Chicago Baseball Podcast

For fans of the Chicago Cubs.

Baseball
Sports
Sports News
1
CCB #188: Pitchers and Catchers and Podcasters ...
Sara and Danny are back looking at the new rules that will be enforce when Spring Training games start in less than a week. We are also talking about Seiya Suzuki's new very swole dad bod, the Cubs bullpen, which added Michael Fulmer, and more.
52 min
2
CCB #187: New Season, New CCB
Sara and Danny are back and so is CCB for now -- they open with what listeners can expect as CCB migrates away from SBNation at the end of February, plus a look at the new Cubs and what we expect at 1060 W. Addison this season on the latest Bleed Cubbie Blue podcast.
50 min
3
CCB #186: Cubs Con and Treric Hosmancini
Sara and Danny are back talking all things Cubs Con, the good, the bad, the people, the panels. If you missed the Cubs annual fan convention in Chicago or were there and want to relive it, they have you covered. They also look at the newest Cub, 1B/DH/OF Trey Mancini, what it means for the (still mid) 2023 Cubs and wonder when this team will finally have some GUYS, not to be confused with guys.
54 min
4
CCB #185: Hosmer Shmosmer on the Eve of Cubs Con
Sara and Danny are back talking about the very mid-Cubs who added Eric Hosmer to a team that features a lot of number 3 starters and some guys who could be alright. They are also looking at the massive contracts other teams have signed, and the latest in the Carlos Correa contract negotiation which still isn't wrapped up over medical concerns. Finally they are both headed to Cubs Con this weekend and talk about what they are looking forward to as they cover the event for BCB.
53 min
5
CCB #183: Cubs Sign Swanson Avoid Correa Chaos
Sara and Danny are talking all things Dansby Swanson who definitely makes the Cubs better, but probably not into contention just yet. They are also looking at the absolute debacle that had Carlos Correa's introductory press conference cancelled in San Francisco mere hours before he signed with the Mets who just don't seem to care about the luxury tax even a little bit at all. After the break they spend some time on the Cubs ZiPS projections and discuss rumors that the Cubs, yes, your Cubs might be the frontrunner for the top international free agent prospect, Fernando Cruz.
60 min
6
CCB #183: Hoyering Our Way to Existential Dread
Danny is back and all he and Sara can do is laugh as the Cubs have now missed out on pretty much every big free agent. They discuss Willson Contreras heading to the Cardinals (stick around to the end for Danny's newest Cubsmas song to commemorate the occasion), how the Cubs lost out on Christian Vázquez, the shortstop situation, the mixed messages on spending coming out of the Cubs front office, what they expect at Cubs Convention (boos that put Elon to shame) and more.
56 min
7
CCB #182: Willson Contreras is a Cardinal. This...
Willson Contreras is a Cardinal and while Danny is still doing post-nuptial stuff, Sara is joined by Kevin McCaffrey from the Away Games Pod to try and figure out how the Cubs let their best hitter go to their biggest rival on a totally reasonable deal. They also talk about the chances that Hoyer and Co. will actually use the money that ownership is very publicly saying is available to them as the market goes absolutely bananas with an 11 year/$280 million deal that enticed Xander Bogaerts to leave Boston for San Diego. After the break they look at the Cody Bellinger signing and the fact that the Cubs will basically be paying $39.5 million in 2023 to see if they can fix Bellinger's swing while the Dodgers try to do the same for Jason Heyward before finishing up with the latest scandal on the literal baseball as Dr. Meredith Wills' new research on the ball indicates there were not two, but three different balls in 2022 and you will not believe where they wound up.
38 min
8
CCB #181: Hoyering the Hot Stove
Danny is celebrating his wedding in Mexico so Sara is joined by Ken Schultz to talk about the Cubs needs while comparing them to the early free agent returns this offseason. They're talking Abreu, Contreras, whether the market rates have shifted and more.
58 min
9
CCB #180: Hot Stove Season
Sara and Danny are back talking about the deals the Cubs could do, or not do, as the case may be. We talk intelligent spending, Matt Mervis, possible free agent options including Abreu, Senga and more on the latest Bleed Cubbie Blue podcast.
51 min
10
CCB #179: We Are All Phillies Fans
Sara and Danny are back recapping a remarkably fun NLCS and a dour ALCS. They're marveling at Bryce Harper and wondering what happened to the Yankees before previewing a World Series that has turned the vast majority of baseball fans into temporary, lifelong Phillies fans.
51 min
11
CCB #178: Cheering for the NL and a Meteor
Sara and Danny are back talking about future Cubs in the Fall League and a cut in season ticket prices. They also discuss the Division Series including the insurgent campaigns of the Phillies and Padres whose fans are competing to see who can be the most intense crew in the playoffs. They're less enthusiastic about the battle of evil empires occurring in the American League between the Astros and the Yankees. The majority of BCB readers seem to agree, which is why they are cheering for a meteor in the ALCS.
43 min
12
CCB #177 Kyle Schwarber is still in the playoff...
Sara and Danny talk about Jed Hoyer's press conference and marvel at how he can reveal so little in an hour, they also discuss the Cubs inability to fill Wrigley this year and how the qualifying offer might impact Willson Contreras before recapping the Wild Card round and previewing the Divisional Series
55 min
13
CCB #176: Cubs Season Review and Playoff Preview
Danny and I look back at a 74-88 campaign from the Chicago Cubs and discuss what went right, what went wrong and our offseason wishlists. After the break we are previewing the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs, cheering for Kyle Schwarber to vanquish the Cardinals one more time and temporarily a Blue Jays podcast.
