On today’s episode of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak — the Voice of Petco Park — and three-time All-Star Heath Bell return to the mic to process the Padres’ early postseason exit and dive headfirst into October baseball.

The show opens with some humor and honesty as Alex and Heath compare their “stages of grief” following San Diego’s playoff elimination, before shifting gears to break down the Division Series matchups across MLB. They touch on everything from Jackson Chourio’s historic start for the Brewers to Blake Snell’s vintage dominance with the Dodgers and Toronto’s offensive outburst against the Yankees.

Then, the duo reflects on the Padres’ 2025 campaign, celebrating the moments that defined it — from a 15–4 start and Manny Machado’s milestone 2,000th hit to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s jaw-dropping home run robberies and Mason Miller’s immaculate inning. The guys close by picking their favorite highlights of the season while throwing support behind a couple of the Postseason’s remaining contenders.

Chapters:

00:00 - Navigating the Stages of Grief in Baseball
01:48 - Postseason Highlights - NLDS: Cubs at Brewers
03:06 - NLDS: Dodgers Take Two in Philly
04:30 - ALDS: Blue Jays Belting the Yankees
05:49 - ALDS: Tigers and Mariners Go Toe-to-Toe
07:06 - Out of Who's Left in the Postseason... Who Are We Rooting For?
10:51 - Reflecting on the 2025 Padres Season: A 15-4 Start
13:21 - Manny Machado's Home Run and Hit Milestones
14:04 - Fernando's Right Field Robberies
15:03 - Mason Miller - The Immaculate Inning
15:55 - Back-to-Back 90 Win Seasons and 4 Postseasons in 6 years
19:51 - Alex and Heath's Favorite Moments from the 2025 Padres
21:58 - Vote for Your Favorite Moment of the Season at BleavInSD.com!

Even in the offseason, the conversation never stops! Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or Substack. We're also on the socials at Instagram, X, and TikTok!

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On this week’s Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star Heath Bell react to the Padres’ early playoff exit at Wrigley Field. With raw emotion and candid reflection, they break down what went wrong against the Cubs, from the struggles of the team’s biggest bats to the impact of losing Laureano’s hot bat at the worst possible time.

The duo give credit to the pitching staff and defense for keeping the series close, while acknowledging that the offense just couldn’t deliver on the road — a theme that lingered all season. They also discuss the controversial strike call on Xander Bogaerts, and why the Cubs may have the momentum to advance further.

Despite the disappointment, Alex and Heath emphasize the bigger picture: four postseason trips in six years, back-to-back 90-win seasons, and a fan base that continues to show up in record numbers. With trades and core pieces in place for the future, they close the episode looking ahead to the offseason, hot stove chatter, and why the Padres’ window to win it all is still wide open.

Chapters:

00:00 - Emotional Reflections on the Season
00:37 - Great Showing By the Friar Faithful at the Watch Parties
02:07 - Heath Bell's Take on NL Wild Card Series and the Season
05:56 - Did the Cubs Beat Us? Or Did the Padres Beat Themselves?
07:27 - We Really Missed Ramón Laureano...
08:10 - Padres Pitching and Defense Were Solid
09:57 - Jeremiah Estrada Handles a Tough Task at Wrigley
11:39 - The "Strike Three" Call on Xander Bogaerts
13:19 - How Far Will the Cubs Go?
14:32 - What About the AL Side of the Bracket?
16:01 - What We'll Cover This Offseason!

The playoffs might be over for our Padres, but the pod continues all year long! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart! Get bonus content on our Substack! And check us out on the socials at Instagram, X, and TikTok!

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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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In this episode of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, the Voice of Petco Park Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star Heath Bell relive a thrilling night as the Padres officially clinch their spot in the 2025 Postseason. From Nick Pivetta’s gutsy outing to clutch moments by José Iglesias and Luis Arraez on his bobblehead night, Alex takes listeners inside the atmosphere of a sold-out, playoff-clinching celebration.

The guys also reveal the winner of the inaugural Friar Fave Award, with fans and hosts alike recognizing Gavin Sheets for his versatility, resilience, and impact all season long. Plus, they spotlight a rare Tony Gwynn memorabilia auction — featuring everything from Silver Slugger bats to personal items — that has both Alex and Heath eyeing pieces for their own collections.

With October baseball officially on deck, the excitement in San Diego is real — join Alex and Heath as they set the stage for the postseason ahead.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Playoff Excitement
01:28 - Breakdown: How the Padres Clinched a Postseason Berth
07:42 - 2025 Friar Fave Award Winner Announcement
09:23 - Heath Bell on Gavin Sheets' 2025 Accomplishments
13:16 - Tony Gwynn Auction at therealest.com/tonygwynn
16:47 - Heath Shares a Personal Story About the Late Brian Cole (Mets Prospect)
19:52 - Alex's Baseball Memorabilia... Tony and... Mookie?
20:42 - Who Owns the First Ball Heath Bell Ever Signed?
23:13 - New Listener Shoutouts and Previewing Next Week

Find our home on Substack at BleavInSD.com, and be sure to give us a follow on Instagram, X, and TikTok for more bonus content. For the latest episodes of this podcast, subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart.

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Alex Miniak and Heath Bell are back at Petco Park after a fun stretch that saw the Padres take three of four from the Rockies. They break down Dylan Cease’s 200th strikeout, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 30th stolen base, and a seven-homer surge led by Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado.

Padres Radio Network host Sam Levitt (@sammylevitt on TikTok) joins the show to share his journey from the minors to the big leagues, how he built a massive social following, and his take on the playoff chase as the Padres pursue the Dodgers and Cubs. With October on the line, the crew debates which surprise contenders — Reds, Giants, or Diamondbacks — could play spoiler.

