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

[Parade_Rain]

You need that lefty bat and in Pittsburgh it makes sense. PNC is not your average park and Schwarber in LF has disaster potential.

Since righties hit Cole better than lefties, according to a previous SilenceS post, that LH bat isn't necessary.

 

[SilenceS]

Since righties hit Cole better than lefties, according to a previous SilenceS post, that LH bat isn't necessary.

They do, but Schwarber also walks more. Cogs has been dominated by Cole.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tommy-la-stella-starting-20151006-story.html

this would appear to be the lineup

CF Fowler
RF Schwarber
LF Bryant
1B Rizzo
2B Castro
3B La Stella
C Montero
SP Arrieta
SS Russell

 

[SilenceS]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tommy-la-stella-starting-20151006-story.html

this would appear to be the lineup

CF Fowler
RF Schwarber
LF Bryant
1B Rizzo
2B Castro
3B La Stella
C Montero
SP Arrieta
SS Russell

Montero is 3 for 5 against Cole this year? Is this your prediction or what you found? I could see Montero moving up one and Russell going to 7th and Lastella 9th. But, it could easily be this way.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Montero is 3 for 5 against Cole this year? Is this your prediction or what you found? I could see Montero moving up one and Russell going to 7th and Lastella 9th. But, it could easily be this way.

This is based on the Gonzales piece, Len Kasper's radio interview and putting that together. I just now heard Joe Maddon say that he has his lineup but is not ready to reveal it yet so it's still guesswork but educated guesswork.

 

[CSF77]

Line up is pretty legit. He has been using that more lately

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

The need for the balanced schedule is here.

Go Cubbies!

Cubbies are going to

Balanced schedules went away around 1969-- even then interleague would've been a novel idea.
Expansion makes balanced schedules extremely difficult to maintain.

 

[brett05]

Balanced schedules went away around 1969-- even then interleague would've been a novel idea.
Expansion makes balanced schedules extremely difficult to maintain.

Without them you can't give preference based on records. It has to be division winners first.

 

[DanTown]

11 games against the other 14 teams is 154 games, leaving teams with two four game inter-league series. You could just alternate years to determine who gets the "extra" home game in the series. But the problem with so many two game series is that you have a lot more travel.

The best answer is still something like

WC series is best of three (best record gets games 2 and 3 at home).
Reseed after WC series is over
WC winner gets no days off it goes three games, one if they "sweep".

 

[Mr. Cub]

One more night. Ugh. This is such a nervous/excited/scared feeling. This game is gonna be stressful. I hope the Cubs score 16 in the first so we can just watch and wait until it's over.

 

[ChicagoBornCalifLiving]

I like the fact that even if they lose, this team exceeded expectations 10 fold. I'd be disappointed for sure... but for me and my expectations this is already bonus baseball.

This.

I figured 80 to 85 wins max for a young team that is trying to find itself. That being said, you never know what the future holds with injuries, players having a down year, was Arrieta a flash in the pan, etc. If I remember correctly the Cubs were picked to make another World Series run with Kerry and Mark in 2004 and we all know how that turned out. As totally satisfied as I am with this season it would be nice to at least get beyond this one game and make a run at the prize because you never truly know when you will get back here.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

After the Cubs win 2-0 tomorrow, I want no celebrations. It's step 1. Keep a straight face and do the Bill Belichick thing "onto St Louis"

I expect champagne and a pajama party though

 

[JZsportsfan]

I went there and the 7-9th innings of the infamous Bartman game for the 1st time since 2003

Can't believe how big of a deal the Bartman thing came out to be. 1 out, only 1 guy on, up 3-0 in the 8th.....

 

[Boobaby1]

After the Cubs win 2-0 tomorrow, I want no celebrations. It's step 1. Keep a straight face and do the Bill Belichick thing "onto St Louis"

I expect champagne and a pajama party though

For you or the Cubs? :lmao:

 

[Shawon0Meter]

For you or the Cubs? :lmao:

lol...I'm so excited for tonight's game, it could end up being both

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

The day is finally here, GO CUBS!

 

[brett05]

Did the Astros party last night? I ask as it is the same for tonight's winner with the quick turn around you don't want a day to recover tomorrow before the next round starts.

We still need 403 or we ain't going to win. GO CUBBIES!!!!

 

[Parade_Rain]

Without them you can't give preference based on records. It has to be division winners first.

Yes you can. Add in SOS and seed the post-season.

 

[brett05]

Yes you can. Add in SOS and seed the post-season.

Hmmm...SOS....So how would that work from your point of view?

Oh and ...

GO CUBBIES!!!

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I barely slept last night in anticipation of this game tonight. I have this odd confidence that I never have as a sports fan and it's disconcerting. The fact that two teams that finished 1 game apart and were the 2nd and 3rd best teams in baseball this year are playing for survival is maddening. That' said only a few years ago the Cubs would already be at home. Still the thought that a loss tonight means a massive disappointment was not something I was prepared for in 2015. I was all about this being one year early, rookies don't win, blah, blah, blah. All of that shielded me from this awful, terrible, wonderful feeling of anticipation and the one thing most foreign to me as a sports fan and particularly as a Cubs fan...hope. Yeah, that's all over with now. Not only do I hope they win, I think they'll win and that's the worst of all and yet, and yet IF they win I can dig into these playoffs and be ready come what may. Expectations will ebb and wane but I'll be ok from a Cubs fan mentality point of view. Ok, now bring on Gerrit Cole Bring on Jake Arrieta, let's get this done. Go Cubs!