CubsPS+ - A North Side Numbers Game

Episode 55 - Cubs Come Up Short - Who’s to Blame?

With the Cubs missing the playoffs by a hair after fading to the finish, I want to talk about what happened this season to keep them out and talk about the idea of blame. What does blame mean? Who should carry it? What should happen next? There’s a lot to get into, so I’d love for you to join me!

Bonus Episode - Guest Appearance on Son Ranto’s End of Season Ranter Roundtable ‘23 Autopsy

NOTE: It’s a long episode. Worth listening to with opinions from a lot of smart Cubs people. I join for the last hour and get introduced at the 2 hr 20 minute mark….but it’s great from the jump. Kap is always entertaining to open and the rest of the voices are first rate and all worth following on their own.
Join an All-Star Cast of the best brains in the baseball biz!
Featuring!
David Kaplan, Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami and Luis Medina, Fly the W’s Crawly, Cuppa Cubbie Blue’s Sara Sanchez, Cubs Insider’s Evan Altman, Swerski’s Alex Patt, CHGO’s Cody Delmendo, Comedians: Joe Kilgallon, Billy Devore, Eric Wielo and Zach Funk, Poet Sandra Marchetti, Cubs PS +’s Mike Waller and Cubs on Deck's Greg Huss. With the Son Ranto Show Crew, Danny Rockett, Michael Cotton and Infield Fly Girl.

Episode 54 - Missed Opportunities: Cubs’ Playoff Hopes Hanging by a Thread

After a devastating week with 3 close losses and several blown leads to the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs limp into Milwaukee behind Miami and currently out of a playoff spot. Can the Cubs find a way to get back into playoff position? It’s do-or-die time now. In Episode 54, I talk about missed opportunities and how the Cubs got here.

Bonus Episode - Braves Series Preview

The Cubs are hanging on to a playoff spot and have a a huge last week with three games in Atlanta followed by three games in Milwaukee. Today, I’m joined by my friend and Braves fan, Lance Rafdal to talk about the Braves and look ahead to the playoffs.

Episode 53 - Squished Like Grape?

It has not been the best or most enjoyable week of Cubs baseball. The Cubs’ position as the 2nd Wild Card team is gone and the Cubs are barely hanging on to a tie for the 3rd wild card, having lost 9 of their last 12. Can the Cubs hang on and get into the post season? Why are the Cubs struggling?
In this episode I talk about what I see as the problems with the Cubs season, opine on David Ross as manager and on Jed Hoyer & the front office. Can the Cubs do this thing? Let’s find out!

Episode 52 - The Car is Driving Itself with CHGO’s Brendan Miller

CHGO’s Brendan Miller joined me this week for a great conversation about all things Cubs - Pete Crow Armstrong and his impact on the Cubs up-the-middle defense, as well as the state of Cubs pitching development with all the baseball nerd breakdown you’d expect from Brendan. As he put it, “the car is driving itself at this point” and we’re all just along for the ride as the Cubs sprint to the finish, hoping to lock up their first playoff bid in 3 years.
In this episode, we talk about the debuts of PCA & Luke Little and Brendan breaks down a variety of pitchers, including Justin Steele, Jamison Taillon, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Cuas, Julian Merryweather, Mark Leiter, Jr., and others.
Brendan (@brendan_cubs) does a weekly Sunday podcast with long-time co-host Corey Freedman (@corey_cubs) as part of the CHGO Cubs podcast. 
You can find CHGO’s Cubs content at https://allchgo.com and on Twitter/X @CHGO_Cubs

Episode 51 - Contention & September Roster Expansion with Bryan Smith

This week I’m thrilled to be joined by Bryan Smith, who provides prospect coverage for Bleacher Nation. Bryan and I talk about how the Cubs are handling September roster expansion and what to expect from Alexander Canario and Luke Little now that they’re up and have debuted. We also talk about a variety of other prospects like Jordan Wicks, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton, among others. Who else might the Cubs look at this month in a pennant race? Let’s find out.

Episode 50 - Grit, Guts & September Callups!

It’s an off day today, but for a day off, there’s a lot going on. In this episode I talk about the Cubs ongoing surge, all the waiver activity today and the Cubs announced roster expansion for September. We’re going to get to see at least one really exciting young player. Want more? What more could you want than to watch a contending team as we head into September???

Episode 49 - Hanging on Every Pitch (from an Exhausted Bullpen)

The Cubs are in the dog days right now – the bullpen is tired and the starting rotation is going through injuries and struggles, but the team continues to win baseball games. There are some big questions as the Cubs move forward towards September, but they’re moving up in the Wild Card race and staying on the Brewers’ heels in the division. What do the Cubs need to do to stay in the race and get over the hump? Let’s discuss. Are you ready? I’m ready. Here. We. Go.

Episode 48 - The Urgency of Meaningful Baseball

All we asked for before the season was to play meaningful baseball after the trade deadline, and here the Cubs are. It’s all about the sense of urgency - fans feel it in ways they haven’t in years game by game, David Ross is showing more of it in his lineup decisions and Jed Hoyer is showing more of it in his roster construction.
It’s winning time and this week I talk about that increasing sense of urgency and what it means as the Cubs continue to fight for a spot in the post-season.