World Series Preview: 1908 vs. 1948

The World Series is here. I am a baseball fan. So, I'm pretty freaking intrigued. However, the level of interest for America and myself is higher than usual in 2016. On one side, there is the Chicago Cubs, who are making their first Fall Classic appearance since 1945 and looking for their first World Series title since 1908. On the other side is the Cleveland Indians, who have not won a World Championship since 1948. So, somebody's curse is going to end, and it's perfect for baseball. I've been saying for months that a Cubs-Tribe World Series would be great for business, as it pits a large media market (Chicago + the Midwest) against a small, but loyal market (Cleveland). Both of these franchises have interesting backstories, as the Cubs were built back up to dominance by Theo Epstein, Joe Madden, Jed Hoyer and the young team that Epstein and Hoyer put together. Cleveland is under the guidance of Terry Francona, who worked with Epstein to break the ''Curse of the Bambino'' in 2004, and is looking to take the lead over his former boss in the ring competition, as both won 2 world championships in ''Beantown'. Well, that's all the time I have for backstory. Time to talk matchups.

Indians starting pitching vs. Cubs offense

The Chicago Cubs offense is phenomenal. There's no other way to describe it. Included are a man who will likely be named the National League's MVP after the season in 3rd baseman Kris Bryant, a franchise cornerstone and a perennial All-Star in Anthony Rizzo, young studs up the middle in Javier Baez and Addison Russell, and a playoff savvy vet in Ben Zobrist. The Cubs lineup is not without its weak spots. I don't see Dexter Fowler as an ideal leadoff hitter, and right fielder Jason Heyward has been invisible throughout the whole postseason. But the assets far outweigh the liabilities when it comes to the Cubbies offensive attack.

For Cleveland, the Indians rotation is, in my opinion, the best in the AL..... when healthy. Unfourtanly, they are not healthy.  Cleveland is likely getting Danny Salazar back, and that will be a boost. But how good is Salazar going to be? Is the combination of rust and lack of playoff experience going to be too much for Danny Boy to handle? The Tribe won't have their #3 starter, Carlos Carrasco. It is true that the Indians are no less healthy than they were when they defeated Boston and Toronto to get here, but how long can it last?

In conclusion, I would take the Cubs offense against any pitching staff in baseball, especially one that is depleted.

Edge: Cubs Offense

Update: Chicago's offense has been inconsistent at best throughout this World Series. Cleveland has shut them out twice, and through 5 games,  the Cubs have scored just ten runs, with five of them coming in Game 2 alone. Cleveland has gotten two fantastic pitching performances from Corey Kluber and another from Josh Tomlin, and that along with Andrew Miller and their stellar bullpen have combined to hold the NL's best attack to just two runs per game.
Updated Edge: Indians pitching 

Cubs starting pitching vs. Indians offense

You don't win 103 games and an NL Pennant by being one-dimensional. The Cubs pitching staff is on par with their excellent hitting. John Lester was arguably the best pitcher in the NL this season and is a two-time World Champ. Jake Arrieta was the NL's best pitcher last season, and still is a beast. John Lackey still has stuff left in the tank at 38 years young, as well as World Series experience. Kyle Hendricks has been the best Chicago starter of all for the past two months. Of all 4 Cubs starters, there is not a weak link of the bunch. But can they contain Cleveland's offense?

Cleveland does have a good lineup. But aside from shortstop Franciso Lindor, none of their big guns are in top form. Mike Napoli, Jason Kipnis, and Carlos Santana are a combined 15 for 87 in the postseason for a collective batting average of .172. If the Tribe want to score enough runs, their leaders need to show up. Because of current form, I'll give Chicago's pitching the edge over Cleveland's hit-or-miss offense
Edge: Cubs Pitching

Update: While Chicago's pitching has not been terrible, it has not been stellar, either. Aside from Jake Arietta's gem in Game 2, Chicago has not gotten a particularly impressive outing. Sure, John Lester has done ok, and Kyle Hendricks pitched well in Game 3, but Cleveland was able to defeat Lester in Game 1 and Hendricks only lasted 4.1 innings in his lone series outing. Because of Cleveland's clutch hitting, I'd say their offense has won this battle thus far.

Updated Edge: Indians offense
The Bullpens

The trade for Andrew Miller could bring Cleveland glory

The main reason the Indians are here is their bullpen.  The fact that Andrew Miller, who Francona now uses as a middle reliever, was named the ALCS MVP should tell you what the bullpen means to the Indians. With the combination of injuries in the starting rotation as well as pitchers not being able to go more than five innings (See Merritt, Ryan), the bullpen needed to be lights out. And boy was it ever.

Over 8 postseason games, the Indians bullpen has accumlated a 1.67 ERA over 32.1 innings of work. If you do the math, the Tribe relievers have had to go an average of nearly 5 innings a night in the playoffs. That's a heavy work load. Although the Cubs do have the beast that is Aroldis Chapman, their bullpen is probably the most underwhelming part of their team, as they have just a 3.53 ERA over the postseason.

Although I am skeptical of how much Cleveland's relievers, particulary Andrew Miller, have left in the tank, I'm still giving Clevelend the edge if the game is tied in the late innings.

Edge: Cleveland 

Updated Edge: Still Cleveland. 

Defense 
According to oddsshark.com, the Cubs are far and away the best defensive team in baseball. Although Cleveland is solid fundamently, Chicago is in a class of it's own when it comes to making the big, run-saving plays.

Edge: Chicago 


Depth 

Kyle Schwarber is back, but will he make a difference?

If you haven't figured it out by now, there is a lot to like about the Chicago Cubs. One more thing on that list is their bench. Guys like Jorge Solar, Chirs Coghlan, Miguel Montero, Albert Almora and, it looks like, Kyle Schwarber (at least for the home games without the DH) can all do damage in a pinch-hitting role, as well as pick up the club in the event of an injury. Cleveland has some nice bench options as well, but Chicago has it all from head to toe on offense.
Edge: Chicago

The Pitching matchups 
Game 1: John Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA) 
The best vs. The best. It's tough to predict, but I like the Tribe tonight. They are at home, and you better believe that city will be fired up and ready to go. Kluber lost his last outing, and it's hard to imagine Cleveland's ace losing two playoff starts in a row. A key thing to watch tonight will be if Cleveland's base runners will be able to run on John Lester. Lester does not have a lot of weaknesses, but one of them is throwing the ball to first base. Therefore, it is hard for him to keep the runners honest, and easier for them to take an extra base. Both men will pitch well, but Cleveland's adrenaline and Kluber's arm will propel them to a close Game 1 victory.
Tribe 3, Cubs 1


Update: Kluber was excellent, as I expected him to be, while Lester was just ok. The 6-0 scoreline is misleading, as 3 of Cleveland's runs came late while 2 of them were somewhat lucky. Nonetheless, Smeltz said Cleveland would win, and by god, they did. 

Game 2: Jake Arietta ( 18-8, 3.10 ERA) vs. Trevor Bauer ( 12-8, 4.26 ERA) 
This matchup is not set in stone yet, as Bauer could be pushed back to game three due to an injury on his finger. Assuming that Bauer starts Game 2, I do not think he matches up well with Jake Arietta. Arietta has had an inconsistent playoff history in Chicago, but I think he will bounce back from his subpar NLCS showing in LA. I foresee the Cubs offense scoring some early runs off of Bauer, followed by Jake the Snake making it hold.

Cubs 4, Indians 1

Update: I said the Cubs would win 4-1. They ended up winning 5-1. Everything else that I predicted was perfect. 




Game 3: Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40 ERA) vs Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA) 
I'd hate to write anything negative about Josh Tomlin, as his father, Jerry, who became paralyzed from the chest down back in August, will see his son pitch on baseballs biggest stage.  This family story is much bigger than the game of baseball. However, from a baseball standpoint, I feel that Chiacgo has the edge in Game 3. Kyle Hendricks has been a low-key beast all year, and he will be the first Cubs pitcher to start a World Series game in Wrigley Field since Hank Borowy in 1945. The Windy City will be electric, and I just don't see any way Cleveland can stop the Cubbies on this night.

Cubs 5, Indinas 2

Update: Dude I was way off. 

Game 4: Corey Kluber/Danny Salazar/ Ryan Merritt vs. John Lackey (11-8, 3.35 ERA)
Nobody knows who the Indians will start for Game 4. They could go with Kluber on short rest. They could go with the game five hero in rookie Ryan Merritt, or they could go with Danny Salazar, who is coming back from injury. Assuming Cleveland ends up going with either Kluber or Salazar, I think that they even up the series here. As impressive as John Lackey has been for his age, I think his playoff magic is due to take a hit. Cleveland will not go down quietly, and they will halt Chicago's momentum with a game four victory.

Indians 4, Cubs 3

Update: Kluber did end up starting, and he was dominant once again. The Indians won, 7-2, and gained a stranglehold on the series.

Game 5: Kluber vs. Lester
If I had to bet, I would say that Terry Francona saves Kluber for Game 5 for a rematch with John Lester. As good as Kluber is, would he be able to beat John Lester twice, both at home and at Wrigley Field? It's possible, but not probable. Game 5 will be Lester's revenge.

Cubs 3, Tribe 0 



Update: It wound up being Bauer vs. Lester. Kris Bryant went yard, and that was the biggest offensive play of the game. Aroldis Chapman lived up to his hype, getting an extremely rare eight out save, and the Cubbies stayed alive. 

Game 6: Arietta vs. Bauer
Again, the Indians starting rotation is a bunch of ??????. That is one reason why I do not see them winning this World Series. I'm picking the Cubs in 6 because I am legit concerned about what will happen to the city of Chicago if the Cubs clinch it at home (not that there won't be riots regardless of the outcome of this series). The Indians last hope will hinge on Trevor Bauer, which, with all due respect, is not an ideal situation for Cleveland. Cubs Win! And what a moment that will be.

Update: It will be Arietta vs. Tomlin instead. My score prediction still stands. 

Cubs 5, Indians 1

Why the Cubs will win 

I love Cleveland. I know that might be hard to believe, considering I have spent a lot of this post talking up the Cubs. However, there is a damn good reason why I talk up the Cubs. They are more talented than Cleveland is. They are healthier than Cleveland is, and as a result of that health, their pitching rotation is much more organized than Clevelands is. Terry Francona is a fantastic manager, and he is the biggest reason why the Tribe has defied the odds in winning the American League. But Cleveland's bullpen can't pitch five innings a night forever. For Cleveland to win, more than likely, either Trevor Bauer or Josh Tomlin will have to throw a gem against this Cubs offense. I have my doubts about that happening. I'd love to see Cleveland win their first World Title since 1948. It would be phenomenal for that city, and for the game of baseball. But Chicago winning their first World Series since 1908 would also be phenomenal. Cubs fans, I know you've been saying it forever, but finally, in 2016; It's gonna happen. Harry Carry will be smiling.

Update: Why the Indians will win 
There is reason to believe that the Cubs would take Game 7. If they win tonight, they will have won 2 in a row, and the ball will have moved into Chicago's court. Yes, Cleveland would be starting their main man Corey Kluber, but beating this Cubs team three times in a little over a week would be one hell of a feat. So, although they are down 3-2, there is still plenty of reason for optimism on the North Side.

After doing a lot of thinking, I've concluded that the 2016 World Series champions will be..... the Cleveland Indians. The term has been used so much and so loosely in sports, but has it ever been more prevalent than it is in this World Series? Somebody's destiny is going to come true. Clevlenders feel that their Indians are destined to break their 68- year title drought. Chichogans feel that their Cubbies are destined to break their 108-year title drought. Something has to give.

Personally, I don't see Cleveland getting fooled again. They come too far in this postseason. They come too far as a sports town, and they have too much Corey Kluber to let this series get away. Rejoice, Tribe fans. This is your time.