Wellp. Postseason is set. NL Cubs @ Pirates WC NLDS Mets vs. Dodgers (Dodgers with home field advantage) Cubs/Pirates vs. Cardinals (Cardinals with home field advantage) AL Astros @ Yankees WC ALDS Rangers @ Blue Jays (Blue Jays with home field advantage) Astros/Yankees vs. Royals (Royals with home field advantage)
Mets/Dodgers is pretty cool... A lot of old brooklyn fans are still Dodgers fans, and this was passed on to their kids. They never accepted that new expansion Mets team (that's now been around for 50 years!).
Last time the Astros went to the World Series, they got in after being the wild card. REPEAT! It can be done! It's a whole new season!
You tell 'em Joe about Game 163! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maddon on1-and-done WC: "the most fun and no fun at the same time. Best of 3 would be the fairest thing to do."</p>— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) <a href="https://twitter.com/GDubCub/status/651454939236028417">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> Maddon wants best-of-3 wildcard. "Only time one-and-done is fun is when you win it." <a href="http://t.co/rSzqszmx9c">pic.twitter.com/rSzqszmx9c</a></p>— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiertempfelTrib/status/651454921582227456">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joe Maddon, on facing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pirates?src=hash">#Pirates</a> in one-and-done gamed: We won 97, they won 98, neither one of us can believe we're in a Wild Card game.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a></p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/651454941064769536">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
All of the analysts are picking the Cubs. I guess the Pirates, a team that's been in this position before and with an equally dominant ace pitcher, are just chopped liver. Good to know! Either way, it's going to be a great game. Literally a coin toss.
Someone is gonna end the drought. Except the Cardinals <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last WS title for teams still alive: STL (2011), TOR (1993), LAD (1988), NYM (1986), KC (1985), PIT (1979), CHC (1908), TEX/HOU (never).</p>— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZuckermanCSN/status/651612377465647104">October 7, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not sure why the Cubs are favored so much and why the analysts are picking us to win, but Arrieta and Cole have not been equally dominant. If they are tomorrow, that's fine. But as of today, Arrieta has been arguably the best pitcher in the league this year.
In a 5-7 game series I would take the Pirates (possibly the best team in baseball) but it is hard to go against Jake Arrieta and his .75 era in the second half of the season.
You can argue advanced stats with Kershaw being the most dominant. Greinke really only has era on him and maybe one other stat. I'd say Jake's been better than Greinke at the very least. And it's probably arguable between him and Kershaw. Not sure who's going to win the Cy Young, but all three are deserving.
Arrieta's numbers are incredible, but obviously there's more to it than that. He's having a breakout year at age 30. He's brand new to this whole "elite" thing. We'll see tomorrow night if he has the stones for the big time. Cole has been outstanding throughout his entire [young] career. Bring it.
Arrieta had elite numbers last season too. Cole has played in 2 more postseason games than him and has pitched well in them so he does have the advantage there. I'm just going by what Arrieta has done as of late. Personally I see the Cubs losing because of the bats. The Pirates are just much better in that dept. even against a guy like Arrieta. Not to mention, our bullpen is pretty shaky while the Pirates pen has been pretty solid all year. Polanco-Marte-Cutch is a combo that the Cubs just can't match. I actually think the Aramis acquisition was probably the most underrated acquisition around the trade deadline. Of course it's baseball though and anything can happen, but I wouldn't bet against the Pirates bats if it's a close game late, especially at PNC. They've been pretty good there all year.
Well, that was pretty much the most humble response on the planet. Definitely makes me hate Cubs fans a little less. It's going to be a great game. Like I said: a coin toss. Best of luck to you guys.
Arrieta would be my NL Cy Young. I'd take him over Cole. Rizzo/Bryant/Schwarber is a very formidable offensive trio, and I'd take that over what the Pirates have. Pirates do have the edge in bullpens and defense. Figures to be a good game.
