12/21/24
October 20, 2016
Cleveland Indians Advance to World Series: The Cleveland Indians last won a World Series in 1948 and last reached one in 1997. For game 5 of the ALCS this year, manager Terry Francona improbably asked Ryan Merritt to take the mound -- a rookie with one career start and 11 total innings pitched. He kept the Toronto Blue Jays scoreless through 4 1/3 innings, Francona handed the game to his formidable bullpen and the World Series opens in Title Town, Ohio, on Tuesday.
I try to like Cleveland, but seeing Chief Wahoo kills it. The team broke a commitment to phase out that odious symbol by using him on caps in these playoffs.
I thought Toronto would increase my bitterness by winning the ALCS. I figured they would rough up Cleveland's starters. What happened to the bats?
posted by rcade at 10:36 AM on October 20, 2016
What happened to the bats?
We all asked that question in April.
And May.
And September.
And these past six days.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:46 AM on October 20, 2016
What happened to the bats?
They were non-existent for most of September, which is why the team slid from leading the AL East to being tied for the second wild-card spot with two games to go in the season.
In fact, there were a few stretches of a week or two throughout the season where the offense would just do nothing but K/pop-out/double-play.
It's frustrating when you remember they were absolute monsters in offense in 2015, and were the best pitching team in the American League in 2016.
If they could only have combined those two traits...
The team broke a commitment to phase out that odious symbol by using him on caps in these playoffs.
I was REALLY surprised to see it so prominent on the caps. I assumed it was just a small arm patch and secondary logo at this point.
posted by grum@work at 10:46 AM on October 20, 2016
Based on historical precedent, Cleveland looks like a favourite to win the World Series.
The Toronto Blue Jays are the king makers for the World Series. Every year the Jays have made the playoffs, they either win the World Series or they lose to the eventually World Series winner.
1985 - Kansas City Royals
1989 - Oakland A's
1991 - Minnesota Twins
1992 - Toronto Blue Jays
1993 - Toronto Blue Jays
2015 - Kansas City Royals.
2016 - Cleveland Indians?
posted by grum@work at 11:06 AM on October 20, 2016
The management are idiots for not going with the classic big red "C" on the caps instead of Wahoo.
I've seen shots of fans in the stands togged up like Wahoo and mimicking the giant grin. Not good.
I'm happy for Tito. I thought that when he took the Cleveland job, he was being sentenced to the same post-Boston purgatory that John McNamara went to back in the early 90's. I didn't expect a run this deep from this club.
posted by beaverboard at 11:17 AM on October 20, 2016
If the Cubs don't make it to the World Series, then I have no problem throwing my support behind Cleveland. I like Francona, Napoli, Lindor, Kluber, Miller, Ramirez, Davis, and Crisp. I HATE their name (and Chief Wahoo), but I'm a huge sucker for teams overcoming years of championship drought.
posted by grum@work at 11:25 AM on October 20, 2016
Side note:
After the Jays got knocked out (which I couldn't watch because I was driving home and had to run errands), I said to myself "Let's watch the Leafs tonight!"
They jump ahead 4-0, and I think that this might not be so bad.
There it is. That familiar feeling...
posted by grum@work at 11:28 AM on October 20, 2016
A photographer told the story of last night's outcome in a bat flip.
I'm pretty sure he was killed after taking this, so props to him.
posted by rcade at 11:36 AM on October 20, 2016
Yeah, really happy for Tito. If the Series does end up as Cleveland v. Cubs, I hope the Red Sox ownership spends the entire time slapping each other in the groin for thinking they were the brains behind the operation.
posted by yerfatma at 12:29 PM on October 20, 2016
Well, good for the Cleveland baseball club. If the Cubs somehow Cubs up their post-season, I'll be rooting for the Cleveland Citizens of the First Nations.