Daily Cubs Highlights: NLCS Start Times, AZ Fall League, Ratings & Magical Musings of Danny Rockett

I finally feel somewhat normal after getting home late last night from San Francisco. Granted, after that amazing come-back win by the Cubs, I’ll never be the same again, but for that I’m very thankful.

Yesterday was a long day getting home. I had to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Phoenix because all the direct flights were full. It took all day but luckily I had a lot of Cubs news and highlights to catch up on, which made for a much nicer trip.

So now I have two days to feel ‘normal’ again before I head out to Chicago in what will surely be an amazing experience. I can’t wait. In the meantime, here are a few highlights of some Cubs news and notes that you’ll want to catch up on.

• Today MLB announced start times for the NLCS – games 1 through 5 – which begins in Chicago on Saturday. As expected, the Cubs will be in the primetime slot for at least the first five games of the series. All five games will begin at 7:08 PM CT. Both games will be broadcast once again on FS1. Here’s the schedule.

*If necessary

• The Arizona Fall League officially got underway on Tuesday, October 11. Of course, everyone was busy relishing that amazing come-back win by the Cubs so there wasn’t a lot of news coverage. Representing the Cubs this year are Ian Happ (IF), Eloy Jimenez (OF), Victor Caratini (C), James Farris (P), Ryan McNeil (P), Stephen Perakslis (P), and Duane Underwood, Jr. (P). Ian Happ played in yesterday’s game as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 on the day. No other Cubs player got playing time.

• All Arizona Fall League games will be broadcast for free today on MLB.com. The Mesa Solar Sox, which is the team that features Cubs, Athletics, Blue Jays, Indians & Marlins players, will take on the Glendale Desert Dogs at 2:35 PM CT.

• The Nationals and Dodgers will go at it today at 7:00 PM CT in Washington D.C. in game five of the NLDS. The winner will travel to Chicago on Saturday to take on the Cubs. Pitching for the Dodgers will be Rich Hill (12-5, 2.12 ERA) and for the Nationals it will be Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA). Both pitchers lost both of the games they started in the NLDS so something is bound to give tonight. Each gave up four runs in their losses.

• The Cubs continue to be a TV ratings bonanza in the playoffs. Tuesday’s ratings of the Cubs game were the highest in the short history of FS1 with a peak audience of 6.95 million viewers. Expect those numbers to continue to grow as the Cubs play in the NLCS. There’s certainly no shortage of interest and intrigue with our beloved Cubs.

• And last, but certainly not least, if you didn’t know, the Giants were using a slogan called “BeliEVEN” for the playoffs. I guess it’s kind of a clever play on the even year world series thing they had going but, to be honest, it was also kind of annoying and ridiculous. As the wise Danny Rocket put it, “1908 was an even year too, man.” Danny is one heck of an entertaining soul. Follow him on Twitter – if you don’t already – or check out his podcast here.