STAYING ALIVE: Chicago Cubs with close win over Brewers

STAYING ALIVE: Chicago Cubs with close win over Brewers

As Rocky said to Tommy Gun in Rocky 5, “I didn’t hear no bell.” You are Locked on Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked Onet. Your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day alongside Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app. Create an account. Use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Cubs defeated the Brewers 43 in game three of the NLDS on Wednesday night. Cubs forced another game in the series which we’ll preview later in the show. Go over all the key moments. Jameus and Tyone again with a nice effort, the bullpen defense and more. Sam, the Cubs have to take this one day at a time by putting themselves in the 20 hole, but now they have a win on the board. Yeah, this game this game felt eerily similar to me. Well, not eerily is the wrong word, but it felt strikingly similar to me. If you remember the 2017 elimination game at home against the Dodgers down 3 0 where they just kind of survived and and and and stole a game and that’s what they did. Um it was a really interesting game because you know where I guess I want to start is just how important that first inning was. Not the bottom first but the top of the first because things could have really gotten out of hand early there. Uh you know you’re in a little bit of a jam. you get Contrarus to pop out on the infield. I I’ve never seen that not be called an infield fly rule. Um the every Cub lost the ball in the sun. My guess is is that they deemed it, you know, Bush probably was screaming right away that he couldn’t see it. So the ump was like, “Hey, this isn’t a basic typical play, so I can’t call that.” And I mean, that could have been a disaster. Bases loaded, one out. And you know, we’re going to give uh JMO his flowers again here later, but uh I mean, out of everything that he did, just getting out of that, only giving up one run felt like a huge huge part of the game. Um and then the Cubs obviously uh exploded uh in the first inning for four runs offensively, which was great to see. And then, you know, didn’t do anything the rest of the game. Uh but uh JMO bullpen and the first inning Cubs offense, it was enough to get a a very typical almost a predictable at this point 43 32 type win here at Wrigley Field. Well, you can make a case the first inning decided the three games so far. Yep. I don’t think you got to make a case. You could Well, it was tied after right Monday if you want to take take me literally, but sure. Uh yeah, it wasn’t good news. Wednesday was though uh after the drop popup, the anxiety creeps in. The anxiety creeps in, the the worry, but to do what they did against Quinn Pier and just take a beat, take a moment and do damage immediately and exit the first inning with a lead. Yeah, after the first half, you were trailing. That wasn’t the goal, but to go plus three after one whole inning, uh it it changed the whole tone of the game. It was a grind grinded out game, but for them to send nine hitters to the plate, uh four runs on three hits, three walks, Bush goes solo shot. Pete with a huge two out hit, half later scores on on the wild pitch. Um, but we knew that Priestster wasn’t going to get a lot a lot of swing and miss, especially against this lineup. Mhm. Uh, I thought the Cubs did what they were supposed to do and then some. And, uh, if you’re going to live to fight another day, which they’re doing here, um, that that’s the that’s the moments that that you need. And, uh, you know, there’s still a lot of meat on the bone, but I I found myself welcoming the anxiety and welcoming it tomorrow. I’m glad it will happen again. Yeah. Uh because I’m I’m going to soak this in. I’m going to miss it when it’s gone, whenever that is. Um and yes, the offense didn’t do much from there. Uh going one for nine with runners in scoring position, leaving seven on base. Um but to to make an impact like that right away, uh it was just it was it was different. And I think it was it was necessary after putting themselves in the hole. They did. I can’t say I’m welcoming the anxiety. I got thumbs and I got saltines. Yeah. Uh but you know if that’s What time did you have what? Give us a time stamp about when the last time you had regular food. Oh, uh early in the like early in the game like in the second or third. Oh, during the game. Yeah, I was calm early. We were up 4-1, right? And then by about the fifth six, that’s when I started to switch. Okay. Um, could I give you a an MVP of the game for me or game ball if you will? Game ball is a good one. Yeah. Start doing that. How about Caleb Dealbar? Sure. He came in the eighth inning, man, nobody out. Left on left. Uh, and and you know, Bryce Terra obviously he could really hit anybody. strikes him out easily, you know, easily. And then does a really nice job to Contraras. Hey, you know what? If you chase this, congrats to you and you’re out. If you walk, take your take your base. I’m not giving in to you. And then he gets Freelick to ground out. I just thought that was a really really big uh uh spot in the game. And and Keller Keller looks a little bit off. Like his velocity isn’t exactly where it is. He looks, you know, he has had a couple bad misses, but credit him um for for being able to, you know, do that there, get four outs with the with the season on the line like that. And that that strike out of Bowers was uh you know, that was big. That was big time stuff. How about how about how weird was that AB? The first pitch Bowers tries to call time. UMP doesn’t give it to him. Free pitch. It’s a free pitch and Keller still misses outside. That’s a lot, by the That’s when I was like, “Oh, man.” Um, couple of quick notes before before you before uh uh uh you comment on this. Um I just want to say this. Really poor uh umpiring game. Uh really poor on both sides. Really poor. Um and um come on. No, it was really poor. And then I also want to say the production of TBS uh not up to playoff standards. Go ahead. Oh wow. That’s this early in the show. See, that was at the bottom of my outline. Oh, yeah. That’s why I thought I thought TBS has been horrific. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and it’s a it’s it’s too bad as a uh media nerd like myself. Well, I mean, I couldn’t see Sal Felic made one of the better catches you’ll ever see a right fielder make at Wrigley Field. I I didn’t see it. Well, the thing about Keller, Sam, he he self-induced the bases loaded. He walks the first guy Durban and then struck out Bowers. But then pretty much a blink in the ninth and the game the game was over. Yep. Couple couple things I I I did want to run by you of things I would have liked to have seen or I’m wondering about. Please. Number one, bottom of the third, first and second, no outs. Should Carson Kelly have sacrificed bunted? Yeah. And number two, in the last three innings of the game, when it gets to the seventh, if Kyle Tucker reaches base, I feel you need to seriously consider Castro Contra there. Now, Castro’s been a nice acquisition at the deadline and then Bisteros would get the AB if it even would get to his spot. But I think Tucker needs to be run for in the last three innings. I get a sense that you agree with me. Uh yeah, I think I agree with you on both accounts. I think I think the first account the reason why they didn’t bunt him is if I remember correctly, Kintana was pitching. Um and then so then you Yeah, he was sets up second and third one out for Pete in a spot where he’s left on left or maybe he KS uh and Kelly hits lefties better. But it was Yeah, it was aggravating throughout the game just them not being able to just plate one run after that. just felt like one one more. Um but you know, maybe they’ll do it tomorrow. Um maybe we’ll do it tomorrow. I’m I’m refreshing here to get some matchups for you and I I don’t have any. Um but I uh I’m excited. You know what I mean? One more day. I think they’ll do gamesmanship, but we won’t find out till like five tomorrow. Oh, that late. I may I mean I put a time stamp on it, but I think it’ll just be tomorrow. Well, we’ll talk about it later. I mean, it has to I feel like it has to be Peralta for them. For the knockout punch, you would think so. Yeah. All right, coming up next, the Cubs didn’t need any more runs. Would have been more comfortable, but Tyion Kama Jameson and the bullpen and the defense outstanding once again. Let’s get to it next. Today’s episode is brought to you by Rouette. Guys, you’ve probably heard of Viagra Seialis, but maybe you’ve even tried them. But if you’re looking for something beyond the usual pill, it’s time to meet Rouette Golong. That’s exactly where Rouette Golong comes in. This isn’t just another ED pill. It’s a total game changer for confidence. Golong combines two doctor trusted medications and one dualaction formula so you can get hard and go the distance. The effects can last up to 36 hours. That’s confidence all day, all night, and even into the next day. The process is simple. Connect with a board certified doctor 100% online. And if prescribed, your treatment ships discreetly right next to your door. If prescribed, your treatment ships discreetly right to your door. Ready to level up your confidence in the bedroom? Head to rouette.com, rug gi.com, and use promo code locked on MLB for 15% off your first order. That’s rouette.com. Promo code locked on MLB. Make sure to use our code so that they know we sent you for rouette. Shout out to the everydayers and you can become a locked on cubs everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week. And if you’re driving home from Wrigley right now, thank you so much for joining us. Also, uh on demand, Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast, thank you so much for being here. And Sam, I think Jameson Tyion has turned into uh my my new favorite player, at least for for this month. After throwing four shut out last week to lead the Cubs to a wildcard series win, Tyion went four more innings on Wednesday against the rival Brewers. He ended up with five hits, two runs, one walk, three strikeouts. And again, this is a guy that posted a one erra his final six starts of the regular season. and he’s continued that when it when it matters most. Yeah, I I I thought J Mo was, you know, I’m not counting the the the earn run in the first that, you know, Major League Baseball. Let’s get some common sense in here. Just call it a team error. You know what I mean? And get on with it. Wonder why they haven’t done that yet. Um, eight innings, two runs backs back against the wall against two tough teams. And, you know, he really had to work for it. He he kind of dominated the Padres’s. um you know when they got a chance to face each other but today was a grind. Today was a serious grind. This is a a really really difficult lineup right now to navigate against man. I think he threw 73 75 pitches something like that in four innings and he really really had to execute and you know he’s come up now twice in just critical critical spots. I mean, it’s what you it’s what you kind of evaluate it all on, you know, one one one game, everything on the line, and he’s delivered. And um you’re right. I I I really do think that going into his last season, at least in terms of his contract with the Cubs next year, you know, the next time he gives up like four or five homers on like a Thursday, uh, you know, in in May, I’m going to I’m going to really go a lot easier on him because yes, he’s shown his true colors. I give him a lot of credit for competing the way he did. And again, his numbers won’t tell you how good he was today if you didn’t have a chance to watch the game because he he would have he that game could have gotten away from everybody in the first inning and it wouldn’t have been his fault and he delivered and got the job done. And we’ve all had our wrong predictions. I I would like to be there when uh Justin Steel finds out that you you thought he would remain a reliever. Uh, but we were really wrong about Jameson Tyion. I I was personally I remember titling an episode they must trade him last year. If they didn’t have him, they would they wouldn’t even be close to this where he missed time this year. But but I I just I reflected on that as I was mowing the lawn today. I was really wrong about that. Well, I think I think first impression he’s been he’s been a a revelation at times. Yeah, I think a steady veteran presence. His first year was not good. His second year was really good. This year was up and down up until the last month plus of the season when he turned into right now the best guy out there. And I think I it it it goes back to the frustrations of game one and two because the second best guy has been Colin Ray uh uh uh outside Yeah. He outside of leverage outside of Horton. So that’s what’s going to make uh uh games four game four’s decision um very very uh fascinating. But um you know it’s uh he just seems like a guy that’s not afraid of the moment and even if I remember correctly I’d have to go back and check but even at the end of 23 he made some really big starts I felt like for the Cubs in September. So um you know just just seems like a guy that’s confident. Uh, and it’s funny you bring up Steel because he was saying before the game today on Marquee, he’s like, you know, this is the guy you want on the mound, J Mo. Like, he’s gonna be it’s gonna be all good. And, uh, so seems like his teammates feel the same way. And then they went to the bullpen. Pomerance, Palencia, Kitridge, Theelbar, and Keller. Uh, Pomerance and Palencia both had perfect innings. Sam Pomerance has had all perfect innings in the postseason. Uh Kitridge allowed the leadoff homer to Bowers that went one then went one, two, three. I I I get the matchups to Cheerio. I guess I was Yeah. In my non-analytical brain, I was just hoping Yeah. single frames per person. Sure. Sure. But Kitridge allows the double. Then you get back to the key moment. You already I thought Yeah. I thought that ball I don’t know. Yeah. Should it have been caught? No. Could a guy like Pete make that catch? Yes. Yes. Wasn’t hit that hard. Yeah. I mean Council, we’ve learned with Council, he’s he’s going matchup over inning, right? So it’s it’s He’s not going to bring out Theelbar there to get hit by Cheerio. He’s just going matchup matchup matchup, which which is why tomorrow will be so fascinating. Yeah, it will. And uh the five short relief dudes, Pomerance, Valencia, Kitra, Filibar, Keller, here are their postseason numbers right now. 18 and a3 innings, 12 hits, six runs, four walks, 18 strikeouts, erra of 2.95. Uh do you remember the Rangers run in 2023? Who their standout guys were? Uh, was it like that guy Kirk? He with his last name. He had a weird last name. I forgot his name. It was just like two relievers that came out of nowhere. Yeah. Like Kirk something with a Yeah, it was uh Sabors. Yeah. And then and then the the the righty. Uh I’m forgetting the other one now. You’re right. Ah, it’s like ah or was it Chris Martin? No, there was another one that closed games for them. I got I’ll look it up. But Sabors was Yeah, it was him and one other guy, Jose L. Clerk. L. Clerk. And and and they they were a major reason they they won a World Series. And I just think again, I’m not getting ahead of myself, although if I did, uh so what? But these five guys, they’ve done well. They have for the most part and then some. And um I I would I would be open to creativity with them on Thursday and uh yeah, there’s a lot to discuss about that and we’re going to do that right after this. This episode is brought to you by Game Time. There’s nothing like catching a baseball game live. the energy, the crowd, the chance to see your team in person. But actually getting tickets, that’s the tough part. 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All right, Cubs live to fight another day. And that day is Thursday for game four of NLDDS. If the Dodgers sweep the Phillies tonight, then the Cubs and Brewers will play at 6:08 p.m. Central. And if Dodgers Phillies also goes to a game four uh with the Phillies winning tonight, then the game will be in the earlier slot. That one will be. And Cubs Brewers will be at 808 just like it was earlier. Wow. This week, Matthew Boyd would be on regular rest, but I would uh not do that. I just think Boyd that quickly again, albeit on regular rest after going on short rest last time, uh would be the wrong move. Freddy Peralta is available for the knockout punch for them. Uh unless both sides do a bullpen game with Aaron Savale being a possible bulk guy, I guess. Misarowski possible bulk guy for them. Yep. Uh without probable pitchers, FanDuel has both teams at minus 110. And man, I just it would be hard to imagine if Peralta didn’t pitch, but if he does and you beat him, uh then you start to visualize a historic comeback. And it would be I think because only 10 teams in the history of the game, have come back down 20 in a best of five. I think if if they pitch Ben Sheets tomorrow and you find a way to beat him, that’s a good reference. It’s a historic comeback. You you’re thinking about it. get this thing back to Milwaukee, you have now really accomplished something. And and it gets really, really interesting because I don’t care who you are, what team you are, how great you may be, how much you put the ball in play. When you go from 20 to 22, and all of a sudden, Monday night, it’s 200, you’re feeling great, and then you come back later that week and your season’s on the line, um that’s that’s a lot of pressure. And at that point, even if the Brewers won, it’s more of a, hey, good job by you for for handling that sort of pressure, but the Cubs need to put that pressure on them. And they would put the ultimate ultimate pressure on them by finding a way to win game four. Now, how are they going to do that? I I think Boyd’s going to pitch at some point. He he’s on regular rest. Um, and we might be to close the game. We talked about this a little bit after the game on Saturday of, hey, you know, he’s the type of guy that you’d think would want redemption. You know, he doesn’t want to end his season with Monday being his performance, twothirds of an inning. Um, what does that look like? I don’t know. You know, does that mean he starts and goes one time through the order? Does Craig employ the exact same? Is there anybody that you think pitched today that is absolutely unavailable tomorrow? Let’s start there besides JMO obviously. No, I agree with you. I agree. So that’s five that that could be five innings right there. So you got 15 pitches from Pomerance, 15 from Palencia, 18 Kitridge, 11 Theobelar, 19 Keller. All those guys are going to go tomorrow. Okay, that’s five innings if they’re available, you know, and if if the spot I mean not if they’re available, if the spot calls for it. So that’s five innings. So can you get four out of Boyd or do you split it up and go two boy to Ray? I like the Boyd Ray combo for Saturday, but you got to get there first. Well, I’m talking about tomorrow. Yeah. And I just Yeah, I’m talking about tomorrow. How many did Ray throw Monday? Yeah, I can I can I can get that info for you. I just don’t know if Ry is Ray in gym shoes or they just say, “Hey, no.” Well, nobody Nobody on the roster is in gym shoes tomorrow. Not even him. You make him put Cle. What if the game goes 20 innings? You know what I mean? It’s all hands on deck. You’re you’re playing for your your your season. Okay. So, let me tell you how many pitches Ray threw because that’s a great question. And the answer, that’s why I asked it. The answer is 60. Oh, so he’s unavailable for Thursday. What a waste in theory. So So yeah, two days. Yeah, but he could start Saturday if it got there. Anyway, we’re not talking about Saturday. I get why why maybe some frustration would lie there. I keep referencing that. But dare I ask you this? I think so. I think so. Here. Can I can I give my plan? Sure. I think Savale goes one inning the first inning. No. No. And then the five guys. Boyd 789. No. What? No. No. Savali’s the bulk guy. Um my question is is you don’t think you’re going to see any Ben Brown tomorrow, do you? No. He’s a well he’s an option somewhere but I don’t know about I don’t know I think it would be shorter a shorter outing for him that wouldn’t be in bulk for me anyway meaning yeah he’s definitely on the he’s towards the