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The Daily CCO: The Series, The Schwarbs and Other Cubs News

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The World Series is now a best-of-five series with the next three games at Wrigley Field after the Cubs  5-1 win in Game 2.

Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth. Mike Montgomery was excellent for two innings and Aroldis Chapman nailed down the win. Anthony Rizzo set the tone for the offense. Rizzo worked his at-bats, doubled in Kris Bryant with the first run. Rizzo worked a 10-pitch at bat and accepted two walks that led to two runs and big innings for the Cubs.

The Cubs saw 196 pitches in Game 2, sixth most this year, and forced the Indians to throw the second most pitches they’ve thrown in a single-game this season. According to ESPN Chicago, the Cubs were within one pitch of tying the 2007 Red Sox for the most pitches seen in a nine-inning World Series game. And the Cubs are the first team since the ’07 Red Sox to have eight or more walks and nine or more hits in a World Series game.

Kyle Hendricks gets the ball in Game 3 in the first World Series game at Wrigley in over 71 years.

Kyle Schwarber is quickly becoming a legend as Anthony Rizzo called him and as many in baseball labeled him following his performance in Cleveland. Kris Bryant thinks there will be a movie made about him.

It is beyond incredible what Kyle Schwarber is doing and the lift he has given to the Cubs. Schwarber drove in two huge runs and reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk. Schwarber was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI in Game 2. And in the two games in Cleveland after not seeing Major League pitching since April 7, Schwarber went 3-for-7 with a double, two walks, a run scored and two RBI.

After Game 2, Terry Francona said that he can see why Theo Epstein sent a private jet for Kyle Schwarber and admitted he would have too.

Schwarber is the first Cubs player to drive in a run in a World Series game before the age of 24 since Augie Galan (1935). And Schwarber became the first player since the Red Sox’s Trot Nixon (Game 4, 2004) to drive in a run on a 3-0 pitch in a World Series game.

Kyle Schwarber has played in 11 postseason games and is 12-for-34 with a double, five home runs, seven runs scored and 10 RBI. Schwarber is hitting .353/.450/.824 with a 1.274 OPS in the postseason. Schwarber has the highest slugging percentage (.824) and OPS (1.274) in the history of the game among players with at least 40 plate appearances (Willie Aikens: 1.215; Lou Gehrig: 1.214; Babe Ruth: 1.214)

The Cubs have a mandatory workout at Wrigley on Thursday afternoon (3:00pm CDT).

Joe Maddon said Schwarber will be evaluated by team doctors and might take fly balls in the outfield. Schwarber has not been cleared by doctors to play in the field. And Maddon stressed it would be up to the doctors and front office to make that decision.

Schwarber pointed out he has not worked out in the field. And as for where he plays in the games at Wrigley, Schwarber said, “We’ll see where it goes. Nothing set in stone. No one has told me anything. As of now, the story is still the same.”

Theo Epstein said, “He’s got tremendous strength and flexibility in the knee, as demonstrated by what he’s done out there. We’ll see. If he does end up playing out there, we’ll make sure he’s smart about it. If he doesn’t, we’ll put him in a big spot to take one of the most important at-bats of the game.”

World Series Post-Game Reports, News and Notes

Here are the post-game reports, news and notes from Game 2 of the World Series …

• CCO – Cubs Relentless in Game 2 Win, Even The World Series

• According to Comcast SportsNet, Jake Arrieta comes up aces as Cubs ride World Series momentum back to Wrigley Field. Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in Game 2. Arrieta gave up a double to Jason Kipnis with one out in the sixth for the Indians’ first hit. Arrieta has the fourth longest no-hit bid in World Series play since 1956. And Arrieta’s 5 1/3 innings of no-hit ball is the third longest no-hit bid in Cubs World Series history (Ed Reulbach: 6 innings, Game 2 of 1906 World Series; Mordecai ‘Three Finger’ Brown: 5 2/3 innings, Game 4 of 1906 World Series).

• The Tribune reported Jake Arrieta and Kyle Schwarber gave the Cubs a big lift in Game 2 victory. David Haugh reported Jake Arrieta is the picture of cool, chills Indians bats as Cubs restore order.

• ESPN Chicago reported the Cubs flip the script as vintage Arrieta and Schwarber pull Chicago even in World Series.

• Anthony Rizzo is hitting again and enjoying every moment of The World Series according to Paul Sullivan.

• Comcast SportsNet reported the Cubs roll over the Indians to even up The World Series. According to ESPN Chicago, the next stop is Chicago after the Cubs trounce the Tribe to even The World Series. And the Sun-Times reported Jake Arrieta, bats rock Cleveland as Cubs even World Series.

• Mike Montgomery and Willson Contreras were the hidden stars of Game 2 according to ESPN.

• Kris Bryant scored the first run Wednesday night in Cleveland which was the first run scored by a Cubs player in a World Series since Peanuts Lowrey in Game 7 of the ’45 Series. According to Christopher Kamka, 873 different Cubs scored a run during the regular season between Lowrey in Game 7 of the ’45 Series and Bryant on Wednesday night.

