squally1313

I'll always love him for the 2015 Wild Card game. Yeah, he pitched games last year that meant more, but that was the game that started this whole run. For him to go into that game with the confidence he had and totally back it up made it a pretty incredible night (obviously Schwarber helped too). Yeah he turned into a bit of a weirdo and forgot how to throw strikes, but whatever. Most of these dudes are weird.

You're not already embarrassed? Outside of maybe walking Darvish yesterday, which was more funny at that point, absolutely not.

How the hell? Game 4 I had four tickets in 506. With fees, paid $100 each. When I looked on Stubhub the morning of the make-up game, tickets were going for $92 in the section, so I put them up for $90. Sold two right away, and had the other two dropped all the way down to $40 a half hour before game time before I just let a couple friends take them. Looked to be the same last night as it got closer to game time. There's 2 tickets in the 400 level for $80/each right now. I'm not holding out for a miracle, but the weather is supposed to be a good and a night at Wrigley beats a night at most other places, so I'm planning on trying to snag a cheap ticket before first pitch tonight.

After watching the Gordon Heyward injury last night, maybe we should give Bryant and Rizzo the day off, just in case.

I'm open to those two ideas, but I think you're putting them backwards, if that make sense. If the right trade is out there for a young (or really, just effective) starter that requires a Baez/Happ/Schwarber/Almora, I'm all for exploring that option. But I think we're still in an enviable position where we'll go into Opening Day next year as the overwhelming favorite to win the division. And I don't think it's prudent to sacrifice the potential upside of a guy like Baez for a marginal upgrade like Hernandez. I get that Baez has 1300 PAs at this point, but he's shown offensive improvement over last year, and I'd expect his defensive numbers to come back strong next year (mostly because, per FG, he graded out lower than Robinson Cano this year). Reduce PAs for Zobrist and whatever Jon Jay figure we bring in, and give those guys at least 4 months to see what they can show.

No and no.

Jake should be gone unless we can somehow get him frontloaded for 3 years or less (so...no). Wade yes, but need to figure out either different personnel or a different approach for the guys in the pen, if not both. Zobrist has a no trade clause and is from here, so doubt he's going anywhere, but Happ, Baez, and Almora need to be getting the majority of ABs in second and in center next year. Jay/Avila, whatever. Do whatever you can to get Otani, or at least keep the Dodgers from getting him. If not, I'll trust Theo to pick from Schwarber/Baez/Happ/Almora to get us a starter. Looking at the NL Central, another year like this, which was basically a disappointment, should be more than enough. Only so much you can do to maximize your chances in the playoffs, so no need to blow a ton of cash on anyone not named Otani or Harper. There’s plenty of playing time for everyone, especially if Jay is gone that we shouldn’t really trade anyone unless we completely whiff on FA pitchers or a advantageous trade pops up but I’d just rather spend money on pitching than deplete the young bats. I know there are other creative ways to 'spend money' on pitching, but just looking at the free agent market going into this winter, it's pretty unless you think we should go after Darvish. He's the top name, then you go Cueto/Arrieta, then all of a sudden you're in Michael Pineda territory.

Jake should be gone unless we can somehow get him frontloaded for 3 years or less (so...no). Wade yes, but need to figure out either different personnel or a different approach for the guys in the pen, if not both. Zobrist has a no trade clause and is from here, so doubt he's going anywhere, but Happ, Baez, and Almora need to be getting the majority of ABs in second and in center next year. Jay/Avila, whatever. Do whatever you can to get Otani, or at least keep the Dodgers from getting him. If not, I'll trust Theo to pick from Schwarber/Baez/Happ/Almora to get us a starter. Looking at the NL Central, another year like this, which was basically a disappointment, should be more than enough. Only so much you can do to maximize your chances in the playoffs, so no need to blow a ton of cash on anyone not named Otani or Harper. I'm not up to par on the entire IFA rules, but we have no shot at Otani if he decides to come to American this year, right? People here know far more than I do, but basically every team has a chance. He's passing up a ton of guaranteed money. I started typing a half assed reason why, but this is easier... https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-to-sign-shohei-otani/

