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Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/index.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
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<title type="text">Bleed Cubbie Blue</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Chicago Cubs news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-10-14T04:07:28+00:00</updated>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/index.xml</id>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Cubs BCB After Dark: Grade the 2025 Cubs]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/bcb-after-dark/199445/cubs-bcb-after-dark-grade-the-2025-cubs" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199445</id>
<updated>2025-10-14T00:07:28-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-14T00:10:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="BCB After Dark" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It’s the first week of the offseason here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a couple of tables available. Bring your […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2240202853.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
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It’s the first week of the offseason here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a couple of tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
The Mariners went up 2 games to none in the American League Championship Series with a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/13/813044/final/box">10-3 rout of the Blue Jays.</a> Blake Snell threw a dominating start for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but the Dodgers weak bullpen almost blew it in the ninth. But “almost blow it” and “blown it” are not the same things and the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-brewers/2025/10/13/813036/final">Dodgers beat the Brewers 2-1.</a>
Last week, the Cubs were still in the National League Division Series and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/bcb-after-dark/198873/cubs-bcb-after-dark-matthew-boyd-aaron-civale-colin-rea-ben-brown">I asked who you thought should start Game 4.</a> Matthew Boyd started the game on four days rest and 41 percent of you said that is what you would have done as well. Another 35 percent of you would have started Aaron Civale and gone with a bullpen game after that.
Here’s the part where I play jazz and we talk movies. You’re free to skip that if you want. You probably won’t hurt my feelings.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Tonight we have a performance from guitarist Julian Lage at the Blue Note Tokyo club this past August. Joining Lage is drummer Dave King and bassist Jorge Roeder. 
This is “Speak to Me.” It’s a bit mellow to help you wind down for the night.
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="JULIAN LAGE "Speak to Me" - MISSING VOICES - BLUE NOTE TOKYO Live 2024" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VThGdZ3Y09A?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
I’ve been working on the upcoming BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic that we’re going to start very shortly. Maybe a week from today. This will be the biggest tournament we’ve have yet, featuring some of the 32 best science fiction movies from the 20th Century. 
I intentionally wrote “some of the best” for a couple of reasons. The first is that when I make up these lists, I don’t just go by my own tastes. My own tastes certainly plays a role, but I also use several online rankings as a guide. If a film that I don’t like much shows up in these lists, I will probably add it on the assumption that a lot of you might like it and I might be an idiot. And vice-versa. If there’s a film that I love that isn’t in the rankings, then maybe it’s not as good as I think it is.
It’s an impossible task to decide what is the “best” science fiction movie of the 20th Century and once I admitted that, things became a lot easier. We’re not trying to crown the “best” or “greatest” science fiction film over a 100-year span. We’re trying to decide which film is going to win our offseason tournament. Sure, there’s some overlap there, but our main purpose is to have some fun and learn about a lot of movies. 
So when deciding what films make the tournament, I had to decide what films would be the most “fun” to have in the tournament. And for a film to be fun, you have to be able to see it or have already seen it. Originally I had listed director Kathryn Bigelow’s 1995 film Strange Days as a film that should be in the “modern” bracket. It shows up very highly in several rankings of science fiction films.
But there was a problem. The first is that I’ve never seen it. If you know what my life was like in 1995, that wouldn’t be a surprise and in any case, the film was considered a box office flop at the time. But I was very much looking forward to watching it, so I added it into my preliminary list. I also thought it important to include a science fiction film from a major director like Bigelow. 
The problem is that Strange Days is currently unavailable for streaming in the United States, at least in any service I can find. You can’t even rent it. The only way you can currently legally watch it is to get your hands on the physical DVD or Blu-Ray. So I’m going to remove it from the tournament. I’m upset about this because this means the only film with a woman as director is The Matrix, but we only had one woman director in our noir tournament and zero in the Westerns.
Of course, Strange Days will probably show up on HBO Max in December now. 
I will mention that if you want to watch the films in the tournament and you don’t have/want the streaming service that they’re on—or you don’t want to play to rent them—be sure to check out your local library or the Kanopy streaming service that comes with your library card. Libraries often have a lot of old DVDs available for borrowing and since the most recent film in our tournament is 26 years old, they may have many of the films in the tournament available for free.
So here are the four brackets that I have at the moment:
“Modern” (1984 to 1999)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Matrix (1999)</li>
<li>Brazil (1985)</li>
<li>Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)</li>
<li>12 Monkeys (1995)</li>
<li>Back to the Future (1985)</li>
<li>Repo Man (1984)</li>
<li>Ghost in the Shell (1995)</li>
<li>Gattaca (1997)</li>
</ol>
Many of you expressed a preference to include Back the the Future, so I obliged. It’s a good movie. Not my favorite, but it’s good and very influential in popular culture.
Ghost in the Shell made it as the anime entry over Akira for the same reason that Strange Days didn’t make the tournament: accessibility. While Akira can be rented, Ghost in the Shell is available on several streaming services, including some that are free with ads. Akira is on the Crunchyroll streaming service and while my daughter has been asking for us to subscribe to that, I’m going to keep her disappointed.
Gattaca is a personal favorite of mine, but it’s on shaky ground here. Films that could still replace it are Dark City (1998), Galaxy Quest (1999)—although Back to the Future seems to be filling the “comedy” role here, Contact (1997) and Brother from Another Planet (1984). I haven’t seen that last once since a VHS rental sometime in the mid-80s. Actually, come to think of it, it would have been a Betamax rental.
The “Star Wars Mania” bracket (1977 to 1983) is at the moment:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Blade Runner (1982)</li>
<li>Star Wars (1977)</li>
<li>Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)</li>
<li>Alien (1979)</li>
<li>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)</li>
<li>Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)</li>
<li>The Thing (1982)</li>
<li>Stalker (1979)</li>
</ol>
I haven’t seen Stalker, but it’s ranked very highly in several lists and it’s easily available for streaming. I’m looking forward to watching it. I think we can argue about the order of the other seven films, but I think those seven belong in some order. I am upset that Escape from New York (1981) didn’t make it. 
“New Hollywood” bracket (1962 to 1976)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)</li>
<li>Planet of the Apes (1968)</li>
<li>La Jetée (1962)</li>
<li>Solaris (1972)</li>
<li>Alphaville (1965)</li>
<li>Fantastic Planet (1973)</li>
<li>Seconds (1966)</li>
<li>The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)</li>
</ol>
It’s funny that I call this the “New Hollywood” bracket when only three of the eight films were made by Hollywood. Three films are French, one is English and one is Soviet.
I’m not sold on The Man Who Fell to Earth. I’m willing to listen to arguments for other candidates like Logan’s Run, Rollerball, THX 1138 and The Andromeda Strain. Many of you expressed that you didn’t think A Clockwork Orange was really science fiction and I was a bit fuzzy on that point too. So that’s why it’s not here. Some mentioned the same for Rollerball. I’ve seen Logan’s Run a couple of times and I think it’s silly. I haven’t seen THX 1138, nor have I seen The Andromeda Strain. Some of you put in a good word for The Andromeda Strain. Others thought it was boring.
The biggest thing going for The Man Who Fell to Earth over The Andromeda Strain and THX 1138 (other than I’ve already seen The Man Who Fell to Earth) is that the first film is available for free on Kanopy and the Roku Channel (with ads) and the other two have to be rented. 
I just watched Dark Star (1974) and it’s very different. But I think the film school-budget special effects would cause most of you to laugh at it—and not at the parts that were meant to be funny. 
“Classic” Bracket (1961 and earlier)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)</li>
<li>Metropolis (1927)</li>
<li>Godzilla (1954)</li>
<li>Forbidden Planet (1956)</li>
<li>A Trip to the Moon (1902)</li>
<li>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)</li>
<li>The Time Machine (1961)</li>
<li>????</li>
</ol>
I’m still trying to decide on the eighth film in this bracket. I originally had Things to Come (1936) in and some of you mentioned that you thought it was dull. I think the film is gorgeous and it fills a void between the silent era and the 1950s. It’s also, I must admit, a bit dull. H.G. Wells got to write the screenplay himself and he turned it into a political tract outlining his futurist philosophy. Not really something you want to follow in a movie.
So I’m looking at other films. The Incredible Shrinking Man, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, This Island Earth, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Destination: Moon, The War of the Worlds and The Blob. I could also do The Thing from Another World. I’ve only seen the last two of those, although I’m halfway through The Incredible Shrinking Man right now. 
So I’m open to any of those films or any others that you might suggest.
Please note that the Godzilla in our tournament is the much-superior Japanese-language original and not the English-language version that is now officially titled Godzilla, King of the Monsters. That version edits out a bunch of stuff that makes it clear that Godzilla is the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan by the US and edits in footage of Raymond Burr staring at the Japanese actors like Jimmy Stewart stared at him in Rear Window. Except even creepier.
So if you have some thoughts about these brackets, now is your last chance to offer your thoughts.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Welcome back to those of you who skip the music and movies.
The Cubs’ 2025 season is over and so tonight, I’m asking you to hand out a grade. On the postive side, they won 92 regular season games, which is more than I think most of us predicted. But most of us predicted that 92 wins would be good enough to win the NL Central, when it didn’t end up being even close to doing that. 
The Cubs also won their first playoff series since 2017, but they failed to advance to the NLCS when they lost Game 5 of the Division Series against the Brewers.
Certainly if you’re looking at positive individual performances, the emergence of Michael Busch as one of the top first basemen in the league has to be considered one positive. Cade Horton coming up from the minors in May and having a second-half that may carry him to the Rookie of the Year award is another huge positive. Putting together a solid bullpen with castoffs like Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz was something few of us foresaw. 
Negatives include the injury-marred second half of Kyle Tucker. That Justin Steele missed pretty much the entire season. Matt Shaw failed to hit much as a rookie. 
So what overall grade do you give the Cubs in 2025?
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-polldaddy wp-block-embed-polldaddy"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/16152640" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F16152640&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
</div></figure>
Thank you for stopping by tonight. Let’s make this a regular thing in the offseason. Please get home safely. Don’t forget anything you may have checked. Clean up your table. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark. 
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[ALCS Game 2: Mariners at Blue Jays, NLCS Game 1: Dodgers at Brewers]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-game-threads/199347/alcs-game-2-mariners-blue-jays-nlcs-game-1-dodgers-brewers" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199347/al-championship-series-game-1-mariners-at-blue-jays-sunday-10-12-703-ct</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T13:13:11-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T16:30:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB game threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The ALCS heads to its second game in Toronto after the xxxxxx on Sunday. Meanwhile, the National League will begin its championship series in Milwaukee, as the Brewers, who had MLB’s best record this year, have home field over the Dodgers. Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 2 and NLCS Game […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2240526999.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
The ALCS heads to its second game in Toronto after the xxxxxx on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the National League will begin its championship series in Milwaukee, as the Brewers, who had MLB’s best record this year, have home field over the Dodgers.
Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 2 and NLCS Game 1. Just one thread today for both games.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Mariners at Blue Jays, 4:03 CT</h3>
Mariners lead series 1-0
Logan Gilbert, RHP vs. Trey Yesavage, RHP
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/13/813044/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/TOR202510130.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis and John Smoltz with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Dodgers at Brewers, 7:08 CT</h3>
Blake Snell, LHP vs. TBD
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-brewers/2025/10/13/813036/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/MIL202510130.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: TBS, truTV and streaming on HBO Max. Announcers: Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Jeff Francoeur, with Lauren Shehadi reporting.
As you probably know, Anderson calls play-by-play on Brewers TV and has been their lead announcer since 2007, though with his national work, he only does about 50 Brewers games a year. He’s one of the most professional baseball announcers around and I think he’ll do his best to be neutral in this series.
Enjoy the afternoon and evening of baseball, discuss amongst yourselves.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Today in Cubs history: The Schwarboard home run]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-wrigley-field-mlb-history/199332/today-cubs-history-schwarboard-home-run-kyle-schwarber" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199332/today-in-cubs-history-the-schwarboard-home-run</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T16:02:39-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T15:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs/Wrigley Field/MLB history" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The 2025 Cubs might be eliminated from postseason play, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of their previous postseason successes. Here’s one you will almost certainly never forget. Game 4 of the Cubs’ division series against the Cardinals in 2015 was a back-and-forth affair. St. Louis scored a pair off Jason Hammel in […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="Kyle Schwarber watches his HR head toward the video board, Oct. 13, 2015 | | Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22923347/492505804.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=17.743362831858,4.0106163373636,82.256637168142,95.989383662636" />
<figcaption>
Kyle Schwarber watches his HR head toward the video board, Oct. 13, 2015 | | Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images </figcaption>
</figure>
The 2025 Cubs might be eliminated from postseason play, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of their previous postseason successes.
Here’s one you will almost certainly never forget.
Game 4 of the Cubs’ division series against the Cardinals in 2015 was a back-and-forth affair. St. Louis scored a pair off Jason Hammel in the first inning, but the Cubs roared back to take the lead with a four-run second. Hammel drove in the first run with a single, then Javier Báez hit a three-run homer.
The Cardinals tied the game with a two-run sixth off Travis Wood, but Anthony Rizzo homered in the bottom of that inning to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead.
That’s where things stood when <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2015/10/14/mlbtv_slnchn_522718383_1800K.mp4">Kyle Schwarber led off the seventh, with dusk falling at Wrigley Field [VIDEO]</a>.
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
I was in my usual spot in the left field bleachers. I thought the ball had cleared the video board and hit Sheffield Avenue. So did almost everyone at Wrigley… except:
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter alignnone"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Back from the Cubs Game. We let the <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cubs</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/kschwarb12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kschwarb12</a> know that we found Schwarber's home run ball. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyTheW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyTheW</a> <a href="http://t.co/uqbhucWW1k">pic.twitter.com/uqbhucWW1k</a>— Tom Comings (@Comings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Comings/status/654129945778720768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
That’s a great photo taken from the right field upper deck, showing the ball had landed on the video board.
My favorite part of the TBS home run call comes right after Brian Anderson’s play-by-play call of “Schwarber sends one high and deep, way back, this ball is long gone!” Analyst Joe Simpson says “Mercy.” That’s followed by Dennis Eckersley saying, “What in the world?” Those two long-time baseball people couldn’t believe it. Neither could anyone else at Wrigley or watching on TV.
The Cubs put a plexiglass cover on the ball and left it in its position on top of the board:
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter alignnone"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">The Cubs have put glass over Kyle Schwarber's home run ball on the video board (H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyEcker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dannyecker</a>) <a href="http://t.co/c6UOn3Po0O">pic.twitter.com/c6UOn3Po0O</a>— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/654391024601681920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
It was later <a href="https://www.mlb.com/cut4/cubs-move-kyle-schwarber-s-nlds-home-run-ball-c161844052">taken down for safekeeping</a>, but <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-home-run-ball-wrigley-20160411-story.html">placed back on the board in early 2016</a>:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
On Monday morning’s “Mully and Hanley” show on WSCR-AM 670, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said the ball is back to where it originally landed after it was taken down after the 2015 season.
Kenney said the ball was taken down in part to prevent anyone from getting the idea of climbing up the board and stealing it.
</blockquote>
As of the time of <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2019/6/22/18713040/kyle-schwarber-made-name-for-himself-after-epic-hr">this interview with Schwarber in June 2019</a>, the ball was still in place on top of the board:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-none is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“[I was told] it’s still up there. That’s cool. If it stays up there for the rest of the days of Wrigley Field, that would be awesome. … I went up there once. It was after they cased it. It was me [and] David Ross. We went up there and took pictures with it, and that’s kind of cool.”
</blockquote>
It’s unclear whether the ball is still up there, though from this photo I took on Sept. 30, it doesn’t appear so:
<img src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/20250930_121402.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Al Yellon" />
I share Kyle’s thoughts — that ball should stay there for “the rest of the days of Wrigley Field.” The Cubs, of course, won that game 6-4 and made the NLCS, the first of three straight championship series appearances.
If anyone has any info on whether the Schwarboard ball is still up there, or more recent photos, please share them with us.
The Schwarboard home run happened 10 years ago today, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015.

