Oct. 20--The sun not only came up, it shined brightly at Wrigley Field the day after the Cubs fell behind the Mets 2-0 in the National League Championship Series.
While the forecast for the outcome of the best-of-seven series is a bit gloomier than the Cubs would like, at least the weather should be a whole lot warmer for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday night at Wrigley. That could be a big factor for the Cubs' boom-or-bust bats, which went cold in frigid New York.
"I'm excited to be back in a little bit warmer weather," Kris Bryant said after a light workout Monday at Wrigley, where the temperature hovered at 70 degrees. "I don't know what it's going to be like at night, but I'm excited not to wear two long-sleeve shirts."
According to WGN-Ch. 9 weather producer Bill Snyder, there is a chance of spotty showers Tuesday and Wednesday, but they aren't expected to produce enough rain to delay or postpone either game. The big story is the expected mild first-pitch temperatures of 65 and 69 for Games 3 and 4.
Tuesday's forecast calls for breezy conditions with wind out of the south at 15 to 25 mph, meaning it will be blowing out to left field at Wrigley. On Wednesday, rain is possible in the hours before the game but should clear, and wind will be out of the southwest before shifting to the west in the later innings.
That is a sharp contrast to the weather in New York for Game 2. It was windy and 45 degrees at game time at Citi Field.
"It was freezing," Bryant said. "But when you're playing, you don't really feel it that much. A lot of it is mental. You don't like playing in the cold, but they have to play in the cold too."
Many players wore layers in New York, and some wore masks at the plate and in the field. Short sleeves were abundant as the Cubs and Mets worked out Monday, and some players wore shorts.
"When I go out to hit, I don't feel the cold. I'm really focused on trying to hit the ball," Cubs infielder Javier Baez said. "It was really cold and windy, but it doesn't mean we're going to stop playing the game."
Still, Baez -- who added that "sometimes you don't feel your hands when it's really cold" -- welcomes warmer temperatures.
"I love the heat," he said. "I'm pretty sure not many people like the cold."
The Cubs mostly rely on their bats to win, and brisk temperatures can be a hindrance. After bashing baseballs all season, they have scratched out a combined three runs on 10 hits during the first two games of the series.
While much of the struggles can be attributed to superb Mets pitching, a little heat could help.
"The guys will feel their hands a little bit better," manager Joe Maddon said. "It should work out somewhat better for us offensively. I'd like to believe with a little warmer weather, our guys are going to have a little better feel at the plate."
Game 3 starter Kyle Hendricks sees benefits to cold and warm temperatures.
"When it's cold, you can bust guys inside, (and) when it's warm, you can warm up easier," Hendricks said. "It doesn't matter to me. No matter what the weather is, you've got to make good pitches and keep the ball down. So that's where my focus is."
ckuc@tribpub.com
