Monday Morning Cubs Show

Carl + Mahoney
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A show every Monday morning about the Chicago Cubs from Carl and Mahoney.

  1. 2d ago

    Cubs White Sox Series Preview With A Pitching Reality Check

    Dansby Swanson goes down and the whole Cubs machine suddenly feels less flexible. That’s where we start today, because losing two to the Cardinals is annoying, but losing the shortstop who anchors preparation, positioning, and pitcher confidence can change the shape of the next month. We talk through the real ripple effects: Nico Hoerner sliding to short, Pedro Ramirez taking on more responsibility, and Craig Counsell losing the lineup and rest-day “sauce” that helps a good team stay fresh and win series after series.  We also sort the weekend honestly. Joshua Baez doing something no one in MLB history has done is the kind of baseball chaos you almost have to respect, even when it hurts. But then we get into the stuff that decides October: starting pitching choices, Edward Cabrera’s struggles, and why the front office still has to evaluate upside instead of only reading the box score. From there we project where Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga, Matt Boyd, and especially Clay Holmes fit, including why the cold-weather version of Holmes could be a nightmare if the Cubs manage his workload the right way.  Then we pivot to a real Cubs vs White Sox preview built on identity and matchups. We break down how the White Sox build their lineup, why certain hitters live with swing and miss to get to damage, and how isolated power helps you spot the danger pockets fast. We also call out the names you need to know before first pitch, including Chase Meidroth, Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, and Randall Grichuk’s lefty-crushing profile, plus how Chicago’s outfield defense plays at Wrigley.  If you’re watching the series, this is the roadmap, plus a reminder: respect the opponent, but don’t forget the Cubs are better across the field when they play their game. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple so more maniacs find the Monday Morning Cub Show. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  2. 6d ago

    The Friday Show Went Past 43 Minutes Again

    One hit will make you question your sanity, but it also clarifies what you actually care about: October. After the Cubs get blanked 7-0 by the Nationals, I talk through the anger, the overreactions, and the one thing that’s still true even on nights like that: this team is in position to make a serious MLB playoffs push. The big target is obvious. We’re chasing the Milwaukee Brewers, and a division win changes everything, from rest to bullpen usage to whether you’re sprinting through the Wild Card round or setting up for the NLDS. I also draw a hard line between regular season baseball and postseason baseball, because the format changes the rules and it should change how we evaluate pitching, roles, and even what “fair” means. From there, it’s tactics. I break down why Kevin Gausman getting roughed up can be a matchup story instead of a doom story, why Clay Holmes belongs in the October conversation if he’s healthy, and why the most important lineup problem left on the board is performance against left-handed pitching. We also talk about Alex Bregman looking like himself again and Pete Crow-Armstrong playing at an MVP level, plus why the supporting cast from two through nine is the real difference between “fun season” and “championship threat.” If you like smart Cubs talk with real emotion, subscribe, share this with a Cubs fan who needs a place to land, and leave a quick review so more people can find us. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  3. Aug 10

    6-1 Since Trade Deadline + FEELING SPICY

    PRESENTED BY THIRSTY VAQUERO - Something changed after the trade deadline, and you can feel it right away: the Cubs rip off a 6-1 week, the vibes swing from survival to belief, and the roster suddenly looks like it’s built for meaningful October baseball. We’re not doing empty scoreboard hype either we talk through what actually drives a post-deadline surge, why the new arms matter, and how confidence spreads when the clubhouse sees real investment and real depth. Then we get loud about Pete Crow Armstrong. We break down why PCA’s value is bigger than a hot streak: elite everyday defense, game-warping range, timely power, and the kind of presence that can keep the Cubs near the top of MLB runs scored even when other regulars aren’t posting monster OPS numbers. We also tackle the MVP debate head-on, including how voters think about Shohei Ohtani versus a true every-inning position player who impacts both sides of the game. From there, we dig into Kevin Gausman as a potential Game 1 starter and why his aggression and tempo fit a defense-first team. We map the path to catching Milwaukee, debate Pedro Ramirez versus Ian Happ for playoff lineups, and talk bullpen roles with Palencia’s return looming. The back half hits home with a Father’s Day makeup game story that turns into a tribute, and a reminder that baseball is sometimes the healthiest distraction we’ve got. If you’re a Cubs fan who wants analysis with real emotion, hit play, then subscribe, share the show, and leave us a review. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  4. Aug 7

    The Longest MMCS Ever w/ Cubs Prospect EXPERT Bryan Smith

    The trade deadline is where Cubs fans either spiral or lock in, and we’re choosing lock in. After a long, weird, very honest solo ramp-up about what it feels like to live pitch-to-pitch with a team that can actually win, we bring on Brian Smith from Baseball America, the most plugged-in Cubs prospects voice you’ll find anywhere online. If you’ve been staring at prospect lists, worrying about who we shipped out, and trying to figure out what the Cubs just told us about their future, this conversation is built for you.  We dig into the moves that matter: Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor, and the prospect cost that triggered the loudest reactions. Brian breaks down Jefferson Rojas with real nuance, explains why some “Top 100” guys are more tradable than fans think, and names the true untouchables in the system from the Cubs’ point of view. We also get into why certain bats get squeezed on a high-payroll roster, how catching value changes everything, and what it means when the front office prioritizes October innings over long-term WAR debates.  Then we zoom out to the big question: what did we learn about Jed Hoyer as a leader and a buyer? Brian’s answer is sharp, and it paints a clear picture of how the Cubs may use their farm system to keep the major league roster winning year after year instead of riding a rebuild roller coaster. If you care about the Cubs trade deadline, Cubs prospects, farm system strategy, and the playoff push, hit play, send this to a friend who’s melting down in the group chat, and then subscribe, share, and leave a review so we can keep doing this all season. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  5. Aug 4

    Official Trade Deadline Episode: Everything You Need To Know About Our New Players

    Trade deadlines are supposed to deliver one clean answer. The Cubs went the other direction and that’s why this one is so interesting. We sit down right after the buzzer to talk through what Chicago actually did, why it fits the roster, and where it could blow up. Kevin Gausman is the headliner for us, not because he’s some mystery ace, but because his profile finally matches what the Cubs do best: convert contact into outs with elite defense. We dig into how his fastball-splitter approach works, why the mental side of committing to two pitches matters, and what changes when you pitch at Wrigley Field with real gloves behind you. Then we get into the swing-for-the-ceiling move: Clay Holmes. He’s coming off a broken fibula, he’s heading into free agency, and his best version can tilt a postseason series with ground balls and ugly at-bats. We talk risk, timeline, and how the Cubs can deploy him without rushing. On the position-player side, Tyrone Taylor gives Craig Counsell a real weapon vs left-handed pitching, and we’re honest about what that means for lineup decisions down the stretch. Finally, we unpack the emotional gut-punch trade: Moises Ballesteros out, Ryan Zaverishan in. The Cubs get a controllable, high-strikeout bullpen arm, but we also lay out the pressure test that comes with walks and late innings in Chicago. Braxton Garrett rounds it out as a long-odds upside play that might pay off later. If you care about the Cubs trade deadline, the MLB playoff push, and what wins in October, you’ll want this one. Subscribe, share it with a Cubs fan, and leave us a review on Apple or Spotify. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  6. Jul 27

