Cubs Now

Class is in Session with Doug Glanville

On the latest episode of the Cubs Weekly Podcast, Professor Doug Glanville stops by to teach host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki a thing or two. Among the topics include Glanville's new show, "Class is in Session" on Marquee Sports Network, how Glanville navigated the shift from a Major League Baseball player to a professor and author in his post-playing career and his thoughts on the league's new rules. Glanville also provides an emotional farewell to his friend and colleague Pedro Gomez, the legendary and affable ESPN baseball reporter who passed away Sunday.

Going in-depth on the Top 20 Cubs prospects

Marquee Sports Network associate producer and prospect analyst Lance Brozdowski joins host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki on the Cubs Weekly Podcast to discuss the latest Top 20 prospect rankings. Brozdowski spoke to many around the game - including scouts - to devise this Top 20 list and provides in-depth analysis on each prospect in addition to rationale behind the rankings. He also gives his take on which Cubs prospects are poised for the biggest jump in 2021 and how the next iteration of this list might look.

Analyzing the MLB offseason

With the MLB offseason approaching its endgame, the panel breaks down the Cubs' winter and how it stacks up against the rest of the league on the latest episode of the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Host Cole Wright is joined by Tony Andracki and Andy Martinez to discuss a wide array of topics, including: - What Austin Romine's signing means (0:40) - Cubs selling opportunity - who will step up in 2021? (3:57) - An in-depth look at the state of the pitching staff (7:25) - What should the Cubs do with Nico Hoerner to begin the season? (16:19) - Which core player is primed for the biggest rebound? (21:22) - Who plays left field in 2021? (26:00) - How the Cubs fit in what has been a strange winter for the NL Central (32:15) - What other division in baseball bears watching this season? (36:20)

Farm director Matt Dorey on Cubs' top prospects

On this week's edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast, vice president of player development Matt Dorey stops by to dive into the organization's farm system with host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki. Among the topics Dorey touched on include: - Development during a strange 2020 (1:35) - Managing a cautious vs. aggressive approach in 2021 (5:26) - Prospects who could make an impact in the big leagues in 2021 (9:14) - Development of young pitchers like Kohl Franklin, Ryan Jensen and Cory Abbott (14:09) - How Brennen Davis has emerged as Cubs' top prospect (20:22) - What the future holds for Miguel Amaya (24:59) - 2021 breakout prospects (28:56)

Get to know Boog Sciambi

Jon "Boog" Sciambi - the new face and voice of Cubs TV broadcasts - joined the Cubs Weekly Podcast with host Cole Wright for a conversation about his life, baseball and expectations for the new role. Topics include: - Navigating the whirlwind interview process in a Zoom world (3:34) - His broadcasting idols (5:12) - What Christian Yelich recently DM'd him (7:01) - His amazing Harry Caray story (8:03) - Musical tastes (12:54) - His friendship with Rick Sutcliffe (16:07) - What he saw in the 2020 Cubs (17:13) - The state of baseball today (19:30) - Thoughts on coffee and chapstick (25:41) - His experience broadcasting KBO games last year (30:25) - Why ALS hits close to his heart (32:19)

Darvish trade resets farm system as focus shifts back to the future

After the Cubs traded away Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini in exchange for Zach Davies and four prospects, Cole Wright had an extensive chat with Jed Hoyer (4:17) about the deal and what comes next for the franchise. Wright and Tony Andracki break down the move and analyze the biggest takeaways from Hoyer's statements on the trade. Plus, MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (26:28) also stops by the podcast to provide a scouting report on the four prospects the Cubs received from the Padres and how the farm system is shaping up entering 2021.

Catching up with David Ross

Taylor McGregor catches up with David Ross (11:15) on the Cubs Weekly Podcast to discuss how his offseason has been after his rookie season as manager, how he deals with trade rumors and Jed Hoyer taking over for Theo Epstein. Plus, Taylor shares with host Cole Wright some of her behind-the-scenes perspective from covering the Cubs games at Wrigley Field in 2020, including all of the cool ins and outs she got to experience within the historic ballpark.

Wrapping up the 2020 Winter Meetings with Jed Hoyer

Elise Menaker takes the reins as host of this week's Cubs Weekly podcast with guests Bruce Levine and Sean Marshall as the trio breaks down the 2020 Winter Meetings. New Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer also joins the podcast for an exclusive interview about a variety of topics as the 2021 season approaches.

Jed Hoyer ready for next chapter with Cubs

The Cubs introduced Jed Hoyer as the new president of baseball operations Monday and we break it all down on the Cubs Weekly Podcast. Host Cole Wright talks with Len Kasper and Bruce Levine about the immediate and long-term challenges Hoyer faces and what kind of leader Hoyer will be. Plus, an exclusive interview with Hoyer as he discusses the next step in chapter in his career, his time working alongside Theo Epstein and the immediate future for the ballclub.

The Theo Epstein Era comes to an end

On this edition of the Cubs Weekly Podcast, we discuss Theo Epstein's departure from the Cubs front office. Host Cole Wright chats with Len Kasper and Bruce Levine about what Epstein has meant to this Cubs team over the last nine years and what comes next. Plus, an exclusive interview with Theo Epstein.

