The last time the Chicago Cubs won three straight elimination games in the postseason was in the 2016 World Series.
You might remember it.
They head into Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday with the same objective, but they won’t have a naked Anthony Rizzo dancing to the theme from “Rocky” in the pregame clubhouse or Jason Heyward delivering an inspirational speech during a rain delay or Jon Lester being Jon Lester.
It’s a new team, a different era and a massive challenge ahead of them: beating the Milwaukee Brewers in three straight to advance to the NL Championship Series.
Can it happen?
“Part of being great at this is responding to the bad stuff,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday during the Cubs workout at Wrigley Field. “Run towards it, man. That’s part of this, and you can’t be afraid of it. You’ve got to look forward.
“It happens sometimes. We put ourselves in a hole this series, no question about it. And we get to decide how this story ends.”
If the Cubs want to continue this story, here are seven things that need to happen.
1. Make contact
Cubs hitters had the sixth-lowest strikeout rate this season at 20.7%. With 58 strikeouts in five postseason games, they’ve increased that to 34.5%, flailing away at an unsustainable rate.
Dansby Swanson (11 strikeouts in 17 at-bats), Pete Crow-Armstrong (10 in 18 ABs), Ian Happ (nine in 18 ABs) and Carson Kelly (eight in 16 ABs) have been the worst offenders, but everyone needs to control the zone better.
The Cubs offense dominated in the first half of the season, then went into a funk in the second half. It has to get back to that dominance in every game the rest of this series in order to move on.
2. Let Jameson Taillon pitch longer
After brutal outings by Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga, who allowed a combined 10 runs in 3 1/3 innings, it’s up to Taillon to fill the Lester role and save the day. In Game 3 of the wild-card series, Counsell removed Taillon after four shutout innings and only 66 pitches to do his usual “out-getter” maneuvering.
Taillon pitched six or more innings in four of his last six regular-season starts, and he has been the Cubs’ second-best pitcher behind Cade Horton. So will Counsell let Jameson fly?
“We’re open to whatever,” Counsell said Tuesday. “It’s, ‘Read the game.’ We understand that it’s an elimination game, and that means you’re not saving anything. It’s not because our starters haven’t gone that we should just let him (go longer) this game. It’s, ‘What do we have to do to win the game?’ And that’s how we’ll think about it (Wednesday).”
If Taillon is on, as he should be, Counsell needs to trust his starter to go a little longer.
3. Shake up the lineup
Maybe Seiya Suzuki can replace Happ in the No. 3 hole? Nico Hoerner leading off and Michael Busch batting second, even against right-hander Quinn Priester? Willi Castro at third base in place of Matt Shaw (0-for-14 in the postseason)?
Counsell said he’s trying to put people in the best spot to have success, which is obvious coachspeak. Try something new. Anything would be better than seeing the same lineup not produce game after game.
4. Make William Contreras uncomfortable
There was a day when a pitcher would brush back a hitter after he stood at home plate and stared at a home run for as long as Contreras did in Game 2 on Monday. Those days are long gone, unfortunately, but getting Contreras off his feet once at least would make him think about digging in.
The Cubs didn’t seem as bothered by Contreras’ antics as a grizzled, old sports writer who covered old-school managers Don Zimmer, Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker.
“In the playoffs, anything goes,” reliever Brad Keller told me Tuesday. “Emotions are at an all-time high, especially Cubs-Brewers and how it’s been over the last few years. It’s hard to say. That’s just kind of the game now and something we’ve all had to adapt to.
“The time he did that, it was a tie ballgame and a big moment, a big flip of the game, and in their environment, where you try to get momentum on your side. I think that’s what that was all about.”
I agreed — but would love to have seen how Bob Gibson would’ve reacted to the celebration.
5. No Sho
If the Cubs manage to take the series back to Milwaukee for Game 5 on Saturday, Imanaga would be on track to start. But it’s obvious after listening to Imanaga lament his performance after Game 2 that he has lost confidence and needs a nice break.
Colin Rea would be the obvious next choice for Game 5, which likely would be a bullpen game anyway. The Cubs need a starter on the mound who knows he will succeed, not someone hoping he can. After serving up home runs in 10 straight games, Imanaga doesn’t look like the same confident guy he was at the start of the season.
6. Reduce the distractions
There’s no need for Cubs executives to be on the field or in the clubhouse before games, unless it’s President Jed Hoyer or general manager Carter Hawkins meeting with Counsell.
If your name is not Jed or Carter, stay in your office pregame and then go directly to your seat. This is not your time to be seen looking important.
7. Stop handing out ‘rally’ towels
The fan energy during Game 3 of the wild-card series was as electric as I’ve witnessed at Wrigley since the 2017 postseason. They don’t need to wave towels for the TV cameras to prove they’re into it. Many of them have “W” flags anyway, and it’s a tradition that doesn’t need changing.
One of the great things about Wrigley is fans need no encouragement to cheer. The rally towels are just another marketing cliche that worked for the Steelers and should’ve remained in Pittsburgh.
Let Cubs fans do their thing the old-fashioned way, and hopefully the atmosphere can spark the players — as it did last week against the San Diego Padres.