    The Cubs Should Go All In For A True Ace

    If you watched the Cubs light up Paul Skenes and thought, “Okay, this is different,” we’re right there with you. That game isn’t just a fun highlight. It’s evidence the Cubs offense can hit elite pitching, which is the whole point of October baseball. So we stop hand-wringing over being seven back and ask the only question that matters with the MLB trade deadline looming: what move actually raises our World Series odds? We get specific on what has to change in the rotation and what can’t keep happening, including a blunt take on Jamison Taillon’s role in games that matter. Then we lean into the optimism that’s earned, not imagined: Shota Imanaga’s steady run, Matthew Boyd looking locked in, and the real possibility that internal bullpen reinforcements like Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, and Hunter Harvey can reshape the late innings by September. From there, it’s deadline strategy with names, priorities, and trade-off debates. We talk Joe Ryan, the temptation of “club control,” and why Tarek Skubal is the kind of pitcher you push chips in for if you want to win a playoff series against the Dodgers, Braves, or Brewers. We also hit the Matt Shaw conversation, why prospect value only matters if it helps you win now, plus a quick Cardinals series look and a nod to James Triantos getting his moment. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave a review, then tell us: what’s the bold move you want the front office to make? Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  7. Jul 24

    A Friday Cubs Check In With Media Drama

    A longtime Cubs reporter accidentally fires off a tweet that was never meant for the public, and suddenly we’re not just talking about baseball. We dig into the Bruce Levine “Twinkle D/Twinkle Dumb” moment, why it’s so funny, and why it also taps into a real tension around Cubs media, Marquee Sports Network, and what fans expect from people who “cover” the team. From there, we pull the camera back and get honest about how the info ecosystem actually works. Carl revisits his own Yu Darvish reporting fiasco, the kind of sourcing win that can still turn into instant internet jail if the timing goes sideways. It’s a perfect trade deadline backdrop, because the Cubs are good enough to make everyone desperate for answers, rumors, and accountability, even when the truth is messy. Then we finally get on the field. We talk about the case for the Cubs as a legit top-five offense and top-tier defense, and what that could mean in a postseason series. We run “Ball Or Strike” on the Aaron Civale trade as a very Jed Hoyer move, debate whether Pete Crow-Armstrong is stacking one of the best all-around Cubs seasons in decades, and get real about how hard 40-40 becomes when September pressure hits. We also unpack Craig Counsell’s “just make the team better” comment and what it signals about urgency inside the building. If you’re into Chicago Cubs analysis, MLB trade deadline talk, PCA hype, and the weird little off-field stories that tell you what’s really going on, this Friday drop is for you. Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, share it with a Cubs friend, and leave a review so we can keep doing this every week. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

  8. Jul 20

    If You Believe In PCA Then You Have To Go All In

    The Cubs are doing something that should change how we talk about the deadline: they’re sitting in the top tier of MLB offenses by team OPS while also playing elite, mistake-resistant defense. That is not a “rebuild” profile. That is a team that can win playoff games, right now, if the pitching side gets real support. I walk through why Pete Crow-Armstrong’s season matters so much to the front office calculus. When you have a player tracking like a true difference-maker in center field, the responsible move is to ask what gives him the best October runway. For me, that points straight at starting pitching at the top of the market. I lay out the high-end fantasy of Tarik Skubal, why it’s probably unrealistic with Detroit competing, and why I’d still consider paying a painful prospect price if the opportunity somehow exists. Then we get into what’s more realistic at the MLB trade deadline: how I think about Joe Ryan versus Freddie Peralta, and why “good starter” is not the same thing as “Game 1 Wild Card starter at Wrigley Field.” We also hit the bullpen problem, including why a name like Mason Miller is so hard to acquire and why the better path might be creative, under-the-radar reliever adds that actually fit October usage. If you’ve been wondering whether the Cubs should buy, how aggressive they should be, and what a smart buy even looks like, this is the roadmap. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs fan, and leave a review, then tell me which pitcher you’d target and what you’d give up for him. Thanks for tuning in!  - Carl & Mahoney

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About

A show every Monday morning about the Chicago Cubs from Carl and Mahoney.

Information

  • Creator
    Carl + Mahoney
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Monday Morning Cubs Show
  • Show Website
    Monday Morning Cubs Show

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