Cubs win game one

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Cubs Win Game One

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host(s): Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: October 1, 2025
Episode Theme: Unpacking the Cubs’ playoff victory in game one, analysis of the game and broadcast, discussion of Chicago Bears’ stadium economics and media coverage, and a comedic deep-dive into coaching acronyms.

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Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire, candid breakdown of the Chicago Cubs’ dramatic playoff Game One win over the Padres at Wrigley, then offers sharp commentary on both the Cubs’ and Bears’ latest headlines. The hosts unpack the visceral aspects of playoff baseball, dissect managerial decisions, rail against bad sports journalism, and end with a hilarious skewering of coaching acronyms—culminating in a rare endorsement of a profanity-laden NBA acronym.

Throughout, Dan Bernstein brings his signature blend of gruff honesty and humor, with Matt serving as a sharp, amiable sidekick. Expect informed rants, memorable one-liners, and data-driven analysis—plus genuine, heartfelt appreciation for classic Chicago sports moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cubs Playoff Game One – The Experience and Analysis

• Playoff Atmosphere at Wrigley:

  • Perfect weather, palpable tension, and the kind of day that makes fans feel grateful.
  • Bernstein recalls, “Yesterday at Wrigley Field was, if not perfect...it’s one of those days that if you could bottle it...make sure you enjoy it, make sure you appreciate it.” [02:29]

• Tense Early Innings and Bullpen Brilliance:

  • The first four innings were tight—a classic playoff nail-biter, with the “muscle tension” that comes with October baseball.
  • Key moment: The Cubs’ bullpen combined for a near-perfect outing, confirming Bernstein’s point about high-leverage moments possibly arriving as early as the third inning.
  • “The bullpen was just absolutely lights out. Unbelievable.” (Matt) [11:57]

• Offensive Highlights:

  • Seiya Suzuki’s red-hot streak continues with a no-doubt homer (“His swing right now is just on target...five games in a row.” – Matt) [09:37]
  • Carson Kelly’s timely home run follows, taking advantage of Wrigley’s “video board wind shadow.”
    • “But if you noticed where Suzuki’s was hit, it was in the video board wind shadow.” (Dan) [10:33]

• Defensive Standouts:

  • Dansby Swanson’s defense saved runs: a crucial bloop catch and a dive at short to keep the runner at third. [19:00]
  • Nico Hoerner’s clutch hitting under pressure is highlighted.

• Managerial Decisions & Online Backlash:

  • Craig Counsell’s early hook of starter Matthew Boyd sparks Twitter outrage, but is defended vehemently by both hosts.
  • Matt lambasts the "controversy" drummed up by sports blogs relying on fan tweets: “You can’t write an article about roasting Craig Counsell when it worked perfectly.” [16:38]
  • Dan underscores modern playoff thinking: “You have to do whatever it takes to win each game.” [17:29]

• Backed by the Skipper:

  • Actual Craig Counsell quote on handling the Padres’ threats and bullpen effectiveness:
    • “Making those zeros after having man on third, no outs...that was a real key.” [17:53]
    • “It was perfect today. That’s what it was...just a brilliant job.” [18:19]

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2. Data Deep-Dive: Home Runs, Pitching, and October Survival

• Home Run Power as a Deciding Factor:

  • Bernstein: “Ball go far, team go far.” [19:46]
  • Matt’s research: 80% of playoff series are won by the team that out-homers its opponent, compared to 72% in the regular season. [21:18]
  • Cubs were 6th in MLB for home runs (223); the Padres were 28th (152).

• Pitching Dominance – Strikeouts in the Postseason:

  • Starters with 10+ K’s have a 66% win rate in the postseason. [24:43]
  • Quick scan of other playoff games:
    • Tigers’ Skubal: 14 K’s.
    • Other dominant pitching performances highlighted.

• On Small-Ball and Bunting:

  • Dan gets blunt: “Never bunt. Never, ever, ever give away an out.” [21:18]
  • “This is not high school baseball. This is not little league.”
  • Matt notes a rare exception when Matt Shaw laid down a two-strike bunt that played into run manufacturing. [23:05]

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3. Broadcast Review: National Announcers and On-Air Hijinks

• Announcer Accents and Broadcast Chemistry:

  • Discussion about ESPN’s Kevin Brown sounding like Brian Barnhart, and Ben McDonald’s thick southern accent (“He sounds like young Joe Namath...he’s a cornball, isn’t he.” – Dan) [05:09]
  • Jessica Mendoza gets praise for her improved performance (“I think I’m a huge fan." – Dan) [05:41]

• Baseball As A Fidget Toy:

  • Hilarious sidetrack about broadcasters/players clutching baseballs as “fidget toys,” including an anecdote about a player unintentionally stashing a baseball under his crotch. (“He was holding it under his nut sack...like hatching it.” – Dan) [08:19]

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4. Chicago Bears Stadium Economics: Media Accountability Rant

• The Flawed “Economic Impact” Narrative:

  • Analysis of Tribune coverage on the Bears’ proposed Arlington Heights stadium and its “team projections.”
  • Dan’s takedown: “All I could think of in my mind is, why don’t you talk to JC Bradbury? ...he can show you how this is almost always complete bullshit.” [30:51]
  • Bitter critique for burying the real expert, economist J.C. Bradbury, and instead leading with the team’s PR spin (“Don’t write it this way.” – Dan) [32:53]
  • “Just look out for the taxpayer...present the truth and present it in a way that doesn’t make the top half of the article...seem as though it’s actual fact." [34:10]

• Stadium Renderings - “Mid” Reactions:

  • Both hosts agree the new designs are bland ("mid") and cookie-cutter. Dan: “It looks like Allegiant Stadium… but there isn’t anything architecturally [unique].” [35:56]

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5. Acronym Mayhem: The Worst and Best of Sports Motivation

• Mockery of Coaching Clichés:

  • Matt brings a list of “the top coaching acronyms,” and the duo savagely lampoons them:

    • TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More
    • WIN: What’s Important Now
    • BGT: Be a Great Teammate (“That’s not a word...” – Dan; “Bigot. Be a Bigot, Gentlemen.” – [41:18])
    • FAMILY: Forget About Me, I Love You
    • FEAR: Face Everything And Rise
    • Play with ICE: Intensity, Concentration, Enthusiasm

  • Notable moment: Dan pantomimes the “overhand wanking motion” for especially egregious entries [40:49].

