I think Zach Zaidman has already gotten a great deal of play-by-play work this season on the Cubs Radio Network and that's in part because Pat Hughes was dealing with a nasty illness that seemed to affect Hughes' voice. Hughes was off the Cubs Radio Network for at least a week.

Truth be told, Hughes isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. Hughes turned 71 in late May and there's no telling how much longer he'll continue to be the soundtrack of Cubs' baseball. Seems hard to believe Hughes has been the radio voice of the Cubs since 1996. This is his 31st season.

Having said that, I'm not so sure that Zaidman is being groomed to be the full time Cubs Radio voice should Hughes decide to hang up the microphone & headphones at some point.

There has been a lot of positive buzz for Alex Cohen, who has been Jon "Boog" Sciambi's designated fill in on the TV side on Marquee Sports Network whenever Sciambi has been on ESPN assignment.

I have to think that Cohen will be back on the Marquee call this weekend in Pittsburgh when the Cubs start their next road trip Friday. I'm not sure yet if Sciambi & Doug Glanville will be on "Sunday Night Baseball" duty on ESPN Radio nationally this weekend when the Yankees & Phillies clash in Philadelphia.

Even though NBC just took over the "SNB" package this season, ESPN Radio still carries the games nationally. What's not as clear at the moment is whether "Boog" will call fewer Cub games on Marquee to accommodate his ESPN duties down the stretch.

Another rising ESPN talent is likely to take over a pair of roles that Karl Ravech had called on ESPN/ABC in recent years. Ravech was the voice of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA as well as the College World Series in Omaha in recent years in addition to his MLB work.

A gut feeling... Part time Boston Red Sox TV & radio voice Mike Monaco, who could've been the White Sox TV voice instead of John Schriffen, is likely to take over as the new voice of the LLWS next month. The same Monaco who called Bulls, Blackhawks & even Sox games on a fill in basis during the pandemic year of 2020 on the defunct NBC Sports Chicago. It only makes sense.