Why Jed Hoyer's Chicago Cubs were built to lose in October | Wild Card Series recap | Manny Randhawa

Jack Vita

12 minutes ago

2 min read

MLB.com reporter Manny Randhawa visits the Jack Vita Show to recap the Wild Card Series, and preview the American League and National League Division Series!

The Chicago Cubs have won one playoff series since 2017. The club hasn't placed above the Milwaukee Brewers in a full, 162-game season since 2017, despite having at least $100 million higher payroll each year. The Cubs finished 14 games worse than the Brewers this season despite having an eight-game lead on the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card race in August, fell out of the top Wild Card spot, before getting swept by the Friars, scoring just one measly run over two games. What gives? Why haven't the Cubs yielded better results since Jed Hoyer took the reigns from Theo Epstein after the 2020 season?

On the flipside, what did the Padres do right in this series? What is clicking for them at this time, and just how deep of a run can they make in the postseason? Is this their best shot at a title in the AJ Preller era?

The Chicago White Sox just picked up their first postseason series win since 2005. Do they have enough magic to take down the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians? Has the Philadelphia Phillies' window closed?

Later, Manny and Jack preview the ALDS and NLDS matchups, sharing their picks. It's a fun episode you will not want to miss!

Follow Manny on Twitter (@MannyOnMLB) and buy his book, The Blake Street Bombers, on Amazon. The Blake Street Bombers chronicles the Colorado Rockies' lineups of the mid 1990s, which featured sluggers Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, Andres Galarraga and Larry Walker.