CLEVELAND _ Kyle Hendricks usually doesn't say boo.
"Kyle talks?" fellow Cubs starter Jon Lester jokingly said a few days ago.
But a day before starting Game 7 of the World Series, something he called "the ultimate dream," the right-hander was discussing Halloween costumes _ or the team's lack thereof.
The team was encouraged to dress up for its flight to Cleveland on Monday, but Hendricks said the participation level was low, "below 50 percent," compared to some of the team's other theme trips.
"C.J. Edwards was Mr. Incredible," Hendricks said. "That was probably one of the good ones."
Hendricks didn't dress up as anything. But he will see his imagination come to life when he takes the mound Wednesday at Progressive Field against the Indians in a winner-takes-something-they-haven't-won-in-decades, or in the Cubs' case, more than a century: a championship.
Hendricks' experience against the Indians is limited mostly to his start in Game 3, a 1-0 loss during which he allowed no runs, six hits, two walks and struck out six in an abbreviated 4 1/3-inning outing.
He was lifted in favor of Justin Grimm after giving up a single, a walk and hitting a batter.
Hendricks has two teammates who have won deciding games in the World Series in John Lackey and Jon Lester. He said he hasn't spoken much with them about the experience but has learned a lot from them nonetheless.
"Taking that same, ruthless approach, every day, every single start, even in the regular season," Hendricks said. "So that when you get to these big moments, it's basically like it has been the whole year."
