2015 NLCS Thread: Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Fun Fact: The last time the Cubs lost 3 in a row, they followed it up with a nine-game winning streak (the first two at home vs. Playoff teams), followed by three more in a row after the streak snapped.

So, a 4-1 start to next season as defending champs?

Another fun fact: the 2015 Cubs have NEVER lost when facing elimination.

[Quality Start Machine]

Fun Fact: The last time the Cubs lost 3 in a row, they followed it up with a nine-game winning streak (the first two at home vs. Playoff teams), followed by three more in a row after the streak snapped.

So, a 4-1 start to next season as defending champs?

Another fun fact: the 2015 Cubs have NEVER lost when facing elimination.

Another fun fact: The 2015 Cubs are undefeated in Game 4s.

[Tony]

Fun Fact: The last time the Cubs lost 3 in a row, they followed it up with a nine-game winning streak (the first two at home vs. Playoff teams), followed by three more in a row after the streak snapped.

So, a 4-1 start to next season as defending champs?

Another fun fact: the 2015 Cubs have NEVER lost when facing elimination.

Another fun fact: The 2015 Cubs are undefeated in Game 4s.

Another fun fact: The 2015 Cubs are undefeated in post-season games Hammel starts.

[Oleg]

I guess you could say that I'm grateful that I can still watch a Cubs game.

When the Hawks were in 2011 down 3-0 to Vancouver my brother askede if I wanted to go to Game 4.  I said, "Yeah, man. Let's go watch a hockey game". And sure enough the Hawks put forth a good effort and took a game.  Most of us know what happened next, and while PenFoe hates the cross-sports parallels, looked at from a team sports competitive perspective (and using the same elimination format) it can be all we have to hang our cat on as helpless fans to cope--particularly since this franchise itself has afforded us so few precedents themselves.

But yeah, there's a ballgame tonight and I'm looking forward to it.  I'd hate to see the Cubs get swept but even if they did, they have completely rinsed my mouth of the lingering bitter taste that was the result of the infuriating 2008 team which very nearly broke me.  This team has restored me.

You know what?  I'm on board with this.

The Mets have had some pretty lucky hits (Murphy's home runs seem a little fluky based on where the pitches were).  The Mets have strung together hits in Cardinals-like fashion.  The Cubs are not this bad.

One game at a time and I'm thankful for those games.

[thehawk]

Would it be bad to kind of hope they lose tonight so I don't have to deal with this bullshit another day?

Yeah, kinda.

Yes. I want them to win badly. I need to experience another win.

I would like to see them get a lead, and another win gives them more wins overall than the Cardinals.  Also want them to hear Wrigley rock at least one more time this season, they played so well they deserve that.

[CT III]

Would it be bad to kind of hope they lose tonight so I don't have to deal with this bullshit another day?

Yeah, kinda.

Yes. I want them to win badly. I need to experience another win.

I would like to see them get a lead, and another win gives them more wins overall than the Cardinals.  Also want them to hear Wrigley rock at least one more time this season, they played so well they deserve that.

I'd like to see 7 full innings from a starting pitcher.

And dingers. Lots and lots of dingers. With men on base and everything.

[Oleg]

Would it be bad to kind of hope they lose tonight so I don't have to deal with this bullshit another day?

Yeah, kinda.

Yes. I want them to win badly. I need to experience another win.

I would like to see them get a lead, and another win gives them more wins overall than the Cardinals.  Also want them to hear Wrigley rock at least one more time this season, they played so well they deserve that.

I'd like to see 7 full innings from a starting pitcher.

And dingers. Lots and lots of dingers. With men on base and everything.

Unless it's Arrieta or Lester, I think Maddon takes the whole 3rd-time-through-the-order thing pretty seriously.

But,. yeah...dingers would be nice.

[Tony]

Would it be bad to kind of hope they lose tonight so I don't have to deal with this bullshit another day?

Yeah, kinda.

Yes. I want them to win badly. I need to experience another win.

I would like to see them get a lead, and another win gives them more wins overall than the Cardinals.  Also want them to hear Wrigley rock at least one more time this season, they played so well they deserve that.

I'd like to see 7 full innings from a starting pitcher.

And dingers. Lots and lots of dingers. With men on base and everything.

Unless it's Arrieta or Lester, I think Maddon takes the whole 3rd-time-through-the-order thing pretty seriously.

But,. yeah...dingers would be nice.

I feel like if they can just score first for once things would turn out better. This probably doesn't mean anything as far as win percentage stats or whatever, but I know I would be able to relax at least.

[Armchair_QB]

I guess you could say that I'm grateful that I can still watch a Cubs game.

When the Hawks were in 2011 down 3-0 to Vancouver my brother askede if I wanted to go to Game 4.  I said, "Yeah, man. Let's go watch a hockey game". And sure enough the Hawks put forth a good effort and took a game.  Most of us know what happened next, and while PenFoe hates the cross-sports parallels, looked at from a team sports competitive perspective (and using the same elimination format) it can be all we have to hang our cat on as helpless fans to cope--particularly since this franchise itself has afforded us so few precedents themselves.

But yeah, there's a ballgame tonight and I'm looking forward to it.  I'd hate to see the Cubs get swept but even if they did, they have completely rinsed my mouth of the lingering bitter taste that was the result of the infuriating 2008 team which very nearly broke me.  This team has restored me.

I want to agree with you and would like to enjoy one more baseball game, but if I have to see 3 hours of shots of sad fans in the stands, and then cutaways to happy fans in some shitty Manhattan bar, I'm going to smash my TV.

Same here. Logically I understand variance and small sample size and all that fun stuff, but it is just fucking infuriating to watch a not-that-good team like the Mets basically do no wrong while the Cubs shit the bed. They haven't had the lead. ONCE. In the series. It sucks. I'm (BH/Slezak alert) going to be on a rooftop tonight through work and as much as I *want* to feel the way Huey does, I am kind of dreading what the atmosphere will be like if dickbeard and the shit-guzzling Mets get another goddamn early lead.

I'm in this group, whatever you want to call it. Too sad/angry to have any semblance of rational thought.

Thanks for joining us.

[Eli]

This is dumb but I feel like if they can just find some way to win tonight with Hammel, they still have a decent shot at winning the series with Lester and Arrieta going next. Both of those guys are entirely capable of shutting a team down (obviously).

I mean, it's not like Steven Matz is unbeatable.

[Quality Start Machine]

This is dumb but I feel like if they can just find some way to win tonight with Hammel, they still have a decent shot at winning the series with Lester and Arrieta going next. Both of those guys are entirely capable of shutting a team down (obviously).

I mean, it's not like Steven Matz is unbeatable.

This. If the Mets can beat the Cubs three times in a row, the Cubs can certainly beat the Mets four times in a row.

[Tony]

This is dumb but I feel like if they can just find some way to win tonight with Hammel, they still have a decent shot at winning the series with Lester and Arrieta going next. Both of those guys are entirely capable of shutting a team down (obviously).

I mean, it's not like Steven Matz is unbeatable.

You sound like a not-douchey version of Kevin Millar. And you're getting my hopes up.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Honest question--

Should Schwarber start behind the plate tonight?

[Quality Start Machine]

Honest question--

Should Schwarber start behind the plate tonight?

No.

[R-V]

Honest question--

Should Schwarber start behind the plate tonight?

I've been thinking the same thing. I really can't see them do something this radical when he he's played hardly any catcher at all for a couple months. But (a) Montero and Ross are absolutely terrible hitters right now (b) their defense hasn't exactly been stellar this series and (c) the TBS K-zone sucks ass so I can't see the value of any pitch framing on my TV right now, which means it doesn't exist. Might be worth it to get (barf) Coghlan's in the lineup over those slapdicks.