UMFan83

Nice....though Xfinity still not an option on Marquee's streaming app, nor is Marquee an option on the Xfinity Stream app but hopefully that gets implemented quickly. Good start at least.

So thats the reason for all the ads around Wrigley.

"Hey thanks for killing a ton of Yankees fans, want to throw out the first pitch?"

Love the nickname and like the color scheme for the most part. Not a huge fan of the S logo though. It's not bad but it seems very minor leaguey for some reason. I'm sure it will feel less so once I get used to seeing it.

I'm still not a fan of the second wild card but can live with it. If it was best of 3 I'd be more for it. I just can't stand playing 162 games, and then possibly being 1 and done before the real playoffs start because the other team was able to start 2015 2nd half Arrieta. (I know, odd pointing out an example of a time that greatly benefitted us but still, doesn't sit right with me) But again, its not the worst thing ever, I just prefer it not be 1 and done. Sure until you are in a division where one team wins 100+ games virtually every year a la the AL East and West with the Yankees and Astros. The A's have had one of the more enjoyable and good teams in the league the last 2 seasons and all they have to show for it is 2 playoff losses. I know, if they want to advance they should win the game. But when you play 1 game playoffs, luck can play a huge factor. I agree about the 97 wins not making the playoffs thing sucking. Would have been absolutely devastating to see that team, as awesome as they were playing in August and September not make the playoffs. But there's not a perfect system. To me, the best case scenario is a best of 3 series. Heck play all the games at 1 location and make them play a double header on the 2nd day. Either way, its better than having a 1 gamer where you don't even feel like your team made the playoffs if they lose. Anyways, I realize that there are many people on this board that I could never convince that the 1 game format sucks, and that's fine. Like I said, I don't HATE it, I just don't prefer it.

I'm excited because its live sports, but now as excited as I thought I would be. Having 4 months without sports (other than English football which is my "5th sport") has gotten me used to living without it (and in reality it was more like 6 months because I barely watched any Bulls or Hawks before that). That said, holy horsefeathers the number of days I waited for actual real sports. There are like a million things the pandemic took away from me (though much less than many), and having some semblance of normalcy from live sports is very welcomed.

Yup. I think the current format is perfect. I go back and forth on the DS being 7 games instead of 5 but that's it. I'm still not a fan of the second wild card but can live with it. If it was best of 3 I'd be more for it. I just can't stand playing 162 games, and then possibly being 1 and done before the real playoffs start because the other team was able to start 2015 2nd half Arrieta. (I know, odd pointing out an example of a time that greatly benefitted us but still, doesn't sit right with me) But again, its not the worst thing ever, I just prefer it not be 1 and done.

Reading Keith Law’s blurb about the Cubs in his MLB predictions in the Athletic (he has the Cubs tied w Mets for the 2 WC spots, 1 GB the Reds in the NLC) and this is what he had to say about them: =D>

They have a 7 day free trial that I will take advantage of if there is no deal by 1st pitch

Add to that, Jed on ESPN1000 just now:

Tape delay for whatever reason. MLB Network does this a lot with exhibition games.

Hope Willson stays this locked in when the games begin. He is on everything

Such a Maplesesque appearance from Maples Single Passed Ball K Wild Pitch Walk Wild Pitch K

Meaningless game yes but Lester looks sharp. I’ll take it

Just for fun, this is where the Cubs finished in these same FG projections before 2016: C: 14th 1B: 2nd 2B: 4th 3B: 3rd SS: 8th LF: 7th CF: 17th RF: 4th SP: 3rd RP: 8th I miss having an endless supply of Cubs porn to view

Everytime this thread is bumped without news that Comcast has agreed to carry Marquee, I am going to be bitterly disappointed.

Who besides Rizzo do they have in the 1B group to have them 1, KB? No one that is projected to provide positive WAR. They have Caratini as the backup with 0.0 wins. I think the biggest reasons the Cubs are 1st are 1) Freeman having symptomatic COVID caused his projections to dip ever so slightly (the article mentions the Braves were 1st before this news), 2) they are projecting a slight dip for Alonso 3) they like Rizzo slightly more than Olson and 4) 1B production across the league is at historical lows of late.

If anyone cares, here is how Fangraphs ranked the Cubs in every position group in terms of projected WAR: C: 18th 1B: 1st 2B: 21st 3B: 10th SS: 13th RF: 9th CF: 21st RF: 11th SP: 17th RP: 17th DH: 8th (top NL team) Some strange ones there to me

Any of you folks having trouble finding a good proctologist, might want to go down there and check out the area around the 355 foot sign

Only if he goes to the Kiwoom Heroes as punishment for signing douchey mcdoucherson

i can't imagine caring less dude just admit it the season is over

Meaningless or not, sucks getting curb stomped by these guys in 2 of our 3 tune up games. Oh well

Benetti is pretty damn good. I think him and Len are pretty even but obviously my bias has me preferring Len

They’re probably just being cautious. It’s not really that much of an inconvenience to wear a mask when you are just standing there. I wear mine outside in hot humid weather and it’s not really a big deal. So for baseball, if you are in a position to wear a mask and it doesn’t affect your ability to do your job, err on the side of wearing it.

Figured there should be a game thread up for the 3 upcoming games. I know the intrasquad games have been televised but it doesn’t feel worthy to discuss until there is another team involved. Hendricks on the bump tonight at Wrigley vs the White Sox. Game will be on ESPN outside of the Chicago area, Marquee for the 7 people that get the network and the Sox broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago for the rest of us. Will be on 670 as well for your listening pleasure. Cubs lineup in what might be the first game with a DH in Wrigley Field history (though its possible those old Sox exhibition games back in the day used a DH, can’t remember) I believe Yu will go tomorrow against the Sox at GRate and then Lester will go Wednesday against the Twins (slotting Chatwood in as the 3rd starter (holy hell how did it come to that?) Edit: Apparently Happ is in at CF now instead of Albert