Bleacher Bunch Network: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bleacher Bunch #23: Live From Ballhawk Corner Jun 14, 2025

Show notes

Danny is at Ballhawk Corner by Wrigley before the Cubs play the Pirates,, while Michael Cotton runs the 1's and 2's. Plus we get a visit from Crawly and Meatball Mike!

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Bricks Behind the Ivy | Chicago Cubs Quarter Century Team: Who Makes the Cut? Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

This week on Bricks Behind the Ivy, Pat and Jeff reveal their Chicago Cubs Quarter Century Teams — building the ultimate lineup using Cubs players from the past 25 years!

Inspired by an article from The Athletic by Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma, the guys come in with their teams already built and reveal them to each other live for authentic reactions, debate, and a bit of nostalgia.

They also cover:

Nico Hoerner getting ejected
Their Hitter and Pitcher of the Week
Plenty of strong (and hilarious) takes on Cubs past and present

Timestamps:

(2:08) Nico Got Tossed?

(9:38) Hitter of the Week

(11:58) Pitcher of the Week

(13:59) Quarter Century Team Kick Off

(15:09) 1st Basemen

(20:33) 2nd Basemen

(25:00) Shortstop

(31:48) Third Base

(36:00) Left Field

(40:28) Center Field

(43:34) Right Field

(51:21) Starting Pitching

(56:02) Impact Reliever

🧢 New episodes weekly — covering the Cubs with analysis, personality, and a healthy dose of fandom.

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Cubs Gear Partner – Wrigleyville Sports:

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Son Ranto #1047: Sammy Skobel the Blind Umpire Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

What does a blind hot dog selling skier have to do with the Cubs? Listen to Danny, Michael and Lyle to find out. Tigers recap. Phillies Preview. And the B-Clock.

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Bleacher Bunch #22: Nats and Tigers and Cubs, Oh My! Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Johnny Onomatopoeia joins Danny Rockett to talk about where the Nationals are in their rebuild in comparison to the Cubs, and then Rogelio Castillo from the Motor City Metrics podcast comes on to talk Tigers.

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CubsPS+ #109: Cade Horton, Pitch Counts & Pitching Depth with Bryan Smith Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ CubsPS+ #109: Cade Horton, Pitch Counts, and Pitching Depth w/ Bryan Smith

This week, I welcomed back Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) to dive deep into Cade Horton’s development, minor league pitch counts, and how the Cubs are juggling a fragile pitching staff in 2025.

Forget 109 pitches in a game—Bryan and I talk about why Horton never even touched 80 in the minors, and whether that’s coming back to bite him now in the big leagues. We also hit on how the Cubs are adjusting their development philosophy, what that means for the future, and how a guy like Ben Brown is outpacing expectations (and pitch limits).

🔹 What we covered:

Why Cade Horton stopped at exactly 79 pitches... like, a lot
How the Cubs’ minor league philosophy may have hurt—or helped—Horton’s MLB transition
Pitching development: The evolution of workloads, pitch counts, and arm health
The Tyler Zombro effect and how the Cubs are reshaping their bullpen weapons
Insights on Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, and Porter Hodge stepping up
Current state of Cubs starting pitching depth—and why it’s dangerously thin
Bryan's take on Iowa arms like Will Sanders, Peter Solomon, and who’s closest to Wrigley
Why Jamo’s changeup might be influencing Cade Horton more than you think
A fun riff on how scoring runs and hitting with RISP are actually good ideas!

🧠 Plus, we chat about the psychology of young pitchers, lessons from Little League arm care, and what the Cubs might do down the stretch with so many pitchers on innings limits.

💬 Join the conversation on BlueSky and the 1060West Discord with Bryan and other die-hard Cubs fans!

📲 Follow the show & never miss an episode:

Twitter/X: @CubsPSplus @Bleacher_Bunch @Cubprospects
Discord: 1060West community (ask for an invite!) and Bleacher Bunch (become a Patreon supporter!)

🧢 Go Cubs—and may our pitch counts rise carefully, and our playoff chances even more.

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Bleacher Bunch Extra: Sandy Marchetti on Writer's Voices Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Friend of the pod, Sandy Marchetti was a guest on a radio program and I got permission to post it to the Bleacher Bunch because I thought that maybe our listeners would like to hear more about Sandy's new book, Diorama straight from the Poet herself.

