Damn it, BAS...but you're doing you're job, so I'll bite.
There are no curses! The Dodgers are a great team or they wouldn't be here. The Cubs are a great team who can't string two hits together consecutively at the moment. It will come around or it won't. I think it will. Not a "must win" until its an elimination, but it is a "really really should win" game. Vet vs. rookie. I'll take the vet...but we have to get someone across the plate.
There are no curses! The Dodgers are a great team or they wouldn't be here. The Cubs are a great team who can't string two hits together consecutively at the moment. It will come around or it won't. I think it will. Not a "must win" until its an elimination, but it is a "really really should win" game. Vet vs. rookie. I'll take the vet...but we have to get someone across the plate.
It's neither. There are no curses, and the Cubs are a better team than LA.
It's just variance. We're talking about a 2 game sample here where the Cubs have struggled, and one of those games was against Kershaw. Unfortunately it feels like variance is turning into mounting pressure.
If I trust any manager in baseball to loosen their team up it would be Joe. Say what you will about him but he undeniably keeps it fun.
All that said, if the Cubs win tonight it's a whole new series. Just gotta get this thing back to Chicago.
It's just variance. We're talking about a 2 game sample here where the Cubs have struggled, and one of those games was against Kershaw. Unfortunately it feels like variance is turning into mounting pressure.
If I trust any manager in baseball to loosen their team up it would be Joe. Say what you will about him but he undeniably keeps it fun.
All that said, if the Cubs win tonight it's a whole new series. Just gotta get this thing back to Chicago.
Curse would mean things like error in the 8th or 9th to lose it in my opinion. When you have like 3-4 hits in a game, your best 2-3 batters are not taking good overall approaches at the plate, then it's you and not a curse.
Cubs are young and feel pressure, Rizzo is one player that can carry this team through a short stretch, but he is now being put on a list of worst ever playoff batting average. He's got to barrel up a few balls and get out of that slump today and stop looking for walks. This entire cubs team has gotten too patient at the plate, they watched MANY first pitch fastballs from Kershaw the other night go right down the middle of the plate. After the first time through Kershaw noticed they were going to let him get them 0-1 after first pitch and he did it. You can't do that!
Cubs are young and feel pressure, Rizzo is one player that can carry this team through a short stretch, but he is now being put on a list of worst ever playoff batting average. He's got to barrel up a few balls and get out of that slump today and stop looking for walks. This entire cubs team has gotten too patient at the plate, they watched MANY first pitch fastballs from Kershaw the other night go right down the middle of the plate. After the first time through Kershaw noticed they were going to let him get them 0-1 after first pitch and he did it. You can't do that!
So much this! Even Rizzo, I mean he's 1-30 but he still looks so loose. The one hit he did get he hugs the first base coach like he hadn't seen him in forever. Just funny stuff. Unfortunately that was the Giants series, so he needs another hug. He's getting better at bats. Coaxed a great 10+ pitch walk off Hill. It's coming. Balls bounce funny ways.
Lol...and no prob BAS, the curse thing is just an annoying headline that obviously has no basis but have been forced to hear about for decades.
True on Urias. He is not known to get deep in games. Cubs need to be ready to swing in fastball counts, the big bats need to swing hard in the fastball counts and then just barrel something up otherwise, it's all mental with them right now. Or they started drinking the same gatorade Heyward has been drinking
This. We all know and even Bet based upon that "streakyness" of teams. No Doubt certain amidst the Cubs are Pressing, at the plate. Understandably. The Dodgers began playing better ball a while back, held off SF Giants in the Division, closed out well, they are that team that Got Hot when they needed too. Cubs capability at Bat = all they need is to string a couple successful ABs together and they can get On Track.
Panic at this point, totally counter-productive. Easier said than done, yes, to not Press. Chugs though bringing the Calm. IMO it would serve the Cubs well to do the same, they can do this they just need to take Game 4 to end the Gloom and Doom.
I agree, we need to milk some at bats early. We were trying to attach Kershaw and the SOB only had like 60 pitches in the 6th. Get some runners on against Urias and really attack 2nd/3rd time through order.
And I will say the bats have been less than great the whole playoffs. Nearly half our runs were brought from timely hitting from pitchers in the Giants series. It was timely hitting, but not consistent...but it's the playoffs. Pitchers tend to dominate. One big hit can get everything moving in the right direction though.
This is a Yuge Key. They gotta get Urias to an elevated Pitch Count early cuz if they can his Confidence will Suffer, a lot and he will Serve Up some nice hittable pitches. Whatever is said about this kid he is still freshly arrived to 20 Years old from 19 and I'm just seriously hoping we will see some 9 or more pitch ABs early. I'd love to see Urias have to throw 27 (or even more) to get out of the 1st Inning. That'd be excellent. IMO at least.
No, I think we had two innings where we got more than 10 out of him. Started getting better contact end of the 6th but was just hit at people. Real interested in G5.
We got ahead on some counts against Hill, but his safety pitch is the curve. We get ahead on Urias and he's throwing the fastball...I'm talking myself into taking some Cubs -111. Told myself I wasn't betting on them, but I think it's the time. If they lose, might as well be doubly miserable.
True. IMO at least. I'm kind of a Degenerate Gambler though so....a bit biased, not real objective, on such a question.
Your Posts potray you as a sane person, a "right thinker" with a strong and positive mind so you can handle that double dose of Misery
you won't be alone in that risk and hopefully no misery comes. :toast:
I do feel personally like people are over-reacting to what, as HC pointed out, is a 2-game sample with one of those games vs. a guy who is among the very greatest pitchers this game has seen.
