2018-09-27: Other Games including Pirates (Williams) at Cubs (Lester) 7:05 PM CDT

[Eye Black]

 

Other game with NL Postseason implications:

 

Phillies (Arrieta) at Rockies (Senzatela) at 2:05pm

[razzzorsharp]

Go not-Cubs!

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

What a terrific late-season pitching matchup. Really looking forward to watching this game. The Cubs offense showed signs of life last night, but I predict they go back into their hole tonight, and looking at the pitchers the Cards are throwing this weekend, the Cubs offense may not emerge.

 

The Pirates are going to be a thorn in the sides of the Brewers and Cubs for the next several years. That pitching staff is legit, especially if Archer finds more consistency.

 

Also, go Phillies! They've looked horrible in that series against the Rockies, bit Arrieta is going tonight, so maybe. The more the Rockies and Dodgers lose, the longer the Cardinals can hang around the playoff chase, which makes their games against the Cubs all the more meaningful.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I've thought for a few weeks that the result of this game would determine who ultimately wins the division between the brewers and cubs. If the two teams head into the final weekend tied, huge advantage brewers. If the cubs are up one, I think the most likely scenario is a game 163 for the division.

 

Hopefully the pirates get after them tonight! All brewers can do is take care of their own business and hope the pirates and cards give the cubs fits...

[YelichPosse]

LETS GO BUCCOS!

[Pugger]

Looks like we'll be watching the MLB Network tonight... Go Buccos!

[MrTPlush]

Cubs have to lose this game if we have any realistic hopes of winning this division outright without Game 163. What a fun weekend it would make.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Cubs have to lose this game if we have any realistic hopes of winning this division outright without Game 163. What a fun weekend it would make.

 

Even if the Cubs win, they only have a one game lead. Seeing the Cards take 2 of 3 this weekend wouldn't surprise me in the least.

 

If its gets to #163, I love the Brewers' chances. The only thing that worries me is that Quintana would be lined up to start that game. He's been the Brewers' kryponite since going to the Cubs.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Cubs have to lose this game if we have any realistic hopes of winning this division outright without Game 163. What a fun weekend it would make.

 

Not sure about that. They can win this game and go 1-2 over the weekend and the Brewers would still win with a sweep. Sweeps are always a challenge, but it's at home against a gutted 60ish win team. The Cubs have a pretty brutal ending stretch of opposing SP.

 

At this point, it is close to 50/50 between us. But basically if they lose today, we become the favorite.

[MrTPlush]

At this point, it is close to 50/50 between us. But basically if they lose today, we become the favorite.

 

Exactly my point. We probably are the favorite if they lose, but if they win they are the favorite and like our best shot is Game 163. Anything can happen, but sweeping the Tigers and then hoping the Cubs go 1-2 is a push.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I am trying to balance a lot of emotions with this game tonight and all the amazing exciting of yesterday. Primarily, I really, really, really want to win the division. Like, obviously I'd rather have a World Series, but that's such a difficult, unrealistic goal for a team like Milwaukee that it just seems like something to dream about. The division is so close. We have a legit shot. So, I want it bad, and every step that takes it further away, every Cub win or Brewer loss stings.

 

On the other hand, we are in the dance. We have won 92 games. We just swept the hated Cardinals at Busch to clinch a playoff sport and decked their locker room with champagne. I mean, I cannot ask for more from this season.

 

So, I am all-in on the Bucs tonight, the Cards this weekend, and the Crew the rest of the way and trying to make sure that any bitterness that comes up over the next few days still feels sweet in the big picture.

 

If we can just take 2 of 3 from Detroit, I feel good about our chances. The Cubs look gassed, and they don't get any breaks. That crowd looks ready to crumble a la 2003. The fall starts tonight! Go Williams! Raise the Jolly Roger!

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I am trying to balance a lot of emotions with this game tonight and all the amazing exciting of yesterday. Primarily, I really, really, really want to win the division. Like, obviously I'd rather have a World Series, but that's such a difficult, unrealistic goal for a team like Milwaukee that it just seems like something to dream about. The division is so close. We have a legit shot. So, I want it bad, and every step that takes it further away, every Cub win or Brewer loss stings.

 

On the other hand, we are in the dance. We have won 92 games. We just swept the hated Cardinals at Busch to clinch a playoff sport and decked their locker room with champagne. I mean, I cannot ask for more from this season.

 

So, I am all-in on the Bucs tonight, the Cards this weekend, and the Crew the rest of the way and trying to make sure that any bitterness that comes up over the next few days still feels sweet in the big picture.

 

If we can just take 2 of 3 from Detroit, I feel good about our chances. The Cubs look gassed, and they don't get any breaks. That crowd looks ready to crumble a la 2003. The fall starts tonight! Go Williams! Raise the Jolly Roger!

 

Seeing those fans singing "Go Cubs Go" with glee last night after those same fans were boisterously booing them Tuesday night really irked the heck out of me. What a bunch of fair-weather tools.

 

I really don't mind most of the Cubs players. Bryant and Rizzo seem like decent dudes. I'd love to have Baez's energy and enthusiasm on this team. A guy like Zobrist would be great to have around. Contreras seems like he's a jerk, and Hamels is an idiot. But for the most part, I have no beef with their players. Those fans, though .... ugh.

[torts]

why would there be a game 163? If the cubs/brewers have the same record, don't they just look at series record to determine who is first and second in a division? Would they really have to play an extra game for a non-WC position?

[Eye Black]

why would there be a game 163? If the cubs/brewers have the same record, don't they just look at series record to determine who is first and second in a division? Would they really have to play an extra game for a non-WC position?

If they finish with an identical record they will play at Wrigley on Monday to determine the NL Central Division Champion.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

why would there be a game 163? If the cubs/brewers have the same record, don't they just look at series record to determine who is first and second in a division? Would they really have to play an extra game for a non-WC position?

 

Tiebreaker at Wrigley. The field they play on is determined by the series.

 

This can't happen at this point, but it is hypothetically possible to lose that division tiebreaker, then have to play a tiebreaker after that for a wild card spot, win it, and THEN have to play the wild card.

[tmwiese55]

When I looked at pitching matchups and saw Williams in this game I marked it down as our chance. I mentioned it in some IGT threads and pointed it out to a bunch of friends. hopefully he pitches as well today as he has vs us, but with classic Brewer fan pessimism you fear he'll lay an egg today. It's basically a toss up game to me since Lester is also good. however, Vegas has Cubs as -160 today. Seems good value on Pitt there.

[MrTPlush]

Random thought useless anywhere:

 

Ticket prices have absolutely exploded for this weekend. Went from about $12 to about $30 just to get in the door. People are weird.

[Dragonbait]

And this is the first time in 15 years neither my house, or my in-laws have tickets to a game during the last weekend.

[tmwiese55]

That makes sense really, the last 3 days have made these games way more important as opposed to possibly being meaningless. I had been looking at going Friday or Sunday when it was cheap a few days ago but never bought because i figured they'd more or less have the WC locked up even if not 'technically'. Whereas now they have a legit shot at winning the division. After spending $1500 on playoff tickets yesterday, I'll probably hold off on going as of now unless someone convinces me. Maybe Sunday will be surprisingly cheap on account of people care more about a regular season Packer game vs the Bills than the Brewers winning the division.

[MrTPlush]

The price flew up because they clinched...not due to the meaningfulness. That is what makes it weird. Obvious they were going to be a playoff team throughout the weekend or clinching during it for awhile.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

That makes sense really, the last 3 days have made these games way more important as opposed to possibly being meaningless. I had been looking at going Friday or Sunday when it was cheap a few days ago but never bought because i figured they'd more or less have the WC locked up even if not 'technically'. Whereas now they have a legit shot at winning the division. After spending $1500 on playoff tickets yesterday, I'll probably hold off on going as of now unless someone convinces me. Maybe Sunday will be surprisingly cheap on account of people care more about a regular season Packer game vs the Bills than the Brewers winning the division.

 

I think a lot of people will be tuning out the Packers this weekend.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

That makes sense really, the last 3 days have made these games way more important as opposed to possibly being meaningless. I had been looking at going Friday or Sunday when it was cheap a few days ago but never bought because i figured they'd more or less have the WC locked up even if not 'technically'. Whereas now they have a legit shot at winning the division. After spending $1500 on playoff tickets yesterday, I'll probably hold off on going as of now unless someone convinces me. Maybe Sunday will be surprisingly cheap on account of people care more about a regular season Packer game vs the Bills than the Brewers winning the division.

 

I think a lot of people will be tuning out the Packers this weekend.

 

You are underestimating this big time. The Packers are always going to be more popular in this state, regardless of how the teams are actually doing. It sucks, but that's just the way it is.

 

It is pretty awesome that the Brewers are stealing some Packer thunder as we head into October, but to the majority of of Wisconsin sports fans, the Packers will always be #1, probably followed by the Badgers at #2, and the Brewers and Bucks a distant #3-#4.

[tmwiese55]

The price flew up because they clinched...not due to the meaningfulness. That is what makes it weird. Obvious they were going to be a playoff team throughout the weekend or clinching during it for awhile.

 

Maybe IDK. My guess is because people now think they might be there to clinch and/or win the division. or win a big game to take the division lead etc. But yea could also just simply be people are fired up after the last 3 days, who knows. Or a combination, kind of like the chance at the division has the people fired up.

[tmwiese55]

That makes sense really, the last 3 days have made these games way more important as opposed to possibly being meaningless. I had been looking at going Friday or Sunday when it was cheap a few days ago but never bought because i figured they'd more or less have the WC locked up even if not 'technically'. Whereas now they have a legit shot at winning the division. After spending $1500 on playoff tickets yesterday, I'll probably hold off on going as of now unless someone convinces me. Maybe Sunday will be surprisingly cheap on account of people care more about a regular season Packer game vs the Bills than the Brewers winning the division.

 

I think a lot of people will be tuning out the Packers this weekend.

 

You are underestimating this big time. The Packers are always going to be more popular in this state, regardless of how the teams are actually doing. It sucks, but that's just the way it is.

 

It is pretty awesome that the Brewers are stealing some Packer thunder as we head into October, but to the majority of of Wisconsin sports fans, the Packers will always be #1, probably followed by the Badgers at #2, and the Brewers and Bucks a distant #3-#4.

 

I rarely need to listen to anything on the radio anymore. But I'll be curious what they do Sunday if the Brewer game has huge significance. I saw some tweets last week telling people where to find the game on the radio because Packer game is on every station. Years ago I used to get frustrated you couldn't listen to late season Brewer games because they had to air 3 hours of pregame for Packer's preseason games of Joe from Suamico breaking down the 4th string D linenman who has no shot at making the team.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

That makes sense really, the last 3 days have made these games way more important as opposed to possibly being meaningless. I had been looking at going Friday or Sunday when it was cheap a few days ago but never bought because i figured they'd more or less have the WC locked up even if not 'technically'. Whereas now they have a legit shot at winning the division. After spending $1500 on playoff tickets yesterday, I'll probably hold off on going as of now unless someone convinces me. Maybe Sunday will be surprisingly cheap on account of people care more about a regular season Packer game vs the Bills than the Brewers winning the division.

 

I think a lot of people will be tuning out the Packers this weekend.

 

You are underestimating this big time. The Packers are always going to be more popular in this state, regardless of how the teams are actually doing. It sucks, but that's just the way it is.

 

It is pretty awesome that the Brewers are stealing some Packer thunder as we head into October, but to the majority of of Wisconsin sports fans, the Packers will always be #1, probably followed by the Badgers at #2, and the Brewers and Bucks a distant #3-#4.

 

I'm not underestimating it and realize the Packers are always #1 on Sunday, just stating that there will be a lot of people who don't care about a game with the Bills; the eyeballs on the Packers will be fewer than usual this weekend. This happened in the past when the Packers played the Bucs and got walloped on the day the Brewers made the WC in 2008. Nobody cared that the Packers lost and it was barely talked about anywhere. I also think a lot of people are disenchanted with the NFL right now and are looking for a reason not to watch it.

 

Full disclosure, I hate college sports, but the Packers are my #1, ahead of the Brewers, and I've got no intention of even turning that game on.