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General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Topic started by: EasyAce on October 31, 2016, 04:06:50 pm

Title: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on October 31, 2016, 04:06:50 pm

By Yours Truly
http://throneberryfields.com/2016/10/31/chapman-cubs-answer-the-big-ask/

Something unexpected happened in Wrigley Field Sunday night. The Cubs—the real Cubs, the ones you watched or heard about all
regular season long, the ones you remember from their pre-World Series postseason rounds—came to the ballpark.

They left their impressions of Cub calamities past somewhere. Who knows where? Who cares? The hosts who let the Indians make
off with the valuables and leave them tied up in the closet didn’t wait for the cops.

They unbound themselves and recovered a decent amount of the valuables to beat the Indians 3-2 in Game Five. And just in case the
Indians got any ideas about doubling back to steal those back, a patrolman named Aroldis Chapman was ready, willing, and able enough
to tell them not to even think about it for two and two thirds innings worth of a high speed chase.

It wasn’t always pretty, especially not with Chapman’s brain vapour in the eighth with one out, when he forgot to head for first at once
while Rizzo was on the edge of the outfield grass to keep Rajai Davis’s smash from going up the right field line.

But you don’t have to be pretty to nail an eight-out save, even as elegantly murderous as Chapman so often looks at his normal place
of business. On the other hand, Cub Country would be hard pressed to find anything prettier looking this postseason than the way
Chapman ended the Indians’ eighth, with Davis on third, dropped strike three in on the floor of the zone to a shocked Francisco
Lindor.

Unless it was Chapman blowing Jose Ramirez—whose second-inning homer off Cubs starter Jon (Who’s on First) Lester opened the
scoring in the first place—clean away with a violently swinging strike three to send the Series back to Cleveland with the Cubs still
alive and showing a pulse, if not necessarily breathing fully on their own just yet.

For only the second time in the Series the team that scored first didn’t win. That was probably the least significant detail. Considering
how far the Indians had the Cubs up against the wall, it was achievement enough that they even tied the game, never mind went
past the Tribe and held on so tautly.

And maybe the only one inside Wrigley Field who wasn’t shocked to see Chapman come in with an eight-out save assignment was
Chapman himself, who tweeted a portion of “Go Cubs Go!” after he locked it down. No finer way to punctuate the last Series game
of the year at the Friendly Confines could have been offered.

“[Manager Joe Maddon] asked if I could be ready possibly to come into the seventh inning, and obviously I told him, ‘I’m ready.
I’m ready to go’,” Chapman said through a translator after the game. “And whatever he needs me to do or how long he needs me
to pitch for, I’m ready for it.”

“This team is a special one,” said third baseman Kris Bryant, who shook off a Game Four in which he played his position like a 1962
Met to have a Game Five in which he played more like a Brooks Robinson accompanied by a few 1969 Mets.

“And we look at so many times throughout the year where we haven’t been playing good, but I feel like we turn that around. Someone
told me today that seventeen times this year, we lost a game and went on to win three in a row. So why can’t we do that now?”

The cynic and the Indian fan would remind him that, for one thing, they didn’t have to deal with the like of that near-impregnable
Indians bullpen those other seventeen times; and, for another thing, winning two on the road in a World Series isn’t exactly land
mine free. Especially with Corey Kluber looming if the Cubs really do push the Series to the maximum limit.

But let’s not spoil their fun just yet. Let the Cubs and their faithful bask in what they did Sunday night. They were at the edge of
oblivion, with Bryant’s Cleveland counterpart Jose Ramirez shoving them a little further over it in the top of the second with a two-out
home run into the basket afront the left field bleachers.

They still had the favourable pitching matchup in Lester against Trevor Bauer, and Lester’s got the postseason experience enough
not to let one early bomb explode his equilibrium. They made the Indians bullpen shake without stirring Andrew Miller even once.
If you think that doesn’t count for a lot, even as they got a hit and three walks out of Mike Clevenger, Bryan Shaw, and usual Indians
closer Cody Allen, you must have slept through about half the Series.

Lester atoned for his Game One sputtering with a sharp six innings’ work in which Ramirez’s jack and Francisco Lindor’s nasty two-
out RBI line single in the sixth—made possible in large part by Indians left fielder Rajai Davis making a track meet out of his one-out
single—seemed almost like excuse-us runs.

They figured Bauer striking out five in his first three innings was just a little out of character for the Indians righthander and pounced
in the bottom of the fourth, when Bryant parked a 1-1 pitch into the left center field bleachers. For the first time in most of the Wrigley
Field leg of the Series the Friendly Confines went full-on nuclear.

Anthony Rizzo followed up promptly with a double off the right center field ivy, though he dodged a big bullet getting there. His slow
start out of the box might have gotten him thrown out at second if Lonnie Chisenhall instead of Brandon Guyer were playing right field.
But he survived to be singled to third by Ben Zobrist and sent home when Addison Russell’s soft grounder reached a no man’s land on
the third base side of the infield.

One out later Javier Baez—whose free swinging at pitches not within three city blocks of his bat probably has the Cubs thinking about
putting him on a swing limit, if not a leash at the plate—pushed maybe the single most perfect bunt in Cub history up the third base
line, beating it out to set up ducks on the pond for David Ross. And Ross lifted a long fly to left enabling Zobrist to become the third
Cub run.

Suddenly, Wrigley Field became Chicago’s largest outdoor insane asylum.

Grandpa Rossy was a player in one of the several Cub fielding moments in which they looked more like acrobats than like Mack Sennett
players. Converging with Rizzo on Santana’s second-inning pop to the right of the plate, Ross had it. And lost it. And Rizzo fond it before
it hit the ground. It was a near-carbon copy of Pete Rose grabbing what Bob Boone couldn’t hold onto in the 1980 World Series.

Earlier in the same inning, Bryant channeled his inner Brooks Robinson when he dove for Guyer’s smash up the line and stopped it.
Then his throw to first forced Rizzo to channel his inner Keith Hernandez, stretching to his own breaking point and somehow keeping
his cleat on the edge of the pad to finish the out.

An inning later, Jason Heyward ran across the right field line chasing Bauer’s high foul pop, then hoisted himself on the top of the sidewall
with one hand while reaching back to get Bauer’s pop. Even Bauer appreciated the play, clapping onto his bat with a big grin before
returning to the dugout.

Those will be charming sidebars to the real Sunday stories. Bryant being Bryant at long last, when the Cubs needed it the absolute most,
and Chapman—who normally had trouble coming in with men on base before Sunday night—putting on a show six parts precision
assassination and half a dozen parts trapeze act without a net.

“That,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, “was a big ask. And he answered it. That was impressive. It’s kind of like what Andrew’s
done for us.”

Maybe the Cleveland leg of the Series will give us Chapman vs. Miller directly. It’d be the biggest show on earth since Ed Sullivan rolled
out the Beatles and America, including her criminals, took the hour off to watch. Except that the Beatles didn’t have to face bat-breaking
sliders or fastballs that can out-race bullet trains with a World Series drought on the line.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 01, 2016, 06:27:23 pm

By Yours Truly
http://throneberryfields.com/2016/10/31/franconas-been-there-maddon-would-like-to-do-that/

Terry Francona has been here and done that. If there’s anyone in baseball who knows what it’s like to steer a team heretofore in the
wilderness and under heavy curses, actual or alleged, it’s Francona.

A man who shepherded the once-snake bitten Red Sox to shove back with everything they had, only beginning when Dave Roberts
stole second on Mariano Rivera with the Sox three outs from an elimination sweep, isn’t exactly going to let a Cub uprising in Game
Five of this World Series bite him that hard.

He won’t even let the team plane breaking down en route back to Cleveland, as happened after Game Five, delaying the Indians’
return until 5 a.m. Monday, bite him that hard.

Francona loved his Red Sox teams. The ones who won not one but two World Series in the century’s first secade. And, even, the
one that collapsed in September 2011 in a chicken-and-beer morass, the one he admitted he lost control upon, the one that provoked
him to fall on his sword before he might have been executed.

But he loves his Indians just as much. At least. On Saturday night, after they pushed the Cubs to the brink from which they wrestled
back Sunday night, Francona made it plain these were his boys no matter how the World Series ends up finishing.

“I like these guys a lot. They are very special,” he told a reporter. “I don’t think you have to have the stamp of a World Series on your
team to feel this way. Sometimes things happen you can’t overcome. They’ve done a really good job of overcoming a lot. But if it got
to a point where it was too much, that wouldn’t take away how I feel.”

Part of what these Indians have overcome is losing one of their best hitters (Michael Brantley) and two of their starting rotation (Carlos
Carrasco, Danny Salazar, though Salazar is a bullpen option for the Series). And what both of these teams really want to overcome,
no matter how they have to do it, is a combined 179 years of extraterrestrial wilderness history between them.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon feels the same way about his guys. He felt that way last fall, when they got bushwhacked in four straight
by the Mets in the National League Championship Series. He’s felt that way no matter how hard the Indians determined to make the
Cubs—the world favoured Cubs, since maybe last year’s winter meetings—sweat for anything they got in this Series.

And he’s felt that way no matter how deeply the public perception ran that he was being out-generaled on almost every flank, that
he was playing checkers against a Francona playing chess but jumping and crowning him at opportunities Maddon sometimes
seemed to think weren’t there yet.

In Game Four, with the Indians lead a still-manageable 4-1, Maddon had a classic chance to use his half-resurrected young thumper
Kyle Schwarber in a slot that might have closed the deficit to a single run. He could have sent Schwarber to pinch hit for Ben Zobrist
in the sixth, with Anthony Rizzo aboard on a leadoff double, and thought of slotting Jorge Soler into left field.

Francona has no scruples about using six pitchers, five infielders, and four outfielders including maybe three left fielders in a single
one of these games. Zobrist may be one of the Cubs’ more reliable World Series hitters, but here was a chance for Maddon to put
some pressure on an Indians team to whom pressure is just another word for nothing left to lose.

If the Schwarbinator connected, Dexter Fowler’s surprise solo home run off Andrew (The Invincible) Miller an inning later might have
tied the game. Instead, it was an excuse-me run after Jason Kipnis in the top of that inning hit a three-run homer that kept his promise
to break every Cub heart he could while he was in this Series against the team for whom he grew up rooting.

Well, so be it. In Game Five, Maddon watched his boys shake off an early 1-0 Indians lead with a three-run third that only began
when Kris Bryant, until then one of the Cubs’ more pronounced World Series flops, earned his pay and maybe his pending National
League Most Valuable Player award, sent a 1-1 service from Trevor (Dem Drones) Bauer into the left center field bleachers.

Maddon even had an ace in the hole going in. He got with Aroldis Chapman before the game. He told Chapman, who’s notorious to
a small extent for not feeling all that comfortable coming in with men on base, to be ready for earlier duty than he was accustomed
to pulling if the Cubs had a lead.

He lifted his effective starter Jon Lester after six. He sent rookie Carl Edwards, Jr. out to start the seventh. Then, with one out and
a man on second following a leadoff single and a passed ball that might have been a wild pitch, he called for Chapman.

Chapman looked six parts assassin and half a dozen parts juggler, but he kept the Indians off the board and punctuated it with a
game-ending, wind-whipping strikeout on Jose Ramirez. And Maddon looked like the genius who’d come in from the cold. “Nobody’s
ever just run to the bat rack when Chapman comes in the game,” Francona said admiringly.

Which was almost as clever as Dodger pitcher Brandon McCarthy tweeting, “baseball is so rooted in traditions that hitters still take
their bats to the plate against Andrew Miller even though they’re not needed.”

Francona sometimes handles a difficult player decision, like keeping Mike Napoli out of the starting lineup to begin one World Series
game, by sitting the man down and playing cribbage with him. Maddon encourages his players to channel their inner kids, even
telling them to dress for Halloween on the flight to Cleveland for Games Six and (they hope) Seven.

Maddon has to keep the Cubs, especially the team’s youthful core, from over-pressuring themselves. They got into a 3-1 Series hole
that way. In Game Five, the Cubs looked like they were having fun for the first time since the set began. Francona’s Indians use their
underdog status almost like a Twister mat, and none of his players ever seems to mind when he ends up at the bottom of the inevitable
pileup.

The fact that the World Series is a lot closer than a 3-2 Indians advantage would let you believe doesn’t seem to trouble either skipper.
The fact that one of these previously-bedeviled teams is going to return to the Promised Land while the other returns to the wilderness?
Don’t ask.

“I don’t vibe at that frequency,” Maddon said in June when asked about curses—as he’s probably been so often he could write a book.
Call it Curse You! Francona’s already written his, with his 2004 and 2007 World Series rings and, while he was at it, his memoir after
leaving the Red Sox.

Billy goats at the gate vs. black cats in front of the dugout. Colavito for Kuenn. Brock for Broglio. Ken Hubbs vs. Steve Olin and Tim Crews.
Bobby Bragan vs. the College of Coaches. The Friendly Confines vs. the Mistake on the Lake. Leon Durham vs Jose Mesa. The liner off
Charles Nagy’s glove vs. the double play hopper off Alex Gonzalez’s chest. Rookie of the Year vs. Major League II. (Each team’s even
represented in bad movies.)

The Cubs and the Indians taking the World Series back to Cleveland. Where someone’s going to end a drought, and someone else is
going to go into either the 69th or the 109th year of their rebuilding effort. That’s the way the pizza puff or the Polish Boy* crumble.

Cub Country wants the final message to be, “Terry Francona, you busted one curse already, now it’s our turn.” The Indian Isles want the
final message to be, “Wrigleyville, you waited that long, one more year won’t kill you.” Which is still liable to be less harmful to the nation’s
health than any possible outcome of the concurrent presidential campaign.

——————————————————————–

* — Relax. The Polish Boy has nothing to do with cannibalism and everything to do with a sandwich including kielbasa on a bun with
barbeque sauce, cole slaw, and chips. It may be Cleveland’s most iconic sandwich.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 02, 2016, 11:18:01 pm

This is it.

One team is going to break decades worth of misfortune. One team is going to enter either the 69th or the
109th year of its rebuilding effort. Unless God decides to paralyse the game in the bottom of the ninth,
with ducks on the pond, two out, and a 3-2 count on either Jason Kipnis or Francisco Lindor, the Indians'
best hitters this World Series, declaring He's decided they're both too good to lose and He can't make up
His mind, there's an irrevocable rule that somebody has to lose Game Seven because somebody else won.