56 min
14
CCB #175: The Phillies lack vibes and W's
Sara and Danny are back talking about an improbable (and unprecedented) season series sweep of the Phillies who really need wins if they are going to sneak into the expanded playoffs. They are also talking about the above average pitching the Cubs have gotten this season, Christopher Morel fist bumping the Ricketts before hitting bombs and speculate on free agents. After the break they look at Anthony Rizzo's managerial debut, the fact that no one wants these NL Wild Card spots and preview the final six games of the year against the Cincinnati Reds.
59 min
15
CCB #174: The Cubs Beat the Buccos
Sara and Danny are looking back at a four game series against the Pirates that saw the Cubs win three to salvage a season series win against their division foes. But honestly, it felt pretty ho hum. All of September feels ho hum. Whatever drama used to exist in wild card races appears to be mostly gone. After the break we are previewing the Cubs last chance to impact those races as they host Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies for three games at Wrigley Field.
53 min
16
CCB #173: September Snoozefest
Sara and Danny look back at a forgettable series against a forgettable Marlins team that the Cubs won, but really, if you won't remember most of these players in the next five years what are we even doing here? They look at competitive issues across the league, talk about Kyle Schwarber's 40 home run season, the AL wild card race and the NL pennant race before previewing four games in Pittsburgh where the Cubs will attempt to get to a winning record against the Pirates for 2022.
46 min
17
CCB #172: Back to Cubs Reality
Sara and Danny are back talking about three lackluster games against the Colorado Rockies over a beautiful weekend of baseball at Wrigley Field. They spend a bit of time talking about Cubs giveaway and why some of the best ones are special ticket offers that can be hard to navigate, plus overall there should just be more of most giveaways. Also, shoutout to Frank the Mistaken Identity Podcast who made Sara's day on Sunday. After the break Sara and Danny are checking in our beloved Blue Jays before previewing a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami.
48 min
18
CCB #171: Sweep the Mets!
Sara and Danny are stunned, happy and singing about the Cubs sweeping the Mets in New York, they look at all of the highlights from the series that saw the Cubs handily win against a first place team with small ball, long balls, solid starting pitching and a great bullpen. They are also talking about the amazing and official MiLB union, why we are going to be Toronto Blue Jays fans for the playoffs and previewing a three game weekend series against the Colorado Rockies.
56 min
19
CCB #170: Rain on the Mets Parade
Sara and Danny talk about two forgettable series losses to the Reds and Giants that saw a spectacular debut from Hayden Wesneski and more bullpen woes. They are also giving begrudging kudos to Albert Pujols, who is hitting so many home runs he can afford to be generous with them. After the break they look at the surprise news that MLB will recognize the MiLB union and the possible implications of rule changes for the 2023 season before previewing three games against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
59 min
20
CCB #169: Betting in a Time of Pujols
Sara and Danny are back after the Cubs were swept out of St. Louis by the man, the myth, the resurgent, Albert Pujols and honestly at this point, what even is baseball other than praying some team out there not named the Yankees or Dodgers will defeat the Cardinals. They are also looking at how gambling impacts watching the nation's pastime right now in ways that just don't seem on the level at all. After the break, they are previewing a series between the Reds and Cubs that looks a lot more like tryouts than competitive baseball in September.
53 min
21
CCB #168: One Last Encounter with 2022 Devil Bi...
Sara and Danny are back looking at a forgettable series in Toronto that the Cubs were competitive in but really needed one or two more bullpen arms to win, they are also talking about the state of the 2022 Cubs and why this might be a better spot than September 2014, which is an optimistic thought. After the break they preview the final three games between the Cubs and Cardinals for 2022 and reflect on a Devil Bird Magic season that was exactly as bad as all of us feared.
48 min
22
CCB #167: Unionize the Minors
Sara and Danny are back talking about a forgettable series at Wrigley North where only two Ian Happ home runs saved the Cubs from being no-hit and swept, but the big news of the day is the minor league baseball card check election that began late on Sunday night. We'll talk through what unionizing the minors might look like and some of the pros and cons there (mostly pros). After the break we look at a creative extension for Julio Rodríguez and the Mariners that truly looks like a win-win for the player and the team before previewing the Cubs three game series in Toronto.
47 min
23
CCB #166: Cardinals Smardinals
Sara and Danny are recapping fights in the bleachers during a Cardinals blowout of the Cubs (don't do that, people) and a series between St. Louis and the Cubs that was surprisingly even given these teams fortunes. None of the guys we thought would get called up to pitch did, but Franimal threw an inning and Danny wonders if he could be the next Shohei Ohtani. After the break they preview a normal series with the sliding Brewers (as a reminder, Bernie's slide can be dangerous).
51 min
24
CCB #165: Spilt Beer and Here Come the Cardinals
Sara and Danny are back, with a look back at the Cubs coming out on top of a wild series against the Brewers to win their SIXTH series in a row (yes, I know, Baltimore was a make-up game, whatever, we are celebrating whatever we can here, people). There were great Steele starts, Willson walkoffs and a 100th career home run for Ian Happ. After the break they look at some prospects who will be at Wrigley for the Cardinals series, some prospects who are getting promoted and hope the Cubs can put out a red hot St. Louis offense during this week's five-game series.
40 min
25
CCB #164: Day Baseball All Weekend, As God Inte...
Sara and Danny are back talking about a solid East Coast road trip where the Cubs won 3 out of 4 despite trying to lose at critical junctures. There were errors. There were TOOTBLANs. There was A LOT more of Zach McKinstry and Rafael Ortega than Sara or Danny wanted. Willson and Franimal continue to rake, though, and it all worked out okay. After the break Sara and Danny preview three games with the Brewers during the annual Chicago Air and Water Show -- it should be a full weekend of day baseball, as God intended.
49 min