Hard to have too much optimism at this point.

Tomorrows matchup should favor the Cubs with Lester vs. Bauer.

Just try to win one at a time. At the very least keep them from celebrating at Wrigley by winning 3 straight.

Kluber is a stud and 3 days rest does not seem to bother him. I do wonder how Bauer and Tomlin will do on short rest

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

Not over yet.

_________________

Same bs in the presser.

_________________
Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

What exactly do you want him to say in the presser?

_________________

He's complaining that Francona's strategy doesnt work in the regular season, seemingly without realizing that this isn't the regular season.

turn over some tables and shit

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

Yeah Pete said that. My first time watching this post game. It's good.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

This girl on the CSN postgame sounds rough, awful voice

_________________
Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

David Ross Day will live forever!

_________________

What did Joe say? If he said something to that effect, FUCK HIM.

_________________

I would be very careful taking America's version of anything.

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

I watched it like 10 minutes ago, so I'll paraphrase.

He was asked about the "revolutionary" way Tito has been using Miller, his best reliever, as a high leverage pitcher regardless of inning with absolutely no regard for conventional reliever pitch counts. Maddon first responded that you need the personnel to do that (subtle shot at Theo maybe), and then elaborated that you cant use that strategy in the regular season. He then said something that came awfully close to variance then moved onto the next question.

If the fucktard would drink cyanide lets all be for it !!!

One of my favorite episodes.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Pound these bastards tomorrow and go to Cleveland and compete.

Momentum can change fast.

Not trolling here

You could have traded Schwarber for a world
Series championship. I'd make that trade. I know some still would not

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

Yes it is.

_________________

i concur. idk if the cubs had the balls to trade schwarber for miller and THEN get chapman, but man oh man, right now if cleveland doesn't have miller things are awfully differently..... meaning that the indians probably aren't in the WS and then who knows what happens?!

not to mention, would the cubs use miller as just a closer or as the fireman that he's been for cleveland thus far? who knoiws?

either way, i made my stupid thread for reasons above your paygrade and this definitely isn't over.... i just dont know if THIS indians team can be beat 3 games in a row... but hey we'll see what happens...

...at least you're not facing the mets (best rotation in baseball when they're healthy) and this offense isn't hte 27 yankees' murderers row.... so if the cubs go out and play like the best team in baseball for a few games in a row? hey anything's possible.... #GoCubsGo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(ok, anything is possible except for me ending a post with "Go Cubs Go"........ seriously fuck that song! =)

_________________

I'm just happy this shots on the score and Bernstein

_________________

I think I'd tell the doctors that Schwarber is clear to play the field tomorrow

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

This is the second time Theo's "bites at the apple" strategy has been confronted by a team that sold out 100% at the deadline. The Mets went and got 5 (!) guys last year, including Cespedes who almost single handedly willed their offense to the postseason and the Indians bagged Miller who in the absence of Sale being available was the prize of the 2016 deadline. The Tribe also tried to get Lucroy but he vetoed the trade (oooops).

Point is the Cubs have seemed very keen the last 18 months on not overextending themselves in pursuit of a title. The Chapman trade required a haul sure, but not quite what the Indians gave up and they refused to deal Schwarber. The reason they didn't go and get Miller when they obvious had the bullets to outbid the Indians, I assume, is because they want to have a lot of opportunities in the future to win a World Series.

But someone has to win the big deadline prizes (unless the White Sox are involved, then who fucking knows) and recent history suggests with the Royals who went crazy for Cueto and Zobrist, then the Tribe who went all out for Miller and (unsuccessfully) Lucroy that team really gives themselves an edge. Second straight year the Cubs, cautious buyers themselves, have run into teams that will do whatever it takes and looked overmatched.

Cubs aren't done yet so I dont want to do a full autopsy, especially if the Indians stubbornly pitch Bauer tomorrow (a Maddon-like blunder). But the bites at the apples strategy, and variance, and POSTSEASON WEIRDNESS isn't going to cut it 5 years from now if the Cubs keep getting close but keep running into the same type of team that went hog wild at the deadline while the Cubs sat back and played it safer. It's easy to say the Cubs have x% of winning the title, so after x amount of years they should've won...but its another thing to go out and do it.

I dont know we'll see. The Cubs are ironically well built for AL baseball, but with Santana heating up so are the Tribe.

Look at the bright side Cubs fans. Ticket prices have dropped. Standing room for today's game on Stub Huib were $1,800 hours before today's first pitch. Just checked. You can get standing room for $600 for Sunday's game.

Cubs Fans: Fuck you.

Beardown: Shut up. Jokes are needed in a time like this.

Who else can they throw beside Bauer?

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

Ryan Merritt, who came through big in the ALCS, and Danny Salazar.

Look I know enough about Danny Salazar to know starting him against the Cubs is not much better than Bauer. Salazar has a wipeout curve but he often has trouble locating it, and it when it gets wild it gets really wild, so he leans more on the fastball which plays right into the Cubs hands.

Merritt I know very little about. He came into a game against the Sox and didn't look good and I didnt watch him get the win against Toronto. He doesn't throw hard at all but mixes change ups and breaking pitches to be sometimes effective. I dont know about him, but he seems like he fits the mold more than a velocity guy like Salazar.

To me both would be better than Bauer, who just looked horrible in Game 2.

Its a five game series?

_________________

They would of gotten five guys that would of hit the last two games for Schwarber?

_________________

I think Tito is going to run tomorrow like a bullpen day, he may even do the unthinkable and having guys warming up in the 1st. It'll be all hands on deck and at the first sign of real trouble he'll bring in Miller. Merritt and Salazar can then be utilized from the pen, which may buy him a couple innings.

On one hand you keep the Cubs, who will at least be a little desperate, off balance. On the other you run the risk of trotting a guy out there not named Miller or Allen who may not have it that day and the Cubs leap on him before Tito can make another switch. Worse yet, it becomes a dumpster fire that the Indians cannot put out (becomes especially true if Miller is already used).

Either way, a 2 IP 0 R final line from Bauer seems much more plausible than it normally would.

Merritt did look good vs. Toronto. But it does not seem like Francona has any confidence in him or Salazar right now. Bauer has the potential to be unhitable at times. Of course he could also give up 8 in the first 2 innings too. I don't think Salazar is healthy enough to start or they probably would go with him.

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

I am going to enjoy a morning jog tomorrow listening to rozner

I expect there will be much talk about future championships

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