Locked On Cubs - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Cubs

The Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Thursday night, thanks to an Ian Happ home run and an excellent performance from Jon Lester. To be honest, he really needed that. Maybe we really needed to see it too. I went solo for this podcast, since Sean Sears disappeared on me. I previewed tonight's game in segment one, followed by a question from a listener on Cole Hamels. Should the Cubs pick up his option for 2019? In the second segment, I discussed Lester's start and decided which teams I think would be bad for the Cubs to face in either the NLDS or the wild card game. In the final segment, I recapped the action of the NL Central yesterday and updated the standings. If you're interested in my story on Bryce Harper and the Cubs for Bet Chicago, you can click here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs beat the Brewers 8-4 on Wednesday, splitting their two-game set and keeping Milwaukee at three games back. But they're not the only team in the NL Central that the Cubs have to worry about these days. Sean Sears and I recapped the game, looked ahead to tonight's game in Pittsburgh, and chatted a little about Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester going in opposite directions. In the second segment, we talked about Steve Cishek and how he is the MVP of the bullpen. Might he be the guy Joe Maddon uses to go multiple innings in the postseason this year? In the final segment, we recapped the NL Central and updated the standings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can we get a do-over? Jose Quintana gave up a homer to Lorenzo Cain on pitch No. 2 of the ballgame yesterday, and that was it. He allowed a couple more home runs to Ryan Braun for good measure, and the Cubs lost 7-0. But first, Sean Sears and I talked about Anthony Rizzo and moving back down in the lineup. Then we looked at Quintana and some of his pitch usage changes and gave another update on Yu Darvish. In the final segment, we looked around the NL Central and chatted more about those pesky St. Louis Cardinals. We have a contest winner! Be sure to listen to the end to find out details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the Cubs were off again yesterday, Sean Sears and I fielded a few more questions from the listeners on today's podcast. But first, we looked ahead to today's pitching matchup between the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Who has the advantage? After that, we looked at how the Cubs might be able to rest in September. In the second segment, we took questions regarding bat flips and Kris Bryant's return from the DL. Last, we looked at yesterday's games in the NL Central, discussed the suddenly dangerous Cardinals, and learned a little about architecture.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs beat the Washington Nationals on Sunday night, winning 4-3 with a dramatic, walk-off grand slam from superstar third baseman David Bote (audio courtesy of WSCR and Randall Sanders on Twitter). Max Scherzer and Cole Hamels were the big story of this game, going pitch-for-pitch against each other and treating fans to an outstanding duel. Sean Sears and I discussed Hamels in the first segment. In our second segment, we looked at Bote and his historic slam. With Kris Bryant still without a timetable for his return, could Bote be pushing his way into the everyday lineup? What could that mean for the struggling Addison Russell right now, and then again when Bryant does return? In the final segment, we looked at the NL Central and talked about the suddenly red-hot Cardinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Cubs off on Thursday, Kelly Wallace of Expanded Roster sat in for Sean Sears on this Friday podcast to help me with the mailbag. First, we looked ahead at today's game with the Washington Nationals and discussed a roster move. Does Jorge De La Rosa have anything left to offer? In the second segment, we went head-first into questions about Jim Hickey, pitching development, and more. In the final segment, we looked around the NL Central -- including a satisfying Brewers loss -- before answering a question about Addison Russell's power. We finished with a question about hot dog condiments, and Kelly shared an awful pizza opinion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs finished out their series with the Royals on Wednesday night, and the good news is that they took 2-of-3. The bad news, however, is that they lost 9-0 last night and got outscored 10-8 in the three-game series after being outscored 24-17 by the Padres in that four-game set. This team is not trending in the right direction heading into their next five games against the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers. Sean Sears and I broke it all down in the first segment. In our second segment, however, Sean and I discussed some positive news on Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow. They still have no timeline on either pitcher, but it's easy to set up in your mind how Darvish is back on the mound for the Cubs at the beginning of September. On the downside, there's no news on Kris Bryant. Also, we struggled to find nice things to say about Addison Russell other than his range at shortstop. Listen to the end, because I gave details on how you can win Cubs tickets! