my prediction for tonight cubs offense comes alive but arrieta chokes on his dick its unseasonably warm today in cleveland (currently 76°) so the ball will be carrying more than usual final score... indians 11 cubs 7
Indians just look like the better team. Suicide watch on in Chicago. In other news, another Cubs slurping set of articles on ESPN. One was about the Cubs having away field advantage, and another about how Terry Francona and Joe Maddon were punching their tickets to Cooperstown. Now Francona, I get. But Maddon???? He's accomplished squat compared to Francona.
You can't deny though that he's changed the culture of the two teams he's managed. The Rays were bottom feeders and he got them to a World Series. From the time that he was there, they were in the hunt for AL East, which you couldn't say with a straight face for a while in Tampa. And yes, the Cubs got lucky with their drafts picks and their trades from Theo, but you still got to manage the team of personalities. Not to mention the team won 98 games in a stacked NL Central. He's a very good manager, and if he wins one title, or even just coaches a bunch of successful teams, he's in. Maybe not first ballot, but I can see why they would put him in the conversation of going to the Hall.
Well it was the juxtaposition of Francona and Maddon as somehow equal. Francona has done the same things Maddon has done and has multiple WS to boot. And the Indians were just as horrid as Tampa Bay. Still don't think Maddon gets in unless he gets a WS win.
Plus Francona has been a manager for 20 years, Maddon for 10. Not to mention, the list of HOF managers is actually pretty short and elite... managers who defined generations of baseball. If they both retire after this series, Francona is probably in even if he loses and definitely in if he wins, but Maddon doesn't even sniff it win or lose. Madden is a good manager, and is headed in that direction, but he's not in the discussion yet. We used to have a discussion on here, years ago, about whether or not Juan Pierre would be in the HOF because at one point he was on pace for 3,000 career hits. Talking about Maddon as a HOF manager, at this point, has the same sort of feel.
Juan Pierre doesn't need the Hall. He will always be the philosopher athlete, who uttered the unforgettable words, " it is what it is". Those words alone ensure his place in the history of man. I elevate him presently to at least Rube level.
well said i like maddon and think he's a very good manager but talking about him being in the hall is premature look at bochy... guy took three mediocre teams and won three ws titles now that's hall of fame material maddon doesn't even have one, and you could make an argument that even an average manager could have gotten the cubs this far again, not saying he's not good and/or won't eventually get there it's just too early to heap all this unworthy praise on him imo
I don't like this prediction. I think we'll win tonight and force a game 7. Not sure what the score will be.
Winning four divisions and one NL pennant with the Padres should be Jughead's ticket to the Hall. Three Series titles in SF is a cake walk in comparison.
Another pair of teams that were down for years while we won 90+ and made the playoffs and yet one of them will be a WS champ again before us. No thanks on watching game 7.
But these games, as baseball games, suck, imo. The 5th was the best..everything else is a damn blowout. I guess if you are a Cub fan, it's terrific, but as just a bb fan...games are over in the first three innings. Suckitude.
