Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Dodgers NLCS Game 4 ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2016-10-20T11:00:06-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/130391452016-10-20T11:00:06-05:002016-10-20T11:00:06-05:00Cubs Heroes and Goats: NLCS Game 4
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JW5jgT8oNl4WWzS6JcnMTntrUrw=/0x108:3934x2731/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51430357/usa-today-9619324.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs' offense came back to life in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night, with Willson Contreras' run-scoring single breaking the ice and earning him top Hero honors in the Cubs' 10-2 win.</p> <p>In the midst of all of the offense, one of the cooler moments from Game 4...</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ARizzo44">@ARizzo44</a> - a guy you can take home to mom. <a href="https://t.co/8YBgUS9Tdw">pic.twitter.com/8YBgUS9Tdw</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/788961787118891008">October 20, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Graphs for NLCS Game 4 </b>(courtesy of <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2016-10-19&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2016" target="_blank">Fangraphs</a>):</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Game 170 Chart 2016" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_-a9xTzYetCAiUMpmXIA1JuQNxg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7311333/Game-170-2016.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p><b>Stats for NLCS Game 4:</b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="319">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p><b>Pitcher</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p><b>IP</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p><b>H</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p><b>HR</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p><b>ER</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p><b>BB</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p><b>SO</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p><b>pLI</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p><b>WPA</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>J Lackey</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.89</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.119</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>M Montgomery</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">1.3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.004</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>C Edwards Jr.</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">0.2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.03</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.001</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>P Strop</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.02</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.001</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>T Wood</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">0.1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.05</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.001</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p>H Rondon</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.01</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="103">
<p><b>Total</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right"><b>9</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right"><b>6</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>0</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right"><b>2</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right"><b>5</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>8</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right"><b>0.71</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right"><b>.126</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="334">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p><b>Batter</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p><b>AB</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p><b>R</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p><b>H</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p><b>HR</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p><b>RBI</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p><b>BB</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p><b>SO</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p><b>pLI</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p><b>WPA</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>W Contreras</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.75</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.203</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>J Baez</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.56</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.099</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>A Russell</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.65</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.071</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>A Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.43</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.027</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>B Zobrist</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.46</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.023</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>M