Off The Ivy: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

312 Sports

Off the Ivy is your daily dose of Chicago Cubs talk. Dan Bernstein, Matt Abbatacola and Cody Delmendo bring you the hottest and most important stories from around the organization - every single day. Whether it's a walk-off win, a frustrating bullpen meltdown, a surprise call-up from Iowa, or the latest front office drama, we're reacting to it all with the passion and knowledge the Wrigley Field faithful deserve. New episode every day. Rain or shine. Win or lose. Subscribe, leave a review, and let's talk Cubs. Check out the full slate of 312 Sports podcasts at 312Sports.com

  1. 4d ago

    NL Championship Series is set | MLB getting petty ALREADY before the lockout

    The MLB postseason delivered another wild day of October baseball, with the Rays, Dodgers and Brewers all punching their tickets to the League Championship Series while the Guardians stayed alive against the White Sox. We recap all of Wednesday’s playoff action and look at the biggest storylines from around the league. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 MLB Postseason Recap 26:00 MLB getting petty already before the lockout 37:00 Cody's Top 5 Cubs in 2026 41:40 Cubs Assistant GM candidate for Athletics executive role We also dive into MLB’s reported plans for a potential lockout, including the league removing player images and videos from its websites once the work stoppage begins. Why would MLB choose to essentially erase the players who are the face of the sport? We discuss why that decision could be another terrible look for the league as labor negotiations heat up. Plus, Cody reveals his Top 5 individual Chicago Cubs players of the 2026 season — who made the list, who just missed it, and which performances stood out the most. And we discuss Cubs Assistant GM Jared Banner emerging as a candidate for the Athletics' vacant top baseball executive position. What would Banner potentially leaving mean for the Cubs organization, and what does his candidacy say about the work he's done in Chicago? 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. 6d ago

    A break down and reaction to Jed Hoyer's season ending press conference

    Jed Hoyer’s season-ending press conference made one thing crystal clear: the Chicago Cubs know their biggest problem is pitching. After a disappointing Wild Card sweep by the Padres, Hoyer admitted the Cubs’ pitching struggled from the beginning of the season and acknowledged that injuries, poor performances and poor acquisitions all played a role. He also pointed directly at the Brewers’ pitching infrastructure, saying the Cubs need to “double down” in that area. Hoyer also took responsibility for the bullpen, saying, “I did a poor job in the bullpen this year — full stop.” He emphasized that the Cubs need to improve not just the pitching staff, but the entire pitching infrastructure — from scouting and player development to major-league acquisitions. So what does that mean for the offseason? With multiple pitchers potentially hitting free agency and major questions surrounding the rotation and bullpen, how aggressive should the Cubs be? Do they need to make major additions through free agency and trades? And can they finally build a pitching infrastructure capable of matching the strength of their position-player group? We break down Jed Hoyer’s comments, what they mean for the Cubs’ offseason strategy, and what needs to change if Chicago wants to take the next step in 2027. 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Oct 2

    Looking ahead to Jed Hoyer and Chicago Cubs offseason plans

    The Chicago Cubs’ 2026 season is over — and now the focus shifts to one of the most important offseasons of the Jed Hoyer era. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Cubs free agents & pitching staff headed into 2027 17:20 Cubs need a lighter clubhouse personality wise 24:53 Breaking down Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki situations 41:35 Offseason plans for Off The Ivy How will the Cubs attack the offseason after getting swept by the Padres? The biggest question may be what they do to rebuild a pitching staff that struggled throughout the season. The Cubs have several pitchers who will hit free agency, including Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes, creating major questions for both the starting rotation and bullpen. Then there are two massive decisions on the position-player side: Should the Cubs bring back Seiya Suzuki? Should they re-sign Ian Happ? Both are coming off the books, and the organization has to decide how much of its future payroll should be committed to its veteran outfielders. We'll break down the Cubs' biggest offseason needs, the free agents who pitched for Chicago in 2026, the state of the rotation and bullpen, and whether Suzuki and Happ should remain part of the next version of this team. After an 89-win season and a disappointing Wild Card exit, what should be the Cubs' biggest priority this winter? 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv The Best Replacement Windows And Doors At The Best Price. Chicagowindowguys.com Give Larine a try. Right now, Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/ivy Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Oct 1

    OFFENSE BROKE AGAIN! Chicago Cubs season ends in DEFLATING fashion in San Diego

    The Chicago Cubs’ season is over after getting swept by the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card Series — and the biggest problem was an offense that completely disappeared when it mattered most. After leading MLB in runs during the regular season, the Cubs scored just one run across two playoff games and hit only .129 as a team (8-for-62). Pete Crow Armstrong and Alex Bregman went a combined 0-for-15, while the Cubs struggled to come through in key situations throughout the series. So what happened? Why couldn’t this lineup translate its regular-season success into October? And more importantly, why couldn’t the Cubs execute better situationally at the plate when they needed a big hit, productive out, or simply a quality at-bat? We’ll also break down the pitching decisions, including the biggest question surrounding Clay Holmes: Why didn’t the Cubs use him in the Wild Card Series? With the season on the line, was there ever a situation where Holmes should have been deployed? Cody, Matt and Dan react to the Cubs’ disappointing two-game exit, what went wrong against San Diego, and what this loss means for the Cubs moving forward. 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv The Best Replacement Windows And Doors At The Best Price. Chicagowindowguys.com Give Larine a try. Right now, Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/ivy Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Sep 29

