A rare evening where I’ve been able to watch most of the game. It’s been a good one. Cubs got to Bumgarner early via Arrieta’s blast, but they’ve squandered other opportunities.
Strop on the mound (what would chucky do?). More later.
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Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
October 10, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Bears 73-0.
October 10, 2016 at 11:27 pm
Seriously, I think it will stay 3-2.
October 10, 2016 at 11:38 pm
I do like the Bears score…if only it were true.
October 10, 2016 at 11:49 pm
Should have kept Wood in….looks like they are going with smack my bitch up.
October 10, 2016 at 11:50 pm
I’m watching the eighth inning, and as I feared the pressure is starting to show, the Cubs are starting to crack.
I predict they lose this game. The problem for the Cubs is they cannot handle the pressure. Too many guys on this team cannot handle the pressure of the postseason. Look at Rizzo for example: 0-11!
If they lose this game. I predict they lose the series.
October 10, 2016 at 11:55 pm
lol the sky isn’t falling yet. Got ’em with the high fastball.
October 10, 2016 at 11:55 pm
Fuck.
October 10, 2016 at 11:55 pm
………………………………
October 10, 2016 at 11:56 pm
What did I tell ya. 4-3 Giants. Cubs cannot handle the pressure of the postseason. There are no “Mr. Octobers” on this squad. Never has been. Too bad.
October 10, 2016 at 11:57 pm
I won’t go so far as to say it’s over – if they lose tonight – but I agree with you, Ernie….Rizzo has got to start producing. I had a bad feeling when they couldn’t get plate anything after the 2nd inning…you don’t get 3-0 leads against “aces” often enough.
October 10, 2016 at 11:59 pm
5-3 Giants, and still only 1 out! Shades of 2003 Game 6!
October 11, 2016 at 12:00 am
Uh oh. How is Chapman’s head going to be moving forward?
October 11, 2016 at 12:01 am
I don’t know why they didn’t leave Wood and felt like they needed to bring Rendon in with just one hit to first. Maddon paniced.
October 11, 2016 at 12:03 am
They are taking a shit now.
October 11, 2016 at 12:04 am
Look at the Cubs bench, you can see it in their faces; “Uh oh…”
Giants have postseason tested players up and down that lineup. They don’t panic, Cubs panic. That’s the difference between winners and losers.
October 11, 2016 at 12:06 am
Ernie, these Cubs won two playoffs last year, if they lose I would not commit suicide just yet.
October 11, 2016 at 12:12 am
Sorry, Tony, I know how you feel. But, I’ve seen this before; 1984 and 2003 being the most like this. This series is over. If I was a betting man, I would lay money on it.
And I’m not committing “suicide.” This stuff is part and parcel of being a Cubs fan. I’m pretty much used to it. That’s why FroDog doesn’t post on the Cubs anymore. He had enough. I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment. “Wait until next year.”
October 11, 2016 at 12:14 am
Maddon is overthinking tonight. Bad lineup (Soler at 4?), strange bullpen decisions. Combine that with Rizzo not doing anything…
The bright side is that worst case scenario means we’ll have another start from Lester. I don’t believe he’ll let this rattle him. Cubs just need to score runs at some point.
October 11, 2016 at 12:18 am
I will say that I have absolutely no idea why Rondon came in at that moment. I could understand if he started with a clean slate at the top of it. Not with a runner on. Dude should be on a short leash, not put in there. He just hasn’t pitched well the last couple months.
October 11, 2016 at 12:21 am
Maybe I’m reaching…but I still have a feeling this team might be different…
October 11, 2016 at 12:21 am
Kris Bryant says “relax”
October 11, 2016 at 12:22 am
…and that’s what the fuck I’m talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 11, 2016 at 12:22 am
…thank you, Dave.
October 11, 2016 at 12:22 am
ernie…I get it, my friend. 🙂
October 11, 2016 at 12:23 am
My fucking computer restarted and i missed the home run. You got to be kidding me! Maybe it was the best, clearly my watching them was jynxing it.
October 11, 2016 at 12:24 am
If they win this game after that 8th inning collapse, that’s HUGE. Much more than an easy sweep would’ve accomplished. Wow.
October 11, 2016 at 12:25 am
I saw it Tony, so your theory doesn’t hold up (fortunately).
October 11, 2016 at 12:27 am
Cubs have one postseason player; Kris Bryant.
But, I don’t think that will be enough. I still say they need to win this game to prove to themselves they are not the Cubs of the past.
That is still in doubt.
October 11, 2016 at 12:35 am
What a fucking catch!
October 11, 2016 at 12:37 am
Wow. What a catch (and throw). Even if they lose tonite, I’m not counting them out; clearly they have some heart. But Rizzo MUST start hitting!!
October 11, 2016 at 12:38 am
I was typing up a rant and I’m like “let me check the score to make sure they lost.”
October 11, 2016 at 12:42 am
RIZZO NEEDS TO SHOW DA FIRE AND PASSION !
October 11, 2016 at 12:43 am
Wow, plate discipline out the fucking window!!
October 11, 2016 at 12:50 am
Hey Maddon, how bout using Montgomery in the closer role?
I’m sick of Chapman’s 102 mph meatballs.
October 11, 2016 at 1:18 am
If they can clear this last inning they will be in good shape for the top of the order against the rookie pitcher.
October 11, 2016 at 1:22 am
You gotta get your ass over to first base!!!!
October 11, 2016 at 1:36 am
Great job Maddon, bring old man Ross in. Another great substitution.
October 11, 2016 at 1:45 am
Damn…
October 11, 2016 at 1:52 am
Can’t win a series when your pitchers drive in the majority of runs.
Let me get this straight-Rizzo swings at pitches outside the right hand batters box, he swings at balls hitting him in the nuts, but the takes close pitches with 2 strikes? Didn’t he suck last year too?
October 11, 2016 at 1:54 am
Correct. Correct. Correct.
October 11, 2016 at 1:55 am
Cubs chokers: Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist, Russell, Rondon, and Chapman. Bryant can’t do it himself.
If you think the chokers are going to turn it around the next game, then perhaps the Cubs still have a chance.
But, I say they won’t. Thus, the series will be over on Thursday in Wrigley with tear stained Cub fan faces.
I predicted, before this series started, that the only thing I questioned about this team was their ability to handle postseason pressure. Tonight they proved to me that they can’t.
October 11, 2016 at 2:06 am
I tend to think Cubs need to win Game 4. I don’t think they are freaked out yet (at least not all of them). If they have a Game 5, there will absolutely be a panicky gloom when they get back to Chicago and that won’t end well. Need some big innings out of Lackey and some fucking hits. Would have preferred to fall down 5-0 in the first and lose 7-1. Hate giving a team an emotional walkoff win. Hope I can Dvr this tomorrow because this is just too much to watch live.
October 11, 2016 at 11:30 am
Genre; I want to apologize to you, Fro, and all the guys for my behavior last night. I was acting like an adolescent kid who didn’t get his PlayStation for Christmas, and I am ashamed of that.
No, the series is not over! I’ve been a coach, and the last thing I want to hear from any player, or assistant, is that “the game is over.” It isn’t over until the Giants, or the Cubs, get that last out in that final game.
No, those players are not “chokers”! I know from reading interviews from former Cub players that they are all trying as hard as they can to get us (Cub fans) a championship.
Sorry, guys, won’t happen again. If I cannot post something rational, I won’t post.
October 11, 2016 at 11:51 am
Ernie, in all seriousness, absolutely no apology necessary! I always enjoy reading your posts and believe me, we agree on much.
Somehow, I’ve convinced myself that this team can be different….and even though Maddon does some unconventional things at times – that sometimes don’t add up – I think he is a big reason why the Cubs have gotten this far.
I had a bad feeling when they didn’t chase Bumgarner early…they had him on the ropes and let him get away. Rizzo MUST start producing, the Cubs MUST start hitting.
I think the Cubs could be very strong for years to come, but this will be a BIG setback if they don’t advance to the World Series (at the very least). The pressure is there, whether or not it’s openly acknowledged.
I don’t believe in curses…but fingers crossed for tonight.
October 11, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Ernie, I know where you coming from. We’ve seen this all before. For me, it’s a bit of a self-defense mechanism to get negative and maybe even panickey. Lower expectations now rather than maintain hope and get devastated later.
Genre, I’ve believed this team was different too. But if they fall down 3-0 today the way the Giants did yesterday, I won’t believe it any more. History tells me not to. I don’t think that way about the Blackhawks, because they’ve won. They’ve come back. The Cubs haven’t done anything to earn my trust yet.
I’ve already heard “Don’t worry, Lester, Game 5” and that brings me ZERO solace. Sutcliffe, Game 5. Prior Game 6 and Wood Game 7. Have heard it all before and we’ve lost them all before.
Let’s just find a way to win tonight so we can rest easy for a few days.
October 11, 2016 at 3:39 pm
Thank you Genre and Nemo for your forgiving and understanding hearts.
I know you both well enough to know you know where I’m coming from.
But, that’s no excuse for me behaving like a spoiled little brat last night.
Anyway, onwards and upwards Cub fans! Hopefully they end it tonight.
October 11, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Okay, about an hour from first pitch at San Fran. As I said this morning, this game is a must win. Granted the Cubs get homefield advantage in a game 5, but we do not want to transfer any more momentum to the Giants given their recent history. The good news: Lackey is well rested and being paired with David Ross for a combined nearly 30 years of veteran experience in the battery positions. The bad news: not much is known about Matt Moore, though the southpaw has a 4.0+ ERA, only Dexter Fowler has ever had an at bat against him. Also Rizzo needs to hit something tonight. Rizzo doesn’t hit, Cubs don’t win. That is my best guess here. Cubs will need to draw deep pitch counts like last night to get to the Giants exhausted bullpen. Cubs bullpen is as equally if not more exhausted, so hopefully Lackey goes deep into the game. As former Cub Cliff Floyd said in a recent interview about his 2007-2008 Cubs postseason experience, don’t get cocky. The Giants are the real deal, despite their lack of homer power in the offense. Lets end this tonight. Go Cubs Go!!
October 11, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Also I would love for the Dodgers to knock that toothpick chomping idiot out of the playoffs. Mainly because I don’t want to face Murphy in the NLCS.
October 11, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Agreed on that last post, Dave. Game 4 thread coming up guys….
October 11, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Game 4 thread is live.
October 11, 2016 at 11:11 pm
HOLY FUCK!!!!!