There’s so much to get into today from last night’s thrilling and impactful extra-inning win, but first I just want to linger for a moment on how crazy it was.
First, there’s this:
Yup. That game was, in fact, a wild one. Per @fangraphs win expectancy … pic.twitter.com/OsxY4YKNjL
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) September 22, 2017
Those are swings of up to 60%(!!!) in win expectancy all within the span of the final two regulation innings, and then the decisive 10th inning. And look at how close the Brewers got to pulling off the win in the bottom of the 9th inning. Bases loaded, one out … you’re supposed to win that thing. But then, the Brewers had to face Wade Davis, so. Nah.
And the Leverage Index at the bottom (which essentially shows you how “big” the moment is, in terms of potentially deciding the final outcome) spikes to the near maximum in the 8th inning and hangs out there until after Kris Bryant’s homer.
Speaking of that homer:
A little kiss from the MVP. pic.twitter.com/UTJCwbr755
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 22, 2017
It doesn’t get much more clutch than that, absolutely wrecking an elevated fastball to dead center field with the lead run on second base in the 10th inning of a critical late-September divisional match-up. We have never bought into the idea that Bryant is genetically un-clutch or any such thing, but it has been a factually correct statement to say that he has not come through in those situations as often this year as you would expect for a guy with his ability.
It was extra nice, then, to see Bryant come through with his 68th and 69th RBI on the season with that well-timed blast.
(Bonus: the Brewers employee in the bottom left of the picture. His face says it all.)
But Bryant’s homer never would have happened if Javy Baez didn’t come through with his own clutch moment in the 9th inning, with the Cubs down to their final strike:
It ain't over yet! #JavyTime pic.twitter.com/YmjUXFD2k4
— Cubs Talk (@CSNCubs) September 22, 2017
Eat it, shift.
Baez was PUMPED up. The dugout was PUMPED up. And when Kris Bryant did the thing in the 10th, all parties were PUMPED up:
LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO. pic.twitter.com/DMiKfkgtqa
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) September 22, 2017
AND NOW I’M PUMPED UP. COME AT ME, FRIDAY!