What once would have seemed unthinkable suddenly became inevitable. With Kyle Tucker going through the worst offensive stretch of his career – and the Wrigley Field crowds turning on him – Cubs manager Craig Counsell decided to give him a break during a huge series against the first-place Brewers. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney analyze what led to this point and how the Cubs could get out of it. Plus more news and notes from the Friendly Confines.

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The fallout from an underwhelming trade deadline continues. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to take more questions from listeners, beginning with Carter Hawkins’ recent comments to ESPN. What did the Cubs general manager mean by the 2032 quote that has gone viral? Plus, much more on what makes the Brewers so good, and so frustrating for Cubs personnel and Cubs fans.  

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At this point, it’s not an overreaction. The Cubs are playing an uninspired brand of baseball while continuing to lose ground in the National League Central. It’s time to sound the alarm bells. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the current mood within the clubhouse as well as the larger organizational forces that have created this environment. While the Cubs still have time to turn things around, any changes have to happen fast.

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It’s happening again. That small-market team in Milwaukee has taken control of the National League Central, leaving the Cubs to play catch-up and making their recent performance look even worse. What’s the current mood inside the clubhouse? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their insights and explain whether it’s time to panic. Their discussion also involves recent developments with young players such as Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong, as well as how Craig Counsell is handling the situation.

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After another rough showing by the offense Friday night in St. Louis, Sahadev takes your questions about why this group always has extended slumps at the plate, whether the lack of deadline moves impacted this team mentally and more.

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After an MVP-level start carried the Cubs into the summer, and fueled more talk about the huge contract he could command this winter, Kyle Tucker has slumped at an inopportune time. Is this a physical issue, a mechanical flaw or simply just the nature of a long baseball season? Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney pass along what they’re hearing. The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers also discuss the emergence of Cade Horton and the faith the organization showed in the young pitcher at the trade deadline.  

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Hindsight is 20/20, but this was an immediate question following MLB’s trade deadline: Why didn’t the Cubs acquire another starter for the stretch run? Michael Soroka’s shoulder injury only amplified those concerns. What did the Cubs know about his time with the Nationals? How did his velocity dip factor into the deal? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they’ve learned. Plus the latest from Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts on Jed Hoyer’s contract extension, and a look ahead to the 2027 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field.

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Both of these things can be true: The Cubs significantly improved their roster and missed a great opportunity. Time will tell whether the Cubs made the right moves at the trade deadline, but Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are here to give you their instant analysis. The Athletic writers break down each deal, relay what Jed Hoyer’s front office was thinking and explain why the Cubs didn’t acquire that top-of-the-rotation starter for Game 1 of a potential playoff series at Wrigley Field.
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With the trade deadline looming, the Cubs took one potential distraction off the table, finalizing a deal with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. What does this mean? And where do the Cubs go from here? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the timing, assess the Hoyer era thus far and describe the clubhouse reactions. While this rebuilding project now looks promising, the job is still incomplete.

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The death of “Ryno” hit people hard. The Hall of Famer bonded generations of Cubs fans who watched him perform at Wrigley Field and on the WGN superstation. More than that, though, Ryne Dee Sandberg carried himself with grace and humility, playing the game the right way, as he so eloquently described in a memorable Cooperstown speech. For perspective, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney describe a somber scene in the postgame clubhouse and the connection felt by the current group of Cubs.

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