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Question of the day

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* Instead of a question, this is a Major League Baseball post-season open thread.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:07 pm

Comments

Will Obama show up at a Cubs game? Great political cover for all the alderman and legislators.

Comment by Trumpy Poo Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Conor Gillaspie hit the game-winning 3 run-HR for the Giants in the Wild Card game.

Darwin Barney is starting for the Blue Jays today.

Rich Hill is starting Game 2 for the Dodgers.

Baseball is a funny, funny, sport.

Comment by Tweed Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:14 pm
Go Giants! Over/under on the number of arrests in Wrigleyville for Games 1 & 2 is at 23.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:15 pm
@Trumpy Poo - 1. He maintains his allegiance to the Sox. 2. His term ends in 3 months and he has no need to kiss up to aldermen. He will stay in Washington and watch on TV.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:15 pm
=Will Obama show up at a Cubs game?=

I really hope he does, and wears his Sox gear. Even being president doesn’t allow you to switch sides.

Comment by Howdy Doody Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:15 pm
Cards could beat them in 4 games

Comment by flea Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:16 pm
I wanted the Mets, the Cubs got the Giants.

Arrieta v. Bumgarner, Game 3… Scares me like… Whoa.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:16 pm
Cubs will loose the series to Giants. But who or what will they blame it on this time?

“Chicago always seems to blame all of their problems on animals. For that big fire, they blamed it on a cow. And for the Cubs not winning a World Series in over a hundred years they blame it on a goat. And then a cat in 69 in NY. (pause) By the way, they’ve got a great zoo here in Chicago..”
- Mike Shannon

Comment by Joe M Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:29 pm
I’d have preferred the Mets. After burning Thor in the play-in, not much left in the tank in that rotation.

Plus, what Cubs’ fan doesn’t want to beat the Mets?

Could Big Papi be the first player to win the MVP the year he retires? He’s in the hunt.

Getting wayyyyyyyy ahead of things, but Cubs/Red Sox series would be one for the ages.

But let’s beat Cueto, first.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:30 pm
Bogey Golfer - Wasn’t saying he was sucking up to them. Just saying that if he’s there no one will care about the alderman/legislators

Comment by Trumpy Poo Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:33 pm
He’s also already in town

Comment by Trumpy Poo Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:34 pm
Joe M, who did Mike Shannon blame for the Cards choking down the stretch? Injuries or umpires?

Couldn’t be umpires this year. Not with that walk-off gift they gave Yadi.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:34 pm
Rick Porcello was pretty bad yesterday - but not nearly as bad as Cole Hamels.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:45 pm
What Word said. I wanted the Mets just to un-do last year’s humiliation. Plus, the guy who killed us last year is with the Nats. If we see him again I hope we don’t pitch to him.

I don’t have tickets to this series unless my Alderman wants to make me really happy. But I was there in ‘89, so I’m not taking the Giants lightly. This time we have Posey and Pence, either of whom could go the full Will Clark on us. Plus a great pitching staff, so this should be a really good series.

Go Cubs!

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Good luck to all the campaigns trying to door knock while the Cubs are in the World Series

Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:46 pm
“Cubs will loose the series to Giants. But who or what will they blame it on this time?”

Because… Madigan!

I would love to see a Cubs/Nats matchup, however, I just like seeing Bryce Harper play ball

Comment by Clark Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:49 pm
@Joe M and Clark:

Do you know the difference between the verb “lose” and the adjective “loose” yet?

I am sorry, but as a former educator, this is one of my pet peeves in terms of misspelling.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:59 pm
===as a former educator, this is one of my pet peeves===

Bigly ditto.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:03 pm
I hope the Cubs stay “loose”.

Comment by TheGoodLieutenant Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:05 pm
@ 1:59

Same. But I was quoting and didn’t want to edit it so…

Comment by Clark Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:17 pm
One item that tires me is the constant media harping on the significance of the 1908 Cubs and the recent and present Cubs contenders.

This “apples and oranges” comparison seldom if ever acknowledges that the “finish line” has been moved several times since 1969 when divisional play began. With the addition of more expansion teams and the creation of wild card teams, the postseason has become a tournament. Under the old format, the Cubs teams in 1984, 1989, 2008, and 2016 would have advanced to the Series for having the best record.

To a lesser degree, it annoys me that the years when the Cubs won the NL pennant (’06, ‘10, ‘18, ‘29, ‘32, ‘35, ‘38, and ‘45, and postseason appearances in ‘84, ‘89, ‘98, ‘03, ‘07, ‘08, and ‘15 without advancing to the Series or winning the Series are devalued).

The present day regular seasons are not even the same with unbalanced schedules and inter-league games.

Useless trivia: the final game of the 1908 World Series, which was played at Detroit, had the lowest attendance (6,210) of any Series game ever played. Detroit residents were resigned to losing the game and stayed home — the Cubs went 8-1-1 against the Tigers in ‘07 and ‘08).

Comment by Jolly Cholly Grimm Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Scary time in our house. My husband is an Ohioan and lifelong Indians fan. A Cubs/Indians WS could be devastating.

Comment by Politix Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Man, those Giants. They’ve only eliminated their last 11 opponents in even-numbered years in the playoffs. 11. Amazing. Often in MacGyver-esque fashion.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Cholly Grimm–I could not agree more. The more you know about baseball history the more you realize that any comparisons to old time ball are absolutely silly. I will be watching with friends and would like the Cubs to win tonight just to release some of the built-up pressure from having clinched so early. After that— may the best team win.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:39 pm
The big question is, will David Price *finally* win a post-season game this afternoon? If not, the Red Sox are in deep doo-doo.

Comment by MSIX Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:41 pm
I love Joe Maddon. He is a lose cannon.

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:46 pm
SF has good starting pitching but their bullpen has been inconsistent at best and, at times, horrible. Cubs hitters will run up the pitch counts on Giants starters and get into that bullpen which is how the Cubs will come out on top. OW, Cubs will be up 2-0 by the time MadBum and Arrieta duel so that game is expendable. The one thing that concerns me is Rondon. I really hope Maddon doesn’t just pencil him in for the 8th inning with a small lead.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:00 pm
- Cubs in ‘16 -

Bumgarner has been “lights out” in the playoffs, an MVP even.

The Giants are sneaky-streaky.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:16 pm
===Bumgarner has been “lights out” in the playoffs, an MVP even.===

Certainly but he can only pitch every 4th day or so. I also would’ve preferred the Mets but if the Cubs are on top of their game I like their chances against anyone. Redemption against the Mets for last year would’ve been sweet but this series can be redemption for ‘89 and Will the Thrill’s untimely lip reading.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Still a life long Cardinals fan - and always will be! Not our year for the playoffs for many reasons, but that is a discussion for another time.

Will be watching and following as best I can and only hope to see some first rate games and series. Should be interesting!

Comment by illini Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:30 pm
As a White Sox fan I enjoy ribbing my Cubs fan friends.

however, since they made the playoffs, I wish them the best. I will hold my tongue until we see the outcome of the season and hope they enjoy the post season.

Comment by Todd Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:49 pm
=The big question is, will David Price *finally* win a post-season game this afternoon?=

I’ll answer my own question here and say “no.” He’s already given up 4 runs and isn’t out of the 2nd inning yet.

Comment by MSIX Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 4:28 pm
it’s football season! (American and World). the beloved won last weekend, Cutler is not starting again (yay, although, draft choice?) and world football is on an international break. Italy Spain level? now that’s some sports news!

Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 4:33 pm
I think they’ll get to the WS, though Sports Illustrated has tried to jinx them. Go Cubs!!!

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 4:43 pm