In the absence of baseball (grumble), Marquee Sports Net is re-running the top-14 games from the Chicago Cubs historic 2016 World Series run. And since I freakin’ love that idea, I thought we might play along by posting regular Pre-Gamin’ posts before each and every one. This is the first televised event, and naturally, they’re starting with Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS at Wrigley Field (don’t worry: if you don’t have Marquee, you’ll find the condensed game below).
Where Did you Watch This One?
Michael: Thinking back, I remember watching this game across the street from Wrigley Field at that bar Yakzies, with what felt like 10,000 people. It was a great night. I got drunk. I got happy. I got a Cubs win.
Brett: “Me, too. I never even saw the Javy ball land because I lost my shit and was jumping around off the bat.”
Luis: “I was at the game. Section 511. Row 3. Seat 109.” (Image from that night way down below).
Eli: “I was def just in my apartment telling everyone to shut up and watch the game.”
Bryan: “I was at my seats in Wrigley! What was then aisle 423, row 3, seats 5-6.”
Alright, from here on out, I’m going to pretend like we’re back at that night. Enjoy.
Tonight, the Chicago Cubs (103-58) are squaring up against the San Francisco Giants (87-75), who beat the Mets in the Wild Card game thanks to yet another dominant postseason performance by Madison Bumgarner (9.0 IP, 4H, 0ER, 2BB, 6Ks). That guy lives for October … I’m glad the Cubs won’t see him for two starts in this series (if it comes to that).
But unfortunately for us, the Giants have another really good starter to trot out in Game 1: Johnny Cueto. Cueto made 32 healthy starts this season, finishing with a 2.79 ERA and 2.96 FIP. And in his last start of the season, he struck out eleven Rockies (walking just one) in seven innings of two-run baseball. Yowza.
But … come on! This is the 2016 Cubs we’re talkin’ about. A dynasty in the making! We’ve got aces. And more than one of them. Like …
Jon Lester gets the ball for Game 1, the job he was practically brought into this organization to perform, and I couldn’t feel better about the decision. Sure, the Cubs could’ve rolled with the 2015 NL Cy Young award winner, Jake Arrieta, or even one of their other 2016 NL Cy Young award finalists, Kyle Hendricks, but they’ll each get their turn soon enough. Tonight, it’s Lester’s mound. And, of course, that means David Ross is behind the plate. Man, I bet that guy gets a job as a manager some day. Also, Javy Baez is playing second base at batting seventh, which I mention for no reason. No reason at all.
I got $20 on the Cubs. Any takers?
CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL PRE-GAMIN’ POST FROM THAT NIGHT.
Game Info
San Francisco Giants (0-0) at Chicago Cubs (0-0) – Wednesday, March 18th at 7:00 CT on Marquee Sports Network
Or … watch the condensed game right here:
Starting Pitchers
Giants: Johnny Cueto (R)
versus
Cubs: Jon Lester (L)
San Francisco Giants:
- Gorkys Hernández, CF
- Brandon Belt, 1B
- Buster Posey, C
- Hunter Pence, RF
- Ángel Pagán, LF
- Brandon Crawford, SS
- Kelby Tomlinson, 2B
- Conor Gillaspie, 3B
- Johnny Cueto, P
Chicago Cubs:
- Dexter Fowler, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Báez, 2B
- David Ross, C
- Jon Lester, P
From Luis that night: