I agree I think Francona does everything possible to end this thing tomorrow. If this thing keeps going there are some potential issues coming for their pitching staff. Tomlin was great, but can you get great from him again on short rest? Kluber looked human tonight even though he was still more than good enough to win. Can he go twice on short rest and be able to win?

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

That and Francona has sold out each and every game to get the win even when it seemed overkill. Hard to see him backing off now that he has the Cubs on the ropes. The key tomorrow is scoring off Lester, and it'll be interesting to see how early he will sacrifice Santana and/or Napoli for a pinch runner to get a run if the game is 1-1 or 0-0.

What does he do with Santana tomorrow? I have to think Napoli is at 1st tomorrow. Does he sit Santana for defense or does he roll the dice to try and get more offense in the lineup?

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

Against Lester I have no idea. Santana in LF batting leadoff with Napoli at 1st seems most likely, but man that makes Bauer's already difficult task all the worse.

It sounds so easy to 2nd guess and make it sound like a no brainer that the Cubs would have a championship with Miller.

But that is just as silly as other saying they will get many shots at a championship in the future.

There are no guarantees.

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

Score more runs....that is all that matters....score more runs.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

This will not be answered.

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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

Cubs are stanky pussy. Looks good butt fuck that shit

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

thank god Lester is pitching tomorrow with rossy behind the plate. Contreras has been pissing me off exponentially this series. Shitty D and even worse situational hitting. Great talent but terrible mindset production.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

This post is going to be an all time hilarious great when Schwarber goes off in Games 6 and 7 to lead us to the championship.

I have a feeling whatever he does will be right

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

We got this.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

You're a special kind of pathetic asshole.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

America is my guy but that wasn't cool.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

]

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Pitching hasn't really been the problem.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

The Indians pitching has been, specifically Miller.

I know your statement is the popular mantra right now but the Indians have scored 6 and 7 runs. Dr. Teeth thinks he pitched well and while the numbers aren't bad he most definitely did not

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

If you get out to an early lead, that negates the Miller factor. And I'm not talking a 1-0 lead either. Even if the Indians don't get that 3 run HR, the Cubs still lose.

The Cubs have scored 7 runs in 4 games. They've been shut out in 2 games. The offense is the problem. Miller hasn't pitched every inning.

That may or may not be true, and this is related to my viewpoint on a starter's W/L record. Each game is a separate entity completely unrelated to any other game. Each game has a flow. The things that happen in the first inning affect what is going to happen in the eighth inning. Scoring first is very important as the team that does wins about two-thirds of the time. That didn't work for the Cubs last night obviously.

The players are human. You saw a lot of emotion from the Cubs last night and not necessarily channeled in a positive way. This is the flipside of all the bouncing in the dugout when things are going well. But without the Kipnis homer, it's only 4-1. Now Fowler hits his and it isn't too little too late, it's "Come on, we have a chance!" You get a runner on and the tying run comes to the plate. A six run deficit is a mental obstacle that is tough to overcome beyond just scoring the five runs.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Now that my rewatch of the 2005 World Series is done, I may watch the game tonight.

Cubs crush Bauer.

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Maybe the Cubs should stop bringing out every past Cub that was on teams that blew it. Give them all the Sosa treatment.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Its a race to 4. Never assume anything about the next game. Francona knows obviously and its been very evident throughout playoffs. Every game has been treated like an elimination game going back to game 1 against Boston.

JORR, you may be right but the Cubs have to be the ones with a 3-1 lead in last night's game. I can't remember an inning where they have strung together 3 or more hits. If the Cubs are down early, they just are not getting it done.

Game 3 was the back breaker, had to hit that bum with the wind blowing out and they choked, I give a 2% chance to win 3 straight.

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Well, it's not like they can bring anyone in who didn't blow it.

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12.5%

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Doesn't Cap Anson have some great great grand children?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

No, they all died in the Chicago fire.

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Trading the Cubs best hitter this series would have given them a WS championship?


On the other hand, the key tonight for the Cubs is to score against Bauer. And then score against whatever reliever pitches after Bauer. And so on and so on.

Further building off America's analysis. If the Cubs stop throwing the ball around the field, keep the Indians to zero runs while scoring 1 run themselves they'll win the game.