To wrap things up, the guys reveal the newest Friar Fave Award nominee, Jeremiah Estrada, before Sam casts his vote for who’s most deserving of the fan-favorite honor.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome and Rockies Series Milestones
02:20 - Machado's Much Needed Day Off
03:24 - Tip of the Cap to Colorado's Mickey Moniak
05:38 - Sam Levitt from 97.3 The Fan and the Padres Radio Network Joins
06:26 - Sam's Road to the Bigs
07:52 - What Was Sammy's Favorite Minor League Mascot?
10:14 - How Did Sam Levitt Master Social Media?
14:13 - Padres Postseason Possibilities
16:50 - Are the Mets, Giants, Diamondbacks, or Reds Dangerous?
19:16 - Can the Padres Still Take the Division from the Dodgers?
22:16 - Friar Fave Award Nominee: Jeremiah Estrada - Vote at BleavInSD.com!
26:27 - Sammy's Pick for the Friar Fave Award is...

Follow Bleav in San Diego Baseball on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart to hear Alex and Heath's unique perspective each week. You can also find bonus content on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Substack. Be a fan... with us!

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On today's show, the Voice of Petco Park Alex Miniak and 3x MLB All-Star Heath Bell cover it all: milestones, memories, and matchups. They celebrate Luis Arraez’s 1,000th career hit and break down why his “old school” contact-hitting style is still elite in today’s game. They also spotlight Mason Miller’s immaculate inning — just the second in Padres history — and trade stories of pitching feats they’ve witnessed (or been part of).

With National Video Game Day on deck, Alex and Heath go nostalgic on their favorite baseball games, from Bases Loaded to RBI Baseball to MLB The Show — including what it’s like for both a PA announcer and a big leaguer to appear in a game.

Finally, they preview the Padres’ weekend series against the Rockies at Petco Park, where some home cooking might just serve up a September sweep.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Today's Show!
00:47 - Luis Arraez Hits His 1000th - What's Wrong with That?
05:28 - The Immaculate Inning: Mason Miller's Feat
08:25 - It's National Video Game Day! - Some of Our Baseball Favorites
09:33 - Heath Bell Loved RBI Baseball and Baseball Stars
11:24 - Why Alex Was a Bases Loaded Guy
13:26 - Heath, You Have to Warm Up First!
14:51 - Alex Miniak and What It's Like Recording MLB The Show
16:20 - What's It Like Playing as Yourself in the Game?
19:08 - Previewing Rockies-Padres at Petco Park

Fandom meets sports culture every week on Bleav in San Diego Baseball! Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart. We're also on social via HAIL! Sports on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Substack!

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Today on Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and three-time MLB All-Star Heath Bell open by recapping San Diego’s successful road trip to Colorado, spotlighting how the starting rotation—Pivetta, Vásquez, Cease, and Darvish—seems to be finding its rhythm again. With the Padres just a game back in the NL West and firmly in the Wild Card mix, they debate the importance of home-field advantage in October and what it will take for the team to make a deep playoff run.

The conversation then shifts to Banana Ball at Petco Park, where Heath suited up in the iconic yellow uniform and took the mound for the Savannah Bananas. He relives the surreal experience of pitching in front of 40,000 fans, while Alex shares his behind-the-scenes role on the production side—and explains why the Bananas’ baseball-meets-entertainment style instantly won him over.

Finally, the hosts unveil their latest Friar Fave Award nominee: rookie pitcher David Morgan. A local SoCal product and lifelong Padres fan, Morgan’s improbable journey from undrafted infielder to dependable bullpen arm has quickly made him a player worth rooting for.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Bleav in San Diego Baseball!
01:35 - Reading the Box Scores: Padres Rotation Getting Its Groove Back
03:08 - The Race for the NL West Pennant is Still On
05:11 - Heath Bell's Day as a Savannah Banana
09:17 - Alex Miniak's Day from Behind-The-Scenes in Bananaland
13:47 - Was Heath Nervous to Take the Mound?
16:09 - Friar Fave Nominee: David Morgan - Vote at BleavInSD.com!

Go bananas year-round with Alex and Heath by following this podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart. You can also find us on social media via HAIL! Sports on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

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On this episode of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star Heath Bell talk about the Savannah Bananas as Banana Ball comes to Petco Park! Heath shares what it was like suiting up with the Bananas — including his famous slide into the mound — and the guys break down the wild rules that make the game so entertaining, from fans catching foul balls for outs to the showdown tiebreaker.

Of course, no Bananas chat at Petco is complete without banana pudding. Alex and Heath dish on the viral ballpark treat — where to find it, why it sells out so quickly, and creative ways to repurpose the Western Metal souvenir container.

Then it’s back to big-league business as the Padres head to Colorado. Heath explains how pitchers survive the thin air at Coors Field, while Alex shares how the Denver altitude affects everything from baseballs to Monster Jam trucks.

Chapters:

00:00 - Going Bananas on Bleav in San Diego Baseball!
01:13 - Heath Bell on Being a Savannah Banana
02:18 - The Bananas are Definitely NOT the Globetrotters
03:34 - It's an Entire Banana Ball Universe!
04:31 - Unique Rules of Banana Ball
11:27 - Stadium Cuisine: Petco Park's Banana Pudding
15:50 - What to Watch For in Colorado
18:33 - Heath Bell's Pitching Strategies for Coors Field

Banana Ball to big leagues, you can follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and our home on Substack! You can also catch the latest behind-the-scenes clips on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

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