Every contender wanted the same thing at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline:

Pitching.

The Cubs weren’t shopping in a vacuum. They were shopping against every National League contender in an arms race where standing still meant falling behind.

In Episode 4 of The Margin, we look beyond prospect rankings and trade grades to answer a different question:

Did Jed Hoyer commit enough to give the Cubs a legitimate shot at the National League pennant?

From David Peterson to Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Zeferjahn, Aaron Civale, and Tyrone Taylor, every move points to the same philosophy:

October isn’t won by scoring more runs. It’s won by preventing them.

We also revisit the “Crooked Numbers” theory from Episode 3:

⚾ Zeroes are great.

⚾ Ones are manageable.

⚾ Crooked numbers kill you.

Can five new arms create just enough margin for the Cubs to survive October?

That’s what we’re investigating.

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💬 Question of the Day:

Forget prospect rankings and deadline grades.

Did the Cubs buy enough pitching to compete with the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, and the rest of the National League this October?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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The Margin is a weekly baseball series exploring the hidden decisions, philosophies, and moments that separate winning from losing.

Chase wins… not stats.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #MLB #MLBTradeDeadline #JedHoyer #Baseball #MLBPlayoffs #NLPennant #TheMargin

The trade deadline is over, and the Cubs have made their statement.

In Episode 5 of The Pulse, Neil looks beyond the box score to explore what this week really meant. After taking three of four from the Cardinals and battling the Yankees at Wrigley, the Cubs didn't just add talent—they showed they believe this team is built to compete.

Whether every trade works remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the front office has committed to this clubhouse.

This week, the pulse of Cubs baseball feels... Committed.

❤️ Check the Pulse – Why this week was about more than wins and losses.

📈 Pulse Up – Pete Crow-Armstrong continues his MVP-caliber season, and Jed Hoyer backs this team with an aggressive trade deadline.

📉 Pulse Down – Big moments continue to find Alex Bregman, and a difficult decision at the plate leaves Cubs fans wondering "what if?"

👀 What I'm Watching – How Kevin Gausman, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Zeferjahn, Clay Holmes, and Tyrone Taylor fit into the Cubs' playoff push.

⚾ Final Diagnosis – The Cubs have stopped hoping. They've started believing.

If you enjoy thoughtful Cubs conversations that go beyond the box score, subscribe and join us every week as we check the pulse of Cubs baseball.

📺 Subscribe for new episodes every week.

🎙️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #MLB #ThePulse #Club120 #MLBTradeDeadline #PeteCrowArmstrong #JedHoyer #BaseballPodcast

The Cubs just made one of the boldest moves of the Jed Hoyer era... and it might say more about where this team is headed than the move itself.

In Season 2, Episode 23 of Club 1:20, we're breaking down what the Jamison Taillon DFA means, whether the Cubs have officially shifted into win-now mode, and what Jed Hoyer needs to do before the trade deadline.

🚨 Status Revoked – Did the Cubs send their strongest message yet by DFA'ing Jamison Taillon?

🏆 MVPete Campaign Headquarters – Has Shohei Ohtani become the automatic MVP favorite every year, or does Pete Crow-Armstrong have a legitimate case?

👏 Kudos for Craig? – What's the best managerial decision Craig Counsell has made this season that won't show up in the box score?

⏰ Tik Tok Jed – What's the bigger deadline mistake: paying too much... or doing too little?

💥 Topic of the Week – Offensive Onslaught – Has the Cubs' offense become good enough to carry this team, regardless of what happens at the trade deadline?

🍺 Grab an Old Style, grab a bleacher seat, and join us for another episode of Club 1:20!

👇 Question of the Week:

If you could make ONE move before the trade deadline, what would it be? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoy the show, be sure to like, subscribe, and share to help more Cubs fans find Club 1:20.

#Cubs #ChicagoCubs #MLB #PeteCrowArmstrong #TradeDeadline #JedHoyer #CraigCounsell #Club120

The Cubs don’t make sense.

More than 100 games into the season, they’ve already used 40+ pitchers, survived two 10-game winning streaks, endured a 10-game losing streak, and continue to climb the National League Wild Card standings despite one of the weakest statistical pitching staffs among playoff contenders.

So… how?

In Episode 3 of The Margin, we investigate where the Cubs are stealing wins.

⚾ In this episode:

Why scoring first matters—but isn’t the whole story. Craig Counsell’s blueprint for surviving a battered pitching staff. How the Cubs are winning close games without a dominant bullpen. Why their success in extra innings might reveal their biggest competitive advantage.

This isn’t a recap.

It’s an investigation into the hidden edges that keep the Cubs in the playoff hunt.

Because championships aren’t always won by the most talented team… they’re won in the margin.

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👍 If you enjoy analytical Cubs content that goes beyond the box score, like this video, subscribe, and join us every week as we go looking for the next hidden edge.

⸻

Chasing wins, not stats.

he Cubs went 3-3 this week, but the story goes far beyond the record.

With the trade deadline approaching and a demanding stretch of 17 games in 17 days beginning, this week marked a turning point in the season. Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to emerge as an MVP candidate, Jameson Taillon's struggles raise tough questions about the rotation, and Jed Hoyer now faces critical decisions that could shape the Cubs' postseason hopes.

This week, the pulse of Cubs baseball feels... Enduring.

❤️ Check the Pulse – Why this week changed the season

📈 Pulse Up – Pete Crow-Armstrong is becoming the face of the Cubs

📉 Pulse Down – Is it time to make a change in the starting rotation?

👀 What I'm Watching – The trade deadline, pitching upgrades, and the toughest stretch of the season

⚾ Final Diagnosis – Why the next few weeks will define the Cubs' season

If you enjoy thoughtful Cubs analysis that goes beyond the box score, be sure to like, subscribe, and join us every week as we check the pulse of Cubs baseball.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #MLB #Baseball #ThePulse #Club120 #PeteCrowArmstrong #MLBTradeDeadline #BeyondTheBoxScore

Will Jed Hoyer push his chips into the middle at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline?

Before we answer that question, we take a step back and examine how the Cubs got here.

From the Yu Darvish trade… to the 2021 teardown… to acquiring Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker, Edward Cabrera, and more, this episode retraces the blueprint Jed Hoyer used to transform a championship roster into a new contender.

Then we put the current roster through The Audit, introduce a new concept called The October Five, and answer the biggest question facing the Cubs:

Are they one move away… or still a year away?

In this episode:

• The trades that reshaped the Cubs
• Why depth got the Cubs to October
• Why impact wins in October
• The Cubs’ biggest roster strengths and weaknesses
• Will Jed Hoyer go all in at the 2026 Trade Deadline?

The Margin is a Club 1:20 Network series that looks beyond the box score to discover where baseball games are really won—and lost.

Subscribe for a new episode every week.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #MLBTradeDeadline #JedHoyer #TheMargin #Baseball #MLB #PeteCrowArmstrong #Club120

The All-Star break gave Cubs fans a chance to reflect—but this weekend reminded us why Cubs baseball is so special.

In Episode 3 of The Pulse, Neil looks beyond the box score to explore a week that connected the Cubs' past with their future.

From Pete Crow-Armstrong's All-Star performance to the unforgettable return of the 2016 World Series Champions at Wrigley Field, this episode is about more than baseball. It's about legacy, connection, and believing this current Cubs team might be writing a story of its own.

In this episode: ❤️ Check the Pulse – Why this week felt bigger than wins and losses. 📈 Pulse Up – Vintage Nico Hoerner, plus Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga leading the rotation. 📉 Pulse Down – National recognition, Phil Maton, and why there's still work to do. 👀 What I'm Watching – The trade deadline is almost here, and a pivotal stretch against Detroit, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis awaits. ⚾ Final Diagnosis – The past and the present shared the same field.

If you enjoy thoughtful Cubs conversations that go beyond the headlines and the box score, subscribe and join us every week for a new episode of The Pulse.

📺 Subscribe for new episodes every week. 🎙️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #ThePulse #Club120 #MLB #BaseballPodcast

The Cubs didn't have a perfect week—but they showed us something even more important.

After a disappointing series against the Cardinals, the Cubs answered by winning back-to-back road series against the Orioles and Reds, heading into the All-Star break with momentum and confidence.

In Episode 2 of The Pulse, Neil takes a step back from the box scores to examine what this week really meant for the Cubs.

❤️ Check the Pulse – Why resilience defines this team heading into the All-Star break.

📈 Trending Up – Starting pitching continues to exceed expectations, the bullpen keeps answering the call, and Alex Bregman may finally be turning the corner.

📉 Trending Down – Why the All-Star break might actually be the worst possible time for this team to stop playing.

👀 What I'm Watching – Can the Cubs carry their momentum into the second half, and what will Jed Hoyer do as the trade deadline approaches?

⚾ Final Diagnosis – The Cardinals knocked the Cubs down. Baltimore and Cincinnati showed us how they'd respond.

If you enjoy thoughtful Cubs conversations that go beyond the headlines and the box score, subscribe and join us every week for a new episode of The Pulse.

#ChicagoCubs #Cubs #MLB #BaseballPodcast #ThePulse #Club120