The Cubs are back at Wrigley Field in the postseason for the first team since 2008. They've got Jake Arrieta on the mound who has been nearly unhittable for 3 months or so. Their lineup looks pretty good and they're facing a pitcher they hit well in September. Things look good for them to go up 2-1 in this series, but they've got to play the game any way. It doesn't need to be said, but this is a big game.
Lineups
Cardinals
Matt Carpenter, 3B
Stephen Piscotty, 1B
Matt Holliday, LF
Jason Heyward, RF
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Tommy Pham, CF
Yadier Molina, C
Kolten Wong, 2B
Michael Wacha, P
Cubs
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jorge Soler, RF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Starlin Castro, 2B
Kyle Schwarber, LF
Addison Russell, SS
Miguel Montero, C
Jake Arrieta, P
Comments
I hope the reason the Cubs won game 2 wasn’t because I was locked out of the game thread.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
This whole “this game’s in the bag” thing is getting me nervous.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Whenever I get nervous I just think Arrieta.
WaLiQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Big time
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I’m really nervous about that, but I don’t think the Cubs players have that mindset. It sure feels that way because it’s Arrieta, but I’m also nervous. More nervous than I was in either of the first two games.
dmick89Quote Reply
Astros ———> ALCS (unless they fuck it up)
dmick89Quote Reply
JonKneeV,
Seriously. I hate that kind of thinking, but I’ve taken one too many pies in the face to not be nervous about it. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve had a slow day at work so I’m basically just dicking around, drinking coffee, and listening to DragonForce. I’m pretty much ready to run through a brick wall at this point.
uncle daveQuote Reply
dmick89,
Given how loose they looked on Saturday, I’m pretty confident that they’re just going to go out and play their game. I don’t know how they do it, but they seem pretty impervious to the ups and downs.
uncle daveQuote Reply
dmick89,
Thank God. Fuck the Royals. We deserve to watch teams that can actually hit the ball out of the infield.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I’ve learned to stop worrying, and just trust Jake to do what he does. The Cubs might lose, but if ever there was a game to feel confident about, this is the one.
MillertimeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ Houston pulling a Cubes
dmick89Quote Reply
Astros -> fucked it up
MylesQuote Reply
Oh FFS
Mobile daveQuote Reply
Wow.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
I don’t really care who wins the series, but I am a little sick and tired of hearing people around here talk about how great the Royals are.
dmick89Quote Reply
Somebody reminded Toronto they’re way better than Texas.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
“That’s right—we can score runs.”
I hope the Cubs have come to the same realization given the last game.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Keepin’ the radio feed on till Pat’s intro…
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Early runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
ONWARD PATIENT MOTHERFUCKERS
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Arrieta’s cap bill is so flat right now
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Jake!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Fowler had the right idea there, what with the wind blowing out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All this talk about the wind usually means pitcher’s duel.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Marlins Guy sighting. That fucking guy.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Ball is either up or missing completely for Wacha.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
That was unfortunate.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Devil magic ????
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo’s been getting jammed all playoffs
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Ouch
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Who is that guy?
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
I managed to avoid knowledge of this guy until about a week ago and now I hear about him everywhere.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
“I’ve won $34,000 on FanDuel.” – DraftKings employee Jason
JonKneeVQuote Reply
any inside pitch to him is jamming him.
dmick89Quote Reply
JonKneeV,
*Tips cap
MillertimeQuote Reply
That was not good defense there, Kyle.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bad read.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Wind just grabbed that and ran with it.
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
DH-y
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Messed up Arrieta perfect game
WaLiQuote Reply
He’s an asshat who gets seats behind home plate to nationally televised games and wears Marlins gear. Basically a real life internet troll.
PerkinsQuote Reply
That was a really tough play for Castro. Whew. Luckily ol’ brick feet was running.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Arrieta’s strand rate is unsustainable.
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
All’s well that ends well (for now)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Watching the game with my dad, I forgot that he gets pissed off when pitchers don’t throw ~90% strikes (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Kyle!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I HEART KYLE SCHWARBER!!!!!
JonKneeVQuote Reply
SCHWARBOMB
berseliusQuote Reply
DH-y
WaLiQuote Reply
All the Cubs rookies helping Yadi pick up the balls he keeps dropping.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
WaLi,
(dying laughing)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Thank you
dmick89Quote Reply
Arrieta —-> not looking too sharp
Cardinals —-> not chasing
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Even when Schwarber makes a catch, he looks terrible.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He hasn’t looked as sharp the last two games, but that’s probably due to talent level that he’s facing.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://twitter.com/cubs/status/653704095333683200
berseliusQuote Reply
I think we just have crazy high expectations of him.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m glad Soler brought his batting eye today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jorge picked a good time to learn the strike zone.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
5-ball walk for Soler. I guess we’ll take it.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That was a bullshit strike call.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate shitty umps.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ya, regardless of the TBS strike zone, that looked WELL off the plate.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Bryant strikes out on an intentional walk.
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
This is why I’m a huge fan of replay.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jake loves going low and outside to righties today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Well, that wasn’t low and outside.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Arrieta losing the handle
berseliusQuote Reply
THROW SOME STRIKES.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Piscatory should have been out on strikes.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Aaron Rodgers throwing INT’s at home, Arreita not being perfect, IS THIS THE APOCALYPSE
?
MillertimeQuote Reply
Looks like he’s just chucking it ????
berseliusQuote Reply
Nice.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Seems like he’s back on track. Making some nice pitches now.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I want the umps to have a little clicker with three colors that light up: red for a definite strike, green for a definite ball—neither of which the ump can override—and a yellow zone two balls’ width outside the plate and one ball’s width inside the zone that the ump has control over. This way, you preserve the ability for pitchers to expand the zone without having just ridiculous calls that fundamentally alter the approach of batters at the plate.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I’m going to go ahead and ban myself. With no dinner.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Hit it too hard. It’s the small miracles.
berseliusQuote Reply
That kind of sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Those damn walks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Starlin!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
BLASTRO
berseliusQuote Reply
STARLIN!
ceruleanQuote Reply
The lag on the TBS app is simply awful. Gameday, which is usually 10 to 30 seconds behind is a good 30 seconds ahead.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Not sure how I feel about Russell going to third.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Addison hustle!
berseliusQuote Reply
Oh no.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Fuck Russell gone
WaLiQuote Reply
Carp
berseliusQuote Reply
Cubs should ban head first slides. That fucking sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yes.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Couldn’t tell what he hurt unless he just landed too hard.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Probably wrist 🙁
WaLiQuote Reply
Hoping removing Russell is just precautionary. That sucks.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Useless announcers offered no clues/insights on what might have been the problem with Russell. Surely the cameras picked up something when the trainers were talking to him.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
That’s a bummer. Losing that defense hurts. Not that Baez is a liability, but still.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
They seemed to be looking at his hand. I don’t know.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Hamstring.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Tightness in hamstring.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Hamstring?
dmick89Quote Reply
Enormous sigh of relief that Arrieta looks back.
berseliusQuote Reply
It would seem the hamstring is the true achilles heel of the human body. Uh. Every sport, man.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
On the one hand, that is great news. On the other, it’s the worst kind of news. Damn hammies. Let’s just hope that Baez makes a case for playing more and Addison just tweaked it a little bit.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ball 1 to Bryant should have been a strike.
(groan)
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s time for the second set of footprints to show up in the sand. Pick up your pitcher, please…
uncle daveQuote Reply
Bryant!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
BRYANT
berseliusQuote Reply
Yes!
MillertimeQuote Reply
K-BOMB! Let’s GOOOOO!
JonKneeVQuote Reply
ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE
uncle daveQuote Reply
They should play this Chris Brian guy more.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Kris Fucking Bryant!!!!!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Time for Rizzo to get his.
ceruleanQuote Reply
He’s well past due.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Man. Rizzo’s timing looks terrible.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
cerulean,
Good idea.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
And there it is.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
False.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Boom.
ceruleanQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
JonKneeVQuote Reply
RIZZOMG
berseliusQuote Reply
Oh, indeed.
uncle daveQuote Reply
(dying (dying laughing) laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I don’t remember Wrigley having home run music before, but the first three dingers tonight alternated bewteen Sweet HJome Chicago and Whoomp There it Is. I was too excited on the Rizzobomb to notice what they played on that one.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
4 Cubs have hit a HR tonight. The oldest is Anthony Rizzo ( 25 ).
MylesQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/myleshandley87/status/653720311481913345
berseliusQuote Reply
Hmmm. A blowout win by the Cubs sure would make it easier to tune out the game and concentrate on studying. I’ll take 10 more runs, please.
MillertimeQuote Reply
If Baez goes yard, Wrigley will burn itself to the ground.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Right idea, wrong part of Sheffield, but a walk will work.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I love factoids that make me think this will all last forever.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
cerulean,
(dying laughing)(dying laughing)(dying laughing)(dying laughing)(dying laughing)(dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
Haven’t been here in awhile (anothercubsblog days) Nice to see the dying laughing is still a thing.
Go Cubs
Bullitt315Quote Reply
Rizzo is 26. My bad, no dinner for me.
MylesQuote Reply
I love this deep bench.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I would have liked more of a realization, but I suppose Arrieta should get a chance to pitch again.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Home runs are awesome, but Soler is still onbasing 1.000 for the postseason.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
You look tired.
dmick89Quote Reply
Please don’t Houston this.
dmick89Quote Reply
When Wacha was down 2-0 on Bryant it was clear he was toast and the at bat would not end well. Matheney could see it too, but you don’t take a pitcher out during an at bat unless you’re Lou Piniella (or me if I was an MLB manager).
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Agreed. A Houston right now would be most regrettable.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I took some liberty with the content of your post.
ceruleanQuote Reply
With Wrigley playing like Coors on a hot day, I don’t feel safe at all.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
See what I mean?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
FUCK.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I should have stayed away till the end of the game
Bullitt315Quote Reply
Uh oh.
MylesQuote Reply
Didn’t think it was going to be that easy. Not happy to be right about it either.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Jesus fuck
dmick89Quote Reply
Maybe pinch-hit for Jake at the bottom of the inning?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Maybe don’t pitch to Heyward next time around.
PerkinsQuote Reply
At some point Arrieta was going to come back down to earth. Sucks it couldn’t have been April 2016.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Heyward is going to be pursued by some AL team, right? Don’t the Yankees need some help? Please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Molina must be hurt?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
ughhhhh
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
He was in serious pain during his last at bat.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Gah. I’m having Dave Veres flashbacks.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Dinner privileges ————————————> revoked
Suburban kidQuote Reply
At least the offense showed up tonight, but now it’s up to the bullpen. Not confident right now.
dmick89Quote Reply
In the hands of the bullpen—I am not as confident.
ceruleanQuote Reply
9 outs to go. And ideally a few more Cubs runs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Smell ya later, Yadi.
berseliusQuote Reply
Late runs, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It’s amazing these TBS announcers can talk with all that Cardinals dick in their mouths.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Waino warming up…he looked unhittable in game 2.
berseliusQuote Reply
On the contrary, no more runs for the rest of the game.
MylesQuote Reply
Stop. Bunting.
berseliusQuote Reply
They must have gone to Tuva for training before the postseason.
berseliusQuote Reply
Myles,
I’d be OK with that, too.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Soler!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Shove it up your ass, Wainwright!!!!
MylesQuote Reply
Jorge Soler says “Fuck you, Jobu. I do it myself.”
PerkinsQuote Reply
SOLERECTION
THAT IS WHY YOU DONT BUNT
berseliusQuote Reply
A HOMER FOR EVERYONE
Suburban kidQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Someone give Manny Ramirez a raise.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Hip hip Jorge!
uncle daveQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
YOU GET A HOMER
YOU GET A HOMER
YOU GET A HOMER
berseliusQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Seriously. If they don’t find a long-term role for that guy, I’ll be disappointed.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Don’t tell me what to do
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
That was a quality bunt and nearly a hit. I’m fine with it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Soler flare!
WaLiQuote Reply
Soler murdered that ball. Wow.
dmick89Quote Reply
Too many quotes, too many quotes.
Too many quotes, too many quotes.
Seems I tripped the moderation filter.
Strange, I wouldn’t call myself a moderate.
The gist:
(dying (dying (dying (dying laughing) laughing) laughing) laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Normally I’d agree but with that wind and the fact that Fowler actually didn’t bunt much during the year, I dunno. Don’t care now.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat, Process > results
http://smurfs.wikia.com/wiki/Brainy_Smurf?file=Brainy.jpg
berseliusQuote Reply
Home runs by Schwarber, Castro, Bryant, Rizzo, & Soler. All signed through 2020.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Who is this guy in Cahill’s uniform?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow, Cahill hanging clown shoes.
berseliusQuote Reply
So you’re guaranteeing a sixpeat. I’ll take it.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Russell would have made that play.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
What the fuck was that by Baez?
dmick89Quote Reply
Lazy Mexican trope strikes again!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Baez error. Heyward up.
Oh boy.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
This doesn’t feel like a three-run lead.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
New shit: http://obstructedview.net/nldscardinals-cubs-game-3-part-2/
dmick89Quote Reply
New shit: http://obstructedview.net/nldscardinals-cubs-game-3-part-2/#comment-145791
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Got a little dusty in here with that Ernie clip.
Hope they do Santo tomorrow.
berseliusQuote Reply
I hate bitching about it but holy shit these pitches are nowhere near the strike zone and getting called strikes
WaLiQuote Reply
Fuckin hell yea! Sorry I can never participate in game threads, no cable so I watch at bars
Nate the old recalcitrant one from a long time agoQuote Reply