Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – “Cubs: Win Or It’s Over”

Host: Dan Bernstein
Producer/Co-host: Matt Abbatacola
Date: October 6, 2025
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered (312 Sports)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the high-stakes moment for the Chicago Cubs in their playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Dan and Matt share sharp, candid takes on the Cubs’ postseason situation—emphasizing the urgency of a crucial “must-win” game—plus a breakdown of managerial decisions, player performances, and the mental side of postseason baseball. The conversation then pivots into the strange Mark Sanchez incident, some candy bar revelations, and ends with a rapid-fire look at NFL picks and football talk.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cubs’ Make-or-Break Playoff Moment

(00:52–07:33)

• High Stakes in Milwaukee: Dan sets the tone: “Tonight in Milwaukee. This is it. They gotta have it... It’s the season. They gotta have this one because you come home 0-2 and it’s not great.” (00:52–01:05)
  • Matt: “Then you’re the Yankees.” (01:05)
• Personal Rituals in Big Games: Both share how they prefer to watch important games alone, far from the chaos of crowds or bars.
  • Dan reminisces: “The more I care about something, the fewer people I want around me.” (04:55)
  • Matt recalls the Jordan-era Bulls: “I needed to be alone. I did not want to watch the game with anyone because people suck and they’re annoying.” (05:33–05:40)

2. Cubs-Brewers Game 1 Breakdown

(07:33–10:31)

• The Emotional Whiplash: Bernstein describes watching the Cubs jump ahead with a Bush leadoff HR, followed by a brutal unraveling: “Everything was perfect. And then it’s just like repeatedly getting kicked in the nut sacks and the Nico error. And that was a weird ball.” (08:44–09:04)
• Matt’s Experience: Matt missed parts of the game, following Cubs’ bad news updates via phone at his football game: “I look back and it’s 6 to 1. I’m like, all right, ballgame’s over, kids. Cubs lost.” (09:13–09:18)

3. Strategic Takeaways & Series Outlook

(10:31–14:55)

• Bigger Picture on Losing to Peralta: Dan rationalizes a potential series split, if the Cubs rebound: “If the Cubs win tonight and you come home from Milwaukee having lost the Peralta game and not having used any of your high-leverage relief… it’s not bad.” (10:31–11:00)
• The Cheerio Injury Factor: Matt values Milwaukee losing Cheerio due to injury, calling it “huge... Only MLB player ever, ever to have three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game ever.” (11:51–11:58)
• Pitching Decisions Under the Microscope:
  • Both debate manager Craig Counsell's call to start Matthew Boyd.
  • Dan critiques Counsell’s “defensive” postgame rationale, suggesting, “This looked like it was really the wrong decision.” (14:00–14:09)
  • Matt: “I don’t like... the after the fact criticism of, you shouldn’t have started Boyd. All right, well, then who do you go with?” (14:55)

4. The Philosophy of “Clutch” in Sports

(14:55–16:15)

• Dan succinctly frames the “clutch vs. choke” debate:

  “Clutch equals absence of choke. If you can be yourself and play to your rate stats and play to your averages in any situation, that constitutes clutch.” (15:34–15:41)

5. Around the League: Yankees Struggles & Vlad Guerrero's "Heel Turn"

(16:54–18:10)

• The hosts compare the Cubs' troubles to Yankees’ playoff collapse and discuss Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s playful trolling of Yankees fans.
• Dan has fun with the bit:

  “What was going through my mind was how much of a choker Aaron Judge is. And he choked his ass off once again with the bases loaded.” (17:12–17:20)

• Matt notes Vlad was probably “just poking and trying to have fun,” but wonders how it will play in New York. (17:31–18:10)

6. Shota Imanaga’s Season & Pitching Strategy

(21:02–24:44)

• Dan provides a stats-heavy look at Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, noting changes in pitch usage and effectiveness:

  “His fastball usage was down this year... velocity dipped... splitter usage was up... slider usage jumped 10%.” (21:02–21:59)

• Both discuss the need for splitter and slider command and the risks of giving up walks or extra runners.

