As it turns out, plenty. I suppose that every manager plays things differently in the post-season. Maddon, however, kept protesting in all the post-game interviews that they were just going to treat these games the same as those in the regular season. That really seems to have changed with Game 5 when Joe brought Chapman in for the long save. It seems he fell in love with a different style and, in retrospect, it almost cost the Cubs a champioship.
In Game 6, Chapman was brought on early again, this time with a big lead and little necessity. The opinion then was divided, of course. You could justify it for sure, but it made you vulnerable to tired arms in Game 7. I was really surprised to see Hendricks pulled in the fifth inning with a four run lead after an unlucky walk. Lester eventually got the final out, but not without some uncharacteristic shaky defense from David Ross, a bad throw and a bungled up wild pitch that cut the lead to two.
Lester settled down after that until two outs in the eighth inning. Maddon replaced him with Chapman after an infield hit. I expect things just caught up with Chapman because he was just awful. He could not get the third out if his life depended on it, eventually giving up a game tying homer to Davis. Chapman is an interesting case as a closer. He really is not all that reliable unless he starts an inning with a lead and no one on base. I rather think that is beacuse he relies so much on the big fastball that he does not pitch. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, Montero replaced Ross behind the plate and he called a different game, lots of sliders and curves. The results were much better, extra innings.
Like most fans, I was cursing Maddon then for over-managing, especially when he had Baez attempt a squezze bunt with two strikes and the winning run at third base the following inning. I mean, Baez just has to put the ball in play with one out. That bunt is too cute. Baez bunted foul, striking out.
Everything turned around with the rain delay before the beginning of the tenth. Whether they were able to regroup or take stock of things, one does not know. Supposedlly there was a team meeting. In any case, they came out loaded for bear. Schwarber singled. Bryant hit a long fly to right that advanced the pinch runner Almora. It turns out that took the bat out of Rizzo's hands because Francona had him intentionally walked. It was still good strategy as getting a runner into scoring position put the Indians in a tough spot. Zobrist came through with a double after a great at-bat and they got an insurance run on a Montero single.
I daresay the choice of Edwards to replace Chapman for the bottom of the tenth was eccentric. He got two outs, but then gave up two hard hits that resulted in a run after the Cubs let the first guy take second because of defensive indifference. Montgomery came on to induce a weak groud ball with his second pitch to seal the win.
You almost don't know what to say at this point. The Cubs were undoubtedly the best baseball team all season long and their win was not just a reward for all their fans, but a fillip for baseball itself, a kind of vindication, as it were. This Cubs team is qualitatively different from all their previous teams. Every other year, faced with similar instances of bad luck or mistakes, they would and did fold. Think back to 2003, for example. This year, even down 3-1 against a determined opponent, and even sfter blowing a safe lead, they ultimately came through. They are worthy champions.
I'm writing this in bed 3/4 of a mile from the ballpark and you can still hear the horns and fireworks and celebrations four hours later. The firecrackers are driving my dog nuts, so I wish they'd stop.
Go Cubs! I had doubts I would ever see this in my lifetime.
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