The Official "Cubs are going to muscle up and win game 3" thread

by WUSTLCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 10:57 PM CDT

Look, I know we are all pissed off that the cubs lost game one and are most likely going to lose game 2. Screw it. We have the best pitcher in the NL on the mound Saturday in Rich Harden, and he IS going to pitch a gem. As far as the offense, they really just need to lighten up a bit. I'm hoping that with the confidence that I'm sure the players have developed in Harden, they will be able to do so and put some runs on the board early and often. I make no promises about what the outcome of this series will be. Obviously, I can't see into the future. But, I STRONGLY believe that the cubs are going to win game 3, and we will go from there after they do.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Harden better strike out everyone...

Can’t really depend on the infielders to, you know, field…

But I honestly think they will win Game 3. They’ll have less pressure on the road, and they could (hopefully) play loose. Also, sports teams and players love to play the “nobody believed in us!” card, and everyone is writing this team off.

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 2, 2008 11:27 PM CDT reply actions

Kinda OT:

Speaking of WUSTL, did you go to the debate?

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 2, 2008 11:30 PM CDT reply actions

unfortunately not

there was a student lottery to win tickets and only 300 or so people out of 7300 who entered won tickets.

by WUSTLCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Too bad

That would have been cool to go to, regardless of political loyalty.

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 2, 2008 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Im not writing this team off, but they are not making it easy on the fans thats for sure!

"Okay, just so I understand it...in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil."- Jim Halpert

by ryanbrixenivy on Oct 2, 2008 11:33 PM CDT reply actions

I hate to hijack this thread...

The 2008 Cubs won 3 games in a row 19 times, according to Baseball-Reference’s game log. Why not a 20th?

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 2, 2008 11:41 PM CDT reply actions

I like the positive thinking

but all we think about right now is winning game 3.

by WUSTLCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree...

The 2008 Cubs won one game 97 times!

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 2, 2008 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Makes you wonder why

Harden didn’t get the nod for game one. Lou seems to manage differently in the playoffs, always looking down the road and not taking it one game at a time. Harden obviously has more talent and better stuff than Dempster, who I never felt entirely comfortable with despite his strong season. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and I probably would not have gone with Harden in game one, but I would have gone with Z, who was filthy tonight and pitched pretty well tonight.

by dakoose on Oct 2, 2008 11:54 PM CDT reply actions

Reason why Harden shouldn't get game 1

Harden sometimes can’t pitch past 5th inning. We don’t want our bullpen up in Game 1 for 4 innings if its close or not.

I can’t criticize Lou for his post season rotation this year.

by ak123 on Oct 3, 2008 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Me neither, for the reasons you stated

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Oct 3, 2008 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions

good thing

Dempster made it past the fifth, then

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on Oct 3, 2008 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Come on

That was totally unexpected. Yes Dempster did not have command but that strike zone was tiny and nobody on the Dodgers were swinging at his pitches. It sucks but in almost every other game he has pitched he had those two things in his favor.

by ak123 on Oct 3, 2008 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions

hey, you left it open

somebody had to get that wisecrack in

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on Oct 3, 2008 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Dempster averages 6.3 innings/start, Harden 6.0.

I won’t criticize Lou for that, either, as it got Dempster the home start, and got us decent matchups for games 2 and 3.

Of course, the offense stepped on their cranks, and the defense coughed up a lung. That’s not on Lou.

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Oct 3, 2008 1:11 AM CDT up reply actions

So what does Lou do?

Maybe move DeRosa to 2nd in lineup?

by ak123 on Oct 3, 2008 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Move Lee to #2

Soriano to 3, Theriot to leadoff, sit Fukudome, take Howry off the playoff roster, change A-Ram’s diaper, and cure cancer for a start

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on Oct 3, 2008 1:19 AM CDT up reply actions

What would those changes do?

Soriano isn’t hitting. DLee hitting #2 is same as hitting #3 because he has Theriot on base in front of him.

I’d almost consider moving DeRosa to #3…his production seems similar to Lee. nd move DLee to #5.

by ak123 on Oct 3, 2008 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions

then we gotta figure out a spot in the lineup

where DPLee wont have anyone on first or any late game clutch RBI opportunities…..maybe start Z at first. No kidding though, my friends and I- being the big league managers we are – have been talking about DeRo in the 3 hole since August. Lou just has to use his old wrinkly balls and make the switch.

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on Oct 3, 2008 1:28 AM CDT up reply actions

or maybe hit Lee

at leadoff? Seriously

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on Oct 3, 2008 1:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Harden could benefit from rest, i.e., he'd be more likely to be effective...

Dempster was the right call to me, but if you hadn’t figured out by the third inning that he had nothing, then what game was Lou watching. I also think that Lou hindered himself by indicating Marshall and Spellcheck would be his Long relief, if he had confidence in them he would have gone to one of them earlier. Lou was hoping against hope during game 1 with respect to Dempster—that was costly.

by DudeVf11 on Oct 3, 2008 12:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Lou says Fukudome is done for 2008

In post-game, he said that he’s not using Fukudome anymore under any circumstances. He wasn’t mean, said that “the kid is struggling”, but that “I’m gonna use Fontenot or Johnson or whoever out there.”

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Oct 3, 2008 12:08 AM CDT reply actions