]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Mesa Solar Sox Update: Cubs in the Arizona Fall League]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-minor-leagues-prospects/199375/cubs-mesa-solar-sox-ed-howard-clint-mathis-koen" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199375</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T15:49:07-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T13:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs minor leagues and prospects" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[You’ll have to forgive us for not previewing the start of the Arizona Fall League last weekend. We were otherwise occupied with other, more important, Cubs events. But there is one week in the books of the Mesa Solar Sox and so we’re not too late to remind you which Cubs are competing in the […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="Cole Mathis" data-caption="Cole Mathis" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-2239701910.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Cole Mathis </figcaption>
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You’ll have to forgive us for not previewing the start of the Arizona Fall League last weekend. We were otherwise occupied with other, more important, Cubs events. But there is one week in the books of the Mesa Solar Sox and so we’re not too late to remind you which Cubs are competing in the AFL and keep you up to date with the latest happenings.
In case you don’t know, the Arizona Fall League is a postseason minor league that starts right after the major league regular season ends. It was intended as a kind of “finishing school” for prospects who are close to major-league ready, but it’s evolved quite a bit from its original intent. There are still a few top prospects here that are getting some work in, so that purpose hasn’t completely gone away. Today, however, there are many other reasons why teams send players to the AFL.
The most common reason to send players to Arizona is for minor leaguers who missed a lot of time in the regular season to get some work in and make up for lost time. Sometimes players go to the AFL because their team is evaluating whether to keep them around for next year or add them to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. Occasionally a team will try to showcase a prospect for a potential trade. And with position players more than pitchers, sometimes a team thinks a player just needs more work.
The problem with the AFL lately is that teams are becoming increasingly hesitant to send top pitching prospects as they don’t want to put any more innings on those already stressed arms. So that means there are a lot of second- and third-tier pitching prospects on the rosters. Combine that with the thin, warm air of Arizona and games tend to be very high scoring. That has in turn led teams to be less eager to send top hitting prospects (although there are still a few here this year like Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle and Texas’ Sebatian Walcott) because teams think there is limited utility to sending top hitters to such a strong offensive environment.
The AFL used to be for players in Double-A and above, with a few exceptions. They changed that rule a few years ago and now there’s only one player the Cubs sent to Mesa this year who has ever played for Knoxville. 
There are six AFL teams and their rosters are each made up of player from five different organizations. Every year, Cubs prospects compete for the Mesa Solar Sox, who play their home games at Sloan Park, the Spring Training home of the Cubs in Mesa. The Athletics, who also train in Mesa, also are on the Solar Sox every year as well. The other three teams that make up the Solar Sox rotate and this year, the Solar Sox also have players from the Yankees, Athletics and Marlins on the roster. Many players say that their favorite part of the AFL is getting to know players and coaches from other organizations.
The Cubs don’t have any top prospects on the Solar Sox this year, but they have a few second-tier prospects and some guys who are “interesting,” if you know what I mean by that. Generally, when I call a prospect “interesting” it means I’m not ready to put them among the top 25, 30 or even 40 prospects in the Cubs organization, but I’ve got my eye on them and they’ve got something that could develop into a promising player later on. That’s not official scout talk. That’s just me.
The Solar Sox went 1 and 3 in their first week. Here’s the results of the first week’s games. The visiting team is listed first. 
Tuesday, October 7: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/saguaros-vs-solar-sox/2025/10/07/825607/final/box">Surprise Saguaros 9, Solar Sox 6</a>.
Wednesday, October 8: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/javelinas-vs-solar-sox/2025/10/08/825606/final/box">Peoria Javelinas 8, Solar Sox 6</a> in ten innings.
Thursday, October 9: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/solar-sox-vs-rafters/2025/10/09/825637/final/box">Solar Sox 10, Salt River Rafters 9.</a>
Friday, October 10: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/solar-sox-vs-scorpions/2025/10/10/825620/final/box">Solar Sox 2, Scottsdale Scorpions 10.</a>
Saturday and Sunday’s games were washed out by a Tropical Storm Priscilla.
Here’s how the individual Cubs did this past week in the AFL:
Catcher Owen Ayers: Ayers was a 19th-round draft pick in 2024 out of Marshall University. He’s spent the past two seasons with the Pelicans in Low-A. His 2025 season was cut short when he suffered an injury in late-July. 
Ayers caught Tuesday, Thursday and Friday’s games for Mesa and has been one of the team’s more productive hitters so far. He went 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run in the opener on Tuesday. He followed that up by going 3 for 5 with two doubles on Thursday and 0 for 3 with a walk on Friday. 
Overall, Ayers is hitting .455 with a .538 on-base percentage and a .909 slugging. He has four RBI and three runs scored.
Shortstop Ed Howard: Most of you know that Howard was a first-round draft pick in 2020 out of high school in Chicago. Most of you also know that he’s been a very big disappointment since entering professional baseball. Howard missed most of this past season with an injury and this stint in the AFL may be his last chance to stick with the organization.
So far, he’s not making a big impression. Howard went 0 for 4 on Tuesday and 0 for 2 with two walks on Thursday. He played the whole game at shortstop in both games.
Corner infielder Cole Mathis: Mathis was the Cubs’ second-round pick in 2024 out of the College of Charleston, but he didn’t make his professional debut until this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He started the 2025 season in Myrtle Beach as a DH-only, but he was shut back down in mid-May. 
Mathis started Tuesday’s game at first base and moved over to third later in the game. It’s the first time he’s played in the field as a professional. He played the entire game on Friday at first base.
On Tuesday, Mathis was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had two RBI. On Thursday, Mathis was 1 for 3 with a walk. So he’s 4 for 6 with two walks after two games. That’s pretty good.
Right-hander Thomas Mangus: Mangus was a 18th-round pick out of Navarro College in Texas in 2024. He pitched in Mesa and Myrtle Beach this past year. I don’t know if it’s because of the rain, but he hasn’t made his AFL debut yet.
Right-hander Luis Martinez-Gomez: Martinez-Gomez was a 10th-round pick in 2023 out of Temple College in Texas. He was a very effective reliever for both Myrtle Beach and South Bend this past season.
Martinez-Gomez got into Tuesday’s opener in the seventh inning. He struck out two, walked one and allowed no hits and no runs.
Right-hander Koen Moreno: Moreno was the Cubs’ fifth-round pick out of high school in North Carolina in 2020. He’s been injured most of the time since then and he threw just 12 innings for South Bend this year.
Moreno started Wednesday’s game against Peoria and he pitched very well, going four innings and allowing no runs and just two hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Right-hander Mat Peters: Peters was a 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. He missed all of the 2024 season after testing positive for a banned substance. He struggled in both Mesa and Myrtle Beach in his return this year. He did, however, throw a fastball 100.5 miles per hour this past season. 
Peters got into Wednesday’s game in the seventh inning with two on, two out and Mesa leading Peoria 5-2. Peters gave up a single to the first batter he faced which allowed an inherited runner to score to make it 503. He got a fly out to center field to then end the inning. Peters was credited with a hold.
Right-hander JP Wheat: Wheat was the Cubs’ 16th-round pick in 2022 with coming off Tommy John surgery. Wheat is one of the most maddening pitchers in the Cubs organization because he regularly hits 100 on the radar gun. What he doesn’t hit very often is the strike zone.
Wheat pitched the fifth inning on Friday and did OK. He issued a one-out walk but otherwise retired the other three batters he faced, striking out one of them. But then he came out for the sixth inning and the first four batters he faced all reached—single, walk, walk, single. Wheat left the game after that and all four runners would come around to score eventually. So Wheat got the loss after throwing one inning and giving up four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out just one. Wheat threw 32 pitches and only 13 of them were strikes.

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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[2025 Cubs final season grades: Position players]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-analysis/199357/2025-cubs-final-season-grades-position-players" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199357</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T10:52:15-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T10:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs commentary and analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I thought quite a bit about how to approach this. The Cubs played eight postseason games as well as their 162-game regular season schedule. I didn’t want to ignore those games in assigning these grades, but even as important as postseason games are, they shouldn’t overwhelm the six-month body of work for each player. I’m […]]]></summary>
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I thought quite a bit about how to approach this. The Cubs played eight postseason games as well as their 162-game regular season schedule. I didn’t want to ignore those games in assigning these grades, but even as important as postseason games are, they shouldn’t overwhelm the six-month body of work for each player.
