Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Cubs Season Ends in Milwaukee
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered on 312 Sports
Date: October 13, 2025

Episode Overview

Dan Bernstein and executive producer Matt Abbatacola deliver an unfiltered post-mortem on the Chicago Cubs' playoff exit at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. The episode pivots between sharp, honest assessments of the Cubs’ shortcomings, the managing moves around the NLDS, and the emotional fallout for both the team and fans. The duo also veers into lighter banter about NFL chaos, baseball broadcasting quirks, and anecdotes from Chicago sports and daily life, painting a vivid picture of Chicago sports culture in October.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflection on the Cubs' Playoff Exit

• Cubs lost the NLDS to the Brewers in 5 games, their bats went cold at crucial moments.
• Praise for manager Craig Counsell’s bullpen tactics, especially with Daniel Palencia, but emphasis that modern playoff success demands several "closer-level" arms, not just one.
• Injuries to key pitchers (Justin Steele, Cade Horton) left the Cubs shorthanded.
• The importance of being able to both deliver velocity out of the bullpen and hit opposing hard throwers.

Notable Quote:
"The Cubs need velocity from their bullpen and they need guys that can hit velocity from other teams’ bullpens. That’s pretty much it right here. You want to win a World Series? Everybody in your bullpen’s got to be Palencia."
— Dan Bernstein (04:32)

2. Cubs' Roster Construction & Offensive Failings

• Only a couple of Cubs hitters (Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch) produced; others underperformed, particularly in Game 5’s pivotal sixth inning ([12:44]).
• Debate about whether to retain or trade Ian Happ and skepticism about paying a big contract to Kyle Tucker given his durability and playoff performance.
• Acknowledgment that small-ball skills must pair with power for playoff success.

Notable Quote:
"Nico Horner hit .450 in the NLDS. He’s the only guy to get over .250 ... but did he hit it over the fence? No, he did not."
— Matt Abbatacola (08:11)

3. Managing and the Brewers' Revenge

• Discussion of Craig Counsell's emotional journey: his departure from Milwaukee and the vitriol he’s endured from Brewers fans.
• The Brewers’ pettiness: flying an ‘L’ flag in their team photo for the Cubs—a move the hosts find hilarious and emblematic of a lively rivalry.
• Reminder to Cubs fans that rivalries should be fun and that organizational spending, not Milwaukee’s trolling, is the real issue to be mad about.

Notable Quote:
"If you don’t like it, just win. They kicked your ass. Getting mad at the Brewers is a waste of time. If you’re angry, tell the Cubs to spend more money."
— Dan Bernstein (10:03, 11:16)

4. Cubs Future Outlook: Contracts & Payroll

• Detailed rundown of Cubs’ contractual obligations, pending free agents, and arbitration-eligible players ([18:30]).
• The wisdom of possibly trading Ian Happ for bullpen help in the off-season and not over-committing long term to aging or declining veterans.

Notable Quote:
"If you can flip Happ for a high-leverage bullpen arm … think about that."
— Dan Bernstein (20:32)

5. The State of the MLB Playoffs and Broadcasting

• Even after elimination, the hosts touch on staying engaged with broader playoff baseball, including 15-inning marathons and colorful TV booths.
• Good-natured ribbing of FOX/TBS broadcast teams, especially John Smoltz’s penchant for unsubstantiated hot takes.
• Memories of oddball expansion teams from their youth and how today’s playoffs evoke that sense of novelty ([24:35]).

Notable Quote:
“Don’t make things up when the information is available. It can be found.”
— Dan Bernstein (24:28)

6. NFL as ‘Big Blob’ and State of the Bears

• Playful discussion about the muddled state of the NFL in 2025: a league of mediocrity with few dominant teams.
• The Bears’ progress is lauded, but grounded with realism: not a great team, but legitimately in the mix because of league-wide parity ([00:56]).

Notable Quote:
"This is a bad, bad NFL. It's a giant blob."
— Dan Bernstein (00:59)

7. Baseball, Culture & Chicago Banter

• Light tangents: Utah Hockey Club’s name (“Mammoth”), youth football coaching stories, and the mysteries of floor pizza.
• Amusing segment about viral fan culture, including the “Butt Plug Guy” in Toronto, tying in to Cal Raleigh’s “Big Dumper” nickname ([32:25]).

