Explore every episode of the podcast Inside The Friendly Confines

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode of Inside the Friendly Confines, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers breaks down the Cubs’ playoff rotation and bullpen options as Chicago prepares for October. Jesse makes the case for using an opener in Game 1 and explains why Shota Imanaga should get a postseason start against the Philadelphia Phillies. He also looks at the rest of the rotation and asks whether David Peterson could be an option to start a playoff game.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! David Kaplan joins Jesse to break down the Cubs playoff push! Kap explains why he believes the Cubs might still be missing a true top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher — the kind of ace who can take the mound in October and give you confidence you’re going to win. He also talks about why Pete Crow-Armstrong has become his favorite player he’s ever covered

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! On this episode of Inside the Friendly Confines, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers breaks down the Craig Counsell's decision to pinch hit BJ Murray for Carson Kelly. Jesse also takes a hard look at the Cubs bullpen, which has struggled at a critical point in the season. You’ll hear sound from Counsell on the state of the bullpen and how he plans to manage it moving forward.

The Cubs’ division hopes took a major hit after their loss to the Brewers, but can they hold off the Phillies and secure a Wild Card spot? Jesse Rogers breaks down Craig Counsell’s bullpen decision-making before Cubs Bench Coach Ryan Flaherty joins the show to discuss PCA’s MVP leap, the daily responsibilities of an MLB bench coach and Chicago’s final push toward the playoffs. #Cubs #ChicagoCubs #PeteCrowArmstrong #MLB #RyanFlaherty ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In a special episode, Jesse sits down with Cubs Infielder Nico Hoerner to discuss the lessons he learned growing up. The guys also discuss Nico's defense and more!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! On this episode of Inside the Friendly Confines, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers breaks down how the Cubs are handling Shota Imanaga down the stretch and what his role could look like as Chicago fights for a spot in the postseason. You’ll also hear from Cubs manager Craig Counsell on Imanaga and the bullpen as the team manages its pitching staff for the stretch run. Plus, Jesse shares comments from Cubs legends Jon Lester and Jody Davis as each reflects on earning a spot in the Cubs Hall of Fame and what the honor means to them.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Chicago Cubs radio analyst Ron Coomer joins ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Inside the Friendly Confines to break down one of the biggest moments from the Cubs’ matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Coomer gives his perspective on the controversial balk non-call against Arizona, what he saw on the play and how moments like that can impact a game. Jesse also dives into Jacob Webb’s recent struggles out of the Cubs bullpen and examines the grind of a 162-game MLB season, including how players handle slumps, fatigue and the pressure that builds over six months of baseball.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse Rogers breaks down the controversy involving Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly and Cubs third base coach Quentin Berry. Jesse examines what happened, whether Kelly may have been tipping pitches and why the situation became a major talking point. Jesse also discusses the latest on Matt Shaw and Dansby Swanson’s injuries, Kevin Gausman’s strong pitching and what his performance means for the Cubs moving forward. Plus, Jesse weighs in on the Cubs’ 150th Anniversary Team and the players who helped define generations of baseball on the North Side. Subscribe for more Chicago Cubs news, analysis, interviews and insider coverage from Jesse Rogers on Inside the Friendly Confines.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Jesse gives his big takeaways from the Crosstown Classic. Outside of PCA, do the Cubs have enough power to compete in October? Jesse discusses Clay Holmes and Shota Imanaga's starts versus the Sox and their place in the playoff rotation. Also, sound from Craig Counsell and a top Cubs draft pick. All this and more on Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Cubs relief pitcher Jacob Webb joins the show to detail his success in the Cubs' closer role. He also discusses the Cubs win over the White sox and how he approached pitching to the White Sox power hitters. Also, get an inside scoop on what Cubs mound meetings are like and what Webb does in his free time. All this and more on Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Silvy joins Jesse to discuss a wild bet regarding the NL Central race. Silvy says he will run from Wrigley to the ESPN Chicago studios in a jockstrap if the Cubs catch the Brewers and win the division. The guys break down the race.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Cubs TV Analyst Jim Deshaies joins Jesse to break down PCA's rise to stardom. Is he a villain across the league? Also, do the Cubs have good enough pitching to make a run in October? Jesse and JD compare the 2026 team to the 2016 World Series team. All this and more on Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse gets a national look at the MVP race with Andy McCullough from The Athletic. Does PCA have a chance to take down Shohei? Get an inside look at the thought process of an MVP Voter. Also, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy provides an injury update on Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera. New pitchers Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are slated to make their Cubs debuts and Hottovy gives insight on working with the new starters.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse Rogers recaps the Chicago Cubs’ moves at the MLB trade deadline and breaks down what the additions of Kevin Gausman, Tyrone Taylor and Clay Holmes mean for the rest of the season. The crew listens to audio from Jed Hoyer.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse Rogers sits down with Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma from The Athletic to discuss the Cubs trade deadline outlook. Will the Cubs go all in for a rental like Tarik Skubal or take a more measured approach? The crew breaks down Jed Hoyer's mindset heading into the deadline. The group speculates about which prospects could be on the move, and which teams around the league will be sellers. All this and more on this episode of Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Will the Cubs trade for a young controllable starter or a high-level rental? Jesse breaks down all the options and the Cubs' mindset leading up to the deadline. Also, Jameson Taillon is designated for assignment. Jesse plays sound from Craig Counsell about the veteran's release. Jesse answers fan questions in his mailbag, mentions which prospects could be on the move and more!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse breaks down what he thinks the Cubs strategy will be at the deadline. He does NOT think the Cubs should go all in for a big name player. Will the Cubs acquire a starting pitcher? Also, Craig Counsell shares insight on PCA and Michael Conforto.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! 2016 Cubs First Base Coach Brandon Hyde joins Jesse to share stories of coaching Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and more. What was it like to work with Joe Maddon? Hyde talks about the team reunion and dedication of Champions Gate outside of Wrigley Field. Also, an important injury update for a Cubs reliever

