Former WGN web sports reporter and producer Larry Hawley joins the podcast to talk about the Cubs' ongoing struggles with the bat and in the bullpen. We touch on the team's plummeting playoff odds, how they might approach the trade deadline, and what has actually gone right this year.

Let's face it: The Cubs have not been a fun team to watch this year. Shota Imanaga is continuing to pitch well, but they're making too many outs on the bases, too many defensive miscues and aren't scoring runs. So what can be done about it? Host Gary Cohen looks at where the Cubs stand (it ain't good) and how they might be able to get better.

Chris Emma of 670 The Score joins Gary Cohen to talk about the Brewers' surprising resilience, the Cubs' slumping bats, and the impact of young players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ben Brown. We also predict some early trade deadline moves and discuss why the Bears on Hard Knocks will be appointment viewing.

Forgetting what "Go, Cubs, Go!" sounds like? The Cubs are mired in their first prolonged slump of the season. The bats have gone cold, dropping the team close to the .500 mark. On the bright side, Ben Brown just spun seven no-hit innings, and Pete Crow-Armstrong won minor league player of the week honors. Also, MLB just made a big change to their statistical database.

Cheryl Raye-Stout of WBEZ has been covering Chicago sports for four decades. On this episode, she talks about breaking Michael Jordan's baseball news, watching Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad dominate with pitchability, and covering Mark Grace and Sammy Sosa. We also appreciate Kyle Hendricks for the pitcher he was and the person he is, and look ahead at a potentially exciting Bears season.

The Shota Imanaga appreciation podcast continues, as the Cubs' newest import pitches another gem, Kyle Hendricks is back on the bump and looking more like himself, and the bullpen is struggling. But, mainly, host Gary Cohen dives into a new trove of MLB Statcast bat tracking data and how it can be used to evaluate Cubs hitters. We also remember Don Cardwell's surprising 1960 no-hitter.

Tommy Birch, Iowa Cubs beat reporter for the Des Moines Register, joins Gary Cohen to talk about top prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, and Cade Horton. We also dive into prospect past to discuss when guys like Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, and others came through Triple-A Iowa, and touch on the 2014 Manny Ramirez player-coach experience.

When the year started, misinformed pundits (like host Gary Cohen) said the Cubs might be a little thin in the starting rotation. But with Justin Steele back, Jameson Taillon impressing, Javier Assad soaring, and Shota Imanaga looking like a Rookie of the Year, the Cubs have moved into a first-place tie. In this episode, Cohen discusses the Cubs stellar staff, examines some improved defensive numbers, and looks back at Kerry Wood's 1998 gem, still one of the best games ever pitched.