yeah, lets jump ahead.

According the Rozner, the Pirates are putting Liriano as their #1 guy right now. Cole had been Avg in August, really good his last 2 starts in Aug, then Sep v Milwaukee, not good.

The only reason Lester goes in front of Arrietta is if the stats tell Coach Joe, that the lefty is the call.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Cubs go into Pittsburgh and Arrieta throws a gem. Cubs win in the 9th on a Schwarber bomb.

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Well the Cubs do win in the 9th, but that home run Schwarber hits puts the Cubs up 8-1.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

#Schwarbomb

Some Wrigleyville bar is going to start selling those!

Dropping a shot of_________________ into a draft of _______________?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Fireball
Pabst

_________________

Nice, but in Wrigleyville I'd suspect something more like Curaçao + Old Style.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Nationals catch the Pirates, Cubs catch the Pirates.

One game playoff, Cubs beat the Nationals. Arrieta goes the full 9 with a shutout. Bryce Harper cries.

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No chance in hell does Lester start the wildcard game. I'd rather face Cole than Liriano. Cubs seem to struggle vs lefties.

Yeah, it would be criminal if Arrieta didn't start the WC game.

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So you guys are positive the Nationals won't be in the wild card?

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Pretty positive the Giants won't be. Cubs need to play the one game playoff at Wrigley.

Cole vs. Cubs:
7 Starts
6-1 Record
43.0 IP
2.93 ERA
1.163 WHIP
.263 Opposing BA

Arrieta vs. Pirates:
7 Starts
5-1 Record
44.0 IP
2.05 ERA
0.932 WHIP
.195 Opposing BA

40 innings isn't that statistically significant, but whatever.

Stay outta Cub business, ya, prick, ya.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Agreed...Joe would be torched if he started Lester and they lost, even though he would probably argue that he wants Arrieta for 2 games against the Cardinals.

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Bro

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

It's Bruh

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Cubs overtake the Cards.
Nats overtake the Pirates.
Nats beat the Cards in the WC game.

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Would the Cubs even put Lester on the WC roster or would they keep him active? In this type of game, you're likely to see no more than 9 or 10 pitchers active to give as many late inning base-running and defensive options as possible.

are you serious?

There is no way in hell they keep Lester off the roster

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Magic number for the Cubs to clinch a playoff spot is now 18.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

For one game that he isnt starting? Not that crazy

Its a good point. As i think you can remake the 25 man for each "series"....and I guess the 1 game is a series?

If Jake starts, you arent going to Lester is Jake flops, so, load up with arms or IF's...

It part of the foolishness of the 1 game "series"....but if possible take full advantage of what can be done.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I'd take it a step further and leave Ross off.

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you knew

I caught you

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

So, yeah, its gonna be Cole vs Arietta.

The Lester-Liriano silliness is just that

Not even a good game to celebrate if you win, as you need to turn around ASAP and fly somewhere to play a real series.

Of course would be happy if they win, but throwing your ACE, so you can then go play a team that is rested and ready, is a very tough task to win that series.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

If the Cubs tie Pittsburgh in the standings, do they play a 1 game playoff to decide who hosts the 1-game wildcard playoff?

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No way.
He's insanely valuable to the Cubs defensively in a 1-run game going into the 8th/9th.

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That makes sense. Obviously he would be needed for the Cardinals NLDS to catch Lester, but for the wildcard there would be no need to use a roster spot for Ross.

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Go Cubs!!!!

He's insanely valuable to a pitcher who can't hold runners. Arrieta does not have that problem.

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Go Cubs!!!!