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Bricks Behind the Ivy | The 2025 Chicago Cubs are Fun! Here's 3 Reasons Why Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

The 2025 Chicago Cubs are playing with energy, swagger, and a sense of purpose — and yes, they’re FUN again. In this episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy, host Jeff Ragauskis breaks down 3 key reasons why this team is a blast to watch. From young stars stepping up to clubhouse chemistry and strong leadership, we’re diving into what’s changed and why you should be excited. 💬 Let us know what YOU think makes this Cubs team fun in the comments! 🎥 Subscribe to your YouTube Channel -https://www.youtube.com/@bleacher_bunch_network 🏟️Looking for Bricks Behind the Ivy? ⚾️ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/bbti_pod ⚾️Follow Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bricks_behind_the_ivy ⚾️Follow Candidcubs on Twitter - https://twitter.com/candidcubs ⚾️Follow BBTI on Blue Sky! - https://bsky.app/profile/bbti-pod.bsky.social 🏟️Looking for Bleacher Bunch? ⚾️ Follow us on Twitter - https://x.com/Bleacher_Bunch ⚾️Follow Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bleacher_bunch/ ⚾️Follow on Blue Sky! - https://bsky.app/profile/bleacherbunch.bsky.social ⚾️Join our ad-free Patreon! - https://patreon.com/bleacherbunch ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ Welcome to the BBTI Family, Yaggy Road Roasting Company! Started by three college friends at Valparaiso University, Yaggy Road Roasting Company is a specialty boutique coffee roaster centered on ethically sourcing and meticulously roasting some of the most special coffees in the world. A lot of life’s most special moments happen over coffee, which is why Yaggy Road ensures that the coffee in your mug is as special as the moment you are experiencing. Order your Coffee Here! - https://www.yaggyroad.com/?ref=BricksBehindTheIvy ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ Buy all of your Cubs memorabilia from Wrigleyville Sports! Use code "IVY10" at checkout for 10% off! Shop here today! - https://www.wrigleyvillesports.com/ ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ #chicagocubspodcast #chicagocubspodcastyoutube #chicagocubs #BricksBehindTheIvy #bleacherbunch #CubsFanContent

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Bricks Behind the Ivy| Bob Kendrick on Honoring Negro Leagues History Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

In this Memorial Day special episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy, host Jeffrey Ragauskis sits down with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, for an unforgettable conversation on the importance of honoring baseball’s history. We explore the stories of Negro League legends, the power of preserving their legacy, and how the past continues to shape the game today. This episode is a tribute to those who paved the way — on and off the field. We learn of Bob's "fanboy" moment with the great Henry Aaron, and the appreciation of getting a hot dog paired with a ball game 🎥 Subscribe to your YouTube Channel - / @bleacher_bunch_network 🏟️Looking for Bricks Behind the Ivy? ⚾️ Follow us on Twitter - / bbti_pod ⚾️Follow Us on Instagram - / bricks_behind_the_ivy ⚾️Follow Candidcubs on Twitter - / candidcubs ⚾️Follow BBTI on Blue Sky! - https://bsky.app/profile/bbti-pod.bsk... 🏟️Looking for Bleacher Bunch? ⚾️ Follow us on Twitter - https://x.com/Bleacher_Bunch ⚾️Follow Us on Instagram - / bleacher_bunch ⚾️Follow on Blue Sky! - https://bsky.app/profile/bleacherbunc... ⚾️Join our ad-free Patreon! - / bleacherbunch ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ Welcome to the BBTI Family, Yaggy Road Roasting Company! Started by three college friends at Valparaiso University, Yaggy Road Roasting Company is a specialty boutique coffee roaster centered on ethically sourcing and meticulously roasting some of the most special coffees in the world. A lot of life’s most special moments happen over coffee, which is why Yaggy Road ensures that the coffee in your mug is as special as the moment you are experiencing. Order your Coffee Here! - https://www.yaggyroad.com/?ref=Bricks... ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ Buy all of your Cubs memorabilia from Wrigleyville Sports! Use code "IVY10" at checkout for 10% off! Shop here today! - https://www.wrigleyvillesports.com/ ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ #chicagocubspodcast #chicagocubspodcastyoutube #chicagocubs #BricksBehindTheIvy #bleacherbunch #CubsFanContent

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Bleacher Bunch #21: Jewish Jonah May 30, 2025

Show notes

Sara and Danny welcome Wrigley Vendor Jewish Jonah, and Reds fan comedian Billy Devore as we talk about this particular moment in Cubs baseball fandom.

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Baseball Rabbithole Game 3 Inning 3-MVPs May 28, 2025

Show notes

Cotton goes down the Rabbithole on MVPs and finds out that even though the list goes back to the early 1900s, they weren't actually all MVPs.

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