Welcome to the Level Reunion Podcast

Reuniting with Baseball Legends

The ABCs of World Series Championships

The Importance of Team Chemistry

The Evolution of Pitching Strategies

Jake Arrieta's Journey to Success

The Cubs' Magical 2015 Season

Jake Arrieta's Mental Game

The Cubs' Championship Mindset

Team Dinners and Camaraderie

The Bonds of Brotherhood

Arrieta's No-Hitter Memories

The Nostalgia of a No-Hitter

The Importance of Catcher-Pitcher

Leadership and Accountability in the Locker

Memorable Team Trips and Experiences

The Playoff Journey Begins

World Series Triumph and Celebration

The Down-to-the-Wire Comeback

The Parade and Fan Reaction

The Thrilling World Series Victory

Career Reflections and Personal Growth

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Purpose

Adapting to a Changing Game

Gratitude and Final Thoughts

On this episode of The Lovable Reunion, David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are joined by former Chicago Cubs pitchers Jake Arrieta and John Lackey. They discuss Arrieta and Lackey’s MLB careers, the evolution of pitchers in baseball, how the 2015 Cubs set the stage for their World Series championship one year later in 2016, the wild Cubs-Pirates 2015 Wild Card game, facing the Dodgers and Giants in the 2016 postseason, coming back from down 3-1 against the Cleveland Indians, and more incredible stories from their time as teammates.

On this episode of The Lovable Reunion, David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are joined by former Chicago Cubs pitchers Jake Arrieta and John Lackey. They discuss Arrieta and Lackey&rsquo;s MLB careers, the evolution of pitchers in baseball, how the 2015 Cubs set the stage for their World Series championship one year later in 2016, the wild Cubs-Pirates 2015 Wild Card game, facing the Dodgers and Giants in the 2016 postseason, coming back from down 3-1 against the Cleveland Indians, and more incredible stories from their time as teammates.

Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered is a baseball podcast hosted by World Series champions David Ross and Anthony Rizzo. Built around the pulse of Major League Baseball, the show delivers timely reactions to the biggest games, controversies, and storylines shaping the season. Ross and Rizzo bring championship perspective, clubhouse honesty, and natural chemistry that takes listeners beyond the box score.

Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered is a baseball podcast hosted by World Series champions David Ross and Anthony Rizzo. Built around the pulse of Major League Baseball, the show delivers timely reactions to the biggest games, controversies, and storylines shaping the season. Ross and Rizzo bring championship perspective, clubhouse honesty, and natural chemistry that takes listeners beyond the box score.

Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered

Lovable Reunion - Jake Arrieta & John Lackey on no-hitters, beer fridges & more Cubs World Series tales | Ross & Rizzo

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e1f5df0a-ebc2-4399-9d04-b43a003ea294/transcript

Intro

Yankees READY for playoffs

Judge making an impact

Cam Schlittler's dominance

Volpe called up

Red Sox

Wilson Contreras DRAMA

Ronald Acuna Jr. playing villain

PLAYA of the week: Jackson Merrill

PCA ties Billy Williams with 42nd HR

Pete Alonso RETURNS to New York

White Sox Guardians series

Roberto Clemente Award

Fan Mail Bag

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 6 of Ross & Rizzo Unfiltered where the guys talk about how the New York Yankees are in a PERFECT spot to make a World Series run after getting Aaron Judge back, and having the BEST pitcher in the AL in Cam Schlittler. After clinching a playoff berth last night, the Yankees are starting to fire on all cylinders at the perfect time. The guys talk about Ronald Acuna Jr. playing the VILLAIN role in the Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies HEATED rivalry as the former MVP has DOMINATED the Phillies this season, especially over the last two weeks as the Phillies try to close the gap in the NL East. Pete Crow-Armstrong tied Billy Williams for most home runs by a lefty in Cubs history after hitting his 42nd last night. PCA now needs only 3 stolen bases to join the 40/40 club. Pete Alonso returned to face his former team in the New York Mets where he was greeted with a standing ovation after 7 years with the Mets, and became the franchise leader in home runs. The guys talk about the MASSIVE series between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians as this 3-game set could decide who wins the AL Central, and Rizzo talks about the Roberto Clemente Award finalists and about how meaningful this award is in the game of baseball. Finally, the guys answer fan mailbag questions about the Chicago Cubs struggling bullpen, catching a no hitter, and Rizzo’s infamous 14-pitch at bat that ended in a home run.

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 6 of Ross &amp; Rizzo Unfiltered where the guys talk about how the New York Yankees are in a PERFECT spot to make a World Series run after getting Aaron Judge back, and having the BEST pitcher in the AL in Cam Schlittler. After clinching a playoff berth last night, the Yankees are starting to fire on all cylinders at the perfect time. The guys talk about Ronald Acuna Jr. playing the VILLAIN role in the Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies HEATED rivalry as the former MVP has DOMINATED the Phillies this season, especially over the last two weeks as the Phillies try to close the gap in the NL East. Pete Crow-Armstrong tied Billy Williams for most home runs by a lefty in Cubs history after hitting his 42nd last night. PCA now needs only 3 stolen bases to join the 40/40 club. Pete Alonso returned to face his former team in the New York Mets where he was greeted with a standing ovation after 7 years with the Mets, and became the franchise leader in home runs. The guys talk about the MASSIVE series between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians as this 3-game set could decide who wins the AL Central, and Rizzo talks about the Roberto Clemente Award finalists and about how meaningful this award is in the game of baseball. Finally, the guys answer fan mailbag questions about the Chicago Cubs struggling bullpen, catching a no hitter, and Rizzo&rsquo;s infamous 14-pitch at bat that ended in a home run.

Yankees READY for playoff run, Braves-Phillies HATRED Pete Alonso RETURNS to New York | Ross & Rizzo

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/26d1d80d-0a5d-49e9-8726-b4c601357b73/transcript

Ireland Golf Talk

Aaron Judge RETURNS

Ohtani DONE pitching in 2026

PCA locks up MVP?

Chapman's 400th save

Corona PLAYA of the Week: Jesus Luzardo

Blue Jays making playoff push

Astros getting hot

Mailbag

Rizzo struck out Freddie Freeman

Getaway Games in Baseball

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 5 of Ross & Rizzo Unfiltered! The guys react to Aaron Judge’s return to the New York Yankees after being out with a fractured rib since May 31st. They talk about how important the Captain is to the Yankees and how they are in PRIME position to go on another run come October. Ross and Rizzo then react to Shohei Ohtani announcing he is DONE pitching in 2026 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and will be a hitter only moving forward, as well as Pete Crow-Armstrong becoming the second Chicago Cubs lefty to hit 40 HR in a season. PCA seemingly has the MVP locked up, and is going for every franchise record he can find as he looks to become only the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club. Lastly, the guys answer fan mailbag questions about getaway days in baseball, September call-ups, and Rizzo tells a hilarious story from when came in to pitch during a Cubs blowout loss and struck out Freddie Freeman.

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 5 of Ross &amp; Rizzo Unfiltered! The guys react to Aaron Judge&rsquo;s return to the New York Yankees after being out with a fractured rib since May 31st. They talk about how important the Captain is to the Yankees and how they are in PRIME position to go on another run come October. Ross and Rizzo then react to Shohei Ohtani announcing he is DONE pitching in 2026 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and will be a hitter only moving forward, as well as Pete Crow-Armstrong becoming the second Chicago Cubs lefty to hit 40 HR in a season. PCA seemingly has the MVP locked up, and is going for every franchise record he can find as he looks to become only the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club. Lastly, the guys answer fan mailbag questions about getaway days in baseball, September call-ups, and Rizzo tells a hilarious story from when came in to pitch during a Cubs blowout loss and struck out Freddie Freeman.

Aaron Judge’s Yankees RETURN, PCA makes Cubs HISTORY, Ohtani DONE pitching | Ross & Rizzo

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f9ad3801-d4c7-4436-897d-b4bf013273c9/transcript

Cubs 150 Anniversary Recap

PCA hits 5 HR in 2 days

Cubs hit 9 HR off Brewers on Monday

Ketel Marte returns to Diamondbacks

Max Scherzer strikes out 10

Orioles claim Luis Robert Jr. off waivers

ELITE defense from the weekend

Jazz Chisholm DRAMA

MLB Power Rankings

Fan Mailbag

Rizzo's HILARIOUS Aroldis Chapman story

TRADING Yu Darvish

Tipping pitches

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 4 of Ross & Rizzo Unfiltered! The guys recap a picture perfect weekend from NL MVP front runner Pete Crow-Armstrong as he hit three home runs on Saturday in the Chicago Cubs’ win over the Cincinnati Reds, and followed that up with two more HRs on Sunday Night Baseball with Rizzo on the call alongside Reds legend Joey Votto. The Cubs continued the hot hitting into Monday where they put 17 runs on the board in the opening game in their crucial series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs hit a franchise record nine home runs in the game, and ended August by setting an MLB record with 62 HRs as a team in the month.

The guys also react to Ketel Marte making his RETURN for the Arizona Diamondbacks after being placed on the reserved list, followed by a brief stint on the IL, as well as react to Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer turning back the clock and becoming only the second pitcher in MLB history to have a 10 strikeout game, while only allowing one hit at 42 years old, joining Nolan Ryan. The New York Yankees took three out of four from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, but it didn’t go without any drama as Jazz Chisholm stole two bases late in a game on Sunday when the Yankees already had the game in hand, leaving the Red Sox announcers to call out Jazz for breaking one of baseball’s “unwritten rules,” and saying that they should throw at the next Yankees hitter to come to the plate. After reacting to Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles making a game-winning play to rob the Colorado Rockies of a walk-off HR the guys answer some fan mailbag questions. Rizzo tells a HILARIOUS story about squashing the BEEF between him and Aroldis Chapman after Rizzo charged the Reds dugout to fight Chapman before he was traded to the Cubs and ultimately became one of Rizzo’s favorite teammates. Rossy talks about the art of tipping pitches, and how hitters are looking for every advantage they can find at the plate.

David Ross and Anthony Rizzo are BACK for Episode 4 of Ross &amp; Rizzo Unfiltered! The guys recap a picture perfect weekend from NL MVP front runner Pete Crow-Armstrong as he hit three home runs on Saturday in the Chicago Cubs&rsquo; win over the Cincinnati Reds, and followed that up with two more HRs on Sunday Night Baseball with Rizzo on the call alongside Reds legend Joey Votto. The Cubs continued the hot hitting into Monday where they put 17 runs on the board in the opening game in their crucial series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs hit a franchise record nine home runs in the game, and ended August by setting an MLB record with 62 HRs as a team in the month.
The guys also react to Ketel Marte making his RETURN for the Arizona Diamondbacks after being placed on the reserved list, followed by a brief stint on the IL, as well as react to Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer turning back the clock and becoming only the second pitcher in MLB history to have a 10 strikeout game, while only allowing one hit at 42 years old, joining Nolan Ryan. The New York Yankees took three out of four from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, but it didn&rsquo;t go without any drama as Jazz Chisholm stole two bases late in a game on Sunday when the Yankees already had the game in hand, leaving the Red Sox announcers to call out Jazz for breaking one of baseball&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwritten rules,&rdquo; and saying that they should throw at the next Yankees hitter to come to the plate. After reacting to Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles making a game-winning play to rob the Colorado Rockies of a walk-off HR the guys answer some fan mailbag questions. Rizzo tells a HILARIOUS story about squashing the BEEF between him and Aroldis Chapman after Rizzo charged the Reds dugout to fight Chapman before he was traded to the Cubs and ultimately became one of Rizzo&rsquo;s favorite teammates. Rossy talks about the art of tipping pitches, and how hitters are looking for every advantage they can find at the plate.

PCA’s EPIC weekend, Cubs make MLB HISTORY, Scherzer TURNS BACK TIME, Rizzo’s HILARIOUS Chapman story

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a0612ddf-3304-4d06-a55a-b4b80134a901/transcript

Lovable Reunion - Jake Arrieta & John Lackey on no-hitters, beer fridges & more Cubs World Series tales | Ross & Rizzo

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