SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Before I get to the details of the Cubs’ excruciating 17-inning 2-1 loss to the Marlins, I need to say this:
Rob Manfred, do not ever take games like this away from us. These are the games that make baseball fun, the games people talk about for years after, the games that make new heroes.
Like Eddie Butler almost was. Butler threw seven innings of nearly spotless relief; with two out in the 17th, he allowed a single to Brian Anderson (and I have to say this about that name: If there are any more guys named Brian Anderson coming to the major leagues, they are going to have to change one of those names.