Club 1:20 - A Chicago Cubs Podcast

The Cubs entered the season with a plan for their pitching staff... but injuries had other ideas. In the debut episode of The Margin, Nate takes a closer look at just how many innings have been thrown by replacement pitchers after key members of the Opening Day rotation landed on the injured list. Has the Cubs' depth been enough to keep them in the race, or is the margin beginning to shrink? The M...

June may have changed everything for the Cubs... or maybe it just changed the conversation. In Season 2, Episode 22 of Club 1:20, we're asking whether the Cubs have finally earned our trust after a strong month of baseball. On today's lineup card: ⭐ The Real MVPete – Did June turn Pete Crow-Armstrong into a legitimate National League MVP candidate? 💼 Business Decisions – Alex Bregman says avoidi...

Season 2, Episode 21 of Club 1:20 asks a question Cubs fans are starting to wrestle with: Are the Cubs actually playing better baseball… or is Pete Crow-Armstrong carrying the whole thing?   On today’s lineup card: ⭐ Public Enemy PCA – Is Pete Crow-Armstrong becoming MLB’s next great villain… or simply becoming too good for the rest of baseball to ignore? 🚑 Pitching Peril – Another Cubs pitcher...

Season 2, Episode 20 of Club 1:20 asks a simple question: What exactly are the Cubs? Pete Crow-Armstrong is playing like a superstar, but the Cubs continue to search for consistency as the season rolls on. On today's lineup card: ⭐ The PCA Show – Has Pete Crow-Armstrong officially arrived as a superstar? And is the supporting cast turning a blockbuster into a comedy? 😬 Dansby Dilemma – At .174,...

Season 2, Episode 19 of Club 1:20 tackles the biggest questions facing the Cubs as the season enters a critical stretch. On today's lineup card: MLB Lockout Questions – The owners and players have submitted proposals. What does it actually mean? RiSPY Business – The Cubs create chances. Why can't they hit with runners in scoring position? Finally Fatigued – Are injuries finally catching up to the...

  Season 2, Episode 18 of Club 1:20 dives headfirst into the Cubs’ brutal 10-game losing streak and asks the question every fan is asking right now: Who are the Cubs… really? On today’s lineup card: Is It Hot in Here… – The Cubs have lost 10 straight. Who’s feeling the most heat? 3 Up / 3 Down – Even during a collapse, some things are trending up… and some are spiraling. Hitters Hit – Who’s the be...

Season 2, Episode 17 of Club 1:20 asks the question Cubs fans are wrestling with right now: Are the Cubs actually slumping… or is this just the emotional roller coaster of a 162-game season? On today’s lineup card: Are We Streaking or Slumping? – Baseball is 162 games. Are Cubs fans getting too dramatic? For Pete’s Sake – PCA: emotional competitor… or emotional wildfire? Craig’s Lemonade Stand – H...

Season 2, Episode 16 of Club 1:20 takes a hard look at what the Cubs really are as the season starts taking shape. On today’s lineup card: Feast or Famine – Are the Cubs an offensive juggernaut… or too inconsistent to trust? The Cavalry Is Coming… Right? – Injury updates, Iowa reinforcements, and whether the Cubs need outside help. House of Cards – Is the starting rotation sustainable… or barely h...

Season 2, Episode 13 of Club 1:20 breaks down a streaky stretch of Cubs baseball — from hot runs to cold dips — and what it actually means for this team. On today’s lineup card: Going Streaking – 10 up, 3 down. Are the Cubs just a high-low streaky team? Stix vs. Swords – The battle tightens (Stix 270 – Swords 243). Which side do we trust more right now? Mo Baller Mashes – Is Mo Baller forcing his...

Season 2, Episode 14 of Club 1:20 comes to you from the airport ✈️ — as the Cubs catch fire with a 9-game winning streak. Nate and Neil break down a huge stretch for the Cubs and what it means moving forward… all while on the move. On today’s conversation: Going Streaking – Cubs win 2 of 3 in Philly, sweep the Mets, then sweep the Phillies for 9 straight wins Hot Stick – Which bats (and players) a...

Season 2, Episode 13 of Club 1:20 takes a deeper look at early-season trends, roster movement, and whether Cubs fans are reacting to real issues… or just April baseball. On today’s lineup card: Find Some Green – Is the lost art of being a “good hitter” hurting this Cubs offense? Farm Fresh – Bullpen callups and the Iowa shuttle begin early. Buying time or finding real impact? 3 Up & 3 Down – T...

Season 2, Episode 12 of Club 1:20 tackles adversity early in the season as the Cubs deal with another major injury and a slow start. On today’s lineup card: Folded Ace (Again) – Cade Horton goes down. Will the Cubs stay patient… or finally make a move? Nate’s Dawg Pound – Who’s in, who’s out, and who’s setting the tone right now. Potholes to Palencia – The bullpen is under construction. How do the...

