At least the Cubs didn’t draw the Dodgers in this one, Kershaw or no Kershaw, and they don’t have to travel yet again. We can only hope the Cubs don’t feel the same frustration and cynicism about being stuck in this position that many of us do at home. I guess we can always point to the 2006 Cardinals. It’s important to remember that one of the most notable things about 2016 was that the best team actually managed to win. Given what a messy season it has been, it would be only fitting if these playoffs were equally messy, and anything can happen.
Team Leaders
Rocks
- OBP: Nolan Arenado (.374)
- ISO: Trevor Story (.273)
- HR: Arenado (37)
- R+RBI: Arenado (212)
- wRC+: Arenado (131)
- BSR: Carlos Gonzalez (3.3)
- DRS: DJ Lemaheiu (+18)
- SP K/9: German Marquez (10.40)
- SP BB/9: Marquez (2.59)
- SP FIP: Marquez (3.34)
- RP K/9: Adam Ottavino (12.98)
- RP BB/9: Scott Oberg (1.68)
- RP FIP: Ottavino (2.74)
- WAR: Arenado (5.7)
Cubs
- OBP: Ben Zobrist (.379)
- ISO: Javier Baez (.266)
- HR: Baez (34)
- R+RBI: Baez (212)
- wRC+: Baez (131)
- BSR: Baez (4.2)
- DRS: Albert Almora (+9)
- SP K/9: Cole Hamels (8.72)
- SP BB/9: Kyle Hendricks (1.99)
- SP FIP: Hamels (3.42)
- RP K/9: Carl Edwards Jr (11.75)
- RP BB/9: Jesse Chavez (1.22)
- RP FIP: Chavez (2.40)
- WAR: Baez (5.5)
The Rockies have a weirdly lousy (park adjusted) offense this year, and are somehow in the playoffs on the back of pitching and defense.
Injuries, transactions, vengeance pacts, etc.
Morrow is done for the season, and Strop probably won’t be back until the NLDS if that happense. Bryant had a week where Joe gave him some ‘proactive’ rest for his may or may not be still bum shoulder, and was hit on the wrist by a pitch earlier this week. That didn’t stop him from hitting a 5000 foot home run in his return. There were rumblings that Schwarber was having some back tightness last week and didn’t seem to play as much as you normally see him.
No big news on the Rockies side, injury wise, that I can see.
Pitching Probables
ERA, FIP, xFIP, projected ERA listed for each pitcher
Tuesday: Kyle Freeland, LHP (2.85, 3.67, 4.22, 4.71) vs Jon Lester, LHP (3.32, 4.40, 4.43, 3.54), 7:05 PM CT
Kyle Freeland seems to be a pitcher in the mold of Kyle Hendricks – he won’t necessarily blow you away, but he’ll keep you off balance and manage contact as well as he can. He’s pitching on three day’s rest in this one, so the Cubs could once again see a lot of the opposing bullpen. As we have seen, that’s not something you want to hear about any of these playoff teams other than the Cubs.
Lester is coming off six shoutout innings against the Pirates that looked like they would be anything but scoreless. Lester certainly has the experience when it comes to pitching in big games, and of the Cubs starters he’s still the guy I would want to see on the mound in a must win game…..assuming Hendricks isn’t available.
Comments
In the event this is the last one you’ll have to do this year, thank you, b, for the series previews and win recaps. You’re a light in the darkness, a true north in a world of spinning compasses.
andcountingQuote Reply
In my 27 years as a Cubs fan, I’ve learned the only win the Cubs win the World Series is when they’re clearly the best team in baseball.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
True, and probably only 25% of the time when that is the case. .
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing)o(dying laughing)o(dying laughing)o(dying laughing)oolll(dying laughing)ol @ PIT
“If you don’t accept our very generous offer of $17 million guaranteed during the next five seasons, then we’re just going to have to transition tag * you.”
*The transition tag would pay Bell more than $17 million next season.
RynoQuote Reply
andcounting,
I’ve heard stories about them winning stuff before, but that’s all they are. Just stories.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
That’s all anything is. #deep
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Nah, man. I watched them win it all in 2016. That was real, man.
RynoQuote Reply
Strop could be back tonight, but I don’t know how much the Cubs can count on him.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
He is seemingly saying that with an EXTREME Chicago accent.
SKQuote Reply
Ryno,
Cool story, bro.
andcountingQuote Reply
SK,
Isn’t he from Florida?
RynoQuote Reply
andcounting,
When the Cubs lose tonight, we’ll all rightfully blame you.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
PerkinsQuote Reply
Feel horrible about this game.
MylesQuote Reply
I’m hoping that Freeland’s pitching on short rest and the Rockies’ having flown DEN-LAX-ORD in two days with a game in between hurts them. But I’m not overly optimistic.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Freeland has also been HR-lucky, which has pushed his numbers down. One game is spiky, though, so if today is a 1 or 2 HR day instead of a 0 HR day, Freeland’s peripherals are such that we will be better set-up than we would against a comparable “elite” starter.
Said another way, a disproportionate part of Freeland’s value is tied up in HR-prevention.
MylesQuote Reply
So, with the lefty Freeman on the mound, what do we want the lineup to be?
I’d go…
Zobrist 4
Baez 6
Bryant 9
Rizzo 3
Contreras 2
Bote 5
Happ 7
Almora 8
Lester 1
Especially because I face no consequences for my fictional decisions.
andcountingQuote Reply
Myles,
Don’t tell me how to feel.
andcountingQuote Reply
I’d also happily swap Heyward in for Happ and just go purely defensive, fuck the platoon splits.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcountingQuote Reply
Myles,
He’ll probably have a -2 homer day.
andcountingQuote Reply
Myles,
The Cubs can handle HR prevention on their own.
RynoQuote Reply
Strop—–>WC roster
Edwards—–>not
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
“Oh chat”
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
“A ho shat.”
RynoQuote Reply
Everybody knows how this is ending
Forgive me for forgetting…
…
Star-crossed [Cubs] slow dancing
Retreating [not] advancing…
…
ceruleanQuote Reply
Then he’s facing the perfect team.
dmick89Quote Reply
Not too surprised about Edwards missing out. He’d basically become the 6th inning guy and he failed at that.
dmick89Quote Reply
Oh no…
RynoQuote Reply
Apparently Edwards had forearm discomfort after Sunday’s game, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up needing TJS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
That sucks. He’s had at least a couple arm injuries this year.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hamels is available in the bullpen tonight.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
That seems like a kind of built-in excuse for leaving him off the roster at this point. It could be serious/genuine, or it could be an easy way to make sitting him a non-issue.
andcountingQuote Reply
Ryno,
That’s why it’s notable.
SKQuote Reply
Edwards was only throwing something like 91-92 MPH on Sunday, so there was some speculation that he might be hurt. That sucks.
North Side PatQuote Reply
Zobrist, RF
Bryant, LF
Rizzo, 1B
Baez, SS
Almora, CF
Murphy, 2B
Contreras, C
Bote, 3B
Lester, P
dmick89Quote Reply
Damn, I was way off.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
No dinner for you.
dmick89Quote Reply
Predictions?
I’ll go first.
Rockies 7
Cubs 4
Lester: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Freeland: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, HR, 3 BB, 5 SO
MylesQuote Reply
MylesQuote Reply
I want to revise my prediction to include Baez hitting 2 HR and striking out 3 times, but I’ll stay with what I’ve put. Love the attitude.
MylesQuote Reply
I want everyone in the locker room to think “we are better than these guys, and I don’t give a shit what they think.”
MylesQuote Reply
Not a single person in the Athletic article thinks the Cubs get out of the NLDS.
MylesQuote Reply
Ugh. It sounds like some people saw the stupid “K-Zone” graphic and said, “more of this, please.”
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Anyway, my only complaint about this lineup is starting Murphy against a LHP. I’d save him to pinch-hit against one of the Rockies’ better right-handed relievers, e.g., Davis or Ottavino.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
OK, and Almora ought never to hit as high as fifth in the order. But other than that, no complaints!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Myles,
Rockies 6, Cubs 1
Lester: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 R
Freeland: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 R
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ll also predict that Willson Contreras has all three of the Cubs hits in this game, including a solo home run.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/what-jon-lester-has-left/
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Those were my thoughts too. But at least Joe acknowledged the platoon disadvantage somewhat by dropping him in the order. I would have loved to see the Cubs’ best defensive infield out there for Lester.
andcountingQuote Reply
My prediction is Cubs 7, Rockies 1. Lester with a complete game 1-hitter, first hit is a leadoff homer.
andcountingQuote Reply
Best news I’ve heard since Strop made the roster.
andcountingQuote Reply
Crazy how different the excitement level is compared to the similar scenario in 2015.
andcountingQuote Reply
Observation from Wrigley: there are way fewer Brewers fans in here tonight compared to yesterday. Therefore the Cubs are going to win.
North Side PatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope A-Rod falls out of the booth.
andcountingQuote Reply
North Side Pat,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Well, that sucks.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Nothing but fastballs so far, most out of the zone.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d like to revise my Lester prediction. He won’t get through two.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is hard to watch.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Nice comeback by Lester.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jesus Christ
dmick89Quote Reply
Seriously?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He’s probably safe, but that’s a risky challenge.
dmick89Quote Reply
I really wish announcers would stop using the phrase “advanced metrics.”
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hate this offense.
dmick89Quote Reply
Watching this game from an Applebee’s which seems fitting.
berseliusQuote Reply
A ball at that distance in LF should be caught. Did KB have his back against the wall?
dmick89Quote Reply
Score some fucking runs.
dmick89Quote Reply
Lester may need to throw 200 pitches tonight.
North Side PatQuote Reply
I hope this is the last at-bat by a Cubs pitcher today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryce Harper, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Good chance we’ll see a reliever hit later.
dmick89Quote Reply
I love it when ESPN does an in-game interview and the actual game takes up less than half of the screen.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This offense is fucking horrible.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
So… Chili gone after this mercifully ends in 6 innings?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Right here. Right now.
andcountingQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I’ll be surprised if he’s back next season.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bump
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I’d even take some regular runs.
berseliusQuote Reply
I could shutout this offense.
dmick89Quote Reply
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
On second thought, maybe later.
andcountingQuote Reply
Lester has really settled down in this one. Shame the Cubs offense is doing its thing.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ll ask nicely. Runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Me too:
Better hitters this year by OPS are Heyward, Baez, Schwarber, Zobrist (coming off an injury from last year).
Everyone else (even pitchers), worse. Most by 50 points or more on OPS.
BVSQuote Reply
The 2018 Chicago Cubs scored 0 or 1 run 40 times. Averaged 4.67 runs scored per game. .744 OPS
The 2017 Chicago Cubs scored 0 or 1 run 28 times. Averaged 5.07 runs scored per game. .775 OPS
The 2016 Chicago Cubs scored 0 or 1 run 19 times. Averaged 4.98 runs scored per game. .772 OPS
I made a post earlier that Chili Davis wasn’t to blame. I was wrong.
JKVQuote Reply
2 out rally for Cubs would be really great
BVSQuote Reply
Apparently, weak-ass groundballs are the new market inefficiency.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Nope, they are just the Cubs’ inefficiency.
BVSQuote Reply
JKV,
That’s a quarter of their games the offense gave them almost no chance of winning. It’s crazy they won 95 this year despite that.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’d settle for baserunners, Hell, even five pitch at bats.
andcountingQuote Reply
You’ve got to pinch hit for Lester.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
How about a 17 pitch at bat for Rizzo?
BVSQuote Reply
dmick89,
Yes. Jessica and Alex both think Lester should stay in the game. They’re wrong.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
They’re idiots. The Cubs need runs, but the bullpen isn’t up so I bet Lester hits.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Rizzo the Rat,
For the first time ever, I agree with A-Rod. The bullpen is gassed. Fewer pitches from the bullpen the better. Besides, Lester is probably the 3rd best batter in the lineup right now.
BVSQuote Reply
Start warming Hendricks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Great start for Lester.
dmick89Quote Reply
At least Lester showed up for this one.
berseliusQuote Reply
BVS,
If they were tied I might agree, but they need runs. They need the best hitter at the plate right now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Any point to pinch hitting here?
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
I wouldn’t agree if they were tied. It’s the third time through the order for Lester, and six good innings don’t have much predictive value.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs are not scoring today.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
This is the best AB of the game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Why isn’t Gore pinch running?
PerkinsQuote Reply
This was reminiscent of Lester’s start in 2016 NLDS game 1. Not quite as dominant, but he looked really good.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Wrigley!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
Wow. Defense!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Defense!
berseliusQuote Reply
Perkins,
Lefty on the mound.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jesus, Anthony.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus fucking assholes.
andcountingQuote Reply
Faaaaaaack
berseliusQuote Reply
What the fuck, Rizzo?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Always good for the soul to see the guy who strikes out less than 10% against LHP, strike out against LHP.
ADD:
Also good to see more groundballs.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I think the Cubs will literally have to be given a run if they’re going to score.
dmick89Quote Reply
That inning ending double play set up for you by Zobrist fucking around with the bunt.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo has a plane to catch.
JKVQuote Reply
Thanks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Will that tootblan stick?
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing), I’ll take it
berseliusQuote Reply
DPLeeted
berseliusQuote Reply
The statcast broadcast is actually pretty decent
GWQuote Reply
Huge fucking zone tonight
berseliusQuote Reply
If they don’t want to warm up Ottavino that’s fine by me.
berseliusQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
PerkinsQuote Reply
At least that wasn’t a double play.
berseliusQuote Reply
Damn. Nice play by Story.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate this team.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Time for a pinch runner? The way this is going the Cubs may not get another chance.
dmick89Quote Reply
Do the Rockies have Sergio Romo? That’s the only way they score a run. Or maybe Joe Blanton.
JKVQuote Reply
Cmon Willie
berseliusQuote Reply
GW,
Hmm… I’m checking on it occasionally, but they seem to be using the split-screen way too much.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson is pumped up about a 2-out walk with first base open.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cmon Tommy
berseliusQuote Reply
TWO baserunners. At the same time. It’s like Christmas.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
La Stella? Seriously? With Schwarber on the bench???????
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah, it’s definitely too graphics-heavy, but Petriello seems on-point
GWQuote Reply
Why the fuck isn’t Schwarber hitting now
berseliusQuote Reply
The La Stella Special.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Catcher’s interference? I’ll take it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cmon War Bear
berseliusQuote Reply
Is… Schwarber hurt?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Heyward instead of Schwarber?
PerkinsQuote Reply
What the fuck with Heyward here
berseliusQuote Reply
Take that HBP, Heyward.
PerkinsQuote Reply
The way the inning is gone, I guess it’s OK, but no Gore pinch running for Almora?
BVSQuote Reply
That was as predictable as it was infuriating.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No game that Joe can’t overmanage
berseliusQuote Reply
Damn it.
BVSQuote Reply
Remember when Heyward was like a 5 WAR player?
North Side PatQuote Reply
Maddon must have really taken that Schwarber Fangraphs article to heart.
JKVQuote Reply
If Schwarber comes up in some lower-leverage situation later, I’ll scream.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The LaStella CI call was the universe’s way of giving Joe a mulligan for not using Schwarber. Predictably, he didn’t see that.
PerkinsQuote Reply
JKV,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Rosario is on the roster?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Butera is hitting in a winner-take-all game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
If you’re going to pack your bullpen with the WC roster, you gotta bring in your shaky lefty to face a RHB.
/Maddon
berseliusQuote Reply
Blow the team up for prospects
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Rosario walks Butera. I… am speechless
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
In a winner take all game, the Cubs go to Randy Rosario.
JKVQuote Reply
The zone is tightening up now that the starters are out.
berseliusQuote Reply
I should have tried the Statcast earlier. No A-Rod is such an improvement.
BVSQuote Reply
I wonder how much better the bullpen would seem if they had a manager who knew how to use one.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Reminds me of Dusty riding Borowski about 35 games in a row.
BVSQuote Reply
I can’t believe Murphy went to 2nd.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well. Now is as good a time as any to start barreling the ball.
andcountingQuote Reply
Way to sell it, Cubs.
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
I think Javy actually conjured that throw by telepathy.
andcountingQuote Reply
He’s out?
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing), I’ll take it.
berseliusQuote Reply
I think that was a pity call.
berseliusQuote Reply
Can’t believe ESPN didn’t have a better angle than that. But good for us
BVSQuote Reply
Ya. I switched to ESPN2 after A-Rod said: “and that’s why Jon Lester is Jon Lester.”
JKVQuote Reply
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
The most fitting way for this game to end is a 2-1 loss in 16 innings.
berseliusQuote Reply
I wonder if Bryant is ever going to be a MVP caliber player again.
JKVQuote Reply
No.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
I tell you what. All these singles are gonna add up to a run or two someday.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Javy!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
JAVY!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
JAVY!!!
berseliusQuote Reply
Unfortunately, the lineup is now Rizzo-less.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
One more, please.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Gore was home almost before Baez was out of the box, (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Sourpuss. (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
If I weren’t on my phone I’d try to find GBTS’s Campana inside the park HR gif (dying laughing) (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
El fucking ma fucking go!
andcountingQuote Reply
I might have pinch hit Schwarber for Almora there.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Don’t fucking tell me what to do.
el Fucking maQuote Reply
Hats to the left
berseliusQuote Reply
Nice to have Strop back.
dmick89Quote Reply
Strop!
PerkinsQuote Reply
PEDRO
North Side PatQuote Reply
Don’t get used to it. Joe will probably have him hit here.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
Only guy in the pen who is rested, (dying laughing). But he’s up to bat this inning…
BVSQuote Reply
That pitch that Davis throws. The one that Gameday portrays as falling off the fucking screen, must look really, really good when it leaves his hand.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
So now we know why Schwarber wasn’t up before.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
To be fair, he only saw two strikes.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Well, if the umpire is going to call the outside pitch a strike, Schwarber has to chase it, I guess.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Dammit, b. I need to wake up at 6 am EST.
JKVQuote Reply
Fuck that donkey shit.
andcountingQuote Reply
That’s the farthest Butera has hit the ball in months.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Let’s get some motherfucking runs
berseliusQuote Reply
Come on, offense.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
Let’s just get one, and save all the others we were going to score for Milwaukee.
BVSQuote Reply
It seems like Zobrist is at the plate in every other PA
berseliusQuote Reply
Damn, Arenado.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Watching the Stacast broadcast now. I haven’t seen the split-screen in a while, so that’s nice.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Gore.
andcountingQuote Reply
Why did Bryant throw to second?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Fewer coronary embolisms, please.
andcountingQuote Reply
I would like Javier Baez to end the game now, plz.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
First pitch walk off, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Javy walk alert!
berseliusQuote Reply
Javy, my man.
andcountingQuote Reply
I wouldn’t have guessed walk as the result for that Javy PA if you gave me thirty guesses.
dmick89Quote Reply
All right. Steal three bases plz, Javy.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Damn, Javy almost had third.
berseliusQuote Reply
Javy has to try to steal third here, right?
berseliusQuote Reply
Cmon, Willie
berseliusQuote Reply
God damn it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The fuck is this
berseliusQuote Reply
What the hell was baez doing?
dmick89Quote Reply
Come the fuck on with this ticky tack shit, rockies.
berseliusQuote Reply
That was weird.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
I don’t know. I’d be pretty pissed if I was the Rockies. That seems like obvious interference by Baez.
dmick89Quote Reply
Gah, motherfucker
berseliusQuote Reply
Damnit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Oh good, it’s Justin Wilson.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Oh good, it’s no longer Justin Wilson.
berseliusQuote Reply
Cyle!!
berseliusQuote Reply
Cyle
North Side PatQuote Reply
So who the hell would start game 1 if they get there? Montgomery?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Shoulda kept Chris Giminez smh.
berseliusQuote Reply
Wait. Pitching change for Butera?
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
Depending on how many pitches Hendricks throws, I’d guess Hendricks or Hamels.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I really don’t get this pitching move. No one on, bring in Hendricks?
BVSQuote Reply
Win, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
BVS,
Ok then.
BVSQuote Reply
Should’ve left 2017 Heyward off the roster.
andcountingQuote Reply
I miss Kris Bryant.
dmick89Quote Reply
Losing at this point would be a mercy killing. The Cubs can’t beat the Brewers with no starters.
andcountingQuote Reply
I really hate this team.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Well. Hope you’re happy.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
We are down to our final 3 outs, and Gore is the first batter. Unreal.
North Side PatQuote Reply
North Side Pat,
Maybe he can lean into a pitch.
BVSQuote Reply
To be fair. I can’t decide whether this is better or not. Getting another minimum of three games to watch this formerly talented now completely terrible fucking offense doesn’t sound all that great. Otoh, I hate losing winnable games. And this one has been winnable every step of the way.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
6 th batter in inning would be delaRosa
BVSQuote Reply
That didn’t hit Gore.
dmick89Quote Reply
I can’t believe Gore got out of the way of that.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
They should have had the take sign on, even on 3-2.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah, you gotta lean in.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I’m more annoyed he chased on a full count now.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t think Ryno is going to be changing his name.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Not a likable team. Can’t believe I don’t like a 95 win Cubs team.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I like them plenty.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This was the most inconsistent Cubs team in my life.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well…now I can catch up on all the things I didn’t get done while running from wind and floods from Hurricane Florence. 🙁
BVSQuote Reply
dmick89,
Add another 1-run-scored game to JKV’s total somewhere up above.
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah, I like them, but they frustrated me a lot. The Cubs need to do something offensively to help them be more consistent. I have no idea what, but this was an entire season of an inconsistent offense.
dmick89Quote Reply
BVS,
40 out of 164. The Orioles had 40 in 162.
dmick89Quote Reply
I should probably be stewing about Gore chasing that 3-2 pitch to lead off the inning, but then I remember that his getting on base might have just prolonged the game indefinitely.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope this means the end of Chili Davis and Jim Hickey.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I really doubt the coaching staff deserve much blame, but who knows?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/rockies-2-cubs-1/
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
They probably don’t, but the results are what they are. Chili was brought in to get the offense more consistent and it didn’t happen. And the team he left exploded into one of the best offenses in baseball.
I bet Hickey keeps his job.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply