The vibes are… not great on the North Side.

Pete is officially spiraling, comparing the 2026 Cubs to the soul-crushing 2008 playoff team, while Ron checks in from New Jersey with a more relaxed (read: suspiciously optimistic) Cardinals perspective.

This week:

• Cubs déjà vu and why this season feels wrong
• Cardinals quietly… hanging around?
• The emotional economics of being a fan (low expectations = happiness?)
• Ron's MLB blackout insanity reaches new levels
• Is the NFL about to ruin its own product?
• Early All-Star debates (and why fans shouldn't be allowed to vote)
• A trade deadline reality check for both teams

Plus: Ron considers a live scouting mission to find Frank the Tank in the wild, Elliott is somewhere between Alabama and civilization, and Pete may or may not be one bad Cubs inning away from losing it completely.

It's mid-June, and the roller coaster is just getting started.

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📌 Follow: @TeamOfRivalsPod | Elliott @ToR_Elliott | Ron @ToR_Ron75 | @TheParkSTL
📧 Email: TeamOfRivalsPodcast@gmail.com

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The Cubs and Cardinals renewed hostilities… and naturally, it got weird.

This week on the Team of Rivals Podcast:

• Pete screamed at the clouds about the Abner Uribe episode.
• A full recap of the Cubs vs. Cardinals weekend series.
• A front office thought experiment: Would you trade for Tarik Skubal? And what would it take from each side?
• Plus, we detoured into a galaxy far, far away to talk The Mandalorian & Grogu, and whether Star Wars has officially lost the plot… or just misplaced it in the bullpen.
• And, of course, there was a Soccer Minute.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲

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📌 Follow: @TeamOfRivalsPod | Elliott @ToR_Elliott | Ron @ToR_Ron75 | @TheParkSTL
📧 Email: TeamOfRivalsPodcast@gmail.com

In this bonus episode, Pete flips the script and puts his friend, Alex Levine, in the spotlight.

While listeners have heard Alex on the show before, this is the first time we really dive into his story: how he became the show's Token White Sox Fan, his upbringing in Chicago, and the journey that took him away and eventually brought him back.

What starts as a baseball conversation quickly expands into something deeper: identity, hometown loyalty, career paths, and the experiences that shape who we become.

It's a relaxed, freewheeling conversation that longtime listeners will appreciate, and new listeners won't want to miss.

Topics Covered:

• Growing up in Chicago (and choosing the "other" team)
• Cubs vs. White Sox culture
• Moving away, and what brings you back
• Personal and professional journey
• The role of sports in identity and connection

📺 Watch the Video: YouTube | Rumble
📌 Follow: @TeamOfRivalsPod | Alex @LevineFilm | Elliott @ToR_Elliott | Ron @ToR_Ron75 | @TheParkSTL
📧 Email: TeamOfRivalsPodcast@gmail.com