Cubs On Deck

89. Creating Three Stacked Teams in Cubs Prospect Fantasy Draft Feb 25, 2025

Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith compete in the nerdiest event all year: a Cubs prospect fantasy draft! The trio drafts five starting pitchers, three relievers, a full starting lineup, and a few bench options to put together the best squads. Who came away with the best team?

88. Camp Battles for Jefferson Rojas, Cristian Hernandez, & Jonny Long Feb 11, 2025

On this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith, the guys discuss Opening Day assignments for certain players and how their work in the offseason and performance in Spring Training might impact where they begin the 2025 campaign.
Players include: Jefferson Rojas, Cristian Hernandez, Eriandys Ramon, Angel Cepeda, Ty Southisene, Riley Martin, Frankie Scalzo Jr, Drew Gray, Luis Martinez-Gomez, Naz Mule, Jonny Long, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, and the whole lot of 2024 pitching draft picks.

87. What Prospects Will Debut in 2025? Jan 28, 2025

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

Trading away prospects Juan Bello and Michael Arias
New Top 100 rankings from MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and The Athletic
Cade Horton, Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and James Triantos: who makes it to Chicago first?
How many prospects will make their MLB debut in 2025?

86. Goodbye Mervis, Roederer, Brennen & Notes on 72 Prospects in 62 Minutes Dec 31, 2024

Topics on this week's solo episode with Greg Huss:

Matt Mervis traded to Miami for Vidal Brujan
Cole Roederer signs with the San Diego Padres
Brennen Davis signs with the New York Yankees
A wild run through notes on 72 different Cubs prospects in 62 minutes

85. Our New Prospect Rankings, Kyle Tucker/Cam Smith Trade Thoughts Dec 17, 2024

A full panel of hosts hop on this episode, with Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, Bryan Smith, and guest host Brendan Miller all joining the show. Topics:

The Cubs traded Cam Smith in a package for Kyle Tucker. What did the Cubs give up by trading away their 2024 first round pick?
By trading away Isaac Paredes, it appears third base in Matt Shaw's for the taking. How likely is it that he can hold onto the job?
Huss, Zumach, and Smith reveal their updated prospect rankings and Brendan asks the trio hard-hitting questions including the differences between Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros at the plate, who might log more WAR in Chicago between Owen Caissie and Jaxon Wiggins in the next couple seasons, and what version of Cristian Hernandez we should believe in.

84. Cubs Prospects and Former Arkansas Teammates Christian Franklin and Connor Noland Join the Show Dec 03, 2024

Cubs prospects and former Arkansas teammates Christian Franklin and Connor Noland join the show for individual interviews with Greg Huss in a jam-packed episode!
The first part of the show is with the Rule 5 Draft eligible Christian Franklin where he talked about his hitting mentality, swing changes (or lack thereof), and tapping into more power.
The back half of the episode is with pitcher Connor Noland. He is one of the more interesting athletes Greg has interviewed, having been both a starting pitcher AND a starting quarterback at Arkansas. We talked about how difficult that was, why he landed on baseball as his sport of choice, and his desire to add some more velo over the offseason. As a bonus callback, Connor gave his side of the story in the challenge between him and Brandon Birdsell that Birdie detailed earlier this offseason.

83. Besides Owen Caissie, Who Will the Cubs Protect From the Rule 5 Draft? Nov 18, 2024

Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith discuss the Cubs' options as to who they should protect from the Rule 5 Draft. What prospects get added to the 40-man roster and who might get poached by another team? The trio runs through a whole host of names after the obvious selection -- Owen Caissie. The guys end the show by answering a few listener questions!

82. Minor League Pitcher of the Year Brandon Birdsell Joins the Show! Nov 05, 2024

In this episode, Greg Huss is joined by Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year Brandon Birdsell. The righty covers all sorts of topics including his funky delivery, an uptick in stuff this year, a battle against a teammate for the most innings, how he manipulates the baseball, and plenty more.

81. Iowa Cubs Reliever Riley Martin Details His Journey to Pro Ball Oct 22, 2024

In the first player interview of the offseason, Greg Huss is joined by Iowa Cubs reliever Riley Martin. The guys talk...

Transitioning from college starter to pro reliever
The journey from a 5th year senior in Division 2 to being one step away from the big leagues
His competitive nature on the mound
A hot finish to the year
Things he's working on over the offseason

80. Should the Cubs Be More Aggressive with Prospect Promotions to Chicago? Oct 08, 2024

Topics on the first episode of the offseason with Greg Huss and Brendan Miller:

The Arizona Fall League has started and we FINALLY have the chance to run through the Cubs players assigned to the league
A comprehensive look into whether the Cubs should be more aggressive in promoting their prospects to the Majors Leagues including past examples, pros, cons, types of players that it works best for, and who might fit the bill next year

79. The Chicago Cubs Prospects Award Show Sep 24, 2024

Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith hand out 20 total awards on the 2nd edition of the Cubs On Deck Award Show. They span from standard ones like Hitter of the Year to weird ones like the I-80 Road Warrior Award followed by superlatives like Most Power and Best Breaking Ball.
A huge thanks to everyone for tuning in each week this season. Your support has been absolutely incredible and we appreciate each and every one of you!

