Its A Family Thing Talking Cubs Baseball

#227: Cubs Have Finalists For Gold

October 16, 2025·40 min·3 clips

The Dodgers just made baseball history with two starters pitching eight-plus innings and allowing one or less runs.

This episode of the "It's A Family Thing Talking Cubs Baseball" podcast features co-hosts Paul and Logan analyzing the MLB playoffs and the Chicago Cubs' offseason. They are two dedicated Cubs fans providing commentary on current baseball events and team strategy. The hosts discuss the Milwaukee Brewers being down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, noting the Dodgers' starters pitched historically well in the first two games. They reference a specific double play involving Brewers players Frelick and Contreras from the playoff series. Paul and Logan also cover the American League series, where the Seattle Mariners lead the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 after a 13-4 Toronto victory. A central debate is whether the Cubs should spend aggressively like the Dodgers, with Logan pointing out Jason Heyward's $180 million deal is the largest in Cubs history. They analyze the potential free agency of Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, speculating he may seek a 10-year, $400 million contract. The conversation covers Cubs injuries, noting Tucker played through a fracture and a calf strain in the second half. Pitching needs are debated, specifically whether the Cubs must sign another starter given uncertainties around Justin Steele's health and Marcus Stroman's player option. The hosts confirm six Cubs are Gold Glove finalists and plan to discuss catcher candidates like Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly. They conclude by stating the Cubs need to strengthen both starting and relief pitching and determine their right field plan to advance deeper in the playoffs. An interesting insight is the hosts' observation that the Dodgers won the World Series last year with starters pitching only about 43% of playoff innings. They find it surprising that the Cubs led MLB in runs scored through June but fell to 12th after Tucker's injury. A memorable moment is Paul describing Brewers fans in Wisconsin immediately shifting to defensive talk about the Packers when he approaches them about baseball. The hosts express internal conflict over deferred contracts, questioning how they would feel if the Cubs adopted the Dodgers' strategy with players like Shohei Ohtani. The tone is casual and conversational, featuring two fans debating and speculating about their team's future. The style is opinion-driven and reactive to current games and news, with hosts frequently interrupting and building on each other's points. This episode would appeal to Chicago Cubs fans seeking immediate postseason reaction and early offseason speculation. Listeners interested in broader MLB playoff analysis or who dislike casual, meandering fan conversations might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A familiar Cubs conversation about deferred money, Tucker, and how much patience the winter allows.

The episode starts with a playoff check-in and the Brewers getting handled, then settles into a Cubs discussion shaped by money, reactions, and what may come next.

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Why you'd press play

You want a Cubs payroll debate that sounds like two fans working it out live.

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