Brett and Michael are back for the fifty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With Spring Training underway, baseball is officially back in the air, and the guys settle into the rhythms of camp and the early days of the preseason.

They talk about the World Baseball Classic, which continues to draw heavy interest around the league—including strong representation from the Cubs organization. The conversation touches on how teams and players balance tournament play with preparation for the MLB season, and what it means when elite pitchers try to maintain their routines during a mid-spring international event.

From there, the discussion opens up into a broader baseball conversation—what a hypothetical Team USA roster might look like over the course of a full MLB season, how talent concentration at that level would translate over 162 games, and how the sport continues to evolve.

The guys also react to recent comments from former Cubs manager Joe Maddon about advanced analytics—when they’re most useful, how managers can implement them effectively, and where the human element still matters most in decision-making.

With camp underway and the baseball calendar ramping up, it’s a wide-ranging conversation about the sport, the upcoming season, and everything that makes this time of year exciting.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com

Read more Cubs coverage ➡️ bleachernation.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brett and Michael are back for Episode 51 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast! Hosts Brett Taylor and Michael Cerami dive into a packed week of Spring Training storylines as the Chicago Cubs ramp up toward meaningful games. The biggest on-field conversation? The Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) challenge system. The guys break down how it’s functioning in camp, whether the process feels too slow or overly theatrical, and what it will look like when it’s fully implemented. Is the league striking the right balance between accuracy and pace? And how will broadcasts handle the strike zone graphic once challenges become the norm?

From there, it’s all about roster maneuvering. The guys walk through the implications of timing those moves, how it impacts depth, and what it signals about early-season expectations. The bench battle is also heating up. How does Matt Shaw fit into the mix as a utility option? Which outfielders have the edge among Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Kevin Alcantara? And what role could Moises Ballesteros carve out as roster spots tighten?

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com

Read more Cubs coverage ➡️ bleachernation.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brett and Michael are back for the fiftieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! Spring Training games are finally here, with the Cubs set to host the White Sox in their Cactus League opener.

But the biggest news of the week came off the field: Tony Clark has suddenly resigned as head of the MLB Players Association. The timing is stunning, coming just ahead of what is expected to be a contentious round of Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. The guys discuss what this leadership shakeup could mean for upcoming talks, revenue sharing debates, and the broader labor landscape in baseball. With Deputy Director Bruce Meyer likely stepping into a larger role, the question becomes whether the union can stay organized during such a critical stretch.

On the Cubs front, the team officially signed rehabbing reliever Shelby Miller and designated infielder Ben Cowles for assignment to clear a 40-man spot. That move sparks discussion about roster timing, waiver calculations, and why the Cubs did not immediately place Justin Steele on the 60-day IL. Is it about optimism for Steele’s timeline, or simply smart roster maneuvering? The guys break it down.

With camp underway and league-wide uncertainty swirling, there’s no shortage of topics—even before the games begin.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com

Read more Cubs coverage ➡️ bleachernation.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.