North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

It’s happening again. That small-market team in Milwaukee has taken control of the National League Central, leaving the Cubs to play catch-up and making their recent performance look even worse. What’s the current mood inside the clubhouse? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their insights and explain whether it’s time to panic. Their discussion also involves recent development...

After another rough showing by the offense Friday night in St. Louis, Sahadev takes your questions about why this group always has extended slumps at the plate, whether the lack of deadline moves impacted this team mentally and more. Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to joinbilt.com/FOUL . Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, be...

After an MVP-level start carried the Cubs into the summer, and fueled more talk about the huge contract he could command this winter, Kyle Tucker has slumped at an inopportune time. Is this a physical issue, a mechanical flaw or simply just the nature of a long baseball season? Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney pass along what they’re hearing. The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers also discuss the emer...

Hindsight is 20/20, but this was an immediate question following MLB’s trade deadline: Why didn’t the Cubs acquire another starter for the stretch run? Michael Soroka’s shoulder injury only amplified those concerns. What did the Cubs know about his time with the Nationals? How did his velocity dip factor into the deal? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they’ve learned. Pl...

Both of these things can be true: The Cubs significantly improved their roster and missed a great opportunity. Time will tell whether the Cubs made the right moves at the trade deadline, but Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are here to give you their instant analysis. The Athletic writers break down each deal, relay what Jed Hoyer’s front office was thinking and explain why the Cubs didn’t acquir...

With the trade deadline looming, the Cubs took one potential distraction off the table, finalizing a deal with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. What does this mean? And where do the Cubs go from here? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the timing, assess the Hoyer era thus far and describe the clubhouse reactions. While this rebuilding project now looks promising,...

The death of “Ryno” hit people hard. The Hall of Famer bonded generations of Cubs fans who watched him perform at Wrigley Field and on the WGN superstation. More than that, though, Ryne Dee Sandberg carried himself with grace and humility, playing the game the right way, as he so eloquently described in a memorable Cooperstown speech. For perspective, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Moon...

As the baseball industry heats up in late July, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to answer more questions from listeners. The trade deadline, of course, remains the big topic. Why have things been relatively quiet so far? What would it take to move Owen Caissie in a deal? Could the Cubs put some major-league players on the block? Plus more on the new-and-improved atmospher...

It’s no secret that the Cubs are actively searching for more pitching and trying to make deals within this final week before the trade deadline. Between injuries, organizational pressure and a neck-and-neck race with the Brewers, it’s inevitable that the Cubs will make additions to their rotation and bullpen. Who is on their radar? Virtually every player who might get traded this summer. But The A...

The Brewers will not let up, forcing the Cubs to stay on top of their game and turning this into a true division race. With the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney empty their notebooks and share what they’re hearing about the situation at third base, some new pitching names on the radar and how the bullpen could be reorganized for the playoff...

Looking ahead to the second half, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what Kyle Tucker has brought to the Cubs and the expectations that both sides have at this point. With Tucker being the potential No. 1 free agent this offseason, the Cubs have to maximize their time with the All-Star outfielder. What sort of trade chips will team president Jed Hoyer bring to the table? List...

With the All-Star break almost over, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney answer questions from listeners about the Cubs’ plans for the trade deadline and whether president of president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has already earned a contract extension. Plus a few more updates on what to expect in the second half.   Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to Ar...

The Cubs should enjoy their All-Star break, because they will be immediately tested. From a Brewers team that won’t go away to a pressure-packed trade deadline to the playoffs-or-bust expectations, there won’t be many dull moments. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney identify the major storylines that will determine whether this season is a success or a failure. Download the DraftKing...

Through their reporting, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have some on the names on Chicago’s radar as the baseball industry approaches the July 31 trade deadline. Besides specific targets, the two beat writers from The Athletic also explain the broader thinking in the front office and the clubhouse, how the Cubs are looking at both this year and next season while evaluating talent and all sorts...

It’s that time of year. Cubs officials are simultaneously preparing for the 2025 MLB Draft and the July 31 trade deadline. For insights and perspective on what’s going on behind the scenes at Wrigley Field, pay attention to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who sits down for a wide-ranging Q&A with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney. It’s a must-listen interview that g...

The Cubs put on a great show over the holiday weekend, dominating the Cardinals on the Fourth of July and “Sunday Night Baseball.” The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney compare their notes from Wrigley Field, sharing the latest on the club’s ideas for the trade deadline and beyond. Plus more on how the Cubs will navigate Jameson Taillon’s injury and why Matthew Boyd is such a deserving...

As a first-place team on the Fourth of July, the Cubs already know what direction they’re heading, planning to make big moves at the trade deadline at the end of the month. For an overview of what the front office is thinking at this moment, listen to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, who go over the club’s needs, the other teams to watch and the players who could be on the move by...

With two-thirds of the National League’s starting outfield, the Cubs will be well-represented at Major League Baseball’s showcase event. But Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker aren’t the only Cubs who deserve to make the trip to Atlanta. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain Crow-Armstrong’s journey to this moment and Tucker’s unflappable nature during a contract year. Their pr...

At the beginning of July, the Cubs are in a prime position to add at the trade deadline. Jed Hoyer, the club’s president of baseball operations, confirmed his front office is fully confident the resources will be there for significant midseason acquisitions. The Kyle Tucker situation is a little more complicated, which adds to the sense of urgency this season. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Pat...

After 81 games, the Cubs are leading their division and fueling hopes for October baseball at Wrigley Field. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the major surprises, developments and disappointments in the first half, from Kyle Tucker’s huge impact to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakthrough to the setbacks that rearranged the pitching staff. Now what? Keep listening for the comi...

During this high-flying season, Pete Crow-Armstrong has established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate who does so many things the right way for a first-place team. But the mental mistakes during a rivalry game in St. Louis cannot be ignored. Especially when the rotation looks shaky, the lineup doesn’t seem as deep and the division race has become much tighter. Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Cus...

With a four-game series unfolding at Busch Stadium, The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get together for a crossover episode of North Side Territory/Cardinal Territory. The discussion revolves around how these two clubs will approach the trade deadline, the succession plan in the St. Louis front office and Willson Contreras’ attitude during this transition period. The divis...

A blockbuster deal between the Red Sox and Giants doesn’t necessarily mean that the trade market is about to heat up, but it does reframe certain things for the Cubs, an organization that once saw Rafael Devers as a potential fit. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what this trade means on the North Side, where Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow used to work closely...

Though Pete Crow-Armstrong says he’s not interested in participating in the Home Run Derby this summer, it’s clear that people want to see “PCA” running around the All-Star Game. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney describe what it’s like to cover one of the biggest personalities in baseball right now. Plus, with the Brewers visiting Wrigley Field, a look at how Craig Counsell is push...

While the offense has certainly cooled off, the Cubs have actually extended their lead in the division, which is a sign of a good team. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what’s going on with the lineup, and Kyle Tucker in particular. Plus more on Shota Imanaga’s timeline and how the Cubs could rearrange their pitching staff once the All-Star returns. Schedule your PXG golf c...