Top 108 Moments for the 2016 Cubs (Now complete!)

[bukie]

#64: Arrieta Makes it Look Like Reds Can't Hit

 

 

Why on the list? - Definitely the most dominant game of the year for the Cubs, and potentially one of the most dominant games in MLB history. The Reds were bad all year, but never quite as bad as they were on this day, as the Cubs squeaked out a 16-0 victory without allowing a hit. Arrieta actually wasn't especially sharp during the game with command, walking four and striking out just 6, throwing 119 pitches. Good enough for a game score of 89, good for 14th in the NL that season, but the best regular season performance for the Cubs.

[Tim]

#64: Arrieta Makes it Look Like Reds Can't Hit

 

 

Why on the list? - Definitely the most dominant game of the year for the Cubs, and potentially one of the most dominant games in MLB history. The Reds were bad all year, but never quite as bad as they were on this day, as the Cubs squeaked out a 16-0 victory without allowing a hit. Arrieta actually wasn't especially sharp during the game with command, walking four and striking out just 6, throwing 119 pitches. Good enough for a game score of 89, good for 14th in the NL that season, but the best regular season performance for the Cubs.

lol - still 63 better moments to go. Than a no hitter.

 

I love this team.

[bukie]

#63: Russell Makes Sure Everyone Leaves Home Opener Happy

 

 

Why on the list? - The Cubs spent most of their home opener stymied by Brandon Finnegan, no-hit through 6 and 2/3 innings before a David Ross bloop single broke up the no-hitter. Finnegan left after a couple walks, before the Reds brought in a lefty to face Heyward with the bases loaded on his Cubs' home debut. For those who forgot, this is what Heyward did in his Cubs' home opener:

 

 

But Russell had the big hit in the 8th, for the Cubs 3rd and final hit of the evening, to win 5-3. That was the biggest hit by WPA of the season.

[bukie]

#62: Kris Bryant is a Giant Among Mortals

 

 

Why on the list? - Bryant did something that hadn't been done since 1913, hitting 3 HRs and 2 doubles in the same game. This game happened June 27, right in the middle of the dark times, and the Cubs were coming off a 6 of 7 losing streak coming into this game. I'd like to say this got them rolling again, but they responded to this performance (and eventually sweeping CIN) by losing another 9 of 10. But for this day, Kris Bryant was the best player in the stadium, and probably better than the entire Reds offense.

[bukie]

#61: Cubs Celebrate Division Clinch in Style

 

 

Why on the list? - Sure, technically they clinched the night before when the Cardinals lost, but Maddon still played the starters in this game, and Montero was settling nicely into his role as bench hero that would come in handy going forward.

Edited February 18, 2017 by bukie

[Cubswin11]

LOL Reds Pitching

[bukie]

60 moments left, 42 days until opening day.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Last year was kinda fun.

[bukie]

#60: Arrieta Reminds Bumgarner That He's a Better Hitter

 

 

Why on the list? - Quite possibly the "forgotten HR" of the NLDS, what with all the other excitement during the series. The Cubs, coming off wins in the first two games, started game 3 off with a bang also as Arrieta gets the better of Bumgarner. Say what you will about the end of this game, but Arrieta definitely outdueled Bumgarner on this day.

[UMFan83]

I don't care that we lost, that was a damn fun game between that HR, the clutch game tying Bryant HR and the incredible game saving catch by Almora

[weis21]

Bukie clearly had a great idea with this thread to bump his NSB heart count. Well played. I can't give them out quick enough.

 

Honestly though, I love this thread and thank you for doing this.

[bukie]

Stlll behind where I want to be at this point, so I'll keep doing 2 a day until I'm mostly caught up.

[bukie]

#59: Baez Shows SF What 2B Defense Truly Is

 

 

Why on the list? - So, this season, Joe Panik won the NL Gold Glove at 2B, mostly by default, since nobody qualified was even halfway decent there. In fact, Javy had as many runs saved in 400 innings at 2B as everyone else in the league did in full time 2B duty. It took all of one game for the announcers to start falling all over themselves about Javy, but here was where the Giant fans really got to see what he was capable of defensively. Some may argue Rizzo's foot was off the bag, but the call stood, and the fact it was even close was all Javy.

[jumbo]

#68: Baez Delivers a Mother's Day Gift

 

 

Why on the list? - Coming into this series, the Nats actually had record about the same as the Cubs. The Cubs won the first 3 games of the series, and for the 4th, they were determined not to let Bryce Harper beat them, putting him on base seven times in the game, and having it work out every time. And then to top it off, Baez ended it in the 13th just after the Cubs walked the bases loaded and got Zimmerman to end the inning for the 7th or so time.

 

Also beautiful is Strop's run towards home, cloning his run for Bryant, was it? Last year?

[bukie]

#58: Ross Shows Matt Moore Isn't Completely Unhittable

 

 

Why on the list? - Sure, Moore baffled most Cub hitters in game 4 for 8 innings, but Ross showed he wasn't invincible, and that the Cubs weren't going to go quietly in this game. The Cubs actually put 2 runs on the board against Moore off a total of 2 hits, though the other run scored without a hit, thanks to some heads up baserunning:

 

[bukie]

#57: Lester Shuts Down Giants in Game 1

 

 

Why on the list? - An excited and nervous full attendance Wrigley crowd showed up for a tense game 1 pitchers duel, and Lester was up to the task. He kept the Giants off the board for 8 innings, allowing just 5 hits and one tense situation when Pagan doubled with 2 out in the 4th, sending Posey to 3rd. After the 4th inning, no Giant reached base until there were 2 out in the 9th.

Edited February 21, 2017 by bukie

[bukie]

#56: Umpires Make Rizzo/Baez Switch Gloves...For One Pitch

 

 

Why on the list? - During the season, the Cubs would employ a strategy with the opposing pitcher batting and a runner on 1st where Rizzo would play way up the line and the 2B would hold the runner. Clint Hurdle was the initial complainer about the strategy, so the umps started making the Cubs switch gloves so Rizzo was technically the 2B and Baez the 1B for this Cueto AB. Of course, it was really just all a smokescreen for a designed pickoff play on the first pitch, and it worked perfectly.

 

Of course, in #57, I mentioned Lester allowed 5 baserunners, one of which was erased on that play, and another one erased on this play in the first inning:

 

 

But yeah, you can run on Lester...

Edited February 21, 2017 by bukie

[David]

the horsefeathers like that is why i laugh when people try to say maddon is poor at in game strategy/tactics (granted, who knows who is the true mastermind behind those types of plays), despite him clearly losing his mind with the bullpen in the playoffs (particularly late).

 

if you go over to GRB, some of the responses to criticism of matheny is how they think maddon is mr teflon and is secretly one of the worst in game managers in the game.

[bukie]

#55: Baez Just Misses Span on One Spectacular Play, Gets Him on the Next

 

 

Why on the list? - First, Span hits a ball up the middle that Baez fields, whirls, and throws. The ump initially calls Span out, and Span even tips his cap. The Giants challenge, and it turns out Span just beat out the throw and was safe. Not one to leave well enough alone, however, Span tries taking second in the next AB, and gets nailed by a fantastic Javy tag. You may beat Javy on defense once, but not twice in succession.

[Thurman Merman]

I remember being at spring training 2014 and telling my wife just wait until you see this Baez dude, and then he didnt do anything that game. Last years coming out party in the division series was very satisfying, as Javy was pretty much my favorite dude in the minors, and the whole damn world got to see it.

[squally1313]

Hey bukie I don't mean for this to come out wrong since you've created a thread that I hope to eventually download and return to for the rest of my life, but...

 

it's the middle of February and there is nothing else going on besides the world falling apart and I would really appreciate it if I could disappear into a simpler, happier time (4 months), I don't know, like...10 times a day going forward.

 

Thanks!

[bukie]

#54: Hendricks Gets the Offense Going in Game 2

 

 

Why on the list? - The Cubs jumped on Samardzija early in this game, but the big early damage was done by Hendricks, who hit a little flair with the bases loaded to score 2 and put the Cubs up 3-0 and put Wrigley fans mostly at ease (for at least an inning). If you look at Baez, he read the play the whole way from second and was almost pushing Heyward to make sure they both scored on the play.

[bukie]

#53: Wood Hits First Reliever Playoff HR in Modern Baseball

 

 

Why on the list? - The Cubs had just had a scare when Hendricks took a liner off the arm, and the Giants had rallied for 2 runs to make the score tight again. Wood came into the game in relief, shut down the Giants, then promptly homered to left to end the scoring in game 2. Technically, it's only the first reliever HR since 1924, but it was a different game then, so doing it as he did there, it's a rare feat.

[David]

this got me watching some other NLDS highlights and i was reminded of how ron coomer says hitters "crunch" instead of "crush" the ball and how much i despise it and him for it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just had the thought 'oh yeah, we had a reliever hit a home run in a close playoff game' like that's not something that should have been burned in my brain forever.