bukie

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Arismendy+Alcantara+Milwaukee+Brewers+v+Chicago+3wuSf4zRbLMl.jpg

Arizona just scored 2 runs in the 7th off Bumgarner and lead 2-0.

So, what's your roster for a Wild Card playoff game? For me, here are the locks, as full time starters (and the starting pitcher): - SP - Arrieta - 1B - Rizzo - 3B/OF - Bryant - SS - Russell - CF - Fowler - C - Montero To fill out the lineup, I probably match up against the potential opposing pitcher (Cole and Wacha have slight reverse splits, Martinez has a slight natural split) - 2B - Castro - He's pretty well earned a spot with his play the past month - RF - Coghlan - Extra lefty option in the lineup - LF - Schwarber or 3B - Baez - Depending on the splits. Schwarber has really struggled of late, also, but both will be on the roster anyway. That's 10. For sure I take the back end of the pen, which is Rondon, Strop and Grimm. Should have at least one lefty in the pen as well, so I'd take Wood. That's 14. I'd also take Lester in case something happens to Arrieta early, which means I'm also taking Ross (and the Cubs would need a backup C anyway in case something happens to Montero during the game), which brings us to 16. The OF is lefty heavy, so I'd bring at least two of Soler, Jackson and Denorfia, and the IF is RH heavy, so I'd bring La Stella. Taking all 4 puts the roster at 20. The only reason to have Berry on the roster at this point is to use him here also as a dedicated runner, so that makes 21. To fill out the last 4 spots, I'd probably take extra bullpen options to handle every potential situation. It's still a little light on lefties so I'd take Cahill and Richard for sure. Two spots left and everything is pretty well balanced, so I'd take BPA and go with one of Rodney/Hunter and take Herrera as an extra PH/utility IF if needed.

Tigers just beat the Royals in 12 innings, 5-4. This doesn't mean a whole lot overall, but the Cubs now have the 3rd best record in baseball, behind the Pirates and Cards.

Overall team fWAR: 1. Dodgers 45.5 2. Blue Jays 43.5 3. Cubs 42.2 4. Mets 41.4 5. Cardinals 40.0

One could say that about the entire Cub bullpen.

Travis Wood is going to start the game.

Blaming the ump.

Cubs have just eliminated the Diamondbacks. Two teams left. Nine Cubs have multi homer games this year: Montero, Rizzo, Coghlan, Russell, Bryant, Fowler, Soler, Schwarber, and now Castro.

The Cubs are batting. Everyone is due up.

Fun stat: Castro is the ninth Cub this season with a multi homer game.

Prepare to be swept by Dan Haren, not even Dan Haren and soon to be announced Sunday starter. Isn't that Saturday? Lester on Sunday? When I made the post cubs.com had Haren, TBA and TBA posted as the shatters. Now it shows Cahill and Lester.

Another issue is the takeout slide is illegal in Korean baseball so Kang wasn't anticipating it and Korean fans think it was a dirty play.

The real unfortunate thing about it is if Kang just jumped the slide like every other player in MLB would have, not only is he not injured, but it's not a double play and Coghlan is praised for the breakup slide.

Even Keith Law thinks that's disgusting.

No, I think he was at the Dodgers game a few days ago trying to take a ball from Adrian Gonzalez.

Prepare to be swept by Dan Haren, not even Dan Haren and soon to be announced Sunday starter.

If the pirates feel the need to retaliate they are free to put Coghlan on base ahead of Rizzo and Bryant as much as they like.

Cubs have just eliminated the Padres. Three to go. Also, as of the latest fangraphs projections, the Giants and Nationals project to end the year with 85 wins. Today the Cubs won their 85th game.

Well...not that far off if I can count Coghlan.

Today's game is an early one. New game thread go.

I predicted the Cubs would win 100 games this season for the first time in over a century. ...I'm counting playoffs.

Question is, will anyone remember this bullpen effort tomorrow if the pen gives up a run.

That's two championships in a row for that core of players after winning in KC last year.

Because you can only remember back half an inning.