    Chicago Cubs-San Diego Padres Wild Card Series Preview | Matthew Boyd vs Michael King in Game 1

    The Chicago Cubs are back in the postseason — and it’s a rematch with the San Diego Padres, this time at Petco Park. After an 89-win regular season, the Cubs open the NL Wild Card Series tonight looking to advance and get another shot at Milwaukee. Matthew Boyd gets the ball for Chicago in Game 1 against Padres right-hander Michael King. Boyd returns to the postseason mound against San Diego after starting Game 1 of last year’s Wild Card Series and holding the Padres to one run over 4⅓ innings. King brings a 3.21 ERA into the opener after a strong 2026 season. But one of the biggest questions surrounding the Cubs lineup is Alex Bregman. After returning from multiple facial fractures and finishing the regular season with a huge game as the DH, will Bregman be ready to take the field at third base tonight — or will the Cubs keep him at DH? Bregman has been taking ground balls, but Craig Counsell had not made a final decision on his defensive availability. We break down Boyd vs. King, what the Cubs need to do to win Game 1 on the road, the challenge of playing a talented Padres team in a hostile Petco Park, and how Bregman’s role could impact the lineup. Can the Cubs steal Game 1 in San Diego and take control of the Wild Card Series? 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv The Best Replacement Windows And Doors At The Best Price. Chicagowindowguys.com Give Larine a try. Right now, Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/ivy Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Sep 28

    PCA and Chicago Cubs LIMP into the playoffs after 89 win regular season

    The Chicago Cubs are headed back to the postseason after an 89-win regular season — but they certainly aren't entering October at full strength. Pete Crow Armstrong and Alex Bregman have been two of the biggest reasons the Cubs got here, with PCA putting together a historic season that included becoming just the seventh player in MLB history to record a 40/40 season and setting multiple Cubs offensive records along the way. Bregman was just as important, especially in the second half. His production alongside PCA helped carry the Cubs through the final months of the season and gave Chicago a dangerous one-two punch heading into October. But now comes the biggest question: Are the Cubs limping into the postseason? Pitching uncertainty has Chicago heading into October with plenty of questions — even after winning 89 games and clinching a playoff spot. We'll break down PCA's incredible season, Bregman's second-half surge, what the Cubs need to clean up before the Wild Card Series and whether this team has enough left in the tank for another deep postseason run. And we'll also take a moment to reflect on an emotional weekend around Major League Baseball, as Justin Verlander made the final start of his legendary 21-year career and Max Scherzer took the mound in what could potentially be the final start of his career. 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv The Best Replacement Windows And Doors At The Best Price. Chicagowindowguys.com Give Larine a try. Right now, Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/ivy Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Sep 25

    IT HAPPENED! PCA completes 40/40 season & Chicago Cubs FINALLY clinch playoff berth vs Marlins

    Pete Crow-Armstrong has officially joined baseball’s 40/40 club! PCA stole his 40th base of the season Thursday against the Marlins, giving him 45 home runs and 40 stolen bases and making him just the seventh player in MLB history to reach the 40/40 mark. With the stolen base, he became the first to ever achieve 40 homers, 40 stolen bases, and accumulate 10.0 or more WAR in the same season, making this single season one of the greatest ever not only by a Chicago Cub but in MLB history. And the celebration didn’t stop there. The Cubs beat Miami 2-1 to clinch their second straight postseason berth, officially punching their ticket to October. Now, with the playoff spot secured, the focus shifts to seeding. The Cubs enter the final weekend of the regular season battling for position in the NL Wild Card race. How important will these final games be? Can Chicago secure the top Wild Card spot and home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series, or could the seeding race come down to the final day? We break down PCA’s historic 40/40 season, potentially Ian Happ's last game at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs finally clinching their playoff spot, and everything that’s at stake this weekend as Chicago prepares for October. 312 SPORTS PRO SHOP: https://bit.ly/4e7bqyv The Best Replacement Windows And Doors At The Best Price. Chicagowindowguys.com Give Larine a try. Right now, Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/ivy Make sure to subscribe to... ✅ Dan Bernstein Unfiltered ✅ Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast 🏈 ✅ Organization Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast 🏀 ✅ Jason Goff Unscripted All links to YouTube, Apple, Spotify and more available on 312Sports.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Off the Ivy is your daily dose of Chicago Cubs talk. Dan Bernstein, Matt Abbatacola and Cody Delmendo bring you the hottest and most important stories from around the organization - every single day. Whether it's a walk-off win, a frustrating bullpen meltdown, a surprise call-up from Iowa, or the latest front office drama, we're reacting to it all with the passion and knowledge the Wrigley Field faithful deserve. New episode every day. Rain or shine. Win or lose. Subscribe, leave a review, and let's talk Cubs. Check out the full slate of 312 Sports podcasts at 312Sports.com

You Might Also Like