78. Broadcaster Alex Cohen Breaks Down the Top Prospects in Iowa Sep 17, 2024

Hosts Greg Huss and Alex Cohen break down a whole host of prospects that currently call Iowa home: Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, Matt Shaw, James Triantos, Moises Ballesteros, Ed Howard, Brandon Birdsell, Connor Noland, and Michael Arias.

77. State of the System & the Rise and Fall of Cubs Top 100 Prospects Sep 10, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

Storylines from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans season
Storylines from the South Bend Cubs season
Tracking Baseball America's Top 100 list and where Cubs prospects have fallen on it over the course of the season (spoiler: it doesn't look as good now compared to the middle of summer)
State of the System

Cubs On Deck's apparel today was provided by Travis Mathew

76. Cam Smith Hot, James Triantos History, AFL Predictions, Smokies in the Playoffs Sep 03, 2024

Topics on today's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Cam Smith's hot performance to start off his pro career and if we see him finish the season in Tennessee
James Triantos crazy stolen base numbers and what it means for his long-term projection
Predictions for the Arizona Fall League including Moises Ballesteros, Ben Cowles, Brody McCullough, and Luis Rujano
How the hot Smokies got into the playoffs

75. Tackling Listener Questions About Blocked Prospects, Potential Trade Pieces, and More Aug 20, 2024

Greg Zumach flies solo for this episode as he answers plenty of your questions from draft classes through guys knocking on the door to Chicago!

74. Cade's Injury & MLB ETA for Caissie, Ballesteros, Shaw, Triantos, & Alcantara Aug 13, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:
- Cade Horton and Ben Brown's extended absences due to injury and what it means for their projection in future seasons
- Why the Cubs system was ranked outside the top 10 by both ESPN and Baseball America
- Estimating when Owen Caissie, Moises Ballesteros, Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Kevin Alcantara will make their MLB debuts
- A deep dive into the success of Brandon Birdsell

73. Shaw, Triantos, & Alcantara Promoted to Iowa, Myrtle Beach Continues to Improve Aug 06, 2024

Greg Huss is joined by Myrtle Beach broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft in this episode as the guys talk...

The promotions of Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Kevin Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa
What it would mean for Cam Smith to play in Myrtle Beach
The Pelicans hot streak
Individual analysis on Eriandys Ramon, Cristian Hernandez, Alfonsin Rosario, Carter Trice, Leonel Espinoza, Yenrri Rojas, Christian Olivo, Nico Zeglin, Kenten Egbert, Miguel Pabon, and Nazier Mule

72. Prospects Added & Lost at the Trade Deadline, Interview with Frankie Scalzo Jr. Jul 31, 2024

In this week's episode, Greg Huss and Bryan Smith take a look at each of the three trades the Cubs made at the trade deadline and give their in-depth thoughts on the prospects added (Jack Neely, Ben Cowles) and lost (Hunter Bigge, Ty Johnson, Yohendrick Pinango, Josh Rivera). Stick around for the end when Greg interviews one of the true fan-favorite prospsects in the system in Frankie Scalzo Jr.

71. Answering Listener Questions About My New Prospect List Jul 24, 2024

Greg Huss just released his new Cubs prospect rankings at North Side Bound and he’sanswering your questions about why he ranked certain players where he did! He gives some tidbits about all 30 prospects on his list.
Full rankings and write-ups: https://northsidebound.com/2024/07/08/greg-huss-updates-his-top-30-prospects-with-plenty-of-new-guys-in-the-mix/

70. Get To Know Each of the New Cubs Draft Picks Jul 18, 2024

You get three hosts for this episode with Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith. The crew breaks down each of the 20 Cubs draft picks from this week!

Cam Smith
Cole Mathis
Ronny Cruz
Ty Southisene
Ariel Armas
Ryan Gallagher
Ivan Brethowr
Edgar Alvarez
Brooks Caple
Matt Halbach
Eli Lovich
Daniel Avitia
Evan Aschenbeck
Cameron Sisneros
Hayden Frank
Christian Gordon
Ben Johnson
Thomas Hangus
Owen Ayers
Brayden Risedorph

69. Our New Prospect Lists, Big Names in the Futures Game, and Bigge's Promotion to Chicago Jul 09, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:
- Owen Caissie and Matt Shaw selected to the Futures Game
- Moises Ballesteros to participate in the first ever Futures Skills Showcase
- Hunter Bigge promotion to Chicago
- Brandon Birdsell promotion to Iowa
- Brennen Davis back injury
- Our brand new prospect lists

68. What Pitching Prospects Follow Cade Horton in our Rankings? Jul 02, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

Alfonsin Rosario's historic start in Myrtle Beach
Cole Roederer's future as a 4th outfielder
The grouping of starting pitchers in the organization after Cade Horton
Owen Caissie's promotion to Chicago timeline
MLB Draft prep just 2 weeks out from the event

67. The Opponent's Perspective: Indy Broadcaster Jack McMullen Talks Ballesteros and Caissie Jun 25, 2024

Jack McMullen, broadcaster for the Indianapolis Indians, joins the show with Greg Huss to talk...

Moises Ballesteros' first week in Iowa
Owen Caissie at the plate and on defense
What Matt Mervis and Alexander Canario have to prove
Triple-A relievers Hunter Bigge, Michael Arias, and Ethan Roberts

66. Ballesteros Promoted to Iowa, is Triantos Next? Jun 18, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Crazy ump show in the South Bend game
Drew Gray's less than stellar start
Moises Ballesteros promotion to Iowa
James Triantos not yet promoted to Iowa
Frankie Scalzo Jr's scoreless innings streak and promotion to Iowa
Cristian Hernandez might be back
Ethan Roberts added to 40-man roster
DJ Herz shows out with his new team

65. Wiggins Debut, Horton Injury, & Who Should Be Promoted Next Jun 11, 2024

Topics on this week's episode where Greg Huss goes solo for a live recording:

Jaxon Wiggins full-season debut
Cade Horton's injury
James Triantos' stolen base numbers
Recent draft success
Who should be promoted next
More listener questions

64. It's time to talk MLB Draft with Greg Zumach May 28, 2024

Greg Zumach is back to talk all things MLB Draft. He recaps the draft prospects at the Big Ten Tournament Championship and answers listener questions.
Who might the Cubs target in round 1, a mock selection in round 19, underslot options and more in this week's episode.

63. Brennen Ready for Chicago, Vazquez's Development, Caissie's Spray Chart, & Cade's Fastball May 21, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss Brendan Miller of CHGO:

Brennen Davis is lighting the world on fire and is about ready for a call-up to Chicago
We discuss the lack of a Luis Vazquez promotion hours before news broke he actually was being promoted
Owen Caissie's spray chart and advanced numbers
Cade Horton's fastball velocity and shape
Relievers in the upper minors
Young guys in Chicago like PCA, Wicks, Brown, and Palencia

62. Who Ya Got? Matt Shaw vs. Jefferson Rojas May 14, 2024

On this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith, the guys go IN-DEPTH on two of the top prospects in the Cubs organization: Matt Shaw and Jefferson Rojas. The guys compare and contrast the players' tools, futures, styles, and break down what makes each stud unique.

61. Cade's Triple-A Debut and Getting to Know the New Pelicans May 07, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Myrtle Beach Pelicans broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft:

Cade Horton's Triple-A debut
New Baseball America Top 100 includes Jefferson Rojas
Cristian Hernandez's strong performance
Reggie Preciado's strong performance
Getting to know the newest Pelicans players including Nick Dean, Juan Bello, Mason McGwire, Kenten Egbert, Ty Johnson, Shane Marshall, Christopher Paciolla, and Alfonsin Rosario

60. PCA's Promotion, Cade's Next Step, & Stat Predictions Apr 30, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Mervis promotions
Alfonsin Rosario's first homer
Cade Horton to Iowa or Chicago?
Luis Vazquez's on-base streak
Jefferson Rojas' hit streak
Brennen Davis exit velos
Max Bain on the call for South Bend
Over/under stat predictions for Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, Moises Ballesteros, Michael Arias, and Connor Noland

59. Relief Prospects That Can Help Chicago, Cade & Shaw Showing Out, Draft Questions Apr 23, 2024

In this tag team episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach, the guys address plenty of great listener questions regarding relief options to replace the struggling arms in Chicago, the odd start for Kevin Alcantara, Matt Shaw and Cade Horton's timeline to Iowa, trade value for Matt Mervis and Luis Vazquez, the depth of the system, and plenty of draft prep!

58. What Development Looks Like for a First Round Pick Like PCA, Cade, or Matt Shaw Apr 16, 2024

In this week's episode, Greg Huss and Bryan Smith walk through the development of the 11 first round picks that find themselves in the organization: Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Ed Howard, Jordan Wicks, Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Jameson Taillon, Dansby Swanson, Nick Madrigal, Michael Busch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

57. Recapping the First Full Weekend of the Minor League Season Apr 09, 2024

We’ve finally arrived to good stuff. Greg Huss is solo in this episode and he took on the task of recapping the first weekend with all four Cubs affiliates suiting up. He also addressed some official player assignment concerns along the way. It’s was also a live episode so he took listener questions and comments throughout the episode! Enjoy and we’ll be back next week with multiple hosts!