Will it be the Cubs, who haven't won the World Series since the Roosevelt Administration? (Theodore's.)

Will it be the Indians, who haven't won the World Series since American military strategists began planning
the Berlin Airlift.

Game Seven coming up . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Machiavelli on November 02, 2016, 11:27:02 pm

Are the Indians favored to win (home park advantage)?

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 02, 2016, 11:31:03 pm

A little pre-game reading for you all, both essays by yours truly . . .

To Game Seven, via the ICU

Forget about making things a little more exciting even when they leave themselves room enough to make things simple. These Cubs
are just hell bent on keeping Cub Country not on edge, but within easy reach of the intensive care unit.

These Indians seem hell bent likewise regarding the Indian Isles, who must have thought—after the Cubs forced a seventh World
Series game—that simplicity is simply not an option anymore.

The great baseball debates for ages to come have been joined by yet another question for eternity: Would Cub manager Joe Maddon’s
deployment of Aroldis Chapman for twenty relief pitches starting in the seventh Tuesday night prove to have won a battle while losing
the war?

Maybe that’s really the question you ask if Anthony Rizzo hadn’t squared up Indians reliever Mike Clevenger on 0-1 with Kris Bryant
aboard and blasted one half way up the right field seats in the top of the ninth. It meant Maddon could lift Chapman for Pedro Strop
with one out in the bottom of the inning and have Chapman available for an inning, maybe an inning and a third, in Game Seven.

Which is critical because Indians manager Terry Francona, who’s had his World Series invincibility punctured and then torn in Games
Five and Six, is going to have an extremely fresh firm of Miller, Shaw, and Allen available in Game Seven in the event the Indians
abuse Cub starter Kyle Hendricks on behalf of their own Corey Kluber.

Hendricks isn’t that far removed from the shutdown he imposed on the Dodgers to get the Cubs to the Series in the first place, or the
four and a third, six-strikeout shutout innings he worked starting Game Three. Maddon will have Jon Lester in the pen, maybe John
Lackey, and probably only two and a half relief pitchers he absolutely trusts—Chapman, Strop, and Mike Montgomery.

Francona thought he was being smart enough sending Tyler Naquin to play center field despite his defensive liabilities because the
rookie is a constant option against righthanded pitchers. Then Naquin made the boss look more foolish in the first than Bryant made
Tomlin look two hitters earlier, when the Cubs third baseman punished Tomlin for the curve ball diet, sitting on an 0-2 hook with
two out and hitting it into the left field seats.

With Rizzo and Ben Zobrist aboard on prompt back-to-back singles, the latter of which pushed Rizzo to third, Addison Russell lofted
a shuttlecock to right center. Naquin backed away from it despite it being his call. Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall passed in front of
him. The ball landed near Naquin while Rizzo and Zobrist both charged home, Zobrist getting the score when Indians second baseman
Jason Kipnis, the cutoff man, missed bagging Zobrist.

Two innings later, Russell turned up with ducks on the pond, one out, and Tomlin out in favour of Dan Otero. Otero threw a 2-0
meatball and Russell blasted it to the center field seats and into the tunnel to the concession stands, the first Series grand salami
since Paul Konerko for the 2005 White Sox.

It made Russell the fourth man to drive in six in a Series game (Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui, and Bobby Richardson are the other
three), the first to do it in the first three innings of such a game, and the second-youngest Series salami maker behind Mickey Mantle.
Not to mention the first Cub to make one in a Series game.

“I’m surprised,” said Russell, who went from six RBI over the first fifteen postseason games to leading one and all with twelve for
the postseason and eight for the Series.

The Cubs didn’t just hit the ground running against the Indians back in Progressive Field, they brought tanks, mortar, and close air
support. They struck so early, so often, the Indians looked for a few moments like they had no clue what they’d wandered into.

Every Indian fan alive wanted the long-suffering Tribe to wrap the World Series up in a tight bundle in Game Six. Every Cub fan alive
wanted their long-suffering Cubs to keep the Indians from getting their mitts on the wrapping paper. Wrigleyville got what it wanted.

At what price?

Shocking enough: Maddon bringing in Chapman with two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, then Chapman beating Francisco
Lindor in a foot race to first to finish an inning-ending ground out and limping off the pad after the play with an apparent leg or knee
ding.

Smelling salt time: Maddon leaving Chapman in to pitch the eighth and squirm out of one-out, man-on-first by throwing pinch hitter Yan
Gomes an Area Code 6-4-3 dial that started with a very errant throw from shortstop Russell that second baseman Javier Baez caught just
in time to make a step on the pad and a whipsaw throw to first to finish it.

Bring in the men in the white coats: Maddon letting Chapman open the ninth. Then Chapman walked Brandon Guyer, a late-game Indians
presence, and Maddon went right to Pedro Strop.

Hook up the oxygen tanks: Cub Country could breathe a little easier. Chapman threw only 20 pitches on the night, after throwing 42 in
Game Five with a day and a half rest in between. He just might be available near Game Seven’s end, after all, even with every Cub starter
not named Arrieta going all hands on deck in the pen behind Hendricks.

“I mean, seventh inning there because they came up, the middle of the batting order was coming up — Lindor, Napoli, Ramirez possibly—
all that stuff,” said Maddon after the game. “So I thought the game could have been lost right there if we did not take care of it properly.”

Chapman was on board. As before Game Five, Maddon and Chapman chatted before Game Six and the lefthander with the speed-of-light
repertoire wasn’t caught by surprise in the seventh. In fact, he could be seen exercising his shoulders in the pen an inning earlier.

“I don’t worry about a few extra pitches,” he said through his translator. “I have all the strength and mentality to pitch in this scenario. I’m
ready for one hundred percent. It’s the last game of the season. You cannot save anything. Time to leave it all on the field.”

Having had to scramble to get ready for the ninth, Strop surrendered a one-out hit and walk, but a slick throw by Jason Heyward in right to
nail Roberto Perez trying to stretch a single into a double, with Russell leaping for the throw and tagging Perez almost in a blink, got the
second out after late-game insertion Brandon Guyer scored the third Indian run. Then Travis Wood relieved Strop and got Kipnis to fly
out to short left field with Russell running over from shortstop to get it

Only the Cubs could make you need extra oxygen when they bludgeon an early 7-1 lead and hang in, if that’s the right phrase, for a 9-3
finish.

"We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” said Kipnis, whose two-out bomb off Cub starter Jake Arrieta accounted for the second Indian run,
Mike Napoli’s RBI single an inning earlier scoring the first. “We knew they’ve got a great ballclub over there. They were lined up with their
three-headed monster of a pitching staff.”

Staked to that early 3-0 lead before throwing a single pitch, Arrieta was good, solid, occasionally off, but able to regroup in single bounds
until his evening ended with two out in the sixth. And to think the fun was only just beginning.

Only the Cubs could compel their long suffering fans to keep their cardiologists on call after the middle of the order—abetted by Maddon’s
strategically clever tack of batting Kyle Schwarber in the number two hole as designated hitter—didn’t just attack the Indians, they laid a
downright massacre on them.

Not that the Indians are worried, about Game Seven pending and their own sad history in postseason elimination games, a 3-13 record
over which they’ve been outscored 119-49. “I think we owe it to this city and to each one of these guys in here to leave it out there tomorrow,”
said Cody Allen, the Indians’ closer. “That’s all we can do. I mean, look at their history.”

David Ross, the veteran Cub on the threshold of retirement, Lester’s personal catcher, has looked at both teams’ histories. Game Seven
between them? “It’s storybook,” Grandpa Rossy said. “They’ll make movies about this someday.” All they need to wait for is the heartwarming
winner and the heartbroken defeated.

But first it might be a good idea to presume Maddon and Chapman have another of their little pre-game chats Wednesday night. It might
save Cub Country a few palpitations and twice that many nerve attacks.


The Cubs, not Naquin, forced Game Seven

Heaven help Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall if the Indians go forth and fall in Game Seven. Try as you might, the sports goat business
never falls onto hard times. And it’s a lot easier to seek, find, and put in the stockade a single culprit than to look beyond his moment of
infamy.

If the Cubs come out defying their own mishap-pockmarked history and win Game Seven, Naquin and maybe Chisenhall, too, will be goat
horned after their tragicomic first inning mishap in right center field in Game Six. The fact that the Indians had eight more innings to
overcome the mishap and its consequences may be lost.

Naquin, a rookie who seems confident one moment and a little on edge the next, named the American League’s rookie of the month in June
and July, proud hitter of a walk-off inside-the-park home run against the Blue Jays in August, the first Indian to accomplish that in a hundred
years. (Braggo Roth, 1916.) Chisenhall, a young semi-veteran who tanked at third base and, after a minor league demotion because he
couldn’t hit at the time, seemed to find a home in right field this year. The Cubs on the board already thanks to Kris Bryant’s missile into
the left field seats.

With Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist aboard to follow up, Addison Russell lofted a harmless looking shuttlecock to right center. Naquin from
center and Chisenhall from right converged. In one moment that must have reminded both teams’ fans of their surrealistic calamities over
long decades past, Naquin’s inexperience bit. Hard.

He failed to take command as center fielders do on such plays and make the call for who got the ball. Chisenhall backed off the play a moment,
then scurried across Naquin as the ball fell horribly to the grass. The ball bounced behind both, allowing Rizzo and Zobrist to score. Chisenhall
picked up the ball and whipped a throw to cutoff man Jason Kipnis, out from second base, but Kipnis’s throw home wasn’t able to beat Zobrist.

“It’s Naquin’s ball,” Indians manager Terry Francona said after the Cubs banked the 9-3 Game Six uprising. “He was playing on that side, and
he’s the center fielder. I think at the end there, as Lonnie was kind of pulling off, Naquin was yelling, ‘It’s yours. You got it’.”

Showing maturity, Naquin didn’t flinch. “Kind of one of those deals you wish you could take back,” he said. “Me being the center fielder, I need
to take charge on that.”

“I should have caught that ball,” Chisenhall said emphatically. “I made that aggressive move with it. The ball is moving toward me. Somebody
has to catch it. It should have been me.”

Even Russell was surprised to get a double out of it. “I thought that was going to be kind of a routine play,” the Cub shortstop said after the
game. Him and everyone else in Progressive Field.

Just like that, the Cubs—who’ve been victimised in past postseasons by errors of comparable magnitude—had a 3-0 lead before starter
Jake Arrieta had thrown a single competitive pitch in the game. Two innings later, obvious that the Cubs now read Indians starter Josh
Tomlin like the Sunday comics, compared to his shutting them out for four and two thirds starting Game Three in Chicago, they loaded
the pads on Tomlin, pushing him out, and bringing in Dan Otero to feed Russell grand salami.

Naquin and Chisenhall also had a crossup in the third, when another soft fly headed to right center. This time, Chisenhall took command
and charged the ball, catching it as Naquin slid past. The two looked for one moment as though they wanted to sic their big brothers on
each other but let the moment pass soon enough.

An inning after that mishap, Naquin had a chance to redeem himself. He’d been a decent hitter on the regular season even if the postseason
caught him in slightly over his own head. Now, in the fourth, he came to the plate with ducks on the pond, one Indians run in, and two
out. Arrieta struck him out on a nasty swing and miss.

The best chance the Indians had to get back into the game vapourised with that strike. Two failures for the price of one. Yet they still had
five more innings to revive themselves and win the game and the Series.

The Indian Isles have no more taste for remembering Game Six as the Naquin Game than Cub Country had for remembering the Durham
or the Garvey Games in 1984, or the misnamed Bartman Game in 2003. And only a Game Seven win can keep either from the memories anymore.

Unfortunately, there’s an irrevocable rule in Game Sevens: somebody’s going to lose. Unless God paralyses the game in the bottom of the ninth
with a tie score, the bases loaded, two out, and a full count on Jason Kipnis or Francisco Lindor, their best Series hitters, with Aroldis Chapman
on the mound, and declares He can’t make up his mind because both teams are too good to lose, the rule will remain unrevoked.

If it’s any comfort to Naquin, he can say at least that he committed his faux pas honestly enough, rookie inexperience rearing its head in the
worst possible moment, but making the honest effort. Most World Series goats could have said so, even if their fan bases wouldn’t have listened
then or any time in the future.

Few in Red Sox Nation really wanted to hear it in the moment, but Bill Buckner—walking off the field after the horror of Mookie Wilson’s grounder
and Ray Knight’s game-winning run crossing the plate in Game Six of the 1986 World Series, when the Red Sox had been a strike away from
winning it just minutes earlier—reminded himself there was still a Game Seven to play.

Nobody bothered reminding Donnie Moore that the Angels still had two more chances to go to the ’86 Series, after Moore—with the Angels a
strike away from the Series—threw an impossible to hit forkball that Dave Henderson hit over the left field fence. The infamy rained upon Moore
ever after, and his fade away from baseball over two years after the fateful pitch, only lit the powder keg the injury-addled, fading Moore
already was before his 1989 suicide.

Nobody in Boston wanted to know that there were still chances for the 2003 Red Sox after manager Grady Little stayed with Pedro Martinez’s
gut while not double checking his tank in Game Seven, ’03 ALCS. At least not until the Red Sox—managed by current Indians manager Terry
Francona—went out a year later and obliterated all 86 years of Red Sox calamity.

Too few in Chicago were ready to tell Steve Bartman that Alex Gonzalez’s misplay of a should-have-been inning-ending double play grounder,
not Bartman’s reach of a foul ball Moises Alou later admitted he wouldn’t have caught, with the Cubs five outs from the World Series, meant
only that there’d be a Game Seven of the ’03 NLCS. That was then, this is now, and Cub Country would love to give Bartman a forgiving hug
if they could find him.

Naquin made a rookie mistake out of honest effort. Manager Terry Francona will have him on the bench to start Game Seven, knowing the
rookie’s been pressing much of the Series as many rookies do when they get to such a stand so soon in their careers.

Read carefully, Indian Isles. Don’t call Game Six the Naquin Game. Don’t hang goat horns on him. It’s not like he was an experienced battler
who’d done what experience told him wasn’t wise. There is still a Game Seven to play. The reason isn’t named Tyler Naquin, or even Naquin-
Chisenhall. It’s the Chicago Cubs, of all people.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 02, 2016, 11:33:28 pm

Quote from: Machiavelli on November 02, 2016, 11:27:02 pm

Are the Indians favored to win (home park advantage)?

Last I saw, it was the Cubs with 6-5 odds of winning tonight.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:05:18 am

Deep to center field, it is gonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne, goodbye! Dexter Fowler opens Game Seven with a bomb, 1-0 Cubs!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Bigun on November 03, 2016, 12:05:22 am

Lead of homer in first for cubs.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:14:34 am

Schwarber beat out an infield hit, stole second (!!!), but was stranded.

1-0 Cubs with the Indians coming up to hit in the first.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:22:05 am

Kyle Hendricks pitches around a throwing error and keeps the Indians off the board. 1-0, Cubs after one . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:28:19 am

1-2-3 for Kluber, 1-0 Cubs, mid-second . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:36:13 am

Hendricks picked Ramirez's ass off first, Chisenhall a followup base hit, but Davis dials Area Code 5-4-3.
1-0, Cubs after two . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Machiavelli on November 03, 2016, 12:36:58 am

If the Cubs end up losing, at least it won't be by a shutout.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 12:42:42 am

Great throw by Chisenhall bags the Schwarbinator trying for two, side retired, 1-0 Cubs, mid-third.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 12:46:30 am

Fat men should not try to turn a double into a double.

Cubs are pounding the ball tonight.  Hitting them where they are. :(

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:12:58 am

Hendricks pitches around another error and strands two but the score is tied after three

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:18:24 am

Cubs are bringing a Lot of wood tonight. 

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:18:44 am

FOURTH. Cubs---Bryant: full count, fouls one off; cued through the left side, base hit to open the fourth!!! Jon Lester warming up for the Cubs . . .

Rizzo: strike; strike ripped foul up the first base line; throw to first, Bryant back; hit by the pitch, he'll take the bruise and the base, two on, nobody out!!!

Zobrist: smacks the first pitch to first, Napoli throws wide, gets the out at second, Bryant takes Lindor out on the slide cleanly, one out, first and third.

Russell: short fly to left, Davis has it as Bryant guns home, here comes the throw, he slides right under the tag and he's safe!!! Slid between his legs, tiny hesitation helped him, 2-1 Cubs!!!!

Contreras: ball one low and away; ball two low and away; strike;  strike swinging outside; high fly to center, Davis running back, he can't get to it, it's off the wall, in comes Zobrist, 3-1 Cubs!!!!! Conteeras on second . . .

Heyward: ball; strike; ball two misses high; ball three misses higher; strike two hit a ton foul down the right field line out of play; popped up on the infield but the Cubs hand up a two spot. 3-1 Cubs mid fourth!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:20:29 am

p.s. Miller is warming up for the Indians. Either the Indians come back in the fourth and he comes out for
the fifth, or maybe---big maybe---they bring him in to stop the bleeding and give the Indians room to breathe
and recover.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:27:57 am

Three up three down for Hendricks, 3-1 Cubs after four . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:32:02 am

Deep to center, this one is gonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne goodbye, Javier Baez, leadoff bomb, his first Series RBI, and
Kluber's coming out of the game. 4-1 Cubs, Cubs batting in the fifth . . . and . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:34:39 am

(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14889732_10154307356502912_7679336638075759414_o.jpg)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:40:41 am

Keep Hendricks in.   

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: jmyrlefuller on November 03, 2016, 01:42:17 am

The Cubs' baserunning tonight has been phenomenal.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:45:31 am

Anthony Rizzo adds an RBI single as Bryant mounts his horse and comes all the way home to score the fifth Cub
run, Zobrist flies out deep for the side, it is 5-1 Cubs in the middle of the fifth . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:46:30 am

Quote from: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:40:41 am

Keep Hendricks in.   

He might. Ross has the catching gear off now.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:46:45 am

Al right.  Hendricks stays!  Kid is pitching well.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:47:50 am

Quote from: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:46:30 am

He might. Ross has the catching gear off now.

Yes!   Maddog Must have heard me cussing!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:53:22 am

Hendricks is coming out after the two out walk to Santana; Maddon wants lefty Lester to work
to lefty Kipnis.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:55:35 am

Quote from: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:53:22 am

Hendricks is coming out after the two out walk to Santana; Maddon wants lefty Lester to work
to lefty Kipnis.

Man I hope this works.  Lester is good....but damn

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Machiavelli on November 03, 2016, 01:59:14 am

Quote from: EasyAce link=topic=232674.ms
121739#msg1121739 date=1478138002

Hendricks is coming out after the two out walk to Santana; Maddon wants lefty Lester to work
to lefty Kipnis.

I hope Maddon does not suffer from GeneMauchitis.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 01:59:47 am

Grandpa Rossy throws one away that would have been a tough out anyway, second and third for the Indians
with two out in the fifth . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 02:02:19 am

 22222frying pan  Maddon  22222frying pan

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 02:03:05 am

Time to go to Chapman............

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 02:08:35 am

Redemption for Rossy

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: andy58-in-nh on November 03, 2016, 02:08:45 am

Nothing good ever happens when you take a pitcher out who is pitching well and effectively, just to play the percentages. 

And yet.... there goes David Ross.....

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 02:10:23 am

Quote from: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 02:03:05 am

Time to go to Chapman............

No way you put Lester back on the mound.  Even Maddon ain't that dumb.......

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 02:11:00 am

After a wild pitch scored two Indian runs in the bottom of the fifth, David Ross leading off the sixth:
Deep to center field and way back, Davis to the track, at the wall, gonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne! David Ross
makes up for that throwing error in his final major league game with a solo jack, 6-3 Cubs!!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 02:22:39 am

A two out base hit and a man stranded, 6-3 Cubs after six. They're nine outs from the Promised Land . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 02:31:34 am

Leadoff hit for Fowler, Miller out after one out, Cody Allen coming in for the Indians . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 02:40:13 am

Strike 'em out/throw 'em out double play retires the side, but it's still 6-3 Cubs mid-seventh . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 02:50:13 am

Lester strikes out Kipnis with a man on second for the side, at 6-3 the Cubs are now six outs from
the Promised Land . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: catfish1957 on November 03, 2016, 03:01:35 am

Geeez I hate the flubs.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 03:02:45 am

The Cubs go in order, 6-3 mid-eighth, Lester coming back to work the eighth . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 03:07:33 am

Jon Lester coming out after an infield hit off Russell's glove by Jose Ramirez and Aroldis Chapman
is coming in with two outs in the eighth . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 03:12:53 am

Indians get a run.  6-4.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: jmyrlefuller on November 03, 2016, 03:14:25 am

The Cubs have botched their handling of their bullpen.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 03:15:08 am

So much for Aroldis......................

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: massadvj on November 03, 2016, 03:15:19 am

Holy crap!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 03:16:15 am

The Indians figured out that 100 mph crap.  Just lay off it and hit the down-and-in curve ball.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: andy58-in-nh on November 03, 2016, 03:17:20 am

This game is an absolute classic. If you ever forgot why you enjoyed watching baseball, this game will remind you!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 03:17:35 am

Deep to left on low and in, this one is gonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne, goodbye!!! Rajai Davis,
two run homer, ties the game at six for the Indians!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Bigun on November 03, 2016, 03:17:49 am

You cannot continually throw the ball by players at that level I don't care who you are!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 03:25:21 am

It's raining.  6-6, top of the 9th and it's raining.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: sinkspur on November 03, 2016, 03:29:26 am

Quote from: RAT Patrol on November 03, 2016, 03:26:14 am

Indians need a new pitcher.

