Cubs Talk Podcast

The Cubs and the MLB seem to have a shortage of testing materials to test players for coronavirus after it was agreed upon by the players and the owners. David Kaplan, Gordon Wittenmyer, and Maddie Lee discuss the issue and what could it mean for the season. They also dive into the lack of Cubs pitching with Jose Quintana being sidelined, and they make predictions on how many games the Cubs will w...

While trying to get the season going, the MLB and baseball as a whole is starting to address another problem, the lack of diversity. NBCS Cubs reporter Maddie Lee is joined by former Cub and professor Doug Glanville, host Laurence Holmes, and Eugene McIntosh of Its the Bigs media to discuss ways MLB and baseball needs to address the issues and how they can benefit from it. (2:00) - Ian Desmonds co...

As the start to the season looms closer, there are still things to consider before the first pitch gets thrown. David Kaplan and Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer discuss potential hurdles MLB could face and the different scenarios the League should be looking at. Later on in the pod, they dive into comments made by Rockies infielder Ian Desmond on the state of race and inclusion in baseball and in A...

David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer are joined by Cub Ian Happ as they discuss why the negotiations got so ugly between the players and owners and what will baseball look like for the 2020 season and beyond. Later on, Kaplan and Gordon talk about how can baseball proceed after a slew of positive Coronavirus tests from the Phillies. (1:42) - Happ on what baseball looks like to the public after ugly...

Baseball is back and ready to start. David Kaplan and the NBCS Cubs coverage team of Maddie Lee, Gordon Wittenmyer, and Tim Stebbins discuss what the 60 game season will look like, how the will the Cubs perform under the new conditions, and David and Gordon have a heated debate on the Jose Quintana trade. (1:40) - Could this have been worked out earlier to get in more games? (7:40) - After the bac...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer discuss the report that a deal was in place between the MLB owners and the players, but was a deal actually ready? TheY discuss what remains an issue, the meeting between Commissioner Rob Manfred and Players Union director Tony Clark, and later on in the pod, they discuss a trade that could have been between the Cubs and the Rockies for a swap w...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer, discuss the infamous 1998 MLB home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire with former Cubs catcher and current Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais. Later on in the podcast, Cubs writers for NBCS Chicago Maddie Lee and Tim Stebbins join the podcast to discuss MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's comments that he's not confident that there wi...

David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer discuss drafting Ed Howard and Anthony Rizzo’s new workout plan, plus Leila Rahimi talks with former Cub Matt Szczur about his Sammy Sosa-inspired artwork and what it was like having Mark McGwire as his hitting coach. 1:30 Reaction to drafting Mt. Carmel’s Ed Howard in the first round 4:45 If there was a baseball season, would Howard have been on the board at 16?...

On this Cubs Talk Podcast David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer debate if Sammy Sosa will return to Wrigley Field and the chances of baseball returning in 2020. 1:30 Sammy Sosa says he wants to return to the Cubs 3:30 Would bringing Sammy back to Wrigley be the feel-good story we need right now? 6:00 Gordon won’t vote for Sosa for the Hall of Fame 10:30 St. Louis Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt says MLB...

Former Cub and now field coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bobby Scales joins the podcast with host David Kaplan and Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss the racial injustice in America, and the experience of a black baseball player in the MLB. (1:55) - America is in a dark place right now (9:40) - Racial issues in the MLB (16:20) - There is a reason protests are going on around the country (24:58)...

Host David Kaplan is joined by Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee, and Eugene McIntosh co-founder of "The Bigs" sports media, to have an open and honest discussion about the murder of George Floyd, the many protests around the country, and how can we all impact change all through the lens of baseball.

Host David Kaplan is joined by the NBCS Cubs coverage team of Gordon Wittenmyer, Maddie Lee, and Tim Stebbins to discuss the negotiations between the MLB owners and players that have seemingly broken down. They also dive into the Cubs' financial situation and how the pandemic is impacting them and could it mean they start parting ways with key pieces. (1:37) - Where are the negotiations headed? (5...

Host David Kaplan is joined by Gordon Wittenmyer to discuss and update the back and forth between the MLB owners and players, and just how far are the two sides are in coming to a deal. Later on, Gordon Wittenmyer interviews the author of the book "The Wax Pack", Brad Balukjian to discuss his book about baseball cards and the players connected to them. (1:25) - If a deal gets done, it should happe...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer are joined by Dr. Robert Citronberg Director of infectious disease for Lutheran General Hospital to discuss the updated plan by the MLB to start the season and the potential hurdles the league will have to clear in order to play. (1:30) - Any plan should have the health and safety of the players first (5:23) - Could the MLB plan work in other sp...

Host David Kaplan and Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer talk with former Cub Ryan Theriot on the 2008 Cubs, the difficult decision the players face in trying to return to start the season, his potential career in broadcasting, and his thoughts on the Cubs/Cards rivalry. (3:45) - Emotional for Theriot watching the 2016 Cubs win the World Series (7:50) - Thoughts on what the players union should do (13...

MLB agent Scott Boras joins David Kaplan to discuss the issues plaguing baseball during the coronavirus, what is preventing the players and owners from coming to an agreement, and what will baseball look like once it's back. Later on in the podcast, The NBC Sports Chicago Cubs coverage team of Gordon Wittenmyer and Tim Stebbins discusses the state of baseball with new member Maddie Lee. (1:25) - T...

Chicago in the '90s was all about Michael Jordan and the Bulls, so what was it like for the other major teams during that time? Host Laurence Holmes discusses this with four coaches who led teams in the shadow of the Bulls during that time. From the Blackhawks former coach Craig Hartsburg, from the Cubs Jim Riggleman, from the White Sox Gene Lamont, and from the Bears Dave Wannstedt, all come toge...

As the owners send another proposal to the players to try and start the season, there is a chance this all could help the Cubs. Host David Kaplan is joined by NBCS Chicago Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer as they discuss the new proposal by the owners, how this stalled season can help the Cubs, and David Kaplan predicts what Theo Epstein with pursue after he reaches his 10 years with the Cubs. (1:40...

As Major League Baseball plans to send another proposal to the Players Union to try and prepare for a season, maybe they should take some extra precautions before agreeing. Host David Kaplan is joined by Gordon Wittenmyer and they talk with Dr. Robert Citronberg, Director of infectious disease for Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and he discusses his concerns about MLB wanting to start a season...

In a special bonus episode of the Cubs Talk podcast NBCS Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer, discusses the 65 year anniversary of the dropped ball by Hall of Famer Willie Mays off the bat of Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. Gordon is joined by author of the Willie Mays biography "24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid", John Shea as they discuss that play, the friendship of Mays and Banks, a...

As Major League Baseball figures out when and how they will start their season, baseball's agent of the stars, Scott Boras writes his solution to start baseball, but is it viable? Host David Kaplan and NBCS Chicago Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer discuss Boras' plan, and could it work. They also discuss the passing of former Cubs executive Eldred "Salty" Saltwell. (1:22) - Scott Boras says teams sh...

World Series champion and former Cubs manager Joe Maddon joins host David Kaplan and NBCS Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer as they discuss how he connects with players, how will baseball be different when it returns, and does he have a similar philosophy to coaching as NBA Champion Phil Jackson. (5:06) - Learning how to manage people to get the most out of them (11:28) - Comparing Maddon's style to...

Host David Kaplan is joined by NBCS Chicago Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer and Lance McAlister, host at 700 WLW in Cincinnati, as they discuss the spending spree of the Reds this offseason including former Cub Nick Castellanos, will the Reds compete with the rest of the NL division, and should Pete Rose finally be able to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. (1:54) - Will there be baseball in 2020 (5:...

The 2020 Cubs roster is mired in uncertainty. There are players are up for extensions and deals, and management figuring out is this still a team with a winning window. It sounds similar to another Chicago team, the 1998 Last Dance Bulls. Host David Kaplan and NBCS Chicago Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer discuss the similarities of the 2 teams. Later in the podcast, they get into the financial unce...

In 2015 the Cubs were riding high and on their way to the 1st playoff game in years and the start of the consecutive playoff trips for the current Cubs. Jeff Nelson, Tim Stebbins, and Nate Poppen discuss all the details about that win and some details you may not have known about that game. (2:25) - Why were the Cubs in the Wildcard game seemingly too early in the rebuild (10:00) - Tommy La Stella...