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posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:45 am

Comments

I like the new regime where the Cubs are expected to contend every year.

Comment by Dan Johnson Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:47 am
I’m really hoping Houston makes it to the WS. They will be the first franchise to make it the WS from both leagues.

Comment by G'Kar Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:47 am
One year down and 107 more to go.

Comment by Spliff Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:53 am
@spliff lol

Comment by chi girl Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:54 am
Better luck last year, Cubs.

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:58 am
I have never been as excited about a losing season with the White Sox as I was this past season. Watching Jose Abreu hit for the cycle and make it to the 25 HR/100 RBI standard for the 4th year in a row and putting him in the company of DiMaggio and more was exciting. For all the trades, they only lost 11 more games than last season. And the team spirit was astounding, to the end. Credit Rick Renteria and Abreu’s leadership as an incredible hard working example. Amazingly, Rick Rent the only Hispanic manager in baseball.

Plus, this is the 50th anniversary of one of the most exciting Sox seasons ever, where a pitcher had a no hitter, and the pennant race came down to the end, breaking my heart as they just, could, not, win a game. No one in the media seems to truly and constantly remember 1967 for the Sox like they do 1969 for the Cubs, but it was epic.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:58 am
I have friends who want the Cubs to fire the manager because they failed to get to the World Series.

That’s a great day for the Cubs. Cubs fans used to be thrilled just to make the playoffs.

Comment by Gooner Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:59 am
I’m happy that I’ll be able to read my Tribune in February without having to see the billionth promotion to buy a World Champion Chicago Cubs train set, or butter spreader or birdhouse, etc. etc.

Comment by Tommydanger Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 8:59 am
Thank you Cubs for a really fun season!

Comment by siriusly Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:00 am
Fly the L

Comment by Tom B. Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:00 am
butter spreader?? I want that

Comment by siriusly Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:01 am
Some big spots to fill for the Cubs this year, as well as the Cards. Cubs need 1-2 starters depending if Arrieta comes back and likely a new closer. They have plenty of money but that Heyward contract will become a bigger and bigger albatross every year as their young guys get to the point where they can get seriously paid. Moving Schwarber to the AL for a more reliable/capable outfielder makes sense.

As for the Cards they need a middle of the lineup bat like Stanton or JD Martinez, and a closer themselves. Young starters look promising.

As for the Sox, just keep playing.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:01 am
I don’t like the Cubs. Therefore I am happy they lost.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:03 am
First, perspective…

The Cubs in the NLCS for three consecutive years.

Any Cubs fan that remembers just 6-7 seasons ago would’ve taken just “that” as an end result when the club was losing 90+ games.

The Cubs won a World Series. It’s still just as true as when it just happened. Embrace the good.

The bad is the Cubs need some serious revamping of the rotation and the bullpen. Those walks, the pitchers looked tired and not too mentally sharp, overthrowing or throwing to location instead of just pitching and throwing strikes and being able to do it with multiple pitches.

The club looked tired, worn, mentally exhausted, and Bryant said he was tying too hard and grinding probably due in part to the number of extra games these past 3 seasons, it’s a hangover brought on due to success.

How can I complain? I have something as a fan I never thought I’d have. I have a Cub World Series and a team that was built for multiple runs, and with a few pieces that need replacing, can be in the hunt for the division next year.

Please trade Schwarber, please look at other pieces that make sense to part with to get pieces that fit.

Last, the Dodgers won.

Enough with “If the Cubs only” or “The Cubs blew this”

Nope.

Look at just the bullpen stats.

Not going to get all “stats-y”, but if you compare just the bullpen performances of the Cubs and Dodgers, you have to tip your cap and recognize that the overall reason the Cubs lost was that the Dodgers outplayed the Cubs, especially in the Dodgers bullpen vs. Cubs hitters and Cubs bullpen vs. Dodgers hitters.

The Cubs got outplayed not because they were all so bad, the Dodgers were just better. That happens in sports. One team is just better.

So, enough that the Cubs choked, the Cubs are awful, they blew it. The Dodgers were better. It happens.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:06 am
It has been, and always will be. Pitching.

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:08 am
As a Cubs fan, it was a fun season. Hated to see it end with that shellacking, but I was just happy to see them in October after the first half of this season. Can’t beat three playoff years in a row.

And yes, Maddon made mistakes, but I think he’s good for the team overall. The young guys need a laid-back manager like him.

Anyways, enough about the Cubs. Let’s go Astros! Whoop the Yankees & then the Dodgers!

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:10 am
I missed the end of the game. Did they play all 9 innings or did it get called because of the 10 run rule?

Comment by The Other Anonymous Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:11 am
The Cubs lost 101 games just 5 years ago. Since then they’ve won the division twice, made it to the NLCS 3 straight years, have had a CY Young winner, Manager of the Year Award, and MVP. Oh, an a World Series ring. No pity this year. Dodgers were just a better team. Stand behind your team when they lose 101 games and when they lose to a better team in the NLCS. Simple as that.

Comment by Sheeesh Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:12 am
Such is life. In the grand scheme of things, somebody is crying in their beer while someone else is spraying Champaign. There is always next year.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:14 am
Meh. Red Sox have been playing golf for a week or so. Dodgers-Yankess WS will make the TV execs happy.

Comment by MSIX Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:15 am
Cubs are on an amazing run right now, even with not making the WS this year. I’m a lifelong Cubs fan who remembers being excited when we’d have a winning record…making the playoffs?…that felt like a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience when I was a kid. We finally got the monkey off our backs last year and we’re in a great position to contend for years to come. I’m a little sad it ended, but nothing can take away my excitement from last season and from many games late in the season this year.

Comment by Scott Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:16 am
Oh…is it baseball still?

Comment by union thug gramma Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:17 am
Theres always last year…and next year as well

Comment by ughhh Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:19 am
Metra train with hundreds of Cubs fans post game evacuated due to engine fire. And….scene.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:19 am
Hats off to this Dodgers team. They’ve been knocking on the door the past several years and finally kicked it in. That’s a very good ball club, top to bottom.

Every team has scoring slumps during the course of a season. The playoffs were a bad time for the Cubs to have one.

They only scored more than three runs in one of nine playoff games, and most of those came in that goofy inning against
Scherzer in Game 5.

And except for a few quality starts and some heroics from Davis, the pitching stunk, especially the bullpen. Never seen so many walks issued by relievers.

Still, 26 other MLB teams and their fans wish they got as far fhe Cubs this year.

The Cubs have a solid young core of position players at low salaries that aren’t even eligible for arbitration yet. Hendrick, Quintana, and Lester are signed so they’ll need a couple of starters. The bullpen, who knows? The toughest job in baseball is assembling a group of failed starters who can maybe go an inning or two.

In Theo I trust. Like the Bowmans, he’s shown he knows how to build a perennial contender. The Sox are on the right path.

The Bears and Bulls are the ones who need our thoughts and prayers. Their management is absolutely lost.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:20 am
Washington, Cleveland and (possibly) Houston have more explaining to do than Cubs. It’s been a great ride and probably not over.

Comment by a drop in Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:20 am
S’all good. The Cubs are a team that has been built to compete for several years. Won’t always win, but will always be part of the conversation. Who’d have thunk?

Sox are working on a similar path. In a couple of years they will be “very interesting.”

Cards are just vile. I hope they rot in acid.

Comment by Lt Guv Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:20 am
It’s a weird feeling to be UPSET that the Cubs didn’t make it to the World Series… The future is still bright on the North Side.

Comment by The Muse Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:21 am
For me, when the Cubs won the World Series last year, they cleansed everything negative about them. All the bad stuff is gone. It would be horrendous if this was year 109 of not winning a World Series.

Watching them lose last night, while sad, did not have the heavy negativity of another blown year with no World Series win.

The Cubs have a promising future, with a clean slate. It’s all good. Wait til’ next year has a completely different meaning for me.

I look forward also to the White Sox building a winning team with promising young players. I want to see both teams thrive. Both teams got rid of heavy negativity with World Series wins.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:21 am
For White Sox fans, our long National League nightmare is over.

Actually I always liked Quintana, felt bad for him yesterday and still think he’s a solid starter. But wow does Eloy Jimenez look like a can’t miss prospect.

Dodgers are a beast of a team and the Cubs played them hard - regrets too few to mention. The Cubs deserve a lot of credit for their string. But that said, I wish the media would remind people more that they’re also a bit like the rich kid born on third base: their division is filled with nothing but the feeblest markets in baseball: the Cubs have near-Yankees like resources (they were already ranked the most profitable team in baseball before 2015 by Forbes). Is a single one of their competitors in the top 20 Metropolitan areas? It’s a big advantage.

Cheering for the Yankees because I like Girardi and Todd Frazier.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:23 am
The Cubs are going into hiiiiiiiiii-bernation.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:24 am
Thanks for letting me play at Wrigley last night. I had a great time!!

Comment by Keke Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:26 am
The Dodgers are a heck of a team. The Cubs had a great second half but it was obvious all year that this wasn’t the same team as last year. They missed Fowler more than they’d like to admit and finding a lead off hitter has to be a top priority for Theo.

They have a great core group of young players for the next few years. They should spend their dough on pitching, pitching and then go out and get more pitching. Starters, relievers, a closer, the whole nine yards. They start with Lester, Hendricks and Quintana for sure, and that’s the start of a decent rotation. But it won’t be enough and I don’t think they have any starters in the minors that are close to being ready.

If the Ricketts haven’t spent all of their cash turning Wrigleyville into Times Square, then let’s hope they open the wallet a little wider and let Theo keep them in contention.

It was a good year and we went farther than I expected. It’s a great time to be a Cubs fan. I can’t wait until next year.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:27 am
I had the feeling the Dodgers spent yesterday studying the Cubs pitchers.

Comment by Nick Name Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:31 am
The Cubs need to start over, rebuild. It is nice they have begun their losing streak again. One world series championship this century is enough.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:32 am
I’m still not over the Indians losing in the divisional round, ugh.

Comment by realkewlio Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:32 am
Wait, I think Kike Hernandez just hit another home run.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:33 am
The older, serious, true baseball and Cubs fans recognize that post season appearances are special and rare and that getting three in a row is amazing. Many of the newly acquired fans from last year’s circus do not have that perspective and are making fools of themselves.

I am a White Sox fan. I, too, am rooting for the Yankees primarily because of Frazier, Robertson and Kahnle–and their new star in the making Judge. But I think Astros are the better team and will eventually meet the Dodgers in the World Series.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:33 am
Anyone notice King Tony left the Diamondbacks front office?

Comment by don the legend Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:38 am
Everything you read about Quintana is that he is a quality guy so I feel bad for him. I think Maddon is overrated. Not that he’s awful–just overrated. Go White Sox!

Comment by Eire17 Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:38 am
My three year old daughter asked to where her Cardinals shirt today.

We live in Chicago. She’s trolling her wonderful preschool teachers, classmates, and parents.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:40 am
wear* I gave the grammar of a Cardinals fan.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:41 am
Just wait, 2124 will be here soon enough.

Comment by Swift Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:41 am
As a Sox fan, I am hopeful this offseason for a better future. Although I am a hater, I would be happy to have the Sox in the ALCS three years in a row.

Comment by James the Intolerant Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 9:51 am
“Well, the Cubs aren’t going to the World Series — so if you really think about it, the Cubs and Sox ended the year tied.” — MrsJM, White Sox fan.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:00 am
“Cubs fans used to be thrilled just to make the playoffs.”

Cubs fans used to be thrilled just to not finish in last place.

Comment by Gene Johns Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:01 am
===Cubs fans used to be thrilled just to not finish in last place. ===

When I was a kid, Cub fans were thrilled when they played .500 ball.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:03 am
The Cubs need to be seriously happy about the last three seasons, especially ‘16, obviously.

But the idea that they’re a decades-long dynasty rests on a more precarious perch. They need to revamp both their starting pitching and their bullpen, and they need to solve their outfield and middle-infield (which are interrelated problems; if Hayward and Zobrist aren’t plus hitters anymore, can you live with Baez and Russell being average?). And they have to figure out all of this as the core starts making big money (Rizzo gets an extra $4 million in 2019, as an illustration).

Epstein and Hoyer should be expected to figure this out as well as anyone could. But man, it’s a lot to figure out.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:03 am
I just overheard a coworker utter the phrase “wait till last year”

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:15 am
I miss Harry Carey calling the games.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:20 am
Yes the Cubs have made it to 3 straight final fours and won a WS

Yes the Cubs have a young talented roster.

But if you want to improve, you have to take a critical look at this team.

The main thing that jumped out at me? The lack of heart shown by the players. They were lucky to get past the Nats, and didn’t even show up against the Dodgers. Yah, those teams may have been better - but the Cubs didn’t show much fight. No hitting. Poor defense. Pathetic relief pitching. Questionable managerial decisions (2nd year in a row).

And the fact that tickets at wrigley were going below face value shows that the team wasn’t the only ones lacking heart.

But this organization has tons of cash, and Theo - so they should make the right adjustments. But the showings of Bryzzo in the playoffs was troubling.

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:29 am
The Cubs made it to the NLCS … which is more than you can say about a lot of teams this year. The Dodgers have been amazing all year and they really want it. The Cubs team wanted a repeat, but not as badly.

Next year will be a challenge for the Cubs with the free agents. While they have a core, they will need some pitching and a bit more hitting. Hope they can put it together for another run.

Since the Cubs and Red Sox are out, I’ll be rooting for the Dodgers. Predict they win it in 6 games.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 10:59 am
I’m surprised the Cubs didn’t make more moves.

They were only 10th in payroll (Dodgers 1st, Nationals 7th), and they really didn’t do that much to improve the team. The 2016 version of the pitching rotation had some great years and a lot of innings; it was no great surprise that the 2017 didn’t repeat.

Key Losses: Aroldis Chapman and Dexter Fowler.
Key Additions: Quintana, Wade Davis, Jon Jay.

Additionally, the Dodgers’ rotation had three lefties…and the Cubs lacked right handed bats. Given the Dodgers’ payroll, talent, and start to the season, it wasn’t tough to forecast that a return to the World Series would go through L.A.

The Cubs were not lacking in talent. But neither were the Dodgers or Nationals.

Did Ricketts, Epstein, and Hoyer become too content with their team? They’re of course better than any prior regime, but they too may be overrated.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:06 am
I hate the cubs.

There is very little hate in me, but the cubs are on that very short list.

I am not proud of it. I am seeing a team of counselors to try to get through my cub issues.

That said, as Willy noted they made the NLCS three consecutive seasons. That is pretty darn good. I am impressed, cubs fans should be ecstatic even through the disappointment of last night. Three incredible seasons. Kudos.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:11 am
“can you live with Baez and Russell being average?”

I’m pretty sure the words ‘Baez’ and ‘average’ have never ever been used in the same sentence before. Granted, he can’t hit the broad side of a barn. But he is phenomenal on the diamond.

Comment by L.A. Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:16 am
Funny it’s called the “World Series” and yet only two countries participate….just saying

Comment by Meh Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:34 am
“I miss Harry Carey calling the games.”

I miss Harry Carey calling White Sox games on Channel 44. Now that was fun.

Comment by Gene Johns Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:39 am
I see the White Sox making the playoffs next year. They may make it to the second level, but I’m trying to not be over optimistic…

Comment by Capitol View Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 11:47 am
Nice “Sheeesh” Cubs were screwed with the goofy start for game 4….why not play before the rain vs trying to out guess the weather. Rich things change as we grow up you get smarter and the Cubs get better.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 1:35 pm
As a Sox fan, I’m not ashamed to admit that I was rooting hard against the Cubs. With that said, I recognize that is a pretty good team and should be the favorite in the Central for a few more years.

I am curious to see what they do to try and reload their pitching staff. From what I understand, there is not a lot available on the free agent market, and the Cubs farm system isn’t as loaded as it used to be. Theo/Jed are the best in the business, so I’m not counting them out.

Comment by Sox Fan Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 1:48 pm
–“can you live with Baez and Russell being average?”–

Those two cats are hardly average.

Baez batted .273/23/75 last year. Russell was injury plagued, but in 2016 had 21 taters and drove in 95 runs.

They’re both exceptionally athletic, wide-ranging shortstops, with Baez having the stronger arm (among the strongest in the game). They can run the bases, too, when Crazy Uncle Joe lets them.

Both need more discipline about the strike zone, but Baez is 24, Russell is 23, and can learn. Both are on owner-friendly deals and not eligible for free agency until 2022.

The question is can you keep both when you go shopping for pitching. I doubt it. I’m guessing one of them will be playing shortstop for another team next year, and switch-hitting Happ will get most of the starts at second.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 2:20 pm
Wonder how many packs of smokes this cost Blago ?

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 3:27 pm
==The Cubs in the NLCS for three consecutive years.==

Statistically that’s rarer than winning the World Series. If it were random (all teams equal), they should win the World Series about every 30 years but go to the NLCS for three straight years only about every 480 years (result from a simple Monte Carlo simulation).

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 3:38 pm
–Statistically that’s rarer than winning the World Series.–

There were no playoffs to get to the Series until 1969 and no two-rounds to get there until 1994.

Sox had great teams in the 50s, but couldn’t get past the Yankees and Cleveland but once.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 3:46 pm
–Statistically that’s rarer than winning the World Series.–

The Cardinals very recently did it 4 straight years (2011-2014)

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Oct 20, 17 @ 3:59 pm