56. Brown Promotion, Caissie & Mervis Start Season Hot, Arias to the Bullpen Apr 02, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

Ben Brown's promotion to Chicago
Jordan Wicks' whiffs in his season debut against the champs
Owen Caissie's hot start in Triple-A
Matt Mervis' hard hit balls & future with the Cubs
Michael Arias' move to the bullpen so quickly
Listener questions
Z's mock draft

55. Iowa Cubs Season Preview with Alex Cohen Mar 26, 2024

Greg Huss and Bryan Smith are joined by Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen to give a season preview of the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate. The guys give their thoughts on Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, Brennen Davis, Matt Mervis, Ben Brown, Cam Sanders, and plenty more top prospects.

54. Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Preview with Sam Weiderhaft Mar 19, 2024

Greg Huss is joined by Myrtle Beach Pelicans broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft to give a season preview of the Cubs' Single-A affiliate. The guys give their thoughts on Cristian and Alexis Hernandez, Will Sanders, Luis Rujano, Carter Trice, Mason McGwire, Christopher Paciolla and plenty more top prospects.

53. South Bend Cubs Season Preview with Brendan King and Max Thoma Mar 12, 2024

Greg Huss is joined by South Bend Cubs broadcasters Brendan King and Max Thoma to give a season preview of the Cubs' High-A affiliate. The guys give their thoughts on Jefferson Rojas, Drew Gray, Michael Arias, Brody McCullough, Ed Howard, and plenty more top prospects.

52. Tennessee Smokies Season Preview with Mick Gillispie Mar 05, 2024

Greg Huss is joined by Tennessee Smokies broadcaster Mick Gillispie to give a season preview of the Cubs' Double-A affiliate. The two guys give their thoughts on Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, James Triantos, BJ Murray Jr, and plenty more top prospects.

51. Prospects Impacted by Bellinger Signing, MLB Debut Predictions Feb 27, 2024

Back with our first episode of the weekly schedule, Greg Huss and Greg Zumach talk...

Prospects in MLB Spring Training games including Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Brennen Davis
The impact Cody Bellinger's signing has on prospects including PCA, Michael Busch, Matt Mervis, and Alexander Canario
Predicting what prospects will make their MLB debut in Chicago this year (both guys landed on 9 players)

50. Crafting Stacked Teams in a Prospect Fantasy Draft Feb 13, 2024

Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith sit down for their favorite episode of the year: drafting 60 players to fill out rosters of only Cubs prospects. Listen along for thoughts on every single one of of draftees and watch on YouTube to follow along as the guys craft their rosters. You decide who built the best team!

49. Answering Listener Questions Live! Jan 30, 2024

The trio of Greg Huss, Bryan Smith, and Greg Zumach hop on the show for this week’s special live edition of the podcast! As spring training inches closer, it’s the perfect time to answer listener questions about Cubs prospects live as they come in!
Don't worry! We recorded this live, but you can listen to the episode any time!

48. Michael Busch Trade Thoughts and an Interview with Bryce Windham Jan 16, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

How we see top 50 prospect Michael Busch fitting in with the Cubs
What the Cubs gave up with Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope
A full interview with Bryce Windham where we talk about his comfort levels behind the plate, the use of the ABS system in Triple-A, his teammates, and his positive mental state these days

47. New Farm Director, Ending the PCA Comps, Spring Breakout, Our Prospect Lists Jan 02, 2024

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

The Cubs have hired Jason Kanzler as their new farm director and promoted Ryan Otero to oversee their pitching development. We project what that means for the organization.
There has been far too much PCA discourse this offseason. We try to put an end to it once and for all.
MLB introduced Spring Breakout and we predict the roster the Cubs might throw together.
In response to our newest Cubs prospect rankings, we take a look at the biggest discrepancies we had.

46. Prospect Cole Roederer Joins in One of the More Entertaining Episodes in Show History Dec 19, 2023

Always the entertainer, Cubs prospect Cole Roederer joins Greg Huss, becoming the show's first player to come on the show more than once! Topics include (but are absolutely not limited to):

A day in the life of Cole Roederer in the offseason
How his mindset has changed over the course of his pro career
The absolute heater he went on in July
The vibes in the Tennessee clubhouse
What it's like playing for Kevin Graber
How he acted once he got to Iowa
Time for fluffing his teammates

45. Player Battles, Pitching Depth, & Prospect Hugging Dec 05, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

PCA, Triantos, & Arias vs. Cade, Canario, & Haydn
Shaw, Bally, & Ferris vs. Jaguar, ONKC, & Gray
Rojas, Brody, & BJMJ vs. Brown, Vazquez, & Alexis
Several listener questions!

