Onto Waveland: A show about the Chicago Cubs

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Javy Báez's two-homer game on Monday was a much-needed performance from a player who will go a long way toward determining what kind of season the Cubs end up having. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney pronounce him back, with tongue only somewhat in cheek, on this episode of Onto Waveland. The guys also discuss the Cubs' woes with the bases loaded, the team's sudden rotation depth, a...

The Cubs are in the midst of a rivalry week, taking three of five from the Cardinals before hosting the White Sox for the first of two series between the two teams this season. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss the Cardinals series, the team's ability to win despite uneven offensive performances, Craig Kimbrel's resurgence, the need for a lefty in the bullpen, the White Sox s...

It had to happen eventually, right? The Cubs finally suffered their first setback of the season, dropping four straight games to the Brewers and Cardinals. They still have a comfortable lead in the NL Central, however, and got back on track in Monday's nightcap against the Cardinals, thanks to some pinch-hit heroics from David Bote (who else?). Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discu...

After an unexpected four-day layoff caused by the Cardinals' ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Cubs returned to the field on Tuesday, facing a step up in competition against the Indians. They swept the two-gamer in Cleveland, then kicked off this weekend's four-game set with the Brewers with another win. At 13-3, the Cubs have the best record in the majors, and they already have a stranglehold of the N...

The Cubs return to the field Tuesday after four days off because of COVID-related postponements in St. Louis. The Indians, too, have had their issues, with pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac in quarantine after breaking protocol and going out on the town in Chicago over the weekend. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss that on this episode of Onto Waveland. They also muse a...

All you can do is beat the team in front of you, which the Cubs have done 10 of 13 times this season. It must be said, however, that they haven't played the toughest competition in those 13 games. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney consider the Cubs record against the company they've kept on this episode of Onto Waveland. They also talk about David Ross' role in the team's hot start...

The Cubs enter play on Tuesday with the second-best record in the majors at 8-2 (the Yankees are 8-1). They've won eight of their first 10 thanks largely to the starters and offense covering up what has been an abysmal bullpen. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get into that bullpen—again—this time highlighting the emergence of Rowan Wick. They also...

Rundown 0:36 Anthony Rizzo Airs His Grievances 4:00 How Trustworthy are the Protocols? 8:02 Seven-Inning Doubleheaders and an Extension for Expanded Rosters 15:35 Does it Matter How Many Relievers the Cubs Have? 20:27 "No Good Answers" 22:59 Long-Term Considerations Related to 2020 Roster Decisions 29:19 Reinforcements from South Bend 32:05 An Opportunity over the Next Seven Games Follow Brett on...

Rundown 0:55 The Latest on the Marlins' and MLB's COVID-19 crisis 6:00 Craig Kimbrel's Issues 11:30 The Strangeness of the First Week 13:17 A Deep Dive Into the Bullpen 19:17 Could the Hitters Peak as the Bullpen Crashes? 21:12 How Great Was Tyler Chatwood? 24:29 Willson Contreras' Defensive Turnaround 26:53 A Look at the Offense Beyond Rizzo and Contreras Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation...

Rundown 1:24 Celebrating Opening Day...and the Comcast/Marquee Deal! 3:52 Baseball Faces its First In-Season Positive COVID-19 Test with Juan Soto 7:05 Optimism Surrounding How the Cubs Have Handled Things 9:59 Expanded Playoffs for 2020 18:47 This Weekend's Series with the Brewers 25:37 Final Preseason Thoughts about the Cubs Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sa...

Rundown 1:30 Reactions to Exhibition Games with the White Sox 5:18 Offense is the Key to the Season 6:51 The Core (Rizzo, Bryant, Báez, Contreras), and the Supporting Cast 10:04 Does the Offense Have to Carry the Team? 13:01 Jason Heyward's Role 18:56 Desire for a Set Lineup 20:39 A Sense of Urgency Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick o...

Rundown 1:19 Good News in the Latest Batch of Testing Statistics 5:44 Kyle Hendricks Deservingly Gets the Opening Day Start 15:15 Can the Rotation Make or Break the Cubs? 22:21 Where's the Love for Jose Quintana? 24:28 The Upside of Opportunities for Unproven Relievers 28:06 Managing the Staff, Top to Bottom Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow...

Rundown 0:47 Willson Contreras on the Environment at Wrigley 2:56 Patrick Weighs in on the Cubs' Latest Testing Delay 6:58 What Happens in the Regular Season? 9:26 Concerns with the Decision-Making Process 17:14 Yu Darvish's Comments Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by vi...

