As Milwaukee enjoys the World Series drama, the Cubs are trying to revamp their pitching systems and prepare for a pivotal offseason. Before the Hot Stove action begins, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney set the scene by answering questions from listeners. The focus is, obviously, on Chicago’s issues with pitching development and why the Brewers are light years ahead of their big-market rivals.

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Money can’t fix everything with this team. As much as the Cubs need to spend on free agents and make trades this offseason, internal improvements will also have to happen. Closing the gap on the Brewers and making a deeper postseason run will require certain players stepping up next year. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you five names to consider, with reasons for (and against) optimism.

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While the focus should be on the World Series, the baseball industry is also going through the hiring-and-firing season for coaches and executives. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney give you the details on what this means in Wrigleyville. Their reporting provides details on Jared Banner taking a GM job in Baltimore, the Mets looking at Pete Crow-Armstrong’s personal hitting coach and the Cubs running it back with their pitching coaches. Plus more on an outside-the-box candidate in Seattle’s manager search and the Cubs hiring an international scout away from the Rays.

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