MOUND OF ISSUES
It’s up to Arrieta to end Cubs’ struggles with playoff pitching
What little there is of Cubs postseason history since their last World Series championship in 1908 features, as you might expect, only a smidgen of pitching prowess, especially considering that they last appeared in the Fall Classic in 1945.
Might Jake Arrieta, who will start the pivotal third game of the National League Division Series on Monday against the Cardinals, carry the Cubs to World Series glory? Many have tried, but few Cubs have achieved what Madison Bumgarner did with the Giants last season.
Cy Young winners Rick Sutcliffe and Greg Maddux couldn’t during the 1980s, nor could Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in the 2000s. And perhaps manager Lou Piniella’s quick hook denied Carlos Zambrano an opportunity in 2007.
As Ted Lilly, who slammed his glove to the ground that year after giving up a go- ahead three- run home run to the Diamondbacks’ Chris Young in Game 2 of the NLDS, said: ‘‘ That was a nightmare. I don’t care how many games I won in the regular season [ 15]; it’s the postseason that matters.’’
As Arrieta attempts to keep a historic hot streak going in the playoffs, let us be reminded about how challenging the playoffs have been for Cubs aces through each postseason since 1908 ( in order of and starting with the most recent memories):
2003
Mark Prior was 18- 6 with a 2.43 ERA and finished third in Cy Young voting. With a 3- 0 lead against the Marlins in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series, Prior was five outs away from putting the Cubs in their first World Series since 1945. The rest is maybe the greatest Cubs horror story of all time, as the Marlins erupted for eight runs and went on to win the series.
1998
This wild- card teamteam didn’t didn’t have a clear ace, although Opening Day start starter Kevin Tapani won 19 games. Tapani pitchedpit seven strong innings in a 2- 1 losslos in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Braves,
who swept the Cubs 3- 0.
1984
Cy Young winner Rick Sutcliffe, 16- 1 after coming over in a trade with the Indians, pitched seven scoreless innings and homered against the Padres in Game 1 of the NLCS. When the Padres tied the series at two games each, the Sun- Times’ backpage headline read, ‘‘ IT’S UP TO SUTCLIFFE.’’ Protecting a 3- 2 lead, the ‘‘ Red Baron’’ gave up four runs in the seventh, and the Cubs lost 6- 3.
1989
Greg Maddux, 19- 12 with 2.95 ERA to finish third in Cy Young voting, made two starts against the Giants in the NLCS and went 0- 1 with a 13.50 ERA.
1945
Acquired from the Yankees at the All- Star break, Hank Borowy went 11- 2, led the NL with a 2.14 ERA and threw a shutout against the Tigers in Game 1 of the World Series. But he lost Game 5 and, after earning the victory in relief in Game 6, lasted only three batters in the Tigers’ five- run first in Game 7. He is the last Cubs pitcher to win a World Series game.
1938
Bill ‘‘ The General’’ Lee ( 22- 9, 2.66 ERA) lost Games 1 and 4 of the World Series, lasting only three innings in the finale, as the Yankees swept the Cubs.
1935
After the Cubs went 100- 54 in the regular season, Lon Warneke did his part in the World Series, going 2- 0 with a 0.54 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Tigers from winning in six games.
1932
Warneke ( 22- 6, 2.37 ERA) gave up five runs in his start in Game 2 as the Yankees swept the Cubs in a World Series best known for Babe Ruth’s famous ‘‘ called shot’’ against Charlie Root at Wrigley Field.
1929
Root lost Game 1 and gave up six runs in a Game 4 loss for the Cubs, who were beaten by the Athletics in five games after going 98- 54 during the regular season.
1918
Hippo Vaughn went 22- 10 with a 1.74 ERA, but he lost a 1- 0 duel to Red Sox lefthander Babe Ruth in Game 1 ( played at Comiskey Park) and suffered a 2- 1 loss to Carl Mays in Game 3. Vaughn won Game 5, but the Red Sox won in six games.
1910
Mordecai ‘‘ Three Finger’’ Brown won 25 games and had a 1.86 ERA for the 104- 50 Cubs, but he went 1- 2 with a 5.50 ERA in the World Series, which the A’s won in five games. Follow me on Twitter @ CST_ soxvan.