I’m going to split this into two articles, with position players today and pitchers tomorrow.
As always, these are my personal opinions and as such, likely to be highly subective. YMMV, etc.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Carson Kelly: A</h4>
Kelly was one of the top free-agent signings by any team for the 2025 season. He had the best year of his career, setting career highs in runs, home runs, total bases, OPS+ and bWAR (3.6).
Kelly is under contract for $5 million for 2026, a real bargain. This was an outstanding signing by Jed Hoyer.
Here is Kelly’s cycle, the first for a Cub since 1993, against the A’s March 31:
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="FIRST CYCLE OF 2025: Carson Kelly hits first Cubs cycle since 1993!" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xfPdHP6Ui1U?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-03/31/09605b7e-c9115652-6cff39d8-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here are Kelly’s postgame remarks after the cycle game [VIDEO].</a>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Michael Busch: A</h4>
No matter what Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris do for the Dodgers — if they ever do anything! — the deal that sent those two to L.A. for Busch is already a big win for the Cubs. Busch has turned himself into a good defender at first base and his 34 home runs were the third-most ever for a Cubs left-handed hitter (only Kyle Schwarber and Billy Williams ever had more).
Busch put up a 4.5 bWAR season and I don’t see any reason he couldn’t continue this for a few more years. He’s under team control for four more seasons and is still pre-arb in 2026.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/04/64e7bcb2-5bcc9a77-6377a916-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s his three-homer game against the Cardinals July 4 [VIDEO].</a>
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Those three were part of a franchise-record eight home runs that afternoon. Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong (two), Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson also went deep.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Nico Hoerner: A+</h4>
He hit, nearly winning the batting title. He played the field well and likely will win his second Gold Glove. His 6.1 bWAR ranked tied for fourth in the NL with Matt Olson.
Plus, he’s a fan favorite loved for his hustling play all over the field. Here’s one example of his smart play, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/27/ebda1d37-9dad51b0-f438dc2b-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">a double play turned on a popup against the White Sox July 27 [VIDEO]</a>.
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Dansby Swanson: B+</h4>
I will never understand the angst Cubs fans feel toward Swanson. I suppose it’s the contract, but Swanson is an entirely consistent player. You know he’s going to put up between 4 and 5 WAR every year, OPS about .730, hit 20-25 home runs and play outstanding defense at shortstop. He’s a thoughtful guy who’s a team leader. What’s not to like?
Yes, he strikes out a lot and can go into horrific slumps. But in the end, the Cubs made a good call with this signing.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Matt Shaw: C</h4>
It was a tale of three seasons for Shaw:
Opening Day to the All-Star break: 63 games, .198/.276/.280, just two home runs and 45 strikeouts. This included a month at Triple-A Iowa.
Post-All-Star break through Aug. 26: 35 games, .299/.343/.680, six doubles, two triples, nine home runs, only 20 strikeouts
It looked like Shaw had turned the corner and then: Aug. 27 to season’s end: 28 games, .213/.290/.348, two home runs, 29 strikeouts.
Just when it looked like Shaw had figured things out, he went into a month-long slump that continued in the postseason, where he was 2-for-17 with seven K’s (though also five walks).
Shaw, just 23, still has some learning to do. The talent is there, though.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Ian Happ: B</h4>
Another player many Cubs fans love to complain about, and I don’t get it. Maybe it’s the low BA, maybe it’s his slumps that seem to last forever.
But you know exactly what you’re going to get: about a .780 OPS, 20-25 home runs, a .340 OBP, tons of walks and solid defense in left field. He’s probably going to win his fourth Gold Glove.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-04/05/8dd1d677-df7ff078-f8dacc0c-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here’s a terrific diving catch he made against the Padres in April [VIDEO].</a>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Pete Crow-Armstrong: B-</h4>
I graded PCA an A+ at the All-Star break, and you know, he was exactly that. Great defense, a bat that looked like it could produce a 40-40 season, voted an All-Star starter.
It all went south after the break, when he hit just .216/.262/.372 with six home runs and 62 strikeouts in 63 games. Then he vanished in the postseason, going 5-for-27 with 12 strikeouts.
Of course, we can’t rave enough about his defense, where he makes impossible play after impossible play. I could fill up the rest of this page with PCA’s defense; <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/07/e7ca1a44-48ca52fb-96b67f98-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s a minute’s worth of some great plays from this year [VIDEO]</a>.
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Clearly, PCA needs to work on cutting down the strikeouts and perhaps stop swinging for the fences every time at bat and using his speed more. He is just 23. He had a 6.0 bWAR season, which is really good! He’s the likely Gold Glove winner in center field. And I think he’ll get even better.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Seiya Suzuki: A</h4>
Suzuki wasn’t real happy when “demoted” to full-time DH when the Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker. But he went to work making himself into a better hitter, and though he didn’t make the All-Star team (largely due to some guy named Ohtani also being a DH), his numbers were certainly good enough for that.
And then when Tucker was injured, Suzuki wound up playing quite a bit of right field anyway, 32 starts there (and all eight in the postseason), as well as 15 games in left field. 
Overall he posted only 2.6 bWAR because the metrics say he’s not a very good outfielder, but by the eye test he did all right. He set career highs in home runs, RBI and walks. Like PCA, he slumped badly in the second half, going from a first half where he had an OPS of .867 with 25 home runs in 92 games to just .688 with seven long balls in 59 games after the break.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Kyle Tucker: B</h4>
Tucker got off to a great start and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-06/01/3508f5c4-61135f8c-382b176b-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">then suffered a finger injury sliding on June 1 [VIDEO]</a>.
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It was revealed much later that this injury bothered Tucker for much of the season, though he continued to hit well for a month after it (.311/.404/.578 in 25 games in June). Then beginning July 1, Tucker went into a terrible slump where he batted just .189/.325/.235 (25-for-132) with one home run over the next 38 games, culminating with him being booed for <a href="https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/NXkyTlBfWGw0TUFRPT1fQUFSVVZnSUNWQUlBRDFNQkFBQUhWd0ZlQUZrQlVRY0FCbHdIVVZjREFGWUFWVkFG.mp4">appearing to not run out this ground ball Aug. 17 [VIDEO]</a>.
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He went 0-for-3 that day and 0-for-4 the next, with boos continuing, and then Craig Counsell sat him for three games. When Tucker returned, he went on a tremendous hot streak, batting .364/.462/.727 (16-for-44) over the next 12 games with four home runs.
Then he suffered the calf injury which forced him to miss most of September, and when he returned the bat really wasn’t there. He went 1-for-11 in the final regular season series against the Cardinals and had a decent postseason, batting .259/.375/.370 in 27 at-bats with a home run.
I’ll have more to say about Tucker in subsequent articles.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Justin Turner: D</h4>
Somehow, he managed to last the entire season on the roster. I still don’t get this signing, though Cubs players raved about his clubhouse presence and how he mentored some of the younger players on the team. There’s value in that, but Turner produced negative bWAR (-0.1) and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-04/06/15b51ded-0873bb53-7f16f4a0-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this play likely cost the Cubs a game against the Padres in April [VIDEO]</a>.
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Just to be fair, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/03/ed96db21-b22c38f3-ac083a80-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s Turner’s pinch-hit walkoff homer against the Orioles in August [VIDEO]</a>.
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That was Turner’s third, and as it turned out, last home run of the year. If this is it for Turner — and I suspect it is — that’s a pretty cool memory for a final big-league homer.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Reese McGuire: B</h4>
McGuire was a savior when the Cubs badly needed one after Miguel Amaya’s oblique injury in May. McGuire had asked for and received his release from the Cubs in mid-May, found no takers and re-signed a few days later. It was only a couple of days after that when Amaya suffered the injury and McGuire was added to the roster.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-05/25/6d5be8f5-30b1f62a-0deb0523-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">He hit two home runs in his first game as a Cub [VIDEO].</a>
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McGuire played well backing up Kelly, hitting nine home runs in only 44 games, but with Amaya due back in 2026, the team will likely thank McGuire for his help and let him go.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Miguel Amaya: Incomplete</h4>
It’s amazing that Amaya played in just 28 games this year — seemed like he was around more than that.
