https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/page/201/?d=7enhttps://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/that-justin-steele-start-and-what-it-tells-us-about-whats-next-r44/There was a pivotal moment in Friday night's Cubs win over the Dodgers, not only for that game, but (perhaps) for the whole season. Justin Steele took the mound with a 3-1 lead, but gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. And then he kept going. Far too often, over the last two seas...44Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:26:37 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/are-the-cubs-on-the-right-side-of-the-extension-curve-r42/The Ian Happ extension might be viewed as more than the next step after the similar deal signed by Nico Hoerner earlier this month. Have the Cubs gotten around and ahead of the curve when it comes to contract extensions and their investments in players? Don’t get it twisted. The jury is stil...42Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:45:51 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/ian-happ-and-the-cubs-bet-on-each-other-r40/Just when it seemed safe to give up on the dream of an Ian Happ extension, the Cubs and Happ sprung one upon us. He’s now locked in through 2026, at a total cost of $61 million and with the added security of a no-trade clause, and the Cubs’ plan for the next half-decade is beginning to take a mo...40Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:19:54 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/draft-preview-midwest-personalcheeseballs-r38/With just under three months left before the 2023 draft gets underway, you’ll see an increase in coverage. Over the next 10 weeks, we’ll be doing a series called “Personal Cheeseballs” which will take a closer look at groups of potential draftees. The term “personal cheeseball” (better repre...38Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:17:13 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/the-third-54-report-a-grand-comeback-r37/The Cubs nearly took a second-round knockout at the hands of the Mariners Tuesday night. Instead, they forged one of the biggest and fastest comebacks in franchise history, and then quieted everything down and cruised to a delicious win. If the Cubs had stayed down when the Mariners pounced...37Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:16:08 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/an-update-on-hughes-and-suzukis-rehab-assignments-r35/A quick update on Cubs reliever Brandon Hughes and Seiya Suzuki, who both began their rehab assignments with the Iowa Cubs on Saturday, April 8, in St. Paul, Minnesota, against the Saints.  Two of the Cubs' everyday players from the 2022 season who have been out for 2023 so far, began their...35Wed, 12 Apr 2023 02:41:50 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/the-third-54-report-nico-hoerner-rescues-the-cubs-r34/The Cubs are over .500 after nine games, thanks (once again) to their dynamic middle infield. This team will have to win many close and difficult games to make noise in the NL, and for the first time this year, they did so. As a reminder, our premise here is the old cliché that every team wi...34Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:29:02 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/hayden-wesneski-has-made-the-necessary-sacrifice-r31/When Hayden Wesneski came up to the Cubs at the end of the 2022 season, he showed mid-rotation starting potential. To finish converting that potential into real success and production, though, he needed to make a couple of changes. He’s made them. Now, the question is how much it cost him to do...31Mon, 10 Apr 2023 06:41:11 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/are-the-cubs-the-new-kings-of-the-multi-inning-fireman-role-r29/Michael Fulmer collected a two-inning save for the Cubs Friday. Little by little, we’re starting to get an idea of what the Cubs think they have in the bullpen, and how they want to utilize it all. Michael Fulmer’s was the sixth relief appearance lasting more than three outs by a Cub this se...29Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:44:11 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/podcast-this-is-not-a-rebuild-episode-25-the-worst-kind-of-tourist-r28/The least coherent Cubs podcast on the internet rumbles on, interested in the return of baseball but not confined by it. With Tom on assignment this week, Matt, Todd, and DJ tackle the early action around the NL Central. There's discussion of the Cardinals' delicious internal drama; the surp...28Fri, 07 Apr 2023 11:38:04 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/draft-bonus-details-emerge-r25/It's that time of year again: When the draft is only a few months around the corner and the ever-nerdy draft-lovers are excited by the words "bonus pools" and "draft slots." That's right. Major League Baseball released this information on Tuesday night and we can't wait to talk about it at...25Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:53:08 +0000https://northsidebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-news/cubs/what-is-it-eric-hosmer-does-here-exactly-r24/The Cubs signed Eric Hosmer to be a positive veteran influence and a part of their defensive phalanx. Less than a week into the season, though, we already have cause to wonder how long that experiment will last. In the selloff of the championship Cubs, perhaps no bigger gap was created than...24Wed, 05 Apr 2023 11:19:17 +0000