CubsPS+ - A North Side Numbers Game

Episode 47 - Deadline Buying & Hope for the Stretch Run

This week, I talk about the Cubs decision to be buyers and what that means for this season and beyond. I get into the trades made themselves, talk about the last week of Cubs baseball and how the Cubs are looking for the post-season. With Jeimer Candelario once again a Cub, it’s a 53-game sprint to the post season – what are their chances? What does their run differential mean? Let’s discuss.

Episode 46 - Hall of Famer Pat Hughes, Pelicans Fly & Trade Deadline Fatigue

This is a busy episode. I open with my tribute to the legendary Pat Hughes, then talk about how the Cubs have been playing lately and what that means for the trade deadline. After walking through what I think the Cubs should do and might do at the deadline, I close out with a brief bit on what I saw on a trip to Myrtle Beach last weekend to see the Pelicans. There’s a lot to do and the Cardinals series starts in just about an hour and the Cubs need to do damage.

Episode 45 - Looking Behind the MLB Draft Curtain with Greg Zumach

Welcome in to Episode 45 – the Billy Jurges episode of this podcast. This is the 2nd time Billy Jurges has been a part of these episodes – in Episode 11 “October 6: The Ghosts (and Goats) of Baseball Past” I talked about Billy Jurges missed the 1932 season (and World Series) after being shot by a Chicago showgirl – which may have played into both Babe Ruth’s famed Called Shot and been part of the inspiration for Roy Hobbs in The Natural. It was one of my favorite episodes to do, so if you haven’t checked it out, I recommend it.
 
Since I last recorded, we got to see a series win in the Bronx, a thrilling Home Run Derby, Justin Steele pitch well in the All Star Game and the Cubs open the 2nd half in very “meh” fashion. This weekend against the Cardinals will go a long way towards determining whether the Cubs are buyers or sellers. For today, though, I have a very special guest – Greg Zumach from Northside Bound and the Cubs on Deck podcast. He and I had a really enjoyable conversation about all things MLB Draft – we talk about the Cubs picks, overall draft strategy and how he approaches getting to know so many players and breaking it all down for his audience. It’s a look behind the curtain today, beyond which Cub draftees might contribute down the line.

Bonus Episode - Guest Appearance on Son Ranto’s 2023 Midseason Ranters Roundtable

I joined the Son Ranto show Thursday night to discuss the Cubs first half performance and the outlook going forward as they head toward the trade deadline. I was on for the first 2 segments and participated the most in the first segment.
The Cubs are just beyond the mid-point in the 2023 Season. Do they have what it takes to make the playoffs? The Son Rant Show welcomes the best baseball brains in the biz. Join Cuppa Cubbie Blue's Sara Sanchez, Cubs PS+'s Mike Waller, CHGO's Cody Delmendo, Wrigleyville Nation's Jeremy Diemer, Swerski Sports Alex Patt, Pinwheels and Ivy's K Fidds, Comedians Joe Kilgallon, Billy Devore and Zach Funk, Mistaken Identity's Frank Walker, and Crawly from Fly the W.

Episode 44 - Next Starts WHERE Exactly?

Welcome to (appropriately) to Episode 44 - the Anthony Rizzo episode of this podcast. With the Cubs opening their last series before the break in the Bronx tonight, it seems the Cubs have just as many unanswered questions as they had heading into the season. In this episode, I talk about how the Cubs are competing, what matters in the last 20 games before the trade deadline and what options the Cubs have as the deadline looms. Where DOES “Next” start? So far, it hasn’t started here.

Episode 43 - Don’t Bunt, Don’t Punt

Coming off a bad loss where the Cubs played some inexplicably bad baseball, the Cubs are now no longer hot. They’ve lost 4 straight and still have a lot of questions heading into the last 10 games before the All Star break. This week, I talk about Thursday’s bad 3-1 loss to the Phillies, take a look at Jameson Taillon’s struggles and talk about whether it even makes sense for the Cubs to be sellers if things do really go south.

Episode 42 - Happy Ryne Sandberg Day!!

Happy Ryne Sandberg Day to all who celebrate! Cubs are across the pond, having won 10 of 12, to face the last place Cardinals. Cubs need some bangers so they can mash the Cardinals in this series. Oh, massive missed pun opportunities with Mash Mervis in Des Moines.
In this episode I talk about how the Cubs have flipped their season and take a deeper look at Christopher Morel, Cody Bellinger and some of the emerging stars in the Cubs’ bullpen.

Episode 41 - Riding the Des Moines-Chicago Shuttle with Alex Cohen

This week I’m joined by the voice of the Iowa Cubs, Alex Cohen. Alex and I talk about what seems to be a growing divide between AAA and the majors and how those players who live on the edges or the middle of it approach the game. Through that discussion we hit on a variety of Cubs and I-Cubs. Alex’s passion for the game shines in this one so enjoy! 
You can find Alex on I-Cubs broadcasts (including AM 940 in Des Moines), on Twitter @voiceofcohen2 and on his website, https://voiceofcohen.com.

Episode 40 - Disappointing & Just Not Good Enough

Fresh off getting swept by the Angels, the Cubs limp to beautiful Oracle Park to take on the Giants. Nobody seems to have any answers as to why this team is so much worse than it really should be right now - Is it the manager? The lineups? Or is a team full of proven vets just not getting it done? Let’s discuss.

Episode 39 - Opportunity Cost: What the Cubs Missed Opportunities Mean Going Forward

Welcome in to Episode 39 – making this the Andrew Chafin episode, because – man, we sure could use him in the pen right now!
With the Cubs licking their wounds after a losing home stand – a losing home stand in spite of winning series against both the Mets and Rays – the topic this week is missed opportunities. We all knew the Cubs had a tough schedule in the first half and would have some rough stretches, but in order to survive those difficult road trips and top opponents, the Cubs needed to bank some wins against lesser teams….and they simply haven’t done that.
In this episode, I look back at the Cubs record in both close games and in games where FanGraphs had them as a favorite to highlight the opportunities missed and then discuss why they continue to lose in the margins and why the series finale against Tampa was a microcosm of their entire season so far.
Are you ready? I’m ready. Here. We. Go!