Bleed Cubbie Blue: for Chicago Cubs fans

Sara and Danny discuss the heck out of what to do with Ben Brown only to have him sent down to AAA a few minutes after we finished recording this podcast. But Cuppa Cubbie Blue is back! More Cubs Podcasts at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cubs get walloped by the Mariners after a Brewers split. We welcome Eric Wielo and Eil Cotton on this pregame show before the boys in Blue take on the the hated Cardinals. More at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MLB trade deadline is heating up, and the Cubs have big decisions to make — especially on the pitching side. Jeff Ragauskis is joined by Cody Delmendo of CHGO Cubs to break down the top pitching targets the front office should be watching. They cover:

The Cubs are headed to Houston — and we've got your full preview! Jeff is joined by Jim Christopher of Ballpark Nation to break down the Cubs vs Astros series: key pitching matchups, hitters to watch, and what makes Minute Maid Park such a unique spot for baseball.   We also talk Astros fans, the Cubs' approach at the plate, and why this series matters for Chicago's playoff hopes.  

CubsPS+ Episode 110: The Joy of Greatness – PCA and 40 Years of Cubs Magic In this episode, I took a step back from the spreadsheets and stat lines to talk about something more visceral: joy. Specifically, the kind of joy that comes from watching greatness unfold right in front of us. Pete Crow-Armstrong isn't just playing well—he's turning every game into an event. I start by connecting this episode's number—110—to two Cubs legends: Ron Santo (#10 forever) and PCA's preseason 110 WRC+ projection. PCA has blown past that projection with a 137 WRC+ and has already become one of the most exciting players in baseball. I dive into his elite defense, blazing speed, and emerging bat—and why it all adds up to something Cubs fans haven't seen in decades. This episode isn't just about numbers—it's about feeling. The vibe. The aura. The once-in-a-generation energy that PCA is bringing. Inspired by PCA, I reflect on the rare moments over the last 40+ years when Cubs players reached that same level of "must-watch greatness": Andre Dawson's MVP season in 1987 Greg Maddux's dominance before the Cubs let him walk Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout masterpiece Sammy Sosa's video-game numbers and unforgettable 1998 Derrick Lee's incredible 2005 season Javy Báez's electric mix of flash and power Jake Arrieta's unreal run from mid-2015 to mid-2016 I ask a simple but essential question: When was the last time watching Cubs baseball felt like this? With the team on a 99-100 win pace despite injuries and with PCA leading a resurgence in center field, I urge listeners to appreciate the moment. I wrap with a reminder: greatness is rare. Don't just analyze it. Enjoy it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Turner's fake balls! New All-Star Hats, a visit from Eric Wielo the comedian Brewers fan, and the B-Clock round out this Cubs themed pod. More at http://www.patreon.com/sonranto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Shota Imanaga gets closer to returning from the injured list, the Cubs are facing a tough decision — who loses their spot in the rotation? We break down the likely scenarios and make our picks.   Plus:

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! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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. Join us for more http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. More at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

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

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. More at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reds Fan Comedian Billy Devore stops by to discuss how the series is looking so far. The White Sox are still worse than the incoming Rockies. And we see who has been "Raking, Flaking, Throwing, and Blowing" this season. More Son Ranto http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's all hands on deck talking Cubs in a Bleacher Bunch Roundtable until Billy Devore shows up and makes it all about the Reds. Premium Content at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has the Crosstown Classic lost its heat? Jeff “CandidCubs” Ragauskis dives into why Cubs vs. White Sox games might not matter like they used to. From team performance to fan expectations, we ask the hard question: do these games still mean anything? Tap into weekly Cubs talk, exclusive interviews, and fan-first analysis right here on Bricks Behind the Ivy. #ChicagoCubs #WhiteSox #CrosstownClassic #MLBrivalry #BricksBehindTheIvy

Sean Guest from Bat Flips and Nerds joins Michael and Danny to recap his week in Chicago watching Cubs Baseball. Then we take a spin of the B-Clock and Rant! Ad-Free And Exclusive Bleacher Bunch at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vibes are high at Wrigley! Justin Turner delivers a dramatic walk-off single to beat the Marlins, and Cubs top prospect Moises Ballesteros makes his MLB debut—what a night on the North Side. In this live postgame episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy, we react to all the key moments from the game, including: ⚾️ Turner's clutch performance

Spanish Language Voice of the Cubs Miguel Esparza joins Danny to talk about signing the stretch and interacting with the Spanish speaking players. Then Sox fan Loren Freeman talks about the team he hates to love. Support independent Cubs podcasting http://www.patreon.com/sonranto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cubs are 38 games into the season — and it's time to hand out some grades!

The Son Ranto Show takes the Bleacher Bunch slot for as conversation about the Chicago Pope and Cade Horton's call-ups. And we talk to Mets fan Uncle Mike! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch FREE TRIALS AVAILABLE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for Cade Horton. Sara Sanchez and Danny Rockett discuss. Join us for early and ad-free listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bleacher Bunch celebrates Lee Elia Day with the Ranters rendition of the famous rant from 1983, then Cotton talks with Liz Johnson about her scorecards that she makes as well as her time working with the Orioles and MASN. Check out her baseball scorecards at https://diamondscorecard.company.site/ . Then Jeff Ragauskis joins to talk Pirates, Brewers, and MLB the Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Support independent Cubs podcasting! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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.  Support independent Cubs podcasts. http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael takes us all down the Baseball Rabbithole into another dimension in which the dimensions of ballparks are probably not what you expected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny Rockett hosts Cubs Insider's Evan Altman and Ballparks on a Budget's Amy Zeiher. Support Independant Cubs Podcasting! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara and Danny are back as their attempt at positivity goes awry with the mixed bag Cubs. Support CCB and all the great shows on the Bleacher Bunch Network. http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch for bonus content! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary: This week, I'm joined once again by Bleed Cubbie Blue's Sara Sanchez to run back one of their favorite offseason exercises: rebuilding Jed Hoyer's winter—within real-world limits. No extra spending. No fantasy trade machines. Just the actual signings, the real budgets, and some sharper roster decisions. If Jed had done things a little differently… could this team have been even better heading into 2025? Let's find out.

The Cubs put the biggest Los Angeles beatdown of the Dodgers in franchise history, but lose their Ace pitcher and DH bat. Giveth and taketh. Early and Ad Free listening, plus Premium content when you subscribe, http://www.patreon.com/sonranto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jorge Moreno from the Cubs spanish language radio broadcast joins Cotton and Rockett to talk Cubs wins at the cold confines. Plus, which Cubs players Rake, Flake, throw, and Blow? and Danny get hit in the head with an Ian Happ tossed ball. Join us! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cubs go 5-1 this week and the vibes at Wrigley are turning