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This is the first time that this team (and most of its players) have had to encounter a big challenge where they were actually favored. We know these young pups can excel when they’re an underdog. But after the Cardinals series, people were writing Chicago off as a lock for the WS.
We’re not answering. We’re not even getting out of the first inning without basically being buried 6 feet under. And this concerns me not just for this series, but next year when everyone will expect us to win it.
They’ve got to learn to perform with expectations. Else, we’re gonna become like the Nats: Should’ve been great, but just a great roster whose expectations remained sky high but results regressed little by little each year (with little to no postseason success).
“They’ve got to learn to perform with expectations. Else, we’re gonna become like the Nats: Should’ve been great, but just a great roster whose expectations remained sky high but results regressed little by little each year (with little to no postseason success).”
Excellent point, Pie. The same thing happened to the 69 team and the 84 team. the next year a lot of experts were picking them to win the whole thing and they never reached the same level of success they had the year before. One thing in this teams favor is they are much younger than any of those teams. But, with the history of this franchise starting to swirl around in their heads after once again being close, but not good enough, you have to wonder if they can overcome that.
People don’t realize what a huge barrier that really is. Over 100 years of never winning a World Series, and over 70 years never having won a pennant is going to be in your minds whenever you put on that Cub uniform and step on the field during a playoff game. And if you are leading the series 3-2 with only five outs to go, don’t tell me they aren’t thinking about that.
A series is not over 2-0, but I think for the Cubs it is. They know their two best pitchers are shit. People are reminding them of how much is now on their shoulders and down 2-0,shit got real-fast. I think they were intimidated by the Mets pitchers. I suspect a sweep is what the most likely result is here. Love to be proven wrong. I think the pall that happened in 2008 will descend on Wrigley if they give up even one run in the 1st inning. No reason to think they won’t either.
Sad. But I guess it’s better this way than getting close then caving in like ’03.
Does anyone know what happened with Dan Haren? I realize now he’ll probably come out in the 9th and give up a ton of runs. But I’m just baffled that they haven’t used him at least as a bullpen option. I understand he had a horrible August but he really picked it up in his September & October starts (with exception to Philly).
This whole “Hendricks for 4 then the rest of the patchwork bullpen” strategy is silly.
“This whole “Hendricks for 4 then the rest of the patchwork bullpen” strategy is silly.”
Couldn’t agree more! Maddon is going to have to learn to manage this team differently next year. This is not a normal baseball team. This is the most fouled up sports franchise on the planet! He has to manage the Cubs far different than he managed the Devil Rays. If not, he’s no better than Dusty, or Lou, or Leo.
Well sometimes teams have to experiance heart break to be able to stand up and take that next step. Look at the Michael Jordan bulls vs the pistons and the 84 bears vs the 49ers. So maybe next year is our year. Or we might do what the red Sox did to win their first championship. Come back from 3 to 0. I guess we will find out
All I watched was the 2nd and 3rd innings. Was no point.
I am FUCKING DONE! I am not watching one single inning of any Cubs game ever UNTIL THEY FUCKING GET TO THE WORLD SERIES. Effectively, I have watched my last Cubs game ever.
“Not ONE of the fucking Cubs teams that has experienced heartbreak has “taken the next step”
And that truth is something most (not all) Cub fans fail to accept. This is a losing franchise. It’s been in their blood since 1909. I’m not sure it will ever be gone. I think you could switch the Mets roster with this Cubs roster, and the new “Cubs” (Mets) would be behind 3-0. Yeah, I really believe it is that bad.
Fucking pathetic. Not one time did they get out of this series with a pitched scoreless first inning.
I see Hammel is starting tonight. Maddon has completely fucked up his pitching matchups this entire series. Was the $155 million man not willing to pitch on three days rest?
Barring a miraculous comeback, at least I won’t have to hear anymore of these meatballs “Duh! Back to the Future says 2015 WS champions! That means we must win! Cubs win! We’re gonna win the World Series today!”
6-0 in the second inning! What a pathetic showing. All of them should hide their heads in shame. That’s you too Maddon. I agree with Pie, Maddon did not manage this series well at all.
You look back at the Epstein era in Boston and this was a reoccurring problem: Epstein didn’t have much success signing prolific free agents, especially starters. They signed so many over Epstein’s tenure that they eventually found some that were hit-and-miss (e.g. Josh Beckett). But free-agent starters were far from a strong point.
They’ve got to figure out something though. They can’t enter another postseason with Hendricks as a 3. David Price sounds until you realize that he’s already 30 and a horrible playoff performer.
Fowler is almost certainly gone. Leadoff hitter / centerfielder will be another storyline.
Swept! By of all teams the Mets! The same team that started this whole Cubs emotional roller coaster in 1969! Wow! They won by the same score as the Marlins in the 2003 Game Five NLCS 8-3.
Great looking young talent, but absolutely clueless facing Mets pitchers. So, were right back where we were in 2007 and 2008 with another sweep. Didn’t even put up a fight. Pathetic.
Did not watch at all. My blood pressure, my doctor, my remote, and my walls are all grateful.
JESUS CHRIST MOTHERFUCKING SONOFABITCH COCKSUCKING BALLWASHERS OF AN ORGANIZATION!!!!
I was so proud of beating the Cardinals-I figured even if the Mets beat us, that feeling couldn’t be taken away. However, the Cubs were drubbed in such resounding fashion-8 runs in the whole series, making rookie pitchers and utility infielders looking like hall of famers, every single pitcher choking-especially in the first inning, not leading in even one inning of one game (trailing in all but 1 inning the entire series), going more meekly to their graves than a 125 year old smoker who just had a massive heart attack-that my embarrassment, anger, & shame outweigh any good feelings that came out of the Cardinal series.
Yes, Maddon did not manage well. Why he trotted Hammel out there instead of that fat, $155 million dollar fuck on 3 days rest is beyond me. He’s there waiting with Zambrano for his next start against the Diamondbacks. I actually hate Lester more that he didn’t start today than if he had started and gave up Hammel’s numbers.
Was at a bar for a show during Game 1-when Cubs tied it 1-1 bar came alive, and I thought-we’re definitely going to be able to take one game in NY. And then Lester promptly gave the run back (and the lead) that had taken the Cubs 5 innings to get. I knew then that we were in more trouble than I realized.
Certainly this was a flawed team-no reliable starting pitching, inconsistent bullpen, but there is no way the Mets are THAT much better than the Cubs-that is choking, bad managing, bad hitting, bad luck, and ultimately not the mental fortitude that we thought they had. This should have been at least a 6 game series.
I don’t believe in curses-especially after the Mets fucked up my rally pizza record. But, I do believe in psychology, and not one Cubs team has been mentally strong enough to overcome the history, the pathology, of losing. No zoo animal is going to bat for you in October. You can’t pitch in your handlebar mustache jammies.
Sure, the Cubs gave us more than what we expected in April. Maybe even than at the All-star break. But you cannot tell me after dismantling the Pirates and the Cardinals, that you did not expect the Cubs to win some games against the Mets, to put up a reasonable and respectable effort. With expectations at their very highest, the Cubs played their very worst. That has been the history of every Cubs team that I have ever known and it is unacceptable.
The future? Will Epstein and Maddon move beyond the concrete and steel roadblock that is the NLCS? Fuck the future! That has never worked out-no reason to believe it will now. Maddon is a good manager, but he never WON the World Series either. Maybe he’s not good enough to do that. I’m not gonna think about that. Get to the World Series, otherwise I can’t be bothered with this shit any more!!!
Anybody watching this bullshit press conference from Epstein? Cubs just a dinghy in the Mets tidal wave?!?! It just happens?!!? The Mets were the hot team COMING INTO the series? No, they barely won in 5 games, we won in 4. We beat a better team. Mets had a lot of young players, the idea that the Cubs players couldn’t compete because they were inexperienced. How do you know experience will help? The much more experienced Cardinals were the worst team in the playoffs this year. Fuck this!!!! If you’re playing in November, call me.
The Mets beat Kershaw AND Greinke to advance; that’s arguably more impressive than beating Arrieta and Lester. Also, Wainright was not 100%.
Teams and players can get hot…it happens. Murphy hit 14 home-runs during the regular season (499 at bats)…he’s hit 7 this post-season in 38 at bats, including one in 6 consecutive playoff games. WTF!?!
How do you explain it? In baseball, shit happens. Yes, on paper we beat the better teams…but the game isn’t played on paper (cue the Nationals). It never was.
Cubs beat WS hero Wacha and chased Lackey early (who had dominated in Game 1). Mets didn’t beat Arrieta because they were hot-Arrieta pitched like shit against the Cardinals too, but the Cubs overcame that. What kind of manager keeps on pitching to a guy who hits a home run EVERY FUCKING GAME-especially when you can’t score?!
The Mets played well, but they were not an interminably hot team- obviously the Cubs weren’t either(even though they had won 13/14 coming into the series). They “deserved” to win, but the Cubs sure helped them a lot. And don’t underestimate the confidence the Mets had KNOWING the Cubs could NEVER POSSIBLY WIN. That they would underperform or choke in crucial moments. Teams will ALWAYS have that mental edge on the Cubs until they can prove otherwise.
To dismiss this playoff humiliation as “teams just get hot” ignores the flaws on the team, the failure to utilize its strengths in the LCS, failure of coaching to adjust to circumstances on the field, and the pathology of losing in the Cubs organization. The team must be improved, but so must the psyche.
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
October 19, 2015 at 7:23 am
GOD-FUCKING-DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 19, 2015 at 7:37 am
This is the first time that this team (and most of its players) have had to encounter a big challenge where they were actually favored. We know these young pups can excel when they’re an underdog. But after the Cardinals series, people were writing Chicago off as a lock for the WS.
We’re not answering. We’re not even getting out of the first inning without basically being buried 6 feet under. And this concerns me not just for this series, but next year when everyone will expect us to win it.
They’ve got to learn to perform with expectations. Else, we’re gonna become like the Nats: Should’ve been great, but just a great roster whose expectations remained sky high but results regressed little by little each year (with little to no postseason success).
October 19, 2015 at 9:24 am
I’ll be worried if they lose Game 3. Until then, sitting back…..
October 19, 2015 at 7:48 pm
“They’ve got to learn to perform with expectations. Else, we’re gonna become like the Nats: Should’ve been great, but just a great roster whose expectations remained sky high but results regressed little by little each year (with little to no postseason success).”
Excellent point, Pie. The same thing happened to the 69 team and the 84 team. the next year a lot of experts were picking them to win the whole thing and they never reached the same level of success they had the year before. One thing in this teams favor is they are much younger than any of those teams. But, with the history of this franchise starting to swirl around in their heads after once again being close, but not good enough, you have to wonder if they can overcome that.
People don’t realize what a huge barrier that really is. Over 100 years of never winning a World Series, and over 70 years never having won a pennant is going to be in your minds whenever you put on that Cub uniform and step on the field during a playoff game. And if you are leading the series 3-2 with only five outs to go, don’t tell me they aren’t thinking about that.
October 20, 2015 at 1:15 pm
A series is not over 2-0, but I think for the Cubs it is. They know their two best pitchers are shit. People are reminding them of how much is now on their shoulders and down 2-0,shit got real-fast. I think they were intimidated by the Mets pitchers. I suspect a sweep is what the most likely result is here. Love to be proven wrong. I think the pall that happened in 2008 will descend on Wrigley if they give up even one run in the 1st inning. No reason to think they won’t either.
October 20, 2015 at 7:57 pm
Well, Nemo, they gave up the one run, and then tied it in the bottom of the first. Now, they are back to doing nothing. 1-1 going into the third.
They have a heavy load on their backs right now, let’s see if they can overcome it. But, like you say, history says they don’t.
October 20, 2015 at 9:23 pm
Fucking cubs sucking it up. Wtf
October 20, 2015 at 9:35 pm
damn.
October 20, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Sad. But I guess it’s better this way than getting close then caving in like ’03.
Does anyone know what happened with Dan Haren? I realize now he’ll probably come out in the 9th and give up a ton of runs. But I’m just baffled that they haven’t used him at least as a bullpen option. I understand he had a horrible August but he really picked it up in his September & October starts (with exception to Philly).
This whole “Hendricks for 4 then the rest of the patchwork bullpen” strategy is silly.
October 20, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Jeesh, Cubs, you can’t win one freakin game? Pathetic. But, of course, they are the Cubs. I should have known.
October 20, 2015 at 9:56 pm
“This whole “Hendricks for 4 then the rest of the patchwork bullpen” strategy is silly.”
Couldn’t agree more! Maddon is going to have to learn to manage this team differently next year. This is not a normal baseball team. This is the most fouled up sports franchise on the planet! He has to manage the Cubs far different than he managed the Devil Rays. If not, he’s no better than Dusty, or Lou, or Leo.
October 20, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Well sometimes teams have to experiance heart break to be able to stand up and take that next step. Look at the Michael Jordan bulls vs the pistons and the 84 bears vs the 49ers. So maybe next year is our year. Or we might do what the red Sox did to win their first championship. Come back from 3 to 0. I guess we will find out
October 20, 2015 at 10:38 pm
Not ONE of the fucking Cubs teams that has experienced heartbreak has “taken the next step”
October 20, 2015 at 10:47 pm
All I watched was the 2nd and 3rd innings. Was no point.
I am FUCKING DONE! I am not watching one single inning of any Cubs game ever UNTIL THEY FUCKING GET TO THE WORLD SERIES. Effectively, I have watched my last Cubs game ever.
October 21, 2015 at 12:08 am
“Not ONE of the fucking Cubs teams that has experienced heartbreak has “taken the next step”
And that truth is something most (not all) Cub fans fail to accept. This is a losing franchise. It’s been in their blood since 1909. I’m not sure it will ever be gone. I think you could switch the Mets roster with this Cubs roster, and the new “Cubs” (Mets) would be behind 3-0. Yeah, I really believe it is that bad.
October 21, 2015 at 1:48 am
I’m with billybob and will let it play out before I get too bent out of shape.
I’ll have some things to say when the Cubs season is completed.
October 21, 2015 at 1:45 pm
So, I hear there’s a game tonite… 😉
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/dont-count-out-the-chicago-cubs-just-yet
…I’ll have what he’s drinking.
October 21, 2015 at 5:27 pm
33 times in postseason baseball history has a team trailed 3-0. 28 TIMES the final result was a sweep. It’s only gone to 7 games ONE TIME: http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/10/15/6983961/orioles-royals-alcs-teams-down-0-3-playoffs-postseason-baseball
October 21, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Fucking pathetic. Not one time did they get out of this series with a pitched scoreless first inning.
I see Hammel is starting tonight. Maddon has completely fucked up his pitching matchups this entire series. Was the $155 million man not willing to pitch on three days rest?
October 21, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Well the Cubs season is over. However it’s been a much better season than people suspected. Time to sign more elite playoff pitchers.
October 21, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Barring a miraculous comeback, at least I won’t have to hear anymore of these meatballs “Duh! Back to the Future says 2015 WS champions! That means we must win! Cubs win! We’re gonna win the World Series today!”
October 21, 2015 at 7:58 pm
6-0 in the second inning! What a pathetic showing. All of them should hide their heads in shame. That’s you too Maddon. I agree with Pie, Maddon did not manage this series well at all.
October 21, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Adballaha…..You mean like that piece of goddamned shit that the Cubs signed for $155 FUCKING MILLION? Yeah, that’s a brilliant fucking idea.
October 21, 2015 at 10:03 pm
FUCK YOU DANIEL FUCKING MURPHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goddamned cocksucker.
October 21, 2015 at 10:08 pm
What a beat down. PITCHING.
October 21, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Don’t forget about Edwin Jackson. Oh lordy….
You look back at the Epstein era in Boston and this was a reoccurring problem: Epstein didn’t have much success signing prolific free agents, especially starters. They signed so many over Epstein’s tenure that they eventually found some that were hit-and-miss (e.g. Josh Beckett). But free-agent starters were far from a strong point.
They’ve got to figure out something though. They can’t enter another postseason with Hendricks as a 3. David Price sounds until you realize that he’s already 30 and a horrible playoff performer.
Fowler is almost certainly gone. Leadoff hitter / centerfielder will be another storyline.
October 21, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Swept! By of all teams the Mets! The same team that started this whole Cubs emotional roller coaster in 1969! Wow! They won by the same score as the Marlins in the 2003 Game Five NLCS 8-3.
Great looking young talent, but absolutely clueless facing Mets pitchers. So, were right back where we were in 2007 and 2008 with another sweep. Didn’t even put up a fight. Pathetic.
This team is cursed, no doubt about it.
October 21, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Still better than watching the Sox…
…or the Bears…
…or the Fire and Passion…
October 21, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Did not watch at all. My blood pressure, my doctor, my remote, and my walls are all grateful.
JESUS CHRIST MOTHERFUCKING SONOFABITCH COCKSUCKING BALLWASHERS OF AN ORGANIZATION!!!!
I was so proud of beating the Cardinals-I figured even if the Mets beat us, that feeling couldn’t be taken away. However, the Cubs were drubbed in such resounding fashion-8 runs in the whole series, making rookie pitchers and utility infielders looking like hall of famers, every single pitcher choking-especially in the first inning, not leading in even one inning of one game (trailing in all but 1 inning the entire series), going more meekly to their graves than a 125 year old smoker who just had a massive heart attack-that my embarrassment, anger, & shame outweigh any good feelings that came out of the Cardinal series.
Yes, Maddon did not manage well. Why he trotted Hammel out there instead of that fat, $155 million dollar fuck on 3 days rest is beyond me. He’s there waiting with Zambrano for his next start against the Diamondbacks. I actually hate Lester more that he didn’t start today than if he had started and gave up Hammel’s numbers.
Was at a bar for a show during Game 1-when Cubs tied it 1-1 bar came alive, and I thought-we’re definitely going to be able to take one game in NY. And then Lester promptly gave the run back (and the lead) that had taken the Cubs 5 innings to get. I knew then that we were in more trouble than I realized.
Certainly this was a flawed team-no reliable starting pitching, inconsistent bullpen, but there is no way the Mets are THAT much better than the Cubs-that is choking, bad managing, bad hitting, bad luck, and ultimately not the mental fortitude that we thought they had. This should have been at least a 6 game series.
I don’t believe in curses-especially after the Mets fucked up my rally pizza record. But, I do believe in psychology, and not one Cubs team has been mentally strong enough to overcome the history, the pathology, of losing. No zoo animal is going to bat for you in October. You can’t pitch in your handlebar mustache jammies.
Sure, the Cubs gave us more than what we expected in April. Maybe even than at the All-star break. But you cannot tell me after dismantling the Pirates and the Cardinals, that you did not expect the Cubs to win some games against the Mets, to put up a reasonable and respectable effort. With expectations at their very highest, the Cubs played their very worst. That has been the history of every Cubs team that I have ever known and it is unacceptable.
The future? Will Epstein and Maddon move beyond the concrete and steel roadblock that is the NLCS? Fuck the future! That has never worked out-no reason to believe it will now. Maddon is a good manager, but he never WON the World Series either. Maybe he’s not good enough to do that. I’m not gonna think about that. Get to the World Series, otherwise I can’t be bothered with this shit any more!!!
October 22, 2015 at 12:23 am
“Still better than watching the Sox…
…or the Bears…
…or the Fire and Passion…”
Maybe. But it’s not better than masturbating with Tabasco Sauce as lube.
October 22, 2015 at 12:39 am
“Maybe. But it’s not better than masturbating with Tabasco Sauce as lube.”
Nemo: My wife had to call the paramedics after that one!
October 22, 2015 at 1:03 am
Some burning and some aloe, Ernie, but at least not a broken heart.
October 22, 2015 at 3:32 am
Ha!
October 22, 2015 at 8:48 am
Nemo…..it’s more like masturbating with a cheese grater.
Slightly amusing, but mostly……painful.
October 22, 2015 at 11:12 am
Good point, Chucky-feels kinda good at first, but you’ll be in excruciating pain before you can get to where you’re going.
October 22, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Anybody watching this bullshit press conference from Epstein? Cubs just a dinghy in the Mets tidal wave?!?! It just happens?!!? The Mets were the hot team COMING INTO the series? No, they barely won in 5 games, we won in 4. We beat a better team. Mets had a lot of young players, the idea that the Cubs players couldn’t compete because they were inexperienced. How do you know experience will help? The much more experienced Cardinals were the worst team in the playoffs this year. Fuck this!!!! If you’re playing in November, call me.
October 22, 2015 at 10:03 pm
The Mets beat Kershaw AND Greinke to advance; that’s arguably more impressive than beating Arrieta and Lester. Also, Wainright was not 100%.
Teams and players can get hot…it happens. Murphy hit 14 home-runs during the regular season (499 at bats)…he’s hit 7 this post-season in 38 at bats, including one in 6 consecutive playoff games. WTF!?!
How do you explain it? In baseball, shit happens. Yes, on paper we beat the better teams…but the game isn’t played on paper (cue the Nationals). It never was.
October 23, 2015 at 11:15 am
Cubs beat WS hero Wacha and chased Lackey early (who had dominated in Game 1). Mets didn’t beat Arrieta because they were hot-Arrieta pitched like shit against the Cardinals too, but the Cubs overcame that. What kind of manager keeps on pitching to a guy who hits a home run EVERY FUCKING GAME-especially when you can’t score?!
The Mets played well, but they were not an interminably hot team- obviously the Cubs weren’t either(even though they had won 13/14 coming into the series). They “deserved” to win, but the Cubs sure helped them a lot. And don’t underestimate the confidence the Mets had KNOWING the Cubs could NEVER POSSIBLY WIN. That they would underperform or choke in crucial moments. Teams will ALWAYS have that mental edge on the Cubs until they can prove otherwise.
To dismiss this playoff humiliation as “teams just get hot” ignores the flaws on the team, the failure to utilize its strengths in the LCS, failure of coaching to adjust to circumstances on the field, and the pathology of losing in the Cubs organization. The team must be improved, but so must the psyche.