Clinching a playoff spot should feel like pure champagne, but if you’ve watched this Cubs season closely, you know it can feel like a deep, exhausted exhale too. We’re coming to you with our playoff clinch edition, joined by two of our most recurring voices: CB and the legendary Jake Tui, plus Mahoney in the mix as always. It’s loose, it’s honest, and it’s exactly how real Cubs fans sound when October finally becomes official.

We dig into the question nobody agrees on: is making the postseason a celebration or a relief when the team has looked like a World Series threat and also flirted with late-season frustration? From there we go straight into the hot zones, bullpen trust, Craig Counsell decisions, and whether lining up the pitching staff matters more than chasing the perfect Wild Card seed. We also talk about what the front office got right at the deadline, what still scares us, and why certain matchups feel like landmines.

Then we spend real time on the heartbeat of the year: Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA’s 40-40 season sparks a full Cubs history argument, stacking his impact against Sammy Sosa’s cultural peak and Kris Bryant’s MVP run. We also make the case for the underrated bats that could decide a series, including what a healthy Alex Bregman changes and why Seiya Suzuki deserves more respect going into the MLB playoffs.

If this made you feel something, subscribe, share it with a Cubs friend, and leave a review so more fans find the show. Who do you want in the Wild Card round, and what’s your one bold prediction for October?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney