Elliott lives up to his “Occasional” title and misses this week's show, but it doesn't really matter because technical issues with Rumble killed the stream before it even started. The Cardinals won the weekend, the Cubs keep circling the drain, and the Brewers are on a heater that makes the division race feel like a bad joke. Two weeks ago, Pete and Elliott thought they still had a shot; now they’re Googling “wild card magic number” like it’s a life raft. Pete rants about Jeff Pico’s 1988 debut ...
Aug 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 31Ep. 9
This week's episode is half baseball, half Star Wars , and somehow, all relevant. Pete finally binged Andor , so naturally we spent half the episode spiraling into galactic politics, moral ambiguity, and why Syril Karn is the worst. Also: Too-soon deadline analyses, Cubs fan anxiety, and Ron coming to grips with his soccer choices. You’ve been warned. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube , Rumble , Facebook , or X . Follow us on X and Instagram . Like us on Facebook ....
Aug 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 30
On this Deadline Day/Birthday double feature, the Team of Rivals Podcast sifts through the debris of a trade deadline that left Cubs and Cardinals fans equally underwhelmed, and Elliott spending his 45th birthday watching the Cubs make exactly the kind of moves that scream "we tried… sort of." Pete and Elliott break down Jed Hoyer’s conservative approach, the failure to land a starting pitcher, and whether the front office overplayed its hand in regards to Mackenzie Gore. Ron joins mid-show to c...
Aug 01, 2025•47 min•Season 9Ep. 29
This week, we remember Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg and reflect on the grace and grit that made him unforgettable, both on the field and in his iconic 2005 Hall of Fame speech. Then we dissect Elliott’s shocking (and possibly permanent?) extension, brace for Thursday’s trade deadline chaos, and dive into Bryce Harper’s public challenge to Rob Manfred, which spirals into a full-blown salary cap (and floor) debate. Finally, Ron tries to sell Pete on adopting Newcastle United as the official Premier L...
Jul 30, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 9Ep. 28
Last week’s hot takes did not hold up well, and the Team of Rivals crew is back to clean up the mess, or at least laugh at it. The show kicks off with a sincere and emotional tribute to Ryne Sandberg following the news about his health, before veering straight into the most unexpected detour of the week: Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, really. From there, it's open season on the St. Louis Cardinals, who returned from the All-Star Break and promptly forgot how to play baseball. Ron, Elliott, and Pete dig int...
Jul 23, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 27
Ron and Elliott gave it their best shot with a midseason assessment of the Cubs and Cards, but let’s be honest, you’re really here for Pete's response. He recorded in the car on the way to his dad’s, so the sound might be garbage, but hey… you get what you pay for. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube , Rumble , Facebook , or X . Follow us on X and Instagram . Like us on Facebook ....
Jul 18, 2025•21 min
It’s the All-Star Break, and that means it’s time for a midseason reckoning. Somehow, the Cardinals are the surprise of the summer. Not because they’re great, but because they’re… not terrible? Meanwhile, the Cubs sit (narrowly) atop the NL Central, but if they want to stay there, they’ll need more than vibes and PCA's glove. Starting pitching is the obvious need, and Ron comes fully prepared with a short list of arms that induce ground balls and could thrive behind the Cubs’ stellar up-the-midd...
Jul 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 9Ep. 26
This week Ron, Elliott, and Pete welcome back special guest Dustin “The Duke” Duquenne as they dive headfirst into last weekend's fireworks at Wrigley, highlighted by an eight-homer beatdown of the Cardinals on the Fourth of July that set league and franchise records (for both teams!). As Elliott, Duke, and Pete gleefully recap every bomb, Ron copes with the Cardinals’ ongoing rotation mismanagement – why hasn't Sonny Gray faced the Cubs this year? – and the baffling decision to keep running Mil...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 9Ep. 25
It’s the most magical of baseball holidays: Bobby Bonilla Day! Baseball’s most legendary deferred payment continues, and Pete has the updated list of players who will be cashing checks long after their cleats hit the shelf. Bobby may have been the first, but he’s no longer alone. Meanwhile, the trade deadline is just a month away, but you'd never know it. After what looked like a hot start (Rafael Devers), the stove is lukewarm at best, and the rumor mill is oddly quiet. Should we be concerned, ...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 24
After nearly three months and 78 games, Major League Baseball finally graced its 2025 fans with one of the best rivalries in sports. This week, the full team joined the end of Game 2 in progress and discussed the latest happenings on both sides of the I-55 Rivalry. Plus, an abridged version of "Ron's Soccer Minute"! Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube , Rumble , Facebook , or X . Follow us on X and Instagram . Like us on Facebook ....
