Major League Baseball

Why Game 3 aces Bumgarner and Arrieta are more similar than you might think

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:44 p.m. ET

Ken Rosenthal

SAN FRANCISCO -- Never mind that the Cubs' Jake Arrieta is right-handed and the Giants' Madison Bumgarner is left-handed.

In Arrieta's view, the pitchers who will oppose each other Monday night in Game 3 of the Division Series are more similar than not.

"He's so deceptive -- I feel like we have a lot in common in that regard," Arrieta told me before the series began. "We can miss in the middle of the plate a lot more than other guys.

"The angle, the depth, is hard to pick up. The feedback I know he gets, I get the same thing from the other teams. People say, 'It looks like you're throwing the ball from shortstop.'"

Bumgarner, too, sees the similarity in styles, saying, "the way we both throw across our body, it gives hitters a little different look." The two also share a fierce work ethic, and intangibles, too.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon, in his news conference Sunday, was asked to sum up what makes Bumgarner so good in the postseason; Bumgarner's career ERA in October is 1.94, the lowest of any pitcher, minimum 10 starts, since the playoffs first expanded in 1969.

"It's not just purely his stuff. It's his competitive nature," Maddon said. "I think that's what gets lost in this a lot with what we do.

"Everybody's always analyzing numbers and pitches and how he does this and spin rotation and whatever. This guy competes. That's what sets him apart. It's not that his stuff is that special, it's really good, but how he competes is what sets him apart...

"If kids are watching this and really want to understand how to get good, you compete, and you compete every pitch. And that's why he's as good as he is."

I will have a video essay assessing Bumgarner's place in postseason history on the FS1 pre-game show Monday night, likely airing around 9:20 ET/6:20 PT.

THE EDUCATION OF A YOUNG CATCHER

When the Cubs start rookie Willson Contreras at catcher, he can often be seen chatting in the dugout between innings with catching instructor Mike Borzello, one of the many behind-the-scenes stars in the Chicago organization.

Contreras, 24, said the two discuss how to work the opponent's next three hitters and possible pinch-hitters. The conversations, he said, "keep my mind fresh."

Borzello also holds similar in-game discussions with the Cubs' veteran catchers, David Ross and Miguel Montero. But as a younger player, Contreras requires more attention.

"I had asked Miggy and David Ross, 'How do you think you were as a young catcher when you were in Willson's shoes?" Borzello said. "Both said exactly the same thing: 'I thought I was good until I realized that I wasn't that good yet.' (As you get older), you become more savvy and understanding of the game.

"With the cerebral side, it's hard to start the process until you get here. There is way more information. You see the same hitters all the time. In the minors, you're blind for the most part. There is some data, but you're kind of guessing."

Tom Verducci detailed the Cubs' run-prevention strategies in his recent cover story for Sports Illustrated.

THE CUBS' VISIBLE-BALL TRICK

Maddon likes to employ visual forms of motivation, and his longtime associate, sports psychologist Ken Ravizza, came up with an interesting one the past two springs.

Ravizza had 162 balls placed on a field, divided by bats into seven monthly increments. He then added one ball for the wild-card game - which the Cubs hoped to avoid - plus groups of five, seven and seven to signify each playoff series.

The idea was for the players to visualize the long journey ahead. But the undertaking didn't end there. Once the season began, the Cubs collected and authenticated a ball from every game, inscribing each with the score and Cubs pitcher of record.

Club officials lined up those balls on a large circular counter in the clubhouse last Tuesday, then added blank ones in groups of five, seven and seven to signify each playoff series. The players saw 103 winning baseballs -- and the need for 11 more.

AROUND THE HORN

*Some Giants have ugly numbers against Arrieta: Buster Posey is 0-for-15, Brandon Crawford 1-for-13, Brandon Belt 0-for-10. Leadoff man Denard Span is 4-for-20 with one walk, but Arrieta mentioned him as a particular concern.

"You can't fool around with him, have him put together a nine- or 10-pitch at-bat," Arrieta said. "Make him put the ball in play. At-bats like that wear on you, change the complexion of an inning."

See: Dexter Fowler vs. Jeff Samardzija.

*Another big problem for the Giants: They've yet to score off the Cubs' bullpen in 2016, per STATS LLC. Combined stats in 32 1/3 innings from the regular season and Division Series: .110 batting average (12-for-109), 33 strikeouts, five walks.