Onto Waveland: A show about the Chicago Cubs

In the least surprising bit of news to come from Cubs camp this spring, David Ross named Kyle Hendricks the Opening Day starter. Meanwhile, at the other end of the Cubs rotation, Sahadev Sharma dove into Trevor Williams' arsenal, with help from the pitcher himself. Brett, Sahadev and Patrick get into both ends of the rotation on this episode of Onto Waveland. Plus, the guys discuss the report that...

Opening Day is less than two weeks away, and three of the players most identifiable with this era of Cubs baseball remain in the final year of their current contracts. Will the Cubs extend Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez and/or Kris Bryant sign extensions? Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss on this episode of Onto Waveland. Plus, the guys get into what has been a very nice spring f...

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave the green light for Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field to open back up at the start of the season, a great sign for what's to come this spring and summer on both sides of Chicago. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Brett, Sahadev and Patrick discuss the return of fans in 2021, with an ode to one particular Wrigley fixture. Then, the guys get into the back end...

The day Cubs fans have been anticipating for years has finally arrived: The team has reportedly agreed to a deal with Eric Sogard. Kidding aside, the Sogard signing gives us an excuse to talk about the one seemingly unsettled starting position going into the spring, second base. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get into the second base position, with a focus on Nico Hoerner and Davi...

The Cubs rotation may have the least strikeout upside of any in the league. But guess what? The group's pitch-to-contact ways line up awfully well with an infield that features at least two elite defenders in Javy Báez and Anthony Rizzo, and potentially a third if Nico Hoerner becomes the regular second baseman. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Brett Taylor and Sahadev Sharma dive into the relati...

Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to Mesa on February 17, making it the perfect day to bring back the regular production of Onto Waveland. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney will be with you every week through the end of the season, getting things started by taking a look at where the roster stands heading into spring training. A lot has happened since the last episode of Onto Wavel...

It isn't often that we publish two episodes of Onto Waveland in one week in January, but all the Cubs-related news that materialized this week called for it. First, the Mets fired GM Jared Porter after an ESPN story detailed that he harassed a female reporter with unwanted, unsolicited, explicit text messages while he was employed by the Cubs in 2016. Then, the Jon Lester era came to an end when t...

Spring Training is just about one month away, and with the arbitration filing deadline now in the past, there are no more signposts between where we are now and the reporting date for pitchers and catchers. That means there's no more putting off an offseason where the Cubs will have to be relatively active, given the holes that still exist on the roster. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mo...

Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain how Sahadev and Patrick broke the story that Yu Darvish was being traded to the Padres. Then the guys explain why the deal makes sense even if it has upset many fans. Finally a look at the rest of the offseason and what types of moves the Cubs could still make to remain competitive in the NL Central. Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation F...

The seismic changes for the Cubs keep coming, and the latest one was completely unforeseen. Len Kasper is the latest mainstay to leave the Cubs, opting for the White Sox' radio booth instead of remaining the TV voice of the Cubs. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma—who broke the Kasper news—and Patrick Mooney focus on Kasper's departure on this episode of Onto Waveland. They dive into Len's decision, the...

The Theo Epstein Era has come to an end on the North Side of Chicago, with the team's most successful executive stepping down on November 17. Jed Hoyer is now in the big chair, taking over as the team's president of baseball operations. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the massive change in the Cubs' front office on this episode of Onto Waveland. They consider the differe...

We close the book on our offseason preview for the Cubs on this episode of Onto Waveland with a look at the rotation. Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay will be back, but Jon Lester, José Quintana and Tyler Chatwood are impending free agents. Could the Cubs bring back any of them? Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down. Follow Brett on Twitter: @Bl...

If the Cubs are going to make a big splash in the offseason, it will more likely be via trade than free agency. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney consider the trade value of key Cubs, including Willson Contreras, Craig Kimbrel and Kris Bryant, on this episode of Onto Waveland. Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter...

From D.J. LeMahieu and Michael Brantley, to Justin Turner and Shin-soo Choo, there is no shortage of impending free agents who could address some of the Cubs' greatest needs on offense. And yet, the Cubs may not have the funds available to even think about signing any of them. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss that unfortunate reality on this episode of Onto Waveland. Follo...

Theo Epstein's introspective end-of-season press conferences are becoming an all-too-common occurrence for Cubs fans, even though the transparency and insight is appreciated. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss the 2020 version and what it means for the Cubs, including Epstein's future with the team, on this episode of Onto Waveland. Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Fol...

The Cubs' season ended with a whimper this week, with the team scoring one run across two games in a Wild Card Series sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss the all-too-predictable end to the Cubs' season on this episode of Onto Waveland. Follow Beller on Twitter: @MBeller Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitte...

The 2020 MLB postseason is underway, and the Cubs kick off their Wild Card Round series with the Marlins on Wednesday. Brett Taylor and Sahadev Sharma break down the strangeness of this particular postseason, the state of the Cubs heading into the series with the Marlins, the pitching matchups, and more on this episode of Onto Waveland. Rundown 0:40 The uniqueness of the 2020 MLB postseason 7:47 B...

The good news is that the Cubs are headed to the postseason. The bad news is that they're falling apart once again over the last week of September. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss the Cubs' continued offensive struggles, and look ahead to the postseason, on this episode of Onto Waveland. Rundown 2:28 The anatomy of another September collapse 9:14 Looking back at the Pirat...

Kris Bryant left Monday's win over the Pirates with an oblique issue, and it could be some time before he's able to return to the field. José Quintana, however, will make his return to the mound on Tuesday, six days before the postseason begins. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss how the latest on Bryant and Quintana affects the Cubs as they start to turn their eyes toward the...

The Cubs have yet to clinch a postseason berth, but it's almost certainly just a matter of time. So what will the team do with its remaining games in the regular season? How will it prepare for a first-round series that could very well come against a team they haven't played all year? And what sort of 2020 realties will drag into the offseason? Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney dive...

Entering the ninth inning against the Brewers on Saturday, the Cubs had scored eight runs in their previous 41 innings, and all eight of those came in the same game. One big swing from Jason Heyward against Josh Hader changed all that, and then Alec Mills put an exclamation point on the weekend with the 16th no-hitter in franchise history. Brett Taylor and Sahadev Sharma dive into the most dramati...

Believe it or not, the Cubs' 8-5 win over the Reds on Thursday was one of the team's only true comeback victories of the season. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss that fact through the lens of the Cubs' offense. They also dive into the bullpen's recent success, the team's performance against aces, and the expected look of the rotation over...

Yu Darvish is likely the NL Cy Young frontrunner, while Kyle Hendricks is as reliable a No. 2 starter as there is in the league. Behind them, however, the Cubs' rotation has nothing but questions. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney try to answer some of those on this episode of Onto Waveland. Rundown 3:00 The Five-Game Series with the Cardinals 4:16 What Happens Behind Darvish and Hen...

The Cubs are looking at filling the rotation without José Quintana and Tyler Chatwood for the second time this season. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney broke down how they'll do that (hint: It won't just be by slotting Adbert Alzolay into the rotation) on this episode of Onto Waveland. The guys also discuss the Cubs embracing their chirpy reputation. Rundown 3:13 José Quintana and T...

The Cubs brought in four new players in trades leading up to the deadline, acquiring left-handed relievers Josh Osich and Andrew Chafin, designated hitter José Martinez, and outfielder Cameron Maybin. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down those moves, plus the return of Kris Bryant, on this episode of Onto Waveland. Rundown 1:38 Cubs Get Active During a Busy Trade Deadline 4...