Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Matt Abbatacola (filling in for Dan Bernstein)
Guest: Wayne Randazzo, Angels Play-by-Play Announcer & Apple TV MLB Broadcaster
Release Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively, in-depth conversation with Wayne Randazzo, current TV play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Angels and MLB broadcaster for Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball. Host Matt Abbatacola (sitting in for Dan Bernstein) explores Wayne’s career path from Chicago to New York and Los Angeles, behind-the-scenes insights into broadcasting, personal stories, and heavy analysis of the Cubs’ Wild Card win over the Padres, the upcoming Cubs-Brewers NLDS, and a look around the MLB playoffs.

Wayne, a well-known Chicago media alum and versatile baseball voice, shares candid reflections on his time in New York with the Mets, life as a traveling national broadcaster, and his take on pivotal MLB postseason matchups. The show blends personal anecdotes, technical baseball analysis, and banter about everything from childhood birthdays to the challenges of raising daughters as a sportscaster.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wayne Randazzo’s Career Journey

[01:06–06:28]

• Wayne details his move from Chicago radio (The Score) to New York, working pre/post & eventually full-time play-by-play for the Mets:
  • “The Mets opportunity was huge for me. It really broke me out and gave me an opportunity to be in the big leagues…” (Randazzo, 02:54)
• He reflects on New York’s provincial—and welcoming—media/fan landscape:
  • “I grew up a Cubs fan ... I thought it would be, they’d be like, ‘Oh, this guy’s from Chicago, we don’t like him.’ But they never were like that.” (Randazzo, 04:12)
• Being a Chicagoan prepared him for the scale and pace of life in NYC, but still found the city “better to visit than to live… a lot of fun, but also a tough place to live.” (06:54)

Memorable moment: Wayne describes standing on the Wrigley mound as the Mets clinch the NL pennant over his childhood team:

“I’m standing on the pitcher’s mound at Wrigley Field after the Mets win the pennant and there’s tears. ... It’s awesome to go cover a World Series, but they just beat the Cubs to get there. So it was a weird feeling.” (05:15)

2. Life Outside Baseball & Family Balance

[09:36–10:28]

• Wayne returns to Chicago during the MLB offseason, spending time as “dad mode”—driving his two daughters (ages 11 & 5) around.
• Notes he’ll be filling in on Chicago Bulls TV broadcasts during Adam Amin’s football absences:
  • “I probably won’t work more than 20 days in the next five months.” (10:17)

3. Chicago Cubs – Padres Wild Card Series Analysis

[12:30–17:06]

• Detailed breakdown of the Cubs’ tight Wild Card win over San Diego:
  • “Craig Counsell managed really well… There wasn’t a ton of trust in the starters at this point… bullpen was the key.” (Randazzo, 12:35)
  • Cubs bullpen: “14 1/3 innings, 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 11 Ks, 2 walks.” (Abbatacola, 14:12)
• Padres’ key weakness:
  • “They didn’t hit. ... San Diego was just way short offensively… they never really scared you at any point.” (Randazzo, 15:29)
• Noted impact of home-field advantage and the unique dynamic of a Cubs-Brewers series (many Cubs fans invade Milwaukee).

4. Cubs vs. Brewers NLDS Preview

[17:37–21:53]

• Brewers’ lack of power and how the Cubs’ defense up the middle (Swanson, Horner, Crow-Armstrong) gives Chicago an edge:
  • “The Cubs have the best trio of defenders of anyone in the league in those three spots.” (Randazzo, 28:15)
• Wayne expects “a really interesting, tightly played, close series” dominated by pitching and defense, where “the Cubs are going to have to just, you know, strangle their fan base, basically, and make everybody a nervous wreck for five days.” (Randazzo, 20:22)
• Milwaukee’s potential lack of real home-field advantage due to Cubs fans’ proximity/travel.

5. Around the MLB Playoffs: Quick Hits

[31:25–38:50]

Hosts review the Wild Card round’s other series:

• Dodgers sweep Reds—“no contest.”
• Tigers upset Guardians after a massive late-season collapse by Cleveland:
  • “It is a sign of the modern baseball era with all the extra playoff teams that the Tigers are still alive and the Guardians aren’t.” (Randazzo, 37:46)
• Yankees oust Red Sox; Wayne critical of Boston’s early pull of Brian Baio and defensive mistakes.
• Noted growing playoff field leads to some borderline teams making it, perhaps diluting quality.

Analytical nugget:

“In a playoff series … when you outhomer your opponent, you win 80% of the time. ... The only exception is a starting pitcher getting a quality start with 10+ strikeouts.” (Abbatacola, 32:12)

6. Individual Standouts & MVP Talk

[38:50–40:14]

• AL MVP favorite, according to Wayne:
  • “Cal Raleigh ... a catcher just hit 60 home runs ... The Mariners win their division for the first time in 24 years and Cal Raleigh was at the heart and soul of that.”
  • Still notes that Aaron Judge is statistically superior, but supports Raleigh for narrative/historic reasons:

    “There still needs to be a human element... that Cal Raleigh story and the 60 home run plateau ... is so rarely reached.” (Randazzo, 39:00–40:07)

7. Los Angeles Angels State of the Union

[41:50–44:25]

• Despite on-field struggles (72-90 record), Wayne says the fan base remains solid (2.5 million+ in attendance), with optimism for the Trout-led future and notable young players:
  • “Trout has, he’s not the same player that he was…I still think he’s going to have another really good season…” (Randazzo, 42:07)
  • Organization faces a managerial search; Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter floated as possible names.
• Wayne thinks the AL West is winnable: Texas and Houston are fading, and Seattle’s rise is not insurmountable.

8. Mike Trout’s Legacy & Future

[44:21–45:16]

• Trout under contract through 2030; Wayne does not see him leaving:
  • “He wants to be one of those guys that has all these numbers with one team like a Cal Ripken or Tony Gwynn or George Brett.”
  • “I hope the Angels get him back in the playoffs…he deserves it.” (Randazzo, 44:33–45:16)

9. Cubs, Braves, and Manager Carousel

[46:23–47:32]

• Discussion of David Ross possibly managing the Braves:
  • “That would spoil some of the plans for next year’s…Cubs championship celebration if David Ross isn’t able to show up because he’s managing the Braves.” (Randazzo, 46:37)
  • Endorsement for Ross’s baseball knowledge and a second chance in MLB managing ranks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The Mets opportunity was huge for me. … It really broke me out and gave me an opportunity to be in the big leagues and covering a big league team every day.”
  – Wayne Randazzo, 02:54

• On Cubs’ defensive core:
  “You could argue they might have the best defender at each of those spots between PCA in center field, Horner at second, and Swanson at shortstop. They really have an edge there.”
  – Randazzo, 28:15

• On Shohei Ohtani:
  “On the days he pitched ... it’s something like—you can’t even describe how insane it is that he is out there pitching like an ace ... and then he’s got the bat in his hand and he might hit one 700 feet.”
  – Randazzo, 21:57

• On AL MVP and the power of narrative:
  “I would vote for the narrative and for the story because there’s still a human element to baseball that is sweet. ... Cal Raleigh … 60 home runs ... is something so rarely reached.”
  – Randazzo, 39:00–40:07

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:06 – Wayne Randazzo reflects on his path from Chicago to NY to LA
• 02:54 – The Mets job as a career catalyst
• 05:15 – Covering the Mets clinch at Wrigley; emotional conflict as a Cubs fan
• 09:36 – Balancing family life in the offseason, returning to Chicago, filling in on Bulls games
• 12:30 – In-depth Cubs–Padres Wild Card series breakdown
• 20:22 – Cubs–Brewers NLDS preview: rivalry, defense, and pitching
• 24:01 – On the Padres’ lack of offense and lineup construction
• 28:15 – Defensive excellence: Swanson, Horner, Crow-Armstrong
• 32:12 – Playoff series stats: home runs vs. pitching dominance
• 38:50 – AL MVP discussion and Cal Raleigh’s historic season
• 41:50 – State of the Angels: Trout, fanbase, organization’s direction
• 44:33 – On Mike Trout’s likely lifetime commitment to the Angels
• 46:37 – David Ross as possible Braves manager; Cubs alumni celebration impact

Tone and Language

The episode is a mix of analytic, conversational, and irreverent Chicago sports banter. Wayne brings concise, sharp baseball insights, while Matt keeps things moving and personal. The feel is relaxed yet informative, with an emphasis on candor, behind-the-scenes stories, and “telling it straight” for Chicago fans.

For listeners:
This episode is a treat if you love frank baseball talk, appreciate the broadcaster’s grind, and want a real sense of the people behind the mic. Wayne Randazzo’s journey mirrors many modern sportscasters—versatility, family sacrifices, and a genuine love of the game. The show offers valuable postseason analysis, but also a reminder of the human stories at baseball’s core.

End of summary.