• Ben Zobrist joined Babe Ruth as the only two players in history with multiple three-hit games in World Series play. Zobrist had three hits on Tuesday night and three hits in Game 1 of the 2015 Series with the Royals. Babe Ruth had three-hit games in the 1927 and 1928 World Series.

• Ben Zobrist is the third player in Cubs history with five hits in first two games of a World Series, joining Stan Hack (1938) and Riggs Stephenson (5).

• When asked about Game 3 at Wrigley Field, Ben Zobrist said he cannot imagine what it’s going to be like. Zobrist knows, like his teammates, that the old ballyard is going to be electric.

• After Game 2, Dexter Fowler was asked about the Cubs winning the first World Series game since 1945. And Fowler said, “Y’all talk history. We’re just trying to make it.”

• Joe Maddon explained why Jason Heyward is still out of the Cubs World Series lineup.

• The Indians expect to bounce back from sloppy World Series Game 2 loss to the Cubs according to Comcast SportsNet.

Addison Russell

Addison Russell quietly had a very good game Wednesday in Cleveland. Russell went 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI in Game 2. Russell walked with the bases loaded in the fifth and forced in Kyle Schwarber with the Cubs fifth and final run of the game.

Russell’s hit came in the fourth inning, a single to center, and it was a lot more than just a basehit.

Addison Russell became the first African-American player to record a hit for the Cubs in World Series history.

Dexter Fowler was the first African-American to play for the Cubs in a World Series game when he stepped in the box leading off Game 1 on Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Willson Contreras

Willson Contreras will be behind the plate for Game 3 at Wrigley on Friday night to catch Kyle Hendricks. And other than the start Jon Lester will make in Game 5, Contreras is likely to be the Cubs’ starting catcher for the remainder of The Series.

Joe Maddon said before Game 2 that Contreras will likely start the rest of The Series with the exception of when Lester pitches. The Cubs know Contreras must control the Indians’ running game. And Contreras has done a very good job when he’s been back there.

Maddon said Miguel Montero could be used as part of a double switch and as a pinch-hitter.

In the last two games that Contreras has been the starting catcher, the Dodgers and Indians have scored a combined one run on six hits. Contreras guided Arrieta through a rough start Wednesday and in Game 6 of the NLCS, Hendricks and Chapman faced the minimum in nine shutout innings.

Comcast SportsNet reported Contreras made his presence felt in Game 2 after apologizing on Twitter for his actions in Game 1. And the Sun-Times reported Contreras apologizes for untimely bat flip and quickly atones for his mistake.

Indians Rotation

Terry Francona announced before Game 2 that the Indians will use a three-man rotation for The World Series.

Corey Kluber will start Game 4 at Wrigley and if The Series goes to a Game 7 he will get the ball for the deciding game. The Indians have Kluber scheduled to start games four and seven.

The Indians are banking on Kluber repeating his Game 1 performance, which was just off the charts. Daren Willman reported Kluber threw 88 pitches in Game 1, 27 percent of them were called strikes … his highest percentage of any start he made this year.

According to ESPN Chicago, Kluber has started one game in his career on three days rest and he allowed two runs in five innings in a game the Indians lost. Kluber has already pitched 24 1/3 innings this postseason in four starts … the rest of the Indians rotation, 24 innings in six starts.

Josh Tomlin is starting Game 3 at Wrigley against Kyle Hendricks. Tomlin would return in Game 6 and Trevor Bauer is scheduled for Game 5 on Sunday night at Wrigley against Jon Lester.

All three of the Indians starters will be pitching on short rest after Game 3.

Cubs TV Ratings

The Cubs ratings for The World Series are phenomenal.

As would be expected, the Cubs are must-see TV. Game 2 posted a 35.4 Chicago market rating with a peak audience of 40.4, which is 1.4 million homes according to Jeff Nuich. Game 1 had a 34.1 Chicago market rating, 1.18 million homes.

As Danny Ecker reported, people watched Game 1 of The World Series like it was the first-ever Cubs World Series game on television, because it was.

This Day in Cubstory

2015 – White Sox selected Jacob Turner off waivers from the Cubs

2012 – Cubs signed free agent Edwin Maysonet

2005 – Cubs granted free agency to Jeromy Burnitz

2003 – Cubs granted free agency to Tom Goodwin

1999 – Cubs signed free agent Mike Mahoney

1998 – Cubs granted free agency to Chris Haney

1997 – Cubs granted free agency to Dave Clark and Dave Hansen

1993 – Cubs granted free agency to Glenallen Hill

1992 – Cubs granted free agency to Jeff Robinson

1987 – Jay Jackson, born

1924 – Cubs traded Vic Aldridge, Al Niehaus and George Grantham to the Pirates for Wilbur Cooper, Rabbit Maranville and Charlie Grimm

1922 – Ralph Kiner, born

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