44. Kohl Franklin Joins the Show, Talks Pitch Mix, Tacky Baseballs, & Adjustments Nov 21, 2023

Our first player guest of the offseason is Kohl Franklin as he joins Greg Huss. Topics:

His three championship rings
Brand new sweeper
Dealing with the tacky baseball in the Southern League and how it impacted his changeup
His confidence after leaving South Bend to go to Tennessee

43. Rule 5 Draft Primer: Who Will the Cubs Add to the 40-Man Roster? Nov 14, 2023

In this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith, the fellas break down the Rule 5 Draft and dig into five players that might get added to the 40-man roster to protect them from another team plucking them away: Michael Arias, Pablo Aliendo, Bailey Horn, Porter Hodge, and Kohl Franklin.

42. Breaking Down the Cubs' Five Top-50 Prospects with Aram Leighton Nov 07, 2023

Aram Leighton joins Greg Huss to talk about his Top 100 List from Just Baseball, one where the Cubs feature five prospects in the top 50-ish in all of baseball: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cade Horton, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, and Matt Shaw.
Just Baseball's Top 100: https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/mlb-top-100-prospects-2023/

41. James Triantos Tearing Up AFL, Moises Ballesteros vs. Kyle Schwarber Oct 24, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Arizona Fall League updates on James Triantos, Kevin Alcantara, and Christian Franklin
What might the Cubs do about pending MiLB free agents Luis Vazquez and Yonathan Perlaza?
Answering listener questions including comparing and contrasting Moises Ballesteros to Kyle Schwarber as a Cubs prospect
Ranking Pedro Ramirez, Cristian Hernandez, Alexis Hernandez, and Christopher Paciolla

40. The Inaugural Cubs On Deck Award Show Oct 03, 2023

The three-headed monster of Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith wrap up the first season of the Cubs On Deck Podcast with the inaugural award show. The guys hand out a total of 18 awards, ranging from Hitter of the Year to Best Fastball to The Sean Barry Award and everything in between.
A huge thanks to all of you for tuning in each week. Your support means the world to us here at COD!

39. Owen Caissie Leads Smokies to the Champ Series, Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Recap Sep 26, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss, Bryan Smith, and Sam Weiderhaft of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans:

Owen Caissie takes home three awards from Baseball America and MLB Pipeline
The Smokies are in the Southern League Championship series thanks to a stacked roster
Recapping the Myrtle Beach Pelicans season

38. PCA's Big League Promotion, AFL Announcements, South Bend Season Recap Sep 19, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and South Bend broadcaster Brendan King:

Pete Crow-Armstrong's promotion to Chicago
8 Cubs prospects selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League including Kevin Alcantara, James Triantos, and Alexander Canario
Recapping the South Bend Cubs 2023 campaign by handing out Team MVP, Cy Young, and Reliever of the Year

37. A Comprehensive Look at Justin Steele's Minor League Development Path Sep 12, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Luke Little's promotion to Chicago
Updates on Frankie Scalzo, Marino Santy, Jackson Ferris, Pedro Ramirez, Christian Franklin, and Jared Young
A deep dive into Justin Steele's path from the 2014 draft to his status now as one of the best pitchers on the planet

36. Mailbag! Next Year's Breakouts, AFL Selections, MLB Rotation Options Sep 05, 2023

Some topics on this week's loaded mailbag episode hosted solo by Greg Huss:

Who will be the next pitcher called up to Chicago?
What pitchers should we expect to break out in the lower levels next year?
How to replace PCA and Cade in the Top 100
Predicting some Arizona Fall League selections
Who is the odd man out of a 2024 MLB starting rotation?
How to treat development in a contention window
What's up with Haydn McGeary?

35. Wicks & Shaw Promotions, Canario & Rojas Dominance, Kalmer & Long Intros Aug 29, 2023

On this week's episode, Greg Huss and Bryan Smith do deep dives into...

