Well guys, it’s another postseason without the Cubs participating, but at least we get reminded of the good memories from time to time. In the first playoff game of 2024, the Houston Astros entered the ninth inning trailing 3-0 at home against the feisty Detroit Tigers. The Astros put together a last-inning rally and had the bases loaded with two outs, down 3-1.
Funny enough, Jason Heyward was at the plate and he lined out to first base, ending the threat for Houston.
Jason Heyward hit it on the screws, but THE TIGERS SURVIVE! pic.twitter.com/X1xZMEWUBk
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 1, 2024
The Tigers won Game 1 against the Astros and the broadcast shared the following stat that reminds us all of how magical the 2016 Cubs really were because teams are now 1-538 when trailing by three or more runs in the ninth inning since 1990.
Oh yeah, you remember that game.
Javier Báez’s game-winning RBI-single to center drove in Heyward from second base, capping off a four-run ninth inning for the Cubs against the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the 2016 NLDS.
One thing that will always stand out to me about that comeback is how Bruce Bochy used five different relievers in the ninth. This was obviously before the three-batter rule for relief pitchers. That 2016 Giants team led MLB with 30 blown saves during the regular season and when they needed someone to protect a three-run lead with three outs to get there were no good options for Bochy to turn to.
You look at the 2024 Cubs, 26 blown saves. I truly believe that a manager is only as good as his bullpen. I think we can all agree that Bruce Bochy is a good manager, so what happened in 2016? Did he all of a sudden forget how to manage a bullpen or was the bullpen just bad? Did Craig Counsell forget how to manage once he put on a Cubs uniform? Nah.