7. Cubs Fandom & Family Traditions

(26:58–30:15)

• Nostalgic talk about watching 2016 Cubs World Series games alone, but hopes to share future Cubs runs with family.
• Dan shares his son’s shift from White Sox to Cubs fandom due to frustration with Sox ownership, especially after the La Russa hiring:

  “He said, after the La Russa thing, I was done. He said, that’s not a serious organization... The moment the La Russa thing happened, he was just like, I’m out.” (29:12–29:25)

8. Mark Sanchez Indianapolis Incident Dissected

(30:15–41:00)

• Real-time reaction as Dan and Matt learn Mark Sanchez was stabbed—then unpack the evolving reports revealing Sanchez as aggressor:
  • Recap of the incident: drunken sprints, an altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver, escalation to physical confrontation, and a stabbing in "self-defense."
• Bernstein critiques politicians who tried to leverage the story before facts were known:

  “They just jumped the gun and ran immediately to whatever playbook they could find to curry favor with the current way the winds are blowing.” (40:41–40:59)

• Both outline the reputational and professional consequences for Sanchez, with Dan bluntly stating:

  “At the moment, obviously you have to put him on some kind of leave if you want to keep him... Or if it’s convenient, you use this, say, oh good, this landed right in our lap—perfect opportunity to move on.” (36:24–37:03)

9. Candy Bar Discovery: Reese’s Fast Break

(44:00–50:10)

• Dan introduces his “late in life” discovery of the Reese’s Fast Break candy bar:

  “With every bite, I’m mad at myself for not having found this sooner.” (46:39–46:42)

• Matt gives the king-size bar a try—but finds it overwhelming: “It was a lot. Now, I really enjoyed the addition of the chewy nougat... but the king size bar might have been too much for me.” (47:55–48:48)

10. NFL Picks and Final Thoughts

(51:36–54:58)

• Both share their DBU Picks for Monday Night Football:
  • Matt: “Jacksonville plus three and a half and the over of 45.5.” (52:47)
  • Dan: “Patrick Mahomes over 22.5 rushing yards. I think he’s going to rush for more than that in this game.” (53:04–53:10)
• Wrap-up includes upcoming podcast content and the excitement around both Cubs playoff baseball and more NFL analysis.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s just like repeatedly getting kicked in the nut sacks...”
  — Dan, on the emotional whiplash of the Cubs’ Game 1 loss (08:44)
• “Clutch equals absence of choke.”
  — Dan, on the true meaning of clutch in baseball (15:34)
• “After the La Russa thing, I was done... That’s not a serious organization.”
  — Dan, quoting his son’s reason for becoming a Cubs fan (29:12–29:25)
• “At the moment, obviously you have to put him [Sanchez] on some kind of leave if you want to keep him... Or if it’s convenient, you use this... perfect opportunity to move on.”
  — Dan, on Mark Sanchez’s career crossroads after the Indianapolis incident (36:24–37:03)
• “With every bite, I’m mad at myself for not having found this sooner.”
  — Dan, discovering the Reese’s Fast Break (46:39–46:42)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:52–07:33: Setting the stakes for Cubs-Brewers and personal game-watching habits.
• 07:33–10:31: Cubs Game 1 recap and emotional rollercoaster.
• 10:31–14:55: Strategic analysis of series and managing pitching.
• 14:55–16:15: Philosophy of “clutch” in sports.
• 16:54–18:10: Yankees playoff woes and Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s antics.
• 21:02–24:44: Deep dive on Shota Imanaga’s stats and expectations.
• 26:58–30:15: Family stories and shifting team loyalties.
• 30:15–41:00: Mark Sanchez incident unpacked.
• 44:00–50:10: Candy bar discovery and food banter.
• 51:36–54:58: NFL picks and show wrap-up.

Tone and Style

• Candid and unfiltered—hosts pull no punches, mixing analytics with sarcasm and humor.
• Conversational, story-driven, and oftentimes irreverent.
• Includes personal anecdotes, family jokes, and communal ribbing in typical sports talk style.

In Brief

This episode of Dan Bernstein Unfiltered offers everything Cubs fans need to feel the tension, context, and emotional stakes of a must-win playoff moment, alongside classic banter, strong opinions, and offbeat asides. From strategic micro-analysis to macro sports philosophy, plus a wild detour into scandal and candy bar revelations, it’s a full plate for any Chicago sports fan.