The Cubs entered Game 4 of the World Series in an unexpected—albeit familiar—position: down 2-1 and desperately needing a slumping offense to awaken. Tonight’s challenge was exacerbated by facing the indomitable Corey Kluber, the former Cy Young winner who shut them down in Game 1. The wind reversed from last night, steadily blowing in and […]
Day: October 29, 2016
Second City October: World Series Game Four Preview, Cleveland (2-1), at Cubs (1-2)
There’s the plan and then there’s the outcome, and very often those two things don’t wind up in sync. When the flyball pitcher from Cleveland takes the mound at Wrigley with the wind blowing out, a 1-0 finish in his favor is not the expected outcome. But it was, and that’s put the Cubs in […]
Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and World Series Game 4 Preview
This piece, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Scooter Hotz, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Despite all the pregame talk of 30-40 mph wind blowing out at Wrigley for Game 3, runs were in short supply Friday night on the north side of Chicago. The only run of the […]
Second City October: A Decision in the Seventh Inning
I know that in the middle of the World Series no one cares about the argument over the DH…and yet, on another level, it’s during the World Series that that argument is most prominent, because the entire baseball world becomes centered around a faceoff between the two philosophies. That’s an opportunity we who are interested […]
Playoff Prospectus: The Highlight Reel: World Series Game 3
This piece, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Mauricio Rubio, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Championship seasons are filled with unlikely heroes coming up in big spots. Cleveland are not champions yet, but should they seal the deal they certainly have their unlikely hero. With runners at the corners […]
Playoff Prospectus: Who Says You Can’t Go Home?
This recap, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Jarrett Seidler, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Cleveland acquired Coco Crisp on August 31 in a trade so low profile that the phrase “under the radar” might be charitable. Going back to Oakland was Colt Hynes, a 31-year-old minor-league reliever whom […]
Playoff Prospectus: Assessing the Managers’ Moves in Game 3
This recap, written by Baseball Prospectus’s Rian Watt, forms part of the main site’s comprehensive coverage of the postseason, “Playoff Prospectus”. Sometimes, a universe turns on a single moment, and sometimes that moment doesn’t matter. Two such moments of interest from last night’s game, which the Indians ended up winning 1-0. With one out in […]