World Series Game 7: The pressure is on both teams..... but mostly Cleveland

Cleveland city of light, city of magic (Photo creds to That's Cleveland Baby)

The 2016 World Series will come down to a deciding seventh game. That became apparent in the top half of the 3rd inning last night, when Addison Russel smacked a 2-0 offering from Cleveland's Dan Otero over the left-center field wall for a grand slam, giving the Cubbies a commanding 7-0 lead. Chicago would hold on to win by a convincing 9-3 margin. So it will all come down to one game, and the pressure is on.

It's common sense that everybody involved in a Game 7 has a lot of weight on their shoulders. But I am of the belief that, in most cases, one team is carrying more weight than the other is. For example, in 2011, the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals went the distance. Both teams had pressure on them in Game 7, but the Rangers had fallen short in the past World Series. Both that, the fact that they were one strike away (twice) from ending the series in Game 6, and the reality that Texas had never seen a world championship (St. Louis had ten at the time), made it evident to me which team had more to lose. The Rangers would lose Game 7, 6-2, and the franchise has yet to win a playoff series in the five years since then.

In 2002, both the San Fransico Giants and Anaheim Angles had a lot of pressure on them when their series went to a Game 7. But the Giants had far more of a load to carry, as they were trying for their first World Championship since 1954 (when they were still in New York). In addition, San Fran had blown a 5-0 lead in Game 6 when they were just eight outs away from glory. The Giants could not recover from losing Game 6, and Anaheim won Game 7 and the title.

In 1997, the Cleveland Indians and Florida Marlins went the distance. The Marlins had almost nothing to lose, as they were in just their 5th year of existence and already had progressed far more rapidly than anybody could have imagined. The Indians, on the other hand, were going for their first championship since 1948. Cleveland fans know all too well how this story ended. The Tribe had a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 9th and were just two outs away from bringing it home. But then, Jose Mesa blew the save, and two innings later Edgar Renteria singled Craig Counsell home to bring Jim Leyland his long overdue first world title.

Both the Cubs and the Indians are in a unique situation at the moment. For the first time in baseball history, two teams with 50+ year championship curses are matched up against each other. Coming into the series, I think most baseball experts would have said that Chicago had more to lose than Cleveland did. After all, the Cubs had been the best team in baseball from day 1, while Cleveland was not expected to get here, largely because of critical injuries to their starting rotation. The whole 1908 thing also did nothing to ease the tension in the Windy City. But given all that has happened over the first six games, how much will the Cubbies lose if they are unable to fully come back from 3 games to 1 down?

Yes, one could say that if the Cubs can't finish the deal, that it's just another chapter to the fabled ''Curse of the Billy Goat''. But this situation would be far different from a regular Cubbies ''Choke''. The usual Cubs playoff cycle involves either;
A. Being blown away in 3 or 4 games or
B. Getting a big series lead and letting it slip away.

The 2016 World Series have not exhibited either of those cases. Yes, the Cubs were the favorites going in. But if Chicago falls, I think the fact that they have made it to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1945 and did not go down without a fight will make the defeat a much easier pill for Cubs fans to swallow. Perhaps the biggest reason why I feel that the Cubs don't have as much to lose as one would think is that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have built this franchise for long- term success. They have a loaded core of young players, as well as a few savvy veterans, and to top that off; they have the money to keep it all together.

It is also important to note that the Cubs are still building. Just two years ago, Chicago was 73-89 and in the NL Central cellar. The rapid rise that this team has been on is not normal. Championships take time, and Cubs fans need to remember that should they come up short tonight.

The Cleveland Indians have been somewhat of a feel-good, underdog story throughout this postseason. Sure, they were one of the titans of the junior circuit this season, winning 94 games. However, tragedy struck in September, as two of the Tribe's three top starters, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, were lost to injuries (Carrasco has not been able to pitch in the playoffs, while Salazar has been used exclusively out of the bullpen). But due to Terry Francona's splendid management of the Indians bullpen,  and timely hitting from the Indian offense, Cleveland surprised both Boston and Toronto, going 7-1 on route to their first AL Pennant since 1997. As stated before, Cleveland was the underdog against the mighty Cubs. Nonetheless, the Tribe jumped out to a three games to one lead and looked to be on their way to giving Cleveland their second world champion in 4 months. But the Cubbies fought back, and now, it all comes down to Game 7.

It might be hard to see Cleveland as the team that is carrying the bigger cross. It is true that Cleveland was not expected to get past the ALDS, while Chicago was the odds-on favorite to take it all. However, imagine the anguish that ''the land'' will go through if their beloved Tribe can't get the job done on this night. Imagine having three chances to get one win. One win that would turn Cleveland into dare I say, the new ''City of Champions.'' Imagine the Tribe being so close.... and not getting the job done. Now, one might think that Lebron James and the Cavs getting Cleveland a title (their first since 1964) just four months ago would soften the blow, and you can certainly make a valid argument for that. On the contrary, an Indians loss could remind Clevelander's that the Cleveland Curse is still alive, and a lot of the good feelings that northeast Ohioans have about their sports could evaporate, at least for now.

There is so much at stake for everybody involved in this World Series. The pressure is on Corey Kluber, as a bad outing in Game 7 could, reasonably or not, negate all he has accomplished throughout his career as the Indians ace in the minds of a lot of, albeit, out of touch, people. The pressure is on Terry Francona, as nobody wants to be steering the ship that blew a 3-1 series lead. The pressure is on Joe Madden, as the Cubbie manager's decision to milk 20 pitches out of Aroldis Chapman last night in a 7-2 ballgame could come back to bite. Most of all, the pressure is on the city of Cleveland.

Both of these franchises are cursed. But only one of these cities is cursed. Make no mistake, the city of Cleveland has one world championship in the past 52 years. As great as it was for Ohio when Kyrie Irving's 3 sealed the Cavaliers first championship, a loss by the Indians tonight would be a painful reminder of why Cleveland sports fans think thought for so long God hates them (please don't take that statement seriously). It should be regarded as a great season for the Tribe regardless of what happens, but the Indians have put themselves in a position where they are expected to win it all, and, as talented as the Indians are, I feel that they have less of a chance to get back to the dance than the Chicago Cubs do.

In conclusion, to paraphrase the ''Book of Mormon'' musical, the Cubs and the Indians... but mostly the Indians, have the weight of the world on their shoulders tonight.