Stupid Decision by MLB Could Play Into Cubs Favor
There is an incredible amount of rain coming through the midwest. Due to this weather Major League Baseball had moved the start time up to 7:08 Eastern Time (6:08 Chicago time – which is the only time that matters) in hopes of finding a 2-2 1/2 hour window to get the game in.
The stupid part of this is, and I would assume is obvious, if the game starts and has a delay in the early innings – each team could lose their starters.
The weather prognosticators are predicting a constant drizzle with some heavier rain coming around 8 PM. With the pace of a typical playoff game, and World Series games lasting even longer – the game could see a delay after just 3 or 4 innings. If that delay is any longer than a half hour, don’t expect the starters to last very long.
Knowing that, unlike a regular season game, a World Series game must be played in its entirety – even if the game spans across multiple games. Pitching is paramount if there’s a potential for long delays. The Cubs, knowing Andrew Miller is not likely to play tonight, could have an advantage if the game belongs to each team’s bullpen, doesn’t want to lose a quality arm like Jake Arrieta. But on the flip side – if the game is postponed until Thursday, Miller will be ready again.
Baseball, knowing there was a day off on Thursday, should have just rescheduled the game for tomorrow. With the close proximity between Cleveland and Chicago, travel isn’t a real concern between games three and four. While this might give the Indians full access to their pen, at some point they will tire when playing four games without a day off.
But the Cubs have little to no control over this now, and have to find a way to stragegize around the misfortune. A potential idea for the Cubs to work around this is by starting someone like Mike Montgomery, turning the game over to the bullpens early, and then saving Arrieta for game three or four in Chicago.
We hate potentially losing a starter, even if that means Cleveland does as well. Regardless of who starts, on paper the Cubs should win game two, and you’d be a fool to bet against Kyle Hendricks in game three. If the Cubs get creative tonight it could shift the next few games into the Cubs favor.
