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!

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!