IGT: NL Wild Card Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates 7:08PM TBS

[Sunbiz1]

Amazing, amazing night. I could hardly go to bed last night. I've been around for a few good Cubs teams but this has a different feel to it -- just because of our youth. This is not lightning in a bottle -- the ascent for our team is just beginning. We're going to be a factor for many, many years.

A few thoughts:

1) Arrieta is electric. I've never seen a stretch of pitching like this before. He is utterly dominate and its incredible watching him utilize every inch of all four corners of the plate. He was straight up dealing with the full arsenal of pitches on display. Any time he steps to the mound this post-season, count it as a W.

2) The Fowler/Schwarber combination was crazy. When Fowler is rolling, we're tough to stop. First inning he gets on-base and immediately steals 2nd, already putting himself in position to score. You have a guy with a .350+ OBP who can run and hit for power leading off with the trio of Shwarber/Rizzo/Bryant behind him? Yikes.

3) At a certain point, Rizzo and/or Bryant will start going off, and when it happens -- Good Night, St. Louis.

Deadbirds will go down in 6.:yep:

Seeing Aramis Ramirez batting coupled with stellar play by Bryant at 3rd is what sets this team apart from any I have ever witnessed...going back to 84'.

This is not a team that will implode as happened with A.R. at 3rd. Piniella couldn't even fill out a line-up card, and Baker wasn't much better.

 

[brett05]

Deadbirds will go down in 6.:yep:

Seeing Aramis Ramirez batting coupled with stellar play by Bryant at 3rd is what sets this team apart from any I have ever witnessed...going back to 84'.

This is not a team that will implode as happened with A.R. at 3rd. Piniella couldn't even fill out a line-up card, and Baker wasn't much better.

You mean 5? (only a five game series)

 

[brett05]

Solid answer, considering your dumb post was dumb, bozo. /Grimson

And he's still here...:smh:

 

[DanTown]

Pitcher in the lineup requires more thinking and strategy by the manager. More pinch hitting, double switch, personnel changes, etc.

While I agree the NL game has significantly more strategy because you have to move around the pitcher's spot in the lineup, I think injuries to SP are too big a risk so if I was the commish, I'd say that BOTH leagues have to adopt a hybrid position where if you use a DH at the start of the game, that DH only gets two at bats and then replacements only get one AB. You can choose to use your SP and forgo the DH but then you don't get the DH spot for the entirety of the game.

 

[Parade_Rain]

And he's still here...:smh:

I'll be here all week. Try the veal and don't forget to tip your servers.

 

[Parade_Rain]

While I agree the NL game has significantly more strategy because you have to move around the pitcher's spot in the lineup, I think injuries to SP are too big a risk so if I was the commish, I'd say that BOTH leagues have to adopt a hybrid position where if you use a DH at the start of the game, that DH only gets two at bats and then replacements only get one AB. You can choose to use your SP and forgo the DH but then you don't get the DH spot for the entirety of the game.

SP get injured in AL, too. There aren't enough SP getting injured swinging a bat to worry about it. Besides, that's what keeping some SP depth at AAA is for. Good teams won't miss a beat or they have to make a trade. We can't live life worrying about injuries. Just look at Washington. They stopped Strasburg at a certain number of innings because they arrogantly thought it would be easy getting back to the playoffs the next season. Let the chips fall where they may, I say.

 

[knoxville7]

scary thing is, arrieta wasn't as sharp as he has been last night. yet, still threw a CG shutout...guy is crazy good. cardinals series will be tough...have to take at least 1 of 2 in st lou to open the series

 

[JZsportsfan]

I think Cubs take Game 1/3/4

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

SP get injured in AL, too. There aren't enough SP getting injured swinging a bat to worry about it. Besides, that's what keeping some SP depth at AAA is for. Good teams won't miss a beat or they have to make a trade. We can't live life worrying about injuries. Just look at Washington. They stopped Strasburg at a certain number of innings because they arrogantly thought it would be easy getting back to the playoffs the next season. Let the chips fall where they may, I say.

Isn't the NL the only professional baseball league left that bats their pitchers? I don't think outside the MLB there are high levels of baseballs using AB for the pitcher.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

scary thing is, arrieta wasn't as sharp as he has been last night. yet, still threw a CG shutout...guy is crazy good. cardinals series will be tough...have to take at least 1 of 2 in st lou to open the series

Not as tough as people believe. We are on a totally different level right now than St Louis. If this was going down mid-summer? Yep they'd take us out. But St Louis is broken down, out of juice, and now rusty from a long lay off. We are juggernaut and they don't want any of this.

When we take them out, it will be a celebration for the ages.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Isn't the NL the only professional baseball league left that bats their pitchers? I don't think outside the MLB there are high levels of baseballs using AB for the pitcher.

Is that supposed to be a compelling argument? It isn't.

 

[ijustposthere]

Not as tough as people believe. We are on a totally different level right now than St Louis. If this was going down mid-summer? Yep they'd take us out. But St Louis is broken down, out of juice, and now rusty from a long lay off. We are juggernaut and they don't want any of this.

When we take them out, it will be a celebration for the ages.

Never underestimate St. Louis.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

If you're feeling confident about beating the Cardinals, you've gone too far

 

[TC in Mississippi]

If you're feeling confident about beating the Cardinals, you've gone too far

I agree, but you should feel confident that they belong in this series and have as good a shot at the Cardinals do.

 

[GUSTER12345]

Cubs in 5!

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Cubs in 5!

If they're going to win they're going to win in 4. I don't see them winning a game 5 in St. Louis.