North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

The World Series is over and the Brewers are champions for the first time. It is not a great look for the big-market franchise located roughly 90 miles from Milwaukee. But the Cubs have a huge opportunity to reshape their club before Major League Baseball’s widely anticipated lockout. Now that the offseason is officially here, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney look at The Brewers Way, how the Cubs approached the last pre-lockout frenzy and why they stepped up to retain a key hitting coach for Pete Crow-Armstrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Milwaukee enjoys the World Series drama, the Cubs are trying to revamp their pitching systems and prepare for a pivotal offseason. Before the Hot Stove action begins, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney set the scene by answering questions from listeners. The focus is, obviously, on Chicago’s issues with pitching development and why the Brewers are light years ahead of their big-market rivals. 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.

Money can’t fix everything with this team. As much as the Cubs need to spend on free agents and make trades this offseason, internal improvements will also have to happen. Closing the gap on the Brewers and making a deeper postseason run will require certain players stepping up next year. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you five names to consider, with reasons for (and against) optimism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the focus should be on the World Series, the baseball industry is also going through the hiring-and-firing season for coaches and executives. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you the details on what this means in Wrigleyville. Their reporting provides details on Jared Banner taking a GM job in Baltimore, the Mets looking at Pete Crow-Armstrong’s personal hitting coach and the Cubs running it back with their pitching coaches. Plus more on an outside-the-box candidate in Seattle’s manager search and the Cubs hiring an international scout away from the Rays. 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.

While pitching remains the clear focus for the Cubs, the organization will still need to make additions to a strong group of position players. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney preview where the Cubs could be heading this offseason, giving you five names to know plus an overview of the upcoming free-agent market and the current shape of the roster.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.