The city exhaled and then roared. We break down how the Cubs took a tense three-game set from San Diego by leaning into the stuff that never blinks in October: elite defense up the middle, relentless bottom-of-the-order pressure, and Craig Counsell pushing buttons one inning earlier than anyone expected. If you felt the game tighten and then tilt our way, you weren’t imagining it—those little margins were the plan.
We start with the plays that don’t always make highlights but win series: Dansby Swanson’s transfers and footwork, Nico Hoerner’s internal clock, and Pete Crow-Armstrong erasing flight paths in center. Layer in Carson Kelly’s pro at-bats and Suzuki’s late-season surge, and you’ve got a lineup that turns the page even when the top isn’t loud. From there, we get into Counsell’s playoff mode—Kittredge as an opener, Palencia in leverage, and the Shota vs. Machado decision that looked odd until you map the matchups two innings out. It wasn’t chaos; it was calculated. Jamison Taillon’s composure and slider feel were the backbone of Game 3, and we talk through how that sets the rotation chessboard against Milwaukee.
Then we widen the lens. Why Chicago’s depth can outlast the Brewers’ balance. How the bullpen-by-pockets approach neutralizes star bursts. Why the Cubs can win a series on first-to-third baserunning, soft contact outs, and clean internal timing. If you’re looking for the “why not us” case, this is it: a team that wins the edges, manages with intent, and keeps stacking playable at-bats through nine. Tap in for the joy, the strategy, and a tease of our full NLDS scouting dive—because the vibe is real and the road is open.
If you’re riding with us, follow, share with a Cubs fan who needs the juice, and leave a quick review telling us your pick for Game 2’s starter. Let’s make Wrigley North loud.
Thanks for tuning in!
- Carl & Mahoney