• Dan’s All-Time Favorite: The Clippers’ “FUCK” T-Shirt [44:10]

  • Los Angeles Clippers pre-season slogan: “Get the F*** Back” (Floor balance, Urgency, Consistent Communication and Concentration, K = ...).
  • “Jeff Van Gundy scored a lot of points with me here.” [44:43]
  • “Wear this. Here’s your damn coaching acronym. Go dribble your basketballs.” [45:53]
  • Dan recommends more acronyms that “make fun of acronyms but actually send a real damn message to your team.” [46:08]

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6. Parenting, Nostalgia, and “The Good Old Days”

• Spirited riff on how kids these days are addicted to their phones, incapable of entertaining themselves, and how past generations were “better” at being bored.
• Anecdotes about library trips, forced phone-breaks, and the ever-present kid refrain: “What are we doing today?” [49:01]
• Dad joke interlude: “Nice to meet you, Bored. I’m Dan.” [51:44]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Make sure you enjoy it, make sure you appreciate whatever happens from here on in.” (Dan, [02:29])
• “Ball go far, team go far.” (Dan, [19:46])
• “Never bunt. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever bunt. Unless...the best rule of thumb—get this through your thick skulls—never bunt.” (Dan, [21:18])
• “You can’t write an article about roasting Craig Counsell when it worked perfectly. He did exactly what he wanted to do.” (Matt, [16:38])
• “You have to do whatever it takes to win each game.” (Dan, [17:29])
• “This is a fantasy document and an ex parrot.” (Dan quoting JC Bradbury on Bears stadium study, [31:55])
• “It looks like Allegiant Stadium...But there isn’t anything architecturally [unique].” (Dan, [35:56])
• “Wear this. Here’s your damn coaching acronym. Go dribble your basketballs.” (Dan, [45:53])
• “Nice to meet you, Bored. I’m Dan.” (Dan, [51:44])

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Noteworthy Timestamps

• [02:29] — Bernstein on the magic of playoff atmospheres at Wrigley
• [09:37] — Suzuki’s home run surge discussed
• [11:57] — Matt praises the Cubs’ lights-out bullpen
• [16:38] — Matt eviscerates Twitter-based criticisms of Counsell’s pitching management
• [17:53] — Craig Counsell postgame quote on pitching & defense
• [19:46] — “Ball go far, team go far.” Data on home run advantages
• [21:18] — Bernstein’s anti-bunt rant
• [30:51] — Dan’s takedown of Bears’ stadium study and media failures
• [40:49] — Dan’s hilarious “overhand wanking motion” for bad acronyms
• [44:10 – 45:53] — Dan crowns the Clippers’ “FUCK” acronym as the greatest—wear it, don’t talk about it
• [49:01] — Parenting riff: “What are we doing today?”
• [51:44] — Dad-joke: “Nice to meet you, Bored. I’m Dan.”

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Tone & Language

The episode bristles with witty, irreverent, and frequently sardonic banter. Bernstein’s delivery is gruff and direct, sharply veering from heartfelt reflection to full-on rant, always seasoned with humor and a Chicagoan’s no-BS sensibility. Matt is both earnest and deadpan, playing off Dan’s energy to keep the exchanges lively and engaging.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This was classic “Unfiltered” Bernstein: a blend of unvarnished sports wisdom, high-caliber analysis, pop-culture riffs, and hard laughs. Die-hard Cubs and Bears fans will find catharsis and smart context, while anyone weary of media spin, managerial clichés, and shallow online discourse will appreciate the raw honesty and comedic send-ups throughout.

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Highly Recommended Segments

• Cubs bullpen/managerial decision (11:36–18:58)
• On home run stats in playoff series (19:46–21:18)
• Bears stadium/economic report rant (29:20–35:56)
• Acronym takedown and Clippers’ “FUCK” slogan (40:49–46:14)

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End of Summary

Transcript

[A]

Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered Unfiltered on three one, two Sports.

[B]

Unfiltered on this Wednesday. Today's episode brought to you in partnership with my bookie, I'm Dan Bernstein. That is Matt Abaticola. And if you happen to be listening to us yesterday on your way to the Cub game or somehow before the Cub game, you know, even, even after I noted this on social media, if you listened to the show perhaps on your commute home after maybe screwing around at work and watching the Cubs game at work, you heard us pretty much lay it out for you.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

About everything that you need to know about playoff baseball and certainly the Cubs. And we're going to talk about that today. We're going to talk about that game. We're going to talk a little bit about today's game as well. I know the timing gets weird for when you're listening. I understand. It's all good. The Bears put out a team created stadium rendering and economic impact report. I've got a lot to say about not just the report, but in particular the way it's being presented to you. Don't fall for the okie doke. Just I'm warning you about this. And I've gotta give you a lot of caveats when it comes to the way you digest this information. The team is giving you quick reminder too.

[A]

The team is valued at $9 billion.

[B]

Yeah, 9 billion 9B. And you know, just have that in the back of your head when we discuss this because there were just so many eye rol in the way it's being fed to you and you're too smart for that. And I'm going to make sure that you stay as smart as you need to be in that regard. Also, you know, long standing. I don't like coaching acronyms. I think they're a win. I think they're whether it's wind or grit or whatever the coach wants to use that year, whatever things stands for something. It is absolutely just bush league Pop Warner, low rent. And I knew the moment that Matt Eberfluss said his hits principle acronym that we were in for a world of hurt. And we were. I've got one I like. I've found the best sports acronym ever. It is literally on a T shirt for a major sports team. And somehow someone finally has done it where I can say, yes, I love your use of that acronym. So we are going to get to all of these things on today's Dan Bernstein unfiltered and as you know, probably more because we never have any idea where any of this stuff is going. I will say that yesterday at Wrigley Field was, if not perfect, and I know the Cubs bullpen was perfect, but as close to one of those days that if you could bottle it, if you could time capsule it, that is, just make sure you enjoy it, make sure you appreciate whatever happens from here on in. It's the kind of day where my mother would say, I've lived long enough. It was a favorite line of hers when it was just. When everything just kind of seemed right, or she was surrounded by family and the grandkids are running around, and she would just sort of sit and watch and look and breathe a sigh and say, it's one of these days. I've lived long enough. Like, to have experienced this means I won.

[A]

Yeah. But getting through the first four innings, though, it was. It felt pretty tense.

[B]

That's part of it, yes.

[A]

Yeah. That's part of the experience.

[B]

You had everything.

[A]

It was muscle tension.

[B]

You had everything, but you had the drama. You had the tension. You had absolutely perfect weather.

[A]

Beautiful day.

[B]

Absolutely perfect. And even with the wind blowing in. We talked about that, too, yesterday, but from. From all of it, everything.

[A]

One problem I had, though, with the game was the starting pitcher for the Padres, Nick Pivetta. And every time I heard the hillbilly broadcast, I heard Dick Pivetta.

[B]

Oh, you could see Nick Pavetta, but Dick Pavetta. I was only. Because it took me about an inning to get the sound alikes, because my ear automatically goes, oh, wait. Especially if my back is turned.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was making chicken soup for holiday dinner tonight during the game because.

[A]

Play by play, sound guy.

[B]

Play by play, Kevin Brown. And it took me a little while because if I think too hard.

[A]

But you nailed it, though.

[B]

It's sort of like, you know, when there's low light, it's sort of a. You avert your eyes so you. Can I forget which is rods and which is cones on your retina. But there's a way to see in the dark by making sure you're not looking directly at it. I have to do the same with my ears.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Kevin Brown sounds exactly like the voice of the Fighting Illini. Brian Barnhart.

[A]

Yes. And then Ben McDonald.

[B]

Ben McDonald.

[A]

I didn't know it was such a thick Southern accent.

[B]

Lsu. Right.

[A]

I just. I didn't. I didn't remember, but it was. It was distracting to me.

[B]

Young Joe Namath.

[A]

It was very distracting.

