Comments on: Second City October: Eff Your Magic

By: Ken Schultz

Ken Schultz — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 17:33:34 +0000

That seems the most logical explanation. If I remember right, Javy took a giant swing and a miss at the first breaking ball and they were probably counting on that plate approach eventually doing him in. Fortunately, they weren’t planning on him turning around an 0-2 fastball to get it in play.

By: victor19nyc

victor19nyc — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 17:29:12 +0000

Yeah, interesting. I’ve seen comments about why he didn’t leave Moore in the game but nothing about IBB Baez. Then again, despite his recent success Baez is still a high variability player. Maybe they thought the chance of a K plus getting Ross was more likely than Ross hitting in to a DP.

By: Bill Thomson

Bill Thomson — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 16:21:54 +0000

Why were we surprised? The Cubs scored 4 in the 9th to win the last regular season game–and with mostly the backup unit. It’s just the way this Cubs team does things. Ho-hum….

By: Davolson01

Davolson01 — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:56:36 +0000

In all the post-mortems I have read about the game, I haven’t seen anyone comment about the decision to pitch to the hot-hitting Baez in the 9th rather than putting him on (though I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of this). Grandpa Rossy did have 2 RBIs in the game, but it would set up a double play possibility, and yielding up even one run at that stage of the game was likely suicidal with Chapman coming in. Presumably LaStella or Montero would have pinch hit for Ross, but still it seems like the right move for Bochy to make (even forgetting 20/20 hindsight). Thanks for the awesome game recap, Ken.

By: victor19nyc

victor19nyc — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:43:51 +0000

Forgot to add, how many camera shots of those stupid “beliEVEN” signs?? Eff your magic indeed.

By: victor19nyc

victor19nyc — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:42:23 +0000

The broadcasters were really playing up the Game 5 possibility. When the light went on in Lester’s head to mentally prepare to pitch tomorrow. Many shots of Cueto yucking it up in the Giants dugout. Craziness.

I was down on Maddon’s lineup to begin the night. Contreras has been hitting, the rest of the team isn’t, so Ross starts? (Who had two RBIs). And batting the struggling Heyward in the 6 hole against a lefty? I thought it made sense to play Soler again.

That said, brilliant move pinch hitting for Russell in the 9th. I hope it’s not a shot to Russell’s confidence because it did look like he was taking better swings last night.

I hope Bochy finds a way to stay in shape during the off season now that the mileage he put in walking to the mound and back won’t be in his routine.

By: The CHI Sports Fan (@TheCHISportsFan)

The CHI Sports Fan (@TheCHISportsFan) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:17:04 +0000

Brilliant written. Saving in my Evernote archive.

But why is it when our guys have done this consistently (didn’t I see a stat that we lead the league in 9th inning comebacks?) that a lot of Cub fans start complaining how terrible we are? After all – we DID drive MadBum from the game just the day before. We did tie up (impossibly) on KB’s spectacular – and spectacularly celebrated – HR.

I love the Maddon told the team before the series “We will have hardships. It’s inevitable. But it’s how we respond to those hardships that will determine who we are.”

And we did.