top of the list I and it’s not just because he had success against Milwaukee in the regular campaign Sam it’s because he can strike people out yeah but this team doesn’t strike out a lot Paul skins could strike people out. He couldn’t strike out these guys. The You want to just get these guys to hit the baseball and move on? I don’t That’s a no for me. Um I’m going to go with I think it’s just going to be Boyd for a few hopefully. And then What does a few mean at this stage? Yeah, three. Ty went to 18 guys. Yeah, three or four. So 18 guys or a little bit less? Maybe 12? I’m just going to go innings. Three or four innings. Why? But but you need to go batters though. He’s not going to go a third. He’s not going to face Cheurio a third time. We agreed on that. Yes. Okay, you’re right. Yeah. I don’t know how many batters that is. Um if he goes four innings, I think the Cubs might win. Um and then my And then if he can’t, can you squeeze out an inning out of Ray or can you squeeze out an inning out of an inning or two out of Savale? But I think they’re going to want to save in case the game goes extras and they run out of guys. Well, but if in in your scenario, if Boyd goes four, the game is it’s just like today, the game’s completed by the five guys. Is there anybody else on the bullpen roster that we have a remote amount of any confidence in to pitch in high leverage besides the guys that pitched today? So, it’s just it’s just Brown. There’s no Rogers, right? Sroa is available. Yeah. Okay. So maybe Sarroa throws an inning instead of Savali. So maybe you go Boyd for three, Sarroa for one, and then those guys. Yeah. Yeah. See, I for whatever reason I I I would like to go to those five quicker. Quicker. Yeah. Like you want to see like Palencia and Well, I think they should follow Boyd somehow. Ideally, it would be after the fourth, but it might be in after the third. Yeah. Right. Um, any concerns? I like I have many concerns, but I’m trying to enjoy the moment. Yeah. No, 100%. And then I would say the other side of it, I think you should switch Hap and Pete in the lineup. The other side of it, I’d say, is with Freddy most likely going tomorrow, they’re Oh, yeah. I’d like to hear your thoughts on that because they beat him what, once this year? Yeah. I mean, it’s not an ideal situation to face Freddy because he gets so many fly balls. Um, and then so so the wind’s going to be blowing in. But I I don’t know. I got a weird feeling that the Cubs, you don’t want a guy to see a team too much. I think this is going to be like his sixth start versus the Cubs this year. I mean, there’s just no secrets at that point. Um, you know, same thing with Boyd, right, against them. With Boyd, it would be Cubs are up to minus 112 favorite as we speak. Fourth, I think it’d be his fourth. Um, their pitching plan seems pretty obvious. Peralta, some sort of combination of Peralta, Megill, Yuribe, and then maybe like a Miserowski in there. Maybe I would think unless they try to get weird about it. Well, this whole thing is weird. I mean, I just I I I miss the days when I used to watch baseball and you just knew who’s getting the ball and that was it. I mean, we might not know who gets the ball till like, you know, an hour before the game. Well, Tyler Glass now pitched out of the bullpen the other day for the Dodgers and and and Suzaki’s closing. I know. And Tanner Scott is basically off the whiteboard. Yeah. As as the depth chart performances. But listen, give these guys um credit for battling. Maybe there’s some sort of thing you could just do after each inning and be like, “It’s the first inning, fellas. you know, because they uh they score a lot of runs. Man, I’ll tell you, Seiya was really close to having another big game today, too. By the way, that ball that catch that Freelick made right field was a great catch. I can’t I I can’t believe it. I know. I know. Catches that ball at Wrigley, especially during that that time of day. Yeah. And if they score against Peralta early, if that’s what ends up happening, he starts, the place is going to be so loud. Yeah. What did you think of the crowd today? Thought it was good. Okay. Yeah. I thought it I thought there’s another notch they can get to. Yeah. I just wish I could listen to another broadcast. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Lock. One more and send this thing back network. Oh, it’d be fantastic. Your team every day. For your second listen, check out Locked on MLB game night. Go there right after this every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lockdown MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. And selfishly, can we could they play at six? Could the Dodgers win tonight? Literally, we’re about to end this show and if the Phillies win tonight, Thursday’s game would not have even started. I’d like a six o’clock start. I think that’s fair. No, that’s fair. It’s fair to you, sir. All right. No ma, whatever time the game starts, we’ll be back right after it. Game four, NLDS Thursday. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs.

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