Posnanski: Cubs' Jake Arrieta channeling Bob Gibson

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PITTSBURGH — There are no seismographs that measure the tension of a city … but for two days Pittsburgh seemed tense. This could be a figment of my imagination, of course, but it definitely did seem that wherever I went in the hours leading up to Wednesday’s epic wildcard matchup with the Chicago Cubs, there would be a group of slightly edgy Pirates fans.

“What do you think about the game?” I would ask them and, inevitably, they would offer that bit-lip look of uncertainty before saying something vaguely positive like, “The Pirates have to win.” There would be just the hint of a question mark at the end.

The issue, of course, was Jake Arrieta.

In each of the last two years, the Pirates came upon a do-or-die game in the playoffs and saw a great pitcher take the mound against them. Two years ago, it was St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, who three times coaxed double plays and choked the Pirates lineup for a 6-1 victory. Last year, it was irrepressible San Francisco star Madison Bumgarner who struck out 10 PIrates and gave up four measly singles and the Giants cruised to an 8-0 victory.

[POSNANSKI: Why Cubs' Jake Arrieta would get my Cy Young vote]

And now in the latest wildcard adventure, they would face Arrieta, the Chicago Cubs ace who lately has been pitching like no pitcher in almost 50 years. Pirates fans tried to be bold. “Be ready for the sea of black,” a handle called Parody Pirate tweeted at Arrieta, adding the hashtag, #CrowdIsGoingToEatYouAlive.

Arrieta’s response was chilling.

“Whatever keeps your hope alive,” he Tweeted back. “Just know it doesn’t matter.”

There really aren’t any good comebacks after that — it’s a bit like Drago in “Rocky IV” saying to Apollo Creed, “You will lose.” The Pirates and their fans tried to put on a brave face, tried to exude confidence after an extraordinary 98-win season, the best in Pittsburgh since Barry Bonds played left field and, before that, when “We Are Family” blared over the loudspeakers. The largest crowd ever at PNC park wore black and booed Arrieta with the famous Pittsburgh fury that through the years has melted quarterbacks and goaltenders.

But in the end, they were right to feel that tension and sense of doom. On this night, like just about every other night since June, nothing could rattle Jake Arrieta.

Check out Posnanski's full piece at NBC SportsWorld.

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