MLB 2016 Season Thread

TimRiggins

SantryRed wrote: »

Still wondering how we're gonna mess this one up. Hendricks is on fire.

Was just thinking that, if they blow this would this be the worst meltdown? 5-0 but not only on the score their cruising. In no danger whatsoever.

krustydoyle

Ohhhhhh Kershaw.. Feck me.. You've been the hero in the series and you pitch like that tonight.. Jaysus..

SantryRed

Hendricks just made his way through the top of the order again.

21 up, 21 out for the Cubs. Hendricks has been incredible. Only one hit allowed.

TimRiggins

SantryRed wrote: »

Hendricks just made his way through the top of the order again.

21 up, 21 out for the Cubs. Hendricks has been incredible. Only one hit allowed.

Off the first pitch of the ballgame!

SantryRed

World Series

One of the two longest streaks will go!

TimRiggins

SantryRed wrote: »

World Series

One of the two longest streaks will go!

Congrats man. Enjoy the ride.

Gonna be a great WS. Really looking forward to it even though i'm still not over our loss after watching 4 days in October last night!

InTheTrees

It was fun to watch. I was kind of rooting for the Dodgers but I'm happy to see the Cubs win it.

jack presley

Just watched on game delay now. As a spectacle (for the neutral) it was a bit disappointing but you have to be impressed with the way the Cubs played, especially Hendricks.

Igotadose

The apocalypse is upon us. Cubs/Indians for the WS. Good friend from Cleveland is saying everyone back home is freaked. But, I think it'll be the Cubs, they were loaded all season and are scary deep. I expect them to be in the NLCS next year, too, only injuries will matter (says this lifer Mets fan)

Personally rooting for Cleveland to make a go of it, good pitching beats good hitting and all that, but Cubs don't seem to have any weaknesses right now.

Waitsian

mod9maple wrote: »

It's nothing but a sheer guess (we all know anything can happen, it's a crap shoot between all really good teams) but I'm going Cleveland vs Chicago WS.

Doodah7

tallpaul wrote: »

Cubs as expected going with the same rotation as the Giants' series assuming Hendricks' arm is okay. I said the Cubs in four last time out. This time I think the Cubs in six with a series and pennant win at Wrigley!

Ahem!!

Waitsian

SantryRed wrote: »

One of the two longest streaks will go!

The Cubs haven't even made an appearance in a WS since 1945, much less win one. Incredible. I'll not be rooting for either. I'll watch and enjoy it though. May the best team win and let's hope for a 7 game classic.

jack presley

mod9maple wrote: »

The Cubs haven't even made an appearance in a WS since 1945, much less win one. Incredible. I'll not be rooting for either. I'll watch and enjoy it though. May the best team win and let's hope for a 7 game classic.

I've no affiliation to either side either side really but I think I'm leaning towards wanting to see the Cubs end their drought.

But there's a small bit of evil in me thinks it would be funny for another calamity to land on them when they're close to winning but that feeing's getting suppressed at the moment.

jack presley

jack presley wrote: »

I've no affiliation to either side either side really but I think I'm leaning towards wanting to see the Cubs end their drought.

But there's a small bit of evil in me thinks it would be funny for another calamity to land on them when they're close to winning but that feeing's getting suppressed at the moment.

Thats basically how I feel too.
Saying that, the Indians are getting none of the press that the Cubs get, and probably had a more impressive post season
Sweep the Red Box and Papi
Beat the BJs in 5 games

jack presley

Anyone staying up tonight? Disappointed i won't be able to do it myself as it's set up to be a great series.

krustydoyle

Planning on staying up as I'm off tomorrow but knowing me I'll fall asleep

TimRiggins

I fancy Cleveland tbh. While their starting pitching isn't the greatest, they've realy upped their game in October. Miller is lights out in the pen, and their such a fundamental great baseball team.

krustydoyle

What a start

This is gonna be something special

TimRiggins

Andrew Miller.... That is all

and again...

Nice to see him torment another team after watching him strangle the Jays

jack presley

9-0 now for Terry Francona in WS games now. The Cubs need to break that streak tonight.

Doodah7

jack presley wrote: »

9-0 now for Terry Francona in WS games now. The Cubs need to break that streak tonight.

Agreed!! Crucial inning was the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. Cleveland were only 3-0 up at that stage. A hit or two there would have heaped the pressure on Miller and dented his confidence a little.

The good news for us Irish viewers is that they have brought forward the starting time to 00.08am due to the risk of rain in Cleveland later.

jack presley

tallpaul wrote: »

Agreed!! Crucial inning was the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. Cleveland were only 3-0 up at that stage. A hit or two there would have heaped the pressure on Miller and dented his confidence a little.

The good news for us Irish viewers is that they have brought forward the starting time to 00.08am due to the risk of rain in Cleveland later.

Yeah that was a crucial spot. You have to score at least one with bases loaded and no one out. Good point about how it might have dented Miller's confidence a bit. Now the opposite has probably happened!

8-10

Arrieta hasn't allowed a hit yet going into the 6th inning. Really good opportunity for the Cubs here with a 5 run cushion. The bats are awake tonight!

jack presley

8-10 wrote: »

Arrieta hasn't allowed a hit yet going into the 6th inning. Really good opportunity for the Cubs here with a 5 run cushion. The bats are awake tonight!

It's set up for a good weekend now. 1-1, the neutral's dream.

Igotadose

Sigh. Media saying Cespedes will not re-sign with the Mets. Time to load up on the offseason antacids.
Gag, the thought of a Bruce/Conforto/Granderson outfield's terrifying with the only right-handed power bat belonging to... Wright? Gag gag gag back to the bad old days.

SantryRed

Great win last night for the Cubs. After game 1, they really couldn't afford to go into game 3 0-2 down.

A great call by Maddon to bring in Arrieta who was lights out up until the 6th and then Montgomery was brilliant in the 7th and 8th.

One worry would be that only 5 runs were scored from at least 20 people getting on base. If we get that many opportunities, we really should be scoring more runs.

Hendricks up next now at home and in Wrigley, you'd got to feel confident. 3-2 is a must but I think there's a decent possibility of winning the next 3, Indians will be down a big hitter now with NL rules in play.

TimRiggins

SantryRed wrote: »

Great win last night for the Cubs. After game 1, they really couldn't afford to go into game 3 0-2 down.

A great call by Maddon to bring in Arrieta who was lights out up until the 6th and then Montgomery was brilliant in the 7th and 8th.

One worry would be that only 5 runs were scored from at least 20 people getting on base. If we get that many opportunities, we really should be scoring more runs.

Hendricks up next now at home and in Wrigley, you'd got to feel confident. 3-2 is a must but I think there's a decent possibility of winning the next 3, Indians will be down a big hitter now with NL rules in play.

I may look stupid at the end of this, but I can't see any way the Indians will lose the next 3. They really weren't themselves tonight and they have produced huge performances on the road all year.

Cubs did exactly what they needed to do tonight. Keep the Indians bullpen out of the game. Arrieta was fantastic.

It's such an intriguing series because it really is a battle of an unbelievable starting pitching against a lights out bullpen. Cubs need to take game 3 before Kluber gets the mount for game 4.

Fantastic series so far. This is my first year following baseball after following NBA/NFL over the last few years and their playoffs don't hold a candle to this. Drama at its finest.

Doodah7

Yes it was interesting last night. I mentioned the long seventh inning for Miller in another post in Game 1 and it must have had an effect. Apparently he threw forty-odd pitches in that game and thus was nowhere to be seen in Game 2 and Cleveland went deep into their bullpen to try turn things around.

I also think the ridiculous DH rule may hurt the Indians. Effectively they have only eight batters. All of the Cubs' pitchers have home runs and lots of RBI's to their names this season and this could be crucial. Of course if this was the old days, Kluber would probably get thunked hard sometime in the top of the third of Game 4...

As for Kyle Schwarber, awesome so far as a DH, I would not risk him in the outfield for a full game but use him as a pinch hitter (and then a fielder) at some stage.

I too think there is a sporting chance of a Cubs home sweep to take it all.

jack presley

tallpaul wrote: »

Yes it was interesting last night. I mentioned the long seventh inning for Miller in another post in Game 1 and it must have had an effect. Apparently he threw forty-odd pitches in that game and thus was nowhere to be seen in Game 2 and Cleveland went deep into their bullpen to try turn things around.

The Indians were behind all game so we wouldn't have seen Miller anyway, even if he was fresh.

They only use him to protect leads, not in games where they are looking to catch up.

jack presley

Igotadose wrote: »

Sigh. Media saying Cespedes will not re-sign with the Mets. Time to load up on the offseason antacids.
Gag, the thought of a Bruce/Conforto/Granderson outfield's terrifying with the only right-handed power bat belonging to... Wright? Gag gag gag back to the bad old days.

It's all part of the process. He wants a bigger payday so opts out. Doesn't mean he's not coming back.

The question is though, do you want to give him a long deal? Another ageing player in 3-4 years with diminished output earning $25m a year!

(As an aside, probably time for an offseason thread)

Doodah7

jack presley wrote: »

The Indians were behind all game so we wouldn't have seen Miller anyway, even if he was fresh.

They only use him to protect leads, not in games where they are looking to catch up.

In theory if the Cubs were to jump in front for the remainder, then they have seen the last of Miller already? Seems bizarre but I'll take your word for it.

jack presley

tallpaul wrote: »

In theory if the Cubs were to jump in front for the remainder, then they have seen the last of Miller already? Seems bizarre but I'll take your word for it.

It's the old "don't want to waste your bullets" thing.

Obviously in an elimination game the rules change and Francona isn't a tranditional manager so anything could happen but that's the way closers and pitchers like Miller are usually used.

TimRiggins

tallpaul wrote: »

In theory if the Cubs were to jump in front for the remainder, then they have seen the last of Miller already? Seems bizarre but I'll take your word for it.

If their a 1-2 run down its a different story but when you're 5-0 down in the second game of the series theres no point in bringing him in.

Igotadose

I saw a quote somewhere that a series doesn't start till someone wins an away game. Well, they're there now. Wrigley hosting its 1st WS game in 71 years. Suddenly being a Mets fan doesn't feel so bad.

jack presley

Ridiculously early prediction for next season. Kyle Schwarber for MVP?

What do you reckon?

8-10

jack presley wrote: »

Ridiculously early prediction for next season. Kyle Schwarber for MVP?

What do you reckon?

I reckon it'll be Encarnacion after a 50HR season to bring Red Sox to the WS

TimRiggins

8-10 wrote: »

I reckon it'll be Encarnacion after a 50HR season to bring Red Sox to the WS

I puked after reading this

jack presley

It's got to be advantage Cubs tonight with Hendricks going against Tomlin wouldn't you think?

I've given up on the "with all the expectation, pressure will get to the Cubs" line. They just don't seem to give a sh*t and keep playing great baseball.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

jack presley wrote: »

It's got to be advantage Cubs tonight with Hendricks going against Tomlin wouldn't you think?

I've given up on the "with all the expectation, pressure will get to the Cubs" line. They just don't seem to give a sh*t and keep playing great baseball.

I wouldn't give up on Cleveland yet, Tomlin has never faced the Cubs, so they've never seen him pitch. He could get through 5 tonight and if he does and turns it over to the bullpen in touch then they have a chance.

I do agree with you on the Cubs attitude though they really look the part and have done all season.

8-10

Andrew Miller strikes out the side to end the 6th inning. No big deal. He's been great all year.

Have no idea which way this game is going to go. 0-0 and only 8 hits total

TimRiggins

Indians ended up winning 1-0. Cubs had runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 9th. Shutout again.

8-10

5 shutouts in 11 postseason games for the Indians. Nobody has ever had 5 postseason shutouts before. Impressive.

Those billy-goat sausages they served in Chicago today didn't work!

jack presley

jack presley wrote: »

It's got to be advantage Cubs tonight with Hendricks going against Tomlin wouldn't you think?

Me and my big mouth!

TimRiggins

Did the Yankees have both Miller and Chapman in their BPs at the start of the year?

Waitsian

TimRiggins wrote:

Did the Yankees have both Miller and Chapman in their BPs at the start of the year?

Yes they did.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

Indians have some resiliance still the Cubs have the squad to turn this around but it won't be won in Chicago now anyway, possibly a good thing for the Cubs. Going back to Cleveland leading 3-2 might be perfect for the Cubs

TimRiggins

mod9maple wrote: »

Yes they did.

Crazy that they let them both go no?

As for the WS, The Indians pitching is seriously something special. Their route to the WS was incredible difficult and they seem to show no signs on slowing down. I think they'll win this in 5.

In saying that, while Kluber is their ace, he can be hit around.

jack presley

TimRiggins wrote: »

Crazy that they let them both go no?

Chapman's a free agent at the end of the year and the Yankees weren't going to make the playoffs so it made sense to deal him and get a couple of prospects in return. They could re-sign him at the end of the season too!

Miller's a bit different in that he has at least one (maybe 2?) years left on his contract but they decided to sell high and apparently the haul they got was great so it made sense there too.

jack presley

TimRiggins wrote: »

As for the WS, The Indians pitching is seriously something special. Their route to the WS was incredible difficult and they seem to show no signs on slowing down. I think they'll win this in 5.

In saying that, while Kluber is their ace, he can be hit around.

Winning in 5 would mean sweeping the Cubs at Wrigley and that'd be some achievement. I think all their starters from now until the end of the season are going on short rest too.

I haven't a clue who's going to win this thing but whoever does, I'd say it's going to won in Cleveland