We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher.

You were a cheerleader.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 03:45:31 am

If the Cubs lose it will be because they could not overcome their manager.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 03:46:03 am

The Cubs had a chance getting Heyward to third on a throwing error while he stole second,
but a great play behind second by Lindor retires the side. It's six all going to the bottom of the ninth!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 03:56:03 am

And we go to extra innings tied at six!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Idiot on November 03, 2016, 03:56:28 am

Ruh roh.....bring out the tarp.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:09:22 am

Looks like they're pulling up the tarp . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:14:46 am

Play Ball!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Free Vulcan on November 03, 2016, 04:25:18 am

Cubs score 2! 8-6 in the 10th!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:26:50 am

Quote from: Free Vulcan on November 03, 2016, 04:25:18 am

Cubs score 2! 8-6 in the 10th!

Bases loaded, one out...way to go Miggie! 

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:28:23 am

TWO RBI hits for the Cubs in the tenth---Zobrist, an RBI double . . . Montero, and RBI single . . .
8-6 Cubs with one out in the top of the tenth!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:28:53 am

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:26:50 am

Bases loaded, one out...way to go Miggie!

Only two hits for him this entire postseason---both with ducks on the pond!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:35:17 am

Quote from: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:28:53 am

Only two hits for him this entire postseason---both with ducks on the pond!

Not a lot of at-bats late in the season.  I think those are all pinch-hits (I could be wrong).  Mrs. Liberty says he's the Third Catcher.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:36:43 am

Side retired, 8-6 Cubs in the top of the tenth, NOW they're three outs from the Promised Land but it won't be easy against THESE Indians . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:37:15 am

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:35:17 am

Not a lot of at-bats late in the season.  I think those are all pinch-hits (I could be wrong).  Mrs. Liberty says he's the Third Catcher.

He is. But he was in the game already tonight. He stepped in when Ross came out of the game.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:37:39 am

No more drama.....poleeese...

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:38:33 am

K

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:40:04 am

2 out   

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:40:33 am

2 down.  Steady as she goes...

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 04:44:42 am

They're going to tie this thing up and go another 4 hours.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:45:27 am

BAck to the drama again....... 22222frying pan

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:47:15 am

 ****slapping :chairbang: :bash:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:48:00 am

Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 04:48:18 am

There you go Cubs fans.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:49:01 am

The curse is over.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:49:08 am

Rajai Davis, RBI single, home comes Guyer, it's a one run game, Edwards out and Montgomery coming in
for the Cubs and they're still one out from the Promised Land . . .

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Free Vulcan on November 03, 2016, 04:49:52 am

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: INVAR on November 03, 2016, 04:49:58 am

Cubs Win!  8-7 Final!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 04:50:10 am

Quote from: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 04:49:08 am

Rajai Davis, RBI single, home comes Guyer, it's a one run game, Edwards out and Montgomery coming in
for the Cubs and they're still one out from the Promised Land . . .

They won already dude.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 04:51:17 am

Quote from: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 04:50:10 am

They won already dude.

Hey, you guys are three hours ahead of us...

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:52:03 am

Quote from: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 04:48:00 am

Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: jmyrlefuller on November 03, 2016, 04:59:40 am

:
|[W]
|
|

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: dfwgator on November 03, 2016, 05:00:42 am

Quote from: jmyrlefuller on November 03, 2016, 04:59:40 am

:
|[W]
|
|

Congratulations to the Cubs. And hats off to the Indians and Cubs for giving us a World Series for the ages.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: catfish1957 on November 03, 2016, 05:01:52 am

Quote from: catfish1957 on November 03, 2016, 03:01:35 am

Geeez I hate the flubs.

CRAP!!!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: dfwgator on November 03, 2016, 05:03:38 am

Steve Bartman, you can come back to Chicago now.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 05:04:38 am

Anyone catch the fun Harry Carey Bud ad from the 70's they just ran? That was cool. I saw him at one of the games during his last seasons at Wrigley.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Ronald_Reagan_and_Harry_Caray_1988.jpg)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 05:10:29 am

Quote from: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 05:04:38 am

Anyone catch the fun Harry Carey Bud ad from the 70's they just ran? That was cool. I saw him at one of the games during his last seasons at Wrigley.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Ronald_Reagan_and_Harry_Caray_1988.jpg)

It came out of the blue.   I almost missed it.   Nice!

WTH is madden wearing on his head. VR goggles?

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: catfish1957 on November 03, 2016, 05:13:22 am

Quote from: dfwgator on November 03, 2016, 05:03:38 am

Steve Bartman, you can come back to Chicago now.

And all the stray goats can roam the streets un-molested.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 05:15:46 am

(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14884620_10154307697687912_803582645647174423_o.jpg)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 05:28:09 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADXs2C4Vmho

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 05:33:18 am

For anyone who missed it, here are my personal notes for the tenth inning . . .

TENTH. Cubs----Schwarber: ball one up and away; hard smash to the right, base hit!!!! Cubs have the leadoff man aboard!!!
Albert Almora, Jr. runs for Schwarber.

Bryant: ball one misses outside; strike fouled straight back; fought it off on the hands, fouled it back, 1-2 to Bryant; ball two
up and away; throw to first, Almora back; high fly to deep center, Davis is back to the wall to get it, Almora tags and takes
second!!!

Rizzo: they're going to put him on to pitch to Zobrist. First and second, one out.

Zobrist: ball one way upstairs; strike one on the ceiling of the zone; strike two hits the floor of the zone; fouls one off to the left
on the ground and off the railing; grounded to the left side, base hit to left, going for extra bases, Almora on his horses and
scores the tiebreaking run!!!!!!!!! Rizzo to third, Zobrist to second, one out!!!

Russell: they'll put him on to load ducks on the pond for Montero.

Montero: ball one high; fouled off the plate, strike one; base hit! Rizzo scores!! 8-6 Chicago!!!!!!

Trevor Bauer relieved Bryan Shaw, p, Indians

Heyward: strike one fouled off the plate; strike two swinging on a terrible bouncing pitch; fouled high off left; strikes out on a
bouncer couldn't check his swing, two out!!! Ducks still on the pond.

Baez: ball one way inside; strike one swinging through a fastball; swinging through a hard fastball, 1-2 to him with ducks on the
pond and two out; ball two in the dirt; high fly to center, Davis has it, Bauer limits the damage but it's 8-6 CUbs going to the
bottom of the tenth!!!!

Indians---Carl Edwards Jr. relieved Chapman.

Napoli: strike; ball high; fouled out of play right side, strike two; ball two high; struck his ass out!!!!

Ramirez: strike one hits the floor; strike two lined foul down the right field line; ball one, curve ball misses outside; ball two low and
away; grounder to Russell, one out from the Promised Land!!!

Guyer: ball one, breaking ball outside; ball two low; ball three low and outside; strike one hits the floor; ball four low, and Rajai Davis
is the tying run coming to the plate!!!

