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Anyone who doesn't believe in the "intangibles", or whatever you want to call what a guy like Ross brings to a team (especially a young team like this one), is a fool.

Intangibles can be extremely important to a team with good players.

They are worthless to a team with bad players.

Instant proof.

If the Ross were on the Cubs in 2013 and 2014, do you think they would have made the playoffs?

We'll never know, but many teams that shouldn't do well, do.  My personal opinion is that the best team in baseball in terms of talent hasn't won the WS in years.  This year some of the best teams in baseball on paper didn't even make the playoffs.  There are intangibles that tip the scales.

A little rookie nervousness by Russell.  Should have been a double play.

How much will it cost the Cubs?

How The Cubs Won The NL Wild-Card Game
2015 MLB PLAYOFFS   UPDATED 11:09 PM OCT 7, 2015
11:09 PM Only 11 Wins To Go

It’s official: the Chicago Cubs have survived the wild-card gantlet.

With the victory, they’re now the second-best team in baseball according to our Elo ratings (behind the Toronto Blue Jays). That makes them narrowly favored to win their next series against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals: Elo says they have a 51.6 percent probability of going on to the National League Championship Series.

It also makes them favorites to represent the National League in the World Series. Elo gives Chicago a 28 percent chance of winning the NL pennant, as well as nearly a 15 percent chance of winning it all.

Interview with Theo after the game.  He says that two weeks ago Schwarber told him he was going to hit a HR off Cole into the river. 

http://www.csnchicago.com/video_content_type/theo-epstein-jake-was-domiant

Theo closes the interview with a perfect balance between looking ahead to a bright future and focusing on (and appreciating) the moment.

Starlin Castro was getting a lot of love on MLB Network today.  Lot of oohing and ahhing about (a) how he handled losing his job, (b) how well he's been playing 2B, particularly the DP turns, and (c) his improved hitting.  There seemed to be a consensus that Castro is a better second basemen than he was short stop.

That seems to have been the case in the games I've seen.

Both of the DP turns by Castro in the game last night, particularly the second one that saved (at least) one run were terrific.  DeRosa talked about how hard it is to make the transition from SS to 2B on DP turns, and how impressed he has been with the way Castro has done that, and did so as quickly as he has.

I've been convinced for some time that Castro would be traded if Baez shows he can handle major league pitching.  The way he has been playing, particularly his defense, has made me far less certain of that.  At the very least he has surely dramatically improved his value if he is traded.

Baez has a much higher ceiling.  Castro has a much higher (although not an acceptable) floor.  Barring a blowaway offer, I wouldn't trade either of them until I get a better feel of how they will develop.

Of course, "blowaway offer" is an extremely subjective criteria.