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MLB playoff open thread

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Illinois

* Offered with reluctance.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:29 am

Comments

Magic Number is 8!

Comment by unclesam Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:31 am
Cards had a great season just to many injuries. Reluctantly Go Cubs Go

Comment by anon123 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:31 am
I am married to a Cards fan, thus am matrimonially obligated not to gloat about the Cubs’ series victory.

Comment by thunderspirit Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:34 am
My two favorite signs Cub fans were holding up last night in the top of the ninth: “Not Afraid of Any Goat” and “Forget Next Year, This Is Our Year”.

Not that I’m a bitter Cardinal fan or anything, but I would point out to my Cubbie friends two things.

One: you do realize you still have to win eight more games to win the WS?

Two: Karma, might want to rethink your signs and spitting in the face of goats and black cats given you history in the playoffs.

Other than that, best of luck and remember, as you well know, anyone can have an “off century”.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:36 am
YEAH CUBS!! They are having an amazing year. These young rookies are helping take this team by such force! I am also grateful for (some) Cardinal fans to be so great about the game last night.

Comment by Vanessa Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:36 am
Hell is freezing over.

Comment by Stones Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:37 am
It was a great two-fee: not only did my Cubs finally win a playoff series at home, the Cardinals also lost.

Hard to beat that. Go Cubs!

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:37 am
It’s good to see Jim Belushi out and still alive.

Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:37 am
Two-fer. Stupid auto correct.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:38 am
Meh. Can’t win every year. Cards limped into the post-season and no one should be shocked they couldn’t advance with their ace good for a couple of innings out of the bullpen and their No. 2 pitcher not even on the roster. They’ll be back. Time for football and basketball season!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:38 am
Thunderspirit- I am also married to a Cards fan. I had to quietly exit the room to celebrate, also quietly, with my face stuck in a pillow to scream my happiness, haha.

Comment by Vanessa Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:39 am
Nice Lackey meltdown yesterday.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:40 am
One of the most goosebump-inducing calls I’ve ever heard:

“If you feel like you can’t sit still, you are not alone. I wish all of you could be right here at this moment. Unbelievable atmosphere! And the 0-2. Swiiing and a miss! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!”
–Pat Hughes

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:40 am
It’s great for the city. I’m a dyed in the wool White Sox fan. The Cub fans are as loyal as they come. It isn’t too much to ask for a little bit of sunshine to fall on them every century or so.
Go Cubs.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:40 am
MLP?

Comment by Ubecha Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:41 am
It’s hard to not be excited but I think it is part mental self-preservation to hold my emotions in check. They’ve let us down before so I’m keeping a cool head. I hope I’m wrong but boy oh boy, I’m just waiting for a goat or something to run out onto the field and bleat in Kris Bryant’s face while in the batter’s box… Cautiously optimistic *rubs head, and throws salt over shoulders* Go Cubs!!

Comment by The Muse Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:41 am
Boom Shaka Laka!!!

Comment by Eddy Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:43 am
While i can accept that the Cardinals had injuries to deal with, i think Cardinals fans need to acknowledge that the Cubs are an incredible team. We’ve finally done what the Cardinals organization has been doing for years…we built a world class team with depth and talent! As long as the Cubs maintain this new found commitment to recruiting and developing talent, and as long as we have managers like Joe Madden who get the most out of his team, the Cubs will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Go Cubs!!!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:45 am
It will be good for the Chicago economy (bars and restaurants and their employees will do well) and Rahm Emanuel can avoid reporters asking questions about Barbara Byrd Bennett and the Chicago Board of Education while attending games.

The Cubs have not served up a more important series of defeats to the Cardinals since 1945 and 1946. In the first year, the Cubs edged the Cardinals for the pennant. The following year saw the Cardinals win it all, but the Cubs beat St. Louis on the final day of the regular season to force St. Louis to play a “real” best of three tie-breaker playoff series with the Dodgers.

With expansion, MLB is in a different universe. Playoffs are required and it is like a the College World Series tournament. The best regular season record does not mean that a team advances to the World Series any longer. For example, several Cubs teams would have won pennants (1984, 1989, 2008) under the old rules, but wound up being eliminated in the playoffs.

The Cardinals played some terrific baseball, but the Cubs went on a roll at the season’s end and carried it into the playoffs.

Comment by After Further Review Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:45 am
It was a great series. The Cubs broke some team records. Big runs and plays on both sides. I’m still in shock it ended the way it did. I remain cautiously optimistic. Cubs fans are humble -learned the hard way.

Comment by Politix Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:45 am
Go Cubs, now on to the next one! One game at a time!! Don’t get ahead of yourself!!!!

Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:49 am
The Cubs have had a great year. But, I don’t agree with all of the opinions that the Cubs “deserve” to win the World Series this year. As William Munny said in Unforgiven, “Deserve’s got nothing to do with it.” 100+ years of hardly any success does not equate to deserving anything. They’ll deserve a World Championship after they’ve won 11 playoff games. Period.

Comment by Moby Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:50 am
A reminder of this classic by The Cleaning Ladies

http://www.cleaningladys.com/mp3s/Cubs.mp3

Also, imagine all the things people have been told when the Cubs win the World Series..

I’ll get you a puppy when the Cub’s when the world series…

A variations about the old joke about Neil Armstrong and the neighbor.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:51 am
Man, what a day in sports yesterday! Did you see that? It was totally, totally awesome! We will never forget this day … ever! I mean, seriously, watching Connor McDavid score his first ever NHL goal! Awesome! First of many, by the way. Go Oilers Go!

Now, can we please call up Darnell Nurse from Bakersfield? Pretty please?

Comment by Roamin' Numeral Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:52 am
Doesnt mean the same result will occur this year necessarily but didnt the Red Sox have to beat the Yankees on the road to breaking their curse?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:53 am
Theo Epstein for governor. In four years the state will have a budget surplus.

Comment by up2now Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:58 am
I’m a Sox fan, but man I love good baseball. Cubs got it. And they’ll have it for the next 5,6,7,8 years. And I think fulfilling the Back to the Future prophecy would be pretty cool too….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:58 am
As far as I’m concerned, *that* was the 2015 World Series. I would love for the Cubs to win the actual World Series. But they just beat the best team in baseball. Seasons measure baseball teams - this regular season, the Cardinals were the best. If my math is correct, the Cubs and Cards each have 101 wins. They played 24 times, regular and post-season. Each team won 12 times. But the Cubs won the only game that matters - number 24! ONWARD!

Comment by Urbs In Horto Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:00 am
As a lifelong Cards fan since my earliest memories of 1964, I must say the Cubs just played great baseball and have a victory that they won from fundamental play. Best luck for the rest of the playoffs.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:01 am
Chicago Cubs. Shaking up Major League Baseball. That long term rebuilding strategy sure paid off. There were a lot of doubters when they embarked on that strategy, including me. And now they are going all the way!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:02 am
The Cubs may benefit from winning the NLDS in four games as their starting pitchers can rest up while LA and NY continue their series on Thursday. There is definitely a “Spahn and Sain” quality to the Cubs pitching rotation. Having both Arrieta and Lester available for multiple games should be a big help.

Comment by After Further Review Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:03 am
I’m happy, but the Cubs still have to win the World Series to exercise the demon. Getting into the Series will be a huge step to begin with.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:06 am
The Cubs look good. And they’ll get to play either the Dodgers or Mets after a full series. If it’s the Dodgers, both Kershaw and Greinke will have pitched within the last few days. I’m still skeptical of Kershaw in big games. He reminds me of Peyton Manning before Manning got the monkey off his back in 2006. He needs to win at least one game in the NLCS (if the Dodgers even make it) to quiet his critics.

I’m fascinated by both ALDS series. Those games have been anything but predictable, and it’s incredible how easily the Rangers have gotten to David Price.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:07 am
My request is that Illinoisans please be fans of Illinois teams–unless they live right next to St. Louis. If you live in central Illinois, for example, please stop following the Cardinals and start following one or both of the Chicago teams.

That concludes my request. Thank you.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:10 am
Kids. You tell them to wait their turn, do they listen?

I mean, how rude. The Cubs pitcher stroking a first-pitch, two-out RBI single against John Wayne. Where’s the respect — pitchers arent supposed to swing at the first pitch with two outs!

All to set up a three-run bomb by the No. 9 hitter, a 22-year-old September call up who wasn’t even supposed to play yesterday.

After the Cards had been so nice, striking out 15 times yesterday and 13 times on Monday. And their manager leaving their best power hitter in the lead-off spot. And Cruz grooving 0-2 beach balls to Rizzo. And Cards pitchers letting every Cub position player but the catcher and pitcher hit at least one tater in three games.

Youth today, taking advantage of that poor old crippled Cards team that won 100 games and whose pitching staff led MLB with a 2.94 team ERA in the regular season.

These Cubs kids, they just don’t understand the Cards are entitled to that LCS spot. They’re too young and dumb to know they’re cursed.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:12 am
I heard that if the Cubs go to the World Series, William Howard Taft’s corpse will throw out the first ball, just like he did the last time they won.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:12 am
It looked like the Cards, Cubs and Sox would all do well during training camp. Unfortunately the Sox didn’t keep the bargain. Next year I won’t get excited until they hit at least thirty wins.

Comment by 1 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:14 am
It’s nice to see the MLB system working. Three seasons of at or near 100 losses will get you a bunch of draft picks. One of the largest values of any team will allow you to buy a lot of talent to supplement it, even if you pay Edwin Jackson $13 million to sit on his duff.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:15 am
I hope Patti Blago throws out the first pitch at Game 3.

Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:17 am
Kinda rooting for a Met’s/Cubs championship series. Might as well exorcise that 1969 demon while we are at it.

Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:18 am
Sigh.

Comment by Old Shepherd Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:18 am
@Grandson of Man: Cubs fans hate on the Cardinals every time they are in the post season, and we are magically supposed to become Cubs fans?

We can tip our hats and salute the better team, but forget us suddenly becoming fans.

Comment by Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:19 am
It’s been great to see so many true Sox and Cards fans wishing the Cubs well. Hopefully the rest will at least not be haters for a few weeks. It’s been a long century. Go Cubs!

Comment by Cubs Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:22 am
Anon - the best part is that E-Jack comes off the books after this season.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:24 am
The best three teams in MLB were all from the NL Central Division this year. The Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates posted records that would have placed any of the teams in first in any other division of either league. Just saying….

Comment by After Further Review Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:25 am
I’ve been a Cards fan for 40+ years. Seems Cub fans HATE the Cards, but Cards fans do not hate the Cubs. For rest of this year only I am now a Cubs fan!

Comment by Union Man Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:27 am
As a Cards fan, I can handle the Cubs winning every 100 years or so…but it would be ideal if they met the Mets! He! He! He!

Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:29 am
Grandson

Sorry partner. I always hated that argument that you have to root for the team in your state. Of course I am a Pack fan with many good memories of watching Farve/Rodgers.

That said the Cubs played good ball and deserved their win. Matheny blew game 2 when he put a sick Garcia on the mound and the Cubs capitalized on it. Good luck with Mets/Dodgers going to be rough road games either way. It’ll be nice having a competitive division.

Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:29 am
Two Words- Cubs WIN!

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:32 am
Union Man - with all due respect, most Cards fans I know despise the Cubs and their fans. They were saving face on Facebook last night, but privately they certainly are not as kind.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:32 am
I’m a Sox fan, but this is fun. The Chicago teams are such historic black holes, when either one strong it’s a great underdog story. Cub history is about being spared last place by the existence of the Philles and Pirates. Sox history is only marginally less bad. Hell, even the Phillies, Pirates, and Reds had their great runs and the Cubs had what? The Dusty Baker years as a peak? The Sox golden age was the 50s/60s pre-playoff years finishing 2nd and 3rd all the time plus a couple flare-ups in the 90s and 00s. On top of that, the Blue Jays are a ton of fun to watch, as are the Royals, the Dodgers’ 2 aces, and the Cubs’ brothers in tanking to win, the Astros. Baseball seasons are such a grind, but the players and teams are more enjoyable than ever.

Comment by In 630 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:39 am
Was listening to KMOX earlier this morning. A comment was made about the movie Back to the Future ( I think #2 )and there was a reference to the Cubs winning the World Series in 2015. Do not remember that being in either movie, but then it has been a long time since I watched either.

Could this have been prophetic?

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:49 am
Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:10 am

NEVER gonna happen. First, transplants from the St. Louis area live all over Illinois. Doesn’t mean they have to ditch the team they grew up rooting for. That’s some nonsense I might expect from none other than a Cubs fan. I suppose Boston fans that move to New York are supposed to become Yankees fans? Whatever.

In my experience, Cards fans celebrate their team when they win. They don’t troll Cubs fans pages insulting them, as I’ve seen numerous times this year. A lot more Cards fans would root for the Cubs (including me) if Cubs fans showed some class. I’ve given up on that as a possibility.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:50 am
VM, William Howard Taft’s corpse still outweighs most of us.

It takes more than talent; it takes a bit of luck, also. Starting from the unexpected availability of Joe Maddon, to the early blooming of Kyle Schwarber, to the demotion, shift to 2nd base then the revival of Starlin Castro., this team hit all their numbers. Congratulation and keep on winning!

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:51 am
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:32 am:

Union Man - with all due respect, most Cards fans I know despise the Cubs and their fans. They were saving face on Facebook last night, but privately they certainly are not as kind.

So, even when Cards fans congratulate Cubs fans, they can’t accept it. Typical.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:52 am
It is in one of “Back to the Future” movie when Marty arrives in the future. There is a Times Square type of sign flashing brief news headlines and there is a Cubs reference.

Comment by After Further Review Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:52 am
Anon 10:50-

You cannot be serious. If you go onto any social media page you can find hundreds of Cubs-Hate groups. There was even someone saying last night that if a Cubs fan said anything to him, that he would bash in their faces. They are mentioning how all Cubs fans are bandwagon because of the wins and simply being distasteful about it all.

Cubs fans are simply celebrating a legendary win. Let them celebrate.

Comment by No Hate Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:56 am
If they do go all the way, they might want to take a couple of years off of Rod’s sentence since he would have missed it.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:56 am
The way Maddon burns through pitchers scares the **** out of me. Yesterday, two innings to play and two pitchers left…Strop & Rondon. Rondon has been steady of late but actually lost the closer role earlier in the season. And Strop is always a wild card. I am slowly coming around to trusting Maddon’s decisions but I haven’t completely weaned myself off the Xanax.

Comment by Cubs in '15 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:59 am
I have been a Cards fan since I was about 10 years old and saw Stan Musial hit a bottom of the ninth game-winning homer. But, living in central IL, I have had a lot of friends who have been Cubs fans and could not be one of those “anti-Cubs” people. Now that my Cards are out of it, the Cubs sure as heck better break the century plus dry spell on the World Series.

BTW - my father was a Cubs fan and one of the reasons was that he could not stand Harry Caray. He passed long before Harry left St. Louis.

Comment by Bird Dog Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:01 am
If you really think Cubs have a dynasty for next 5 to 8 years pull out your wallet. The cards change 3 to 4 position players every year and 3 to 4 pitchers and still make the play offs. Not everyone on the Cubs is under a rookie contract. Enjoy it while you can, but don’t be pompous

Comment by pool boy Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:05 am
Cub fan for life and I said I’d never let them fool me again. But here I am believing that this young group can beat anyone. They don’t give up and fight every inning. It is so fun to watch a team that cannot be distracted by anything and have so much fun playing.

Comment by Dudeman Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:07 am
It must be said that it is, after all, a new century. That said, true fans of baseball “per se”, no matter their allegiance, must admire the northsider’s accomplishment. A Cardinal fan since the days of Sportsmen’s Park, I am pulling for the Cubs in the remaining playoffs.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:13 am
One game at a time…they sure look like World Champions to me!

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:16 am
- No Hate - Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 10:56 am:

Anon 10:50-

You cannot be serious. If you go onto any social media page you can find hundreds of Cubs-Hate groups. There was even someone saying last night that if a Cubs fan said anything to him, that he would bash in their faces. They are mentioning how all Cubs fans are bandwagon because of the wins and simply being distasteful about it all.

Cubs fans are simply celebrating a legendary win. Let them celebrate.

I’m totally fine with them celebrating. That’s not what I’m talking about. I hear about these hate websites, but I have to say as a lifelong Cards fan, I’ve never seen one. Of course, as I said, I celebrate my team and their success when it happens. I don’t care about other teams, so I don’t waste time with hating them. Ever. This year, I’ve had more anti-Cards stuff posted on my social media accounts than I’ve ever seen. I can’t speak to every one else’s experience, but that’s been mine.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:21 am
Re Cardinals fans hating on the Cubs: I believe that if your team has to lose, it’s better that they lose to the eventual champs than to the team that finishes third or fourth. So it would be in the best interest of Cards fans to root for the Cubs to go all the way. Not to mention that a rivalry between two really good teams is a heck of a lot more interesting than a one-sided rivalry.

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:27 am
I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, but the truth is that they beat an impaired Cardinals team. Injuries are a part of professional sports, but in the playoffs I’d like to see all the teams at (at least close) to full strength. That said, it’s not the best team over the course of the season that wins the playoffs, but the best team at playoff time. And right now, that’s the Cubs . . . though I hope the Mets beat the Dodgers, because I’m not really looking forward to facing Kershaw and Greinke four times in the NLCS.

Comment by jdcolombo Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:33 am
In spite of all the injuries and as hot as the Cubs are, if the Cardinals had a healthy Adam Wainwright and healthy Carlos Martinez, they would be the team celebrating last night.

Cubs were the better team against a decimated STL crew.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:58 am
Sox fan since 7 years old. Married to a Cub fan for 37 years, and have teased her mercilessly. But Epstein and Ricketts have rebuilt the team (including farm teams)the right way, Madden is the perfect manager for this team, and as long as they don’t read or watch the news for the next 3 weeks, the Cubs have as good a chance as any other team.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Ducky - sorry I missed your reference to Back to the Future when I brought it up. Sometimes I scan the comments fairly quickly and miss some things.

But, to the thread - no apologies for the Cards, their injuries, and maybe a few management decisions that could be second guessed by in Cardinal Nation. The best team in the series won and I commend the Cubs for a tremendous season and wish them well for the remainder of these Series. This will not be a walk in the park, but there is definite talent on the team and they have a manager that learned from one of the Cards greats, Whitey Herzog.

Without a doubt, the NL Central had the 3 best teams during the regular season and am hoping that the one remaining will make it all the way.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:10 pm
@ Grandson of Man 10:10am — A lot of kids in central Illinois go down to St. Louis to watch ball games. When I moved here, I noticed the baseball players in my classes followed the Cardinals. I asked why, and they told me, duh, the Cards are their home team. I’m a Cubs fan, but I’m happy when the Cardinals win — unless they’re playing the Cubs.

Comment by olddog Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm
Great battling series.

Still, even Epstein admitted a month ago the Cubs are at least a year ahead of themselves. He expected them to compete in the playoffs next year or the year after.

Sticking with this being the first time in a century that “next year is the Cubs’ year.”

Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:15 pm
Always wondered what Cub success would feel like. Not too awful. Would have preferred the route not to have gone through St. Louis, but here we are. Guessin any team that hits 10 home runs in 4 games probably wins three of four. And we bet it the team that pitches 10 home runs….loses.
Here we are. No real love for Mets or Dodgers so GO CUBS.
And now every owner in every sport can justify scoreboard in every square inch of a stadium — Go Fan Duel

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:20 pm
No time for celebrating. Too early. Got 8 more games to win. Then we’ll celebrate - IF we get there.

The Cubs are a year ahead of schedule in their re-build. This was supposed to happen in 2016.

I always remember what a certain wise person once said about elections: “When you lose, say little. When you win, say less”. Applies to baseball also.

Let’s remember one other thing. The Cubs minor league baseball system looks to still be a top 10 system (with all the graduations), and maybe a top 5 system. There’s a huge amount of up & coming talent still left in the Cubs minor league system.

We’ll see.

Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Arrieta’s awesome/suspicious season, seriously, look at his career and his size. Cubs hitting suspicious amount of home runs, I hope they’re doing it the right way, Theo’s pretty much shown he could care less about players past instances of misbehavior. Joe Maddon is great, but something doesn’t smell right. If I were the Cubs I’d be cheering for the mets.

Comment by Minnie Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Was in Wrigleyville, great time, but it is not over yet, 8 more wins to go.

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:42 pm
I grew up in Central Illinois–90 minutes from St. Louis, 4 hours from Chicago. It was a heckuva lot easier to see a Cards game and become a fan than a Cubs or Sox game.

Also, the St. Louis Post Dispatch had a good article about a month ago about Back to the Future writer Bob Gale being a St. Louis native. It’s worth reading: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/goold-st-louisan-sees-his-back-to-future-ii-cubs/article_cdd9634d-abc8-5cbd-a322-26f979b203be.html

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 12:49 pm
Steve Rogers - thanks for the PD link. I was driving while listening to KMOX this morning and heard this reference. Did not remember it myself, but many of those who comment on certain trivia on the MightyMox are seldom wrong.

Thanks to you and some other commenters here for confirming this interesting, and maybe prophetic, bit of history.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:10 pm
The biggest surprise of the series was Soler.

Eleven plate appearances, six walks, two taters, a double, a single and only one strikeout.

Six walks? When did this kid get Frank Thomas plate discipline?

Contrast with the regular season: 404 plate appearances, 121 strikeouts, 32 walks, 96 hits.

If this kid ever gets the strike zone down and learns to lay off breaking stuff in the dirt, he’s going to be a monster. His ceiling is higher than any of them.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:13 pm
If this World Series ends up with an asterisk, is anyone going to be surprised?

Comment by Minnie Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Congratulations to the world’s greatest Cubs fan, Mike Thomson.

Hope your team pulls it off.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:33 pm
Two good teams duked it out and one was a bit healthier and had a better four-game stretch. About anything can happen in a four-game sample.

For one, the Cubs bullpen held up better than I ever dreamed it would, in the clutch.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:40 pm
GO CUBBBSSSSSS GO

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:48 pm
anon 11:58, “…. a decimated STL crew.” Mostly by homeruns hit off their pitchers.
“..if the Cardinals had a healthy Adam Wainwright and healthy Carlos Martinez, they would be the team celebrating last night..” we’ll never know.

The harder Cardinal fans take this whippin’, the sweeter it is.

Comment by Nick Danger Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 1:56 pm
“First, transplants from the St. Louis area live all over Illinois”

It took a while to respond to this because I fainted.

I’m recovered now. People MOVED INTO Illinois from another state?? How can that be? Isn’t Illinois TERRIBLE and on the drain’s edge, ready to go down forever?

“Sorry partner. I always hated that argument that you have to root for the team in your state. Of course I am a Pack fan”

AAAAAGGH!! This is too much for one day!! My eyes, they’re burning!!!

It was a great game, the home runs and pitching changes. I ask Cardinals fans to briefly put aside their team loyalty and celebrate the Cubs’ great accomplishment–first home playoff series clincher since 1908, I heard?

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:02 pm
Wordslinger–I agree with your assessment of Soler. The kid is a physical specimen. He reminds me of Puig without the hyperactivity.

Comment by Cubs in '15 Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:04 pm
@Grandson of Man: Nope. Cubs fans do not, nor do I expect them to when the Cardinals are in the playoffs.

Your need for universal love and acceptance is a bit much.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:09 pm
“A variation about the old joke about Neil Armstrong and the neighbor.”

Actually, there is a baseball version of the “x will happen when man walks on the moon” story that concerns Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry hitting his first homer on July 20, 1969:

http://www.snopes.com/sports/baseball/perry.asp

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:17 pm
Thanks for the thread, Rich…I know it wasn’t easy.
A third-generation lifelong Cubs fan, I got several notes from baseball-loving Cardinal-fan friends last night (not the Chicagophobes) and it is greatly appreciated.
But we didn’t win anything more than a playoff series, so even though this team entered “bonus territory” two months ago there is still work to be done. But yes….sweet to beat the Cards at home.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:18 pm
I’m not surprised to see a few “excuse” posts by Cards fans, like “well we would have won if our crew wasn’t DECIMATED by injuries”….but it’s nice to see that that was not a frequent comment.

Some Cards fans just can’t handle the Cubs knocking them out. You can imagine what these Cards fans would be saying if the Cubs LOST and used injuries as as excuse: “Whatever, the Cubs just suck”, or “Injuries? Right! The Cubs choked!” Enough with the excuses, the Cubs just beat you this time around. Man up and take it.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:27 pm
Cards fan always. Cubs outplayed my Cards. Go Cubs Go

Comment by Slippin' Jimmyp Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Nick - please do not be a pompous arrogant incantation of a typical Cubs fan - The harder Cardinal fans take this whippin’, the sweeter it is.

Cardinal fans are extremely loyal to their team BUT also respect and appreciate great competition between worthy teams. Probably 90% of Cardinal Nation is supporting the Cubs to successfully complete a great season.

It is ignorant and insensitive comments like this that make me wonder if I should really be pulling for the Cubs. This was a great series, the better team won and I have congratulated them on their wins. This is the best rivalry in all of baseball - don’t take this discussion to the gutter. I am happy for your team and wish them well but don’t make me reconsider!

At least my friends who are Cubs fans are not as obnoxious as you !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Grandson

I’ve always said it’d be cool to watch the Cubs win a World series. Especially considering the # of Cubs fans who have been born and died since the last one.

As was said earlier it really isn’t much of a rivalry if one tean is a perpetual punching bag for the other. Kind of like how the Bears and Pack don’t have a real rivalry. So yea a good Cubs team will be a nice change.

As a side note all the way up in Peoria you get Cardinal baseball on tv that isn’t helping your cause.

Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 2:48 pm
I am reminded of a Steve Goodman song ( we were in college at the same time and I got to know him slightly ) about a Dying Cubs Fan Last Request and Go Cubs Go.

Some people have class, a few other commenters show very little. Just saying.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 3:02 pm
Nick Danger, if that is how you feel, I can’t help you get over being delusional. I suspect you don’t follow baseball closely.

Cubs were better when it counted and I applaud them for it. But to disregard all the injuries the Cards experienced tells me you just don’t get it.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 3:06 pm
I’m happy for the Cubs. The excitement this is causing, particularly on the north side of Chicago, is something to behold. And when you consider the following events have occurred since the Cubs last won, you can understand why:

1. The Titanic was built, set sail, sunk, and rediscovered.

2. Radio and TV were invented.

3. Eleven amendments were added to the Constitution.

4. Haley’s comet passed Earth (twice).

5. Prohibition was created and repealed.

Good luck, Cubs!

Comment by Curious Georgina Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 3:09 pm
=Some Cards fans just can’t handle the Cubs knocking them out. You can imagine what these Cards fans would be saying if the Cubs LOST and used injuries as as excuse: “Whatever, the Cubs just suck”, or “Injuries? Right! The Cubs choked!” Enough with the excuses, the Cubs just beat you this time around. Man up and take it.=

Amen.

=Nick Danger, if that is how you feel, I can’t help you get over being delusional. I suspect you don’t follow baseball closely.=

Another Cardinal fan convinced that they are the only fans that understand baseball. Nick Danger merely pointed out that “we’ll never know” the hypothetical result and to assume it would have been a guaranteed series win for St Louis if they had Martinez and Wainwright shows that the anonymous commenter that made this statement just doesn’t get baseball. Cubs had the hottest pitcher on the planet in Game 3 and he struggled, Kershaw and Greinke lost to the Mets at home. A healthy Martinez and Wainwright could easily have done the same. There are no guarantees in playoff baseball, and that is why it is so great.

Comment by Davos Seaworth Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 3:54 pm
i’m not a baseball fan. i’ve explained why in the past. but, while i lived in the south suburbs, i did go to quite a few white sox games. i also went to wrigley once (not against the sox). i like the sox games better.

having said that, i’ve been rooting for the cubs this post season, even watching the games. the fact that they’ve taken out the top two nl clubs this season says something. looking forward to the next series…

Comment by bored now Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Big Cards Fan here. Cubs played better, period. Injuries aren’t really an excuse because the Cards won 100 games without number 1 starter and without Molina, Adams, Holliday, Garcia, Grichuk, etc., etc. for long periods. The problem is when the Cards pitching fails to hold teams to less than 4-5 runs, the bats just can’t keep up. The Cards won many many games 2-1, 4-2, 2-0–they didn’t win many 12-10, 14-9….

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:02 pm
“Arrieta’s awesome/suspicious season, seriously, look at his career and his size. Cubs hitting suspicious amount of home runs, I hope they’re doing it the right way, Theo’s pretty much shown he could care less about players past instances of misbehavior. Joe Maddon is great, but something doesn’t smell right. If I were the Cubs I’d be cheering for the mets.”
————-

First off, if you know anything about Jake Arrieta you know that his workout routine is pretty much legendary. Man’s a workout monster.

Also, if you know your stuff (pretty obvious that you don’t), you would know that Baltimore is having second thoughts on their ‘cookie cutter’ approach to pitchers. Pitchers have different styles, but Baltimore has been intent in putting pitchers into a ‘cookie cutter’ mold and that was partially why he was made available to the Cubs in the Feldman trade.

Cubs have the “Wizard of Boz’ (Chris Bosio) as their pitching coach, and Arrieta gives a huge amount of credit to him for resurrecting his career.

If you are implying the Arrieta (or any other Cubs) are ‘juicing’, better be able to back it up.

Don’t think you can.

Don’t be a Hater.

Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:02 pm
Steve Rogers - well stated,and my sentiments completely.

Do you think either of us could have a drink with Nick Danger without getting into a fight?

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:11 pm
“People MOVED INTO Illinois from another state?? How can that be?”

The St. Louis AREA includes the Metro East. Those who grew up in the Metro East or Southern Illinois and later moved to OTHER parts of Illinois would naturally be Cardinals fans, particularly if (in the days before cable “superstations” and the internet) they were not within broadcast range of Chicago TV or radio stations carrying Cubs games. The Cards still have a substantial following throughout the lower Mississippi and Ohio valleys and down into Oklahoma mainly due to the broadcast range of KMOX.

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:14 pm
Curious Georgina, check out the wit and brain on you.

Youre the first one to realize its been a while since the Cubs won a pennant.

Ever been to Sportsmens Lounge?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:14 pm
=Arrieta’s awesome/suspicious season, seriously, look at his career and his size. Cubs hitting suspicious amount of home runs, I hope they’re doing it the right way, Theo’s pretty much shown he could care less about players past instances of misbehavior. Joe Maddon is great, but something doesn’t smell right. If I were the Cubs I’d be cheering for the mets.=

Darn, I missed this one. You’re not the only Cards fan that I’ve heard throwing baseless accusations about the Cubs using PEDs. PUH-LEASE. The amount of testing in today’s game with the repercussions is effectively eliminating the usuage of PEDs from the game. Schwarber and Bryant were the first hitters taken in the 13 and 14 draft for a reason. Soler is an absolute monster, and Rizzo might be the best left-handed hitter in MLB not named Bryce Harper. Cubs nation will sleep easy knowing these guys are doing it the right way, the “Cubs way” if you will.

Given your logic coupled with the unusually quick recovery of his injury, perhaps Wainwright using PEDs as well?

Comment by Davos Seaworth Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:23 pm
Someone check the sunflower seeds those Cardinals are eating. /SNARK

C’mon dude.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:26 pm
No, Wordslinger, I am obviously not the first one to realize it, nor did I just realize it recently. I was reading an article earlier that mentioned some of the stuff that has happened in the last 107 years, and it was just an interesting and amusing read to me.

You are obviously intelligent and provide great insight on a lot of posts on this blog, but your increasing tendency to be an arrogant and insulting jerk to people you don’t even know has tended taken the bloom off your rose.

And, no, I have not been to Sportsmen’s Lounge.

Comment by Curious Georgina Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:33 pm
I just want the Cubs to keep winning … still a pretty good hill to climb but it got a bit easier yesterday.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 4:57 pm
== Ever been to Sportsmens Lounge? ==

-Word-, I know it wasn’t addressed to me, but I think I had my first “drink” in there about age 4 or 5.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 5:18 pm
I’ve enjoyed reading all these comments.

Baseball is my passion to follow. I love all kinds of sports, baseball is as good as it gets for me.

House money for the Cubs, and felt better hearing pundits like Mike Wilbon also comparing, as a fan experience, the Cubs-Cards and Bulls-Pistons and how bearing the Cards is important for the fan psyche.

The Jays have me worried, as the Dodgers did last night.

Cubs don’t know any better right now, and Vegas has them as the favorites. Today.

These next 4 games, at least, for the Cubs, just so fun. I feel less anxiety, and more just excited joy.

These comments today were so fun. I enjoyed it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 5:27 pm
What did Lackey put on the ball?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 5:39 pm
– And no, I have not been Sportsmen’s Lounge,– ?

Soooo… what’s your beef here, anyway?

RNUG is having drinks at 5!?

RNUG Catholic, or something? We Lutherans don’t roll that young, but we pick up at the pace, and then don’t stop.

A little help here from someone who hasn’t been in the hood a while?

Sportsmens, blue collar Cubs/Cards place behind Willard? Goofy roofing?

Old Man played spoons and served catfish?

Ronan/Vinson hangout?

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 6:47 pm
Wordslinger - I have appreciated and have fairly frequently commented on your comments!

Don’t comprehend your comments @ 6:47. OK I do live downstate and there may me some nuances in your comments that I am not picking up - but you do not have to explain! Your comments on other threads have been far less obtuse ( at least to me ).

Comment by illini Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 7:10 pm
Sorry, but I’m being honest (unlike a lot of other Cards fans) - hope the Cubs lose to LA/Mets

Comment by Cards Fan Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 9:17 pm
-Word-

== RNUG Catholic, or something? ==

Raised that way …

== Sportsmens, blue collar Cubs/Cards place behind Willard? ==

Yep, corner of Mason and Rutledge. Grandpa lived in the neighborhood his entire life and lived there until shortly after WW II. Still get in there for dinner a few times a year.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:00 pm
” … and DAD lived there …”

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 14, 15 @ 11:02 pm
What did Lackey put on the ball? LOL

Lester offered some of that mysterious substance he had in his glove game 1 of the ‘13 World Series.

Lackey kindly declined.

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 7:21 am
need a miracle…in need of Cubs tix any game next week

Comment by Dozer Thursday, Oct 15, 15 @ 4:40 pm