Davis: ball one low, Guyer to second untouched; line drive, base hit to center field, in comes Guyer and it's a one-run game again!!!

Mike Montgomery relieved Carl Edwards, Jr., p, Cubs.

Martinez: strike called, curve ball hits the zone; grounder to third, tough play for Bryant, he gets the out and the CHICAGO CUBS ARE
WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 108 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Frank Cannon on November 03, 2016, 05:39:03 am

Quote from: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 05:10:29 am

WTH is madden wearing on his head. VR goggles?

LOL. You got that right.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Free Vulcan on November 03, 2016, 06:16:53 am

CLEVELAND — As the clubhouse cleared out late Tuesday night, after the Chicago Cubs had forced Game 7 of this rollicking World Series with the Cleveland Indians, Ben Zobrist was asked if he had dreamed of a chance like this.

Zobrist is 35 and has played 11 seasons in the major leagues. He had won and lost a World Series before joining the Cubs as a free agent in the off-season. As his mind flashed back to his childhood, he could not pretend that he expected any of it.

“No,” Zobrist said, laughing softly. “I wasn’t that guy. I mean, I never even thought about playing professionally. I didn’t think that was a possibility for a little kid from Illinois. I just wanted to play the game and win. I was competitive, but I never thought that I would be in a situation like this.”

Yet how many other little kids from Illinois did? Thousands, millions? How many have wondered, over the last 108 years, what it might be like to stand in the batter’s box in Game 7 of the World Series, with the score tied in the 10th inning, and drive in the winning run for the Cubs?

Early Thursday morning at Progressive Field, Zobrist lived it. His one-out, opposite-field double off Bryan Shaw stayed fair down the third base line, driving home Albert Almora Jr. to put the Cubs ahead for good in an 8-7 victory. Zobrist was named the most valuable player of the Series...

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/sports/baseball/world-series-game-7-ben-zobrist-chicago-cubs.html

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Gefn on November 03, 2016, 06:32:01 am

Congrats to Cubs fans!  :seeya:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: montanajoe on November 03, 2016, 07:45:13 am

The Chicago dim  mafia stole it I tell you. They haven't won since in 1908 and  now they win six days before the election... its a set up! we wuz robbed!!

 :tinfoil:  :laugh: :laugh:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: guitar4jesus on November 03, 2016, 11:25:25 am

Well it was a long time coming for the Cubs.  I thought for sure that Maddon was going to blow it.  That was his M.O. with the Rays.  Congrats to all of the Cubs fans.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: kevindavis007 on November 03, 2016, 11:30:18 am

Good series. The Indians put up a good fight.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: NavyCanDo on November 03, 2016, 11:34:55 am

Could not have written a better script  for the Series.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: kevindavis007 on November 03, 2016, 12:04:27 pm

Quote from: NavyCanDo on November 03, 2016, 11:34:55 am

Could not have written a better script  for the Series.

Best World Series ever.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: GrouchoTex on November 03, 2016, 12:06:40 pm

Congrats to the Cubs, now waiting for SMOD, Aliens, Revelations, etc...

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 01:02:33 pm

@Wingnut
Love the avatar.  Very nice.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 01:02:53 pm

Quote from: kevindavis on November 03, 2016, 12:04:27 pm

Best World Series ever.

 888high58888

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 01:12:08 pm

Quote from: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 01:02:33 pm

@Wingnut
Love the avatar.  Very nice.

Thank you! 

One last note on the Play by Play;;;

(http://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/14955906_10208880776990943_8880207752640030252_n.jpg?oh=b942aa89677243b6e300bd004eb97def&oe=58CC1C79)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Free Vulcan on November 03, 2016, 02:50:41 pm

And I want to thank both the Cubs and Indians for the most exciting series and final game and inning ever, but most of all for taking this stupid election out of the national limelight for a good 24 hours when we needed it most.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 03:02:11 pm

Quote from: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 01:02:33 pm

@Wingnut
Love the avatar.  Very nice.

@Polly Ticks I've been trying my level best not to say the same thing about your avatar.   :whistle:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 03:30:30 pm

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 03:02:11 pm

@Polly Ticks I've been trying my level best not to say the same thing about your avatar.   :whistle:

@Cyber Liberty
Big Thanksgiving fan, are you?   :laugh:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 03:56:21 pm

Quote from: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 03:30:30 pm

@Cyber Liberty
Big Thanksgiving fan, are you?   :laugh:

Heckuva turkey there, @Polly Ticks .  888high58888  Nice thighs on that bird.... :whistle:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 04:44:33 pm

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 03:56:21 pm

Heckuva turkey there, @Polly Ticks .  888high58888  Nice thighs on that bird.... :whistle:

@Cyber Liberty
(https://media0.giphy.com/media/6J3in6h7AxaGk/200.gif#9)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Cyber Liberty on November 03, 2016, 05:34:05 pm

Quote from: Polly Ticks on November 03, 2016, 04:44:33 pm

@Cyber Liberty
(https://media0.giphy.com/media/6J3in6h7AxaGk/200.gif#9)

@Polly Ticks  I'll take your (turkey's) thighs over Kramer's wings any day.   :smokin:

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 03, 2016, 06:46:40 pm

By Yours Truly
http://throneberryfields.com/2016/11/03/the-cubs-world-champions-signed-epsteins-mother/

Jolly Cholly Grimm started Hy Vandenburg instead of Hank Borowy. The College of Coaches was decertified in its crib. Leo
Durocher didn’t burn out his regulars and make nervous wrecks out of his subs and rookies. Leon Durham fielded the
grounder. Steve Garvey made a long out. Dusty Baker lifted Mark Prior to start the eighth. Alex Gonzalez fielded the hopper
cleanly and turned the double play.

Go ahead. Say it. Write it. Flash it. Paint it. The Chicago Cubs—the Cubs!—have reached the Promised Land at long enough
last. There! Didn’t that feel wonderful? Now that you’ve done that, however, go ahead and say, write, flash, paint something
else, too. Mostly about what Series MVP Ben Zobrist called the greatest rain delay of all time, partly about the things that
happened that used to mean yet another otherworldly Cub heartbreak and almost meant the Cleveland Indians exorcising
their own heartbreaks past.

Because when the Cubs battered a four-run lead these hale, hearty, and terribly underrated Indians by the middle of the
fifth, and the Indians wrestled them back to a six-all tie after nine full, something beyond extraterrestrial just had to happen.
And, did. When the rains came you expected the skies to yield a corpulent chuckle and a stentorian Voice intoning:

From the bottom of My heart, I apologise. But even My stomach has its limits. I’m stopping it right here. I can’t make up My
mind, and you’re both too good to lose. So let’s leave it right here. And let’s do it again—maybe in another 108 years.

Anyone who tells you the foregoing didn’t cross the mind of every citizen of Cub Country and the Indian Isles is a liar worthy
of running for the presidency. Just as anyone who says the Cubs would hang up a 5-1 lead by the middle of Game Seven and
get away with it against this pack of Indians, who don’t know the meaning of the word quit, is worthy of becoming the liar’s
running mate.