Montgomery</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.52</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.020</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>K Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.38</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.002</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>A Almora</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>J Soler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>D Fowler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.51</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.001</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>J Lackey</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.029</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p>J Heyward</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.78</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.041</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="96">
<p><b>Total</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>40</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right"><b>10</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right"><b>13</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>2</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right"><b>9</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right"><b>3</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>8</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right"><b>0.54</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right"><b>.374</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><i><b>Writer's Note: </b></i><i>The daily selections of the three Heroes and three Goats are based solely on the top three and bottom three WPA scores for the game. <b>The selections are not based on my subjective opinion.</b></i></p>
<p><b>The Ramirez Catalyst of NLCS Game 4:</b> With two on and nobody out in the top of the fourth, the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a> get on the board first as <span>Willson Contreras</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207933383/nlcs-gm4-contreras-smacks-rbi-single-to-open-scoring/?game_pk=487627">drops a single into left field</a> to score <span>Ben Zobrist</span>, with a wild throw home by <span>Andrew Toles</span> allowing Contreras to move to second. <i style="font-weight: bold;">WPA impact: </i>+.166.</p>
<p><b>THE THREE HEROES:</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Superhero -</b> <b>Willson Contreras</b> (.203). Gained the rest of his ground in the second inning on a hard grounder to short that was nabbed by a diving <span>Corey Seager</span>, which was followed by <span>Chase Utley</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207912583/nlcs-gm4-baez-advances-to-second-on-utleys-error/?game_pk=487627">dropping Seager's throw to second</a> on a force attempt. </li>
<li> <b>Hero -</b> <span>John Lackey</span> (.119 / .090). Wiggled his way out of a couple of early situations with a runner on second -- one thanks to <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207908383/nlcs-gm4-contreras-picks-off-turner-to-end-the-1st/?game_pk=487627">a heads-up throw by Contreras to pick off</a> <span>Justin Turner</span> at second base -- but there was no cushion to be given to him after walking the first two batters to start the fifth with the Cubs holding a 5-0 lead.</li>
<li> <b>Sidekick -</b> <span>Javier Baez</span> (.099). Made his first two plate appearances both count by drawing a walk in the second and hitting a single in the fourth to set the table for Contreras.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>THE THREE GOATS:</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Billy Goat -</b> <span>Jason Heyward</span> (-.041). You know, it may have been yet another grounder to second by Heyward in the fourth inning, but the fact that it also gave the Cubs their second run was pretty big in my book. Unfortunately for him, his 0-for-5 night still ended up putting him at the top without much of a fight.</li>
<li> <b><b>Goat </b>-</b> <span>Dexter Fowler</span> (-.001). Definitely a tough-luck podium spot for Fowler, who had a 2-for-5 night but unfortunately got both of his hits after the Cubs had built at least a three-run lead.</li>
<li> <b>Kid -</b> <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> <b>(.000)</b>. Just to make the tough luck even tougher, there was a three-way tie at zero for the final podium spot which I ended up giving to Almora by executive decision, and it's only because his flyout came with a runner on base while <span>Jorge Soler</span> had a groundout with the bases empty. <span>Hector Rondon</span> was the other candidate, but his scoreless ninth inning would have been worth a positive benefit if the score were closer than eight runs. </li>
</ul>
<p><b>RANKINGS THROUGH NLCS GAME 4:</b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="327">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p><b>Heroes</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>1st</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>2nd</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>3rd</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center"><b>Total</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kris Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Javier Baez</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Willson Contreras</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jon Lester</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Travis Wood</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Miguel Montero</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Carl Edwards Jr.</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Anthony Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Ben Zobrist</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jake Arrieta</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kyle Hendricks</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>John Lackey</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Aroldis Chapman</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Mike Montgomery</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Justin Grimm</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="319">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p><b>Goats</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>1st</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>2nd</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>3rd</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center"><b>Total</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Addison Russell</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Anthony Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Ben Zobrist</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Dexter Fowler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jason Heyward</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Aroldis Chapman</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>John Lackey</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Pedro Strop</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jake Arrieta</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>David Ross</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Miguel Montero</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1.5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Justin Grimm</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Albert Almora Jr.</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kris Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0.5</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="363">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p><b>Overall</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center"><b>Hero</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center"><b>Goat</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center"><b>+/-</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center"><b>pWPA</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Javier Baez</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.758</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Willson Contreras</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.491</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kris Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.518</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jon Lester</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.754</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Carl Edwards Jr.</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.091</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Travis Wood</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.070</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Mike Montgomery</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.130</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kyle Hendricks</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.087</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Miguel Montero</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1.5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.273</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Justin Grimm</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.072</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jake Arrieta</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.070</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>John Lackey</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.104</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Aroldis Chapman</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.139</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Albert Almora Jr.</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">0.000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>David Ross</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.199</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Ben Zobrist</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.159</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Pedro Strop</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.251</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Anthony Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.331</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Dexter Fowler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.165</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jason Heyward</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.245</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Addison Russell</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-8</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">-0.391</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/20/13342974/cubs-heroes-and-goats-nlcs-game-4Russ La Croix2016-10-20T08:00:08-05:002016-10-20T08:00:08-05:00Cubs 10, Dodgers 2: The Bats, At Last, Awaken
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Hey, look! The missing Cubs offense has been found!</p> <p id="mqctty"><strong>LOS ANGELES </strong>— Early in Wednesday’s game, I spotted Tom Ricketts sitting behind the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> dugout. About the third inning, when the game was still a tense, scoreless affair and some of us were wondering if the Cubs would <em>ever</em> score a run again, I noticed his seat empty.</p>
<p id="Eue5TV">By the time he got back a couple of innings later, the Cubs had exploded for five runs, including a pair of homers by two of the slumpiest Cubs during the NLCS, <span>Addison Russell</span> and <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, on their way to <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2016_10_19_chnmlb_lanmlb_1">a 10-2 blowout of the Dodgers</a> and a 2-2 tie in the series.</p>
<p id="Z3VcTn">Not that Tom had anything to do with any of this, but I’m sure he was as happy as the rest of the large mob of Cubs fans at Dodger Stadium for Game 4. He sure looked like it, holding up a “W” flag after the game.</p>
<p id="LkqRB1">You could sense that the Cubs were about to break through, even though they went through the first three innings without a hit. <span>Javier Baez</span> drew a rare walk in the second and <span>Willson Contreras</span> reached on an error. With two out, Russell came up and hit a deep fly ball to left to end the inning. That ball was well-struck and it gave great hope that maybe, just maybe, Russell could break through.</p>
<p id="fWBL65"><span>John Lackey</span> struggled through the first three innings, but wound up matching Dodger starter <span>Julio Urias</span> with scoreless frames, helped out in part when Contreras picked <span>Justin Turner</span> off second base:</p>
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<div id="hDxM1f">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Willson Contreras throw:<br><br>Pop time: 1.89<br>Arm strength: 86 MPH<br>Exchange: 0.75<br><br>Wow what a throw!</p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/status/788899838188367872">October 20, 2016</a>
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<p id="trpCXV">In the second inning, more strong defense from Willson after this magnificent throw by <span>Jason Heyward</span> and a tag play at the plate just getting <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, and I mean <em>just</em>:</p>
<div id="M2Tpvb">
<iframe id="aee1a" data-src="https://securea.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1207933883&topic_id=63817564&property=mlb&" data-aspect="1.7857" style="width:100%" frameborder="0"></iframe><script>(function(){var f=document.getElementById("aee1a"),a=parseFloat(f.getAttribute('data-aspect')),w=f.offsetWidth,h=Math.round(w/a),s=f.getAttribute('data-src');f.removeAttribute('id');s+='width='+w+'&height='+h;f.setAttribute('src',s);f.style.height=h+'px';})();</script>
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<p id="dSstiF">You can see Contreras’ glove touch Gonzalez in the face just before his hand landed on the plate. The call was “out” on the field, ruled “call stands” on review.</p>
<p id="PAGR7B">And so the game went scoreless into the fourth, when <span>Ben Zobrist</span> <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207938983/?c_id=mlb">bunted his way on base [VIDEO]</a>, perfectly placed down the third-base line, the first pitch of the inning, the first Cubs hit of the game. Did that energize the offense? Perhaps, because Baez followed with a single, and then it was Contreras’ turn. He singled in Zobrist to break the Cubs’ scoreless streak at 21 innings. Willson advanced to second when <span>Andrew Toles</span>’ throw got away.</p>
<p id="CzJKbT">With runners on second and third, it looked like the Cubs could be setting a big inning. Heyward had the proverbial “productive out” when he grounded to second, scoring Baez, making it 2-0.</p>
<p id="IHDovk">And that brought Addy to the plate:</p>
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<p id="Y8014Z">That ball just seemed to keep rising and rising and rising, finally landing over the wall out of the reach of <span>Joc Pederson</span>.</p>
<p id="F4m9UD">You could hear the Cubs fans on the TV broadcast, right? Loud. Very loud, for a road playoff game. It was 4-0, and though Lackey had been somewhat shaky, perhaps this would help him settle down.</p>
<p id="MYWm2H">He put two men on base in the bottom of the fourth, one on a catcher-interference call on Contreras. That’s his second this postseason. Fortunately, Lackey got out of the inning unscathhed, and then it was Rizzo’s turn to blast out of his slump. After a long foul ball in his at-bat leading off the fifth, he, too, homered:</p>
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<iframe id="562bd" data-src="https://securea.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1208027083&topic_id=6479266&property=mlb&" data-aspect="1.7857" style="width:100%" frameborder="0"></iframe><script>(function(){var f=document.getElementById("562bd"),a=parseFloat(f.getAttribute('data-aspect')),w=f.offsetWidth,h=Math.round(w/a),s=f.getAttribute('data-src');f.removeAttribute('id');s+='width='+w+'&height='+h;f.setAttribute('src',s);f.style.height=h+'px';})();</script>
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<p id="QoHGAR"></p>
<p id="z4v1iI">That made it 5-0. And like Russell’s, that ball was <em>slammed</em>:</p>
<div id="8bqiMT">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Rizzos HR was off a 98.9 MPH pitch. Its the hardest pitch hes ever hit for a HR. 2nd hardest by <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs">@Cubs</a> player this year -Arrieta 99.5</p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/status/788924556681457664">October 20, 2016</a>
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<p id="6l7eW0">But Lackey couldn’t stay in the game. He walked the first two hitters he faced in the fifth, and that was enough for Joe, who lifted Lackey after 72 pitches. Do you think Lackey was happy about that? Could you read lips? Or maybe this is a more accurate description:</p>
<div id="K0OV3o">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man, Lackey looked like he was going to pull off a piece of Maddon's face with his teeth.</p>— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) <a href="https://twitter.com/DSzymborski/status/788928657725222912">October 20, 2016</a>
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<p id="ABgnX6">Anyway, <span>Mike Montgomery</span>, a much calmer presence than Lackey, entered in relief. He gave up a single to <span>Chase Utley</span> that loaded the bases, and then struck out <span>Corey Seager</span>.</p>
<p id="57IvMm">With the count 1-0, Turner bounced a baseball that appeared headed right to Russell for a possible inning-ending double play. Unfortunately, <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207964983/?c_id=mlb">Montgomery deflected it [VIDEO]</a> and it went into left field for a two-run single.</p>
<p id="292GiB">Mike, Mike, Mike. Trust your infielders!</p>
<p id="HireRs">Anyway, he got out of the inning and then the Cubs offense exploded. Russell singled for his second hit of the game and went to second on a throwing error. Montgomery singled Russell to third and <span>Dexter Fowler</span> made it 6-2 with a single, his second hit of the game. <span>Kris Bryant</span> walked to load the bases and that brought Rizzo to the plate. <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207980283/?c_id=mlb">His two-run single [VIDEO]</a> made it 8-2, but the Cubs weren’t done. Zobrist was next. He sent a little roller in front of the plate and was called out on a close play at first base. Except it wasn’t close at all:</p>
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<iframe id="26dca" data-src="https://securea.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=1207977283&topic_id=63817564&property=mlb&" data-aspect="1.7857" style="width:100%" frameborder="0"></iframe><script>(function(){var f=document.getElementById("26dca"),a=parseFloat(f.getAttribute('data-aspect')),w=f.offsetWidth,h=Math.round(w/a),s=f.getAttribute('data-src');f.removeAttribute('id');s+='width='+w+'&height='+h;f.setAttribute('src',s);f.style.height=h+'px';})();</script>
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<p id="YkWOOy">That brought up Baez, who drove one run in with a sac fly; another scored on a Dodger throwing error, one of four errors they made in this game.</p>
<p id="EZdSrQ">At 10-2, that seemed to be a pretty safe lead. All that remained was for the Cubs to put the Dodgers out for the rest of the night. <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> began the seventh inning and retired the first two hitters he faced before walking Seager. That brought out an entire coterie of Cubs and Maddon and trainers, and CJ left the game:</p>
<div id="3GlWr9">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Edwards: He left with left hamstring tightness</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/788948001829957634">October 20, 2016</a>
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<p id="PwggAB">Hopefully, this isn’t anything serious. It seemed the right thing to do to take him out on a very hot evening (89 degrees at game time) and an eight-run lead. <span>Travis Wood</span>, <span>Pedro Strop</span> and <span>Hector Rondon</span> finished up uneventfully, and the Cubs had a couple more hits on the night, winding up with 13, and two each from Fowler and Zobrist and three apiece by Rizzo and Russell.</p>
<p id="2sWvpb">Now <em>that’s</em> the team we watched all year long, pouncing on opportunities and hitting timely long balls.</p>
<p id="oFEjLL">Give <span>Yasiel Puig</span> some style points for <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/94788780/v1207998583/?c_id=mlb">this tremendous diving catch [VIDEO]</a> on a sinking liner hit by Zobrist, which easily could have been his third hit of the game.</p>
<p id="LiMvmI">About Wednesday at Dodger Stadium: The experience was still good for Game 4, and my seats, in the loge section (100 level), provided an elevated view of the pitcher-to-first throw (the field-level seats are in some ways too low for that). I had hoped to study Urias’ move to first, based on the idea that he might balk a time or two. Turned out the Cubs hit him so hard he didn’t really make more than a couple throws over. And though the view was good, the food selections on that level were kind of ordinary -- just Dodger Dogs, a cheeseburger (which was pretty good) and some pizza. It seemed more what you would have found in a ballpark 20 or more years ago, even though the stadium’s been spruced up since then. Not complaining, just saying it seems like the Dodgers could add more food choices.</p>
<p id="1ec2in">Fun facts after Game 4:</p>
<div id="wLtI7P">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">2016 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Postseason?src=hash">#Postseason</a><br>Rizzo tonight: 3-5, HR, 3 RBI<br>Russell tonight: 3-5, HR, 2 RBI<br>combined entering tonight: 3-50, 0 HR, 0 RBI</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/788953856248086528">October 20, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<div id="WE8Ydl">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Multiple 0-run games & multiple 8+ run games, same <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Postseason?src=hash">#Postseason</a> series<br>1921 Giants (WS)<br>1945 Tigers (WS)<br>2016 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> (NLCS)</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/788951093984231424">October 20, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
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<p id="zHMe4J">FWIW, both of the previous teams that did this won their series.</p>
<p id="cHjZ0d">One final note, and yes, of course I know this doesn’t have any direct correlation to winning:</p>
<p id="voIwhD"><em><strong>2016 postseason road record wearing gray jersey: 2-0</strong></em><br><em><strong>2016 postseason road record wearing alt blue jersey: 0-2</strong></em></p>
<p id="WpRDUf">So — please, Cubs, wear the road grays Thursday night.</p>
<p id="ofXOUD">On this series: I’m not going to talk about “momentum” here because that really only lasts as long as your last game, or in some cases your last inning, or perhaps not at all. Just 24 hours ago there was doom and gloom in some Cub quarters as the team had looked impotent at the plate in Games 2 and 3. Consider, though, that one of those games was against a pitcher who might be the best in the game, and the other was against someone who had a really good 2016 season.</p>
<p id="1dzE08">You know, the Cubs have pitchers like that, too. One of them is going Thursday night in Game 5, <span>Jon Lester</span>, and he shut down Dodgers hitters quite well in Game 1, not to mention having two other really good games against them during the regular season. He’ll be opposed by <span>Kenta Maeda</span>, who the Cubs chased out of Game 1 after just four innings.</p>
<p id="vE9DPx">And now, the Cubs offense seems to have awakened. It’s really encouraging, I think, that this outburst in Game 4 involved pretty much everyone on the team. Six of the eight starters had hits, and the two who didn’t contributed: Bryant walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored a run, and Heyward drove in a run and made an excellent defensive play... the kind of baseball we’ve seen all season long from this Cubs ballclub.</p>
<p id="8ecYMr">It’s now down to best-of-three, and the Cubs are guaranteed one more game at home, Saturday, for Game 6. I like the Cubs’ chances. <em>#LetsGo</em></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/20/13343286/cubs-dodgers-recap-addison-russell-anthony-rizzo-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2016-10-19T23:20:41-05:002016-10-19T23:20:41-05:00Rapid Recap: Cubs Smash Dodgers, 10-2
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: NLCS-Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Pv4DrkWZelDd2NCzyi0NifhNiv4=/0x0:3076x2051/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51430157/usa-today-9619364.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The best-of-seven series is now a best-of-three as the two teams are tied at two games each.</p> <p id="RYHBu0">In keeping with the spirit of the season, “It’s Alive! IT’S ALIVE!”</p>
<p id="evt4js">Tonight, the bats of the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a> came alive and <a href="http://m.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-dodgers/2016/10/19/487627#game_tab=boxscore,game=487627,game_state=final">routed the </a><a href="http://m.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-dodgers/2016/10/19/487627#game_tab=boxscore,game=487627,game_state=final">Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-2</a> to tie up the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at two games each.</p>
<p id="mzI0tE">Coming into tonight’s game, all the talk in baseball was about how the Cubs’ offense had gone silent in losing the last two games. Sure, they were facing <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, who is a better pitcher than Sandy Koufax ever was and <span>Rich Hill</span>, who had an ERA this season lower than Kyle Hendricks. And yes, the Cubs will have to face those two pitchers again if they want to win this series. </p>
<p id="5muKtJ">The pitching matchup tonight favored the Cubs, as veteran <span>John Lackey</span>, who came to Chicago for this and not a haircut, faced off against rookie Julio Urias. Now Urias is going to be a great pitcher one day if he manages to stay healthy. But right now, he’s the youngest person to ever start a postseason game. More importantly, he’s not Clayton Kershaw or Rich Hill.</p>
<p id="tsEak5">You could feel the tension coming into this game as it was close to a must-win game for the Cubs. At least I could feel it in my legs. Maybe you felt it too. And things looked bad in the second inning when Lackey gave up a leadoff single to <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> and then <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> walked with two outs. Lackey left one over the plate for the next batter <span>Andrew Toles</span>, who singled to <span>Jason Heyward</span> in right field. Gonzalez tried to score from third base and in all honesty, Heyward should have thrown him out by a mile. Instead, he made a lazy throw and Gonzalez slid under the tag for a run. Or he didn’t. Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez ruled him out and replay was called inconclusive, although he looked safe to me. </p>
<div id="AhZgVx">
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<p id="XhONCH">I think the Cubs caught a break, although I understand if you think differently. I understand why New York said this was “inconclusive.”</p>
<p id="vQ6dMU">Meanwhile, Urias didn’t allow a hit to the Cubs over the first three innings as the bats stayed silent. Then, to lead off the fourth inning, <span>Ben Zobrist</span> laid down a perfect bunt for the first Cubs hit of the game. Then the floodgates opened as Baez singled and then Contreras singled, giving the Cubs their first lead since game one. Once again, it didn’t look like Zobrist had a chance to score from second base on the Contreras single, but Toles made a terrible throw that allowed Zobrist to score and Contreras to go to second base. A Heyward ground out made it 2-0 when <span>Addison Russell</span> came to the plate.</p>
<p id="wvwvS5">Russell has been slumping since mid-September, and he’d been in a funk the entire postseason. But he picked the right time to break out as he hit a two-run home run to center field. </p>
<p id="Za34jD">The Cubs would score another run in the top of the fifth inning when another slumping Cub, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, crushed a solo home run to right-center, and with Matt Szczur’s bat no less. Even when he’s not on the roster, Szczur still finds a way to contribute. </p>
<p id="cmc2GS">The game got scary again in the bottom of the fifth. With a five run lead, Lackey walked the first two batters he faced in the inning. Maddon then pulled Lackey for <span>Mike Montgomery</span>, although not after Lackey gave the FS1 cameras an interesting lip reading moment. Dodgers manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> countered with <span>Howie Kendrick</span> pinch-hitting for <span>Chase Utley</span>, and Kendrick singled to load the bases. Montgomery struck out <span>Corey Seager</span> next and then he got a comebacker to the mound off of the bat of <span>Justin Turner</span>.</p>
<p id="7ErqJ7">This was a reaction play. Montgomery stuck his glove up and tried to make the play. If he lets it go, Russell picks up the grounder and turns a double play. If Montgomery makes the play clean, he turns a 1-2-3 double play. Instead, the ball bounced off Montgomery’s glove and two runs scored.</p>
<p id="0Q1m3J">I know what many of you were thinking. In other years, this would have been the beginning of a Cubs collapse. This year, the collapse never came. Montgomery retired the next two batters on ground outs without any more runs scoring. Then the Cubs struck back in the top of the sixth. Russell got an infield single and went to second on a bad throw by Kiké Hernandez. Then Montgomery, batting for himself, singled to left. With runners on first and third, <span>Dexter Fowler</span> singled to get one run back. <span>Kris Bryant</span> walked to load the bases and Rizzo singled again, scoring two more runs. The Cubs would go on to score five total runs in the sixth inning and put the game out of reach.</p>
<p id="mnauLX">The one piece of bad news was that <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> exited the game in the seventh inning after complaining of a tight hamstring. Hopefully it’s nothing serious as Edwards is an important part of the pen. But I imagine <span>Joe Smith</span> is ready to go if Edwards can’t.</p>
<p id="7Iihfv">At the beginning of the season, if I would have offered you a best-of-three series, with two games at Wrigley, for the Cubs to make <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">the World Series</a>, you would have taken it, right? Even if I told you that Kershaw and Hill would start the two games in Wrigley, you would have taken it in a heartbeat. (Of course, you would have probably massively underrated Hill at the beginning of the season)</p>
<p id="eTXKOH">One thing we know: there will be at least one more game in Wrigley Field this year. </p>
<p id="67fsS5">Tomorrow’s matchup is favorable one for the Cubs as it’s a rematch of the game one clash between <span>Jon Lester</span> and Kenta Maeda. Be happy. The Cubs are just two wins away from the World Series.</p>
<p id="WzAoFp">Everyone feel better?</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13342644/rapid-recap-cubs-smash-dodgers-tie-national-league-championship-seriesJosh Timmers2016-10-19T21:50:02-05:002016-10-19T21:50:02-05:00Overflow Thread 3: NLCS Game 4, Cubs vs. Dodgers, Wednesday 10/19
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13298910/overflow-thread-3-nlcs-game-4-cubs-vs-dodgers-wednesday-10-19-7-p-m-ctAl Yellon2016-10-19T21:05:03-05:002016-10-19T21:05:03-05:00Overflow Thread 2: NLCS Game 4, Cubs vs. Dodgers, Wednesday 10/19
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<figcaption>Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13298904/overflow-thread-2-nlcs-game-4-cubs-vs-dodgers-wednesday-10-19-7-p-m-ctAl Yellon2016-10-19T20:05:03-05:002016-10-19T20:05:03-05:00Overflow Thread 1: NLCS Game 4, Cubs vs. Dodgers, Wednesday 10/19
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<figcaption>Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13298892/overflow-thread-1-nlcs-game-4-cubs-vs-dodgers-wednesday-10-19-7-p-m-ctAl Yellon2016-10-19T17:00:03-05:002016-10-19T17:00:03-05:00NLCS Game 4 Preview: Cubs vs. Dodgers, Wednesday 10/19
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's this simple: win this game and it becomes a best-of-three series.</p> <p><b>LOS ANGELES</b> -- I sat by my keyboard for most of a beautiful, sunny Southern California morning thinking about what to write in advance of Game 4.</p>
<p>I could call it a "key" game or "critical" game, but those are just words, and you already know that.</p>
<p>I could have quoted ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, who wrote about <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/playoffs16_cubstest/the-chicago-cubs-moment-truth-arrived" target="_blank">historical comparisons to other playoff series</a>, and you know I usually love those things. But then he quoted former Yankee pitcher <span>Jeff Nelson</span> about the "108 years" thing, and I lost interest in all that. Typical national media tripe.</p>
<p>The truth is that each and every game of a postseason series is different. Media narratives cite "momentum" and "turning points" and those are just what I said they are, narratives. One of the things Joe Maddon has done best with this Cubs team is to get them to treat each game, each day, as a separate, different thing, to approach individually and forget about the previous one, win or lose.</p>
<p>This team has looked bad at times this year, at some points just as bad or worse than they do now (remember that 5-15 stretch in June and July?). It shouldn't matter to this bunch. They know how to win, they know how to win on the road, they know how to hit, they know how to produce.</p>
<p>No narratives, other than I think they'll start doing all that tonight.</p>
<p>One final note that could have an impact on the game: it's going to be hot. <a target="_blank" href="https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/90012:4:US">Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 90s</a> in Los Angeles today, probably upper 80s at game time. Hopefully, that heats up the Cubs' bats.</p>
<p>Here are today's particulars.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Fowler CF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist LF, Baez 2B, Contreras C, Heyward RF, Russell SS, Lackey P</blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's even things back up.<br><br>Game preview: <a href="https://t.co/aZ5E82h9vq">https://t.co/aZ5E82h9vq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyTheW?src=hash">#FlyTheW</a> <a href="https://t.co/xvF2mE1BKB">pic.twitter.com/xvF2mE1BKB</a></p>
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/788838039229313024">October 19, 2016</a>
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<p>Dodgers lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Utley 2B, Seager SS, Turner 3B, Gonzalez 1B, Reddick RF, Pederson CF, Grandal C, Toles LF, Urias P</blockquote>
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<span> </span>
<h2><span>John Lackey</span></h2>
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<h2><span>Julio Urias</span></h2>
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<p>John Lackey has made many bold statements about the postseason, calling these "big-boy games" and famously saying he "came here for jewelry."</p>
<p>Now it's time for him to step up and help the Cubs get there. He has in general pitched very well in situations like this -- not in the division series, though, when he didn't get out of the fourth inning against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.</p>
<p>So let's talk about his record against the Dodgers, which, for 2016, is nonexistent. The last time he faced them was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201505290.shtml">May 29, 2015</a>, while he was with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>. And he shut them down pretty good that day: seven shutout innings, five hits, nine strikeouts.</p>
<p>The Cubs need one of those tonight.</p>
<p>Julio Urias has pitched just once since September 29 -- two innings in the Dodgers' <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201610130.shtml">Game 5</a> win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> in their division series. He hasn't thrown more than five innings in a game since August. As I noted in the Game 3 recap, by starting this game Urias becomes the youngest pitcher ever to start a postseason game. It seems likely, given the facts above, that this could be a "bullpen game" for the Dodgers. Hopefully, that means Urias is out of the game early.</p>
<p>I wrote about Urias' balk move <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13331072/julio-urias-balk-move-umpires-nlcs-game-4">earlier today</a>. I hope the umpires call him on it.</p>
<p>Urias made two regular-season starts against the Cubs. They hit him hard <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201606020.shtml" target="_blank">June 2 at Wrigley Field</a>, including homers from <span>Javier Baez</span>, <span>Kris Bryant</span> and <span>Jason Heyward</span>. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201608270.shtml" target="_blank">August 27 at Dodger Stadium</a>, he threw six solid innings (six hits, one run).</p>
<p>I'd like another one like the Wrigley Field game, please.</p>
<p>Today's game is on FS1. Announcers: Joe Buck, <span>John Smoltz</span> and Ken Rosenthal.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20140401#date=10/19/2016" target="_blank">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_10_19_chnmlb_lanmlb_1#game=2016_10_19_chnmlb_lanmlb_1,game_state=Live" target="_blank">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/CHC.shtml" target="_blank">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/514619/pregame" target="_blank">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com">True Blue LA</a>. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p>The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.</p>
<p>You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).</p>
<p>At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.</p>
<p>You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.</p>
<p>The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/10/19/13274968/national-league-championship-series-game-4-preview-cubs-dodgersAl Yellon