I’ll be working and traveling tomorrow, so I’ve posted this thread a little “early”…
Looking ahead to Game 6: there is now added pressure on Cleveland. Arrieta will be on the mound. Schwarber at DH.
IF Arrieta has his good stuff, and the Cubs score early…then I like our chances.
*…in the meantime, checkout Fro’s “recap” of tonite’s Bears-Vikings game (previous thread).
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
October 31, 2016 at 11:53 pm
Genre, like you, and all of us on this site, I wish it would happen. But, this post by Nemo points out why I don’t believe it will:
“But this article about the Cubs sucking at hitting breaking balls makes me concerned: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-cubs-continuing-curveball-crisis/”
The Cleveland pitchers have found the Cubs weakness – breaking balls off-speed out of the zone. Cub pitchers have yet to find Indian weaknesses. Even in last nights win in almost every inning the Indians had a threat. After the fourth, the Cub bats went back into hibernation. If not for Chapman, the series would have ended in Wrigley.
I don’t see them turning that around in two days, even with Schwarber. And to expect Arrietta and Hendricks to pitch 2-3 hit shutouts, which is what I think they would have to do, is too much to ask.
But, as I said, I am very happy they didn’t let that bunch celebrate on our home field!
November 1, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Yeah, the Cubs need better plate discipline and better contact-fast. I don’t think Cleveland will make the mistake again of sending too many fastballs the Cubs way in key situations.
Could Arrieta and Hendricks pitch back-to-back shutouts and have the Cubs hit a mistake into the bleachers or scratch out a run or two? Possible, but not likely. More likely they will need to score 4-5 runs or more each time.
If the Cubs do win tonight, I actually like their chances better in Game 7. Their fans will panic and ballpark atmosphere will be tense. I’m not sold on Gluber being invincible either. Facing him 3x in a week (twice on short rest), I think he’s beatable. They should be ready for the cutter.
We’ve been given up for dead and are playing on borrowed time. Will that help the team loosen up and play comfortable? Hopefully.
Since I was wrong about the NLCS, I’ll pick the Indians to win in a blowout tonight. I exist to be wrong, but I’ve got a big bottle of Jameson here in case I am not.
November 1, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Like Nemo, I will make a prediction:
From my head; based upon the previous games, past history, and statistics in this postseason, Cleveland wins the game, 6-1.
From my heart; based upon Schwarber being in the lineup, and Arrieta pitching like he did last year, Cubs win the game, 2-1.
November 1, 2016 at 4:33 pm
I don’t dare make a prediction. I thought the Bears were going to get blown out last night. We all know what happened with that.
November 1, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Bryant just hit a moon shot. Keep it up boys. Just fucking demoralize the Indians.
November 1, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Honestly, the Indians have faced ZERO pressure until they were up 3-1 in the World Series. Having to close it out is the first real obstacle they’ve even faced.
The longer this series goes, the more what Nemo claims about tensity will come into effect. Barring a major pitching collapse, should go to at least Game 7.
November 1, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Ass whoopin underway. First world series grand salami in 11 years!! And it was an AddieBOMB!!
We’re going to game 7 if this score holds up. The Cubs will have played longest possible baseball season in 2016. Holy shit could we win tomorrow?
November 1, 2016 at 9:57 pm
Joe Maddon’s stubborness may have just cost the Cubs the series! Bringing in Chapman in the seventh inning of a 7-2 game, and now he looks like he hurt his ankle/knee on that play at first with two more inning to go!
Stupid! Just Stupid!
November 1, 2016 at 9:59 pm
It’s not over yet…but I’d rather be up by 5 than down by 5 going into the 8th.
If there is a Game 7 and Hendricks is “on”, I like our chances.
Watching these games is nerve wracking…
November 1, 2016 at 10:18 pm
They have to get to the 9th inning. I’m sure we’ll have Lester for at least an inning or two for Game 7. He could be that bridge man that we don’t have to get to Chapman.
I figured Chapman would pitch Inning 7-8. If they still had a 5+ lead, then put Grimm in (or Rondon if he’s even on the WS roster. He can’t blow a 5-run lead, can he?).
November 1, 2016 at 10:20 pm
…and Rizzo just made Maddon look like a genius (unless Chapman comes out for the 9th now up 9-2. Then he’s mental).
November 1, 2016 at 10:48 pm
It’s funny though. As much as we’ve all bitched about our middle relievers / setup situation this season, when the pressure was on, Joe Maddon showed us that he had less faith in them than all of us.
And I hate to say it, but I’m not sure Grimm-Montgomery-Strop-Wood hold a 7-2 lead.
November 1, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Maddon is really gambling that Chapman can go tomorrow after throwing lots of pitches tonight.
All I can say is, he better know what he’s doing, because he has sure put himself on trial if this things blows up because Chapman can’t hold a 1 or 2 run lead in the ninth.
November 1, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Fly the motherfucking W!!
Let’s bludgeon Kluber tomorrow and make it decided early like tonight. Let’s win a goddamn World Series!!
November 2, 2016 at 12:17 am
Lester, Lackey and even Arrieta – he said it himself – are available. Hell, it’s the final game of the season….they can rest for awhile after tomorrow.
Dave…I’m with you!
Ernie…I would love to hang with Maddon. I don’t think the Cubs are where they are without him…it’s funny listening to the bobbleheads on ESPN – Pete Rose included, although I’m happy to see him involved – questiong his moves.
Man, it’s baseball! Sometimes it makes no sense. This season reminds me why I love the game of baseball so fucking much! I played the game as a kid, and if music hadn’t sidetracked me might have continued for awhile.
I got my wife to watch her first game a few nights ago, she’s been tuning in ever since. She’s a big football fan and very knowledgeable…as a choreographer/former dancer (ballet) and athlete, she is really getting into the strategy, athleticism and “choreography” of baseball (watching the Russell/Baez/Rizzo dp replay earlier in slow motion, Heyward’s catch and catch throw)….I told her a little about “Tinker to Evers to Chance” (I don’t know much about it).
Since I’m not in Chicago tonite at Brendan’s or Monsignor Murphy’s, I’m celebrating with a Jameson’s in hand….sleep well my frendts.
Go Cubs.
November 2, 2016 at 1:25 am
I like the way my predictions turn out!
Not happy about Chapman pitching, but too late to do anything about it now. Maybe an inning each out of Lester and Lackey. I don’t know. We’re in Game 7 and that is something I didn’t even think possible after Game 4. We have a chance.
November 2, 2016 at 1:58 pm
It’s Game 7. Adrenaline will help if Chapman has to pitch.
This is it.