Rundown 2:10 Feeling OK about Talking Just Baseball 5:25 Contreras' Intrasquad Homer off Kimbrel, Rizzo's Back Tightness, Press Box Normalcy 9:27 Diving into the Cubs' 2020 Schedule 10:46 The Idea of Homefield Advantage 15:38 The Reds' Interleague Advantage 19:17 Cubs at White Sox Season-Ending Series 22:03 Considering the Cubs' First 60 Games in 2019 24:30 Managing a Different Type of Grind 27:44...

Rundown 0:30 Opening Week Problems at Training Camp 2:47 Is This Even Possible? 4:55 David Ross' Statements on the Situation 8:04 The Supposed Easy Part 10:00 What Are the Signals That This Isn't Working? 12:09 Freddie Freeman's Positive Test 15:11 It All Depends on Trust 18:09 The Ubiquity of Change Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day...

Rundown 2:14 The Cardinals' Pitching Depth 3:38 Do the Reds Have the Division's Best Offense? 6:01 The Pirates' New-Look Front Office 7:00 Cubs Still Striving to Reach the Offense's Full Potential 8:55 Keston Hiura's Key Role for the Brewers 11:39 The DH Situations in St. Louis and Cincinnati 15:28 The Effects of José Quintana's Injury 20:28 How Can the Pirates Be a Thorn in Some Team's Side? 24:1...

Rundown 2:17 Ryan Dempster Joins Onto Waveland 3:51 The Landscape of the 2020 Season 6:36 David Ross' Handling of the Team This Year 8:58 Reinforces Messages of Accountability 12:09 It's Already Trade Deadline Time 14:35 Wrigleyville in the COVID-19 Era 16:20 'Off the Mound' with Ryan Dempster 23:30 Takeaways from the David Ross/Jed Hoyer Zoom Conference 30:29 First Look at the Cubs' 2020 Roster 3...

Rundown 2:30 Burl Carraway Joins the Show 2:45 The Whirlwind of the Last Three Months 4:00 Onboarding with the Cubs 5:20 Early Experience with Cubs Coaches and Staffers 6:25 Getting to Know Craig Breslow 7:19 Making the Taxi Squad? 8:14 Embracing Being a Reliever 9:24 First Zoom Meeting with the Cubs 10:44 Reaction on Social Media 12:28 The Wrigley Experience and Thank You, Burl 15:11 The Decision...

Rundown 0:25 Baseball is Back 3:10 Changes for 2020 5:07 The Ever-Present Challenges of COVID-19 8:14 End of the Transaction Freeze and Cubs Taxi Squad Musings 11:42 The August 31 Trade Deadline 14:47 The Possibility of Players Opting Out 16:53 How Do Front Offices Recalibrate Trade Value? 21:44 An Interesting Season for Cubs Fans Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter...

Rundown 0:27 Movement Toward a 2020 MLB Season 4:07 Why Was So Much Time Wasted? 9:07 Getting Excited for, and Being Realistic about, the Future 13:07 'When and 'Where' and the Owners' Response 19:36 The Ramping-Up Period for Pitchers Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Host...

Rundown 0:24 Rob Manfred's Latest Comments 6:58 The Players' Understanding of MLB's Labor History 9:43 Is It Good for the Overall Business of Baseball to Treat Every Decision as a Bottom-Line Business Decision? 13:00 How Manfred's Background Has Influenced the Negotiations 16:04 The Owners' Overwhelmingly Large Role 19:35 Recent Comments by Tom Ricketts and Bill DeWitt Jr. Follow Sahadev on Twitte...

Rundown 1:47 What Stood out about Ed Howard? 3:21 Brian Watching Ed in the LLWS...While at Wrigley Field 5:18 An Extremely Strong Work Ethic 8:04 Handling the Hometown Pressure 9:58 A Potentially Elite Glove at Shortstop 11:21 Offense Taking Off with Physical Growth 12:03 The Draft Background Process 15:24 Brian's Last Word on Ed Howard Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on T...

Rundown 2:34 The Cubs' Approach to the Draft Under Dan Kantrovitz 5:46 Player Development App in the Minor League System 8:52 Recruiting Experience 14:38 Putting Money into Player Development 19:46 Specific Challenges of the 2020 Draft Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by...

Rundown 1:16 Thank You, Adam 2:51 Re-Immersing Yourself in Where the Cubs Were Before the Shutdown 4:59 Good News on the Horizon? 8:58 The Latest on the MLB/MLBPA Tug of War 23:25 The Issue with Soft Deadlines 27:32 Is the Draft a Signpost Event for the 2020 Season? Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNation Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharma Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 3...