Team of Rivals Podcast

The Cubs are still babying Cade Horton like it’s 2023, the Cardinals are drawing 17,002 fans (and somehow still announcing it proudly), and the Bears are trying to convince us that “cautious optimism” counts as progress. This week, Ron, Elliott, and Pete stumble into another rundown-less episode that covers everything from baffling roster decisions and dwindling St. Louis attendance to NFL opening week and ESPN trying to ruin RedZone with commercials. Ron sneaks in a very extended Soccer Minute, Elliott gets exposed as the world’s least subtle hacker, and Pete dreams of an emergency podcast the day the Cubs finally trade “You Suck”. In other words, it’s another week of chaos, sarcasm, and sports therapy. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

The Cardinals keep finding new ways to lose, from a fan base running out of patience to players losing their minds (looking at you, Willson). Meanwhile, the Cubs try to claw their way back into the NL Central race, but not without Elliott and Pete’s usual mix of drama, anxiety, and over-analysis. The Team also debates rumored MLB expansion cities (spoiler: Nashville comes up, because of course it does). And finally, Ron delivers another extended Soccer Minute with double the heartbreak, as both Newcastle and City lose late, but in very different ways. Maybe it’s Ron…? Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

Buckle up, Cubs and Cardinals fans: this week’s episode is super-sized! The Team starts with Cubs fans’ full-blown panic (and blame-casting) over Kyle Tucker’s injury drama. Elliott and Pete take solace in Chicago’s five-game series win over the Brewers, which sparks just enough hope to be dangerous. Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue their 2025 masterclass in how not to run a baseball organization, before the guys pivot to MLB’s future expansion and the inevitable realignment that follows. From there, it’s football and fútbol: the Bears’ opening drive against Buffalo gets some love, and Ron’s Soccer Minute goes way over time as Pete joins in to dissect Newcastle’s scoreless draw with Aston Villa and St. Louis City’s latest stumble against the Fire. Finally, the show closes with a pop culture double feature: Elliott makes amends for skipping Tuesday’s show with a Music Minute review of the Nine Inch Nails concert, and Pete delivers his own Movie Minute after a personal hot streak at the theaters. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

The Cardinals win 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. Pete is eyeing the wild card out of pure desperation, and the whole team welcomes Ron’s Soccer Minute, because when baseball’s this depressing, we’ll cling to any sport that isn’t actively hurting us. Follow us on X at: @TeamOfrivalsPod. On Facebook at: @TeamOfRivalsPod, and on Instagram at: @TeamOfRivalsPod We stream on YouTube, Facebook, X and Rumble.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 commiserate about the Cardinals’ refusal to go all-in (or all-out) as John Mozeliak stops short of a full teardown one final time. The guys compare strategies across the league, marvel at the Padres’ all-gas-no-brakes philosophy, and begrudgingly praise the Twins for executing a real reset. Plus: Elliott battles connection demons, Ron locks down the podcast's official Premier League club, and Pete tries to make sense of a deadline that felt more like a detour. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 League club of a podcast that absolutely did not request one. Ryno's Hall of Fame Speech: youtu.be/RuxyTRfqCJU Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Team is back together again to set the table for next week's trade deadline. Plus, they'll review last week's All-Star Game and discuss whatever wanders into their minds. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're at the All-Star Break and it's that time of year where we can assess the damage. The Cardinals have been a pleasant surprise while the Cubs sit atop the NL Central. Cubs need starting pitching and Ron came prepared with his recommendations. in his view, the Cubs could more ground ball inducing arms and take advantage of the stellar defense up the middle. And they don't have to look far for the solve. The Cardinals? They need to try to clear the deck and make room for youth and development. You know, what they said they were going to do last Winter. STL City SC finally won a match along with a few big Summer transfers. #FallouFall Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde out to the mound. Duke brings the chaos, sparking classic banter and adding fuel to the fire during All-Star snub season. The guys vent about Seiya Suzuki’s absence from the roster, Michael Busch’s case over Freddie Freeman, and the absurdity of fan voting, especially when it gifts Ronald Acuña Jr. a starting spot with only 42 games played. Pete pays tribute to the late Lee Elia with a dramatic, profanity-laced replay of Elia's legendary 1983 tirade – a masterclass in manager meltdowns. They also touch on Andre Dawson’s birthday, Wrigley’s misunderstood park factors, and the absolute dumpster fire that is Cardinals Twitter/X. Other highlights include: Ron’s Soccer Minute: Whether you're basking in Cubs euphoria or buried under Cardinals frustration, this episode delivers laughs, rants, and the kind of unfiltered takes you’ve come to expect from the Team of Rivals. Check out Paul Jellison's full YouTube video of Lea Elia's rant. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's one of our favorite days of the year! Bobby Bonilla pay day! That's right! This will happen for 10 more wonderful years. He may be the first, but certainly not the last. Pete takes us through the list along with some new names. On the baseball front, we're a month away from the trade deadline, but we're not hearing or reading as much as we thought we would have. The hot stove isn't very hot yet. The Cardinals and Cubs are both playing well. We think the Cubs should be buyer, and we'd like to see the Cardinals do as they promised and clear the deck to let their youth take it the rest of the way. Pete is giving in to pressure from Ron and Elliott and is going to, and I say "going to" watch a Disney product. It's fine because he may have delivered the best intro in the show's history on this evening. Check out this week’s livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a week of vacation and old man procedures, all 3 hosts are back at it. Cardinals seem to be leveling off while the Cubs up their lead a bit in the NL Central. Are the Cubs better off with Ian Happ at leadoff, or is PCA the more traditional choice? The Cubs are in the market in June, but are any teams willing to sell so soon? The Cardinals won a series this week against MLB's darling franchise, but then run into a very good Toronto squad. Are the Cardinals in the selling market yet? They may put themselves there soon if pitching starts to become an issue. Is there a universe this year where they will actually be buyers? NO. Pete has some pop culture to talk about, and a beef with the Lucasfilm story group...just making shit up. Check out the livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Cardinals and Cubs keep winning. That puts the guys in a good mood this week. But before they got into baseball, some time was spent talking about movies and tv shows. ToR's official and pretentious reccomendations. Ron falls for a fake story on PCA doing PED's during Cubs talk while Pete and Elliott are surprisingly hinged regarding the Cubs early season success. Ron mirrors the same sentiment when it comes to the Cardinals, but hasn't been able to watch this week due to stupid, awful, horribly bad blackouts. How long will these good vibes last? Stay tuned to find out. Check out the livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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' "other" superstar and whether he can maintain his impressive form as the season progresses. The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as they reminisce about past baseball stars and compare them to the current crop of talent, pondering the significance of superstars in today’s game. They also touch on the importance of strong defense and how it can impact a team's success. Elliott makes a surprise appearance at the end of the show for a discussion about Andor's place in the Star Wars universe and the impact – both good and bad – of new streaming series on beloved franchises. Check out the livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 and others. The Cubs call up one of their top prospects while sending Ian Happ to the IL (which will make Pete HAPP-Y). The Cardinals are on a 9 game winning streak thanks to coach Gruden, but are we buying what we're seeing? No. Check out the livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 conversation shifts to the Cardinals, with a nostalgic tribute to former GM Walt Jocketty, whose bold trades and veteran acquisitions shaped their 2000s success. The hosts reflect on his legacy, with Pete drawing parallels to Billy Beane’s "Moneyball" approach. Elliott and Pete lament missed opportunities, specifically the Cubs’ failure to pursue Bryce Harper in 2018 and contrast that episode with rumors of the Cubs targeting Kyle Tucker for a massive extension. Beyond baseball, the episode features "Ron’s Soccer Minute", recapping St. Louis City’s frustrating 2-2 draw against LAFC, and the debut of "Elliot’s Music Minute", where he shares his love for jam bands like Goose and his upcoming concert plans. Pete also teases a future "Travel Minute"… Check out the livestream on YouTube, Rumble, Facebook, or X. Follow us on X and Instagram. Like us on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.