10/19 Cubs (Dickbag McHorseteeth) vs Dodgers (Urias) 7 p.m., FS1

[Agony and Ivy]

This is likely a loss. Urias is similar to Hill. The only difference is that he's younger, but he'll probably go 6 innings. Unless Lackey can hold them to 1 run or less by that point, I don't see the Cubs winning tomorrow.

 

This series will end in 5 most likely barring a Kershaw collapse.

 

G'day.

 

I'm halfway through anger-eating a bag of M&Ms and hating myself for letting a game impact me this much, and I still can't even fathom the things people do to try and find their way to pessimism.

 

Julio Urias isn't similar to Rich Hill. Hill throws 2 pitches, Urias fairly evenly mixes in 4. Hill had a 2.12 ERA, Urias's is higher than John Lackey's. Urias has already had an outing where the Cubs bombed him into oblivion. He hasn't thrown more than 3.2 innings in 46 days. The Dodgers preferred to send both Kershaw and Hill on 3 days rest than let him start in the NLDS. He is undeniably talented and has had a strong outing against the Cubs, but spare me the 'likely loss' stuff.

 

He'll be mixing in his filthy slider and curve ball. He has the blueprint on how to shut down the Cubs bats. I'm not directly comparing statistics, but they're both lefties and they both have a nasty curve ball. That's all that needs to be said against this Cubs lineup. That's all true that he hasn't thrown many innings, but I don't think it'll matter too much if the bats help him out by striking out like they have been all series long. The guy the Cubs bombed was pitching one of his first few starts. That's no longer the case anymore. NLDS is different from the NLCS because the Nats aren't nearly as flawed and didn't have a blueprint. It was also a winner take all game 5 on the road so you can understand why they'd want Kershaw or Hill over him. It is likely a loss barring them hitting some pitches that they haven't hit well all season long. Sorry that that disappoints you, but that's just the truth.

 

If you haven't already prepared yourself for the cubs season coming to a close, you should do so. It'll take a miracle to save this season given the circumstances the Cubs face in the next two games.

 

This is the dumbest horsefeathering post I've ever read. He could be Sandy horsefeathering Koufax but it doesn't change the fact he's not going more than 4. You really should watch another team or quit watching baseball all together.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

Can we photoshop like 80 posters' faces on Stillwell Angel?

[Sammy Sofa]

I appreciate the positive takes and I know things can change from game to game, but getting shut out two games in a row can't help but feel pretty damn soul-crushing. It looks like the whole time is pressing because of it and this is the first game this postseason I'm really, really nervous about. Lackey being out there is NOT helping. I hope his dumb face proves me wrong.

[USSoccer]

Last night it looked like everyone was pressing.

 

If we can manage to get a lead early that would probably help relax everyone.

 

Fowler

Bryant

Rizzo

Zobrist

Baez

Contreras (LF)

Heyward

Montero

Seabiscuit

[Derwood]

Lackey vs Urias is the fifth biggest age difference in postseason history

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Welp, I put my hand through a wall tonight. Knuckles still good-missed the stud.

 

horsefeathers the Dodgers. GOCUBSGO.

 

Way to go, slugger!!!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Welp, I put my hand through a wall tonight. Knuckles still good-missed the stud.

 

horsefeathers the Dodgers. GOCUBSGO.

http://67.media.tumblr.com/6e55c6b9fd781bc92d5802c6bc1eb839/tumblr_o3oipnqiZR1qzpn6vo2_540.gif

[JonJayCutler]

He'll be mixing in his filthy slider and curve ball. He has the blueprint on how to shut down the Cubs bats. I'm not directly comparing statistics, but they're both lefties and they both have a nasty curve ball. That's all that needs to be said against this Cubs lineup. That's all true that he hasn't thrown many innings, but I don't think it'll matter too much if the bats help him out by striking out like they have been all series long. The guy the Cubs bombed was pitching one of his first few starts. That's no longer the case anymore. NLDS is different from the NLCS because the Nats aren't nearly as flawed and didn't have a blueprint. It was also a winner take all game 5 on the road so you can understand why they'd want Kershaw or Hill over him. It is likely a loss barring them hitting some pitches that they haven't hit well all season long. Sorry that that disappoints you, but that's just the truth.

 

If you haven't already prepared yourself for the cubs season coming to a close, you should do so. It'll take a miracle to save this season given the circumstances the Cubs face in the next two games.

 

Hill OPS against LHB: .522

Urias OPS against LHB: .740

 

The fact they both throw with the same arm means nothing. And Rizzo is horsefeathering donging tonight.

[ScrubMD]

On the bright side, if we lose tonight, this series is tracking perfectly for us to reverse 2003 them.

[Schwarber Fan]

Help us out, Fred.

[MUCubsfan]

Dickbag McHorseteeth? Seriously?

[David]

Dickbag has got this. Edited October 19, 2016 by David

[Tim]

We get this to 2-2 and the Dodgers are facing the prospect of facing Lester in Game 5. And they know they can't hit him. And a loss in that game would mean they head to Chicago having to win both games. We start dictating the terms of this series with one win tonight. They'd be all but forced to go to Kershaw in Game 5. And that's what I want. Get him on short rest and make him beat our best at full strength.

yup

[USSoccer]

The goal should have always been to win at least 1, preferably 2 of these 3 games. Last night was our margin of error.

[Tim]

Dickbag McHorseteeth? Seriously?

I guess you've missed the Lackey narrative on the site this year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The goal should have always been to win at least 1, preferably 2 of these 3 games. Last night was our margin of error.

 

The goal should be to win every game. Every playoff loss significantly lowers your chances of winning. Last night was not just a "margin of error."

[Bull]

Seriously folks. Our weak game thread game has been the cause of this. You want to blame Rizzo for his power outage, Russel for looking lost, good God, you've even turned on the incredibly handsome Jorge Soler. Well turn around and take a look at his **holds up a mirror to some of the legendary posters of NSBB** Who is to blame?!? Us! That's who. You guys were posting better in spring training for horsefeathers sake. That's right, I said horsefeathers. I'm a little mad right now.

 

This is the best message board on the inter webs and we're posting like a bunch of BFIB. Suck it up! Get out there and do what you know to do. Do what you've done all season and win this one!

 

IMB! I want better jokes! UMFan get your head out of your horsefeathers. Our owner PoorTimStewart had been all but absentee (protecting us from hackers....blahblahblah, like that's a real thing). Kyle...I need more Kyle. And Rondon-Fan...Why in the horsefeathers haven't you changed your name to Rizzo-Russell-Arrieta-Lackey-Zobrist-Fan

 

Where are the Nachos? The MSpaints? AND WHY HAS NO ONE POSTED ANY HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS YET!!!

 

**DEEP BREATH**

 

Guys. Guys.....

 

*pleading* Guys....a-a-and gals.

 

We are better than this. This is the best Message board in Baseball, we've just got to start posting like it. Now get out there and win one for Fred!!!

[USSoccer]

The goal should have always been to win at least 1, preferably 2 of these 3 games. Last night was our margin of error.

 

The goal should be to win every game. Every playoff loss significantly lowers your chances of winning. Last night was not just a "margin of error."

 

I don't agree. Flip home field advantage back to you at a minimum, and go back to Chicago up 3-2 as a maximum should have been the target and regardless of the frustrating disappointment of last night, that target is still perfectly within reach.

 

Tonight's game is winnable. The hitters need to perform to average expectations. That's all.

[soccer10k]

Dickbag McHorseteeth? Seriously?

 

If the shoe fits.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Last night it looked like everyone was pressing.

 

If we can manage to get a lead early that would probably help relax everyone.

 

Fowler

Bryant

Rizzo

Zobrist

Baez

Contreras (LF)

Heyward

Montero

Seabiscuit

 

Until the Dodgers get on base; then they won't be able to reach the razors fast enough. But seriously, folks need stop trying to spin their own anxiety into a logical thought process.

 

You knew October wasn't going to be a cake walk. We're not the 2005 White Sox, who somehow managed to defy all baseball logic. We might not win this game, but I have little doubt that we're going to take this back to Wrigley. And when we get there, we're going to run into Clayton Kershaw. Buckle up, bitches.

[squally1313]

For me, this game feels like it has the weird combination of being a must win and also one that would put the advantage squarely back in our favor. You win tonight, we have a fully rested Lester ready to go tomorrow, and the Dodgers have to pick between having a huge pitching mismatch, or throwing Kershaw on short rest in what would essentially become a must win for them (being down 3-2 heading back to Wrigley after having just burned your best pitcher is not an ideal spot). Not super confident in Lackey, but hopefully Maddon will know the right way to approach this game, which brings me to my next point...

 

Why the hell was Montgomery pitching the 9th inning there? I thought it has been pretty well established he's our best non-Chapman lefty, and he's more than capable of going multiple innings, which we might need tonight. Rob Z was warm, and it was about as low leverage as you can get. If Lackey gets into trouble tonight and Joe goes to Rob Z instead of Monty well...I'll still assume he's smarter than I am, but I will be very confused.

[Sammys Boombox]

I'm not staying it's ok to be freaking out, but it's not just that the Cubs are down 2-1. It's the ridiculously awful offense compounded by the ridiculously awful offense in last year's NLCS. Does last year have any bearing on our chances this year? No. Does it make this year more frustrating? Yes. All is well (for now) with a win tonight, but don't be surprised when people are hesitant to be positive after the last two games.

 

For the record I'm freaking out but wish I wasn't.

[MUCubsfan]

Dickbag McHorseteeth? Seriously?

I guess you've missed the Lackey narrative on the site this year.

Guess so. I originally disliked the Lackey signing not from a "I don't like the acquisition" perspective but instead a "how can I root for this person" one, but he's grown on me.

[jersey cubs fan]

Dickbag McHorseteeth? Seriously?

I guess you've missed the Lackey narrative on the site this year.

Guess so. I originally disliked the Lackey signing not from a "I don't like the acquisition" perspective but instead a "how can I root for this person" one, but he's grown on me.

much like a shark regrows teeth whenever its loses them while eating a seal

[The Savior]

Law of averages binches