Cubs Insider

Greg and Jimmy are back after a few weeks! The guys discuss their recent live MLB draft episode of The Rant hosted by Cubs Insider with guests Evan Altman and Todd Johnson. Next, the guys give analysis of Cubs draft picks Ed Howard, (9:47), Burl Carraway (21:10), Jordan Nwogu (32:02), Luke Little (43:04), and Koen Moreno (52:05).

The MLB Draft is quickly approaching and the guys sat down to talk about it! Greg and Jimmy break down the logistics behind this year's draft and discuss how the number of draft picks will limit teams and change how players approach the process (3:30). They then looked into the new man in charge of the draft for the Cubs and how he will change things for this front office (22:30). The guys spend t...

Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen joins Greg and Jimmy for their newest episode of the Growing Cubs Podcast. Alex discusses what he is doing with his time in a world without baseball due to Covid-19 (2:59), his career path as a broadcaster (9:11), players who have impressed him the most both on and off the field (27:15), and who he was excited to watch play for the Iowa Cubs in 2020 (39:35). Greg a...

The guys are joined by the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Cory Abbott, in episode three of quaratine-cast. Before the interview starts, Greg and Jimmy analyze what MiLB contraction means for baseball moving forward (2:30). Once Abbott finally joins the team, he talks about how he is staying in shape during the pandemic (20:30) and explains his new mechanical adjustments based on his use of...

In this episode of The Growing Cubs Podcast, friend and former high school teammate, Luke Smith, talks the new potential format for the 2020 MLB Draft (02:42 & 34:25), Louisville baseball including MLB Draft prospects, Reid Detmers and Bobby Miller (08:50), the infamous F-bomb during the College Baseball World Series (16:13), current Cubs prospect Michael McAvene (25:50), his career trajectory fro...

Greg and Jimmy were able book another guest to keep you guys occupied! Michael Ernst of Cubs Den provides incredible insights about almost anything you can imagine. He leads off the episode by talking about how he got into writing thanks to the best to ever do it, John Arguello. We give Michael plenty of time to reminisce on his thoughts on Javy Baez as he ascended through the system (14:30). The...

In their new episode of the Growing Cubs podcast, Greg and Jimmy discuss the repercussions the Corona Virus will have on Minor League Baseball, including MiLB players pay (1:05), the Major League Baseball draft and draftees (23:40), how players will look on a HoF ballot with a season cut short (37:20), Cubs prospects injuries (44:40), and an update on the podcasts schedule with the postponement of...

Back in the GC studio, Jimmy and Greg get the opportunity to talk about all of the prospects getting playing time in Major League camp (3:30). After getting distracted by the hilarity of the Baltimore Orioles' bullpen, the guys dive into analysis of a couple players: former and now current Cub Michael Rucker (18:45) and big righty Chris Clarke (24:45). They wrap up the show by discussing their fav...

Greg and Jimmy are back after over a week of spring training! The guys discuss the players that have impressed so far this spring, including the often mentioned player on the show PJ Higgins. They spend the rest of their time predicting the kind of season Cole Roederer, Kohl Franklin, Ryan Jensen, Chase Strumpf, and Cory Abbott will have.

Baseball games have finally arrived! Big league Spring Training games began and that means we get to watch some prospects playing as well. The guys spend the first half of the episode breaking down the performance of some of the minor leaguers in Mesa (1:50), specifically Trent Giambrone's big weekend (3:00) and Dakota Mekkes with his new found velocity (15:25). Greg and Jimmy then finish off the...

In this episode of the Growing Cubs Podcast, Greg and Jimmy come out swinging on the Houston Astros and Rob Manfred. Then, on a lighter note, they discuss Nico Hoerner's arms and whether or not he could start at 2nd Opening Day (13:12), followed by speculation on David Ross's ability to coach prospects (25:05). They end the second half of the episode talking about FanGraphs top 100 prospect list (...

It is the ultimate Cubs blogging crossover episode this week as Cubs Insider meets Bleacher Nation with Greg and Jimmy sitting down with Bryan Smith, the prospect writer over at BN. With the release of Bryan's brand new 2020 Cubs prospect list, the trio digs into it starting with Bryan's personal cheeseballs (5:30). The guys talk about the mental side of the juiced baseballs in Triple-A and how it...

The guys are back with episode 21! First things first, Jimmy and Greg reminisce about former cub Rafael Dolis and his new signing with the Toronto Blue Jays (0:46). Then, Jimmy and Greg bring back the very missed news and notes segment to give their thoughts on Nico Hoerner in the leadoff spot (6:49), update everyone on the Cubs Convention farm panel (13:05), Alzolay's changeup (16:55), and Rule 5...

The guys are back for episode 20! Jimmy and Greg discuss the Tony Kemp Trade (0:58), Prospect Live's new Cubs prospect list (6:18), Jimmy's Prospect List (37:52), and a listener question that asks which prospects have a shot at the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation (47:27). Listen for why Jimmy believes the sidearmer/submarine is now dead with the three batter minimum and Greg's pick for the College...

Unfortunately, the guys were not gifted any minor league news to discuss for the holidays. So what better way to spend their time together than by running through MLB Pipeline's prospect lists from the waning days of Jim Hendry to the height of the rebuild? Greg and Jimmy start back in 2011 and give their thoughts on everyone from Vitters to Bryant to Torres. (Related: Check out the 2014 Cubs top...

In a jam-packed episode, the guys sit down to talk about the newest Cubs prospect list that was released from Baseball America (1:10), mourn the system's losses from the Rule 5 draft (12:45), and talk with first base prospect Tyler Durna (26:45). We give Durna a chance to throw some shade back at his roommate and fellow prospect Andy Weber and he talks about the jump from D2 college baseball to be...

Acknowledging the new decade in Cubs baseball, Greg and Jimmy discuss the new additions, and who was left out, of the Cubs 40-Man roster as well as the new directors of hitting and pitching. Also, the guys discuss Rob Manfred's proposal to trim minor league baseball teams before answering listener questions from Twitter. 40-Man Roster Additions: 3:25 New Minor League Coaches: 29:15 Manfred's Propo...

Jimmy and Greg sit down with prospect and infielder Andy Weber after his impressive season in South Bend. He gives all the details on his approach at the plate going into the 2020 campaign, talks about how he ended up playing shortstop for the Cubs after his career at second base, and Greg changes his mind on the whole "batting around" conundrum.

Greg and Jimmy sit down with one of the writers at Cubs Insider, and Cubs minor league baseball guru, Todd Johnson. In their conversation they discuss Todd's top 21 list of Cub's prospects, some of the guys who could potentially be added to the 40-man roster, and some predictions for the Cubs system next year. Spoiler alert: Todd also believes a hot dog is not a sandwich.

This week the boys talk with pitching prospect Jack Patterson. The left hander really jumped on the scene this year and he goes in depth on his crazy ride from being a kid from Connecticut to being completely out of baseball in college, to being one of the top prospects in the system. His draft story is quite the doozy and he tells all about his relationship with Miguel Amaya, Jeff Passantino, and...

Before talking with Twitter verified pitching prospect Kohl Franklin, Jimmy and Greg discuss the Cubs prospects in the Arizona Fall League and what they would like to see the Cubs choose with the 16th overall pick in next years baseball draft. When they get to their conversation with Kohl Franklin, the guys discuss Kohl's superb season in Eugene, what happened the day he was drafted, and they deba...

The guys kick off the offseason with the first ever Growing Cubs guest! Pitching prospect Jeff Passantino joins Greg and Jimmy to talk about everything from what it was like playing with Ben Zobrist to his high school days with Dan Vogelbach.

Before they move on to a new show format for the minor league offseason, Greg and Jimmy give out awards to Cubs prospects such as Most Likely to Coach and Hitter of the Year. Listen to them discuss why they chose each player for their award, and be sure to listen to who won the 2019 Growing Cubs Podcast Co-Host of the Year Award.

On the very last Growing Cubs episode of the Minor League Baseball regular season, Greg and Jimmy take a deep dive into the Arizona Fall League rosters headlined by Nico Hoerner and Miguel Amaya. The duo is not surprised by anything Cory Abbott does anymore and they swoon over Richard Gallardo. They long for the days of the long ball in the system and mentally prepare themselves for next week's aw...

This week's episode includes the return of the Dudes and Duds segment! Greg and Jimmy also discuss the red-hot Miguel Amaya and sweet swinging Cole Roederer as well as the overload of pitching depth currently in Tennessee and Iowa.