[B]

He sounds like Young Joe Namath.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But, boy, he's a cornball, isn't He.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

My favorite part of the. And we'll get back to the game. But my favorite part of the broadcast yesterday. This is awesome. So I'm watching the intros and everything was right, except Jessica Mendoza said home runs twice for PCA when she met home runs and stolen bases. Otherwise, she's gotten a lot better.

[A]

Oh, she's. I think she's great.

[B]

I think I'm a huge fan.

[A]

I'd be fine with just her and Barnhart in the booth.

[B]

I think she's improved significantly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Even though they kind of have her doing the Beth Mowins thing a little bit. You know what I mean? She's got like. She never sounded like that, but now she's kind of doing this.

[A]

I didn't hear that as much the.

[B]

Pukey thing as I did with. Yeah. If you listen far it. There's that old. The old baseball. Bob Euchre with Ben.

[A]

Old McDonald. I heard it a lot.

[B]

Bob Euker. Beth Mowins is like. And she's got a lot of that too. But so Ben. They show Ben McDonald. He's holding a baseball.

[A]

Ben Old MacDonald.

[B]

Ben's holding a baseball.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm like, okay, this is great. He's going to show us something about the way Nick Pavetta grips his four seam fastball.

[A]

Dick Pavetta.

[B]

So he's. But he's. He's there holding a ball and so I'm waiting for where in. He's gonna. I'm gonna show you what you need to see today with these grips or the. And he never did.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So then I'm thinking he's just holding a baseball because he wants to. Which is awesome because as someone said to me, this was a show that I did at Budweiser Brick House Tavern.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Love the chicken strips there. Best in the City with Justin Steele. And I asked that they bring a ball because I wanted to do a whole thing with Justin Steele about his four seamer that actually cuts and how he holds it. So what happened was I think a baseball is a fidget toy. It's my nervous. Like I love just if I'm nervous watching a baseball game, it's not the same as like holding a football. Watching a football game.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A baseball is the perfect fidget because you're doing grips. Like even when I, When I watch my son play baseball and I'm nervous.

[A]

You hold a baseball.

[B]

Some days I'll like find a stick and I'll break up a stick. Like I have to do I have to. Or I bite My nails or I pick my nails. So I'll find one of their warmup balls or something and I'll grab it out of the. And I'll just kind of rub it down or do grips or flip it to myself kind of thing. So I get it. I get the idea of having a fidget. But if you're a broadcaster and you're shown holding a baseball, do something with it.

[A]

Former pitcher.

[B]

Former pitcher, do something. Because when I was sitting with Justin Steele, I noticed he and I were both grabbing, like, fighting for the baseball. Like you fight for an armrest during the whole interview. Like, give me that, give me that. Okay, now give me that baseball bag. And then it was gone. And I was looking for it and I said, justin, where's the baseball?

[A]

He stole it.

[B]

Not only did he steal it, he didn't realize, I don't think that he did. He was holding it under his nut sack.

[A]

Oh, nice.

[B]

Like sitting there, keeping it warm like an egg. Keeping it warm. Like it, like hatching it. So. And I said, where's the baseball? And he kind of sheepishly goes like.

[A]

This, like on the outside of his pants or inside.

[B]

Okay, outside of his pants. I said, where's the ball? And it goes like this. I'm like, I don't want it now. You could have it for the rest of the show.

[A]

Sure you did.

[B]

Well, I kind of like.

[A]

Sure you did.

[B]

Something about holding a baseball made me feel better, I don't know. So I understood that. But I did think the broadcast was really good. Despite it being a little corn pone.

[A]

Yeah, a bit.

[B]

But it felt like the playoffs in just the right way. You got. The crowd was into it. I don't think you had the same amount of craziness on a fly ball. It didn't quite sound like regular season Iowa dopes. It's a pop up.

[A]

No, I mean, you had. You had everything. We talked about great defense, you had great pitching. You had timely home runs. Yeah, no, that's fine. Timely home runs. Yeah. I mean, Nick Pavetta was. I mean, he was throwing lights out and he was striking guys out, and then he left one down in the zone to, say, a Suzuki, you know, I mean, he works the top half of the zone, even outside the zone to get guys chasing. And he left one down to Suzuki. And I mean, he's. His swing right now is just on target. He has been the last four games. I think his home run, the. He has a homer the last five games, including this playoff game, and he left it down on the Zone and Suzuki just gave it a ride and it was a no doubter.

[B]

Did you see his son after the game?

[A]

Yes. Super cute.

[B]

How adorable is he?

[A]

Very cute.

[B]

And he did a go, Cubs go.

[A]

And then Matthew Boydson gave a go, Cubs go. Also. He was there too. Very different from Dusty Baker after a loss having Darren on his lap, not answering questions. And this is here celebrating with our kids. Different.

[B]

When you're hiding behind your.

[A]

Very different. Yeah. And then we go back to back with.

[B]

Carson Kelly.

[A]

With Carson Kelly. And again, I mean he, he likes to hit the ball up high and he was, he was ready for it. Having seen pitches before going out of the zone up high. He was just ready for it.

[B]

But if I, if I'm Nick Pavetta, I'm cool with that. Because of the wind.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like generally that's just going to balloon up and somebody's going to run underneath it. But if you noticed where Suzuki's was hit, it was in the video board wind shadow.

[A]

Oh, so that. But dude, I mean I.

[B]

It was right in it.

[A]

It wasn't. It wasn't a super strong wind blowing in. It was. It was enough. That's going to prevent some. Oh, not. That ball was not.

[B]

No, no, no. But it might have been stopped before the video board was put in.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Unlikely.

[A]

Yeah. Because I mean that was perfect. The only person pre barreled it and it was low.

[B]

Yeah. But pre video board. The only guy I've seen hit a ball it was Derek Lee against the.

[A]

Mets hall of Famer Derek Lee.

[B]

What?

[A]

Well, Cubs hall of Famer.

[B]

Okay. But that, but the video board has made an enormous difference. If you can get it in that wind shadow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You can get it out with relative ease even if the wind is howling it.

[A]

But yeah. What an exciting game and a great win for the Cubs. Now one more game today and they move on and they go and face their nemesis, the Milwaukee Brewers.

[B]

Well, Andrew Kittredge is going to start as the opener and I imagine just getting through those top three because that's really what it is when you start talking about third time through the order penalty. It isn't just the, the order. It's the fact that it's the third time through the other team's best players.

[A]

Best players. And I'd have to look at and see what showed his numbers, home run numbers do to those top players. That's. That's the key thing to look at. I know the batting average goes up to, you know, traditionally for most, most pitchers when you're going your third Time through. But his solo home runs, I wonder how that's impacted on the third time through with the best hitters on the team. The bullpen was just absolutely lights out. Unbelievable. And you said it yesterday that the high leverage situation in the game because it's a two game playoff series, well, best of three could come as early as the third inning.

[B]

Did I literally say that yesterday?

[A]

I'm pretty sure you said third.

[B]

And I said the moment it could come in the third inning. I said, understand that in playoff baseball.

[A]

Maybe you said fifth, but I could have sworn you said third.

[B]

Someone will tell us. I said the moment that decides the game. And that's where Craig Counsel understood that could be the moment that decides the game. I'm bringing in my closer now right.

[A]

After Matthew Boyd won 56, 58 pitches after four and a third.

[B]

And we could be happy for him. That's the best. Like everything we went through yesterday about all that heartfelt stuff and all the cool stuff that had him in tears. And I said, I hope he doesn't get his tits lit. And he didn't.

[A]

And he didn't. You know, the, the, the Padres had runners on third with no outs, runners on third with less than two outs and they didn't score those runs. I mean that was a huge defensive effort and just great pitching around those, those opportunities for the Padres to get more runs on the board. And then I come across this article and I wish I hadn't, but I saw the headline which made me click it. It says, cubs Craig Council facing backlash from Matthew Boyd decision. And I was like, what?

[B]

I'm saying idiots.

[A]

So I'm like, what, What? What did he do that I'm unaware of? And the article is based on. And it's this from. Where is this at? This is at Athlon Sports.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And it is based on.

[B]

This is.

[A]

This is where the problem starts. It's based on Cubfans comments on Twitter.

[B]

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[A]

So I see the article and it starts off the first three paragraphs are nice little descriptor of the game and I'm like, all right, well I don't understand the controversy here. Then I get to the fourth paragraph. After seeing the teams all Star being removed early, Cub fans on Twitter on X were upset with Council decision. I'm like, okay, so you're basing the whole article on comments from Cub fans on Twitter. That's a problem to start with.

[B]

That's like a HuffPost article. They do that all the time. Like so and so gets roasted on Twitter for thing they said.

[A]

Right? And then he has some comments here from some tweets. 56 pitches, you pull your starter. Solid move Council. Another added Craig Council pulling Matthew Boyd after only 58 pitches in the fifth. Not sure we want to get into a bullpen game with the Padres. Council pulling Boyd awfully early for only giving a one run, said another. Another wrote, I understand why Craig Counsel is pulling Boyd, but I do not like it or agree with it. I'd rather have a less sharp Boyd throwing a third time through the pen than the pen. Listen, what okay, here's okay. There's so many issues, but the first one is it worked out just like it was supposed to.

[B]

Even regardless though, he, he went a.

[A]

Four and a third, he went to his bullpen and Palencia comes in and he's throwing 101, 102, 103. And then you have Drew Pomeranz and then Brad Keller finishes it out. Kitch comes in, the bullpen was perfect. Here's the, here's the line though that made it even worse for me. While Council's move proved to work out as Palencia collected the final two outs of the top of the Fifth inning. He is the Cubs most talented option out of the bullpen. And in such a close game. He will now be unavailable for the remainder of the game. Yes.

[B]

Are you sure this was an AI generated?

[A]

Yes. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the game because he came in and was taken out. You don't get the go back in. Even if you were brought in the eighth inning and taken out, you can't go back for the ninth inning. That's how baseball works. But you can't write an article about roasting Craig Counsel when it worked perfectly. He did exactly what he wanted to do. And based on what we were talking about yesterday, you said the high leverage point of the game could come as early as the third inning. Because this is not one game of 162. This is two games, best of three. You have to win to move on. You're fortunate to have home field because that, that two game difference in the regular season gave you home field advantage. In a three game series, you have to win two. You have to do whatever it takes to win each game.

[B]

I can't believe.

[A]

Every opportunity possible.

[B]

I can't believe. You have to actually reiterate this somehow. I mean it's obviously, it's just, it's mind blowing. It's a critical situation to win. A critical in the first game of the playoffs is a three game playoff series.

[A]

And Craig Counsel was asked about the pitching yesterday between Matthew Boyd and his bullpen.

[C]

He made some huge pitches really, with men on third base. The second inning. To get out of that inning with, without another run scoring, nobody out. Man on third. We made a great defensive play, a couple of great defensive plays to help that. But making those zeros after having man on third, no outs, man on third, less than two outs, that was, that was a real key.

[A]

How would you just describe the bullpen today?

[C]

It was perfect today. I mean that's, that's what it was. It's, let's see, 13, that's 14 outs. And I've talked a lot about, you know, them helping each other and how that group is connected. And today was, today was a great example of it. You know, they get their routes and they make their matchups, the right matchups and so just a brilliant job. Everybody just made executed pitches, made pitches. Can't, can't say enough about what they did today.

[A]

Yeah, outstanding performance for Matthew Boyd to fight around some difficulty and then the bull can, the bullpen comes in and just cleans it up and is, is unbelievable in their outing yesterday. Just great. Great job by all four of them.

[B]

How about Dansby? Swanson too?

[A]

Great. Vanderbilt Commodore. I mean that, that little bloop. There it is, that little bloop. Man, what a, what a great defensive play. Unbelievable defensive play. I mean, he was. And then he had, he had a nice dive at short that kept the runner at third. I mean, you know, luckily there was, there was only, there was the no outs on that play. And so it kept the runner from going anyway, but just a great stop. He was, he was great. Had a nice, nice sharp line drive in the left field as well. Nico Horner, I mean, you, you know, you walk Michael Bush to get to Nico Horner, who is one of the best in baseball this year with runners in scoring position. So fun game. Cubs get the win. A couple of things about home runs because we've talked about home runs and how home runs can impact a short playoff series. You said hit ball far, team go far.

[B]

Yeah, ball go far, team go far.

[A]

So I looked at three guys and I just want to throw some numbers at you here. Tucker, Suzuki and pca, you know, the first half of the season they combined for 67 home runs and then the second half of the season they had 18. So quite the disparity. And we talk about first half and second half. It's really the first two thirds and the, and the latter ladder third of the season. It's not, it's not split evenly. Combined plate appearances from those three in the first half of the season, 1231, the second half of the season, 664. So quite the disparity. But it's, it's 2/3 to 1/3. 37 home runs to 18 home runs, or I'm sorry, 67 to 18. So when you look at plate appearances, those three guys in the first half of the season hit a home run every 18 plate appearances. In the second half of the season, they more than doubled. It was every 37. So the home run numbers drop off. Looking at the Cubs and Padres, 92 and 70 for the Cubs, 90 and 72 for the Padres. Two game difference gives you the four seed over the five seed. The Cubs were sixth in Major League Baseball with 223 home runs. The Padres are 28th with 152. So a difference of 71. But you see overall 162, it's a two game difference, but still gives you that home field advantage which you want. Now, in a more compact series, when a team out homers their opponent in a postseason, postseason series, they win 80% of the time. Compared to the regular season, which is 72% of the time, but I'll take that. So regular season is 72%. Playoff series 80% of the time.

[B]

And I think when, if I were to break down the reason for that. To score on something other than a home run, you need a sequence of connected events against the best pitchers, right? Against your high leverage pitchers where every out is so precious that you're not going to have some guy getting work in. You're not giving away any games, you're not having moments. You're like, oh, we can just lose this one. So obviously the simplest way, the most efficient way to generate runs is by a single event, right? Ball hits, bat goes over fence, run scores. Otherwise what you're. And this, this is what people are saying, well, why didn't Craig counsel bunt when he had runners on first and second? Because it's stupid. Because bunting is stupid. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever bunt. Unless there is some bizarre, extenuating specific circumstance about maybe needing one run and a weird thing going on with your lineup. The best rule of thumb, get this through your thick skulls. Never bunt. Never give away an out. That's how they talk about all of this. We've got to get to 27 outs before they get to 27 outs. If you listen to Craig Counsel, if you listen to any manager with a brain, bunting gives away an out. Bunting lowers win expectancy. Bunting makes you less likely to win in the major leagues. This is not high school baseball. This is not little league. It's not 12U. I understand bunting works when most fielders are bad and fielding is hard. Major league baseball fielders are good. Don't give away an out.

[A]

There was, there was a sacrifice bunt in yesterday's game that moved the runner from first to second with a two. A two to one lead. And then eventually that runner came around the score. Matt Shaw got the button down with two strikes.

[B]

There. There isn't. If there is a. There's but extenuating circumstances.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

And they say if you need a run in an environment when the.

[A]

Like this.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But on the whole, bunting just gives.

[B]

Away an out, right?

[A]

Don't just valuable out.

[B]

The way you should think about bunting is only, only do it if there is something is a really specific. And the reason why it's Matt Shaw.

[A]

Right?

[B]

That's why.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Because of the possibility of a strikeout against a certain pitcher at a certain time.

[A]

So when you out homer your opponents in a playoff series, your, your Win percentage goes up to 80%. Now yesterday's game, Dan, there was four games that took place. There were three games that had home runs hit. In those four games, the Dodgers had five. Dodgers didn't wait, Red said zero. The Cubs had two, Padres zero. Detroit, Cleveland game, there was no home runs hit. Detroit wins that game 2 to 1. And then Boston with no home runs, the Yankees had one. Anthony Volpe gets a home run.

[B]

Oh my God. Goodness.

[A]

So that was, you know, Chapman out there, loads the bases, no outs, and then gets three outs. Yes, it was something. So you had three teams that hit home runs. Two of those teams won, one team lost. Okay, but in a, in a series, in a series where you have a pitcher. So I looked at pitching because the Tigers and Guardians game had no home runs. Boston was out homer and they still won the game. School for The Tigers had 14 strikeouts.

[B]

He was a unbelievable. He threw his fastest pitch. It was like 101 miles an hour. 100.2 or something like that.

[A]

On his last pitch, Garrett Crochet had 11 strikeouts. Williams for the Guardians had eight. Max Freed had six for the Yankees. When your pitcher in a playoff series throws more than 10 strikeouts, your starting pitcher more than 10 strikeouts, your win rate goes up to 66%. So you can counterbalance that one home run against zero home runs. You're starting pitching, obviously, which makes sense. I mean it's, it's. I'm not, I'm not trying to share something that's astronomical or mind blowing or new, but it just, it backs up how playoff baseball works.

[B]

I'd like to see the math too, on quality start is even six plus three fewer earned. Because usually in the regular season that's a 70% correlate. As rare as that may be goes.

[A]

Up to in the playoffs.

[B]

Yeah, that's a 70% correlation. I imagine it's higher in the playoffs because of the way the bullpens are being used and the fact that once you're in the playoffs, it already means your bullpen is probably locked down enough to have gotten you there.

[A]

Right. But it just, it just, you know, just some numbers to look at and how it works out. If you're not going to home run, you got to make sure you have a stud on the mound. You know, like a guy like school who was just unbelievable. But I'm glad you brought up what Roaldis Chapman did because you go into the bottom of the ninth and it's that, it's that very slim lead and they load the bases with no outs. And we were watching the game and Natalie was like, what if they don't score?

[B]

I called it, though.

[A]

Did you really?

[B]

I said about. I said, he's getting out of this. I said, there's no way Stanton can hit his fastball.

[A]

Yeah. And he struck him out on a splitter.

[B]

But how late was he.

[A]

My God, how. It was awful.

[B]

One is like he was across the plate and he just lifted his front leg up.

[A]

Come on, man. He got him. It was a beautiful pitch, too, with.

[B]

Postseason baseball here, and you're seeing the leaves maybe start to change a little bit, and you're thinking that cold weather is coming. Well, it means to. It's time to replace your old windows. Don't wait on this because you don't want to get to the cold weather and say, damn it, Bernstein was right. Because those. You hate saying that. That's the worst thing you could possibly say is not. Not. I'm cold in here and I'm frozen to death. But Bernstein was right. Those three words will kill you faster. So replace your old windows, and you don't need your living room or your bedroom to feel like you're on top of a flagpole at a typical Chicago Windy day, call Russ Armstrong. He is the owner of Chicago Window Guys. And you don't have to think about bringing them out and replacing everything. Eventually you can get to that. But Russ is going to work with you to break the job down into phases and get it all done. That's what I'm doing. He did one area of my house. Right now. We're in the process of him doing another. So just have Russ come out and look around and he can say, look, let's do this now. Let him recommend it based on the way your house looks, based on the condition of your windows. Trust him because I've trusted him. Everybody to whom I've recommended, Russ has said, thank you. So you say, well, how do I reach him? 847-302-9171. I'll say it again. 847-302-9171. You can check out his five star [e-mail] and every time you hear about this, buy one, get one free or 50% off stuff. It's all gimmicks. Russ is just going to give you the best windows at the best price, and he's going to make sure that he matches all this stuff. And he's going to explain why the other offers aren't what they say that they are. No subcontracted labor. His crew Installs all the windows so the same people around my house will be the same people around yours. So call Russ right now. Don't wait. Get in. Make sure you're on the schedule. 847-302-9171 chicagowindowguys.com yeah, I gotta give Russ a call still.

[A]

Yeah, I gotta call him.

[B]

He was gonna call you.

[A]

I gotta call them because. Yeah, I'm do that this week.

[B]

I'm going to get that done. That's a good call. Good call on your part. Okay. When I saw the headline in the Trib today about the Bears and their. The revenue and the costs of their new stadium in Arlington Heights, I thought, oh, here is an independently generated study that's going to give us the truth about what it costs and what it's gonna bring. That's why it's on the front page of the paper, my virtual paper. I'm sad to say I don't get the hard copy anymore. But this is the Tribune article and the first two paragraphs where it says, construction of a new Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights would generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, but would also require substantial taxpayer support for infrastructure, according to, and this is key here, team projections released Tuesday. Team projections?

[A]

What are you saying? You're saying they can't, can't count on that?

[B]

Infrastructure, such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metro train line would cost 855 million in public funds, the team's consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HRNA Advisors Incorporated. And it goes on. And it goes on, it goes on, it goes on. But the moment I saw team projections is when it's whatever emoji you want, the eye roll, the barf, the eye roll, the barf, however you want it. Because all I could think of in my mind is, why don't you talk to J.C. bradbury? How can you write this without actually asking J.C. bradbury? And you say, well, who's J.C. bradbury? Well, he's the first name that comes up every time I think of this because he is a professor of economics at Kennesaw State who was the very first person and still the best at debunking these studies and going through history. And he can show you, here's what the team study said, here was the actual historical economic impact. And he can show you Very, very simply, how this is almost always complete bullshit.

[A]

Always.

[B]

J.C. bradbury's the guy. So let me count here. I'm gonna count paragraphs here. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 paragraphs. 9, 10, 11, 14 paragraphs into this. I see this quote. This isn't a study. It's purchased propaganda. Kennesaw State University professor of Economics JC Bradbury said in an email to the Tribune, quote, it does not use established economic methods for analyzing economic outcomes and thus its conclusions are not credible. This is a fantasy document and an ex parrot. So wait, if I'm an editor and I see that, isn't it your job then to go back and maybe instead of having that at paragraph 14, reshape the way you're reporting this at the.

[A]

Top, maybe instead of the headline leading into.

[B]

Instead of the cut line, what the team has to say, instead of the cut line development would generate billions and that your, in your lead, would generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. Why are you doing the team's heavy lifting? Why are you in bed with them? I know Cranes is. It is your job to look out for the taxpayer. It's your job to look out for us, not look out for the bears. You just call the foremost expert on stuff like this who's more than happy to tell you this is a fantasy document. Don't report it like it's fact. And yet I gotta go this many paragraphs in there, just rolling my eyes audibly, almost. And there's the one line here. Economists generally are skeptical of such projections, saying that studies have repeatedly shown spending on sports typically replaces money that people would otherwise spend on other entertainment. Yes, and they show that because it's true. That's why they keep telling you that. Like you write it, write it, write it, write it, write it. And then these paragraphs obviate all of it. Don't write it this way.

[A]

So you're saying that's bad.

[B]

God, I shouldn't be this angry reading this article. Breathe. Remember to breathe. Box breathing. Four counts. Okay. Better.

[A]

Better.

[B]

Thank you. But listen to what the guy has to say. Who knows more about it than you do. Who studied all of it, who's made a career out of debunking these things? And then rearrange how you present the information. What is fact, what is not fact. He just told you this is a fantasy and yet you're reporting it as fact.

[A]

I mean, facts aren't important anymore, but.

[B]

That'S all that matters. So somebody, when you edit this, take the truth part and move that Up. Just take the truth part upward, because most people don't get to that part.

[A]

People don't care about the truth.

[B]

People don't get to. Even the people who are taking the time to read anything, let alone read this deep. Just do me a favor. Instead of doing the work for the Bears, in your role, ostensibly as what remains of journalism, just look out for the taxpayer.

[A]

No, you know, I would go a little different angle. Instead of doing the work for the Bears, and if your focus isn't on the taxpayers, just present the truth. Present the truth and present it in a way that doesn't make the top half of the article, the top 80%, seem as though it's actual fact.

[B]

If you would go with, like, go with this lead. Keep the lead paragraph. Construction of a new Chicago Bears state of Arlington Heights would generate thousands of jobs, billions of dollars, but would require substantial taxpayer support. Blah, blah, blah. The next paragraph should be. Economists generally are skeptical of such projections. Studies have repeatedly shown spending on sports typically. Just put that in your second graph.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It wouldn't be perfect rather than totally. It doesn't have to be. Bears present fantasy, Bears present fake facts.

[A]

Well, you could do that, though, too. I mean, that's.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And remember, they were valued at nine billion. Nine billion dollars recently.

[B]

Yeah. They don't need you to do PR for them. They don't.

[A]

Billion.

[B]

They don't need you to do PR for them.

[A]

And I. And if I can take it on a. On a stupid angle. I saw the rendering show.

[B]

Never.

[A]

Yes, I saw the renderings, and I just. I don't like it. I don't like the way it looks mid. Yeah, I just don't like it.

[B]

It's fine.

[A]

It's fine. But, like, it's.

[B]

Meh.

[A]

Do it right.

[B]

It's mid.

[A]

Like, get it done right.

[B]

It looks like Allegiant Stadium.

[A]

It's the guy build. Build your city.

[B]

It's the guy that built Allegiant Stadium. And it looks like Allegiant Stadium, but there isn't anything architecturally. But the fact is, if it's in Arlington Heights, I don't really care as much. It's more about the utilitarian aspect and creature comforts and how does it work and ingress and egress and about what the experience is like if it were on the Lakeshore. That's an entirely different responsibility.

[A]

100%.

[B]

There's no architectural history at all.

[A]

This is an open spot of land in Arlington Heights. Right.

[B]

So I don't do it Right. I just. I don't I don't know if you have to do, like.

[A]

And I know it's just. It's premature or something.

[B]

Like, you don't have to do cheesy Chicago stuff, but it looks cookie cutter.

[A]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

Anyway, it's fine. I just. I love the sign on it. Welcome to stadium. And it says stadium.

[A]

And I'm like, well, I'm not gonna criticize it at this point.

[B]

I am greeter. Welcome to stadium. Enjoy sportsball.

[A]

Sir, have ticket, please. Why?

[B]

I have ticket, please.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Is this sportsball? This is sportsball.

[A]

Where are you going to watch the game at today?

[B]

Seats.

[A]

At the stadium?

[B]

No, not the.

[A]

At stadium.

[B]

At stadium. I go to stadium and watch ball. Are you eating something? Yes. Over salted expensive food. Are you drinking anything? Yes.

[A]

Drink.

[B]

I am drinking overpriced alcoholic beverage. No.

[A]

What are you having? Drink.

[B]

I am having drink.

[A]

What are you eating? Food.

[B]

Who are you rooting for?

[A]

Team.

[B]

Perfect.

[A]

Well, I can't wait to go to stadium and watch the bears play. I'm very excited.

[B]

Watch team.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Go team.

[A]

Go. Go team. At stadium.

[B]

I'm excited to flip open the grill at my next chance and go down to the chest freezer in the basement and open up that big horizontal lid and survey all of my Omaha steaks products. It really is a great feeling. You feel like sort of like Henry VIII or something. Ha ha. My loyal subjects, which one of you has the honor of feeding me tonight.

[A]

Your giant container of meat?

[B]

Yes, I will anoint. Whether it's the pork chops that I have or the big chunky filet mignons or there's chicken breasts that they sent. I mean, really, I have my choice because this big box of meat from Omaha steaks can be yours during the red hot sale event, 50% off site wide right [e-mail] plus and listen carefully and write this down because you are listening to Dan Bernstein. Unfiltered. You can get an extra $35 off. Use the promo code. Bernstein. It's just my last name. You use it at checkout. And just knowing that I've got all this stuff at home, I actually did it rather than the grill. I did a couple of the filet mignons seared in a pan and did a red wine butter sauce. I believe it's called a beurouge. Little bit of shallot and just kind of poured that over the top. You can throw in some cremini mushrooms if you want with a little whipped potatoes. Oh, my God. It's good. And it's Omaha steaks. So you know you've got the unrivaled quality with every steak aged to maximize tenderness. Hand cut by master butchers in America's heartland. It's Omaha Steaks, America's original butcher since 1917 and still a family owned company with over 100 years of expertise in the meat industry. So get fired up for fall grilling or wherever you want to cook it. Omaha steaks.com 50% off site wide the red hot sale event for an extra $35 off. That's not nothing. Use the promo code Bernstein at checkout omaha steaks.com 50% off site wide the promo code B E R N S T E I n for 35 bucks off minimum purchase. May apply C site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks.

[A]

I'm really excited to get into this because, you know, as a coach, I love acronyms.

[B]

Have you used one?

[A]

No, I don't. Well, you're all decked out today and I'm excited. I'm excited for practice tonight. So. Yeah, I figured I'd just get right into it. I don't use acronyms, but I have a list of acronyms here though that I want to share with you. These are. These are some of the top coaching. Are you ready for these?

[B]

Okay. As long, as long as hits is on there.

[A]

No, these are just some I pulled up on some random website about coaching. Here we go.

[B]

Team.

[A]

You know what team stands for?

[B]

Together equals action.

[A]

Together everyone achieves more. That's team. How about. How about win? How about we not win. But not wins.

[B]

But win whatever is necessary.

[A]

What's important now. These are bad. BGT.

[B]

I think this, this deserves the overhand wanking motion. That's the more serious wanking motion is when you like the overhand with a 45 degree angle. You have like peyronie's disease or something.

[A]

Yeah. Wow.

[B]

I go deep on wanking motion.

[A]

Yeah, you do. You sure do. You get the Peyronie's disease in there too. BGT. Make that hard turn is be a great teammate.

[B]

Wait, hold on. What's the acronym, though?

[A]

Bgt.

[B]

But that's not a word.

[A]

It's not a word. I know. That's why these are bad.

[B]

Bigot. Be a bigot, gentlemen. We're bigots on this team. Be great teammate. Bigot.

[A]

All right. How would you say the word B Y B K Bibbick.

[B]

Biblic.

[A]

Be your brother's keeper because we're all brothers in this room. All right, hang on. How about family.

[B]

Too long.

[A]

It is way too long. But listen to this one. Forget about me. I love you.

[B]

It's so bad. Take your pants off. What was Peroni's disease? What was the. What was the P.J. fleck one? The really everything stood for something weird. And then Oski. We use the word osce because the O. The band of brothers and the brothers. Where's that guy these days?

[A]

PJ Fleck?

[B]

Yeah, he had a row the boat. Well, that was his. That's his line. Yeah, but he had an acronym. I don't know. It was team or grit.

[A]

All right, how about this one? Fear.

[B]

Fear.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Good.

[A]

It's not good. Face everything and rise. Next. This is a good one. This is a good one.

[B]

And you know the best part of these is that, you know, some guy with like, wearing a shirt with a Punisher logo on it was like, I got it.

[A]

We're gonna.

[B]

We're gonna win state.

[A]

All right, how about next? N, E, X, T.

[B]

November Echo, X, Ray, Tango.

[A]

Never excuse. Expect a triumph with an X, E, X, P, E, C, T. You're just.

[B]

Gonna make kids dumber. All this stuff makes kids dumber.

[A]

This is a bad one. Play with ice, which I wouldn't recommend if you're a brown person. Intensity, concentration, enthusiasm. Play with ice.

[B]

Don't play with dry ice or with the federal agency. Play with it. You can outrun them because they're too fat.

[A]

Rtdb.

[B]

Oh, but by the way, I think with the government shutdown, do we get our $50,000 bonus now for joining ICE? Oh, or do they still get it or not? I think you get like a coupon.

[A]

For like a burger, right?

[B]

You get a free taco. It's not what they need.

[A]

Rtdb. Run the damn ball. How about WWW?

[B]

I don't even want to know.

[A]

We want winners.

[B]

Go in with them.

[A]

All right. That's just terrible.

[B]

Where are you getting these?

[A]

I just. I'm.

[B]

Some random coaching acronyms.com.

[A]

No, it's a 150 plus coaching acronyms. The. The top acronyms, people.

[B]

These are the top ones.

[A]

That's what this dude did. He like surveyed a bunch of 35,000 people and that's what they came up with. It's just. It's awful. I don't use acronyms. I just yell and swear at the kids and threaten them. Physical violence, it actually beat them.

[B]

Okay, I found one.

[A]

Yeah. I'm excited to hear this.

[B]

This is the all time best.

[A]

Because you sent that, I think, in the middle of the Cubs games. I didn't Click it open.

[B]

And I want to thank everybody who sent this to me, whether it was on Bluesky or on Instagram or via the email dan312.sports.com and it's a professional team. This is the Los Angeles Clippers.

[A]

Okay. Basketball.

[B]

The Los Angeles Clippers started camp wearing a T shirt. And apparently this is a Jeff Van Gundy thing.

[A]

Beautiful.

[B]

You know, I love his brother.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So this. Jeff scored a lot of points with me here.

[A]

Okay, what's the word?

[B]

The word is fucking.

[A]

Fuck.

[B]

And Jeff moved way up. F U, C, K. Yep.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Jeff moved way up in my book. All right, so descending on the shirt is F U C, K. Above the F it says get the. And underneath the K it says back. So their slogan, get the fuck back. Get the fuck back.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

The F stands for floor balance.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

The U stands for urgency. The C for three things, consistent communication and concentration. And the K is for no. Oh, we lost to Denver because of transition.

[A]

That's great.

[B]

So they got. They got knocked out of the playoffs because they didn't run the floor on defense. So their slogan is get the fuck back.

[A]

So how many times do you think that was said?

[B]

The best part is not only are these professionals, they are on average, the highest paid professionals in the world.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And Jeff's like, wear this, wear this, wear this. Here's your damn coaching acronym. Go dribble your basketballs. Wear this around.

[A]

All right. I can't wait to see the impact that has defensively speaking for them.

[B]

It is fantastic.

[A]

Really good. That's funny.

[B]

And the fact that they would do it too, that the players to be like, okay, this is good.

[A]

That's very good.

[B]

And put it on awareness. So I guess what my larger point is more of this. More acronyms that make fun of acronyms and actually send a real damn message to your team. You want to win a championship, you want to vance to the playoffs, play some defense. And because the Phil Jackson used to do it, they used to call it a tab game. Frank Hamblin and the assistant coaches would write on the board back where we could see the board. We'd go in there before the game and I talked to the Frank and be like, oh, yeah, big, big tab game. Tabs over. Tear ass back.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

It just meant don't, don't linger when it came to offensive rebounding. If it's. If you're in between, get back.

[A]

Yeah, those are the good old days of journalism. You had face to face conversations and things were written and you had to read them. They weren't out instantly on social media and all these different platforms.

[B]

And everybody thinks that their time was the good old days.

[A]

But they were the good old days, Dan.

[B]

Necessarily.

[A]

They were. They were better. My world was better back then when we were kids.

[B]

Oh, God. Beth was going off on the kids today before I left for work.

[A]

Kids today are terrible.

[B]

She was just like, I don't want to hear about. She's like, every time I text, Jason gets mad at me. You're shaming me or you're in my space or you're gaslighting me. She said, no, I'm parenting you. You're being passive aggressive. You don't want me to be passive aggressive. I'll be aggressive aggressive. She said, what you call passive aggressive is me being cordial and me trying to be nice. You don't want nice. I don't have to be. And I was like, you know what I'm doing now? I'm going to work.

[A]

I would just back out slowly back out of the room.

[B]

I did the homer in the corn, right?

[A]

Yeah. There's no reason. Because nothing good comes from you talking. Right.

[B]

I'm just like, look at me with my coffee here. I go off to work. I go.

[A]

Back on out of the room and just turn around and leave totally on one. Because you don't need that coming in your direction either. Oh, if you're.

[B]

If you talk and let me. Don't even start me.

[A]

Let me tell you about you, Mr. Right. Yeah.

[B]

And you're probably texting him, saying, I'm wrong. No, I did that. I swear to God.

[A]

You did. See, look at you. Look at you growing and maturing and becoming wiser on your age. I love it.

[B]

Exactly what to do.

[A]

Proud of you.

[B]

I knew exactly what to do. And it was just like, oh, guess I'll head off to work now.

[A]

You know, the biggest thing with our four kids is, but the thing that gets me the most is what are we doing today? And I mean, we could. Dan, we could come back from a week long vacation, get back home that night.

[B]

Oh, you're. When you're the social director, wake up.

[A]

The next morning and it's, what are we doing today? I don't know.

[B]

I know what I'm doing.

[A]

I'm doing laundry and I'm working. I don't know. What are you doing today, son? I mean, or you could go out and like Saturday. So Saturday night we're going to Great America for fright festival.

[B]

Cool.

[A]

Yeah. Gonna be great. I don't do any of the rides or the haunted Houses.

[B]

But I enjoy the haunted house. Like the real scary.

[A]

Yeah, there's like five or six. You have to buy extra tickets just to get in the haunted houses.

[B]

Now you come out covered in, like, fake blood.

[A]

I don't do it. But. So we'll wake up Sunday morning and I guarantee there'll be a question. What are we doing today? It drives me insane.

[B]

Like no one else, I would. There came a point where I literally would say, look, I'm not the social director of this fraternity.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's not my job.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now make plans with your friends. You do what you gotta do.

[A]

Yeah. So when the kids are home now, we take phones and we keep phones for several hours during the day. Like when it's not a school day and we just say, hey, go do something. Go find something to do. Go outside. Go ride your bike.

[B]

There's a bass pond.

[A]

20Ft, there's a pond. There's a basketball hoop. There's a school that is in five minutes walking distance. There's a huge field. That's five minutes walking distance. I was arguing with Zoe's like, give me your phone. Plug your phone in. You don't get your phone for the next six hours. Go do something.

[B]

I was arguing with my daughter about being bored and about how we knew how to be bored.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And sometimes you were just bored. And then you'd find something and you'd make a game or you'd figure something, you'd do something. And she said, that doesn't build character. She said, dad, you talk about that like that was some sort of. She said, but it does, though. She said, there's no inherent virtue in being bored and learning how to be bored. She said, you were only bored because you didn't have a phone. And she said, don't pretend that had you had a phone, you wouldn't have been on it.

[A]

Well, yeah, you would have been, but you didn't, and so you weren't. And therefore, when you were bored, you found things to occupy your time using your brain.

[B]

I read a goddamn book.

[A]

Right. There you go.

[B]

We had a hammock in the backyard and I went and I'd go to the library and I would borrow all the Stephen King books I could find. You know what's good in hardcover?

[A]

The last couple weeks, I would sit.

[B]

In the hammock until it got too dark to read.

[A]

The last couple weeks, my 9 year old stepson has asked Natalie to go to the library. Library to check out books.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, you know, it's. It's really good too. A few years back when the boys were younger, they would say they were bored. I would feel, you know, because they. They're only with me half the time. And I would feel a little triggered by it and be like, okay, oh, you're bored.

[B]

All right, well, I'll entertain you.

[A]

Yeah, we'll do. Let's do something. Let's go play catch, or let's go do that now. You know, they'll walk up and be like, I'm bored. And I say, sucks for you. No, I. No, I just say, okay, thanks, and I go back to whatever it is I'm doing. I'm bored. Okay, great.

[B]

I say, nice to meet you. Bored. I'm Dan.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

Stupid dad joke works the same. Hey, if you're waiting for Sunday to start betting, you're missing half the fun and half the money. College football already cooking upsets, blowouts, wild covers, and my bookie lets you hit it all. Game lines, player props, and more. It's everything you need before the pros even kick off. When Sunday rolls around, you're already up, and there's been all kinds of stuff in college ball that's going on. If you can get with Maddie, get in on Diego Pavia fever right now. Oh, my God. Both on the field and in the courtroom.

[A]

Alabama.

[B]

Oh, that's Alabama this week. Well, my bookie's got it all under one roof. Win big on the NFL super contest Survivor pools. If you're new to my bookie and you haven't signed up yet, don't Forget to use DBU as the promo code. Just those three letters, and any bet you choose up to $500 is then fully covered. So you put your bet in, and then if it doesn't hit, you will get it right back when you opt in using the bet back bonus token. It's my bookie where bettors win together. So get registered. Put that deposit in. Bragging's good, but cashing in is better. I also want to let people know what's going on in the next couple of days. So tomorrow is Yom Kippur, so I am going to be off, and then early Friday morning, we're headed down to New Orleans to see the boy. They're off for break, and rather than have him come home, we're gonna head down there and enjoy the Fried Chicken Fest. Fried Chicken Fest. We don't have any plans to have fried chicken, but if some runs into me, I'm probably gonna end up having it. You'll run into some, but that's not gonna stop DBU or Forward Progress.

[A]

No, sir.

[B]

We have some special editions of all of it coming your way. All kinds of surprises, including, but not limited to on Friday on Forward Progress, our top 10 bears of all time.

[A]

We also have some special guests lined up over the next couple days. I'm very excited about it.

[B]

So you're going to enjoy what's going on. It's. I'm going to be here even though I'm not here.

[A]

And because you're on the show, even though it's not your show, but it is your show when it is your show.

[B]

And also, and I know we're going to talk about this on Forward Progress, but for those of you who want Forward Progress to be super footbally and super wonky and sexy football, we are going to do more of that. This is going to be the last of the top 10 opponents that we're.

[A]

Going to do on Forward Progress. We're going to switch them.

[B]

Yeah, I think you're right. I think Matty's called. We're going to move that over to DBU because this is kind of our Spanky Wanky Screw around show. When the spot for that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we're going to keep Forward Progress Bears, the NFLE football.

[A]

Yeah. Cause what the. My, my goal is, Dan, and I'm, you know, I'm still knocking the rust off of producer stuff.

[B]

I'm. Believe me, I'm not going to rust off a hosting stuff.

[A]

Yeah. And so Thursdays for Forward Progress, we're going to have a Bears. A Bears reporter. Fridays, we'll have a look at the opposing team through the eyes of one of their reporters. So I figured it'd be a good switch and we'll bring the top 10 even though it's valuable football information for your viewing and enjoyment. Pleasure. We're going to move the top 10 list down to DBU and then keep forward progress. Really, really football and NFL centric. I do want to remind you of a year ago, Dan, when an unranked Vanderbilt Upset number one Alabama 40 to 35.

[B]

So the likelihood of that happening again is.

[A]

Oh, no, it's not likelihood. It's going to happen.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Alabama's trash.

[B]

It looked like they kind of were.

[A]

Trash when it comes to Vanderbilt Commodores.

[B]

All right. Well, there you have it. And that is DBU for this Wednesday. We thank you for tuning in to today's episode, brought to you in partnership with my bookie, Dan Bernstein.

[A]

Unfiltered. Unfiltered on three one, two Sports.