In pursuit of smart conversations since 2004. The Section 1904 Podcast is a 20-year radio career, distilled for small batch consumption. Quality over quantity. Made in San Diego.
dsmithshow.substack.com (https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
(This is the audio-only podcast version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937) and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here) (https://www.youtube.com/live/A2rbfnoxT_s?si=bxbqJIxJCPgb0CNU)
October is (almost) here, and the Padres are hosting the Cubs in a rematch of last year’s NL Wild Card matchup. Here’s our Padres-Cubs playoff preview, which started with MLB.Com’s AJ Cassavell offering thoughts on the 26-man roster.
The biggest surprise on that roster? Joe Musgrove. He hasn’t pitched in a big league game since October 2024, which was the last time the Padres hosted playoff baseball. What do we make of this decision and perhaps more importantly, what does putting Musgrove on the roster mean for everyone else?
Could Robbie Ray eventually find himself in the bullpen? How does Musgrove’s inclusion change the way the Padres can deploy their relievers? Is he being saved for a possibe extra-inning situation? Is this purely for baseball reasons or does Joe also provide an emotional lift heading into Game One? Nobody really knows but we talk through the possibilities.
We also get into Ethan Salas, the 20-year-old catching phenom sure to make his postseason debut. The Padres are carrying three catchers and we discussed the numerous ways Craig Stammen might use them in the series.
Then we’re joined by NBC/Peacock broadcaster Dave Flemming, who will be calling the series alongside Mark Grant and Jim Deshaies. Dave gives us a look at the Cubs, including the differences between the two clubs and how Craig Counsell might navigate his bullpen, which is in complete contrast to how we expect the Padres to use theirs.
That bullpen comparison gets particularly interesting. The Padres spent much of the regular season operating with defined roles. Counsell, meanwhile, has a long history of mixing and matching in the playoffs and may have fewer reservations about using his relievers in unconventional spots. Does that experience give Counsell an edge when the game gets weird or was “pitching chaos” enough of a crash course for the Padres freshman skipper.
And then there’s Petco Park.
Flemming calls it “the biggest cauldron in MLB.” What does that actually mean once the first pitch is thrown? How much can the atmosphere influence a playoff game particularly when every pitch matters exponentially more than regular season games?
We also looked at the September paths these teams took to get here. The Padres went 18-6 down the stretch. The Cubs went 11-13, which is why the games are at Petco Park. Chicago also had to fly around the country in the final week of the season, while Mother Nature made a mess of their schedule. Does any of that matter now?
Padres. Cubs. Again. LFGSD.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com (https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
23 Sept 2026
“One Of The Smartest PXP Guys In MLB”
(This is the audio-only podcast version of Wedneday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937) and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here) (https://youtu.be/YtHsVzUPyUc?si=Lq-PMOAGH8lrVYxk)
Padres fans have spoken and the internet produced a rare and deserved win.
Jesse Agler, Tony Gwynn Jr., Bob Scanlan and producer Dave Marcus were recently named the best MLB radio booth (https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/2026-mlb-local-radio-broadcaster-rankings-padres-giants-cubs-mets.html) by a recent online survey of baseball fans. Jesse talked about the recognition and what it means to have that kind of connection with Padres fans plus the expectations of performance at every level of the Padres organization.
Then we got into the on-field product.
Tuesday night against the Dodgers was a complete about-face from the Padres recent run and added a little more drama to the NL Wild Card race.
The Friars are still in an excellent position for October baseball but everyone agrees you’d like to leave Los Angeles with your ticket punched, however it might happen.
Jesse also talked about the Manny Machado that fans don’t always get to see - the relentlessly competitive version who understands the clock is ticking and is increasingly driven by the idea of winning now. What does that look like behind the scenes and what does Manny talk about when there aren’t 10 microphones in his face?
We also revisit the trade deadline, where the Padres somehow managed to make moves that felt both absolutely necessary and a little underwhelming.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com (https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Sept 2026
The Final Week
(This is the audio-only podcast version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937) and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here (https://youtu.be/u4gaHf6bkpk?si=PDtoI43t8LeM03-U))
The Padres enter the final week of the regular season with a magic number of two (combo of SD wins / AZ losses) and, of course, up next is the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s not Tuesday but we are joined by MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell to talk about the biggest questions of this final week, including: What is the plan for Michael King? Do you pitch him Tuesday and set him up for the postseason, only using him if you’re in a win-or-go-home game on Sunday against the D’Backs? Or, if home-field advantage is still in play on the final day, should you let him pitch? We had some different ideas on this one.
Then there’s the Dodgers series. How much should we actually care?
The Padres have won 12 of 13 but they’ve done it against a collection of teams that aren’t world-beaters. Would taking the series prove this recent run is legit? Or are we, once again, going to short-circuit if the Padres crash out against the Dodgers (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qD6Uynzlk2A)?
We also discussed Craig Stammen’s rookie managerial season as he closes in on 90 wins. What’s it been like covering Stammen in his first year as a big-league manager and how different is he from his predecessor, who walked away from the role due to the emotional and mental toll it took to have this level of success in Major League Baseball?
The Padres appear to be headed back to the postseason with their fourth manager in seven years. Has that ever happened before? In the most exciting moment of this podcast, all three of us scroll through our phones simultaneously to research this. Stay tuned for the answer.
Plus, San Diego FC went into Messi’s house and came away with a huge road draw against Inter Miami. Could that result give SDFC the boost it needs for the final stretch? The Azul y Chrome went 5-2-2 in their final nine games of 2025 with Anders Dreyer bagging eight goals and three assists over that span. Was his first multi-goal game of 2026 a sign of things to come? Fingers crossed.
Also, congrats to Anders and goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos to making the MLS Team of the Matchday. Dos Santos had six saves against Miami, with four coming against Messi and the other two on Luis Suarez shots. Big time performance from both.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com (https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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