Onto Waveland: A show about the Chicago Cubs
264 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratingsPatrick Mooney, Brett Taylor and Sahadev Sharma talk all things Chicago Cubs twice a week on Onto Waveland.
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Episodes
Jason Heyward Walks Out, but the Cubs Play
August 28, 2020 18:07 - 25 minutesLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Javy's Back, Bases Loaded Woes, and Sudden Rotation Depth
August 25, 2020 20:14 - 29 minutesJavy Báez's two-homer game on Monday was a much-needed performance from a player who will go a long way toward determining what kind of season the Cubs end up having. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney pronounce him back, with tongue only somewhat in cheek, on this episode of Onto Waveland. The guys also discuss the Cubs' woes with the bases loaded, the team's sudden rotation depth, and more.Rundown0:41 Javy is Back!5:55 Why Can't the Cubs Hit with the Bases Loaded?12:38 A Season...
Looking Back at the Cardinals Series, and Ahead to the Weekend Clash with the White Sox
August 21, 2020 19:53 - 32 minutesThe Cubs are in the midst of a rivalry week, taking three of five from the Cardinals before hosting the White Sox for the first of two series between the two teams this season. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss the Cardinals series, the team's ability to win despite uneven offensive performances, Craig Kimbrel's resurgence, the need for a lefty in the bullpen, the White Sox series, and more on this episode of Onto Waveland.Rundown3:31 The Cubs Won the Cardinals Series......
Cubs Weather Their First Losing Streak of the Season
August 18, 2020 17:02 - 34 minutesIt had to happen eventually, right? The Cubs finally suffered their first setback of the season, dropping four straight games to the Brewers and Cardinals. They still have a comfortable lead in the NL Central, however, and got back on track in Monday's nightcap against the Cardinals, thanks to some pinch-hit heroics from David Bote (who else?). Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss slow starts for Jaiver Báez and Kris Bryant, a small hiccup for the pitching staff, issues wit...
No Rust for the First-Place Cubs
August 14, 2020 17:05 - 28 minutesAfter an unexpected four-day layoff caused by the Cardinals' ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Cubs returned to the field on Tuesday, facing a step up in competition against the Indians. They swept the two-gamer in Cleveland, then kicked off this weekend's four-game set with the Brewers with another win. At 13-3, the Cubs have the best record in the majors, and they already have a stranglehold of the NL Central. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Brett Taylor and Sahadev Sharma discuss Kyle Hendric...
Cubs in Cleveland after the Postponed Series in St. Louis
August 11, 2020 18:15 - 31 minutesThe Cubs return to the field Tuesday after four days off because of COVID-related postponements in St. Louis. The Indians, too, have had their issues, with pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac in quarantine after breaking protocol and going out on the town in Chicago over the weekend. Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney discuss that on this episode of Onto Waveland. They also muse about the possibility of last weekend's Cardinals series not getting made up, and the possibility ...
Measuring the Cubs' 10-3 Start Against the Competition They've Played
August 07, 2020 18:03 - 30 minutesAll you can do is beat the team in front of you, which the Cubs have done 10 of 13 times this season. It must be said, however, that they haven't played the toughest competition in those 13 games. Michael Beller, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney consider the Cubs record against the company they've kept on this episode of Onto Waveland. They also talk about David Ross' role in the team's hot start, and the challenging turn in the schedule over the next two weeks.NOTE: This episode was recorde...
Weekend Series with the Cardinals, Alec Mills Deals Again, and New Closer Rowan Wick
August 04, 2020 18:48 - 34 minutesThe Cubs enter play on Tuesday with the second-best record in the majors at 8-2 (the Yankees are 8-1). They've won eight of their first 10 thanks largely to the starters and offense covering up what has been an abysmal bullpen. On this episode of Onto Waveland, Brett Taylor, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get into that bullpen—again—this time highlighting the emergence of Rowan Wick. They also discuss Kris Bryant's return, the possibility of José Quintana rejoining the team as a reliever w...
Could the Cubs' Bullpen Sink the Rest of the Team?
July 31, 2020 16:23 - 35 minutesRundown0:36 Anthony Rizzo Airs His Grievances4:00 How Trustworthy are the Protocols?8:02 Seven-Inning Doubleheaders and an Extension for Expanded Rosters15:35 Does it Matter How Many Relievers the Cubs Have?20:27 "No Good Answers"22:59 Long-Term Considerations Related to 2020 Roster Decisions29:19 Reinforcements from South Bend32:05 An Opportunity over the Next Seven GamesFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get...