He missed three months after the oblique injury describe above, then was injured again in the very first game he played after returning, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-08/13/023dbc3a-30617c52-9be3f6c8-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">suffering an ankle sprain on this play in Toronto [VIDEO]</a>.
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It’s really a shame, he worked so hard to come back from the oblique and couldn’t even finish one game. Amaya also tried to come back for the postseason but ran out of time.
He should be 100 percent for 2026 and I would expect he and Kelly to make an excellent catching tandem.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Willi Castro: F</h4>
Castro had a decent first half for the Twins, batting .245/.335/.407 with 10 home runs in 86 games, and the trade acquiring him for a couple of minor leaguers was generally well-received.
Then Castro hit pretty much like the guy he replaced, Vidal Bruján. Without looking it up, which one of these slash lines is Bruján’s with the Cubs and which is Castro’s?
.222/.234/.289 .170/.245/.240
I take it back — Castro was worse than Bruján. The second slash line is Castro’s as a Cub. He’s a free agent and won’t be back.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Moisés Ballesteros: B+</h4>
The man can hit, no question about it. In three different stints with the Cubs he batted .298/.394/.474 (17-for-57) with two doubles, a triple (!), two home runs, 11 RBI and nine walks.
But he doesn’t really have a position, he hasn’t been a good defensive catcher in the minor leagues and the question is: Can the Cubs carry a guy who’s probably only a DH at 21 years old, or should they trade him?
Just for fun, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-09/13/c6c5702e-99a8a168-14a84d87-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">here’s Ballesteros’ home run hit right to Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers Sept. 13 [VIDEO]</a>.
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Owen Caissie: Incomplete</h4>
Caissie might have made the postseason roster instead of Ballesteros had he not suffered a concussion <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-09/13/e4deae19-a05c388d-8624fa88-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">on this play [VIDEO]</a>.
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Caissie has talent, no doubt, and could very well become an outstanding major league hitter. He’ll likely get every chance to make the 2026 Opening Day roster.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Jon Berti: F</h4>
This was a reasonable signing that turned out to be, well, pretty bad. Berti had a three-hit game against the Dodgers in Tokyo, then had just 18 more hits in 94 at-bats after that.
I’m including him here because the Cubs used him to pitch the ninth inning July 4 when they were leading the Cardinals 11-1. He wound up allowing a couple of hits, three walks and two runs, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-07/04/ad44a5b0-f34c86b6-4b71d1ba-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">but also made this stellar defensive play [VIDEO]</a>.
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No one picked up Berti after the Cubs released him, but we can always remember that play.
Nicky Lopez, Carlos Santana, Gage Workman and Kevin Alcántara also played for the Cubs this year.
Overall, the Cubs had several players have outstanding offensive seasons, and as you can see from the highlights I’ve posted here, created some indelible memories for all of us.
Tomorrow: Grades for Cubs pitchers.
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Timmers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[MLB News Outside The Confines: The Mariners advance after a 15-inning epic]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-news/199372/mlb-news-outside-the-confines-mariners-tigers-blue-jays" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199372</id>
<updated>2025-10-13T07:54:24-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T08:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB news" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Good morning.]]></summary>
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Good morning.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series with a thrilling 3-2 win in 15 innings over the Tigers. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/tigers-mariners-alds-game-5-wild-facts-and-figures">Here are 15 stats from that instant classic.</a> </li>
<li>Gabe Lacques has <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/gabe-lacques/2025/10/11/mariners-tigers-stats-numbers-alds-game-5/86641961007/">eight stats from Friday night’s epic Mariners win.</a></li>
<li>Tyler Kepner gets a reaction from the Mariners and notes <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6708441/2025/10/11/seattle-mariners-new-generation-alcs/">that this is a new generation of heroes for Seattle</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Matt Snyder argues that the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/its-not-just-cal-raleigh-mariners-underrated-offense-is-thriving-in-one-of-baseballs-toughest-ballparks/">Mariners offense is much more than just Cal Raleigh.</a></li>
<li>Daniel Kramer reports that <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/edgar-martinez-dan-wilson-compare-1995-mariners-with-2025-team">players on the ‘95 Mariners see a lot of similarities</a> to this year’s team. For their sake I would hope not too many similarities. That team lost the ALCS to Cleveland in six games.</li>
<li>On the other side, the Tigers organization wasn’t too happy about the loss. Tigers broadcaster <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/radio/tigers-announcer-caught-on-hot-mic-f-this-game-recap.html">Dan Dickerson let loose an accidental over-the-air profanity</a> after the epic loss. </li>
<li>R.J. Anderson wonders <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/what-is-tarik-skubals-future-with-tigers-free-agency-clock-already-ticking-after-detroits-playoff-exit/">what is next for Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal after Detroit’s exit.</a> </li>
<li>As far as the Mariners’ opponents in the ALCS, Keegan Matheson reports that the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/what-it-means-for-blue-jays-to-represent-canada">Blue Jays feel the love and the pressure of being “Canada’s Team.”</a></li>
<li>Brent Maguire has the five factors that explain Toronto first baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-s-hot-start-to-2025-postseason">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hot streak in the playoffs.</a></li>
<li>Eno Sarris breaks down <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6694854/2025/10/10/blue-jays-trey-yesavage-splitter/">Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage’s brutal splitter</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Sam Dykstra looks at <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/trey-yesavage-minor-league-journey">Yesavage’s meteoric rise.</a> </li>
<li>In what’s been an ugly trend in sports lately, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/bluejays/2025/10/12/trey-yesavage-blue-jays-alcs-yankees/86663371007/">Yesavage decried attacks and threats against his family after a dominating performance</a> against the Yankees. </li>
<li>Dan Szymborski <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/alcs-preview-mariners-and-blue-jays-get-a-shot-to-write-new-history/">has an ALCS preview.</a> </li>
<li>Tyler Kepner notes that the ALCS is a matchup of the two 1977 expansion teams. He shares <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709337/2025/10/12/blue-jays-mariners-alcs-1977-expansion/">his ten favorite baseball cards from these two teams in 1977.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Bob Nightengale explains why the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/10/12/brewers-beat-cubs-nlds-game-5-meaning-celebration/86657251007/">Brewers victory in the National League Division Series was so important</a> to the franchise. Bleh. </li>
<li>Anthony DiComo notes that two rookie pitchers who started the season as starters—<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-jacob-misiorowski-thriving-as-rookie-relievers">Roki Sasaki and Jacob Misiorowski—are thriving as relievers in the postseason.</a></li>
<li>Jack Harris writes that <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/roki-sasakis-transformation-injured-starter-100000425.html">Sasaki transforming into a closer has saved the Dodgers’ season.</a> </li>
<li>Harris also explains <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/why-dodgers-pushing-shohei-ohtanis-011744878.html">why Shohei Ohtani won’t start in either of the first two games</a> of the NL Championship Series. </li>
<li>ESPN dot com writers <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46556337/mlb-playoffs-2025-alcs-nlcs-expert-predictions-dodgers-brewers-mariners-blue-jays">predict the two League Championship Series. </a></li>
<li>Sarah Langs has three ways these <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-alcs-nlcs-are-historic-matchups">two Championship Series are historically rare</a>.</li>
<li>Grant Brisbee has a preview of the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6708211/2025/10/12/mlb-league-championship-series-previews/">four teams in the Championship Series and who has momentum</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Stephen J. Nesbitt has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709071/2025/10/12/nlcs-alcs-lessons-mlb-postseason/">one lesson that teams can learn from the four teams still playing</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>R.J. Anderson has <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/alcs-nlcs-x-factors-one-element-that-could-swing-mariners-vs-blue-jays-and-dodgers-vs-brewers-series/">one X-factor for each series.</a> </li>
<li>Jorge Castillo looks at <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46543667/mlb-2025-playoffs-new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-world-series-legacy-captain">what the Yankees have to do to build a World Series Champion while superstar Aaron Judge is still productive</a>. </li>
<li>Jack Baer reports that Yankees outfielder <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/cody-bellinger-to-opt-out-of-contract-adding-another-item-to-yankees-offseason-checklist-232228391.html">Cody Bellinger will opt out of his contract.</a> </li>
<li>The Phillies made sure to that reliever Orion Kerkering didn’t have to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6705755/2025/10/10/phillies-orion-kerkering-error-nlds-game-5-loss/">experience his pain alone after his heartbreaking error that ended Philadelphia’s season</a>. (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>David Schoenfield wonders <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46555121/mlb-2025-playoffs-phillies-nlds-exit-elimination-harper-schwarber-contention-winning">how long this particular core group of Phillies players can remain contenders</a>. </li>
