She arrived at the Sphinx—the mythical beast posted on an outcropping, guarding the bridge to the World Series—anticipating the riddle of legend. The Sphinx spoke. “What creatures walk on four balls in the regular season, but strike out on three pitches in the playoffs?” — The cold randomness of the playoffs was the only legitimate […]
Author: Zack Moser
Second City October: Bats Quiet, Heading West
For the second time in six postseason games, the Cubs pitched themselves into a game decided by a lonely solo home run. Of course, last night’s loss to the indomitable Clayton Kershaw was a far more bitter pill than their Game One NLDS victory, coming behind the strength of Jon Lester’s gem and Javier Baez’s […]
Second City October: NLDS Recap—Cubs Advance to Second Consecutive NLCS
I feel the dread creeping in. It starts around the edges, like a foot slipping out from under a blanket on a cold night, the frigidity not gripping you completely but letting you know it’s there. It’s a familiar feeling, too: the frustrating boringness of the 2007 and 2008 National League Division Series, the resignation […]
Second City October: A Manager’s Choices Make The Difference
The Cubs’ marathon loss to the Giants Monday night hurts, but only if we first remove context. From my fellow Wrigleyvillers, you’ll hear exceedingly reasonable takes focused on the fact that the Cubs anticipated a tough matchup with Madison Bumgarner, that Game Three was always the one they expected to be the most difficult, that […]
Second City October: The State of the Series
This piece, written by BP Wrigleyville’s Zack Moser, forms part of our in-house coverage of the Cubs in the playoffs, “Second City October.” For more on Game Two, read Nate Greabe’s recap. Additional playoff coverage will be found on BP Wrigleyville throughout the week. “He shall from time to time give to the Cubs Faithful information to the […]
The Cubs and Pythagoras: Not Quite Forever Friends
“It’s so good, Zack, you’re gonna love it.” “Man, you’re in for a treat!” “Holy crap dude it’s gonna be so great!” The early reviews were in: beer was good. And boy, was I stoked to try it. I remember fondly my “first beer”—a Fat Tire at Murphy’s Pub in Champaign, Illinois—and I couldn’t believe […]
Game 162 Recap: Cubs 7 Reds 4
The Cubs won 103* games this season. Top Play: The Cubs’ ninth inning made your humble author laugh out loud with a variety of emotions, the least of which being pity for the lowly Reds, who never figured out the 2016 Cubs (but who can blame them). Rafael Iglesias got two quick outs to begin […]
Series Preview: Cubs vs. Pirates, September 26-29
This preview was jointly written by Zack Moser and Nate Greabe. (Zack) If I were to tell you that the Cubs were merely playing out the string in their final series versus the Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds, you would be forgiven for thinking that something had gone horribly wrong. As it is, the Cubs’ weekend […]
Game 155 Recap: Cubs 3 Cardinals 1
The Cubs defeated the Cardinals for (possibly) the final time in 2016, and it was a memorable night at Wrigley, for the Cubs, for Major League Baseball, and for one particular backup catcher. The joy on the North Side on Sunday night helped salve the acute melancholy of the day, as news of José Fernández’s […]
Rattle Rattle Thunder Clatter: Jake Arrieta’s Mechanics Need a Tune-up
It’s easy to get rosy-eyed when talking about Jake Arrieta. His devotion to his craft, his classically sculpted body, his majestically hirsute chin, his adorable kid, and his damn good numbers: all are qualities that inspire writers to snag the purplest of pens and analogize Arrieta to, say, an obscure poet or a 19th-century frontiersman. Arrieta’s […]