All winter, we read that the Indians acquisition of Encarnacion was a sign that they were making another run in 2017. With all due respect, it's all smoke and mirrors. The Red Sox were better than the Indians as were the Jays. My Cleveland friends were shocked when they got to the Series. We're talking three-man rotation, and overworked stars, Kluber and Miller. True, Francona had no choice. But it happened all the same. And Brantley was overworked during the regular season. Don't expect much from the rotation. Tjey are likely to be working with 3 mid-range starters a couple of fill-ins and one overworked middle reliever. If this team breaks .500, I'd give Francona the Manager of the Year.
Why are the Indians always looked down on? In my world, they are the best. Forget football, which I cannot tolerate. Ugly uniforms, smashing each other, some with injuries that kill or at least seriously maim. Some have never recovered. Our country is supposed to be civilized, but football makes it otherwise.
Cubs and Indians again in 2017? This time with game 7 in Wrigglyville? (Yankee and Dodger fans cringe. Cards' fans weep. Phillies' fans just shrug.)
Cleveland has the strongest lineup (Santana, Kipness, Lindor, Ramirez and now Encarnacion) in the AL. Add the best reliever (courtesy of the NYY who got several ??s in return for a sure thing) and best manager. If they keep their starters healthy, not sure who can beat them.
Royals back big in '17, so this won't be relevant.
1
No doubt Royals will be strong contender this year. Should be some good rivalries in AL Central. Question is, will Twins sneak up on the rest of the division this year. Tribe, Royals, Tigers all look good on paper but we all know how much that means once the games are played.
Overlooked, was the midnight application of the rain tarp. The 15 minute delay seemed crucial, stretching Shaw. The umpires' bad judgement handed the tie game, and the series, to the Cubs. I'm Yankee fan, but as a baseball student, that late night call recalled Denkinger's infamous flub.
4
Always someone to re-write history. It poured while the field was covered. If it hadn't been covered it wouldn't have been safe. During the break Heyward gave a Knute Rockne speech and the Indians picked their noses. Whose fault is that?
So difficult to get to the World Series.....so many things need to break your way. When Rajai Davis....RAJAI DAVIS.....hit that home run in the 8th and Madden trotted Chapman back out in the ninth to face the top of our order....I actually said, for the first time in those 7 games...that we were gonna win. Heartbreak. If we are fortunate enough, again, to overcome key injuries, get hot when we need to, and have our players seize opportunities at the key times they arise....last year's sadness will be forever forgotten and our parade will never stop in Cleveland. Go Tribe
8
Ain't gonna happen. And it has nothing to do with fate. Even if everything breaks the right way, you don't have the pitching.
But to Cubs fans, I would say, "You're welcome." The Tribe gave as good as we got, and the result was a Series for the ages, a real white knuckler, and an honor to have competed in. I still get chills just thinking about that final game with its extra innings. Very few in Cleveland were heartbroken the next day; exhausted, yes, but man was that a Series!
Baseball! In many ways, no other sport can touch it.