October 12, 2016

Choking Switch

Until 2010, the Giants had a history of choking that was a poor as the Cubs. In 1987 the led the NLCS 3-2, then didn’t score a run in the final two games against the Cardinals. In 1993, they won 103 games but didn’t make the playoffs, holding a 9.5 game lead over the Braves in early August. Needing to win on the last day of the season, they fell to the Dodgers 12-1. In 2002, they had a 3-2 lead in the World Series and a 5-0 lead in game six, and lost the series. They went 56 years between World Series wins, and then couldn’t lose an elimination game.

The Cubs were even worse. The blew the 1969 division rates to the Mets, the laughing stocks of the National League up to that point. They were up 2-0 in the 1984 NLCS, and dropped the next three games in San Diego, blowing a 3-0 lead in game five. In 2003, they led the NLCS 3-2, but lost the last two games at home to the Marlins after leading 3-0 in the eighth inning of game 6.

Tuesday night it was the Cubs that turned the table. They pounded pitchers brought in especially for each batter. Their closer held the line. This is a special Cubs team, from the front office to the backup catcher. They may not win the World Series, but this team is unlikely to choke on the way.

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