As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. This week’s set got us into the best/worst trades of the Jim Hendry era, Scott Feldman’s trade value, the merits of signing relievers to pre-arbitration (or arbitration) extensions, and the baselines for various advanced stats, among other things.

On this week’s episode, we talk about Matt Garza’s return, and the implications thereof. What exactly are we hoping for?

We also get into David Price’s triceps injury as it relates to future Cubs plans, Starlin Castro’s potential and focus, and the proper uses of a JumboTron at Wrigley Field.

And, yes, we do talk a little bit about the elephant in the room (i.e., my Carlos Marmol story screw-up last week), and I explain a little more about how it happened, and how I should have done things a lot differently.

Because we were off last week, and because there was so much to discuss, this week’s episode is of the super-sized variety.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. This week’s set got us into Javier Baez’s contact woes, the nature of platoons, the success of Luis Valbuena, and much more.

On this week’s episode we talk about the “good” rotation problem to have and how the Cubs might best solve it. We also get into the Ian Stewart roster saga, and our meet-up in Chicago last week.

We also look back fondly – and not fondly – on the last time Kevin Gregg was the Chicago Cubs’ closer. Ah, 2009. You were an interesting, and ultimately soul-crushing, year.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. This week’s set got us into international free agency, defensive positioning, and much more

On this week’s episode we talk about the Cubs’ first month of the season. What does it say about the team? The organization? Is it a fair reflection of how the team has performed? What are the bright spots? The not so bright spots? What’s the prognosis?

We also explain why we missed last week, and deconstruct the questionable programming choices of ABC Family.

And, of course, there’s the fact that we were recording while watching Edwin Jackson implode. So that leads to some humorous/insightful/ok-mostly-just-humorous moments.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. We had another huge set of emails in this one, getting us into unfairly hated Cubs of the past, the merits of the DH in the NL, intentionally not signing your top draft pick, making a deadline “buy” trade even when you’re out of it, and the quiet presence of Derek Johnson. Plus more. Lots more.

On this week’s episode we talk about the Wrigley renovation deal, the problematic closer situation, and the lack of fundamental success. Sahadev also walks us through what it’s like to cover a game as a beat writer, and also explains the interrelationship between beer, his gut, and his microphone. I also discuss the relative merits of diving into coins, dollars, and moist foam balls.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. This episode turned into an email blowout, with a ton of great emails to discuss, prompting theoretically interesting discussions on an Anthony Rizzo extension, where Starlin Castro should be batting, when a gay ballplayer is coming, and how much it would cost to attend every Cubs game in a given season.

We’ve got Carlos Marmol shakiness to discuss, as well as Jeff Samardzija’s dominance. We also have a great deal of fun with small sample size numbers.

Oh: we read some constructive criticism from an iTunes review, and then proceed to live right into that criticism throughout the rest of the episode.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. We had another great set of emails in this one, including why a newbie should be a Cubs fan, how to optimize the Cubs’ lineup (particularly in a post-Soriano trade world), and the desirability (or possibility) of an all-home-grown roster.

Today’s episode is almost exclusively about the Opening Day win against the Pirates, and the story lines emanating therefrom. Samardzija’s dominance, Marmol’s quick hook, Lillibridge’s rough debut, and Rizzo’s emergence.

We also talk about the Cubs’ approach at the plate, and how a 15 strikeout, 1 walk day can actually be a good sign. And there’s another visit from the infamous “Facebook Cubs” Twitter account.

Sahadev also turns up his nose and his pinky, and scolds folks about the virtues of true craft beer.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. We had another great set of emails in this one, ranging from how to be a scout, to Alfonso Soriano’s coaching future, to the lack of catching depth in the farm system. And Sahadev and I try our hand at explaining politics in Chicago. I start out sounding smart, but end up sounding really stupid. So that’s fun.

From there, we jump right into BASEBALL. Finally BASEBALL is around the corner. And we get to talk about BASEBALL.

It’s a season preview episode of the podcast, featuring our thoughts on the Cubs, our thoughts on every other team in baseball (30 teams in 30 minutes 39 minutes), our thoughts on surprise players and teams, and what the playoffs might look like. Unsurprisingly, this is a super-sized episode. But that just means there is more super awesomeness to consume.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. We had a billion emails on this one, which got us into proprietary Cubs software, trading young studs, international scouting, draft strategy, mascots, Hayden Simpson’s bleak future, and how Theo Epstein could become an Alderman.

This week, we talk about a range of unintentionally depressing topics, including Cubs big league injuries and Albert Almora’s broken hamate bone. Even a happy topic like Javier Baez’s recent homer binge turns sour when we get into the reality of his near-term future.

And then, of course, there’s the big discussion about the Cubs leaving Wrigley Field and moving to the suburbs.

And you also get to hear my despondence as I tracked the site’s outage while we were recording, and hear about Sahadev’s decades long quest for a tattoo.

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. On this one, we had to defer the emails until next week due to subject and time concerns. And after you hear this episode, you may have some hate mail to send us about my unfairly high opinion of myself, and Sahadev’s theological leanings.

This week we’ve got another fantastic guest: Baseball America‘s National Writer, and all-around scouting/prospecting/development guru Ben Badler.

If you follow Ben’s writing or Twitter feed (or see his name frequently mentioned around here), you can already anticipate the kinds of things we discussed: the World Baseball Classic, international scouting at the WBC, the next Yu Darvish/Yoenis Cespedes, the next international free agent class (and the Cubs’ huge money to spend), Ben’s thoughts on the CBA’s changes to the way teams accumulate international talent, the prospect of an international draft, the latest on Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, and Ben’s take on Cubs big-time signee Juan Carlos Paniagua, as well as lesser-known signee Armando Rivero. Plus, frankly, much, much more. Ben is a knowledge machine, and we’re all just here to learn. Take advantage.

After Ben departs, Sahadev and I have some fun getting into the Cubs’ marketing/branding plans – logo, uniforms, JumboTron … and a mascot? – as well as the conclusion of the BUNT TOURNAMENT. I throw down a challenge to Sahadev regarding our respective bunting prowess. I’m also too hard on the White Sox, and Sahadev is too hard on Ohioans (not really).

Enjoy:

As always, you can send questions, comments, etc. to the official podcast email address (podcast AT bleachernation DOT com) if you want your thoughts included on a future show. Today’s emails got us into some great topics, including whether dog’s will or will not hunt, whether executives like Theo Epstein are underpaid, whether Brett Jackson’s swing change is working, and whether baseball should ban contact at the plate.

This week’s episode finds us catching up after a baby-filled week. You’ll thank us that baby talk – both literal and figurative – is limited, though I did use it as a platform to confess my affection for the show ‘Girls.’

We talk about the latest injury news plaguing the Cubs (and whether we can trust it), about a Carlos Marmol trade possibility, and about the increasing importance of player versatility. We also talk about baseball cards!

Enjoy: