Walk-off Pirates against the Nats!
Cubs clinch home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs!
Cubs clinch home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs!
Chicago Cubs 2016 Season
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Alright!!!
If anyone had any question about Hammel being on the playoff roster...
Think that's been answered.
Think that's been answered.
He gave up 4 runs before getting his 2nd out in the 1st inning. Honestly, that sort of a performance could cost us even if he was simply coming in for one inning.
He must really be gassed.
Co-sign, which stinks, because I really like Jason Hammel the person.
You're correct. I was going off the game tracker and read it backwards. Regardless, the point is still true. He gave up 4 in his first inning of work. If we carry him into the playoffs as a reliever, he may only get one inning and we can't risk giving up big innings in October.
He also had 2 outs in the 2nd inning when Piscotty hit his tape measure HR. Lost focus with 2 outs yesterday. I personally don't see him making the playoff roster. They have Wood, Montgomery and Cahill who can do the role he would likely fill.
Not Cubs but in MLB related news...
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident in Miami early this morning: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17632541/miami-marlins-ace-jose-fernandez-dies-boating-accident
He was 24 years old. Today's Braves-Marlins game has been cancelled.
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident in Miami early this morning: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17632541/miami-marlins-ace-jose-fernandez-dies-boating-accident
He was 24 years old. Today's Braves-Marlins game has been cancelled.
Oh my God!!! That is horrible!
"The David Ross Game."
Go ahead HR, multiple standing ovations, two curtain calls, and Maddon gives him one last regular season moment at Wrigley, pulling him in the 7th.
What an emotional day.
I love this team.
Go ahead HR, multiple standing ovations, two curtain calls, and Maddon gives him one last regular season moment at Wrigley, pulling him in the 7th.
What an emotional day.
I love this team.
Unless you're in your 80s, this is the most regular season wins you've ever seen the Cubs get.
Kyle Hendricks just finished his 6th shutout inning in an 11-0 drubbing of the Pirates. He just dropped his MLB leading ERA below 2.00, and he walked off the mound with his shoulders slouched, head down, and a frown on his face. The dude's the baseball version of Eeyore.
I really wish he'd completed that no hitter just so I could have seen him try to mope off the mound while his teammates mobbed him.
I really wish he'd completed that no hitter just so I could have seen him try to mope off the mound while his teammates mobbed him.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Oh, man, could it be? The Cubs to 100 wins? If they get over that it will be something only a select handful on the planet will have ever seen before in their lifetime.
100 wins and Hendricks lowers his ERA to 1.99!
ChiCityHoops34
- DeKalb IL
If we are so lucky to finally get there, Red Sox scare the hell out of me.
But why? No team should scare the hell out of the Cubs, the Cubs should scare the hell out of other teams.
Of all the AL teams in the playoff race, Boston matches up best with the Cubs. They are quite the balanced team with both offense and pitching, with their pitching being a bit less intimidating. That said, outside of Kimbrel in the 9th, the bullpen doesn't do much for me. Cleveland is losing players left and right to injury and I am just not buying the Rangers (predicting a first round exit).
In other potential playoff matchups of note, the Nationals lost the very productive Wilson Ramos last night to a knee injury (MRI today), Bryce Harper injured his thumb the other night (x-rays negative), and Daniel Murphy might be shut down for the remainder of the regular season (should be ready for the NLDS).
I personally think the Dodgers are the biggest threat to the Cubs.
Their pitching staff is finally healthy. They have a very good to great 1-2-3 in Kershaw, Hill and Maeda, with a number of credible candidates for #4 in Urias, Wood and McCarthy, among others. Their bullpen isn't very deep, but the back end is excellent and Kenley Jansen is the best closer nobody ever seems to talk about.
They have no holes in their line up if Puig is playing well, with power at every position. They struggle a bunch against left handers though, and the Cubs happen to have two of the best left handers in the game in Lester and Chapman.
Of the other NL contenders, with all their injuries, the Mets and Nats might struggle to field credible lineups and are very thin in the starting rotation.
In the AL, I don't trust the Red Sox's pitching. Price, Porcello and Wright are a great 1-2-3, but they are really thin behind them. Kimbrell is fantastic, but they don't have a great path to get to him if their starter doesn't go 7. Abad has been awful since coming over from the Twins. The Sox can, of course, score runs with anybody and don't seem to have any weaknesses at the plate.
I don't see the Orioles or Blue Jays having enough pitching in the face of some of these AL offenses. The Indians have been devastated by injuries and are barely limping to the end.
I like Texas more than most. They improved themselves incredibly at the trade deadline. Their lineup is rock solid, especially if Choo is healthy come the playoffs. Hamels and Darvish are an excellent 1-2 punch and their largely anonymous bullpen is underrated. Of course their starting pitching staff behind the top two is garbage. I like them in a 5 game series against pretty much anyone, but they'd need Hamels and Darvish to be amazing for four starts in a 7.
Their pitching staff is finally healthy. They have a very good to great 1-2-3 in Kershaw, Hill and Maeda, with a number of credible candidates for #4 in Urias, Wood and McCarthy, among others. Their bullpen isn't very deep, but the back end is excellent and Kenley Jansen is the best closer nobody ever seems to talk about.
They have no holes in their line up if Puig is playing well, with power at every position. They struggle a bunch against left handers though, and the Cubs happen to have two of the best left handers in the game in Lester and Chapman.
Of the other NL contenders, with all their injuries, the Mets and Nats might struggle to field credible lineups and are very thin in the starting rotation.
In the AL, I don't trust the Red Sox's pitching. Price, Porcello and Wright are a great 1-2-3, but they are really thin behind them. Kimbrell is fantastic, but they don't have a great path to get to him if their starter doesn't go 7. Abad has been awful since coming over from the Twins. The Sox can, of course, score runs with anybody and don't seem to have any weaknesses at the plate.
I don't see the Orioles or Blue Jays having enough pitching in the face of some of these AL offenses. The Indians have been devastated by injuries and are barely limping to the end.
I like Texas more than most. They improved themselves incredibly at the trade deadline. Their lineup is rock solid, especially if Choo is healthy come the playoffs. Hamels and Darvish are an excellent 1-2 punch and their largely anonymous bullpen is underrated. Of course their starting pitching staff behind the top two is garbage. I like them in a 5 game series against pretty much anyone, but they'd need Hamels and Darvish to be amazing for four starts in a 7.
101.
Epstein, Hoyer and McLeod all re-up with 5-year contract extensions.
I still think one of Hoyer or McLeod walk to a promotion before next season, but at least the Cubs are going to make whatever team that comes headhunting pay a bunch for it.
I still think one of Hoyer or McLeod walk to a promotion before next season, but at least the Cubs are going to make whatever team that comes headhunting pay a bunch for it.
For whatever reason, the Pirates have hit him hard all season. Arrieta has a 4.93 ERA against the Pirates and a 2.66 ERA against everybody else.
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