Away Games: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

So, the Cubs are back to scoring zero or one run basically every other game. We crunched the numbers, and it turns out, that's bad. With a .5 game lead with 5 to go, and the Brewers on fire and closing against an awful Detroit team, the wild card -- for the first time in a long time -- seems almost likely. Ugh. Speaking of "ugh," and generally awful things, we address Addison Russell. But hey! At least Schwarber helped ruin Hawk Harrelson's sendoff? Oy. Let's win some games. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Well, right before we started recording, we heard Brandon Morrow is done for the year. Of course. We do a deep dive on what that means for the bullpen - specifically the 9th inning - and the roster as we look toward the playoffs (hopefully). Oh, and Kris Bryant's oppo power has been welcomed back to the team, thank God. And while we're thanking deities, how 'bout that rotation? We also talk about the Strop injury and Maddon's decisions that led to it, and the absurd freakout over Willson Contreras hitting a double. One more episode before the playoffs start! Let's get the division and get on with having Jorge De La Rosa close out the World Series or whatever! Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

So, we've got 2 things: 1) mild, reasonable panic, about this past week and the upcoming stretch run, and 2) call-in guests! ALERT NYC AREA FANS: on 9/23, the Ron Santo film "This Old Cub" is playing at Columbia University. Go to arts.columbia.edu/nyindieguy and use the discount code: NYIndie18. Let's hang out. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Hello, new listeners! Adam continues his undefeated year, going 9-0 after a couple of wins in Philly, and we have a tweet go inexplicably viral. Cole Hamels talks smack about Milwaukee "rivalry," and Kevin DOES go to Chicago for a haircut. We also talk a lot about good fans, bad fans, and the BS of online fandom. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Cubs getting rain delayed, we're tech delayed on ep #25! We talk rejuvenated Cubs offense, a playoff lineup starting to take shape, return of "Anthony Rizzo: Power Hitter," the Cardinals who don't lose anymore, and the tough stretch coming up. Follow us on twitter & insta @awaygamespod!

Well, it's been a week. The Cubs refuse to hit with runners on, and only hit one solo homer a game, every game. They traded for Daniel Murphy, and Kevin & Adam talk about what that means both on the field, and off. We debate what it means to be a fan, wanting to root for good people, and being disappointed in the team you root for. But hey! At least Adam & Kevin are back in the same place this week! Audio quality is a win! Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Hey, remember when David Bote hit a grand slam to beat the Nats? Or when Rizzo broke Hellickson in the middle of a no-hitter & the Cubs came back to win? Good, forget everything else about this week. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

One more from the road! Adam's in Vermont, he calls in to Kevin in NYC to talk about the wonders of Pedro Strop, the closer, and fashion inspiration. We talk who wore it best, how great Cole Hamels looks, David Bote as a real thing, and Javy Baez for MVP. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Kevin & Adam do this podcast on the road! Kevin went to 2 games at Wrigley (Bote/Rizzo comeback included), and Tuesday's bummer at PNC. We talk trade deadline, Hamels/Kintzler, Hall of Fame Clubhouse Cancer A-Rod, his take on Darvish, and Maddon's clapback. It's a fun one, even though Adam was in NYC and Kevin was in his car. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Adam returns to talk about his all-star weekend in Washington, we talk about Josh Hader & his tweets, Cubs pursuit of Zach Britton (or deGrom?!), the trade deadline, and Kevin at Wrigley field this week! Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Adam gives a brief report LIVE FROM LOCATION at the All-Star Game (much more talk to come next week) and we look back on the Cubs 1st half, grade our own predictions from our season preview, make predictions for the second half, and get ready to sprint to the finish with the FIRST PLACE CUBS. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

Away Games #18 finds us talking Cubs all-stars Javy Baez, Willson Contreras & Jon Lester, what to do about Chatwood, JA Happ rumors, Kevin's Brewers/Machado fear, and we look ahead to Adam going to Washington for the All-Star game and home run derby. Let's hope he wins! Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

As Adam predicted last week, the Cubs are back after a quick dip, and the offense is relentless. 35 minutes in, we go full All-Star mode! How many Cubs should be All-Stars? Who are our all-stars? With just one day left to vote, GO VOTE JAVY! We also defend Dexter Fowler after he's thrown under the bus by the guy who signed him, and we talk about rotation concerns.

Last week was The Dumbest Game, and it was immediately surpassed! It has been The Dumbest Week, getting swept in Cincy, Bryant is on the DL, Yu is (slowly) returning, and half the pitching staff is in from Iowa. Also, why doesn't this team know how to use a DL? How do we feel? Angry? Sad? Optimistic? FLIRTY?! We talk it out. Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

"The Dumbest Game" happened Tuesday, and this week vs. MIL & STL was okay, but after back to back shutouts and Dodgers loss, it feels not okay? Kevin & Adam talk about how the Cubs need to find a way to get this - by all metrics, "good" - offense to just score two friggin' runs. Oh, and Chatwood, no bueno. And Morrow's Pants. Follow us! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod Tumblr: awaygamespodcast.tumblr.com Hosts @adammamawala & @kevinmccaff Message us at awaygamespodcast@gmail.com

The Cubs are hot(ish), Rizzo is back, Heyward is finally here, Adam had a great week in Chicago doing shows and seeing (most of) Ian Happ's incredible defense, and we don't even CARE that we're again recording during a Chatwood game. We talk about fun Cubs tweets from Duensing & Rosario, Lester's proclamation that it's 2016 again, and how you can tell if our @awaygamespod is tweeting from Adam or Kevin (hint: gifs = Adam, tweetbeef = Kevin). Follow, subscribe, rate, FIGHT!

Adam & Kevin spent the weekend watching the Cubs sweep the Mets in Queens, and we get into it! The Mets fan heckles/self-owns, the dominant pitching, Javy stealing home, etc. We talk overworking the bullpen, and loving Montgomery. Kevin also gives a rundown of the Cubs first 10 rounds of this year's draft, and Adam & Kevin share their favorite Jake Arrieta memories upon his return to Wrigley. Follow! Subscribe! Rate! Review! WIN! Instagram & Twitter: @awaygamespod

Last week, we recorded during a Chatwood (recurring) nightmare. This week, during a Cubs comeback win over the easily offended Pirates. Adam & Kevin talk "The Rizzo Slide," the #FreeAlmora movement, Montgomery as a starter, the starting rotation falling apart, and going to the Cubs games in Queens this week vs. the Mets. Come join us at Citi Field!

Full disclosure: we recorded this somewhere in the middle of Chatwood's six walks in 2.2 innings, so if we don't sound appropriately furious, that's why. We talk Machado rumors (last time for a while, we hope), the Cubs best lineup shaping up, Zobrist at leadoff, and what NL Central teams we're actually worried about, vs. who we're not sweating.

Kevin & Adam are both traveling, so this episode features talk about Machado (Do we want him? For how much?), the great Ichiro's semi-retirement inspires talk of favorite non-Cubs, and we do choose y our own adventure: if Cubs played well this week, go to minute 50 for us talking about that. If they didn't, go to minute 46 for that recap. WE'RE IN THE FUTURE (kind of). We'll be back fully live and in the moment next week with a new episode May 22.