UMFan83

Hypothetically wouldn't they want the Cubs to win then with Kershaw on the mound in game 6? And then worst case scenario the Cubs win game 6 and you have the Cubs in the World Series

horsefeathering ump is unsure of himself

Get some control and fast

Come on Jon

So Lester isn't getting that same call. Hmmm

saw a lot of pitches but not sure i'd call it a good ab just b/c he fouled them off. Plus were past the point where we can feel good about Good ABs with bad results

In case anyone was curious (not sure if posted):

Either way good inning. I feel like when an offense is going well they are scoring in the first 1-2 innings more often than not

Heyward shouldn't hit 6th

The entire inning changed when Baez swung at a ball on 2-0

I found the Bartman in this thread

That horsefeathers is great for a quick buzz

Really hope you are there in person to see the Cubs first World Series game in 71 years thanks to Stub Hubs mess up!

Maybe the Cubs have been bipolar offensively but thinking about it, the Dodgers have scored 3,1,6 and 2 runs in the 4 games. Makes me feel good about holding them down enough even with lukewarm offense by the Cubs

Should also mention in that same postseason against the Tigers, the same thing happened (2-2, game 5 on the road). Lester wasn't *as* great (5.1 IP, 2 ER) but he grinded it out and the bullpen took care of him for the W. Sox won 4-3. Rossy was 2-3 with an RBI

I agree, but every time he goes out there, I can't help but have in the back on my mind 'what if he pulls it all together for one game?" I mean it was just 4 starts ago that he pitched 7 shutout innings against the Cardinals and looked really good doing so. He is *capable* even in his diminished state to having it all under control for a night. If that night is Sunday night (if needed) he will become a Chicago legend (even more so than he was after the WC game last year)

2013 World Series Game 5: Series was tied 2-2 with the last 2 games coming at home. Lester on the road pitched 7.2 innings, giving up just 1 ER, and David Ross had a double to score the go ahead run in a 3-1 victory. ^^ Hope this sounds an awful lot like tonight except add a "1" before the 3

This game has me more nervous than any other game in the postseason because a) The matchup should favors us more than any game remaining in the series and b) obviously the vital importance of the game. But if like tonights matchup was Kershaw vs. Hendricks, I would be less nervous right now. Something about having to win the matchups that are heavily tilted in your favor despite knowing that baseball over 9 innings can be completely unpredictable makes me a bundle of nerves right now.

Damn, I just had Heyward and Russell swapped.

Tonight's game will be the 4th latest into October we've played baseball. Saturday's will be tied for the 2nd longest. Latest October games in Cubs history: 1. 10/23/1910 - 10/23/2016* if necessary 2. 10/22/1910 3. 10/22/2016 4. 10/21/2015 5. 10/20/2016 Obviously if the Cubs make it to the World Series they will be playing the latest games in their history.

To deviate from this a bit.... I was out in Vegas in middle of July, in like the middle of June I was looking at WS odds and saw the Indians were around 16/1 (give or take 2) depending on where you went and I had them circled as a pretty good value bet at the time and I planned to put some decent money on them. Then about 2 weeks before I was scheduled to be out there they won like 14 in a row and like 20 of 25 or something crazy and had taken control of the division and maybe traded for Miller or whatever and they were down to 5/1 when I got out there so I laid off. Would've been nice to have the timing of my trip better to get them at that 16/1 or so as I could be locking in some serious profits starting around the 3rd game of the WS. I know, nobody cares about my gambling stories but this missed opportunity stings a bit. Is there a market for buying odds off someone? For example if somebody locked in the Indians 16 to 1, do they ever sell their ticket when odds have moved down 2 to 1 for the Indiand. The buyer would pay a premium that would reflect him getting the 16 to 1 odds but the premium would have to be some middle point where hes obviously not just paying a premium that puts him right back to 2 to 1 all in. Not sure, but I know at least in England books will sometimes offer chances to cash in tickets early for a reduced return. For example people that put a bet on Leicester City to win the Premier League before the season started were able to cash in early when it became apparent that they would actually win but it wasn't quite a lock yet.

The thing I've thought is "Man, I wish we had more than 1 lefty starter" against the Dodgers, but I'm assuming Montgomery is gonna get a good chance at starting for us next year so that would solve that I was secretly hoping for a Monty/Z-man/Wood bullpen day combo for Lackey's start, but there's a reason they are paying Maddon and not me. Plus it would hurt our bullpen for those spot lefty needs during the series. Maybe I'm just losing my mind but I almost wouldn't mind that combo starting game 7 if necessary. Heck throw Lester in there for an inning or two if needed. I sadly just do not trust Jake at this point with all those lefties in a game that might require 0 margin for error.

Guesses on lineup? my guess... Fowler, CF Bryant, 3B Rizzo, 1B Zobrist, LF Baez, 2B Russell, SS Heyward, RF Ross, C Lester, P

Kind of crazy to think that he was actually pretty close to a 3 HR game. Both of his outs in the game were hit to the track.