WATCH: Jake Arrieta reflects on 2016 Cubs' World Series title run

Tony Crumpton · Senior Editor · 4 hours ago

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta joins Marquee Sports Network's "Cubs Live" before Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field to reflect on his playoff run with the 2016 World Series championship team.

Arrieta also shares on what his mindset was like during the playoffs.

Check out the full interview below:

Video summary/cliff notes:

(00:00–00:40) Arrieta is introduced as a 2016 World Series champ. He praises postseason baseball returning to Wrigley, calling home field advantage “vital” for October success.

(00:59–01:33) He breaks down the wild card series pressure—now a 3-game set, but momentum and an early lead remain crucial. Home crowd energy and sleeping in your own bed add comfort and confidence.

(01:54–02:47) Reflecting on his famous 2015 Wild Card start vs. Pittsburgh, Arrieta recalls being “locked in like a video game.” By that stage of his career, bullpen warmups didn’t affect him—his focus was all on execution once between the lines.

(03:12–03:28) On channeling “video game stuff,” Arrieta says pressure is a privilege and Matthew Boyd (starting pitcher in current series) should embrace the weight of Game 1 as motivation.

(03:47–04:07) He stresses the importance of shutting down the opponent early: “Throw up a zero in the first inning” to set the tone and avoid playing from behind in October.

(04:24–04:59) Weather at Wrigley (wind, sun) can drastically impact games. Arrieta notes pitchers must keep the ball down and adjust if certain pitches aren’t working, sometimes fighting through, sometimes shifting strategy based on hitter reactions.

(05:17–05:36) Defense is emphasized—extra outs in the postseason almost always hurt. Arrieta notes playoff magnification makes fundamentals critical.

(05:53–06:26) Discussing the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the Cubs’ 2016 title, Arrieta looks forward to a reunion but jokes that kids who were little in 2016 don’t know who he is now—“We’re getting old.”

(06:26–07:06) Arrieta shares he’s training for a marathon (Dec. 7 in San Antonio) but admits he’s not a strong swimmer, so Ironman triathlons are out. Says he could probably still give the Cubs “one inning” today.

(07:06) Segment closes with cheers of “Jake!” honoring him as a Cubs legend.