With the Cubs off to a great start, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney open up the inbox to field questions from listeners and look ahead to what’s around the corner. The hot corner is an obvious topic of conversation as the Cubs cycle through options ahead of the trade deadline. From there, The Athletic beat writers discuss Craig Counsell’s influence on roster construction and lineup decisions. That leads into the Cade Horton question and when we should expect to see the organization’s top pitching prospect make his Wrigley Field debut.

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With the offense rolling through the first month of the season, Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly joins Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic for a wide-ranging conversation. Kelly explains the evolution of Pete Crow-Armstrong’s game and the impact since Kyle Tucker’s arrival. Plus, the message sent to Matt Shaw when he got sent down to the minors and why the Cubs aren’t worried about Dansby Swanson’s early offensive struggles. Within this Q&A, Kelly also gets into the vibes at Wrigley Field and how the club has turned the ballpark into a real advantage.

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After the Cubs passed baseball’s most difficult opening test, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their takeaways from the first month of the season. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker are the names that jump out in a much-improved offense. Craig Counsell’s blunt assessment of Ben Brown summed up the sense of urgency around the club: “We need better.” Already, it seems clear what Jed Hoyer’s front office will be looking for at the trade deadline.

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It’s not a silly question to ask at this early stage of the season. The numbers are off the charts. The entertainment value is back at Wrigley Field. And Kyle Tucker might be the best hitter in the game right now. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what’s happening at this moment, from the Tucker effect to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s emergence to a catching group that has become a real strength.

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Once again, the Cubs are becoming a must-see attraction. In a city that desperately wants to see a winner, and an iconic stadium that lacked buzz in recent years, the Cubs just put together two wild wins over the Dodgers. The entire scene felt like a potential playoff preview. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their takeaways from how the club matched up against the defending World Series champs.

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Good starting pitching and an explosive offense have masked some of the issues with Chicago’s bullpen. A winning record and an early lead in the division have also slightly lowered the concern level at Wrigley Field. But Cubs manager Craig Counsell and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer are taking a proactive approach to fixing the bullpen. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the trade for Drew Pomeranz, the differences between this group and last year’s unreliable bullpen, and the big-picture thinking that guides these decisions.

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By demoting Matt Shaw to the minors, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and manager Craig Counsell demonstrated that their patience will not be unlimited. The recent shake-up was also felt in the bullpen, an area where the Cubs have to be aggressive until something else clicks. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down what all these decisions mean, and how this proactive approach also applies to the trade deadline and beyond.

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After exchanging extension proposals around the start of the season, Cubs officials and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s camp decided to hold off and focus on the season. What went into that decision? Who are the comps for Crow-Armstrong? And how did each side feel the process was handled? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney answer those questions and discuss another bullpen meltdown in the latest episode, using information gathered during the team's West Coast trip.

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