October 31, 2016: The First Crack

Whew!  My first reaction once Chapman finally slammed the door on the Indians in Game 5.  Talk about an intense game…  I was mentally exhausted after watching that 1 run Cubs win; I needed some time for my heart rate to get back to normal.  Thankfully it was a win, which equals the first crack in the dam that was the Indians 3- 1 series lead.

It’s kind of crazy when you think of it.  This Cubs team, the best team in the regular season, the heavy favorite in the World Series, now viewed as the underdog, playing with their backs against the wall.  Being down 3-1 in a series will do that to any team; it will do things to a fan base too.  Listening to some of the pregame, hearing how the energy/mood of the fans was a lot different before Sunday’s game than the previous two.  Well, no shit!  So it’s supposed to be the same mood in the stands that was there when the series was tied, or down by 1 game?  It’s not JUST Cubs fans that would react that way; it’s normal.  When your team is put to the brink of elimination, come talk to me.  It will test not only the team, but its fan base.

And now, because of the fact that each game will be played on the brink, this Cubs team has the underdog feel.  With all the stats & history working against the Cubs, they are no longer the favorite.  So this best team in the majors in the regular season, that has all the talent & skill in the world, that has the never say die attitude, now has a chip on their shoulder; that sounds like a dangerous trifecta.  It worked for Game 5.

It all really happened in the 4th, as far as the offense goes.  Was it the first crack in the offensive dam about to burst?  Well, this crack that yielded 3 runs was enough for the biggest win of the season.  I could see us building on this.  Rizzo has looked good; Russell too.  Bryant finally looked OK.  Yes, Baez and Contreras are still lost at the plate, but heading back to Cleveland means the return of the mighty Schwarbs; another potentially lethal bat in the lineup.  They’re all potentially lethal; they’ve all been pretty quiet to this point.  Thankfully, there is still time.

Thankfully, the Cubs got Chapman.  Yes, Lester was a bulldog on this night; pitching his ass off, giving us a chance.  But it was Chapman who saved the day.  Brought in earlier than any point in his career as a reliever, he entered with one on, and one out in the 7th.  Would he be able to keep it a one run game?  Would he be able to get the remaining 8 outs?  Would we pinch hit for him when he comes up?  Who would we bring in?  This game had so many twists and turns, all while the season hung in the balance.  It was tension filled.  It was the scariest or most exciting, depending how you look at it, part of this roller coaster ride.  We’ll be lining up for the next ride Tuesday night.
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Chapman did the deed.  He got a little distracted with the runner on base in the 8th, but got it done.  Then in the 9th too… right after stepping up to the plate in the bottom of the inning for only the 3rd time in his career.  It was great how everybody was messing with him, laughing in the dugout in the bottom of the 8th.  I believe that was huge, to have that light hearted interaction in the most critical moment on the sport’s biggest stage.  That seems to still be a big part of this team; the team mantra of trying to not let the pressure exceed the pleasure.  Easier said than done, but in these final games of the year, this will help.  Whether it’s Rizzo and his new Rocky theme for the team, guys joking and laughing up one in the biggest game of the season, or wearing Halloween costumes for the return trip to Cleveland, this feels like it will help.  It helped save our season on this night.  The 102 mph fastball of Chapman did too.  Once I saw the triple digits into the 9th, I knew we were good.  Ramirez stuck out, and a collective sigh of relief was let out across the city.

What’s next?  Are our hearts ready for more?  We just witnessed the biggest baseball game of most of our lives as Cubs fans.  Game 5 will only hold that title until Game 6 begins on Tuesday night, when THAT will become the biggest baseball game we will see in our lives.  We hope that only lasts 24 hours, when the best game in all of sports, Game 7 is played on Wednesday night.

The scene shifts to Cleveland for the final 2 games of the season.  Has the pressure shifted a bit?  I think so.  I think that pressure will continue to shift towards the Indians and that dam they’ve built up.  Cubs score first in Game 6…  Cubs take a lead… Cubs have a lead late… how will the mood/energy be in their stadium?  Let’s find out.

We’re about to find out what this Cubs team is all about.  We think we know.  We’ve seen it all year.  Will they be able to do it on the biggest stage when there is no alternative?  They did it for 1 night.  That was the first crack.  Game 6 is Tuesday night.  Our season is still alive, and our magic number sits at 2.  I… can’t… wait.  Let’s Go Cubs!!!