Cubs Talk Podcast

Host David Kaplan and NBCS Chicago Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer, discuss the different opinions given by the players on if the MLB should rush to try and start the 2020 season. Later on, they remember and discuss the 2 lives of the Cubs family that were lost this week, Jim Frey and Glenn Beckert. (2:10) - Players discuss the potential plan of playing baseball in empty stadiums (6:35) - There is...

In an NCAA tournament-style bracket, the Cubs Talk pod crew of Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen, and Tim Stebbins discuss and rank the best Cubs pitchers in the last 20 years. How would you rank them and who would you take at the end? (2:00) - Which pitcher gets to be the number 1 seed in the tournament? (7:40) - Ryan Dempster vs Jeff Samardzija (15:25) - Kerry Wood vs Greg Maddux (21:50) - Jake Arrieta v...

Host David Kaplan is joined by NBCS Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer as they take questions from fans including, could the Cubs have traded for Justin Verlander, is Anthony Rizzo the greatest 1st basemen in Cubs history, and is Jon Lester a hall of famer pitcher. All those and more on the Cubs Talk podcast. (2:04) - As Lester's career closes, is he on his way to Cooperstown? (7:50) - Could MLB start...

In for David Kaplan, Jeff Nelson is joined by Luis Medina, Danny Rocket, and Michael Cerami of Outside the Ivy as they discuss creative ways Major League Baseball can start its season, how has this impacted baseball fans everywhere, and will the new rules the MLB will use will benefit new manager David Ross. (1:20) - Staying busy with no baseball to talk about (8:00) - How will David Ross manage i...

Filling in for host David Kaplan, NBCS Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer is joined by White Sox beat writer Vinnie Duber to discuss Major League Baseball trying to find ways to start the season. But what are the issues they have to consider before starting? Gordon and Vinnie discuss those issues including a possible shortened season and what these issues could mean for a re-tooling Cubs team and a re...

The 2016 Cubs World Series win was as epic a game 7 as any, but was it the greatest game 7 ever? Host David Kaplan is joined by NBCS Cubs insider Gordon Wittenmyer as they debate the Cubs World Series win. (1:50) - Is it an overreaction to say the Cubs World Series win was a great game? (5:45) - Does the importance of the Cubs winning make it the greatest ever? (8:20) - Comparisons to other game 7...

In for host David Kaplan, Jeff Nelson, Tim Stebbins, and Nate Poppen discuss and rank the best position players for the Cubs since the year 2000 in an NCAA style tournament. Did your favorite make the cut? (2:01) - Rankings 1-16 (7:00) - (5) Alfonso Soriano vs (12) Sammy Sosa (14:40) - (3) Kris Bryant vs (14) Jason Heyward (22:26) - (2) Javier Baez vs (15) Giovanni Soto (33:58) - The tournament fi...

David Kaplan is joined by NBC Sports Chicago's new Cubs Insider, Gordon Wittenmyer. They discuss where it all went wrong for cubs pitching and what the 2020 team vibe was like when Gordon was with them at Spring Training in Arizona. 2:50- Vibe at Cubs Spring Training before it was suspended 4:30- Was getting rid of Joe Maddon the right choice? 12:50- Do the Cubs need to make a move to get under th...

As the pause on baseball continues, host David Kaplan takes to Twitter and answers fan questions. Kap discusses everything from his starstruck interview to the season suspension and Kris Bryant’s contract. Follow Kap on Twitter @thekapman to send him your questions for future mailbag episodes. (1:48) Ernie Banks Interview (8:40) If Kap could pick a statue at Wrigley what would it be? (12:08) Kris...

As baseball takes a pause on the season, Jeff Nelson, Nate Poppen, and Tim Stebbins discuss their favorite memories of Cubs baseball to lightened up the mood. Later on, they discuss the Bulls Rewind on NBCS Chicago and discuss a 23 returning to Cubs baseball, hall of famer Ryne Sandberg. (1:30) - Response to David Kaplan on his favorite shortstops in Chicago baseball history (3:50) - Small memorie...

Host David Kaplan is cooped up inside as well but still takes your questions and comments on the Cubs and what the season will look like in 2020. Make sure to check this episode out, he may have answered your question. Follow Kap on twitter @thekapman to send him your questions for future mailbag episodes. (1:34) - Does a shorter season help out an old pitching staff? (3:45) - Will there be any ba...

By all accounts, Kris Bryant seemed to be one of the best defending 3rd basemen in the league, but could we be wrong? To discuss this, David Kaplan is joined by NBCS Chicago's number cruncher Chris Kamka, and Mark Simon of Sports Info Solutions to discuss how to measure the defensive play in baseball. And don't worry, Javy Baez is still the best shortstop in baseball. (1:45) - Why were the Cubs so...

Host Davis Kaplan is live from Arizona and gives updates on how Cubs Spring training is going. He discusses the starting rotation, a Brandon Morrow injury setback and what that could mean for the Cubs bullpen, and the progression of the Cubs hitters. (1:10) - Starting rotation update, Yu Darvish skips an outing (3:12) - Bullpen update, Brandon Morrow will miss 1st month of action (5:41) - Hitter's...

Even though the Cubs had a lackluster offseason, the roster wold suggest that they can still make noise in the NL Central. Filling in for host David Kaplan, Jeff Nelson and Nate Poppen play sound from Jed Hoyer and Nico Hoerner to discuss the expectations for this season, and relive the mic'd up Anthony Rizzo experience. (1:56) - Jed Hoyer on this season's expectations (5:10) - Reaction to Jed Hoy...

As the season draws closer, it's time to discuss every player that will be on the final roster on opening day. We start with Cubs veteran pitcher Jon Lester. Jeff Nelson sits in for David Kaplan and his he joined by NBCS Cubs writer Tim Stebbins and NBCS producer Nate Poppen to debate can Jon Lester help stabilize the starting rotation for at least 1 more season, and where do you place him in the...

NBCS Chicago is celebrating Black History Month with special episodes to discuss the impact of the black athlete in sports. In the final episode of the series, Laurence Holmes is joined by his "Football Aftershow" teammate and former Chicago Bear Alex Brown to discuss, making coaching in the NFL more diverse, is the Rooney Rule helping, and the common practice of moving black quarterbacks to other...

As new manager David Ross takes over for Joe Maddon, he intends to tweak the culture of the Cubs and set his own mark on the team. Filling in for host David Kaplan, Jeff Nelson is joined by Outside the Ivy and Bleacher Nation's Michael Cerami to discuss what kind of impact David Ross will have on the 2020 Cubs, what should be expected from the pitching staff and bullpen, and the uncertainty of who...

NBCS Chicago is celebrating Black History Month with special episodes to discuss the impact of the black athlete in sports. Chicago Sun Times feature story writer Evan F. Moore sits down with former Blackhawk and analyst for NBCS Chicago Jamal Mayers to discuss being a black athlete in hockey and what he's doing to help grow hockey in non traditional hockey communities. (3:00) - Why was it importa...

Kris Bryant has been deemed the lead-off hitter for your Chicago Cubs for the 2020 season. Will he be the key to unlock the offense for the Cubs this season? Does this fix the problems the Cubs have had as lead-off? Host David Kaplan is joined by the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales as they discuss the Cubs putting Bryant at lead-off, they also discuss will Theo Epstein's future with the Cubs, and...

Despite a disappointing off season the Cubs still have a competitive team for the 2020 season. Host David Kaplan has a round table discussion with the NBCS Chicago Cubs content team of Jeff Nelson, Danny Rocket, and Tim Stebbins to discuss how they see this team performing in the 2020 season and the subtle jabs at former manager Joe Maddon. (1:30) - Where is the excitement level for the 2020 seaso...

Pitchers and catchers have reported and the realization that the Cubs won't make any needed moves until Kris Bryant is traded is starting to become reality. Host David Kaplan is joined by Outside the Ivy Cubs postgame show and Bleacher Nation's Luis Medina to discuss the quiet off-season and what to expect in the 2020 season. (1:40) - Surprisingly disappointed at the Cubs this off-season (4:00) -...

Host David Kaplan is live from the auto show with 670 the Score host David Haugh to discuss Kris Bryant's future as a Cub, still no acquisitions made by the Cubs, and the Cubs refusal to enter this season in the luxury tax. (1:36) - Is Kris Bryant a Cub opening day? (4:07) - Cubs have added 0 impact talent (8:10) - Starting lineup for the Cubs right now (11:35) - Cubs will not go into the luxury t...

NBCS Chicago is celebrating Black History Month with special episodes to discuss the impact of the black athlete in sports. To start the series Laurence Holmes interviews former Cub, now baseball analyst Doug Glanville as they discuss his experience in baseball, and the change that black athletes have brought in baseball. (0:53) - The legacy of black history and sports (5:47) - Should an athlete s...

Host David Kaplan is joined by Cubs content producer for NBCS Chicago Jeff Nelson, and White Sox content producer Ryan McGuffey as they discuss the PECOTA projections for the 2020 Cubs and who would make the ALL-CHICAGO team from the Cubs and Sox. (1:35) - PECOTA projections for the Cubs pitching staff (4:20) - Position players PECOTA projections/How teams view Kris Bryant (6:45) - Start of the AL...

Host David Kaplan provides clarity on the reason why Kris Bryant hasn't been traded yet. Along with NBCS Chicago's Cubs content producer Jeff Nelson, Kaplan explains what he's hearing from sources around the league about Kris Bryant, and what he's been told about what happened with the Joe Maddon/Cubs breakup after last season. (2:54) - Kaplan discusses how the league views Kris Bryant from source...