Pat Hughes on his legendary career

Cubs radio broadcaster Pat Hughes joins the Cubs Weekly Podcast to relive his legendary career with host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki. From classic Ron Santo stories to memories of the 2016 World Series run, Hughes reflects on the best moments of his 25 years with the Cubs. He also explained what the strange 2020 season was like for him, including how Ronald Reagan's advice helped him out in one crucial moment. Hughes is the play-by-play broadcaster for the Cubs for WSCR 670 The Score.

Ryan Dempster on balancing analytics and baseball, treasuring Jon Lester, World Series memories

Ryan Dempster stops by as the guest on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast, reflecting back on the fateful fall of 2016 and the current state of baseball. The former Cubs pitcher tells stories of his Game 7 experience and shares what it was like in the clubhouse celebration after the game. Dempster also shares his recent conversation with David Ross and how "Off the Mound" has grown from a Cubs Convention staple to a weekly show and podcast with some of the biggest names in baseball. Catch the entire conversation as Dempster joins host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki as they discuss the role of analytics in baseball, Jon Lester's awesome gesture to Cubs fans and more.

Cubs Offseason Preview

With the Los Angeles Dodgers hoisting the World Series trophy this week, that means the MLB offseason is officially upon us. What will be the main area of focus for the Cubs front office this winter? Will the DH stick around in the National league and if so, how will the Cubs approach the position this winter? Host Cole Wright is joined by Bruce Levine and Tony Andracki to break down every facet of the Cubs offseason and each provides their bold predictions on how the winter will play out.

Reflecting on 2020 and looking to the future

Ryan Sweeney drops by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to join host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki to break down the 2020 season that was for the Chicago Cubs. What was this year like to watch and cover? What comes next for this lineup? And what does the future hold for Theo Epstein? The panel addresses these topics and more while also taking some time to appreciate the best six-year stretch in franchise history.

Previewing the Wild-Card matchup with Marlins

It's going to be a wild postseason and the Cubs will kick it all off by facing a team they haven't seen at all in the regular season. So what has this 2020 season been like for the Miami Marlins and how do they stack up against the Cubs? Marlins.com beat writer Joe Frisaro stops by the podcast to give Tony Andracki and Andy Martinez insight into this Marlins team and what the keys to the matchup will be in the best-of-3 series at Wrigley Field. Frisaro gives the full scouting report on the young pitchers the Marlins will throw at the Cubs this week and also shares some awesome stories of former Cubs reliever Brandon Kintzler, who is now the Miami closer.

Playoff matchups, pizza and the pitching picture

'Quees' to consistent success for the Cubs down the stretch

Sean Marshall joins host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki on the latest Cubs Weekly Podcast to break down the huge five-game set with the Cardinals and what the bookend wins say about this 2020 Cubs team. Plus, the trio gives their take on the biggest "quees" to the home stretch of the regular season, including Jon Lester's return to form, how the new acquisitions might fit into the mix and how the offense turns a corner to put up the type of consistent production it has been aiming to regain since the early part of the campaign. Marshall also provides firsthand experience on what a guy like Billy Hamilton brings to a clubhouse and how he can affect this Cubs team over the final three weeks.

How Weather Applied Metrics changes the game at Wrigley Field

Cubs Weekly host Cole Wright and Tony Andracki caught up with John Farley and Brett Jackson (yes, the former Cubs outfielder) from Weather Applied Metrics stop by the podcast for a chat about their technology utilized during the Marquee Sports Network broadcasts at Wrigley Field. Farley and Jackson explain how the flags at Wrigley often betray what the wind is actually doing at a field level or how the wind can swirl and wreak havoc on the game. They also explain how Wrigley compares to other ballparks around the game and how teams can utilize this technology to their advantage in the future.

Besting the Cardinals, significance of Crosstown Series vs. White Sox

What was the biggest takeaway from the Cubs' five-game series against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field? When Kris Bryant returns, does David Ross immediately slot him back into the leadoff spot? How do the Cubs stack up against the 2020 White Sox? Our Cubs Weekly panel answers these questions and more as host Cole Wright is joined by Bruce Levine and Tony Andracki to recap the crazy week that was and look ahead to the Crosstown Series this weekend at Wrigley Field.

Doug Glanville on first-place Cubs and baseball’s place amid the pandemic

Doug Glanville recently wrote an op-ed for the New York Times about baseball's place in the pandemic and how the fight for the regular season is bigger than the sport. He stopped by the Cubs Weekly Podcast to discuss his thoughts on the matter with host Cole Wright and Taylor McGregor. The trio also broke down the "Rossian culture" that has helped the Cubs jump out to a 7-2 start to the season. Then, Elise Menaker and Tony Andracki recap the Cubs' weekend sweep of the Pirates and their thoughts on the new extra-innings rule. Before this week's podcast wraps up, Cubs reliever Dan Winkler dropped by to relay his firsthand experience of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry growing up in Central Illinois and how his family with split allegiances reacted to his signing in Chicago.