Season 2, Episode 11 of Club 1:20 dives into early-season reactions, roster construction, and what we’re already learning about this Cubs team. On today’s lineup card: The Art of the Deal – Bregman, PCA extension, Nico situation… one word to define the Cubs’ offseason. ABS Ego Check – Who will the automated strike zone impact more: players or umpires? Stix vs. Swords – Weekly update (Stix 34 – Swo...

Season 2, Episode 10 of Club 1:20 brings Opening Day energy as the Cubs kick off what could be the start of their championship window. On today’s lineup card: Cub 4 Life – The Cubs extend Pete Crow-Armstrong. Smart move or too soon? Surprised or Snubbed – Final roster decisions. Who got left out and what surprised us? Make a Statement – Does Opening Day actually matter… or is it just Game 1 of 162...

Season 2, Episode 9 of Club 1:20 features Nate flying solo after spending four days in Mesa watching Cubs Spring Training up close. This week, Nate reports back with real observations, insights, and takeaways you won’t get from the box score. On today’s lineup card: Mesa Minutes – Boots-on-the-ground notes from Cubs camp Triple-A Roster Outlook – Who’s close and who’s still a step away The Bullpen...

Season 2, Episode 8 of Club 1:20 dives into World Baseball Classic drama, spring injury concerns, player stock reports, and the biggest question facing the Cubs organization. On today’s lineup card: PCA – American Soldier – Can Pete Crow-Armstrong help save Team USA from crashing out of the World Baseball Classic? Early Injuries – Jonathan Long, Jordan Wicks, Porter Hodge… real concern or just spr...

Season 2, Episode 7 of Club 1:20 dives into international baseball, spring roster decisions, pitching development, and the first real Opening Day lineup debates. On today’s lineup card: WBC Wide Open – Will the World Baseball Classic bring real drama this year? Which of the 13 Cubs involved can benefit the most from the experience? More Please – Which player deserves more opportunity before camp w...

Season 2, Episode 6 of Club 1:20 dives into spring training signals, roster battles, lineup construction, and the rising spotlight on Pete Crow-Armstrong. On today’s lineup card: Spring Counts, Right? Does spring training mean nothing… or does it tell us something small but real? Spring Sparks: Who’s locked in early, and what’s the first real roster job actually up for grabs? Is Rojas forcing the...

Season 2, Episode 5 of Club 1:20 dives into expectations, roles, and identity as Cubs camp heats up. On today’s lineup card: 5 Dollar Words: Jed says the energy in camp is “palpable.” Is this unfinished business… or a fresh start? Higher Expectations: Are the Cubs actually better than last year — or just louder? Craig’s Counsel: Danny Palencia named closer. Right move or psychological play? Crazy...

Season 2, Episode 4 of Club 1:20 is all spring training energy as the Cubs get ready for another run at the NL Central. Nate and Neil break down what they’re seeing, what actually matters, and what might just be noise. On today’s lineup card: Sunrise Mesa Time: One word that defines this Cubs spring training so far. Rumors Die Hard: Gallen chatter, Red Sox buzz, and how much spring rumors really m...

Season 2, Episode 3 of Club 1:20 is all about value, depth, and pressure as the Cubs head deeper into a win-now window. On today’s lineup card: Nico’s Numbers: Nico Hoerner wants to be a Cub for life — but what’s the price tag? Down on the Farm: Early prospect flashes from Kipp, Florentino, and Wiggins. Bullpen Bullies Are Back: Cubs miss on a big-name closer. Is bullpen-by-committee more Craig Co...

Season 2 rolls on with Episode 2 of Club 1:20, and the conversation gets bigger — not just about the Cubs, but Chicago sports as a whole. This week, Nate and Neil take a step back, zoom out, and then drill right back into the North Side. On today’s lineup card: Buzzing Around Town: Are we living in a golden age of Chicago sports — or just riding offseason optimism? Damn the Dodgers: Here we go aga...

Season 2 of Club 1:20 starts with a bang — and the Cubs look like a team done waiting. In Season 2, Episode 1, Nate and Neil break down a franchise-shifting offseason that may have changed the Cubs’ competitive timeline overnight. This week’s lineup card: MIA Till Miami: New year, new ace? Jed Hoyer flips the Cubs’ #1 prospect to land Edward Cabrera. Bold move or risky bet? Big Bat Hunter: It took...

Episode 40 of Club 1:20 is here — and we’re kicking off Thanksgiving week with big Cubs news, Big Board shake-ups, roster moves, rumors, and a little gratitude along the way. This week’s lineup card: Big Board Updates: Free agents already coming off the board — Shota returns to the Cubs for 2026, and Josh Naylor stays in Seattle. Shota Returns: Do we like the deal? Love it? Hate it? Or is this the...

It’s time to hand out some hardware! 🏆 Episode 39 of Club 1:20 is our official 2025 Club 1:20 Awards Show & Free Agent Big Board Special! Nate and Neil look back on the highs, lows, and surprises of the Cubs’ 2025 season — and then set the stage for the offseason with their Free Agent Big Board. This week’s lineup card: 🏆 The 2025 Club 1:20 Awards: Billy Williams Rookie of the Year – Which y...