Cubs Starters and Bats Shine, but the Bullpen Looks Shaky
July 28, 2020 18:07 - 32 minutesRundown0:55 The Latest on the Marlins' and MLB's COVID-19 crisis6:00 Craig Kimbrel's Issues11:30 The Strangeness of the First Week13:17 A Deep Dive Into the Bullpen19:17 Could the Hitters Peak as the Bullpen Crashes?21:12 How Great Was Tyler Chatwood?24:29 Willson Contreras' Defensive Turnaround26:53 A Look at the Offense Beyond Rizzo and ContrerasFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Learn more about your ad ch...
Sizing up the Cubs on Opening Day
July 24, 2020 15:11 - 31 minutesRundown1:24 Celebrating Opening Day...and the Comcast/Marquee Deal!3:52 Baseball Faces its First In-Season Positive COVID-19 Test with Juan Soto7:05 Optimism Surrounding How the Cubs Have Handled Things9:59 Expanded Playoffs for 202018:47 This Weekend's Series with the Brewers25:37 Final Preseason Thoughts about the CubsFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic...
Why the Cubs' Offense is the Key to the Season
July 21, 2020 18:44 - 28 minutesRundown1:30 Reactions to Exhibition Games with the White Sox5:18 Offense is the Key to the Season6:51 The Core (Rizzo, Bryant, Báez, Contreras), and the Supporting Cast10:04 Does the Offense Have to Carry the Team?13:01 Jason Heyward's Role18:56 Desire for a Set Lineup20:39 A Sense of UrgencyFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Lea...
Kyle Hendricks Fronts the Cubs' 2020 Rotation
July 17, 2020 21:16 - 35 minutesRundown1:19 Good News in the Latest Batch of Testing Statistics5:44 Kyle Hendricks Deservingly Gets the Opening Day Start15:15 Can the Rotation Make or Break the Cubs?22:21 Where's the Love for Jose Quintana?24:28 The Upside of Opportunities for Unproven Relievers28:06 Managing the Staff, Top to BottomFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowav...
Cubs Latest COVID-19 Testing Delay Raises Regular Season Concerns
July 14, 2020 17:31 - 26 minutesRundown0:47 Willson Contreras on the Environment at Wrigley2:56 Patrick Weighs in on the Cubs' Latest Testing Delay6:58 What Happens in the Regular Season?9:26 Concerns with the Decision-Making Process17:14 Yu Darvish's CommentsFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Analyzing the Cubs' 2020 Schedule
July 09, 2020 17:40 - 32 minutesRundown2:10 Feeling OK about Talking Just Baseball5:25 Contreras' Intrasquad Homer off Kimbrel, Rizzo's Back Tightness, Press Box Normalcy9:27 Diving into the Cubs' 2020 Schedule10:46 The Idea of Homefield Advantage15:38 The Reds' Interleague Advantage19:17 Cubs at White Sox Season-Ending Series22:03 Considering the Cubs' First 60 Games in 201924:30 Managing a Different Type of Grind27:44 The Challenge for David RossFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsh...
COVID-19 Testing Issues Mar First Week of Cubs Training Camp
July 07, 2020 19:17 - 23 minutesRundown0:30 Opening Week Problems at Training Camp2:47 Is This Even Possible?4:55 David Ross' Statements on the Situation8:04 The Supposed Easy Part10:00 What Are the Signals That This Isn't Working?12:09 Freddie Freeman's Positive Test15:11 It All Depends on Trust18:09 The Ubiquity of ChangeFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
It's an NL Central Roundtable
July 03, 2020 13:45 - 39 minutesRundown2:14 The Cardinals' Pitching Depth3:38 Do the Reds Have the Division's Best Offense?6:01 The Pirates' New-Look Front Office7:00 Cubs Still Striving to Reach the Offense's Full Potential8:55 Keston Hiura's Key Role for the Brewers11:39 The DH Situations in St. Louis and Cincinnati15:28 The Effects of José Quintana's Injury20:28 How Can the Pirates Be a Thorn in Some Team's Side?24:19 An Elite Bullpen in Milwaukee Looms Large27:25 The One Player You Cover You're Most Excited to Watch32:4...
Talking David Ross, 2020 Changes and More with Ryan Dempster
June 30, 2020 21:13 - 39 minutesRundown2:17 Ryan Dempster Joins Onto Waveland3:51 The Landscape of the 2020 Season6:36 David Ross' Handling of the Team This Year8:58 Reinforces Messages of Accountability12:09 It's Already Trade Deadline Time14:35 Wrigleyville in the COVID-19 Era16:20 'Off the Mound' with Ryan Dempster23:30 Takeaways from the David Ross/Jed Hoyer Zoom Conference30:29 First Look at the Cubs' 2020 Roster35:50 Juan Gámez's Potential for 2020Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_MooneyFollow Michael on Twitter: @MBelle...
Cubs Second-Round Pick Burl Carraway Joins Onto Waveland
June 26, 2020 21:38 - 28 minutesRundown2:30 Burl Carraway Joins the Show2:45 The Whirlwind of the Last Three Months4:00 Onboarding with the Cubs5:20 Early Experience with Cubs Coaches and Staffers6:25 Getting to Know Craig Breslow7:19 Making the Taxi Squad?8:14 Embracing Being a Reliever9:24 First Zoom Meeting with the Cubs10:44 Reaction on Social Media12:28 The Wrigley Experience and Thank You, Burl15:11 The Decisions at Either End of the Taxi Squad21:27 The Shape of 2020's New-Look Schedule24:50 Alec Mills' and Adbert Alz...
Baseball is Back (Barring Any Changes)
June 24, 2020 17:29 - 25 minutesRundown0:25 Baseball is Back3:10 Changes for 20205:07 The Ever-Present Challenges of COVID-198:14 End of the Transaction Freeze and Cubs Taxi Squad Musings11:42 The August 31 Trade Deadline14:47 The Possibility of Players Opting Out16:53 How Do Front Offices Recalibrate Trade Value?21:44 An Interesting Season for Cubs FansFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more a...
Cautious Optimism for a 2020 MLB Season
June 18, 2020 19:04 - 23 minutesRundown0:27 Movement Toward a 2020 MLB Season4:07 Why Was So Much Time Wasted?9:07 Getting Excited for, and Being Realistic about, the Future13:07 'When and 'Where' and the Owners' Response19:36 The Ramping-Up Period for PitchersFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
MLB at the Brink
June 16, 2020 23:30 - 24 minutesRundown0:24 Rob Manfred's Latest Comments6:58 The Players' Understanding of MLB's Labor History9:43 Is It Good for the Overall Business of Baseball to Treat Every Decision as a Bottom-Line Business Decision?13:00 How Manfred's Background Has Influenced the Negotiations16:04 The Owners' Overwhelmingly Large Role19:35 Recent Comments by Tom Ricketts and Bill DeWitt Jr.Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiti...
Ed Howard's High School Coach Joins Onto Waveland
June 12, 2020 21:22 - 18 minutesRundown1:47 What Stood out about Ed Howard?3:21 Brian Watching Ed in the LLWS...While at Wrigley Field5:18 An Extremely Strong Work Ethic8:04 Handling the Hometown Pressure9:58 A Potentially Elite Glove at Shortstop11:21 Offense Taking Off with Physical Growth12:03 The Draft Background Process15:24 Brian's Last Word on Ed HowardFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn ...
The Cubs' Approach to the Amateur Draft
June 09, 2020 21:17 - 24 minutesRundown2:34 The Cubs' Approach to the Draft Under Dan Kantrovitz5:46 Player Development App in the Minor League System8:52 Recruiting Experience14:38 Putting Money into Player Development19:46 Specific Challenges of the 2020 DraftFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Time to (Finally) Make a Deal
June 05, 2020 23:20 - 33 minutesRundown1:16 Thank You, Adam2:51 Re-Immersing Yourself in Where the Cubs Were Before the Shutdown4:59 Good News on the Horizon?8:58 The Latest on the MLB/MLBPA Tug of War23:25 The Issue with Soft Deadlines27:32 Is the Draft a Signpost Event for the 2020 Season?Follow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter: @PJ_Mooney Get a free 30-day trial to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/ontowaveland Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Unrest at Wrigley
June 03, 2020 21:14 - 37 minutesWith protests emerging all across the country, even next to Wrigley Field, difficult and uncomfortable conversations are being had, from the discussions of Black athletes holding back their true feelings to avoid conflict to the delayed public response from MLB in speaking out against systemic racial injustice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Crunch Time
May 30, 2020 11:30 - 27 minutesThe Cubs are releasing players, making month-to-month plans and hoping for some clarity soon. Details on return-to-play ideas and what’s at stake for the entire baseball industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Marquee Guest
May 27, 2020 10:27 - 29 minutesTony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network explains the vibe in Wrigleyville, how the Cubs would be positioned in a shortened season and the challenges of covering a team in lockdown mode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Survey Says
May 22, 2020 21:36 - 31 minutesA look at how fans feel about possibly attending games without a COVID-19 vaccine, optimism for the Cubs over the next five years and just how much people would appreciate the 2020 World Series champions should a season be completed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Cubs Way
May 20, 2020 10:05 - 15 minutesTom Verducci, the author of a definitive book on the Wrigley Field rebuild, offers his insights into the future of pitching, what a shortened season could mean for the Cubs and Theo Epstein’s next move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An Interview with the GOAT
May 15, 2020 20:33 - 23 minutesKen Rosenthal joins the podcast and tells us how the Cubs future plans may be altered by COVID-19, how a cancelled season could severely impact front offices and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Play Ball?
May 13, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutesFirst impressions of Major League Baseball’s return-to-play proposal and the enormous obstacles facing the owners and the players’ union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Path Not Taken
May 08, 2020 21:45 - 35 minutesRundown2:04 How Did Sahadev and Patrick Select the Key 'What if...' Questions?4:15 Trading for Jose Quintana, Passing on Justin Verlander15:06 The Team's Inability to Develop Pitching Prospects18:32 A New Approach for the 2017 Amateur Draft23:07 Did We Mention the Lack of Pitching in the System? What if the Cubs traded for Justin Verlander in 2017? by Patrick Mooney and Sahadev SharmaFollow Brett on Twitter: @BleacherNationFollow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Patrick on Twitter @PJ...
Outside The Box Broadcasts
May 06, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutesWith more and more talk of baseball returning this summer, ideas on how to make broadcasting games in empty ballparks more unique and compelling are bandied about. Is this an opportunity for MLB to bring in more fans by being willing to experiment with how games are broadcast? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022 Vision
May 01, 2020 21:57 - 21 minutesWhat the Cubs and Wrigley Field will look like on Opening Day two years from now. Let’s play some fantasy baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Baseball Loses Without Fans
April 29, 2020 11:45 - 42 minutesWhile optimism grows that the game will return in 2020, a world with baseball being played in empty ballparks gets closer to being a reality. Former big-leaguer Doug Glanville joins the podcast to share how fans positively impacted his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Prospects Will Break Your Heart
April 24, 2020 22:27 - 26 minutesLooking back at the Cubs who didn’t pan out and wondering what this shutdown will mean for the next generation of players and a farm system that once viewed 2020 as a pivotal year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Moments That Defined The Cubs
April 22, 2020 17:10 - 35 minutesFrom hiring Theo Epstein to signing Jon Lester, a look back at the deals, ideas and personalities that shaped the 2016 World Series champs and a golden age of baseball in Wrigleyville. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What About The Window?
April 19, 2020 12:00 - 25 minutesThe Cubs came into this season with two years of control over many of their most important players. But what happens now when the first of those two years is so dramatically impacted? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Will Wrigleyville Look Like after This?
April 15, 2020 23:26 - 23 minutesDiscussing the economic impact on a unique neighborhood without Cubs baseball, and the importance of supporting your small, local businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let’s Get Weird
April 11, 2020 00:03 - 29 minutesDigging into all the Arizona contingency plans, hoping for the Cubs and White Sox to be in the same Cactus League division and wondering what the baseball product might look like after a long shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keith Law Stops By
April 08, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutesSenior Baseball Writer Keith Law joins Brett and Sahadev to discuss the state of the Cubs’ multi-year process of rebuilding the farm system, the impact of baseball’s shutdown on the draft, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our New Normal
April 03, 2020 21:45 - 27 minutesA word of thanks to subscribers, shout-outs to some talented radio folks, doomsday scenarios and general nonsense as we adjust to life without Cubs baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Eeriness of an Empty Wrigleyville
April 01, 2020 13:00 - 23 minutesWith what should’ve been the 2020 home opener behind us, a discussion of what would’ve been and what actually was in Wrigleyville. News that Toronto has banned all public events through June gives us a sobering reality of what baseball faces in its attempt to return this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Actual Baseball News
March 27, 2020 21:10 - 28 minutesFirst impressions of the deal taking shape between Major League Baseball and the players’ union and what it could mean for the 2020 Cubs if there is a baseball season this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What a Short Season Would Mean
March 25, 2020 20:07 - 27 minutesNobody wants to see baseball’s regular season reduced significantly, but with that possibility looming, what can MLB do with the extra time it has and a season that will necessarily be unusual? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lessons Learned in Spring Training
March 20, 2020 21:15 - 28 minutesLooking back on some first impressions from Arizona and what it will mean for the front office, manager David Ross and Cubs players moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Enjoying the Different Opportunities Sport Provides
March 18, 2020 12:00 - 23 minutesEveryone is finding their footing a bit right now, and what that means for “enjoying sports” is still something of an open question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Baseball Shuts Down For Now
March 14, 2020 17:02 - 24 minutesThe guys talk about the dizzying week that saw baseball and other sports essentially shut down for an unknown period of time, and what the near-term is going to look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Coronavirus Has Started to Impact MLB
March 10, 2020 11:43 - 24 minutesBrett and Patrick discuss MLB’s decision to limit media access in the wake of the spreading coronavirus, and how the concerns could seriously impact baseball and related industries. Also, thoughts on Craig Kimbrel’s first Spring Training with the Cubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices