Dan Bernstein Unfiltered

Episode: Cubs force game 5 in Milwaukee

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein
Producer/Co-host: Matt Abbatacola

Episode Overview

On this fall Friday in Chicago, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola break down the Chicago Cubs’ critical Game 4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, which forces a decisive Game 5 in the NLDS. The episode delves into the influence of the Wrigley Field crowd, the psychological impact on Brewers’ pitchers, on-field strategy debates (notably, the analytics of bunting), and the emotional rollercoaster of postseason baseball. Other segments include their signature banter on tacos and desserts, a dissection of famous “commanders” in pop culture and history, parental sports failure stories, listener feedback, and, of course, their football picks.

This summary captures the show’s blend of sharp analytics, personal storytelling, cultural references, and the trademark Chicago blend of wit and candor.

Main Topics and Key Insights

1. Cubs’ Game 4 Win at Wrigley: The Crowd’s Impact

[04:12–19:35]

• Crowd as the X-Factor:

  • Dan breaks out of his “comfort zone” (which is usually data-driven) to say, “That Cubs crowd was one of the best performances in a game by a baseball crowd that I can remember.”
    ([07:17], Bernstein)
  • He notes all Brewers’ pitchers — notably Freddie Peralta — looked unsettled, attributing it at least partially to the crowd’s intensity.
  • Detailed observation that playoff crowd at Wrigley is different: no tour buses; real, local fans, “a real ass baseball crowd…hanging on every pitch.”
    ([07:56], Bernstein)
  • Cubs fans, often maligned as being there "for beer and a party," proved themselves as deeply engaged and impactful.

• Contrast with Milwaukee's Crowd:

  • Matt recounts his experience at American Family Field: “What I experienced in Milwaukee on Monday night was something I’ve never experienced at a Brewers game before…that crowd was a different level…because usually there’s more Cub fans there.”
    ([09:03], Matt)
  • Notes Brewers organization manufactures minor league-style hype, while Wrigley relies on organic energy.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “I don’t pander to you. I don’t say ‘you’re the best fans in the world,’ but that was a great crowd. That mattered in that game.”
    ([08:42], Bernstein)
  • “We just made every pitch uncomfortable. And that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
    ([16:09], Cubs manager Craig Counsell, postgame audio)

• Mentality Shift Since 2016:

  • Discussion about the psychological weight post-World Series. Old Wrigley was “edgy and negative, a little almost sinister” (referring to 2003), while now there's confidence and pride — “the lows feel lower, the highs feel higher.”
    ([11:47–13:42], Bernstein)

2. In-Game Strategy: The Analytics of Bunting

[33:12–36:46]

• Bunting and Win Expectancy:
  • Bernstein, ever the analytics guy, rails against sacrifice bunts—citing real game examples and win expectancy numbers:
    • After a Brewers’ bunt: Cubs win expectancy went UP
      (“A successful bunt made the Cubs more likely to win and the Brewers more likely to lose.” [34:28], Bernstein)
    • After a Cubs’ bunt: Their own win expectancy went DOWN
  • “Bunting makes you less likely to win. Sacrifice bunting, not bunting for a hit…but even that has no possibility of being a home run.”
    ([36:32–36:41], Bernstein)
  • Matt: “You have a finite number of outs to give up in your game—27. If you start handing outs to the other team…you’re making it easier on them.”
    ([35:14], Matt)
  • References to Moneyball, OBP over “old school” thinking.

3. Pitching, Mental Side & Key Cubs Performances

[15:31–18:06]; [40:05–41:17]

• Pitcher Pressure:

  • Craig Counsell emphasizes the Cubs “putting pressure on every pitch.”
  • Both agree the at-bats were unusually disciplined throughout the lineup.

• Key Players:

  • Ian Happ’s “playoff moment” and home run get highlighted.
    ([15:41–16:28], Counsell)
  • Seiya Suzuki’s approach—acknowledging he chased high but noting his power on those pitches.
  • Matthew Boyd’s crucial start:
    • “Just getting through the first inning was the key for Matthew's outing.”
      ([17:21], Counsell audio)
  • Kyle Tucker’s bounce-back game: On base four times, a home run (“Just great to see…On base four times. If that carries through…” [40:33], Matt)

• Outlook for Game 5:

  • Matt’s confident prediction: “They’re going to win. And I hope Shota is going to show up…he is going to be ready to go.”
    ([19:41], Matt)

4. The Agony of Baseball and Parenting

[22:13–32:04]

• Orion Kirkering’s Painful Moment:

  • Recap of Phillies reliever Kirkering’s error that cost Philadelphia their season.
  • Both empathize, drawing on their own youth sports parenting embarrassments and heartbreaks.
  • Dan: “We’ve all been there as sports parents. It sucks. You learn more from a bad day than a good day.”
    ([27:06], Bernstein)
  • Lessons from Terry Boers: “What’d you learn? You learn more from a bad day than a good day.”
    ([27:06], Bernstein)

• Personal Anecdotes:

  • Both share stories of their kids’ tough outings and how to respond as a supportive parent: “That happens…they take it as a reflection of who they are in the community.”
    ([26:53], Matt)

5. Listener Feedback & Cultural Debates

[45:54–54:54]

• Listener Engagement:

  • Dan addresses Feedback Friday, emphasizing gratitude for listeners’ engagement and for making the show feel like “reconnection” for many after his radio departure.
  • Matt admits to not replying much, but assures listeners every message is seen.

• Wisconsin vs Illinois Banter:

  • Matt’s ribbing of Milwaukee’s “minor league” fan experience sparks colorful, sometimes hostile, listener responses (“fib” = “f***ing Illinois bastard”):
    “God, you moron. You really are a jealous loser…please stay home and watch your loser team in your trash stadium…”
    ([49:31], Listener Steve Davis)

• Celebrity Endorsement Pet Peeves:

  • “Iraq-poing”—when commercials have celebrities identify themselves because no one knows who they are, e.g., Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow for a mobile game.
    ([51:57], Bernstein)

• Candy Bar Challenge:

  • Dan hails the Fast Break as elite; Matt reveals Bernstein “made me buy candy bars.”
  • Matt: “I’ll see your Fast Break and raise you a Take 5. Un-fucking-believable. One of the best candy bars I’ve ever had in my life. Fully recommend.”
    ([55:09], Matt)

6. Pop Culture & Historical: “Top 10 Commanders”

[57:33–80:55]

• Part farce, part trivia contest, Dan and Matt, with help from the “committee,” run down their top 10 “Commanders,” both real, fictional, and tongue-in-cheek.
• Picks range from Alexander the Great and Abraham Lincoln, to GI Joe's Cobra Commander, James Bond ("Commander in the Royal Navy"), Top Gun's Viper, and car models like the Jeep Commander.
• Hilarious detours about Napoleon, George Von Trapp (Sound of Music), Gary Busey’s turn as Commander Krill in “Under Siege,” and Commander's Palace in New Orleans.
• “One of those lists that’s so absurd it’s wonderful” — blending sports, pop culture, and history and full of riffs and deep cuts.
• “He was my number one!” (Bernstein, about Alexander the Great landing only at #10 on the committee list [58:51])
• “Benefits of a classical education.” (Bernstein, quoting Die Hard [59:50])

7. Food Talk, Bargains, and Domestic Life

[81:01–84:49]

• Thrifting Meat:
  • Matt shares triumph of “Bernstein’ing” at Mariano’s—a three-pound ground turkey package, reduced for quick sale:
    “Look what I got. Check this out. $6.49, that’s usually a pound.”
    ([83:52], Matt)
• Family Taco Logistics:
  • Discussion of taco preferences in their households: “I gotta buy flour tortillas, taco boats, regular tortillas, hard shells, certain chips...”
    ([82:44], Matt)

8. DBU Picks: Football

[84:58–87:24]

• Matt’s 3-Team Parlay:

  • Jets +7.5 vs. Denver (London game)
  • Browns +6 at Pittsburgh
  • Bengals +14.5 at Green Bay
    “Joe Flacco AKA Frankenstein’s monster…that is his cadence!”
    ([86:13], Matt)

• Dan’s Pick:

  • Aaron Rodgers (Steelers QB) over 210.5 yards passing — despite his personal dislike for Rodgers.

• Closing Banter:

  • As always, digressions (“I’m tired of raking leaves—so I just cut down the trees”), threats of crashing youth games as overzealous coaches, and ongoing jokes about their hypothetical “All-American halftime show” at Turning Point USA.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “That was a great crowd. That mattered in that game.” — Bernstein, [08:42]
• “We just made every pitch uncomfortable. And that’s what you’re supposed to do.” — Craig Counsell, [16:09]
• “You have a finite number of outs to give up—27. When you give them up, you lose!” — Matt, [35:14]
• “Bunting makes you less likely to win … you can’t score runs unless you’re on base.” — Bernstein, [36:32–37:37]
• “You learn more from a bad day than a good day.” — Bernstein (quoting Terry Boers), [27:06]
• “I’m proud to be an American!” — recurring gag about the “All-American halftime show,” [38:16, 88:25]
• “Un-fucking-believable. One of the best candy bars I’ve ever had in my life.” — Matt, endorsing Take 5, [55:09]
• “That was Feedback Friday. Thanks for all the emails and comments. It just feels right to have this in their lives.” — Bernstein, [45:54]
• (On 'commanders' list) “He was my number one!” — Bernstein, defending Alexander the Great, [58:51]
• “I Bernstein’d at Mariano’s… What would Dan Bernstein do? He would shift his menu and buy the reduced-priced meat.” — Matt, [83:22]

Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |-------------|---------------------------------------------| | 00:00–04:08 | Intro, show rundown, food talk | | 04:12–19:35 | Cubs win G4, Wrigley crowd effect | | 19:35–22:13 | Looking ahead, playoff pitching | | 22:13–32:04 | Phillies error, emotional cost of mistakes | | 33:12–36:46 | Analytics: bunting vs win expectancy | | 36:46–41:17 | More in-game strategy, Cubs standouts | | 41:17–45:54 | Listener feedback, crowd pride | | 45:54–54:54 | Feedback Friday, celebrity commercials, candy| | 54:54–57:33 | Candy bar showdown | | 57:33–80:55 | Top 10 Commanders (hilarious list segment) | | 81:01–84:49 | Mariano’s bargain buy, domestic digressions | | 84:58–87:24 | DBU picks: football | | 87:24–End | Wrap-up, closing banter |

Tone & Style

• Direct, irreverent, and honest — leaning on longtime rapport between Dan and Matt.
• Mix of sharp analytics and unapologetic old-school storytelling.
• Cultural references, inside jokes, and Chicago sports “in-group” language throughout.
• Willing to get silly (“All-American halftime show,” top Commanders list) but always returning to real fan/parent experience.
• Respectful to listeners, responsive to feedback, and appreciative of fandom.

Conclusion

This episode deftly walks the line between serious postseason analysis, deeply personal and relatable stories (especially around parenting and failure), and pure entertainment. Whether you care about the Cubs’ pitching usage, the “realness” of playoff crowds, or just want to laugh about taco logistics and Gary Busey villains, it’s a quintessential example of why Chicago sports fans have always valued Dan Bernstein: sharp, unfiltered, and always up for a sidebar.