Memorable Moment:
"There was a fan in the first row in Toronto who, before Raleigh's at bat, takes off a jacket to reveal a T-shirt with a giant butt plug ... at first I thought it was a lava lamp!"
— Dan Bernstein (32:25)

8. Tribute: Diane Keaton

• Bernstein gives a heartfelt appreciation of Diane Keaton, reflecting on her career, personal style, and comedic gifts ([56:44]).
• Both hosts reminisce on their favorite Keaton films—acknowledging her charisma and impact over decades.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Counsell’s Postgame Sadness ([08:37] – [09:17])
  "I think this team did a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform. In the big picture, that's how I feel. But I'm, you know...you’re stuck on, what did we do wrong tonight?"
  — Craig Counsell

• On the Cubs’ Hitting Issues
  "You had two guys on with your three, four, five hitters up with no outs. That was the ball game right there. And you couldn't do anything."
  — Matt Abbatacola ([12:44])

• On Rivalry & the Brewers' Petty L ([10:03])
  "It’s hilarious. Yeah, it’s—how dare they do something like that? They kicked your ass ... Put that pressure on Tom Ricketts. Don’t get mad at the Brewers."
  — Dan Bernstein

• ‘Butt Plug Guy’ ([32:25] – [33:46])
  "When you make the decision you're going to be Butt Plug Guy, you gotta own it. And Raleigh hits it and he knew it."
  — Dan Bernstein

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening/Bears Playoff Stakes, NFL Parity

  • [00:08] – [02:22]: State of the Bears, NFL “giant blob”

• Utah Mammoth Banter and Lead-In to Cubs

  • [03:14] – [04:32]: Utah Hockey Club discussion, segues to Cubs’ needs

• Cubs Bullpen Philosophy & Palencia

  • [04:32] – [07:33]: Need for more high-leverage bullpen arms

• Cubs Offense, NLDS Breakdown, and Counsell’s Comments

  • [07:33] – [14:57]: NLDS breakdown, Counsell's press conference audio

• Brewers Rivalry, ‘L’ Flag, Organizational Spending

  • [10:00] – [11:48]: Brewers’ pettiness, Cubs’ payroll philosophy

• Cubs’ Payroll & Roster Management

  • [18:30] – [20:32]: 2026 payroll, trade and contract talk

• Game 5, In-Game Failures

  • [12:44] – [15:19]: Missed opportunity in 6th inning of Game 5

• MLB Playoffs/Early Expansion Teams & Broadcasting

  • [24:35] – [26:09]: Nostalgia and critical look at broadcasters

• Youth Football, Coaching Stories

  • [26:09] – [27:58]: Matt’s coaching anecdotes

• Trivia & ‘Butt Plug Guy’

  • [27:58] – [33:54]: Baseball trivia, fan culture

• NFL Redzone Radio, Whiparound, and Colts Talk

  • [34:10] – [36:01]: NFL broadcast banter

• DBU Picks

  • [58:07] – [60:12]: Football picks, betting advice

• Tribute to Diane Keaton

  • [56:44] – [58:07]: Film career and cultural impact

Additional Highlights & Easter Eggs

• Music and culture nods: References to the evolution of sports nicknames and the "Big Dumper" saga.
• Childhood sports card nostalgia: Bernstein’s love for oddball expansion teams and Ron Fairley baseball cards ([24:35]).
• Chicago food hot takes: College floor pizza as the best next-morning leftover ([51:43]).

Tone & Style

• Original Language/Tone:
  The conversation is candid, sharp, witty, and heavily steeped in Chicago sports sarcasm and wisdom.
• Speaker Attribution:
  Bernstein typically steers analytical depth and biting honesty; Abbatacola provides earnest support, colorful anecdotes, and amplifies the self-deprecating Chicago fan spirit.

Summary Takeaway

This episode captures the agony and gallows humor of a Cubs playoff loss, set against the backdrop of a city with high sports standards but a penchant for rivalry banter. Bernstein and Abbatacola hold nothing back: they demand more from roster construction, advise fans to direct anger at ownership rather than the Brewers, and retain the ability to pivot fast—from NLDS pitching philosophy to ‘Butt Plug Guy’ and Diane Keaton—without ever losing sight of what it means to be a Chicago sports fan.

For those who missed the episode, this summary delivers all the major Cubs angles, key quotes, some classic rivalry burns, and the signature Dan Bernstein mix of tough love, humor, and hometown pride.