Saturday: Walk the bases loaded, with the game tied, to force Joe Madden to use a pinch hitter and pull Chapman? Sounds like a good plan when you consider how hard it is to hit Aroldis Chapman. However, plans only sound good when they work. In walks the pinch hitter and out walks the Dodgers hopes of a game one win. Final score 8-4 Cubs. Cubs win, lead series 1-0. Sunday: 1-0 game Hendricks vs. Kershaw with Kershaw on short rest and a routine that's off due to his save in game 5 of the NLDS. No late inning or pinch hitter magic for either team in this one, Adrian Gonzalez's homer in the 2nd inning was the single deciding factor. Dodgers win, series tied 1-1. Cubs Offense: So, 12 runs in one game to 1 run in the second game. You could say that Kershaw was just that good, or you could say that the Cubs are struggling offensively. Kershaw threw well and I'm not taking anything away from his performance, but the stats coming from the majority of the Cubs lineup aren't good ones.. Consider that 4 runs came from the pinch hit grand slam by Montero and that Bryant and Baez had 2 of the other RBIs, that leaves the rest of the team with 2 runs. Bryant and Baez are hot, but Rizzo, Hayward, and plenty of others on the Cubs team are struggling. For all of the hype surrounding the Cubs this season, the offense needs to step up, ALL of the offense, they can't let a couple people carry them. Where's it go from here: With the first two games being so intense (partially due to the electric crowds inside and outside of Wrigley), and having a couple really key plays, I can't wait to watch the rest of this series! It is going to be fun to see how the line-ups may or may not be adjusted, pitchers are used (Kershaw? 6 out saves? Short rest necessary?), and who gets hot the rest of the series! All tied up 1-1 and heading to Los Angeles! Game 3 on Tuesday!
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The 2016 MLB Playoffs are here! After close races for wildcard spots and two really good wildcard games, the stage is set for the final eight. Rangers, Indians, Blue Jays, and Red Sox going at it in the AL, and the Giants, Cubs, Nationals, and Dodgers battling in the NL. Everyone has their preferences on who they want to make it to the World Series and who they want to win it all, but who makes the best story?
Red Sox have Big Papi, Indians have the "Championship City" going with the Cavaliers, it is an even year for the Giants, and, of course, there is the curse with the Cubs. Top it all off the Rangers and Blue Jays are playing in the ALDS and who can forget the last regular season game these two played? Bautista sure can't! As the playoffs continue watching the games AND the stories is going to be exciting! So whether you want Papi to go out on top, Cleveland to have more to celebrate, or the Rangers to knock out the entire Blue Jays team this go around, we can all appreciate this wonderful time of year! |
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