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

[ConstableRabbit]

I am so excited to get a full season out of Contreras.

[bukie]

#7: Rizzo Drives in Bryant for First Series Run

 

 

Why on the list? - Only seems fair that the two of them combine to score the first run for the series for the Cubs. Also, it was the first World Series run the Cubs had scored in 71 years. Game 1, the offense was shut down the entire game by Indians pitching, the Cubs couldn't get anything going. Here, though, Bryant and Rizzo jumped on Bauer right away, giving the Indians their first home deficit since the 3rd inning of Game 1 of the ALDS, and taking the pressure off the rest of the team that these Indians were not in fact invincible.

[mikeyt34]

Watching Bryant run the bases is so awesome. He's so fundamentally sound running the bases it's scary, not a wasted step and looks like a freakin' gazelle out there.

[imb]

Yeah, in a bit of an oddity, the Cubs got 8 RBI from 8 different players in game 7, and none were Bryant or Schwarber. Bryant scored twice, though.

So good. Top to bottom.

 

that's what he said

[bukie]

#6: Ross Hits Final HR

 

 

Why on the list? - Not every day that David Ross, third catcher only here because of Jon Lester, gets to hit a HR in Game 7 of the World Series in his last official AB (he later walked). Quite the journey for a player most fans dreaded when he signed and hoped he'd never see the field. To go from public perception on his first day as a Cub to the last day as a Cub, eventually being carried off the field, is some kind of storybook ending that even a sure-thing HOFer like David Ortiz didn't get a chance to experience. 14 years earlier, David Ross was called up by the LA Dodgers for September call-ups, and got inserted into a game late against the Arizona Diamondbacks, since the Dodgers were way ahead. So then, this happened when he faced another familiar face to Cubs fans, Mark Grace:

 

[bukie]

That leaves 5 for tomorrow.

[David]

#6: Ross Hits Final HR

 

 

Why on the list? - Not every day that David Ross, third catcher only here because of Jon Lester, gets to hit a HR in Game 7 of the World Series in his last official AB (he later walked). Quite the journey for a player most fans dreaded when he signed and hoped he'd never see the field. To go from public perception on his first day as a Cub to the last day as a Cub, eventually being carried off the field, is some kind of storybook ending that even a sure-thing HOFer like David Ortiz didn't get a chance to experience. 14 years earlier, David Ross was called up by the LA Dodgers for September call-ups, and got inserted into a game late against the Arizona Diamondbacks, since the Dodgers were way ahead. So then, this happened when he faced another familiar face to Cubs fans, Mark Grace:

 

 

Another familiar face makes a cameo in this video, as Ross gets the celebratory fist bump from Tyler Houston.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Andrew Miller's reaction isn't Kershaw/Rizzo-level but I love that disbelieving look while squatting.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Andrew Miller's reaction isn't Kershaw/Rizzo-level but I love that disbelieving look while squatting.

 

It's the baseball surrender cobra, and we did it to the best lefty starter and reliever in the game.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bonus points for Lester's bizarre death-stare from the dugout.

[soccer10k]

Until that ball actually cleared the fence, I never thought it was going out. As Davis was slowing up while he was getting to the wall, I kept expecting him to stop and put his glove up to make the catch. I know balls were carrying but Ross homering to dead center off Andrew Miller just seemed so unlikely.

[Sammy Sofa]

Until that ball actually cleared the fence, I never thought it was going out. As Davis was slowing up while he was getting to the wall, I kept expecting him to stop and put his glove up to make the catch. I know balls were carrying but Ross homering to dead center off Andrew Miller just seemed so unlikely.

 

I thought that for both his and Dexter's HR. Davis just seemed like he had a bead on both and sold it well.

[Cubswin11]

Until that ball actually cleared the fence, I never thought it was going out. As Davis was slowing up while he was getting to the wall, I kept expecting him to stop and put his glove up to make the catch. I know balls were carrying but Ross homering to dead center off Andrew Miller just seemed so unlikely.

 

I thought that for both his and Dexter's HR. Davis just seemed like he had a bead on both and sold it well.

Then reality, and gravity, checked in and he realized he had the standing jump of a small, small man

[Bull]

Yeah, in a bit of an oddity, the Cubs got 8 RBI from 8 different players in game 7, and none were Bryant or Schwarber. Bryant scored twice, though.

So good. Top to bottom.

 

that's what he said

I'm just agreeing.

[jersey cubs fan]

So good. Top to bottom.

 

that's what he said

I'm just agreeing.

Not that there's anything wrong with it

[bukie]

#5: Fowler Opens Game 7 With a Bang

 

 

Why on the list? - The first ever leadoff home run in a game 7, and it certainly put nervous Cub fans at ease somewhat. It didn't get out by much, and when it did get out, most fans weren't even sure Davis didn't come up with that (including Pat and Ron). As Fowler rounded the bases, he turned back towards the dugout and said something while backpedaling, one of the more memorable home run trots in history. Also a reason that no matter what Fowler does from here on out, he'll always be a Cub fan favorite and Cub legend.

[bukie]

#4: Bryant Refuses to Go Quietly Into the Night

 

 

Why on the list? - The Cubs were down 3-1 in the series, had looked miserable offensively for almost the entire series, and had barely even held a lead in a game at home in losing twice. They were trailing this game 1-0 against Bauer, and they were running out of time before the Indians' bullpen would be tasked with putting the series away. In stepped Bryant, who had been completely quiet in the series to that point, but finally gave the fans something to cheer about. For those who may not have noticed, this clip also displays the final time the Indians had a lead in the series.

[bukie]

#3: Russell Goes Nuclear

 

 

Why on the list? - Game 5 was a tense, tight affair where fans were on the edge of their seats the entire final 5 innings. This game, however, was over as soon as Russell connected here, and suddenly the offense was back. There was no doubt that this one was out as soon as he hit it, and he knew it. Russell started the playoffs 1 for 25 and got pinch hit for by Coghlan in the NLDS, but went 12 for his next 36 with three home runs, none bigger than this.

[mikeyt34]

@ #3

 

That ball was absolutely destroyed. If Addi stays healthy I think 30/100 is a distinct possibility for him this year.

[bukie]

#2: One Last Rally

 

 

Why on the list? - The Indians had improbably come back from a 5-1 and 6-3 deficit to tie the game in the 8th. The Cubs hadn't gotten any offense going for 4 innings, and the 10th was slowed by a 17-minute rain delay. However, it also allowed the Cubs to regroup in the clubhouse, and when things started up again the offense did everything right. Schwarber started things off with a line single to RF. Almora pinch ran for him, and smartly tagged up on a long fly by Bryant to get to second. This was huge, as the Indians then intentionally walked Rizzo to face Zobrist, who fought off a couple nasty pitches before taking another nasty pitch the other way for a double to bring in the first run. The Indians then intentionally walked Russell, which will go down as the last 4-pitch intentional walk in MLB history. Montero would then follow with a line single in the hole on the left side, giving the Cubs the last run they needed, and giving all 3 Cub catchers an RBI in the game. This was probably cheating, rolling this all into one moment, but it was a series of moments that all added up into a euphoric half inning that should be experienced together.

[bukie]

#1: Bryant to Rizzo to Champs

 

 

Why on the list? - It's over. The Cubs have won the World Series.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3ugBD_L0kA

[bukie]

Well, there you go. 108 memorable moments from a memorable season, plenty more that didn't make the list.

 

What are your top 5 moments?

Any that didn't make the list that you remember?

 

It's Opening Day, though, so time to make some new moments.

[javy knows my name]

Well, there you go. 108 memorable moments from a memorable season, plenty more that didn't make the list.

 

What are your top 5 moments?

Any that didn't make the list that you remember?

 

It's Opening Day, though, so time to make some new moments.

 

Thanks so much Bukie, this was amazing. Pretty strong testament to your work that the only critiques so far were from two people who didn't read your entire posts. Fantastic job

[imb]

#3: Russell Goes Nuclear

 

 

Why on the list? - Game 5 was a tense, tight affair where fans were on the edge of their seats the entire final 5 innings. This game, however, was over as soon as Russell connected here, and suddenly the offense was back. There was no doubt that this one was out as soon as he hit it, and he knew it. Russell started the playoffs 1 for 25 and got pinch hit for by Coghlan in the NLDS, but went 12 for his next 36 with three home runs, none bigger than this.

 

I was cooking dinner and fighting with my wife about something stupid when this happened. I had the laptop on but the game muted and this instantly ended the fight.

[imb]

Zobrist got four straight pitches on the outside corner and the indians left their 3B 20 feet off the line the whole at bat