Now we know Cubs manager Joe Maddon is living a charmed life. Time was that lifting his effective Game Seven starter Kyle
Hendricks for Jon Lester, David Ross throwing wild in the seats advancing runners in position to score on a Lester wild pitch,
and sending in a gassed Aroldis Chapman to serve Brandon Guyer an RBI double and journeyman Rajai Davis—who hadn’t
hit one out since late August—a two-run homer to tie things at six in the bottom of the eighth, would have meant a Cub fan’s
resignation and perhaps another sentence to the wilderness.

So Dexter Fowler opened against a finally-spent Corey Kluber by hitting the fourth pitch of the game over the center field
fence? Carlos Santana tied the game with a nasty RBI single? Kris Bryant channeled his inner Secretariat to gun it home on
a short fly by Addison Russell? Javier Baez—whose plate indiscipline threatened to become the Cub cobra’s own mongoose
most of the Series—hit the first pitch of the top of the fifth over the center field fence to send Kluber out of the game? Grandpa
Rossy, smarting over the wild throw but facing a no longer invincible Andrew Miller, hitting a leadoff bomb in the top of the
sixth? (What a way to go off into retirement!)

When Davis’s line homer banged off a Fox Sports camera in the left field pavilion, with the Cubs four outs from the Promised
Land, decades of Cub calamity must have danced obscenely in front of Wrigleyville’s eyes, on its native grounds and among
its contingent in Progressive Field Wednesday night. The storybooks that came out when Grandpa Rossy cleared the center
field fence were replaced for the moment by funeral home guest books. But then came the rain delay, and right fielder Jason
Heyward called a players only meeting in the clubhouse.

“I told them I love them,” said Heyward, whose season-long sleeping bat got him benched a time or two in the postseason and
in the Series. “I told them I’m proud of the way they overcame everything together. I told them everyone has to look in the
mirror, and know everyone contributed to this season and to where we are at this point. I said, ‘I don’t know how it’s going
to happen, how we’re going to do it, but let’s go out and try to get a W’.”

Before you could blink and name any three members of the College of Coaches, Zobrist smacked an RBI double and Miguel
Montero—inserted late behind the plate in relief of Ross—stepped in and stroked only his second postseason hit. With ducks
on the pond. After an intentional walk, just as Zobrist’s double was. Just like when he hit the pinch grand slam against the
Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. This may have been the first time a bases-loaded single was bigger
than a grand salami in any postseason game.

Except that these Indians still had a couple of cards to play in the bottom of the tenth. What a surprise: their names were
Guyer and Davis. Cubs reliever Carl Edwards, Jr. opened with two swift outs but Guyer wrung him for a walk and took off
practically a second before the bat met the ball when Davis smacked a single to center sending him home.

Out came Edwards. In came Mike Montgomery. Up came Michael Martinez, another ancient journeyman. Montgomery threw
Martinez a curve ball and Martinez jerked a herky jerky grounder up the third base line that Bryant grabbed just as herky
jerky but threw on sharply to Anthony Rizzo—who’d smacked an RBI single on Miller’s dollar in the fifth—at first to light the
celebratory powder keg.

The Indians offered no excuses, but let’s face it. They were as battered as a team could be coming into the postseason. They’d
lost their best hitter (Michael Brantley) for most of the season and two key starting pitchers (Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar,
though Salazar recovered in time to work out of the bullpen for some of the Series) later in the year. They relied on Kluber and
a mostly invincible bullpen to get to a 3-1 World Series advantage that dissipated only when the Cubs’ once-dormant lineup
awoke beginning in Game Four.

“We were going on our willpower,” Davis said after the game. “We have some talent, but they have a lot of talent. They were
loaded.”

“We did it,” said Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who’d finished building the Boston Red Sox’s (actual or
alleged) curse busters in 2004—whom now-Indians manager Terry Francona managed—but who got the chance to remake the
Cubs, blow up the organisation from the bottom up, and build what finally kicked off the party Wrigleyville and Cub Country
beyond waited a measly century plus to throw. “Got through the tough times. October’s crazy, in a great way, and this may
have been the craziest.”

May have been? The Cubs being first team to come back from a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Royals and the first to do it
on the road since the 1979 Pirates may have been the makers of the craziest October? The Cubs blowing a three-run Game
Seven before the rains came and standing as world champions after the rains departed may have been the makers of the
craziest October?

Get that man a stiff drink. In Wrigleyville, there seems to be a bottomless well of them now. And if you thought Boston was
in endless party mode over the 2004 Red Sox, Chicago’s about to give you a heaping helping of you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Signed, Epstein’s mother.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 07:59:18 pm

Harry Calls the last at bats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nApTGkLd2hs

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Idaho_Cowboy on November 03, 2016, 08:23:28 pm

The Curse of the Billy Goat is over. Last night's game was amazing.

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Jazzhead on November 03, 2016, 08:57:41 pm

As exciting a game seven as I've ever seen - and there's nothing more exciting than a game seven.   I was pulling for the Indians,  but mainly I wanted to see something historic - and I did.

Great essay,  Easy Ace.  My Phillies sloughed off the coils of ignominy a few years ago,  and the Whole Damn Town erupted in joy.  A lot of us still recall the high,  and will pass the tale, with eyes moistened, on to our grandkids.    My congratulations to the star-crossed Cubbies and their long-suffering fans;  may they walk as brothers in victory forever.   

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Wingnut on November 03, 2016, 09:36:42 pm

I thought this was well done. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nApTGkLd2hs

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: musiclady on November 04, 2016, 03:25:50 pm

Just checking in (visiting relatives) to say that I'm still super proud of the Indians. The injuries taking out some key players, clearly affected pitching in the later games.

As Terry Francona said, the team can hold their heads high.   Everyone called Cleveland a loser from the first day of the play offs, and they were clearly all proven wrong.

Congrats to the Cubs and their longsuffering fans.  It was a great series, and they much deserved their win.

Now I'm glad to be getting more sleep and done with baseball for a while.  ^-^

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: EasyAce on November 04, 2016, 03:45:22 pm

Quote from: musiclady on November 04, 2016, 03:25:50 pm

Just checking in (visiting relatives) to say that I'm still super proud of the Indians. The injuries taking out some key players, clearly affected pitching in the later games.

As Terry Francona said, the team can hold their heads high.   Everyone called Cleveland a loser from the first day of the play offs, and they were clearly all proven wrong.

Congrats to the Cubs and their longsuffering fans.  It was a great series, and they much deserved their win.

Now I'm glad to be getting more sleep and done with baseball for a while.  ^-^

For you, m'lady . . .

The Indians, the little team that almost did (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,232791.0.html)

Title: Re: Your Official Live 2016 World Series Thread---Game Seven
Post by: Free Vulcan on November 04, 2016, 04:09:35 pm

Quote from: musiclady on November 04, 2016, 03:25:50 pm

Just checking in (visiting relatives) to say that I'm still super proud of the Indians. The injuries taking out some key players, clearly affected pitching in the later games.

As Terry Francona said, the team can hold their heads high.   Everyone called Cleveland a loser from the first day of the play offs, and they were clearly all proven wrong.

Congrats to the Cubs and their longsuffering fans.  It was a great series, and they much deserved their win.

Now I'm glad to be getting more sleep and done with baseball for a while.  ^-^

I hope they will get it next year. If that happens there will be 3 Midwest winners in a row all ending long droughts.