Jordan Wicks and his fellow homegrown pitchers
Matt Shaw after his promotion to Double-A
Alexander Canario and his back-ness
Jefferson Rojas' newfound stardom
The new-age Bash Brothers in Brian Kalmer and Jonathon Long
The officially settled-in Pedro Ramirez

34. PCA's Role in Chicago, Jordan Wicks is Ready, Alexander Canario is BACK Aug 22, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen:

Pete Crow-Armstrong's role in a Chicago playoff push
Jordan Wicks' ability to stabalize the rotation
Which lefty will get called up next?
Alexander Canario is all the way back
Keegan Thompson is finally healthy and looking better
The underrated resumes of Bryce Windham, Luis Vazquez, and Yonathan Perlaza

33. Having Some Fun with the New MLB Pipeline & Baseball America Lists Aug 15, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Six Cubs propsects find themselves on either the MLB Pipeline or Baseball America top 100 rankings
Playing a game of "Higher or Lower" with the Cubs Top 30 rankings from Pipeline and BA. We choose which national publication got it right

32. Are the Cubs Too Conservative in Developing Their Pitching Prospects? Aug 08, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Greg Zumach:

MLB Pipeline really likes the Cubs system
Are the Cubs too conservative when it comes to developing their pitchers? Are the innings and pitch limits too extreme?
A Luis Devers update
What Iowa pitchers can help the MLB bullpen down the stretch?

31. Trade Deadline Analysis, Top Prospects Promoted, TWO Player Interviews Aug 02, 2023

Topics for the most jam-packed episode this show has ever seen, with your co-hosts Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cade Horton, and Matt Shaw promoted up a level
Dissecting the DJ Herz & Kevin Made for Jeimer Candelario trade
Quick breakdowns of the other two trades that sent away prospecty-types Nelson Velazquez & Manny Rodriguez
Greg's notes from a trip to see South Bend play
Clips from an old interview with DJ Herz
An exclusive interview with Frankie Scalzo Jr.

30: Why Jackson Ferris is Legit, Which Jefferson Rojas is Real? Jul 25, 2023

Topics for this week's episode with Greg Huss and Myrtle Beach Pelicans broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft:
- Pitching updates on Marino Santy, Jackson Ferris, Luis Rujano, Koen Moreno, and Grant Kipp
- Hitting updates on Parker Chavers, Jefferson Rojas, Reivaj Garcia, and Rafael Morel
- Will new draftees make their way to The Beach?

29. What Prospects Are Due For a Better Second Half of the Season? Jul 18, 2023

Greg Huss is joined by Bryan Smith in this one as they each select 5 players that they think could put up better results in the second half than we saw from them in the first half of the year.

28. Get To Know Your 20 New Draft Picks Jul 12, 2023

You get three hosts for this episode with Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith!

What to expect from 1st round pick Matt Shaw
Details on every single pick from round 2 to round 10
Notable picks that really caught our eyes on day 3 of the draft

27. MLB Draft Preview Jul 04, 2023

The MLB Draft is less than a week away, so let's preview what it might look like for the Cubs!

MLB Draft basics
Recent mock drafts
Who is on the Cubs' radar?
Rising players
Sleeper picks

26. Why is Alcantara Falling Off Prospect Lists, Cade Horton is Dominant Jun 27, 2023

South Bend Cubs broadcaster Max Thoma joins Greg Huss for this week's episode as the two talk...

Cade Horton's dominant start to his pro career
BJ Murray's selection to the Futures Game
Moises Ballesteros' transition to South Bend
Why Kevin Alcantara mysteriously is falling off prospects lists

25. Statcast Dive with Brendan Miller, What Happened to Top Prospects in Chicago? Jun 20, 2023

Brendan Miller of CHGO joins the show this week to bring a Major League perspective to this minor league podcast. He and Greg Huss talk about prospects that were successful in the minors and why they haven't been as good in the big leagues. The two get lost in plenty of new Triple-A Statcast talk before ending the show with Brendan asking Greg some tough questions about the system as we know it.

24. PCA & Cade Horton Deep Dives, Canario & Gray on Comeback Trail Jun 13, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Expectations for Alexander Canario and Drew Gray as they return from injuries
Deep dive on Cade Horton and what makes him special
Deep dive on Pete Crow-Armstrong and the chances he is a stud in the big leagues

23. Mailbag Episode: Answering Listener Questions About the Entire System Jun 06, 2023

Always one of the more fun shows, the two Gregs dig into the mailbag to answer ten listener questions in the episode:

When will Ferris and Ballesteros be promoted?
Potential ace pitchers?
Who wins a Cubs prospect home run derby?
Who can help the Cubs bullpen?
Can the system change the way a bullpen is constructed?
Ed Howard's projection?
Thoughts on Cole Roederer?
Can Haydn McGeary be a top 10 prospect?
Overall thoughts of the system?
Who could Cubs take in first round of draft?
What is one player you would like the Cubs to draft?

22. Starters Moving to the Pen, 3 Breakout Players, and Underrated Prospects May 30, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

Daniel Palencia, Luke Little, Ryan Jensen, and Riley Thompson in the bullpen
A game of "Are They Legit?" featuring Luis Vazquez, Ezequiel Pagan, and BJ Murray
Which prospects do we think are the most underrated?

