Dan Bernstein Unfiltered — “Can the Cubs get the series to game 5?”

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola
Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

Dan and Matt break down the Chicago Cubs' chances to extend the NLDS to a game 5, analyze the state of Cubs hitting and pitching, debate baseball narratives from the national broadcast booth, and touch on mental health in sports and the latest with the Bears. They also introduce a new comedic segment, “Is it Smoltz?”, poking fun at broadcaster John Smoltz’s on-air musings. The episode is full of the duo’s straight-shooting takes, classic Cubs agony, sports nerdery, and plenty of Chicago flavor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cubs NLDS Survival & Game 5 Outlook

• The State of the Series:

  • The Cubs remain alive, set to face “Fab 5 Freddy” (Freddy Peralta).
  • Both hosts express ongoing skepticism about the Cubs' chances, reflecting typical Cubs fan trauma and realism.
    • “Even when it’s four to one, I’m just like, that’s not enough. Like, four wasn’t enough.” — Matt (04:39)

• Late Game Anxiety:

  • Discussion on Brad Keller’s shaky relief appearance and questionable decisions, like keeping a player with a bad hamstring on as the tying run.
  • "How do you have a guy with a bad hamstring who's the tying run out there?" — Dan (05:13)

• Roster & Hitting Woes:

  • Cubs batters are striking out at an alarming rate: 64 Ks in 178 at-bats so far.
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Dansby Swanson lead in strikeouts.
  • Dan’s take: “Which is fine if you’re hitting home runs… that’s the exchange” (07:32).
  • Matt reads out who has hot (Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki) and cold bats.

• Wrigley Weather Factors:

  • Wind shifting during the previous game noticeably changed play dynamics.
  • “The wind currents in that park really do matter. And pitchers know.” — Dan (08:36)

Freddy Peralta Scouting Report

• Detailed rundown of Peralta’s arsenal:
  • Fastball: 95mph, 53% usage
  • Changeup: 89mph, 21%
  • Curveball and slider mix
• The key for Cubs hitters: “Get to them before they settle in… Don’t chase out of the strike zone. Don’t miss your pitch because you’re not going to get it very often.” — Dan & Matt (10:51-11:10)

Cubs and Velocity: A Deep Dive

• Discussion on the inability of Cubs hitters to catch up to high velocity.
• "It's hard to hit velocity. Yeah, it really is. And that's what pitching is now, in large part, even though people don't want to admit it." — Dan (15:42)
• History of Cubs pitchers hitting 100mph—Jeff Samardzija in 2009 was the last starter to do it.

Game Theory & Roster Construction

• Debate over whether MLB is moving towards reliever-heavy usage, and how this impacts starting pitchers like Paul Skenes.

Brewers’ Position Player Appreciation

• Both hosts spotlight opposing player Sal Frelick for his all-around performance — so good, they “love to hate” him.
  • “He is so tough. He’s so good. That stupid catch he made yesterday…” — Matt (21:10)
• Quick side discussion on another Brewers player, Caleb Durbin, with praise for his WashU economics degree.

“Is it Smoltz?” Game Show (43:00–55:00)

• Matt runs Dan through a quiz of quotes—did John Smoltz actually say them or are they made up?
• The segment highlights the frustration many have with Smoltz’s style and dubious statements.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “He built up this portentous, enormous statement from the mount of baseball wisdom: ‘In my opinion, contact at the right times can help win baseball games.’” — Dan (59:09)
  • “You could check that out, right?” — Matt, on Smoltz’s unchecked claims (57:37)
• Dan loses the game show, missing out on a ‘grand prize’ of sponsor freebies, but the segment is a hit for its humor and podcast chemistry.

Chicago Bears & Tyrique Stevenson’s Redemption (Mid-Episode, 12:36–34:48)

• Dan praises Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson’s vulnerability and openness after a rough professional week.
  • “He has empowered himself by facing something that is almost unfathomably difficult.” — Dan (31:48)
  • “This is also teaching tape… I think it's more important for the job that he's doing off the field and what he's showing.” — Dan (29:46)
• They critique historic Bears’ PR failures and note this is the right way to handle adversity.

Bill Belichick & UNC Football Fiasco (34:48–41:42)

• Breakdown of the rapidly deteriorating situation with Bill Belichick at UNC:
  • PR disasters, poor communication, canceled documentaries.
  • Reasoned speculation about Belichick’s impending (expensive) buyout.
  • “...If you’re the University of North Carolina, you’ve gotta find the easiest way to exit this as cleanly as possible. It's gonna be expensive. Cut that check.” — Dan (38:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Classic Cubs Fan Cynicism:
  • “Even when it’s four to one, I’m just like, that’s not enough. Like, four wasn’t enough.” — Matt (04:39)
  • “Until it was over, I didn’t think they were going to win.” — Dan (04:16)
• Analytics Frustration:
  • “He’s still making proclamations about baseball instead of checking out whether they're true.” — Dan on Smoltz (03:13)
• On Sal Frelick:
  • “He is so tough. He’s so good. That stupid catch he made yesterday…” — Matt (21:10)
• On Tyrique Stevenson & Mental Health:
  • “He has empowered himself by facing something that is almost unfathomably difficult… That is something of which your son can be proud.” — Dan (31:48, 33:54)
• On The John Smoltz Experience:
  • “In my opinion, contact at the right times can help win baseball games.” — Dan quoting Smoltz (59:09)
  • “You have a supercomputer in your hand.” — Dan, about checking facts (59:46)
• On Bill Belichick at UNC:
  • “It didn’t work. It’s not working. It’s not going to work.” — Dan (41:11)
  • “Cut that check.” — Dan and Matt (41:34)

Key Timestamps

• 00:22 — Cubs playoff survival, setup for Game 5
• 04:11 – 08:36 — Cubs’ late-game anxieties, roster decisions, and offense breakdown
• 09:12 – 11:19 — Freddy Peralta scouting report & approach to facing him
• 15:26 – 19:52 — Cubs, velocity, and historical pitching trends
• 21:10 — Sal Frelick appreciation/hate
• 43:00 – 55:00 — “Is it Smoltz?” segment: baseball quote guessing game
• 12:36 – 34:48 — Tyrique Stevenson and mental health/PR discussion
• 34:48 – 41:42 — Bill Belichick/UNC meltdown analysis
• 57:13 – 59:52 — Smoltz’s on-air takes lampooned (e.g., “contact at the right times”)
• 60:03 – End — Cubs rage-texting, closing opinions, and sports banter

Tone and Style

• Straight-shooting, irreverent, Chicago-centric.
• Banter-heavy, with deep football and baseball knowledge.
• Honest, occasionally sentimental (especially discussing mental health), but always quick to pivot to humor or skepticism.
• Deeply skeptical of official PR narratives—devoted to “telling it straight.”

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a must-listen for Cubs fans anxious about the NLDS, baseball diehards frustrated with stale broadcast narratives, and Chicago sports fans who appreciate sharp, honest conversation. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of the Cubs’ strengths and weaknesses, why contextual stats matter, and some much-needed laughs at the expense of baseball cliches. Human stories—like Tyrique Stevenson’s redemption—cut through the noise, reminding listeners why sports matter beyond the scoreboard.