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I'd play regardless of the stakes. I think I still have Kershaw. Tim - remember when we traded A-Rod for Kershaw ? :stickman:

As I discussed a time or two back in the day, this league would die when the Cubs won the World Series. This league has died. :flythew:

I'll be back. Plan to continue making the playoffs and losing when I get there.

I'm just going to listen to Roxy Music's "Avalon" for the next 5 hours to mellow out completely before breaking out in hives watching the game.

I don't get the Smoltz bashing. He's the best color analyst Fox has put there in as long as I can recall. Does he have his "duh" moments ? Yes, he does. But, I think he's made Joe Buck sound better rather than the insufferable days with Tim McCarver. For not being at this gig for a long period of time, he's done fine. I'll take him over many of the national broadcast alternatives we've seen over the years. Speaking of insufferable, the Rose / Thomas combination on the left side of the pre-post game desk is really where the bashing should go. They are awful.

To be the best, you beat the best. Game 6 to defeat the Dodgers and 2014's Cy Kershaw after being mystified all year by him. Game 7 tonight against the Indians and 2014's Cy Kluber being mystified by him every time out. This is it. It's what we've all longed to see. We can be nothing but proud and lucky as fans to see this play out. Don't suck!

The odds of Schwarber getting one more AB go up significantly with this move. And, you have the back end of the Indians BP with RH's. Astute move by Joe. Expect to see it tomorrow too.

BRYANT Bryant, Ted Williams, Cubs, Red Sox, Medfid Massachusetts... The Science of Hitting...

A quick reminder that we get to witness this story continue tomorrow night. Schwarber as Mr. November.

A lot of people will have feelings in their bodies when they look at that lineup...

He's just a phenomenal talent. Just the threat of him hitting is now enough to justify the decision to roster him. Schwarber drew only the 2nd walk of the season off Miller by a LH batter. Too bad he missed a pitch in the 8th, but another 3-2 count which he did all night long.

I also think that he might be saving Contreras in case Schwarber comes up to face Miller. Given his rust and his numbers against lefties last year, it might make sense to PH for Contreras (or Soler). But of course if you PH the DH spot, you lose the DH spot for the game and need to PH there the rest of the game or hit with the pitcher. Hence having 2 quality bats off the bench in Willy and Georgie. There's also this funky split where Coghlan has the greatest disparity between being unable to hit a power fastball and a curve. Joe's banking on him to catch a breaking ball (Kluber's best pitch and one of the best in baseball) like Montero did with Blanton. Also, Heyward will be in the game by the 6th inning if the Cubs have a lead.

I think Maddon wants to pick his spot with Contreras against Miller, hence the move to start Coghlan. But over Heyward, it's a surprise just purely based on defensive metrics. It's a bit tough to question Maddon's process when it has the Cubs on the doorstep of history.

I'd be stunned if Heyward isn't playing RF tonight. Given that the Cubs are 4-41 lifetime against Kluber, Maddon is likely to put his best LH hitters in there with correlated splits. Bauer and Tomlin are inverse splits LH/RH so expect Contreras in LF when Montero catches Jake. In fact, I see it this way with what the Indians are doing: Game 1: C, Ross - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward Game 2: C, Montero - LF, Contreras - RF, Zobrist Game 3: C, Contreras - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward Soler cannot hit when it is under 50 degrees.

Sorry I missed this. I brought home a Sun-Times Extra I picked up at 415 AM at O'Hare. I would've gladly picked one up. I have to say, Saturday Night was the greatest experience I've had at a sporting event. I won't make it to a Series game, but just to be there in the Bleachers to soak in what happened is something I'll never forget.