The full Team of Rivals crew is back! Brecklyn, Elliott, Pete, and Ron discuss Andrew Miller signing with the Cardinals, the ongoing Addison Russell saga, and Bryce Harper's interminable free agency. Ron also answers this offseason's most pressing questions: What does signing with the San Diego Padres say about a player's career, and are Kris Bryant's ocean-blue eyes too beautiful for mere mortals to behold?
With Ron out for a medical emergency and Elliott felled by a migraine headache, Brecklyn and Pete were left to see how much of a mess they could make of things. In the process, Brecklyn gave her takes on last week's topics — the Goldschmidt trade and the Russell tender — and the two of them discussed the lack of Cubs/Cards activity at this year's Winter Meetings, the ongoing Bryce Harper saga, and a little bit of geek culture.
Brecklyn is under the weather, so Josh Potter kindly joined Ron, Pete, and Elliott to discuss the two big developments in RivalsLand: The Cardinals' trade for Paul Goldschmidt, and the Cubs' tender of Addison Russell. How comfortable are both teams with the offseason's progress, and where do we expect them to go from here?
With Brecklyn out studying for finals, the guys gather to discuss the quickly accelerating offseason. When will Jerry Dipoto stop dealing? How much of a madman is Brodie Van Wagenen? Are the Cubs really laying low this offseason? And where are the Cardinals?!
CAUTION: This is a baseball-themed episode. The Team covers a wide range of topics, starting off with pumpkin spice, Elliott's fantasy football team, and Pat Mahomes' voice before finally settling in to discuss a wide variety of offseason topics. Kris Bryant on the trade block, the Cardinals clubhouse culture and its effect on front office's ability to attract premier free agents, Ken Rosenthal and the Mariners, MLB awards, Scott Boras, and general manager "cycles" are all fair game for the best Cubs-Cardinals rivalry podcast on the internet.
Watch this episode in all of its unedited glory on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A4iUeSBxWi8.
This week's show starts off on the wrong foot and goes down from there. Scott Boras dominates this show, kind of like he dominates the offseason. In between quotes from this week's Boras Press Conference, the crew discusses whether the Cubs are in or out of the free agent market, who the Cardinals should sign to be the Big Bat in the middle of their order, and if Joe Maddon is on his way out or just in the hot seat. The full extended version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7TlIgokeFyc.
The Grand Slam is back for a second week in a row, and they cover the first week of the offseason, talking about their reactions to the World Series, contract options being picked up (or not), Clayton Kershaw, the Brewers, and of course, the West Coast Cardinals. Padres gonna Padre.
We have issues. Lots of them. 1) Pete is back. 2) All of us are here. 3) Will the Dodgers win one game in this World Series? 4) Who is Harper more valuable to: The Cards or the Cubs? 5) San Diego. 6) What's wrong with the game? 7) We make Brecklyn uncomfortable at some point. 8) We really were awful tonight.
Ron and Brecklyn start solo, until Elliott finally wakes up and joins the show mid-intro. Writer/producer/director Adam Maurer joins them on this night, as does The Show Infiltrator. He remains undefeated and has still "never loss". All kinds of speculation and rumor talk on this night.
Pete is out this week, so John Pearman from Cubs-Cards Cast was kind enough to sit in our Cubs chair for this week's show. Joined by Elliott, Ron, and Brecklyn, he tackles the end to both the Cardinals and Cubs seasons, Kris Bryant's rumored rejection of a contract extension, and which moves our teams need to make going into next year. Don't use the word "comfortable", and watch out for those damn Mariners, who randomly and unfruitfully try to buy their way into contention from time to time. 200+ million dollar contracts? We can't find one that has worked.
It's a very dark podcast this week, as both the Cubs' and Cards' seasons have come to a close. Elliott and Pete lay out their shortcomings of Cubs skipper Joe Maddon, and their admiration for Theo Epsteisn's forthrightness at his season-ending press conference. Brecklyn and Ron then jump in to contrast Theo's determination with John Mozeliak's "comfort".
Ron, Pete, Elliott – plus special guests Adam Maurer, Dustin Duquenne, and Braden – jumped on to give their takes on Game 163 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. Pete and Elliott don't have the most optimistic outlook for their team heading into the Wild Card game, but you never know about these things…
The Team was at full strength this week! Ron, Pete, Elliott, and Brecklyn brought the business! They discussed the most recent match-ups, and the importance of the weekend that looms ahead of both Cubs and Cardinals Nation. Drink it in, people! Drink. It. In!
Elliott is M.I.A. Have you seen him?
Brecklyn, Ron, and Pete get together this week to discuss pimped doubles, Nostalgia Night, Minor League Champions, Milwaukee Gollum, and the remaining playoff race.
Brecklyn Carey brings balance to the show and joins Ron, Pete and Elliott as permanent co-host! The gang talks about Joe Maddon's curious personnel decisions - including Pedro Strop's injury - and the Cardinals revolving door in the lineup, which leads to a brief discussion of the upcoming offseason.
Elliott and Ron kick off this episode with some nonsense before Pete dials in while on the road home. They talk Brandon Morrow, Josh Donaldson, umps who hate Joe Maddon, and Ohtani's arm unraveling. They eventually come to their senses to reclaim their honor. Enjoy!
Pete and Ron were joined by Adam Maurer to fill in for the missing Eliott Duy. Gene Bonds also crash-landed to talk about the National League's best division, why nobody blocked Daniel Murphy going to the Cubs, Josh Donaldson, and the Mike Shildt extension.
Cubs minor league enthusiast Tim Huwe joins the boys to talk about the Cubs' system and draft and development strategies. The guys also have a quick discussion of this week's big moves – Adams to the Cards, Murphy to the Cubs – and the postseason awards races. Our guy from Middle Earth makes an appearance, too.
Brecklyn Carey of Birds on the Black joins the guys for a wide-ranging discussion of the Card's recent hot streak, Pete's "feud" with Bleacher Nation, intraleague play, robot umpires, and a host of other topics.
Adam Maurer guests as the guys TRIED - they really did! - to talk about the MVP status of Javier Baez and Matt Carpenter; Shohei Ohtani's latest SHO-stopper homerun; Jayson Werth and Scott Boras; and the San Diego Rule Fives!
The Cards look rejuvenated. Cole Hamels looks good in his first start as a Cub. The Central looks like the best division in the National League. Ron, Pete, and Elliott do their best to stay on topic while fighting off a wealth of pop-culture distractions.
The guys had to gather at an uncommon day of the week to talk through this absolutely insane trade deadline where we witnessed an uncommon amount of transactions! To help them make sense of this chaos, they called in Kyle Reis of Birds on the Black and Chris from Cardinals Nation 24/7. Kyle didn't disappoint at all as he gave his analysis and takes on what the Cardinals dealt for, interspersed with Cubs talk, and the delicate Yu Darvish situation. So much fun on this night. Enjoy!
This week was a tough one if you're a Cardinals Fan. If you're a Cubs Fan, you're doing “just fine”. Pete, Elliott, and Ron revisit their recent visit to the Friendly Confines and talk about their attendance at Saturday’s doubleheader. The conversation then shifts to roster decisions, the trade deadline, and "when to buy or sell.” Braden The Habitual Show Infiltrator also joins us in studio this week and brings us up to speed on his MLB: The Show seasons.
Ron, Pete, and Elliott were joined by Chris Lollis of Cardinals Nation 24/7 and Josh Potter of Two Birds on a Bat and Arch City to discuss the dismissal of Mike Matheny, John Mabry, and Bill Mueller.
What is the plan going forward for the Cardinals? It starts with their new voice, but who will that be? And how much blame should be laid on Mo’s roster construction. Is he next? Let's talk.
After taking a week off, the Rivals are back to address the Triple Play of Bud Norris, the Cardinals Front Office, and Cubs fans' expectations. Plus, Ron bites off way more than he can chew by challenging Matt Burns to a beer chug competition… It was sad.