’ gutsy plan to start with velocity, the Cubs’ sixth-inning chance that died on a 3–1 heater, and why three allowed on the road should have been enough. It hurts, but the bigger headline isn’t heartbreak—it’s pride. This team brought back belief with elite infield defense, real leadership, and a clubhouse that kept punching long after the rotation started fraying.

We get specific about what actually cost the series: no Steele, no Horton, Shōta’s late-season home run spike, and too many innings entrusted to patchwork starters. The bullpen—our “island of misfit arms”—mostly did its job; October just punishes thin margins when the bat rack goes quiet. Then we map a pragmatic offseason path. Forget the splash that warps the roster. Kyle Tucker’s price doesn’t fit the puzzle. Schwarber locks you into a DH-only reality you don’t need if you trust Moises Ballesteros’s bat and Owen Caissie’s upside. Instead, invest where October games tilt: two rotation arms who create weak contact at Wrigley and a leverage bullpen that shortens nights with power, angle, and strikes.

We keep it honest about fit, cost, and identity: keep the infield as a core strength, make DH a flexible slot shared by Seiya and Ballesteros, and give Caissie a real runway. Add a switch-hitting utility infielder for coverage. Build redundancy so “Colin Rea in leverage” never happens again. The next step isn’t louder—it’s smarter. If that sounds like your kind of baseball, stick with us. Subscribe, leave a review on Apple or Spotify, and tell us: where would you spend first—starter, bullpen, or bat?

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- Carl & Mahoney

One game can bend a season, and tonight’s Game 5 in Milwaukee carries exactly that weight. We break down why the Cubs own the opening edge, starting with Drew Pomeranz as an opener against a right-left Brewers lineup that doesn’t love to be shuffled. Pomeranz has lived on the black all series, stealing timing and limiting hard contact, which forces Milwaukee to either re-sequence around Christian Yelich and William Contreras or live with a tougher first look. That early discomfort matters, because Jacob Mizerowski’s profile screams volatility—huge fastball, inconsistent breaker, and adrenaline that can turn counts into traffic if we stay stubborn in the zone.

We also dig into the Brewers’ bullpen math. Pat Murphy’s usage has left Ashby and Koenig overexposed while keeping Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill strangely underdeployed or mis-timed. That creates a timing trap: if Milwaukee saves their best for a lead, Chicago can punch first and tax the bridge; if they spend early to stem a rally, their ninth gets thinner. On our side, a clean script—Pomeranz for a frame or two, Palencia’s swing-and-miss in the middle, Keller/Thielbar to shape pockets, and Kittridge for poise in leverage—lets us cover six to seven innings without mortgaging the endgame. The key is plate discipline in the first two innings to inflate pitches and force decisions the Brewers don’t want to make.

We keep the lineup steady because it’s working. Michael Busch setting table, Nico Horner in control, Ian Happ’s timing returning, and Seiya Suzuki better when he’s in the field create a balanced threat without panic moves. The bat to watch is Dansby Swanson: his path matches four-seam life, and in a tight, defensive grind, one heater he can lift may swing everything. Win early, and the leverage tilts our way; drift to the seventh without forcing Uribe or Megill, and the edge flips back to Milwaukee. Margins decide October, and we lay out where to find them—discipline, sequencing, and the quiet confidence to let their volatility beat itself.

If this breakdown helped you get ready for first pitch, subscribe, share with a Cubs friend, and drop your Game 5 hero pick in a review. Let’s go win a flight to the NLCS.

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- Carl & Mahoney

A 7–0 statement at Wrigley flipped the narrative and put this series back on a knife’s edge. We unpack how the Cubs pushed from survival to control—Happ’s thunder off Peralta, the sequence of deep drives that stressed Milwaukee’s plan, and the way elite defense from Dansby Swanson turned would-be rallies into quiet outs. It wasn’t just the big swing; it was a dozen little decisions that formed a blueprint for October baseball: stubborn at-bats, clean transitions on the mound, and a bullpen built on leverage instead of labels.

We also dig into the Brewers’ choices and why timing matters as much as stuff in a short series. From leaning hard on Peralta to burning potential length in earlier games, Milwaukee invited a chess match the Cubs were ready to play. Inside the clubhouse, the tone feels right—celebrate, then clamp down. Whether the team sleeps at home or stares down the Pfister’s ghosts, the only thing that matters is pitch one of Game Five and the first chance to create traffic. Expect conversations about using Palencia and company where the fire actually is, not where the save statistic lives, and how Chicago’s defense can buy precious pitches for whoever takes the ball.

We keep it personal, too: the rituals, the superstitions, the tiny choices fans made to tilt luck our way, and the way a city syncs to a ballpark’s heartbeat. If you rode the highs and still feel the nerves, you’re in the right place. Tap play for the turning points, the matchup mind games, and the one-page plan for Saturday: attack early strikes, refuse free outs, and let the leather do the talking. If this show got you ready for Game Five, subscribe, drop a quick review, and share it with the diehard who sat through the lean months—then tell us your prediction for the first three innings.

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- Carl & Mahoney

The city is pacing, the coffee’s gone cold, and every breath feels like a countdown. We’re staring down Game 4 at Wrigley, and the path forward is oddly clear: turn gratitude into urgency, and urgency into a plan that squeezes Milwaukee’s choices. We dig into why the Brewers’ handling of Freddie Peralta—95 pitches in Game 1, an opener in Game 2, and a short leash yesterday—has created a bind that benefits Chicago. If they use him tonight, they compromise his early NLCS availability. If they hold him, they might not get that far. That’s not noise; that’s leverage.

On our side, Matt Boyd doesn’t need to dazzle. He needs to turn adrenaline into mis-hits, live on the corners, and let the crowd magnify every borderline strike. We talk through how Boyd’s Wrigley profile plays against a lineup that wants to ambush and how a patient approach against Peralta—spitting at the ladder up, refusing chase east-west—can bleed pitch count and push the game into a bullpen battle the Cubs are ready to win. Four runs is the target. Not a slugfest, but a sequence: early pressure, long at-bats, and timely contact.

We also get honest about the mental math. Milwaukee is trying to plan two moves ahead, mapping Peralta for an NLCS that isn’t guaranteed. Chicago has one job: win tonight. That single-task focus shapes everything—lineup choices around Hap, inning-to-inning matchups, and the trust in a bullpen that’s already felt real leverage. We name the arms who could bridge the middle, the platoon spots that matter, and why “house money” at home isn’t luck; it’s a license to be aggressive with decisions and disciplined in the box.

If your heart is pounding, you’re in the right place. Tap play, feel the stadium rise, and ride with us as we break down how to force Game 5—one pitch, one plate appearance, one moment at a time. If you believe, share this with a Cubs fan who needs a steady voice today. And if you’re new here, subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us your Game 4 score pick—we’ll feature our favorites next show. Go Cubs.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney