A 5-0 hole in the second inning usually feels like a death sentence, and with how the Cubs have looked early, it also feels like a shortcut to a bad mood for the rest of the day. Then Sunday happened. We talk through the comeback win that stopped the bleeding after a frustrating Pirates series, why it genuinely felt like our “mentals” got saved, and what it would actually take for momentum to become real instead of just a nice Sunday memory.

From there we get honest about the bigger anxiety hanging over a 7-8 start: the schedule gets harder fast. We head into Philadelphia, we’ve got the Mets coming, and the Dodgers are on the horizon. That’s where the Craig Counsell conversation hits, because the team still feels too quiet, too flat, and too reliant on “it’ll turn around” without showing us the spark first. Joey Molinero joins us and brings the perfect comp for Cubs expectations right now: The Last Jedi. Big hype, early warning signs, and the fear that you might wake up in June and realize you’ve been telling yourself stories.

We also run a full slate of Ball Or Strike on the stuff Cubs fans are arguing about every day: Matt Shaw playing first base in extras, Pete Crow-Armstrong struggling vs lefties and whether he should hit ninth, Miguel Amaya potentially moving up in the lineup, and the Michael Busch alarm at first base. We hit the bullpen health, Ben Brown’s wild pitch problem, and why roster depth suddenly feels thin. We even detour into Marquee broadcasts, commercials, and why the Ross and Rizzo podcast is a reminder of what the 2016 Cubs had that this group still needs.

If you’re watching every night and feeling every swing, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share the show with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a review so more maniacs can find us.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

Six and six can feel like nothing, until you realize it’s two games away from a totally different season. I’m coming off an off day with a notebook full of numbers, a head full of lineup questions, and one big reason to breathe easier: Seiya Suzuki is back. That one change adds real fear to the middle of the order, pushes everyone into better roles, and gives the Chicago Cubs a much cleaner path to consistent offense as the schedule settles in.

We also get practical about the Pittsburgh Pirates coming to Wrigley Field for three straight 1:20 starts. I walk through expectations for winning a series without falling into the “we have to sweep” trap, then zoom out to the bigger conversation Cubs fans are having everywhere: do we need to trade for starting pitching right now? With rotation injuries, uncertain timelines, and too many unknowns in both the majors and the minors, I lay out why an early April pitching trade is usually the wrong move and what information we still need before the front office should even pick up the phone.

From there it turns into a celebration of what’s actually working. Nico Horner’s start is absurd in the best way, and it makes his extension look like a masterclass in roster building. I also hit a few under-discussed “signs of life,” from slumping bats that should normalize to the catching battle, and I finish with a blunt message for anyone using Ian Happ as a punching bag without appreciating the value he brings.

If you ride with this team all summer, subscribe so you don’t miss the Monday recap, share the show with a Cubs fan who lives in the group chat, and leave a five-star review to help us keep building the community.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

The Cubs are nine games in and somehow it already feels like the season has a pulse problem. We’re not freaking out over a record as much as we’re reacting to the vibe, the flat at-bats, and how fast “we’re deep” can turn into “we need answers” when injuries hit. Carl is joined by his longtime Cubs-watching friend CB for an honest, occasionally unhinged temperature check on what’s real, what’s noise, and what’s going to matter by summer.

Cade Horton’s injury is the center of gravity, because it changes the innings math and it changes the urgency around Justin Steele’s rehab. We talk rotation depth, why Ben Brown inspires zero trust right now even with nasty stuff, and why the bullpen conversation is complicated early, including Daniel Palencia’s path from hard thrower to truly elite MLB closer. We also give props where it’s due, like Shota Imanaga settling things down when the staff needs it most.

Then we get into the Cubs lineup decisions that fans actually argue about: Miguel Amaya versus Carson Kelly behind the plate, Michael Bush leading off instead of Nico Hoerner, and how Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson should fit once Seiya Suzuki is back. Right field gets its own spotlight too, because the Conforto struggles and the lack of outfield depth are already forcing uncomfortable choices.

If you care about the Chicago Cubs, the NL Central race, and the stuff you’ll be yelling about all week, this is your kind of Cubs podcast. Subscribe, share the show with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so we can keep it rolling.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

Six games can feel like nothing, right up until you’ve watched every pitch and realized you’re already emotionally invested. That’s why we decided to ditch the vague “it’s early” chatter and do something concrete: a full Cubs report card, A through F, with independent Cubs journalist Blake Cowell joining me for a fast-moving hangout that turns frustration into actual analysis.

We start with the stuff that shapes the whole season, not just the next series. Jed Hoyer’s surprise extension work gets real credit, and we talk about how Tom Ricketts using deferrals can open doors for roster building. Then we get into the best early signal on the field: pitching. We break down what makes Cade Horton look like a front-line arm, why Edward Cabrera’s power stuff feels different for this team, and how Matt Boyd’s strikeout numbers could swing the Cubs’ ceiling if they hold.

From there, we hit the questions Cubs fans are already debating: Nico Horner’s contract value, where Michael Bush fits long term, and what to do with the new MLB ABS challenge system when leverage is high. We also get honest about what has not looked clean yet, including Alex Bregman’s defense and how fast the mood changes online, especially around Matt Shaw. And yes, we even grade the new Wrigley Field chicken churro because baseball is a long season and the details matter.

If you’ve got a grade of your own, bring it with you. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs friend, and leave a five-star review so more fans can find us. What’s your biggest A or your most deserved F so far?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

We react to the Cubs dropping the opening weekend series and sort the real problems from the stuff that will fade once the season settles. We also dig into the Nico Horner extension and what it signals about the Cubs building around defense, payroll, and pitching to contact.
• opening weekend recap and why 1-2 feels so familiar
• quick schedule check with the Angels at Wrigley and Cleveland ahead
• Cade Horton’s efficiency and why his style is so hard to face
• Ian Happ’s hard contact and handling a bigger lineup role
• missed chances on Sunday and frustration with solo homers
• Wrigley Field beer prices and the pitch clock concessions theory
• early read on Alex Bregman’s dugout vibe and on-field look
• Nico Horner’s six-year deal and how service time changes player pay
• why elite up-the-middle defense supports pitching to weak contact
• Shota Imanaga watch and why the whiffs matter
• Miguel Amaya versus Carson Kelly and the odd batting order usage
• whether Michael Bush belongs in extension talks
Guys, don't forget, tune in on Friday's show
Make sure you leave a five star review

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

Getting smoked 10-4 on opening day messes with your head, especially when the opponent is a team you think you should handle. We talk through how to process that kind of loss without spiraling, what actually decided the game, and why the only real response is simple: take the series. That mindset is the difference between following baseball like a daily panic test and following it like a season-long story where the truth shows up over time.

Then the conversation turns to the news that actually reshapes the Cubs’ future. Nico Hoerner gets extended, and I dig into why his value goes way beyond a box score: elite defense up the middle, smart baserunning, low strikeouts, and an everyday mentality that sets a standard. If you’ve ever wondered what “clubhouse leadership” looks like in modern MLB, Hoerner is the cleanest example. Stability matters, and locking in the middle infield takes a huge problem off the to-do list.

And the headline move: Pete Crow-Armstrong signs for $115 million. I break down why that number surprises me, why it can be a massive win for Jed Hoyer, and how the weird reality of league-minimum years changes what “getting paid” means for a young star. We also hit early lineup construction questions, what changes when Seiya Suzuki is out, and who I want in that crucial third spot when the lineup is whole.

If you’re locked in on the 2025 Cubs, subscribe so you don’t miss the Friday rhythm, share this with a Cubs fan who’s already overreacting, and leave a quick five-star review if you’ve got a second. What’s your grade for the Nico and PCA extensions?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

Opening Day is days away, so we bring Marquee play-by-play broadcaster Alex Cohen on to put real numbers behind our 2026 Cubs predictions and the storylines that can drive a division run. We also react to late spring news like Seiya Suzuki’s likely IL stint and what it means for roster decisions right now.

• Alex Cohen’s path from the Iowa Cubs to Marquee and what availability and relationships change in a career
• Seiya Suzuki injury update and how an IL move reshapes the bench options
• Javier Assad versus Ben Brown as a role and development debate
• 2026 Cubs win total predictions and why pitching depth changes the ceiling
• Michael Busch as home run leader and the importance of his splits versus lefties
• Nico Hoerner runs scored and stolen base outlook in a contract season
• Pete Crow-Armstrong growth case through home runs plus steals
• Cade Horton innings target and the ace mentality discussion
• Justin Steele win total expectations once he returns
• Daniel Palencia save totals and what makes closer stability rare
• Craig Counsell ejections and how fire shows up in modern managing
• Alex Bregman workload planning with DH days and Matt Shaw’s multi-position role
• Broadcast prep routines plus how to build better on-air chemistry
• The no-hitter story and how announcers handle pressure midgame
• Plans for additional programming and quick-hit game reactions

Check it out on Amazon.com for all your fulfillment needs
I should have an opening day recap show available Thursday midnight
Just keep your eyes peeled for this stuff

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

A snowy March morning and suddenly everything feels close: Opening Day, a season with real expectations, and a World Baseball Classic that looks like October baseball. We’re coming in hot with reactions to Team USA’s 2 to 1 win over the Dominican Republic, including the “ball or strike” moment that decided the ending and what it says about the current state of the game. It’s the perfect mix of modern baseball trends and old truths: solo shots, piles of strikeouts, and the idea that with two strikes you still have to fight.

From there we bring it back to the Chicago Cubs. Pete Crow Armstrong keeps showing why his defense plays bigger than the highlight reels, and the WBC stage is basically a spotlight built for his speed, confidence, and edge. We also talk through the one moment that took the air out of the room for Cubs fans: Seiya Suzuki’s injury scare, why it feels uniquely damaging, and what the lineup loses when that right-handed thunder isn’t there.

Then we roll into Ball Or Strike and the spring training stack: Daniel Palencia’s closer path, why Moises Ballesteros is getting real national breakout buzz, and how Matt Boyd becoming the Opening Day starter is a win for the Cubs pitching development machine. We finish with a rapid pitch clock on Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon worries, Eddie Cabrera’s rotation slot, and Matt Shaw trying reps at first base. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave us a Spotify review to help us climb back to five stars.

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney