Six games can feel like nothing, right up until you’ve watched every pitch and realized you’re already emotionally invested. That’s why we decided to ditch the vague “it’s early” chatter and do something concrete: a full Cubs report card, A through F, with independent Cubs journalist Blake Cowell joining me for a fast-moving hangout that turns frustration into actual analysis.

We start with the stuff that shapes the whole season, not just the next series. Jed Hoyer’s surprise extension work gets real credit, and we talk about how Tom Ricketts using deferrals can open doors for roster building. Then we get into the best early signal on the field: pitching. We break down what makes Cade Horton look like a front-line arm, why Edward Cabrera’s power stuff feels different for this team, and how Matt Boyd’s strikeout numbers could swing the Cubs’ ceiling if they hold.

From there, we hit the questions Cubs fans are already debating: Nico Horner’s contract value, where Michael Bush fits long term, and what to do with the new MLB ABS challenge system when leverage is high. We also get honest about what has not looked clean yet, including Alex Bregman’s defense and how fast the mood changes online, especially around Matt Shaw. And yes, we even grade the new Wrigley Field chicken churro because baseball is a long season and the details matter.

If you’ve got a grade of your own, bring it with you. Subscribe, share the show with a Cubs friend, and leave a five-star review so more fans can find us. What’s your biggest A or your most deserved F so far?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

We react to the Cubs dropping the opening weekend series and sort the real problems from the stuff that will fade once the season settles. We also dig into the Nico Horner extension and what it signals about the Cubs building around defense, payroll, and pitching to contact.
• opening weekend recap and why 1-2 feels so familiar
• quick schedule check with the Angels at Wrigley and Cleveland ahead
• Cade Horton’s efficiency and why his style is so hard to face
• Ian Happ’s hard contact and handling a bigger lineup role
• missed chances on Sunday and frustration with solo homers
• Wrigley Field beer prices and the pitch clock concessions theory
• early read on Alex Bregman’s dugout vibe and on-field look
• Nico Horner’s six-year deal and how service time changes player pay
• why elite up-the-middle defense supports pitching to weak contact
• Shota Imanaga watch and why the whiffs matter
• Miguel Amaya versus Carson Kelly and the odd batting order usage
• whether Michael Bush belongs in extension talks
Guys, don't forget, tune in on Friday's show
Make sure you leave a five star review

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney

Getting smoked 10-4 on opening day messes with your head, especially when the opponent is a team you think you should handle. We talk through how to process that kind of loss without spiraling, what actually decided the game, and why the only real response is simple: take the series. That mindset is the difference between following baseball like a daily panic test and following it like a season-long story where the truth shows up over time.

Then the conversation turns to the news that actually reshapes the Cubs’ future. Nico Hoerner gets extended, and I dig into why his value goes way beyond a box score: elite defense up the middle, smart baserunning, low strikeouts, and an everyday mentality that sets a standard. If you’ve ever wondered what “clubhouse leadership” looks like in modern MLB, Hoerner is the cleanest example. Stability matters, and locking in the middle infield takes a huge problem off the to-do list.

And the headline move: Pete Crow-Armstrong signs for $115 million. I break down why that number surprises me, why it can be a massive win for Jed Hoyer, and how the weird reality of league-minimum years changes what “getting paid” means for a young star. We also hit early lineup construction questions, what changes when Seiya Suzuki is out, and who I want in that crucial third spot when the lineup is whole.

If you’re locked in on the 2025 Cubs, subscribe so you don’t miss the Friday rhythm, share this with a Cubs fan who’s already overreacting, and leave a quick five-star review if you’ve got a second. What’s your grade for the Nico and PCA extensions?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney