The Cubs are on the brink of elimination from the postseason after Tuesday’s loss in Game 3. It’s easy to say, but the Cubs just have to keep playing baseball. This team hasn’t quit all season and had the right perspective following Tuesday’s game.
The Cubs are focused on winning Wednesday and extending the series. Anthony Rizzo pointed out, “One New York team’s blown a 3-0 lead. Let’s try to make it another New York team.”
Theo Epstein addressed his team’s 3-0 hole to the Mets and the possibility of the Cubs still winning the series.
“It’s been done before, rumor has it. We can do it. We’ve had nine winning streaks of four or more games this year,” Epstein said. “We get hot. We get really hot, so we can do it. Just have to show up and win tomorrow. Show up tomorrow and get a lead. We haven’t had led. We haven’t had a leadoff hit. We haven’t led. That’s not going to last.”
“We haven’t played our best baseball and they’ve pitched really well.”
Nothing has gone the Cubs way in the first three games and Joe Maddon’s team needs to play better, especially in the field in Game 4. But one break could lead to a win and extend the series.
It’s still too early for the Cubs’ season to come to an end.
Reports from Game 3
- ESPN Chicago: Cubs’ defense, lack of base runners takes them to brink of elimination
- ESPN Chicago: Miguel Montero and Trevor Cahill talked to ESPN Chicago about the play in the sixth inning that gave the Mets the lead. The headline and comparisons to the past are ridiculous and below the typical excellent work that is provided by Jesse Rogers.
- ESPN Chicago: Theo Epstein on Cubs’ 3-0 deficit: ‘It’s been done before’
- Comcast SportsNet: Mets pounce on Cubs again to take commanding 3-0 lead in NLCS
- Yahoo Sports: Mets have the Cubs running out of time
- Jayson Stark: Weird, wacky Wrigley night has Mets on brink of Fall Classic
- The Tribune: Cubs really up against the wall after losing third straight to Mets in NLCS
- Comcast SportsNet: Miguel Montero on dropped third strike: ‘It really hurts’
- Carrie Muskat: Theo Epstein: ‘If we show up and win, we’re dangerous’
- The Sun-Times: Mets pitching rains on Cubs’ playoff party as Cubs fall into a 3-0 NLCS hole
- Comcast SportsNet: Outplayed by Mets, Cubs left hoping for miraculous comeback in NLCS
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber made history in the first inning of Game 3. Schwarber poked a fastball from Jacob deGrom into the bleachers in left center and became the only player in MLB history to hit five or more home runs in a single postseason before the age of 23.
Schwarber has hit the second most home runs by a rookie in a single postseason in the history of the game. Only Evan Longoria (2008) has hit more home runs (6) in his rookie campaign in the playoffs than Kyle Schwarber. And Schwarber is one of 37 players in MLB history to hit five or more home runs in a single post-season.
Kyle Schwarber also passed Aramis Ramirez (4), Alex Gonzalez (4) and Frank Demaree (3) on the Cubs’ All-Time postseason home run list. Jorge Soler added his name to the list in the fourth inning went he went yard for the third time in the playoffs.
In eight playoff games, Schwarber is 9-for-24 with five home runs and three walks (.375/.444/1.000) for a 1.444 OPS.
Rick Renteria
According to a report from Comcast SportsNet, former Cubs’ skipper Rick Renteria is being considered by the White Sox to be Robin Ventura’s bench coach. The Sox let Mark Parent go at the end of the season basically making him the fall guy for Ventura.
Rick Renteria has not talked to the media since he was let go a year ago when Joe Maddon became available and the Cubs decided to make a change.
According to the report, Manny Acta and Raul Ibanez are also candidates for the job.
News and Notes
• The Cubs played the Theme from Rocky during introductions, Ferguson Jenkins threw out the first pitch wearing an Ernie Banks jersey and a Ron Santo video led the crowd for the Seventh Inning Stretch in Game 3.
• According to Paul Sullivan, Wrigley Field’s bullpens are an unappreciated and endangered pleasure.
• Jon Heyman emptied his Cubs’ notebook.
• Paul Sullivan talked to Jeff Santo, Ron Santo’s son, about the Hall of Famer and Cubs’ legend dislike of the Mets wasn’t an act. Pat Hughes has also said over the years since he passed away that Santo couldn’t stand anything about the Mets. Jeff Santo knows his father would have loved this year’s team.
• Jorge Soler has shown why in the playoffs why the Cubs viewed him as a building block according to Comcast SportsNet.
• Matt Harvey’s triceps muscle was a lot better Tuesday according to a report from Jon Paul Morosi. It appears if there is a Game 5 that Matt Harvey will be able to start.
This Day In Cubstory
1994 – Cubs granted free agency to Donn Pall
1991 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Geremi Gonzalez
1959 – George Bell, born
1909 – Bill Lee, born
1886 – The Chicago National League Ball Club lost 8-5 to St. Louis as the Browns evened the Championship Series at Sportsman’s Park.