21. Talking Caleb Kilian, Brennen Davis, & Miguel Amaya with Alex Cohen May 23, 2023

Greg Huss is joined by Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen in this episode. Topics:

Alex talks Greg off the Kilian-sized ledge
Miguel Amaya's insane start in Triple-A
Why Brennen Davis has had a more successful season than you'd think
What it is like for Cam Sanders and Riley Thompson to convert to the bullpen
Who is up next for a big league promotion?

20. Looking at the Cubs System From a League-Wide Perspective with Aram Leighton May 16, 2023

Greg Huss is joined by Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Just Baseball, Aram Leighton. As Cubs fans, we can be a little blinded by our fandom as we rate the legitimacy of the system. Covering the entire league and their prospects, Aram provides some much-needed context for players like PCA, Matt Mervis, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcantara while also breaking down the depth and pitching infrastructure of the organization.
Check out Aram's work:
The Call Up: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCallUpPod
Just Baseball: https://www.justbaseball.com/

19. Mervis & Amaya Call-Ups, Ferris Dominates in Debut, and Rehabbing Prospects May 09, 2023

The two Gregs discuss a ton of player movement throughout the system...

The MLB debuts of Matt Mervis and Miguel Amaya
Jackson Ferris in his first pro start
Promotions for Cade Horton and Luke Little
DJ Herz on his way back from injury
A trio of Arizona rehabbers in James Triantos, Ed Howard, and Alexander Canario

They end the show with some draft talk with the event just two months out.

18. How Much Are We Buying Into Hot Starts from Players Like Miguel Amaya? May 02, 2023

On this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:
The guys spend the question answering one question for 13 players... Are you higher on Player X than you were before the season?
Listen to find out what they had to say about Matt Mervis, Yonathan Perlaza, Miguel Amaya, Pablo Aliendo, Haydn McGeary, Moises Ballesteros, Jefferson Encarnacion, Riley Thompson, Ben Brown, Bailey Horn, Brandon Birdsell, Richard Gallardo, and Luke Little.

17. Get to Know the Top Pelicans Performers with Sam Weiderhaft Apr 25, 2023

On this week's episode with Greg Huss and Myrtle Beach Pelicans broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft:
The guys spend the majority of the show going in-depth into some of the best Pelicans performers this season...
Marino Santy, Cade Horton, Brody McCullough, Felix Stevens, Cristian Hernandez, and Moises Ballesteros.
But they couldn't finish the episode without talking about three notable performers elsewhere in the system: Kevin Made, Kohl Franklin, and Miguel Amaya.

16. What Happ Extension Means for Outfield Prospects, Hot Starts for PCA, ONKC, Mash, & Horton Apr 18, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg Huss and Bryan Smith:

What does the Ian Happ extension mean for outfield prospects like PCA, Kevin Alcantara, Brennen Davis, Owen Caissie, Nelson Velazquez, and Alexander Canario?
Breaking down the most exciting triple we have seen in years, courtesy of PCA
Owen Caissie's interestingly hot start at the plate
Matt Mervis and Christopher Morel and how they might force their way onto Chicago's roster
Is Haydn McGeary this year's Matt Mervis?
Kohl Franklin and Cade Horton shine in their first starts of the season

15. Starting Pitching Prospects Shine in the First Full Week of MiLB Action Apr 11, 2023

Topics on this week's episode with Greg and Greg:
- Brandon Birdsell, Luke Little, Brody McCullough, Riley Thompson, Ben Brown, Ryan Jensen, and Jordan Wicks shine in their starts in MiLB's first full week
- Kevin Alcantara and Haydn McGeary are large human beings
- How excited should we get about Pedro Ramirez?
- Who should the Cubs draft and who does Zumach like in this year's draft?

14. Iowa Bats Go Wild on Opening Weekend, Bryan's Fun in Arizona Apr 04, 2023

Iowa lit up the scoreboard in our first minor league action of the year. Greg Huss and Bryan Smith talk about a couple players that give prospect vibes but aren't actually prospects in Christopher Morel and Nelson Velazquez, then get excited once again about Matt Mervis and Jake Slaughter. They break the bad Ben Leeper news while digging into a rough start from Caleb Kilian. The fellas end the show by talking about Bryan's fun spring trip down to the back fields in Arizona!

13. Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Preview with Broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft Mar 28, 2023

We've reached the final season preview of the Cubs affiliates. The Pelicans round out the festivities as broadcaster Sam Weiderhaft joins Greg Huss to discuss some brand new players we have yet to lay our eyes on, his experiences at the Spring Training backfields, and some familiar faces including Moises Ballesteros and Pedro Ramirez.

12. South Bend Cubs Season Preview with Broadcaster Max Thoma Mar 22, 2023

We continue to churn through the affiliate previews, this time with South Bend broadcaster Max Thoma. There are plenty of returners in the rotation that Max spent plenty of time around in 2022 including Porter Hodge and Luke Little. The duo ends the show talking about an absolutely loaded lineup.

11. Tennessee Smokies Season Preview with Brendan King Mar 14, 2023

We keep the season preview festivities rolling, this time breaking down the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Greg Huss is joined by one of the South Bend Cubs broadcasters, Brendan King, to discuss a ton of the players he saw take the field a year ago.

10. Iowa Cubs Season Preview with Broadcaster Alex Cohen Mar 07, 2023

We're starting off a series of affiliate previews with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Greg Huss is joined by a new co-host, I-Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen, to talk about both the prospects and veteran guys that will make up the rotation, the absolutely loaded bullpen, and a hitting group led by Brennen Davis and Matt Mervis.

9. Pitch Clock Thoughts from Minor League Guys, Prospects Paired With Major League Players Feb 28, 2023

Greg and Bryan dig being able to watch Cubs prospects on the same field as the Major Leaguers so they talk about some standout performances by PCA, Darius Hill, Caleb Kilian, and Ryan Jensen. They also give their reaction to some of the pitch clock outcry as two guys that spent all year in 2022 watching minor leaguers play with the clock. The guys end the show by identifying Major League players and minor league prospects that would be perfect fits for a MLB/MiLB Big Brother program.

8. The Cubs Prospect Fantasy Draft Feb 14, 2023

All three co-hosts of the show sit down for an episode as Greg Huss, Greg Zumach, and Bryan Smith run a snake draft to try to assemble the best roster of Cubs prospects. Each guy drafts 20 players a piece! You get to decide who has the most stacked squad!

7. Cole Roederer Brings Electricity to the Show, Talks Mental and Physical Adjustments Jan 31, 2023

There is simply no way you can listen to Cole Roederer speak and not get amped up. The outfield prospect joins the show to discuss his battle back to regular playing time after his injuries, what it was like playing this winter in Australia, the mindset you have to have when facing a pitcher like Eury Perez, and he gives us an update on the fellas!

6. PCA in Big League Spring Training, Prospects at CubsCon, IFA Signings, Early Draft Peek Jan 24, 2023

For the first time this winter, we have enough news to do a big analysis episode! The two Gregs talk about all the goings on at the Cubs Convention in Chicago which came with a prospect panel with plenty of good sound bites and a fair bit of news including PCA in Major League Spring Training, some players on World Baseball Classic rosters, and plenty of International Free Agency signings to dicsuss. Stick around until the end to hear Zumach's Draft Corner.

5. An Interview with Prospect Jordan Wicks Jan 10, 2023

Greg and Bryan sit down to chat with one of the top pitching prospects in the system, Jordan Wicks. The lefty talks about his comparisons to another lefty by the name of Jon Lester, why he has incorporated a brand new cutter, and why he and DJ Herz are inseperable.

4. New Year's Resolutions for the Farm System Dec 27, 2022

As we prepare to enter 2023, Greg and Greg make 8 New Year's resolutions on behalf of the Cubs farm system:
5:10 Matt Mervis cements himself as a MLB first baseman
11:05 DJ Herz establishes a breaking ball
15:10 DJ Herz improves his command
19:30 One starting pitcher breaks out in Myrtle Beach
26:50 Multiple catchers step forward
35:40 Reliever develop train does not slow down
44:30 Outfield prospects make it OK to lose Ian Happ
49:30 Five Top 100 Prospects

3. What Prospects Are There if the Cubs Don’t Sign a Free Agent Shortstop? Dec 13, 2022

Bryan joins Greg in this episode as the guys put some finality to the Rule 5 Draft saga followed by some talk of new/old friend Brailyn Marquez. The majority of the episode is spent addressing the all important question of “What prospects might we see in Chicago next year and in the future if the front office fails to sign one of the four free agent shortstops?” The guys end the episode by answering some awesome listener questions!

2. Digging Into Our Brand New Top 40 Prospect Lists Nov 29, 2022

Greg Zumach joins Greg Huss in his first episode as co-host of the show. In this episode, the talk about the Cubs adding Brennen Davis, Kevin Alcantara, Ben Brown, and Ryan Jensen to the 40-man roster and mention a few players that might be worth drafting in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. They finish the episode by digging into their new prospect lists, dropped on NorthSideBound.com!

1. A New Podcast, Let's Talk Rule Five Draft Predictions Nov 11, 2022

Greg Huss is joined by Bryan Smith in the very first episode of Cubs On Deck! True to form, the guys dig in deep on many prospects as they take a look at who warrants being added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule Five Draft deadline.

Trailer Oct 25, 2022

The Chicago Cubs have one of the most prospect-obsessed fanbases in all of baseball, so it is only appropriate that we fans deserve a podcast dedicated entirely to the Cubs minor league system.

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