Padres-Cubs Wild Card Game One Thread, By The Numbers

[ILMindState]

Blow them out tomorrow and have a nice drive to Wrigley north

[Geographyhater8888]

Swanson should be the game 1 MVP.

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, mul21 said:

Man, Boyd wiggling out of that jam early was just absolutely huge.

Dansby was a huge reason why Boyd wiggled out of those jams.

[Bertz]

Really fun game

- I didn't love Craig going with Palencia when he did, very happy to be wrong.  Similarly I was a bit surprised at Pomeranz over Thielbar

- Mike Shildt didn't do anything wrong per se, but using your top 3 relievers in a loss in a series this short *hurts*

- I hope Dansby being the player of the game gets him a little bit of grace from the fans going forward.  I don't suspect it will, but I'm hoping

- Speaking of, did Tucker get booed after his K in the first inning or did I hear things?

[WhyCantWeWin]

Pathetic it took them this long to win a playoff game again, but hopefully they can make a deep run

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

4.2 perfect innings from the bullpen. Incredible work.

Padres need to fear our superpen

[mul21]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

7 combined runs scored in the first 2 games lol

That doesn't feel that unusual when teams have their aces lined up.

[UMFan83]

Very interested to see who is starting tomorrow now that we won.  Do we give Shota the bulk of the innings knowing that he has the highest ceiling and we have at least a little buffer if he gets blown up (but should still treat it like our backs are to the wall).  Or do we patch together a bullpen game and risk being down a couple arms in Game 3 if we don't win?

I think opener + Shota is the best option.  

The other thing is, if it goes 3 games and we start Taillon on Thursday, you are looking at Rea likely starting Game 1 of the NLDS against his former team.

[Outshined_One]

2 minutes ago, Bertz said:

- Speaking of, did Tucker get booed after his K in the first inning or did I hear things?

[Rex Buckingham]

Counsell pushed all the right buttons today

[BKHoo]

Did Shota pitch versus the Padres this year? 

Edited September 30, 2025 by BKHoo

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

Very interested to see who is starting tomorrow now that we won.  Do we give Shota the bulk of the innings knowing that he has the highest ceiling and we have at least a little buffer if he gets blown up (but should still treat it like our backs are to the wall).  Or do we patch together a bullpen game and risk being down a couple arms in Game 3 if we don't win?

I think opener + Shota is the best option.  

The other thing is, if it goes 3 games and we start Taillon on Thursday, you are looking at Rea likely starting Game 1 of the NLDS against his former team.

Soroka/Rea for two, Shota, then the other of Soroka/Rea if Shota starts giving up home runs.

[cubfansince77]

2 minutes ago, mul21 said:

That doesn't feel that unusual when teams have their aces lined up.

Correct 21...some damn nice arms on display today. Man, what an effort by Boyd. To think he's our #3/4 next year but got thrust into starting today is wild. Helluva effort and helluva year from him. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 minute ago, BKHoo said:

Did Shota Mitch versus the Padres this year? 

Yes, 5 innings, 1 solo homer, 7 K.

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Very interested to see who is starting tomorrow now that we won.  Do we give Shota the bulk of the innings knowing that he has the highest ceiling and we have at least a little buffer if he gets blown up (but should still treat it like our backs are to the wall).  Or do we patch together a bullpen game and risk being down a couple arms in Game 3 if we don't win?

I think opener + Shota is the best option.  

The other thing is, if it goes 3 games and we start Taillon on Thursday, you are looking at Rea likely starting Game 1 of the NLDS against his former team.

I think you have to start Shota given the ceiling and how much worse the Padres are against LHP. 

[Rcal10]

54 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

It was still the right thing to do though even if it didn't work out.  Jackson Merrill is 3x the player Happ is and he laid down a bunt just a few innings before, it's time to play winning baseball 

Merrill bunting was god awful baseball. 

[Rex Buckingham]

Yeah, let Shota start. Stick with the routine, but be ready to make a move just like you were today. Thankfully, they've got a win banked, so there is far less pressure on them. 

[UMFan83]

It had been 1,259 days since the last "Big 5" Chicago playoff victory

[Connor McConnor]

Site Mods online right now.   

 

 

[Rcal10]

53 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Yes, he's been hurt a lot this year.  His stats as a 21 year old rookie last year are better than Happ's best season.  He's a way, way better player.  That isn't even an insult to Happ.  Merrill is an up and coming star 

And in any event, if you think they are the "same" player, then one of them shouldn't be so selfish as to not play winning baseball and do the little things needed to win 

Since Merrill bunting is showing how to play winning baseball, can you tell me if they scored that inning with that successful bunt? 

[BigSlick]

cubbies!!! yes!!! 

[gflore34]

Early game today, terrible base running by a really good base runner.  With Vest on the mound, infield in, Guardians would managed to at least tie the game.

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Really fun game

- I didn't love Craig going with Palencia when he did, very happy to be wrong.  Similarly I was a bit surprised at Pomeranz over Thielbar

- Mike Shildt didn't do anything wrong per se, but using your top 3 relievers in a loss in a series this short *hurts*

- I hope Dansby being the player of the game gets him a little bit of grace from the fans going forward.  I don't suspect it will, but I'm hoping

- Speaking of, did Tucker get booed after his K in the first inning or did I hear things?

I think bunting with Merrill was a dumb move by Shildt. That is so 70’s baseball and proven not to be the right move. 
 

Edited September 30, 2025 by Rcal10

[imb]

19 minutes ago, mul21 said:

That doesn't feel that unusual when teams have their aces lined up.

And don’t forget about Matthew Boyd

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

Early game today, terrible base running by a really good base runner.  With Vest on the mound, infield in, Guardians would managed to at least tie the game.

It was the contact play. Ramirez is running as soon as the ball is hit, period. It isn’t bad baserunning. Besides that, playing out. If he doesn’t run they get the guy at 1st. Then the next batter grounds out and they don’t score.