Cubs vs Indians I-WS-T

[Zvon]

metirish wrote: wow, Indians are one win away ....

Do the Cleveland fans at their stadium get to run out on the field and jump around if the Indians win it in Chicago? That be pretty kool.

[Zvon]

Ken Rosenthal is growing on me. I didn't like him for the longest time. He'll always be just 4 ft tall, but he's growing on me.

[Guest themetfairy]

Frayed Knot wrote: How cool is it that former SC Justice John Paul Stevens has not only been to previous Chicago Cubs WS games but it wasn't even the most recent ones? The 96 y/o retired justice attended games in both the 1929 & 1932 World Series.

That is VERY cool!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Frayed Knot wrote: I rarely surprised by the outcome of series - but I am totally shocked by how inept the Cubs look while they're in the process of losing.

Reminds me of last year's deserving NL rep suddenly playing like crap

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: I'm rarely surprised by the outcome of series - but I am totally shocked by how inept the Cubs look while they're in the process of losing. Reminds me of last year's deserving NL rep suddenly playing like crap

Somewhat, but this is even worse.
Looking like crap during a short series is one thing, but it's multiplied when you're the 103 game winner who held essentially a wire to wire lead on not just the division but on the sport's best record and had by far the biggest run differential in either league (+252) - and now that team is on the brink after being held to 2 runs or less for the sixth time in 14 games (including 4 shoutouts) and scoring all of seven runs over four WS games. In the process they're getting out-pitched, out-HR'd, out-run, and out-fielded.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Cleveland at Chi. Cubs
When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 30, 2016
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
SportsDirect Inc.

Hosting its first World Series in 71 years, Wrigley Field has become a playground for — of all teams — the Cleveland Indians, who can clinch their first World Series title since 1948 when they visit the reeling Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the Fall Classic on Sunday. After taking Game 2 in Cleveland to tie the series, the Cubs have fallen flat in two contests at the cozy confines, turning a fanbase's long wait for October glory into a potentially devastating outcome.

Corey Kluber was solid through six innings and Chicago native Jason Kipnis had a three-run homer among three hits in Saturday's 7-2 triumph for the Indians, who saw manager Terry Francona improve to 11-1 all-time in the World Series and pull within one victory of his third career crown. "I'm starting to (imagine what it would be like to win at Wrigley Field)," Kipnis told FOX. "I'm starting to. I've got a lot of friends and family here. To be able to do it in Chicago, it would mean a lot." At the very least, the Cubs have the decided advantage on the mound in Game 5, as postseason standout Jon Lester opposes Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, who has struggled since cutting a finger while repairing a drone prior to the American League Championship Series. Cleveland slugger Mike Napoli will return to the staring lineup after sitting out the start of Game 4 while Chicago may need to shuffle a lineup that is hitting .204 in the series and has seen MVP candidate Kris Bryant go 1-for-14.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (2-1, 1.69)

Bauer lasted just 3 2/3 innings while allowing two runs and six hits in a Game 2 loss Wednesday, giving up RBI singles to Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber. The 25-year-old Bauer has never started a game in the majors on three days of rest but he tossed seven scoreless innings in his only career outing at Wrigley Field in 2015. The bullpen will be well-rested behind him and Francona has long-relief options in Danny Salazar or Ryan Merritt if Bauer has another early exit.

Lester gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings in the Game 1 loss but he still owns a 2.60 ERA in 124 2/3 innings in his postseason career. "I don't think you can really take it any different than any other start, whether you're tied or whether you're down or up," Lester told reporters. "I think if you're down 3-1 and you're going in there saying you have to do this, you have to do that to try to stay alive, I think you've kind of already been beaten, you know? You're not worried about the right thing." Napoli was 0-for-2 with a walk against Lester in Game 1 but is 6-for-17 with two homers and three free passes in his career against the southpaw, including the postseason.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Indians LHP Andrew Miller allowed a solo homer to Cubs CF Dexter Fowler on Saturday, the only run he has allowed in 17 innings this postseason.
2. Rizzo is 4-for-10 with two doubles and two RBIs in the last three games.
3. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor has recorded multiple hits in three of four games in the series.

[Frayed Knot]

Maddon bunts more often than I prefer my manager to do.

I mean, 1st & 3rd / no-outs with Addison Russell up (even a cold Russell)?!?!??


And now a 2-strike infield hits gives the Cubs the lead.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Where is the guy in the orange Marlins jersey? Don't see him.

[metirish]

Hell of a throw , several feet away from the plate though right?

[Frayed Knot]

Does any ML battery look more alike than do Lester & Ross for the Cubs?

[Frayed Knot]

Odd that Maddon PH'd for Ross (w/2 outs and no one on) in anticipation of removing Lester although Lester's spot never came up and it's obvious that he planned to remove Lester all along even though he'd been pitching well and his pitch count was fairly low.



oe: and now he goes to Chapman with one out in the 7th!!!

[Frayed Knot]

Cubs have still scored in just six of the 43 innings they've batted in so far in this WS, and in only three of the 25 at Wrigley.

Indians = 10 scoring innings out of 42 (didn't bat in bottom 9 Game 1)

[Zvon]

Odd that Maddon PH'd for Ross (w/2 outs and no one on) in anticipation of removing Lester although Lester's spot never came up and it's obvious that he planned to remove Lester all along even though he'd been pitching well and his pitch count was fairly low. oe: and now he goes to Chapman with one out in the 7th!!!

I was surprised. I think Lester had plenty left in the tank.
Maddon is so smooth with the press post game. I'm gonna have to watch that and see how he fields the question. I imagine with him the response would be the same whether the Cubs win or lose.

Of course, they better win. Or no more baseball.

[fimg=200]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JrH_xbRygrOiKn494VfGVBFNTDjzz6w7-kKxzBU6EsniKaHv74yeUFia_-RJXe1Yva8gs_OXx6Dw-8m3U3BtbHFJjstXz3GTBA9eeziUOeGA__dJG4FnAJWAIFA4Ukj7oo686tvI42F0vWByPQkyk3C9yyb2s8_lV0pkrFjRCGkErUhaeDpqeQ3auS7yrqW_Osy_1nrdH8cdaTGSLNUe2iRcPW2pno35EnVvWZFd8jQFyHnl5LaTYjCcQglPd5iPrmgDc6j6Zwt_IO-XQ9lMWoojuEgQ3nr7rNaKb8zMmOnkCNXhVjTFl7ViHZSeCryOysdXVyUUqYkonONdsxO0HdFdVobT-MsOeIRaJ_gyGVsh0gGFlRNAkntwLJQC-2_q4XBiWYEjgAaSC1bdNqhGUOBX8Oq8W71KTtWSZEr1_BfaMhOXC6SB4ugxAWYGc3lJZYQJt9isRFXiZatFA4OwcaidCOJer6ehf3ch50-PlxHMHMzzLltm661w4bVjD6ep0m7bhdZAolmQGVQp2BYIHQBcxr_PSL-6OIf49HVNQSSF19qkRuSTDm33-71QbdjqnEmNGMW6gtvBnudKPhXkY567YMQZNBB5ujp1rfW0TBN1UA3yJw=w300-h350-no[/fimg]

I'm not ready for that.


Good game.

[Zvon]

Cubs looking for insurance in the 8th. Heyward on 2nd, 1 out.
Baez up, who really has looked most undisciplined at the plate.

[Zvon]

Sheeeesh. After seeing that bunt earlier I would have had him bunt again. The kid can't lay off ANYTHING!

[Zvon]

More baseball! Yay!

And a Cubs WS win @Wrigley.

I don't think winning or losing matters to those Cubs fans.
They just want to PARTY!

[Frayed Knot]

And the season isn't done yet.

First win in the WS for the Cubs in Wrigley since 12 Presidents ago!

[Guest themetfairy]

Zvon wrote: More baseball! Yay! And a Cubs WS win @Wrigley. I don't think winning or losing matters to those Cubs fans. They just want to PARTY!

Oh, I think it matters to them a lot!

[Centerfield]

I know this is not anywhere near fair to Amed Rosario, but I watch Lindor and I can't help but think that this might be Rosario one day.

If Dom Smith really is a 3 hole hitter, and Conforto can find himself, then you know....

[Guest cooby]

Really wish I could watch Indians win tonight. But I'm wearing one of my shirts.

Last night was boring with all the strikeouts

[seawolf17]

cooby wrote: Really wish I could watch Indians win tonight. But I'm wearing one of my shirts. Last night was boring with all the strikeouts

Do you usually not wear shirts while watching the game? We've learned a lot about Cooby this season.

[Centerfield]

I think John Smoltz is pretty smart.

Much smarter than Cal anyway.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, yeah, but that's not saying much. Cal's tie knot is smarter than Cal.

[TransMonk]

I've watched about 15 total minutes of this series. I honestly cannot take Joe Buck anymore...he gets worse every year. I will find a pirated international feed when the Mets make it back to the WS.

Smoltz is fine, but it is all consumed by how horrible Buck is.

[Guest cooby]

seawolf17 wrote: cooby wrote: Really wish I could watch Indians win tonight. But I'm wearing one of my shirts. Last night was boring with all the strikeouts Do you usually not wear shirts while watching the game? We've learned a lot about Cooby this season.

Hey it was hot out

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: I've watched about 15 total minutes of this series. I honestly cannot take Joe Buck anymore...he gets worse every year. I will find a pirated international feed when the Mets make it back to the WS. Smoltz is fine, but it is all consumed by how horrible Buck is.

no, you'll mute it and put on the radio.

[Centerfield]

TransMonk wrote: I've watched about 15 total minutes of this series. I honestly cannot take Joe Buck anymore...he gets worse every year. I will find a pirated international feed when the Mets make it back to the WS. Smoltz is fine, but it is all consumed by how horrible Buck is.

Would anyone have objected to giving Vin one more World Series? I mean, it's no brainers like this that make me question society.

I have this vision of me and my grandson in 2056.

"Wait, so Grandpa, in 2016 you guys had Vin Scully alive and well, and you gave the World Series to Joe Buck?"

[Guest themetfairy]

Ceetar wrote: TransMonk wrote: I've watched about 15 total minutes of this series. I honestly cannot take Joe Buck anymore...he gets worse every year. I will find a pirated international feed when the Mets make it back to the WS. Smoltz is fine, but it is all consumed by how horrible Buck is. no, you'll mute it and put on the radio.

Or watch it in Spanish.

I'm telling you guys, it's WAY more fun en espanol!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think I read that Joe Buck offered to step aside for Vin Scully, but Scully declined.

I'll have to see if I can find a link.

ON EDIT:

http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/buckscullyworldseries.html

[Centerfield]

That's actually pretty cool. And I'm glad Joe Buck is cool about it. Some assholes would find it as a slight. (Al Trautwig)

I guess it doesn't surprise me at all that Scully would decline. It is exactly what you would expect of him, and part of the reason we love him.

But for what it's worth, I would not want Vin to join anyone in the booth. I'd want the broadcast handed over to him to fly solo. Or we could pair him with Joe Garagiola again. And sure, Joe passed away earlier this year, but I think it would not have a significant effect on the broadcast.