Bleacher Bunch Network: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bricks Behind the Ivy | MLB The Show 25 Review with YouTuber/MLB Content Creator Antonio Ortiz | S2 E16 May 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy, we’re joined by Ant Ortiz, a rising voice in the MLB The Show content scene. Ant shares his baseball origin story (1:52), and then we dive into a full scouting report on MLB The Show 24 using a baseball theme: from a Single (4:28), to a Double (12:55), a Triple (24:59), and finally a Home Run (43:54). We also get the inside scoop on Ant’s creative process and his journey in building a community around the game (8:20). Whether you’re a diehard Cubs fan, a baseball gamer, or just curious how digital and real diamond worlds intersect, this one’s for you. 🎥 Subscribe to your YouTube Channel -https://www.youtube.com/bleacher_bunch_network 🏟️Looking for Bricks Behind the Ivy? ⚾️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! Shop here today! - https://www.wrigleyvillesports.com/ ⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎ #chicagocubspodcast #chicagocubspodcastyoutube #chicagocubs #BricksBehindTheIvy #bleacherbunch #CubsFanContent

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CubsPS+ #108: Cubs Bullpen - Just Noise or Time to Panic? Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Episode 108 – Cubs Bullpen: Just Noise or Time to Panic?

I kicked off the episode by celebrating one of the most infamous moments in Cubs history: Lee Elia’s legendary 1983 postgame rant. If you’ve never heard it, do yourself a favor and look it up — it’s a time capsule of frustration, profanity, and peak Cubs lore.
Then I pivoted to the present: the Cubs are 17-12 after surviving a brutal April schedule. Not a single game against a losing team until this series in Pittsburgh — that’s wild.
I talked through why I’m actually encouraged by this start — especially considering we’ve already seen the Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Rangers. No cupcake wins in that bunch.
The offense has been carrying the load — leading MLB in runs scored and ranking top five in most categories. Pitching? That’s where it gets interesting.

Let’s talk bullpen:

There’s panic out there, and I get it — but I dug into the numbers and game logs to get a clearer picture of what’s actually happening.
I broke down every blown save so far — who they’re charged to, how they happened, and why that stat doesn’t always mean what fans think it does.
I showed how a single bad outing is inflating ERAs for guys like Porter Hodge and Brad Keller — and why Hodge, in particular, has actually been solid outside of one meltdown.
I walked through game-by-game bullpen usage during the last homestand to separate emotion from results. Some of those wins? The bullpen locked it down.
I compared this group to last year’s disaster — and while they’re walking too many guys and not getting enough strikeouts, it’s not the same situation as 2024. At least not yet.

Where we go from here:

I talked about who I trust in the late innings right now (spoiler: it’s not just Presley), and why the Cubs need to keep cycling through arms until they find the right mix.
I gave Jed some criticism for not doing more in the offseason — but also credit for being aggressive with early call-ups and DFA moves.
I touched on David Robertson rumors, why adding starting depth could actually help the bullpen, and what internal options might emerge.
Finally, I looked ahead to May — the schedule softens up, and if this team keeps doing what it did in April against easier opponents, we might just stay on top of the division.

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Son Ranto #1033: Lunch Ranto Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Danny sings the anthem, as the Cubs drop 2 of 3 to the fighting Phils. Then Bryan the Pirates fan stops by to explain why his team sucks.

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Bleacher Bunch #17: The Poetic Cubs Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Cubs poet laureate Sandra Marchetti joins Sara, IFG, and Danny to celebrate the Cubs beating the deferred Dodgers this week.

Support the Bleacher Bunch http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch

Check out Sandra's new poetry books!

https://amzn.to/4jJ5MTz

https://amzn.to/3GrfATe

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Bricks Behind the Ivy | Cubs Pitching Crisis? Who Can Step Up After Justin Steele Injury Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

This week on Bricks Behind the Ivy, we’re brewing up a hot one just like a fresh cup of Yaggy Road Roasting coffee! ☕️ 📣

First up — we’re excited to announce a new way to support the show and score some exclusive merch: Leave a review for Bricks Behind the Ivy on your favorite podcast platform, include #Brickhead in the review, and you’ll automatically be entered to become our Brick Head of the Week! The winner gets a free Bricks Behind the Ivy t-shirt, and of course, a shoutout on the show.

⏱️ Then, it’s the Yaggy Road Roasting Box Score Blitz — our 60-second Cubs recap covering the week that was on the North Side. From walk-offs to weather delays, we’ve got you caught up in a flash.

🏆 We crown our Wrigleyville Sports Player and Pitcher of the Week, spotlighting standout performances and those rising to the occasion with the Cubs battling through injuries and inconsistency.

⚾ Pat takes us back in time ...to Friday of last week...to discuss a historic showdown at Wrigley Field between the Cubs and Diamondbacks. Even after 100 years, still new history happens at Wrigley!

🚨 And with Justin Steele officially out for the year, Jeff breaks down potential arms the Cubs should be targeting to reinforce the rotation. Who can step up and keep this team contending in the NL Central?

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⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎⚾︎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!

Shop here today! - https://www.wrigleyvillesports.com/

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Son Ranto #1032: Cubs Have Risen Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Steele's Out. Shaw's Gone. And the games have gone crazy on this weeks Son Ranto Show, where we Danny, Lyle, and Michael take a spin of the wheel of Cubs grievances.

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Baseball Rabbithole-Game 3 Inning 2-Ballpark Dimensions Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

Michael takes us all down the Baseball Rabbithole into another dimension in which the dimensions of ballparks are probably not what you expected.

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Bleacher Bunch #16: Ballparks on a Budget Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

Danny Rockett hosts Cubs Insider's Evan Altman and Ballparks on a Budget's Amy Zeiher.

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Bricks Behind the Ivy | S2 E 14| The Cubs Prospect Watchlist: Who to Follow at Every Minor League Level (w/ Greg Huss) Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ Bricks Behind the Ivy – A Cubs podcast for Cub fans, by Cub fans.

This week, we’re joined by Greg Huss, host of Cubs On Deck, for a full rundown of the Cubs minor league system. From the raw talent in Myrtle Beach to the MLB-ready players in Iowa, Greg highlights the top names to watch at every affiliate — and what their paths to Wrigley might look like.

🚨 Minor League Affiliate Rundown: