Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Game 7. Some thoughts.

And so now Game 7, and heartache of the epic variety awaits. One of two things is going to happen, and one of two starved fan bases will be reduced to wailing and gnashing of teeth -- or at least, surely, power drinking of the epic variety.

If your Indians lose, you live with the knowledge that 1948 is further away than ever, and that you blew a 3-1 lead in the most calamitous way possible, by losing Games 6 and 7 at home.

If your Cubs lose, you realize that once again it was all a tease, and the worst ever. First your team falls down a 3-1 hole and it looks finished ... then the Cubs rise from the ashes to force a Game 7 ...  and then, with your head full of the usual come-ons about Destiny and Meant To Be, they dash your hopes by failing to close the deal.

Pain and suffering either way, frankly.

So who wins?

Beats me. The Blob has no answers at this point, only a couple of surmises.

One, if the Indians scratch out any sort of lead against Kyle Hendricks through five innings, it's over, because Terry Francona will trot out a fresh Andrew Miller, whom the Cubs ensured wouldn't pitch again last night by blowing out the Tribe 9-3. He hasn't pitched now since Saturday, which means he could go awhile if need be. If there's any upside to losing 9-3 in a World Series game, that's it.

Two, if the Cubs are ever going to solve Corey Kluber, tonight's the night. They lit up Josh Tomlin on short rest in Game 6, after Tomlin muzzled them in Game 3.  Now Kluber's going for the third time in a week, following Game 1 with Games 4 and 7.  The last guy to win Games 1, 4 and 7 in a World Series?

Bob Gibson in 1967. Forty-nine years ago.

So maybe this time, finally, the Cubs scratch a few runs and take the early lead again. They're going to have to, because, again, if Cleveland gets a lead and keeps it into the fifth, it's over. That's not necessarily true the other way around, because Joe Maddon, in one of his few missteps, needlessly sent out Aroldis Chapman with a seven-run lead in the ninth. He only threw 20 pitches, true, but he's now pitched four innings in three days. That's a ton for a closer.

So, we shall see. We shall see.

Three best words in the English language, on a night such as this. 

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