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs won another game in Kansas City, beating the Royals 5-0 in the second game of the series behind a strong effort from Mike Montgomery and another great day at the plate by David Bote. In the first segment, however, we talked about tonight's starter, Jose Quintana, and his importance to the team going forward. In the second segment, we got back to Bote and his unexpected rise to prominence. It even reminds me of another successful NL Central team that is known for pulling quality players from the late rounds of the draft. In the final segment, Sean Sears and I quickly took a look at the NL Central standings before discussing a pair of videos I found after looking back on our Angel Hernandez conversation. The first is related to that famous 2001 game featuring Steve McMichael's ejection, while the second, well ... just check it out on your own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs beat the Royals on Monday night, gaining a half-game in the standings over the idle Brewers. That's the good news, but the bad news is that they weren't able to get much going offensively against Jakob Junis. A home run in the sixth inning by Javy Báez broke a tie, and a strong effort from Cole Hamels allowed the Cubs to cruise to a 3-1 win. Sean Sears and I discussed the inconsistent offense in our first segment. In the second segment, we looked at how the guys who have been carrying the team recently are the ones on the wrong side of 30. In our final segment, we chatted about the NL Central, updated the standings, and discussed some of our dream World Series matchups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs split with the San Diego Padres this weekend, and oh boy was that not fun. They were outscored 24-17 in the series and now head to Kansas City to take on the Royals -- who may in fact be the worst team in baseball right now. After talking about the Padres series and the fans in our mentions on Twitter in segment one, we moved on to Royals chat in our second segment. We also talked a bit about Kris Bryant's injury and why it has us on edge before moving on to the final segment, where we looked around the NL Central. Good news! The Brewers will have to fend off the powerhouse Padres for the next three days. This certainly will go well for the Cubs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After my proclamation that the Cubs needed to go at least 5-2 over their seven game stretch against the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals, they kicked things off by dropping the first game, 6-1. Sean Sears and I discussed that, today's game, and more in our first segment. Brandon Morrow picked up a baseball and threw some "pitches" yesterday, but not much else has changed on that front. In segment two, we took Joe Maddon to task for a decision both of us find to be indefensible. How do you pull Mike Montgomery after 5 1/3 innings and 79 pitches if you let him bat in a crucial spot the inning prior? In the final segment, we looked around the NL Central and spent a few extra minutes bemoaning Thursday night's loss to the Padres. Can't the Cubs just start a run of consistent, good baseball? Please? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs won in Pittsburgh last night, and Cole Hamels was impressive in his debut. Sean Sears and I talked about that game, why it was important, and why it's even more important that the Cubs perform well over the next week. In the second segment, we took a look at the MVP candidacy of Javier Báez. Where does he fall in the rankings? Who are the favorites, as of right now?  In the final segment, we talked a little about the NL Central standings and discussed an MLB poll regarding the National League MVP race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cubs lost a frustrating game last night, with Addison Russell being called out at third base via replay. That took the potential tying run off the bases in the ninth inning, and the Cubs lost 5-4 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cole Hamels makes his Cubs debut tonight, but the even worse news is that the Cubs and Brewers are now tied in first place. Sean Sears and I play the wet blanket in our outlook on how the rest of the season could play out. In the second segment, we talked about the good news of the day: The Brandon Kintzler trade and a positive injury update on Yu Darvish. In the final segment, we updated the standings and chatted about the upgrades the Brewers made to their roster. This could be a tough battle to the very end, and that's not good for the Cubs' World Series hopes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm back with Sean Sears for this Tuesday edition of Locked On Cubs, after both of us slept through our Monday recording time. We talked about the events of the weekend, including Kyle Hendricks' excellent start on Sunday, some Yu Darvish chatter, and the Cole Hamels deal. Was Alex Rodriguez off base with what he said about Darvish on ESPN Sunday night? In the second segment, we looked at the rumors surrounding the Cubs at the trade deadline. They've been said to be looking for a controllable starting pitcher, but how realistic is that? About as realistic as trading for Bryce Harper -- who also happens to be available. In the final segment, we quickly updated the standings in the NL Central. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean brings on fellow Locked On podcaster Matt Peck from Locked on Bulls who was at the Cubs epic walkoff win at Wrigley Field Thursday afternoon. In the second segment we discuss the impact newly acquired starter Cole Hamels could have on this Cubs rotation that is desperately in need of some help. And finally we preview the Friday’s game against the Cardinals and talk our daily look at the NL Central.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices