Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mets NLCS Game 4 ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2015-10-22T10:00:06-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/93031422015-10-22T10:00:06-05:002015-10-22T10:00:06-05:00Cubs Heroes and Goats: NLCS Game 4
<figure>
<img alt="Thanks for a great season, Joe." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JGmLwQceiRlapKwKU3LkJOsRgZQ=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47491457/GettyImages-493672280.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thanks for a great season, Joe. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the Cubs' 8-3 loss on Wednesday night, the dream season of 2015 comes to a close.</p> <p>But while it lasted, it was one heck of a ride. One I know I'll certainly never forget.</p>
<p>As I did at the end of last season, I'd like to thank all of you once again for visiting this feature as much as you did this year. I know that the feature doesn't get a lot of comments on a normal basis, primarily because most of the discussion is rightfully held in the recap threads, but I also know that there are a lot of people who check in on this piece regularly -- a <b>whole</b> <b>lot </b>of people -- and I am both flattered and humbled by the consistent and increased patronage over last year. As silly as it may sound, the Wild Card Heroes and Goats where the poll ended up getting in excess of 1,300 votes... that meant a heck of a lot to me.</p>
<p>And thanks also to the Cubs for giving me, as a fan, a season that I never would have imagined. It didn't end the way that we fans would have hoped, but it was certainly more than probably the overwhelming majority of us ever expected. Except for those greedy fans (which I say completely tongue-in-cheek and with that sarcastic smile on my face).</p>
<p>So with that said, here are the final graphs and charts of the 2015 season. There's no poll for the Marmol of the game and I won't have any commentary on the top and bottom three, primarily because it seems fitting for the final piece of the season to leave them off.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all of you for always stopping by. It was a true pleasure sharing the ride with all of you. Here's looking forward to what will hopefully be a fantastic 2016 season.</p>
<p><b>Graphs for NLCS Game 4 </b>(courtesy of <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-10-21&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2015">Fangraphs</a>):</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Game 171 Chart 2015" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nRhaV1JqlYalIdgdP6VzNlKdzOA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4188009/Game-171-2015.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p><b>Stats for NLCS Game 4:</b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="299">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<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="83">
<p>C Richard</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">2</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">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.014</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<p>T Cahill</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">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.17</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.006</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<p>P Strop</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.17</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.004</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<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">0.02</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.001</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<p>F Rodney</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.03</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.010</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<p>T Wood</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">1.2</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.32</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.061</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<p>J Hammel</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="28">
<p align="right">1.1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">5</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">0.78</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.334</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="83">
<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>11</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>3</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right"><b>8</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>10</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right"><b>0.33</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right"><b>-.380</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="327">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<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="89">
<p>J Soler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">4</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">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">0.28</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.026</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>A Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right">0</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">.021</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>K Bryant</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.44</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">.003</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>D Ross</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.19</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.002</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>M Montero</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.08</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.003</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>C Coghlan</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">0.16</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.004</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>T Wood</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">0.22</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.005</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>T La Stella</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">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.010</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>K Schwarber</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">3</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.43</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.011</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>A Jackson</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.45</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.011</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>D Fowler</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">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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="35">
<p align="right">0.24</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.022</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>J Baez</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">3</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">0.56</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.047</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p>S Castro</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right">4</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">0.58</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right">-.056</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="89">
<p><b>Total</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="24">
<p align="right"><b>33</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="21">
<p align="right"><b>3</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>1</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="27">
<p align="right"><b>3</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="23">
<p align="right"><b>4</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>0.36</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="right"><b>-.120</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Writer's Note: </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 THREE HEROES:</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Superhero -</b> <span>Jorge Soler</span> (.026). </li>
<li> <b>Hero -</b> <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> (.021). </li>
<li> <b><b>Sidekick </b>-</b> <span>Clayton Richard</span> (.014). </li>
</ul>
<p><b>THE THREE GOATS:</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Billy Goat -</b> <span>Jason Hammel</span> (-.334). <br> </li>
<li> <b>Goat -</b> <span>Travis Wood</span> (-.061). </li>
<li> <b>Kid -</b> <span>Starlin Castro</span> (-.056). </li>
</ul>
<div><b>FINAL PLAYOFF TOTALS:</b></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>
<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>Jorge Soler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kyle Schwarber</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kris Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</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">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Anthony Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Starlin Castro</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">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Dexter Fowler</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">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">4</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="47">
<p align="center">3</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">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>Jon Lester</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>Travis Wood</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>
<td valign="bottom" width="47">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Clayton Richard</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>Addison Russell</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>
<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</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>Kris Bryant</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jake Arrieta</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</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">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Trevor Cahill</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">2</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">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jason Hammel</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>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">2</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">0</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">4</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Starlin Castro</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">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">4</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">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>Kyle Hendricks</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>Javier Baez</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>Kyle Schwarber</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>Travis Wood</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>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>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</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="39">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Tommy La Stella</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>
</tbody>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="316">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jorge Soler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">10</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kyle Schwarber</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Clayton Richard</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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Anthony Rizzo</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Javier Baez</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</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">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Addison Russell</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="51">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Dexter Fowler</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Starlin Castro</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jon Lester</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="51">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Miguel Montero</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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Justin Grimm</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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Tommy La Stella</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>
</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">9</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jake Arrieta</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="51">
<p align="center">-3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Kyle Hendricks</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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Jason Hammel</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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="164">
<p>Trevor Cahill</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="51">
<p align="center">-6</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/22/9591854/cubs-heroes-and-goats-nlcs-game-4Russ La Croix2015-10-22T08:00:08-05:002015-10-22T08:00:08-05:00NLCS Game 4, Mets 8, Cubs 3: Wait Till Next Year!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/--ne7fEP8JqYDkJfzkdhuLQkojg=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47491325/GettyImages-493671502.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs lost. But in this season of much magic, they are not losers.</p> <p>The chill rains, <a href="http://mason.gmu.edu/~rmatz/giamatti.html" target="_blank">as the late Commissioner Bart Giamatti once lyrically called them</a>, have not yet come, but Wednesday evening the 2015 baseball season, for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> at least, ended.</p>
<p>I don't suppose you need me to revisit all the ways the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> hashed up Cubs pitching again Wednesday evening; suffice to say that <span>Jason Hammel</span> was not up to the task, and it would not surprise me to learn in the next few days that he's been pitching on a bum hamstring since July. In which case he probably should have spent some time on the disabled list instead of attempting to pitch through an injury which might have severely limited his pitching abilities. But this is not what players do; they want to compete, help their teams, not understanding that perhaps not doing so for a time while their bodies are not 100 percent would actually help their team better when they return.</p>
<p>This isn't going to be a traditional game recap, because what's the point of trying to post the two or three or four things that went right for the Cubs in <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1">their 8-3 loss to the Mets</a> that ended this season? Sure, <span>Kris Bryant</span> hit a home run that momentarily woke the remains of the crowd from the muted silence given to it by the Mets' four-run first inning. That was nice to see in person, so let's have another look:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=525204283&topic_id=94788780&width=600&height=336&property=mlb" frameborder="0" height="336" width="600">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>For one thing, that's the last time you'll have to listen to Ernie Johnson's muffled, strangled-sounding home-run call, or watch any TBS baseball coverage this autumn. That can't be anything but a good thing, as TBS' baseball production is poor in every aspect: camera work, graphics, announcing team. They ought to take a hard look at all of it before the 2016 season.</p>
<p>Bryant's home run, the last by a Cub this season, briefly pumped a little energy as it landed just a few rows behind the video board he hit twice this year.</p>
<p>By the time that ball left the yard, so had a lot of the 42,227 in attendance. Interesting number, too, as it was four fewer than the announced total for Game 3, meaning the Cubs had unsold tickets. I walked around the ballpark midafternoon and the crowd waiting at the Wrigley Field ticket windows for possible available tickets was much smaller than the previous afternoon, a few dozen as opposed to a couple hundred hopefuls Tuesday.</p>
<p>The fact is, the Mets were just a better team. Their young pitching was better than the Cubs' young hitting. It was, in a way, refreshing to have a postseason series loss that had no bizarre incidents, no weird media narratives, just one baseball team outplaying the other, <span>Daniel Murphy</span> in particular. Murphy's performance might have been the best I've ever seen by anyone in a postseason series; he played as if possessed by the combined postseason baseball ghosts of Reggie Jackson, <span>Derek Jeter</span>, Yogi Berra and others from the other side of New York. When Murphy came to bat in the eighth inning, I said to my assembled group in the bleachers, "Just put him on!" Not that it really mattered with the score 6-1 at the time, but sure enough, with a runner on base, Murphy launched Fernando Rodney's third pitch into the bleachers, likely the final runs Rodney will give up in his big-league career, almost certainly the last he'll give up as a Cub.</p>
<p>Soon after that, the game and the season were over when <span>Dexter Fowler</span> was called out on strikes on a pitch that could have been called ball four. That might be the last time you see Fowler, who had a fine 2015 season, playing for the Cubs. Theo & Co. will have decisions to make about him as well as quite a number of other choices for the 2016 squad, but for now, those can wait as they and we take a breather from the incredible ride they've taken us on throughout this year.</p>
<p>Thank you, Cubs, for all the young players who just scratched the surface of their obvious great talent this season. Bryant, <span>Jorge Soler</span>, <span>Addison Russell</span> and <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> all provided moments of triumph for their team and for us. Teams that start four rookies on a regular basis aren't supposed to win 97 games, and four more in the postseason and dispatch their biggest rival in a playoff series. But they did, and Bryant will likely take home some hardware when awards are announced next month.</p>
<p>Thank you, Cubs, for <span>Jake Arrieta</span> and the magnificent season he posted. We saw things that had never been done by anyone, much less any Cubs pitcher.</p>
<p>Thank you, Cubs, for that 46-19 run after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> sweep through the end of the regular season, the best two-plus months any Cubs team has had in my lifetime, for the 14 walkoff wins, for memories to be cherished forever.</p>
<p>Thank you, Cubs, for coming back onto the field after waiting a respectful amount of time for the Mets to celebrate their pennant, to acknowledge those of us who stayed in the ballpark after the game ended. We wanted to thank you for your wonderful season. We saw you applaud us and wave in recognition. Wrigley Field's intimacy creates a bond between Cubs fans and players that I don't think exists anywhere else. As a fan, I'm glad Cubs players recognize that and appear to cherish it.</p>
<p>And for the knowledge that, as has been stated a number of times through this postseason run, the Cubs were "playing with house money," putting together a playoff season perhaps a year earlier than anyone expected. The loss in the NLCS exposed some of the weaknesses of a young team, weaknesses that will certainly be addressed in the offseason. But the experience gained in losing this series to a club with outstanding starting pitching will also help Bryant, Schwarber, Soler and Russell in future seasons, though the latter missed the series loss to the Mets. Russell, the ninth-youngest player in the major leagues this year (and fourth-youngest in the National League), won't turn 22 until January. Joe Maddon, as always, had cogent thoughts about what this season all meant:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=525267583&topic_id=94788780&width=600&height=336&property=mlb" frameborder="0" height="336" width="600">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>And so, as I noted above, while the Cubs lost, they are certainly not "losers," as some in the traditional media will no doubt call them. They win because they have put together a club with a manager who knows how to focus his team on the right things, they win because they have brought a fractious fanbase back together with players who are not only good but likeable, they win because... well, they won. They won 97 regular-season games, second-best over the last 70 Cubs seasons, and four more in the postseason, and took a playoff series for the first time in 12 years. The latter not only pleased all of Cubdom, but those who were weary of seeing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> advance in the postseason every single year. Here's to more dispatching of the Cubs' rivals from St. Louis in future seasons.</p>
<p>And to doing the same to the Mets, who I congratulate on their victory. You know, I had mentioned something when this series began about my thoughts about the 1969 season and how a Cubs win over the Mets might assuage the sad feelings from four-plus decades ago.</p>
<p>Funny thing. Even <i>losing</i> this series to the Mets has made those personal feelings move on. The Mets, who had ceased to be a direct Cubs adversary 20 years ago when they were separated into different divisions, are a rival once again after this playoff series. But what I feel isn't the visceral things I felt years ago; instead, it's a desire to see <i>this</i> blossoming Cubs squad beat <i>these</i> Mets on the field next year. This one felt as if it could be the first of many postseason matchups between young teams that could dominate the next decade of Major League Baseball. That's good for the Cubs and good for the sport. Personally, I can't wait for the Cubs' moves to improve this team in the offseason and for spring training.</p>
<p>Someday soon, the Cubs will be the ones jumping up and down on the field at Clark & Addison as the Mets did Wednesday night, celebrating a National League pennant. You can feel that day edging closer, can't you?</p>
<p>In the meantime, there will be lots to discuss here through the offseason. I'd like to publicly thank Josh for all his help here during the season and postseason and for writing the Rapid Recaps, so you'd have a place to discuss the playoff games right after they ended.</p>
<p>There will be game threads for the remainder of the ALCS and all of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">the World Series</a>, and there are a couple of Arizona Fall League games that will be televised in November as well. I'm planning an offseason series that I think you'll like (no hints, not yet, it'll start early next month), and I'll close as I do every year, with the words of Bart Giamatti. And one of these years, we'll be able to witness the season's ending without our hearts being broken.</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.</pre>
</blockquote>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/22/9591756/national-league-championship-series-game-4-cubs-mets-recapAl Yellon2015-10-21T22:49:49-05:002015-10-21T22:49:49-05:00Rapid Recap, NLCS Game 4: Mets 8, Cubs 3
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/70YXWn-I8N4Ap3tY1lgVoJuA8bQ=/0x158:2312x1699/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47490277/usa-today-8873868.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's over. But the struggle goes on.</p> <p>And there was no tomorrow.</p>
<p>You know the story already. Powered by back-to-back home runs in the first inning by <span>Lucas Duda</span> and <span>Travis d'Arnaud</span>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> finished off the <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1&lang=en#game=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box" target="_blank">sweep of the Chicago Cubs, beating the Cubs 8-3.</a></p>
<p>First of all, congratulations to the New York Mets. They dominated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> over four games and the Cubs never led once in the entire series. The Mets scored in the first inning of all four games and while the Cubs would tie it up in a couple of the games, they would never lead. Are the Mets the better team? I'll say they were the much better team this week. No arguing that. They deserved to win.</p>
<p>After the four-run first powered by the three-run home run by Duda and the solo shot by d'Arnaud, the Mets added two more runs in the second inning when Duda, again, lined a two-run double into the right-center gap. It was 6-0 and the Cubs hadn't come to the plate a second time.</p>
<p><span>Jason Hammel</span> only got four outs. I know a lot of people wanted <span>Jon Lester</span> to go on three days rest, but I think it was the right call to go with Hammel, despite his second-half struggles. The Cubs needed to win four straight games. Starting Lester over Hammel might have given the Cubs a slightly better chance to win tonight, but at the cost of diminishing the chance to win each of the next three. The plan just didn't work out.</p>
<p>The Cubs looked like they might get back into the game in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out. It helped that <span>Jorge Soler</span> doubled to lead off the inning. Not only was it the Cubs' first hit tonight, it was the Cubs first hit to lead off an inning all series. But then <span>Starlin Castro</span> lined a bullet that just had to find David Wright's glove. That was the story of the series. The Mets found holes. The Cubs didn't. The Cubs would get one run on a <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> ground out, but a major opportunity to get back in the game was gone.</p>
<p>Then Daniel Murphy happened again. A two-run home run in the eighth was his sixth straight game with a home run and put any realistic chance of a Cubs comeback out of reach. <span>Kris Bryant</span> would get those two runs back in the bottom of the inning, but the Cubs needed a lot more than that by that point.</p>
<p>Like last night, I'm going to ask everyone to be nice. We're all in a bad mood. We don't need to make it worse by sniping at each other. Vent, but not at each other.</p>
<p>As far as the Cubs go, the struggle goes on. Unlike other Cubs teams that have flamed out in the playoffs, this Cubs team is built to last. Almost all the key players are under 30 and many of them are under 25. This team will be back.</p>
<p>I know it doesn't feel this way right now, but this season was a success. The Cubs won 97 games in the regular season, which is the most that all but the oldest of you can remember. They beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> in the Wild Card game and knocked the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> out of the playoffs. We should not let this crappy week ruin six good months.</p>
<p>There are no curses. There is just baseball. It's the gambler's fallacy that the Cubs are somehow due, or that the wheel will spin our way because it spun the other way the last time. This Cubs team was good enough to win. They didn't. It happens. It will happen again. But this team is going to stay at the table for a long, long time. And no curse is preventing the Cubs' number from coming up eventually.</p>
<p>Finally, I'm reminded of the myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned by the gods to push a boulder up a hill. When Sisyphus approached the top of the hill, the boulder was enchanted so that it would roll back down. Then Sisyphus would have to go back down to the bottom and start all over again. That is our task. We embrace it.</p>
<p>Let me finish with <a target="_blank" href="http://dbanach.com/sisyphus.htm">a quote from Albert Camus from The Myth of Sisyphus:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It is during that return, that pause, that Sisyphus interests me. A face that toils so close to stones is already stone itself! I see that man going back down with a heavy yet measured step toward the torment of which he will never know the end. That hour like a breathing-space which returns as surely as his suffering, that is the hour of consciousness. At each of those moments when he leaves the heights and gradually sinks toward the lairs of the gods, he is superior to his fate. He is stronger than his rock. . .</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one's burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.</p>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>We will get that boulder to the top of the hill one day. I promise. Zeus has not cursed us. But until then, enjoy the ride. The alternative is a lot worse.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/21/9590994/rapid-recap-national-league-championship-series-game-4-mets-8-cubs-3-mlb-scoresJosh Timmers2015-10-21T21:50:01-05:002015-10-21T21:50:01-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Mets, Wednesday 10/21
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ngHh5GZLmQjo928cYoe3sNmrQsc=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47482805/GettyImages-493496424.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/21/9539653/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-mets-nlcs-game-4-wednesday-10-21-7-07-ctAl Yellon2015-10-21T21:05:01-05:002015-10-21T21:05:01-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Mets, Wednesday 10/21
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C_ooCGxskVUWqXRQUt8z2IgfRLY=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47482801/GettyImages-493488718.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jon Durr/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/21/9539667/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-mets-nlcs-game-4-wednesday-10-21-7-07-ctAl Yellon2015-10-21T20:05:02-05:002015-10-21T20:05:02-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Mets, Wednesday 10/21
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IM3c7_MIHIZW7o9OYKp4P1FwnKc=/7x0:3032x2017/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47482777/usa-today-8873067.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/10/21/9539675/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-mets-nlcs-game-4-wednesday-10-21-7-07-ctAl Yellon2015-10-21T17:00:03-05:002015-10-21T17:00:03-05:00NLCS Game 4 Preview: Cubs vs. Mets, Wed 10/21
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JppglKAVJc9wvXUHCuGxpYMFbzA=/0x0:5184x3456/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47482529/GettyImages-493493434.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Well, this is it. Win or go home.</p> <p>I don't think I can put much of anything here that you don't already know.</p>
<p>Win this game, and there will be another one tomorrow.</p>
<p>Lose this game, and we'll be doing post-mortems for this team starting tomorrow.</p>
<p>I know which one I'd prefer. Here are today's particulars.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Fowler CF, Soler RF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Castro 2B, Schwarber LF, Baez SS, Hammel P, Ross C</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>Mets lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Granderson RF, Wright 3B, Murphy 2B, Cespedes CF, Duda 1B, d'Arnaud C, Conforto LF, Flores SS, Matz P</pre>
</blockquote>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="680">
<tbody>
<tr class="yspsctbg">
<td class="ysptblhdr" align="center" height="18"><center>
<h2><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></h2>
</center></td>
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<tr>
<td class="ysptblbdr2">
<table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="680">
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</td>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="45%">
<a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7709"><img alt="Jason Hammel" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3926938/jasonhammel.0.jpg" height="480" border="1" width="320"></a><br><center> <a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7709">
<h2>Jason Hammel</h2>
</a> </center> <br><center>
<h2>Cubs</h2>
</center>
</td>
<td align="center" width="10%">vs.</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="45%">
<a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9599"><img alt="Steven Matz" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4185023/stevenmatz.0.jpg" height="480" border="1" width="320"></a><br><a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9599">
<h2>Steven Matz</h2>
</a> <br>
<h2>Mets</h2>
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<td colspan="35" class="ysptblbdr2">
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<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=6480"><center>
<h2>vs. NY</h2>
</center> </a></td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=33106">
<h2>vs. Cubs</h2>
</a></td>
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</tbody>
</table>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
<p>One of <span>Jason Hammel's</span> best starts this year was <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201505130.shtml" target="_blank">May 13 at Wrigley Field</a> against the Mets. Of course, pretty much every Cubs starter had a good regular-season outing against the Mets offense, which was a far different animal than it appears to be now.</p>
<p>The bottom line is this: Hammel hasn't really been good since the injury that forced him out of a game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> on July 8 (5.10 ERA in 14 regular-season starts after that, and two runs allowed in three innings in a Division Series start vs. the Cardinals, although he did have an RBI single in that game). If the Cubs are going to extend this series, Hammel will have to be good. It's just as simple as that.</p>
<p>Current Mets are hitting .248 (26-for-105) with four home runs off Hammel, two by <span>Curtis Granderson</span>, two by <span>Kelly Johnson</span>.</p>
<p><span>Steven Matz</span> has made six regular-season starts in the major leagues and also made one in the Mets' Division Series win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. He has pitched once in the last four weeks -- that being <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN201510130.shtml" target="_blank">the Division Series start</a>, in which he allowed six hits and three runs in five innings. He has never faced the Cubs nor anyone on the current Cubs roster, unusual for a postseason matchup within the same league. He was the No. 33 prospect before this season on both the Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus lists. What this all means for tonight is anyone's guess.</p>
<p>Today's game is on TBS. Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, Cal Ripken, Sam Ryan and Matt Winer.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1#game=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Live">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2015/CHN201510210.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/500771/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazinavenue.com">Amazin' Avenue</a>. If you do go there to interact with Mets 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 2015 Game Thread procedure has changed a bit. Here's how it will work going forward. <i><b>(And a reminder that a "Rapid Recap" will be posted here by Josh shortly after the game ends, with my own recap at the usual time, 8 a.m. CT tomorrow.)</b></i></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/2015/10/21/9539007/2015-national-league-championship-series-game-4-preview-cubs-metsAl Yellon