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Jesse has a conversation with Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell. What was it like for Counsell coming from Milwaukee to the Cubs? Also, Counsell dives into PCA's rise, Dansby Swanson's hot stretch, the Cubs bullpen and more. All this and more on Inside the Friendly Confines.

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Jesse breaks down the Cubs options as the trade deadline nears. Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer sounds more open to making an aggressive move. How will the Cubs address the pitching staff? Also, Jesse plays audio from Cubs VP of Scouting Adam Kantrovitz on the upcoming MLB Draft. NIL and NCAA rules have affected how teams pick players and Jesse explains why. Also, the Cubs may be targeting more pitching this year. All this and more!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse breaks down Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson's massive week. What has led to the bounce back? Jesse explains his theory. Also, is there an Alex Bregman controversy? Jesse asks Bregman why he gave a thumbs down after his home run. All this and more on Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Chicago Cubs rising star pitcher Ben Brown joins Jesse to talk about his season. Brown is on the injured list with a neck injury and dives into the details of his recovery. Brown also highlights the changes he's made this year which have led to his all-star level performances. Get insight on the Cubs clubhouse, Ben Brown's personality and more in this episode of Inside the Friendly Confines!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Jesse talks to Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold about the NL Central, the Cubs rivalry and more. Arnold gives insight into the Brewers philosophy as they continue to control the division. Also, was Ken Griffey Jr. almost a White Sox even sooner? All this and more!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! In this episode, Jesse breaks down the way Craig Counsell uses the bullpen. Did Counsell pull Colin Rea too early versus Toronto? Also, Pete Crow-Armstrong made a swing adjustment. Jesse compares the new swing to the stance of a former Cubs superstar. All this and more!

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Former Cubs infielder Jason Kipnis joins Jesse Rogers for a deep dive into the biggest storylines surrounding the Chicago Cubs. The guys discuss Pete Crow-Armstrong’s meteoric rise, the elite athleticism that makes him one of the most exciting young players in baseball, and what his emergence means for the Cubs moving forward. They also break down the offensive slump plaguing the Cubs lineup, why the bats have gone cold, and what needs to happen for the offense to get back on track. Plus, Kipnis shares his perspective on Dansby Swanson’s struggles, how he dealt with similar stretches during his MLB career, and the mindset required to work through a prolonged slump. 👇 Episode Highlights: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s rise to stardom What makes PCA such a unique athlete The Cubs’ offensive struggles and lineup slump Jason Kipnis on Dansby Swanson’s challenges How players overcome extended slumps at the plate

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse discusses Dansby Swanson's performance. Will the highly paid shortstop be benched? How can Matt Shaw get more playing time?

ESPN MLB insider Jesse Rogers takes you beyond the headlines and inside the game with the kind of Northside Baseball access only he can deliver. Presented by Arlington Toyota! Jesse shares a key stat that he thinks has impacted the Cubs in their slump! Also, what is the explanation for all the Cubs starting pitching injuries?

Jesse Roger's debuts his new Cubs-centric podcast! How did the Cubs get here? The team sits only one game above .500 after a great start to the season, and Jesse explains where he thinks things went wrong. Also, who is to blame for the Cubs skid? Jesse breaks down Jed Hoyer, Craig Counsell, and Alex Bregman's level of responsibility for the recent losing streaks.