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 23
The 2024 trade season has NOTHING on 2025! Luis Arraez may have been traded in May 2024, but Rafael Devers goes to the Giants in mid-June?! Ron, Elliott, and Pete dissect what they think this means for the Cubs, the Cards, and this year's trade deadline. Plus, the most subdued Soccer Minute you've ever heard. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube , Rumble , Facebook , or X . Follow us on X and Instagram . Like us on Facebook ....
Jun 18, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 22
After a week of vacation and old man procedures, all three hosts are back at it. The Cardinals seem to be leveling off, while the Cubs have upped their NL Central lead a bit. Are the Cubs better off with Ian Happ at leadoff, or is PCA the better – and more traditional – choice? The Cards won a series this week against MLB's darling franchise, but then ran into a very good Toronto squad. The Cubs are already dabbling in the trade market, but are any teams willing to sell so soon? And are the Card...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 21
The Cardinals and Cubs are winning—and the ToR crew is actually in a good mood. For now. Before diving into baseball, the guys kick things off with a detour into movies and TV, living up to their promise: “everything you want to hear, from the big sports to the big screen.” Expect unsolicited recommendations, sharp takes, and Pete’s signature brand of film snobbery. Ron falls for a fake PED rumor about PCA (oops), while Pete and Elliott surprise everyone by staying weirdly reasonable about the C...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 9Ep. 20
Pete's back, and he has questions. With Elliott mere hours away from vacation and madly packing the Family Truckster, Ron and Pete dive deep into the world of baseball and beyond, tackling everything from the clown show in St. Louis to the Cubs' continued early-season success to the Cardinals' surprising stretch of good baseball. The show starts with a disheartening Soccer Minute as Ron delivers a perfectly-timed rant on City's lack of direction. The duo then shares their thoughts on the Cubs' "...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 9Ep. 19
With Pete out, Ron and Elliott get to go wild on Star Wars talk, but not before covering some interesting ground on the baseball front. MLB reinstates Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and others. The Cubs call up one of their top prospects, Cade Horton, while sending Ian Happ to the IL (which will make Pete HAPP-y). The Cardinals are on a nine-game winning streak thanks to Coach Gruden, but are we buying what we're seeing? No. Check out the livestream on YouTube , Rumble , or X . Follow us on X ...
May 14, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 18
Ron and Pete trade places this week, with Pete in the role of Road Warrior, checking in from Orlando, Florida. That's why this week's pod recorded during their original Thursday night slot. With both the Cubs and Cardinals nearing Ron's critical 40-game mark, it's only a little too early for the guys to engage in a spirited debate about the performance of both teams. Ron shares his cautious optimism about the Cardinals, who have clawed their way back to .500, while Elliot is excited about the Cu...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 9Ep. 17
This week, the Team discusses the Cubs’ impressive early-season performance, having navigated the toughest schedule in baseball to sit six games over .500. The hosts marvel at the Cubs’ 9-0 thrashing of the Pirates, highlighting breakout performances from Carson Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong, while debating whether this team echoes the 2015 Cubs’ unexpected rise. Ron remains cautiously pessimistic, sticking to his 40-game assessment rule, while Elliot and Pete revel in the Cubs’ potential. The c...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Dive into the electric energy of this week's episode, as Ron, Elliot, and Pete deliver a rollicking blend of sports, nostalgia, and unfiltered banter. The trio dives headfirst into the MLB season, breaking down the Cubs’ red-hot offense and basepath chaos that’s got fans buzzing, while dissecting the Cardinals’ pitching woes and looming trade deadline decisions. From stolen bases to bullpen blues, they leave no base uncovered, drawing parallels to the high-octane 1980s Cardinals teams and debati...
Apr 23, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 15
This week, the Team discusses the Cubs' surprising roster moves, including Matt Shaw's demotion to Triple-A and the implications for prospects like Gage Workman. They debate Shaw's unorthodox batting stance, drawing comparisons to legends like Stan Musial and Barry Bonds, while unpacking the team's strategy against a tough upcoming pitching schedule. On the Cardinals' side, the conversation turns to fan frustration, low attendance at Busch Stadium, and the front office's inaction during the 2024...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 9Ep. 14
After two weeks "off", Ron, Elliott, and Pete reunite for a lively discussion about the latest in Major League Baseball. The guys kick things off with a light-hearted chat about Yohel Pozo, the recent passing of Octavio Dotel, and the dangerous of MLBers in the Dominican Republic. They eventually dive into the current state of the Cubs and the Cardinals, although Ron warns that it's much too early to get excited about the Cubs' surprising offensive prowess and the struggles of the Cardinals' pit...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 13
Ron takes the reins this week as Pete ventures out west to catch the Chicago Cubs in action at the temporary A's complex in Sacramento. Joined by co-host Elliott and special guest Don Glenn from Gateway Sports, the trio dives into the excitement of the MLB opening weekend. They discuss the surprising start to the season, including the undefeated Dodgers and the winless Braves, while reflecting on the performances of various players, including Cubs legend Carson Kelly's remarkable cycle. The conv...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 9Ep. 12
In this episode of the Team of Rivals Podcast, we take a deep dive into the current state of the St. Louis Cardinals as the 2025 season approaches. With Ron away on the road, Elliott and Pete are joined by special guest Derek King to discuss the palpable apathy among Cardinals fans and the looming changes in the organization. They dissect the end of the Mozeliak era and the uncertain beginnings of the Bloom era, exploring the frustrations surrounding management decisions and the impact of analyt...
