Comments on: 1984 Cubs hero Moreland has design for winning it all

By: George Castle

George Castle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:40:45 +0000

No matter how cold it is or how late it is in October going into November, pitching and the ability to scratch out runs are primary. It’s ace vs. ace, nobody’s using their fourth and fifth starters. And in that five-game Division Series, there’s no chance for bats to heat up. You have to shut down your opponent, plain and simple, and not fall behind one game to nothing. You must win that opener. Amazingly, Zambrano did just that in Game 1 vs. Arizona in 2007, but the Cubs could not scratch out a run against Brandon Webb.

By: Jeff McMahon

Jeff McMahon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:36:12 +0000

George, with the playoffs in late October now, the World Series in November, do you see pitching getting even more important? Cold weather, cold bats, etc?

By: George Castle

George Castle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:34:20 +0000

No, Moreland was wide awake, but the formula’s been done so rarely on the North Side, it’s still new to most.

Yes, I covered the Sox in 2005 and yes, they outpitched everyone when it counted. They didn’t need many runs in October when the rotation did a throwback routine with those long, effective outings.

I think we’re focuing on the playoff tripwires here. The five-game Division Series is a killer. It knocked the Cards out this year.
You hit the ground running, otherwise you’re dead. No time to recover. The Sox were so good in 2005, I had no slack time to sightsee in Boston, the only time I’ve been there. It was one and done in Fenway in a three-game sweep, a common occurrence in the Division Series. And for the Cubs, they absolutely must block it all out in that five-game series, because they did not against LA.

By: Jeff McMahon

Jeff McMahon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:26:21 +0000

This is interesting: “The team that gets it done in Chicago will be a team that has as a unit has a great mindset, that can push through this and not worry what everybody around them is thinking, but what they’re thinking as 25 guys and as a coaching staff. We saw it in Boston a few years ago.”

We saw it in Chicago, too. Was Moreland in a coma in 2005?

Also, Moreland’s design for a winner: at least three great pitchers, a closer, good hitting, good fielding up the middle… is there anyone involved in baseball, and I’m including most fans in that, who doesn’t know this? The Cubs, I guess.

By: George Castle

George Castle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:01:35 +0000

Every year, Jeffrey, will be the year until…it’s really the year. Sounds like a Yogi-ism.

By: Jeff McMahon

Jeff McMahon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:15:02 +0000

This is the year!

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