Cubs or Indians?
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@Chris-B. I knew Baez wouldn't get it done - he's too aggressive at the plate. Zobrist was the best option but struck out.
Kluber starts for the Indians tomorrow and he had the Cubs batters in all sorts of bother in game 1. It's a must win for tne Cubs I believe.
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@Bovidae Exactly what I was thinking on all counts.
Rizzo, Zobrist (and Schwalber) look like the backbone of that batting line-up. The others desperately need to find more productivity.
I had the Cubs marked down to win this one and lose tomorrow, so they've got to claw that one back. Hopefully, Kluber's short turnaround will force a short stint tomorrow.
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Cleveland wallops Chicago 7-2 to take a 3-1 lead. Always next year Cubs.
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Francona could make history tomorrow. He was the manager who gave the Red Sox their first title in 86 years and would do the same for the Indians after a 68-yr drought. Not bad to have on your resume.
Maddon needs to make some changes to the batting lineup because the Cubs are struggling.
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@Bovidae Seems like Bauer is back tomorrow, so hopefully the Cubs can have a repeat of game 2 and claw one back with Lester starting for them.
Then they'll have to hope that their longer pitching rotation will pay dividends in the later games. Otherwise it's looking pretty bleak for them.
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Cubs are stayin alive, stayin alive...
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@antipodean E-P-I-C
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@hydro11 Its a cliche but it seems a shame someone will lose. Apparently the ratings in Cleveland have been higher than Cavs finals last year. I expect the Indians to roll the dice with Kluber, if he wins he will be undisputed mvp. You'd think the cubs will work him out next time and their talisman can bat at DH. Whoever wins I hope there is no controversy, or anything to fuel the curse
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It's so tight now that anything could really happen.
Pretty much a case of a team jumping quickly out of the blocks and holding its nerve, while the pressure dismantles their opponents.
Cubs have momentum, but they're going to have to find an answer to Kluber and Miller - and they're going to have to juggle their pitching staff to use people like Lackey and Lester as relievers, because most of their relief pitching has been woeful (Chapman excepted, obviously).
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@Chris-B. That's what makes game 7s so interesting as all pitchers apart from today's starters will be available, even to just pitch to one batter.
If I was Maddon I would make one change - start Ross as catcher in place of Contreras. He won't of course, but the young fella has offered nothing with the bat and is always prone to give up a pass ball, which could prove crucial in a tight game.
Hendricks pitched well in game 3 so it's not as if the Indians have a huge advantage.
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@Bovidae said in Cubs or Indians?:
If I was Maddon I would make one change - start Ross as catcher in place of Contreras. He won't of course, but the young fella has offered nothing with the bat and is always prone to give up a pass ball, which could prove crucial in a tight game.
Yeah - at times Contreras has reminded me of Kamran Akmal! Balls bounding away from him and runners stealing bases while he's fumbling in the dirt.
After yesterday's game I was a bit surprised they didn't start Ross again, today.
I guess it may depend on how much Hendricks has worked with Ross over the season - but, he certainly looks tidier and a cool head.
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Wow - Fowler leads off with a home run as the first batter in the final game. Schwalber got on base somehow (I missed that) and then all of Bryant, Rizzo and Zobrist are caught in the outfield.
Lots of bat on ball against Kluber and the commentators saying he's lacking pop!
Go Cubs!!!
