The Cubs have signed Theo Epstein to a 5-year contract extension. There was never any reason to worry that it wouldn’t get done, but it’s nice that it is. It could be worth more than $50 million. Also, the Cubs may have extended Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod as well.
Comments
How the hell does this help the reds?
-Bryan Price, probably
mylesQuote Reply
While this may be true, I’ve been meaning to comment that I don’t have that WS-or-die angst at all, because I feel like this is the 2nd of a four or five year runs of postseasons. Maybe longer. I mean, other good orgs have had similarly-lengthed runs.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I don’t have it either. I don’t think I have ever have. I said it in 2008 and I’ll say it again. Nothing can happen in the playoffs that will ruin the fun that the 2016 season has been. If they win it all it will make it better, but the 2016 season happened and it was a fucking blast.
dmick89Quote Reply
Also, I hope this isn’t the 2nd of only a 4 or 5 year run. The Cardinals have spent significantly less and would never find that acceptable. They plan to and have contended nearly every year I’ve been alive. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have those same expectations for the Cubs. My expectations are that the Cubs will contend 4 of every 5 years from this point forward. If they don’t, they’re doing something wrong considering their financial advantages over the rest of the division.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Exactly. Got to be at least one WS in there.
SKQuote Reply
http://www.politicalmachine.com/
Would you like to know more?
umbraQuote Reply
I played an Apple II game that satisfied that criteria 20 or so years ago. It was based on the ’68 election and you had to allocate resources to states and stuff, and if you tried to do too much your candidate would start making gaffes and stuff.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I can’t remember if the AI controlling George Wallace had some sort of locked in gaffe rate that only affected things, uh, regionally
berseliusQuote Reply
Also, Inverted M to this news
berseliusQuote Reply
This was a contract extension I recently enjoyed.
About fucking time too.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I certainly hope Maddon employs the regulars when Lester goes for his 20th win. Similarly, I hope he fields a great defense when Hendricks makes his next start. Arbitrary milestones are arbitrary, but they’re still nice.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t even want to think about how bad the anti-Heyward backlash would be if the Cubs weren’t winning.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I think there’s a good chance Lester gets 20 wins, but not a very good chance that Hendricks finishes with an ERA below 2. Would be nice to see though.
dmick89Quote Reply
aisle424Quote Reply
He can do 1 run over 6 or more innings (and must pitch at least 2 scoreless innings). I’d put the odds around 2:1 against.
umbraQuote Reply
Johnny-come-lately comment that’s kind of a duplicate:
I disagree that this is likely their best shot, but it is definitely the best shot in our lifetimes so far. Even so, shit can and does happen, so even though they are built for dynasty, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the best shot they ever have, if for no other reason than the possible fall of the United States in the aftermath of nuclear holocaust.
ceruleanQuote Reply
SK,
I see this team as either the late nineties Braves or the late nineties Yankees.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Would enjoy another Cubs W tonight to put the cherry on top of this day.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
A blowout would be even better.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!
/just getting to my iPad
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
Could be, but as much bad luck the Cubs have had this season, they’ve had a lot of good luck too. Their rotation has stayed healthy, which usually doesn’t happen. Lester is getting older and Jake will probably be fine after next season. I’m confident they’re going to be good for awhile, but I’m doubtful they’ll be this good. I hope so.
dmick89Quote Reply
Kill the umpire, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jake swung at ball 4 more than likely.
dmick89Quote Reply
I predict about 20 bases on balls in this game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yay defense…
…from Coghlan?
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That should have been strike three.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
So many pitches.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m far more annoyed about the runs.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I just miss efficient Jake.
dmick89Quote Reply
wrt the Cubs’ bunt defense, there definitely needs to be a rules classification in the off-season, but I don’t see what it matters who wears what glove.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
I miss low-ERA Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This sucks, but with Almora in, maybe we’ll stop seeing all these hits to left field.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
In May, I thought there was no easy Jake’s ERA would get over 3.00, but here we are.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Nope.
dmick89Quote Reply
Arrieta is trying to pitch himself into that 4th spot in the playoff rotation. Joe seems willing to leave him out there for no reason.
dmick89Quote Reply
OK, you have to punish the Pirates for that mistake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Neither team is acting as if they want to win this one.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope the Cubs starters can go 8 in the playoffs.
dmick89Quote Reply
So they’re gonna take away Jaso’s cycle, right?
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Cardin(dying laughing)s
Rice in limboQuote Reply
dmick89,
I hope Chapman can go more than 1.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
If only my income went up by 170% every five years (instead of going down (dying laughing))
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Why do journalists call these contracts pacts? It’s like they’ve got together in a bar and voted on the terminology least likely to be used by a normal person.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
They don’t like repeating the same word in the same sentence/paragraph. So they called it a contract, a deal, and a pact.
If they had to keep going, I imagine they would have had to also call it an agreement, a compact, a treaty, an arrangement, a bargain, and a pinky swear.
SKQuote Reply
A $50M pinky swear is one helluva pinky swear.
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
It’s all part of the liberal conspiracy to taint our precious bodily fluids.
ceruleanQuote Reply
News will break next week that it’s actually a tontine
BerseliusQuote Reply
Apparently, Japanese kids from olden times were badass.
SKQuote Reply
Berselius,
That episode was in the back of my mind somewhere as I consulted the thesaurus…
SKQuote Reply
It’s certainly better than the Mets’ Ponzi scheme.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Try becoming a Senior Executive for Wells Fargo. Sounds like they have plenty of money to throw around, and you don’t even need to be good at your job.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
Sign me up.
/Stumpf rhymes with Drumpf
SKQuote Reply
Edwin,
I’d argue that they’re quite good at their job. I don’t exactly have a great opinion of multinational financial institutions, though.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Comments like that have never looked stupid in hindsight.
dmick89Quote Reply
uncle dave,
True. I’m sure all of them work hard, and have good enough work to merit promotions and some degree of high compensation.
However, I’m convinced this is how the Business/Law/Political world acutally works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcaVSTsYyOI
EdwinQuote Reply
http://www.kithfan.org/work/transcripts/three/butfirst.html
BerseliusQuote Reply
Jason Hammel scratched from his final start (elbow).
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Might make certain decisions easier. Sucks for Hammel though.
SKQuote Reply
I honestly can’t say I care very much whether they get tonight’s game in or not.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I guess it would be nice if they could get in 5 innings. But even if not, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This would be the ‘nobody get hurt’ lineup we’re seeing tonite, no?
uncle daveQuote Reply
This game has way too much excitement for me.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Zastryzny might find himself on the postseason roster. I would put him right on the bubble.
ceruleanQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/grantmcauley/status/781647819509760001
GWQuote Reply
If the game doesn’t resume, apparently the Cubs could have a tie on their record…
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
That would improve the Pirates winning percentage.
dmick89Quote Reply
#FlyTheT
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Do the pitchers get a tie on their record? That would be cool.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
No, but they really should. How else are we going to really know who was good and who wasn’t?
dmick89Quote Reply
I fucking hate umpires.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Feel like all boundary walkoff calls should be auto-reviewed anyway.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
No 105 win team now. I am disappoint. #FireTheo #FireAndRain
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
104.5 is still possible so if we just round up you’re good.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Shouldn’t pitcher ties be used to decide who was so-so?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A curious question: Should ties count in calculating W%?
I think yes—it was an official game, so two ties should be the same as going 1–1. So a single tie would contribute half a win and half a loss for the purpose of calculation.
But it’s not. It obviously doesn’t make a difference most if not all of the time, especially this day and age when ties are infrequent, but it could knock a really good team down a few points or a give a really bad team a boost.
ceruleanQuote Reply
The 1906 Cubs were 117.5–37.5—more wins and a worse winning percentage (.758 instead of .763).
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Doing so would require re-writing the record books (and ties used to be rather common, especially before they installed lights in stadiums).
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I don’t care if they count ties in pitcher wins or not because I don’t care about pitcher wins, but why do people always ask about the record books? It’s probably not too difficult to rewrite them back to a certain point and before that, who cares? In 200, 300 or 2000 years, does anybody think missing half a century of complete stats is going to matter?
dmick89Quote Reply
I have a brilliant idea: 1 point for a tie and 3 points for a win!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
They do it in basketball and it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
uncle daveQuote Reply
SKQuote Reply
You would think this is something the league would think through before they implement a review system.
But can’t screw up the photo-op of the players storming the field, I suppose. Instead, screw up the game.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Al Yellon predicted in 2014 that the Cubs would never experience another tie after the May 28, 1993 tie. Or, at least that’s what I think he’s trying to say. Honestly, this article is almost entirely impossible to understand.
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/1/27/5347390/wrigley-field-history-may-28-1993
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
Alvin’s historic streak of never being right is intact.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hope Al aknowledges by e-mail that he was wrong.
EdwinQuote Reply
His commentary is as fresh as the bologna sandwiches in his cargo shorts.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Have the Giants expressed pissed-offedness yet with the Nardinals game ending?
SKQuote Reply
I honestly didn’t know the MLB still did ties.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ever since the All-Star Game DISASTER of 2002, every true American swore a solemn oath. Never Again.
umbraQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
I try not to read BCB as I fear it may make my brain hurt.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
I’m starting to think Soler won’t be on the playoff roster.
dmick89Quote Reply
Zobrist!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Addy!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Zobrist again!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Cubs aren’t actually very good. They just get to play the Reds and the Pirates a lot.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Things Gerrit Cole would say.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
After a win tonight, they will be 28–7–1 against them.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Zobrist is still a homer and a double shy of a Bryant.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It would be great if the Giants could lose one of these games to keep things interesting.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Kershaw is pitching today.
dmick89Quote Reply
If the Cubs can manage to score 42 runs in these last two games—it’s the Reds, so it’s doable—plus whatever the Rockies score against the Brewers at Coors, the Cubs would bookend the NL in RS and RA.
I am going to go out on a limb and say there is little chance of catch Boston in RS for all of MLB.
#FireTheo
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
He is mortal. He even allowed a walk last week.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Mets up.
Cards down.
We might not get any last-game chaos this year, folks.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
Shut me right up. Especially if Giants lose today.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Looks like the three-way tie is out, but we could still see the Giants and Cards tie
berseliusQuote Reply
Looks like Lester also wants to get one final stinker in before the postseason begins.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Stop sucking, Jon.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ditto, Cubs hitters.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Offense!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was a great pitch, you stupid umpire.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A bad dress rehearsal is supposed to be a good sign I guess
BerseliusQuote Reply
Break a leg.
(Curious how that phrase is never used in sports.)
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Cubs could enter the playoffs without having won a single game in the month of October. Not good!
dmick89Quote Reply
So if the O’s lose tomorrow, the Jays split, The Tigers win at least one of the next two games, and the M’s win their last two…
The Tigers would have to make-up the game with the Indians, and then there would be two play-in games, then the Wildcard play-in. No rest for the wicked.
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/10/01/three-way-wild-card-tiebreaker-scenario-blue-jays-tigers-orioles/91414008/
Wait, so the Orioles chose a single elimination game at home over two chances on the road? They can’t really be that stupid , can they?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bet you one Arrieta they are.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Soler ———————————————————————————————————————-> lineup
SKQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do
berseliusQuote Reply
SK,
To-day’s base ball squadron
Fowler
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Russell
Heyward
Soler
Contreras
Cyle Hendricks
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
The perception is that they’re choosing a matchup over the odds.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYX-NSZMqt0
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
2016 was a division winning regular season I’ve recently enjoyed.
SKQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That is a durty, durty change up, Prof. Cyle.
SKQuote Reply
Kyle is getting squeezed a bit.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hate this series.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All games are free on MLB TV today if like me you’re having a hard time watching this one.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I’m dividing my attention between this and the Vin feed of the Giants/Dodgers game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m glad the Cubs starters could suck ass the final time through the rotation. Sad.
dmick89Quote Reply
A Race to the Bottom post would look pretty damn nice. (dying laughing).
BVSQuote Reply
So more than likely either the Giants or the Mets. I’ll take the Giants.
dmick89Quote Reply
BVS,
The Cubs can’t even get that right. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’ll take the Mets, with all their rotation injuries.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’ve switched over to the Aaron Sanchez no-hitter attempt. Sorry, Vin.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Welp. Back to Vin.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Szczur chases one on the dirt, leaving the bases loaded. And that’s why I’m hoping he gets lost off the playoff roster.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m alright with the Cardinals’ not having a chance to win the Wild Card. Between the Giants and Mets, I’m indifferent. The Cubs are better than either of them, so it’s just down to execution.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Goodbye, Vin. Thanks for everything.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hail Szczur!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I wish Chapman were available.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow nice job on the 3-2 count with 2 outs Matt
SKQuote Reply
Miggy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
MONTY
SKQuote Reply
103!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
18-12-1 in Sept/Oct
I’ll take it.
SKQuote Reply
So hey guys, that was a good game after all.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
And a great season.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
So the Yankees averaged a better than 100-win pace over 162 for something like four decades. The Cubs have averaged that for two.
#shitGerrittColeMightSay
ceruleanQuote Reply
Poor Cardinals. Missed out by a game. Would’ve liked to see a play-in to the wildcard but not really disappointed.
May the Cardinals’ knives soak in hot water til next season.
BVSQuote Reply
The postseason narrative was written months ago. Clinching early and the long rest is either the reason they do well in the playoffs or the reason they do poorly.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
The come from behind win today helps blunt the reasoning if they do poorly, imo.
BVSQuote Reply
The saltiest of hot water
berseliusQuote Reply
Neither one would likely be accurate, but when has that ever stopped sports reporters from writing endlessly about why a team lost in the playoffs? For example, the Cubs lost last year because “Arrieta ran out of gas.” It may have been true, but extra rest sure hasn’t helped him this year so I’m inclined to believe he just had a couple bad games, though games better than several of his outings this year. It’s all just nonsense. If the Cubs lose, it will be because the playoffs are a crapshoot.
dmick89Quote Reply
Haven’t checked his feed all year. Couldn’t help myself today. Still calling anyone who thinks Theo has done a good job a “Theobot.”
Motherfucker would have trolled Truman (ha, forgot FDR didn’t make it) after WWII.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
There are two very legitimate reasons to criticize Truman’s ending of the war.
Hopefully, the Cubs don’t bomb in the playoffs.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Say, is his name pronounced similar to Nick Filet o’Shit? Because that’s how I hear it in my head.
EDIT: Maybe it’s Filet o’Suck
ceruleanQuote Reply
(dying laughing) today at Manfred’s Big Papi PED comments. Can’t wait for him to do the same for Sammy Sosa.
berseliusQuote Reply
Yeah, upon reflection, war is probably not the best analogy to use, like ever.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Kyle Hendricks is your Cubs WAR leader on pitching. Never thought that phrase would get typed.
EdwinQuote Reply
Go Mets
SKQuote Reply
I’m rooting for the Giants. I’d rather playoff baseball be played in warmer weather, plus I think the Giants are a more interesting matchup.
EdwinQuote Reply
Also, go Blue Jays, because I want to see Bautista do another epic bat flip. Plus the Candadian National Anthem is way better than the American National Anthem. And I like the Blue Jays colors. Such a nice blue. I like blue.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
Don’t forget home run distances in metres.
SKQuote Reply
Saw the Cubs beat the Blue Jays in Toronto in 2008. Lou got pissed that they decided to close the roof during a Cubs half-inning and made the umps wait for it to close before continuing. Aramis hit a home run so straight and fast that it landed before I could find it in the air. The field looks like shitty carpeting in a dollhouse.
SKQuote Reply
doe anyone have an inkling of what time game 1 will be played? i assume it is dependent upon the WC winner so presumably if SF wins they are more likely to be the late game on friday (since SF is a west coast team)?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
+1 LSA Rec’d turn it green nambla
berseliusQuote Reply
I think it’s more likely the Cubs play late anyway because $$$$$$$
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
i don’t disagree but i figured if that was the case, then they already would have scheduled it.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Dodgers and Rangers also have games that day.
SKQuote Reply
On rooting interest for an orange-flavored team, I am going with Arrieta’s take:
“Who gives a shit.”
ceruleanQuote Reply
My older brother’s favorite color was blue. But that was my favorite color. So he got all blue things, and I was jealous.
Cool story bro.
Anyway, I remember rooting for the Jays and Cubs in ’89, in part because I really like blue. That went over well. I believe that was the first time I really ever paid attention to baseball being played.
Not so cool story bro.
ceruleanQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Time is a flat circle, so I’m not sure it matters all that much.
EdwinQuote Reply
Congrats to Rick Renteria at getting a new managing gig. I think he’d have done well with the Cubs, but I’m not sad that they hired Maddon.
Condolences to Rick Renteria at getting a new managing gig with the White Sox .
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
It’s interesting to wonder how good this team would be if Renteria were still at the helm. I think quite good, but not nearly as entertaining. (Some of the highlights of the year were explicitly Maddon being eccentric—pitchers on defense, a Lester bunt, pulling Grampy.) The biggest difference I think is with defensive versatility. Most managers wouldn’t do the jigsaw puzzle like that, and such would probably have limited the value of the likes of Javier Baez and Willson Contreras enough that we wouldn’t know what they were.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Is playoff fever a legit medical condition requiring me to stay home from work?
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
Usually hits me the day after the game.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Game times announced through Sunday – Cubs are on FS1 at 8:15 PM CT on Friday and MLBN at 7:08 PM CT on Saturday
BerzeliusQuote Reply
Berzelius,
I don’t get MLBN anymore, bleh.
BerzeliusQuote Reply
Bersssssssssssselius,
I will be there Saturday and it will be fun.
Prove me wrong.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Dave Stewart and Chip Hale ———> unemployment line
PerkinsQuote Reply
Berzelius,
I have no idea if I get, did get or even what the fuck this FS1 is. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’d have thought Arrieta or Lester would have led the pitchers in WAR like anyone else, but I don’t think it was that unlikely that Hendricks would when you factor in injuries. Based on performance alone, it was less likely, but still more than believable since the Cubs don’t have a “legitimate ace”.
dmick89Quote Reply
Uh, yeah, but they did have a legitimate ace coming into the season, or so it seemed.
SKQuote Reply
Anyone know if the Cubs have extended Theo Epstein, and for how many years?
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Oh, I assumed we were talking true talent now.
dmick89Quote Reply
The world is filled with unknowable truths.
EdwinQuote Reply
Big, if true.
berseliusQuote Reply
SK,
I’ll look into it.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs finished the season with a .699 3rd order winning percentage. Not bad.
dmick89Quote Reply
Heh, heh.
EdwinQuote Reply
dmick89,
Nice
SK,
Still trying to find out who owns the Cubs
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Wait, Epstein is with the Cubs now? I thought he’d never leave Boston.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I completely forgot that Addison Russell was injured and didn’t play in NLCS last year.
SKQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
Can you figure out what a misting station is while you’re at it?
uncle daveQuote Reply
He hasn’t left yet, they’re still working out the trade, but they’re getting closer. 20 yard line now.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
My source has confirmed it’s more like the 20 yard line, but cautioned that the Cubs have the worst red zone offense in the league. Epstein may not leave Boston after all.
Edit: I thought you wrote 25 yard line. I can’t read. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Edwin,
Irresponsible rumor.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Carrie Muskat confirms Joe is going with the rotation everyone assumes he is going with.
(hence, his “they’re not stupid” comment from last week.)
SKQuote Reply
SK,
So, Montgomery-Buchanan-Cahill-Zastryzny, then?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
SK,
Halpert-Schrute-Scott-Levinson?
berseliusQuote Reply
As long as it’s not Brian Matusz. Though, now that I think about it, the Cubs did win that game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He left Boston for Chicago, but before he gets to Chicago, he has to get halfway there, and before he gets halfway, he has to get a quarter of the way, and before he gets a quarter of the way…
umbraQuote Reply
Wow, Cal Ripken is an idiot.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bautista!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Turning point of the season, right there. If they lost that game to Seattle, I believe they would have only been 20 games over and they wouldn’t be in the playoffs now because Bartman got nasty with a goat and a black cat saw it and destroyed Sammy’s radio, and not even the ghost of Harry Caray could make it right, or something.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Matusz was easily the team’s MVP.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Brian Matusz: your 2016 Chicago Cubs’ Mininum Viable Product!
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Orioles deserve to lose for not using their closer here
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Blue Jays threatening to advance in the bottom of the ninth. Looks pretty dire for the O’s.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Go birds!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
The possible AL Cy Young may not even make an appearance. WTF!?Shut me right up.
ceruleanQuote Reply
(dying laughing), Ubaldo is now pitching for the O’s.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
If not now for Britton, when? 2017?
ceruleanQuote Reply
We’ll probably see a position player pitching before they bring Britton into a tie game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
There it is. See you next year, O’s.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It was fucking stupid.
ceruleanQuote Reply
At least they didn’t waste Britton in a non-save situation. That would have been embarrassing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Uba(dying laughing)do Jimenez. Good call there, Buck.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Unfathomable decision if Britton isn’t hurt.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
It amazes me that being involved with baseball for that long in one’s life can still lead to such awful decisions. The average manager is not a whole lot smarter than the average fan.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Surely that is true – average manager is not a whole lot smarter than the average fan. Not only that, the average manager is a LOT more informed than the average fan (about both game strategy and things only he can know, like day to day health of players). On the other hand, the average manager is operating in the face of a LOT more stress and distractions than the average fan. Watching at home we have the luxury of seeing things that are outside of his line of sight due to where he is positioned in all of this. I’m not saying he can’t see the closer in the bullpen twiddling his thumbs because he’s behind a wall, I’m saying there are 47,000,938 other things also confronting him.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I think that number might be closer to 69,000,420.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
fify
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I agree with this. The stress part I think is something managers often put on themselves. Sure, you’ve got to win, but financial security they all have so losing a job is a lot less stressful. Joe isn’t the best manager when it comes to the bullpen or even the bench, but what sets him apart is how low stress he makes the environment the team is in. Yeah, he’s been on a lot of successful teams, which helps, but the low stress environment is in large part due to his attitude. Every player has rightly bought into the whole “it’s about the process” and “you can’t control the results” mentality.
It’s really a wonderful thing being a Cubs fan these days. Now that’s a sentence I never thought I’d say.
dmick89Quote Reply
Good to see Bucky getting lambasted by basically everybody for not using every tool at his disposal to win. Not only did he not use their greatest asset, but he warmed Britton up three times and sat him back down, possibly increasing the chances of an ineffectiveness that we never got to see.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
SK,
Heh, heh. Aww yeah.
EdwinQuote Reply
Reading Orioles’ fans attempts to cope with this is rather amusing—I mean sad. Some are deflecting by heaping all the blame on the offense. Sorry, kids, but sometimes it’s hard to hit a baseball—even more so in the postseason, I imagine—and your manager repeatedly made it as easy as he could for the other team to do so.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
Maddon has never won it all as a head coach. Trust the past: The Cubs are doomed. And the Cardinals have resorted to accumulating championship toe rings.
/Bfib’ed
ceruleanQuote Reply
More on second guessing Buckminster Lesser: I get that he didn’t want to use Britton in non-save situations, and having Jimenez start the inning is somewhat defensible, but with one out and runners on the corners, he needed a strikeout or a groundball more than ever. If only there were a pitcher available who was really good at getting one of those two outcomes.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Duensing started the inning.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I said “Go Mets” the other day because I’d prefer Cubs face them.
I also think the Mets will win.
SKQuote Reply
Although, as in all binary things, it could go either way.
SKQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I was thinking that Duensing finished the previous inning, so it’s even worse. Jimenez didn’t record an out.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I am seeing this a lot. Many are wanting this matchup because they think the Mets are a worse team than the Giants and therefore will be easier to beat.
I say fuck that mentality. I don’t want the Cubs to face flukey weakened teams in their pursuit of a championship. Give me the best.
Consider the 2004 Red Sox or 2005 White Sox—absolutely no one could second guess their drought-ending championships—reeling off eight in a row against the hated nemesis and a 105-win team after being down 0–3, or rolling through the playoffs by edging out eleven of twelve by taking advantage of the tiniest of opportunities, making the other teams seem foolish—they won convincingly. That’s the bar I want them to clear.
So which team between the Mets and the Giants? Who cares. Give me the Giants so the Cubs can put the even year voodoo to rest. Give me the Mets so the Cubs can sweep them out of the playoffs. Neither of them are very good. Yet the Cubs could lose to either.
Looking forward, I think the both the Dodgers and the Nationals are pretty even—I’ll pick the Dodgers for the warm weather.
And looking so far forward that it will curse the Cubs to be swept by whoever the wildcard winner is—obviously—I would like to see the Red Sox because they are the best. Maybe Texas because it’s warmer and they are the luckiest team ever.
But I want there to be no doubt. Unlike the 2006 Cardinals.
ceruleanQuote Reply
This. That’s why I was hoping the Cardinals would get in and the Cubs could play them again. I thought they were the best of those three teams.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
That would be icing on the cake, but I would be happy to just have the cake to begin with. Or better yet pie. I don’t really know where this food analogy is going.
berseliusQuote Reply
It doesn’t matter if they beat weaker teams. They won 103 games. Nobody will call it a lucky fluke if they win it all.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d love it if they beat the Rangers. They won the most games in the AL. No one will remember their run differential.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
My nightmare scenario is a WS loss to the Red Sox. Fuck that fanbase.
berseliusQuote Reply
(To be fair, the Rangers are a better team than they were at the beginning of the season.)
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yeah, I think any person with a functioning brain knows the Cubs are the best team in baseball so it won’t be considered a fluke no matter what. Still, I want to beat the best.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I want to beat the Mets as revenge for last year/1969, then beat the Dodgers as revenge for 2008, then beat the Red Sox as revenge for 1918.
Second-best scenario is beating the Giants as revenge for 1989, beating the Dodgers as revenge for 2008, then beating the Blue Jays as revenge for the War of 1812.
umbraQuote Reply
Well, since we’re not likely to win the WS, regardless of having the best odds, which way you want this team to get it?
My choice is annihilation via sweep or at minimum no more than one win. And preferably as soon as possible.
Anything else will mean being haunted to one degree or another forever.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
umbra,
I almost quit being a fan after that 1918 loss.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
This would threaten several friendships for me.
uncle daveQuote Reply
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/buck-showalter-waited-too-long-for-a-lead-that-never-came/
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I mean, other outcomes would also suck.
berseliusQuote Reply
My biggest fear is that the Cubs get bounced in the NLDS since that would be the most anti-climactic outcome of a 103 win season. If they lose in the NLCS, that would suck. If they lose in the WS, at least that’d be the first time they won the NL since 1945.
While it would suck for them to make it that far and lose, it’s not like a World Series appearance is in living memory for most Cubs fans. That would be pretty cool to see regardless of the outcome. Obviously it’s much better if they win.
PerkinsQuote Reply
“Many people are saying”
SKQuote Reply
I have a fear of losing a short series and Giants are more competitive, I think, in a short series. Otherwise I think they are equal to the Mets.
After that I don’t care at all who they face. I get wanting them to beat the best, but they are the best, and I don’t think any of the other teams are closer to the Cubs than to each other.
SKQuote Reply
Says who?
umbraQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
dmick89,
https://twitter.com/mitchellichtman/status/783770201527611392
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Angry, angry young man.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Yeah, but he’s right about the article I think. It’s badly argued and is guilty of the same “hot hand” reasoning it accuses Showalter of.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Speaking of hot hand stuff, did you see Joe’s reasoning for the rotation order?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Heh. At least rotation order doesn’t matter much (within reason).
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Podcasters and bloggers. Who else?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Agreed, but his comment on why Arrieta was pitching game 3 was ridiculous. I love Joe, but he’s obviously prone to the same dumb thinking of most managers.
I’d put Arrieta 3rd also, but not for the reason Joe is doing it.
dmick89Quote Reply
Nah. Swept out of a series is the optimal way to lose, the earlier the better (if it must happen). All the 103 win stuff will sting for a bit, but it won’t linger. The 2008 Cubs won a shitload of games, took the division decisively, and were promptly bounced by the Dodgers. How much does that loss matter now? To me, nothing at all. I have nothing but good memories of that season. I barely remember the NLDS. It was easily one of the most pleasant baseball seasons I can recall.
Same with last year. Team took off, won A LOT of baseball games, went to the postseason for the first time in 7 years, crushed the Cardinals, and then hit the brick wall that was Daniel Murphy (or, actually, the brick wall hit them). What matters to me now? All of the shit prior to Daniel Murphy, and what happened in the NLCS hurts not at all. They never stood a chance with the way the Mets were playing. Nothing for it. Nothing to be done. There are no what-might-have-beens when you get destroyed.
2003, otoh… Whatever good memories I can drudge up about that team are forever spoiled by 5 Outs Away.
And that’s why, if the Cubes must lose, I want them to really lose. Get the shit kicked out of them. Easier to live with.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Not to mention I think it’s better for the mental health of the players if they get run rather than barely lose.
I mean, Ubaldo Jimenez will probably be replaying that meatball he threw to Encarnacion for the next six months. I feel bad for him.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
False. The best would be to go the distance in every series and get to the World Series and at least go five. I would prefer they win, but a WS loss wouldn’t be awful because there is always next year. Speaking as someone with a stake in season tickets.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Neither team is going to score ever.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
That’s ok. 60 more innings of this, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Wow. I thought that would be overturned.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
On that review, I am guessing that his foot came off the bag enough that it was either too uncertain to overturn or the call was actually confirmed (because unlike the announcers, I think it did and he was out). I am however in favor of changing the rule so that if you touch the bag and do not overrun or “overslide” the bag but nevertheless lose contact with the bag briefly, that loss of contact does not count against you.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Maybe this game will end in a tie like the Cubs/Pirates game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Reed is getting squeezed.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Robot umps please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That comebacker snag by Bumgarner might have saved a run.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Collins is not taking a chance. Familia is in.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Wow that was a nice piece of hitting by Crawford. Also, the Mets are not known for their defense.
