by
Greek Giant
Game 7s are a beautiful thing, particularly in the World Series. The history of Game 7 in the World Series is fascinating and difficult to read as an indicator for tonight’s game. Tonight, the Cubs and Indians will play game 7 of the 2016 World Series in Cleveland for a chance to re-write history and change the dynamics of their respective franchises. Both teams have epic championship droughts to quench. Both teams have loyal and long-suffering fanbases that have become acclimated to perennial disappointment. The Indians lead 3 games to 1 in the Series and have fared poorly in the past two games.
In 2014 the Giants prevailed over the Royals in a memorable Game 7 that cemented the San Franciscans as a 21st century dynasty. In that game, the last Game 7 to be played in the World Series, the Giants were a sensational double play away from losing the Series. Game 7s are heartless and cruel for the losing team. What I find most interesting about Game 7 in the World Series is that it is the only game in the entire baseball season that is an elimination game for both teams with no other series or game to worry about it. It’s win and go home; lose and go home. This means that both managers are in the same position when it comes to handling their pitching staffs. Bruce Bochy’s quick hook, pulling Tim Hudson after only 1 2/3 innings was an example of managing for the moment, not the season or series. Managers and players must play and think differently in this game.
It is a frequent baseball cliche: to treat a playoff game like any other game. The truth is far from that simple. Players may keep their routines they utilize during the regular season but the actual game strategy is very different. The dynamics of pitcher use are nothing like the regular season or even earlier playoff series. I have a theory that Joe Maddon pulled Jake Arrieta early in last night’s game in case he wants to pull a Bumgarner and use Arrieta for an out or an inning or two in tonight’s game.
Frequently in Game 7s the team that wins the previous game has a mental edge they take with them to win the finale. Think Angels in 2002, Cardinals in 2011, and Mets in 1986.
For tonight, The Indians are going to the Corey Kluber well for the third time in the Series. They are hoping their ace can pitch effectively on 3 days rest for the second start in a row. The Cubs are countering with a fully-rested Kyle Hendricks. After last night’s blowout by the Cubs, my guess is they have the psychological edge and the advantage in pitching match-ups now that the Cubs hitters have awakened from their World Series slumber.
Let’s hope for a better game than last night’s debacle!
A word about the comportment of players in this World Series: it has been mentioned that many of the players and announcers are over-reacting to every little event, treating singles as if they were walk-off homers. I went back to watch specific plays from the Giants championships and I must say there is truth to this analysis. When Marco Scutaro hit his World Series-winning single in the top of the 10th inning of Game 4 in the 2012 World Series (with two outs no less) he barely made a facial expression…. In short, he demonstrated the dignity and grace befitting a champion.
There is something to be said for acting like you have been there before, both in life and in sports… It comes down to looking successful and confident as opposed to desperate and easily-pleased…
Breckeroni says if you’re gonna lose a Game Six it’s better to be blown out than lose a heartbreaker. I have to agree. You knew the Giants were gonna lose their Game Seven to the Angels due to the manner they lost Game Six. On the flip side, I recall posting on here after we lost Game Six to KC that I was feeling positive about Game Seven simply due to the fact the players had turned the page while Game Six was still going on. We shall see.
Spot on! I felt the same way after Game 6 in 2014. I never thought the Giants were in trouble for game 7. In fact I felt quite confident. I think the Giants lost game 6 in 2014 because they thought it was still a pre-game warmup with bp and infield practice… They woke up in time..
Excellent post Greek.
I think, I’ve heard, there have been 38 game events in the World Series.
This will be Kluber’s 3rd short rest appearance in the postseason, a record.
Yeah; but, Francona has been smart pulling him well under 100 pitches.
Smart or not, it’s a lot of work, especially when you count pitches and bullpen sessions to stay sharp. I suspect Francona is looking for 4 innings. Anything more is a bonus.
Do you have an opinion on this cc?
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3064602/tesla-is-betting-on-scarcity-not-luxury
I’ve never figured Elon Musk out. He seems to be in business to make money, but also change the paradigm. I think off power energy storage and distributed power generation a good idea, but I sort of like the simplicity and elegance of the hydro electric method described here.
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/for_storing_electricity_utilities_are_turning_to_pumped_hydro/2934/
I think the SoCal big solar array is thinking about that. Trouble is it’s front end expensive. SMUD here in Sac just cancelled one north of the city. Maybe Musk is right, if a battery good enough comes along. I’m sort of partial to George Olah’s idea of CO2 recycling/conversion as well. It’s a cute idea.
http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/george-olah-renewable-methanol-plant-iceland
These are the types of projects that big government used to do well. I miss FDR vision.
It’s worrying to read that Chinese companies are leading bidders for these kinds of projects.
I couldn’t agree with you more. They are simply too big for business. Perhaps you remember the heat BART got. Now SF couldn’t survive without it. We seem to be a nation that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
“We seem to be a nation that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
SOTD.
The Bay Bridge is a good example of the pitfalls of using out soruced oversees construction and labor from China.
http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/entry/dang-the-chinese-made-bay-bridge-continues-to-fall-apart
From fivethirtyeight.com:
“Meanwhile, the Indians kept both of their super relievers — Andrew Miller and Cody Allen — out of the game. If a tired Kluber does begin to struggle, Indians manager Terry Francona can turn to these arms for several innings. The World Series will therefore come down to a recipe that has worked so well for these Indians during the playoffs: a tired but effective Kluber, combined with fireman appearances by two top relievers. To break their championship drought, the Cubs will have to overcome this pairing like no other team has before in these playoffs.”
p.s. Schulman tweets that Chapman is limping?!?
They could be a little rusty. Miller will not have pitched in 4 days from when he enters the game
Breckeroni is chaperoning JoBu tonight after JoBu got out of line last night. They both will be sitting with Ricky Vaughn and his entourage.
(Owner: “I hate this F-king song”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fWNW92bjsM
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/285f54f126dc6f20bf5e965a33bf9a5f92f711d15baa0eaa9b0748cf67fdc411.jpg
Nobody other than “Rick Vaughn” ever wore #99 for the Tribe although I imagine that Manny Ramirez would have if he had ever returned to his first team – CLE. Three players on this list wore 99 appropriately based on their personality.
*Turk Wendell * Mitch Williams * Manny Ramirez
The Rest
Alfredo Amezaga * Collin Balester * Brian Bruney * Darren Clarke
Willie Crawford * Todd Hundley * James Jones * Aaron Judge
Charlie Keller * Rudy Owens * Dan Robertson
Hyun-Jin Ryu * So Taguchi
POTD…
A word about the comportment of players in this World Series: it has been mentioned that many of the players and announcers are over-reacting to every little event, treating singles as if they were walk-off homers. I went back to watch specific plays from the Giants championships and I must say there is truth to this analysis. When Marco Scutaro hit his World Series-winning single in the top of the 10th inning of Game 4 in the 2012 World Series (with two outs no less) he barely made a facial expression…. There is something to be said for acting like you have been there before, both in life and in sports… It comes down to looking successful and confident as opposed to desperate and easily-pleased…
HERE HERE!!!!
Kids will be kids.
I know you’re biased towards the Cubs, but I think you’re making excuses. The 2010 Giants had many young players who’d never “been there” (Lincecum, Cain, Posey, Bumgarner, Sandoval), and I remember being impressed with how respectful of the moment and their opponents they were. Not that they didn’t celebrate when it came time to do so. But they didn’t hot dog it like NFL players every time they make a tackle or gain eight yards.
To me it comes down to leadership and role modeling. Bochy and his staff have always had pretty clear ideas about what the “Giants Way” should be. If someone crossed the line (e.g., Melky grabbing his…you know…in a game in Atlanta), Bochy would always say “I’ll talk to him.” Maddon seems to be about creating a culture of entitlement and arrogance. More power to him, I guess; he’s got a great team, but that’s why they get criticized and disliked outside of Cubs Nation.
It’s also about the veterans setting a good example. The Giants have been fortunate to have guys like Affeldt and Lopez and Tim Hudson and Jake Peavy over the year. The Cubs have the “beer and fried chicken” twins, the insufferable Arrieta, and the incredibly obnoxious Zobrist. If anything, young guys like Bryant and Rizzo and Heyward carry themselves with more class than the Cubs’ veterans do.
Don’t forget the influences of Huff, DeRosa and Burrell in establishing the Giants way….
I’m a little dubious about Huff’s and Burrell’s “influences,” but it all came together in 2010.
Hitting Under the Influence isn’t a crime.
Yeah nothing says your being mature more than drawing a corpse line around where you flopped on a fly ball. OR maybe it was the constant talk of the machine or the videos from Wilson. Then again the dual guns shooting the sky may may been some tribute and as I recall much of MLB got real pissed at Romos over exuberant inning ending celebrations.
So Baez embarrassed you too, so you’re equating things that have nothing to do with one another. Hell, he embarrassed Cubs fans and Maddon too. Ergo the talk Maddon gave him.
Been deaf, avoiding all TV to avoid the election crap. What happened?
He apparently was told to tone it down, and play his game. Being 2-3 for 20+ was nothing to crow about…more or less.
What does biased mean. I have an historical affection for the Cubs, and my household, absent my input, is firmly in the Cubs hands, if that’s what you’re saying. Kids will be kids is simply explaining that in their system, Maddon has seen fit to give them latitude, which has always been his style. No one is, in my opinion, creating a culture of anything. Every team isn’t run like the Giants, although perhaps that makes sense in some world. Although I might not find Baez antics to my liking, I’m not going to be self serving enough to say it goes against some mythical norm. Rather, I’m rather proud the Giants don’t behave that way. But that’s a far cry from condemning some 2o’ish player from strutting like a rooster. It’s a game, a wonderful game, but a game nonetheless. If it can tolerate Bonds, it can tolerate a brash kid like Baez.
IMO somewhere in the middle ALWAYS lies the truth. Cody Ross – Huff and Pat the Bat brought a ton of savvy behavior to the team in 10. I have seen behavior that is appalling at almost every level. The current Cubs behavior seems to comes more from passion and the fact they are actually playing a little boys game for money rather than rancor.
Comparing old guy Marco and 23 y.o. Baez is rough comp
I see the way the Cubs celebrate as taunting the other team. That is what bothers me so much. If they were just happy for each other like any other team would be I would respect it, but every time they do something I get the feeling they are sticking barbs in the other team by yelling at the top of their lungs after making a semi tricky play. I dont mind enthusiasm for the game, i like to see it actually. But dont show the other team up…respect the game a little bit
Cheers to your post. MANY times I have snuck a peek into the Chi Cubs dugout and thought something I have often even told amateur players which is “Act Like You’ve Been There Before” – and then I remember DOH, no actual Cub has experienced that, but to Anti’s message – MANY – of the current Cubs have been with other teams and have played with teammates who have taught that expression to them – but and again like CC below says….they’re kids and have short memories.
* Last day of ML Baseball 11/02/2016 – RIP *
Credit Greek for those words well spoken.
I understand both sides….Thanks for the headsup!
Greek should get POTD and Featured Post!
