November 02, 2016

Cubs Win World Series: For the first time since 1908, the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in an unforgettable game 7 that ended in the 10th inning. The Cubs had a four-run lead erased by the Indians late, then the game was delayed by rain for a half hour after the end of the ninth. Cleveland's own 68-year title drought continues.

posted by rcade to baseball at 08:44 PM - 18 comments

Lindor was so nice to Schwarber after that tag. As a Roughned Odor fan I'm not prepared to see that.

posted by rcade at 08:44 PM on November 02, 2016

When I think of winning pitcher, my thoughts immediately go to "Aroldis Chapman, Game 7, 2016 World Series".

Hopefully, finally, forever...that's the end of anyone giving a flying fuck about "pitcher wins".

posted by grum@work at 12:52 AM on November 03, 2016

Congratulations to the Cubs and their fans. Also Theo Epstein? Put that dude in the HoF.

posted by Joey Michaels at 01:03 AM on November 03, 2016

Also Theo Epstein? Put that dude in the HoF.

He's not done yet.

He has to be the President/GM of the 2024 World Series Champion Texas Rangers, the 2031 World Series Champion Washington Nationals, and the 2037 World Series Montreal Rays.

posted by grum@work at 01:12 AM on November 03, 2016

Outside Wrigley as the Cubs won.

posted by rcade at 08:06 AM on November 03, 2016

Outside Wrigley as the Cubs won.

That was pretty much the scene inside my head as well. I couldn't imagine being in my then girlfriend's apartment on Addison last night. Her apartment is right next to Wrigley Field (and the Addison stop). I also can't imagine how much garbage and vomit are on that street right. Maybe all of the public urination washed it all away, though. In summary, the Cubs winning the World Series is fucking incredible.

posted by NoMich at 08:49 AM on November 03, 2016

Definitely the moment of the game last night. Anthony Rizzo laughing and letting David Ross what an emotional wreck he is.

posted by NoMich at 09:10 AM on November 03, 2016

David Ross' send off by his teammates.

posted by grum@work at 09:31 AM on November 03, 2016

Theo Epstein has to be the best baseball executive ever, no?

posted by rcade at 10:24 AM on November 03, 2016

Definitely the moment of the game last night.

I'll take the Rajai Davis homer. Completely unexpected. Worst moment of the game was when the tarp came out.

posted by tron7 at 10:50 AM on November 03, 2016

As I said over on the other site, two things:

I have never heard my father cry in my entire life until I called him after the last out last night.

This morning, in the office: "Why are you wearing jeans?" "My father is a Chicagoan, I was born in Illinois, and my timesheet line code is under the Illinois office. You're lucky I'm A) here at all, and 2) wearing pants at all." "Fair enough."

posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on November 03, 2016

I'll take the Rajai Davis homer. Completely unexpected.

For you Americans that didn't hear the international feed, listen to the call by Matt Vasgersian.

SANTA MARIA!

posted by grum@work at 11:08 AM on November 03, 2016

Theo Epstein has to be the best baseball executive ever, no?

Breaking two curses helps, but I'm still going to go with the guy that changed the game forever.

posted by grum@work at 11:12 AM on November 03, 2016

Someone at SABR coined the term "Golden Pitch" to describe the last pitch of an at-bat that could end a World Series as a win for EITHER team.

Last night, Mike Montgomery's final pitch to Michael Martinez was a "Golden Pitch". If Martinez hit a HR, the Indians win the World Series. As it was, the ground ball out won the World Series for the Cubs.

In 2014, Madison Bumgarner's pitch to Salvador Perez was a "Golden Pitch". If he hits a home run, the Royals win the World Series. Instead, the foul out won it for the Giants.

Prior to that, the 2001 World Series had a "Golden Pitch" that wasn't the last pitch of the game. That was when Tony Womack was at the plate against Mariano Rivera, with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out. The Yankees still led the game 2-1. If Womack hits into a double play, the Yankees win the World Series. If Womack hit a HR, the Diamondbacks win the World Series. Instead, he hit a double, scoring one run (to tie the game) and removing the "Golden Pitch" scenario from the rest of the game.

In 1997, the Florida Marlins and the Cleveland Indians had a "Golden Pitch" scenario twice in the 9th inning. Charles Johnson of the Marlins came to bat with the Marlins trailing 2-1, with a runner on 1st and one out. The same scenario as Womack in 2001 (double-play/HR). Then, after he got a hit, Craig Counsel came to the plate with one out and the runners on 1st and 3rd. He hit a single to tie the game, removing the "Golden Pitch" scenario from play.

Other World Series with "Golden Pitch" scenarios:

1912, 1926, 1972, 1962

posted by grum@work at 05:21 PM on November 03, 2016

Good old Onion

posted by grum@work at 05:30 PM on November 03, 2016

Ken Burns has some work to do now...

posted by grum@work at 07:35 PM on November 03, 2016

Some things I did not know until just now:
- The final pitchers for each team went to the same high school.
- When the Cleveland baseball team went to their clubhouse during the rain delay, it was prepped for a champagne celebration, plastic sheets and all.

posted by NoMich at 08:03 AM on November 04, 2016

The premature clubhouse prepping is never a good idea. See Red Sox, 1986 World Series.

A group of reporters went in the Sox clubhouse during what looked like would be the end of Game Six to get positioned for the inevitable celebration - that never happened. The place was prepped and waiting. Bob Costas later said that being in there and then having to leave while the clubhouse was being frantically dismantled was one of the strangest things that had ever happened to him in his career to that point.

Note to management: Have the players wear their leaf raking clothes to the park. Don't cover the lockers. Let shit get wet if they win. Have it all hosed out afterward. Don't fuck with fickle fate.

Cubs fans, with what they've been through since the Mesozoic Era, would they ever approve of their team's clubhouse being prepped ahead of time? Doubtful.

Cleveland should certainly know better. At least one beat reporter had all but filed a victory story in the 1997 Series when the Mesa - Counsell geologic event took place and the planet began spinning in the opposite direction. History had to be hastily rewritten shortly thereafter.

Interesting note: the Marlin who scored the tying run against Cleveland in 97 was Steve Bartman's 2003 NLCS dancing partner, Moises Alou.

Cruel irony: the Indians, who were managed to the precipice of victory in 97 by Mike Hargrove were partly done in by... a rain delay.

Meteorological tidbit: the rain cell that caused the Game 7 weather delay went on to visit Grum in Ontario, and Howard and yerfatma in northern New England. Among other SpoFites who remain in undisclosed locations for national security reasons.

posted by beaverboard at 12:25 PM on November 04, 2016

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