ceruleanQuote Reply
#evenyear
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
And Familia gives up a three-run Conor Gillaspie homer. 🙁
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
This is what happens when you bring a closer into a tie game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Bring it on, then.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Buck Showalter is redeemed (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Bochy has the right idea. No relief pitchers. They just mess things up.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Polls. All of them.
umbraQuote Reply
So I think Saturday will be Samardzija vs Hendricks. That will be fun. The local boy gone California against the California boy gone local.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I like the NL Wild Card tradition of a complete game shutout by the visiting team.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All these tough questions (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Well, BN appears to be in full meltdown, apparently because they just figured out the Cubs will have to beat good teams to win the World Series.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
They will? Shit, I thought it would be a bunch of games against the Reds and the Pirates.
PerkinsQuote Reply
In all seriousness, the Cubs starters’ aptitude for limiting hard contact combined with the Giants’ low power/balls in play offense should bode well. And obviously the Cubs have the best lineup in MLB.
So it could go either way.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Thanks for cursing this team to lose to 500 seeing eye singles in this series smh.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m having trouble concentrating on my work and home life.
SKQuote Reply
I feel bad for the Mets. I just want them to know that every team loses, that’s a fact. But maybe every team that loses some day comes back.
Not them though. They’re done.
EdwinQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Isn’t BN pretty much always on full meltdown?
EdwinQuote Reply
I will go without dinner in penance.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I looked into my crystal ball and it said the Cubs would win this series in 5 games.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
You need to get a “C” put on your turban jewel
SKQuote Reply
Wait, I took a second look in the crystal ball and it said Giants in 5 so it could go either way.
dmick89Quote Reply
Look here brother, who you jivin with that cosmik debris?
EdwinQuote Reply
I worked 12 hours yesterday, and I’m probably working another 12 today, so right now I’m running on coffee, fumes, and Pandora.
EdwinQuote Reply
Mine said Giants in orange.
Do they even have orange uniforms?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Maybe wait until the postseason is over. I want to see how it turns out.
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Giants have 5 uniforms.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
I would love to release what’s in the box, but right now I’m under audit, and cannot release the box.
EdwinQuote Reply
Obligatory, and for that I am sorry…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
http://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/10/06/joe-buck-fox-book-hair-plugs-surgery-voice
berseliusQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
berseliusQuote Reply
uncle daveQuote Reply
berselius,
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
CUBS IN SEVEN!
ceruleanQuote Reply
berselius,
I knew it. He had work done on his voice.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Dudes check it out, this will blow your mind. Apparently, there was a guy on the Cubs in 2014 named Chris Valaika. He was an infielder who played in more games than Jorge Soler, Matt Szczur and Logan Watkins. Freaky!
SKQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
SK,
Like most fans, I lost interest toward the end of the season, especially after Rizzo and Castro went on the DL. In retrospect, I wish I’d payed more attention to that Arrieta fellow.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rangers regular season run differential: +8
Rangers post-season run differential: -10
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
-9 now.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Don’t worry, they will win the next two games by one and then lose by fifteen and finish with a walk-off walk. -21 in runs, +1 in wins. It’s the Ranger’s way.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Nice. Tito using Andrew Miller in the FIFTH. Take that, Showalter.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Eh, it’s probably better to save Miller for a more high-leverage situation.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Like 2017.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I commend the Indians for unconventional thinking, though.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
See, this would be a good time to bring in a relief ace.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Good thing Miller got that crucial third out in the fifth inning, though.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Your turn for some “eh.” Indians pen screws the pooch in the 5th, this lead doesn’t exist now.
I do agree bringing him in with in with 2 outs in the fifth was odd (though with the way Brock Holt has hit tonight, maybe not).
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
That all said, I would have probably waited until the seventh to bring Miller in (sixth maybe if shit got real), then marveled at how cutting edge awesome I am.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I found myself rooting for the Indians. And then I I saw a closeup of a player in his hat.
Fuck the Cleveland Indians in their racist, red-faced Chief Wahoo. What year is this anyway?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Finally, some new shit
http://obstructedview.net/series-preview-san-francisco-giants-88-75-chicago-cubs-103-58/
berseliusQuote Reply