Curse Busting Cubs on Game 7 Collision Course with Indians
CLEVELAND-The 2016 Fall Classic has lived up to its name as we've seen just about everything that there is to see. In many ways, this year's World Series has been a microcosm of what Major League Baseball is truly all about.
About a week-and-a-half ago, I predicted that the Chicago Cubs would win in six games. Early on, it appeared as if I would be right about the number of games (six), but wrong about the winning team, as Cleveland stormed to a 3-1 series lead. After exchanging relative blow-out victories in games one and two in at Progressive Field in Cleveland (6-0 Cleveland behind Corey Kluber in game one and 5-1 Chicago in game two behind 2015 National League Cy Young Award Winner Jake Arrieta), the Cleveland Indians shutout the Chicago Cubs 1-0 at Wrigley Field in Chicago in game three before trouncing them by a score of 7 to 2 in game four at Wrigley Field. In game four, Cleveland ace Corey Kluber picked up yet another win, making a strong early case for 2016 World Series MVP.
This post season, when Cleveland has taken a lead into the middle innings, it's been lights out, especially with former New York Yankees' left-hander Andrew Miller (2016 ALCS MVP) looming in the bullpen. In game five, Cubs' left-hander Aroldis Chapman (another former New York Yankee pitcher dealt at the 2016 MLB trade deadline) did his best Andrew Miller impersonation by pitching multiple innings to preserve an historic 3-2 to Chicago Cubs behind a six inning, one run performance by two-time former World Series Champion left-hander Jon Lester.
Why was this game five Cubs' victory so historic? Unless you've been living under a rock, you've undoubtedly heard all about the "Curse of the Billy Goat" in which an ousted Chicago bar own said that the Cubs wouldn't win anymore home World Series games. While some would argue that the Cubs actually have to win the World Series before the billy goat curse can truly actually be exorcised, I would argue that their game five win did in fact end it.
In any event, through games one through five, two games were decided by one-run (games three and five) while the other three games were decided by four or more runs, leaving one to wonder what to expect in game six. A first inning Cleveland miscue allowed the Cubs to score three times, including a rare collision at home plate when Chicago Cubs' player Ben Zobrist barreled over Cleveland Indians' catcher Roberto Perez due to the fact that the latter did not give the former a lane to home plate. While it was a moot point (the relay throw by Jason Kipnis was too poor for Perez to handle), it was refreshing to see such a collision at home in the most significant of games.
A grand slam by Chicago Cubs' shortstop Addison Russell in the bottom of the third inning turned game six into yet another lopsided game, the fourth of the series, with each team winning 1 one-run and two multi-run games. In doing so, Russell became the second youngest player (behind Mickey Mantle) to hit a grand slam homer in a World Series game. Other notable game six Cubs' performers include 2016 NL MVP front-runners Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. As for Cubs' right-hander Jake Arrieta, he earned his second World Series win en route to a 9 to 3 victory that pulled the Chicago Cubs even with the Cleveland Indians at three wins apiece.
Tonight, this classic World Series will come to an end. The game seven pitching match-up will feature former AL Cy Young Award Winner Corey Kluber for Cleveland against 2016 NL Cy Young front-runner Kyle Hendriks. If both of these men pitch to their capabilities, game seven should turn out to be a low-scoring game decided by one run.
While the momentum in this World Series has clearly shifted to in favour of the Cubs, if the Indians are able to take a lead into the middle innings, then they will win the World Series for the first time in 68 years, ending the curse of the missing 1948 World Series Championship Pennant that went missing after it was buried by their team owner. By saving relievers Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians' manager Terry Francona will have his top three bullpen arms fresh and ready to go in the final Major League Baseball game of 2016.
As for the Cubs, if they don't get to Kluber early, then their road to their first World Series title in 108 years will be a most difficult one indeed as I don't see them getting to Andrew Miller (who will pitch no matter the score in game seven). The key to a Chicago Cubs' victory tonight is a strong outing by Kyle Kendriks. If he doesn't outpitch Corey Kluber, then his team will face the daunting task of trying to comeback against Andrew Miller. Moreover, Joe Maddon's potential game six overuse of closer Aroldis Chapman may prove costly. In a close game tonight, the advantage clearly shifts to Cleveland, as I don't see Chapman holding a one-run lead over multiple innings. Conversely, I feel that the Cubs' superior offence will give them the advantage in a high scoring/lopsided game.
As for my prediction, I feel that the Chicago Cubs will continue their momentum and win game seven. While it is difficult to imagine Kluber faltering, even he will have difficulty holding down the Cubs' potent offence, especially considering that Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are both clicking on all cylinders at the same time. That being said, Cleveland's Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli, Coco Crisp and Carlos Santana (among others) have all had a flair for the dramatic during the 2016 World Series/post season. Look for an unsung hero on either team to come up big.
Whatever you do, enjoy game seven of the 2016 World Series as it we may never see the likes of it again in terms of the cumulative years (176 years) that two World Series teams (Cubs and Indians) have gone without winning.