Agree
A real good game could make the last day of baseball 11/3/2016.
isn’t it already the post of the day?
I was at the game and when Scutaro came to the plate with the go ahead run on second I said to my nephew sitting next to me that I would rather have Scutaro at the plate in that situation than Babe Ruth
Another great piece GG. I tip my cap to you.
Just for fun I looked up all the outfielders this past year and their defensive rankings. Using just one, Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), I discovered that there were four Giants in the positive numbers as to DRS:
Mac Williamson +4
Kelby Tomlinson (!!!!) +2
Brandon Belt (!!!!!!!) + 1
Gorkys Hernandez +1
(Cory Gearrin, 0)
The everyday outfielders:
Pence -3
Pagan -6
Span -7
Also:
Parker -2
Blanco -7 (urggggghhhh)
So where did this desultory crew finish in outfield DRS, relative to other MLB teams?–24th
Mac’s +4 would have put him 22nd in MLB in DRS if he’d qualified. Of course, one would project that his DRS would be much higher if he’d played more. The highest DRS for outfielders was Mookie Betts at +32. Yowza!
Actually, his DRS would probably fall because as other coachs/managers/players learn his skill set, they stop either challenging him or letting him exercise leverage on the field. It would be interesting what happens to DRS in skilled defensive players once the league knows them. Once Alex Gordon demonstrated his toolbox, runners just stopped trying to take 2nd base on him.
One would not project that. It would more likely be static or fall.
Even if it was the same, it was still the best on the team by quite a bit.
I guess that is having fun with drs
DRS is almost completely subjective metric, but even so, a great measure. How it’s ‘measured’.
http://www.baseballinfosolutions.com/Innovations/DefensiveRunsSaved
Thanks for link
Outfielder arms run lost!
I wonder how positioning at att to guard the gaps affects drs
He must’ve done something REALLY bad to torque Bochy’s bolts, to get rubber roomed like he did.
It turned out to be organizational. He pulled a mini – Conor Gillaspie on a few staff members and got himself sent out + his injures. He is a really good person but got frustrated with some things about himself + the injuries.
He will have a GOOD 2017.
Interesante. Wonder what he did.
There’s only one direction for the OF next year, upwards from that. I still think Belt needs to play OF around 20 games a year.
Who will be the backup CF next year, esp. if Blanco doesn’t come back?
(I must have missed Cory in the OF)
It was late in the season. Bochy had him out there for one batter so he could bring Lopez in for a lefty and then put Gearrin back in as pitcher.
Whoops – I need to type slower…
Yes on Belt. More rest/1b for Posey.
The Gorks, no?
p.s. Remember the game where they double-switched him from P to LF to P? (I think Lopez came in for one out.) Brisbee had an hilarious photo of Gearrin in LF. :o)
Fun stuff!
I imagine the !!! for Kelby was because of the small sample size 🙂
I don’t know about how they measure DFR or how you calculate things like throws and routes but I venture to say that putting Kelby and Mac above Blanco or Span is poppycock.
Kelby, maybe, because he hardly played there. But Mac is a solid outfielder with excellent tools. He made some great plays. Blanco had a terrible year, but we know he’s capable of better. As for Span, he’s lost a step and his arm is terrible. I thought he was going to be much better in CF than he was this year. Hope the Chef is right about him being healthier and he’ll be better next year.
Agreed on all counts. Thanks for doing the legwork and researching all this BTW Lefty. I need you to make you and Scout our Chief Baseball Metrics Officers in our new corporation…
Eric Ritz is my rec for ministry of metrics.
I think the Giants rolled the dice on Span hoping he would bounce back from his 2015 injuries and hip surgery. Clearly the injuries has slowed him down. Now the question is how well he holds up at 33 or 34. I would not expect much more than they got this year from him.
No, me either. Another stat that gets ignored is that he had only 19 stolen base attempts–and was successful only 12 times. Those are TERRIBLE numbers for a leadoff man.
How did Utley do? Santana? Realmuto?
Even with the bad metrics on Span, I can’t remember many balls he didn’t get to the he should of this year. Can you? Seemed like he tracked down everything he was supposed to and generally got good jumps especially during the 2nd half.
Bingo
Pagan was -20 in 2015.
Celsius, Fahrenheit or Kelvin?
Celsius
Yep. Kelvin can’t be negative. A Grade
That would represent a Win in Haak’s World! ;o)
That’s 2-3 games by the accepted metric conversion.
Hi Paul, here’s a tale for you:
Translation:
“There was everything in the Garden of Eden: liver, kidney, minced meat, little red fishes, bowls filled with milk. One thing only shouldn’t be eaten: the Forbidden Fishbone that was growing….” https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/772cce65e26a4f7006d7404ca7999fce8b8d0df68e1fd4f8225c2a6fbd17ab28.jpg
This says more about DRS than the players.
Given that Belt only played a few games out there, these numbers seem to indicate that he may be the finest defensive outfielder in all of baseball.
you forgot history…may be the finest defensive outfielder in all of baseball history…
all year we wanted to see him play more, and all year he was wasted. just give him 500 AB’s in left field, and you’ll see 25+ home runs, and his defense will look like yaz compared to what we’ve been used to.
Did this fellow JJ use to throw HIGH 90’s? Whew, three TJ operations.
Probably Footy’s guy.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/giants-sign-josh-johnson-minors.html
Def.
You must have been in touch with giants insider below.
Mac will do an AT&T version of Duvall at Cinci
Get The Oracle all tingly?
Put Ben Gay in his jock strap.
There were a couple of things that stood out for me in the celebration on the field at KC:
* Mad Bum, during the Buster Hug leaned in and said to Posey “I love you”.
* In the prior celebrations, Buster always leapt around for awhile, but he was so exhausted, so drained…he basically collapsed.
There was something unique about each of the 3 titles…the KC one, to me, was special in this way: most of these guys had won once or twice already. They were on the road in a game 7 after getting crushed in game 6… Yet they coolly took care of business. Yes, Bumgarner shouldered the load. But they all just did their Giants thing.
Another great memory
It was a testimony to discipline and commitment, to the Game and one another.
Posey has been exhausted for several years now, well at least during each unsuccessful AB. Shockingly, his defense remained consistently good throughout the season, despite his incredible exhaustion and the fact that catching is more physically demanding than hitting.
You are so easy to love
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9f57ef5db158d607ee82bff621b547c66ef401f613d11a043e26e16f4e1e2d5d.jpg
Someone posted about the Warriors collapse last year and talked about Green being the issue. I think I mentioned the downfall was when Bogut got injured in game 5 which opend up the paint for Cleveland. Well here is Lillard suggesting that the D is not nearly as good with paint protection now that Bogut is gone. The Dubs will need to learn how to protect the paint with a real center and not a Hybrid like Green.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/14e3e53f-cd25-3ae3-b39c-9a4fc83cac63/ss_damian-lillard-says-warriors.html
That’s pretty hilarious considering the Warriors kicked Portland’s a** last night and played their best team defense of the season. So Lillard thinks the Warriors would have won by 50 maybe if they’d had Bogut? LOL
He might have a point. The Dubs have allowed 129,114,100,104 points in their first 4 games. San Antonio and their big men creamed the Dubs. Last year through 4 games they allowed 1 100 point game. They did not allow their fourth 100 point game until game 10 last year.
The 4 games with Bogut against Cleveland, 1 game over 100 points allowed. The 3 games without Bogut, 2 100 point + games.
Bogut is a huge loss, and it turned the finals…but Lillard needs to be smarter than that.
…and the organization also showed their lack of class by showing Cleveland raising the banner before the game last night…you know, since Portland can’t do that themselves.
It amazes me when these young big mouths say disrespectful, dumb things that motivate opponents. Westbrook last year. Lillard this week. Those are two very, very talented players. But their brains have a glitch.
I think we see Miller at the first sign of trouble and he pitches as far as he can go (3 innings? maybe more?). Part of me feels like Chapman if given he ball in a tight spot could choke…would love to see that.
Cubs middle of the order is hot right now. Have to pitch carefully to them.
Here’s hoping Corey, Andrew, or Cody receive a Roberto Hug tonight! GO TRIBE! 🙂
The top of the 1st will be a very charged up atmosphere….
For Rob Deer – PerSpeier and Footy – those of you still swinging the wood (or metal)
When as a hitter you consistently ‘arrive on time and on plane’ … good things happen.
http://tinyurl.com/j94m5s4
This for a Chicago fan is on par with the anticipation of 1986 Super Bowl.
Enjoy.
Boom!!!
He was faster than I thought.
The hr happened faster than I could turn on tv
Free agent Fowler?
How do Fox, MLB and any other money folks allow such horrible TV: blue tops vs blue tops?
That stolen base by Shwarber was so funny…..
18 pitches for Kluber will put a little dent in his pitch budget.
The plan??
It should be. The young Cub hitters probably don’t have the discipline to stick to it if it is.
LOL. Bochy wily vet.
back on track after two, but down a run.
Anybody remember lew burdette ? Kuiper compared madbum to him this a.m.
Long time Milwaukee Brave.
Gaylord Perry before Gaylord Perry
That was also mentioned
What was the similarity between the two Kuip was describing?
Country strong. Dare I say hillbillies?
Ahh…seems like kinda a stretch at first but then coming from Wisconsin boy Kuiper makes sense.
Baez is a great talent, but you just can’t hot dog a routine grounder in game 7
Him and that freakish glove hand of his are so smug together.
Hot doggers hot dog.
SS arm too
So…when was the last time Ivy Leaguer Hendricks allowed a HR?
Bonehead.
Cant get picked off there……………………argghh
Not when the next guy gets a hit!
You knew that was going to happen.
The Indians already look beaten.
That post lasted
24 without Jack Bauer isn’t 24.
Jack is doing hard time in Russia… maybe China.
Trevor Bauer should be the one doing hard time.
Isn’t Kiefer playing the President on some other show?
I think he does have a new show.
Designated Survivor. Haven’t seen it yet. Maybe I’ll binge it.
You should check it out, Jacob. I like the show.
They say there’s no such thing as momentum in baseball, only the next night’s starting pitcher but, wow the Cubs seem to have all the momentum.
There it is. Lester smiling and joking with (or at?) Andrew Miller in the bullpen. Didn’t see that when they were down 3-1.
Pretty good hacks off Kluber…
3 ganes in 9 days will probably do that to you.
For sure
Nice one hop seed from Chisenhall.
Not sure what that soft toss by Russell was supposed to be.
Wahoo! Tie game.
Looks like Baez is having that moment with Jobu we were talking about Crawnik
Yes sir!
Go Tribe!!!
What the heck is wrong with these umps???????
Brutal.
Even Baez looked shocked that he called out
I was wondering if he was called out, Francona would have had to play the game under protest.
Thank goodness for Replay
You can’t protest on judgment calls
I know. But how about stupidity or ‘hey, the ump didn’t see it because he had his head up his ass.’
An out call? Wow. Never had the ball for any fraction of a second. Clown
How, HOW did the 2B umpire miss that call?! Ridiculous.
#Rigged
Look, no one at MLB cares how bad these guys are.
Definitely. The umpire was completely unaware of replay and thought he could get away with an intentionally bad call.
A for real head scratcher.
I think replay might be making some the umps lazy.
TO is right: these guys seem to be making calls with the knowledge that review can clean it up.
Have to cash this in Tribe.
Whoa Nellie. In the balance is right.
The look on Hendricks’ face at Baez’s E was pretty amusing.
Napoli is so damn overdue.
He’s with child??
F-U-N-N-Y.
Are you kidding?
Ummm…are you??
Two hard hit balls, no runs. Tough break for CLE.
All these pitchers want a piece of their Bumgarner moment…
Is a shift going to decide a World Series?
Tito needs to get Miller up RIGHT NOW
Think they would go Shaw this early
Miller should have been up to face Rizzo and turn Zobrist around
MIddle of the Cubs order is dangerous…this could be the game
Hey, Eric: that’s what I meant. Napoli is turrible
That was a sac fly to deep short. Sheesh. Of course … umpire on the move, really had almost no idea what was going on. He got lucky
Yup…Napoli is a trainwreck at 1b.
What is with all the confustion with the Indians OF….he should have all his momentum coming towards the plate…Bryant may not even challenge him
Span moment
The throw wasn’t that bad but I think the confusion in catching it led Bryant to challenge
Way high.
Could be much worse
Great play by Bryant.
If the Indians lose this World Series it’s because of their bad defense.
So much for a clean game…both teams are fielding like crap
MIller should be in the game by now with a LHH up….dont understand the way Tito is managing this game.
Doesn’t matter. Too late. Damage done. What a shame.
He should have come in even sooner…after the first batter gets on he should be ready to come in. Kluber hasn’t struck out a single batter today, that tells what his stuff is like. MIller is the best reliever in baseball
And its not too late. 2 runs deficit is not insurmountable
It is. They lost Game 5 1-0. They won’t get two runs back off Lester and Chapman.
Nah, they could go Gillaspie on him.
I think I almost would have rather watched the Dodgers win the World Series. Almost.
Step away from the crazy.
The thought of that wife-beater and all those other douches celebrating…and 2troll gloating…it’s nauseating.
Think if this was LA…think. Nope.
he is not married, no arrests were made and no charges were ever filed.
Bumgarner’s Legend is secure.
Yep–it was when Fowler hit the leadoff HR. I thought the same thing. Kluber’s been heroic, but he’s human.
AND… he’s not MadBum
Bumgarner was also human in his last start.
Bum gave up 3 runs in 4+ as well against the Cubs.
To repeat: Bumgarner’s Legend is secure.
You failed History.
Fort Knox secure 🔐
The baseball gods need to wake up. What are you waiting for? It’s the Cubs!
It’s the curse of Draymond Green on Cleveland.
I gotta say, that part cheers me up a bit. Even five months later, Cleveland’s still with the “choked away a 3-1 lead” thing. I’d get some enjoyment about that being thrown back in their faces.
And on this one, no one on the Cubs got any Indians removed from the game.
I’m not entirely sure bringing in Lester for Hendricks is a good idea (for the Cubs) and if it happens, this game is far from over.
Yeah, if i am the Indians I want Hendricks out of the game
That’s fair….
Sure looked like it if the camera was on the line
Alex Pavlovic 32min ago:
For like the 20th time this postseason, how do you make that call in the first place?
These umps just get paid to watch the game on the field.
Alex thinks the problem this postseason has been the umpires who were chosen. I think there are umpires who need to retire. Soon. Before next postseason.
Alex is right…it seems either tenure or union leader based
I agree. They need to use meritorious criteria for the regular season. Such as, how many times were your calls overturned by replay?
They are almost as bad as NBA refs. Almost.
But that job is a LOT tougher
That’s true. I’ll give them that.
He;’s right …it’s the umpires who were chosen for promotion from the minors. It isn;t done on merit
Yeah. This is a terrible crew. Not near the best MLB has
Nope.
This is music to the robots ears.
It must be nice when your #5 starter at the start of the season leads the league in ERA. That is a good story.
We will be happy for you, but why aren’t you on a Cubs blog?
No we won’t. I won’t understand how the Cubs will win without dead people scoring runs, the Chicago way. We’ll see.
Because I spent 30+ years in the bay area and have a subscription to the Merc.
Be nice to Crawford and Belt and we’ll be nice to you.
I am nice to them. I just compare reality of what they accompished to the fantasy of what people expected of them on this board. That is kind of like using Trumps own words in commercials, so easy…..
OK, now you’re being jerky again.
See you after the series.
Chicago=jerky, does it not?
A fair percentage…it’s a weird overcompensation for crippling insecurity
Chicago = polish dogs.
Behing the barn man behind the barn….
Voting on the props are pretty easy … the right vote is almost always opposite the most commercials
Cubs are feeling it….
Tito… Buck Showalter feels your pain.
someone pls explain to me why Kluber was left in…even in the last inning?
I’m sniffing a parade on Michigan Avenue….
It’s not over. Cubs bullpen is shaky Town.
Neither team has overcome a 4 run deficit in this series.
That’s a big 10-4.
You were right Scout. It seems that Maddon could only trust Chapman, and even that backfired. The Indians had to win it right there, and well, they didn’t.
dye the river blue
Too much to ask of Kluber
What is Francona thinking? Saving the bullpen for the winter?
The catcher Perez looked a little sad and worried after that knock
He and Kluber work well together.
Cubs are looking good…but humility for a few innings might be your best approach.
Cubs hitters are quick learners. Adjusting to pitchers they’ve seen very well.
That’s a bang-bang play. Can’t overturn that…
So, about that grit and determination…
Cubs hitters are on the ball. Even the out are loud outs.
That’s game … Their attitude aside, this Cubs team is unbelievably poised and talented for guys that have yet to hit their prime career years.
6 players in the starting lineup 26 or younger.
Here’s my honest opinion: the Cubs have WAY more talent. We know that the most talent doesn’t always win, but they are earning this. Fans can choose to pick at attitude if they want, and I get it. But, Maddon has a style to encourage a loose environment.
This team has Rizzo, Bryant, Russell, Baez, Zobrist, Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks, Chapman….
Cleveland has Kluber….Miller…Lindor…..and a bunch of guys.
In this case, if nothing changes, baseball justice prevails.
Contreras, Schwarber, Fowler..
I don’t think those 3 are star level…in Schwarber’s case, I’ll add a “yet”… Contreras is out of control and may end up there, too
Many on this board wanted Zobrist as a free agent.
2Hole, FYI, I blocked you until after the game
Haha i did the same. Too annoying.
Block his sorry butt permanently
Maddon yanking the Win Rug from underneath the kid in a Game 7….
i hope it bites him in the ass
I though he should of lef Hendricks in. They were not hitting him hard at all. If not for a couple errors, his pitch count and score could be lower.
Welp, Lester coming in. There’s your chance to rally for 2+ innings Indians. Go crazy on the bases.
It should have been called strike 3 except it was off target.
Lester is their BIG free agent pitcher. $25M for 2 years and 27.5 for 2 more years. This is what he is paid to do.
Game isn’t over…
This is reminiscent of Lester vs Royals 2014 WC
F….U….C…
acia
Wow.
Holy cow.
2 run WP…
Shades of Matt Duffy scoring from 2nd
I was gonna say “shades of Johnathan Sanchez on the bump”
Right?
i was gonna say, what a moron maddon is
So, any conspiracy suspicions?
My suspicion is Maddon is trying to be too cool. Hendricks was fine
I thought so too.
With that lead and the way he has pitched all year, Bruce would have left him in for the last out and a start of the next inning.
He would have respected his right to be the game winner.
Taking a page out of Bochy’s book and making a move when a move wasn’t needed.
Everybody but you, LOL.
The difference is that Bochy did it out of a lack of confidence in his bullpen arms, whereas Maddon does it so he can talk about it later
I think I think they both were saying “hey everybody, watch me manage!”
Totally disagree.
Boy, I hope that isn’t true, but you’ve got to wonder. Wonder if Epstein called him on his cell?
He seems to be managing not to lose
I think he manages to be noticed
There’s a lot of that going around.
Maddon: I knew they were going to zag, so I decided zig first — but that would have been to obvious so I’ll do the double reverse zag … Holey Moley I just took out my pitcher who was ahead 5 -1 with only 1 runner on.
Bleat bleat
Keep it close..keep pressure on.
Any wagers on a shut down Inning coming up?
I will make a prediction, Lester never wins a gold glove.
Another thing about bringing Lester in… Contreras gets taken out of the game. Ross comes in. Downgrade in offense and defense.
Of course he hits a HR after I say this…
Boom as you type!!!!
Great for Ross!!!
so much for the Ross downgrade. 🙂
That ball reaaaally carried.
Ball is carrying a bunch today. Fowler’s HR the same
That HR by Ross is amazing — he was really staggered by the WP
Rope a dope….
Miller has looked ordinary.
That was a HUGE run.
Wily veteran spotting.
I’m not buying the new Sprint pitch man.
From the way he looks, Lester may not clear this inning.
Well at least we lost to the Champs.
But we could’ve,,,would’ve beaten the Cubs in the 5th game. sorry, i still haven’t gotten over it, i guess
Me either. I think we present the toughest match up for them on paper
I’m not sure it was simply matchups, we pitched them right with a superior gameplan too.
I hope we get some revenge next year. We lost a lot of tough games to them the last couple years. Bum, Cueto, Moore is a tough matchup for anybody
I agree. I love duking it out with the Cubs.
Still feel bad for Moore in that last game
yes the Giants have the second best starting pitching
Big assumption. I think Lester would have been too tough against a mostly LHH lineup.
Your TV must be about an hour ahead of mine
Happy to be wrong
But not seeing it
Me either but still…these are the Cubs
Charlie looked of sound mind.
Is that possible?
The one consolation I find from this as a Warriors fan is no more 3-1 jokes from LeBron.
Silver-linings
LeBron at the game.
https://twitter.com/scott_stinson/status/794002189966602241?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
That was Tom Morello I saw at Wrigley during game 5.
Jeez everybody who was somebody was in wrigly for game 5
I sense more drama coming before this game is over.
I sense my entire Chicago based crew calling in sick if there isn’t
LOL. Blue Flu, who knew.
Didn’t they all request the day off?
Most of them have burned their PTO or have saved it for the Holiday’s… I’m nice, though…I’ve been there.
I think Smolz has been very good as the color man — and Joe Buck has been tolerable
I wonder what Marla Collins is doing for kicks these days.
Six outs to go with a 3 run lead, Chapman waiting in the wings…there would have to be some serious ghosts of Cubness past to blow this one.
You think Chapman’s got two innings left in him? When he pitched on successive days to us, we tagged him for 3 wasn’t it.
I think so with 2 days off
didn’t he pitch last night?
you’re right…1 1/3
I still think so but that might factor
There you go!
If Cleveland has any sense, they will let some random goat loose on the field between innings.
Throw a black cat in there for good measure
A tribute to Pence’s beard: http://www.uninterrupted.com/watch/PZb9hZBd/bye-bye-beard?playlist=N4M8xKh5
I barely recognize him
My kid is acquainted with a dude that closes for Colorado named Jake McGee. McGee worked out with Chapman…said he is inhumanly strong. Always warms up throwing extra heavy baseballs, does sprints up stadium stairs with heavy chest weights…works out like a beast…no one can keep up with him.
I think he can go 2 innings with NO issue
He sort of has to after that Hendricks move.
If it was a 1 run game I think he could tighten up. His head isnt always in the game. But with a 3 run lead…too much to overcome. Wanted to see him pitch in a tight game.
I pass on Chapman if I am the Giants
Yeah pass on one of the top 2 or 3 closers in MLB? How many blown saves did the Giants have? 31? Chapman had 2 blown saves all year
Can you say frustration with the K zone?
Madon always has a doofy bewildered look of confusion
Game tightening up — just like we were hoping — and the crowd reaction shots are priceless
OH. MY. GOD.
O. M. G.
holy sh….
hahahahahahaha
They better get Chapman out of there.
Holy Sh…!!! A Michael Morse moment!
How did we let that Davis guy get away 😉
Cubness!!!!!
DUDEEEEEEEEEEEE
HOLY SMOKESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I was right.
Our Giants guy RAJAIII
He’s a FA after this season… Giants sign him?
Nah…we have to get younger but very happy for him
The Ford Holy Shit Play of the Season
hahaha high velocity means nothing in the majors.
1 FUCKING TIME CLEVELAND
You must know the moderator.
That is. That is just…….man.
Loving me some goats
Even if the cubs win, HAHA Chapman.
Cub fan feeling a reversal of fortune. What a game.
Someone is going to get seriously hurt outside that stadium.
Hey! You’re watching! We knew you were a baseball fan!!
This game 7 is historic.
Madden not looking like a genius right now.
He looks kinda green around the gills
He made the right moves. Chapman just couldn’t make the pitch.
Pulling Hendricks wasn’t the right move.
Pulled Hendrick WAY too soon.
The mistake, IMO, was pitching Chapman yesterday in a blow out.
That was huge.
That too.
That will be debated given his workload in game 5
Yep
and bringing in chapman with a 7-2 lead may not have been too good a move either
Blame it on the boogie.
I think he had to use Chapman to get to game 7 but he doesn’t have anything left IMHO and what’s with Maddon loosing faith in the rest of his bullpen ??
Theo’s boy must be a little dizzy right now.
so is Rajai one of LeBron’s boys now?
Did he swing at the strike 3 pitch???
Yup…..
It would be so fun looking at Cubs fans faces if they go on to lose
I predict fire.
Watching people suffer isn’t something I’d enjoy.
This is baseball CC don’t be so damn serious
Cubs fans have lost their souls about now. I’ve got good friends who are in agony now.
Well I can’t help you there buddy
You were a douche, I called you on it. No big thing.
First of all you can kiss my black ass 2 times second of all I could give a damn about your Cubs friends
You’re simply being an ass, IMO.
Well in my opinion you try to monitor this blog all you do is sit at that damn computer all day every day 365 days a year and monitor what people say
Aren’t I lucky.
You get a big thumbs up from me on the comment that started this, um, discussion!!
CC got a stick up his ass because of my mentioning being glad to see Cubs fans unhappy that man has some issues
I read it all – hoping to see the same reaction as you are!
Why don’t you remove your teeth and go to bed
More goats…more black cats
No matter what happens, serious drama
This game is a privilege to witness
It wasn’t for a while, now it is.
It’s been sloppy. The drama has been palpable from the start.
This is how a Game 7 should be played out.
instant classic.
They had Chapman on the ropes and swung at 3 straight balls up 2-0 in the count with speed at 1st
raining now in Cleveland ??? get ready for their Shawshank moment : ) they should have started this game at 6 or 7pm
Umps need to call the game now.
light showers from a finger of the storm, the bulk of the storm is still west and stretches across Michigan. Type in Cleveland Ohio
https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?radar=1
Rain delay?! What an epic game if there is
Allen pitched more than one inning in only 6 of his 67 appearances this season.
I’m so glad I can just enjoy this game as a neutral fan. Imagine how stressful this must be for Cubs or Indians fans…
Yeah, I”m just admiring the drama. POssible extra innings, rain
I think Dr. Lefty just blamed Bruce Bochy for bringing in Chapman. Sorry I couldnt resist
LO, that’s just mean.
Greek Giant put me up to it
Yea, since Ulysses. Tricky Greeks.
Way to throw me under the bus Surf!
But Im the one who thought of it
This your dog?
https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/12573820_f520.jpg
I only blame him for pulling Lester!
Nah, Bochy would never do something like that. His moves were brilliant in 2016.
Do you have a t-shirt for sarcastic old man.
Despite what Smoltz just said, I think it can be mental with some of these guys. If you believe you have limits, you’re going to be thinking about it when you start to exceed them.
Maybe he stopped breathing through his eyelids like a lava lizard
This is why you dont pay huge money for a closer and also why you dont use Chapman with a 5 run lead
Definitely. A repeat of the Giants’ 2016 bullpen would be just fine.
Not exactly
You’re right that paying big money to a closer isn’t ideal, but the Giants don’t have much choice. They can’t afford a repeat of last season, particularly if they don’t try to do anything about it in the off season.
Chapman and Miller’s price just went down
I’m very leery of Chapman. If his velocity slips even a little, he’s nothing special.
That’s why you don’t burn relievers like they’re going out of style unless you have to!
Yep. If Cubs lose, pulling the starter early is all anyone will be talking about and Maddon will doing one of those “Wanna get away?” commercials for SouthWest Airlines.
Rainout, play 9 tomorrow!
what kind of a slide is that?
That’s a takeout slide. Double play. Guess Coghlan hasn’t learned his lesson..
Looks to me like Francona was pulling a Maddon…Allen is done. These guys are overusing their closers
Ok. There’s finally something no one can accuse Bochy of doing. No Giant was allowed to face more than one batter.
I wish I knew what the hell he was thinking in that 9th inning…worst inning of the year
hahahahaha
It’s Utley’s fault
Whoever wins this– less than 3 1/2 months till pitchers and catchers
Livermore Shaw probably dreamed of this…
Yan Gomes shouldn’t be on this roster
Exactly. He is freaking useless.
Defense…………
Crazy decision bunting with two strikes
“I’m Joe Maddon. Look at me”
Anybody appreciating Bruce Bochy a little more after this ?
NO
No. you actually think Lamb and the end of the season were better than this?
I’ve always appreciated him, but he had a rough season. I know you agreed with his 9th inning elimination..I didn’t
Ridiculous
This what happens when you put Fangraphs in charge of a ballgame.
Wow………….what the hell
That was dumb.
Whoever wins extremely sloppy game– what is the record for most errors in a game 7
Baez looked pissed he was asked to bunt
He’s had a full plate in this game.
Yup. Including a HR. I think he wanted to swing the bat. He is the kind of guy that wants to come up big in big moments
That was a tough play made easy by Lindor.
What. A. Game.
What am I watching?
He’s leaving Chapman in? Maddon has gone full Bochy.
I’d venture to say he’s gone beyond Bochy. Uncharted waters.
Put the pressure on Chapman..he will fold
Indians just made a trade for Connor Gillaspie
Secret weapon
Dont help him
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bcaa53fb30a179a1ac06b371b80ed609230e71961f0bd718c9d5c1780eb4c19f.gif
Exit the pie thrower.
I cannot believe that Chapman is still in.
Pending disaster.
Maddon still has Strop and Rendon. Chapman clearly has little left. This is just dumb.
He has neither up…Montgomery and Edwards
I wonder what Strop did? He had an excellent season.
“I’m Joe Maddon. Look at me.”
There must be a lot of Cub fans there. Would think it would be louder
This post season has been an over-managing and bad managing extravaganza.
Yes
I haven’t really been able to watch baseball again until this game…
I can’t imagine the Cubs bringing Chapman back for next year when Maddon is being this inconsiderate about his arm.
I did say earlier that Schwarber was going to hit one out.
You said he was “going deep”.
I assumed you meant he would read Proust out loud to the team.
Why is Chapman out with no slider and not wanting to throw fastball? He gets through it, I guess on reputation
A walk off win in game 7 of the WS…your ultimate walk-off.
If this game is won by a hr I’ll be eagerly curious to find out how much it sells for. A Cub winning hr ball would sell more than the Cleveland winning hr ball I’d guess.
So a 7 game series, who is the MVP depending on which team wins? Kipnis? Kluber? Lindor? Rizzo? Bryant? Zobrist?
Tough part of the order up for the Cubs. Tough outs
Cubs have more and better arms left…..
Boy does this ever illustrate how big a deal Bumgarners 5 inning save was.
Yes
Lester is no Bumgarner
LOL, no one alive is.
Schwarber will finish it off. Best hitter in the NL.
so buck thinks that maddon is still the man, since the cubs were up by 3, and had chapman in needing just 4 outs. really joe?
Rain rain go away.
Sit back, folks…..
Time for Mike and Molly reruns.
Or when the Giants were broadcast on KTVU, “Love American Style.”
Speaking of Mike and Molly, how’s their kid doing?
So let’s have the biggest moment played in the wet … nice job, Commish. Let’s play in November
exactly !! MLB needs to decrease the schedule by x # of games to be sure to get the entire series in by Oct 31 — PLUS they need to start these games earlier — how in the heck do you grow baseball fans when you start the games at 8pm EST
Well, at least people can take a pee break. If they haven’t pissed their pants already.
Mr GGF came home tonight from a longer trip and needs to do bed time with our oldest. He kept delaying and delaying…now rain delay. He was excited that he can relax now and doesn’t need to hurry.
Really nothing is easy for cubs fans. I am for the Indians but do feel for the Cubs fans.
Why? They deserve this and more
I have some nice friends who are Cubs fans. They are not all bad.
Hardly.
Baseball season will officially end the last game 11/3/16 EST…
Not guaranteed. Game could be postponed due to rain, play resumes tomorrorow, no one scores and game goes past midnight again.
🙂
I would think that a rain delay would favor the home team. Comfort and familiarity being in their favor.
I just think the Cubs have better arms left
And some of Cleveland’s replacement players are lesser defensively.
But in extra innings the home team always has the edge because of the walk-off situation. No 2nd chances there.
Yes, there is pressure on the visiting team each time the 2nd half of the inning comes up.
I’m not so sure of that, given recent performance.
Not to mention due up
Schwarber
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
I wonder if Buck Showalter is somewhere saying, “Now see… what if they hadn’t used Aroldis yet…”
posted in 2014
Optimist.
We’re almost done packing up. Heading to our place in the mountains. Good luck everyone. Go Giants.
Maybe if all the true-believers are raptured away there will a little more elbow-room around here 🙂
The bulk of the rain storm is about 50 miles out.
This isn’t the way I drew it up last week.
But it’s close!!
No matter the outcome, I wonder if the Maddon mystique takes a hit?
Wait…strike that. He’s a media darling and they will twist overusing Chapman as a stroke of brilliance, and convince themselves that Hendrick was done.
If he wins. Probably the 3 best managers in baseball, Showalter, Maddon, and Bochy have made odd pitching decisions. To tell the truth Francona too. Maybe fans have missed something. LOL.
Bochy’s didn’t.
Bochy won 3 WS in 5 seasons. You totally dismiss that constantly
And Maddon is about to win one in one, while proving its mostly the players who actually get the job done.
I’m not sure why you discount what Bochy accomplished. You have every right to state that he had a rough 2016… But he seriously out managed every opponent throughout those 3 post seasons. Denying that just makes you seem bitter and stubborn
That’s history. Bochy didn’t out manage anyone in 2016. Then, when the going got tough, he tried to spread the blame to his coaches. There are many who used to be good. The question will be whether Bochy learned anything from this season.
Boy, you sure won’t enjoy the next few years. I’ll bet if they win you will say it’s all because of the players and if they lose you will blame Bochy. That’s no fun for you, I’m sure
As always, he’s all in.
This game should have been played in San Francisco there would not have been a rain delay
Thanks for taking out Schwarbs
dumb move
Just got a runner into scoring position with the move. About the only move that has worked so far. Having Baez bunt with 2 strikes was ridiculous. Wasting bullets last night with Chapman last night was stupid.
I disagree with walking Rizzo intentionally… Throw a couple corner pitches to see if he bites….
But the guy throws most everything with cut so if tries to nibble on the outside corner and misses his cut action could bring it right over the plate.
And so it did
It backfired
Probably should have brought in a lefty to face Rizzo if he had any left.
Pretty sure this guy could not have got Rizzo out either.
Putting on runners in a tie game? Dumb. Leaving in a guy that throws to strength? Dumb.
No lefties left in the pen??
They have the kid that started the clincher against Toronto… Dunno who else
Seemed like a bad matchup againsat lefties either way
So does Chapman go back out there?
No way… Edwards. Chapman with vulture win
Bad move to pitch to Zobrist — don’t they remember he beat Romo in that awful 9th?
Terry mismanaged this inning… Giving them base runners in a tie game?
Seriously. I never like that move. Because when those runners score… it’s just like… you’re welcome.
Just keep walking guys and pitching to strength.
Guess we are not the only bullpen to implode
True, but Indians didn’t have a 3 run lead in the 9th either.
Both imploded tonight — Chapman was a mess tonight. He didn’t have much in the ninth — the Indians needed to win the game there.
Yup…they had their chance
Also Cleveland’s defense has been atrocious.
Damn… These Cubs don’t go away just like the Gnats
Gnats went away several weeks ago 🙂
Dude you have won 1 WS in the past century so don’t come here gloating.
Nope. 108 years. More than a century.
Isn’t gloating the only reason you come here?
And trolling.
Gotta admit it’s pretty funny to watch DirkTrollRonaldo conversing with 2TrollHittingg!
gloat gloat gloat…….
Screw Sabean for ever getting rid of Rajai — :).
Please– the Cubs are no comparison
They have a never die mentality.
Only the Giants could have beaten these Cubs because they have superman Bumgarner.
What we need now is for the last Cubs catcher to get hurt.
Where is Salazar??? Idiot Francona
Bauer in. I think the final score won’t indicate what a great game this was.
9-8 Indians?
If u can’t get a guy like Montero out you deserve to lose.
Bauer.
Terry lost his mind
While Salazar is available.
Bauer sacked up — he was downright nasty to the pitcher (Heyward).
Be interesting to see how effective Bauer, a starter, is in a dire situation
Forgot how awful Heyward is
When you keep slumping, that’s just how good you are.
Schwarber will win the MVP next season.
Heyward will be a 180M fourth OF.
28 mil coming his way the next two years. Brutal
I think Barry Bonds nailed it years ago, how can you give the MVP to a guy who does not play a position (in reference to Pujols)
I imagine the Cubs will get the same kind of staggering save in the 10th that Strickland got for the Giants in the 18th
Edwards is filthy
Take pitches, take bases, take lead, take trophy…
Great ball game no matter the outcome
The dark days of winter lie ahead, but ‘Ol Man Winter himself let us enjoy an extra inning Game 7 for the ages.
The FA signing period starts in 15 days. Evans better have Melancon’s agent on speed dial.
AFL Fall Stars Game on Saturday on MLB Network.
106 days until pitchers and catchers report.
15 days — ugh. The wait will be annoying.
It’ll go fast. No worries.
1 out away until offseason.
C’mon Tribe. Don’t go without even a baserunner…
Cool, thanks.
The good thing about the Cubs winning is they will not be as hungry next year — they will also let it go to their heads. Hopefully they resign Chapman too for 100M.
Chapman’s arm might fall off he plays 162 for Chicago
Oooh, there’s Rajai…
Screw Sabean for ever getting rid of Rajai Davis — :).
The man is a gamer. There’s no quit in him.
Absurd
I wonder how the bandwagon fan scene is in Chi-Town.
Good grief. Bochy should definitely be off the hook after this.
You have a short memory.
Big Question
To steal or not to steal??
No
With the lefty out there that will make it tougher. Look to advance on a ball in the dirt — get a good read.
Was thinking the same thing…probably not possible with the lefty coming in
Stay put. Don’t want last out of the season to be at second CS.
Would be a tough way to go
Far eF…ing Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wu5_S01qAg
This is a dark week in US history … an ugly city wins the Series, and some crook is going to be president. Ugh
That was compelling…
I really can’t tell whether Rizzo’s emotions/reactions are genuine or not.
I cant stand him…of all the Cubs. I know a lot of people like him but his schtick bugs the hell out of me
He sure put that ball in his pocket fast.
Did not Belt do the same?
Rubs me the wrong way too. Bryant may be the only decent player on the Cubs.
I like Bryant and Russell. They are both going to be very good. Bryant is going to be a HOFer. Ridiculously talented.
I like Bryant too.
Sour looser you are, jaded and bitter. You should be congradulatory for those that win.
Have to say while you might be right, you’re also being a very sore winner. Your team won and instead of being out celebrating you’re hassling people on a Giants blog.
Nothing wrong with Rizzo’s celebration or actions. He’s a young guy, plays with passion and emotion, and inspires his team. Many of our guys showed similar emotion in our key wins.
The next thing you’ll question is wether players pointing to the heavens after making a big play is farcical or heart felt. What’s this world coming to.
Oh well, at least it wasn’t LA😑
Wow. Epically absurd ballgame to end the season⚾
Rizzo put the ball in his pocket.
Chapman is a wife beating tool that deserved to choke this thing away — I am fine with some off the Cubs but I would have loved for him to be the next Bartman.
Who’s Mvp?
My guess is Rizzo.
Bryant…
+ Zo?
Zorilla had a huge World Series again. Dude is clutch.
Heyward, duh.
Gotta love them kids…..
nitey night all — happy to have spent another interesting baseball season with all of you — see you in the spring !
Stick around…there’s great baseball chatter all the way thru!
Leading the team meeting — worth $180 M?
I guess if Barry Zito’s contract was worth the WS, then Heyward is the same.
Zito actually won a start against Verlander I think. He also was dominant against St. Louis. Heyward called a meeting.
Why does Heyward get an interview? What did he do?
Called a team meeting
He held a meeting.
This is no longer the unofficial anthem of the Cubs. It served it’s purpose for over a century & deserves a proper sendoff. Farewell, song of the Ottoman Cubs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36sO84Hq6kw
Take that 3-1 & choke on it, Cleaveland. 🙂
Is Jon Lester as dumb as he always sounds?
The inability to throw to bases is real dumb.
Epic game. Demonstrated beyond a doubt that every mgr, even with the best relievers in the game, can have it blow up in their face.
Goodbye and good riddance to 2016. 🙂
Totally agree!!
I just received a picture from one of my employees from outside Wrigley… I told her party as late as she needs and call whenever she wakes up. I got her back
You are a good boss….
Yo, 2hole,
Congrats!
Now what am I going to do, all these long winter evenings?
Baseball was just played on Nov 3. Maybe they should go for year round.
Congratulations to Cubs fans.
Two of my best friends are died in the wool lifetime Cubs fans, there son bleeds Cubbie’s blue. He’s on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean now doing cat shots in the middle of the night. I can see the tears running down that boys face in my minds eye right now. I’m really happy for him and his Mom and Dad. GoCubs! at least for today.
When the Giants won in 2010, my boss , a lifetime Cubs fan, made me take off the next day AND the parade day. He told me he was jealous. I told him he would get his chance… But they were bad then… Well, here we are in 2016, and he gets his. im sure he’s crying now like I did then
Time for the Hot Stove !!!
Fantastic game!! Kudos to both teams! Epic baseball !! The best sport ever!!
An amazing game 7
WHAT ??!!?? there are so many cub fans in CLE and they aren’t presenting the trophy on the field ??? shame on them …..
TV… They always do also for the players and employees
well they presented our NL trophy on the field in the rain — so….
In Cleveland?
good night surf
Don’t go to bed mad, lol
3 hour drive away
Somewhere Steve Bartman is smiling. Go Giants.
and here comes the technology and stuff award
A few years back my Dad and a contingency looked to buy the Cubs from the Tribune company. They figured $650-$700M would be needed. The Cubs sold for some $900M. Else, I might have been sitting in an owners box tonight. Great to finally have a WS championship. Hopefully, the team can go for a few more like Boston and the Giants did after finally breaking the ice.
Your dad and his cheap friends wouldn’t have paid for Epstein and Heyward, which means no critical team meeting takes place during the rain delay.
Just goes to show what a steal the Giants brass got in their home team discount back in the early 90’s.
They are printing money over there at AT&T and when they talk poor I want to vomit. They don’t talk poor too often anymore but they used to a lot which drove me crazy especially considering that the primary owner is the richest in baseball.
Your team just won the world series and you feel the need to pump yourself up with silly stories?
Absolutely………
That’s sad.
Enjoy the off season. Grab a corona and find your beach. Come back next year ready for another season of Giant torture..
you stopped him in his tracks with that comment way to go!!
LOL LOL LOL
Scout fainted like a girl at a Bieber concert! Go Zo!!!
Mvp?
Yup
Cool, can’t deny my guy.
Hey, Edwards did pitch in the last frame!
From my son about his good buddy and old soccer teammate from Poly:
“Grillo’s supposed to go on a vacation with zobrist in a couple weeks lol.”
I’ll have him give Zo a kiss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLAiHX5RHic
Congrats to both organizations for having great seasons. The two best teams met. They will be the two best in 2017 as well. Lots of talent.
The league and the networks have to be pleased. Such a dramatic game 7. Really good for baseball. Congrats to the Cubs!
I’m calling a meeting of the hot stove league for tomorrow.
Steve Bartman throws out opening day pitch! My prediction!
I never blamed Bartman, I also never blamed Bily Buckner. I don;t even blame Dusty. All 3 teams still had the abilit to make their own fortune and they all failed at the time. They all have since recovered and won. In the end game those might be omens that great things are about to happen
Bartman will never go back. He’s got integrity. Cubs fans don’t deserve him anyway.
Giants dined Zobrist and his wife at AT&T one day during last off season. Wonder if he could of been the difference maker for us in LF or 2B while Joe was out. Not so sure he wanted to play here.
Key signing by Theo. He was a difference maker. They offered him 2b even though he ended up playing LF by season end. We couldn’t do that.
No doubt. Zo would have brought another trophy to SF instead of Chi-town. He sure looks good out in LF.
No need of arrogant morons in SF. Zo not good for Giants way.
Wrong. You are are coming across as severely misinformed with a touch of moronic arrogance 😉 But it’s all water under the Bridge of Sighs, amigo.
Up yours, Ryan.
LOL. Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis. You got me.
buona giornata!
Good Robin Trower reference at an intense moment at TWG.
Cont-Zo-versy happens but let’s not go cannibal here.
Or am I missing the t-n-cheek (or what ever the Italians call it)?
You like Zobrist, he doesn’t. Two opinions. No need to call names.
GFY?
And you up voted, “up yours”
Come on y’all. Let’s play nice.
I will if they will.
Yes. In response. I didn’t start it. Alvise expressed an opinion about a player that’s different from yours and Slikk’s. You both reacted by calling him mean names. A 70-year-old man with heart trouble in an earthquake-ravaged foreign country, but somehow defending some rich arrogant baseball player is more important than being civil to another member of the blog community.
Stop it with we need the perfect citizen here in SF give me damn break! For some damn reason you ignorant guys want a player here who is not only a good ball player but the perfect citizen well let me tell you something not all guys are perfect citizens but they may be able to play their asses off. Stop it!
We want first MEN, ball players will follow. If you do not understand this, it’s YOUR problem. By the way, if you have the rudeness to call me ignorant and tell me to stop, I think to have the right to tell you: As an ignorant I got two Ph.D. in my life. YOU ?
Ph.D so effin what!! Who gives a damn about your degree LOL i have a degree in common sense which will take me farther in life then your Ph.D will. I make awesome money live a nice life without going to school like i presume you did for a million years to get that degree. Oh please stop it!
You’re the one who started calling names, Slikk. He’s entitled to his opinion about Zobrist just as you are without calling him “ignorant” and saying his opinion is “crap” and ordering him to “stop it.” Who died and made you blog sheriff?
Well his opinion is crap just like yours is half the time DOCTOR
GFY. And I hope your day sucks.
i appreciate it thanks
btw no one here is the blog sheriff as much as you are with your holier then thou self.
You are, by any standard, the one person here to speak most authoritatively on ignorance and simplistic comments.
My family, the Contarinis (one of the ten families that founded Venice), has been in the spice trade for more of a millennium. I think that I doubled my Company wealth with 40 years of hard work. But I don’t exactly know how much money I own, so I’ll ask to my Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Surely it’s a 9 digits number.
The Giants fell short this year because of a weak bullpen, not because of the lack of Zobrist. Unless his utility talents run to relief pitching, he wouldn’t have made a difference.
Ed Lee to a Cabinet post in a HRC administration? Who will make an embarrassing long winded speech at City Hall Plaza after the 2017 WS?
Giants need relief and a bat for left field. Get it done!! I still think we would have beat the Cubs if Bochy didn’t blow the season.
And the dodgers and maybe the indians.
And the batter whose run won the World Series was intentionally walked. Will they never learn?
Congratulations Chicago Cubs! A great season finishes with winning the World Series. So happy for the long suffering Cubs fans. Fly the W all winter. You earned it.
Source: Seattle Newspaper
“With the seventh game being played Wednesday, free agency officially starts at 7 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday.”
The Giants should open the door of that professionally wrapped RV (with Giants History and AT&T Park images)…that’s been parked across the street from Mark Melancon’s house for a few day now…and welcome Matk in at 7:01am PST.
Good morning, Mark. Brought you some coffee!
Oh, my faux pas. I thought the FA signing period started 15 days after the conclusion of the WS. If that’s the case, Mr. Evans, Mr. Bobby Evans, please pick up the white courtesy phone. Mark Melancon’s agent is on the line.
So is this the start of a dynasty? Will be interesting to see. I don’t think their bullpen is all that impressive but I’m sure they’ll just bring up arms or go get them. Heyward could an albatross of a contract but they have enough money and young players that I’m sure it won’t matter.
What’s the shelf life of a dynasty these days? 3 in 5 ?
We could have one dynasty in the NL and one in the AL duking it out for the next few years. But sheet happens and rosters crumble.
Dr. L. pointed out yesterday that their rotation is too old for that, and Jake A. is an FA this year. Also Chapman. (Also perhaps Uncle Lester?) Gints’ rotation is MUCH younger.
Zobrist had big hit after big hit. That double in the 10th was reminiscent of the double in the 9th off Romo.
Kluber + Miller this postseason: 53 2/3 innings. Lester + Chapman: 51 1/3 innings. Bumgarner in 2014: 52 2/3 innings.
nuff sed
It may be tempting to think of Ian Desmond as a suitable Ben Zobrist facsimile and that the Giants should sign his fanny up for LF and everywhere else, but senator, Desmond is no Zobrist. What’s one of the things that makes Zo so special?
It’s his K:BB ratio. He has walked more than struck out the past two years. Desmond strikes out between 3-4 times more than he draws walks.
At this juncture I’d like to congratulate Joe Panik on walking more than he K’d this season. So there’s your Giants’ 2B version of Zobrist. Buster Posey accomplished this feat in 2015, so there’s your catching version of Zo.
The point of desmond is that he can play ss and cf.
And a shout-out and congratulations to 610 nm’s mom! She raised a good one, folks.
She must be resonating somewhere around 475 nm with extra high amplitude today.
As John Smoltz pointed out during last night’s exciting game: No starter went past the 6th inning of the 2016 World Series. That’s a first time event in the history of baseball. If even one manager had a fresher bullpen last night he would have won. Joe Maddon got away with over-managing by pulling Hendricks too soon and foolishly using Chapman with a 5 run lead the night before. Francona just went to the well way too many times with his bullpen arms because he did not have the horses among his starting rotation… All of which makes the Giants 2014 victory even more amazing in my eyes when you think about it.
They learned nothing from watching Bochy Over-Manage his last game of the year. I hope some of the Giants FO learned something.
#BringBackFlanneryBochyWhisperer
Maddon was worse than Bochy! Removing Hendricks last night was a disastrous idea. It backfired spectacularly.
And Arrieta the night before, unnecessarily taxing his bullpen in a non-close game.
right
One key difference with the 2014 World Series was that a lot of the games were blowouts. Game 7 was a one-run game and so was Game 2, but that was it. When it’s not a series of one-run chess matches, you don’t have to burn out your bullpens.
The real head-scratcher was Maddon using Chapman in Game 6 and, for that matter, Tito using Miller in Game 4, both with big leads. They both got burned by that last night. If the Cubs hadn’t rallied in the 10th, the story of the World Series would be the not-so-genius Maddon overusing Chapman.
Game 3 was close and game 5 was a nail-biter till the bottom of the 8th in 2014. No, the difference was that Bochy did not have to rely on one reliever in the way that Cubs and Indians relied too much on Chapman and Miller respectively. Then you have MadBum who re-writes history and does the unthinkable in game 5….
Games 1 and 6 were the only ones which weren’t in serious doubt until at least the 6th. The difference was that chicago simply doesn’t have pitchers who can go deep in the game and the indians only have kluber, and francona wasn’t letting kluber pitch deep because he was going pitch on 3 days rest
Giants will not get a true power hitting leftfielder this off season book it! Guys do not want to play here because of the park . Everyone in baseball knows this.
I’ve been saying that for months.
This goes out for Bapah. See you next spring, bro. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/edde3440b7f3f4aac218b2ade6fbadd69f522ecf0cb87e97cf6104ef4ceca16d.jpg
Fair winds and following seas, to you.
Buon vento anche a te, fratello.
It’s pretty much stress-free entertainment when we Giants fans can watch a World Series from afar. That game 7 had a bit of everything baseball has to offer: sloppy play, brilliant play, clutch play, and a wild finish.
I was leaning Cleveland for awhile because I like Francona way more than I like Maddon. Then i was leaning Chicago because so many of my co-workers and staff were reminding me of me in 2010, and also because i saw Lebron in the stands and he makes my skin crawl.
In a sense, what that series showed me, along with most sports, is how there remain a level of good sports out there. Francona gave a fantastic post game interview. On a blog like this, we can vent, and be unreasonable…but in the real life of sports, you have to be a gracious loser to be a winner. That’s Francona.
As for us – sure , we can pick at certain Cubs players for a style we find showy or disrespectful…but it appeared to me that the teams did respect each other. If any of us were in a World Series with a clubhouse full of teammates we went through an entire season with, fighting together for a goal, and we did something positive, we would react too.
I can sit here and say “Maddon is too self centered..” but do I know? His players play very hard for him, and they won it all. His success is the measure. He set a tone with that team that obviously worked. They aren’t headhunters. They aren’t dirty. They have fun playing baseball. I’m not sure that can be criticized without me, or any of us, looking like a poor sport.
Congrats to a very talented team…you can’t always say this, but I feel confident this time: the best team in the majors won the World Series
What makes you say self centered Matthew im curious?
His interview style, mostly. I spend my life trying to interpret what I’m hearing from people and Maddon come off, to me, as dripping with false humility…
I’ve met some fans from across MLB who met Maddon at games and they all, to a person, told me he is a wonderful, humble and super smart guy. He reaches out to fans of opposing teams when he is the visiting manager. Cool stories. I like him but I would not take him over Bochy.
Neither would i. I haven’t been too happy with bochy this season but just watching maddon these last few weeks i can see i’d go up the wall. He makes moves for no reason and sits on his hands when he should do something. The whole fiasco with waiting until game 5 of the world series to try to get chapman to change his warmup routine to be able to pitch earlier was incredible.
Spot on about Francona. He gave the kindest, most moving and gracious interview I have ever seen from a manager who just lost the World Series. It should be shown to all kids playing baseball as a lesson in class and civility.
I think that posts where one user “goes after” another one’s comment should remain where they were-in the thread- not having one of them featured.You should either feature both posts or neither of them, IMO..
Francona has class. Maddon interrupted David Ross’ on air, after game interview to give him a hug.
I’m not following-are you saying that you have a problem with Maddon hugging Ross during his interview?
The right classy thing in that situation is to pour beer on his head 😉
Well said, Brother. Excellent take.
Just heard Krukow on KNBR. He was skewering Maddon’s managing–the overuse of Chapman, having Baez bunt in the ninth, etc. It was kind of surprising given that Maddon just won a title hours ago. But Krukow sounded borderline angry. It was interesting.
It was not a good game for Maddon. Krukow is right. I could go on and on about yanking Hendricks and the stupid bunt call with two strikes to Baez…
Mr. L was practically throwing things across the room with that bunt.
Sometimes a team wins in spite of, not because of the manager…. BTW Bryant’s base-running and the Cubs overall on the bases, were difference-makers last night. It was all electric and very smartly aggressive.
…and well coached at 3B.
meanwhile, schmoltz called it. i thought he was nuts when he said it, and 5 seconds later, baez tried it. a head scratcher for sure..
Yanking hendricks was motivated purely by maddon being aware of the general perception that francona was outmanaging so he had to match him yank for yank. It made no sense as a move to win the game.
Maybe because Maddon had three of the top starting pitchers in the league and the most dominant closer, and almost over managed his way to losing the series. Could have even blown his “smartest guy in the room” rep, but I doubt it. I mean the Indians did have Cory Kluber, and well, Cory Kluber, who had to start 3 games.
Kluber did not HAVE to start 3 games.
So the Cubs didn’t have a huge advantage in regards to pitching? OK.
Maybe you can help me out here, I’m old and forgetful- where did I say that the Cubs didn’t have a better pitching staff?
Sorry, I assumed you insinuated that by only referencing my observation that Kluber started 3 games, which i assume must have been their best option.
Chapman the most dominant closer? Were you looking at any of the postseason games? He blew a 3 run lead last night, he blew a 2 run lead against the giants, he would have blown another lead if the wing hadn’t blown down posey’s double…
My mistake. The most dominant “one inning closer” is what I meant. I didn’t say he was perfect. Who is the most dominant?
most dominant this year would have to be zach britton, from baltimore..
OK, but I did say in the league, so? Either way, he has to be ONE of the most dominant, no? I mean the Cubs gave up a s load to rent him, and he will most certainly get a huge contract. At any rate, without taking it literally, just trying to make my main point.
It was only a double because Posey was exhausted.
Krukow certainly has a different approach when it comes to talking about other teams.
LOL–indeed
Additionally, do you think something may have happened between Krukow and that organization? I know he has problems working Wrigley games because of his physical issues, but he seems to be awfully negative about the Cubs overall…more so than he is about other teams (which is saying a lot). He started his career there…and yet usually has nothing good to say about them
I missed Krukow, Smoltz didn’t even tell us how many pitches were ideal per inning.
And no umpire scouting reports, no pitcher profiles featuring the phrase “low to mid-90s fastball,” and not once did Smoltz say “in the squaaaaaaat.”
Not that I’m aware of, but you never know. I know Jeremy Affeldt is pretty candid now about what an awful time he had in KC (his first team) and how ecstatic he and his wife were when he was traded to the Rockies. (You have to REALLY hate where you are if you’re a pitcher and you’re happy about being traded to Colorado!)
I suppose if you don’t feel you were treated right as a prospect or young player, you might harbor a grudge. It’s not hard to imagine.
Jose Offermann (“29 E’s in Offermann”) once said K.C. was “baseball hell” in the 90’s – due to the stinginess of the Glass trust that ran the franchise into the ground.
But Affeldt also related a story about their GM (?) sitting him down and telling him he needed to be traded and ‘get his s**t together’ somewhere else, which J.A. said was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was on the verge of quitting baseball.
Kruk said he would go to the Parade so whatever it is he is not above celebrating their good fortune.
Cubs fans were venting on maddon a lot during the series.
Imagine if they’d lost. Move over, Bartman and Murphy’s Goat.
IMO, Maddon made a mistake(s) , and his ballplayers bailed him out. He’s a lucky guy to have all that talent. If this series illustrates one thing, for either team, is the limits of a pitchers arm. No matter how you cut it, except for a very few like Bumgarner, they can’t will themselves to play beyond their physical limits. I didn’t see last night, who got MVP?
zo
My Cubs friend thought Maddon lost the series in Game 6. I think he overthinks things at times.
Pretty spot on there. LeBron or no LeBron, I was pulling for Cleveland if only for Francona. He is a class act.
That last inning looked familiar – that lineup is like a steamroller.
I maintain that, since the Cubs went on to win it all, if that had not also happened to los Gigantes, they would’ve otherwise been dancing on the field last night. Makes perfect sense. Of course.
I would have pitched to Rizzo.
Walking Rizzo to get to Zobrist…..no..
Intentional walks with one out are just stupid except in extremelly circumstances. The intentional walk to posey in the 6th inning of game 4 of the 2014 world series being another case in point.
Got this text from my work buddy at 3:48am his time from Chicago https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6ac0521a290bdf9ab9ce1bcfe1524217fe71483e6eafb7a62db09cf725df9907.jpg
Those pigs wouldn’t even give the woman a stogie? ;o)
It’s Mark’s wife, and she thinks cigars are disgusting
Chisté, Mateo, joke – no offense meant to your buds.
On to the Dubs : My prediction – in an effort to show Durant how much he cares about him, Draymond will do something incredibly stupid tonight, get T’ed up, and likely tossed. Because nothing says “I love you” to a teammate like kicking some opponent in the nuts
My prediction: KD goes for 50 tonight.
And Warriors win by 25.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/can-the-warriors-break-basketball-again/
Alex Pavlovic 11hr ago:
Kluber + Miller this postseason: 53 2/3 innings.
Lester + Chapman: 51 1/3 innings.
Bumgarner in 2014: 52 2/3 innings.
Yeah. I posted this earlier.
It’s still amazing.
Absolutely! It shows what a stud Madbum is! It’s worth posting every day and every hour. It was one of the greatest, most memorable and astounding performances in sports ever!
If I’m remembering correctly, Tom Verducci said something like: “We’ll probably never see this again in our lifetimes” when Bumgarner was awarded SI Sportsman of the Year. I thought maybe Kluber or Miller had a chance to do something similar to Bumgarner this year. I never thought Lester or Chapman could do what Bumgarner did. But then all four pitchers fell apart in Game 7. This makes me appreciate what Jeremy Affeldt and Madison Bumgarner did all the more.
They simply threw away the recipe when they made Bumgarner. To this day, I can’t fathom how he pulled that off in KC.
I can’t either. He was so calm.
I personally would be surprised if Bumgarner never does anything remotely similar. The guy is just awesome in the postseason.
I’ll take next hour! We’ll reiterate this amazing stat for 52 2/3 hours straight
Glory days, well they’ll pass you by…
It’s best to view your history in ways that can teach you how to guide your future
Me
2016
So Bochy tried to burn out MadBum but Bum wasn’t going for it?
Something like that. Bumgarner was not coming out of that game. I doubt this surprised Bruce Bochy.
What I was getting at is that seems that Bochy’s decision was right because it worked out. What if it hadn’t worked out?
What if? I can’t go there, Mike. Luckily, I don’t have to.
Actually Bumgarner never pitched on less than 4 days’ rest before game 7.
That is not relevant to the issue.
Holy crap.
MadBum is the only pitcher that Bochy hasn’t tried replacing with a bullpen arm.
He let cueto go a long way too
Maybe someone pointed it out before, but it wouldn’t a terrible idea to give some props to Chapman.He went back and shut the Indians down after blowing the save the previous inning. That half inning was huge, You know who looked tired- the Indians.As far as all the talk about his overuse,it makes little sense that he would be tired out *immediately*.
Now Chef … You cannot be saying nice things about Chapman the Criminal, the Closer that Cost us the Championship and the Cub. Stop it!
Maybe we sort of understand why it didn’t work out for him as a starter for the Reds too.
Dave Cameron has an article about that today. He conclusion was that Chapman was terrible in the 9th but the Indians just blew it. I was thinking the same thing at the time: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-inning-the-cubs-stole/
Why don’t you just tell me your thoughts , not Dave’s?
Where was Ryan Merritt in the World Series? Why two starts by Trevor Bauer?
The logical reason would have been the cubs problems with curves. I’m not sure that was the real reason
When exactly can the Giants start making moves for FAs in the offseason?
Well, Scout started them in May, but Evans starts today
I think we all started about when pitchers and catchers reported
106 days ’til pitchers and catchers report?
Hi Paul, these two go out for you. See you next spring. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7ae26b0db81d8c67bc58a91d3e80852c4c3b2be511e19b6dae5d95bc2c5d5512.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b99831d774222b408dedafb4ef762845bf4c0e38c4f3b8a647e273569bbd387e.jpg
I will miss your photos and Latin and erudition, Alvise.
Hasta pronto! paulito
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/10030b2d60ac2b400e747738e60f0a5bfab91997ad1e6e460918e60baab5ece0.jpg
(the late great Spats Evans)
you butter believe it. Eyes peeled wide shut for the next Zorilla.
Right away, sort of. Can sign their own guys and outright guys like they just did with poor Tony Sanchez.
+5 days til full blown FA starts.
Thanks Ryan.
Francisco Lindor was my favorite player in the World Series.
Mee too!
The nominations for the most pathetic swings of the series are in so let’s give it up for…….
Mike Napoli!!!!
Pat “Burrellesque”
When I saw Napoli was up first in the 9th, I thought: Well, there’s one out.
He looked like he was swinging at a low and outside wiffle ball..
Great pick, dgg. You’ve got a good eye 🙂
I wonder if he will play for Puerto Rico in the WBC.
That’s a good question. Did you see the retweet on Alex’s timeline of Lindor congratulating Javier Baez’s mom after the game? Francisco seems like an all-round good guy as well as being a terrific baseball player.
Amen. I’m a big Kipnis fan too. And we didn’t even get to see Michael Brantley who is top rung stuff.
The Indians will be back. They may be the ones winning 103 games next year with whispers of juggernaut surrounding them. Depends on healthof Salazar who looked good and Carrasco who has ??’s.
And they seem to have many HomeGrown guys: Naquil, Kipnis, Rameriz, etc.
That scores high on my ClubHouseFactor™.
Indeed they’ve built up the farm – which is still a very strong system. There are some impact names coming up as well, or available in trade (Francisco Mejia one of them who almost was exchanged for Jonathan Lucroy). Losing can pay future dividends with good scouting before draft day.
In retrospect, Salazar and Carrasco not being available probably doomed the Indians. I wonder if Ryan Merritt could make a difference for them next year?
It seemed highly improbable they’d make it to G 7 of WS given the toll their rotation took. Hats off to Cory Kluber – he was a Clydesdale.
Merritt can be a helpful back of rotation option it seems. Mike Clevinger, the guy with the Lincecum haircut is their top pitching prospect and he has great stuff and would fill in first opening. He just needs to learn to harness what he has – as it seems Merritt already has (like a Ty Blach).
His talent is so impressive – not a big guy, but has power and a strong arm. Obviously fast too.
Some might say that Lucius Fox was the only Giants farmhand with that kind of upside. But alas, he went with Duffy and Santos to Tampa. We’ll see if he makes strides this year.
It’s interesting to watch baseball when you don’t really care. I think it’s unlike any other sport when you’re a fan of one of the teams. I never get really stressed watching football or basketball, even when I have a rooting interest. Was I upset when the Dubs lost? Sure. But I didn’t have the near heart attack/fainting agony like watching MadBum and Game 7 vs. the Royals.
All of that is to say, I can’t imagine what Cubs and Indians fans went through last night. But my mind and heart sure enjoyed not having to!
The very same thoughts crossed my mind last night. Gracias a Dios.
One has two options when having been the manager of two teams who blew it big time, Be a humble and gracious loser, or do a swan dive from a *really* tall building. The biggest mistake when trying to kill oneself in the jump mode is to not, you know, kind of not die..
Jon Heyman 27min ago:
in the easiest call of them all, matt moore $7M option is being picked up #SFGiants
Alex Pavlovic 7min ago:
Giants announced that they picked up Moore’s option and outrighted Tony Sanchez off the 40-man roster. Here goes the offseason …
Almost had a heart attack. I should never try reading backwards.
See, the hot stove is warming up!
I like it. I like the fact that the Giants had a taste of being a 4 time champion (taken away by their sloppy bullpen), and want to ensure they can roll with the Dodgers and Cubs in the playoffs. They’re not waiting for it.
Get ‘eeem, Bob Evans!
Too bad about Tony, I think Bochy overworked him.
Amidst all of the Zobristmania, I would like to point out that he batted cleanup or 5th all year for the 3rd highest scoring team in the majors and managed to drive in all of 76 runs. That’s 14 more than Joe Panik, who missed a month of the season.
How dare he have a good series!
I was responding to people who said we should have gotten this guy.
We could have both.
Great post. Zobrist and Bryant were badly mis-placed in the Cubs lineup. Zobrist is not an rbi man. Again, Maddon over-thought his lineup and they succeeded in spite of it, not because of it. They also feasted on terrible NL Central pitching for most of their games.
The problem is that Bryant has been a terrible clutch hitter, with the 4th worse Clutch rating in the majors: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=12,a
No, the problem is that we lost to a bunch of overrated, showboating douche bags, so we be hatin’ it.
Now it’s time to get over it.
It was a dark and stormy night game…
Some experts lament their insight that the Warriors are trying to ‘beak’ basketball. Be afraid, be very afraid.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/can-the-warriors-break-basketball-again/
Okay, so the Giants should have gotten an elite closer because to succeed in the postseason you have to have an elite closer. After all, in the regular season, Casilla blew 9 saves along with his 31 saves. They should have gotten someone like Aroldis Chapman, who…blew 3 saves in the postseason along with his 4 saves. Over the course of a full season, that projects to 29 blown saves and 38 saves. And the Cubs paid a steep price for that.
Yes, that’s what the Giants needed.
What’s your point.
He’s not over it yet.
Is this a new wall, or an old wall, we’re talking to?
That all this talk about ‘you can’t win the World Series without an elite closer’ is wrong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8obrc0eA6gk
FA Update (Source mlb trade rumors)
Looks like the Giants RV will be sitting outside of Melancon’s house longer.
Nov. 8: Free agents become eligible to sign with any team.
November 8th? Good. Something to distract us.
Yep. I think the earlier date I posted from Seattle newspaper was taking into account the whole qualifying offers…without adding that in their piece. The 11/8 date is the one I wanted all along.
I think the way it works is there’s a 5 day period where teams can exclusively negotiate with their free agents to be, which includes QO and options related stuff. After that 5 days it’s go time!
That seems to align with the 11/8 date. I was initially pissed (think it started at 9:00am today, like Seattle paper said), because I wanted closer role to be a done deal 🙂
I hear ya 🙂
Would it help if we sent some bloggers too? Maybe Scout who seems to be Fan #1?
Hi Mark, I brought you a BLT, Kettle Chips, and some lemonade. Enjoy!
I don’t empathize with Chicago fans and how they made Steve Bartman a scapegoat after their team’s collapse in the 2003 NLCS. Can you tell I was rooting for CLE all the way?
I wrote before the series that I didn’t understand pitching Bauer in game 2 and Tomlin in game 3 and I still don’t. It might have cost Cleveland the series. Francona just didn’t take the problem of pitching on 3 days’ rest seriously. I agree with Kluber he didn’t have a choice but he could have done it differently with Tomlin. Tomlin was clearly more reliable than Bauer. f he had pitched game 2, they could have sent Merritt out in game 5 and then pitched Tomlin in game 6 on 4 days rest. It might have made a big difference.
I remember your post. I worried at the time it was prescient.
It just seemed obvious.
That was odd indeed.
A fascinating postseason with the best managers in baseball all struggling with their pitching. I’m curious if the new Zach Britton rule will be seen new season.
No one can balance a pitching staff and bullpen ( a good one, at least) in the playoffs like Bochy though.
It’s funny most managers have been going with 4 pitchers for this exact reason, including Bochy in 2014 where his starting pitching was horrible (outside of MadBum).
I’m sure Terry felt Merritt was a bad match up to face Chicago…worse than Bauer. That’s what he gets paid to decide. Chicago had far, far superior and much deeper starting pitching, and Francona milked what he could. I’m not sure we can say some other combination of starters in games 5,6, and 7 would have gotten different results
How could Merritt have been worse than Bauer? We’ll never know.
The point isn’t that Merritt might have been better than Bauer. The point is that Tomlin would have been better on 4 days’ rest than on 3 days’ rest.
John, you KNOW Terry considered it, but he disagrees with your point, and he makes the decisions. Tomlin’s pitch count in Game 3 was low, and I don’t know how affected he was by the short rest, nor do you.
Well let’s look at Tomlin’s postseason stats:
Days’ rest IP H ER
Oct. 10 7 5 4 2
Oct. 15 4 5.2 3 1
Oct. 28 12 4.2 2 0
Nov. 1 3 2.1 6 6
Looks suspicious to me.
The Cubs bats woke up. Not everything is basic stats
Interesting coincidence. The Cubs’ bats woke up exactly when the Indians’ pitchers started pitching on 3 days’ rest.
I like Alex Rodriguez as a baseball analyst. He’s thoughtful, prepared, and knowledgeable, with interesting things to say.
I only saw him last night. Impressive!
He’s pretty good. I really like Pete Rose though everyone else dumps on him all the time. He is so crotchety and old-school. He is a reminder of the 70s heyday of baseball when it was a more intense game.
So Zobrist has now won back-to-back WS titles with 2 different teams and is the reigning WS MVP.
What might have been with the Giants…
Giants didn’t need him and he would have many no difference for them this season. The Giants bullpen cost them a shot at another title, very simple.
He did hit the crucial double that set up the comeback for the Cubs in NLDS game 4
Zobrist would have been HUGE for the Giants. Switch hitter who plays Left or Right – or 2nd or 3rd in a pinch.
Nah … we could have never used him …
We have 2nd and 3rd doubly covered. We need shortstop and center. That’s why Desmond is better.
SS? Say What??
Not sure what the say what? is about but I’ll guess it’s because we have Crawford. The problem is that Crawford regularly gets burned out and much less effective in the summer. This was a big reason for the second-half collapse last year and it’s happened consistently in his career. He needs a lot more breaks. None of the other likely roster infielders (Tomlinson, Gillaspie, Panik, Nunez) can really be trusted to play SS and it’s a nuisance to have to keep someone like Adrianza on the roster just to back up Crawford. Desmond solves that problem.
I think Tomlinson could back up SS just fine, and in fact, Panik probably could, too. But my little pipe dream for Desmond is that they sign him, he plays primarily LF and backs up CF in 2017, and then he takes over 3B after Nunez’s deal is up. Having played SS, he could probably learn 3B, given time.
That’s fine too but he’s got a lot more of a track record as a major league SS than Tomlinson or Panik.
Desmond – this past year and the year before – was NOT better than any form of Zobrist.
+++ Desmond has been trashed here by several for lacking everything from panache to that “want to spirit” – or for seemingly being too lackadaisical.
Desmond fits the Giants’ needs much better.
As I recall, Zobrist wanted to play 2B everyday. In fact, the Cubs traded Starlin Castro to the Yankees so they could make a good-faith play for Zobrist, saying they had a spot for him. The Giants have Panik, who was coming off an All-Star season. If Zobrist had preferred playing LF, that would have worked out. The ironic thing is that now Baez is the 2B and Zobrist is the LF, but oh, well. He signed on the dotted line already.
He was MY number one guy to go get last Off season.
He didn’t want to come here, so…
It was funny (for lack of a better word) how he didn’t sign with the Giants because he didn’t want to play the OF…and that’s exactly where he ended up on the Cubs.
Do you think there were other reasons besides?
Might’ve been, but the Giants wanted him for the OF and it was written he didn’t want to be there.
Maddon.
How so?
He was with Maddon in Tampa Bay
Of course. I somehow always manage to forget that Joe Maddon was in Tampa Bay.
What’s maybe even more interesting is that Beane had Zobrist and Russell. And the Shark is one of the reasons he doesn’t have Russell anymore.
I always chuckle about that Shark/Russell irony.
If he had been with the Giants he wouldn’t have butchered Pagan’s line drive in Game 1 of the NLDS and we wouldn’t be talking about whether the series would have been different if Posey had scored.
He seemed committed to joining the Cubs WS mission and not the SF Mission district.
Sorry Tony Sanchez … we hardly knew you. We knew Freddy much better.
Freddy went M.I.A. after 2012. Where’d he go?
He is still embossed in the dugout. Mike Murphy was seen talking to Freddy, then others turned around and he was not there …
Chillin’ with the family in his Scottsdale mansion…he earned it
No sheet. “MIA” with a permanently busted wing.
I understand, the Royals Centerfielder, Lorenzo Cain, enters FA this year.
Woo woo. Make it so.
He was pretty impressive in 2014.
Per Baseball Reference he’s actually signed through 2017. But he’d certainly look good in a Giant’s uni.
Rumor mill info. I wonder if he’s obtainable?
I read that KC could certainly look to trade off some of their players as they have a lot of pending free agents in the next year or two (we’ve already heard some Wade Davis rumors) like Moustakas also, and certainly cannot retain most of them if any. But I’d guess the price for the Giant’s would be too high.
Hosmer’s deal is up soon as well and he’s a Boras client. KC will have some tough decisions to make.
Nope, but possible that the Royals would be willing to listen on trade.
So how much does a package of Cain and Davis go for?
Andrew Baggarly 37min ago:
The Giants are legitimately intrigued by Greg Holland and will have representatives at his showcase in the next few days.
“From 2011-14, Greg Holland had 113 saves, an ERA of 1.86 and averaged 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings. His 93 saves were the most in the AL from 2013-14 as he helped the Royals to the AL title in 2014.”
Agent: Scott Boras
No. No. No. What are they, stupid? The guy is severely damaged goods.
The Giants cannot count on Mark Melancon joining the team. They will try their best, but they may not succeed. Besides, I think they’re going to need more than Melancon.
Holland will be a relative bargain, just like Cueto and Smarge were.
TJ recovery aint’ like it used to be. Giants have a few damaged goods pitchers that have done quite well since.
And they also have quite a few damaged goods pitchers who they’ve insisted on keeping on their active roster and using in important roles because they had invested in them even though they were completely ineffective.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Holland…assuming they sign him…is considered bullpen depth; not complete closer solution.