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The Bullpen | ESPN Houston

ESPN Houston
Houston Texans
Houston Astros
NFL
CJ Stroud
Houston Rockets
College Football
Astros
Texans
College Football Playoff
College Football Playoffs
Major League Baseball
Yordan Alvarez
Houston
Rockets
Kevin Durant
Jose Altuve
World Cup
NBA
March Madness
Joe Mixon

Brian McDonald & Sean Mapes have your weekend sports for you every Saturday from 12-2 on ESPN 97.5!

PublishesDailyEpisodes359Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for The Bullpen

Latest Episodes

- Brian, Sean, Cam, and AJ preview the week 4 matchup between the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys!

- Brian, Sean, Cam, and AJ talk about about their week NFL week 4 picks and share their Mount Rushmore +1 list!

- Justin Herbert "Not Your Fault" Award.

- Joe, Sean, and Brian talk about week 3 in the NFL including the Texans week 3 matchup.

- Justin Herbert "Not Your Fault" Award.

- Joe, Sean, and Brian discuss the Astros finale with major playoff implications on the line.

- What happened in CFB yesterday?

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Recent Guests

Matt Holland
Sportsbook manager
LeBerge/LaBerge Casino Resort Lake Charles
Episode: 244: 09/27/26 Hour 1 - Astros Season Comes Down to Game 162 + CFB Reaction.
Will Conkle
Sports host, appears live from Good Game Sports Club
Good Game Sports Club
Episode: 241: 09/19/26 Hour 2 - NFL and CFB picks + Mt Rushmore +1!
Will Kunkel
Guest, sports commentator; appears for Mt Rushmore Plus One segment
Good Game Sports Club in the Heights (Texas Radio Hall of Fame)
Episode: 237: 09/05/26 Hour 2 - What college games to watch today + Mt Rushmore +1!
Michael Carroll
Host of Comic Cast, guest on the episode
Comic Cast
Episode: 233: 08/21/26 Hour 1 - Reactions to Texans vs Raiders preseason matchup!
Fernando Mendoza
Commentator whose audio was discussed and played, guest on the episode
Unspecified
Episode: 233: 08/21/26 Hour 1 - Reactions to Texans vs Raiders preseason matchup!
Michael Carrell
Guest discussing comics, films, and streaming
ComiCast, media commentator
Episode: 233: 08/21/26 Hour 2 - Astros get DESTROYED by the Angels + What to watch with Michael Carrell!
Raheel Ramzanali
Texans insider and preview specialist
ESPN Houston / Texans Beat
Episode: 232: 08/19/26 Hour 1 - Sounds from the Texans joint practice vs the Raiders!
JT The Brick
National Raiders observer
Radio/Las Vegas market
Episode: 232: 08/19/26 Hour 1 - Sounds from the Texans joint practice vs the Raiders!
Cole Popovich
Texans offensive line coach
Houston Texans
Episode: 230: 08/18/26 Hour 1- The Great UNKNOWN With the Texans Offensive line

Hosts

Brian McDonald
Sports radio host covering Houston teams and national football.
Sean Mapes
Sports radio co-host and analyst covering Houston teams and weekend matchups.
Cam Smith
Sports radio host and panelist.
Joe George
Sports radio host and panelist.
John Belmer
Sports radio host and anchor.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 5 ratings
  • ESPN 97.5 Rocks

    Love having the weekend Houston coverage!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zacthetexan
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the weekend coverage of Houston sports.

Top Sports Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

242: 09/26/26 Hour 1 - Astros still struggle to close the door on Texas + What fast food is your favorite CFB team?
Q: Matt, the night game window looks like it's getting a lot of attention. What do you think about the Missouri at Mississippi State line and the late slate in general?
Matt Holland shares that Missouri-State could be a sharp-davored spot with Mississippi State potentially underestimating the home-field advantage, while also noting that public money can misprice lines early but sharp action often adjusts as the game approaches.
233: 08/21/26 Hour 2 - Astros get DESTROYED by the Angels + What to watch with Michael Carrell!
Q: What did you think of the Astros' recent series and pitching rotation?
The panel emphasizes that the pitching staff has serious gaps, with heavy workloads on Hunter Brown and Peter Lambert and a lack of reliable back-end options, making sustainable success unlikely without significant changes.
229: 08/17/26 Hour 2- BIGGEST Reactions to the AP College Football Top 25 Rankings!
Q: Which team in the top 10 is most likely to finish the season unranked?
Ole Miss was identified by AJ as the obvious candidate due to coaching transition and the unknowns around their quarterback and schedule, with the others perceived as more stable.
232: 08/19/26 Hour 2 - Jayden Higgins OUT for the season with a torn ACL, + An exchange with C. J. Stroud and Fernando Mendoza!
Q: Who was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the Cowboys' first-ever Texans game in September 2002?
Dave Campo
198: 04/18/26 Hour 2 - @KyleKingOnAir joins to talk WrestleMania + Mt Rushmore +1!
Q: What is your Mount Rushmore Plus One for WrestleMania weekend?
Kyle names a humorous, opinionated lineup starting with the Raiders and insults toward certain wrestling pundits and celebrities, showcasing his playful approach to the topic.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bullpen

What is The Bullpen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Saturday sports talk centered on Houston teams, with regular coverage of the Texans and Astros alongside NFL and college football previews, picks, and league-wide storylines. Brian McDonald and Sean Mapes lead a lively, banter-heavy discussion, joined by a rotating panel and occasional guests who bring fan perspectives, sports commentary, or sportsbook insight.

The format mixes game analysis and predictions with recurring playful segments such as “Mount Rushmore Plus One,” fantasy football discussion, listener interaction, and live broadcasts from local venues. Its distinctly Houston focus and loose, humorous style make it a fit for fans who want regional sports conversation as well as wider NFL, college football, and MLB coverage.

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How many listeners does The Bullpen get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Bullpen have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bullpen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bullpen:

1. Jeremy Branham & Joe George
2. The Del Olaleye Show
3. Gallant Says
4. John and Lance: John Granato & Lance Zierlein on ESPN Houston
5. Stone Cold Stros: A Houston Astros Podcast

How many episodes of The Bullpen are there?

The Bullpen launched 4 years ago and published 359 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Bullpen?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Bullpen?

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What guests have appeared on The Bullpen?

Recent guests on The Bullpen include:

1. Matt Holland
2. Will Conkle
3. Will Kunkel
4. Michael Carroll
5. Fernando Mendoza
6. Michael Carrell
7. Raheel Ramzanali
8. JT The Brick

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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