<li>Anthony Dabbundo writes <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2025/10/10/mlb/phillies-pitcher-error-orion-kerkering-final-play-dodger-game-end">that these Phillies aren’t over.</a> </li>
<li>Anthony DiComo has <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-top-offseason-priorities-ahead-of-2026">five questions for the Mets this winter.</a></li>
<li>Mets first baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-alonso-seeks-multi-year-deal-in-free-agency">Pete Alonso reportedly wants a seven-year deal</a> in his upcoming free agency. </li>
<li>Mark Bowman has <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-top-offseason-priorities-for-2026">five questions for the Braves this offseason.</a></li>
<li>Albert Pujols has reportedly <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46555875/pujols-meets-angels-managerial-opening">met with the Angels about their vacant managerial job</a>. </li>
<li>Sam Blum and Katie Woo report that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6707683/2025/10/10/albert-pujols-angels-manager-discussion/">the job is Pujols’ if he decides to take it.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
<li>Bob Nightengale looks at Pujols’ qualifications and notes that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/angels/2025/10/10/albert-pujols-angels-manager-interview-rumors/86461199007/">he would be the greatest player to ever manage in the big leagues.</a> Even if you don’t count player-managers, he’s wrong—Walter Johnson managed and even if you mean since integration, Frank Robinson was about as good a player as Pujols. But his point still stands. Certainly no one who has managed has hit more home runs than Pujols.</li>
<li>And finally, Chad Jennings and Stephen J. Nesbitt rank the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709080/2025/10/11/mlb-playoffs-2025-dodgers-brewers-blue-jays-mariners/">ballpark atmosphere of the four remaining playoff teams.</a> (The Athletic sub. req.)</li>
</ul>

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Duane Pesice</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Baseball history unpacked, October 13]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-wrigley-field-mlb-history/199322/baseball-history-unpacked-october-13" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199322</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T13:20:55-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-13T07:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs/Wrigley Field/MLB history" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lots of firsts, several final games. Today in World Series history. Happy Birthday to HoFer Rube Waddell* and others, including the immortal Pickles Dillhoefer! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/gettyimages-91006916.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Lots of firsts, several final games. Today in World Series history. Happy Birthday to HoFer Rube Waddell* and others, including the immortal Pickles Dillhoefer!
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Bleed Cubbie Blue</a> is pleased to present a light-hearted, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/history/timeline01.jsp">Here’s a handy Cubs timeline</a>, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — <a href="https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/tommy-connolly/">Tom Connolly</a>, HoF Umpire.
Today in baseball history:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>1870 – An estimated 20,000 fans pack <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dexter_Park_(Chicago)">Dexter Park</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chicago,_IL">Chicago, IL</a> to watch the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chicago_White_Stockings">Chicago White Stockings</a> defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cincinnati_Red_Stockings">Cincinnati Red Stockings</a>, 16-13. Chicago finishes the season with a record of 65-8, making them the unofficial national champions. (2)</li>
<li>1903 – In Game 8, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_Pilgrims">Boston Pilgrims</a> win the first modern-day <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_World_Series">World Series</a>. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Dineen">Bill Dineen</a> pitches a 3-0 <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Complete_game">complete game</a> against <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1903_Pirates">Pittsburgh</a>, as <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Deacon_Phillippe">Deacon Phillippe</a> hurls his fifth complete game of the Series, but takes the loss. Boston wins the best-of-nine series, five games to three. (1,2)</li>
<li>1914 – The <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_Braves">Boston Braves</a> complete a remarkable sweep of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_Athletics">Philadelphia Athletics</a>, the first in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1914_World_Series">World Series</a> history. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dick_Rudolph">Dick Rudolph</a> pitches a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Complete_game">complete game</a> 3-1 victory for the Braves, who were 15 games out of first place in early July. (1,2)</li>
<li>1921 – In the first “<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Subway_Series">Subway Series</a>” ever, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_Giants">New York Giants</a> defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_Yankees">New York Yankees</a>, 1-0, to take the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1921_World_Series">World Series</a>, five games to three. The only run of the game scores on a 1st-inning <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Error">error</a> by Yankees shortstop <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Roger_Peckinpaugh">Roger Peckinpaugh</a>. (2)</li>
<li>1960 – <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Mazeroski">Bill Mazeroski</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_Pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> hits one of the most dramatic <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Home_run">home runs</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_World_Series">World Series</a> history. Maz’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ralph_Terry">Ralph Terry</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1960_Yankees">New York Yankees</a> gives Pittsburgh a stunning 10 – 9 win in Game 7. (2)</li>
<li>1970 – In the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_World_Series">World Series</a>, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_Orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a> win their third straight over the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1970_Reds">Cincinnati Reds</a>, 9-3, with winning pitcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dave_McNally">Dave McNally</a> slugging a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Grand_slam">grand slam</a>. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Frank_Robinson">Frank Robinson</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Don_Buford">Don Buford</a> also hit home runs and third baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brooks_Robinson">Brooks Robinson</a> continues his excellence on defense as he makes two spectacular grabs in the field. (2)</li>
<li>1971 – The <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_Orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_Pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> play the first <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Night_game">night game</a> in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1971_World_Series">World Series</a> history. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Roberto_Clemente">Roberto Clemente</a> bats three hits and rookie catcher <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Milt_May">Milt May</a> delivers a game-winning <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pinch-hitter">pinch-hit</a> in Pittsburgh’s 4-3 comeback victory. (2)</li>
<li>1993 – <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tommy_Greene">Tommy Greene</a> of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a> outpitches <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Greg_Maddux">Greg Maddux</a> and the Phillies beat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_Braves">Atlanta Braves</a>, 6-3, to win the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1993_NLCS">NLCS</a> in six games. (2)</li>
<li>2015 – For the first time in their history, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_Cubs">Cubs</a> clinch a postseason series in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Wrigley_Field">Wrigley Field</a> when they defeat the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_Cardinals">Cardinals</a>, 6-4, in Game 4 of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_NLDS1">NLDS</a>. The Cardinals take an early lead on a two-run homer by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Stephen_Piscotty">Stephen Piscotty</a> in the first, but the Cubs reply with a four-run 2nd, highlighted by a three-run shot by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Javier_Baez">Javier Baez</a>. After the Cardinals tie the score in the sixth, solo homers by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Anthony_Rizzo">Anthony Rizzo</a> in the sixth and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kyle_Schwarber">Kyle Schwarber</a> in the seventh, both off <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kevin_Siegrist">Kevin Siegrist</a>, send Chicago to the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2015_NLCS">NLCS</a>. (2)</li>
</ul>
<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe title="Cubs vs Cardinals 2015 NLDS Game 4" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sXnDqWRKiI8?rel=0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"></iframe></div>
Cubs Birthdays: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wadderu01.shtml">Rube Waddell</a> HOF*, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dillhpi01.shtml">Pickles Dillhoefer</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silvech01.shtml">Charlie Silvera</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frazige01.shtml">George Frazier</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/capelmi01.shtml">Mike Capel</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hickebr01.shtml">Bryan Hickerson</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/milleda02.shtml">Damian Miller</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/steenke01.shtml">Kennie Steenstra</a>. Also notable: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/matheed01.shtml">Eddie Mathews</a> HOF, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoffmtr01.shtml">Trevor Hoffman</a> HOF.
Today in History:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>54 – Agrippina the Younger murders her husband, Roman Emperor Claudius, with poison to secure the line of succession for her son Nero. </li>
<li>1269 – The new gothic style Westminster Abbey is consecrated by Henry III after the bones of Edward the Confessor are transferred to it. Construction began in 1220.</li>
<li>1448 – First assembly of Catalan dioceses to choose their syndics (representative) to plead abolition of serfdom to King Alfonso IV – first official recognition of serfs organizing to defend their rights.</li>
<li>1773 – The Whirlpool Galaxy discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier.</li>
<li>1914 – American inventor Garrett Morgan patents his safety hood device, which is later refined into the gas mask.</li>
<li>1976 – A Bolivian Boeing 707 cargo jet crashes in Santa Cruz, Bolivia killing 100 (97, mostly children, killed on the ground).</li>
</ul>
Common sources:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>(1) — <a href="http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/">Today in Baseball History</a>.</li>
<li>(2) — <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/birthdays.cgi">Baseball Reference</a>.</li>
<li>(3) — <a href="https://sabr.org/">Society for American Baseball Research</a>.</li>
<li>(4) — <a href="https://baseballhall.org/">Baseball Hall of Fame</a>.</li>
<li>(5) — <a href="http://www.thisdayinchicagocubshistory.com/">This Day in Chicago Cubs history</a>.</li>
<li>(6) — <a href="https://www.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>.</li>
<li>(7) — <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/">The British Museum</a></li>
<li>(8) <a href="https://www.onthisday.com/">For world history</a>.</li>
</ul>
*pictured.
Things are as near to the truth as we can get them. Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, so that we can help update the records and have documentation.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[ALCS Game 1: Mariners at Blue Jays, Sunday 10/12, 7:03 CT]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/mlb-game-threads/199276/alcs-game-1-mariners-blue-jays-sunday" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/199276/al-division-series-game-5-tigers-at-mariners-friday-10-10-708-ct</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T14:06:16-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-12T19:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="MLB game threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[So here we go. The American League’s representative in the World Series will either be a team that hasn’t been there in 32 years (Blue Jays) or a team that’s never been there (Mariners). In fact, the Mariners have been to the ALCS just three times (1995, 2000, 2001) and never even had a decisive […]]]></summary>
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So here we go.
The American League’s representative in the World Series will either be a team that hasn’t been there in 32 years (Blue Jays) or a team that’s never been there (Mariners). In fact, the Mariners have been to the ALCS just three times (1995, 2000, 2001) and never even had a decisive seventh game in any of those series.
Personally, I think the Blue Jays are a far better team than the Mariners, and especially with home field, they should win this series and get back to the Fall Classic.
But the postseason is very random, as you know, and… well, that’s why they play the games.
Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s ALCS Game 1.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Mariners at Blue Jays</h3>
Bryce Miller, RHP vs. Kevin Gausman, RHP
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-blue-jays/2025/10/12/813040/live">MLB.com Gameday</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2025/TOR202510120.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a>
TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis and John Smoltz with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting.
Enjoy the evening, discuss amongst yourselves.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Thomas Smith</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[2025 Cubs Heroes and Goats: NL Division Series Game 5]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-postseason/199222/2025-cubs-heroes-and-goats-nl-division-series-game-5" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199222</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T09:08:35-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-12T11:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs postseason" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I tried so hard and got so far. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter. Hopefully, you didn’t come here for a long-winded post mortem. I’m going to be short and sweet. The Cubs gave it their all. In the year 2025, their all wasn’t good enough. In the final weekend of the season, […]]]></summary>
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I tried so hard and got so far. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter.
Hopefully, you didn’t come here for a long-winded post mortem. I’m going to be short and sweet. The Cubs gave it their all. In the year 2025, their all wasn’t good enough. In the final weekend of the season, I finally had my confidence waver. This day was all too easy to see coming. I made no secret of my thinking that this day actually would have come against the Padres. But the team fought valiantly, beat the Padres and then gave the Brewers everything they had in the tank.
In the end, the Brewers were the better team this week. I absolutely believe there was enough talent in the Cub locker room to win the series, even with Cade Horton out and the ghost of Kyle Tucker that they had the last half of the season. But those significant injuries eliminated any margin of error they could have had against the Brewers. To be fair, they also had a pretty serious injury to their pitching staff and scrambled all series to find enough outs to finish games.
In the end, they made the plays and the Cubs just didn’t come up with enough. You win classy and you lose classy. I tip the cap to the Brewers. They played their asses off. There wasn’t a thing in the decisive game to give even a whiff of any kind of sign stealing, legally or not. Three times they took a Cub pitcher deep. Call them mistakes. Call them winning matchups. Whatever. William Contreras and Andrew Vaughn have been their most significant thump and they were again in this one. Kyle Tucker missed a center cut fastball with two on and no outs in the sixth. Their guys came through. Ours didn’t.
There were two or three balls Cubs just missed the might have changed the whole game. But the Cubs never gave the Brewers and their fandom enough pressure to allow them to choke. They scored first, got to play downhill a ton in the game and they were lethal that way. Game. Set. Match. 
I’ll have a post mortem for Heroes and Goats in the near future. If you’re like me and tend to tune out once the Cubs are done until the offseason begins, it’s been a pleasure. Thanks for reading, thanks for voting, thanks for commenting. I’d not do any of this just for the fun of it. But some of you seem to care about what I do and I hear you. It is always a privilege to have a platform to talk to so many of you. 
Go Cubs. 
Pitch Counts:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Cubs: 126, 33 BF (8 IP)</li>
<li>Brewers: 123, 33 BF</li>
</ul>
Sometimes the story is the other side of the coin. The Cubs had really worn out Brewers pitchers as this series wore on. It seemed like that might be the story. But, with their backs pushed to the wall, their pitchers produced their best outing. Start to finish they were dominant and attacked. Their approach so often in this series had been to get strike one and then look to expand the zone. Not in this one. They attacked early and often. They were efficient. 
Ironically, there was much consternation about the Cubs “only” scoring three runs in so many games. Three would have changed everything in this one.
Star Performances:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Seiya Suzuki provided the offense with a second inning homer. Appeared to just miss a couple of other times.</li>
<li>Michael Busch with a single and a walk.</li>
<li>Nico Hoerner had a single and was hit by a pitch. Scorched another one but it was caught.</li>
<li>Daniel Palencia kept the Cubs in the game.</li>
<li>Brad Keller capped a stellar season.</li>
</ul>
NL Division Series Game 5: Brewers 3, Cubs 1 (2-3)
<img src="https://platform.bleedcubbieblue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/chart_5b2ac4.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Superhero: Daniel Palencia (.114). 1.1 IP, 4 BF, BB</li>
<li>Hero: Michael Busch (.064). 1-3, BB</li>
<li>Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.042). 1-3, HBP</li>
</ul>
THREE GOATS:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Billy Goat: Kyle Tucker (-.157). 0-4</li>
<li>Goat: Ian Happ (-.137). 0-4</li>
<li>Kid: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.093). 0-3</li>
</ul>
WPA Play of the Game: Andrew Vaughn’s two-out, solo homer in the fourth ended up being decisive. (.138)
*Cubs Play of the Game: Seiya Suzuki’s solo homer leading off the second inning tied the game. (.106)
Cubs Player of the Game: 
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<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/16144347" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F16144347&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
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Previous Winner: Matthew Boyd 151-121 over Ian Happ (289 total votes)
H&G Top & Bottom:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Colin Rea/Daniel Palencia +5</li>
<li>Pete Crow-Armstrong -4</li>
<li>Kyle Tucker/Ian Happ -5</li>
</ul>
Sad reality of the postseason. On the biggest stage, your stars need to be stars. PCA, Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ contributed very little offensively. Tucker offered some OBP, he and Happ each had a homer in game four. But that was about it. Hard to win that way. Busch emerged, but couldn’t set the table for himself.
Up Next: For me, I’ll write up the full H&G standings, formally award the Rizzo. Four teams remain. I’ll be rooting for the droughts to continue. That is, a Blue Jays/Dodgers World Series. And bizarrely enough, the championship to find its way back to Canada. Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mariners, Brewers. That is my order of preference for the championship.
Thank you again for reading and following me. It means a lot.
