Nearing the end of spring training, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney open their notebooks for some information on how the team is coming together. Why did Cubs manager Craig Counsell tell his hitting coaches to stay away from Ballesteros? And what’s the story behind this elite hitting prospect? Plus, some reports from evaluators who maybe aren’t as high on Chicago’s pitching staff. Should this be a concern heading into Opening Day? All that and more on the latest episode of North Side Territory, your go-to show for a behind-the-scenes look at the Cubs.

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What did the Cubs really think of how Team Venezuela handled their closer? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain Palencia’s rise through the organization and onto the stage of an electric championship game. As the Cubs welcome key players back from the WBC, the focus will be getting the entire group on the same page and preparing for Opening Day. How will the pitching staff take shape? And what should we make of the Cactus League performances by Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera? Listen to North Side Territory all season long for the latest information and unique insights from the clubhouse and the front office.

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Near the end of a relatively smooth spring training, the Cubs are dealing with some uncertainty. The club continues to monitor Suzuki, who injured his right knee while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, making it questionable whether he will be able to start the season on time. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have the latest updates on this situation, from Suzuki’s timeline to the team’s current plans for right field and the internal deliberations on how to fill out the Opening Day roster. Listen to North Side Territory all season long for information, insight and analysis.

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