Playoff Miscellany: It’ll Be the Royals and the Mets

For the second straight year, the Kansas City Royals get a shot to win it all in the World Series. Last year, the San Francisco Giants’ freakish win-it-every-other-year power stood in the way. This year, it’s the New York Mets.

  • The Blue Jays had tied the game, dramatically, in the 8th inning on a two-run Jose Bautista homer, his second of the game:
  • Your browser does not support iframes.

  • Ned Yost was getting blasted for not using his top reliever, Wade Davis in that situation. Davis subsequently entered, but then the rains came, and the game was delayed for 45 minutes. Incredibly, despite sitting for an hour, Davis came back into the game to finish things out in the 9th. He allowed a walk and a single before striking out two and getting a groundout to end it. But about that second strikeout, it came after a 2-1 pitch that was clearly outside by a good bit, was called a strike, and moved the count to 2-2 rather than 3-1. Big swing pitch, and a big missed call.
  • After the delay, the decisive run came immediately in the bottom of the 8th, as Lorenzo Cain scored from first base on an Eric Hosmer single:
  • Your browser does not support iframes.

  • Great job of baserunning there, and a great send at third base. Reminiscent of the non-send last year in the World Series, though it requires noting that Alex Gordon almost certainly would have been meat.
  • It was a great job by the Blue Jays of making the series relatively close and exciting (*looks at Cubs, puts hands in pockets, kicks dirt*), but they’ll head on home. They traded aggressively to get to where they got, and I still think they’d say it was worth it.
  • And now a huge lull before the World Series begins on Tuesday in Kansas City. Edinson Volquez will host Matt Harvey.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Cubs Farm Report | April 18, 2024: Caissie, Alcántara Go Yard, South Bend and Myrtle Beach Smoked, More

    Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...

    Cody Bellinger Sticking With Scott Boras

    Given the way the offseason played out for super agent Scott Boras's top available clients - Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery - you wouldn't be shocked to see some unhappiness behind the scenes. Did Boras overplay...

    Taillon Coming Back, Busch’s Integrity and Success, Bad News for the White Sox, Wicks, Hendricks, and Other Cubs Bullets

    As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...

    You’ll Be Even More Impressed with Hayden Wesneski, When You Hear What it Took to Get Him to Arizona

    Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...

    Offseason Cubs Target Robert Stephenson Now Out for the Year

    Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....

    Rays Closer Pete Fairbanks With a Wonderful and Brutally Honest Line About His Performance

    Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...

    Still Thinking About That Incredible Christopher Morel Play

    I don't want to overreact to a relatively brief stretch of success, and I certainly don't want to jinx anything. But Christopher Morel has looked pretty darn solid at third base the last couple weeks, hasn't he? Maybe some of...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3 – April 17, 2024

    UNCLENCH. They did it. There was 9th inning drama, because of course there was, but Drew Smyly was able to get the job done, pitching for the third consecutive day. Cubs win the game, Cubs win the series. Cubs win...

    Cody Bellinger’s Third Homer of the Year Breaks the Tie in Arizona!

    Thank god. I was starting to think Brandon Pfaadt was Cy Young in disguise or something. I can't stand (or understand, for that matter) how this guy carves up the Cubs while getting destroyed by almost everybody else. But at...

    Watch Owen Caissie Launch His First Triple-A Home Run (Off a Lefty, Too!)

    Owen Caissie is just one of several Cubs top prospects at Triple-A Iowa this season, but after a monster Spring Training performance (following an equally impressive Double-A debut last season), he's got a lot of eyes on him this summer....

    Latest News

    Las Vegas Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks For The Silver and Black

    Las Vegas Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft - It's a new era in Las Vegas, and while they still have questions surrounding the most important position on the team, there's a lot of discussion about what the Raiders will do with their first-round selection....

    Giants vs. Diamondbacks Probable Starting Pitchers – April 18

    The San Francisco Giants (8-11) host the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-10) on Thursday to kick off a four-game series at Oracle Park. The contest starts at 9:45 PM ET.The probable pitchers are Logan Webb (1-1) for the Giants and Ryne Nelson...

    You Can Buy IceHogs Playoff Tickets Starting Friday!

    Hey Blackhawks fans! Wanna see playoff hockey with some players who might be part of the future in Chicago? The IceHogs are heading to the Calder Cup Playoffs, and some tickets go on sale Friday morning! The final schedule for...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 18, 2024: Caissie, Alcántara Go Yard, South Bend and Myrtle Beach Smoked, More

    Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...

    Las Vegas Raiders 2024 First-Round Mock Draft: Raiders Wait on QB, Instead Bolster Offensive Line

    With just one week until the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock, it's crunch time leading into one of their biggest drafts in a while. The Raiders brought in veteran general manager Tom Telesco this offseason to lead the...

    Cubs vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 18, 2024

    The Miami Marlins (4-15) enter Thursday's matchup with the Chicago Cubs (11-7) following their 1-2 series defeat to the Giants. The Cubs, coming off of a series win against the Diamondbacks, are listed as -160 favorites for Game 1. The...

    Draft Day is Coming, NFC North QB Prospect Watch, Crews, Warren, and Other Bears Bullets

    The Chicago Cubs finished a winning road trip with a series win against the defending NL champs. Taylor Swift has a new album that drops at 11 p.m. CT. And the Chicago Bears will usher in a new quarterback era...

    New Orleans Saints 1st Round Mock Draft: Saints Strengthen the Trenches with Offensive Line

    The New Orleans Saints enter the 2024 draft with a glaring need on their offensive line. This New Orleans Saints 1st round mock draft focuses on addressing their biggest needs. With questions surrounding the long-term health of Ryan Ramczyk and...

    Taillon Coming Back, Busch’s Integrity and Success, Bad News for the White Sox, Wicks, Hendricks, and Other Cubs Bullets

    As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...

    If You Haven’t Seen Coby White Destroy Atlanta Yet, What Are You Waiting For?

    Coby White played the best game of his career on Wednesday night. In front of a packed United Center with the season on the line, White looked like the best player on the floor. He propelled the Bulls to a...

    more cubs news