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Al Yellon</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Cubs outhomered by Brewers and their season ends in a NLDS Game 5 loss]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-postseason/199247/cubs-brewers-recap-seiya-suzuki-nico-hoerner-mlb-scores" />
<id>https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/?p=199247</id>
<updated>2025-10-12T08:23:19-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-12T09:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com" term="Chicago Cubs postseason" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[MILWAUKEE — Postseason baseball can be wonderful. The intensity ratchets up several stages from regular season games and it can provide some of the best memories a baseball player or fan can have. Postseason baseball can be awful. The pit in your stomach you feel when your team, whether you’re a player or fan, just […]]]></summary>
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MILWAUKEE — Postseason baseball can be wonderful. The intensity ratchets up several stages from regular season games and it can provide some of the best memories a baseball player or fan can have.
Postseason baseball can be awful. The pit in your stomach you feel when your team, whether you’re a player or fan, just doesn’t quite have enough to get to the next level.
Unfortunately, the latter was the feeling for Cubs players and fans Saturday night in Milwaukee, where <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-brewers/2025/10/11/813046/final/box">the Brewers won a battle of solo home runs 3-1</a> and took the first-ever division series between the I-94 rivals three games to two.
Let’s review the way the Cubs season ended.
The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the first to opener Trevor Megill, the former Cub. Then former Brewer Drew Pomeranz served up a solo homer to William Contreras in the bottom of the first.
The Cubs came right back, though, and tied the game on this solo shot by Seiya Suzuki leading off the top of the second [VIDEO].
<video width="100%" controls> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
I don’t think you can really get this from that clip, but from where I was sitting down the left-field line in Milwaukee, it was LOUD. It felt like almost that entire left side of the stands, at least in the lower deck, was Cubs fans.
Unfortunately, that would be the only real thing those Cubs fans would have to cheer the entire evening.
The game remained tied until the top of the fourth. In the third, Dansby Swanson made a rare error allowing Joey Ortiz to reach base. But Colin Rea got the next hitter, Jackson Chourio, to hit <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/11/a5798c80-11ab5df5-7b3e5eb6-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this double-play ball [VIDEO]</a>.
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Rea got the first two Brewers on routine plays to start the fourth, but Andrew Vaughn then smacked a solo hoome run to make it 2-1. After that the Brewers loaded the bases on two singles and a walk and Daniel Palencia was summoned.
Palencia got Ortiz to hit into <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/11/6db39f18-1faab5b4-0f562bf9-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">this force play to end the inning [VIDEO]</a>.
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The Cubs had just two singles between Suzuki’s home run and the top of the sixth. Then they had their only real chance to score following that home run. Michael Busch singled leading off the sixth and Nico Hoerner was hit by a pitch, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Kyle Tucker struck out, Suzuki flied to left and Ian Happ was called out on strikes.
The Cubs got out of a jam in the sixth. Again the first two Brewers went down easily, then Caleb Thielbar walked Sal Frelick. Andrew Kittredge was summoned and he walked the first Brewer he faced, Caleb Durbin. But Kittredge then got Blake Perkins to pop up to end the inning with the score still 2-1.
The Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Ortiz sent a sinking liner to center, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/11/7fa284f6-b3ce54cc-024ee390-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">caught by Pete Crow-Armstrong [VIDEO]</a>.
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Kittredge then got Chourio on a fly to right, but Brice Turang homered for Milwaukee’s third run.
All three Brewers homers came after the first two hitters in the inning were retired. This speaks to the Cubs’ pitching staff having a lot of good pitchers, but none, save possibly Palencia, who can throw 100-plus and simply put hitters away. The Brewers have a parade of guys like that. It’s something Jed Hoyer really has to address this offseason. Cubs pitchers had just four strikeouts in Game 5 and 34 for the series, while Brewers pitchers struck out eight in Game 5 and had 46 K’s over the five-game set.
Speaking of Palencia, while he pitched reasonably well in the postseason, he faced 29 batters overall and struck out just three of them. His velocity was down a tick or two at times. I wonder if we’ll find out that shoulder issue that cost him much of September was more serious than the team originally let on.
Incidentally, this play during Palencia’s appearance is worth a look. With one out and Chourio on first, Palencia got Contreras to hit a line drive right at Nico Hoerner, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/11/61295b41-7afe0c4e-dd8e4c25-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">who doubled Chourio off the base to end the inning [VIDEO]</a>.
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After Turang’s homer it was essentially over. The Cubs had just one more baserunner, a one-out walk by Busch in the eighth. That brought the tying run to the plate, but Nico hit a line drive right at Durbin and Tucker grounded out.
Brad Keller, who had a remarkably good season, retired the Brewers 1-2-3 in the eighth, leaving the Cubs one final chance against Abner Uribe, who was being asked to record a six-out save. It happened quickly — four pitches for Suzuki to fly to left, four more for Happ to line out to right, and just one for Carson Kelly to hit the ground ball to short that ended the Cubs’ season.
In the end, beyond the offense vanishing again Saturday evening, it was likely the injury to Cade Horton that ruined the Cubs’ chances to take this series. A healthy Horton available for even one of the games in the Division Series would have had a positive effect on the entire rest of the pitching staff. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
<a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2025/2025-10/11/a9bc0e99-ab35d43d-46451b56-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].</a>
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A few notes from BCB’s JohnW53:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Cubs now are 2-22 (.083) in postseason games in which they scored exactly one run. All MLB teams are 53-428 (.108) in such games ….. There had been just one previous post-season game in which all the scoring came on four solo homers. The Phillies beat the Braves, 3-1, at home in Game 4 of the 2023 NL Division Series, wrapping up the series. ….. In the regular season, the Cubs have lost four games by 3-1 in which they surrendered three homers. In three of them, the Cubs scored on a homer too.
The first of the three, and only one on the road, was on the South Side against the White Sox on Aug. 16, 2015. Jorge Soler homered with two outs in the ninth.
They lost at home to the Rockies on May 1, 2018. Anthony Rizzo homered in the first.
And on May 14 of this year, they lost at home to the Marlins. Seiya Suzuki homered in the fourth.
</blockquote>
That’s about all I’ve got, the morning after. Like you, I’m still kind of numb thinking there won’t be any more Cubs baseball in 2025. While the team fell short of the ultimate goal, this was still a good Cubs season, 92 regular-season wins their most since 2018, and a postseason series win the first since 2017. It makes all of us want more, and hopefully Jed Hoyer & Co. will provide such a team in 2026. I’ll have more to say about that as the offseason commences, but let’s try to have some fond memories of this year instead of bad ones from this final game. We’re disappointed, of course, that the Cubs didn’t go farther, but that doesn’t make 2025 a total loss.
If it makes you feel any better (and honestly, it might not), look at the Tigers, who were the best team in baseball much of the first half, the first team to 20, 30, 40 and 60 wins. They’re sitting home now too. So are the mighty Yankees, who lost their division series to the Blue Jays. The Phillies had the second-most wins in MLB this year, just one fewer than the Brewers. They, too, will be watching the NLCS from home. The postseason is so random.
About the fans and staff at American Family Field: Brewers fans were (mostly) kind in victory and the staff, as always in Milwaukee, was friendly and helpful. I’m glad I made the trip north despite the result. Quite a number of my friends from the bleachers also traveled to Milwaukee, including BCB’s Sara Sanchez. I will say that despite Game 5 having a slightly larger crowd than the two at Wrigley, plus being indoors, Wrigley Field was louder for the two Division Series games played there.
Stick around BCB this offseason! We will, of course, have game threads for all the remaining postseason games, including tonight’s ALCS Game 1 between the Blue Jays and Mariners. There will be plenty of time to look at what went wrong — and right! — in 2025 for the Cubs, and to look forward to 2026. And I’ll revive my sleuthing series, so if any of you have old Cubs or Wrigley Field photos you’d like me to sleuth, send ‘em along!
At the end of every Cubs baseball season, I like to post a quote from the late Commissioner Bart Giamatti’s <a href="https://mason.gmu.edu/~rmatz/giamatti.html">The Green Fields of the Mind</a>. It feels appropriate on this cool October Sunday morning.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
</blockquote>
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