Official MLB Playoff Thread

[nando714]

The Cubs are the Cubs. the dodgers are the better team...right now and that's all that matters. Cubs lose tonight series over with Kershaw going tomorrow 

[fan_since79]

Weather will be very warm and dry tonight and tomorrow, so home runs will not be a problem.

Cubs' hitters like Rizzo and some others need to start hitting.

 

 

[Troll Daddy]

Fun fact

Russell Rizzo Heyward

5-69 Ouch!

Putting that into perspective ... the Cubs pitchers have 3 hits.

[WeatherWonk]

8 hours ago, arch stanton said:

The Cubs are not necessarily a home run offense. They led the league in walks and OBP. They were 6th in HR. They struggled in these last 2 games because two very good pitchers forced them to hit their way around the bases and they didn't do it. If Urias is able to throw quality strikes in game 4 they'll probably struggle again.

I definitely put last nights loss on the Cubs offense. Hill didnt look good at all , the first three innings. The Cubs missed a lot of fat pitches to hit;  curves and his 89-90 mph fastball. Hill's pitch count was way up. It wasnt a great start for Hill, IMO, contrary to what all the scribes are saying. The Cubs just didnt hit.

Today is must win for the Cubs. Roberts MAY go with Kershaw in game five IF the Dodgers win today. No bueno, for the Cubs.

[CaliAngel]

1 minute ago, WeatherWonk said:

Roberts MAY go with Kershaw in game five IF the Dodgers win today. No bueno, for the Cubs.

I wouldn't. Kershaw always chokes in high pressure postseason games. 

[Stradling]

Kershaw literally just shut out the Cubs in what I would call a high pressure playoff game.  

[Blarg]

32 minutes ago, CaliAngel said:

I wouldn't. Kershaw always chokes in high pressure postseason games. 

The Nationals agree. 

[Angel Oracle]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

Cubs are really struggling at the plate. Complete lack of confidence. Maybe they'll turn it around.

Dodgers getting good pitching and defense.

Plenty of games left. It's been fun to watch so far.

 

Sounds like the 2014 Halos.

[Angel Oracle]

Arrieta has taken Kershaw's spot in mediocre October pitching.

When was his most recent solid October start?

Is he just one of those guys who doesn't handle October pressure well?   Or will he eventually figure it out like Kershaw seemingly has?

[meat]

12 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Arrieta has taken Kershaw's spot in mediocre October pitching.

When was his most recent solid October start?

Is he just one of those guys who doesn't handle October pressure well?   Or will he eventually figure it out like Kershaw seemingly has?

I don't think Arrieta should be compared in any way to Kershaw.  Arrieta had 1 great season.  Kershaw is the best of his generation.

[Angel Oracle]

True about the regular season, but consider that Arrieta's 2015-2016 regular season ERA is around 2.30 and his post-season ERA in that same time is over 4.00.

Actually, Kershaw has been up and down throughout his post-season career with brilliant games and clunker games.  Even in this post-season, he struggled against the Nats although getting the two outs that clinched the NLDS.

[Troll Daddy]

Bloody well right

 

[Angel Oracle]

Guess it wasn't meant to be another bloody sock type success story.   It's seemingly tougher to throw pitches with a messed up finger, than with a bloody ankle.

[WeatherWonk]

Look for drone clauses in future contracts.

[WeatherWonk]

I didnt think Arrieta pitched that badly last night. The defining blow was the Grandal HR AND THAT WAS A PITCHER'S PITCH. 

He just hit it. It happens. Sometimes hitters perform on good pitchers pitches (the Dodgers) and sometimes they don't on bad pitchers pitches (the Cubs).

[Richard]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Arrieta has taken Kershaw's spot in mediocre October pitching.

 

I still give that title to David Price. That dude has a 2-8 record with a 5.54 era and got a 217 million dollar deal.

[Angel Oracle]

Price has been pretty post-season bad, and is still owed close to $200 million.

How's that working out for you, Red Sux?

Feel free to assume that a big money contract for a pitcher is a giant risk.

[Angel Oracle]

Are the Cubs just going through one of those hitting slumps, like the 2014 Halos went through?

At least they have won 4 games so far, 4 more than the 2014 Halos.

[Angelsfirst]

Actually this series is giving me flashbacks of the 05' ALCS, well aside from the whole Eddings debacle. Angels took game 1 and everything seemed to be going as planned. Sox ended up taking game 2 and the Angels offense just shut down from that point on. I Just hope the Cubs snap out of it very soon. 

[Ohtaniland]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Are the Cubs just going through one of those hitting slumps, like the 2014 Halos went through?

At least they have won 4 games so far, 4 more than the 2014 Halos.

The Cubs closed the 2016 season 7-3 Maddon foot on the gas.

The Angels closed the 2014 season 3-7 Scioscia foot off the gas. 

[Stradling]

Yea that's what the problem was.  Has nothing to do with talent on both sides of the game. 

[fan_since79]

Rick Monday was saying it looked to him like the Dodgers had a pitching strategy to handcuff the powerful Cubs hitters, and they kept to it consistently. Pitch them hard inside, then keep them off balance with a variety of off-speed stuff, especially on the outside corners.

Imagine that...a pitching strategy.

[Angel Oracle]

Pitching was not that big of a problem for the Halos during the 25-19 run to close the season.

But can Nolasco maintain his strong pitching into 2017?   Can GRich pitch all season?   Can Shoe overcome the line drive hit back at him, and pitch solidly?  Can Skaggs stay healthy?  Can the Halos sign someone like Nova?  Can Meyer become a decent enough starter?

Or was the 25-19 run similar to one that closed the 1976 season, that led to bigger expectations and big disappointment in 1977 as pitchers like Gary Ross and Paul Hartzell slumped badly after solid 1976 seasons for each of them?

Lots of questions, and lots of peanuts to acquire to work from, for additional depth

[Angelsfirst]

Nap again!! 1-0 Tribe

[fan_since79]

Just now, Angelsfirst said:

Nap again!! 1-0 Tribe

But CERA!