Guys…I apologize for not posting more; my plate is pretty full.
Not looking good…Happ just dropped the ball after hitting the wall. The Cubs can’t pitch or hit (again) and I’m not “feeling it”.
That said, somebody has to win 4 before this series is over, which could happen tomorrow…it’s starting to feel like Cubs-Mets (2015).
The floor is yours, my frendts.
p.s. Walks do NOT clog the bases…the Cubs’ bullpen SUCKS.
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
October 17, 2017 at 11:03 pm
genrebuster Says:
August 2, 2017 at 11:44 pm edit
Dodgers got Darvish and are on pace to win 114 games. They are the team to beat, IMOP.
October 18, 2017 at 12:15 am
I want to respond to something Nemo said here,
“Even though I knew the Cubs weren’t the best team this year, I always thought they COULD pull it off. They were World Series Champions. They might get behind, and even lose, but they would never quit. Tonight, it seems they have quit-THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. Changes need to be made.”
I was saying the exact same thing to my son (a Dodgers fan) in the bottom of the eighth. I told him I can accept a loss if the team fights to the end – takes pitches, tries to get a runner over, dives for the ball, etc. But, what I cannot stomach is the team quitting. And the Cubs quit. Rizzo’s last at bat was pathetic. He looked like he was trying to strike out so he could go home.
Nemo, I agree completely! Changes need to be made, and I would say no one is untouchable. Here’s some names that better not be on the roster next year for sure: Strop, Rondon, Montgomery, Wilson, Avila, LaStella, Zobrist, and Lackey. I would also take a long hard look at Maddon. I cannot take any more of his “creative” decisions, stupid pitching changes and lineup changes. This team needs a thorough evaluation of its talent. And if they can get some pitching talent for a Rizzo, Baez, or Bryant, I would do it!
This series against the Dodgers was unacceptable for a defending World’s Champion! Certain people need to lose their jobs!
October 18, 2017 at 12:35 am
Going to repost in this thread:
Fuck this team!! 2 years out of 3 it forgets how to hit in the LCS and gets swept? WTF?! Yankees didn’t give up. They blew an 8-3 lead and they still didn’t give up. I wanted to believe this team was cool and confident and could turn it on when necessary, but they have been so overmatched the entire playoffs. They seem lost against the Dodgers-much like against the Mets in 15. Sure, the Dodgers are very good, and even with a solid effort the Cubs might lose the series-THIS IS NOT A SOLID EFFORT!!! They got lucky to win the against the Nationals only because they have their own issues. We knew this bullpen sucked and didn’t address it. Why the fuck has Maddon been so bad with managing the pitchers?! Why do you get so desperate and hack away and let them keep their pitch count down while inflating yours? Why has our best starter shit the bed 2/3 starts?
Even though I knew the Cubs weren’t the best team this year, I always thought they COULD pull it off. They were World Series Champions. They might get behind, and even lose, but they would never quit. Tonight, it seems they have quit-THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. Changes need to be made.
October 18, 2017 at 12:51 am
Thanks Ernie. What the hell does the Cubs hitting instructor do anyway?! Even though the Cubs won last year, they got shut down a lot along the way. Can anyone tell Javier Baez to lay off the high fastballs with two strikes?
I don’t see anyone on Ernie’s list that I would miss. I’m not sure about Maddon, but JFC give him a goddamn bullpen already and maybe he’ll stop trying so much crazy shit?! Hit consistently and give him a plug and play lineup. I don’t understand how 2 perennial MVP candidates stop hitting every October. The Dodgers showed not a hint of nervousness that the defending World Champions would awaken at home and storm back. They act like they think we have already been beaten-and we have DONE NOTHING to disabuse them of this idea.
Cubs will need to be players in free agency to improve this team as not a ton of prospects on the farm ready to help or to be traded for established players. This could be the end of the window here and goddamn it, I thought they would rage against the dying of the light.
October 18, 2017 at 9:23 am
I suppose I’m not as upset as the rest of you. They won it all last year, very difficult to do two years in a row. I think the stat (cue Yeti) was 4/10 defending champs don’t even finish with a .500 record the next season, let alone win their division and win the first round on top of that. Our starters were rocked all year, the bullpen was used a lot as a result. I think there were only 1-2 complete game wins by the starting staff all year. After that Nationals series, any more wins are just gravy on a third consecutive winning season. My $0.02
October 18, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Great comments.
I’m in the middle – TODAY – but may feel differently depending on how this series plays out. They MUST fight back tonite…I had a fucking Mets flashback (from 2015) and it wasn’t enjoyable.
The pitching staff has to be retooled. They’ve been weak at best, when looking at the season as a whole. Anything can happen in the playoffs (Cleveland Indians are a prime example) but this Cubs team really doesn’t resemble last year’s team much….and they haven’t the ENTIRE season. They were very fortunate to win the division (and make the playoffs); next year they won’t, unless they improve more than marginally.
I would NOTtrade Baez, Bryant, Rizzo or Russell. Schwarber, maybe…for the right deal…and last year I would have said no. The home runs are nice, but 30 home runs, 59 RBI’s, 150 strikeouts? Pretty telling…compare that to what Rizzo is doing this year….very close to last year’s numbers. Rizzo is consistent.
I’m ok with them keeping Zobrist another year. Wade Davis is a keeper, I hope. Contreras, too…he’s young. Is it time to move on from Heyward?
I still say it took a very special manager to guide a young Cubs team to a WS title, after 108 years of futility and blown opportunities. I would absolutely keep Maddon. None of the Cubs starters had a “lights out” year and the bullpen mostly stinks. There were many injuries. They were terrible the 1st half (43-45).
It’s very tough to win it all, 2 years in a row. History has proven that. And baseball is a very funny game…just not always in the humorous sense.
October 18, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Indeed, I don’t think any of us EXPECTED a championship the way this season has gone-but we expected the team to give it their best the whole way through. Defending champs are hard to kill-but the Dodgers are treating us like 2016 never happened and we are still reeling from the Mets debacle.
Here’s some stats (since 1981) on how historically bad the Cubs offense has been in the playoffs: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-postseason-offense-2017-htmlstory.html
Hits per game: 96/96
Runs per game: 93/96
Xtra Base hits per game: 81/96
HR’s per game: 85/96
Walks per game 74/96
As bad as those numbers are, take out game 5 against Washington and they are even worse.
When you consider how bad the bullpen is-and how Cubs starters always seem to hit 100 pitches by the 5th inning, there is just no chance here. I predict Cubs score 1 run or less tonight and lose. I dare them to prove me wrong.
October 18, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Scoring on HR’ s only….sorry, that won’t do it.
October 18, 2017 at 10:40 pm
Justin Turner is the new Steve FUCKING Garvey!!!!
October 18, 2017 at 11:11 pm
Another issue the Cubs must address for next season is a hitting coach that can teach these guys plate discipline! I’ve rarely seen so many swings outside the zone. And, when the pitch is right down the middle, they sit on it.
Cubs have a whole lot of work to do this offseason if they have any chance of reaching the W.S. again.
October 18, 2017 at 11:24 pm
Thankfully, the Cubs avoided the sweep. No 2015 repeat! Fly the W!
October 18, 2017 at 11:29 pm
Cubs won tonight avoiding a sweep. Fly the W! Arietta pitched a great game. But, I’m still not willing to pay him the big bucks. Dodgers will most likely close it out tomorrow with Kershaw on the mound. But, at least they didn’t sweep. Right, Genre?
October 19, 2017 at 12:02 am
Do comments need to be approved here? I made a post this afternoon and it never went up. When I tried to resubmit it, it said that I had already said it.
Anyhow, ok, tonight was for pride. I would be reasonably happy with a win tomorrow and losing a competitive game 6. I guess no one remembers when Kershaw was a postseason choker. We’ll see.
October 19, 2017 at 12:03 am
Yes Ernie, I’m glad they live to see another day. And I’m hoping they can get to Kershaw this time….if they’re patient, they’ve got a shot, I think.
I didn’t see the game tonite…was getting play by play updates on my phone and listened to the 9th inning in my car while drivng home. Wade Davis actually had a great at bat in the bottom of the 8th, fouling off 4 or 5 pitches, I think. If the rest of the lineup can work the count, maybe they’ll finally score a run without hitting a HR.
I remember how disappointed I was when the Cubs completely folded against the Mets in 2015. At least we don’t have to endure another sweep.
In other news, the Yankees look inspired. Also, watching/listening to Pedro Martinez on the TBS post game show makes me wonder if he’s a little nuts….(?). HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
October 19, 2017 at 12:29 am
Nemo, comments do NOT need to be approved here…not sure why that happened. Did you post in this thread, or a different one?
Also, I DO remember when Kershaw was a post-season choker. I think he’s 5-7 career…
October 19, 2017 at 1:22 am
Genre, no idea what happened-can’t find it another thread. Anyhow, I was trying to post this link about how historical the Cubs’ offensive ineptitude has been: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-postseason-offense-2017-htmlstory.html
Doesn’t include game 4, but 3 runs on 5 hits tonight won’t effect the stats much.
Yeah, Cubs beat Kershaw last year.
October 19, 2017 at 8:46 pm
9-0 Dodgers in the fourth! Well, I guess that settles any doubts about which was the better team in this series. LOL!
For a World Series champion the Cubs were pretty pathetic against the Dodgers.
They have to find out what the problem is with Rizzo and Bryant, and get it fixed this off season. They cannot afford their two best hitters to go 0-20 something in the playoffs. I would look to move Baez (I love his hustle, but he’s a hot dog and swings at everything) and Schwarber (can’t hit the curveball to save his life) in the Winter Meetings.
After this embarrassing debacle in the NLCS, this team is going to have to make a lot of changes. They cannot sit back and hope these guys will figure it out eventually. As Nemo indicated, their window for more championships is going to close quickly.
October 20, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Good season for the Cubs. I can’t complain too much, its been a nice 3 years. Just have to fill in the holes like we did after the 2015 season.
In other news, the Nats fired Dusty Baker!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
October 20, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Dusty fired? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
October 20, 2017 at 12:30 pm
I’m going to start a new thread.
Happy to say I did NOT see Game 5. But no surprise…it’s been obvious fr awhile who the team in the NL is…this time around, the best team played like the best team.
It doesn’t always happen.
Also, I like Baez. He’s got a great glove, too….and that’s important. He’s young. The sky is the limit. Thry would have to get a lot ot make a trade a good idea, IMOP.
That said, what do I know?