Good teams are supposed to beat bad teams, so you can’t ding the Cubs for taking advantage of a weaker part of the schedule, especially when those missed opportunities doomed previous seasons. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what’s going right for a first-place club that has overcome a lot of adversity and shown real signs of growth. Upcoming series in Detroit and Philadelphia should also be a better gauge as the Cubs figure out what they have – and what they will need at the trade deadline.

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It’s still relatively early, but it’s already clear that the Cubs are planning to buy at the July 31 deadline and trade for the finishing pieces to a legitimate playoff contender. What will be the calculus and the priorities for Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the mindset within the front office and answer more questions from the audience. Topics also include Pete Crow-Armstrong’s offensive approach and the Michael Busch/Justin Turner situation, which could become an additional factor at the trade deadline.
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The biggest headline at the moment is Kyle Tucker’s injury scare. But two-plus months into the season, there is a lot for Cubs fans to like about this first-place team. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney provide context to Tucker’s injury, the latest on Shota Imanaga and the reasoning behind using an opener in front of Ben Brown. If the Cubs have largely figured out what they have, then the next two months will be about getting what else they need. At this point, the priorities at the trade deadline are clear.

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How would you put together a roster of the best Cubs players since 2000? Spinning off a project for The Athletic, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney do just that, rewinding several eras at Wrigley Field and appreciating some of the loudest personalities and biggest moments in franchise history. Though there are some minor disagreements, this is a fun episode with a ton of behind-the-scenes insights and unforgettable memories from the clubhouse.

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As the Cubs continue to roll, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney take questions from listeners and explain what’s making this first-place team tick. Cade Horton is prominently mentioned as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Matt Shaw has impressed everyone since his reset at Triple-A Iowa. But what is the front office thinking? Which prospects, if any, will be untouchable at the trade deadline? Plus more on the coaching staff’s influence on a dangerous offense.

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It’s time to break down a first-place team that is exceeding all expectations. What has gone right? And what could go wrong? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have it all covered, from Kyle Tucker being better than advertised to Pete Crow-Armstrong turning into a star. The offense is a juggernaut while the pitching staff is the obvious area to upgrade at the trade deadline. In any event, the Cubs can deliver a fun summer, and Wrigleyville will be rocking.

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Fifty games into the season, the Cubs are 10 over .500 and leading the National League Central. The Reds, however, could be a problem. For a scouting report on Cincinnati, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney bring in C. Trent Rosecrans, their colleague at The Athletic, ahead of a Memorial Day weekend series at Great American Ball Park. Tune in for more on Hunter Greene’s next level, the expectations around Elly De La Cruz and Terry Francona’s influence as the Hall of Fame-caliber manager brought in to fix the Reds and try to take over the division.

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Undeniably, the breakout star of this Cubs season is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is quickly gaining notice beyond Wrigley Field and becoming one of the most exciting players in the entire sport. To understand why this is happening, listen to Cubs assistant GM Jared Banner, who joins Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney for a conversation about PCA-mania. Banner’s insights are from his time with the Mets, overseeing their farm system when it included Crow-Armstrong, as well as his role in welcoming Crow-Armstrong into the Cubs organization following the Javier Báez trade.

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