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The Bullpen | ESPN Houston

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes306Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Recent Guests

Kyle King
Wrestling and sports streamer, Kyle King Show
Twitch: thekylekingshow / X: Kyle King on air
Episode: 198: 04/18/26 Hour 2 - @KyleKingOnAir joins to talk WrestleMania + Mt Rushmore +1!
Kelly Iko
National NBA reporter for Yahoo Sports, host of The Ecosystem podcast
Yahoo Sports
Episode: 192: 04/10/26 Hour 1 - Are the Rockets Finally Locking In? + ESPN and Rockets Insider Kelly Iko Joins the Show!
Ty Callis
Sports broadcaster
Space City Home Network
Episode: 190: 04/04/26 Hour 1- Reaction to Astros loss, but Yordan is on FIRE!
Lexi by proxy
Guest commentator discussed in Mt Rushmore Plus One segment
Texas Radio Hall of Fame (mentioned)
Episode: 187: 03/21/26 Hour 2- Latest on the Astros + Mt Rushmore +1!
Michael Carrell
Host of Comic Cast
Comic Cast
Episode: 185: 02/28/26 Hour 2- Michael Carrell stops by to talk Movies + Mt Rushmore +1!
Matt Holland
Expert from the Sportsbook
LaBerge Casino Resort
Episode: 170: 12/21/25 Hour 1 (Live from L'auberge in Lake Charles) - Matt Holland Joins the Show & CFP and NFL Reactions!
Chef Leonel
Chef at LaBarge Casino Resort
LaBarge Casino Resort
Episode: 161: 11/08/25 Hour 2 (Live from L'auberge in Lake Charles)- New food Items + who you should be betting on today!
RJ Saunders
Former producer at ESPN 97.5 and original member of The Bullpen, now host at 1010 XL in Jacksonville
1010 XL
Episode: 146: 09/20/25 Hour 1- Will Texans problems continue against the Jags?
Cecil Shorts III
Former NFL wide receiver and game day MC for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
Episode: 143: 08/02/25 Cecil Shorts III joins The Bullpen to talk Texans training camp!

Hosts

John Belmer
Host/Producer with frequent mic time on local sports radio; long-standing presence across ESPN Houston apps and related media.
Brian McDonald
Co-host/Host of The Bullpen; long-running presence across multiple ESPN Houston properties and apps.
Cam Smith
Co-host on The Bullpen; frequent panelist and on-air contributor across multiple ESPN Houston platforms.
Sean Mapes
Host and co-host on The Bullpen; regular on-air presence with sports banter and guest segments.
Johnny Belmer
Producer/host with mic participation; notable on-air persona and segment facilitator.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 3 ratings
  • ESPN 97.5 Rocks

    Love having the weekend Houston coverage!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zacthetexan
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong Houston/local flavor keeps it relatable.
Guests bring fresh perspectives and entertaining banter.
Lively energy that fits weekend sports talk well.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
192: 04/10/26 Hour 1 - Are the Rockets Finally Locking In? + ESPN and Rockets Insider Kelly Iko Joins the Show!
Q: What changed in the Rockets' approach to offense during the eight-game win streak?
The hosts and Kelly Iko point to improved ball movement, more purposeful spacing, and a willingness to adapt lineups to maximize shooting and defense, along with a team-wide emphasis on physicality and grit.
189: 03/28/26 Hour 2- How bad could it get for the Stros?, Did Shaq shoot his shot?, and Mt Rushmore +1!
Q: What is the current sentiment about the Astros' lineup and playing time decisions?
The hosts feel Jordan Alvarez will split time between left field and designated hitter, and they challenge the idea of an infield surplus, pointing to quotes from Espada that support keeping Alvarez in left field at times.
129: 06/14/25 Hour 1- Astros grow their lead in the AL West!
Q: Will Jose Altuve get to 3,000 hits?
The hosts and guests speculate about whether Altuve can reach 3,000 hits, discussing his current performance and historical context.
131: 06/21/25 Hour 1- No one is throwing at Neto!
Q: Would you have left Hunter Brown in there?
Considering his performance, I think I would have left him in, but Joe Espada's decision to pull him was defensible based on the situation.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bullpen

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

A high-energy Houston-focused sports show that blends local team chatter with pop culture crossovers. The hosts frequently feature guests from wrestling, basketball, and broader entertainment to dissect games, contracts, and storylines, while running playful segments like Mount Rushmore Plus One. The tone is opinionated, banter-driven, and deeply rooted in the local sports scene, with frequent live venue reads and audience interactions that give the show its distinctive flavor. The mix of straight analysis, guest insights, and lighthearted bits likely keeps listeners engaged across long weekend blocks and social chatter alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Bullpen?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Bullpen. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Bullpen and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. John and Lance: John Granato & Lance Zierlein on ESPN Houston

How many episodes of The Bullpen are there?

The Bullpen launched 3 years ago and published 306 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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. Kyle King
2. Kelly Iko
3. Ty Callis
4. Lexi by proxy
5. Michael Carrell
6. Matt Holland
7. Chef Leonel
8. RJ Saunders

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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