Mar 27, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 11
In this week's episode, the guys dive headfirst into the "excitement" of the 2025 MLB season kickoff! With Ron logging in remotely from a convention in Orlando, Pete and Elliott kick things off with a lively discussion about the Cubs’ frustrating first loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo. The duo reflects on the early morning game, the challenges of international matchups, and the implications for Major League Baseball's global expansion efforts. As they dissect the game, the guys touch on the performa...
Mar 20, 2025•53 min•Season 9Ep. 10
It's a special Sunday evening episode of the Team of Rivals Podcast this week. Exciting things lie ahead for the formerly UNDEFEATED Cubs, the UNDEFEATED City FC, and the Star Wars franchise. (Well, maybe not the latter.) In this lively episode, Ron, Elliott, and Pete tackle the latest in sports and pop culture with their signature humor and insight. Kicking things off, the trio dives into the perplexing situation surrounding the Cardinals and their offseason struggles, with Ron sharing his frus...
Mar 03, 2025•54 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Pitchers and catchers have reported, Nolan Arenado is still a Cardinal, and Alex Bregman is now a Red Sock. Ron, Elliott, and Pete bring their usual highly rational takes to the latest in MLB on this special Presidents' Day episode. After the obligatory baseball talk, this week's conversation turns to pop culture, chess, and Ron's Soccer minute. • 10 vs. 2 MMA: https://x.com/i/status/1891674697542046063 Check out the livestream on YouTube , Rumble , Facebook , or X . Follow us on X , Instagram ,...
Feb 19, 2025•54 min•Season 9Ep. 8
What did we do to deserve this? In this Cards-heavy episode of the Team of Rivals Podcast, Ron, Elliott, and Pete are joined by special guests Holy Elle and Dan Buffa for a deep dive into the current state of St. Louis Cardinals baseball. The conversation kicks off with Ron expressing his frustrations about the team's stagnant offseason, drawing parallels to the dark days of the early '90s. The group debates the implications of the Cardinals' roster decisions, particularly focusing on the future...
Feb 08, 2025•58 min•Season 9Ep. 7
Ron, Elliott, and Pete dive into the lackluster offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, with Ron expressing his disinterest in this year's Winter Warm-Up and the team's failure to make significant moves. The guys discuss the ambiguous "reset" strategy announced by the Cardinals' management, questioning what it really means for the future of the team. Elliott counters with a look at the Chicago Cubs' recent signings, highlighting their efforts to improve the roster while Pete pokes fun at the expe...
Jan 30, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 6
In this fiery episode of the Team of Rivals Podcast, Ron, Elliott, and Pete tear into the latest MLB drama with all the fire and flair you’d expect. It kicks off with Ron going off on the Dodgers' controversial signing of Roki Sasaki, sparking a heated debate about the growing imbalance in the game. Ron’s so fed up with baseball’s direction, he might just quit being a fan altogether. The guys then stumble upon a shocking discovery – another podcast using the Team of Rivals name! Naturally, they ...
Jan 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 9Ep. 5
This week, Ron, Pete, and Elliott explores Jim Bowden's recent article grading MLB teams' offseasons, sparking a debate on whether the Cubs truly deserve an A-minus and if the Cardinals' inactivity justifies their F grade. They delve into the implications of team movements, the Cubs' bullpen needs, and the Cardinals' potential trade scenarios. Switching gears, the guys then tackle the ongoing Chicago Bears coaching search, pondering how the team might navigate the hiring process and what potenti...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 4
Welcome to the first Team of Rivals Podcast episode of 2025! Ron, Elliott, and Pete kick off the new year with a passionate discussion on the state of Major League Baseball and the ongoing struggles of their beloved teams. The guys dive into the Cubs' financial constraints and the impact of institutional investors on team operations, questioning whether the Cubs are truly committed to building a competitive squad. Meanwhile, the Cardinals' lack of involvement in top free-agent talks leaves fans ...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 3
