North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Nearing the halfway point of the 162-game schedule, the Cubs, at times, have looked both like a World Series contender and a club that should be broken apart at the trade deadline. Those extremes have still left the Cubs in a decent position to make the playoffs, though the margin for error is much smaller now and winning the division appears to be a remote possibility. To put everything in context, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney hand out their midseason grades for Jed Hoyer’s front office, Craig Counsell’s coaching staff, the everyday players at Wrigley Field and a battered pitching staff.To explore coverage, visit aspcapetinsurance.com/FOUL. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. 🌶️See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid the deep slump that has impacted almost the entire lineup, the calls for the Cubs to bench their $177 million shortstop are getting louder. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney examine the entire Swanson situation, beginning with the votes of confidence from the manager and the front office. Why are the Cubs so committed to their current defensive alignment? How long will that arrangement last? And what are the potential alternatives?Use our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek*: seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount 🌶️See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PCA looks like he needs a break. After his vulgar exchange with a White Sox fan on the South Side went viral, the Gold Glove center fielder has committed two glaring errors, physical mistakes that he believes comes from a place of being mentally distracted. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their reporting from inside the Wrigley Field clubhouse, explaining what’s gone wrong for the Cubs recently. Plus, their understanding of the Edward Cabrera situation and how the Cubs might move forward with their pitching.   To explore coverage, visit aspcapetinsurance.com/FOUL. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do the Cubs have enough top prospects in their farm system to make a blockbuster deal this summer? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back with another primer on the trade deadline, bringing you the names to know and explaining the concepts that guide Chicago’s front office. Does Kevin Alcántara have a future at Wrigley Field? Could Pedro Ramírez be a keeper? And are Matt Shaw and Moisés Ballesteros untouchable parts of the major-league roster? It’s still early in the season, but these are relevant questions as the Cubs think about ways to fortify a World Series contender.Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount 🌶️See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago’s front office does not expect to execute a major trade in May. But that process of scouting players, gathering information and reading the markets never really stops. And the Cubs have both a roster that can compete for a World Series title and a multitude of pitching injuries. For an overview of where things stand – and where this could be heading in the summer – The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their preliminary list of starters on the radar for the trade deadline.Go to HelloFresh.com/FT10FM now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.