Cubs Talk Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Cubs non-tender Almora and Schwarber, were they busts? Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

It's always tough to say goodbye but the Cubs made several non-tender decisions, including Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Schwarber, while tendering Kris Bryant, among others. With Almora being the sixth overall pick and Schwarber the fourth overall in their respective drafts, were they busts for the Cubs? David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss both players' careers and what being non-tendered could mean for the two. Later in the podcast, Gordon describes in detail what the Cubs' financial situation is and how they are operating to fix it.

(1:44) - Surprising that the Cubs made the decisions they did at the tender deadline?

(7:00) - What does the Cubs' financial situation look like?

(12:50) - Did Theo Epstein stick with certain players for too long?

(18:00) - Overview of the Epstein drafts

(24:20) - Will there be any movement at the virtual Winter Meetings?

(29:00) - Finding starting pitching

Who will Jed Hoyer hire as his GM? Dec 02, 2020

Show notes

The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Maddie Lee and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss who Jed Hoyer should look at to hire as his GM now that he has been promoted. But, did the Cubs miss out on Kim Ng after possibly knowing Theo Epstein was on his way out? The crew debates the missed opportunity and if Ng was on their radar. Later in the podcast the crew discusses the upcoming tender date (not Tinder) as the Cubs have some difficult choices to make on who stays and who goes.

(1:40) - Jed Hoyer begins his search for a GM. Did the Cubs miss out on Kim Ng?

(6:52) - Is there a chance the Cubs did try to hire Ng?

(12:46) - Which core player on the Cubs will be non-tendered or tendered?

(18:30) - Rumors from teams around the league that the Cubs aren't good trading partners

(23:30)- A message to Cubs fans on what they should be looking for this offseason to know which direction the team is going

(27:28) - A story about when the Cubs worked out Carlos Correa before the draft

Former baseball executive Dan Evans on Jed Hoyer’s new role with the Cubs Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Maddie Lee and Gordon Wittenmyer are joined by veteran MLB executive for the White Sox, Dodgers, Cubs and others, Dan Evans. With his many years of experience, Evans provides great insight into what new Cubs president of baseball ops Jed Hoyer will be up against and what fans should look for. The group also discusses the Marlins hiring Kim Ng as GM, her connection to Chicago and what her hiring could mean for the future of baseball.

(1:44) - How will the new Cubs regime led by Jed Hoyer get the Cubs back on track?

(8:10) - As the Cubs' new president, what should Jed do with former MVP Kris Bryant?

(14:50) - How will the winter meetings be impacted by the pandemic?

(19:13) - Dan describes what Kim Ng was like as an intern for the White Sox

(31:23) - Is Tony La Russa ready to manage again?

(37:18) - Can/will Theo Epstein help fix baseball after admittedly helping to make it less fun

It’s Jed time! Nov 25, 2020

Show notes

Jed Hoyer is now the Cubs president of baseball operations and is leading them into a new era. What is his vision for the team? How will he conduct his GM search? Does he think this Cubs team can win? Host David Kaplan and the Cubs content team of Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee and Tim Stebbins discuss the new era of Cubs baseball and what they expect of Hoyer. Later in the pod, the crew discusses what they are thankful for in baseball and their favorite Thanksgiving food.

(1:27) - Jed Hoyer signs an extension through 2025 as president of baseball operations

(9:14) - What will Jed do with Kris Bryant?

(16:02) - How difficult does Jed think the Cubs job is?

(20:38) - What are you thankful for in baseball?

(25:00) - Will Jed go after a big-name free agent?

(31:40) - Favorite Thanksgiving food?

Is the Cubs’ competitive window still open with Theo gone? Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

With Theo Epstein gone, it's time to look at the future of the Cubs and the direction they will be going. David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss where new Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer should lead the team and if there is a chance the Cubs can win the World Series next season. The crew also gets into Wrigley Field being named a national landmark and what that could mean for the organization.

(1:27) - Wrigley Field being named a national landmark could impact the organization financially

(7:28) - Now that Theo is gone, how healthy is the Cubs organization?

(13:05) - Should the Cubs sell off the assets to start the rebuild again?

(18:00) - Theo admits he helped ruin baseball to a degree

(25:45) - What is Theo Epstein's next step in baseball?

Theo Epstein steps down as Cubs President Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Theo Epstein has officially stepped down as Cubs president of baseball operations and will be succeeded by general manager Jed Hoyer. The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee and Tim Stebbins discuss Epstein's resignation, what led to Theo ultimately stepping down, and what his legacy in Chicago will look like.

(1:30) - How surprising is Theo's resignation?

(6:26) - Tom Ricketts' thinking going forward with Jed Hoyer

(9:30) - Theo Epstein's legacy as Cubs president

(19:09) - With Theo gone, will the Cubs break up the team?

(37:18) - Fondest memories of Theo's tenure

Tommy Hottovy on what made Yu Darvish a Cy Young candidate Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

On this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy joins David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss his recovery from COVID-19, what a typical day is like for him, what turned Yu Darvish’s fortunes around in Chicago and how Darvish broke out a pitch against the White Sox he hadn’t thrown in three years. Later in the podcast, Hottovy explains how Craig Kimbrel turned his season around and the chance Jon Lester returns to the Cubs.

(01:30) - Hottovy on his recovery from COVID-19

(05:45) - On Darvish finishing second in NL Cy Young voting

(12:45) - How Darvish narrows down the number of pitches he can throw

(27:30) - Having Darvish and Kyle Hendricks at the top of the rotation

(29:30) - Expectations for Brailyn Marquez

(33:15) - Chances Jon Lester returns to the Cubs in 2021

(36:20) - How Kimbrel turned his season around

Breaking down David Ross’ and Yu Darvish’s award-worthy seasons Nov 11, 2020

Show notes

On this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer and Tim Stebbins discuss the NL Manager of the Year award voting, the job David Ross did in 2020, and Gordon discusses the criteria he used to cast his vote in the NL Cy Young Award race.

(1:30) - David Ross finishes third in NL Manager of the Year voting

(8:00) - What Ross had to overcome in 2020 to be successful

(12:45) - Could Yu Darvish win the NL Cy Young Award?

(20:00) - Was this Darvish’s best season as a starter in his career?

(26:10) - Is there a chance a major player on the Cubs will be non-tendered?

(32:15) - Any chance Trevor Bauer plays for the Cubs in 2021?

What a World Series title means to Mark Prior Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

On this edition of the Cubs Talk Podcast, David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer talk to former Cub Mark Prior about winning the World Series as the Dodgers pitching coach, his relationship with Dusty Baker, how he got into coaching and watching the 2016 Cubs win the championship.

(1:30) - On clinching the World Series

(4:00) - On clinching a playoff spot with the Cubs in 2003

(6:00) - On not being around family during the season

(8:00) - On Justin Turner's positive COVID test during Game 6

(10:30) - Passing his knowledge down to today's players

(12:15) - On his feeling towards Dusty Baker

(14:30) - Does Baker get enough credit for his accomplishments?

(18:30) - On Kevin Cash's decision to pull Blake Snell in Game 6

(21:30) - How would he have reacted to being taken out of the game like Snell was

(23:30) - How he coaches Clayton Kershaw

(26:00) - How he got into coaching

(29:00) - Thoughts on MLB's new rules in 2020

(32:30) - On seeing the Cubs win the World Series in 2016

Answering Cub fans questions and concerns Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

The Cubs are in uncertain times this offseason and fans have questions. The Cubs Talk crew of David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee and Tim Stebbins answer Cubs fans' questions about the roster, the impact the pandemic has had on the club financially and which player/players they think will be traded.

(2:50) - Will there be coaching changes on David Ross' staff?

(8:16) - Will players take less money due to the financial climate?

(13:11) - How are the Cubs affected by having no fans in attendance in 2020?

(17:00) - Will the Cubs non-tender any of their core players?

(22:55) - What is the target year the Cubs are expected to win again?

(28:10) - Why don't the Cubs bunt more when they struggle offensively?

(33:05) - Offseason bold move predictions