I’m on record as wanting to bring almost everyone back (Wade, Jake, Avila and maybe Jay guess Happ kinda takes his spot) then sign Cobb or Otani as well. Role with the same plan as last 2 years kinda, hope for better health so you can keep Zobrist a little more fresh and keep him at 120 games or less and I guess hope Heyward has another offseason swing change attempt. You'd pay Jake what he's going to demand? Jake should be gone unless we can somehow get him frontloaded for 3 years or less (so...no). Wade yes, but need to figure out either different personnel or a different approach for the guys in the pen, if not both. Zobrist has a no trade clause and is from here, so doubt he's going anywhere, but Happ, Baez, and Almora need to be getting the majority of ABs in second and in center next year. Jay/Avila, whatever. Do whatever you can to get Otani, or at least keep the Dodgers from getting him. If not, I'll trust Theo to pick from Schwarber/Baez/Happ/Almora to get us a starter. Looking at the NL Central, another year like this, which was basically a disappointment, should be more than enough. Only so much you can do to maximize your chances in the playoffs, so no need to blow a ton of cash on anyone not named Otani or Harper.

Of course

Jesus all 6 of you or whatever think Carl would normally throw a curve on a 3-2 count?

No first base was open. Good try.

These guys haven’t been home since Thursday. Refreshed, back on their routine, in the confines. Fans need to stay loud. With the wind there’s a chance we go down early...it won’t last. Take care of business and we’ll be in the drivers seat to make it 2-2, and make kershaw revisit last year.

You...realize they got shut out two games in a row by the Dodgers in the 2016 NLCS right? By Kershaw and Rich Hill? Yes, and you....realize they rebounded and won the series to win the Pennant? You referenced the 2015 series where we got swept. I assumed your argument was that the bats weren't coming back. I was showing a more recent example where they did come back and ended up winning. Maybe I misread what you were trying to say.

OK? My point is still that it's going to be equally not surprising if they don't do a damn thing tonight or if they score 10. It's not some crazy leap to worry that their beyond the pale offensive struggles can continue for just 2 more games when they're still facing pitchers who can most charitably be described as "maybe less good." You mean like the 2015 Cubs in the NLCS? This team has not hit well in the postseason. We did just enough to get by Washington. Bryzzo is 1-14 in this series and Baez is swinging at dirt balls and birds. We've got to win tonight (actually, I thought Game 2 was a must win). Our bats are certainly capable of breaking out at our home park, but this postseason sample size (so far) does little to give me great confidence that the Cubs can pull this out. Given that, I am not worried. I believe we will pass the test tonight. You...realize they got shut out two games in a row by the Dodgers in the 2016 NLCS right? By Kershaw and Rich Hill?

To get away from Sofa and I killing the rest of our afternoon... Just saw an @Cubs tweet about who's doing all the ceremonies tonight, and for whatever reason (probably seeing Kerry is throwing out the first pitch) it took me back to last year, and gave me this weird rush of excitement. Even though we did the whole damn thing last year, and even though we're down 2-0, we're still the center of the baseball world tonight. Figure out Darvish tonight, take care of business tomorrow, and it's a best of three. I was pretty excited to take on villain role going into this year and with the early season struggles it hasn't really happened. Coming back in this series will put the target right back on our backs, where it belongs. Edit: Yes, I'm aware the meatball-y nature of this contradicts pretty much everything I said above. Whatever.

Yeah, might just be semantics at this point. I'm probably guilty of looking at it too much in a numbers based way. For me, they've established the quality of hitters that they are. At that point, I'm almost looking at it like they've been getting 14s and 15s at the blackjack table for the last 6 (of 7) games. Maybe they'll get a bunch of 21s tonight, maybe they'll continue getting nothing. But what happens tonight doesn't have anything to do with what's happened so far to me. And this isn't an issue with someone like you or most of the board, but these are the exact articles that make the idiots on Facebook or the most pessimistic people here throw out terms like 'choke' or 'pressure' or 'clutch'.

No I mean, I get it. With or without statistics, it's pretty clear they've been horrid. I guess I just don't really care that much whether it's incredibly bad or historically bad. And the implication that comes with this article, or articles like this, is that this is somehow predictive going forward. I mean, the link on the front page of the Ringer right now is "The Chicago Cubs seem to have forgotten how to hit". That's not true. They, past tense, have hit like horsefeathers. There's no reason to connect that with hitting poorly tonight, or going forward. Well, their conclusion is basically this: the Cubs have struggled mightily against good pitching in the playoffs, and it doesn't get any easier any time soon. Obviously it doesn't mean they are a lock to keep stinking at the plate, but it's not a crazy prediction to think there's a good chance they aren't able to right the ship before it's too late. I think completely dismissing the offense of the last 7(6) games is as faulty as assuming that the horrible offense is definitely going to continue. We don't have to act like it's not a thing. It does get easier though. We don't have to face Scherzer or Strasburg again. Darvish is good, but has been a little worse than Hill was this year when healthy. Alex Wood is a clear step down from every other starter we've seen (besides maybe Gio, who didn't pitch well) when you look at what he's done in the second half after only pitching 60 innings last year. I get that we're in a hole, and so odds are their prediction that it's too late to climb out is right. It's really hard to win four out of five against anyone, much less the best team in the NL and/or all of baseball. And it's impossible (or would be dumb) to draw conclusions one way or another over the next 2+ games because it's an even smaller amount of PAs. We were a slightly above average offensive team this year, much better in the second half. That's still the team going into tonight. Bryant isn't a 45% K guy, Baez has (multiple) hits in his career. There's 'righting the ship' in terms of getting our statistics back to a reasonable level, but there's no 'righting the ship' when it comes to 'remembering how to hit'. It's still the same guys.

No I mean, I get it. With or without statistics, it's pretty clear they've been horrid. I guess I just don't really care that much whether it's incredibly bad or historically bad. And the implication that comes with this article, or articles like this, is that this is somehow predictive going forward. I mean, the link on the front page of the Ringer right now is "The Chicago Cubs seem to have forgotten how to hit". That's not true. They, past tense, have hit like horsefeathers. There's no reason to connect that with hitting poorly tonight, or going forward.

Oh cool, let me definitely read an in-depth statistics based article on a seven game sample size. Seems useful. Like, it's fun in a YCPB type of way, but that's about it.

Yeah that's a pretty ridiculous, over the top comeback at a not at all unpopular opinion. He spends the first 75% of it being like 'just expand forever! 32 teams? Why not 50?' and then at the end brings up the very obvious arguments against expansion. I get that by this point talks of relocation were already underway, but look at Montreal in this table: http://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance/_/year/2001

I'd love to see Maddon just totally punt defense. Not really, but I'm bored and I wanted to see how to get Avila in the lineup: 1. Bryant (3B) 2. Rizzo (1B) 3. Contreras (RF) 4. Schwarber (LF) 5. Russell (SS) 6. Avila © 7. Happ (CF) 8. Zobrist (2B)

Slightly different complaint, but it's pretty shocking in retrospect that they didn't decide to add a 12th pitcher given the circumstances. A late game 5 the day after game 4 where the pen threw a ton of pitches followed by a cross country flight and the next game less than 48 hours later. Obviously given how Maddon has doled out playing time, Leonys Martin getting an inning of defense is more important than a Justin Wilson, but I spent a lot of the game last night trying to figure out who I was forgetting in the pen, since everyone seemed to be tired/unavailable.

What? No, they don’t have to sweep the three home games to win. No technically they only have to win 2/3 at Wrigley but I don't see how they could win both game 6 and 7 on the road in LA. I know they did so in Cleveland last year but I think this Dodger team is better than that Cleveland team. With Kershaw going game 5, games 6 and 7 get a lot easier. We'll see how we handle Darvish tomorrow night, but him and Hill are beatable.

Game 2: Dodgers (Kershaw) 1, Cubs 0 Game 3: Dodgers (Hill) 6, Cubs 0 Guess what happened next the good ol' days Yep, if only we still had Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, etc.