Bleed Cubbie Blue: for Chicago Cubs fans

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

The Cubs have won 5 straight as they continue their April march through the toughest schedule in baseball. Support independent podcasting http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crawly shares his Opening Day adventures and Guy Serious from Bleacher Bum Band comes by to talk Cubs and being one of Danny Rockett's oldest friends. Support Independent Cubs Podcasting http://www.patreon.com/sonranto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cubs' bullpen is handing out free passes like it's a charity event, and it's costing them big. In this episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy, we dive into the latest bullpen meltdowns, what's causing all these walks, and whether there's a fix in sight.

Miguel Amaya hits incredibly, gets benched. Welcome to your 2025 Cubs. Early and ad free access when you support the Bleacher Bunch for only 1 dollar at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch FREE TRIALS AVAILABLE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bleacher Bunch Crew teams up for a pre-game preview of the Cubs and Diamondbacks game, series and overall Cubs season. Early and Ad-Free listening plus exclusive content when you subscribe. Http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary: I'm back after a few hectic weeks, and with Opening Day (for most of MLB) here, it felt like the perfect time to drop a season preview episode! This one's a little shorter, but I wanted to break down the Cubs' final 26-man roster, talk through what went right and wrong this offseason, and give you my predictions for 2025. I also dive into how I'm approaching this season personally—falling back in love with baseball after a stressful winter, enjoying the game wherever I can find it, and just appreciating the ride. Cubs, college ball, high school, youth leagues—I'm all in. Let's talk expectations, roster surprises, and whether this team has what it takes to win the division and make a deep postseason run. ⚾️ What I Cover in This Episode:

Bricks Behind the Ivy – Cardinals Season Preview ⚾

Join us for a live and uncut episode of Bricks Behind the Ivy!

From trees stumps, to mom porn to the B-Clock, the Son Ranto Show is somehow a Cubs podcast.   Early and ad free access when you support the Bleacher Bunch for only 1 dollar at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch FREE TRIALS AVAILABLE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bleacher Jeff joins the show and then another Jeff, of the Ragauskis variety, joins from Bricks Behind the Ivy. Finally, Jonah from Metropolitan Tenants Organization joins to talk about Just Cause and being in High School when the Cubs won the World Series. Join us for exclusive content! http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara Sanchez and Danny Rockett discuss all things Cubs in Japan. Early and Ad Free CCB when you subscribe at http://www.patreon.com/bleacherbunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices