Cubs vs Indians I-WS-T

[Frayed Knot]

The almost automatic use of the double-switch seems to be a thing with AL managers.
But unless you're going to want to get more than an inning out of the reliever you're bringing in, it's really a senseless move.

[Chad ochoseis]

Yeah, I've lost track, but I think the pitcher's spot is fifth or sixth up in the 9th inning. And I'm almost certain that Terry F. just burned through his last position player.

[Frayed Knot]

The last World Series game the Cubs won came via a walk-off (12th inning, Game 6, 1945 WS) ... just sayin'

Of course the fact that everyone on both teams from that game are dead at the current time (and you could look it up) probably means that it has little or no meaning for tonight's contest.

[Zvon]

Daaaaamn. Bryant goes down.

1-0 Cleveland, the 9th.

It doesn't look like there's going to be any WS celebration at Wrigley this year. Cubs in 7!

(reverse jinx^)

[Frayed Knot]

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Yeah, I've lost track, but I think the pitcher's spot is fifth or sixth up in the 9th inning. And I'm almost certain that Terry F. just burned through his last position player.

I had no idea Yan Gomes had been reactivated, but here he is making his first post-season appearance.

Kind of like Schwarber, he's had all of 2 ABs since mid-July.

[Zvon]

A leadoff single for Rizzo in the 9th.

[Zvon]

A perfect pitch, a tight curve, Ks Zobrist.

But they stay out of the DP and its a Cub in scoring position, Heyward, 2 out. wow.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

This is what I was afraid of with the pinch runner.

[Zvon]

E-3! 1st & 3rd.

[Chad ochoseis]

Did they call that an E on Napoli? It was a tough hop.

[Chad ochoseis]

Well, yay (for those of us who are rooting for the Tribe).

[Fman99]

Good game, there, and for once, since it's the weekend, I was able to get a nap in and stay up to see the finish.

[Zvon]

Wow. That was a great game. Cleveland holds on.

[Zvon]

Is it too late to start a petition to have one of these next two be a day game @Wrigley?
And we got a Saturday and a Sunday! Oh MLB, whatthefuckryadointomygame?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah that was a real ballsy win for the Spiders. Im just thinking back to the energy in Citifield when I was there for the 1st Met-Dodgers playoff game and it felt like the visitors had no chance. But to stick a 1-0 lead for the visitors, wow.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I also think it's great that Coco Crisp was a hero.

[Frayed Knot]

Zvon wrote: Is it too late to start a petition to have one of these next two be a day game @Wrigley?

Several decades too late.

[Frayed Knot]

86-Dreamer wrote: This is what I was afraid of with the pinch runner.

Funny how it came down to that spot in the order, huh? Although it's not like Soler and his .238 season BA (.224 vs RHP) is a clear better bet in that situation than is Heyward and his .230 (.238 vs RHP). Soler is the better power threat but they just need a single in that spot so at worst it's probably a wash. Also, as mentioned earlier in this thread somewhere, Soler has only a handful of ABs (about 20) since mid-September himself.

Might Maddon have yanked Soler for not busting it out of the box on that fly ball/triple?? Supposedly his only team rules are that you play defense and run hard.
I don't think he circles the bases on that hit anyway but yaneverknow once the ball gets into those funky corners at Wrigley.
In the end I think it was just a speed and defense move and things did wind up as Heyward on 2nd base as the winning run.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Cleveland at Chi. Cubs
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 29, 2016
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
SportsDirect Inc.

Corey Kluber has been superb this postseason, and another solid effort could put the Cleveland Indians in the driver's seat as they seek their first World Series title since 1948. Kluber is 3-1 with a 0.74 ERA in four starts this October and will look to help the Indians take a 3-1 series lead when they visit the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Kluber dominated the Cubs in Game 1 by striking out nine and allowing four hits over six-plus innings while picking up the victory. Cleveland's pitching has been superb throughout the postseason, and Friday's 1-0 victory - courtesy of Coco Crisp's run-scoring single - was its fifth via shutout in 11 playoff games. Chicago has been blanked four times this postseason, recording only five hits in the Game 3 loss, and the three hitters atop the order - Dexter Fowler (.154), Kris Bryant (.091) and Anthony Rizzo (.182) - have struggled. "You don't anticipate or expect that, but this time of the year, you see good pitching. That's what it is," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters after his team was blanked for the second time in the series. "When you get to the latter part of the season, you have to beat the best to be the best."

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (3-1, 0.74 ERA) vs. Cubs RH John Lackey (0-0, 5.63)

Kluber has struck out 29 batters in 24 1/3 postseason innings and says part of the reason for his success has been his ability to keep things low-key. "I think that it's just as fun and exciting as we all imagined it would be," Kluber said at a press conference. "I think that you try to take the work in between as normal as you can. Obviously, there are off-days and stuff like that built in, but you still try to just get your work in, get ready, and when you go out there, it's fun." Kluber is starting on short rest but threw only 88 pitches in Tuesday's effort.

Lackey has made only two previous starts this postseason - his most recent one on Oct. 19 - and lasted just four innings in each. The 38-year-old will be making his fifth career World Series start and allows that going so long between outings isn't the best for his routine. "It's kind of been a crazy schedule for me, for sure," Lackey said at a press conference. "I feel like I'm pitching every two weeks kind of deal. But I've thrown a little more on the side, off the mound, trying to stay sharp."

WALK-OFFS:
1. Indians LHP Andrew Miller struck out three in 1 1/3 innings on Friday and has fanned 27 batters in 15 scoreless innings this postseason.
2. Chicago 2B Javier Baez is 2-for-13 with five strikeouts in the series after batting .342 with a homer and seven RBIs during two National League playoff series.
3. Cleveland SS Jose Lindor and 3B Jose Ramirez are each 5-for-11 in the World Series.

[MFS62]

Lackey has spent most of his career in the American League, so the Indians should be somewhat familiar with him. But many of their regulars are too young to have faced him many times. Mike Napoli might be the most familiar with him, since he may have caught him when they were in Boston.
Kluber is probably an unknown to many of the Cubs hitters.
This could be another low scoring game.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Kluber is probably an unknown to many of the Cubs hitters.

On account of them not having faced him since ... Tuesday.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I also think it's great that Coco Crisp was a hero.

Same.

Although someone else may just be my hero of the game. Let's just say I've always enjoyed Mr. Hamm's work. (Fun sidenote: he and a friend ate at the chef's table in our kitchen the other day, and wore the same hat.)

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: Kluber is probably an unknown to many of the Cubs hitters. On account of them not having faced him since ... Tuesday.

Yabbutttt, its the second time that tells the story. They didn't know him very well the first time, did they?
But still, by comparison, Lackey has about 15 lifetime decisions against Cleveland. Not sure how many are recent. though.

Later

[metirish]

Lackey looks pumped , I mean he always does though.

[Zvon]

Cubs on the board in the first!
1-0

A Fowler double and a bloop single from Rizzo.

[metirish]

Santana with a big HR , 1-1 , just as Buck said the crowd is pumped

[Chad ochoseis]

Corey Kluber, American hero*



*OK, Northeast Ohioan hero.

[metirish]

Some dodgy defense from Bryant over at 3rd, second error in the inning

[metirish]

Rizzo hit , an exaggerated "Th-at hurrt" from Smoltz ....I miss McCarver

[HahnSolo]

Home plate ump killing me again. Ball 4 to Bryant was right down plate. Ump has been wildly inconsistent all night.