Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star (and birthday boy) Heath Bell kick off the postseason with plenty of energy — and a few laughs about Heath’s family’s famous birthday hat. The guys celebrate a record-setting year at Petco Park, spotlight standout performances from Tatis, Bogaerts, Machado, Sheets, Pivetta, and more, and reflect on what makes this era of Padres baseball so special.
They dive into the Wild Card showdown at Wrigley Field — from the Padres’ hot finish to echoes of the 1984 NLCS, the last time these clubs met in October. Heath shares stories from pitching at the Friendly Confines, while Alex recalls his surreal audition to be the Cubs’ PA announcer. And because Chicago baseball talk isn’t complete without food, Alex brings in a Chicago dog for the “Hometown Eats” segment, sparking a lively debate over hot dog toppings.
The postseason is here. The Padres are hot, the Friar Faithful are fired up, and Alex and Heath break down what it’ll take to advance.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome and Celebrating Birthdays
01:41 - Padres Break the Franchise Attendance and Sellouts Record
03:04 - A Remarkable Era of Padres Baseball
05:06 - Player Accomplishments and Team Performance
07:48 - Historical Context: Padres vs. Cubs
08:24 - Alex Miniak Introduces the 1984 "Cub-buster" Padres
11:40 - Heath's Experiences Pitching in Chicago
13:56 - Alex Was Almost the Voice of Wrigley Field?!?
19:07 - Hometown Eats: Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - (@leftyschicagopizzeria)
23:27 - NL Wild Card Predictions
Follow Bleav in San Diego Baseball on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart for postseason Padres fun, and check us out on Substack for more bonus content! Get social with us on Instagram, X, and TikTok.
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