This is key if lester is going to be used.Is Ross also going in?
Ross also seems to do a great job of keep Lester's shit together. I highly doubt that Contreras will have the same calming effect.This is key if lester is going to be used.
Ross is the reason teams haven't run wild on lester. If Maddon has to burn a catcher in order to use lester it raises the stakes in that move.
Hear you on the cockiness thing - seems like almost every game has featured a young Cubs player admiring what they think is a bomb into the 20th row, only to have to turn on the jets late to make it into 2nd base safe after the ball they hit caroms off the outfield wall instead - not a good look....That said, I have to pull for the Indians. I have really enjoyed watching them this post season, I love Francona and Napoli, and Crisp, too. Their bullpen is a ton of fun to watch, Kluber may be the most underrated Cy Young winner of this century, their young players don't seem as cocky as some of the Cubs young guys, etc.
That is interesting. In fact, all of the Cubs starters were significantly worse on the road than at home. This is probably why Wrigley is now considered a pitcher's park.Interesting splits for Hendricks this season--
H: 95.1 IP, 14 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, .201 avg
A: 94.2 IP, 31 ER, 11 HR, 30 BB, .213 avg
So he doesn't give up a ton of hits anywhere, but significantly more homers(actually XBH in general) and walks on the road.
I can't add too much more to this. This is most I've been interested in a non-Red Sox WS in a while. I think about Cub fans I knew back as a kid & some I know now and want them to have the same joy we got in 2004, but the evil part of me wants to see one more Cub nut-punch. The CLE players seem more likeable & the Cubs should have multiple opportunities to win in the future.I'm really excited for this game, and I hope it delivers. I'm kind of jealous of the fans of both teams, as I remember the days before Boston started winning everything an how important a game like this would have felt back then. I still get the pre-game jitters, and still get excited for big games...and I wouldn't trade the last 16 years of my sports fandom for almost anything else, it has been amazing...but you can only have a first time once, and one of these fan bases is going to have a feeling very similar to 2004 tonight.
That said, I have to pull for the Indians. I have really enjoyed watching them this post season, I love Francona and Napoli, and Crisp, too. Their bullpen is a ton of fun to watch, Kluber may be the most underrated Cy Young winner of this century, their young players don't seem as cocky as some of the Cubs young guys, etc.
Also, Chapman doesn't play for them. An Indians walkoff, in Game 7 of the World Series, off of Chapman would definitely vault very high in my list of "favorite non-Boston sports moments". I won't necessarily be sad if the Cubs win, but watching that POS close the series out would certainly temper my enthusiasm.
Agree 100%. I have an on-going debate with a few friends where I am constantly ripping Maddon, calling him a pretentious tool etc etc. Saying he makes it all about him as opposed to the players - basically the exact opposite vibe I get from Tito. That's how I view him...but I honestly cant quantify or really explain as to why I feel that way. I know it goes back to the Sox/Rays days...Whatever scenario brings as much pain and suffering to Maddon is what I am rooting for. Make it happen.
Why would small amounts of foul territory help them?That is interesting. In fact, all of the Cubs starters were significantly worse on the road than at home. This is probably why Wrigley is now considered a pitcher's park.
Player, home ERA, away ERA
Lester, 1.74, 3.17
Arrieta, 2.62, 3.59
Hendricks, 1.32, 2.95
Lackey, 2.62, 4.37
Hammel, 2.42, 5.33
Maybe it's because of the small amount of foul territory, and the fact that the outfield is not particularly spacious, that the defense makes a huge difference in home/away splits. Or maybe the wind was blowing in a lot.
No Manny?1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
3. Kris Bryant (R) 3B
4. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
5. Ben Zobrist (S) LF
6. Addison Russell (R) SS
7. Willson Contreras (R) C
8. Jason Heyward (L) RF
9. Javier Baez (R) 2B
1. Carlos Santana (S) DH
2. Jason Kipnis (L) 2B
3. Francisco Lindor (S) SS
4. Mike Napoli (R) 1B
5. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
6. Lonnie Chisenhall (L) RF
7. Rajai Davis (R) CF
8. Coco Crisp (S) LF
9. Roberto Perez (R) C
I don't think you can. I think he may be less obnoxious than he appears, and it's the media that created his Big Personality back when he was pulling whatever he could out of his hat to interest them in his little, small-market team. I've always felt that I hated Derek Jeter less for whatever he may actually be (who knows?) than for the media fawning on him. This may be another case of that.Agree 100%. I have an on-going debate with a few friends where I am constantly ripping Maddon, calling him a pretentious tool etc etc. Saying he makes it all about him as opposed to the players - basically the exact opposite vibe I get from Tito. That's how I view him...but I honestly cant quantify or really explain as to why I feel that way. I know it goes back to the Sox/Rays days...
If you were me, how would you help me strengthen my argument?
Agree 100%. I have an on-going debate with a few friends where I am constantly ripping Maddon, calling him a pretentious tool etc etc. Saying he makes it all about him as opposed to the players - basically the exact opposite vibe I get from Tito. That's how I view him...but I honestly cant quantify or really explain as to why I feel that way. I know it goes back to the Sox/Rays days...
If you were me, how would you help me strengthen my argument?
Valid points for sure - I do think the media's fawning of him is a HUGE part of it. That said, he annoys the crap out of me (for whatever reason)!I don't think you can. I think he may be less obnoxious than he appears, and it's the media that created his Big Personality back when he was pulling whatever he could out of his hat to interest them in his little, small-market team. I've always felt that I hated Derek Jeter less for whatever he may actually be (who knows?) than for the media fawning on him. This may be another case of that.
Punch them in the nuts.Agree 100%. I have an on-going debate with a few friends where I am constantly ripping Maddon, calling him a pretentious tool etc etc. Saying he makes it all about him as opposed to the players - basically the exact opposite vibe I get from Tito. That's how I view him...but I honestly cant quantify or really explain as to why I feel that way. I know it goes back to the Sox/Rays days...
If you were me, how would you help me strengthen my argument?
You're right. It wouldn't. I'm an idiot.Why would small amounts of foul territory help them?
Cubs fans hate La Russa. I tell them that Maddon is La Russa with less polish and a worse wardrobe. Smartest guy in the room. Invented baseball.Valid points for sure - I do think the media's fawning of him is a HUGE part of it. That said, he annoys the crap out of me (for whatever reason)!
Hoping Tito gets this one tonight.
Same.I got Hendricks going full on David Price. Gone by the 4th inning.
ARod would end up mashing Rose like potatoes. There is no way he could put up with that for too long.I would watch a Rodriguez/Rose reality show where they have to run a juice shop in San Francisco.
People like watching train wrecksI'm just not sure how Pete Rose got a job like this. He's a disaster.
The Trump Campaign, in a nutshell.People like watching train wrecks
The Indians outfield tonight isn't awful. Does that change the blowout prediction?The Indians OF is awful.
Early Cubs lead limits importance of Miller/Shaw/Allen.
Cubs blowout.
Hillary's is better? No politics!The Trump Campaign, in a nutshell.
Rocky IV quote, "What started out as a joke has turned into a disaster."Pretty much
Just found out my cousin was his 7th grade math teacher.Addison Russell, from Fla. was asked where as a kid he dreamed of playing game 7 WS and he said he grew up watching a lot of Red Sox and Yankees, but Cleveland was fine. Good kid.